LA MANGA DEL MAR MENOR for me was always the little paradise next door where you, as a young person, could find all the fun. As a middle aged person you would aim at ensuring that magic little place in the sun for weekends or full summer holidays. Close enough to town, far enough from town. Perfect.

As an older person, as an OAP, La Manga is still the perfect place to retire to, away from the noise and traffic. Its 22 km long offer everything.

I occasionally enjoyed la Manga as a young person and now, a proper OAP I am finally back many, many years later where I have recently come to rest from a hectic life and to find the solace I need.

The sea has always been a kind of solace in my memories during my UK years. Now it is my backdrop as well as my foreground.