Page 34 of The Seaside Supper Club

Gathered in the living space, and eager to take a look about, they soon began to realise that there wasn’t actually a lot to see. The black-metal log burning stove, which was the nicest feature of the place, was positioned to the side wall of the living area, with the replacement second-hand sofa and Will’s two chairs beside it. The compact ‘vintage’ kitchen zone took the space at the back of the hut with its basic cupboards within one unit, and old-fashioned stainless-steel sink.

There was the one bedroom which was sectioned off, just big enough for a double bed, but at present had nothing in it. Will having also dumped the original bed along with the sofa that day – nothing had been safe from those pesky mice! Plus, there was a small box-room of a WC with a wall sink and toilet, which Cath had now given a damned good scrub, armed with heavy-duty rubber gloves, a loo brush, bleach and disinfectant. Several of the wooden wall and floor slats were flaking with rot in there. At least, they were now in the summer months, so they currently had a water supply to flush the loo. After the end of October, they’d been reliably informed by the solicitor, that it all got turned off. So, other than a place to sit for a while with a flask after a chilly walk, the bungalow wasn’t going to be a space to use over the winter months. And well, that was it.

The underwhelmed faces around the group said it all.

‘It’s cosy. Bet it’ll be nice here with the fire on,’ said Lily politely, trying her best to find some positives.

‘Quaint, but yeah, it’s basic.’ Nikki was more realistic.

‘Needs a bit of work, mate.’ Dan was thinking practically.

Andreas merely came up with, ‘Oh my.’

Not surprisingly the group seemed rather dispirited. They had been warned, thought Cath.

‘On the plus side,’ said Will summoning a hint of enthusiasm, ‘we pretty much have a blank canvas to work with, as you can see.’

‘Oh, and with a bit of imagination, I can feel the Hamptons coming on.’ Nikki was suddenly perking up, gazing around her at the living space. ‘White-painted wooden walls, maybe even the ceiling in white, too. It’s the dull dark brown that’s doing nothing for it. The sofa’s navy so that’ll work, yes, with some stripy cushions on. All blues and creams, and soft beige, the colour of old rope. And a driftwood-framed mirror, just over there.’ She pointed to a bare brown wall space. ‘Yeah, coastal chic, here we come.’ She sounded quite pleased with her imaginings.

Cath could kind of picture it coming together with those seaside shades, too.

‘Ooh no, it needs a splash of colour,’ Andreas began. ‘Bright floral paintings … Tiki style. Grass skirts and cocktails. Oh yes, Club Tropicana even. And a bar area, yes. Pina coladas … with those cute mini umbrellas. We’re on the beach, baby.’ Andreas was waving his arms as though casting a spell over the place, imagining a Tiki palace, whilst grinning.

‘That’s so cheesy, Andreas,’ said Lily with a smile. ‘But you know, it sounds kind of fun, too. Kitschy. If you do it stylishly, it might work.’

‘Honey, I do everything stylishly,’ he trilled.

Lily continued, ‘So, like keep the white walls, but have tropical greens and touches of floral hot pink and orange in the cushions and soft furnishings. And yes, I’m totally in on the cocktails and bar, one hundred per cent.’

‘Oh, and yes, a blow-up pink flamingo,’ added Andreas, so warmed to his theme that he was smoking hot, whilst Dan spluttered into his bottle of beer.

‘Good Lord, I’m not letting you lot get your hands on this place,’ Will leapt in. ‘Well, not until I’ve settled on a colour scheme, that is.’ Yet he couldn’t help but smile as he glanced across to Cath, who just held up her hands. He did actually think a little DIY help from his friends might in fact come in very handy, but he’d need to keep a bloody tight rein on them, and the colour scheme.

‘Well, I’m more with Nikki on this one,’ said Cath. ‘Some cool coastal shades. It’s a place to relax, after all, not a party shack.’

‘Aw, shame. Spoilsports,’ countered Andreas, pouting his lower lip.

‘It could be both,’ Lily mooted, raising her arched eyebrows hopefully. ‘Somewhere to chill, of course, but also have something of a cocktail bar feel. There are some very on-trend places in town.’ By that, she meant Newcastle-upon-Tyne. ‘I could check out some colour schemes for you. When I finally have time on my hands again.’

‘Ooh, yes, it could have a bar corner, at least.’ Andreas was perking up again. ‘With a hint of tropical, somewhere.’

‘Mai Tais and a bowl of peanuts,’ added Dan, with a smirk.

‘Scampi Fries,’ added Nikki, thinking of her favourite snacks.

‘Okay. Well, we’ll see.’ Will cut them short, whilst Cath stood there grinning. She loved the daft banter of this lot. ‘Enough about the decor. That can wait,’ Will continued. ‘Let’s get back outside and enjoy a cold beer on the patio, and make the most of this wonderful May sunshine.’

‘And after that,’ Cath suggested, ‘we could take a stroll down on the beach before getting supper underway, if that sounds all right with the chefs?’

‘It sounds perfect,’ said Dan. ‘Supper’s going to be exciting, too. And for a change, it’s not Greek style, in case you’re wondering.’

‘He’s such a man of mystery,’ added Andreas, ironically.

It was time to hit the deck, literally, with bottles of bucket-chilled beer for all.

*

A relaxed, sunny Sunday afternoon stroll followed. Their group of six chatted as they wandered, taking in the salty sea air and feeling the soft golden sand beneath their feet. Lily had taken her flip-flops off, and Dan and Andreas had abandoned their trainers at the base of the dunes. Each of them pausing here and there to look across the beautiful bay towards the jagged-finger-shaped ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle on the horizon.