Do The Strand

Down at Dee Why beach we have "a strip" of shops on one side and a row of Norfolk Pines on the other.  Most of the shops are restaurants along with an ice cream shop and a "convenience store" (expensive groceries, cheap phone cards and cigarettes).  It's called "The Strand".

Last year, as our short lockdowns started to lift, they closed "The Strand".  I had no idea why it was called that but... I just googled it and apparently it's recorded as being used in 1185 and derives from the Old English word meaning ‘bank’ or ‘shore’.  Our "The Strand" is indeed on the shore (unlike the original, which has slowly but surely been distanced from the bank of the Thames as land has be (re)claimed).

As a result (most of us loved it) they've now decided to make it one way  (it used to be two way) and have widened the footpath to allow the restaurants to spill outside.  They still allow cars to park along one side which is unfortunate as they will obscure the view of the beach - if we ever get to sit there that is.