Our timing was perfect. You know that feeling when the air is crisp near the sea but the light in the sky draws you to the beach as soon as you awake? It was an early September morning in Kingsdown on the Kent coast. Cliffs loomed in the distance. Cargo ships were crossing the channel like moving skyscrapers. A dog wet from an early morning swim was being beckoned back to its master. 
We noticed a couple sitting on the beach with their grandchildren playing nearby. 
We soon found out that it was low tide. Perfect timing for some shrimping on the south England coast with a home-made net. The grandfather waded out into the shallow water. The net was dragged along the sand and rocks. A net which soon filled with seaweed and an early morning catch.
Oh the excitement in my twins’ faces! Theo’s favourite meal is prawns and shrimp. He doesn’t care if over here in England some are called shrimp and others prawn while all were called shrimp when we were living in the Hamptons in New York State. His hand went straight into the net to hold one of these critters from the sea. 
Hanging by the shrimper’s waist was a cut off plastic carton filled with water. Inside here and in a bucket he put his catch. His grandchildren and my twins then helped return all else that had been caught in the net back into to the cold water including a crab or two. Naturally Theo had to hold a crab and show off a little wiggling fish. Luce flung the little fish to the sea while telling them to swim away as fast as they could. 
Others knew that the low tide was a signal for shrimping. Others just went sailing. And the grandfather waded back into the water and dragged his shrimping net along the sand and rocks. 
As we left I wondered for how many centuries shrimping nets dragged these shores, seagulls glided past, and sailors crossed the channel on this south England coast. But, perhaps these past scenes didn’t include twins in sunglasses who still have a slight American twang in their laughing voices?
This is such a gorgeous post, the photos are wonderful, but so is the storytelling. What a lovely way to spend time x
It was lovely! And thank you so much Sara.
what a wonderful experience, and fabulous pictures too! x
Thank you Katie!
Oh it’s a joy when moments like this come along Kriss. What a treat x
It was very special Annie and a rather magical early morning for my twins.
Such a lovely morning, low tide is my favorite time to be at the beach, however I’ve never been shrimping!
I’m always amazed at the history our coast lines have, fishing is such a huge part of that.
You’re so lucky too Amanda living near the beach.
What a lovely post with stunning pictures. SO nice of the couple to let you guys get involved.
Thank you. It was lovely how welcoming they were.
What a wonderful experience for them, looks so peaceful there too #CountryKids
It was a perfect early morning Mary.
What a fabulous way to spend a bright September morning. I’ve always loved catching shrimp in a fishing net – but always return them to the sea and tell them to swim away fast before I swipe my net in again. What a great experience for Luce and Theo. The photos have such a magical and timeless quality to them x
That’s so cool Izzie that you’ve actually been shrimping! The couple were planning to cook there’s up for tea that day as they managed to catch quite a lot.
What beautiful photos. They look both old and new at the same time, if that makes sense.
Thank you – perhaps because its such an old tradional method of fishing.
What a great way to have spent a sunny September morning, you’ve really captured the magic of the seaside in the morning. It’s great that you managed to catch a grandfather shrimping on the shore, it’s great that he’s still doing the old fashioned way with a home made net and everything. It’s great that he let Luce and Theo get involved with his catches as well as his own grandchildren and even let them hold the crabs and fish he caught. Thanks for linking up with me on Country Kids.
I think it was rather magical for the children and the couple welcomed my two to join in.
What a beautiful post. I always get lost in your photos-they are so beautiful. 🙂 I truly know what this feels like, I grew in an island, we didn’t do shrimping but, our grandad always take us for an early morning ride on the boat. 🙂
Thank you Melody. It was a special experience for them.