THE school summer holidays have begun! And so far the weather has been lovely and sunny.

I decided to make the most of it and headed to Alexandra Gardens amusements at the southern end of the Esplanade, opposite the beach.

I tried out some of the exciting rides there, including the carousal, and then I spotted trampolines over on the beach. I couldn’t resist having a go, seeing how high I could leap.

After a quick rest and an ice cream to recover, I made friends with one of the lovely donkeys that give rides up and down the beach.

That left a paddle and some sand sculpting as the perfect way to finish off my day on the beach.

Joke time: Why don’t they allow elephants on the beach?

Because they can’t keep their trunks up! Where do ghosts like to swim?

The Dead Sea!

What did one eye said to the other eye?

It said: “Between you and me, something smells.”

What’s got four legs and one foot?

A bed!

Postbag: Happy birthday: Jay Trickett, eight on July 31, Johnny-Jay Rowe, four on Aug 1, Amy Hartley, five on Aug 2, Owen Hartley, five on Aug 2, Nathan Lang, six on Aug 4, Kodi O'Shea, seven on Aug 5, Sunshine James, six on Aug 5, Alexander Hamilton, six on Aug 5, Ella F Bailey, eight on Aug 6, Brennan Dyke, five on Aug 6