I couldn't resist squeezing in one more trip to the coast with the two younger boys and dog in tow. We stayed overnight and enjoyed a swim in the sea at dusk. We were just about the only people on the beach and the sunset was spectacular.

A farmer was combining on the cliff top and the wonderful aroma of harvesting wafted down onto the sand – it was a very special few hours.

Family memories are made of moments like these.

The next morning, we took the dog for a stroll along the prom. There was a strong high tide sending waves crashing over the walkway and I had visions of the dog being swept out to sea. Just as I bent down to put her back on her lead, a huge wave smashed against the sea wall and completely drenched me and the boys. All we could do was laugh.

We nearly had another wet moment on Hickling Broad. Since our Easter holiday in the Lake District, our middle son has been obsessed with boating. We've even discussed the merits of buying him a little rowing boat of his own, but the practicalities of where to keep it and how to transport it have cropped up.

So on one of our trips to the coast, we stopped off at Hickling Broad to hire a rowing boat for an hour. Thankfully the husband was with us on this occasion, otherwise we might have ended up with another soaking. We had loaded up the hire boat – parents, boys and dog – and headed out into the centre of the broad, middle son in charge of the oars.

With half our alloted time up, we turned the boat around to head back to the jetty – and then our problems began. The wind buffetted us one way and the other – it was difficult to maintain a straight course – and every time a sailing boat whooshed by, its wake would send our little boat into a spin. Our exhausted oarsman finally agreed to let his father take over. It took a while, but we eventually got safely back to shore.

Now back on dry land and with our summer holiday adventures over with for another year, it's back to the daily grind for all of us. That's life!