You might think I’m lying, but summer in Pembrokeshire has become one of my favourite things in the world.

I’ve always lived by the sea, but in a small seaside town, winters can be quiet and (sometimes) pretty bleak. Dark stormy nights become rainy grey days, the winds can be bitterly cold and no one is really about to keep you company. Seasonal jobs disappear and people either move for studying, get a job elsewhere, or simply go and travel to warmer climates until the days are long again.

A winter in Pembrokeshire isn’t all bad I promise…

But as soon as spring starts to reveal itself, it’s as if everything changes. People start to reappear, jobs pop up and the weather (usually) gets much better. From May through to September for the past two years my days have been spent on the beaches. Lifeguarding has got to be the best summer job I’ve ever had. And in-between exploring, surfing, swimming, walking the coast paths and just generally enjoying summer, lifeguarding has taken over each season.

Spending at least 8 hours a day with people can be challenging, you really do get to know each-other. But this has led to a lot of my colleagues becoming some of my best friends. You learn invaluable skills that will be helpful for the rest of your life. You stay fit and get to spend everyday on the beach and in the sea. Sometimes it’s super challenging, and that’s when you get to know yourself the best.

This summer I’ve grown a lot. And most of that has been thanks to the incredible people I work with and an office full of rips, currents and tides that change daily. As winter seems just around the corner, I’m thinking about how much has changed this summer. And how quickly the sun will be back.

Here’s a lil photo diary of my Lifeguarding summer in Pembs.

South Pembs, you’re a summer dream. Until next year ✌🏼