At Blackpool they would have turned blue, at Torquay their teeth would have chattered, and at Skegness their skin would have been covered in goose bumps, but in Tenerife there was a morning rush to Los Cristianos beach to celebrate Christmas Day in a very British fashion.

It was hot and sunny, whoa before you envy us too much, the previous day had been plagued by a calima, and dust from the Sahara was still hanging in the air. Oh yes we do suffer a bit, well not that much, but we were free of sprouts and up to our armpits in sausage rolls, mince pies, and yummy cakes. Converging on the beach is a tradition started by “swallows” the affectionate term for the elderly Brits who fly south to Tenerife each winter to escape the cold. In recent years other age groups and nationalities have embraced the custom, there were well over 100 setting up small tables and chairs along the quayside wall and down on the sand.

Wine, Cava, and fizzy plonk corks popped as paper plates and napkins were handed out. It´s all very organised and the costumes get more bizarre and extravagant every year. Sun worshippers and sea bathers flocked across the beach to see what all the commotion was about, and many stayed to join in the fun. Suitably watered, it was time to strike up the Christmas carols, song sheets had of course been printed out and distributed. The show stopper is always the long drawn out rendition of The Twelve Days Of Christmas, complete with smaller groups surging forward to illustrate their chosen day, the choreography is worthy of Strictly Come Dancing.

Seagulls were taking detours to swoop over and have a look, a helicopter sweeping the skies came back for several takes, and the ferry boats serving the other Canary Islands, tooted their approval. It´s always a great chance to catch up with people and to appreciate the beauty and diversity of Tenerife life. As time ticked over into early afternoon, people started to melt away to pre arranged meals with family and friends. All very impressive but you should see what happens on the same stretch of coast for New Years Eve…