MERLIN'S CAVE

To the annoyance of some of the other passengers, Wilson had to wrestle his surf board into the Land Rover for the trip down to King Arthur's Castle and Merlin's Cave.

Once we arrived, to their further annoyance, he had to wrestle it out again. 

It was a surprisingly tight fit, and you'd be amazed what a  fuss some people make when they're poked round the head with a surf board...

We stood for a long time without speaking, taking in the beauty of this wild and rugged spot and listening to the cries of the wheeling seabirds and the roar of the surf breaking on the rocks below us and soaking in the atmosphere of this magical and elemental place.

At length, Wilson spoke: 'I'm a bit disappointed that King Arthur lived in a ruin,' he announced, 'and very surprised that his magician, Merlin, lived in a cave with its floor underwater!'

I raised my eyebrows and tried to maintain a neutral expression. 

He continued, 'If Merlin was such a Red-Hot, Tip Top Magician, I'd have thought he could magic himself up somewhere a bit grander to live than a wet cave. Somewhere with a dry floor, for a start. And a door. I bet Paul Daniels' house is WAY better than this!'