When I was 8 years old, my parents bought a block of land at Merricks Beach on the Mornington Peninsula, where they built a holiday house - or at least the builder did.

The house was a simple, solid construction with big windows, walls lined with bare masonite and a thatched straw ceiling.

There was a rainwater tank, a very noisy pump (that routinely startled visitors) and a tiny shower with practically no water pressure.
Across the road from the house were a number of paddocks where sheep and cows routinely grazed.

When the tide was out we could see the rock pools through our lounge room window, as we were only 5 minute's walk from the beach.

It was not long before this wonderful place became a treasured home away from home.