Northumberland :: part I

Now before I begin my holiday waffles, can I just first of all say a big thank you for all your warm welcome-home messages on yesterdays post. I truly appreciated it, made me feel better in amidst all the boring bits of dirty domesticity yesterday which very nearly had me in a heap. ((thank you))

So :: Holiday Tales for the rest of this week, I hope I'm not going to send you off yawning, I'm always a little wary of blabbering on about holidays as it's not everyones cup of tea I know. I've managed to organise my snaps into three parts, so today, without further delay, I give you Part I :: in which we Potter Around the Local Environs of Craster.

 

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you will know about this place already as it has become a familiar part of our Summer. We've been staying in the teeny-tiny village of Craster since 2005 when the Little People were just Little Tots, and have come to love it dearly. This was our third year staying in the very same house in Craster too, the little white house called Driftwood at the end of the row there, with it's quirky charms and the most stunning sea views. The house was as warm, cosy and welcoming as we had remembered it to be, the garden was in full flower and full of fluttering butterflies, and the sound of the sea just a few metres away was oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh just fabulous.

The weather in Northumberland last week was mixed. There were two quite wet days, which was kind of to be expected really :: we still ventured out on the wet days, made the best of them, and in a way it did serve to make us apreciate the dry days even more. And yes, there were some dry days too, some terrifically warm, hot, glorious sunny summer days, and oh we did enjoy those to the full!

When in Craster, one can really, seriously Potter, and oh my goodness, there's not a lot I enjoy more than a jolly good Potter by the Sea. In fact, Pottering around Craster is a real delight. There is not a lot here in the way of facilities, amusements or attractions, yet this little fishing harbour is hugely charming and offers up the simple pleasures of holidaying by the sea. Strolling leisurely about, breathing in the salty, smoky air, watching the little fishing boats coming and going, searching for shells on the little beach and sea creatures in the rockpools, admiring the little fishermans cottages with their seasidey gardens and generally just breathing it all in.

This year, the mermaid statue had been moved from her position down by the harbourside where she used to nestle beside the boats, and she was now proudly up on her own grassy bank with her very own beautiful floral boat. We walked past her most days to say hello, en route to the playground swings or the tiny harbour beach or the Fishermans Arms.

We Pottered in Craster at all times of day :: sometimes for early morning rockpooling, sometimes for a post-dinner stroll along the breezy cliffs, sometimes on a quest for an afternoon icecream or a lunch time pint of beer. It was always leisurely, relaxed, fun and happy :: the true essence of Summer Holidays.

 

The little front gardens belonging to the row of cottages around the harbour never fail to delight me. They contain a mix of old lobster pots, bleached wooden benches and dinky little wooden gates, pebbles and driftwood and rambling flowers that makes my heart squeeze. I just love the slightly chaotic nature of them, the fact that most of them verge on being quite unkempt, yet they look so beautiful to me.

I especially love this flower which grows vigorously in almost every seaside place I know. It's called Valerian and to me is a real reminder of summertimes spent by the sea.

There was lots of it growing in the back garden of Driftwood, and day after day it was a magnet for dozens of butterflies. It self-seeds freely and can happily grow out of walls and rocks, so I am guessing it's quite hardy. I managed to collect some seeds from the garden and am hoping, hoping, hoping I might be able to successfully cultivate some valerian in my own Yorkshire garden. If the seeds don't work out, I think I'll have to splurge and buy myself a plant or two.

Being so close to the sea is a thrill I never tire of, I am a real sea-junkie. And staying at Driftwood gave me a daily dose of sea-fix in such large quantities that at times it was quite overwhelming. As you probably know by now, I am fascinated by the weather and the skies, whether at home or on holiday. It gives me huge pleasure to observe the changing light and colours and I love the overall connection with nature that sky-watching brings.

In Craster, well Northumberland in general, the skies are huuuuuuuuuge. Great uninterrupted expanses of them overhead, and much of my time at Driftwood was spent gazing out of the open window. Some days the weather was really extraordinary. It would be quite bright and sunny in Craster, yet out at sea we could clearly see a big rainstorm was on it's way. This made for some of the most amazing rainbows I have ever seen :: huge, bright, perfect arcs of colour above the horizon.

The rainbows were so big that I couldn't photograph the whole of them, only the end bits which touched down into the sea. But oh, they were glorious! The two pictures above were taken on two different afternoons...in the second picture, you might just be able to make out the two figures walking round the harbour :: Little Man wearing his bright red raincoat and J in blue. Me and Little Lady were content to stay warm and dry and watch out the window.

And then there were the early morning skies too. Oh. My. Goodness. Such beauty. And such colour!

To open ones eyes in the early morning (we slept with the curtains and windows wide open) to this view was something that really, really gave me the heebie jeebies. Words cannot describe.

Our summer holiday this year was everything we hoped it would be. Each year we visit, we notice our Little People growing bigger, walking further, exploring more, and I am very aware that they are now at an age where their memories will stick and last. I just love the thought of our little seaside holidays being woven into their precious Childhood.

Well, thank you so much for sharing with me, it's been wonderful to have your company. Please do drop by for part II tomorrow, in which we Explore All Things Beachy and Seasidey.

See you then.....

xxxxxx

Comments

[Nina - Tabiboo]

'Ahhhhhh' deep breath...

...beautiful pictures Lucy and captured soooo perfectly. Such a joy to take in.

Northumberland is a place on our list to visit one day and you've sold it so well - perfect.

Have a lovely day,

Nina x

[lucy]

Ah Lucy it looks perfect. What precious memories your little ones will have.
My two love going back to the same place every Easter. I thin they actually think it is our house - I wish!

[noelle]

Lovely pictures. I have not been to Northumberland, but it looks lovely,thanks for sharing. x

[Jackie]

Beautiful pictures Lucy ~ Craster looks a wonderful place to have a holiday and there is nothing better than childhood memories filled with lovely seaside holidays :O)

[Alison Hutchison]

Thanks for sharing Lucy. Beautiful piccies and wonderful memories I am sure. Enjoy the last few days with the little people xx

[Caroline W]

Hi Lucy, wow! amazing pictures, Craster looks like a lovely unspoilt spot, thank you for brightening up my morning as I sit at kitchen table with my cuppa looking out at the rain here in the West of Ireland, Caroline

[Anna-Karin, Sweden]

Beautiful!! It really looks like you had a wonderful time there!
Anna-Karin xxx

[Isabelle (France)]

Fantastic! I feel your heebie jeebies just looking at the pictures!
Lucky people who live by the sea...
Isabelle

[Sarah - Jane down the lane]

Hi Lucy,

Thanks so much for your lovely comment on my blog, I was all brimming over with pleasure at receiving it!
I cant get enough of holiday shots! as you will have noticed from my witterings, tee hee!
I really love Northumberland as I grew up over the border in County Durham. It was lovely to come along to Craster with you. Looking forward to beachy things tommorrow,
Sarah x

[MiA]

Wonderful pictures!

[Marie]

Lovely pictures, especially the rainbows and sunrise, very uplifting. Thanks!

[Janette]

hi Lucy, Your pictures are wonderful. We were in Northumberland at the beginning of August just up the road at Bamburgh,went to Craster for a day out and to smell the lovely smokey air, loved everywhere we went up there actually. It was amazing. Can't wait till next year when we go back there again. I absoulutely agree with you it is a wonderful wonderful part of England.

[Fiona]

It looks absolutely stunning. I'm sure your children will remember their summers forever. I'm also a sea junky. We were lucky enough last week to be just a few minutes walk from the Dorset cliff tops and with a view from our tent over Swanage in the distance with the sea expanding behind it and the Isle of Wight in the very far distance. Getting up in the morning to that was such a joy so I can understand how your wonderful view made you feel. Looking forward to tomorrows holiday installment.

[noelle]

oh Lucy, forgot to say, thanks for showing the card i sent you on your blog before you went away. I thought you would like it. I have a 'little house' giveaway over at mine this week if you're interested! xx noelle

[Dawn]

What a wonderful time you had at "Driftwood", you made me feel as if I had been there with you. I don't think your littlies will ever forget your holidays.
Wonderful photos.I love the coast.
I just love reading your blog.

[Martha]

Just gorgeous!! Thanks for letting us travel vicariously through you!
Hope all that laundry is coming along! :o)

[aqeela]

One thing i notice in blogland is that we all have different perceptions of things which one would think everyone had the SAME perception of. I notice how you use the term heebie jeebies as a feeling of excitedness and overwhelm, but i always thought heebie jeebies meant fear, illness, discomfort. So 2 completely different perceptions there! Just something i noticed thats all!
Love your holiday posts, they dont get boring, its the way you tell the stories, you could talk about the most boring thing in the world and id still read it!
Aqeela xx

[The Curious Cat]

Stunning sunset photos! Sounds like you had the quintessential british summer holiday! I'd love to go to Northumberland. My friend lives there and I've been meaning to go for some time now - it sounds rugged and beautiful and I love the sound of large skies - you don't often find that in the UK down south...

[Sunitha]

I can feel the holiday spirit, the weather and the saltiness of the sea when I am reading the post. The photographs especially of the sun rise in the horizon is too good...inspires me to a sky watcher too. The flower boat fascinates me no end. Wonderful!

[cathleen]

Awwwww....and now my heart is 'squeezing' from the aching beauty of your seaside photos.

[ipukris]

It' s so lovely that you are back and letting us to share your life!

[Tracy]

Lucy, it is always such a delight to visit. I love the mix of photos you have chosen to give the flavour of your holiday and the happy story that they tell.

[Brianna]

Looks like you had a stunning time. Been there myself and it's a dream!

[Carole]

Hi Lucy, the pics are lovely. Can`t wait to see the rest. Will have a brew at the ready lol!
Lv Carole from Rossendale xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Judy]

Your pictures are always so beautiful. What a beautiful place to take a holiday.