Dorset Holiday :: Blissful Days

 

When I compose my blog posts, they always start with the images. Always. My ideas for each post evolve directly from my photographs and I always upload all the pictures first before turning my mind to the writing. It takes quite a long time to upload photos to typepad, mainly because I am too lazy to resize them and make them smaller, so they are large, unwieldy files that have to make their way from my Attic computer through cyberspace to you.

Anyhow, this morning I wanted to tell you the story of one Blissful Day of my holiday last week, the day in my life that was Thursday 16th April. There are twentyone pictures in total which has taken me almost two hours to upload (I blog visit and email and make coffee and surf the net whilst doing this, so admittedly I get rather distracted along the way). And whilst I've been watching the images appear on screen, I've been able to re-live this particular day all over again, and it's been surprisingly emotional for me.

 

The morning started with a plan, and involved meeting family for coffee and cake at 10.30am at the Hive beach cafe (I chatted a little about this place on Wednesday). Even though the weather was quite grey and windy on this morning, the delicious coffee and cake, and time spent idling on the beach afterwards was delightful. The Little People are now at an age where they can quite happily amuse themselves for a while without adult participation, especially on a beach. There was lots of digging, stone throwing and collecting, drawing (we always take sketch pad and pens with us in the rucksack, and Little Lady spent a surprisingly looong time sat on the beach colouring a whole page in blue, which was her picture of the sea she said).

Whilst the LP were busy with their own pursuits, J and I were able to talk to each other. I don't know about you lot, but often I feel that in the bustle and humdrum of daily life at home, it becomes increasingly difficult as a couple to find time to sit and talk to each other. To talk about the way you are feeling about life, to make plans, to sort of review where you are at and where you see yourself headed if you like. Often J and I will do this on the occasions when we are out walking together, and last week, on this Thursday morning on the beach, I found I really enjoyed talking to my husband and had missed it. I remembered that I really, really like him a lot. That he is funny, thoughtful, honest and very hard working. That he has worked hard to provide us, our little family,  with a great deal of security and stability, and that he will continue to do so. And that I must never, ever take this for granted or forget how lucky I am to have him and this life of ours. And I tell him so.

 

We notice after an hour or two at the beach that the weather is brightening up considerably from it's grey start, and that blue sky is appearing. It's still windy mind you, so we make a spur of the moment plan and decide on a venue and an activity for the afternoon. We choose Eggardon Hill, and Kite flying. Eggardon hill is the site of an ancient iron-age hillfort, but I am not especially interested in the history of it. What I love about it is the height, the views, the space and the light. And the fact that it holds a great many memories for me, of my parents and grandparents (no longer with us) and the many happy childhood picnics and playtimes that have taken place here over the years. Oh, and that it is always very windy and therefore exceptionally good for kite flying up here.

 

The kite flying was a huge success. In my experience, kites can be quite unpredictable (we've had some disappointing "bad flyers" over the years) and this was the first outing for this little kite as it had been sitting under a little pile of dust in the cellar for quite some time. I came across it still unused and in it's packet when I was  busy gathering blankets and boots, balls and spades and packing up the car ready for the journey to Dorset. And now looking at these pictures and remembering the joy of this simple afternoon on the hilltops, I am so glad I did.

 

As a child I used to adore kites, and can so remember the feeling of exhilaration when ones kite actually does work and does lovely simple kitey things like going up and staying up and following you as you walk it along on it's string. Its magical! And the Little People really, really had a lot of fun with this kite. Doesn't it look stunning against the blue of the sky? Mmm mmm!

 

When we begin to tire of looking skywards, we stroll on further across the hilltop. It's hard to capture the true scale of Eggardon on camera :: the expanse of the sky and the surrounding panoramic views is awesome. One of the things I love most of all is to sit and watch the dark shadows move across the vast hillsides, the shadows made by the clouds themselves. Love that.

J and I spread a blanket and sit on top of this ancient ridge to drink hot tea from a flask while the LP do their thing. Their "thing" here involved chaotic frisby throwing, interspersed with running up and down the steep grassy slopes and some rather speedy roly-polying. It was exhausting watching them, how is that small children can find sooooo much energy in their little bodies?

 

This last photo above of the view across the valley was taken at 4pm just as we were preparing to head back. We had a table booked at a small local Thai restaurant at 6pm :: I remember thinking then that this day was shaping up to be truly fabulous, and yet I did not know at 4pm that the best was still to come....
 

The meal out was wonderful, quite a treat. The food was fantastic, the children very well behaved in such a small intimate restaurant. While us adults enjoyed spicy Thai curry, they happily tucked into prawn crackers and chicken satay sticks with a peanut dip (their first experience of Thai food, and was declared YuMmY-can-we-have-it-again).

We come out of the restaurant at 7.30pm or thereabouts, and step into an unexpectedly glorious early evening light. So instead of heading back to the house, we make a spontaneous decision to go for a walk instead, to extend the day so to speak.

 

I know exactly where I want to go :: a little known patch of land a few miles out of Bridport called Eype Down. Park the car in a  layby just off a quiet deserted country lane at the foot of the down and begin climbing. Up, up across the steep grassy slopes  which in a  few weeks time will be a glorious shade of bluebell blue. As we get near the brow of the down, we catch the setting sun streaming over the horizon, the quality of the light at this time of day is breathtaking.

 

Long shadows (that's mine above), and golden light, I am thrilled by the beauty of it all and feel fit to burst.

Eventually after some climbing we reach a point where the coast is visible. We see the flat top of high Golden Cap, the little village of Seatown nestled down underneath it, and the milky sea under the golden sky.

 

Words cannot describe how amazing all this makes me feel. This landscape and light, this freedom and exhileration of being out at this time of day when normally we would be indoors and therefore missing it all. Hope that doesn't sound too soppy? Or over dramatic, haha, yes maybe it does but what the heck!

The Little People are caught up in my excitement, they do NOT want to go back because they know it is really their bedtime, yet here they are in the midst of the countryside, running around and eating chocolate :: what fun!

 

So we make another spontaneous decision :: we decide not to go back and put pyjamas on just yet, but to walk back down the down (!) to the car and drive the mile or two to the sea. Just for the joy of it. Shall we? Yes, lets do it!

It is 8:20pm when we arrive at Eype beach and the fishermen are just setting up for the night. Another family with excited children is collecting driftwood to make a beach fire.

 

The colours in the sky are amazing, incredible and I am trying not to cry with the pleasure of it all, it seems so emotional for me somehow! I'm quite sure I'm not normal, I become  so affected by little things all the time it seems.

 

We settle down on the beach to watch the day draw to a close, and there is a chill in the air now. Luckily I have my faithful knitted blankets (remember them?) to keep me warm and I feel so happy, snug, content. I am so very in-the-moment, you know?

The sky slowly, slowy changes colour and begins to darken.

 

The Little People are beside themselves with excitement. I think as adults, we forget how rarely young children get to stay up beyond 8pm and venture outdoors to witness the close of day :: it's normally a time for being home, locking the door, drawing the curtains shut and preparing for bed. And so when it does happen, it holds a great deal of unexpected excitement.

 

As you can see, they are, quite simply, loving it.

 

Loving every minute. And quite rightly so.

As the temperature falls, J and Little Man (who are too manly to snuggle under knitted blankets it seems) retreat back to the car to warm up. Little Lady and I wrap ourselves up in the wooly, blankety warmth, snuggle down together on our backs and keep watch for the first stars to appear. We spot the first ones twinkling just before 9pm. And it seems to be a signal that it's time to end our day and head back.

As I recount this story to you today, I realise with a start that for me, this particular day in my life was as near to Perfect as I could ever ever hope for. Time spent with family in a beautiful and much-loved little corner of the world, enjoying the moments unfold from early morning through to night. It was a day I didn't want to end. It made me feel so profoundly Complete in a way that is incredibly hard to describe.

I loved the day because it was so simple. Because the pleasure came from love and laughter and relaxation, from good food and company, from the land and sea and the elements, from simple pleasures. Good coffee. Cake. The sounds of waves breaking on the shore. Of being high up and enjoying a view. Of Kite flying. Of sunsets, warm blankets and starry skies.

So simple to find happiness, it is right there to be had, in the small moments of each day. All you have to do is hold yourself in those moments, and cherish them.

xxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Soila]

Thank you for these pictures!
I have been reading your blog from the beginning for some time now and came to this post on a particularly trying day. These images brought little oases of calm and beauty into a difficult day.

[Tamsyn g]

What an amazing day, it was like we were there with you every step, your photos are beautiful. Such wonderful memories you have captured. Really makes me want to get out with my camera, especially now all the blossom is starting to appear. x

[esther]

Oh my, I was in tears at the end. Such a poignant reminder to enjoy, to let the kids stay up every now and then, to be shaken (in the best of ways) by such lovely things ... look at me, i'm going to cry over a blog post, for goodness sake! :)

[Mary]

I have been following your blog for some time, but have never left a comment. I skimmed your entry on West Bay last week as I was visiting for a long weekend. I have arrived home today having had a glorious time with my extended family. I just wanted to tell you I could NOT resist the urge to roly poly down the beach!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful insight and photos.

[Kerry (seventy tree)]

Such beautiful pictures. What a perfect day...just the kind of day that I would find perfect too.

[Yvonne]

Thank you so much for allowing me a glimpse into your perfect day. It sounds idyllic and I know so much what you mean when you say it brings about a completeness in you. My little people are not so little now and I cherish each and every moment that we can spend together. I feel that completeness as we settle down to a meal together and there is laughter, conversation and togetherness *sigh*...

Keep making memories, they are the greatest thing that you can do for your little people.

Love Yvonne x

[Amy]

You live in such a beautiful country! I would love to go and visit there one day! Such an amazing country side!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful day with the world!

[vintagerockchick]

What a wonderful post - if only everyone could take such pleasure from life!

[BeBe]

Wow

BeBe in Florida

[Tracey]

Thankyou xox

[LYnne]

Hi Lucy,
I enjoyed reading this post.
I too start with the photos and they dictate what I write. Athough I may have thought I knew what I was going to write, the photos can change it.
Your thoughts about children being tucked away at the close of day was an interesting one. I mentioned it to my husband and he wondered whether that's why we often are afraid of the dark.
Thank you for your lively posts.

[Lisa]

Loving all the Pictures!!!!! Beautiful, thanks for sharing....:)

[libbyw]

Oh wow... you certainly have a way with words and with photos. It does indeed sound like the perfect day. Thanks so much for sharing it was us.

Libby

[Alessandra]

what a great post, thank you.

[Judith]

You had such a lovely day, in fact it was perfect. The pic's are wonderful thanks for taking us with you.

[Alice C]

It was a privilege to share it with you - thank you.

[Lucy]

Lovely pictures, wonderful descriptions. Such a precious day. Glad you had a great holiday, but glad you're home too! Lucy xx

[Janneke]

Hi Lucy,
Despite the beautiful pictures you show us from Dorset, we (a dutch family of 3) decided to go to Yorkshire this year for summerholiday ! And now i remember you once told us (and showed us) about the "hostels" you sometimes stay in...i would like more about those...do you know if there is a central (e-mail)adress where i could get inquiries ??
Hope it is not to rude to ask you for this !!
Thank you for helping me out :)
Greetings from the Netherlands.
Janneke.

[Wendy]

After reading your beautifil post yesterday I had to hunt this out for you. I was given it about 20yrs ago when my kids were tiny.
Its a recipe for a blissful day...

PRESERVED CHILDREN
Ingredients:
1 Large Grass Field
½ Dozen Children
2 or 3 Dogs
Some Pebbles
A Few Drops Of Brook
A Handful Of Flowers

Method:
Mix children and dogs together
Place them in a grass field, stirring occasionally
Pour the brook over the pebbles
Sprinkle the field with flowers
Spread over a blue sky
Bake in hot sunshine
When well browned, remove to a bath tub

Hope you like it
Love Wend xxx

[Margaret]

I enjoyed sharing your wonderful day - thank you for the invitation. I'm not a 'blogger' but I do enjoy your fantastic look at life and the amazing colours which brighten the day. I'm off now to join up some granny squares!!

[Julie]

Now that's why this is my all time favourite blog - and why I look forward to turning on the computer every day, to see if there is a fresh attic24 post - it always makes my day when there is but this one is one of the stand out ones, to be returned to, re-read and savoured whenever a pick-me-up is required. Thank you for sharing it all with us, and showing us how vital it is to appreciate what is happening in our lives. xx

[jeane]

amazing twilight, thank you for sharing. as always, love can be so simple.

[Angie]

Heartfelt thanks....and tears of joy at such perfection. Cherish this wonderful memory. Your LP have a new one to add to their collection!

[Marian Edwards]

Thank you for sharing your magically blissful day with us, Lucy...i felt every minute of it through your beautiful photos and heartfelt words :)

[july]

What a moving post Lucy,you brought me to tears! How a beautiful day spent with your love ones can have a wonderful effect on your happiness and wellbeing.Like you said,its the simple pleasures in life that are most memorable! July x