Dorset Holiday :: Lazy Days

The first day of our stay in Dorset was Easter Sunday, and aside from a little Easter egg hunt for the Little People in the garden we had nothing planned. In fact the whole week was rather unplanned from the start and thats just how I like my holidays to be. No point working to elaborate schedules is there, partly as so much depends on the weather from day to day and partly because its a joy in itself to greet each day with freedom and a little spontaneity I think.

Having said that, when we're down in Dorset visiting with family, a certain amount of co-ordination does need to take place so that other family members know roughly when and where to expect us, especially around mealtimes.
I think there's also a feeling that occurs on holidays, a feeling that it's important to find the right balance between relaxing and lazing the days away (pretty essential part of a holiday) yet also making the most of one's time there.
Planning, Co-ordinating, Balancing?? Didn't know holidays could be so tricksy did you eh???
Only kidding :: in truth, our days away last week evolved and rolled along with pleasure and ease, and yes it was all quite wonderful. I was looking through the photos again earlier today and wondering how to order them, how to tell you the Holiday Story if you like, how to condense it all into three posts without boring the pants off you. I think I've got it more or less sorted in my mind, but it's taken some doing. I'm out of bloggy practice!
So any road, today I've decided to share some bits and pieces of the week that to me sum up the joys of being away from home, of being at leisure to relax and potter and well, to be a little lazy I guess.

When faced with a small pocket of time in the day to occupy oneself with something, I did love how it all panned out for our little family. For me, lazy moments inevitably entailed a great deal of hooky action :: hoozah!! J would take time to read the daily papers and the Little People chose to watch a film/colour/draw/play games/run/jump/hit things with sticks/climb/slide/mess with water/eat chocolate. Great stuff.

Did I mention that I L:O:V:E to sit in the sun and crochet when on holiday?

There were also lazy afternoons sat by the river at Mums cottage....

....admiring her flowers, drinking tea, chatting, watching trout swim.

There was also the job of supervising mini expeditions to find woodlice, and dealing with the most ferOCIOUs red-legged spiders too....

....and loving Mum/Grandma's beautifully decorative Easter basket, admittedly a little robbed of it's chocolate stash in the above photo. Woodlice-hunting and spider taming is hungry work for Little People you know.

There were lazy evenings spent in B's beautiful garden, watching the magical early evening slant of sunlight move slowly across the grass. Chilled white wine, scrummy food, chat and laughter.

There was a little lazy pottering around Bridport town too. Into various shops to buy sunglasses, toys, wine and nibbles.....

...oh, and Vintage. Of course. The precious Girls Own Store, as delightful and charming as ever.

Just a few weeny purchases into my bag look, crikey, how restrained. A Greengate tin (reduced in price due to a small dent), a dinky green and white striped jug and a little spotty Greengate dish. Pretty darn happy with those.

Ahhhh yes, more me-time, and I stroll in Magazine-Wonderland. I visit this beeeaauuuutiful home inside the pages of Homes and Antiques (May issue), and am so happy to be there. Incidentally this issue also has a fabulous article about artist Cressida Bell. Truly beautiful and inspiring.

 

Hmmm did I mention how I Love to crochet whilst on holiday?

Lazy playing by the river :: well lazy for the Big People but very industrious for the Little People. Climbing and splashing and digging and stone throwing, what fun.

A favourite bridge fondly remembered from my own childhood. Games of Poohsticks, and more layers of childhood memories are built.

 

We enjoy Essential Refreshment Stops every day in various pubs, cafes and tearooms around the environs of Bridport. Sat outside in the sun, cappuccino and home made cake to hand, feeling so utterly holidayish. Above picture is a local 17th century mill with a delightfully old fashioned tearoom within. Imagine chickens clucking around under the tables and the sound of the water wheel turning and splashing as you eat and drink.
 

And then there is a visit to my favourite cafe of all :: the Hive Beach cafe at Burton Bradstock. If you ever, ever visit this part of Dorset, you must promise me you'll go here. It's divine. In variable weather there is a very welcome tent-like addition to the back of the cafe look. So you can shelter from the elements while you sip and munch, yet still see the sea and feel outdoorsy. The carrot cake here is beyond words.

After carrot cake and cappucinno comes a spot of lazy close-up contemplation of the Chesil beach....

 

...some serious Horizon-gazing....

....and full-on appreciation of Seagulls-against-bluest-of-blue-sky.

Cor...you know what? It can be hard work being on holiday. All that lazing and gazing, sipping and munching, hooking and reading, strolling and playing. My my, and that was just on the Lazy Days!

More of the salty blue wet stuff tomorrow......

xxxxxx

Comments

[jane]

holy cow! that was a delightful hol for me, too! seeing the sights was a treat, and i love the pace. thank you, thank you!! jkj

[Linda O]

Hi Lucy,
Great photos, looks like you had a lovely restful time.
Your Mums garden looks like the ideal place for some relaxing crocheting!
And the tea rooms look great too, who could resist!!
Linda O xxx

[Sally]

Hi Lucy. Glad you had a lovely holiday - I love that part of the country. Hope you don't mind me asking you a question, but, I have purchased a lambswool jumper in a charity shop with the intent of using it like you do, to make the back of a crocheted cushion. However i'm not sure if it is best to hand stitch the crochet front to the back with wool or to stitch them together on the sewing machine. Would be very grateful for your opinion. Thanks to you I am totally hooked on crochet again and I am finding it so relaxing! Best wishes. Sally x.

[Sumea]

Hello
I was so excited to see this post, I rushed through it a bit, becuase I wanted to come and tell you how happy I am you are back. I will go and read through it a bit more slowly presently with a cup of tea. Your mums Easter basket is so pretty and heart-warming and your crochet is a work of art, gorgeous, gorgeous.
xx
sumea

[frances]

Hello Lucy,

How good to have you back in your Attic, after that marvelous time away. As always, I immediately want to visit all the spots you've shown us, the beach, the gardens, the tea shops, the Girls shop ... all of it.

Many years ago, I met Cressida Bell at an early CL magazine fair, and we fell into a long conversation about how much we both liked silk screen printing, and how it leaves your fingernails very inky.

It was much later that same day when I saw her on a panel that I realized which Bell family was hers. Lovely, talented, friendly lady. I will try to find that magazine ... most likely that issue will be in NYC in a few more weeks.

See you again soon. xo

[jackie]

Lovely.
I stayed in Charmouth once. My son had an asthma attack (due to dusty holiday cottage woolly blankets) and we ended up at the Health Centre in Bridport.

[Janette]

Looks and sounds like a lovely lovely holiday. Thought about you over Easter actually as the weather here was lovely and we spent three fantastic day trips at Heysham picnic ing on the beach collecting lots of lovely sea glass and then finishing off in the nice cafes. Must get round to posting about it but in the meantime really glad you are back for my regular colour fix.
xx

[Steph]

I love the Hive Cafe at Burton Bradstock too...although the last time we visited it was blowing a gale...so needed to warm up with hot chocolate...the kids love the real chocolate sticks to dip in ! Can't wait to return too...it was lovely to be reminded of all those familar places today too -lovely post Steph x

[Kar]

How absolutely FAB! What else could a person want other than crochet goodness, relaxing and a game of poohsticks! What a wonderful place you grew up in. Aren't the old memories wonderful mixing with the new ones?!

Have a great day Luce!!

xxxxx

[Julie]

What a lovely lazy time you had. Looking forward to the next installment.

[Girly Muse]

What a glorious time. I enjoyed the lovely pictures so much. Can I come with next time? :)

[Vera]

What a beautiful, beautiful vacation you've had! Thanks for sharing your glorious photos.

[Stacy]

Thanks for sharing your lovely holiday photos. Makes me long to go there ... or just go on holiday, period!

[Lorraine]

Your pictures are lovely and it sounds like you had a super time, doing just what you are meant to do on holdiday!

[The Antidote]

Your holiday looks so restful.
I seem to have gone from yearning for holidays in the carribean to lusting after a week in Bridport!! How did that happen?
Aren't you lucky to have a holiday home ready filled with people you love?

[Nina - Tabiboo]

Thanks for the virtual holday tour (part 1) they all look fab and some places I remember from our trip a couple of years ago.

Looking forward to parts 2 & 3!

Have a lovely evening,

Nina x

[Alessandra]

It sounds like you had a wonderful time.
Glad to have you back!

[Laura K.]

Your holiday looked like peacefulness on the eyes as well, Lucy. How I wish I could have stepped into that vintage shop with you! And sat on the patio at the old mill and gazed. Your hooky color stuff is coming along beautifully, as well. Your get away must have done you good.

[Gerda]

Dear Lucy,

your holiday looks and sounds beautiful.I guess you have had nice weather. I missed reading your blog, especially because I was working nightshifts, and when it is quiet I have time te read some. I love Pooh, I don't remember how often I've watched the videos with my children, they loved it too.
The envirement you grew up is beautiful too, but I don't like the sea that much, and certainly not in summer, when teh beaches in Holland are crowded with people.

I would like to get in contact with you because I want to send you something, ( on the moment I do crochet hexagons, thanks to you) but I don't know how. I asked Maureen (from Jikke's) but she didn't know either, she couldn't find your mail again.

I give you my mail adress: g.doze@chello.nl

And I enjoy your writings and photo's so much!

Gerda

[noelle]

it looks great, what a lovely ,lazy time for you . Great pics as usual. oh lucy could you let me know if your little house arrived, i sent it before Easter but then you were away. I hope its not got lost! x noelle x

[Anne Bebbington]

Have had Burton Bradstock recommended to us by people down here but not explored there yet - so as we're within driving distance of that part of the world I can feel an expedition coming up once the rugby season's finished - lovely photos Lucy - thanks for sharing and so glad we could arrange such glorious weather for you in the Sunny South West :o)

[Lesley]

Wonderful! I'm taking my two (not so little) people down to Lyme Regis in May - first mini-hols on our own and your post has made me really look forward to it!

[susan hall]

It all looks absolutely perfect Lucy....It makes me want to go back there soon. Isort of make the journey in reverse, its where my daughter, son in law and grandchildren live.