Dorset :: a flying visit

Hello, hello my lovelies! Good to be back in the Attic after an unexpectedly long break, it's been half term week for us here which has meant my time has been taken up with the Littlies, oh and a home-from-work husband too. We've been quite lazy actually, staying close to home and using the time to recharge a little. We've all five of us had the same head cold, I'm the last one to get it so am just starting out but the others have been in full snot-mode all week.

But this post isn't about germs or staying home, it's about scooting up into the wide blue yonder and gazing at the clouds!

Yes, I've been away again, snook away by myself to spend a few days with my parents, much as I did in July. I booked my flight a few months ago so I've had the pleasure of looking forward to it as the weeks have passed and Summer has slipped into Autumn.

I absolutely love to travel by plane, it never fails to thrill me. The sky was beautifully clear when I flew last weekend, allowing me to spend the entire hour gazing out of the window watching the changing landscape unfolding below.

Travelling by myself is a real pleasure, it always feels like so much more than simply getting from A to B. I love the feeling of lightness and freedom it brings, stepping off the plane, walking to the nearby train station, knowing that ahead of me lies ninety minutes of pure Time Out. A time to sit quietly, sip a latté and gaze at the passing landscape. Maybe a weeny bit of hooky, or a chapter of a book. Or maybe just allowing time to drift in and out of thoughts and memories.

The train takes me to Dorchester, the "County Town" of Dorset where I indulge in some minor retail therapy and treat myself to a new necklace in the sale at a favourite shop. From Dorchester I ride by bus through the familiar patchwork of fields, waiting for the exact point when I can finally see the sea, just like I did as a child. What an enjoyable four-part journey :: car, plane, train and bus.

The following morning I wake to the sound of seagulls overhead. It's such a novel sensation to wake of ones own accord, I am so used to being pulled out of my dream-sleep by Little B calling me "Mama! Mama! Mama!" 

Mid morning and I set out walking, through Bridport town and out across the green fields to the coast. I'm headed for the harbour of course, the place I am always pulled to on any first-morning-in-Dorset. 

It's very windy at the coast, great gusts of wind whip around the small harbour, tossing the boats to and fro on the water. The sky is heavy and grey. But oh my, it is completely deeeeeeeeeeeelicious. It is wild and windy and salty and fresh and invigorating, the best Sunday morning tonic e-v-e-r. 

I am heading to my favourite cafe to meet with family, to chit and chat over coffee and a bite to eat. This is only the second time I've been to this cafe, but it has really crept into my heart and taken hold. I love love love it here. I love that the condiments are kept in bright plastic seaside buckets. I love the light and airy decor, the strings of fabric bunting, the sweet artwork on the walls, the bright splashes of vibrant colour. And I love that on this day there is an incredible bucket of fresh scarlet amaryllis sitting on the counter. It's just my kind of place, the cafe of my dreams.

We are a tad too late for the breakfast menu, so we order lunch :: I go for "griddled halloumi and roasted butternut squash skewers". I am with my family :: my Dad and his partner, my Mum and her partner, and they are quite stunned when I get out my camera and photograph my lunch before eating it. But, I say, just look at it! It's so good to look at!! The colours are stunning - golden orange and vibrant green against red and white checks! And besides, I really want to remember this delicious lunch and the best way I know of remembering is to take a photograph. I forget sometimes what an oddity it is to record life in this way. Oh, and in case you were wondering, lunch was deeeeeelicious.

After lunch we head out to take a wild and windy walk along the pier. My-my, it is AWeSoMe to experience the sea in high winds. It smashes and crashes onto the shingle beach, the very noise of it is loud and energetic and fantastic.

We venture to the very end of the pier and prepare to get a little wet as the waves splash up and over. The feel of salty sea spray on my face and the taste of it in the air is something I vividly remember from childhood. It fills me with joy, truly it does.

Evidence of the local fishing industry is piled high around the harbour.......

......and I love to see all this paraphanalia here, love to be reminded that West Bay is still an honest, working harbour at heart.

This is my Mum's cottage beside the river, and I had the pleasure of staying the night here last Sunday. When I'm down in Dorset with the rest of the family in tow it's not possible for us to sleep here as it's waaay too small. But on my own I was able to stay in the small single bedroom, and I really appreciated the quality time spent with my Mum. She is remarkably well and in good spirits these days, so hard to believe that we almost lost her in June.

Would you like to have a little peek around my Mum's place? It's an incredible little patch of rural England, I'm sure you'll love it.

See in the picture above, the painted door in the old stone wall there? Well that's actually the entrance to a secret little bit of the garden, let's go through.........

...........this is a weeny little secret garden with a small patch of grass  and a beautiful view over the river. To the left is the log store, and in front is Grandpa B's shed which he built himself entirely from recycled materials. 

To the back door now, this is where you come into the cottage.......

......you have to walk through this old lean-to before entering the cottage kitchen. I adore this working part of the cottage, love that Mum has all sorts of plants growing away in here including an olive tree and a climbing clematis which scrambles right up and across the roof.

This is a corner of the small sitting room, the walls of the cottage are very thick making for deep, cosy windowsills.

And this is the magnificent old Esse multi fuel stove. There's no central heating in the cottage, and being so close to the river makes it prone to feel cold so the stove is often lit, even in summer. It's the cosiest feeling to sit curled up on the sofa in front of the stove with a hot cuppa to hand. Add in a bit of hooky and it reaches high on my Pleasure-o-meter.

This is the little bedroom window looking out onto the field beside the river. Such a lush green view to wake up to, and I adore those curly-wurly old window latches.

I slept so soundly that night, cosied up in the little single bed with a hot water bottle in it's crocheted granny-square cover. Lovely memories.

I was away from the Attic for three nights, it was so very good of J to suggest that I take this wee break away to see my folks. He is a such a sweetheart. In some ways the time whizzed by, but in other ways it felt like I'd been away for ages. I alternated between revelling in my freedom and missing the children like mad.

When the time came, I enjoyed travelling home, I really did. J and the Little Peeps came to meet me from the airport, and I got the distinct feeling that I'd been desperately missed. I was bowled over with so many hugs and cuddles, it made me feel great!

Ahhhh I'm one Lucky Lady I'd say, such a great little family I have.

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Comments

[jackie]

Lucy loved your Mums home and really enjoy your blogs. I cant find any details of your hot water bottle cover and with Autumn on its way id love to make it! jackie

[ayu]

i really admire your mom house.i was searching for an image of 'cottage beside river' for my wallpaper and jumped here..if i were have chance to be there..:-)

[silkwaytomydream.blogspot.com]

I got to this post scrolling down the pages of your blog... As I had said many times so far, your blog is so much homely, cozy and cheering up! Wishing you and your family be happy always!!!
P.S. Ahhh.. and that "Esse" stove I got to know about now is my dream (after a fireplace);)

[Unn]

I am in love with England...and have been since our first trip in 1985...The green fields, the old villages and gardens...It's so beautiful.

[Caroline]

Ah this post makes me super nostalgic (& very jealous) as my maternal grandparents lived in West Bay when I was a child.

My sister & I were blessed to be packed off to stay with them for the full 6-week summer school holiday & often the Easter break too as our Mum had to work.

Those times were so filled with love, excitement & so much joy that your beautiful photos bought wonderful memories flooding back.

[Teegan]

Your mother's cottage is beautiful!!! I'm glad you enjoyed and got to have a little break.

[Sarah west mids uk]

Dear Lucy your photos were a delight; your words also. That cottage is wonderful! How lovely and cosy it looks. It reminded me of my Granny's
house in Christchurch near Highcliffe. As a child I thought I would meet the Famous Five on our long walks through woodland down to the beach.
It made me laugh when you said that you had taken out your camera to
photograph the meal because I did the same thing with the meal we had on Sunday.
I think you should write a column for Country Living magazine.
Busy sorting out clutter at my end, making some Christmassy stuff for school fair and hooking a crochet granny blanket.
So back to reality! Off to do a spot of housework and then have a cup
of tea. Enjoy your week.xx

[Caroline]

What a beautiful journey. I felt like I was right there with you. I know what you mean about a wonderful escape.

[angela-southern USA]

It looks like you had a grand time!Good for you.Know just what you mean,glad for the quiet time and missing Them madly the next.Your Mums home is so lovely!Love the stove.My Dad has one but not as pretty:) Thanks for the tour and sharing your get away with us:)

[WendySue]

Ah! It is bittersweet when we mothers of small children, used to juggling all the family things, get a few days to ourselves. Yes...you said it, it is liberating, but then lonely like something very important is missing (and it is) at the same time.
I LOVE the pictures of your mothers cottage. It looks wonderfully cozy! Just what I imagine a cottage in the English countryside should be. It is a hard thing to describe, that feeling we get when we are back in the neighborhood of our child memories.
Thanks again for sharing as you always do. It is always great hear about the life of someone, in a different part of the world, whom I find so much in common with.

[louise]

Hi Lucy
Nice to hear that your Mum is much better, mothers are precious. What a delightful little cottage she has. I love the thick sills, just right for sitting and crafting on.

[MJ]

Morning. I can't even remember how I got onto your page, but LOVED traveling with you to your moms home from Kentucky, USA. Thanks for sharing. It's what we think English country is. Love your crochet work. Hope when I try to duplicate I do it justice.

[Loly]

Simplemente, maravilloso ¡¡ Gracias por compartirlo.

[SOL]

I'm off to Dorset for two days on Thursday and don't know the area at all. Chesil Beach, Bridport, Dorchester - but where else should we visit? Which country places? I have no idea. Any suggestions?

[heidi]

oh how i have missed seeing you, love your photos! thanks so much for sharing... another exciting happening to add to your long list of memories! so good to see you are doing well...

[Seaweedandraine]

Mmm. Haloumi and roast pumpkin!!! Delicious. Once again you have captured the very essence of what you experienced and shared it with us. Thank you. I got to feel like I was travling the UK with you. :)
Thanks for sharing your Mum's cottage with us - it's so lovely. The garden looks so lush. It rather reminds me of parts of my childhood. :)

[Lynn]

Thanks for sharing those pictures. I love looking at how other ppl live. I'm in Florida where it is so totally different. What a great little cottage your mum has. And so happy for you that you got to visit.

[Maria]

I apologize me for the errors, I am using a translator web.
From when I have met your blog, looking for a cover to the crotchet hook, I am knowing through your photos and your pleasant stories, so many beautiful places that probably I would never have known. Seem me to know you for a long time!
Very pleasant your mother's house, however they miss the colors of your covers!

[Katie]

Lovely photos - and a great tour of your mum's wee cottage :-) Glad to hear she is doing well.

[Gill]

Wow what an absolutely cracking house! So so beautiful and that fireplace?!!
I know what you mean about living by the sea. I moved to the coast 9 years ago after living inland for over 30 years and there's no way D or I would move away from the sea now. I love the way the light and the clouds constantly change and the smell of salt and seaweed in the air. My only complaint would be that sea air and curly hair do not make the best look!

Love and stuff xx

[barb]

Thank you for sharing with us. I love your Mom's cottage, it is beatuiful. So glad you have a good time.

[Esther]

Lucy your post is beautiful, I loved it.Greetings from southern Spain.

[Maria Julia]

Beautiful post Lucy! Thanks for share it with us!

[Nikki Relffe-Arnold]

Hi again Lucy so sorry! I was trying to change my web/blog address in the your info section where we comment and it disappeared but seems to have ended up in my comment to you! Please feel free to remove - I don't seem to be able to! (am totally rubbish at this!) x

[Val]

A spot in front of that stove does look cozy indeed. I can only imagine the hours your mother must spend in front of it, all snuggled up. Does she crochet too?