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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Hi Lucy, fab post as always. Am so glad your Mum is continuing to improve :-) I love that she has a secret garden at her cottage and that toasty little stove is adorable!
Nikki
Www.lifeathollycottage.wordpress.com
Posted by: Nikki Relffe-Arnold | October 31, 2011 at 05:55 PM
This is my beautiful neck of the woods and I always photograph my meals too! :)
Posted by: idiosyncraticeye | October 31, 2011 at 05:35 PM
There's no place like home, be it your own or someone elses. Your family live in a beautiful place. It's good to read that mum is doing so well and healing nicely.
Posted by: Julie | October 31, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Little B and Grandpa B, do they share name or is it a coincidence? That wave/beach picture was lovely.
Posted by: vildkatten | October 31, 2011 at 04:18 PM
Glad you enjoyed your little break Lucy, a few days break is always a welcome time to recharge and how nice to spend quality time with your parents. It must be such a relief to see your mum back to health after such a worrying time. Lovely pictures as always, take care, K xx
Posted by: Kate | October 31, 2011 at 04:09 PM
What a lovely post, you have a fantastic way with words, I love that little cottage.
Posted by: Mrs Pirate | October 31, 2011 at 03:55 PM
I want to live in your Mum's house. It looks so cosy and unspoilt! I saw a similar house for sale in the Ulverston area and must say it reminded me of something. I know now it was the previous photos you have shown of your Mum's cottage. Is the cottage safe from flooding from the river?
Loved your aerial photos. Next time try taking photos a good few miles from landing, see if you can see the shadow of the plane on the ground. Keep taking pictures, following the plane's shadow getting larger. I did it by accident and the last shot was great, it was in the local paper.
The cafe is just my favourite type - happy, colourful and unpretentious!
Posted by: Anne Marie | October 31, 2011 at 03:47 PM
So glad to hear that your mum is well. All the photos are amazing, thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | October 31, 2011 at 03:32 PM
I love, love, love your mum's cottage. I felt like I was really there, and soo would have loved to be.
I'm glad that your mum is doing well.
Posted by: Annie | October 31, 2011 at 03:11 PM
What gorgeous photos of your trip, Lucy. I LOVE your mum's cottage -- the picture in front of the fire is oh-so-cozy. Glad you were able to get away and get home safely.
Posted by: del | October 31, 2011 at 02:49 PM
how lovely! love your mum's cottage, so warm and cozy and pretty! Thanks for sharing your little journey!
Posted by: Bonnie | October 31, 2011 at 02:02 PM
Oh, your language and the way you express yourself make me miss England. I am a Texan who now has a son, daughter-in-law and a grand daughter (+ another grand daughter on the way) in Thetford. We visit England as often as we can. Thank you for the delightful posts! And your crochet designs are brilliant!
Posted by: Jill | October 31, 2011 at 01:53 PM
Your mum's home looks lovely, I'm so glad she is felling better. How nice that you could have a few days away.
Posted by: Jo | October 31, 2011 at 01:28 PM
your mum's place is beautiful, such an amazing place to grow up in. i wish i grow up in such a nice place like that, so much greenery around and i bet there is never a dull moment! glad you enjoyed your little break and glad to hear you mum is better.
Posted by: devinder | October 31, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Love this post. Everything really beautiful. And of course the best is your family cottage. So much to see in this world and so little time and money. Thanks for the pictures it is a nice way of knowing other places. I am glad you enjoyed your family reunion. For me family is most important.
Posted by: Ana | October 31, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Like your Dorset posts best of all - possibly my favouritest part of Britain. Glad your mum is doing so well.
Posted by: Cybele | October 31, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Wow. Beautiful Lucy - lucky duck!
Posted by: Jo | October 31, 2011 at 12:03 PM
I always feel like I've been on the most delightful trip when I read your lovely posts on Dorset. And I absolutely adore your tour of "Mum's cottage." I have to read that again. Such quiet charm and the warm Esse... I just love it.
Posted by: Christina | October 31, 2011 at 12:03 PM
que hermoso e increible lugar, me encantan las zonas rurales :)
Saludos Alita
Posted by: Alita | October 31, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Thank you for your lovely photos!
Manuela
Posted by: manuela | October 31, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Oh Lucy! As always you have lifted my spirits up! Your pictures are beautiful! I am so happy that you had time to R&R but I missed you here!
I wanted to thank you for your ripples tutorial. I followed it to make my baby blanket and it came out just perfect.
You are the best! Welcome back!
bisoudisou
Posted by: Disou | October 31, 2011 at 11:04 AM
So grateful to be able to enjoy this with you.
Julia Crossland's paintings remind me of Dorset, guess that shows how good she is!
Love all the photos of your Mum's cottage and that beautiful stove/heater...it looks like a postcard!
Posted by: Kay Guest | October 31, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Yes… family is a divine treasure! glad it was fun!
I am off to Madrid soon and that is a nice short flight. I am off with my eldest, nice time "mum and son".
I fly to Chile quite often and that is a looong fight, not pleasant (unless you are in first class, of course!). 20 hour flying plus all the extra hours going to the airport and waiting at the airport. Add that 2 children! Jajaja.... still, Is Chile in the end and that is a perfect place! :P
Regards, saludos. :D
Posted by: Lorena Sonido Retro! | October 31, 2011 at 10:19 AM
Must have been good taking a trip home under nicer circumstances, glad your mum is doing well now. I too get mocked for taking photos of my food, everywhere we go. However, not when i'm with my mum as she does it too!! x
Posted by: Claire | October 31, 2011 at 10:05 AM
OMG!!! those pics are simply awesome and i dreamed about being there too!!!
Thanks!
Posted by: Happybee | October 31, 2011 at 09:38 AM