Dorset Spring 2012 :: days 5&6

:: DAY 5 ::

Weather report ~ warmish, but grey and overcast with frequent rain showers.

Day 5 was to be different to the other days in that we decided to split into Team Boy and Team Girl and go to different places. It was a plan made in heaven and sprinkled with happy dust as far as I was concerned.

Team Boy were destined for Bere (a small place just over the border in Devon), more specifically the delights of Pecorama which consists of a model railway exhibition plus excellent Boyish miniature steam train running through landscaped gardens.

Team Girl would be dropped off en route to Bere to carry out Girlish pursuits, more specifically the delights of Lyme Regis which consists of shops, galleries and cafés all with sea views and feel-good.

I wrote about my love affair with Lyme Regis a couple years ago, and my fondness has even grown since then I think. I really, really (like r-e-e-e-e-e-a-l-l-y) love Lyme Regis. A lot. A very lot. It pleases me on so many levels, ticks so many of my happy boxes, that it never ever fails to deliver huge dollops of pleasure. Simply pootling round the streets is heaven, they're so damn pretty and full of charm!

And the possibilities it holds for Retail Therapy is just wonderful. There are some truly unique and beautiful little shops and galleries, full to bursting with unique and beautiful objects. The Coombe Street Gallery was the very first shop we went into, and it was such a treat. Little Lady is a fantastic shopping companion I have to say, we had great fun looking at things together, chatting and exclaiming over so many delightful finds.

I love how gorgeous the shop fronts are in Lyme, it makes the whole town look incredible. So much style and colour everywhere you look.

This was the window display in one of my favourite shops, Ruby Rockcake. Wow, I really felt at home in here. It was full of an amazing selection of retro styled products, quite a bit more funky and colourful than your average vintage shop. I first read about Ruby Rockcake on a lovely blog called JellyJam, you can read the post here and see more beautiful pics of the shop's interior. Caroline...if you are reading this, I ADORED your shop, and will definitely be back again, most probably to try and move in.

After all this retail excitement and a lovely spot of coffee'n'cake, we headed up to the top of town to go find my good friend M. She was finishing up a spot of work in her beautiful studio (she's a knitwear designer), located down this really incredible, pretty little back street.

Isn't this just the most picturesque little street?

Pretty cottages and gorgeous gardens......

....and views out over the rooftops. It was all so yummy, a real feast for the eyes.

After a lovely, chatty lunch at a place called Pasty Presto (delicious), we wandered down to the seafront to rendezvous with Team Boy who had finished doing train things. By all accounts they had a fabulous time and were ready to join us in a bit of seaside pootling and icecream eating.

It was unusually quiet down at the beach, but then the weather was quite stormy with frequent short bursts of rain, so not exactly beachy weather really.

But it was as lovely as ever, and we enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the seafront and round the wall of the Cobb.

You can just see the end part of the old Cobb wall to the right there...go and have a peek at this beautiful aerial view and you'll get a great impression of how the cobb walls form the sheltered harbour.

More boaty loveliness, I can never get enough of Boaty Views.

It really was gorgeous on this afternoon. Not perfect weather (we kept getting wet) but still a beautiful day to be beside the sea.

Now after all that sublime coastal scenery, I'm going to leave day 5 with a heap of seaside plastic. What fun this shop display was! I was thrilled to see a huge giant version of my own backyard windmills, and I wish you could've heard Little B's excited exclamations over it too, so sweet.

:: DAY 6 ::

Weather report ~ warm and lovely, blue skies, fluffy clouds and sunshine.

Day 6, our last day. We weren't going to leave till 5pm or thereabouts so we had most of the day to say goodbye to everyone and everything. The day started early with Little B waking just after 5am, so I left him snuggling in bed with J and came downstairs for a little early morning quiet time. I love to crochet in the early mornings whilst on holiday, the light is golden and the sweet sound of bird song fills my ears. I sit in the old chair beside the patio doors with them open just a smidge..enough to let in the sound of the birds and the scent of still wet grass and earth.

I took the May issue of Country Living magazine with me to read whilst on hols, wowsers, what delight in those pages! I loved the decorating spread based on "Retro Revival, and it struck me how similar my current yarn selection is. The teal blue with the mustardy yellow, the slightly purplish grey tones with the orangey pink thrown in.

There was reference made to some Fired Earth paint colours (their mid-century collection), and yes, I can see that I have kind of fallen into this palette by accident. I am just missing a good deep burnt orange and a slightly mucky olivey green.

Actually, I went to pay a visit to Bridports new wool shop on day 6 (what a gorgeous experience that was! See some pics of it here, it's a slice of pure yarny heaven)...and picked up two extra colours of the Rico Merino to try and fill the orange/green gap. Not quite sure about them yet but we'll see (for reference, I added in orange colour 73, and khaki colour 46, although they won't be in my cushion)

After breakfast, we decided to go and have a short farewell trip to the sea and there followed a short, sharp debate over which bit of sea we should visit. Burton? Eype? West Bay? I'm happy to say that my choice won out, and back to West Bay we went. It was the most beeeeeeautiful morning, warm and sunny with the wind finally down to a mere light breeze.

It was only just after 9am when we arrived, we parked the car right on the promenade (my idea, as there is an amazing coffee place right there where I knew I could get me a carry-out to accompany my beach session). 

The Little People each had a spade and went off to the small patch of sand to dig, dig, dig (you can just see them in the above pic). I sat my bottom on the warm steps that lead down from the promenade to the beach and indulged all my senses. The taste of hot milky coffee, the feel of the smooth stones in my fingers, the sight of the blue-meets-blue horizon, the sound of seagulls and waves rolling into shore, the scent of fresh coffee intermingled with salty seaweed.

I looked up, down, and all around. All was beautiful and content in my world. Happiness washed over me.

I watched my Little Boy (see him above there?) toddling about with his blue spade, picking up pebbles, collecting things, throwing things, so happy in his own sweet world. And I thought for the umpteenth time...WOW. I have THREE children. Not two, but THrEe of these incredible little things. It appears I am still astounded by this fact, still amazed that we have become a family of five. I wonder, will this amazement ever evaporate?

I tell you, I so did not want to leave that beach, I felt like my very soul had taken root in the shingle. My feet did not want to walk away. But......we had packing to do, a family lunch to be present at, dear loved ones to bid farewell to. And then a long 300 mile journey to make home.

On Sunday morning back here in Yorkshire, the weather was bright and sunny and we set out early to go and walk along the riverside. I put on my fleece to keep the chill off, and when I put my hands in my pockets I pulled out a small handful of collected beach treasures. Souvenirs from a fabulous holiday beside the sea.

Not the only treasures to come home with me mind you, I wasn't just idling about window shopping in Lyme Regis, no no no! I had been saving up my pocket money specifically for this trip so I had a wee bit of spending money at my disposal. Would you like to see my New Sweet Things?

There you go....a collection of spoons and egg cups and mushrooms and postcards and cake sprinkles and wooden arty objects. Yum yum yum!

The teeny wooden mushrooms and the cute mushroom nightlight came from Ruby Rockcake.

The melamine spoons are Rice DK (similar here)

I bought the adorable little egg cups from Fuego, but you can buy them online here.

Ahhhh I LOVE these postcards! I spotted them at a newsagent in West Bay and couldn't resist them, they are illustrations by the talented Martin Wiscombe.

I bought this lovely, lovely little wooden boat from the Coombe Street Gallery in Lyme Regis, it nearly broke my heart with it's cuteness. It's a simple piece of automata and when you wind the little handle, the boat rocks up and down......isn't it lovely?!

When I went for lunch in Lyme, I got this sweet boat out to show M. But I found that all the while I was showing it, I was actually thinking and talking about a larger piece that I'd seen but hadn't been sure about buying at the time as it was a good chunk of my spending money. However, the more I thought about it, the more I just knew in my heart that I should go straight back to the gallery and buy it. I could already feel that I would totally regret not having it in the Attic, I was already longing for it, does that make sense?

And this is the piece I went back for. It really is beautiful, soooooo beautiful. It's another piece of automata ~ winding the handle makes the little painted metal seagulls fly up and down. It's so totally in the spirit of Lyme Regis (the rows of coloured painted houses, the ever present seagulls, the white fluffy clouds) that my heart soars when I look at it. I've written the date I bought it on the underside, and I shall treasure it and love it forever, I know I will.

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Edit to add :: after some research I've found out that the sweet wooden automata are made by a British company called Shoeless Joe. They describe themselves as a "wholesale gift company" who design their products in the UK but have them made in other parts of the world. These wooden pieces have such a delightful handmade quality, and were very reasonably priced, but sadly they aren't available to buy online anywhere as they are wholesale only. Not sure if this is of any help whatsoever, but hey, you did ask!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[kazzy]

awww woweeee! what a holiday! what a wonderful explore and landscape...i sooo enjoy holidays around britains amazingly fab landscape!...my friend always jokes with me that ive only been to spain and paris and dont have current passport. but the way i feel is why do i need to go anywhere else i'm happy with holidays on my doorstep! ;0)...Thank you for sharing your holiday i really enjoyed your words and photography ;0)...x p.s those sea scape wooden ornaments are just soooo beautiful- love drift wood and those pastel colours ;0)...beach combing is my favourite holiday past time! x

[Linda]

Lovely post Lucy! We are looking forward to retiring to Lyme Regis or thereabouts in about 10 years! Happy thought!

[Nanita]

Oh wOw, you've had such a brilliant holiday, and how I LOVE those automata!! Thank you for spoiling us with so many gorgeous pics :-) xxxx

[Seaweedandraine]

This post is filled with bliss - yours, and now mine at viewing your pictures. Thanks! :) Your cushion covers are coming along beautifully, and I love your little spoons and the teeny tiny wooden fishing boat.

[Rose]

I am completely blown away by those beautiful houses in Lyme, they epitomise all things English for me.

[Dinahsoar]

It is all wonderful!..I love your mum's house too...and that last wooden piece...of the houses and sea gulls overhead....I totally 'get' why you had to have it.. your collection of little treasures--the egg cups, the spoons...every tidbit...and the boat, the postcards..love them all. And little B asking permission for Easter chocolates..so so sweet..I love his dimpled hands. What a wonderful holiday!..Thank you for sharing it with us!

[Jen Y]

Oh what a beautiful holiday! I love the buildings in Lyme - they are so pretty. I loved everything about your visit & am happy you shared it with us.

[Alex]

Lyme Regis is truly sublime isn't it? Or should that be sublyme! (do you see what I did there?!)
Super holiday pics that have made me seriously homesick but happy all at the same time - thank you for sharing.
x

[Alessandra]

This is the best post of your holidays!!!
Your detailed descriptions gave me the ffeeling as I was there , too!! thank you for sharing these lovely moments!!
xxxx Alessandra

[Shannon]

Being away from my computer for a few days, I was able to enjoy your entire vacation in one indulgent submersion this afternoon - and it was absolutely thrilling! Having grown up by the beach on the west coast of the U.S., I share your love for the sights/sounds/smells of salt water. I now live three hours inland, but your posts were just what I needed. Thank you for your beautiful, detail-rich photographs. I am blissed out! :)

[Jenjen]

Ooh that was fabulous ! I feel like I've just been on holidays !

[verónica]

The best vacations ever! What a lovely place! You are creating beautiful memories for your kids.

[Maria]

Beautiful photos as always and beautiful the way you tell!

[Beth]

Ah Pecorama and Lyme regis took my kids there when they were younger Pecorama is fabulous and the view from the little train station is fabulous ah happy memories

Oh yes have been reading your blog for about a year now love it :)

[Kate]

Those automata are lovely.I was thinking where to take my niece on a ladies day out-you have reminded me that we have long discussed a child-free day in Lyme and not yet done it, so it is on this year's list.Happy memories of sitting on the front at Lyme eating a Childhay Manor blackcurrant ice cream... they made the best fruit ice cream in the universe.

[Penny]

I love reading your blog, especially your trips to Dorset. I'm a Dorset lass that lives not that far from West Bay. Your writing gives me a good kick up the butt to not forget what a beautiful place I live in, to get out and explore what is around me! PS I LOVE the yarn shop in Bridport, so glad you found it!!

[Mary P]

I am old enough to be your grandmother, but I wanted to tell you that my days at my very stressful, long-hours job or so much brighter after I have read your blog. I take a quick break every day to look at your hooky projects and your photos. They keep me sane. I must admit, from what I see of your life on your blog, I envy you. How I long for a life with the beauty you have in yours - so I will work on my house and yard as a beginning. Thank you for helping make my days better - Mary P

[Alison]

Recently discovered your blog Lucy and I love it. You write so beautifully.

[Jo]

Ah lovely, I loved Lyme Regis too, I bought the same long rice spoons from the same shop. I saw the caravan pic on a placemat, but wanted the postcard, searched everywhere except West Bay. My mum and dad are going next month, so thanks for the tip, she can bring me one back! Xxx

[Feeblefingers]

Hahaha I've just seen your edit! Ignore me...i got all excited! I must remember to read things through thoroughly!

[Feeblefingers]

Lucy, i love your holiday souvenir.....can you remember who made them... I'm sure i saw an exhibition by this artist in Cirencester....they were fantastic; beachy and intricate and fascinating.

[bonnie]

What a truly lovely post. I could feel those little beach stones and taste that frothy cappichino, hear the call of the gulls in your post. I really love your blog and your lovely way with words. Thanks for sharing!

[Teresa Kasner]

What jolly fun! I loved all of it.. it's so neat to get to feel like we were along with you.. a part of the gang. I'm so glad you went back for the big sculpture, there is nothing worse than regretting you didn't "go for it".
((hugs)), Teresa :-) PS - we head for the coast this sunday! PPS - did you visit my blog and see my dollhouse?

[Vee]

Who is the automata (or automatons?) maker/artist? They're lovely. Perfect splurge buy choice.

[Rosemary Dennis]

Loved reading about your holiday. Team Boy and Team Girl - brilliant idea!! Love all your purchases.