Dorset :: Spring 2013

I really love the first-trip-to-see-the-sea that we always make on our first morning in Dorset. As you can see, this year the sky was very very blue, the sun was very very bright but I tell you the air was very very cold indeed. It was absolutely freeeezing.

The weather stayed bitterly cold all week with a terrific wind blowing, but it didn't stop us getting out and about. We wrapped up in warm layers and made the most of being outdoors in the countryside and beside the sea.

The harbour at West Bay was as lovely as ever, full of jaunty, boaty goodness.

I love this little patch of a place so much, my childhood memories come flooding back each time I revisit.

 And of course, it is pure delight to witness my Little People layering their own childhood memories on top of my own.

We ambled out along the pier, J and I strolling, the Little People zooming on their scooters, and Little B running, climbing and jumping. It was very bright and breezy. Oh that breeze was something else. Thank goodness for my hat, I really loved my hat last week (well I love it every week).

After being buffeted along the pier and back, we headed back around the harbour to seek out some refreshment. The Watch House cafe is situated right on the shingle beach and is a pretty wonderful place to spend time eating and drinking. We braved the wind and sat out on the decking, soaking up the sunshine and listening to the waves crashing onto the shore.

Revived by my carrot cake and cappuccino, I ran down the shingle bank with the Little People, wheeeeeeeeeeeee all the way down to the sea (it's a steep bank! and I really did go wheeeeeeee!)

We walked back and forth, playing silly games and inspecting the flotsam and jetsam.

I love to see footprints in the freshly seawashed sand, especially my own.

And I love sitting my bottom down on sunwarmed shingle and immersing myself in the sights, smells and sounds of the sea.

But bestest of all, I like to lay myself down and have every single bit of my body in contact with the beach. I like it very, very much. I love being horizontal on the beach, like really adore it. The Little People tell me I'm a weirdo for lying down when not one single other person on the entire beach is lying down. But I tell them I do not care because I love it and that's all that matters.

When I was a little girl I used to be so in love with that pink house on the edge of the shingle. I used to fantasize about living there, about sleeping in that room with the little window in the rooftop looking out to sea. Wouldn't that be something?

Last week we visited our most favourite places, the places that we are drawn to time and time again during each of our visits to Dorset.

This is Eggardon Hill, a scenic high up place with deep ancestry. Usually the view looks glorious at Easter time, all green and golden, but this year it was extremely bleak looking.

There was a howling, biting wind and it was incredibly cold, but we had the best time up here. Somehow the extreme weather made it feel very exhilarating. It was wild! The Little People ran headlong into the force of the wind, marvelling at how it made their bodies work twice as hard. They ran up and down, up and down. It was such fun to watch them.

Although the temperature made it feel very much like the depths of winter, there were welcome signs of spring in the hedgerows. The little clumps of pale yellow primroses made me smile whenever I saw them.

We ventured out every day, and felt lucky that it stayed dry all week. It's pretty straightforward to cope with the cold really, adding extra layers under coats and keeping hats and gloves firmly in place.

The beaches were pretty much deserted and that suited me just fine. We enjoyed some wonderful, blustery walks along the shore at Burton with only a few hardy dog walkers for company.

My holiday hooky gave me a lot of pleasure last week, it was lovely working with these super-pretty and very spring like colours when the weather was so un spring like. This is a fabulous yarn called "Cotton On" by James C Brett, and I'm using it to make a liner for a new/old wicker basket I bought a few weeks ago. I should have it finished soon, I'll show you when it's done.

Funny looking at these pictures cos it looks like it could be scorching hot doesn't it? Don't be fooled, it was blinkin' freezing.

Despite the bitter cold, we packed a picnic and headed to St Catherines Chapel for an alfresco lunch.

I write about this place every year, so you probably know about it by now. You will know that J and I lay a blanket down in the shelter of the wall there under the window and allow the Little People to run riot.

We listen to them hollering inside, watch them appear and disappear as they circumnavigate the building a hundred million times at great speed.

It's such a beautiful, peaceful, contemplative place, and I frequently wonder what it would feel like without the boisterous, noisy soundtrack of my children? Would there be silence? The sound of doves cooing gently (there were two white doves nesting inside the chapel)? The sound of the wind?

I wonder if there will ever come a time when they visit this place and don't yell or run?

The sea is always a remarkable turquoise colour when seen from St Catherine's Chapel. I LOVE that colour so much, it is the colour of my soul you know. And lunch tasted delicious.

We had a good week. It was lovely to spend time with my family, and there is much that I haven't shared here. Lengthy pub lunches, lazy afternoons and evenings by the sea. Woodland and riverside walks, toy shops and wool shops and playgrounds. Time spent with parents, siblings, nephews. Time spent chatting and playing with the Little People.

The Little People played together really well for the most part. No television, no internet, no gaming devices. Just themselves and the space they found themselves in. It did us all good to be removed from technology for a week, although at times I did find myself wishing for it. Just a little.

Back home now, and surprisingly I am not pining for the sea. Very unusual! I was glad to come home actually, glad to return to our cosy, messy, scruffy, warm, colourful home.

J is back to work this week, so I am home with the Little People, easing myself gently back into homely routine. Which mainly consists of dealing with the endless dirty laundry and attempting to tidy up a little. Sigh. I wish I loved housework as much as I love holidays.

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 Edit to add :: a couple people have mentioned the current ITV drama "Broadchurch" which was indeed filmed on location at West Bay. I've only watched the first episode, it was a little unreal to see David Tennant strolling about in "my" patch!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Sharon]

I am very familiar with the West Bay, Eype and Bridport area having spent many happy holidays at the campsite in Seatown/Chideock. Whilst I enjoyed looking at your photos from both this and your previous visit, they have made me feel desparate to re-visit this part of Dorset. Hopefully I may get to do it later this year.

[Helen]

The first thing I thought after a couple of the pictures was 'I'm sure that was in Broadchurch last week' and what do you know, you confirmed my suspicions.
Glad you had such a great time; wish I could have been to the sea already - there's time this year yet.

[Cockney Blonde]

Thanks for sharing your holiday snaps with us. I love reading your tales and immersing myself in your story, x

[lazydaisyjones]

oH MY we must have been there at the same time...??

I did a post about west bay and Broadchurch last weekish...we ended up at the bull, my new fave pub/hotel at bridport because it was so so cold!

BESTEST
Daisy xx

[Joanne from Colorado]

It sounds like you had a wonderful week! You're sharing wonderful memories and times with your noisy little ones. :) and with us. Thank you!

[Joy]

Lovely pics and made me smile, it seems your favourite place are our favs too but I'm happy to share (and we could have bumped into each other last week!). I feel very lucky to live in beautiful West Dorset and have these wonderful places on our doorstep to enjoy whenever we want.
Thank you for your blog, full of inspiration and somewhere to escape from the chaos of little people in my house.

[Patty]

..."I wonder if there will ever come a time when they visit this place and don't yell or run?"... if there is, you'll miss it :o)

[sherri mclaughlin]

Lucy, Hi , Im so happy that you enjoyed your holiday. I know you must feel refreshed and raring to go.
I missed you and your creative adventures while you were away.
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada USA and it was quite warm and toasty here for the past couple weeks and now today it is very cold and rainy.
We dont have the sea or ocean to look at but we do have bright lights:)lol
Ok be blessed in your crocheting...Sherri

[Vanessa]

So beautiful places. I love it. England ist really nice. Thanks for sharing this photos.

Vanessa from Catalonia.

[abi]

Looks like you had a wonderful time Lucy, I was looking forward to your blog post as we are going to Cornwall in two weeks and I can't wait. Going to take yarn to get cracking on my own patchwork blanket, if I get my other one finished before we go :)

[Merik King]

What a wonderful vacation you and your family had. I would love to visit England someday. The history is fascinating and I love the old buildings and villages. The sea and beach looked so inviting and your picnic to the old church was an afternoon to remember.

[Cheryl]

Lovely scenery on your trip. Too bad it was so cold and blustery though. I like the basket liner you're making. The colors are pretty.

[Lou]

We go to Rudge Farm near West Bay every year so seeing this pictures makes me anticipate the trip in the summer that we always do, glad the sun shone and that you all had a wonderful time :) x

[Lynne Gill]

A lovely visual journey, thanks Lucy, I know you always have a lovely time when you go back to Dorset. I have been SO GLAD of the sunshine these past few weeks - it helps get me through the extended cold season...pleeeeeeeeese let there be some warmth soon! Lx

[Rae]

I'm also a Dorset lover and never get tired of visiting.....not often enough though(sigh). Your photographs always inspire me to get my camera out and take a fresh look at what we have here in Norfolk to enjoy although maybe just a little lacking in those rolling hills lol...Thank you so much for sharing your world with us Lucy.

[Jen Y]

I love your holidays, how you think & just enjoy being with your family. Beautiful pictures, inspiring.

[Lucie]

It looks such a wonderful place to be. I have visited West Bay once and would love to go back soon. Enjoy your week with the little people - housework can wait, there are memories to be made whilst they are still young :)

[Sarahlcc]

Yes, I wish I loved housework as much as holidays too. I think my house might be pristine if I did. :-) Lovely, Lovely sharing as always. Thank you!

[julie]

I so enjoyed your post... pics and commentary! Simple pleasures of life are the very best! The beauty of the world is astounding. So blessed!

[Thistle]

How wonderful. I think that turquoise color is the one I feel when I read your blog too; I feel refreshed, energized and inspired whenever I read one of your posts. :)

[Fabi]

Lucy me encanta tu blog! You go to Dorset, I go to Mar del Plata!!! OOOOhhhh the sea! It's wonderfull! I continue inviting you to my place... Kisses!
http://fabi-objetotransicional.blogspot.com.ar

[shelley]

Looks so lovely!! It has to be refreshing to get away to the sea.

[Stacey]

Lovely photos! Thanks so much for sharing them. I love the ocean! We are already planning our summer trip back to the coast. I am trying not to wish the days away but I am bursting with excitment to go back! I am glad you were able to get out even though it was so cold. But kids never seem to feel the cold. I think it is because they run everywhere :)I have often been "silly Mom" and run with them. It really does warm you up! Cheers!

[meredithjean]

Wow, thank you for a quickie holiday in your cold Dorset, while I am here in warm Adelaide Australia. I loved your pics and descriptions, you give great Holiday Share!

[Rhianon]

I love your photos, so peaceful! One of my boys had a tantrum last time I was taking pictures but the photo just shows an apparently happy child! Love photos - so peaceful!