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

[michele]

Hi Lucy....Looks like you all had a great time!!...cold hands but warm hearts!!....what could be better!! x

[Jacqui]

I love the Dorset coast (only live 25 mins away!) and also fancy living in the pink cottage!
Your photo's are lovely..makes me feel like popping down there at the weekend for a visit!

[Sreekala]

Hi Lucy,
Loved this post as usual. Thought I should let you know that reading your blog is one of my favorite things to do when feeling down. Your writing and colourful pictures just perk me back up. So much so that now i have taken up reading your archives from the VERY BEGINNING (yeah, going through a pretty bad patch!) Read that you had travelled in India. Did you come down to Kerala? That's my home state!

[Denise]

This is such a coincidence, I know that part of Dorset very well. I used to have childhood holidays there and now I live just about 60 miles from there. Glad you are having a good time and I really love your blog.

Denise

[Yvonne]

So glad you are back, so nice to read and see your wonderful holidaypictures and stories.
Keep the good feeling a long time with you!
greetings from a Dutch woman in Canada.

[Angela-Southern U.S.A.]

So glad it was a lovely dry time away,(but we're glad you're back.)Thanks so much for sharing it with us all.You're not alone in being called a 'weirdo' by ones children,my tell me that all the time,lol,(you take the pink house and I'll take the white one!)Love the new yarn,very springy.I SO need a seaside trip now!

[Mónica]

Preciosas las fotos...Lindos paisajes!

[BY JM]

I also love the time when there is no television, computer etc. the kids play just together and have such great fun.
I also love the stories on your blog.

[Jane]

I'm sure your children will return to those spots with their children in tow - who knows they might even lay a blanket (one of yours?) down and listen to the doves cooing. Jane x

[Kai]

Oh, welcome BACK, Lucy! And thank you so much for allowing us to 'travel' with you. I've always wanted (ached) to visit various places and your area is one! Your pictures and dialogue made me feel as though I'd been there, too! THANK YOU! Made my morning very happy!

[Lisa]

Sadly my Mother died in 2009 and left a void in my life. I came across your blog soon after she died looking for inspiration. I needed something to fill my evenings and decided to learn to crochet. Your blog fills me with inspiration and happiness and it has really helped with my grief. Soon after her death we moved from Kent to Axminster, Devon and I know all the places you speak about in Dorset. I am one of the hardy dog walkers on the beach. Thank you so much Lucy. Did you find the new wool shop in Bridport?

[Mellie]

Oh I love Dorset thank you for sharing!! xxx

[Ali Dufty]

It sounds like your week has been wonderfully invigorating , lucky you. Thank you for sharing your lovely photo's to transport us there !! I can imagine those 'bracing' coastal winds though, it was cold enough here in Devon !brrrr! Weren't you pining for your newly acquired workspace just a teensy bit though, mmmm ???!!

[Judy]

Hello Birgitta, I loved seeing how your gorgeous photos By The Sea. I especially love that Pink House and all the landscape photos too. The Primroses are hardy wee lovelies, hey??? Thanks for sharing all your photos By The Sea with us all. Your crocheting is bright and beautiful too. Hugs Judy

[Grainne]

Dorset, a truly beautiful county. Holidayed there many a time, now living in Israel. It makes me homesick looking at your beautiful photographs but thanks anyway.

[Gina]

Hi Lucy, I really enjoyed your post. My husband and I love Dorset- we will be there for five days in May, so you've got me all excited about it today! It's so great for children there, isn't it? The Cotton On yarn looks lovely too- your stripes look so pretty! love Gina x

[Carole Williamson]

Lovely to have you back Lucy. Gorgeous photos too. We were in your little town on Sunday, it was a lovely day although chilly.
Take care & enjoy your home holiday with the children.
Love Carole from Rossendale xx

[Janet]

Thank you so much for sharing. I loved it!

[Helen]

Beautiful, even though it's been so cold, I love a bright sky, makes all the difference as to how cheerful I feel
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

[Margery Daw]

It looks lovely. All my childhood memories were made down the road in Highcliffe. It's great when you start taking your own children x

[dottycookie]

I'm not sure we've ever holidayed in Dorset - maybe when I was tiny. Looking at your pictures I cannot think why we haven't been - we have family just a little further west so we tend to zoom through Dorset. And look what we're missing!

[sara]

Glad you had a good time...glad to have you back. x

[Meg]

Hurrah you're back in blog land. Really missed you so pleased that you had a lovely break. I live on the coast in North Norfolk, whilst it is different from Dorset it makes your soul sing in just the same way, wonderful.Meg x
Ps I bought a wicker basket in France recently and intend to line it. I had intended doing it with fabrics as I thought a crocheted lining might be tricky so I am delighted with your current project.

[Kayleigh]

I love West Bay, my late Grandad always used to take us there when we visited the beach so our family have lovely memories of him there :) Not sure I've ever been to St Catherine's Chapel, but it looks lovely and peaceful. Glad you had a lovely time away :)

[Kate]

Watching Broadchurch is odd- West Bay, but not as we know it. And the fictional 'town' is somewhere other than Bridders, which makes it even odder! Excellent weather- despite the cold- we've had some sun too,so Spring seems to be starting. That pink cottage- well, we'd have to fight for it, knitting needles/crochet hooks at dawn.