Dorset Summer 2013 :: part 3

 

:: DAY 5 ::

When we holiday as a family, we each have different things that float our boat. For me, it is the sea (obvious really), plus I am very partial to lovely cafés. And if I can squeeze in a smidge of retail therapy as well, then my holiday is complete. For the Little People, it is activity of any sort ie swinging, running, jumping, climbing, sliding, spinning, bouncing. So playgrounds are an obvious choice, as are hills and the beach/sea. Oh, and they too are partial to a little bit of retail therapy so we always take them to The Toy Shop to spend their pocket money when we visit Bridport. And ice creams, yes almost forgot those, they are pretty high on the LP list of holiday must-haves. As for J, he hasn't ever verbalised this, but his thing seems to be High Up Places. In other words, big hills with scenery and views.

So when we are starting each holiday day, assessing the weather and deciding what to do with ourselves, we try hard to cater for us all. And if we can't do it all in one go, then we make plans to do two or three things in one day. I love that we do long days when we are on holiday as we are usually out and about quite early and our plans generally include going somewhere to eat our evening meal. On day 5 we spent the morning pootling around Bridport, then the afternoon at my Mums messing about by the river. But there was also an evening plan (hoorray!), a plan made by J to allow us to get up high and take in some scenery.

This is the familiar summertime view from the top of Eggardon hill where we visit every time we come to Dorset. It has become one of those places that we always find time to come to and our memories are layering up nicely here. Before the Little People were born, J and I used to pack a picnic and embark on a rather strenuous eight mile hike around these hills and valleys. But these days the main aim of the game is to sit, eat something yummy and admire the view while the Little People throw themselves up and down the grassy slopes.

For most visitors, Eggardon Hill is a Scene Of Historic Importance. It has these amazing ridges that run around the side of the hill, where once upon a time in the dim distant past it was an Iron Age hill fort. For us, Eggardon is a place to picnic, soak up the scenery and play. The ridges and ditches make an excellent play arena for Little People, although this year there seemed to be rather a lot of little stinging nettles hidden in the grass which scuppered things a bit. For Big People, the ditches provide great shelter from the the wind (it's always breezy up here) and an ideal picnic spot if you don't mind creepy crawlies too much.

We were up here in the early evening and as usual it was a beautiful way for us to end our day. The light was golden, the picnic was scrummy and the playtime was fun. Can you spot Little Man in the above picture? He is hiding from us (we were playing hide and seek) but I just managed to catch sight of his head bobbing up from behind the ridge. Happy times.

Oh you have to go look at this...I was searching for an aerial view of Eggardon to show you the ridges, and I found a set of pictures taken by a man who attaches his camera to a kite string, how cool is that?! Kite Aerial Photography, wow, who would have thought it?! Go see here, it's fab.

:: DAY 6 ::

This was our last day, a day to squeeeeze in as much as possible before we packed the car and headed back to Yorkshire in the evening. We decided on a trip to Abbotsbury Childrens Farm, as even though I begged for a trip to the beach, I was outvoted 4-1. Harrumph. So off we went to have lots of child-centric fun in this scenic place.

As children's play areas go though, this one is pretty beautiful it has to be said. It is set in the grounds of an ancient monastery, with the old tithe barn now housing a pretty good children's soft play area and various out buildings now housing animals.

The outdoor play areas here are great , and as well as these hay bales my Little Peeps also very much enjoyed the ride-on toy tractors. Little Man is way too big for them now, but he joined in by pushing Little B around at great speed, and their noisy laughter and chatter made me very happy. For older children, there are a number of beautifully designed wooden play things dotted around the place. It's hard to describe them really but they are a cross between a swing and a seesaw (a bit like a giant pair of weighing scales) and kept the LP entertained for ages.

There aren't a huge number of animals at this farm (a couple of fat sleeping pigs, a stable of ponies,  a few gorgeously lofty looking alpaca and a small herd of goats), but they are lovely all the same.

I was particularly entranced by the birds in the small aviary, they were really lovely. Lots of brightly coloured budgerigars, but my favourite were the lovebirds.

Awwww, they were delightful! So pretty and so loved up with each other ♥

And lets not forget the guinea pig barn, oh these little balls of fur are just sooooo cute. The Little People enjoyed holding and feeding them very much, and we remembered how last year when we visited it prompted us to finally become pet owners ourselves. Almost a year on we dearly love our two little piggies Pip and Lola, they are a delight and I would highly recommend guinea pigs to anyone looking for child friendly pets.

Getting in to the farm is quite an expensive business really to be honest. Our method is to take a packed lunch with us, say a firm NO to the perils of the well stocked gift shop and allow one ice cream/drink per child. Little Lady chose to trade in her ice cream for a pony ride and she thoroughly enjoyed her short jaunt on the back of the handsome Casper.

When we visited the farm last year, we managed to find a shady, grassy spot to eat our picnic, but this year we decided to put in a little effort and get out of the farm for lunch. It was extremely busy at the farm and there is only so much I can take of other people's children. I saw so many tantrums, and heard such a lot of hot and bothered Mummies sounding off that I was actually quite glad to make an exit. From the farm, we followed the footpath and climbed up the steep hill to one of J's favourite High-up-places........

....St Catherines Chapel. I know I've often written about the times we've been up here (eg. at Easter), and the formula pretty much stays the same time after time.

J and I sit and admire the expansive and very beautiful coastal view, and the Little People run riot. And somewhere in between I try and get us all to eat a picnic lunch.

The chapel was as lovely as ever, and when I managed to zone out and ignore the hullabaloo my offspring were making, it was an incredibly peaceful and rather magical place to be. The very air inside the building seems to hum with history, and the views out to the surrounding Dorset countryside are wonderful.

As nice as it is up at the chapel, the sea was really just too far away for the likes of me. The day felt like it was ebbing away and suddenly I felt a very strong urge to go and sit on the beach. So we left Abbotsbury and drove back along the coast road to make a last stop at Burton. Sigh. It was lovely. Just lovely. The Little People had ice lollies and I had a take out coffee which I took down onto the beach. All I wanted to do was sit and breathe it all in, breathe as much of the sea air into my body and soul as I could. Breeeeeathe, and hold it all in.

We enjoyed such a great week, it had just the right balance to it. It was relaxing, and just what I needed before the frantic pace of September kicks in. I often wonder how my Little People will remember these holidays of their childhood, and I hope with all my heart that we are making good memories for them. I hope they don't mind the repetitiveness of it, or the fact that there is never a lot in the way of thrills or huge excitements in their holidays. No aeroplanes or theme parks or vast swimming pools, no attractions or museums or glitzy entertainments. Just simple pleasures.

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Comments

[René]

Lucy,
Even though you say "I hope they don't mind the repetitiveness of it, or the fact that there is never a lot in the way of thrills or huge excitements in their holidays. No aeroplanes or theme parks or vast swimming pools, no attractions or museums or glitzy entertainments. Just simple pleasures". I think it is great that you have your vacation divided into things your little people enjoy, things you enjoy, and things J enjoys, and most important spending quality family time making memories. The other thing I think is so cool for your little people is the availability of the computer and internet that allows you to blog and record these family memories for them to view when they are older. That is something I wish were available to us when I was growing up (I was born in 1972), and my dad was in the military and we lived in amazing places that would have been amazing for me if my mom had been able to blog like you are doing for your family. We lived in Italy, Japan, and Hawaii (those were the highlight areas of our moving around!!, and I was We lived in Italy for 4 years, the last year we lived there I was in Kindergarten, Japan I was in 2nd and 3rd grade, and in Hawaii I was 4th grade thru 7th grade)
I just love your blog, your pictures are always amazing, I would love to go to that pebble beach!!! And from someone who grew up all over the place (it has good and bad points (also I'm an only child) I've had some amazing experiences too), but now that I'm an adult, I also see the value of growing up in one place, doing the familiar, as you say when you comment on your blog how year after year events and blog entries seem to mirror years past, that is not a bad thing, that is you and your family enjoying life, and I am glad you open up the attic door and share.
Looking forward to Yarndale and the festival.
Hugs,René

[Rae]

Great post Lucy. My parents many many moons ago took me every year until I was about 11 to Devon...Torquay in particular. My memory's are engraved in my heart ....Checking off car number plates on my list...Norfolk to Devon (In those days it was 1-100 lol)to pass the time. The B&B with a lovely lady,her Black Cat,little crocheted circles with beads that covered the sugar & milk at breakfast.Sunny,Happy Days,Red Sand on the beach,Double Deck chairs,Big Ice Creams,Paington Zoo,Woolacombe Beach, Dartmoor Ponies...I could go on.You keep making those same memories for your children they will thank you one day.I loved doing the same things every year but such a shame photography was not digital as I have very few pictures to remind me. XXX

[Pauline Stevens]

Thank you or a lovely trip to Dorset. Love it! I so enjoy reading your posts...and have even taken up crochet albeit granny squares at the moment! Pauline

[Jools Morgan-Jones]

Simple pleasures are always the best, they speak to the soul in a way that thrill rides and plane journeys just can't do. The Little People will have fabulous memories of their childhood holidays, and will no doubt replicate them with their own Little People when the time comes too xx

[Bronchitikat]

Simple pleasures are the best, Lucy. Holidays abroad are overrated. I mean, who wants to spend hours queueing up in airports with all that entails? Particularly with LP.

[Vanessa Greenaway]

Thank you for the gorgeous posts. We love Dorset and were there in May for a week and are due there again in October.
We live in Cornwall and so we are so blessed to have gorgeous scenery on our doorstep too.. I try to make the happiest and fondest memories for my son and when I ask him of his favourite things that he has done - they are always the simple pleasures! I want to bottle that enthusiasm for a simple life for him forever... your posts give me hope!! Thank you! x

[Inge]

Thank you for sharing your holiday pictures.
They are beautiful!
Lovely birds.

[Marylin]

I didn't get a summertime vacation this year, so I'm really enjoying yours! Thx for sharing. Hugs, MO
http://moisbloggingit.blogspot.ca

[Elisa Melan]

Thank you so much for your willingness to share the beauty of your country with us. I now need to add yet another part of England to visit!

[Angela]

Dorset is a dream.
Angela

[Tammy Chrzan]

That view... WOW... It's absolutely breathtaking and amazing... It reminds me of when the planes fly over the Atlantic and the first views seen from the plane window over England are ones like these... the first few on your post.
You really did have an amazing holiday!
Have a great weekend, I love everything you put on facebook, such delicious crochet!
Tammy x

[penelope]

They will have wonderful memories!

[J]

Those are the best kinds of holidays you can take with your kids, in my opinion anyways. My favourite memories from childhood were not museums, or theme parks or expensive glitz and glam, they are times spent with all of the people that I love doing absolutely nothing in particular.

[winifred]

Lovely photos as mementos of a great holiday.

[Liz T]

My most treasured childhood memories are of days on the beach, either here at home or at the beach all of 10 miles away. Nothing better than soggy sandwiches (tomatoes with something made lovely soggy sarnies)laced with sand, bottles of lemonade for us kids and then going for an ice-cream - sheer bliss.

[Angela-Southern USA]

Simple pleasures are the most treasured. So very lovely thanks for sharing.

[CJ]

Oh it all looks wonderful Lucy. Especially liking the love birds and guinea pigs. I never get quite as much sea as I would like on holiday either. I have a child who doesn't like sand! I've heard that gazing at the sea releases some chemical or other in the brain that relaxes you and makes you feel happy. I can quite believe it. Hope you all have a good weekend.

[Dorothy Griffiths]

Lucy your photographs are just stunning - I really want to visit after seeing all of these. We have such a beautiful country with so much to see and do, thank you for sharing your part of this Lucy. Always so lovely to share your posts.
Lots of love as always
Dorothy
:-)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[A12bdal0l16977130lah1433]

,,,1,,,((( O mankind! Say No God But Allah, Achieve Eternal Salvation )))

" Laa ilaaha illallah " (There is none worthy of worship except Allah.)

( I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger )

( Introduction to Islam )
...

[Kate Eastwood]

I almost feel like I've had a little holiday too ! Especially as we have visited some of the same places. The view from the top of the hill in the tropical gardens can only be described a true wow moment. Your pictures and words capture the true spirit of a proper family holiday.Lovely.
Kate x
justpootling.blogspot.co.uk

[Sara Jenkins]

Best of all they are with their mum and dad, having fun! Nothing more needed.
Have a great weekend.
x

[Thistle]

The best pleasures of all, I think. Only one of mine has been on a plane, and it was when he was a baby so he doesn't remember it. We love the same kind of trips you do. I would have really enjoyed both the aviary and the guinea pigs, that kind of thing is exactly my speed. :)

[Joy]

Simple pleasures and love are the best gift all Lucy .... lovely post xx Joy xx

[Carrie]

Big things are nearly always bought things,and nothing can replace the simple pleasures in life; after all most of us oldies were brought up like that, cos there there were no big things! my kids were brought up to enjoy our walks and picnics, and my daughter's children now love camping, country bike rides, and sky watching. x

[Jo Roberts]

The children will remember all of it fondly I am sure. I remember getting the backs of my knees so sunburnt that I had to walk back to the car holding a wet towel against my legs - and I'm OK!

Love to read your posts Lucy. Jo x