J is spending a little bit of time away from work in the run up to Christmas this year and we've been counting down the weeks for quite some time.
Ages ago, when these precious days were marked in big happy letters on the calendar, I asked J if he might take me to see the sea one day, just the two of us, just because we could. We have just over six hours in a school day, so we figured it was do-able and I can't tell you how very, very much I've been looking forward to it.
I didn't care if it was raining (it wasn't) and I didn't care if it was freezing cold (it was). I just wanted to wrap up warm, wander on the vast sandy beach, stroll leisurely along the deserted promenade and drink a mighty fine Italian coffee in our favourite little cafe on the pier.
So this morning saw us walking along the beautifully quiet beach at St Annes on the Fylde coast - you might remember we spent a few days there back in February. It's such a lovely, peaceful kind of a place in winter time, very good for mind, heart and soul.
Our agenda was sparse and consisted of slow walking, gentle pottering, good coffee and a little picnic. We talked a lot, laughed a lot too.
In some ways it felt a bit strange to be without any accompanying Little People (I kind of felt we should have had a dog, as pretty much everyone else we saw was dog walking), but it was rather lovely to be just the two of us.
As the hours passed, I felt myself slowly filling up with giddy joy. The wide open views, the break from routine, the gentle exercise, the laughter, the soft winter light, the togetherness. But it was the fresh sea air that filled me the most, I just couldn't breathe it in deeply enough.
On the way home in the car, I suddenly had a flash of a memory - I recalled a beautiful paper cut by the fabulously talented Rob Ryan. I couldn't remember the exact words, but I knew that they perfectly described this kind of a day.....
'Can We? Shall We? One day very soon, let us go away together just you and me. Can We? Shall We? Call in sick one day and travel to the sea and hold hands all day. Can We? Shall We? Eat our sandwiches on the train, get drunk on fresh air and come home tired and never tell anyone.... Ever'
Exactly that....except of course I've shared it with you...
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank-you for sharing a very special moment. We all have much to be grateful for....
Posted by: Mary ^..^ ^..^ | December 13, 2016 at 06:33 AM
How VERY SPECIAL Lucy. Well done that is what makes life worthwhile 😀😀🍭
Posted by: Patti Cahl | December 13, 2016 at 05:03 AM
Clever you, knowing exactly what you needed. Fresh air, the scent and sound and sight of ocean, and a day with one's best beloved: what could be better, or more restorative?
Posted by: Anne at Shintangle Studio | December 13, 2016 at 02:27 AM
SWEET!!
Posted by: Reneelynn | December 13, 2016 at 12:16 AM
How delightful! I live very near to the sea and reading your blog posts about your love of the sea always reminds me that I should never take it for granted. I'm so glad you were able to enjoy some seaside time :) :)
Posted by: Eleonora from coastal crochet | December 12, 2016 at 10:48 PM
That sounds utterly blissful Lucy, I'm so glad you managed to squeeze in a few hours away. Good for the soul I think! I know exactly what you mean about all that fresh air, I'm the same by the sea, breathing so deeply, it's wonderful isn't it. Hope you have a good week. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | December 12, 2016 at 10:22 PM
Lovely, Lucy, thanks so much for sharing! xx
Posted by: Gracie | December 12, 2016 at 10:19 PM
wonderful, life enhancing days like this are a gift. we love to be by the sea as well, and often say our holidays will be spent looking at the sea from a different beach, loving it.
Posted by: Carrie | December 12, 2016 at 10:11 PM
so, so lovely! Congrats on making you "some day" TODAY! Thanks for the reminder to spend special time with a loved one this holiday madness. (regardless of the weather!)
Posted by: jenn in kansas | December 12, 2016 at 10:00 PM
Uplifting post. I breath with you. Every word. Making time to spend with loved ones is precious time indeed. Making memories. Love it. Thanks for reminding us.
Posted by: [email protected] | December 12, 2016 at 09:16 PM
There's a very real probability that I will have driven past you at some point today 😊 My job is to take vulnerable people home from hospital, and I took three home to St Anne's at different times today! Glad you had a lovely day, that beach is beautiful, I had my annual birthday treat of fish and chips sat on the front in St Anne's back in October xx
Posted by: Jools Morgan-Jones | December 12, 2016 at 09:09 PM
What a special, perfect day!!!
Posted by: Charlotte. | December 12, 2016 at 08:59 PM
Love the Rob Ryan stuff but at £84.00 for the cheapest version of this paper cut I think I will have to save up.
Posted by: Laura | December 12, 2016 at 08:51 PM
What a wonderful way to spend some time together. The fresh air and the exercise is good for the soul. Bless you both. ❤️🇦🇺
Posted by: Margaret Simpson | December 12, 2016 at 08:50 PM
Sweetest post ever.xo susie
Posted by: susie | December 12, 2016 at 08:46 PM
Lovely post, and I love the Rob Ryan paper cut. not seen it before, but I'm definitely pinning that one.
Have a coffee on me
Posted by: Linda W | December 12, 2016 at 08:41 PM
My husband gave me a copy of that paper cut!!!
But whenever I ask him to run away to the seaside with me for a day, he says he can't (he runs his own business) :(
I'm glad you managed it!!!!
Debbie
x
Posted by: Debbie, Essex | December 12, 2016 at 08:23 PM
My sort of day and sentiments exactly. Our children are grown up, but we still enjoy days like that, at the seaside or out in the countryside. The papercut is beautiful with lovely words. Take care.
Posted by: Susan Smith | December 12, 2016 at 08:15 PM
So immensely good for the two of you!
Posted by: tinke | December 12, 2016 at 08:01 PM
Treating us to a special beach time very soon thank you Lucy love Jenny .
Posted by: Jenny | December 12, 2016 at 08:01 PM
This sounds like a perfect day! Lucky you.
Posted by: Jeanette Renting | December 12, 2016 at 07:58 PM
It's moments like you have shared together that make memories. I remember when my 2 children were young one would be at guides and the other at scouts on the same night and my late husband and I would go out for a couple of hours knowing they were safe and enjoying themselves. Enjoy yourselves when you can.
Hazel c uk
Posted by: [email protected] | December 12, 2016 at 07:56 PM
This made me smile, we used to very occasionally sneak off for a day when the childen were small. Those moments are precious in amongst a busy family life. Sarah x
Posted by: Sarah | December 12, 2016 at 07:37 PM
Ooo thank you Lucy for reminding me of Rob Ryan. Clothkits do a skirt with one of his designs that I have coveted for years. I think that is what I will use my Christmas money for xx
Posted by: Helen | December 12, 2016 at 07:30 PM
A magical day - hubby and I love to spend a few hours together drinking in the atmosphere of a bit of 'us' time xx
Posted by: Michelle | December 12, 2016 at 07:21 PM