My third morning waking up in Dorset and once again the skies were very heavy and grey. I told myself that so long as it wasn't raining, then breezy overcast days are perfectly fitting for the end of October and grey skies certainly don't make or break the day like rain does.
Breakfast with my Dad was comical because he served up his usual toast, eggs and smoked salmon combo but somehow completely forgot the eggs. And by that I mean that he totally forgot to even cook them, wondering why the toast looked a bit different with just the bits of smoked salmon on the top. Yeah.....cognitive and memory issues in abundance here, and I don't mind telling you I am more than a little worried. Anyhow - let's not dwell on that.
We went out for morning coffee and I took us to the Bull Hotel which describes itself as "boutique splendour", well yes it is rather posh in there so I tried to appear as if I go to splendour-laden establishments allllll the time. My Dad however was most put out by the splendiferous poshness and declared straight away that he didn't like it one bit (too snooty, he said). I, on the other hand really did like it very much. There were fresh flowers on the table, and lots of Liz Somerville prints lining the walls, so I was instantly convinced that I could be very happy sitting here for my morning caffeine fix. The coffee was really excellent, and definitely my favourite so far this week. It was so good in fact that I had two.
Our plans for today involved a bus ride along the coast....
.....and at 2.30pm we arrived in Lyme Regis - happy days!!
I absolutely love love love Lyme Regis, and I have a lot of good memories from my younger years spent working and socialising with friends here. We hopped off the bus at the very bottom of town and began a leisurely stroll along the promenade....
....stopping as I always do to admire the stunning houses. The tall stone house in the photo above is called Sundial House and is now a very pricey holiday let, although I remember when it was lived in by a family I knew at one time.
It was surprisingly busy in Lyme Regis today, I guess because it's half term and there are a lot of extra visitors in the area. At the end of the promenade we made our way around the harbour....
....and because it was rather wild and windy this afternoon we parked my Dad on a sheltered bench and Lady B and I walked onwards around the famous Cobb Wall.
The Cobb is a very historic structure built in the 13th century to provide protection for the boats in the harbour. You can see an aerial view of it ((here)) to get the measure of it. You can see in the photo above that you can walk along the top of the wall, or on the lower stretch and as it was so blustery we chose to keep to the lower part.
It was exhilarating when we reached the very end because the waves were crashing right up against the rocks and Lady B and I both enjoyed an unexpected cold, salty shower. I do really enjoy having a face full of seaspray on occasion, I love to lick my lips later on and taste the salt still there.
Once we returned and collected my Dad we decided unanimously that after the bench sitting and cold sea shower that we really needed a spell in a cosy pub. Right down on the seafront there are a couple of very old pubs that haven't really changed much over the years - we chose the one that we used to drink in many years ago with family friends of ours who lived in Lyme. It was cosy and atmospheric, and we enjoyed our drinks and a bit of a respite from the elements.
It was 4pm by the time we decided to slowly head back along the promenade and as you can see the daylight was already beginning to fade.
I decided that I couldn't come to Lyme without walking on the beach, so I left my Dad and Lady B strolling slowly along the promenade and ran on down to crunch along the pebbles for a bit.
It was a wild afternoon, the wind whipping my hair and causing the waves to rise in great swells. I do love the sea when it's wild, there is a palpable energy in the air when the waves are large and loud and crashing onto the shore.
I ran right down to the waters edge and stood for a little while drinking it all in.
Honestly I didn't really want to leave, but then again I never do want to leave the sea behind.
I snapped a quick selfie of my happy windswept self before turning my back on the sea and heading up the hill. I know it's a bit of a silly photo and I look all fuzzy and soft-focus but it wasn't intentional, it's just because my camera lens got a bit salty I think.
Ahhhh, the view down the high street to the sea never gets old, I do have such a soft spot for this little seaside town. We had a long wait for our bus home as the one we were waiting for broke down and it was an hour before the next one came along. So we stood looking at the above view for rather longer than we had hoped, pretty much until it got dark and we could barely see the sea. It was a lovely, lovely day though, and I shall treasure this time I've spent with my Dad. It was good to see him happy and enjoying being out and about, I think he usually spends his days in a very quiet and sedentary way so my visit brought about a few days of complete change for him which I hope has done some good.
I travel back to the North tomorrow afternoon and I feel ready to return. I've loved my time here this week, but I'm ready to be home with J and the Little Peeps again, I've missed them actually.
So for now I shall say goodnight and leave you with this wonderful Liz Somerville print of the Cobb at Lyme Regis. I do so love her work.
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I'm a bit after the fact... but wanted you to know how very much I appreciate all your posts but especially appreciated the ones about your time in Dorset by the sea. I live in North Carolina now, not near the sea, but grew up in Florida and always feel like 'coming home' when at the ocean! Bless!
Posted by: Tina-Joy | November 04, 2021 at 04:46 PM
Love you blog, patterns and boots! Where did you get your boots?
Posted by: Julie | October 31, 2021 at 12:52 PM
Oh thank you again Lucy! We left NZ in 2019 for a 4 week holiday in England. We visited Lyme Regis! Oh it was one of my most favourite places. I really want to go back there one day soon. So glad you had a lovely break away with your Dad and Mrs B xxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela Glae | October 31, 2021 at 02:55 AM
Looking on your blog makes me feel "Fernweh".
Nana
Posted by: Nana | October 30, 2021 at 04:18 PM
Thank you for taking us on your journey and sharing those lovely pics!
Posted by: Gwen | October 30, 2021 at 12:59 PM
Lyme Regis isn't somewhere that I've ever visited but it looks lovely - and you just look like you've had the best time there! xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | October 30, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Thank you for sharing your time in Dorset. We lived in Sidmouth for fourteen years and our children were born in Exeter. We enjoyed several visits to Lyme, it's a beautiful place. Safe journey home.x
Posted by: Judith Dee | October 29, 2021 at 07:39 PM
Its so hard to see our parents age but comical too.
Lovely memories I havent seen the sea this year but maybe there is still time.
Beautiful photos and blog Thankyou x
Posted by: Jacqui | October 29, 2021 at 07:27 PM
Lovely Lyme Regis...still a proper English seaside town.
Liz Somerville has been a revelation, thank you, Lucy.
Safe journey home.
Posted by: Charlotte Pountney | October 29, 2021 at 06:35 PM
There are things you can take for memory decline, there is nothing wrong with my memory but I still take a dollop of one thing every day anyway .
I recently sent my stepsister a lot of info as her partner is in a bad way .
I will leave it to you to research, but certain supplements work well .
Whether or not he /your dad would take them is another matter .
Certainly been a tad wet and windy here in Dorset the last few days , sunny here at the moment , Friday afternoon . But exmoor , parts of Scotland and Cumbria have been really clobbered .
Safe journeys
Posted by: Helen | October 29, 2021 at 12:54 PM
It is such a stunning old part of the UK, Lucy, love it. Oi vey, I hope you and Lady B can talk about that part of Dad, Lucy. Emotional, and preparing. The sliding into the realm of emptiness and loss of your loved one's identity. It is so hard. Hugs my dear.
Posted by: Tineke | October 29, 2021 at 12:27 PM
Thanks Lucy, I have enjoyed being on holiday with you. Lovely that you were able to spend time with your Dad. Safe journey home .
Posted by: Norma | October 29, 2021 at 11:13 AM
❤️ Lyme. My Favourite seaside town on the planet whatever the weather. Glad you got your breath of sea air, safe trip home.
Posted by: Christine Spencer | October 29, 2021 at 09:58 AM
So glad you have had a good time with you Dad.
Posted by: Christine Whiting | October 29, 2021 at 09:47 AM
What a lovely day, although a shame about the bus at the end. The pub looks amazing and Lyme Regis is really pretty isn't it. Liz Somerville is new to me, but I love her mixture of lino print and art, I'm a big fan of lino print, towns and allotments and views of the countryside as well as nature ones like Robert Gillmor's. Glad you had such a good few days. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | October 29, 2021 at 09:47 AM
Oh my goodness, this post lifted my spirits. I love Lyme Regis. The selfie is a moment of pure happiness captured forever. 😊
Posted by: Abigail @ rosy_hill | October 29, 2021 at 09:39 AM
Enjoying your blog and lovely photos. We visited Lyme Regis for the first time in the summer and explored the lovely coastline. Hope the bracing sea air is blowing away any cobwebs and you are feeling refreshed.
Posted by: Louise | October 29, 2021 at 09:33 AM
Thank you for your blog and pictures Lucy. They bring back wonderful memories of our caravan holidays to Seaton 40 odd years ago, we always had a day in Lyme and walked along the Cobb. Hope you have a good journey home tomorrow.
Posted by: Susan | October 29, 2021 at 08:44 AM
Oh Lyme Regis... Jane Austen!
You are very beautiful Lucy!
Posted by: Annalisa | October 29, 2021 at 07:58 AM
Thankyou for another lovely visit to the seaside by proxy - your writing brings it alive so well! Hope your Dad is ok, I bet he’s loved having you close by for a few days and sharing your unique energy! Safe travels back to the family x
Posted by: ChrisG | October 29, 2021 at 07:34 AM
Enjoyed reading your blogs this week as I live in Dorset and love all the places you have written about. You have obviously made the most of your time with your dad. Safe journey home.
Posted by: Jan | October 29, 2021 at 07:20 AM
Thankyou Lucy for the fabulous pictures and bringing back some of my best memories, l absolutely love Lyme Regis too. We spent family holidays there when l was young and l was lucky enough to live and work there for 3 years, that was a long time ago but l remember it well, it has a very special place in my heart xxx
Posted by: Suzanne | October 29, 2021 at 07:12 AM
You are setting me off again!! Not so many tears but a few chuckles as one of the last visits to Lyme [with my son who now lives in Squamish near Vancouver] featured a lovely walk along the promenade beach sidfe and a chat highlighted by a cheeky seagull swooping down and removing my luscious ice cream cone from my hand just as I was about to tuck into it...
I agree the cooler months are the best for such walks and for ice creams that don’t run away!
Posted by: LynW | October 29, 2021 at 04:58 AM
Lovely post as usual. I could imagine myself back in Lyme Regis from your descriptions, and I have been in Australia since 1969. Really enjoyed your October blogs. Safe travels back home.
Posted by: Penny | October 29, 2021 at 04:44 AM
Hi Lucy Loved your day out & about...and love the selfie, you look quite happy and content. Nice to spend some time with your Dad, eh?...it will be a memory cherished. We have had blustery days here too, but I so like the sea when it is crashing, swelling, and pounding the shore, then splashing in a crescendo onto the rocks. Nothing like it! You could take photos and write blurbs for the tourist industry. Thank you for taking us with you. Hugs, MO
Posted by: Marylin Ollivier | October 29, 2021 at 03:02 AM