Lavenderhouse

A quick post

Lots of fun at the weekend - will blog more another time.  Just love this photo taken on the beach during one evening at Burton Bradstock. Just love the Indian Summer evenings.

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday was sunny and the sea was shiny:-

Today is extremely grey, wet and misty:-

Think of all your lovely turquoise seas you lucky Auzzies and Kiwi readers, who tell me that you miss the UK countryside so much.  This is UK beach reality - OK it is October but I could have taken similar photos in August - doh and yuk!  We just might be a bit envious (well a lot) about how warm your bones get when we are arthritically hobbling about in our gorgeous Autumnal weather, which is a very definite mixed bag!

Mr Blue Sky - just in case we forget what it looks like!

Today - hurrah - at last - the sun came out and the clouds lifted.  I took this photograph just to remind myself in the depths of the grey weather how wonderful a clear blue sky can look. 

What better way to spend the afternoon - making sand mud pies.

British spirit & sunshine

Today we went to the West Witterings.   It was quite busy despite the continuing grey weather.  I love the british spirit.  I loved the bright colours against the grey everything else!

We cooked tea up on the green, sausages and eggs.  It is all the fun of camping with a nice hot bath and warm bed at the end of a long day!  The sun actually came out briefly.  It is so long since we have seen the sun, at least one month, that it totally confused Jasper.  He asked why was it morning now?   The evening dusk was just like a new dawn.

Blustery!

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday but it was just too windy on the beach.  The tide was right up and when the children are hiding under the towels then it is time to do something else!  We headed up to a local cricket ground where the wind was strong enough to fly the kite but not overwhelming. 

I love this place as you can park the car on the green, the kids empty the boot and make a camp in there.  This year I have been able to sit near by with my mint tea and magazines.  I have to sit close enough to give them a leg up in to the boot of the car though!

Could somebody please tell the wind to drop it!

Yesterday we went to Skyla and Jasper's new school fair.  A few wellies were thrown around and a couple of coconuts knocked off their shys.  Then Jasper went to a party and the girls and I went to do some girlie shopping, which we thoroughly enjoyed and in fact didn't manage to go in all the shops we wanted to.  I purchased some more pink shoes telling myself that pink will not be in fashion next year so I had better stock up this year!  Andrew and I went to dinner at a local fish restaurant and then for cocktails.  Then this morning we didn't get dressed until lunch time.  The girls and I did our nails whilst Jasper and Andrew did a bit of boxing!Then Skyla and I continued the girlie shopping, whilst Jasper, Pasha and Andrew went on the beach with some friends.
I love lining the crocs up to take a photograph as they are so colourful.  What worries me is that somebody must have had to hop home as I could only find 6 pairs of crocs yet there were 7 children on the beach!

Jasper quite rightly thought the sea was a bit 'yucky' today so contented himself with digging in the mud like sand!

I thought I might get to sit here and finish my book for bookclub - Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones.  However, the sea was so rough I couldn't sit down as I needed to watch the children 100%.
The weekend has just been one big rush but lots of fun.  I think the next week will be the same as we wind down towards the end of term.  We have shows, sports day, an induction day and meetings at a new school  for Pasha.  SO many things to do in fact that I have had to type out a special schedule for myself as I cannot remember any of it and yet it is all so important. 

Just blogged this as I thought it made a lovely picture.  You need strong arms to do this!

Cornwall and its ability to inspire

We went stayed in a holiday barn in Cornwall for one week.  The owners lived on site.  There were four other buildings that were rented out and so there was a lovely selection of children around - ranging from 2 to 9.  At 9.15 am everyone met in the yard to sort out who was carrying what bucket for different animals; ducks, goats, pony, chickens and ducklings.  It was a lovely mediative routine for first thing, made all the better for clutching at a cup of herb tea as we progressed round.  The children were very tentative on the first day but by the last day wanted to become farmers.  They particularly loved patting Briar, the black labrador and feeding the little lambs.  Chicken eggs were collected and given out fairly.  We have never eaten so many fried eggs, omlettes and scrambled egg.



Whilst away it was my birthday.  Look at these lovely drawings I was given.



I was also given some lovely butterfly stationery, a Cath Kidston spot teapot, Shaun the sheep DVD and Tricia Guild's latest flower book.  As usual anything I bought on holiday counts for my birthday (my choice).  I shall take a photo tomorrow of everything!



Lastly, here is a lovely photograph of our favourite beach in Cornwall.  We had a lovely afternoon playing in the sand and the fresh water stream that runs across the beach.  Jasper and I had a lovely cuddle and snooze together too.   The sun was beautifully hot on our faces and warmed our bones.  Jasper had got his trousers wet though and these had to be removed.  Fortunately, Skyla and Pasha who seem to be able to survive artic cold without a coat lent him their coats which he put over his legs like a sleeping bag!


I came back from Cornwall just as tired!  However, my mind is a whirl of creativity now - inspired by the galleries, sunshine, greenery and fresh air.  I loved spending time with the children in their fantasy land of playing together, doing water colours for the first time with new posh paint boxes and everyone make a necklace.  Most of all I love the fact they connected with the animals and nature.  They are not so timid around the animals and now understand where an egg comes from - ridiculous I know!

I can see clearly now!

The sun is out and the sky is blue.  It is very breezy but beautiful.  The wood mountain has nearly gone but there is still loads of debris!

The two girls are at school and my son has gone, with his friend and his dad, to his singing club up near the downs.  My little girl finds it very confusing that we go 'up' to the 'downs'.  That is the English language for you!