Tuesday 1 September 2009

normal service resumes..............whatever that may be!

Hello, hello and hello again...............I'm back! School hols are over and although they were mostly blissful (and now and then b****y hard work) it is nice to get the house back to myself and I must admit to a small sigh of contentment when I came back to an empty house, once again the radio and I can be on speaking terms (please tell me the rest of you converse with your radios), and the once disgustingly filthy house has now been thoroughly de-loused and cleansed.

So...................summer - how was it for you? Most of you have been a lot less slack on the blogging front than me so I have managed to catch up with a lot of the news out there. As usual the weather here in Blighty did not really do us proud, despite the forecasts. We did however manage quite a few trips to the beach on our hols.

Right at the beginning of the hols we travelled up to the east coast of Scotland to stay at one of the Featherdown Farm campsites. What a place, from the setting within yards of a totally secluded beach, to the camp shop in an old boat, to the bread oven, it was a truly magical place. We had a fantastic time here, even my 16 year old stepdaughter loved it, despite the lack of msn and facebook. Miraculous what a couple of days away from real life can do for you.

Within a few feet from this fab tent was the most gorgeous beach which most of the time we had completely to ourselves, ideal for fishing, skidding down the dunes, kite flying and enjoying a cup of tea at the water's edge in complete solitude...................perfection.

This was a quiet holiday, plenty of time for being together, mastering stews cooked in the bread oven, games of scrabble and gazing across endless fields, new crochet project in hand and cup of tea never too far away................Harbours were visited (bit harbour obsessed, Ian and I), seals were fed, crab sandwiches munched, sweet shops raided, what more could you want?

I can't begin to describe to you just how cosy these tents are, stove and gas lamps lit, the sound of crackling logs and little else, very luxurious camping indeed. But before you start thinking that we've gone soft and can't handle the real camping experience any longer let me tell you that we did, in all its glory, at the end of the hols.

Once again we went back to one of our favourite haunts in Wales. The opposite extreme to Featherdown, portacabins for a loo, a long walk to the kitchen sink and some of the highest winds ever, but to us it's one of the best places ever.

The views are magical, the sun sets over the sea, dolphins swim in the bay, and again it's a quiet campsite (getting the impression I'm an antisocial so and so yet). The owner, Gordon, keeps the numbers down so you always have an unrestricted view of the sea. It really is a fabulous place, and this year the sun shone on us for most of the time although, being British, we were of course prepared for ALL weathers. The kidlets were shoe-horned into the car to accommodate swimsuits, fleeces, thermals, flip flops, sun hats, rain coats, wellies and of course the new hand made vintage curtain windbreak (bit floppy, very hand made looking, but does the job).

Of course, the crochet project came along too. Kit decided she wanted to learn, so latching on to a vague interest I patiently (not one of my greatest attributes) tried to show her. Willing she may have been but crochet is not an easy skill for a five year old to master. Luckily she was thrilled with her long chain and now wants to help with the blanket, although I'm not sure either she or I are quite ready for treble stitches just yet, I only have so much patience to share out.


Meanwhile big bro' managed to evade the camera yet again, leading to concerns that there will be a huge chunk of his life missing in our family journals, that is if we did actually have family journals that is, not just cds full of old photos.

The beaches in Wales are spectacular, less busy than elsewhere in the UK but just as lovely. Windbreaks, waves and wetsuits galore, lots of sandcastles, gritty cups of tea and ice creams, trying to read a newspaper in gale force winds, looking in estate agents and imagining a different life, a very typical British beach holiday.............fabulous!

Each evening followed the same pattern, tired children in bed, wine poured, crochet out and watch the sun going down...............bliss.

See you all soon..................

33 comments:

Curlew Country said...

Hello, hello! How great to hear of your wonderful summer.You do make me laugh Julia - I'm in a very similar mould to you mum-wise (yes I talk to the radio too - or shout - and our supposedly homely baking session the other day dissolved into much tension and drama, not too much patience around here in the last week of the hols).

Love your windbreak, very vintage and just the thing for a traditional holiday.
Have a smashing, quieter, week!
Stephx

Kim said...

Hi! I'm glad to see you back, I always enjoy your posts. I've never seen such a nice tent situation as the first one that you stayed in. And right by the beach! That is my kind of camping! I'm glad that you had such a lovely summer.

LissyLou said...

i so want to go there - it's on my mental list of things to do!! isn't that kite gorgeous - we have it too x

Hen said...

Hi Julia,
Great to see you back, now promise us you won't disappear again?! Looks like you had a great Summer, all the best that blighty has to offer. Loving the windbreak (they're always useless but look very cool!) Looking forward to reading more posts...
Hen x

Things Hand Made said...

I agree that holidays are lovely but I did fall to my knees in grateful thanks when the school gate opened!

Anonymous said...

I'm really jealous, I'd love to have a Featherdown Farm holiday, I've had the brochure a few times. The site you stayed on in Wales looks fab, was it West Wales? You had far better weather than we did for camping in Mid Wales

French Knots said...

Good to see you back! Looks like you had a smashing summer, making memories. I'm enjoying the quieter house too :)

Annie said...

It sounds like you have had a wonderful summer. The campsite looks amazing and it looks like you had some lovely bright sunshine. Your windbreak is really pretty.
Ann x

Louise said...

Hello
So glad to see your return to blogging, sounds like you have had a great summer hols and survived them. Keep up the blogging I do enjoy them

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

hello stranger :-) lovely to see you back and looks like you have had a lovely summer despite the weather!
nice to get back into a "quieter" routine though :-)
Lesley x

A Thrifty Mrs said...

Lovely to see you back. Your summer looks and sounds so lovely.

Emma Bradshaw said...

your holidays look lovely, still envious about the camping table and just lurve the windbreak - did you make it? Maybe see you early Sunday morning? Emma ;0)

Teena Vallerine said...

WOW! Now that felt like a really blissful summer! Good for you to leave the blog and go enjoy it! and look - we're all still here waiting to say hello when you got back! t.x

Rubyred said...

Hello Julia! So pleased you're back and what a wonderful summer you've had! We had a little camping trip too,just hubby and me and he loved it this time!
Have a great weekend!
Rachel x

prettyshabby said...

yay you're back! we have missed you x
That beach looks like my idea of heaven, I've been quite tempted by a Featherdown farm holiday since I saw your other post about one. You cant beat an English seaside holiday (as long as the weathers ok!)
thanks for your message, I'm sorry I'm such a temptress but those books are just fab! There's loads of boot sales round here if your fed up with yours, the one on the ketch field just off junction 7 M5 is a good big one and the next massive flea fair is at the 3 counties showground on the 20th, I think the dealers got there before us though..pests!(still got some good stuff though!)
have a good weekend xx

BALLET NEWS said...

Oh WOW, this is a great post & you have the most gorgeous site here. I had to stop by to leave this comment for you – and to say hello of course ! Your posts are creative and original and you have interesting pictures. It's all perfect ! Thank you for sharing your site and best wishes....

Garden Girl said...

love the cath table! how very lovely to have you back, dearie, you have been missed!!
Featherdown is such an amazing experience, isn't it, I am convinced everyone should go at least once in a lifetime.
x

ebecca said...

What a lovely post. I would like to see more of that crochet!

Beautiful pictures. Welcome back.

rebecca said...

What a lovely post. I would like to see more of that crochet!

Beautiful pictures. Welcome back.

Shsjndkdns said...

Hi Julia,
What a great post, looks and sounds like you had a brilliant summer holiday. Very pleased to have you back here in blogland :) xx

Fiona said...

Hello. Good to see you back again and glad you had a good summer. That Featherdown tent looks so lovely. Really cosy. We also experienced high winds in a normal tent on a hillside, but in Dorset. Unfortunately our tent didn't make it! You'll be glad to know I talk to my radio too!

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

A magical hols Julia and you have just given me more determination to stay in one of these featherdown farms. We have friends who have stayed in two locations and just rave about them..
Now all I need to do is persuade Mr Custard that camping is fun!!

Michele xx

Valentine Hearts said...

love the photos of Featherdown, we went to the one that started them all in Hampshire. Fantastic!!

BALLET NEWS said...

Lovely post - and I really love your site. Thanks so much for sharing it ! Best wishes to you...

Bobo Bun said...

Great to be reading you again Julia and see you hadn't gone forever. Featherdown sounds blissful as does your summer.

Lisa x

Bobo Bun said...

Great to be reading you again Julia and see you hadn't gone forever. Featherdown sounds blissful as does your summer.

Lisa x

Anonymous said...

Yippee, hurray, you're back! I was so hoping I see a new post from you soon and here you've posted two or three times! I love your blog :)

Mary @ Vintage Comfort

Summer by the sea said...

Hi Julia - your posting has been about as sporadic as mine - looks like you had a lovely Summer though - That pile of logs looks great - Bring on Autumn! - Natalie x

atinybitofheaven said...

I came across your blog- and just have to say that I LOVE your photos.. the colors are amazing!!

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Alina said...

What a beautiful holiday! Loved your photos and "corky" wit :) A pleasure to read!

Kirsti said...

Oooh we went to Featherdown Farm in Hampshire, summer 2008 - best holiday we have ever had - can't wait to go back - it was fabulous...Love your blog btw...xoxo

bebeequeen said...

saya sangat menyukainya.. saya harap saya bisa belajar banyak dari anda