Bank Holiday Dorset and Devon (part 1)

Bank Holiday!

"I think we might just slip off to Dorset and Devon" said Him down the Lane, "As it's a Bank Holiday Weekend?" I asked, a little shocked by this turn of impulsiveness. Visions of gridlocked motorway, no parking spaces and generally NO ROOM AT THE INN!

Never the less, off we bravely trooped Westward............so please do come along too!

Weather conditions not quite as balmy as predicted! We trecked across hill and dale, through Hardy country. (Thomas not Tom!) I am rather fond of Tess and Bathsheba, and love to imagine them roaming over these headlands. Sorry, I am digressing, Him down the Lane thought it high time we took a look at Portland Bill.

This marvelous relief is on "Bill"


I have to admit that Mr.Lane got a bit huffy when I became very animated about the wear and tear on this!


And when I started taking photos through this joyous grommit hole he sighed and laughed!

Love seaside flora and fauna! The colours sing so much and on an exposed headland like this you can only marvel at the resilience.

Meanwhile, Him down the Lane was admiring the obelisk made from Portland Stone.

There was a very touching tribute to a young sailor at the base.

Having lunched on a PROPER cup of tea, with tea leaves, tea strainer and extra hot water! and a good old English Hot Dog, we headed along the coast road. Stopping for a peak at Chesil beach, well just one small section as it seems endless.............

Before rocking up at Lyme Regis.

I cannot think of Lyme Regis without making the association with The French Lieutenant's Woman or Persuasion and I also like to think of Troy and Bathsheba when they are fleetingly happy together.

So needless to say I have quite a romantic association with Lyme Regis, and I wasn't disappointed.

Walking into town we passed the stream that leads to the Town Mill. And then discovered this wonderful, wonderful bakery.

THE TOWN MILL BAKERY

Brilliant, brilliant enterprise, when you have a minute check out the website: http://www.townmillbakery.com/

Flick through their book, it is divine.

Inside it are scrubbed tables and wonderful wonderful artisan breads, imagine a steaming cup of coffee and the newspapers, hot bread and jam, yum!

The breads are laid out on brown paper, the price and a brief description are simply written onto the paper in felt tip below, simple!

You might think we were beserk to attempt Lyme Regis at this busy time of year and yet look!

I admit I am crazy about amonites! and I just love the way the motif has been used on the design for the street lamps, it all adds to the charm of the place.

Couldn't pass these by without a couple of pictures!

Neapolitan ice cream colours and loving theses curtains

Further along towards the Cobb, the merry-go-round complete with Double Decker Bus!

Oh and then at last looking back on it all from the Cobb!

Heavenly place!

This is actually the wrong way up but I quite like it this way so I didn't change it.

Him down the Lane and I are real suckers for oggling architecture and we had such a great time looking at all the quirky details on the buildings. (As well as a whole catalogue of photographs detailing these idiosynkrasis!:0)

a little bit more amonite appreciation!

Imagine my delight to see this little table set up outside a lovely shop called "Ginger Beer"

http://www.ginger-beer.biz/

It was choc full of desirables but as we were on a forced march I limited myself to one little indulgence.................

Love it! I will show you more another time x

Having satisfied my Lyme Regis craving we motored along the coast into Devon through Beer and along the lanes into Branscombe, where we arrived here for the night.

Back soon with the next instalment, I must make some breakfast!

I can't sign off without sending my heartfelt thanks to Lyn and Suzie for being so kind as to give my Blog an award, you are both lovely!

Check out their blogs by clicking on the awards on my sidebar

:D x x x

Wuthering Excitement!

Tom Hardy is Heathcliff!

I've already got butterflies just thinking about all that raw passion!

ITV 1, 9pm Sunday/Monday

Bring it on!

Lazy Sunday

Sunday Morning, warm and sunny! Perfect drying weather, the washing was almost dry before I finnished pegging it out! Quite a few chores to do..................but maybe a little latte, Test Match Special and a book, just for half an hour or so.............................

An hour or so later I looked rather guiltily over at my now bone dry washing!

The cricket is so perfectly poised, maybe another half an hour............................

Several hours later having run lots of victory laps around the garden with Him Down the Lane and Mr.Boodle chasing excitedly after us. I guiltily announce that I haven't really got anything prepared for supper! That's OK said Mr.Lane, we will go out and celebrate winning the Ashes.

Phew!

We came here, to the Bottle House, brilliantly named!

Not only are the window boxes good, the food is really nice too!

I really like the sign, it's great isn't it?

What a lovely English Summers day, cricket, reading a good book (which I finnished!) Ignoring the chores and out for supper. We had to leave shortly after this picture was taken as Mr.Boodle is devoted to Cadbury! (Gyff Rhys-Jones, Rivers!)

Mad dogs and Englishmen.......

......go out in the midday sun...........

or rather that should read S-J DTL and Mr.Boodle go out in the 3pm sun!

woo hoo what a scorcher! it had to be done as I was feeling very ratty/ disenchanted with life. You wont believe it when I tell you that the saga with Magpie continues...... pregnant pause, drumroll please.

Magpie has fallen over whilst recouperating from nasty head injury and has broken her ankle in two places. She is in agony and will need an operation next week to rectify things!So, Mr.Boodle and I took ourselves out for a walk in the baking sun to have a chat about things and think about what to do for the best.

We didn't see any of these but the grass was chirrupping in a very mediteranean way and it reminded me of this picture so I thought I would show you.


Looking down the Lane everything was very still and eerily silent. The road surface was so hot I could see wobbly heat mirages further along.


We turned up the hill towards Strawberry Field as the harvest is in full swing and we love to see hay bales. (Strawberry Field is just the name of the field, sadly no stawberries!) on the way we pass one of my favourite barns with a wobbly roof.


And then finally as the beads of perspiration mounted we popped through the hedge and out onto the field. All the wheat has been harvested and the bales are here looming large in the sunlight, I really love the annual events that punctuate the passing of the seasons and this sight really signifies late summer to me.

Mr.Boodle knows just where to stand to catch some shade, clever boy!

Lovely

Turning out of Strawberry field we turn for the woods, need some respite from this searing heat. Boodle jumps into a cattle trough to cool off!

We pass a handsome feather as we turn into the wood, what was the fete of its owner? I wonder

In the wood and at last some dappled shade. The ground is soft, dry and crunchy underfoot. Teeming with dried pine needles cones and the first pale yellow leaf fall.

And in the hedgerow the first black jewels of Autumns rich bounty. So much abundance this year, blackberries, damsons, sloes all are dangling from their boughs.

And what a year for acorns! There are SO many. I am glad for this as last year we commented how few and how small they were. How Mother Nature re-balances her books, so clever.

These rather forlorn looking dry things are the end of the Feverfew Daisies that have been sparkling in 40 acre field for weeks. I rather like them like this! I learnt that another name for them is Batchelors Buttons which I really love!

This is the reason for that last little bit of trivia. Saved from the box of books that MIL was sending to the charity shop, phew it's a gem of a little book.

So having made it home a little hot and bothered my worries were back in perspective and I am feeling much more positive about things.

Blogging is a great tool for reflection dont you think?

It also provides me with endless inspiration and introductions to brilliant people who make me smile.

So in that spirit if you need a little cheering up or just fancy a giggle I urge you to visit http://knitthecity.com/2009/07/09/yarnstorm-the-third-the-phonebox-cosy/

The funniest most wonderful thing I have seen in ages, well done to the graffitti knitters what a treat, especially the "phonebox Cosy"

or I had an absoloutely joyous Liberty Fix at http://www.weebirdy.com/2009/08/pretty-in-print-part-1.html, I urge you to pop over if you are into your Tana Lawn!

And finally, I wanted to share my new obsession with you all. This picture from Livingetc. has been on my office desk for weeks as I cant decide whether to create my own version of this or just go ahead and buy the wallpaper, which is quite pricey!

Lovely! Pip Wallpaper by Brian Yates

One Day!