Far from the Madding Crowd

 It’s almost two weeks since our holiday in Dorset so thought I’d look back to sunny days there on this rather damp Friday by sharing some pictures.  This was a last minute choice. Usually we book holidays well in advance, choosing the location carefully. This time the filters on the booking website chose for us: pet friendly, near beach, near shop/pub, couple of bedrooms. Not much available, but we hit lucky and found this cottage in the village of Burton Bradstock which was just perfect for us. It wasn’t much fun getting there with busy motorways followed by windy, single-track roads which made the dog sick. Paul’s blind faith in sat nav directions can have unwanted consequences. 

The landscape reminded me of parts Northern Ireland, gentle hills, very green, patchwork of small fields.

 

We were close to Hive Beach which was busy during the day but quiet in the evening.  That week was dry and sunny and the heat didn’t start building until after we left.  There was a beach cafe which did very good if rather pricey breakfasts. 

Alfie enjoyed his holiday.  We stopped taking him on this route to the beach because of the warning signs about adders.  

Kate and Calum came with us on our holiday. I persuaded them to go on a visit to Abbotsbury Gardens with me. Lovely garden but many biting insects which feasted on my bare legs. I spent the next day in a Piriton-induced haze. 

Paul and I visited Chesil Beach one day, both having read Ian McEwan’s novel. We were a bit underwhelmed.  It’s not really a beach at all,  but a steep-sided gravel bank which is separated from the mainland by a shallow lagoon. There was a good view of it from Abbotsbury Gardens. 

We made one other literary pilgrimage - to Thomas Harry’s cottage- which, as it turned out, isn’t that far from the ‘madding crowd’ these days: we got stuck in horrendous traffic on the way there and nearly missed our slot.  I persuaded the National Trust lady to let me join the group late and it turned out ok as I missed what seemed to have been a very long talk before the actual visit. Very pretty and interesting place.     I’d spent the week reading ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’  and this cottage, where he wrote the book, is described as the home of the main character. I wouldn’t recommend the book - not much happens - a minor courtship and a subplot about some church musicians.  Paul, not a fan of guided tours of any variety, waited for me in the garden. 

Most days we did very little though. Cliff top walks, reading, meals out in the local pub. It was exactly the kind of holiday I like. I’m looking forward to the next one now - going to Northern Ireland next week for the first time in nearly two years. 

 

July Birthdays

 

It’s a whole month since my last post and it’s been a busy one.  Life has been more like it was before corona with visitors staying, meals out, a holiday and birthday celebrations. And all this with a puppy who is still waking us up at 5am - I’m ready for a quieter week or two now.

Paul turned 60 on the 1st July and we had a small gathering in the garden to celebrate the  Saturday after.  It was a lovely day catching up with friends and family, his and mine. The sun shone - for a while. And then it rained.  Very pleased we’d anticipated this and borrowed a gazebo.  The football brought a rather abrupt end to the party.  I got a bit grumpy then as I was left with the clearing up while everyone else disappeared to watch the match.  That was the one they won.  Didn’t care much when they lost the final but felt a bit sorry for Gareth Southgate and his young players. 

Three of my sisters came to the party so it was a kind of post-pandemic family reunion. Though the fourth sister is still in COVID-free New Zealand, missing her biennial visit to Europe for the first time since she emigrated in the early 90s. NI sister and her husband stayed for a few days - first time I’ve seen her since October 2019.  Kate and I are planning to visit her in Northern Ireland in early August if the pandemic allows. Current numbers and the fact that double vaccinated people still can get ill worries me a little. 

Last week we had a proper holiday too, finding a place to rent near the beach in Dorset.  I’ll write a separate post on that later this week and share some pics. While we were there Kate got her results.  The hard work paid off and she got the first she was hoping for.  Very pleased for her and very proud.  Unfortunately she won’t have a proper graduation ceremony. Sheffield are doing an online version instead and she’s not going to bother.  Can’t imagine many will. What’s the point of sitting through speeches etc if you don’t get to walk on stage in a robe? We’re going to do our own celebration.

Then yesterday was my birthday. I’d booked a couple of tickets for an afternoon production of Pride and Prejudice in the park for me and Kate.  It was very enjoyable even though we had to sit in full sun for the first 15 minutes or so til the sun moved round to roast other spectators.  Did feel for the cast in full costume, especially when they had to dance.  As we’d just got back from holiday we didn’t want another meal out so we sat in the garden as it cooled down drinking the rhubarb and ginger gin which Kate bought me topped up with ginger beer. She also gave me a jug/vase which she’d painted herself, a throwback to her primary school days. Paul bought me a birdsong clock which has a different birdsong each hour. I love it’s but the rest of the family aren’t so keen.