Itchenor Again

I really like Itchenor, it's a very picturesque little harbour village: one pub, one road leading down to the quay and the harbour master's house instead of a shop. In the summer it becomes very popular, it's the perfect place to launch from into the harbour and so of course everybody does. I don't mind this, my family are boaty people and in general boaty people get along with other boaty people no matter what the difference in boats may be. But this does mean that its easy to forget that this is a village in its own right, with people who live here all year round.  Visiting in that after Christmas slumber period completely reawakened me to see it this - only the fisherman were still out on the water and the church suddenly had context. I'd never really noticed the church as part of the village. I knew it was there, I passed it and I looked at it but I'd never been in and never really seen. The winter light was illuminating it in such a way that it did draw me in for a nose about and all of a sudden you could see that where the pub was the focal point of the village in the summer, at this time of year it was here.

The Boxing Day Walk

After the cooping up Christmas Day induced there was a real longing from all of us to go out and get some air and feel some space. We went to the beach, normally it's so special and huge and calming, but on Boxing Day it was just missing something. There were too many people. Far too many, nothing felt private or intimate any more, it's just impossible to convene with nature when brawling laughter meets you. I don't know why they bothered me when everyone was so happy. It was a beach full of love but I guess I was just craving peace. Even the beauty of the environment was lost in the grey of the sky reflected in the grey of the water. It could have felt like an incredible wilderness but with so many people, other than the beautiful clear air, there was nothing to stop it from feeling like another grey city centre full of rushing last minute shoppers. I did get some nice pictures though but in future if I want peace I think I'll head for the hills.

A Beach House Weekend

It was really nice this weekend to escape from the smog and the grey and the M25 and go and stay on the beach with some simple pleasures:

two bonkers dogs,

a very comfortable sofa,

a home cooked meal,

plenty of naps,

and probably the most magical bit for me,

the sound of waves wherever you went

Lying in bed hearing them crash and then the screech of the shingle

is just fantastic.

All in all, I'm defintely up to dog sit again!

Beach Walks

I've just spent a weekend being pampered at home with hot meals and a tidy house. The beach beckoned, as always, and our walk reminded me just how fabulous the beach can look in any season.

A Twen

When leaving my teens I should probably go out with a bit of a bang. Instead I started as I meant to go on, arelaxing at the seaside with my nearest and dearest, enjoying a homecooked meals, cuddles with the ba and of course, swiming in the sea, a lot.

Boating

The air was heavy, the sky was atmospheric, yet the lure of the water is too much to take after such a slow transition to summer. 

p.s. spot the name of the ferry?

Dell Quay

Low tide at Dell Quay.