This half term break has been a bit of a retreat for me, a necessary withdrawal from the general hubbub of life and an opportunity to rebalance and to recover my equilibrium. It's been about family, eating, walking, sitting, reading, chatting and just being. It seems I also took a lot of photos this week, and this is often my indulgence when I have the time to wander or potter and capture things on camera. Rather than drawing me away from moments, I feel it makes me notice them more. I look harder, better, more closely, when I have my camera with me.
My in-laws travelled down from Durham to stay with us this week and it was just wonderful to see them and show them around our new home and the area. We took a stormy, windy walk along the beach where the sea was pewter and the beach huts shut up for the winter.
Remember that village I shared with you a while ago, Bosham? On a visit this week I was shocked at the height of the tide.
Everyone local was quite unconcerned, the cafe was full and it was business as usual. I think this must be part of life for the residents here. I do hope their homes stayed dry though.
We've been doing all kinds of autumnal things this week. My father in law, who works with wood for a living, brought his chainsaw and axe with him and helped John tackle our unruly wood pile, and it's now neatly chopped and stacked, ready for winter. I planted 200 (yes, really) bulbs and tidied up the garden. When it rained I baked our Christmas cake, hosted playdates and the children made a superb den in the spare room after our guests had left. It kept them entertained for, quite literally, hours although I did miss my clothes airer and pegs quite a bit. I've been reading a lot, working my way through a pile of magazines that go back to the summer and am currently gripped by an Agatha Christie mini-obsession. I forgot how good they are, how sharp, how well plotted, how funny!
The highlight of our week together was a three mile walk through woods and fields yesterday afternoon with my parents. I actually feel a little bit emotional when I think about it. The light was golden and just luminous, and the air had a slightly hazy quality to it and the sun was soft and bright and warm. Rural England is so exceptionally beautiful at this time of year, don't you think, with the woodsmoke in the air and the leaves changing and falling? I felt so full of gratitude to be out walking in it, to think that we actually live here now, and to be so near my family, but mostly gratitude for just being out in the countryside, to be alive and noticing and breathing in and soaking up that autumn day.
Thank you - I felt like I was there with you. Just a little different from our Spring days, although we had a fabulous wild and windy storm here yesterday filled with lightning and torrents of rain. I too hope those houses are safe from water damage by the tides in that village - amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love the school holidays, some holidays we rush round and others are lazy. It looks like you've done a bit of both!! One more day off, inset day, then back to school and work. The countdown begins, when is the next holiday..........Sarah
ReplyDeleteThe photos are lovely Gillian and I can just imagine those wonderful walks in autumn sunshine in the countryside. Thannks for taking us along. Glad you got to spend time with both families and unwound for a time. Enjoy the week ahead and take care.
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolutely stunning post, I loved your photos ( I'm an Agatha Christie fan too and had afternoon tea at the Swan in Harrogate this half term!) you do live in a gorgeous place and I'm glad you had a lovely half term xxx
ReplyDeleteOh Gillian, I really like your posts, especially when you're out and about in Sussex, your home county. It's been really foggy on the South Downs today. Hope you've been snuggling in front of your wood burner, reading and eating cake!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the most amazing half term breaks ever. I am glad you had a lovely time relaxing and enjoying your loved ones. x
ReplyDeleteSomewhere I have photos of when Bosham really flooded...looks like you had a lovely week.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you had a restful half term. Your photos are lovely, although the height of the water in that poor village made me gasp out loud! I'm rather partial to a nice Agatha Christie myself - just the thing for an autumnal evening in front of the fire. Have a great week. xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious walk. I'm glad you had a perfect day. Half term sounds excellent, no doubt the children had heaps of fun. Is that a little festive baking I see? CJ xx
ReplyDeleteWe had a day like that yesterday and the light was so lovely. I'm very pleased you have recharged your batteries. It sounds like a very good week off - spending time with family and having time to yourself. Lovely. Sam x PS absolutely gorgeous photos as usual.
ReplyDeleteWhat perfect light in many of these images. Here it's been pure gloom as the mist hasn't cleared all weekend. Sometimes I think we live too close to the river.
ReplyDeleteAnd those waves crashing in, I find the sea quite thrilling in winter.
Looks like you're having a beautiful autumn. I love Agatha too, often go back for a reread.
ReplyDeleteSuperb pictures, very atmospherical! I know what you mean about being a bit emotional about the walk. I get this feeling, which I think is predominantly gratitude, regularly. Far too many people do not have that possibility; there is no peace in their lives, they don't know where they will sleep or what they will eat tomorrow, or whether, in fact, they'll still be alive then.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds wonderful Gillian, Just what you needed, relaxing, happy time with the ones you love best, perfect! The den is great, something we did as children and Josh still does now, always with blankets and pegs, it made me smile :-) I would love to visit Bosham sometime, it looks so prety but I think I would certainly be worrying! I hope all goes well back at school. x
ReplyDeletesounds like the perfect half term, good luck with theb strat of school again x
ReplyDeleteHey Gillian,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if your half term was just what the Dr ordered, lovely. The picture of the den reminded me of when I was little. Me and my sister loved den building, and would spend whole weekends playing in a fantasy world hidden beneath chairs and tablecloths!
We are blessed with some of that emotive golden light today. I'm going out to enjoy it very soon.
A lovely post.
Leanne xx
What beautiful photographs - I really enjoyed looking at them. It sounds as though you have had exactly the half term you needed. And your pile of Agatha Christies? I think I might have to head to the library later...
ReplyDeleteWonderful. And the rocking horse keeping the den together! Love the simplicity of your week, Gillian. Feeling log envy xo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - I love your autumnal photos, and totally get your feeling a bit emosh at the perfection of the light on your walk. Our half-term has been similar to yours; crafting, sorting the wood, baking, walking and enjoying the countryside. We've just moved to the South Downs also, so I am loving catching up on your blog :) x
ReplyDeleteMy favourite 2 months are October and November, I love the golden leaves and the quality of the light, it makes being outside magical. Also I love fireworks more than Christmas! Thanks for sharing your lovely photos.
ReplyDeletesounds like a wonderfully restorative week x
ReplyDeleteDelightful photos, Gillian! Really gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI've not yet made our Christmas cake. I have been known to make it the day before Christmas Eve and it's always been absolutely delicious. I'm sure all this making ahead stems from a time before we could buy dried fruit at any time of the year and people needed to bake when they had sufficient stocks to hand, it has little to do with the flavour 'maturing'. I don't add alcohol after it's baked as there is some in the baking. I dislike the taste of the raw alcohol which has been added to a Christmas cake, the baking dispenses with the actual alcohol and leaves only the flavour.
There is a lovely old film The Perfect English Village and Bosham is shown in that, with hints to the flooding that it experiences. This was a made-for-TV film about 25 years ago by the late Nigel Farrell, but it's still a lovely film to watch (I recently bought the DVD - I was surprised it was available.)
Margaret P
This Autumn has been particularly magical. Glad you're making the most of it.
ReplyDeleteJacqui x
This autumn has been really good especially after such a poor summer. Glad you enjoyed the break. I have baked 2 Christmas cakes this year as usual. I also had the usual debate with myself about whether to bake 2 as usual or just bake 1. We all love it and it keeps for such a long time so it had to be 2! Love your rocking horse.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your break was just what you needed. I'm glad you were able to have time for doing the things you really enjoy. I've been so busy lately that blogging and reading blogs has really slipped by the wayside and I'm hoping things slow down soon. It's such a nice time of year - my favorite one - and I'm making the most of it running around trying to do everything. I hope your return to work has been good and that you enjoy this week too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've had the chance to unwind. I looks to have been the perfect week to recharge your batteries. X
ReplyDeleteLots of happies in this post. Yes, it's a lovely time of year, a particularly colourful autumn this year, I think. I'm impressed with the Christmas cake making. I haven't even bought the ingredients for ours.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and you have shared an idyllic week. Autumn is truly wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGorgeously golden photos Gillian, glad you enjoyed your half term break. Have a good week xx
ReplyDeleteGillian, the photos from your country walk are so beautiful! One day I will make it over to England and Autumn looks like a glorious time to visit. (My favorite British Country Living issues are always in Autumn - ha, ha.) The houses right next to, IN, the water are crazy! I've never seen anything like that. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteFabulously gorgeous photos....the 'light' was overwhelming.....just lovely!
ReplyDeleteI can smell that cake from here!
ReplyDeleteThe den looks like such good fun. We used to make them at my grandparents under their dining table. like you say hours of fun.
I'm sure your in-laws enjoyed their trip down south to see all the sights.
Days out breathing in lung fulls of fresh air can really help sweep away those cobwebs and are a delight for all the senses.
Lisa x
Gorgeous photos, especially the ones from your woodland walk. I also love the kids' den, no surprise it kept them entertained for hours! Hope the return to school and work is going well for you all. Have a lovely week!
ReplyDeleteLove, Love, love your post. I did exactly the same in half term, no over expectations of 'getting things done' just enjoying the sunshine and whatever each day bought our way. Jo x
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful time you guys have been having. and yes, this time of year is the best but i do think this year has been a particularly gorgeous autumn season.
ReplyDeletethat xmas cake looks promising!
Such lovely photos too. Everything looks so peaceful and serene, it's hard to believe the truth that you are normally running around full tilt. I hope you enjoyed your little respite, it certainly looks very appealing in your neck of the woods.
ReplyDeleteS x
Such incredibly beautiful photos!!!! You've really managed to capture those nice sunny autumn days.. and what a beautiful area to live in.
ReplyDeleteA golden autumn indeed! Such beautiful pictures!! :) We were quite lucky to have a golden autumn too but now is it rainy and stormy. Oh well, gotta love all the seasons! :)
ReplyDeleteTake care
Anne
Crochet Between Worlds