Friday 3 June 2011

Time Away Down Memory Lane

When I was a child we holidayed for lots of summer's down in the rolling countryside of the South West's gentlest county - Dorset. I haven't been back since but this half term we took our little men away in our caravan for five nights of nostalgia in Hardy Country.
It was bliss. Weymouth, Dorchester and the pretty Wessex villages around have hardly changed in 25 years. Last time I was here I'd never even thought of having children and to be back on the very same stretch of beach with my little family, doing the very same things, was quite moving.
Weymouth's architecture is as fabulous as I remember. I'd heard the port town had faded a bit but I thought it was looking really rather lovely with fancy new restaurants and boutique shops but is hasn't lost any of its charm. These ice cream houses by the harbour fascinated me as a child, I wished I could have a room on the top floor and sit on a window seat to watch the boats come and go.
Oh the harbour! I love harbours, the busyness, the comings and goings, the colours and the journeys the people onboard are on - and it all began here, sitting enjoying fish and chip teas with my parents and sisters on summer afternoons. So we went straight there on our first evening this week and the chips still taste as good.
The tiniest things brought memories flooding back. Sand ripples on the shoreline, colourful streets and sails on the horizon took me back all those years in an instant.
Even the deckchairs are the colours I remember.
We packed so much into five days, (more of that another time), but just to see this view again was the stuff of my dreams. Happy days.

36 comments:

andamento said...

Great photos as ever. I've not been to Dorset, I'm adding it to my list of places to visit one day...

Julie said...

Lovely. My brother lived in Weymouth for a while, you've captured it's spirit perfectly in these pictures.

Laura said...

Thank you, for taking me right back to my childhood too. This post was just what I needed! Have a great weekend. Lx

Bobo Bun said...

Idyllic Steph, so glad you had a wonderful time. Good to have you back though, miss your posts.

X

Ashley said...

Wow, what a lovely post to look through and read. I'm from Bridport, not far from Weymouth.. and so have spent many a day's there. The picture of Perry's restaurant brought back memories for me as it was one of the first places my husband and I went to dinner when we started going out.. :)
Looks like you had a lovely little holiday..!
Ashley xx

Anonymous said...

I live in the USA. It seems, through your photos, that every part of England is beautiful! I'd just love to visit there someday. It's breathtaking. Thank you for sharing!

Vintage Sunday said...

Thank you so much for taking us along on your nostalgic journey ~ truly amazing! The building (especially those ice-cream ones!) were just gorgeous! I especially loved the lacey trim on the building in the second last photo too, but all the photos were just beautiful! Love Brenda

A Rose Without A Thorn said...

Once again your post makes me so happy. Some days I really wish I was back in England and your photo's were just beautiful. Keep up the wonderful blogging, Maureen

earthmotherwithin said...

Great photos which bring the essence of the British seaside to us who live so far away. I called my husband in and showed him the lovely pictures. Thanks from Perth Western Australia.

Sandi said...

Another tug at my heart, I live in Australia and so want to come over for a visit and the more I see on blogs the more time I want to spend there. So many places to visit, maybe a couple of three month visits may be in order!
x Sandi

fabriquefantastique said...

fabulous images....

MyCretanlife said...

Lovely photos. Don't think I have been to that part of the country, at least not to have a holiday there.

Naturally Carol said...

You've captured summer perfectly! I love the colours of summer and the bunting and deckchairs, the seagulls and the sand..beautiful. I remember as a child not being able to choose which colour bucket and spade I really wanted 'cos they all looked so inviting!

KC'sCourt! said...

Lovely photos - you have put me in the holiday mood.
Julie xxxxx

...Nina Nixon... said...

It is one of my most favourite places to visit in the UK.

Bridprot, Lyme Regis, Portland, Chesil beach......your pictures are a wonderful trip down memory lane for me too.

Happy holidays,

Nina xxx

ps. is that your little beach tent? N x

Vintage Tea Time said...

Lovely photos - thanks for sharing - looks like you had a great time in a lovely area - with sunshine! Brill! Abby x

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photographs,Steph ,wonderful memories to keep forever.......juliexx

Moseley Property Shop said...

Amazing images...we're off to Dartmouth this summer and I just can't wait!

periwinkle said...

It's the most amazing feeling doing things with your children that you loved as a child isn't it. That seagull photo is amazing .

Madelief said...

Hi Steph,

You had some great weather! Your photo's look great.

Happy weekend,

Madelief

Anonymous said...

I'm happy you had such a nice time. Childhood memories are hard to forget...
I'm also thrilled that I have the chance to get to know England through blogging and your amazing photos!
Such beautiful places!
Thanks for sharing!

Attic24 said...

Gorgeous pictures Steph, I especially loved seeing all the buckets and spades....Weymouth is a part of my childhood too, I used to go there with my Grandparents often, we would picnic up near Nothe Fort on the grassy area there. Portland Bill too, did you go to the lighthouse? Used to LOVE it there as a child. Looking forward to hearing more of your hols...how was the Bav? We just had 5 days away in Connievan, it was eh-hem hard work with a certain wee man!!!!! But fun too.xx

bellaboo said...

After Devon,Dorset is my next favourite county.Love your photos,brought back happy memories for me of holidays there too. :0)

Gigi said...

What great photos! Such a beautiful corner of the world you live in. I'm thinking I need to move to England ;).
Blessings,
GG

Vintage Jane said...

Weymouth's not too far from us so we often while away an afternoon there, especially in the winter. It's true, it was looking a little jaded, but a lot of tidying and prettifying has been going on in prep for the Olympics next year as adjoining Portland will be the sailing venue. M x

Sarah Jones said...

Lovely photographs. Seaside in the summer heaven!
Thank you for sharing your holiday with us.

Lizaboo said...

Wow dorest looks beautiful! I have always wanted to visit there, and one day i will! love your blog xx :o)

The mum of all trades said...

it looks a beautiful place, you have sold it to me!

Anonymous said...

So pretty. I haven't been for years. We must take the tent, I think. Thanks for sharing x

mrsgreentoad said...

wow looks so pretty there , i hope you had fish and chips!

chrisartist said...

Such beautiful pics. Loved the sea gull and the colourful buckets and spades. Thanks for sharing
Chrisartist

Jill said...

How lovely to return and find that things had not changed so much! Weymouth is a real English Seaside town, so glad you had a lovely nostalgic holiday.
Jillx

June said...

Lovely photos. Haven't been to Weymouth for some time - you've just put it back on my list of places to go and see!
June

Jess said...

Hi, I was hopping from one blog to another and then I found this beautiful place that made me want to stay. :) Thankyou for sharing such gorgeous photos - I love the one of the seagull, brilliant!xx

Tina Peacock said...

Ah, I'm just up the road in Wimborne. Weymouth is lovely, I really love your photos, especially the first one. Glad you had such a good time x

Anonymous said...

I love reading your lovely blog..seeing your lastest post takes me back to when our two boys were small( they are now both grown up )we used to love our annual caravan holidays and both my sons have their own precious memories of them as well..time goes so fast,I do wonder where the years go,make the most and savour all the lovely times you all have together,with your lovely family.xx
Kind regards Katie,x