Not the Bahamas...but Blackpool

Well Lytham St. Anne's actually, Woody's childhood stamping ground. We've had a lovely afternoon at the fantastic Blackpool Zoo which, although I'm not all that comfortable with zoos to be honest, it is a brilliant place with animals rescued from circuses and projects to save endangered species.

Afterwards we did one of our regular tours of Woody's old haunts and as ever ended up by the sea, eating fish and chips.

We sat with our backs to the breeze while the boys raced around the dunes.

Such a shame most of the old Victorian bits of the pier are few and far between. A lot of uPVC these days but the struts and supports are still a pretty impressive monument to some extraordinary engineering. I loved exploring it but the warning signs kept me well back.

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.

And even if its not the Atlantic coast, the Fylde bit will do x

Cycling Adventures

Going away for adventures is marvellous but sometimes I think that enjoying where we live can be just as good, if not better.

 

We live on the very southern edge of the National Park where the gritstone edges rear up from the fields and dominate the skyline above the town and the horizon we see from our garden.

 

There are miles and miles of it to discover and favourite places we return to time and again for a bracing breath of fresh air, a scramble about or a gentle, soul restoring stroll. Lucky isn't the word.

 

A little while back on a lovey, chatty night out with smashing friends, the ladies of our little group decided we would get together on two wheels and enjoy our surroundings a little more - and yesterday it came off.

 

We cycled 17 miles of the lovely Monsal Trail from Buxton to Bakewell through old railway tunnels blackened with soot and over the enormous vaiduct at Monsal Head.  

The Buxton Bikers - Fiona, Jane and Helen

 

Hassop Station was our half way stop and fortified with bacon sandwiches, tea cakes and good coffee we managed to cycle to homeward leg and be home for lunch. We had a brilliant morning, made even funnier by my friend Helen having brought along her 9 year old son's bike by mistake.

 

It was a total beast to ride (not many gears and a seat with nowhere enough padding for mummies!) so we all took turns riding it. Blimey it was hard work! On my stretches I couldn't even speak it was so exhausting. We got some priceless looks I can tell you.Very, very funny and totally painful all at the same time!

 

Mostly I just really enjoyed having the chance to ride with friends and it was such good fun.My rides so far have been solo events. Cycling is really getting into my blood now and I'm amazed at how quickly I'm getting stronger and able to go much further. On the flat I can manage a fair way but I'm still finding the hills a struggle which is a bit of a problem around our way!

 

I love the distraction of the scenery, spotting wildlife and watching the world roll by as I'm pedalling along. It doesn't feel like exercise at all to be honest. So much so that I've signed up to do a triathlon in July can you believe ?!?  (only a little amateur one).The biking and swimming bit should be ok but I daren't think about the run. Don't think I've done more than a jog since about 1987! Better get out on the trails again I think.

Its a very lovely spot indeed is Hassop, filled with mismatched chairs, battered old Chesterfield sofas and a really good bookshop along with the deliciously brilliant cafe.

 

We'll be back there rather soon indeed I reckon.

Way Down South

We let the train take the strain this Easter and headed south-east to stay with our fantastic, old friends who we don't get to see nearly enough. It was so good to spend time together, the kids hunting for eggs, eating lovely food and having the time to laugh and catch up.

The south-east of England, outside of London, isn't somewhere I know well at all and our friends were brilliant tour guides taking us to lovely Dickensian Rochester and the moody coast at Whitstable.

 

 

 

Even on a grey, freezing Easter Sunday I thought Whitstable was fabulous. I love the sea but I was just as captured by the textures and colours of the shingle, clapboard buildings and mellow brick as we walked along the shoreline and braced the breeze.

I couldn't be tempted by the famous oysters though and we all settled for some delicious fish and chips we ate on the shingle with the sun finally emerging. Four adults, four children, all relaxed and very happy to be beside the sea.

It seemed even colder inland but small children always seem to have the energy to dash about and keep warm. Hot chocolates in the cosy cathedral tea rooms really helped too I think.

Such a great time. Looking forward to seeing more with our lovely friends soon; especially with some sunshine!

Dresses From the Sea

There's been much discussion about clothes on some of my favourite blogs lately (Little Green Shed, Little Birdie) well more about how hard it is to find what you'd really like to wear when you're a mum, who perhaps works, is busy, who has a life, and still wants to look okish...

We were going to a party recently - first one in ages - and I got in a complete tizz about what to wear on a Friday night out in a city. I can't tell you how stressed I was. Traumatised.

I spent a joyless and fruitless couple of hours in the city centre trailing in and out of shops getting so totally dispirited. I couldn't even find earrings I liked!

So now I have totally forsaken the high street. These three dresses are my favourite buys from the past few months and, apart from some £6 jeans in a sale in town and some lovely birthday and Christmas gifts, I've bought nothing else since the autumn.

They're all from Seasalt in Cornwall who for me hit just the right mix of style, quality and value (no more expensive than M&S). The dress below I've worn endlessly and had such lovely comments. Their Artists and Potters range is extremely beautiful and I have a huge wish list of Breton tops, wide legged trousers and striped socks filed away!

Last year I bought my summer sandals from them and they were the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. My Sesalt winter mac has kept me warm and snug throughout this viscious winter of ours.

I love the cut and drape of Seasalt clothes and, at the risk of sounding like an advert which this post absolutely is not, finding somewhere you know the clothes will suit you is complete nirvana.

So I've learnt my lesson and along with a couple of other favourites I live too far away from (Fat Face and occasionally White Stuff), I shall carry on shopping by the sea.xxx

Scenes from a Snowbound Home

Over the past few months we've become very well practised in snowy Saturdays here at No. 25.

Firstly there is usually a slow start, especially when the horizontal blizzard is still giving everything it's got outside.

 

Books, colouring, hot toast, long baths and the inevitable computer games fill most of the morning.

And then when the wind drops a little its a mad rush to pull on waterproofs and get out into it.

Time then to cosy in again, fill the radiators with wet socks and snuggle up with hot chocolate.

The kitchen table is working overtime at the moment. Half office/half craft table.

I'm not sure this winter is ever going to end. Perma-winter; stuck forever in the land of the Snow Queen. In the village up the hill from us the snow drifts are seven foot deep!

 

Looking forward to a long, snug afternoon of gardening books to lift my soul. Stay cosy!



Time for Flowers

They say winter this year will last until well past Easter. I'm holding onto the fact that compared to recent years at least the weather is doing what its supposed to by the seasons - for now.

Spring doesn't properly start until next week anyway so I'm gritting my teeth against the frost and cold.

And flowers are really helping. Woody saw these hyacinths wrapped up in brown paper at a little village florist last week and thought I'd like them.

 

They're perfect, not too blowsy or heady and such a pretty mix. Spring in a jug.

Outside too, things are beginning to bloom

Every year I turn to primulas for a shot of colour for the pots and planters on my patio. This year they're mainly crimsons. orangey-reds and  ruby shades. I've popped some bellis daises into old terracota pots to keep them company.

Love this rich shade to perk up dreary, chilly mornings.

 

Waiting for spring is at least a little more colourful now. xx

Parish Notice

Hello everyone, do hope you're having a smashing weekend.

I've decided to change things a little here as you can tell. Last time I tried this some people couldn't find things and I also had some complaints too.

Hope this spring clean doesn't cause problems for followers but I decided to go ahead and change my style because, well frankly I need it.  I'm feeling tired and in need of inspiration while this cold, dreary winter continues to drag on.

Curlew Country is six years old this summer and I and what I blog about has evolved over time. An update and a refresh is long overdue I think.

I'm not a designer so it's just a template change really but it feels more me, for the me I am now. You can also choose for yourself which format you'd like to read my blog in by choosing from the drop down menus on the left of the header bar. I've published in Magazine style but really, the choice is yours.

I'll make some other changes like removing the word verification irritant on comments which I know is a pain. Please let me know if you have any troubles but most of all, thanks for keeping visiting. It means a huge amount and I'm very grateful xxx