:: It was good in Cornwall :: Part One

:: To discover new beaches - Godrevy on the West Coast, a National Trust beach ::

:: Parking on the cliff, with the shortest of walks down to wide open coves of golden sand & crystal clear blue waters for as far as the eye could see ::

:: It was good to see the smiles on my 10 year old as he scampered like a mountain goat on the rocks ::
:: Water, sand, rocks. All he needs ::

:: It was so good, that we went back again ::

:: This time we called in at Hell's Mouth Cafe for lunch, which was delicious, and very well priced ::

:: Following the advice of a lovely gentleman, who informed my small people that they would be able to see seals further up the beach (true indeed, much excitment too) we wandered up to Hell's Mouth Cove:: 

::Sadly for such a beautiful place, he also told me it is also known as a suicide spot - it was so very moving to look at the local church number, offering support in times of need, pinned on the fence ::

:: It was good to visit Port Issac. To wander down the steep streets of fishing cottages ::

:: To the working Harbour ::

:: Small one collected sea glass & pottery treasures ::

:: And I had a serious case of the wanties in this emporium of wonderful things ::

:: As the sun came out, we walked the path back to the car park, overlooking the sea & it was good ::

:: It was good to revisit Polzeath Beach::
:: Our family works well on the beach, we've developed a rythm that suits all :: I have my tent, to shelter me from the sun & in which I sit & read, watch, cuddle & nourish from ::

:: Small one builds sand castles ::

:: And here we stay - late into the evening. Tucking into hot Cornish Pasties as the tide makes it way in ::

:: Squeezing every drop out of a beautiful chilled day.

 :: And as the darkness takes hold, late at night, I strip off small people, dry them off & wrap them up warm - I do think G is big enough to sort himself out, so don't offer ::

:: Hot camper drinks ::

 :: Its also good to slow down and watch & listen to the smalls people, eaves drop on their conversation, take in their growing personalities - ponder on what their future holds, whilst sometimes still wishing I could have them little again ::

:: I asked G ? When did the 10 year stop shouting out the make of the tractor that passed us on the roads? Something that was so much a part of his early years, has stopped & I hadn't realised till now. Then I notice a 7 & 10 year old reading the cartoon strips in the Daily Mail - and laughing, as only children can, at the silliness of adult humour ::

:: Yes, its all been good ::

Lx

Can I also add a big thankyou for all your lovely messages on my last post - & also say 'Hello" to Jayne, thankyou so much for your comment!

Life in the Slow Lane....

Hello, I'm still here, pootling along, in the slow lane of life for a while. Twelve have relocated again to Cornwall, this time in our beautiful camper, top speed of 61mph (once) on the way down from Derbyshire, yes life definitely in the slow lane.

I've not been well recentley, having finally gone to the GP & been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes & Anaemia. It explains why I was feeling so very, very, tired & wanting to sleep 24/7, and why the Mars Bars wern't working. So I am currentley off work, as I take time to rest & recover, & with the support of a brilliant GP & Practice Nurse, for the medication and lifestyle changes to start to work. 

I'm learning to live life at a slower pace.

And now we are down in Cornwall. It's a quieter holiday than we would usually have, I certainly won't be walking up to Tintagel Castle this stay, not enough oomph. But there is much pleasure & goodtimes in the simple things....

'Get me mum' jumps on Megavissy Harbour....

Warm water & sand on bare feet....

Warm towel snuggles. Just the best mummy beach activity ever....

G doing the male hunter/gatherer thing, our very own Bear Ghryllis....

Improvised Noughts & Crosses....

Our family favourite being played in the Camper Van....

Drinking coffee at Portreath beach....

As small one plays with shadows....

Watching as my boys bond....

As the sun sets....

It's good in the slow lane once in a while.

Lx

Twelve in Chaos - But it's all good...

OK, so when I first started blogging in 2009, it was about finding balance to my chaotic working mum, life.


I wanted to find a balance, to have my cake & eat it. Work hard, but have a lovely home, that had 'me' stamped on it. Not a practical sensible home, but one where there was order balanced with creativity amongst the small people & G who also happen to live at Twelve.
I wanted to balance my caring roles as a mum, wife, nurse & housekeeper, with the creative person that nearly went off to Uni, the book reading Lydia, who somehow wanted that Enid Blyton life for her small people.

Somehow 2010 went astray with life changing events that overwhelmed & shifted dynamics. 2011 is shaping up so differentley.

Now I have to be honest - It's took years to fall in love with Twelve. Yup, I must sound an ungrateful monkey, but I loved beyond measure, my old house.

A 3 bedroom terrace, 100+ years old, that was quite literally falling down when aged 24 I brought it as a newly qualified nurse. I was maxed out on the mortgage, working full time & extra in nursing homes on the side, but with help from my dad & his toolbox, a freindly ex called G (who claimed to love DIY & was pretty good at it too), I got there. I loved every wonky wall, the high ceilings, the neighbours, the stripped pine dressers, the nooks & crannies filled with just lovely 'things', the curtains made from ticking & duvet covers by my mum. It was homely.

Switch to 18 months of marrige & a new baby & we realised the house wasnt working any more for us. So by off chance, on the way to Mum & Dads on New Years Eve 2000, we drove onto a new estate in the next 'village'. There, in the smattering of snow we peered through the windows of the show home, of the house that is now 'Twelve'.

We broke our necks to find the money, took a risk, & I went back to work when my little one was 3 months old, to help finance the move. At the time I was struggling, numb from wonky hormones.

When we finally moved in the realisation of the new straight walls, low ceilings, new neighbours, new furniture - New Flippin Everything hit me. And I missed my old home.

Fast forward (10 years this August) & I am now in love with Twelve.

It's took years to find how I wanted my home to feel, to feel comfortable in its skin, rather than just functional. I think a home is always evolving to meet the needs of those in it & perhaps the reason why I have finally fallen in love with my house is that now, over time, it has finally evolved into meeting some of my emotional needs too.

G has come to learn how important it is for me to create my home, & that my need for some organisation & control, is so that I can cope with working & him being away a lot. We had some really good converations in Cornwall, of what we wanted for now & the future for us as a couple & a family & it was good to hear each other.

I also feel like we as a family are moving into that 'memories for the future' territory. O & S are 10 & 7, just about the ages where I can recall really strong childhood memories. I want to have a home full of love, laughter & good memories for them to take into their future, much like I had.

& then the penny dropped.

It's ok talking & not so ok fretting about not getting it right, but at some point, something has to change to get that balance. Try as I might, G wasn't wearing the 'I'll give up work & make sure that your tea will be on the table at 6pm' argument, & i swear he nearly left the country (again) when I mentioned baby number 3, and the saving on childcare me not working would have.

So, for the past few weeks, armed with coffee, coke & a cry of "Sleep is for the weak" I have been turning Twelve upside down. It is now a home that works, all the rooms have a sense of purpose & reason - there are no 'lost' rooms.

I can now appreciate the newness, and have learnt to adopt my decorating style to fit with it.

I am tired, but it is a good tiredness, one of achievement. There are still weeks ahead to go, but Twelve is taking shape, the smalls are loving the shift round of rooms, and I am falling in love all over again with my house that feels like my kind-of home.

I'm also kind-of likeing G too, after all this man puts up with my pebbles in a jar, and has relented & gone up ladders this weekend to paint the stair walls, when he admits he doesn't really like DIY, and would much rather be working on his bus.

Ah, yes, our bus. He's in the final stages of turning from a bus to a camper. We are excited beyond measure, & I can see Enid Blyton type days ahead in him.

& sweet peas. I could never grow sweet peas at my old house. They are my favourite summer flower. But they grow well here at Twelve.

Tells me something, no?!

If youv'e made it to the end of this post, Thankyou. I'd love to share this journey, would you be interested?

Lx

Wise Words Found

I hope that my child looking back on today, 

remembers a mother who had time to play

Children grow up while you're not looking,

there'll be years ahead for cleaning and cooking

So quiet now cobwebs, dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep...

Lx

Twelve Goes to Cornwall

For the next week, we have left  Number Twelve and are living here in this beautiful cottage

Near St Austell

We've stayed here many times before, so it feels like home from home....

Only a lot tidier!

Today we popped into Charlestown to have a late lunch at Charlies

It's been a firm favourite since we discovered it last Easter - 

With toast almost the same size as small person

We wandered down to the harbour - past these stunning tulips

Admiring the old whitewashed fishermans cottages

Past the boats

Down to the harbour walls

 All in the most glorious sunshine - It felt like August, not April

Small person went pebble hunting 

Whilst Tall One people watched

We then drove to Portholland stopping for an ice cream from here - 

and walked from the East Harbour to the West Harbour

Where Small Person made freinds and painted Pebbles

and Tall one found Towers on the beach

Then it was back home for a sunny evening tea

Todays Treasures .....

& G proving he's still got the touch with the ladies....

I am looking forward to the rest of the week, time to unwind and have time with those I love most in the world..

It's  been a tough week leading up to this break, one thats made me want to wrap my arms around my familly & squeeze them tight. One thats made me count my blessings

Do the same to your loved ones, wherever you are, and be happy in the moment.

Lx