So – a new year, and plenty of thoughts about how to make the most of it.
But before I get to that, two lovely and very different holiday days to start 2017.
1 January turned out to be dreary, cold, wet, dark, and definitely feeling like a ‘wet playtime’ day. So we ditched the plan to go out for a long walk and instead luxuriated in doing not very much at all at home. A bit of pottering indoors, some crochet, a book or two, and a lovely fire to sit in front of, leftovers for supper. A perfect day.
2 January by contrast was quite a different beast (though just as perfect, in a different way). Cold, clear, crisp, frosty (icy even), with a bright blue sky and more of the same promised. The seaside walk beckoned once more. We packed a picnic and a flask and drove down to our favourite place by the sea – Hengistbury Head, near Bournemouth.
(All photos Malcolm’s, all photos from previous visits – no, I don’t paddle in the middle of winter).
This is somewhere we go, just for the day, several times a year, every year. We’ve been doing so for at least 10 years, maybe more. Its been a joy when our spirits were high, and a joy and a boost when times were tough.
We always do the same walk – first along the beach from the car park, then around the corner along the next bit of beach. Then the ferry across to Mudeford, and a walk all along the next two beaches and up to Steamer Point, where there’s a picnic place with benches overlooking a deserted beach and looking out to the Isle of Wight.
Then the same again in reverse, but we return on the freshwater side of the Head not the beach side. Sometimes there are lots of wading birds, herons and egrets to see; other times (like yesterday) not so many.
It’s always a wonderful day out, and we always comment to each other at some point in the day that we’ve never failed to enjoy a day out there, whatever the season or the weather.
This visit was no different. And all the better for that.
Happy new year to you, and here’s to starting the new year with hope and optimism. And with plans.
the magic jug 
I like it there too…and always something restorative about being by the sea, especially in winter
LikeLike
Absolutely! One downside of not living close to the sea.
LikeLike
Lovely photos, Deborah (and Malcolm), and Happy New Year to you, too. And yes, let’s hear it for hope and optimism; may 2017 be filled with reasons for both!
LikeLike
And a very happy new year to you too Marian.
LikeLike
I’m always fascinated by other people’s ‘bolt holes’ and how often they are by the coast. Lots of friends head to Pembrokeshire and Cornwall but our place is Studland Bay – not far from Poole. A (belated) Happy New Year to you!
LikeLike
Yes you too Kathryn. There is something very special about being by the sea don’t you think? We love Pembrokeshire and Cornwall, but Hengistbury Head is somewhere we can get easily for the day, and it seems to have just about everything we want from that kind of day out.
LikeLike
Hello Deborah, thank you for your kind e-mail. I’ve been reading some of your posts and am drawn to comment on the photos in this one. The seaside pictures and quaint cottages make me smile. We plan to spend a month at a beach in CA in the spring while it still snows and blows in CO. Good luck as you endeaver to spread positive vibes in your community and in the blogging world. Barb
LikeLike
Hi Barb, how nice of you to get back to me. The ‘cottages’ are what we call beach huts, very familiar at UK seasides. Owners are only allowed to stay there overnight during the summer months, and definitely not allowed to live there full time.
A month in CA at the beach in summer sounds like bliss. Good luck to you too.
LikeLike