Penbryn Beach...

Penbryn Beach, owned by the National Trust, is just a few minutes walk from the Manorafon campsite.  Walking down through the country lanes covered in foxgloves, grasses and red campion, you can hear the occasional bleat of a sheep and the tantalising sound of the waves.  Every twist and turn takes you down the valley closer to the beach.

And what a beach.  Wide, sandy and shallow.  Backed by grassy sand dunes and tall cave pitted cliffs either end. Penbryn is wild.  The rush of the waves is deafening, my first experience of this cold Atlantic sea.... it's extreme.

The boys, wet suited, ran and played in the foam.  Whilst Dan and I read and brewed a cuppa.  We always take the Kelly Kettle out with us.  Dan and I are tea addicts, so we need to be prepared - always!  In just a few minutes the water is boiling and the magical smell of wood smoke mixes with the sea breeze.  Perfection.

Kelly Kettle & Enamel Mugs can be bought here.

We stayed at Manorafon Camp.

the lizard is awash with blue (bells)...

This evening I am sadly packing my bags to return home.  We have loved Cornwall so much!

Hedgerows, woodlands and even sand dunes are covered with bluebells, cowparsley and red campion.

Everywhere I look, these beautiful spring flowers are nodding their pretty heads.  

Whilst the Helford river, the beaches and shores have delighted our need for the sea.  Boat rides, crabbing, sand castles and paddling.

The Lizard has weaved a magical spell over us.  Cornwall you have excelled yourself. 

Can't wait to return very soon.

x

Open studios...

Last weekend we took a short stroll from home to our local open studios at Spike Island.

Opening once a year to the public, it is a treat to wander from studio to studio and feel so inspired.

The studio collective houses a great mix of painters, sculptors, contemporary and classic art all under one roof.  Each studio a real working space, warts and all.  I loved the paint splats and the crazy objects everywhere.

The boys ran from studio to studio, shouting out 'come and see this!' - we couldn't help to find their enthusiasm infectious.  

Leaving, scooting back across the bridge to home, Rufus told me he wanted a studio to paint and draw and make a mess!

Lets hope he does.

Prior Park National Trust...

 

Belonging to the National Trust on the outskirts of Bath lies the beautiful green space of Prior Park. Prior Park is quintessentially English with hidden follies, wild garlic covered woodlands and grand buildings.  This gorgeous estate occupies a hidden valley with incredible views leading down into the centre of the City.

Armed with a packed lunch and a magnifying glass we embarked on a Spring discovery. We tramped through the wooded hills, stealing glimpses of the bridge and lake below.  Stopping to discover Ants, Bumble Bees and daffodils.

At the lake we made boats from waxy leaves and sticks, launching them from the lake side only to see huge  curious Carp submerge them in an instant.. annoying!

Lakeside you can find the best placed cafe ever.  A small hut selling the usual tea, coffee and cake, with a small children's den area to the side.  But more importantly a chimnea with a roaring fire to warm your bones as you soaked in the atmosphere.  Sitting there supping my tea I realised that the only sound around me was bird song and children having an adventure. Perfect.

Snowdrops in the sunshine...

Friday was a glorious warm spring like day.  A day to spend looking at carpets of white snowdrops.

We jumped in the car and headed to the Cotswolds, to the National Trust house - Newark Park, close to Stroud.  

The sun was wonderfully warm, we wandered through the gardens peeling off layers of coats and scarves, noticing the small differences between clumps of white belled blooms.  The boys ran through the trees, discovering the ruined folly (jail as they called it), before stumbling across a shimmery blue Peacock basking in the sunshine.  Spellbound they stood for ages marvelling at it's deep blue colour, before the bird became bored and flew up to the high wall, away from curious boys.

Now is the time see snowdrops in their full glory.  For more information have a look here for properties close to you.

x

Wildabout Forest School...

 

Yesterday we we spent the whole day in the woods - a beautiful sun drenched, adventure filled day.

Wildabout Forest School invited us to spend a taster day with them.  The boys built dens, dug out a stream, toasted marshmallows, popped corn in a sieve over the fire, feasted on toffee apples and bread twists.

Jackie, the camp leader, showed the boys how to build a fire, listen for bird song, and gave them the time and space to explore the camp, to fully relax into the woodland.

Charlie spent most of the day digging out the stream and changing the course of the water, whilst Rufus made friends and became the mud monster from the lagoon.

It was blissful sitting next to the warmth of the camp fire, listening to my kids laughter and shrieks echo around the hillside.  As the parents chatted, our children made firm friends.

After 5 hours in the woods we left feeling relaxed, happy and with the smell of smoke in our hair.

A wonderful day out.

Wildabout Forest School runs courses for kids aged 8-13 years in a special forest camp just outside of Bristol.  For more information please visit their website. They can also do birthday parties too!  I am going to sign Charlie up for the summer camp.

x

This a gifted post.

learning about bridges...

Charlie has been learning about Isambard Kingdom Brunel at school.  He has visited the SS Great Britain recently on a school trip, so this weekend as part of his homework we visited Brunel's other great engineering masterpiece - the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

On a beautiful day the view is incredible, stretching for miles across the city.

In the sunshine we watched the cars as small as ants drive underneath us, gazed out trying to spot our house. We also estimated the height of each pillar, counted the number of wires that hold the road up and spotted a love padlock.  Jacob loves Jenny - so romantic!

x

Total white out...

This morning our wishes were answered.
Bristol was covered in a thick blanket of crisp white snow.  The kinda snow that crunches under foot, makes great snowmen, snow that you want to roll around in!  Yes, we did it all.

Once we heard school was closed for the day, we quickly threw on every warm layer we had ready for an Arctic adventure.  Finally, when we had wrestled our boots on over too many pairs of socks, Dan and I pulled the boys on their sledges to the local park.  Snow was so thick we could sledge the entire way there, down the paths, through the snow covered streets, across roads - all around us we saw other families trudging to the park with the obligatory red plastic sledge in tow.

The excitement was contagious.

There were flung ourselves down short, steep slopes, built snow castles and a snow Aslan.  Played angels in the snow and had a wild time with friends.

Soon fingers turned blue so off to the local cafe for hot chocolate and hot chips.
A perfect morning.
x