Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

The weather has been a touch grim on top of the hill where we live. Windy. Rainy. So much rain. Huge. big, ploppy, sploshes of rain. Very bad timing as the roofers were due to mend a leak in our roof this weekend but couldn't because of the rain. Therefore a washing up bowl propped up on a sauce pan upon a teatowel has been doing it's duty. Oh the joys of an old house. Definitely a day for the fairy lights to work their magic. They cheer the gloomy day up a treat.

It was half term the week before last so we all went to the Seaside House for a few days, the weather was the opposite of today. As you know from this post I was delighted to come home but I've no idea why since we had such a lovely time in Devon. The weather was good and we had one very hot day on the beach. I don't feel there is anywhere more fabulous than England when the sun shines. Good job really since I doubt emigrating is ever going to be on the cards. I'd get homesick.

My good friend, I call her Princess, gave me this enamel mug (as well as a baking book) for my birthday. Fab isn't it! It fits a huuuuge cuppa in it so it's compeletly perfect in sentiment and practicality for time spent on the beach with the feral beasts. Princess is my kindred spirit. There's much about us character wise that is different but we share many common traits too. In the past several months she has re discovered knitting and is also making a hexagon hand stitched patchwork quilt. You should see us at the kids swimming on a Wednesday. We both have two big boys running amok (sp) yet we sit there serenely crocheting (me) or stitching (her). The other day I rocked up at school wearing a black full A line skirt and vest top with a bright green cardigan over the top. I got out of the car as she was walking past. We took one look at each other. You know, one of those up and down looks and cracked up. It was like looking in a mirror! Hilarious. We had Swine Club later that day but fortunately Mini barfed all down my left arm so I changed my cardi and put on a polo neck she'd passed on to me,  I didn't plan it that way, I only realised when she gave me the uppy downy look again and I laughed!! Ha.

Asking 'nicely' for a jam "sangwidge"

Big Cuckoo and Cakey (her brother couldn't say her name when he was little) played together in a big hole that Poppa dug. They only came back for food. Who can blame them? I'd be the same, if I could tear myself away from the picnic in the first place!

Big and Cakey made a valiant effort to dig their own hole but as one was shovelling the sand and flinging it over nearby sunbathers and the other was managing to re fill the hole, Poppa had to step in. This time the tide was slowly coming in and the hole was nearer the water so instead of spending hours trying to fill the hole they were trying to empty it of sea water. I love how the tide and waves are so gentle along the estuary, it makes for relaxed playing for the children. No fear of them being swept away, which means the grown ups can enjoy watching them without being on tenter hooks. Of course you can never be complacent with littlies near water but with so many kids and parents on the beach there are always dozens of eyes on each child. The other nice thing about Salcombe is that people tend to look out for each other. You've not got a mallet for your wind break? Use mine. Forgotten suncream? Here's some. Need another bucket? Here you go! Need a hand with the push chair on the steps? I'll help! So refreshing. 

Little Cuckoo spent an improbabl amount of time trying to master frisby throwing. It didn't go well, there was a stiff breeze and his poncho towel wasn't playing nicely.

I did a spot of stitching but mostly I drank tea and watched the kids play.

That's the "Pop pop" boat. It's how we get around the lovely beaches with out having to rely on the little ferry or having to drive for hours around the estuary. We just blow up the boat, walk it down to the water and throw it in. Simple! That's right isn't it Mr C? Ah apparently not. What do I know? I just get in it at Whitestrand pontoon jetty thingy and we all pop pop pop over to the beaches on the other side.

After a busy day on the beach Mini fell fast asleep in my arms in his life jacket. I put him in the push chair and that's how he slept for four hours. It is true what they say about sea air. He's been a pants sleeper since returning to Somerset. Anyone got any fool proof advice on how to get him to sleep better? I'm doing the dream feed thing but he's still waking for milk anywhere between 1.30am and 5.30am.

Wearing a £3 skirt from the charity shop.
Pimped up with a bit of lace* from John Lewis along the hem.

And there's me eating THE BIGGEST icecream. White chocolate chip and vanilla. Two big scoops in a waffle cone with a chocolate flake AND a fudge stick. Yeehaw it were gert lush!

Is it any wonder I put on 4 pounds in 3 days??????

I'm terribly behind with catching up on everyone's blogs and even further behind with replying to lots of fabulous comments and emails. If I don't manage to get back to you and you are waiting patiently for an answer to a question or something then please jog my memory. I have a poor memory, I need to do that Nintendo DS brain training game but I keep forgetting to do it, boom boom!

xxx

*Lace cost £15. Silly me. Never checked the price of the lace. Not such a clever thrifty bargain.