About

“I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about how I want my life to be now that I’ve retired.  And I think we should move somewhere entirely different.  We need a new challenge; we could so easily slide into a comfortable routine, just live here quietly and atrophy.  I think we should move to Cornwall.”

“And what about me,” I said. “What about what I how I want my life to be? What about my job and my friends?  What about my parents and my children? What about my life here?  I’m happy.  I’m not looking for a challenge.”  Although quite a lot of that I said silently. What he heard was a little more encouraging.

Eighteen months later, on the last day of March 2016, we arrived in a quiet corner of Cornwall.  And I fell in love within moments.

I shall always be grateful for that conversation.  And to B – for bringing us here.

 ~~~~~~~

Sandras 60th Celebrations 197

 

This is the story of a couple of (in my case at least) almost sixty-somethings doing something different.  Not wildly, massively, mind-bogglingly different: plenty of people retire to Cornwall.  But it’s our story, or rather my take on our story, and as such it will be unique.

 

Meandering through the tale of how we create a life in this corner of Cornwall will be the things are important to me: love, joy and compassion; friends and family; home and garden; nature, the turning of the seasons; the arts – especially books.   A chapter in my life created simply, mindfully and with gratitude.

 

57 thoughts on “About”

    1. Thank you Betty-Ann. I’m still posting old stuff as you can see. I’m looking forward to catching up! 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Deb. I’m still trying to catch up on entries as you can see. It’s so nice to have your support and encouragement 🙂

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  5. I caught up with your blogs today, and am blown away by the loveliness of your writing, Sandra.
    And what treasures you share with us- priceless.

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    1. Pat, thank you. You will know how much it means to me to know that you’ve read some of what’s here. How lucky I am! xx

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  6. Sandra, what lovely descriptions of your ‘little kingdom’! I am so very pleased to know how much you feel at home there. x x

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  7. Hi! Thanks for following my blog. This blog is so beautifully illustrated and well-written — and your Classics Club list is impressive. I noticed we have several titles in common. I look forward to reading your thoughts.

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    1. Why thank you, I’m so pleased that you like it. I shall confess to having been aware of your blog and ‘lurking’ for a little while. Your reviews are so good, I’m somewhat in awe and have been very cowardly in not leaving any comments! There’s a lot I shall learn from your reviews – and from exchanging views as we work through our respective lists.

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      1. Thank you so much for your kind words! Please comment if the spirit moves you. I look forward to learning from you, too, and to exchanging views with you.

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    1. Hi Linda, and thank you too! Yes, Cornwall is beautiful. Daphne du Maurier lived and worked her all ther adult life; I am surrounded by the places she knew and incorporated into many of her books. Bliss! (Love your photos, looking forward to seeing more of them.)

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  12. I ‘m going to love following your journey, exploring your new life! We are often so busy thinking about others we leave ourselves behind! Well done for taking that leap of faith and landing in your own corner of Cornwall!

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    1. Margaret, you’re so kind to think of me 🙂 I haven’t abandoned blogging despite the long silence here. Health issues have prevailed regrettably. Not life-threatening but life-impacting, at least for the moment. I hope to have a post published this month though – and hopefully get the words rolling again!

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  14. Isn’t it funny Sandra… you only ´liked’ a comment on Margaret’s blog which made me look you up and already l’m hooked. Shall follow your Cornwall discoveries and stand right next to you, living your experiences through your words. Thank You

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    1. Kiki, I wanted to reply to your comment on Margaret’s blog but I couldn’t see how to reply in a way that you would see. I’m so glad you picked up on the ‘like’. You were referring to mizzle. We get a lot of that here! (Not today though!) Lovely to have you along; hopefully we’ll be out and about again soon!

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  15. Just discovered your blog, by chance in the week of a return visit to Cornwall (Mevagissey, the Lizard Peninsula), when I’m pondering what next to read, and wanted to say how much I am enjoying the tone, both verbal and visual. A treat. I shall be back.

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    1. Thank you! Hope you’re enjoying your time in Cornwall too. You chose the best week for quite some time weatherwise (and snuck ahead of the Easter rush).

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  16. I always enjoy reading your posts, Sandra. I went to the Scilly Isles last May, which I’m ashamed to say was my first experience of Cornwall. I stayed in a wonderful guest house called The Wheehouse on St. Mary’s, and from there travelled by boat to several of the islands. I was utterly smitten with the countryside, the wildlife, its people… Well, just about everything, really. I hope to return with friends next years and possibly spend some time on the mainland (time permitting). I can completely understand why you fell in love with Cornwall. The blue skies alone are breathtaking – it’s no wonder artists have always been drawn there. My partner and I took early retirement last year and intend to downsize. We hope to buy a place overlooking the sea on the North Wales coast, but if it weren’t for family ties, I would have no hesitation at all in moving to the Scillies!

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    1. You’re very kind, Paula, thank you 🙂 I’m very much enjoying your blog too, and learning a lot.

      It sounds like you’re planning to do what we did. (Although we’ve ended up with a much bigger house – to accommodate the family that we left behind!) I love North Wales – another beautiful and rainy place! And you’ve captured the West Country perfectly: those blue skies are glorious when we get them. (I’m gazing at the grey as I write..) There are so many wonderful places to explore in our tiny island and its even tinier outposts. We need several lifetimes I think…

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  18. I just discovered your blog, via bloghopping people’s comments. A great way to discover new places across the internet. I use to live in Plymouth, way back when, I wandered all across Devon and Cornwall in my time. Now I live in Canada!

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    1. Hi Alex! We are in East Cornwall, so not far from Plymouth. It’s a small world! Canada remains on my wish list. One day I hope to visit 🙂

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      1. Oh, how wonderful. I bet things have changed considerably since I lived there, yet, I’m sure the countryside remains the same.

        And you should try for at least one visit to Canada, I recommend either Québec or Nova Scotia, beautiful countryside and people.

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    1. Thank you! I’m enjoying your blog too 🙂 We are not so far from you in SE Cornwall. The name of the place doesn’t appear on any maps and has no signposts to it which is rather nice. We’re slightly west and inland of Polperro, not so far from Boddinick (and thus Fowey). As for where we came from – originally B from New Zealand and me from SE England but we made the move to Cornwall from a small village in North Oxfordshire. My family is still in Kent & Sussex so trundling over the Tamar is a regular occurence. Or it was!

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        1. I don’t mind the A38. Though the A303 feels endless! 😖 I imagine you go via the M4 though? A daughter in Wimbledon is very convenient for getting a London fix. I can’t pretend to be a regular visitor to London before we arrived down here but I do miss the opportunity to pop up to town.

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  20. Hi Sandra, feels like i have entered in a fairy like blog, all white and kind. Very happy to be here. Your blog feels and of course it is your endless extension. Accept my wishes.

    Nara x

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    1. Hi Nara, thank you so much for your kind words. I’ve not been posting for a while due to family circumstances but I hope I’ll be back next year. All good wishes to you x

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  21. I miss your blog very much. Finally reading Rosamond Lehman’s “The Ballad and the Source.” Great portrayal of girl trying to see what is real among conflicting stories. My paternal grandmother was so like MRs. Jardine! I thin the reference came from you.

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    1. Hello Elizabeth, it’s lovely to hear from you. It’s been a tough few months here on the family covid front but thankfully we are coming out of it and I hope to be back blogging again this week. I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone. Hope all is well with you.

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      1. We’ll all look forward to hearing from you Sandra, and thank goodness that there is more than darkness on the horizon. Love and hugs. xxx

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      1. Good to hear… my father and step-mother ventured to a new and lovely place when my father retired in 2000. Challenges are a part of life, it’s how we respond which matters most. One step at a time… Peace.

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