Category: Simplicity

June in the Garden: an evening stroll

Now I could absorb … the faded glory of the earliest blooms – already past their prime and thus already in that wonderful blowsy, bleached state of unkempt, vintage splendour: their last hurrah

We have roses: baby pink, deep yellow, fiery red.  And a lilac: I’d not even realised we had a lilac until I saw its lanky, lazy purple-tipped blooms.  A clematis; huge, pink rhododendrons …  A week of dry, warm weather and the garden is showing us its summer garb.  Continue reading “June in the Garden: an evening stroll”

Boys on the Beach: Millendreath

I might even be prevailed upon to paddle next time

Before I stopped working, I worked with several people who knew this part of Cornwall well.  They have been a real help in offering advice and giving us the lowdown on places to see, shops to visit.  And on this occasion, in suggesting beaches for children.  Continue reading “Boys on the Beach: Millendreath”

Polperro Revisited

“Can we come back here again tomorrow, Mummy?”

Yes please, I added silently.

Polperro is fast becoming a favourite haunt.  Today I saw it through a child’s eyes.

The final day of May dawned warm, bright and sunny, with a generous light breeze to keep us cool and refreshed.  Ellie tackled the narrow back roads to Polperro without complaint and reversed where necessary like a pro.  I could learn from this. Continue reading “Polperro Revisited”

The View from Here: we made it to the far side

The view from here is priceless

Evan and I went exploring in the field.  The field slopes fiercely.  It’s lumpy and bumpy.  There are – or were – no paths.  A wild wonderland for an intrepid boy with an imagination. Continue reading “The View from Here: we made it to the far side”

Birds on the Balcony: the swallow is come!

The edges of their wings on the underside are like chequerboards…

I saw my first swallow of the year at Lerryn on April 19th.  There it was – just the one – sitting neatly on a telephone wire.  I was astonished; it seemed so early!  But a few days later they were here, at Highfield, in numbers.  Swooping and plunging, weaving intricate patterns through clear skies with swift sureness of eye and wing.  And from the balcony, I can watch them as often from above as below.  Beautiful and breath-taking grace. Continue reading “Birds on the Balcony: the swallow is come!”

The View from Here: an early-morning secret

The view from here holds many secrets

For the second morning in a row I’ve climbed the stairs early, to a golden morning.  Clear open skies, sharp shadows, a gentle, fresh breeze.  The trees are almost all in leaf now, a verdant jumble of shapes, textures and soft movement.  The leaves are new, their colours vivid: chartreuse, lime and emerald.  But others add softer hues: shades of grey-green sage and viridian, and here and there the pale white undersides of leaves turned uppermost by the wind.  Continue reading “The View from Here: an early-morning secret”

The View from Here: tea with Daphne revisited

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Although I would have to add: “… with a wondrous book to hand”.

Today has been a no-weather day, only the second such day that I’ve acknowledged since we arrived. No-weather days are at the bottom of the heap: no rain, no sun, no wind.  Nothing.  Just the world waiting… waiting for something to happen next. Continue reading “The View from Here: tea with Daphne revisited”

The View from Here: capricious April

… one thing remains constant: the weather may be mercurial but the view from here is always entrancing

As I sat here, early this morning, it hailed.  Great chunks of ice clattering down. But at least we haven’t had snow, like many parts of the country.  Although snow would have been nice now I think about it… Continue reading “The View from Here: capricious April”