Category: The View from Here

The view from Here: under the tree on a sunny afternoon

For a while a single buzzard owned the space between the earth below and the heavens above, framed by the branches over my head which arched so I felt like I was watching this scene from a silent, vaulted cathedral

I have a picture in our bedroom: Roses by Peder Kroyer, painted in 1893.  It’s of a woman wearing a long white dress and she is reading – sitting in a garden chair in the sunshine with a large floriferous white rose in the foreground.  Continue reading “The view from Here: under the tree on a sunny afternoon”

The View from Here: exhilarating May

On a sunshine-filled day in May, the view from here is exhilarating.

It seems that when it rains in Cornwall, it rains properly.  Often it’s a soft, gentle rain, so fine that it’s almost invisible – unless you’re standing in it.  And sometimes it’s hard, heavy and unforgiving.  We’ve had entire days of rain, and even more long nights of it.  But looking back at May, I think we did pretty well on the weather front. Continue reading “The View from Here: exhilarating May”

The View from Here: a house for making memories

The view from here is infused with love and wonder

Bathed in sunshine, we waved good-bye to Russ and Char.

Less than two later Ellie and the boys arrived.

The sun obligingly kept his hat on.

It was a quick turnaround; is this how landladies feel?  I am reminded why I’ve never been attracted to the idea of running a bed and breakfast. Continue reading “The View from Here: a house for making memories”

The View from Here: first visitors

… up the hill behind the house and beyond – where the steep climb is rewarded by a view over the countryside that leaves you feeling you’re on top of the world

A key reason for choosing this house was to entertain.  This is quite a contrast from the quiet life we were living in Mixbury when visitors were relatively rare.  Here the plan is to have many visitors, with space to spread out and freedom for people to come and go and enjoy this lovely corner of Cornwall (as well as our company!) Continue reading “The View from Here: first visitors”

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: The Pinnacle of my Festival Experience

I don’t know why she’s exerting such a huge influence on me here but I’m glad that she is

I could have tagged this onto either of the previous posts. But really, this small nugget of time was so special that I need it to have a post all to itself.  A seemingly tiny thing, and I don’t expect to do it justice in words, but I need to have it here. Continue reading “The View from Here: The Pinnacle of my Festival Experience”

The View from Here: tangled thoughts and tattered expectations

I can’t always sing from the treetops about how wonderful life is because sometimes, it’s not.

This past Saturday was the start of our Fowey Festival experience.  I had been so looking forward to it: I’ve never attended an event like this before and B and I have done relatively little together on the cultural front.   Also, this would be our first introduction to Fowey.  We’ve lived here well over a month and we’ve yet to venture over there.  Now we’ll be going several times in a week.  Continue reading “The View from Here: tangled thoughts and tattered expectations”

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: Polperro

A gaggle of higgledy houses; warm-fronted cafes; artists’ shops, novelty shops, bohemian clothes shops, ice cream shops; pubs, gulls and fishing boats.

The sun was shining; we both felt relaxed and free.  B wanted petrol for the mower; I wanted to get us registered with our local doctor.  “Let’s do both,” we said.   Continue reading “The View from Here: Polperro”