About Me

My photo
Mama, gardener, teacher, photographer, faffer with paint and colour

Thursday 3 January 2013

Waves and where does it all begin?


We decided to get away from our riverside dwelling for a few days before Christmas.We left behind the sounds of the workmen at the big house next to us, manouvered past the ten or so work vans, mud spoil heaps, needy hydro, left behind our dogs who were sulking a little and went to Cornwall. I longed for some sea air, to be fed, to be surrounded by something other than the work we do and to generally be free from most of our responsibilities.

This is Mousehole pronounced like Mowzel. It is a tiny pretty fishing village with winding alleyways that lead to traditional Cornish cottages, steps with pots and gardens, courtyards, and a handful of galleries. It seemed very quiet and private so I stopped taking photos of the streets, reminded of taking photos of a decorative house in a medieval village in France when someone chucked water out of an upstairs window onto the street below with an annoyed glare.No slop lobbing in Mousehole which seemed much friendlier but you will have to visit yourself to see what I mean!



We had a sea view from our room at Old Coastguard Hotel and watched the waves crashing on a small island in front, called St Clements Isle. Gulls wheeling and calling and being blown in the mizzle and wind. Daisy set up her toys on the low down window ledge and wedged herself between her "dangerous" z bed and the view and played.The Barbies and Ken seemed happy with their room.


Someone told us of a good beach.This is Sennen cove further around the end of our isle on the atlantic coast. I love Cornwall in the winter, devoid of summer tat, icecreams and windbreaks, litter and disappointed people wishing it was sunny.Winter on the beach was wrapped up dog walkers, bobble hats and red faced babies in backpacks, a brave or nutty kayaker, me loving the wind, breathing in the spray and salt, and really getting into the unashamed greyness and beauty of it all.




Daisy had fun in the amazing velvety soft sand and relished bare feet being buried in the coolness and then followed up with the obligatory footballer's dive.



A good beach for leaping off rocks and sliding down and clambering up avalanche sand banks.













Meanwhile I am looking at the rocks, zig zags and swirls, fracturing.



Staring at the waves, curling and breaking. Bliss.

Later we go to the very end of our isle, luckily bereft of summers crowds. There is an exceptionally gaudy King Arthur's theme park and tourist shops, all closed, looking like a Mike Leigh film set. Hooray we have Lands End to ourselves, apart from two elderly women walkers chasing a stray plastic bag whipping faster than them across the car park and a young couple diligently paying at the meter surrounded by acres of empty lots.



So here we are at the end of our island, well the south westerly part of it anyway. I had my photo taken here many years ago as a kid and just felt compelled to take one of Daisy. Bit kind of weird that it is 3147 somethings to New York, especially as someone spends all summer taking photos to sell to tourists here!  A sign begging to be graffitied if ever I saw one. It reminds me so much of photos of my childhood in the 70's, a typical holiday album shot. Sometimes they just need a little more colour....




Then home for Christmas. The river has been smiling at us.



As for new year I have no affinity with the usual celebrations, I have always found it surreal and  felt a fake because I didn't really feel like I was celebrating anything. So this is my beginning of the year.....You have to look carefully because I looked yesterday and I couldn't see them, but today, as I was clearing back the leaves from a bed of heathers, they were there. Hidden or curling up from the earth.Winter Aconites -the first signs of new growth here. It makes my gardening heart glad. Spring is on its way whatever winter still has to give us.xxx

7 comments:

  1. Lovely photos of the seaside. What a great idea to do that and to see Lands End properly. I haven't been since they built the monstrosity. My gardening heart is not glad in the slightest yet....still just piles of soggy leaves and non-flowering hellebores. Happy New Year! x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Em.Yes do not go to Lands End in holiday season! It is quite spectacular coast and really something to try and get that there isn't any more land for a long while!
    As for your gardening heart, it is pretty early to have that feeling but maybe there is a snowdrop or two under those leaves, have a look!!!I
    Happy New Year to you too.xx

    P.S Have you talked about Lizzie yet? Are you going to buy her? Will try and get a photo of her soon when it is a bit less muddy!.xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. None of the bulbs I planted last year came up and it's not looking good this year either! Not sure why. As for Lizzy, I just don't think there's enough grass up here, even in summer, for anything other than a miniature shetland! I'd love her but NO LAND. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They may have got nibbled or just given in to the rain but there is still hope, only one group of the earliest snowdrops are out here !
      Sorry about Lizzy xx

      Delete
  4. Yay, someone else who has nothing to do with celebrating the New Year when the calendar moves round to January! We have primroses in the garden and snow drops and daffodils putting their first pointy green heads above the ground. There are even a few tiny sproutings of bluebell leaves coming up. Spring will come - whatever lovely frozen winter hurls at us on the way. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad to have another flower friend! There is one clump of primroses just as you come in our gate and they have the weighty job of ensuring a bit of colour in all the sea of brown mud! The first snowdrops are now fenced off in granny next doors garden-boo hoo so we couldnt pick the first snow drop in this year! Maybe they need seperating...... :)

      Delete
  5. I was pleased to find your blog via Em`s. Lovely photos of a wintery Cornwall. The last time I saw Mousehole was from the Scillonian, on the way to the Scillies some years ago.

    A few hellebores are in flower here (New Forest) but it`s too cold and windy for much else to appear.

    ReplyDelete