Reflection and 'Moving' forward...

It's been awhile, and now we've entered into a New Year, I need to get back into the blogging rhythm despite whatever madness is going on around
I don't need to think at the start of this year, like I usually do, about how to move forward, what changes I want to make, or what I want to achieve, because it's happening now, we are in the midst of it now!

We've talked for awhile about wanting to live by the sea, but talking and making it a reality are usually two different things. Before we knew it an opportunity arose at work and it was actually happening.
So this last month has been non-stop craziness, with the silly season, the busiest time at work and any spare moment at home was spent cleaning, tidying and decorating, a mammoth task at not the easiest time of year!

So we know we will be in a new area, with new places to explore, in a new house (which we must keep clean and tidy, a fresh start!) and hoping to get out and about more to be more active. It's very scary but all exciting too.
The main problem for us to sort is finding somewhere new to live. At the slowest time of year for properties and at a time when there's so many Bank Holidays its made it very difficult, but on Monday we will be taking the trip south to do a full day of viewings and fingers crossed there will be something suitable for us. It'll be a fast and furious and stressful month ahead, but I know for sure in the months going forward it'll be well worth it!

Christmas was a quiet affair for us, just cozied up indoors in front of the tv. We didn't even bother to unpack the decorations but Mum gave us a little decoration for us to light up

We had a lovely roast dinner

We had lots of lovely presents, though it was weird not having a tree to put them under!

We opened them slowly but surely throughout the day

Mum always gives us a fun lucky dip bag to open, and this year it was full of food goodies!

I hadn't picked up a hook in about a month, and it was hard, as that is my relaxant and creative outlet. At Christmas, having some rest days, I grabbed my hook and a ball of multi toned yarn, with no plan or idea or pattern and went ahead and made a flower. I wasn't sure about the way it was looking with the sporadic colour changes, but I went with it and made more flowers, joining them together as I went.

It worked up quickly, and it felt so good to be making again, and the more flowers I added, the more I liked the way it looked

I went out last week with the girlies from work for my leaving meal. We went to Carluccio's as it was one of the new restaurants in town that I hadn't been to. We had a great evening with delicious food.

New Year was yet another quiet affair, just the two of us snuggled up, with a little drinkie to see in the midnight chimes...

So we will see how the next few weeks unfold on our venture towards the coast, and I will do my best to keep you posted along the way.....

Birthday week...

So this week has been my birthday and the celebrations have all revolved around food

Hubby made me a lovely brunch

We had tea and cake in the afternoon

And in the evening we went out to dinner at Zizzi's

Later in the week, I went out for yet another meal, this time with the lovely girlies from work

We went to Bill's Restaurant, which I haven't been to before, but I will definitely be going back!

I had Mac Cheese and Lemon Meringue, and it was so yummy!

I had some amazing presents, 2 new bags and scarves to add to the collection

And a few more crafting items to keep me amused!

There has been precious little time for crafting, and there will be less and less as we near the mad season, but I have made a few more shawl flowers, i'm just struggling to work out how to continuously join, but i'll get there slowly...

Back to Cornish shores...

So we took off for our annual trip to Cornwall last week

It's a 6 hour journey, but as its by train, we can keep ourselves amused to make the time pass quicker, plus once we've crossed the bridge into the county the views are spectacular! 

On arrival, its just half an hours car journey till we get to the coastline. As there had been strong winds the previous night, it meant the waves had been whipped up. We took a drive along Porthleven coastline to view the waves crashing against cliff edge

To make the most of our time, we planned our weeks itinerary.

For our first trip out we decided to pay a visit to St Michaels mount,  a place we'd driven past and admired many times before. As the tide was out, we were able to walk up the causeway to reach the island.

Blue sky opened out and the sun shone, as we spent the next couple of hours walking around the layers of spectacular gardens. From the giant native Echiums

 to smaller colourful blooms

and weird and wonderful plants

 We worked our way up the different tiers, finding amazing views down over the lower gardens and coast.

We stopped for a much needed lunch break, before heading up to the main house.

Each room showed beautiful decor

 and were filled with treasures. 

With the outside architecture and views just as pleasing to the eye.

We literally stayed until closing, winding our way back down the steep pathways, finding the Giant's heart on the way.

 The tide had come in, so it meant a short boat trip to take as back to the mainland.

After a long day, we'd booked to go to a local restaurant for our dinner. We had chosen Amelies.  The food was lovely, but unfortunately there were a few service niggles! 

The next day we'd allocated as a rest day. After a lie in, we went down to the village, stopping off at our favourite milkshake cafe. We had intended to try some Geocaching in the area, but we were unsuccessful, with bad signal and no forward planning. We did attempt to clamber around over rocks and search, but to no avail!

We went back and had lunch in the garden,

before venturing out round the village again, this time with Dad, to pop into the local crafts and galleries.

For the evening we had prebooked a trip to the theatre in town. Although we love the theatre, neither of us had seen a play before. We both thoroughly enjoyed it, and felt the two main actors gave a compelling performance.

Then back for a very late dinner, but as always we were warmly greeted!

When we originally planned our trip here, we chose to coincide with the Royal Cornwall show. 

The weather started out a bit dismal but thankfully cleared up by the afternoon. We made our way round the various craft tents, 

and admired all the floral displays in the flower tent. 

We stopped briefly for a pasty before making our way to the arena to see the bikes 

and the cattle awards. 

Finally we checked out the food tents, munching our way round all the tasters!

Despite having a full day we didn't cover half of it!

Again we'd arranged to eat out, this time at Kota Kai. This is a relaxed, contemporary restaurant and I have to say the food was outstanding!

Another relaxed day. After a quick stroll to the harbour, we had another Al fresco lunch.

In the afternoon we drove up the road to Rinsey, to collect Doris, which we'd reserved. 

We then took a walk along the cliffs as it was lovely and sunny again, although a tad windy!

This site has some of the old mines, which featured in the original Poldark series.

On the return we stopped off at a pub called Out of the Blue, here they are compiling a photographic history of the village. My Dad has spent many painstaking hours researching, editing and compiling these photos into topics, I think it will be fantastic once complete, and a great legacy for the locals.

After a lovely home cooked meal, we relaxed with a film.

For our last big day out, we had chosen the Lost Gardens of Heligan, somewhere I've always fancied visiting, and it certainly lived up to its reputation! 

We started round the yellow route,

 and linked back round to do the pink trail.

 Some of the ancient huge trees were amazing with their mass of trunks and branches!

We stopped for a lovely lunch before wending our way round the various styles of garden.

 I was in floral heaven!

We wound our way around the Jungle, despite the steep terrain,

 and across the rope bridge.

 After struggling to find our way out, we made it to the last part, the woodland walk,  which enabled us to see the 3 sculptures.  The newest one is hardest to spot as it hasn't developed enough. 

But the mud maid

 and giants head were fully established and fun to see.

Again we had packed in a full day, so for our last night we went to a local Indian restaurant aptly named India. With its traditional decor, we were served up a tasty array or curries, suiting all our different tastes!

The following day was our final day, the week always goes too fast! After packing, we had our last lunch in the garden

before a last milkshake and trip to the harbour

We had a mad sprint to the station, and then it was tearing ourselves away from the relaxed coastal resort for another year...