G’day all.
So thanks for the advice on the Powder Room, I can’t believe how many of you took the time to actually email me with ideas, thank you. I will hopefully do a little post on them all, show you what I think and show you how it’s coming along. One thing for sure, there won’t be much colour in there, and I know some of you suggested some but I am a neutral pallette girl, even if that neutral is black. I was thinking about that and wondering maybe if I’m a bit odd in terms of my (non) colour choices, but then I think sometimes fashion plays a part and at the moment fashion in trendy interiors seems to be all for the brights…so not me.
Anyway ahoy to making traditions and such like. Marie emailed me about her blog party asking would I like to participate. Which got me to thinking about traditions and what routines we have here in Australia. And funny the beach came up, ‘cos that’s what we do day-to-day now. But so did the beaches we perused in England. And not because we didn’t go to the beach in England. More because we did.
Back in the early days of our marriage and the first few weeks with our honeymoon baby Mr Beach Cottage and I drove to our nearest beach, which we repeatedly convinced ourselves was a 37 minute door to door journey but really it was nearer 47.
That drive took us down the motorway and then down winding English country lanes, through a beautiful, beautiful old coastal town, with wooden fishing huts, shops selling oysters and cobbled streets.
Through the town and then onto the slopes of one of the best beaches in Southern England. Pebbles, beach huts and long long bleached old breakers to lean up against. One of our first outings with Mr Teenage BC was to this beach, my weren’t we brave? Goodness I think I packed a change bag for about 25 babies – a million nappies, so many changes of clothes, all manner of creams and lotions. Looking back, at 24 I suppose I was still a youngster but I can remember sitting there just by the beach huts, a tiny baby, the sun out and watching the world go by. Like some strange vortex time that is, with a new baby.
Over the years, and as more babes came along we would head down to that beach often – we even made it there one Christmas for a bracing Winter’s walk with hot chocolate and the like. But mostly it was summertime when we’d plan to spend our Sunday on the coast – we’d pack up a picnic, our wind breaker, bbq and chairs, a stack of the Sunday newspapers, head off early in the morning and spend the whole day hanging out. For lunch we’d grill sardines and as the sun set and the tide went out, we’d walk far out where the sea had just been and often just before we’d head home, we’d pop into the pub for a quick pint.
I miss that beach.
When anyone asks us what do we miss about England, my first thought is the beach, which is funny really as that’s one of the reasons we came here. But there’s nothing better than that beach, in England, when the sun’s out. Though for sure if you’re from there you’ll know that this fantasy is sometimes all too rare and often the sun isn’t out and so the whole thing was a bit hit and miss.
So tradition for us is those sort of outings, normally to a beach, sometimes a park, always with a picnic and usually a few beers…and I think we’ll always do that, even as the kids grow up and the numbers go down…
A favourite spot for a mini-vacation, any vacation for that matter!
blogged for Hooked on Houses & The Inspired Room’s blog events, thanks girls!
Sarah (nice name, that), can you email me your address, cheers
thanks to all who took part, another one coming soon, watch this space!
Ooooh a day on the beach under an umbrella with a good summer book sounds divine!!!
I so enjoy coming to your blog… your writing is so fun and enjoyable and your shots… wonderful just wonderful.
Have the best weekend.
TTFN~~ Claudia
I just wonder which beach it was as I live on the south coast of England, just 2 minutes from the beach. Love your blog, every day!
sounds like Whitstable to me
thanks girls!
too kind
{ S }
What a lovely account of your history with beaches! We have just finished a week near the Med, with a few evening beach trips (we’re too fair-skinned for days at the beach), and will be on the Atlantic coast in Brittany soon…
Oh how I miss being by the sea! Not long now and my daughter and I will be spending a bit of time on the Normandy coast with my momma. Neither of us can wait!!
I live about 20mins from Whitstable – it’s just as you describe! We have had some lovely evenings on the beach there this summer and photographed some wonderful sunsets – I will be blogging another over the weekend so you can visit it in spirit!
Pomona x
oh!! how funny! so that’s what it takes to get your English gals outta the woodwork…hmmm
now I didn’t say it was Whitstable did I – not quite like that now is it though, sad…????
maybe it was a beach just a touch more south…
{ S }
Sarah what a wonderful post, I know I’ve mentioned before to you my Aussie/English friends – oh yes how they loved the beach back there in England – and for that very reason when they came over here to Australia they choose to live down here with us on The Mornington Peninsula- sort of like a different alternative
Once again a wonderful post
thanks Sarah – have a a good weekend
xo
Loved reading your post. It’s neat to read about someone’s traditions, and the memories that those moments in life have created. We store those sweet mental photos and videos away in our minds and hearts to pull back up and replay when we reminisce with ourselves, and with other family members who shared them. Traditions are awesome. Every family should have at least one. My kids remember our beach outings the best…when they were younger. Miss them.
Thanks for sharing.
Ahhh….memories!
It is neat that your fascination with beaches has continued and that you are able to continue enjoying them.
Becky K.
Hospitality Lane
Sarah, this is a wonderful nostalgic post, I loved reading it, your write very well. I had images of your car packed up for baby, the crochet blanket in one of your photos is very pretty, I am in the middle of making one at the moment and your one caught my eye.sorry I missed the powder room post, hope work is going well. Hugs, Margie.
What a wonderful story. So many visuals for me. Just lovely.
Beautiful post! Makes me want to go to the beach now. Maybe next week. It has acually been to hot here in Florida.
Our summer memories are beach memories. Only one week a year, if even that, keep us going.
Morning, Sarah! Lovely shots of the beach and such fun to read about your traditions. A pleasure, as always.
I live in landlocked Mexico, MO, but am sure I SHOULD be living on a beach. I love the ocean and the beach.
I am with you about living with color. I enjoy visiting homes with lots of color, but at the end of the day I want to come home to my mostly white, with hints of soft green. Even my flower gardens are mostly whites.
HOw’s the bathroom ?
I posted my tiny bathroom makeover.
Come take a look.
I do envy you your walks on the beach, Sarah.
Brenda
Loved reading your post! I love so much your decoration home! ES TODO TAN HERMOSO!
XOXO
Today’s post was a lovely read, thanks for it. I understand your love for the beach, I miss it so much, I was born and raised near the beach in the USA, then we moved to Canada a long ways away from the coast. I will never forget the roar of the waves and the way they grew smaller and rippled as they covered our feet and made us sink down into the sand just a little. Hugs ~cindy s~
for years i collected among other stuff, milk glass dishes,small bowls, and a fancy candy dish. i hung them on the walls of the bathroom when we redid it. the candy dish holds the soap. i put some colorful plates from portugal too but it looks really sharp and not busy or overpowering.
Such a lovely story. Your words and pictures are always so beautiful, I just cannot get enough! Thanks for sharing so much of your life with your readers.
Hello sweet Sarah – what a great family tradition you have. I too love the beach. Your photos are beautiful. What a pretty patchwork blanket!
Thank you for joining the party!
Blessings,
Marie
love the beach!
congrats to your winner
xo
I’m with you about all the bright colors that are the trend now. I love your white, pale, palette.
Have you seen the oatmeal colored dish set at IKEA for only $20? comes in dark grey too? We just bought a set. I think it would look good in your Beach Cottage.
lovely [post…. what a beautiful picture set… love the first one with the shells…
i have my nephew visiting and we have been spending a lot of time in the ocean, and I tease him, and say, how do you like our backyard? while we are in the salty water…
Nice and a lovely post.
Happy weekend.
Regina
It is funny how the beach is always our destination. I mean we live 5 minutes from the beach but if we want to go anywhere it always ends up at a beach somewhere with the usual picnic lunch or dinner. My last post shows just that.
Last christmas day we had breakfast at the beach and will do the same again this year
Alison
I enjoy reading your posts so much! I too love the beach but unfortunately we live no where close to one so I enjoy reading about your trips
Sharon
Loved your post today on traditions and the beach.
Both are so very important to me. We just got home from Hawaii where we spent two wonderful weeks in a Beach House that was just steps away from the water. My daughter and her family came over from Australia to join us and needless to say we all had tears in our eyes when it was time to say “Aloha”. Have a happy weekend Sarah.
Vicki
Hi, just me again. I’m lovin’ your blog!
Lynnette
Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground
I can feel the sand in my toes and smell the ocean seeing these photos.
It’s such a sad moment when you have to walk away and know you won’t be back for a whole year. You are so fortunate to live your dream. Yay!
What beautiful family traditions you have. It seems all of us have those special family times that always creep back into our minds like it was yesterday. What beautiful memories your family will have at the beach. Thank you for sharing.
You really have embraced the Australian lifestyle so well! I am about 30 mins from the nearest aussie beach, Cronulla, and I love it! The lifestyle always makes me feel more relaxed and has such a wonderful holiday feel… not to mention the lovely beachside cafes and shops
Bring on summer!
Great writing as usual. Love the space and beauty and sounds and sun of the beach -
The little family – timeless-content.