Simple Pleasures
We’ve just returned from a little family holiday. We spent three nights on the Northumberland coast, in a beautifully refurbished bungalow just metres from the sea. Our days were full of little treats: smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast, long hot showers and days spent out in the fresh air. A couple of simple pleasures have really stuck with me. Firstly, the time we spent on the beach.
There’s nothing more exciting to a two-year-old, it seems, than throwing stones in the sea. He raced back and forth across the beach,
sometimes with a small stone
and sometimes with a very big stone.
All of them went in the sea with a splash.
We went on a couple of big days out, had some fancy lunches and special treats, but when asked what his favourite part of the holiday was, he consistently replied “throwing stones in the water”.
The other aspect of our break that has stayed with me very strongly is the fabulous sunlight. The house we stayed in was altered significantly in its refurbishment. When your house is literally right across the road from the beach, big windows in the front room are a given to make the most of the view. But this house also has a large, open-plan kitchen/dining area, with windows along the back of room, a massive skylight above the kitchen, and two small indoor windows giving a view across the hallway and out to the sea again. The walls are white, the floors are white. Everywhere is space and air. The whole house was flooded with light and it really was good for our souls.
Honestly, having stayed in that house, I now know that plenty of natural sunlight must be a top priority when we next move (which will be a good few years in the future – all the more time to start making lists of ‘must-haves’). Having the space around me illuminated by so much natural sunlight made me feel full of life, desperate to go out and face the world. I stood outside in the cold taking pictures before dawn… (you can click the photo to see a full-sized version)
and the days just got better and better. It’s amazing how much a bit of sunlight and fresh air can make you relax and feel like yourself.
So, our simple pleasures for The Gallery at Sticky Fingers: stones in the water, and sunlight.
*Disclosure: the house is owned by a relative of mine and we stayed there free of charge, but that’s unrelated to what I’ve written here.*
That sounds like a get getaway! I love the second picture, so cute! x
He was so determined! I took him to the Botanic Gardens at home today so he could put some more stones in water…
Sounds wonderful *sighs* and your photos are stunning! Nothing nicer than having a little family holiday. Xx
Thank you! I have to admit, my husband took those beach ones, although I did take some myself too. It was lovely, it’s put us all in such a positive mood.
Oooh, what a great advert for Northumberland! That looks like loads of fun!
Karin
Yes, I’d recommend Northumberland to anyone. I have another post up today of a great day out we had, it was a brilliant break for us all.
gosh, the house sounds wonderful – the sort of house I can only dream about.
love beaches, something wonderful about a beach ‘out of season’
You never know, apparently this one was dark and dingy before they started. It seems the key is to find an east-facing house, knock down walls, and where you can’t do that put an internal window in them. Paint the floorboards white and you’re done!
You are so right about sunlight being good for the soul. Maybe its time I started my spring cleaning, give the windows a good clean and see if that makes any difference!
Haha! The sun was shining at home this morning and it revealed the mass of fingerprints on the telly and patio doors – spring clean definitely required!
Lovely photos. Sounds like you had a fab few days.
Most of our favourite days out involve the beach. Great place to spend time as a family
Sounds like a lovely holidays. And your dawn picture is amazing.
What is it with toddlers and throwing stones into the sea? My eldest once spent an entire week doing that on Anglesea – her attention span was a hundred million times longer for the activity than mine was. Honestly, her first request every morning for months afterwards was to gather stones for throwing. Kiddies and the sea – pure magic, isn’t it?
I can almost smell the sea breaze just reading your blog. It was next best thing to going on holiday!
What a lovely comment, thank you!
Gorgeous photos. And I agree completely about loads of natural light x
oh that sounds like the perfect get away.
beautiful photos
Beautiful photos. There is something special about a beach in cold weather.
The stones, the wellies, the freedom, I love it and so do our girls too.
Great photos and I’d love to see Northumberland after reading that!