Somerset break

Dulverton, Tarr Steps, Dunkery Beacon, Porlock Weir, Lynton, Lynmouth.....Walks through ancient Sessile oak woods, beside fast running streams and rivers coloured rich brown by the peat. Pasties and pints in the sun at Porlock Weir on the harbour wall with a break in the cloud. Water powered funiculars, ice creams, pubs and dogs and more walks and more pubs, a visitation by the ma in law with her very new puppy and home made wild garlic and nettle soup. Dinner on the final night at the peerless Woods with several nightcaps courtesy of the ebullient and kind hearted Paddy. Four days of wonderful North Somerset adventures, mostly the pictures tell a better story.

Faversham Creek rowing race

Poor neglected Nagden Life blog! A year has passed almost before the time (and a subject) has made it self available. It's been a funny start to the year; gloriously warm March bringing hosepipe bans and warnings of severe drought led to the wettest April on record and now a pretty poor May. As I am almost entirely fuelled by sunshine and outdoor living, it has certainly taken its toll and I find myself falling prey to tiredness, headaches and low level grumpiness. So it was all the more brilliant and fantastic when we woke to blue sky yesterday and then Mum and Brian arrived mid morning bearing fresh croissants and Bucks Fizz to celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary. We sat outside in the floriferous garden and soaked up the warmth. Then my phone pinged and a message from a friend in town said that the annual Faversham creek rowing race was due to start at half eleven and this year's course started at the bottom of our garden. A tug was apparently heading our way, towing the small craft. Michael quickly got our small boat out and headed out as a welcoming party with mum and Stan on board.

It was a wonderful sight, all crews in fancy dress and some with ship's dog aboard. After that invigorating start to the day I then went on to dig over the last part of my (long planned) flower meadow - of which another whole post anon.

Swimming.....in the creek

Getting a boat seems to have brought out the water babies in the children. No sooner was it launched than they all decided that they wanted to go swimming - the tides were not in their favour so they had to wait until late on Sunday evening. Far too cold for me by then but they were all very game and in they went!

We have a boat!!!!

Wonderful weekend in Aldeburgh

Great times, frolics on the beach, wonderful sunny days with my dear friend Sasha with Oliver and Pippa

Dorset weekend

Just back from a weekend in a most wonderful cottage in Dorset, well away from madding and other crowds. To get there from the road you had this wonderful walk, the cottage gradually revealing itself.

In fact we arrived in the pitch dark and had been well advised to bring torches. I love the mystery of that kind of arrival, the house gradually coming to life as light switches are found and rooms opened up -and then the delight in the morning of opening curtains and looking at the view, locating ourselves in the landscape.

We spent the days out on the coast, south and west of Bridport and had a lovely morning perusing the Saturday market in the town before heading out along the coastal path. I had done a bit of reading up and discovered a wonderful sounding organic farm with camping and a cafe just a short way inland which was our lunch stop on Saturday. Wonderful signs along the footpaths guide you there, through sheep fields and ramshackle farmyards.
The food was fabulous - I had spinach and wild garlic soup, G had a smoked mackerel pate with just the right amount of horseradish - all clearly made in their kitchen. We will definitely be going back - perhaps for the annual Somerville/Wilcox camping trip.

Bodies in Urban Spaces

Really enchanting day in Margate today for the opening weekend of Turner Contemporary. The grand opening was yesterday, they had 8000 through the doors and I am glad we held back.

We first had a look in the gallery which was buzzing but not too crowded. The Conrad Shawcross piece was the all round favourite. Then a wander down the harbour arm to see Acrojou perform a snippet of Wake their work in progress.After that we ambled down onto the fabled sands and Georgia and Stan explored the perimeter of the rather lovely sea bathing pool - perhaps another day we might swim.

There were a number of satellite events across the town, all part of a programme called "You are here". Our particular favourite was a piece called "Bodies in Urban Space" devised by Austrian choreographer Willi Dorner which saw a group of performers in bright coloured clothing appear in the Old Town, running through in small groups before inserting, wedging and moulding themselves into tight and unusual spaces between and around buildings. They led us through the back streets of the Old Town on a mystery tour. Here are just a few of my pictures


Finished up our day trip in the time honoured fashion; chips and a pint on the beach lapping up the last few rays.