Arriving

How I love arriving for the first time in a new holiday venue. It's probably why we so often go for touring type holidays, where you arrive in a new location every couple of days. This week, we're staying in the same place all week, enjoying the ease of hiring a self catering cottage in deepest darkest Somerset.

I love the suspense of finding the right location and following the ominous directions provided by the lettings company. The excitement of managing the key lock combination and turning the key to open your temporary front door. The adventure of exploring and choosing rooms and peering into hidden cupboards and secret cubbyholes. The satisfaction of meticulously unpacking into unfamiliar wardrobes and lining up your personal possessions on shelves in a room which will become home for the next 7 days. The curiosity of browsing the guest information, discovering facts about the area and planning days out and adventures to be had. And finally the relief of pouring the first holiday drink, curling up on the oversized armchair in front of the log burner, surrounded by antiques and local art work and anticipating a week of relaxation, exploration and nature stretching out in front of you.

Tonight we arrived in the dark and I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and see the house, the garden and the village in daylight. It will be like arriving all over again. Although I can laugh now, following instructions that say 'follow the stream and keep the chapel on your left. Turn right when you see the sign for Wick Cottage. Head down the gravel track with the ducks on your right', was not particularly helpful in the pitch black, especially with the kids in the back of the car asking incessantly 'Where is the cottage?' And let's not mention the half of a mile I had to reverse down the tiny country lane, because I came across a lorry, without being able to see a thing. Did I mention I was sole driver this time round and that I hate driving in the dark?! Phew, We're here now and the barn conversion is gorgeous, peaceful and beautifully decorated. I'd highly recommend a visit.... here's the link...…

https://www.cottages.com/cottages/higher-farm-barn-dzd

Brain Dump

Honesty…… I've been really stressed lately. Totally overwhelmed by case loads at work, mentally taking on far too much of the trauma and crisis that the families I support exude. On top of that December, January and February for us are months of celebrating multiple birthdays, copious amounts of forced social interaction, organising parties and excessive present buying. Our children have been vying from overexcited to totally worn out and exploding in tantrums, way more than you'd expect at their age. I've been eating and drinking in a way that's left me feeling fat, tired and unhealthy, falling into a spiral of regret and self- loathing.  As much as I believe in being outside as much as possible throughout the winter and not allowing the colder weather to get in the way, our busyness every weekend and the early dark evenings just haven't allowed me to get the fresh air and nature therapy that I crave and need.

In all of this busyness, stress and negative thought patterns, I've forgotten what I need in my life to ignite joy and peace. I need to write…..whether it's private journaling, sharing my thoughts on life and sharing adventures on my blog, texting with a friend or creative story telling….writing inspires me and gives me purpose. I need to exercise……I recently re-joined the gym as it gives me motivation and accountability to know it's paid for. However with lack of time and illness, it just hasn't happened. I've hardly been on the yoga mat, but I know if I do my inner peace will be restored, if only for a moment. I need peace……I like my own company and sitting here now, alone in our holiday cottage (because I chose to forego a trip to the local car museum) I'm remembering how these moments of peace and calm nourish me in a world of demands from life and children. Usually I'd add fun and loving moments with family and friends to this list, but I've had tonnes of that these past 3 months. Lovely as it's been, I need a balance and my intention for the coming months is to nurture my health, to be inspired by writing and kickstart the blog before the summer adventures begin. Across the Merry Miles is  back…….. !!!!

Fresh air

The countryside is soooo noisy!!  We really are in the back of beyond here on the Somerset/Dorset border. (I'm not actually sure where we are, I'm that laid back this weekend that I'm just going with the flow.) We walked for a couple of hours this afternoon and only saw maybe half a dozen cars the whole time. At one point, I saw and heard a train passing in the distance, but other than that the noise was purely natural. I took a moment to stop, listen, breathe and take in the surroundings. There was a flock of crows or rooks in some trees in the distant who were clearly busy preparing for the spring, chattering, squealing, squabbling and nest building. There were fields and fields of wandering sheep, so dopey and oblivious to anything but the grass to graze and actions of their fieldmates, should they choose to copy. The wind was howling through the trees and hedges and filled our ears and lungs with fresh countryside air and manure based whiffs. There were many other birds singing their songs, who I had no way of naming or identifying ,but their melodies filled the undisturbed air so loudly. There was a  gentle chatter and murmur of occasional conversation and observations made by family members who were equally as comfortable to walk in companionable silence. Our boots beat on the muddy and grass lined country lane, occasionally splashing in a puddle, but rhythmically pounding as we strolled along. Other than that, the walk was silent and peaceful! Not an artificial, mechanical or computerised sound to be heard.

There's something so therapeutic about a ramble in the countryside over stiles, through muddy puddles, past farms and animals, around seemingly never ending curving lanes and amongst the sounds of nature. To be surrounded by reminders of the tiny part that our lives take up in the grand scheme of space and history can be immensely humbling. Pull on your walking boots and get outside… Now!

Hayne's Motor Museum, Somerset

A blog review by the girl...…. 

https://www.haynesmotormuseum.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzKnjBRDPARIsAKxfTRAeTwj8CgqAotKZJWpUO58XWiMkLVHi9UC1XzrvAIWmwi5Bwx6C8FAaAoRCEALw_wcB

Today  we went to the motor museum. My favourite  car was  the Dusenberg, it is very big and shiny and it was metallic blue. Grandma's, Noah's ,Pops' and Daddy's favourite cars are Aston Marten ,a yellow lotus and Jaguars. We also went to the café  and we had lunch. The car museum was fun and very interesting. There were lots of cars there which were really cool because they were all different colours and different makes.

There is a games room where you can play some arcade race car games. You can see what it feels like to go 100miles an hour, but watch out you might fall over the cliff. I came 2nd place in the game and it was only £1 a go.

There was a collection of about 50 red cars altogether, which was very interesting because you could see all the different colours of red. 

You can even sit on one of the motorbikes and look through some of the car windows. But we wish there was a car that you can actually get inside or look under the bonnet. I learnt that one of the fastest cars could go up to 650mph, which would be amazing, we didn't see it at the museum though .

There was a café which had a big range of food and I ate egg and cress sandwiches. In the gift shop, Grandma bought me an emu beanie boo to add to my collection. Noah got a wood craft construction kit of a F40 GT and he's finished making it already.