Looking Forward

It's that time of year when we all start to reflect and draw up a list of good intentions. Often these can fizzle out so I've decided to simplify mine (like Eleanor at Creative Countryside) and focus on one word - relationships. 

I'm hoping to give more of my time and attention to friends and family, both near and far. I'm also looking to reconnect with good people who have fallen by the wayside, and even try to be a link in relationships that have broken between friends. 

I'm going to look upon the New Year as really 'brand' new with no mistakes in it, which I can only improve on. 

 Chasing waves on Chapel Porth, a beautiful beach come summer or winter. 

What will you be focusing on this year? I'd love to hear your ideas, Antonia x

Feeling Festive

Are you feeling festive? I'm starting to, although I still feel it's a little early when I see the decorations going up at the beginning of December, by now I've warmed up and am looking forward to it all. I just needed to shake off that cynical feel I get when viewing the aggressive show put on by the supermarkets. 

It really helps when you've got some great local traders who pull out all the stops to do something creative and unique. Every year in St Ives the shopkeepers take part in a window dressing competition (which I'm sure they all take very seriously behind the scenes). A recent trip into town by train without small ones in tow meant I had enough time to browse, take photos and even do some hand holding with someone who didn't have a snotty nose!

This fab tree in the Seasalt shop is one of my favourite places to buy good quality clothes with a coastal feel. I'd been buying their coats for years before I realised they're also organic.

There were a huge variety of window dressing styles, from the contemporary....

To the more traditional complete with its own choir!

Join in if you know the words to this children's song which normally features a scarecrow.

Not sure if they had snow in Bethlehem at the time but it looks good here anyway. 

I've tried to recreate this look back at home, sadly minus the lovely grey shutters. 

 This was such a great display outside a greengrocers and made me green with basket envy!

The small fisherman's cottages were decorated too.

 Maybe he's waiting for Father Christmas? 

Hope you all have a very relaxing, enjoyable holiday!

Antonia x

Winter walk at Kynance Cove

                   

At the weekend we made the most of the glorious weather and headed out to a favourite spot. Kynance Cove is a beautiful beach surrounded by the most stunning rocks and pinnacles. 

   

It is much photographed and very popular in the summer with visitors who can enjoy a secluded beach when the tide is out with delicious tea and cakes from a National Trust cafe (just pictured). 

This area is part of the Lizard Peninsula, the most southerly point in Britain. The name has nothing to do with its local wildlife and instead is probably how people misinterpreted the old Cornish name. However, thanks to a combination of unique geology and a mild climate rare and unusual plants and animals thrive here. 

  

The most famous resident is the Chough, a comical looking black bird with a long curved beak. It is a real success story, having died out in the rest of the country but retaining a small, closely guarded population on the cliff edges. It also enjoys views to die for.

  

                                        

      

It was such an exhilarating walk which had me grinning insanely. Here's a video to show you what I mean, the sharp eyed amongst you may spot a small walk on part from my daughter. It was tricky trying to film and make sure we didn't fall over the edge at the same time!


Hoping you all have a great week ahead, Antonia x

Stormy

Batten down the hatches, there's a big storm brewing. We had a power cut on Tuesday evening when the previous storm came over, and later found out we were one of the lucky ones. Six boats sank in Porthleven, houses were pounded and the main train link to Exeter is now in the sea. 

Let's keep our fingers crossed that everyone comes out of this one safely. 

Happy new year!

Cornwall is the land of rainbows

This winter has been a season of real contrasts - ferocious storms one day and then glorious sun the next. 

We've been very lucky to escape any major flooding or storm damage where we live, I know some haven't been as fortunate.

 I hope everyone now has a more peaceful start to 2014.