Back To Lovely Lyme Regis

My final holiday of the year was to my favourite coastal town, Lyme Regis in Dorset. We have learnt over the years that September is a brilliant time to go, and happily we were again lucky with the weather, with only some threatening skies. As soon as I step on the beach I feel at home, and as we've been heading here for six years now I do have some favoured holiday habits. I like to walk Mia along The Cobb and the beach by 8 o'clock in the morning so it's still quiet apart from the screeching seagulls. I like to the visit the fresh fish shop at the seafront to buy dinner, before stopping at the bakery on the highstreet for warm croissants or fresh crusty bread for breakfast. All very lovely and lazy treats, I'm sure you can see why we keep returning! If you like a quieter seaside town I can't recommend it highly enough.

I am missing walking on those pebbles already! Now October is here the wind has already got colder, time to bundle up and get ready for the real Autumn to begin!

Thanks for popping by,

Katie

Portrait Session With Linzi West At The Mermaid Shop, Lyme Regis

Whilst I was on holiday in Lyme Regis I had a rather unusual, but very lovely activity organised by my Mum - having my portrait painted! It began last year when we had popped into The Mermaid Shop and B&B and met artist Linzi West. We had a great chat about everything Lyme, Linzi's art and her beautiful house! Mum spotted a portrait hanging on the wall that Linzi had done of a friend of hers, and thought she would like one done of me in a similar relaxed style...so this holiday I found myself posing for my very own portrait! I must say this is not a pastime I am usually comfortable with, I am useless having my photograph taken and dread such occasions, but somehow I found this a far more relaxing affair! 

I sat for a couple of hours and Linzi actually completed two oil portraits for me, one was a trial run to get the 'Bloomsbury' style we were looking for flowing, and the second attempt took her a further two days working from photographs. My Mum adores Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell's portraiture, so Linzi drew inspiration from a book of their work whilst she was painting, and we set up a still life of chosen objects and a scarf I had brought along as colour inspiration. It was so enjoyable, and it really got my creative side going! But then again, being surrounded by so many beautiful works of art in a home practically buzzing with interesting objects and craft, how could I fail to be inspired?

And here is the finished result, I was thrilled, but it's always a little odd looking at an image of yourself isn't it? I can't deny the likeness is pretty uncanny, my family agrees it's definitely me!  I love the blue flecks in my hair and the detail Linzi took with the background, spot the scarf pattern I brought along?? Flying vegetables! The oil paint will take a few more weeks to properly dry so I had to be extremely careful getting it home un-smudged, infact our own comfort in the car was sacrificed so it could lie flat in the boot, we had luggage piled up on top of us instead! Classic family holiday capers! I hope you enjoyed seeing Linzi's wonderful studio, please do pop along to her website or even better, visit The Mermaid Shop when you are in Lyme Regis!

Thanks for reading,

Katie

Early Morning Lyme Regis

'A very strange stranger it must be, who does not see charms in the immediate environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better.'

Jane Austin, Persuasion.

I was overjoyed to find myself back in dear Lyme Regis last week. It's truly a place I will never tire of heading too, for as soon as I walk on those cobbles or sit on that curved, perilous Cobb (sea wall), I feel at home. We were exceedingly lucky with the weather as it tended to rain overnight and leave the days sunny, so I made the most of it and got up early to explore. Despite us always going off-season to avoid the summer holiday crowds and prices, it is still busy this time of year so this is a rare time to have it all to yourself! Mia is still a little nervous in busy places, so to avoid her being stepped on or bothered I always walked her as early as possible so we could both enjoy the views to their full potential! The above photo is taken in the Jane Austin gardens which sit above the seafront, a very pleasant escape from the hustle and bustle during the day, take a picnic lunch and enjoy gazing across the front.

I had the entire Cobb to myself many of the walks, and I always picture The French Lieutenants woman stood gazing out to sea, her cloak being whipped by the breeze! The amazingly perilous steps in the above photo are called 'Granny's Teeth', I can't say I saw anyone attempting to ascent or descend them during my stay! Neither was I willing to give it a try! I never fail to be amazed by the unique design of The Cobb, the earliest drawings which match this design of wall date to 1539 - truly amazing! One stormy morning I saw waves breaking right over the end, it is surely a unique piece of British heritage! 

Just past The Cobb lies Monmouth Beach which is luckily dog friendly, so Mia could tear after the seagulls to her hearts content! She wasn't so keen on the water (after accidentally taking a dip in West Whittering!) so stayed cautiously away from the waves, gazing at them in a rather thoughtful manner instead - I would love to know what is going through her mind when she see's all these new places!

Hope this might encourage some early alarm clocks if you ever stay in Lyme, it's truly worth it!

Back with some more seaside capers very soon!

Katie