Wednesday 5 September 2007

A beautiful Island...

I forget sometimes how beautiful this Island is. For years as a young women growing up I chose to live abroad, I had a ball living throughout Europe. Paris in the Autumn, Spain in the winter, Greece in the summer etc... I moved around for a few years, always believing that the place I was in was so much more exciting that the United Kingdom. Maybe it is an age thing, you know that dreaded word...maturity! I do not know the the answer, just that I have come to love this land. I have lived in different parts of the UK too. Scotland, London, Oxford the Cotswold's, North South East and West. I adore the beautiful beaches of Cornwall the warmth of the sea and the special light in that part of the world. For many years Scotland was special, I felt that maybe this was my true home, then the excitement of living in the capital (London) also held my attention as a young career women, BUT nothing touches my soul like Yorkshire...
From the Romance of the Moors (Bronte Sisters) to the majestic and often spooky beaches of the coast line (Whitby and Dracula), there is so much history here especially in the wool and cotton trade, some of the mills remain with a working identity, some have been transformed to amazing conversions for homes and one is still a working Mill to teach the future generations of its amazing history that is now just taken for granted.
Yes, if you asked me the place that moves me, that brings out emotions in me that once I would have laughed at, it would have to be Yorkshire. So I return from my week in a cute little cottage by the Yorkshire Coast. The weather was good and the memories will warm me as we approach the turn of the season and head in to Autumn, already the day light is less and the shade covers the garden...the signs of the changes are near. Just for now though I will hold on to the memories, running in and out of the sea, the children as happy as, well 'sand boys' the need for ice cream, and laughter around the garden table as food is enjoyed outside and the smell of a fire on the beach just to be able to stay on the beach for a few hours longer...
The weather has not been kind this season and most of us have had to make the most of the little sun we have had, but as I reflect on the past seven weeks of the summer holiday, the vacations and the time shared with friends, I can say that this has been a special time, with lots of things made and learnt. I sat with my children last night as we prepared for the start of school, we chatted about our summer and our favourite things and we agreed that this has been a special summer. I know that both my babes are at an age when they will remember this time for many years. To be able to provide them with childhood memories is a job as a parent I do not take lightly.
Between us we have laughed, crafted, danced and had fun. We spent time with friends and we missed others, we might not have done some of the things we planned and we missed out on a lot of body boarding due to the rain, but as summers go it was pretty cool. I sit in silence now, the house is a shambles and much work is needed to done...the silence is weird...the house has been full of noise for weeks now, to sit on my own feels wrong...no one asking for juice or 'what can we make Mommy'... 'what are we doing today Mommy'... 'can I ride my bike Mommy'... ???
No it is silent and today I took my babes to school, both of them filled with a mixture of nervousness and excitment. I left my youngest sitting crossed legged on his new mat in his new class room in his new school in his new uniform...did I feel sad...did I cry...You bet!!!

Its time to befriend my sewing machine again...

Photos...The Yorkshire coastline

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh you wonderful mother you - I felt that we spent so much of the summer whizzing about trying to keep on top of life not really providing good childhood memories - now I feel all inadequate about it! Hope you have now had a good cry, a cuupa and are now on your sewing machine making up for lost time! I'm currently feeding my youngest as i type this with my knee propped up keeping her in position - never one to do one thing at a time! Hope that both your boys have a great day at school today, and come home full of it all (have some cake to hand for the inevitable knackeredness they will bring home with them to be washed down with cuddles of reassurance!!) xxx

Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...

Hi Caroline. I so love your comments and I miss you when you are not around. I think you of all the people I know have provided your kids this summer with a memory that will last them a liftime, to move to follow a dream to be closer to family and have the beach life all year round, if ever there was a good role model for their kids...Your top of the list!!!
Suzie Sews

Unknown said...

I know just how you feel but for me it's because my middle one has started Secondary School today - fortunately for him his elder sister is in Year 11 to watch over him from a discreet distance at least until next May and her exams start. They don't stay babies for long - enjoy your 'me time' - we look forward to seeing your stitching results. BTW the Yorkshire Coast photos are wonderful - they make me so homesick :o)

Linda said...

You sound like you are a great mother. I feel a bit guilty now having spent the whole summer juggling work and childrens activities, and just craving time to myself. I think I need to take a leaf out of your book and make nice memories next holiday :)

Linda said...

Sorry, I forgot to add... our island is lovely and we only started appreciating it after living away for a while.
I remember my boys first day at school and every mum cries don't they on that day! x

Thimbleanna said...

What a lovely post. Pretty pictures and great memories. Hope your tears have now been replaced with the anticipation of the projects and school year ahead. ;-)

dutchcomfort said...

Such an amazing retrospective view on your Summerholiday. And thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!

this is my patch said...

Hi, thanks so much for visiting my blog, it is so exciting when you get a message from someone new! It looks like you had a lovely time in Yorkshire, somewhere we haven’t yet visited; we did go down to the West Country in June, we have been many times, I just absolutely love Cornwall, we visited the east side of the north coast this time, Boscastle, Port Isaac, Tintagel, Padstow etc, the next time we go we are going to St Ives and further west down to Lands End. I will look in to Suzie Sews again soon. Thanks again.

Just Original said...

I know what you mean about Yorkshire! I am a Yorkshire lass, and my Mum & Dad have recently bought a place in Filey, I have been there 6 times so far this year! We went 2 weeks ago with my little daughter, the weather was awful. We did manage to make some memories for her, but unfortunately not any on the beach.

Vanessa x

Ragged Roses said...

You're not the only one who's shed a few tears today - I've found it very hard, being alone in a silent house! But like you say you have given your boys a summer full of wonderful memories.
Lucky you going to Yorkshire, I have been hankering to go there for years, especially the Moors
Kimx

Anonymous said...

What a beutiful post and scrumptious photos!! I am not suprised that it touches your heart as it looks divine through your photgraphs. What a lovely break!! =)

Monkee Maker said...

A lovely post and lovely pictures. Your children certainly will have wonderful memories of all the time you spent with them and all the fun stuff you did together.

And you make me feel so guilty that I'm skipping round the kitchen happily this morning as the kids go back to school today!

Anonymous said...

Hasn't the summer gone quickly? The house is silent and all I can here is the ticking clock and my fingers on the keyboard, I'm looking forward to 3.30. But I'm going to make the most of the time to myself and get get some sewing done, once I read a few more blogs of course!

Tina said...

Hi Suzie,

I bet your kids are really proud of you for providing them such a great summer. I understand that it might have felt a lot strange not have them around now that school started again.
Your pictures are great. I love the one of the kids by the fence. :)
x

Sarah said...

Beautiful pictures! Sounds like a truly wonderful summer vacation! Back in the 1990's I spent too short a time in Yorkshire. There's nowhere else quite like it! Good luck to the kids in the new school year =)

weirdbunny said...

I've never been to Yorkshire, it's somewhere that I would like to visit. When I return from hols abroad I'm always amazed at how lush green and wonderfully hilly our island here is. - love Julia x

tea time and roses said...

Thanks so much for your visit and sweet comments to my blog... You have a very nice place here, and your post I enjoyed so much along with your beautiful photos... Again thanks so much for dropping by...

Smiles...

Beverly

Kim -today's creative blog said...

great post!
The photos are beautiful. I would love to visit someday.

Anonymous said...

Glad you enjoyed your week by the sea. I agree with you about the UK and Yorkshire, it's so lovely. I have taken photos in the same spot as you only a couple of weeks ago in Flamborough! Our caravan is in Skipsea, about 8 miles from Bridlington so we often visit Scarborough, Flamborough, Whitby, Filey and Hornsea. They are all lovely places. I will have to take some pics of the caravan itselfs next week when I go because the ones I took last time didn't come out well.

Anonymous said...

Today a friend has come back to blogland after a lovely summer holiday. I read the accounts of her time away and she writes so beautifully with so much love, that it gives a Mother whose child struggles to get her own beautiful words down on paper accurately, the hope that her child will also find a way .... did I shed a tear when reading "A beautiful Island ..." - you bet I did. xxx

Racheal Miles said...

Wonderful post, I really enjoyed reading it. Sounds like you had a great summer and one that your children will look back on with fondness.
Happy Sewing.
Racheal x

julia said...

I love this island too!

You have done sooo much in these holidays with your children, it's amazing. They must have had the best time. No wonder you feel sad about term time starting again, so do I!

Enjoy your sewing!

Julia x

Anonymous said...

Hi Suzie,
We agree, Yorkshire is a wonderful county with beautiful countryside. Just been up to Leeds to see my sister. Whitby is one of our favourite places and we've walked to Robin Hood's Bay along the coastal path.
I remember it being strange when my youngest started school...he's now just bought his first house...but he still needs our help. Les has spent the last few weeks making a new staircase for him (he's a joiner).
Pleased you had a wonderful holiday in such a scenic place.
Margaret and Noreen at THY

Toni said...

Hi Suzie! The green grassy cliffs look much like the ones I live near. Although they are not super grassy, more shrubby--but just as lovely. The UK is such a gorgeous place!