Friday 24 October 2014

70th Birthday.

A few weekends ago it was my mum's 70th Birthday. My brother and sister-in-law had managed to organise us all and we had rented a house in Polzeath for a long weekend. (Mum grew up on Bodmin Moor and my grandparents lived there until I was in my late teens, so we all have lots of very fond memories of that bit of North Cornwall.)
As a teacher, and a governor of the boys' school, I know I should be fully anti taking kids out during term time, however I couldn't resist making the most of the opportunity. Sometimes enjoying life and spending time with family are just more important than anything you can learn in a classroom. So since I wasn't working on the Thursday or Friday we all headed off first thing on Thursday morning.
Arriving in Polzeath to THIS made me sure we hadn't made the wrong decision! Blue sky, blue sea and "epic" surf!
Within half an hour the boys were in the sea and I was sitting on the beach, with the warm sun on my back, wishing every Thursday morning could be like this.







We spent the morning surfing, had lunch of crab sandwiches on the balcony outside a local cafe looking over the beach and spent the afternoon walking round the cliffs to Daymer Bay for a bit of sand-dune action.

Check out the waves!
Leaping off the dunes.

By the early evening my sister's family had arrived and her two little boys joined ours for some paddling and wet sand fun.




Perfect end to a perfect day.

And by 7 the whole family were there. The house was absolutely perfect- large enough to sleep all of us, casual enough not to have to worry if the kids brought back vast quantities of wet sandy clothes, and with a view to die for!
Peaceful pasties with a view.
Despite it being the beginning of October we were incredibly lucky with the weather, which was bright and warm if a bit windy! We had a perfect weekend surfing, walking, looking for cowries, eating, eating, eating and generally relaxing. There couldn't have been a better way to celebrate mum's birthday and we all agreed we should try to make it an annual event!

Big Cousins hitting the surf.
Hiking to the Rumps.

Wave jumping.
The pro!
All the grandchildren hitting the rockpools
The clan search for cowries on "cowrie beach"
October!?
Most of the crew on Pentire Head.
We finished the weekend with a lovely Sunday lunch and then a yomp up Roughtor, on Bodmin Moor, for old times sake. It is very strange being somewhere you knew so well as a child with your own children. I could feel the ghosts of the past all around and also could imagine the next generations of the family retracing our steps.
Finding ghosts on the moors.

5 comments:

  1. Lovely photos! Glad the weather was fine when you guys were down here. We've been having dreadful rain and gloomy skies the past few days! #countrykids.

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    1. We were so lucky. I actually got swimming costume strap marks- the sun was that warm!

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  2. I recognise every one of your photos, how funny we are both posting from the beach at polzeath this week! I can't imagine a better place for you all to enjoy the 70th celebrations. I bet it always feels a little like coming home when you visit. Thank you for sharing with me on Country Kids

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    1. It really does feel like coming home. When I'm there I can almost see us as kids running down the beach with our grandparents following on behind. A very special place. Yes, couldn't believe it when I saw your post! How lucky your crew are to be able to pop down for surfing lessons.

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  3. Great photos. Looks like a lot of fun! I love the beach. I do wish I lived near one x

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