Cousins................together

Do you have a special cousin? Luckily I do and her name is Sue. In this fabulous photo (circa 1915) is our Grandmother with her children. Sue's Mother is second from the left and the eldest, mine is on the right. The boy on the left is my Mother's twin, and the two girls in Grandmother's arms are their twin sisters.

Our Mothers were close, went away to boarding school together, learned dressmaking and worked together before they married. Sue was born nine months before me and this photo was taken in 1944 when our Mums walked us along the seafront in my home town, Torquay. Sue is obviously practicing toddling while I'm chubby and crying because I'm stuck in the pram - or perhaps just embarrassed by Mum's pillbox hat! Fast forward to two weeks ago......................now in our sixties (where did all those years go?) kissin' cousins became lickin' cousins. We giggled over this English version of Dairy Queen with a Cadbury's chocolate flake candy bar stuck in. Amazing what grown women will do at the seaside...............especially cousins.

We then stopped by the house in the center of Teignmouth where Sue grew up.......this was the door we passed through constantly when we were children. My Uncle's real estate business was located on the ground floor, and my dear Auntie's dressmaking workroom was upstairs - I loved watching her sew beautiful clothes. Both Sue and I became handy with a needle and thread thanks to our Mothers' sewing skills, and their patience instructing us in needle arts.

We had so much fun in this house during Summer holidays - the back looked out to a row of posh hotels where we watched the Italian waiters and the dish washers in the kitchens from our bedroom window! The beach and amusement pier were around the corner.
Sue has lived here all her adult life......the prettiest cottage which was once the carriage house to a large estate home.

The entrance gates open into a beautiful courtyard and an upper garden by the red stone wall and.................................................. ....................you can see how Sue and her DH Johan (the most delightful Dutch man) have made it such a beautiful place to relax.

Cousins.......coffee........a sunny October day in Devon..........perfect! Sue, I hope you read this and know how much I love you. I am so grateful to have had you all these years as my very special cousin.

Visiting a Childhood Place

A little history about Teignmouth, the Devon seaside town just 15 minutes from my hometown. The coast ride along the cliffs, overlooking the English Channel, was always exciting to a young girl put on a bus and sent to spend a few wonderful weeks each Summer with her only girl cousin, Sue. I had such fun there and enjoyed reliving the memories with her during this recent visit.

In the local guide, the simplicity of the natural beauty of the area is stated thus.........Who could fail to appreciate this place where so many contrasting aspects combine to please the eye.....warm rosy sandstone cliffs and verdant meadows.....gentle promenade and towering Ness (French 'nez').....river and sea in glorious union never still, ever lively.

Below is an aerial view of Teignmouth, the River Teign Estuary, and the tiny town of Shaldon across the river. The original pier was much longer, built in the 1860's. In its heyday of Victorian and Edwardian times, there were band concerts, magic lantern shows, steamer trips and dances. Unfortunately the seaward end including the ballroom was removed in the 1960's when it was found to be unsafe. Sue and I spent a lot of time on this pier as children/teenagers.

A small ferry has crossed the Teign ever since the 13th Century. The black and white design on the gunwales is a continuing tradition stretching back to Elizabeth I who bestowed royal patronage on West Teignmouth. The design emulates the galleons of that time.

We stayed here at the Bay Hotel in a seaview room for three nights to be close to where my cousin and her family live. This terrace of Victorian homes was constructed by the Earl of Devon in the 1860's. During World War II, three of the houses were bombed but the rebuilding matches the original style perfectly, thank goodness..

The rooms were beautiful, especially the ceilings, mirrors, and elegant lighting. At the hotel, American husband went all out and ordered 'the full English' each morning for breakfast - I told him that eating like that would never get him a role in 'The Full Monty' that's for sure!!

Next time I'll show you more about my cousin's seaside town..............and the wild things 'kissin' cousins' can get up to!

High Street Shopping

Look up, look up..........................the old buildings are beautiful against the blue sky, facades fit for the Queen.Down below at street level, the tiny shops are crammed to the doors........even out the doors on this fine day. If looking for everyday china and kitchenware, this minuscule shop had it all. Shelves and tables so crowded they almost groaned from the weight of the china. DH waited patiently on the pavement ~ I held my breathe as I moved gingerly through a narrow aisle, not wanting to be 'a bull in a china shop'.Perhaps 'a little tea pot short and stout' in the traditional English style is needed for your cottage. The Brits usually sip a wake up drink of tea rather than coffee. These basic, chunky china tea pots sit waiting a few scoops of loose 'English Breakfast' or a couple of tea bags. Don't forget, you need a tea cozy too!
Afternoon tea, served at 4 o'clock, requires a more elegant tea pot and delicate cups and saucers - these blue and white ones are pretty. Note the French inspired tin salt keeper, canisters and jugs - "copycats". I think they should still have the words in French!

No fancy Royal Doulton and Wedgewood bone china dinner services here ~ just solid cream and white everyday wares for the cottage or converted barn.

Super gravy boats............... and coffee mugs by the hundreds..................bring on my strong black cafe Americano, or a steaming creamy latte if that's your morning wake up drink of choice.
Across from the china shop was another quaint little place, a miniature hardware store, named Hooks & Handles. Loved the sweeping brooms standing at attention by the door, with true natural stiff bristles - need a new one for my deck but couldn't fathom how to fit it in my suitcase, sigh!
These charming shops are situated in a tiny area named 'The Triangle' in the seaside town of Teignmouth on the South Devon coast. It was here I spent my childhood Summer holidays with my cousin Sue...................more on that later.

Story of a Seaside Village

All across the mostly rural West Country of England, villages and hamlets are tucked into the folds of the rolling hills, moorland, and valleys. The attractive homes range from slate roofed houses to converted barns to ancient thatched cottages. The old thatched cottage with roses around the door has always conjured up the true heart of English country living.


Below is the village of Branscombe, Devon where the hills swoop down to the sea. In January of this year you may have heard about the beaching and break up of the huge container ship Napoli off the pebbled beach. 25 containers washed ashore and huge crowds of scavengers descended on the beach to carry off everything from BMW motorcycles to disposable diapers! The tiny picturesque village was then closed to streams of traffic trying to maneuver through the narrow lanes by potential beachcombers and media hoards. Half of the ship remains off the beach and it's hoped it will be removed soon. The beach is still being cleaned up and looked quite good when we visited. Luckily the seabirds did not suffer too much from the oil spilled.Remaining half of the Napoli off Branscombe beach on an October afternoon.Carrying the groceries home across the cliffs of Branscombe - Brits are great walkers. Note how the always green fields of England run all the way down to the cliff edge by the sea.Time for a cuppa! The little thatched tea room right on the beach - with such a delightful painted sign - the owners live here year round. Leaving the village, cottages line the lane. I came across this wonderful garden in a little valley. Tended with loving care - and a lot of hard work I'm sure - cooing white doves on several dovecotes, a Summerhouse, and a bridge crossing the brook.

The 12th century Norman church within view of the clothes line - wouldn't you just love pegging out the washing to dry with a view like this?
Hope you enjoyed a visit to this village~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~more to come later on other West Country places of great interest.

"Cheerio".........for now

Tomorrow I'm 'crossing the pond' and going home. I'll be looking eastward from the balcony and waking to this sunrise view for the next couple of weeks - looking across the bay, toward the English Channel. My hometown, Torquay, is in Devon in the Southwest of England.

Staying here in this beautiful Regency crescent building which was built 150 years ago. The center section is a five star hotel, each end comprises of private residences, a few rental apartments and timeshare units. Our 'Balcony Apartment' is to the left of the palm tree on the second floor (first floor in England)

You can see how the building is elevated just above the beach - high tide in this picture below - and there are scenic walks along the cliffs - part of the South Devon Coastal Path. Below - looking back from the cliff walk, across the bay to the west. I always sit on this bench and take in the panoramic view.From this location we can walk downhill to the harbor and into town just beyond that sandstone cliff, takes about 15 mins. as I love to stop and admire the gardens along the way. Return walk takes longer uphill (Torquay is built on seven hills like Rome) but it will be good exercise for us after these clotted cream teas at 4 PM each afternoon! Warm out of the oven scones served with homemade strawberry jam and Devonshire Cream - the specialty thick clotted cream of the county of Devon.

There is also Cornish cream from the neighboring county of Cornwall - complete with ongoing debate about whose cream is best. As far as I know, nowhere else in Britain is known for it's cream, probably because these are the two counties where the Jersey breed of cows are raised and produce high fat, creamy milk.

Needless to say, imbibing in this afternoon treat is neither low cal nor healthy for the arteries - but it's not like I do it often - two years since the last delicious cream tea! This English tradition is best enjoyed in a lush flower filled cottage garden, a proper but very cozy tea room, or on a terrace overlooking the sea. So, I will indulge, and also have one for my British friends over here - Jackie, Paula and Jen - gosh I already see another diet on the horizon in November!

Hope to take some new cottage pics to bring you - Devon is known for its thatched roofed, cob walled cottages surrounded by lovely flower-filled gardens, apple orchards and babbling brooks. Old villages are numerous, surrounded by ancient family farms, usually with a square towered Norman church, and of course the local pub, the social center of the community.......anyone ready for a pint of bitter (dark ale).........or perhaps you ladies will have a 'Shandy' (lager and lemonade)?

Below is my little journal to jot down my thoughts and add some memorabilia from this trip The 'stamps' were made especially for me by my wonderful friend in Washington State - fabulous! Thanks again dear Patti.
Wish I could tuck each of you cottage loving gals into my suitcase and take you on a guided tour of scenic Devon - know you would love it all. I'll do my best to take pics to share with you on my return. Until that time - end of October - I'll miss you all but promise to catch up with you again. Thank you for becoming my friends, I really do appreciate the time you spend visiting me online, and I love checking in with all of you and reading your wonderful posts.

So "Cheerio" for now. Don't forsake me.............don't forget me.................I promise to be back before you know it.

Hey, let's celebrate, come on.......................

Starting today with the drawing for my giveaway - such fun. So grateful to all of you who entered by leaving kind comments on my 100th post - hopefully I can keep going and share more interesting things with you. As many of you know - especially the Anglophiles out there - I'll be "crossing the pond" in October, first time since starting my blog, so will take plenty of photos of cottages and such to share with you.

So, a celebration is in order............................

I do love hats, especially vintage looking hats - here's a few of my Summer ones. The two gimp braid hats were custom made by a designer friend and I just love them. The tan one I wear a lot in Summer as it looks almost like a straw hat - the cream one comes in handy for weddings and such. The cinnamon color one with pretty roses is amazing - light as a feather fabric (stuffed with tissues for this pic) - found in a quaint little hat shop in Tiberon, CA when visiting a few years ago. All these hats flatten and pack easily - nice to tuck in luggage when traveling - never know when a wet or windy day of sightseeing may need a hat.

Oh my gosh, I'm digressing and making this a fashion post instead of a fanfare for the WINNER!

......................who is........................... Mary at http://isabellascloset.blogspot.com/

Congratulations dear Mary - hope you will enjoy the little gifts.

Please e-mail me with your mailing address. I'll get the parcel in the mail this week.

So, hats off to Mary. This is such fun and I won't wait for the 200th post, I'll plan another giveaway long before then - already have a new idea in mind for some special items to share. All you artistic "crafty" gals - you know who you are - will love it......... so keep watching.

Again, thanks for visiting me. I love hearing from my wonderful circle of friends and sharing in all your varied interests. Hope this will be a great week...........and don't forget your hat!

Cornish Cottages

My new blog friend, Anne (do visit her at Not Entirely British )
grew up, like me, loving the Southwest of England, especially Devon and Cornwall. This post is for you Anne, and anyone who knows Cornwall perhaps from Daphne du Maurier's wonderful and famous novels, Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, Frenchman's Creek and My Cousin Rachel.

Typical Cornish villages and fishing scenes.

Although there are many lovely fishing villages along the Cornish coast, Polperro is one of my favorites and I last visited there in 2005. This is everyone's idea of a picturesque Cornish fishing village - narrow winding streets and alleys, a jumble of charming white cottages perched on steep slopes overlooking the tiny harbour. Polperro was once a thriving center for smuggling. Generations of seafarers brought contraband goods ashore from France via the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey. High taxes on a wide range of luxury goods, basic commodities and even salt, imposed to finance the wars with America and France between 1775 and 1815, encouraged the fishermen to supplement their meagre livelihood by engaging in the "trade" as smuggling brandy, gin, tea and tobacco was known.

Exquisite seashell decorative work on a fisherman's cottage.

The traffic-free village requires a winding downhill walk to the harbour............or taking the "Horse Bus" from the main car park.

With its protected inner harbour full of colorful boats, Polperro is still a working fishing village.Away from Polperro and other nearby villages are scenic walks along the cliff tops. Although Cornwall is known as one of the less wealthy areas in the UK with the lowest per capita contribution to the national economy, it certainly is one of the most beautiful and has a thriving tourist industry. Be sure to visit this lovely part of Britain if you have the chance.........and of course you have to pass through Devon (my home county) to reach it so you get to see two great counties on the same trip!