07 September 2008

This Weekend

I lay in bed on this dull Sunday morning thinking, what a boring day lay ahead. Mr N will be off to play football soon. It will be only us three for Sunday lunch, instead of the usual clan. It is grey and damp and cold outside. What am I going to do. I hate these sort of days, no plans, no enthusiasm and feeling pretty fed up.
Then Mr N's phone rang....football is off !
Yippee, I secretly thought to myself.
I was happy now. Right then. Come on Nige let us get up and get on with painting the top coat on our bedside cabinets. Tidy the garden. Then we can prepare lunch together. The change in my mood was amazing.
Mr N looked at me and said nothing, just pulled a face at me. He was not happy now.

He did help me. The bedsides are finished at long last. He watched me as I looked around our bedroom. Give me the paint brush Carol....I am going to clean it now and you are not going to paint anything else in this room......OK!


My Saturday was quite a nice day, at least I got out of the house. Just as well, as cabin fever was setting in. I really think that the lack of sunshine has affected me. I have lost my sparkle. Or maybe it is just my age.
So, Johanna my youngest daughter and I went cottage hunting. Which can be great fun. Off we went to Brede in Sussex. The cottage was very pretty. I knew I would love it when I saw the images on the Internet. It was decorated and furnished in the country Shabby Chic style.. Everything about it was so nice. I would love to show you pictures but I would probably get in trouble if I did.

We then drove to Winchelsea beach. I am still trying to convince my daughter that it would be so nice to live in Sussex. The trains into London are good! Here she is, braving gale force winds. I love this beach. There is nothing there - just pebbles and sea.
Behind the beach, the sea road and fields full of sheep. Nothing to spend your pocket money on!


We then went onto Winchelsea, which is on top of a hill. Winchelsea is a beautiful Sussex village built on the bones of a medieval town. The brilliant white painted weatherboarded houses reminded me of New England style properties. Seven centuries ago, the new town of Winchelsea was founded by Edward I to take the place an older town of the same name which had been lost to the sea in a series of great storms and now lies beneath the waters of Rye Bay. Winchelsea lays claim to be the smallest town in England. I would love to buy a property, but it is probably not to be, it is quite expensive. My photos do not really do the place justice.
Everything is so nice and clean. I did not see any people at all, apart from a nice lady in the little grocery shop where I bought a prawn cocktail sandwich and a freshly baked crusty loaf.
I could see myself living here quite easily.
Any one of these lovely cottage would be perfect.
Jumping back into the nice warm car, we made a mad dash back to London......home.

This is going to be a horrible long process, buying and selling. After reading some of the nightmares that some of you have experienced, I am wondering why I am doing this.


Nex weekend I will be off somewhere very nice. A little birthday treat. So until then......

Good bye mijn vrienden.

41 comments:

Simone said...

How lovely to go cottage hunting! How lovely the weather looks too! Good luck with the house hunting/selling. I am sure it will all be worth it in the end. The pebble beach looks very inviting.

prettyshabby said...

Hi Carol..you probably feel low because of the cottage being on the market..I know I did, I just couldnt settle at all and was ratty with everyone, it's just a very unsettling time.
Winchelsea looks lovely, really pretty..I love clapboard houses..you should put a link to the cottages you see so we can take a peek too!
x

dragonfly said...

What a beautiful town - I love the white wood-clad house.

I started off feeling exactly the same yesterday...but after making the effort, my day changed for the better too. Not quite sea and pebbles (shame!) but coffee and good friends...

julia said...

Winchelsea looks about as perfect as a place could be!
Julia xx

julia said...

Winchelsea looks about as perfect as a place could be!
Julia xx

julia said...

Winchelsea looks about as perfect as a place could be!
Julia xx

Lucy Bloom said...

Hey, I did a double take when I saw your bedroom pics, I have the same mirror on my landing! Loved all your pretties in the previous post, your stall will look stunning I'm sure. Have a lovely birthday next weekend!
Lucy x

MelMel said...

Oh wow its lovely ther....hope you get the cottage of your dreams!

thanks for popping in and leaving a nice comment!

i like your boots.....ugg??

xx

MelMel said...

I've tagged you!xx

Lesley (Notesfrommydays) said...

what lovely cottages - i want a cottage by the sea now!! LOL
have a lovely weekend treat :-)
Lesley x

Debbies-English-Treasures said...

What a nice place to live!
And good luck with the Cottage Hunting!
I always love to see photos of your beautiful home!
Kisses
Debbie Moss

maria said...

I know what you mean about the Sunday morning football thing. I've pretended to be really disapointed for hubby when his matches have been cancelled but I'm secretly thinking Hurray! He's got the team kit to wash this week but it's still in the back of the car - typical!

MelMel said...

I am really trying not to wate money at the moment......but then all these tempting things keep popping up, i'm learning so much from other pl's blogs and seeing that you can do much with pennies rather than wasting pounds and still have a unique and lovely home......i'm doing well i used to be a dreadful spender.....so i really will try to stick to my word!
Thanks for popping in.....will be nice to read your 6 interesting things about you!xxxxx

Tinyholder said...

Have you thought about Herstmonceux and some of the lovely villages around Heathfield? We spotted some crackers (very cheap) that had acres of land and the obligatory cute little cottage. We opted to live within 5 miles of Haywards Heath mainline in the end because of the 40 minute train line to London, which is a an absolute must for Tim.

MarmaladeRose said...

Hey, you can come around to my house and paint anything you like. I hate painting, well not the actual painting it's the prep and cleaning up afterwards.

Cottage hunting, my favourite pastime, we've only been here in the Dales for a year and I still look at the property for sale!

This Vintage Life... said...

Hi Carol,
That looks a lovely place...you're right it does look very New England, doesn't it? (ooh, that makes me wish I was there!) I'm sure you'll find the cottage of your dreams. Deb x

Tinyholder said...

We had the same problem, we needed off road parking and a garage plus beautiful cottage but the problem is cottages tend to be built next to roads and obviously they didn't have cars way back when! This was the only one that met all our criteria in the whole of Sussex, Kent and Hampshire! I really wish you the best of luck in selling your house. I don't evny you but it will all be worth it! :-)

LiLi M. said...

Hi Carol! It took me some time to answer your question on the enamel ware in my (previous) banner. No I have bought nothing in Paris. I think Belgium is far the best place to shop enamelware, or perhaps a vide grenier in France, but those are always one day before we arrive, or two days after we have left, the story of my life! I would love to go cottage hunting, you would soon be finished if you would hunt them around here!
Good luck and take care!

Pipany said...

Hello Carol. I know just what you mean about cabin fever - I went to a funeral yesterday and enjoyed it because I was finally out of the house! Dreadful really. The village looks gorgeous. Could just imagine you there xx

Cassie said...

What an adorable little village! Oh it looks like such a nice place to escape to. I can picture a tiny cottage with an art studio. It sounds like you had a lovely day with your daughter. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

I can see myself living there quite easily. Lovely beach!

Rhondi said...

Hi Carol
I am always unsettled as soon as we decide we are going to move. Hope that you find a new place soon and that everything goes well with your move.
Hugs, Rhondi

Unknown said...

What a great place Winchelsea looks. I love to read Coast magazine and dream of a cottage by the sea. Bedside tables look fab!
Rosie x

Petticoat Lane said...

What a beautiful place to have a home, I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.
The beach looked lovely. I love Slapton Sands in devon..miles of pebbles, green hills and sea...so tranquil.
Happy Birthday for this week-end
Jane. x

Miss sew n sew said...

I loved this post thankyou for sharing your cottage hunting day all those places look idyllic I really hope you find your perfect cottage without stresses.
I have the same problem as you I want to paint everything in sight Steven huffs and puffes at me and doesn't quite get my loittle addiction!
Sarahx

Ragged Roses said...

Hope you're feeling a bit brighter (I know exactly how you feel!), there was a bit of sunshine this morning, did you catch it?
Hope all is going well on the cottage front, I love that part of Sussex, it is so beautiful. Take care, good luck and have a wonderful weekend
Kimx

periwinkle said...

What a lovely place Winchelsea is - I hope you find the place you are looking for soon. Enjoy your little holiday
lisa x

Reginas Cottage said...

Hi Carol
What a loveley place.Winchelsa is
really nice.Absolutley wonderful.
Just a dream!!!!!
I wish you a wonderful weekend!!!!
Hugs,Regina

Grand Life said...

A prawn cocktail sandwich-- I've got to find me some prawn's. It sounds yummy. The southwest coast and London proper are the two area's we have left to visit on a home exchange. Have done the midlands, southeast, and north. Loved them all. Good luck in your search for a beach cottage.
Judy

Mia said...

Such lovely pictures, the village looks very pretty and neat. And the cottage you have viewed sounds lovely. Good luck with the cottage hunting. And U just loved the photos from the beach... makes me want to live somewhere closer to the sea..,.

Louise said...

Winchelsea is a little gem. We often drive through on our way down to Dungeness, which is where I would love a little hideaway, so I could develop a shingle garden. I love to visit Rye too as I love the potteries. Enjoy your birthday treat. x

Lucy Bloom said...

Hey, I thought you were away this weekend - you must be back. Can't wait to see what you got up to!
Lucy x

Cowboys and Custard Mercantile said...

Hello dear Carol.. I am wondering if you have returned by now from your little birthday escape..??
I have thought of you a lot and hoped you were not caught up in the to do with the Channel tunnel and now all these cancelled flights..

Lovely cottages in your photos.. I would be sorely tempted to up sticks and move here.. anything for a quiet life with some fresh air!

Speak to you v soon..
Michele x

P. said...

It looks like a wonderful place place.

Alfazema

LiLi M. said...

Hope you had a lovely birthday!
Congratulations!

Sandi McBride said...

I've never forgotten how lovely the villages are, and have missed them terribly. Lovely post, full of memories for me, making me homesick...I'm back, and so glad to be here!
hugs
Sandi

Deb said...

What a lovely little town to go cottage hunting! Looks like a wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

A little bird told me..well blogged actually..that it was your birthday on Tuesday..*HAPPY BIRTHDAY* nice lady..hope you had a lovely day! x
Sairer

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wishing you many happy returns sweet Carol
Love and best wishes for a happy year ahead Kristina XxX

Lulu said...

what a lovely place.

This Vintage Life... said...

Hope you had a smashing birthday Carol
Deb x