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The mid-winter seaside

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My friend, Richard, is taking a break on the South Coast,  along with his hard-working wife Helena and their delightful 4 year old Noah. The four of us were soaking up the sun and eating the most delicious beer battered whiting and cod (a few chips too) by  a beach hut at Lyme Regis a couple of days ago when the temperature was an astonishing 62C. A few beach huts were open, with couples in deckchairs absorbed in their paperbacks (one man was reading Jeremy Paxman’s The English) with mugs of tea at hand. The huts are priced at £25,000- a snip alongside current Lyme property valuations.

A surfer paddled out to sea on water still as a mirror. The gulls and guillemots were well behaved. The air was properly salty and everyone we saw was smiling, the dogs springy with health. The Cobb  is the long narrow breakwater where Louisa Musgrove (Persuasion) jumped off and where the French Lieutenant’s Woman waited and watched for her lover.

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Lyme Regis

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There are interesting small shops and the vintage clothes boutique  has just sold a dress to one of the the Duchess of Cambridge’s designers, Alice Temperley, who is going to re-fashion it for Kate.

I want to go back and rent one of those cottages overlooking the bay. I’m sure I’ll become very inspired and slave for hours at my work-in-progress!

The bed and breakfast I stayed in- near Bridport- was out of this world.  Log fire, crisp white sheets, delicious breakfasts and the kindest hosts. Orchard Barn is better than a 5 star hotel

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Herbie’s- where the Elite Eat. Endorsed by the Sunday Times

 

{ 8 comments… add one }
  • asharani January 21, 2012, 6:45 am

    Dearest Nanu, so pleased to see the blog, loved the pix and also the very elegant textile that is the backdrop to your name. Wish you’d given a brief synopsis of your books, perhaps you could lift from the blurbs?
    Look forward to reading more, love

  • jill January 21, 2012, 2:52 pm

    Dear Nanu .How lovely to have you up and blogging!!! I will follow you with love and interest .I hope the sun is shining on you XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  • Bina Sareen January 23, 2012, 4:52 pm

    Hi Nanu,
    Love your blog, and enjoyed browsing through its various features. Chuckled when I read the sidebar on your mother and Blogging!
    Looking forward to the next posts.
    Love,
    Bina

  • Christoph January 24, 2012, 10:16 am

    Awesome site!

    Hugs & kisses,

    Christoph

  • Arun Prakash January 26, 2012, 12:15 pm

    Nanu, delighted to see your very tastefully captioned blog! Actually I was here the day you inaugurated it……but left on my travels soon after. Reading your first article (in sunny Goa) about wind-swept Lyme Regis beach brought on (a) the shivers and (b) a bit of nostalgia because 30 years ago I used to sweep up and down that coast, from the IoW to Torquay, in a Sea Harrier……. looking for suitable photo-recce targets!
    Thoroughly enjoyed your piece on Amma’s Antics in Barcelona too! Glad to see you’ve lost none of your healthy,
    teflon-coated skepticism, even after partaking of divine 15 Euro Idli/sambhar. Be grateful she pushed you…..imagine a coconut-scented warm and affectionate embrace!
    Keep up the good work. Will visit often. Arun.

    • pratima January 26, 2012, 12:23 pm

      High praise Admiral!! Thanks a lot

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