On the beach.

We have had a few walks on the beach over the past fortnight in various weathers. At the start of last week the council had been busy scraping the sand away from the promenade. It is a thankless task, constantly needing to be repeated.

On Sunday our elder daughter was home from London and eager to walk by the sea. The weather was wild, the surf booming, the sea coming right up to the promenade, a strong wind whipping spray and foam into the air. It was very exhilerating but we didn't walk far. We were well wrapped up but even so when we returned home scarves, hats and trousers had to be draped over the creel to dry. Monday brought a change of weather, warm and still and it was a pleasure to be out. Many other people obviously felt the same and were out strolling on the front. Children were having a lovely time at the shoreline dodging the waves.

The morning's news had been of a landslip, and, sure enough, as we walked in the direction of town we came to the area where the hillside had slipped, knocking half a dozen beach huts out of line, completely demolishing one of them.

The slip isn't caused by coastal erosion from the sea but due to the excessive rainfall that we have been experiencing this year. There are miles of beach huts all along the coast line with steep scrub land at their back. Quite a concern for the beach hut owners.

Athelhampton garden

When Alfred Cart de Lafontaine bought the manor house in 1891 he commisioned the 26 year old Fancis Inigo Thomas to design the gardens. The property is surrounded on three sides by the River Piddle and using the water supply Thomas created a series of linked gardens with ponds and small fountains. The sound of water is ever present. A stone terrace overlooks the Great Court. It has a pavillion at each end, one for summer, the other winter, as depicted in stone above each doorway.

From the steps of the terrace you can look down and across the Great Court through the gateway into further garden rooms.

The walled rooms and raised terrace required considerable stone. Forty thousand tons of it, quarried in Somerset, was used in their construction. It is a wonderful place to wander as each room leads on to another. There is a kitchen garden of about an acre with a 60 metre long greenhouse. Nothing much is happening there - what I would do with a space like that!

Family waited patiently while I took my photographs!

Return to Athelhampton.

We were promised fair weather for last Saturday and foul for Sunday so took ourselves off on the Saturday to look around Athelhampton Hall, a 15th century manor house near to Dorchester. We have visited the gardens before but never been inside the hall.

We entered through an impressive front and inner door.

There were lovely things to discover.

The dining room is where the author Thomas Hardy and his second wife, Emma, were dining when they received news of the start of the First World War.

A very inviting bedroom upstairs with a beautiful fireplace.

To the right of the fireplace a doorway leads through to this small private chapel.

On the stairs leading to the library there is graffiti cut into the stonework. There is always someone wishing to leave their mark!

This painting is of the Great Court with the yew pyramids that were planted in the 1890's. They have since grown some and look magnificent. Yes, I took a lot of photos in the garden and I'm going to bore you with them!

Aga saga

At the end of the day this is what I was left with, two hotplates that can function independently, three ovens, the two right-hand ovens working together, with the lower one operating at a lower heat to the top and a separate oven on bottom left. I'm delighted with the result. My previous Aga electric conversion was either all on or off so this flexibility is wonderful.

The controls, in the top left section, are super easy to use - up - down - off. The green ights tell me when power is being used.

But I've got quite a lot to learn about the various temperatures. These were my first attempt at baking a few biscuits!

In the kitchen today.

Nothing is cooking in the kitchen but there is a whole lot of action! The Aga is being taken to bits and the gas elements removed prior to conversion to electric. There are a lot of solid parts to an Aga and at the moment they are strewn all over the kitchen!

We have been through this procedure before in our previous house and were thrilled with the result, so much more versatile than the other options of oil or solid fuel, both of which I have cooked on for many years of Aga usage.

Looking forward to the end result!

This and that

Inbetween a bit of weather we have been out and about. We popped down the road to wander round Westbourne's motor show. All very flashy, Himself took a shine to the Pontiac Silver Streak.

We have a friend who loves his Jaguars so I took a photo of this red number with it's pristine engine.

My taste runs more to the VW camper van, this one styled to within an inch of it's life!

In the afternoon we went to the Ancient Technology Centre to join in their apple day. The Boy had a busy time mashing apples, grinding corn - and a short session in the stocks!

There was lots to see and do, story telling, sword fights, helmets and heavy chain mail to try on. We had a lot of fun.

I was shocked to learn how many wild flowers have been lost during my lifetime. My own favourite, the harebell, must surely be on the endangered list as I hardly ever see it these days.

Summer (when was that!!) has gone and I'm looking ahead, with a good stack of wood in for winter and spring bulbs bought and ready for planting.

Like everywhere else, we have had a LOT of rain. Pine needles and oak leaves are blocking our drains and whenever the weather permits I'm out sweeping up leaves and general debris brought down by the wind and wet. The verandah roof was laden and we finally got round to buying a cleaning kit.

A dry day and we put it to work.

I'm pathetically grateful when the sun shines!