Still in 2017 catch-up mode!
The first pieces of furniture we invested in were of the
camping kind - recall the photos from our first weeks at Devington Park (in the
words of my cousin ‘it looks like you’re squatting!’). All the gear has come in
handy though as we met up with our lovely Scot friends Paul, Lisa and wee Emma
in Newquay last July. Dinner in the bistro, going for a big win on the 2p
machines in the arcade, swimming in 17 degrees (where Maciek broke Noah’s
finger with a Nerf Ball - well, it was VERY bruised anyway), and a 9-hole round
of golf during which Noah got a hole-in-one, getting burnt (yes, sunburn in 17
degrees is possible) on Newquay Beach where the children collected jellyfish
and called one Jemima who was still alive (Amelia’s input), explored caves, dug
holes and played Nerf Ball games (again?). It was a lovely few days and the
best thing was it being only a 90 minute drive as opposed to the massive road
trips you have to take in W.A to get away for a while! Paul and Lisa hired a chalet
(quite luxury compared to our tent - there was even fireplace!) where we
relaxed one evening with a few drinkies and a funny old game of ‘1 minute
monsters’ - i.e. draw your best monster in 1 minute then all vote on the best
one! Thanks for a fab time - can’t wait to see you guys again!
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| Run to the sea! |
Next camping trip was to North Devon, to the coastal
villages of Lynton and Lynmouth. The drive through Exmoor National Park granted
us outstanding views and our campsite/tent-site was right beside a raging river
(because children’s safety is our main priority!) which soothed me to sleep funnily
enough but kept Maciek awake which is unusual as it’s normally the other way
around! It was a very peaceful place and we were gently awoken by birdsong (no
crows!). We explored a walk along the river where Amelia and Noah enjoyed
risking their lives by trying to cross it, and walked into the picturesque
villages of Lynton and Lynmouth, riding the cliff railway from one to the
other, finding another Iron Age hillfort with spectacular views overlooking the
ocean, browsing quaint gift shops and antiques and stopped in for a short visit
to a strange little one-man-operated model railway (whispers between us: come
on, let’s go, it’s creepy). The cliff railway is water powered and has been in
use since 1890, delivering cargo arriving by sea up the rugged cliffs to the
village of Lynton. These days, be prepared to share your journey with large
dogs who’ve enjoyed an afternoon frolicking in the sea! On Saturday night we
decided to have dinner in the local pub which doubles up as a Thai restaurant
on certain evenings. Managed by the Thai wife of the pub owner, (imagine a
centuries old pub on one side of the entrance and all the colour and bling of a
Thai restaurant on the other, complete with old fireplace) it was a really
tasty experience, and not one we were expecting admittedly. It was a fab
weekend (apart from the bit where Amelia refused to walk and leave behind an
injured Robin who had hopped into a hole in a stone wall down a lane which
required much trauma counselling and ice-cream bribery!) and on the way home we
drove along the North Devon coast stopping at Dunster Castle and village, with
its 17th century yarn market. Maciek stayed in the castle gardens among the
crochet and archery for a nap on a blanket with Noah, while me and Amelia
explored the castle. Far too much to see in a short afternoon so it’s one on
the list for second visit. On the drive back down we stopped at a National
Trust park and cooked sausages on our mini BBQ beside a river into which Noah promptly
fell, completely, followed by one of us stepping in dog poo. Didn’t we have a
lovely time! Anyone for badminton?
Only two months after we arrived my Mum came to visit her
parents, my Nan and Grandad in Staffordshire and she stole away with my Nan to
come and see us in Devon for a few days. We squeezed into our little apartment
somehow and had a lovely couple of days together, one in the village of
Cockington for cream teas (shame it was pouring of rain, not a good day for Nan
to dip her toes in the sea) with our family here in Devon, and then a drive
across the moor to Buckland Abbey, a former monastery founded in 1278, later
sold as a home to Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to circumnavigate the
globe. Having not read anything about the place before visiting, we wandered
around wondering why it was full of seafaring artefacts. Then we watched a
video in the visitors centre and found out about the Drake connection -
information that would have been useful to us much earlier! In the attic room
is a dress up space for children, and quite typically, it was closed for
renovation on our visit, only to re-open in two days time. Booo! Didn’t matter
really, there was a great big massive barn to explore where Amelia and Noah put
on a play for us that went on for donkeys with no identifiable narrative arc, and
a cool medieval kitchen to re-enact in, museum rooms and a playground. On the
way home we stopped in at Widecombe-in-the-Moor, at 300 yr old ‘The Old Inn’,
for dinner and drinks. Topped off! It was sad to see Mum and Nan leave the next
day, but knowing Mum would be back in a few months time made it easier. Still,
couldn’t help the lump in my throat waving her away.
Another visitor from Perth, my good friend Tasha, met me
half way across country in Salisbury for a day. I had big secret ambitions of
going to Stonehenge on a coach for the afternoon but on arriving at the station
to find Tash with a fair load of luggage to deal with squashed that plan and
rightly so because it would have been a mad rush anyway! Prior research told me
that right beside the station was a pub serving as a luggage store for a couple
of coins a day, and this was another plan that was quickly squashed when we
knocked on the door, and knocked on the door, and called, and realised nobody
was at the Inn. What to do? Aha! Further down the road was another pub offering
luggage store, so again, knocking and calling, knocking and calling, we began
to give up hope and almost resigned ourselves to a day carting the luggage
about with us, but then, a curtain twitch at the front door, a turn of a lock
and a greeting - finally! Bit of a dodgy looking joint but all’s well that ends
well and Tash’s luggage was safely stowed while we explored. With time against
us it was straight to the cathedral to enjoy a brunch on the sunny lawn before
a stroll around the cloisters and the cathedral itself, where in one room the
Magna Carta was available for view, which I must say held up some very archaic
opinions of ladies and their duties! Scoff, said we. Good job 13th century
ideas are no longer (for the most part at least). We both had trains to get
back to, so our time together was short and sweet but a lovely reminder of
home, and my gorgeous friend left me with a package full of goodies, not least
a big box of Milo Cereal which Noah devoured once I got home! Thank you my
dear!
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| What's the game plan? |
A week after arriving in Exminster, Maciek approached the
local football club in the hope of signing Noah up to a team, only to find the
under 9’s were the only age group without one, due to the lack of coach, unless
you’re interested? Alright then, said Maciek with a why-not shrug. And so it
was that Maciek found himself leading a group of 13 boys who had never before
been on a football team. He acquired the help of couple of Dad’s to volunteer as assistant
coaches, pulled together a kit for the lads, went on a pretty full-on FA Level
1 coaching course and first aid and safeguarding and all the rest of it and
there it was, St Martin’s Football Club had an under 9’s team with an Aussie
coach with a Polish name that is very hard to pronounce and remember (they call
him maCHECK - but he doesn’t mind) who didn’t have a clue what he was doing (at
first - I think now he has a pretty good grip on things!) Reminds a little of
the Polish Australian Lederhosen wearing non-German speaking waiter in Austria!
Despite the challenges of a new team getting flogged at every game, he really
loves it, and the boys have come on in leaps and bounds and are beginning to hold
their own during matches. Many an early Saturday morning have we spent standing
in mud under pouring rain but Noah loves it and I love watching, the only one
who groans is Amelia, who usually sits in the car reading by herself. Can’t
blame her really. She sounds like the sensible one! A highlight for Noah is
going to watch Exeter City play and getting a go on the pitch at half time for
a penalty shoot out!
In between all that was finding jobs and buying cars and
bits and pieces for the house and paying loads of bills and picnics and hiking
and exploring. A magical spot is Fingle Bridge (national trust) on the River
Teign in the national park. There’s a lovely pub and an ancient wood and
another Iron Age hillfort. We took the Teign Gorge Classic Circuit (unbeknownst
to us at the time!) along the river and climbing towards Castle Drogo, the last
castle to be built in England completed in 1930. It was a heck of a walk and a
massive effort for the kids, especially since we hadn’t planned it properly and
didn’t really know where we were going and how long it was going to take, but
what fabulous views over the valley! What a relief to get to the end though,
enjoy a drink at the pub and a paddle in the river in the late afternoon sun.
Can’t wait to do this one again! We just won’t mention it to the littlies (wink
wink).
We were just thinking the other day, about how we thought
our trip around Europe and living in Austria five years ago was so difficult (albeit
brilliant) because Amelia and Noah were so young, especially Noah. And we
remember saying at the time, he could have done with being another year older,
and that would have made it all the more easier. Now we say - Guffaw to that!!
We now know that that trip back then was an absolute walk in the park in
comparison to this! Back then, we tricked Amelia into ‘going for a walk’
instead of a hike and told stories all the way to keep her mind off it, while
Noah lazed and slept in the carrier. Now, they have OPINIONS, and OTHER IDEAS,
and very strong OPPOSING THOUGHTS ON EVERY MATTER and just going for a walk
around the block takes half hour of compromise and discussion (and sometimes a
little bit of subtle bribery!). The moral of this story is, should you be
considering doing what we’re doing or have done, and you think your darlings
are too young, and maybe you should wait till they’re older and more
independent - think again. That’s all I’m saying. Do it, while they’re more or
less happy to go along with whatever, so long as there might be an ice-cream to
be had at the end of it!
