This time last year.....

Happy New Year to all..........

I thought that I would share with you my great adventure that I was lucky enough to embark on this time last year and take a look back every day for the next month or so at the stunning places I visited and the amazing things that I did whilst I was there. It all started on December 29th 2009 when I boarded a train from Exeter bound for Heathrow... all by myself!!! Aghhh...... On arrival I boarded a flight to Hong Kong and then onto Auckland, New Zealand, arriving at 1pm on New years eve... somewhere along the line I lost a day!!! Well.... 13 hours to be exact.

New Years day was spent visiting friends and walking along volcanic beaches in scorching hot temperatures.

Our first stop was at a bird sanctuary for cake, coffee and bird spotting!!

We then drove on to some friends for lunch... they live close to Graham's beach on the west coast with views over towards Auckland. We sat in the garden having lunch and relaxing.

...and then a stroll along Graham's beach..

.... followed by a drive through the hills to Wattle bay where the 'sand' is black iron volcanic sand.... extremely hot to walk on in bare feet! As you can see, hardly a soul to be seen... after taking a walk along a local beach today, which was heaving with families and dogs, I long for the long, long stretches of empty sand and the peaceful tranquility of New Zealand

This is a view from above the volcanic sand beach looking over towards the mountains and Auckland slightly over to the left... and yes, the water really is that colour!!!!

A trip to the lighthouse was followed by a BBQ tea of lamb steaks....

An amazing first day in New Zealand... the colours were stunning, the roads empty, the weather so warm and the people so friendly.

More tomorrow.....

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Oh, and if you happen to see these two still wandering the streets, please can you point them in the right direction!!!

A very Happy New Year to you all. I hope this year is filled with many happy memories and great adventures.

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Catching up...

I have been in such a stew just lately.... really wanting to post to my blog, feeling guilty that I have promised a free hand embroidery tutorial and not done that yet, wanting to keep up with all of your lovely blogs and comment on them, post some pictures of what I have been up to, but... as you already know, a whole month has passed since I last posted..... sorry! there have been so many events, trips, makes and projects to tell about, but, apart from the fact that my internet connection is VERY intermittent.... grrrrrrr... and it takes A.G.E.S to upload pictures... more grrrrrr.... I have been extremely busy. As quick as I make jewellery, bags, pictures etc... they are selling. Yay for me, but not so yay for you as I haven't had time to photograph them all!!!

Ah well.... here are a few pics that I have managed to take....

More splishy, splashy pictures..... these are now adorning the walls of Pebbles........

Poppy fields.....

The sea....... this one is now sold!!!

Fireworks.....

Hmmmmm.... couldn't come up with a name for this one... any ideas???

Field of flowers...

I've also been to The Bead Lagoon and taught several more classes... this one was a little more advanced and we did some wire work.....

Ooooops, you shouldn't have seen that... how did those Jaffa cakes sneak into the picture??? Mark and Kate are so good at keeping us going with endless cups of tea, coffee and Jaffa cakes.... mmmmmm!!!

Wrapping...

Shaping and bending....

Concentrating hard....

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I have also been doing a bit of galavanting.... my favourite pastime.... well, one of them.

I went here.... any guesses???

.... and my MOST favourite place..... here...... for a spot of R & R, walks along very blustery beaches, lots of lovely food, new friends made and a spot of retail therapy!!!

Just look... isn't it gorgeous?

Oh, and I've also been walking on Dartmoor... just look at the colours... stunning!

Avon Dam.... not too far from home

Well, that's a bit of a whistle stop tour of the last month or so.... Sorry it's been soooo long. I started out on my blogging adventure thinking that I would post something of interest every day, but life just isn't like that... it's filled with many days of mundane chores and work, with a few exciting adventures in between!

Having said that, Christmas has come early here and we have been having fun making some small pressies and decorations... if this awful soggy rain stops I will take some pics to show you... It was good to have some light, creative relief as my small nephew has been really poorly over the last few days.... his family are missionaries in Macedonia and they were on holiday in Bulgaria visiting friends when he had to be rushed into hospital. He is making a gradual recovery but is having to come back to the UK to have yet more tests as they have no idea what is causing him to be so ill... for those of you so inclined, we would love you to remember him in your prayers... his name is Evan.

Thank you xxxx

Bank Holiday stroll....

One thing you won't know about me is that I LOVE map reading. If ever I have an opportunity not to drive but to map read I jump at the chance... I've had many an exciting journey down very narrow, hedge lined, grass - in - the - middle - of - the - road, Devon lanes, through mud and streams, over hill and down dale... and I'm in my element... and... the sense of achievement when we (eventually) reach our destination is FAB!

The same is true of walking too... give me a map and I'm off... not always so good at orienteering, but, it's always an adventure. We may end up in bogs, climbing the steepest hills or totally lost, but it will be remembered for a long time to come with fond recollections... the moaning at the time is not remembered however!!!

So, when the rain eventually stopped this bank holiday weekend, that was it... map out, lots of umm - ing and ah - ing and we settled on a walk between Thurlestone and Bantham... just round the corner from the very famous Burgh Island... would love a cream tea there one day, but that's another story, and I will have to start saving!!

So here is the map... just a very small part of it! This particular map... I'm going to have a moan now so look away if you don't want to hear it.... is soooooooooooo HUGE it's ridiculous!! I mean, not only is it about as big as me... well I'm not actually THAT wide, but it is as tall as me, is also double sided!! I ask you... 'How user friendly is that?' When I'm using it in the car it could so easily cause an accident because you have to open it right out to see round the edge and onto the next page... it spreads right over onto the drivers side and then some!!! So if you are ever travelling the Devon lanes and see a car swerving all over the road and the front filled to over flowing with a map.. it's me!! Don't panic, just pull over and smile sweetly as we sail past.. me red in the face from frustration and the driver fighting to see!

... Moan over, you can look now!! Although I have lived in devon for years and years, I don't remember spending a lot of time on the coast of the South Hams except for Slapton and Blackpool Sands, so it was a lovely change to go somewhere different. We were going to park at Bantham, but at £5 per car, we decided against it and set back off for Thurlestone, where we managed to find a spot to park in the village.

A short walk through the village..

.. we came upon this lovely church and this beautifully decorated gate...

.. and we're off.. heading out towards the coast path...

First glimpses of the sea..... it always makes my heart sing to see and hear the sea... a great way to restore your soul....

Down a narrow track..

.. a walk across the golf course.. what a place to play... who needs Florida with views like this???

A conveniently placed bench, with the most amazing views, is a great place for a not so small person to have a rest.

Views across to Thurlestone to the left..

.. and across towards Burgh Island to the right..

A little further along the coast path and Burgh Island comes completely into view. You can't see it very clearly on this photo, but there is a narrow sand bar connecting the island to the mainland, and at this time it was crammed full of people. Once the tide is fully in, the island is completely cut off and the only way of reaching it is by boat or a specially modified tractor.

Looking further to the right you can see Bantham beach just beginning to appear and the Avon estuary.

Through the gate.. this is known as a 'kissing gate' so of course kisses had to be dispatched....

... and down the hill to the beach...

Signposts are also very handy when the map reading skills are not up to scratch..

Turning inland, you then start to get stunning views of the estuary. There is a walk that goes all the way along the estuary from Bantham , to Aveton Gifford, cross over the river there and walk back down the other side, catching the little ferry... as long as the tide is right... back across from Bigbury to Bantham... I have got that walk on my list of things to do.. soon!

I just love this little boat house...

Boats all lined up waiting to be launched for a little trip down the river...

This little boat makes me think of the Famous Five adventures.. lashings of ginger beer and a picnic....

Just a few pictures of the boats in the estuary.. I got carried away, but just love the images. I think that it's the thought of messing about on the river... some of my favourite holidays have been on a canal boat.. so relaxing and you really do get away from it all....

No this is not on the front of a boat but on the corner of the boat house on the tiny quay at Bantham..

I think these flags look so happy flying in the wind..

Looking up the road into the village of Bantham..

Once through the village we had to climb this very very step hill.. thought I was going to pas out.. note to self.. must get fitter!!!! This is a view back across the fields, the village of Bantham in the distance, and beyond that the beach and Bigbury.

Looking back towards Burgh Island

.... and here we are back in Thurlestone...

Doesn't this look inviting?

It wasn't just the gorgeous views that thrilled me, but the gorgeous colours in the flora and fauna along the way... here's just a selection.....

The colours, shapes and textures get my creative juices flowing... I can see new necklaces in these stunning colours, some sewing projects, and maybe even some painting... watch this space!