The first of many

An extra hour of sunlight this evening seemed the perfect excuse for a beach barbecue, and this gorgeous weather is just asking to be enjoyed! We’ve spent the last few days out in the fresh air, riding round Briddlesford and walking up Appuldurcombe.

This has been the first weekend of the year that we have ended with a barbecue at the ‘secret beach’ (which is made no less secret by all the locals calling it this.) With delicious food, cold beer, and warm sea air, this feels a good start to British Summer Time.

Reclaiming the day

It’s been foggy around here for days, complete with fog horns and a chill air that cuts right through optimistic springtime dressing. But this afternoon, the sun peeped out just a little. I was out of the office door at 5:01pm and within fifteen minutes Tom and I were Up Allotment.

This wide open space on our doorstep is still a novelty and, with these lengthening days, it’s an inviting post-work destination. We have the place to ourselves and a big view out to sea, still hazy in the fog. We make wild speculations about root systems and worm populations and give firm, unfounded opinions on composting and allotment etiquette. Thoughts don’t go far beyond this square of earth; dig and barrow, dig and barrow… It doesn’t take long to work up a hunger and talk moves to similarly vital debate such as What’s For Dinner.

This is my new favourite way to reclaim a weekday.

Surprised by the sun

True to its reputation, the Island overcame its dreary weather forecast with some perfect sunshine. Too often it’s sunny on a weekday when we’re stuck indoors and I kick myself for not pursuing a career as a park ranger or gardener. So, we’ve filled our weekend with time outdoors.

Despite waking up to the foghorn today, we were down on our allotment by mid-morning, facing an intimidating mound of woody spinach and mysterious bindweed. I felt worried that taking on this long-neglected patch would spell the end of other sunny adventures. But we also found the time to explore two new corners of the Downs, mosey around the beach and have waffle cones of my very favourite ice cream (Minghella’s Banana Smoothie, since you ask…)

Time feels more relaxed when its warm and still, and when being outside doesn’t involve trying to keep warm and brace against the wind. Spring is truly here and I’m enjoying every sunny moment.

Wildwood

Turning off the lane, I make a long trudge into the wind into the oak trees…The whole wood creaks. The curious thing is how quiet and calm it can be inside a wood during a wind. The wood shelters itself. All you hear is the wind in the fringes and in the treetops, a sound with the quality of a shingle seashore not far away.

– Roger Deakin

Easy breezy

It’s been a weekend of windy sunshine and doing just what we fancy.

Yesterday, Tom and I treated ourselves to brunch at a favourite cafe and spent the afternoon on a longer-than-anticipated walk across Yaverland and Bembridge Down.

Today, with tired legs and heavy rain outside, we had the perfect lazy Sunday, filled with knitting, baking and reading.

This pattern from Kate is proving great fun, much faster and simpler than the initial five-page pattern had me fearing. Its got me picking up my knitting far more often than I have done for months and I’m enjoying watching its fast progress.

I’ve found a banana bread recipe (adapted from Hummingbird Bakery) that Tom seems to love. Home-baked goodies in a weekday lunchbox remind me of being a kid and always go down better than the Kit-Kats we settle on when I fail to bake.

I’ve taken my time reading Roger Deakin’s Wildwood. This morning I was transported to the wild walnut forests of Kyrgyzstan and this afternoon I was lost in the blackthorn and crab apple of English hedgerows.

It’s easy breezy weekends like this that make that early Monday morning start a little easier.