Organising- word of the week

Ever feel like you are in perpetual motion some weeks? The last few weeks have felt just like that for me. Organising and going on a last minute holiday and then back in time for the start of term. Followed by another week of organising, because there are still two more to head off to university. That’s me.

We arrived home at the weekend from a week in Devon. Work commitments don’t often make it easy to plan ahead. This year, we compromised and I drove the family down, while Mr TTC followed a few days later. First time driving on the motorway for a few years and I’ve not driven in Devon since I was a Uni student, so it was good to remember I can do these things. Eldest navigated and did an excellent job.

I hired a cottage on the coast and the aim was to explore as much on foot. I even organized a supermarket delivery to the cottage, so I’d waste no time in supermarkets.

Devon

The first day, as the cottage was not far from the coastal path, we walked part of the path. I’d love to do the whole 630 mile route, a bit at a time, of course. That day we saw dolphins and oyster catchers. Everyone was suitably tired by the time we reached the cottage.

It became part of our daily walk. Steep walk down but worth going on the beach below. Especially to watch the sunset.

Clovelly

We spent a day in Clovelly, which was probably my favourite day. What they lack in flat ground, they make up for in friendliness. It was busy with other tourists, but we found people so welcoming and taking time to talk to us. They even made Hero feel special with doggy treats and going out of their way to refill dog water for him!

It’s a car free village, built on a steep, cobbled hill (see top photo) down to the harbour. It is a privately owned historical, village/fishing port. They transport goods up and down the cobbled hill on hand sleds, which we saw them using. They used to use donkeys for the heavy lifting, but not anymore, although they do have a stable at the top of the hill that you can visit.

The village has the most wonderful silk shop, with silk worms, and also a soap shop. Needless to say we bought a few souvenirs there.

Boscastle

We also spent an afternoon in Boscastle and visited the Witch museum. First time back there since they reopened the museum. The original was flooded when Boscastle was hit by the flash flood in 2004. The museum is now open again and full of all the exhibits that you would expect from a witch museum, and organised well. The stuffed animals, dressed as Victorian characters, and arranged in diorama, have sadly gone.

Glossy Ibis

Often the most wonderful parts of a holiday are the parts that, despite all your best organizing, you cannot plan. Seeing the Glossy Ibis (and dolphins) definitely falls into that category. I certainly didn’t expect to see any kind of Ibis. We drove round the coast to Appledore and Fremington Pill. I’m not sure who first spotted the bird wading through the mud flats, but there it was. Felt like we’d transported to Egypt, or maybe the Mediterranean.

Not the best photo. We couldn’t stop for long as we were driving on a single track road. I think the beak is more obvious in the reflection of the small photo. Apparently this particular bird has been in the area for a few years now.

Home

We drove back on Sunday and stopped for lunch in Exmoor. We had a memorable lunch there, which felt like we’d walked on to the set of a sit com. It wasn’t, but it did make an interesting end to the holiday. The food was good too.

Organising the family between the two cars, we chose our own routes home. I had the two girls and Hero the hound in my car and we opted to by-pass the motorway and take the slow, scenic road home. Turned out a good choice, as the two boys encountered a traffic jam on the motorway and made it home after us.

It was good to be home, but I knew we’d come home to something. We always do. Usually wildlife centred. I think nature would take over our cottage very fast if we were away too long. This time we came home to a dead tawny owl on the back door step. No signs of a collision with the windows, so we may never know why.

Back to school

This is our last year of school. Youngest is in year 13 and I am back to the school run after 10 years of school transport taking the strain for us. We lost our seat. The younger years take priority and when I phoned up, I was told they had had more demand from rural spots on the route. We have several theories, but, knowing the area covered, I suspect that fewer are opting for private schools due to the VAT change and instead are using the local schools, increasing the demand for school transport and booting the sixth formers off.

We had a good run. Ten years. I’m taking it on the chin and accepting the new routine. It is rather nice chatting to him about his day.

Books and crafting

I finished two more books. Where the Crawdads sing and Outlander. Loved both books and have started collecting the rest of the Outlander series. I’ve not seen either of the films, so I’m organising a couple of movie evenings now the nights are drawing in.

Also finished another pair of socks. The purple pair. I’ve almost finished the first sock in the next pair. I find sock knitting a perfect project to pick up and set down. Thinking ahead and organising myself, I can do a few rounds while I wait in the car for Youngest to come out of school. So swings and roundabouts.