The Great Atlantic

Yesterday J and I took a little trip out to Cape Cornwall, a rugged and dramatic headland which lies at the very tip of Britain, and unlike Land's End itself, remains totally unspoilt. The weather was idyllic for this time of year, if a tad breezy.

Priest's Cove lies at the foot of the headland, and a few hardy fishermen still work the boats here, from a rather precipitous concrete slipway and a very rocky approach from the sea, which is always pretty wild on this great Atlantic coast.

Set into the cliff face are a number of ramshackle fishermen's huts; the rough grass and the creeping mesembryanthemum having grown over the corrugated tin roofs so that they resemble the little homes of seafaring hobbits.

The cove has an unusual geology, which I am afraid I am not knowledgeable enough to tell you about, but it is very noticeable how many perfectly rounded pale granite boulders there are littered all over the underlying rock. 

Up on top of the headland the views were spectacular, the waves crashing and frothing below. 

I feel so completely invigorated when I watch the sea

The sun was going in and out from behind scudding clouds, and it got a bit cold up on the Cape, so we headed back to St. Just to The Cook Book Cafe for a milkshake and a toasted tea cake. Their chocolate milkshakes are to die for! (I usually have two). Then a short drive to a secret hidden valley....Cot Valley.....

This little babbling stream winds its way down through enchanting groves of trees and subtropical plants until it emerges out onto the wild scrubby heathland and eventually the sea....

Like Priest's Cove, the 'beach' is almost entirely composed of rounded granite boulders.

A little way along the cliff edge is this tunnel, now blocked, which I suspect was the entrance to a mine shaft. The whole area is littered with disused engine houses and chimneys; many of the tunnels went out for miles under the sea bed.

As the afternoon sun began to lower in the sky I just stood mesmerised by the beauty of the light on the water and the continual surging back and forth of the waves....

Happy Valentine's Day to you my friends; hope you spent it with someone you love. x 

A special time....

My man and I share the same birthday, which is rather lovely, and as it was our very first birthday together we decided to spend a few special days away in Paris. Our little studio apartment in The Marais was perfect, quiet and central, with lots to see within walking distance. I wanted to absorb the sights and sounds of being in a foreign city without being distracted by taking lots of photos, so I'm afraid there isn't much to show you. I did a bit of research before leaving as to whether there were any interesting shops and markets selling vintage/antique wares, and luckily our visit coincided with a two day antiques market in the Village St. Paul. I found some cute little cotton and linen baby blouses, and loads of great old postcards:

Quite often I buy postcards purely for the writing and the appearance of the back; I think French postcards have the most beautiful handwriting!

At the back of the market I spotted this charming trompe l'oeuil painting on a wall......

In the Rue St. Paul is the amazing shop 'Au Petit Bonheur la Chance', chock full of everything from vintage French pharmacy labels, enamel numbers, spindles of silk thread, vintage toys, fabric and ribbons.....

Just a few doors up was a darling shop simply called 'E.W.', a tiny space absolutely crammed to the ceiling with the most delicious things. I honestly would have bought EVERYTHING if I could, but what with the awful exchange rate at the moment with the Euro I just treated myself to an immaculate old glove box with a striking Art Deco design....

Of course I also had to visit the great Marche aux Puces de St. Ouen, and managed to find a number of little fabric flowers that weren't too expensive....

This sprig of striking blue leaves was my favourite purchase of the trip; I love the faded top leaves which reveal a brilliant shade of indigo violet beneath....

I will end this post with a (bit blurry) photo of the city of Paris spread out below us as we gazed upon the twinkling lights from the top of the Eiffel Tower. 

A very special memory for the both of us.

xxx