February. A very short and very memorable month for me and mine.
We’ve done some decorating.
Been planning and getting very excited for our upcoming ski trip with Mark Warner.
And, of course, we celebrated our wedding anniversary down in Cornwall; at lovely Dreamcatchers; courtesy of St Mawes Retreats.
It is definitely one of the most beautiful houses I’ve ever had the privilege to stay in; but bricks and mortar aside, Cornwall was breathtakingly beautiful. Even in early February.
The sun shines differently on that little corner of the British Isles and even on the darkest, stormiest day, the little fishing village of St Mawes was bathed in a magical, clear light.
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Inside, outside and exploring…
We took some family with us; my sister-in-law, her husband and our niece — who is the Twinkles big cousin — and her husband.
Spending time with our nearest and dearest is always something I treasure; our annual family BBQs are something I really look forward to and it was lovely hanging out with them for a few days.
Really freeing not to have a fixed agenda for a change; to not have to be at a particular place; at a particular time.
To have leisurely lunches, bimble around the little towns; browsing shops and sitting in pubs.
It was lovely to get out of hibernation and explore the great outdoors; gulping in huge lungfuls of fresh sea air and getting the roses back in our cheeks.
…and relax.
It was literally the most relaxing few days I’ve had in a long time. Even more so than our holiday to Sardinia last summer.
The boys are a little older now and they played nicely together (for most of the time). Potty training seems like a dim and distant memory and they don’t have naps these days, so losing those binds allowed us more freedom too.
One afternoon we ended up in the cosy bar of St Mawes Hotel. We sat by the fire, chatting and reading the papers and they played happily around us — as quiet as little mice. Clearly contented to see their mama and daddy so happy and relaxed.
All aboard!
Another day we headed out to Falmouth on the little passenger ferry.
For me this was quite a big deal; particularly as I didn’t have any travel calm tablets!! Boats and I generally do not get on at all (I had to get off a punt in Cambridge once — no word of a lie — because it was making me nauseous).
The skipper had his little dog on board. A six month old ‘jug’ (Jack Russell/Pug cross) and I spent the journey both there — and back — cuddling her and burying my head in her soft little neck whenever I began to feel a bit queasy.
She made the best alternative to travel calm tablets!! I’ve never managed a sea crossing so well in all my life before.
Little Kida was the best medicine I could have wished for.
Celebrating our anniversary in such style was a real treat. And spending it with family made it even more special.
Let’s see if March will be as memorable.
Thank you so much to our lovely friends at Joules for kitting us out for our little trip down to Cornwall. Their clothes are perfect for exploring, seaside adventures or just staying indoors and relaxing. PLUS they’ve got a mid-season sale on at the moment, so hurry!! You can bag a gorgeous poncho like mine for less than fifty quid!
This is a collaborative post but all thoughts, words and images — as ever — are entirely my own.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
