Returning to East Sussex

I've now lost count how many times myself and James visited East Sussex and in particular Freshwinds Camp Site near Hastings, however I'd not been back since our break up, well until April this year.  I was looking forward to returning and seeing Tim, Anne & Holly again.  It had been quite some time since I'd seen them last.  And I was missing East Sussex, it's a really pretty part of the country.

On the way to Pett I stopped at Rye to wander the streets of the little fishing village.  For such a small village there is so much beauty to been seen, I'd say you'd only need a couple of hours to see it all if that.

After settling in to the Shepherds Hut, home for the next few nights, it was off to Hastings for a walk along the beach to see the sunset.  I'd forgotten just how much I had missed this place.

The next morning I drove back into Hastings for a wander in daylight before driving on to Battle, a favourite place of mine in East Sussex, it feels like you are stepping back in time and is so pretty.

The best thing of all though was time on the farm.  The views are just breath-taking, it is so peaceful and calming and those little lambs are just adorable.

And as the sun set on the last night it was the perfect time to light the fire and rip open the chocolate biscuits and marshmallows to make some smores, I mean is it really a camping trip without smores?

It felt so great to be back.

~ Gem x

Freshwinds Camping

Did you all have a lovely Easter?  The weather was a bit of mixed bag.  Beautiful warmth and sunshine on Friday and then it kind of just went downhill from there with the arrival of storm Katie.  We spent our weekend back at Freshwinds Campsite, thankfully staying in their Shepherds Hut, I don't think I could have coped in a tent. 

It was beautiful and cosy in there with the stove burning away.  In fact at times it was too hot, but I wasn't going to complain.

On Saturday night it poured with rain, boy did it rain.  I don't know about you, but I find there is something quite special about sitting and watching the rain from the warmth of inside.  

When it wasn't raining we spent time on the farm.  We had hoped to see some lambs being born, but sadly there were none.  I'm so grateful for the experience we had lambing last year, I'll never forget it.  

The cows seemed happy enough with the extra attention though.

And when we needing warming up after hanging out on the farm, cups of tea were enjoyed back in the shepherd's hut.

It was a lovely weekend and great to catch up with our friends who's farm it is.  Hopefully we will be back again soon to see some new arrivals.

~ Gem x 

A Weekend of Lambing

March turned out to be a real busy month for me.  I think I'm going to need the whole of April to recover.  I'm still playing a bit of catch up here on the blog.

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while will know that each year myself and James head down to Pett (near Hastings) to Freshwinds Campsite.  We have lost track of how many years we have been visiting now, but we think it is about 4 years.

We have become really friendly with the owners Tim and Anne and had arranged with them to visit out of season this year, to give them a hand with lambing season.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect or how I would be with the whole thing.  I worried that I would be a bit grossed out but it all.  I have been known to be a bit squeamish about things before now, I just hoped this wouldn't be the same.  All that aside though, I was keen to arrive and get stuck in.

I needn't of worried.  I was fine with the whole thing.  I loved it, every second of it.  Even having to wake up during the early hours of the morning to fill in for the night shift, making sure the ewes were alright, checking on any new births and bottle feeding the orphaned lambs.

See how happy I am to be awake here at 1am (would never happen at home haha)

It was an amazing experience.  I won't be forgetting about it any time soon.  I honestly didn't want to come back home.  I could quite happily of stayed to help out for the remainder of the season.

Me and James have often talked about having our own little small holding one day.  This has helped us to realise that it is a lifestyle that we could happily settle in to.  It wouldn't be easy, far from it.  The weekend was really hard work, and we only really see a snippet of what life on a farm is like,  There will be ups, there will be downs (a lot of downs, I'm sure) but having this experience was really good for us.  A little bit like a try before you buy kind of thing.

As well as enjoying the whole lambing experience, we were also lucky enough to get to try out their Shepherds Hut, we have not yet stayed in it before.  It was rather quite fitting for the occasion too, don't you agree?  It was so cosy, I loved it.  The nights were really cold but as soon as the wood burner was going it soon warmed up.

The views, as they are wherever you stay here, were gorgeous.  Undisturbed countryside views in every direction.  A home away from home.  And some friendly faces.

We'd seen the Shepherds Hut on previous visits so I had made a little gift to leave behind.  It was relatively easy to make and I was so pleased with how it turned out.  It fitted in perfectly. Fortunately there was space right above the bed, as if it were there waiting especially for my little dream catcher.

It went down really well with Anne, and hopefully the guests will appreciate it too :)  I've already started making more.  No idea what i shall be doing with them but they are just such a joy to make.

So that just about sums up our lambing weekend.  It sounds as though we timed it well though.  Anne text me the other day to say one of the ewes had delivered 7 lambs (who knew that was even possible), I'll bet that was a hectic day.

Love Gem x x x

A Review of 2014

I can't believe the year is at it's end already, it doesn't seem possible.  But my word, what a year it has been.

I've always wanted to do one of these review posts, but amongst all the Christmas chaos have never been organised enough to do one, but all that has changed this year.  I'm a very organised person but this year I'm aiming to be super organised starting from now.  So here it is my review of 2014.

January

January was a good start to the year.  I bought my wedding dress, visited London with my Mum for a spot of window shopping and to see the Bodyguard, which we both loved.  Country walks were had, time with friends was enjoyed.

February

Sadly February didn't follow suit.  It started badly from the off with the devastating news that our dear neighbour and landlady had passed away.  We had only known her for a year, but in that short time she touched our lives and our hearts and we will remember her always.  The rest of the month wasn't much better with constant rain and flooding.  However, the chickens didn't seem phased and there was progress made with the wedding plans.

March

March saw the start of spring and what a welcome sight it was too.  A visit to my Grandad's bench, lots of daffodils and cherry blossom.

April

April embraced spring time with beautiful apple blossom.  We had our first camping trip of the year complete with little lambs.  I visited my first craft show of 2014.  A weekend was spent apple pressing to make cider.  We celebrated Easter.  I received happy mail from Canada and colour was beginning to appear in the garden.  It was a pretty month.

May

During May lots of time was spent outdoors.  The weather was very kind to us and an early summer was enjoyed.  I began the practical part of my bee-keeping course.  Spent a day at the young farmers country show.  Visited the 2 churches in Willingale with family and enjoyed watching the skies during the occasional downpour.

June

In June we welcomed 2 new chickens to Hensington Palace.  Annie & Clarabel are light Sussex hens (we discovered in September that Clarabel was in fact Clarence, so was replaced by Pip) I made Elderflower cordial for the first time (probably the last, I wasn't keen).  Spent a day with my Mum & my Nan and enjoyed afternoon tea together.  Lots of jam making in preparation for our wedding and lots of lovely flowers and confetti making too.

July

I celebrated my birthday in July.  Me and James spent the weekend camping, we got to try out the Tiny House at the camp-site we regularly visit and James had booked me onto a basket making workshop.  Cream teas were had by myself and Marie and some stunning sunsets were seen.  A very beautiful month indeed.

August

August involved lots of wedding planning with crafts aplenty, bridesmaid hair trials and dress fittings, days out with my girl in London to visit the felt Cornershop, a trip to the seaside with my man, and walks across the fields to sit on hay bales and watch the sunset.  Perfect.

September

Lots of hen celebrations in September.  First with a weekend in Bath followed by my country bridal shower consisting of yet more cream tea and pottery painting.  My new passport arrived.  And lots of wedding preparation took place.

October

By far the best month of my life.  We got married on the 10th of October, it was a truly magical day spent with all of our friends and family, seeing all of our hard work and efforts coming together was a great accomplishment.  We honeymooned at Ragdale Hall health spa and enjoyed each others company for an uninterrupted week.  The end of the month involved Halloween & Firework plans coming together.  

November

We celebrated Fireworks night with our friends and family with a Halloween & firework party at ours.  I carved our giant pumpkin.  Spent time blogging.  Spent a day with Gemma at the Country Living Country fair and met Cherry Menlove.  Another Christmas adventure was had with Marie at Norpar Barns.  Christmas preparations were well under way.

December

December is one of my most favourite months in the year, purely because of Christmas and this year was no exception.  Lots of tree photos, and yummy food, family and gifts, a spot of crafting and lots of candles.  We were even treated to a wedding this year too.

It has been an amazing year, Thank You 2014.  Let's see what 2015 holds.

Happy New Year x