i ran with a lot of *visual* elements to help make the transition easier for
i scoured magazines for images of vintage-full-blown-rose wallpaper...
i borrowed books on english country cottages from the library...
i vowed to learn to both cook wholesome organic meals & bake bread in our country kitchen...
{neither of which i felt i was remotely able to do in sydney!}
all these creative images helped me enormously...
i bought a bike with a big old basket on the front to ride around the village...
i learnt to bake bread from my ever growing jars of organic flour...
i learnt to cook everyday & adore it...
i also started to fill our life in the english countryside, with the english images i had found whilst still sitting in our beach house in australia....
top of my list has always been a beach *windbreak*...
i had visions of days on english beaches snug behind a vintage-striped-cotton-windbreak...
for two years i have looked...refusing to buy a new striped-yet-nylon reproduction...
& then on the weekend i popped into a little thrifty shop in the village & there she was...
waiting for me...
all stripe-y & cotton-y & lovely...
& all for £6....
at last i had my authentic english *windbreak* to take home to oz...
i'm yet to take her to any beach...
but she makes me happy just being under my arm & mooching 'round our country house with me...
have you ever wanted something that was so hard to come across for so long...
that when you eventually find it you just sit & stare...?
yep , well that's where you'll still find me....sitting & lovingly staring...
...i am having a lovely thrifty tuesday linkup at *cornflake*...
...pop over & check out other thrifty goodies from around the bloggy world...
Aww this reminds me of windy holidays when I was little at Wells-Next-to-the-Sea... all huddled behind the windbreak, next to the dunes... with a flask of tea... making the best of a British summer... that was on a good day, when the rain had stopped and we actually made it out of the car!!! Ahhh good times... Hope you're having a good week! Lx
ReplyDeleteOh, makes me want to be on a beach!
ReplyDeleteYES. I know exactly
ReplyDeletethe feeling of waiting
and then finding : ) and
it's wonderful! How DO
you find all of these linky
things?? I'm popping over
to have a look....
Happy Day!
xx Suzanne
PS: I'd be in love with
that beauty, too...You'd
never see one here...Wonder
if it would be hard to make?
good for you! it's lovely! and the thought of using it on an English beach while you sit on a blanket to enjoy a picnic and the warmth of the sun is even lovlier! have a happy day!
ReplyDeleteI just love your life!!
ReplyDeleteI know just what you mean, you search the internet the junk shops to find that special something that only you know you want! and when you find it what a delight! I love your windbreaks - I think even today you could snuggle behind it here on the Cornish Coast with your home made soup and bread!! Oh and you would have cycled there! maybe not the windbreak could be a bit hazadous!
ReplyDeleteJill
Oh this is so charming, so vintage! English country cottages, sigh you're making my homesick! ;-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy using the windbreak and thanks for joining in TT today :-)
xx
OMG!
ReplyDeletefirstly I know *exactly that feeling
secondly I miss english windbreakers, even nylon ones! I made my own over here with stipey fabric...all our aussie friends thought we were NUTS when we put it up...
you found a beauty too
good work ;-)
xo
Too funny, Melissa - I didn't know such things existed! Thanks for the education. And yes, it is pretty - I hope it does the trick! J x
ReplyDeleteOh that is fabulous! I am sooooo happy that you finally found a windbreak and such a gorgeous one at that! Enjoy your wonderful new treasure:) Hugs ~ Tina xx
ReplyDeleteThis is such "a find" . Yes this happens to those who know how to wait! Unfortunately I'm a bit of a "I want it now! spoiled brat as my husband calls me!!"
ReplyDeleteHaving said that I am learning and recently freinds of ours moved into a new house. I had been oohing and aahing everytime a saw a cowskin on so many beautiful blogs. I wanted one. Well the day we visited our freinds new house,in their attic.........there it was, neglected and unloved cowskin!!!!!! They gave it to me. Since then it sits in our "music" room and I love it!
She is very beautiful - and I can understand why she was so elusive for so long. I have some amazingly cute little old canvas camping stools that would look lovely alongside!
ReplyDeleteSigh! Melissa, you did good girl! I love these but I have to admit, I had a nylon one this summer (borrowed from my inlaws) but we never had to use it. My find of finds was when I say my chandelier (see my button photo) and found vintage blue drops to decorate it with. I. Love. It! It's my favourite and my best find!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would trade in a minute these mountains for a beach view, anytime, no problemo! So, if and when you are going back to Oz, I must come and visit your beaches. Bye sweetie!
Maureen
What a fabulous find and what a fabulous post! I did the same 'visual' acclimatisation when we decided to move from London to the countryside. Not such a major move physically, I'll agree, but it helped to pour over back issues of Country Living and imagine our new life none the less - and yes - old fashioned, stripey windbreaks did feature in the dream too - along with checked Welsh blankets, chickens and a vintage Morris Minor! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful spot you have ~ so glad you found your way to my place so I could come over and return the favour! I will be back Melissa...
ReplyDeleteHello - I think there is alot to be said for the way you embraced your new English lifestyle. I applaud that! As you know, that sort of change scares me silly so well done you for taking it on so positively. On the windbreaker point, I agree, they are hard to come by, but I do recall many a childhood memory at the beach with one. We do have one in our beach hut but it's not cotton - so no way near as pretty! Lou x
ReplyDeleteP.S. No - no email arrived yet...
What a cheerful windbreak and I love these pics!
ReplyDeletehi there,
ReplyDeletesounds like we are living a similar life except I am Irish I love that blackboard its like your windbreaker to me I am waiting for the right blackboard!:)
I remember using one of these at the beaches in Sydney when I was a young child... I have actually been thinking of trying to make one! Love the bright colours :)
ReplyDeleteSigh! Melissa, you did good girl! I love these vw camper awning but I have to admit, I had a nylon one this summer (borrowed from my inlaws) but we never had to use it. My find of finds was when I say my chandelier (see my button photo) and found vintage blue drops to decorate it with. I. Love. It! It's my favourite and my best find!
ReplyDelete