Welcome or welcome back as I should say as it has been a while since I was last acquainted with my blog! I guess sometimes no matter how gung-ho you are about a new venture (my blog in this case) and promise yourself you are going to keep the new routine going – some times life just gets in the way …………. and so I have been living – well working and living, doing the things I enjoy ….. and taking time to go on holiday:)
Last month we had such a special holiday in the Scilly Isles. For some years I had been thinking about booking a swim activity holiday but for reasons unknown even to myself had stalled on the idea, but this year I just decided to go ahead and book it, because life is too short and I knew that I would live to regret it if I didn’t ever get around to challenging myself and hopefully having a great experience to remember. I heard a saying recently ‘pure joy is on the other side of fear’ and this resonated with me – I hoped I would have this feeling once I had conquered riding with the waves – as I had not been sea swimming since I was a child. I had also been hankering after visiting the Scilly Isles for some time – so why not combine the two! This was all the reason I needed to up my swim training in the pool and by the time the holiday arrived I felt ready for the challenge with some trepidation. The Scilly Isles sit to the south west of Cornwall and takes a 2 and a half hour ferry ride, or there is a small plane if you are not one for boats. It is certainly not easy to get to and maybe that is what makes them so special. It is like taking a trip back in time. There are 140 islands altogether but only 5 are inhabited – with only the main island of St Mary’s having any kind of transport system.
This is the path from our hotel to the beach – we swam back from the island you can see to the left of the photo
We stayed on the isle of St Martins in a luxury hotel perched right on the beach with a small group of like minded people and just had such a wonderful time swimming between islands, along bays, being driven by our own private speed boats to deserted islands for picnic lunch and then swimming to one of the other islands. The water was cold but manageable in a wetsuit and was just so amazingly clear – we swam through seaweed and seagrasses which would normally freak me out a little but because we could see everything it just felt amazing. On our last swim we headed out to the eastern isles to visit the seals and jumped into the water and bobbed along with them – just amazing!
Our guides were amazing hosts who stayed with us the whole time and organised for us to attend a comedy night on the island and also introduced us to the local jeweller on the island – just a small cottage that opens for a few hours a day – the jewellery is influenced by the surroundings and so there are charms of seashells, urchins, starfish, fishing boats etc. However what caught my eye were the pebblestone charms (of course given the name of my blog!) Hubby bought me some of the earrings in advance for my birthday which I am not allowed to have yet!, but what really caught my eye was the ring.
It was on display in silver – but all the rings I wear are gold – and so after great deliberation i decided to order one – and it has just arrived!! I am so pleased with it – I will wear it all the time and will always be reminded of the special holiday we spent on the Isles of Scilly.
Whilst I was away I read a book – something I never normally have time for – a kind of self help book called Life Tonic by Jodie Shields who I have started following on Instagram. It was such a pleasure to read – it is all about opening up to positivity and coming to terms with things that may have happened in your past and how Meditation can help you to restore more of an equlibium in your life. I can’t say I have settled into a formal routine of meditation but I am definitely hoping to start practising on a regular basis and am feeling a positive happy chilled summer vibe.
How does this chilled summer vibe translate into my love of interiors? Over the past few months I have been taking some inspiration from Instagram and have started following some vintage/bohemian sites. I just love the way the style evolves over time and enjoys a mix of old and new with lots of comfy cosy places to rest and with lots of plants thrown into the mix the whole vibe just makes for relaxed times. You may remember that some time back I began searching for a mid-century style bookcase for my new office space. As yet I haven’t been able to find what I am looking for, but that is all part of the fun – the searching, the browsing in vintage and second hand shops. I know I will get there eventually……….
A selection of boho inspired rooms I have been drooling over on Google Images
Until next time…………………….
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