Sun,sea and chocolate


After an eventful week - I lost our camera and we had a leak on the kitchen ceiling -  it was good last Sunday morning to wake to brilliant sunshine and take a trip along the coast to West Bay.  

As we walked around the harbour the tide was well in and the local gig team were getting ready to go out on the water. Over the past ten years or so gig racing has spread from it's native home of Cornwall along the South West coast to Dorset. The gigs are large wooden rowing boats manned by 6 rowers. They were initially used for ferrying pilots and goods out to larger ships, also for life saving and smuggling. 


The view of the coastline from the harbour wall was spectacular. The cliffs always remind me of gingerbread. You may be able to pick out a few people walking along the top.


 I never tire of listening to the rythmic sound of the waves crashing on the beach and the pebbles murmuring as they are pulled back to sea.(click here for a similar sound effect.)


We always have a dilemma when we visit West Bay as we have two favourite cafes we visit that both welcome dogs. Ellipse won on this occasion although they serve fantastic coffees they also have a chocolate machine that produces the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted.

Despite the disasters of the week (the leak has been fixed) -  the camera has not been handed in to the police these pictures are taken with our old camera that consumes batteries at an alarming rate.) I was so excited to receive this fantastic book, which was a recent give-away from Annie at Knitsofacto wasn't I lucky!  Annie also sent me some chocolate too - a  Divine bar of milk chocolate with toffee and sea salt (it didn't last long ) and Beyond Dark Moments of pleasure chocolate buttons. Thank you so much Annie, if you haven't met her do pop over and visit her, she has many talents and blogging is one of them.

The book has an amazing collection of fantastic recipes all using chocolate. The pictures themselves are a feast to the eyes. What can a chocoholic do but try them!



I thought I would be good and try something that looked quite healthy, Chocolate and cherry polenta cake (see above right). It was nice but next time it will contain more calories -  now will it be chocolate butterscotch bars, chocolate doughnuts,white chocolate cappuccino gateau, black forest gateau -what a dilemma!

As my title linked in the sea and chocolate maybe this will make you smile :-

This guy found a bottle on the ocean, and he opened it and out popped a genie, and he gave him three wishes. The guy wished for a million dollars, and poof! there was a million dollars. Then he wished for a convertible, and poof! there was a convertible. And then, he wished he could be irresistible to all women... poof! he turned into a box of chocolates. 

Do you share my passion for chocolate?

Thank you for so many comments and your stories of how the countryside has changed where you live too. Welcome and hello to my new followers Cathy who has a few blogs and owns a Westie, Tori at Noisy Day Dreams and Janine from Secret from the sea.

Hope you are have a good weekend.
Sarah x

Comments

  1. I definitely do love chocolate and that recipe sounds really interesting. I'm sorry to hear about your hassles this week but it's nice to see a lovely post from you in spite of it. :)

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  2. What an eventful time you have been having - I'm glad there have been some nice events and chocolate experiences! That shot of the cliffs is wonderful. I hope your camera is returned to you.

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  3. I love your coastline. The red colours and shingle remind me of holidays spent in Devon as a child. They were happy times for me. As for chocolate? If I could get away with it, I'd have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

    Leanne xx

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  4. The cliff view is fantastic, even with your old camera. We don't have the tide here in the north and it it very limited in the Mediterranean where we generally travel to. I'm always wondering how it would be to experience it all the time. I'm hoping to learn first hand one day. And yes, I do love chocolate. Luckily, I'm good at regulating my intake so to speak.

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    1. The tide going in and out creates an every changing picture- so lucky for those who live overlooking the sea. I didn't realise Finland didn't have tides. I remember Denmark having them from childhood holidays.
      Sarah x

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  5. Mmm, all those chocolate recipes, divine. And the joke made me laugh. I love Annie's blog too, it's great. Lovely photos of West Bay, lucky you living close enough to visit. Such a cheery post, I really enjoyed it.

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  6. Three things I love: the sun, the sea and chocolate. How could we go wrong? Sarah, I love cherries with chocolate and I have to say that I eat that combination every single day. Yes I do. BUT! I put cocoa powder of good quality in my morning yogurt and add frozen unsweetened cherries. I get my kicks with not a lot of calories so I'm safe!

    Give that Daisy girl a hug for me? Hugs to you! Anita

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  7. Ah! West Bay! One of my favourite places! We are going to have our caravan on a site near West Bay all of next summer!! I can't wait!! Can we all have a slice of your chocolate cake please?!!!! Hope this week is better for you!

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    1. Glad you have sorted out at site for your caravan next summer a great location to be close-by, the time will soon fly by!
      Sarah x

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  8. mmmm chocolate... love it!!! Thank you for the beautiful photographs, I feel like I've been there, too! xoxo

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  9. I am so sorry to learn that you have lost your camera - I am sure that you must be feeling bereft without it. Hopefully it will be covered for you on your insurance, and you can get yourself an even better one.
    However, lovely photos from your old camera - it is not the camera but the way the photos are executed that is the secret, and you have it.

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    1. Thanks Rosemary for those kind words especially as you are an expert when it comes to capturing all the things that interest you.
      Sarah x

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  10. Hi Sarah,

    You can't beat the three - sun, sea and chocolate - I was listening to the radio and they say that dark bitter chocolate is actually really good for you. Loved seeing all your beautiful photos - the one of the waves crashing on the beach is lovely.
    So glad it had a happy ending having your camera turn up and the leak in the ceiling fixed.
    Congratulations winning the Chocolate book from Annie - looks divine.
    Happy weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  11. Hi Sarah,
    Oh yes, I love chocolate too!
    What a beautiful view from the coastline. Thank you for sharing
    fondly,
    Penny

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  12. HeHe! Sorry....Can't resist....
    This guy found and rubbed a bottle...A genie appeared
    giving him 3 wishes....BUT....Whatever he wished for his
    ex-wife gets double....! :)
    "I'd like a large mansion"...Fine...His ex-wife got two.....
    "I'd like a million pounds"...Fine...His ex-wife got two...
    "I'd like to be 'scared' half to death".......!!!!! :>).

    And...As for chocolate....The Belgian chocolate place
    is just up the top of my town....I always rummage though
    the reduced baskets....Like a nice wine....Once a box is
    open....IT-HAS-TO-BE-FINISHED......HeHe!
    ~(^.^)~

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    1. I like your take on this too , it made me laugh! At least you didn' t find the genie in the bottle! Hope you find some tasty chocolate bargains. My mother in law and husband are just like you they always have to finish the box too.
      Sarah x

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  13. I was listening to the sound of waves while I was reading your post.It was so nice! Despite of all those hassles, you created a lovely sea scenery Sarah, really spectacular the view of the cliffs...I'm not a chocoholic but I would appreciate a piece of that cake with my morning coffee!
    Happy Sunday!

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  14. You grabbed my attention just with the title!

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  15. Lovely photos - I fell in love with West Bay when we visited recently and enjoyed a coffee at Ellipse after our walk along the beach and cliff top. Now I'm thinking that I need to try one of those hot chocolates! Unfortunately it is a little too far for a day trip, so I'll have to wait for another holiday! Best wishes, Pj x

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  16. I find I eat less chocolate these days which is probably a good thing. On the other hand, I drink more wine...

    Smashing pictures Sarah, especially the cliffs at West Bay- they look fabulous.

    CT x

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  17. I do hope you recover your camera, it's so annoying to lose things like that. Congratulations on winning the book. IT looks like it's got some scrumptious recipes! xx

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  18. Such lovely pictures dear Sarah :) Glad you enjoyed your day out despite the events happening during the week. The hot chocolate looks divine my dear. Have a lovely week ahead.

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  19. Such a lovely post, Sarah! The combination of sea and chocolate is pretty much perfect! I do hope you find your camera though.

    Wishing you a more relaxing week.

    Stephanie

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  20. Chocolate is my one weakness. (Well, okay, I might have more than one, but chocolate is at the top of my list of weaknesses.) :-)

    The cliffs are stunning! I hadn't ever heard of gigs before, so thanks for explaining what they are. I hope your camera turns up, and I also hope you didn't have too many photos on it that hadn't made their way to your computer. Congrats on winning Annie's contest. I was happy for you when I read on her blog that you were the winner!

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  21. Sarah - glad the leak has been fixed. Hope the camera will be found. Loved the sound of the sea, ( I really need a trip so that was the next best thing). Now only if you could let us reach through the screen and sample some of that chocolate! Have a great week.

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  22. Hi Sarah, Brixham has it's own gig club-no surprise there I think. Love West Bay, we visited several months ago now and enjoyed the huge waves crashing down onto the beach. Sorry about your camera-I would be hopping mad if I lost mine. Chocolate, I do love it but not really chocolate cakes or biscuits.

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  23. So sorry that you lost your camera, it is horrid when something like that happens. Hope that you didn't lose too many photos as well. Having a hot chocolate when you are out for a walk at this time of year is lovely isn't it, it really does feel like a treat somehow. Hope that things go better for you this week. Your pictures with your "old" camera look great, even if it is eating batteries! xx

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  24. Chocolate, oh yes my favorite too. I love the photo's of your coastline. Have a nice week.

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  25. Hello Sarah. Beautiful photos. Really sorry to hear about your camera what a shame. I had a good chuckle to myself about the man turning into a box of chocs very good! xx

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  26. Your photos are stunning. I would dearly love to live by the sea, I find the sea air so invigorating. I bet you must count your blessings every day!

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  27. Gosh, those cliffs really are spectacular -the people on top are tiny! What a shame about your camera. Juliex

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  28. Sorry to hear about the camera, how very annoying. I do hope someone finds it and does the right thing - I hope you didn't have too many photos on it. Your pictures are lovely as always and I enjoyed the sound clip you provided, I really love that sound too.

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  29. Good evening sweet Sarah! Thank you for coming by to visit! To answer your question about the photos, I get them through Pinterest or Tumblr! Isn't that bear just so cute, and the chocolate box?

    You are so kind to visit today. Enjoy your week! Anita

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  30. I love chocolate and that hot chocolate looks wonderful, great for a cold day

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  31. What a shame about your camera I always enjoy your photos. Love the sound of that chocolate.

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  32. Gorgeous photos, lovely chocolate- and i can totally empathise with losing your camera- I lost mine travelling back to the UK at half term- and feel totally lost without it- I hope yours turns up,:)

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  33. I'm so sorry to hear you lost your camera, I hope it's found and returned to you. Your photos are beautiful as always and that cake looks so mouth watering. I'm not a chocolate person, I like it but it's something I can do without, cake is a completely different matter. If there's cake in the house I simply can't resist it.

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  34. So sorry about your camera Sarah, how annoying but hope some kind person hands it in. Love chocolate too and your book looks amazing. Well done.
    Patricia x

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  35. I never tire of the sound of the waves either, so soothing. I'm sorry about your camera; I hope there'll be pleasant surprise and it does turn up. We are huge chocoholics in our household so - yes - I do share your passion for chocolate! In a few weeks I'll be baking lots of chocolatey food for Christmas.
    I loved the joke!

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  36. Aww I'm sorry about the camera, beautiful views there and great win too! :) x

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  37. Hi Sarah,
    Thank you so much for your visit.. So happy you enjoyed the roses. Yes, they bloom pretty much all year.. Summer is still the best time.. the heat excels the scent of the roses...
    fondly,
    Penny

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  38. Dear Sarah,

    I so enjoyed every word and every photo. I too am trying to simplify things and live "within." So happy to find your blog and I will return again and again.

    Sending joy and hopes to keep in touch,

    Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

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  39. A post about sunshine, the sea and chocolate- wonderful! I love the sound of the waves you shared too. I hope you find your camera. It would wound me horribly to lose mine.

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  40. chocolate - any time
    the sea - all the time

    I love your beautiful coastline which is so different than ours.

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  41. The photograph of the cliff face is wonderful - sorry to hear of your camera though.
    I love when I am out in the garden and the smell of the sea drifts in.....it is a lovely smell to me. I also love chocolate....sadly....
    Best wishes from along the coast
    xxxxx

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  42. Hehe! LOVE the joke, Sarah! going to tell Patrick that one...
    I clicked and heard the sounds of the sea to match your beautiful pictures...
    Sorry you have had ONE of those weeks.....I would be lost with out my camera...Patrick says I am like David Bailey taking snaps wherever i go! Wishing you a cosy rest of week and thank you for your two kind visits.....Hugs Maria x

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  43. Sarah, I was just showing my husband your Blog and telling him this is why I wish we could live in England. The USA is just too large and too young for me. I love your country's long history and authors and ancient sites. And so much coastline! And your quaint tea rooms and cafes and pubs. I've never visited and I think it's because I wouldn't want to go home....but I have my sons and their families nearby and I'm to become a grandmother next year, so I'll have to live (sigh) vicariously through your and other British Bloggers who post lovely photos of their beautiful island.

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    1. There is nothing like home with family and friends close by. I would love to travel to many places around the world too. It is good to visit blogs and get a personal tour of different places around the world.
      Sarah x

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