Avoiding the Christmas frenzy

The run up to Christmas can be packed with so many things to do that it is good to get away from the madness of it all......


And find peace and calmness


And empty spaces......





 However, I'm not sure I would go quite this far!



Christmas does appear everywhere even on the beach. The annual santa charity run took place on Sunday. This involves a lonely Christmas pudding being chased along the beach by many Santa's.


It was pouring with rain but we went along to watch them and give them some support. The Ugly sisters from the pantomime joined in too.


The beach was transformed into a sea of red and white. Father Christmas should now be fit for Christmas and delivering all those presents and eating all the food!

Hope you are finding time to enjoy some quieter moments too!
Sarah x

Comments

  1. Amy at love made my home15 December 2013 at 15:24

    Gosh, what a lot of Santa's! Not a sight often seen on the beach I am sure. Hope they had a great day. xx

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  2. Anne15 December 2013 at 16:00

    Looks like my kind of day, a day with all that sea air-LOVELY!

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  3. Art and Sand15 December 2013 at 16:56

    We have a lot of different runs and marathons sponsored on our beach, but none that involve Santas. I love the running Christmas tree.

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  4. Anonymous15 December 2013 at 16:56

    Lovely pictures, I really like the beach picture with the shore full of rocks and the ocean in the back ground! Cool santa's on the beach!!!

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  5. Anonymous15 December 2013 at 17:00

    Lovely, Sarah! I especially liked the Christmas pud racing along. Aren't people brilliant?

    Thanks for the pics of the sea - I am feeling withdrawal symptoms so it was lovely to see yours. We're planning a Keyhaven visit over the hols so I can top up on sea energy x

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  6. BadPenny15 December 2013 at 17:12

    What fun that Santa run looks; there is one in our local town & every year I miss it !

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  7. SeagullSuzie15 December 2013 at 17:15

    What a great race on the beach and what fun too. I had to go through Paignton and Torquay yesterday-quite early to drop the car off for a service at 8.30am. It was lovely to see everything so calm and quiet before the days madness in the shops and on the roads. Love your three new winter photos.

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  8. Claire15 December 2013 at 17:17

    love those santas! Here, they do a Xmas day dip in the sea for the local hospice, its just a minute from the house so Mr and I like to go and watch, I'm amazed how many people take part in it!!

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    1. Down by the sea15 December 2013 at 18:12

      We have a sponsored swim across the harbour on Christmas Day. My daughter took part a few years ago when she was raising money for her trip to Nepal. It was freezing but she managed to do it!
      Sarah x

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  9. Leanne15 December 2013 at 17:26

    I couldn't agree more Sarah. I have been enclosed for a couple of days, doing Xmas bits and bobs and dealing with another wave of lurgy (sickness and other yuckky stuff). I am longing to put on my wellies and step onto an empty beach.

    I love your new header.

    Leanne xx

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  10. Jennifer Hays15 December 2013 at 17:29

    This looks like a lovely way to get away from all the madness. I'd like to be there right now! I hope you have a good week. :)

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  11. Seawashed15 December 2013 at 17:30

    I am doing exactly the same thing. xo

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  12. Things and Thoughts15 December 2013 at 17:30

    It's exactly how I would like to be! Thank you for this wonderful post Sarah! Santas running on the beach ... unexpected but so cute !

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  13. kristieinbc15 December 2013 at 18:10

    Run, Santa, run...!

    I find the more frenzy I can avoid, the nicer the holiday seems. Shopping is the thing that does me in, but there is no way to avoid it. At least not if we want to eat. :-)

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  14. Madelief15 December 2013 at 19:19

    You are right to go to the seaside and find peace and quiet there. I should follow your example Sarah! The Santa Run looks like fun. Sorry to hear the weather was awful. Those poor Santa's!

    Wishing you a happy week! Enjoy the pre Christmas festivities.

    Madelief x

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  15. Julie15 December 2013 at 19:25

    I've never seen anything quite like it! Running must have been pretty hard for the ugly sisters in those high-heeled shoes plus the sand. Juliex

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    1. Down by the sea15 December 2013 at 19:34

      The ugly sisters only ran as far as the first beach cafe ,they had a problem with their tights too, and they couldn't damage those fantastic costumes!
      Sarah x

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  16. Rosemary15 December 2013 at 20:34

    What a hoot - surely this could only happen here.

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  17. Freda15 December 2013 at 20:58

    Don't we do some daft things! How can anyone ever be bored? I too find a walk on the beach the most refreshing thing.

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  18. elaine 15 December 2013 at 21:17

    now there's something you don't see every day - lovely pics of the calm sea too

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  19. CJ15 December 2013 at 21:53

    A lovely post. I really felt the need for a walk by the sea today, to escape for a while. The best I could manage was a walk by a stream. Not quite the same! But it's been fantastic to see your beautiful pictures, thank you. And the Christmas pudding sprinting along the beach made me laugh.

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  20. Patricia15 December 2013 at 22:27

    Oh quieter moments Sarah - sounds wonderful. Love all your photos and the collection of Santas.
    Patricia x

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  21. Margaret15 December 2013 at 22:42

    The run up to Christmas can be so busy and stressful, it's good to be able to get away from it all even if only for an hour or two. We are lucky to be near lovely countryside and can just take ourselves off for a short walk. I love Christmassy things though and your Santa run looks great fun!

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  22. Jenny Woolf15 December 2013 at 23:06

    Had to smile at the santa race! I had that thought about the ugly sisters, too! The lovely thing about the sea is the wide open space, puts everyday life into perspective.....

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  23. greenthumb16 December 2013 at 03:59

    What a fun thing to go and see. I love the look of your driftwood heart now I need to find more driftwood.

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  24. lucent imagery16 December 2013 at 05:39

    I so love and share your sentiments here. Love the open space shot of the beach. I did a little power session of 3 hours last month and got presents bought and wrapped. Since then I have avoided the shops and sought those quieter, open spaces - namely the beach, parks & relaxing cafes. And of course time with loved ones. Quietness of the mind is also important for me, and with some emotional stuff to process lately, I'm needing that even more. I wish you a wonderful christmas my friend. (How lovely that your sister lives across from Hyde Park! I loved our wander around there, the german shephard I photographed was in Hyde Park. Petersham Nurseries was lovely, a great place for a date with your daughter I think! It seemed there were many ladies having dates there.) x

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  25. Wendy16 December 2013 at 07:35

    I agree, Sarah - the open spaces of the sea and shore are one of the best places to escape the Christmas frenzy. And I love the sight of those Santas, presumably the first Santa to catch the pud wins? It's wonderful to see so many people having fun while supporting a worthy cause.

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  26. Castles Crowns and Cottages16 December 2013 at 11:25

    I AM TERRIBLY LATE for this incredible show of Santas on the beach! tehehehehehehehee

    I love that Christmas tree outfit and when I lived in Rockport, Massachusetts, we lived right on the beach. Santa used to come on a LOBSTER BOAT! Love to all my sweet friend, Anita

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  27. rusty duck16 December 2013 at 13:23

    Thank you for the very welcome bit of calmness Sarah. I wonder if I can persuade Mike to do a bit of the coastal path on Boxing Day. Love your new header!

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    1. Down by the sea16 December 2013 at 20:27

      A walk along the coast path would be lovely on Boxing Day - the local football derby takes priority with the males in our house!
      Sarah x

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  28. Jay16 December 2013 at 14:46

    I love seeing the Santa run photos from various spots around the country, never seen a running pud before though! We love a visit to the beach on New Years day, so different from summertime but so beautiful.

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  29. Em Parkinson16 December 2013 at 19:56

    My favourite is the one of what looks like Chesil Beach. Lovely Sarah. I feel calmer - thank you!

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    1. Down by the sea16 December 2013 at 20:28

      It was Chesil beach we were looking for driftwood to make a tree.
      Sarah x

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  30. Draffin Bears16 December 2013 at 21:31

    Hi Sarah,

    Couldn't agree with you more, Christmas always seems to be hectic and it is so nice seeing your beautiful peaceful seaside pictures. The Santa's at the beach must have been fun to see.
    Happy week
    hugs
    Carolyn

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  31. Emilie's daughter16 December 2013 at 22:57

    Dear Sara, these Santas look really cheerful and what a great to run for charity! I know what you mean by more quiet... it was busy in London but for three days one manages! Had we stayed another day we would have taken the train south to enjoy the sea! Now I see your lovely photos and they make me happy too! Christa

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  32. Cathy17 December 2013 at 12:55

    I am highly motivated to get things done early on so I can enjoy the weeks leading up to Christmas. For more than a decade now we've cut back drastically on social commitments and that has made all the difference for me. How wonderful that you have the seashore to escape to amongst the frenzy. I enjoyed seeing your town's Santa Run tradition!

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  33. Maria18 December 2013 at 09:51

    Wow love the jogging Santa's and the sights of the 'fun run'!!! on the beach as well....
    Your post has lifted my spirit, it can all get a little crazy, mad and bonkers this time of year..
    We are going away this week to a small haven of retreat....It's been soo busy at work I haven't had time to stroll through my park and think and dream...
    LOVE this post, Sarah! Stay well.....
    Hugs Maria x

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  34. Vagabonde18 December 2013 at 23:36

    I love that picture with all the Santa's on the beach! Quite unusual. But my favorite is still your first picture – the sea and the sky have such wonderful colors. You do live in beautiful surroundings.

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