All change ......
After a few hiccups on the buying side we finally exchanged contracts this week and and are heading 20 miles west, still by the sea in Dorset, to West Bay.
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| West Bay - on the right in the far distance the Isle of Portland can be seen this is opposite Weymouth where we currently live. |
As I have occasionally taken you there on this blog it won't be unfamiliar. This beautiful video made by Watershed PR is only 2 minutes long taking us one summer day, from sunrise to sunset. It will give you some idea of the beautiful surrounding area.
West Bay is a pretty harbour village a few miles south of the town of Bridport. The honeycombe cliffs and beaches provide a spectacular backdrop to the sea. The harbour dates back to 13th century and it became a major ship building centre during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today the industry has long gone and fishing and tourists are the main activities.Over the last couple of years the number of visitors have increased as this is also the location for the popular TV drama series Broadchurch. Has this television programme been shown aboard too?
My dream has always been to live closer to the sea and in a weeks time we will be moving to a home with a distant sea view, it feels hard to believe! If only Daisy could have been there with us too.
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| Boats bobbing in the harbour and little huts that sell fish and chips and ice-cream. |
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| The mouth of River Brit looking peaceful in the sunset |
Over the last few years we have started to declutter our home and we thought we had done quite well until we started packing! The boxes seem to be piling up at an enormous rate. I must return to the packing. Bye for now.
Sarah x
My dear Sarah, I am so thrilled for you that you will be moving NEAR THE SEA! This is your heart my friend; you are a sea-girl, and I too wish that dear Daisy was with you....but you both left prints forever on the lives of the people you met on your former path. Now it's time for a new journey. Wishing you all the best my friend. Anita
ReplyDeleteMay I wish you well in your new home! And although I'm not familiar with the Dorset coast, although I only a relatively short distance away on the South Devon coast, West Bay does look gorgeous. Did you give a reason for your move and, if so, I've missed it. Perhaps just a change of scenery after a long time in one place, or downsizing in retirement ... whatever the reason I hope you will be happy where you now are.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful weather, too, for a move ... we have had a lovely weekend, walking yesterday along Torquay sea front and having breakfast in the new Le Bistrot Pierre, and today, gardening, just tidying up before autumn (and hoping that the squirrels will leave us some walnuts on our tree!)
Margaret P
My husband wasn't very well last year and took early retirement in March and we felt it was just the right time to do something different. We love South Devon and would have moved down to Devon if I wasn't still working. Sarah x
DeleteWell, I sincerely hope your husband is much better now, Sarah, and that your move is, literally, a step in the right direction. The very best of luck.
DeleteMargaret P
I am so happy for you. Anywhere neater the sea sounds like a blessing to me. My dream would be to live on the English seaside so i will enjoy following your blog as you move to another area of the beautiful shores of Dorset. Daisy would have liked it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful place you are moving to. Good luck with your new beginnings. Last time I went to West Bay was in about 1977, I guess it's a bit different now. Hugh FW helped in promoting with all the fishing trips he went on from there.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting, West Bay is a lovely place :) xxx
ReplyDeleteHow exciting Sarah. I'm so pleased it's all going well, but I know what you mean about packing. I spend every weekend in the double garage of our rental property going through the boxes and having a huge clear out. As we had a packing service, you end up not knowing what's where...and it's just got to go or we will never fit into our new place.
ReplyDeleteWe were thinking about our dog today too as we sat on the beach, knowing how much our new place would have suited him.
West Bay is so lovely, we have been there a few times and Bridport will be able to provide you with all the facilities you need.
Beautiful images too!
I'm so pleased you know where you are going....it is so unsettling and all-consuming when things are uncertain, especially when sales fall through. Best of luck with the rest of the packing up and the moving! Juliex
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah, I am so very happy for you! To be able to make this change at this time to such a lovely place. I look forward to seeing photos of your new home once you have your many boxes unpacked. That video was amazing! I replayed it for the music while I read the rest of your post and I must admit when I read how you wished Daisy could have been there with you, I got all choked up....still am just thinking about it. I have borrowed that photo from your January post about "I will stop wishing and start saying I will" if you don't mind. It must have worked for you so I will give it a try! :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope that everything goes really well Sarah and that you absolutely love your new home and all that it will bring to you and your family. xx
ReplyDeleteYou've sold it to me with your great photos ! Good luck !
ReplyDeleteThat's so exciting Sarah! I am so pleased for you. I know West Bay well as we have friends who farm not far from there. Next time we are down I will try and email you before so we can meet up for coffee and cake. HUGE luck with the move and a new chapter. Daisy will be with you, I'm sure xx
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a great idea, I'll look forward to it! Sarah x
DeleteYou are so fortunate to live in this beautiful place. I just visited Portland and Weymouth and was totally taken by the beauty of the area.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, might see you at some craft fairs, been down to West Bay today, great, we have 2 new pups to walk, they had a great time. See you soon.
ReplyDeleteI was only looking on your facebook page a few days ago to see where you were doing craft fairs. Hopefully I will catch up with you soon. it seems ages since we last met. Sarah x
DeleteOh what a relief to get the house selling and purchasing out of the way! I hate that bit.
ReplyDeleteWith best wishes to you both for your new life in a new home. Look forward to seeing more of West Bay. It looks lovely.
Dear Sarah - I am delighted to learn that all of your moving plans have resolved themselves happily and that everything is now full steam ahead.
ReplyDeleteIt seems an upheaval at the time, but then there is also the excitement of what lies ahead. You have all the time in the world to get yourselves sorted out at the other end. Good luck to you all.
All the best with your move - moving is never easy at the best of times, but you get there finally.
ReplyDeleteSo exciting you go to West Bay, I really should like to live in Dorset. We have been there on holidays several times and a long time ago we were on a camping with our children on the cliff in Bridport, so beautiful. I wish you good luck with packing and moving and a very nice time in your new home.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you and your family, Sarah. Isn't it great when a plan finally comes together! Be ruthless about what you take with you . Claire xo
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you Sarah! All the best to you and your Husband in your new home.
ReplyDeleteTake care. Blessings!
Bobbie Lynn
That's great news, I hope everything goes smoothly with the move :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you Sarah, what an amazingly beautiful place to move to. I hope you and yours will be very happy in your new homes. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteI have been to West Bay once about 55 years ago on a geology trip with my sixth form geography group. I remeber it as a pretty town, butg we spent all the time on the beach inspecting the cliffs, and learning how the larger shingle is at that end, and Chesil beach has smaller finer shingle at the Isle of Portland end. Er, think that was it! I have not seen Broadchurch in America, but will look it up on Netflix.
ReplyDeleteYou must have a good memory it probably hasn't changed as much as other places in the last 55 years! Sarah x
DeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThis is so exciting for you and your family and I am so happy for you that your moving plans have been sorted.
Wishing you all the very best in your new home and for the new jobs for your son and daughter, yes, so many changes in your lives. Good luck with the packing and moving and hope everything will go well for you all.
Sending hugs
Carolyn
How wonderful for you to be moving to such a beautiful place, and so many happy new memories to be made. Wishing you all the best for the move, make sure you have plenty of chocolate for energy, and wine afterwards LOL. And I'm sure Daisy is right by your side through it all.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, I just came over from my dear friend Carolyn, to meet you and your wonderful blog!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found a wonderful new home!
I will follow you now and wishing you a wonderful new week!
Hugs and blessings,
Claudia
Lovely to meet you too Claudia.
DeleteWhat a lovely place to move too. Wishing you and yours all the best and much happiness in your new home :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you, Sarah! I can say from experience that once you are moved and settled in to your new home (with that lovely view of the sea!) it will be worth all the hard work of downsizing and packing. What a gorgeous place you are moving to! As for Broadchurch, yes, it was viewed here in Canada. Did you know they have just filmed a North American version of the show, and it is due to start next week? The name has been changed to Grace Point, and it was filmed in Oak Bay (part of Victoria, BC), which is the neighbourhood my son Karsten and his family live in. They had great fun watching the filming. I'm wondering if once you are moved and settled in if it might be a good time to add a little Westie puppy to your family.
ReplyDeleteA now remember hearing that they were going to create a North American version of the show. Many people enjoyed seeing the filming here too. The house feels so empty without a dog. I saw a Westie in town the other day and went up to stroke it and say hello. The owner told me they had another westie before and the two dogs were so different in their own way, so maybe another westie sometime! Sarah x
DeleteOh lucky you to be so close to the sea ... I love West Bay. So close to Bridport too ... you'll have to pop down to tthe Vintage Market and introduce yourself! M x
ReplyDeleteI will come and see you in Bridport. Are you easy to recognise do you have a sign saying Vintage Jane?
DeleteSarah x
Wishing you much happiness in your lovely new home! I am still so jealous though!!!! Hopefully we can meet when we are down again next spring! Shall look forward to hearing all about the move and new discoveries in West Bay!!XX
ReplyDeleteLook forward to it. x
DeleteGood luck with all the upheaval - it'll be worth it in the end. We've been thinking about uprooting but have decided to stay in Winchester for now although the lure of the sea is strong and we're constantly heading west - it's like a magnet! It sounds like it's meant to be. I really don't envy you all that packing but do envy you getting rid of all your clutter - it certainly builds up over the years.
ReplyDeleteGosh, how wonderful! You're going to be in my home patch, I cannot wait to see it through your eyes/camera as you settle yourself gently down there. It is such a special place, I love it dearly and am looking forward to following your home journey there xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteHi Lucy, I always love your posts when you come back home to Dorset. We can't wait, it will be so much more peaceful than Weymouth. Over the last few years we have spent more and more time over Bridport way. Maybe we will see you on Eype beach one summer evening! Sarah x
DeleteGood luck to you for the move Sarah, I hope it all goes smooth.from here on. Looking forward to hearing more tales from the seaside! Thank you for your email about the picture, I hope you received my reply x
ReplyDeleteSarah, such wonderful exciting news! I wish you and yours the very best of times in West End, and I can't wait for all the news updates that will likely follow your move. You have my full sympathy with the packing. Our house eventually sold after being on the market for close on 2 years!! Like yourself I started de-cluttering back then, and continued to 'cull' all the unnecessary baggage from our lives - yet come the "big" day, the amount of boxes to be moved was unbelievable! We are still living out of them (some 4 weeks on). I am looking forward to following the next chapter in your life. Have fun and enjoy those views. mwah from Oz. Hx
ReplyDeleteI hope the move goes smoothly and I look forward to seeing photos of your new home and surroundings.
ReplyDeleteHi Jay, Thanks for the email. Sarah x.
ReplyDeleteoh how exciting, a new adventure! Hope all goes well :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the completion of your sale and the exciting move! I am looking forward to more photos and stories of this new adventure. Briadchurch....remakes are never as good as the original....in my opinion :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a lovely place that you are moving to. Packing up your home can be very stressful especially after living there for so long. I hope it all goes well for you and your new life is everything you hoped it would be.
ReplyDeletegreat news, will be nice to see the new place
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! All the best for the move - it looks like a lovely village. Yes, Broadchurch had been shown in Australia - fabulous show, stunning scenery.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased that you were able to sell your house Sarah.
ReplyDeleteNew beginnings again.
West Bay , looks so lovely Sarah. Like you wrote.. a familiar place for you. It is so true. We never know how things will pan out.! West Bay seems to have nice vibes. You are near the sea that you love.. the views are stunning.
I loved the video clip.. its a beautiful area Sarah.
I wish you all the best of luck with your move. It is amazing how much one accumulates ..
Poor sweet daisy. She will be with you always. I am working on planting daffodils on the little area where my lovely Lady was buried last december.
looking forward to more news.
best wishes.
val xxxx
Your new neighborhood looks stunning, congratulations. Can't wait to hear more about it in future posts x.
ReplyDeleteExciting times! Tremendous good luck with the move Sarah ... here's hoping everything goes really smoothly :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting move. It was so wonderful for you to be able to sell your house so quickly – the market here is quite slow. To be so close to the sea – I can feel your enthusiasm, I would be enthusiastic too. We are buying a house too – but in Nashville, Tennessee, where there are many hills and small mountains, further from the sea than Georgia. We are going to take two years to move though, and place tenants in it for now. We have so much to de-clutter in our current house, although the new house there is larger but I don’t want to take everything with us. I am so pleased that you found a house you like – it must be tiring though to go through a move like this.
ReplyDeleteLovely, especially the cliffs! I hope you'll be very happy there.
ReplyDeleteI watched Broadchurch but I'm sure the place and people will be much nicer than they seemed in that drama...
All the best :)
Congratulations on your swift house sale, Sarah - my niece is going through the same thing and has had to move into a rented home in the meantime in order to get her kids into school on time! I guess it's stressful whenever a move/change takes place. You sound excited though, which is good. I wish you and your family a smooth move and good luck also to your children in their new jobs. I took my son up to Leeds for his first year at Uni last weekend (when you wrote this) so it's all change here as well and lots of adapting for me. Staying busy helps! Caro x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and good wishes Sarah! I expect you will love it and look forward to your posts when you have settled..
ReplyDeleteMoving is never easy!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting to be closer to the sea.
I was playing tennis with my long time partner this morning and she mentioned that they are going on a cruise of the British Isles in May. They will arrived a week early to spend time in England and want to fly in and out of Southampton. Although they want to check out London, they want to see countryside and are thinking about renting a car and staying in Devon or Dorset. I told her I would forward a link to your blog so she could see all of the beautiful spots you take us to. She wants to know if Devon or Dorset are a good choice to find a place for a week.
Hi Carol, Devon and Dorset are definitely good places to visit and stay. You don't see as many international visitors as London or the Cotswolds but is where many British people take their holidays! I will send you some links.
DeleteSarah x
Dear Sarah, congrats on moving nearer to the seaside! You are going to love it! Wishing you well as you pack those boxes and looking forward to lots of lovely posts about your new home town! Hugs Sharon x
ReplyDeletehooray! enjoy your nesting in your new home! (sorry if replies are slow while we're in europe). See you for a photo walk sometime soonish! x
ReplyDelete