A short stay on the lake

Last week we had a few nights away, and took a slow and leisurely route to a weekend in Devon with family. Well, that was the plan anyway - we were actually travelling on the day it didn’t stop raining which made motorway driving a lot more stressful than it should have been. And longer too, but thankfully we arrived without any mishaps, and more importantly without encountering any on the way either.

We’d stopped in the nearby town for some provisions for breakfast and for the following day, which turned out to be a good plan and meant that the following day could be a completely car free day, assuming the weather brightened up as forecast. Thankfully it did, but if it hadn’t and we decided to stay ‘home’ then it really wouldn’t have been an issue.

We’d pushed the boat out a little (sorry!) for this stay, as with moving and all the house shenanigans we’d been pretty much full on for the past few months, and while we love our new house and surroundings, sometimes it’s so much easier to relax when you’re not at home, right?

And this was a beautiful place to pick, even in the driving rain.

We were immediately struck by the quietness and the totally awesome view. We were dry (or drying off) and mesmerised by the beauty ahead of us, and the swan which performed what felt like a welcoming ritual just for us (it was of course searching for food, but that reality doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?!)

the view of the lake from the open plan living room in the lodge
Looking over the deck on the lake to the swan diving for food

The lodge was light and airy, with glass walls on all four sides - and on each of these there was a deck which two of them looked over the lake (another had a hot tub and barbecue), the third was in a small garden area and the fourth was the main entrance. We didn’t get much of a chance to use the deck areas, partly because of the weather but also because our stay was relatively short.

The mezzanine bedroom was cosy and comfortable, and also had views of the lake - and the swan!

The comfortable bedroom was on the mezzanine level and kept the magical views of the lake (and the swan!)
At the other end of the lodge was the open plan (and shuttered) bathroom

The open plan bathroom was at the far end of the bedroom. There was some privacy with the shutters and carefully placed cupboards, but not much. It looked great and stylish, but in practical terms a door would have been preferable - that said, the website was clear, so we knew what to expect.

It did have the most amazing shower though.

the angular modern shower which is like no other I've ever seen, but felt so totally right for the space

Aside from the view of the lake, I think my next most favourite view of the whole space was this one, looking down from the mezzanine bedroom onto the living area and onto the deck and lake beyond.

Looking down from the mezzanine bedroom onto the living area and deck on the lake

The lounge was cosy too - with a wood burner and plenty of wood, along with the owner’s encouragement to use as much as was needed (which for us was none). We spent our evenings watching the lake and the comings and goings, and then when it got too dark some reading, some eating and drinking and a spot of TV, nothing very much different to at home, but somehow more relaxing all the same.

The log burner on a raised area in the living room with a huge stack of cut logs alongside
A pot of flowering agapanthus on the raised area by the log burner, the blue of the flowers is set off by the corten steel wall behind them

The kitchen was perfectly functional with a combi microwave and hob as well as a fridge and dishwasher, plus utensils and crockery. The bonus was for it to include knives that were sharp enough to actually cut and prepare food, tea towels, and basics such as salt, pepper, oil, foil, clingfilm and kitchen roll. We’d have liked for there to have been a baking tray and a frying pan, but we managed without though not without some creative thinking.

The morning after we arrived, and after all the rain, the view got even better if that was even possible.

the view of the lake with the mist rolling past the following morning  - so beautiful

Waking around 7am and looking across to the lake, the view was mesmerising - but not so much that I didn’t reach for my phone to take a picture, just as well as I think MOH missed most of the mist.

We had a great stay in the Waterlily Lodge at the Little Horseshoe Lake, and if you’re looking for a stay full of nature (and hopefully less rain) I’d recommend a visit, but you’d probably need more than a couple of nights to completely recharge.

A stylish snug

I thought it about time I shared the main living room from the holiday cottage from our trip to Norfolk last October. Staying there was a bit of a treat to ourselves after 2020, and it was the type of place that looked just as good as the photos online, and drew an intake of breath as we walked in and explored.

A cosy armchair

From the pictures here, and those I’ve shared before, I don’t think you’d know this was quite a tiny cottage. And from the inside you had everything you needed. A couple of armchairs, a cosy fire and plenty of decor to look at and soften the space. And did I mention the fire?

plants, a tray and some gin

And the bottle of Norfolk gin on the side. And what a side. Talk about a statement piece.

a stunning painted chest of drawers.jpeg
feathers and a lampshade

If that wasn’t enough, then the feather wreath above it was just as stunning, and bold.

a cosy spot in front of the fire
a bright green shade

Green was a theme that reappeared throughout the room, and there was no better place to sit in the chilly October evenings in front of the fire.

A decorative look up
a table lamp

I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to explore further than our ‘local area’ when the restrictions are lifted.

PoCoLo

A relaxing few days in a beautiful Suffolk cottage

Sometimes you just need some time away don't you to recharge your batteries don't you? We managed to book a few days off work and head to a beautiful cottage in picturesque Suffolk village last week, and we were relatively lucky with the weather too, so phew. As we were away for less than a week we chose somewhere that wouldn't take us too long to travel to, but somewhere that still felt "away" - our choices were Kent, Hampshire or Suffolk. Kent felt too close to home and more day-trippable and in the end it came down to the accommodation we could book. 

And we weren't disappointed. Despite it being so close to Norfolk, a county we're familiar with, it felt different and its landscape was different too with it's timbered cottages, often pink and yellow cropped fields. The fields weren't the only yellow thing though, this welcome bunch of flowers of dahlias and jasmine on the kitchen table was a nice touch, as was the carrier bag full of purple snake beans. And the bottle of fizz in the fridge.

welcome flowers at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

The cottage is a former granary and the kitchen still has the original first floor doors, and the walls were full of character - most noticeable in the pretty ground floor bedroom.

The bedroom at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield
 
THE CHARACTERFUL BEDROOM WALL

THE CHARACTERFUL BEDROOM WALL

It wasn't just the bedroom that was full of character, the whole cottage was and unusually for a holiday cottage the kitchen was full of useful items, and some decorative ones too.

Quirks and a well stocked kitchen at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield
 
A pretty double height kitchen at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

There's those doors I mentioned before. 

The original doors at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

For me the kitchen was the best space in the cottage and the double height area meant those doors could really shine. The photo below is taken from the galleried upstairs and gives a good view of the kitchen (and all of our junk - I really should remember to take pictures before we empty the car!)

looking down on the kitchen at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Upstairs there were a couple of comfy sofas, a church pew and a TV which we didn't even attempt to turn on, it was one of those restful holidays were our usual routine went out of the window.  From upstairs there were also great views of the front garden of the owner's house which we were welcomed to use, along with their vineyard - more on that another day.

homely sofas with great cushions upstairs at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield
 
looking down to the garden below at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield
 
Investigating the front garden at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

I think you can tell a lot about a cottage from its bathroom, and this one didn't disappoint with it's lino-ed floor, duck boards and toiletries.

the bathroom at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield
 
toiletries at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Throughout the cottage there was some great artwork, the first two below hanging in the bathroom.

Some of the nostalgic artwork at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield
 
A framed magazine at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

The French theme continued with the artwork in the bedroom with this "Le Journal de Mickey" something I've not seen before.

Great artwork at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Upstairs though the walls were adorned with plenty of modern art, my favourite is below.

Plenty of modern art too at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Although it provoked some debate amongst MOH and I - was it a stack of records, or blueberries or just purple shapes. I guess that's what modern art at its best does, provokes reaction. But I still think it's blueberries...

I was glad I'd packed a colouring book and some coloured pencils as it was the perfect peaceful evening pastime.  I must remember to carry this on now I'm home!

Creating my own art and taking some time to do some mindful colouring at Oak Hill Granary in Fressingfield

Do you abandon your normal routines when you're away, especially when holidaying in the UK?