beside the seaside
- At July 9, 2012
- By Rachael
- In Village life
47
Well, I’m on a roll now (or you could say I’m procrastinating and should be packing and you’d be right).
So here’s one of those what-I-did-on-my-holidays (or for the last year since I didn’t go to Canada and decided to be a single parent instead) posts.
Well. I got divorced. By internet. Isn’t that clever? And I wrote about it on the Huffington Post (because anything’s fair game if you’re a writer).
And I moved from the village and into town, where we discovered that actually being able to go to the corner shop for wine and chocolate biscuits milk when you run out is rather splendid.
And then I fell in love with a man who lives by the sea.
This is Southport. It’s a beautiful Victorian seaside resort, and it’s where we’re going to live. Two of us, my four children, and his two. And there’s a shop selling wine at the end of the road. I suspect this may be A Good Thing.
Anyway. This is Crosby beach. It’s not far from Southport and it’s where Anthony Gormley’s Another Place installation can be found. It’s breathtakingly beautiful.
If you’re twelve and ten, however, it’s just awfully funny because there are loads of naked male statues with bottoms.
.
Look look, this is going to be our house.
Southport has loads of stuff that I’m going to take photos of.
Mainly the house. When the owner showed us round, I was so excited that I may have cried and hugged her. The carved wooden fireplace and the huge Victorian skirting boards and stripped wooden floorboards and kitchen with a stable door and walled garden and OH I am going to take loads of photos. I think my year long blogging block might be over.
Isn’t it beautiful? Someone said to me recently that as island dwellers we all dream of living by the sea. I’m a lucky girl.
(photo taken by my dear friend Jessica at Pink Magnolia Photography, Peachtree City, Georgia, USA)
Tales from the Seaside will be coming soon. More of the same, but a little bit different. I can’t wait.
Emily from My Shitty Twenties
Congratulations on your new relationship and new home. I found your blog after Emily from More Than Just a Mother recommended you as a Southport person on Twitter.
I grew up in and around Southport and grew all starry-eyed over the city when I went to university in Manchester. Then I had to move back home with Mum when I got pregnant before I was done with the degree. I hated it because it wasn’t Manchester, it wasn’t the city and I hadn’t finished being a student. So, I moved my son back here when he was almost 2. I love this city with a passion, but I’m beginning to wish we could live closer to Mum and that my son could have more space to play. Reading about my home town through the eyes of someone who’s just discovered it has reminded me that it is a lovely place, not just the small town I escaped when I was 19. Thank you!
If you haven’t already, you really need to check out the book shops, especially Kernaghans in the Cambridge Arcade and Broadhursts near the market. They’re really special – one of the best things about Southport.
Good luck and maybe I’ll bump into you if I get brave enough to do this thing.
Emily.
Emily from My Shitty Twenties – most recent blog post – Beacons Festival 2012: Family-friendly and Ace
Ange Chan
So pleased you found your happy ending! I found mine 9 years ago. Brilliant isn’t it? Southport has many happy childhood memories for me, growing up in Lancs. Enjoy and be happy always as you are now xx
Cee Martinez
I’m new to your blog and to just meeting you through facebook but I am so excited to be able to start reading yer posts and to peek into your fresh start!
x
notsupermum
OMG, OMG!!!!!!!!
How exciting! I apologise for the overuse of exclamation marks, but I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!
I’m sooooo happy for you, really what a fabulous turn of events. You and the Man look perfect together, and even better: you’re moving to the North-west! That’s my part of the world, and Crosby beach is one of my favourite places to go for a walk. We must meet up soon xxx
Rachael
Ooh YES PLEASE. xxxx
Alison
Oh, it’s going to be fab! And that is indeed a lovely photo of the 2 of you. I hope the chickens settle in well!
Alison – most recent blog post – Yes really, I *am* serious.
Rachael
Thank you A! I’m looking forward to No More Boxes Ever.
Rachael
Thank you lovely A! x
Charlotte
Oooh what a handsome couple you make! I’ve been to Another Place and it was amazing, such a surreal place, mega jealous of you having that on your doorstep. Much love x
Rachael
It’s quite magical, isn’t it? Every time we’ve been there I’ve come away feeling soul-fixed. Having that sort of therapy on the doorstep is going to be heaven. xxx
Rachael
Thank you my love. It’s just heavenly and I am awfully lucky. x
Bernie
That sounds great can I have some more . U r living life too the full go girl . U r very brave and cleaver can’t wait to reader more x x
Rachael
Thank you honey! Can’t believe I’m going to miss you – we’ll have headed up north by the time you’re back. Big kiss and a cuddle. xxx
Alison
Wonderful news – all of it! !So happy for you and your new life!
Rachael
Ooh, lovely to see you. Yes it really is wonderful. Thank you lovely A. I’m quite skippy with happiness. x
Tatjana
Ooooh, Southpost is close to that installation??? Take me there! Pleeze?!!
Rachael
Oh yes I definitely will. R and I love it there, it’s magical.
Jessica
So, so happy to see your words again. Your joy just leaks through all ’round the edges.
Rachael
Just like yours does, my dear sweet friend. You know how much you’ve helped this year. So much love to you.
Jayne
I am SO happy for you all. To find a good man, a good house and what seems a good place to live, it seems like you’re going to have A GOOD LIFE. Congratulations to you all. I just hope the children all get along or that shop is going to run out of wine pretty quick.
Rachael
I suspect there may not be enough wine in the shop to cope with the tribulations of six children in a blended family. We intend to share blogging about it and hope it’ll help us let off steam!
BucksWriter
So happy for you lovely. We really should meet up before you take off. X
Rachael
Yes, yes, yes. I must email! Huge kiss. xxx
Tasha Goddard
Oh, that is all kinds of wonderful. Am very, very happy for you all. (And maybe a teeny tiny bit jealous of the seaside and the lovely house. Teeny. Tiny. Really.)
Tasha Goddard – most recent blog post – Rainy day comfort food: Cauliflower cheese
Rachael
Thank you T! I shall be writing about the good bits and the bad and taking lots of photos, so you can enjoy the house by proxy! x
spudballoo
Ah, well this post really moved me SNIFF. I know I don’t know you very well but I’ve followed your story, the book, Canada, not Canada, the divorce, the falling in luff with The Keeper Man, and now there’s the happy ending. Coudn’t be more deserved you know, because you have endured all this with such grace.
I am SO JEALOUS of Southport. My family are originally from Cheshire/Lancashire, and Southport beach was a big part of my childhood. It’s fabulous place and your six children (gulp) will have a total ball.
Really looking forward to you blogging more.
Yay you. That is all.
Spud xx
Rachael
Oh you dear lovely thing. Well, first of all you know if you ever fancy a visit you’d be more than welcome. We have wine, a huge house, and lots of slightly muddy beach to play on. And secondly oh, thank you for just being lovely. Huge big hug and much love. R xxx
Kat
Looking forward to hearing from you more. <3 So glad that things are falling into place.
Kat – most recent blog post – Being A Mum is Hard Work
Rachael
Ooh, I am too. About time, I say. Here’s to more falling-into-placeness. x
PippaD @ A Mothers Ramblings
Could I please have a picture of your stable door… pretty pretty pretty please?!
PippaD @ A Mothers Ramblings – most recent blog post – Win A Copy Of The Hobbit
Rachael
Lovely Pip. Of course! You can have heaps of them, including one of me pretending to be a horse over the top of it, because I’ve always always wanted one ever since I was a little girl.
Liz
Southport looks lovely! Enjoy your wonderful new life by the sea and I look forward to reading all about it xx
Rachael
Thank you lovely L. Much love and here’s to the next chapter! xxx
Vonnie
Now *I* want to move to Southport!
Vonnie – most recent blog post – Mama made it!
Rachael
Come and stay! R and I would love to have you! xxx
Kyooty
YES YES YES!!! island dwellers crave the sea. I can’t even swim well and I still find it most relaxing laying on a beach by the ocean listening to the waves crash.
Rachael
Oooh, yes, exactly. I can’t wait.
Nic
Love how this blog post just oozes happiness x
Rachael
Thank you my lovely. You know how tricky this last year has been. It’s wonderful when things work out. Much love. xxx
Another Goldfish
Welcome to the neighbourhood! My in-laws live outside Southport, so we spend a fair amount of time there.
Hope the new home is everything you’ve dreamed of!
Another Goldfish – most recent blog post – Step Down Sunday – The Dodgy Cooker
Rachael
Ooh! Ooh, how lovely! We could have a bloggy meetup when we’re all settled in! x
Vegemitevix
Wonderful blog post not at all rambling, more meandering just as our road to happiness often is. So pleased you’ve found someone to share your journey. Vix xx
Vegemitevix – most recent blog post – Photo a day July – BIG
Rachael
Thank you my dear chum. You get it, I know. I am quite deliriously bonkersly happy. xxx
jay
MOAR PHOTOS.
MOAR WORDS.
Yes please. xx
jay – most recent blog post – Parents are just WEIRD.
Rachael
There will be LOADS of them. You’ll be begging me to stfu. Hahahahaha. Also come and visit. Soon. Big snogs. x
Him Up North
“A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and, seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias.”
? Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man under Socialism
I haven’t felt the inclination to comment on a blog for months. But you’ve found your Utopia, and that ain’t nothing. Enjoy and be happy!
Him Up North – most recent blog post – Edition 2 is available now!
Rachael
Oh you lovely lovely thing. This is just the nicest comment ever. Thank you G. Huge big kiss and much love. xxx