So the hurricane known as ‘Big Bertha’ failed to come to much.  Yes, there was a lot of rain overnight and big black clouds first thing but it soon blew away.  Hurrah!

Morning view to the West. Morning view to the East – the storm is still visible but thankfully it is moving East! Harvey and I feasted on toast and a boiled egg in the Town Mill Bakery for breakfast. I did have toast and marmalade which I have not had for a long time.  It was great.  Naughty, fattening and not at all healthy but delicious. But these bits of toast dipped in to an egg were the best. The 140th birthday celebrations continued with a walk up a very steep hill in Symondsbury, near Bridport. I was soon left behind but luckily I had the excellent company of my Aunty Marion. The hill went up and up and up. We did have good views at the top so it was definitely worth the climb. Most walked down. My dear little boy decided to skid down – good luck with those grass stains on his favourite trousers ! You can actually see the sea too but it doesn’t show in the pictures.  The 360 degree view was amazing.  Look how windswept the trees are! Back in Symondsbury the hill walkers met with the village walkers.  This is Marion and Brian who have been married for 61 years !!!!  Brian is my Mother’s cousin. On the left here is my nephew Harry who turned 14 today – happy birthday Harry :-).  Harry and Harvey are first cousins and they are second cousins to Edward. Today’s lunch venue was The Old Pottery on the Symondsbury Estate. There was a cafe (the Symondsbury Kitchen) and various outbuildings including the Shepherd’s Huts. The shepherd’s huts were a source of endless amusement and playing for the younger children. Emily and Thomas, my first cousins, once removed. Miranda and Edwina, my cousins and sisters to each other. Until very recently, this lovely building was an old pottery but it has been restored and painted and now makes a wonderful light airy space for dining in. We had a simple lunch of sandwiches and soup.  It may have been simple but it was excellent quality and hit the spot perfectly.  We also had birthday cake, flapjacks and brownies with tea and coffee. The best bit about today were all the opportunities for chatting to my big beautiful family; sisters, brother in laws, nieces and nephews, cousins and first cousins, once removed, step-Father and partners of cousins. Second cousins, Oscar and Harvey. These two always get on so well together, we must get them together more often. Holly and Abi did, eventually, manage to orchestrate a group photograph which was an achievement as it was definitely a case of herding cats and then Abi managed to persuade a bystander to take the photos. It took some time to assemble to everyone and I am looking forward to seeing the pictures. Aunty Marion with three of her children, my cousins Katie, Daniel and Hannah with some of their partners and children. Second cousins, Matilda and Olivia, with Sunshine. Aunty Marion with her little brother, Uncle Clive, Aunty Hillary, their daughter Miranda and my sister Abi. The Old Pottery was an amazing venue and it was a superb ending to a wonderful weekend. Back in Lyme Regis there was time for a relax in the apartment, beers on the verandah of the Harbour Inn with cousin’s partners and brothers in law before ending the day with an indoor BBQ at my sister Lucy’s for Harry’s birthday.  Before we left the sea shore we were treated to a rainbow over the Cobb.

I have eaten far too much, drunk moderately, chatted and laughed and felt happy and relaxed.  I can’t wait for tomorrow as I am on holiday for a week 🙂 .   For those who have asked, I booked my apartment through Lyme Bay Holidays and it is cottage reference C4862.  It really is FAB-U-LOUS.