Tag Archives: holloway

Return to the Jurassic Coast

Hello! I’m now back from exploring the Jurassic Coast. We stayed on a smallholding in Melplash, Dorset and it was absolutely wonderful. Lovely friendly hosts and an extremely comfortable cottage. Utter bliss.

Over our two week stay we hit about 62 miles in walks across the stunning Dorset countryside. Have to say, a great many ups and downs were involved and my poor knees haven’t recovered yet!

So many memories…

I’ve been visiting the Jurassic coast, East Devon and West Dorset, since I was about eight or nine years old. One year I remember my grandparents bought me second-hand issues of X-Men number 1 and Thor’s debut in ‘Tales to Astonish’ from the holiday camp shop to keep me amused while the weather was wet. A real treat as I was only allowed British comics at home. Once I’d read them I threw them away of course… If only I knew then what I know now. Doh!!

To be honest the Jurassic coast is positively stuffed with a lifetime of memories. I can truly say that it has shaped the person I am now. It has a way of seeping into your soul. And even though I have a deep passion for Cornwall, the Jurassic coast will ever remain my spiritual home.

…and one we’d rather not have

And so there we wandered; we looked for fossils, visited museums, and marvelled at the night sky while listening for bats and owls. And I did virtually no painting or sketching. Unfortunately, our second week was marred by the utterly awful news that our beloved British Blue puss Genie had died in the cattery. I can’t describe the sense of loss, and our grief blunted our mood for the rest of our stay.

She was extraordinary cat, and had been our constant companion for 18 wonderful years. That’s a huge age for a pedigree British Blue. Our only consolation is that she died peacefully in her sleep. When they found her they thought she was just that, asleep. I can’t express how much we miss her, the house isn’t the same without her soft pad-padding about. No more warm cuddles.

The holloway

Despite that I have still come away with ideas and inspiration. I’ve loads of photos to jog my memory. One place which is definitely going to feature in future work is a holloway close to the cottage, a bridleway and ancient track. Enclosed by bent and arching trees, exposed roots twist from the earth, plaiting themselves into contorted shapes reaching through the track’s gloomy depths.

That damp dark green place really got my imagination fired up. What will I do with this wealth of material? I do have a few ideas which will firm up as I ponder the material I’ve gathered. Watch this space as they say, or better yet my Facebook and Insta feeds…

Holloway Glow
Holloway Glow