plus ca change...

...plus c'est la meme chose. Which is, of course, the beauty of having a holiday in the same place year after year.

Since our last visit, Tom may have grown six inches, Phoebe may have started at senior school, Alice may have a new hair colour while Simon may have lost some of his, and I may have become a published author, but our experience of Aldeburgh remains essentially the same. And this year we had glorious sunshine and warmth for the whole week - quite something for a family who usually manages to travel to the rain.

So there were swims in the North Sea before breakfast - from the baker's which never changes, 

and plenty of lying on the shingle reading and contemplating the strange view of the town.

And a visit to quaint and eccentric Thorpeness to go boating on the Meare.

Dahlias were bought once again and stored in the sink of our rented house,

and toe nails were painted to match the beautiful geranium from The Walled Garden (a new discovery and one of the loveliest nurseries I've ever I've encountered) where the getting-towards -the-end-of-the-season prices of plants meant they simply had to be taken to a good home.

There would be something very wrong if there were no hollyhocks in Suffolk - but as usual there were some incredible specimens growing all over the town.

And there were colour moments on the beach,

and highly successful crabbing in Walberswick (our party - below- caught dozens) which hosts the annual British Open Crabbing Championship. I kid you not.

And, as ever, a fine quantity of books from the bookshops, ice cream from the ice cream shop, wine from the wine shop. And sleep and space and rest and quilting.

I'd hate Aldeburgh to change. In fact, I think it should be preserved just as it is, like the little insects in the pieces of amber which were once found on its beach.

(It's no coincidence that some of the photos in this post are similar to those in this post and this post.)

Comments

[Jackie]

I think I'll show this to my husband who has some work to return to people in Aldeburgh. I have been pestering him to get it finished while its still summer..how was the North Sea for swimming?

[Cornflower]

The best sort of seaside holiday. Lovely!

[Lucy @ Attic24]

Somewhere I've always wanted to visit, hopefully I'll get there one day (alas, a long way from North Yorkshire). The photo of the hollyhocks is stunning Jane, suhc vivid hues, it makes my heart sing!
xx

[kathleen]

I love staying at the beach. Sounds like a wonderful vacation.

[Kutri]

Gorgeous photos - as always! Your blog just increases my enthusiasm about the UK. I visited London this summer, but there are dozens and hundreds of other places to see, too! I'd better start saving every cent to be able to travel as soon as possible again.

[Ali]

You have impeccable taste in seaside towns. I've spent a bit of time in Aldeburgh - did you know it's a very important telecoms cable landing site? I did some of the environmental impact assessment for part of that project - because who'd want to spoil such an idyllic spot.

[maria]

Glad you had a lovely holiday. I live not far from Aldebrugh and really should visit more often.
If you holiday there again next year Quilters Haven in Wickham Market is worth a visit.

[mbutterfudge]

Golly your holiday looks wonderful. Building very special childhood memories, I bet they return there with their children one day.

Loving seeing your quilt, the colours look wonderful. Your book arrived this week - its so special, so inspiring, food for the soule, thank you :o)

[mbutterfudge]

pls excuse the bad spelling - its lateX

[Amy]

How lovely. It sounds like a wonderful vacation. I'll just have to live vicariously for now through your marvelous photos and descriptions.

[Jess]

It was wonderful to hear of your holiday in Suffolk, the wonderful county in which I am lucky enough to live. Hearing about your summer fun in Aldeburgh, Thorpeness & Walberswick is a pleasure. You were keeping good company on your holidays! Gordon Brown is in Southwold you know! But I must say, i'm sure you deserve the beauty of the Suffolk coast far more than he!

[cathleen]

Oh my, the hollyhocks are stunning. I wonder how the leaves stay so nice. The ones in my garden look like ugly lacework from those nasty bugs. Sounds like you are refreshed and ready to create. I like how the quilt fabric matches the nail color. Cute! By the way, I am happy your back.

[Hazel]

Looks like a wonderful holiday!

[Teena]

Impressed at swimming in the North Sea before breakfast! It's very cold even before tea!
Love that green nail polish! t.x

[Rhiannon]

Love the photo of the shingle beach and the house :)
Makes me want to head straight to the coast :)

[greedy nan]

... the picture with the blue sandals and rope - why are the toenails unpainted? Very remiss!

[catherine]

How perfect. There is a lot to be said for spending some holiday time in the same place year after year, family tradition, shared memories and more (my sister's family and mine spend two weeks every summer where we holidayed ourselves as children). Your photos are so beautiful Jane - if you tire of writing books, postcard photography perhaps!?

[Philippa]

Hi Jane

Think I saw the review in the May / June edition of Embroidery (published by UK Embroiderers' Guild). Can't be too positive as its gone back to the Library. I will check next time I'm in there and let you know if any different.

Nice looking seaside holiday. How I envy you - yesterday we had hail then snow while watching my daughter play netball! What fun for players and parents!

[Clare]

There is something very magical about "English" seaside holidays.I think it has something to do with the smell. Living in the Pennines, when we go to the coast, that is the thing that we all comment on. My son and I find the sea a big draw - and just enjoy being near it. Glad you got the good weather.

[kat]

love the pic of the geranium, really pretty!

[Liz]

English beaches crack me up. 25 years ago I was in England and I went to Brighton - I was very excited to see the famous Brighton beach, but, no one had told me that the actual beach was made of pebbles not sand! I was flabbergasted.
Do you lie on towels or do you have to use chairs?
We are very spoilt in Australia - I live only 20 minutes drive from the aptly, although not imaginatively, named "90 Mile Beach". Ninetly miles of beautiful golden sand!
However,I love your pictures and I wouldn't say no to a holiday in such a beautiful place!

[kristina]

It was through your earlier posts about Aldeburgh that my husband and I were inspired to visit this summer. It was just as wonderful as you'd described (even in the rain!). We're headed back in September and can't wait. K x

[Candyce]

When I was a little girl we lived three years in Thorpeness. Last year my brother and our families went back after 45 years to see it again. It looked just the same. It was a wonderful place to live for a child. Between going to the sea and walking to Aldeburgh and boating on the Meare it was wonderful.

I have a little slide show of Thorpeness on my blog and also more photos in Etsy.

I enjoyed yours very much. I was so excited to see Thorpeness!

http://friendsandteacups.blogspot.com/

[wildandwoolly]

I absolutely agree about how nice it is to return to places one has been before. I make no apologies for revisiting familiar places time and again on holiday. Our children (and us adults) are excited to see our 'old friends' (people and places). It's comfortable and it's relaxing.

[rose]

what a gorgeous vacation--your pictures are a beautiful mosaic of color. the quilt looks lovely.

[Amy in Loozyana]

Beautiful - everything! I have no conception of the places you describe. It may as well be on another planet. The whole life seems out of a wonderful novel. I live in the hot, southern United States and don't have a clue about the geography there. But I wish my children had experienced the things your do.

Keep up the wonderful blog. I can taste those pastries now!

[Elizabeth]

I love the phrase "colour moments".

I must get some hollyhocks. I saw some huge ones in Indiana last month and yours bring them back. :>

[ChrisUK]

Lovely part of the country, but don't you ever come up North?

[Sue]

Your phots make me so homesick! I'd do anything to be back in the "Mother Country". However, seeing that that isn't going to happen (how to I move a family of 7 when his nibs is so firmly ensconced? these photos are certainly better as the next best! Thanks for the beautiful photos - it's now spring here, you give me new incentive to move out into the garden.