A visit to the beach

We don’t get to stand on a beach and listen to the waves very often but recently we got to do exactly that. My dad lives in Devon and he’s walking distance away from the unspoiled Budleigh Salterton beach.

The views from the clifftop across the ocean and down towards the beach itself are wonderful. Even at this time of year when the beach huts have been removed for Winter.

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While we strolled along enjoyed our surroundings and the uncharacteristically mild weather, POD was eager to reach the beach. The look on her face says it all really!

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POD did find a new friend on the way though. From “what’s your name?” to “where do you live?” and “where is your sister?”, this seagull seemed mesmerised with what POD had to say.

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Others kept their distance and watched her from afar.

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There were no fisherman to be seen today but there were many great looking boats. These two almost resemble a postcard with the yellow tarpaulin and the sea in the background.

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There never used to be ridges on the beach but these are a permanent fixture following the storms early this year. It makes the walk to the waters edge an interesting one especially for POD’s little legs. She was still keen to follow Daddy though!

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Even if she did sit for a little while to hunt out treasure.

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The beach itself provided the perfect place to explore although POD kept a close eye on the waves. Every now and again a bigger one would appear and catch her by surprise.

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Seeing the sun reflecting on the water is not something you expect to see in December but I guess that what made it so special.

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We almost had this beautiful beach all to ourselves too.

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We didn’t make it to the far end where the rocks are to skim stones but we did have a nose at the nearby nature reserve before heading off.

 

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Just before the temperature dropped and the sun disappeared behind the clouds.

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Linking up with #whatsthestory here on PODcast.


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What’s The Story? | 29th December 2014

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. POD turned four on the 25th December so it was a special one for us as always. This photograph of her dressed as a fairy definitely epitomises a really great day.

Our #whatsthestory post this week is from Budleigh Salterton in Devon. We recently spent a weekend there visiting my dad and having lots of fun at the beach!

How to join in

What’s The Story? is a photography based Linky which enables you to share the stories behind your favourite photographs. To join in all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time. The Linky is open every Monday until the following Sunday.

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or include a link to PODcast in your post and do share some comment love too. There’s a community on Google Plus so do pop over if you haven’t already. We’re at Charly Dove or PODcast.

Happy New Year everyone #whatsthestory.

 



The B&W Photography Project | Week #25

Festive greetings everyone, I hope you’ve all had a great fun-filled few days. We had a wonderful time in Suffolk visiting Baba and GaGam as POD affectionately calls her grandparents. Christmas Day itself is always a special one for us as POD was born on 25th December 2010.

Seems rather fitting therefore that this week’s photographs are of POD dressed as a fairy! I love the joy in her face above and catching her unawares by the tree below.

Welcome to week #25 of the Black and White Photography Project.

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How to join in 

To join in with the Black & White Photography Project, just link up a short post, with or without words, featuring a black and white photograph. You can link up a collection of black and white photographs too if you prefer. The photograph/s can be from any time – old and new are welcome. You’ll find a post on how to create better black and white photographs here.

Don’t forget to share on Instagram using #bwphotoproject. You can also share your posts and photos in the B&W Photography Project Facebook Group.

Inspiration on Pinterest 

PODcast now has over 2,500 followers on Pinterest. If you’re looking for monochrome inspiration, do check out the Black and White Photography board. It features some incredible photographs from artists all over the World.

Follow PODcast grappling with a box of frogs’s board Photography: B&W Photography Project on Pinterest.



On top of the World at Newlands Corner

Newlands Corner is a popular beauty spot in the North Downs. It has some of the best views of Surrey Hills and was once a key location in Agatha Christie’s disappearance. Her car was found in a bush overhanging a chalk pit in 1926.

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On arrival at Newlands Corner, we opted to share a platter of chips. In typical British style, just as we secured a table the heavens opened. Dog walkers, families and bikers all ran for cover using the downpour as an excuse to take an early lunch. We finished our chips and ate a little chocolate money while we waited for the rain to pass. Althoug heavy at times, it wasn’t long before we were off hunting for treasure.

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We were able to take in the amazing views Newlands Corner is famous for once the cloud dispersed. The damp smell the rain left behind was wonderful and POD’s inquisitive nature meant only one thing – exploring.

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It even brightened for a short time, the sun rays glowing on lush green fields.

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POD’s not one for having her photograph taken. For the most part, the only way to capture her is to do it when she’s not looking with a 300mm lens. Every now and again, she makes you think she’ll co-operate.

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Of course she’s just teasing and promptly mucks around!

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As well as the wide open spaces, there are woods to be discovered at Newlands Corner. POD took the opportunity to find wands (sticks), try out her balancing skills and examine trees.

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Doing things on the spur of the moment is just the best. At POD’s request, we even grabbed an ice-cream although we did retreat to the warm car fairly swiftly!  

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Linking up with #whatsthestory here on PODcast, #magicmoments at The Oliver’s Madhouse and #countrykids at Coombe Mill.


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Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

What’s The Story? | 22nd December 2014

Happy Christmas everybody! I hope you’re all looking forward to the forthcoming festivities and a break from the usual routine. We have POD’s fourth birthday on Christmas Day too so it’s going to be mayhem!

Apologies there was no #whatsthestory Linky last week. The business site and the blog suffered a malware attack so it took a few days to get everything hunky dory again. You’re more than welcome to link up last week’s posts in addition to this weeks if you wish.

Our #whatsthestory post is full of pretty photographs from the beautiful Newlands Corner in the North Downs. It’s such a wonderful place to visit and the views across the Surrey Hills are just incredible.

How to join in

What’s The Story? is a photography based Linky which enables you to share the stories behind your favourite photographs. To join in all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time. The Linky is open every Monday until the following Sunday.

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or include a link to PODcast in your post and do share some comment love too. There’s a community on Google Plus so do pop over if you haven’t already. We’re at Charly Dove or PODcast.

Have an awesome Christmas everyone #whatsthestory.



The B&W Photography Project | Week #24

Hello everyone, welcome to week #24 of the Black and White Photography Project. Apologies to anyone who couldn’t get on PODcast last weekend due to the malware attack. Its taken several days to make everything good again so you may find there is additional security on the site. If you have any trouble linking, just tweet me @The_Doves so I can do it for you. You may not be able to comment this week 🙁

This photograph was taken last weekend in Devon. POD was following her Daddy as he headed towards the sea so they could skim stones. It was the most beautiful of days and wonderfully mild too. We even got to see the sun setting across the sea, just fabulous.

Welcome to week #24 of the Black and White Photography Project.

How to join in 

To join in with the Black & White Photography Project, just link up a short post, with or without words, featuring a black and white photograph. You can link up a collection of black and white photographs too if you prefer. The photograph/s can be from any time – old and new are welcome. You’ll find a post on how to create better black and white photographs here.

Don’t forget to share on Instagram using #bwphotoproject. You can also share your posts and photos in the B&W Photography Project Facebook Group.

Inspiration on Pinterest 

PODcast now has over 2,500 followers on Pinterest. If you’re looking for monochrome inspiration, do check out the Black and White Photography board. It features some incredible photographs from artists all over the World.

Follow PODcast grappling with a box of frogs’s board Photography: B&W Photography Project on Pinterest.



Project 365: Weeks #48 to #51

We’ve had some real highs over a busy few weeks. POD’s first nativity was definitely top and she did a great job playing a star having been demoted from being Mary. She learnt a valuable lesson in the process – don’t throw Jesus! POD and I also appeared in Tesco magazine plus we made fleeting visits to Suffolk and Devon.

This week saw a malware attack hit three sites, including PODcast, and a brute force attack followed. Order was restored four days later, just in time to enjoy what was a cracking Christmas party.

The office was transformed into Hogwarts with the highlight the MD rocking it on guitar with his band. Just a few more days of work, then it’s time to enjoy Christmas and POD’s fourth birthday. Bring it on!

Welcome to Project 365: Weeks #49 to #51.

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PODcast 365 weeks #48 and #49

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The Nutcracker

A Treasury of Christmas Stories and Songs by Parragon is a great way to bring the family together. With 18 traditional tales, classic rhymes, cherished songs and carols, the pages are beautifully illustrated and sprinkled with Christmas magic.

POD learnt Christmas carols for her pre-school nativity this year and we enjoy singing them together. There are a couple of stories in this book that really touched her though. One of these is The Nutcracker, retold by Rachel Elliot with illustrations by Valeria Docampo.

Clara was putting the finishing touches to their enormous tree while her brother Fritz was busy with his toy soldiers. It was Christmas Eve and a party was taking place that evening.

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One of the guests was Godfather Drosselmeyer, a famous toymaker, who came bearing gifts for the siblings. For Clara there was a wooden Nutcracker in the shape of a soldier and for Fritz a mechanical gobstopper machine.

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When the last dance was danced and the guests said their goodbyes, the family went to bed. As the clock struck midnight, Clara remembered she’d left her Nutcracker under the tree. She crept downstairs only to witness the tree growing. Or was she shrinking?

She was told not to be afraid but the Nutcracker who had come alive! At that point all the toys came to life, including Fritz’s soldiers, who fought the Mouse King. He was apprehended by Clara who threw her slipper and knocked his crown off his head.

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The Nutcracker was then transformed into a handsome prince and Clara became a princess. He took her on an adventure in a beautiful sleigh with two reindeer.

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Clara caught sight of a “magical land where lollipop trees shimmered on candyfloss hills”. They’d arrived at the Kingdom of Sweets. The sleigh stopped next to a “rose-coloured lake and changed into a sea-chariot pulled by dolphins”.

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The Mouse Queen’s spell had been broken and they were welcomed by the Sugarplum Fairy into a marzipan palace. There they watched the Sugar Plum Fairy dance while they feasted.

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When Clara woke on Christmas morning she was under the Christmas tree with the Nutcracker. She told her parents about her adventure but did she imagine it? We don’t think so! POD absolutely adores this story, it’s one of the few she just sits and listens to without asking lots of questions. The intrigue and excitement keep her four-year-old mind interested from start to finish. The illustrations are just wonderful and the story is so beautifully told.

The Nutcracker is one of the stories in this book, there are many others including The First Christmas, The Snow Queen (another favourite), The Night Before Christmas and A Letter to Santa not to mention many carols. You can purchase A Treasury of Christmas Stories and Songs from Amazon here.

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Disclaimer: As a Parragon Book Buddy, we received a copy of A Treasury of Christmas Stories and Songs for the purpose of this review. Opinions are our own.