Last November, Alice had two weeks holiday after leaving her old job and before starting her new one and came to see us for five days. We loved having her with us for so long. She spent those few days sorting out some of her belongings as well as visiting an old friend and cycling to Rumburgh to look round the village where we used to live. We took her out for a meal one evening and on the one bright and dry day of the week we had lunch in Southwold and walked along the front.
The tide was in and the wind was very strong and cold.
We didn’t sit for too long as it really was extremely cold in the wind. We turned and made our way back to the car and instead of walking back along the front we crossed the road and walked through the town.
I will end this post by including a rather blurry photograph of a bird seen from our spare room window.
I last saw this bird just after Christmas. Friends of ours had two white pheasants visiting their garden. I am surprised the birds lasted as long as they did as they don’t exactly blend in with their surroundings, do they?
Lavinia Ross said:
I am glad you all had some quality time with Alice. The lunch in Southwold and walk along the shore sounds like a wonderful way to spend the day. I enjoyed seeing your white pheasant photo, too.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Lavinia. It was good to see her for so long shortly before her marriage too. We had the time to talk about all sorts of things and she found lots of kitchenware she’d stored in our garage years ago! The pheasant was a long way off and I had to zoom as far as my small camera would allow.
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H.J. for avian101 said:
I’ve never seen a pheasant alive, only in pictures. To see one that is an albino would be very impressive. I see that you had a great time with family. Very nice! 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, HJ. 🙂 I haven’t seen it for some weeks now and suspect it might not have survived either the local pheasant shoot or the fox!
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germac4 said:
How nice to be able to have lunch at Southwold with the whole family. We always enjoy it when our married daughter comes back to Canberra, and like you we have plenty of her belongings to go through!
I’m sure it is lovely to have some blue sky in February, even if the wind is fierce!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Gerrie. I suspect we will be hanging on to some of Alice’s belongings for some time as she really doesn’t have the space in her little house. In fact, I really can’t imagine my home without her things in it; I will miss them when they go.
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germac4 said:
Yes … The same on both counts for me.
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Peter Klopp said:
Congratulations! You braved the stormy and icy weather, when most people would sit behind their wood stove and dream of an early spring.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Peter! We appreciate the warmth of our home after being out in the cold.
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Liz said:
Being by the sea in winter is so compelling – even in the freezing cold. What lovely family time together – a treasured memory for you, I’m sure. X
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Liz. Yes it is a treasured memory; her last visit as a single woman. 🙂 xx
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margaret21 said:
A lovely simple family day. Perfect.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Margaret. Such pleasure.
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susanpoozan said:
Enjoyed walking along the sea with you, thanks for the photographs.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you for your company, Susan.
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bitaboutbritain said:
Wonderful. I miss the seaside, having been brought up near one. Your trip reminded me of long-ago treks along ‘the front’ – not an exspression I hear often these days). Southwold is a lovely little place – we saw it in a gentle, warm, September light – and I really must get round to writing a post about the place!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Mike. Southwold in the winter is bracing, but has enough pubs and cafés to shelter in when the cold gets too much to bear! I look forward to your account of the town.
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Helen said:
Me, too (miss the sea after growing up by it).
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derrickjknight said:
Lovely reminiscing. I have never seen a white pheasant
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Derrick. I have never seen a white pheasant before this winter.
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Jill Weatherholt said:
I’m happy you had a nice visit with Alice. Despite the cold, it looked like a beautiful day for an outing. Thanks for sharing your lovely photos, Clare. What a treat to see the pheasant!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Jill. It was a really beautiful day and as long as we kept moving quickly we were fine!
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Annika Perry said:
Clare, even if bracingly cold, Southwold looks beautiful .. I love the drama of the waves and the pier looks so picturesque! I still have never visited the area though I’ve lived in the south for a long time! Your post has reminded me to go there … perhaps on a slightly warmer day! 😀 Wow! The pure white pheasant is remarkable and I hope it manages to keep safe!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Annika. Southwold is a nice seaside town with plenty of places to eat and drink and find shelter from the cold. I hope you manage to visit it soon. I’m not sure if the pheasant has survived; I haven’t seen it for some weeks.
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KerryCan said:
Oh, brrrrr–it looks cold! But there’s something about a windy, chilly day near the water–good for the soul, I think! And how nice to have the family together!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Kerry. You will know all about chilly places near water! I hope you haven’t been too cold this winter.
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Gallivanta said:
How lovely for you to have had this time with Alice. I enjoyed your outing photos and I particularly enjoyed remembering the word spume.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Mandy. I appreciated being able to use the word spume. Not a word much called for!
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Gallivanta said:
🙂 🙂 🙂
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dobetteralways said:
I didn’t know there were white pheasants, neat.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you! I hadn’t seen one before this winter.
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Laurie Graves said:
Wonderful to have time with our adult children. I treasure those moments, too. B-r-r-r! Those pictures make me shiver just to look at them. But isn’t it fun to take a brisk walk—especially by the ocean!—have very cold cheeks, and then come in for something warm to drink? And a chat, of course. Lovely way to spend the day.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Laurie. It was a very chilly day but an excellent chatty one too!
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Laurie Graves said:
A finest kind of day, as we would say in Maine.
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Lisa G. said:
Oh, Clare – I hope that pheasant lives a long and happy life!
Elinor’s ear muffs clued me in to the coldness of your day at the beach, but I’m glad it was worth it.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Lisa. I hope it is surviving somewhere but I haven’t seen it about for some weeks. The wind was very strong and cold but the bright sunshine was lovely. Both Elinor and I get earache in cold wind – I had the hood of my coat up all the time we were out!
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Lisa G. said:
I also get earache easily in cold wind! Do they sell 180s in Britain? They work better for me than anything I’ve ever tried. They have a nice, snug fit and you can wear them along the back of the head.
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Clare Pooley said:
I hadn’t heard of them so googled and found that yes, they are for sale here! Thanks, Lisa!
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
At first I though the spume on the beach was ice. I’m glad it wasn’t!
I’m also glad the family was able to get together for a while. I like it when the kids come home too, but it doesn’t happen very often these days.
I’d love to explore a beach and see what I could find. You’re very lucky to have them so close by. I’d have to drive for more than two hours to get to ours.
The white pheasant must have been really something to see. I didn’t even know there was such a thing!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Allen. I had no idea we had white pheasants either. They may be albinos which do turn up now and again, but to have two of them in the area is strange.
We are very fortunate to be so close to the sea but we often go for months without visiting it. The beaches along our coast are good for finding amber though I have never been lucky enough to find any! Alice isn’t able to visit as much as she used to do but I really appreciate it when she does!
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New Hampshire Garden Solutions said:
I’d love to find some amber too!
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tootlepedal said:
I love Southwold but it certainly looks very chilly in your photographs.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Tom. I was glad of the sunshine; the wind was bitter.
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tootlepedal said:
There is not a lot of natural shelter on that coast.
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Richard Sutton said:
We visited Southwold several years ago when staying for a short holiday near Lowestoft. I remember it as a delightful old fashioned place full of charm. I hope it hasn’t changed.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Richard. It hasn’t changed much except a few chain stores have found their way into the town. Better to have those than empty shops.
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Jane Sturgeon said:
I love Southwold and your post brought back memories of warmth and freshness. It’s special to all be together isn’t it? A white peasant? I don’t think I have ever seen one before, thank you. Hugs and much love flowing to you all. ❤ xXxx
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Jane. I have never seen a white pheasant before this winter; quite an oddity. We love being all together – it doesn’t happen often these days. Love and hugs winging their way to you, my friend xx ❤ ❤ xx
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Helen said:
Er no, the birds don’t blend in with the surroundings. Do you know what happened to them?
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Clare Pooley said:
I have no idea. They may still be around somewhere but I haven’t seen them for some weeks. They may be naturally occurring albino birds though a friend thinks they may be specially bred to help those people organising pheasant shoots to find where the pheasants are roosting. The birds are easily spotted and can be followed to where other pheasants are gathered together at night.
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Helen said:
I see – thank you!
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Retirement Reflections said:
Love the quality time….and the photos! Thank you for sharing this.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Donna!
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maryannniemczura said:
It is a wonder to behold that there are places around the world with no snow. We hunker down for the winter in late October and see green grass again sometime in May. Such a lovely post and photos. I can dream!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Mary Ann. We have had plenty of frost but only the merest dusting of snow so far this winter. There is still time for snow but it hardly ever lasts very long here. I hope you are well.
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maryannniemczura said:
Thank you, Clare. We are still snow covered here which is quite normal. I happen to like my four seasons. There is a time and place for everything. I am well and hope you are too.
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Clare Pooley said:
I love all the seasons too, though I think they are changing. We have more storms and winters aren’t as cold as they used to be.
I am very well, thank you, Mary Ann.
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maryannniemczura said:
So great to keep in touch with others around the world via blogging. Have a pleasant day.
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Clare Pooley said:
Yes, yes! And you too.
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Andrea Stephenson said:
As a sea lover, I love to visit other parts of the coast, the scenery is so different wherever you are. I’ve never seen a white pheasant, I’m glad it has survived!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Andrea. I love to be able to visit the sea regularly and it has always been able to calm my anxious daughter. I am hoping the pheasant has survived; I haven’t seen it for some weeks now.
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Ste J said:
Just looking at these photos I can feel the biting wind of the coast, or ‘bracing’ as people like to call, which is strange as bloomin’ freezing is usually more accurate a term.
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Clare Pooley said:
Hehe! Thanks Ste J! There was definitely a lazy wind blowing that day!
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Cynthia Reyes said:
Those are interesting photos, Clare.
Glad you had that time with Alice.
It’s a special thing, when an adult child returns home to visit. I always want each moment to last longer.
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Clare Pooley said:
Oh, yes! There is never enough time.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you for your comment xx
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(Kitty) Cat Strawberry - Meow! said:
Wow, I’ve had the luck to see a pheasant in the suburbs a while ago, but I’ve never seen a white one before! So lovely to spend quality time with family ❤️❤️😊😊🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Cat. Quality time with family is the best! ❤ ❤ 🙂 🙂
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Resa said:
What a lovely place, and a lovely time. Thank you, Clare! I adore seeing places I’ve never been. 😀
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much, Resa! 🙂
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Ari said:
So lovely and omg I’ve never heard of a white pheasant, what a wonderful treat.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Ari. I was pleased to see it in our garden again today.
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3rdofthe3rd said:
Great photographs. There is something poetic about the sea and the waves. Thanks for sharing.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you very much for taking the time to comment.
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maryannniemczura said:
I took the walk with you and felt that cold air blowing. The water has healing powers too. All good things come in threes, even my comments!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Mary Ann! My younger daughter is like my mother and feels so peaceful at the seaside.
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maryannniemczura said:
How wonderful. We call our only summer birthday in the family, our beach child. She lives near the ocean and is able to unwind there after work and catch some sun in the warmer weather. The rest of us are winter children.
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Clare Pooley said:
Our ‘beach child’ is a winter baby; the only one, as the rest of us are summer or early autumn. When she was little sometimes the only way to calm her was to take her to the beach. This was not much fun in January with a gale blowing. She was oblivious to the weather and played for ages in the sand!
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maryannniemczura said:
Ah the healing powers of nature. Kids love sand and waves. We have one January, two February and one July birthday(s) in the family.
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The Silly-Savvy Salopian said:
Love Southwold. A great place to write about. Was the white pheasant in a Southwold garden? If so, will have to revisit Southwold with my ornithologist son.
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Clare Pooley said:
We love Southwold too. The pheasant was in our garden; there were a couple roaming the area before Christmas. One at least has survived the guns and was wandering about in the garden again last weekend. We live in the Saints in between Bungay, Halesworth and Harleston.
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The Silly-Savvy Salopian said:
That gunner needs to read ‘The Magic Finger’ by Roald Dahl; he/she’ll never shoot or eat birds again! Unfortunately, I can’t persuade my own sprogs to read it! Took a fantastic photo of Southwold pier, last time I visited, that inspired me to write a few poems. Suffolk rocks!
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quercuscommunity said:
Always nice to see Southwold. The pheasant is great.
For more literary input on shooting try this one. 🙂
https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-puzzled-game-birds-triolet/
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Clare Pooley said:
Hardy puts it so well! Thanks for the poem, Simon. 🙂
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quercuscommunity said:
My pleasure. 🙂
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Jacqui Murray said:
What a fun visit for everyone. It looks chilly!
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Jacqui – it was very chilly!
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Luanne said:
Lovely photos. Thank you for the experience of being there.
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Luanne!
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kevin cooper said:
I love the coastal regions! 🙂
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you, Kevin! 🙂
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navasolanature said:
Ah, missed this and so good to have that time in beautiful Southwold, looks cold though and hope you will be able to go back when all is safer.
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Clare Pooley said:
That would be good! My daughter and husband hope to go to the coast in a couple of weeks times as a treat when my daughter hands in all her university projects. I will have to wait for some time until people like me with health problems are thought to be safe.
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navasolanature said:
Yes, difficult. But hope you and many others can be safe. We have our own loss of a close friend’s husband, just 70, fit and active but possibly diabetes complicated any recovery. My friend got the virus but was ok. Now all very sad for her and many families. So it’s very real for us even in our little nature paradise. Stay safe and well.
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Clare Pooley said:
I am so sorry your friend’s husband has died! Many of these deaths are so unexpected; people who are seemingly fairly fit and well. And still, it is virtually impossible to go to comfort friends and relatives in their sorrow! Keep safe and well, Georgina xx
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navasolanature said:
Yes, it is difficult.I am glad to hear her voice on the phone and we are in constant contact. Thanks for your thoughts, keep safe and well.
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wholelottarosie said:
Lovely from start to finish.
Your photos are always so lovely – impressive and beautifully done.
It looks like a very chilly day.
Keep safe and well, Clare….
Rosie
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Clare Pooley said:
Thank you so much, Rosie! Yes I remember it being very cold but bright that day. We are well as I hope you are too.
Best wishes, Clare ❤
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