fudge

Tuesday 2 August 2016

Swanning Around

I asked SD the other day why he thought his past relationships hadn't lasted in the long term.

He said he guessed that the girls he'd been out with liked the idea of him, liked the idea of his lifestyle but in the long run they really wanted something a little more stable and he just wasn't willing to compromise.

I get that.  Had we become a couple all those years ago (and it must be almost 30 years since we met) then I might have felt the same.

I've always been drawn to his way of life, the beaches, the parties, the travel, the music events but I wanted a family, a home and a sense of belonging too and those were the things he couldn't, didn't want to provide and I suppose I sensed that and respected his very clear view on the way he wanted to live his life.

I'm so glad I did or we would have been over before we had even begun and there may have been no going back.

We came together at the right time for both of us so, while I'm a little sad that I missed so much of the fun I DID get my family and my house.  The only thing missing was the sense of belonging and now, so many years later SD and I have that together and we both want what we have.

Some people may find out lifestyle too hectic.  We rarely have a weekend without something planned and 'free' weekends and evenings are spend doing jobs either here or at the farm.  We never just sit and watch the TV, in fact the TV is never turned on unless we have a film to watch.  I guess we are both too restless, too conscious of the things we could be doing instead.  Our downtime is spent sitting by the sea, walking the cliff paths or meeting up with friends.

It's right for us, it wouldn't suit everyone, I get that, this isn't a criticism of the way others lead their lives and I'm not suggesting that that our way is the right way.  The right way is whatever makes you happy.

I'm just glad that the same things make us happy.

Well, I've gone a little off tangent.  I really wanted to tell you about our weekend.

Last weekend we hitched up the buggy and headed for Swanage:

Just setting off
Swanage is probably the highlight of my year.  So many of the things we do are VW based but this, this is just for buggies.

37 of them in total!
I don't think anywhere else sees such a large gathering of Beach Buggies and it's all because of the Swanage Regatta.

We are so fortunate to be invited back each year to open the carnival and, as an added bonus, the local football club let us camp on their land only 10 minutes walk from the seafront:

I love this place!
The sun always seems to shine when I'm in Swanage and this weekend was no exception.

As well as it being the start of the Regatta it was also pirate weekend!

So of course there was a pirate ship!

And

Plenty of pirates around ...
We could have up to 3 nights heavily subsidised camping all for 10 minutes work driving through the town centre at the head of the carnival:

And there's nothing a beach buggy owner loves more than a chance to make a bit of noise and show off!

The rest of the time was our own to:

Drink coffee

Pose in front of murals

look silly

look even sillier


Act VERY silly

Every year we have a theme and most people dress up.

This year it was Sit Coms - which pretty much stumped everyone.  It's not so much that it's hard to think of a Sit Com. it's just really hard to find a costume that people will recognise.

So it was changed to Hawaiian.

But not everyone got the memo ...




So we had Dad's Army ...

Actually no idea on this one ...

Hi De Hi

And then the rest of us

Oh, and we also had a Batman but somehow I didn't get a photo of him.

it really was

an amazing weekend!

12 comments:

joeh said...

I remember when I first started reading your blog and you talked about your old friend SD.

I wanted to reach through the computer and yell

"Don't you know you're in love with that guy!"

Sarah said...

Ha ha, I think you'll find you DID say something along those lines Joe! I remember you made a comment that really made me sit back and think about exactly how I felt about SD and that really was the start of everything. We probably would have got there in the end anyway (and by we I mean I - SD said he already knew - must be a man thing ...) but you definitely gave me a gentle nudge in the right direction, not sure I ever said thank you :-)

Sarn said...

Sure looks like a fun weekend.
It's lovely to hear that you and SD got together when the time was right and long may it last. xxx

Sarah said...

I think we are in it for the long haul Sarn :-) Some things are worth waiting for. xx

Val said...

So many buggies!

That mural looks real to me! Not the red bathing suit one. The one with the stairs.

Sarah said...

I know Val, isn't it fantastic! It's painted on a disused building so I guess at some point it may be pulled down which would be a huge shame but it's so realistic - some people have a lot of talent!

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

Looks amazing! Get you two! Opening the festival like the Posh and Becks of the buggy world!
Your lifestyle sounds most enviable and you're clearly happy together. xxx

Polly said...

What a great weekend. That is a great mural.

Mike@Bit About Britain said...

That looks really great! And your first bit was good too - y'know, all the 'stuff'... But Swanage? - we visited last year and I have to say that we couldn't wait to leave. With some exceptions, most people seemed oblivious to their customers, the pubs we visited (or walked in and out of, quickly) were grotty, we had the worst Chinese meal ever, the hotel was like something from the 1970s...etc. The best thing was the railway and a trip to Corfe. Oh - and a really good fish 'n' chip bar. Maybe if we'd been part of a carnival atmosphere, as you were, it would have been a different matter.

Sarah said...

Ha ha, Posh and Becks - you could be right Emma Kate! xx

Fantastic isn't it Polly? There are a couple of others there too which are just as good.

Yeah, the 'stuff' is a bit soppy Mike (but true). - What a shame your visit to Swanage wasn't as good as mine have been - you could be right that it was because we were a part of it all. Corfe is amazing and the steam train great fun. There's a great fish and chip restaurant right on the harbour AND they still have a Wimpy! I got SD to take me there one day much against his better judgement, it was like 1985 all over again :-). If you DO visit again I hope you have a better experience.

Di said...

I Loved this post Sarah! You and SD were just meant to be - and what a fun weekend that was as well. Sorry I've been MIA, looking after the snippets playground is a bit like herding cats!

Hugs

Di xx

Sarah said...

I've been a TERRIBLE blogger and commentator over the Summer Di so yo are forgiven ;-) - it's been hectic but I've SO much to tell you xx