Come to Devon with us!
This week I am really excited because it is officially the summer holidays, the children have broken up from school and we are heading down to Devon.
We haven't been down there since last September and we are all really, really excited!
I thought to begin I would quickly talk you through how I get organized for packing, including some of my top tips for packing for an English holiday.
We are quite lucky to be taking the trailer with us. So space isn't an object and I'm not limited to how much I can take, which is actually quite a good thing when you are doing this kind of holiday, because we will be on the beach surfing for a lot of it.
The weather is quite mixed, and at some points, it is going to be raining. So the trick when packing for this kind of trip is to think of four seasons in one suitcase! It's likely not going to be really hot summer dress weather, but it could be. So I pack a bit of everything, from shorts to dresses, to jeans, to workout gear.
I love to go and potter by the river and enjoy lovely, long walks, and I love my exercise. I get so much out of it, so I do continue while we're on holiday, but purely for my pleasure and my enjoyment.
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Packing List:
7 Underwear
3 bras
3 Nightwear
Slippers/flip flops
Toiletries
Sun cream /after sun
Small first aid pouch
2 dresses/skirts
2 jeans/Trousers
2 shorts
2 jumpers
7 tops/tee shirts
Hat/cap
Rain coat
Trainers
Wellies (optional)
Flat shoes
Wedges
Books
Hairdryer
Phone charger/chargers
Swimwear
Towels
Packing your case:
Start with heavy items, such as shoes, at the bottom. This is also where I pop my hairdryer and other heavy, bulky objects too.
Follow those with your jeans and shorts.
I like to keep my underwear, socks and swimwear in smaller bags where I can, so everything is kept together.
Pop those little bags of goodies into the case as the next layer.
When you're doing a self-catering holiday, you want to be comfortable. I want to be able to sit down in the evening and feel cosy. It's very different to when you're in a hotel and you're dressing for dinner, so I'm just taking really comfortable clothes, plus just a couple of smarter things that I can dress up in if we go out in the evening or if we have friends over. So I pack for all eventualities.
I'm taking a book, 'The Bullet Journal Method', which is teaching me how to create lists! I'm really excited about diving into this. I'm also taking my diary and the notebook that I am creating following the advice from the book. I will be doing a little bit of work while I'm done there, but hopefully not too much!
I'm taking a little of my embroidery too. Normally I would do some in the car, but we're driving down in the evening so I may not have enough light, but I shall enjoy sitting outside by the river having a little stitch away.
Next to be packed are a couple of skirts and a couple of really casual dresses. Then it's time for belts, shirts and tops.
Place the books on top to weigh them all down, give it a zip up and you're done!
We like to get our food and drink to take with us before we get there. I know most people get their food delivered when they get down there, which is probably the sensible thing to do, but the area is so remote that we just get it all delivered here and take it down with us. That way when we get there, we don't have to worry about doing food shop for a little while. Though we will be going to the market to get fresh fruit and veg and things like that once we arrive.
We like to take turns to drive, appreciating the sights, stopping to let the dogs out and have a bite to eat (a cheeky McDonalds normally!).
Once we're close to the house and we get to the edge of Exmoor, I absolutely love to spot the wild ponies on the side of the road and really take in the beauty!
Market Day at South Molton!
Here's a list of some of my absolute favourite places to visit in the area on market day - do click on the names to visit them online and find out more!
A Walk With Me And The Girls.
I absolutely adore the mornings here. I can get up early and I go for a walk while everybody's still sleeping back at the house. I can take the dogs, I don't put in any earbuds and I have time with my own thoughts. It's time for me, time to reflect, time to just 'be' and enjoy the beauty of the place that we're in. The wildflowers in the hedgerows, the birds singing, and the sound of the river babbling past, just make me feel so lucky to be alive and excited about what the future has to bring.
I love to visit the farm during my walk. On a clear day, you can actually see all the way across to the sea.
Mum's ashes are scattered in a special spot on the land at the house. She wanted to be up here so she could look down on the farmhouse and hear the river babbling below. When I come up here, I love listening to the birds tweeting and hearing them chatting to her. I often stay here and ask her advice. She was really good at chatting, really good at listening and she gave incredible advice.
Sometimes, if I just don't know the answer to something, or am feeling a bit lost or confused, I come up here and natter away. It might sound ridiculous, but actually, I take great comfort in it.
Mum bought the farm 22 years ago, it was derelict and completely run down. I was travelling in Nepal working in an orphanage when I got an email from her saying "I have found paradise". I wrote back and said, "What's the house like?" She never replied. The first time I saw it was the day we moved in, and it was almost unlivable and quite revolting!
She had such incredible vision. She was divorced and single with two children and she was pretty broken. She had this incredible vision for this house and she transformed it into the most wonderful home and now holiday lets that I can run so we can keep the house and the farm. We can continue to enjoy it as a family and let loads of other people come and enjoy it as well.
Let's Go Surfing with Surf Saunton!
There's something so exhilarating about surfing. It's just incredible being out there, trying to catch a wave. You have to clear your mind, forget everything and just focus on the moment, the present, the now and what you're doing.
I love that about sport. You just have to live for the moment and it's so exhilarating and invigorating when you come out, slightly battered around by the waves, but just feeling alive. That to me is the best feeling in the world.
I really hope you've enjoyed this week's Ask Charlie. I had so much fun filming it and bringing you down to Devon with us and sharing a little bit of our holiday with you all.
Sending you lots and lots of love, wishing you a happy, happy weekend. And I will see you again next week.
Love, Charlie x