Simple Pleasures

How did it happen? Is it just age that turns you into a boring old fart or were the tendencies always there?

As a teenager, I was going to travel the world. Go to the same holiday destination twice? Not me thanks! The world is a big place and my 2 weeks holiday a year weren't going to stretch very far if I went back to somewhere I'd already seen. I laughed at the middle aged couples who went to Durdle Door or the Isle of White every Summer but now I'm one of them.  I have been to the same place five years in a row and I want to go back.  I didn't want to come home and if I won the lottery (note to self: do the lottery) I would buy the Old Pharmacy on the main road and move there tomorrow. "Five times?  That's not much.  No one comes here just once.  When we first bought this cottage we came here every weekend from London," said our neighbour, "we moved here permenantly 15 years ago."

Is it just the location or does the place attract people who are boring old farts at heart?  Were the signs always there? When I prefered knitting, listening to the Archers and making cakes at University to clubbing (was clubbing even invented then?) was it a sign that I would be thinking West Wales was a greater adventure than a round the world plane ticket? The big travel plans feel so complicated.  Holidays in Solva are all about the simple pleasures.

1.  It looks pretty.  There are mountains at your back and rivers at your feet, the sun shines, the light is clear and bright and you feel as though you are on the edge of the world.

2.  There is no mobile phone signal.  There are no texts, phone calls or facebook messages. There is no wi-fi in the cottages, in fact the cottages are probably too small for a phone. The LSH got a bit of a sore head but it was the perfect size for the rest of us and if we got bored there were always the scary pictures to look at.

 

3. The coastal path is brilliant.  There are benches at the top of the 'ups' (I'm not so good at ups) where you can sit and read your book or  you can walk to St Davids (the smallest city) and buy cheese and the most delicious ice cream made from the milk of happy organic cows.

4.  Crabs.  There are so many crabs in Solva.  Even the smallest shop sports a sign that says, "we have crabs,"  Crab salad looks tasty (although it's not really my thing) and they just jump into the bucket at the Quay, making you feel like the best fisherman in the whole wide world.

5.  Books.  You can read anywhere in Solva.  The top of a hill, the quay, a pub, a cafe - ANYWHERE.

6. Dogs.  It's a great place for dogs.  Dogs are allowed on the  beaches, the coastal path, the pubs and everyone loves your dog.

7. Beaches with sand.  Sand you can sleep on.  Sand you can dig.  Sand that doesn't get too hot to walk on.  Sand that gets in your sandwiches and underwear.  

8. Cameras.  Even the worst photographer can feel like and artist.  The subject matter just jumps out at you.

9. Humour.  The people are funny and friendly.  They are happy to tell you stories and share their jokes.  The have a grumpy old man's club that organise events like 'extreme fishing competitions' and a knit and bitch club in the cafe.

10. The wind.  It blows the cobwebs out of your head, it keeps you cool when the sun gets hot and it lets you fly a kite.  There is really no better thing than flying a kite on an empty, sandy beach at sunset.