Sunset from the shelter
While I’ve been sharing pics of the new kitchen, someone asked in the comments if they couldn’t see the outside of the house that I’m always banging on about. They asked at a good time, as May has arrived and the wicked wind from the north has dropped. Yesterday evening I watched from this desk as a woman walked into a waveless sea to swim under the setting sun. And then I stepped out myself to take some pictures (not of her).
The flat faces due north – a fact confirmed by father-in-law and his digital compass this weekend. I never tire, even in awful weather, of stepping out of the door of the flat, above, and turning to the west to see the sun over the sea. Every single time the view lifts you. Across the road is a little green and steps down to the beach.
Last night the sea was so still that the tanker above was sat in a puddle of its own reflection. To the right is a wide promenade over the Winter Gardens and away towards the next town. That’s where I stood to take this picture below – one of these handsome houses on the left is where I’m now living.
Also just over the road is an old and extremely weathered shelter. Not the one where T S Eliot sat with his sandwiches writing The Wasteland – that’s the other side of the Main Sands. This one is much less well preserved, most of the seats rotten. But ever time there is a half-way decent sunset people gradually take the remaining seats to watch the day end. Sitting there last night was like being in my own living room as the wind was so still. Here is what I could see.
I feel like I’m well going on about the new house, and not reporting stories from further afield. I pondered this last night as I lounged about outdoors. Moving after twenty years is a big thing – I’ve moved plenty of times in London, and to houses that have meant the world to me, but it’s many many years since I’ve moved to a new town. Every time I have it’s been traumatic, lonely and alienating, taking a year or more to feel ok, and sometimes not even then. Congratulations, by the way, to Leicester City football team on their win!
But here I have found people who are disarmingly friendly, chatty and up for meeting a total stranger for coffee just because you’ve both moved to the same town recently. And I’m surrounded by a landscape that never gets old. I even walked the long way back from Aldi last night, heavy bags in hand, just so I could walk closer to the water’s edge. The things that make you feel good here you can do for free – on a good sunset it seems like the whole town congregates on the beach’s main steps to watch it. No queues, no entry fee, no Uber home. Sorry to be such an I’ve-left-London stereotype. But there it is – happiness for me is a home by the sea.
Aaaaaaahhhhhh you’re happy evangelism makes me happy too!
I yearn for a home by the sea – maybe one day….
Totally get the moving thing, it does take time so I’m glad you feel like it’s coming together a bit quicker!
And as Leicester is, in fact, my home town, thanks for the shout out about our team. I think most fans are truly in bewilderment about our win, and have a child like excitement about it, as it so amazing!
thanks Carol – yes I studied in Leicester and was miserable in that most land-locked of cities I have to say. I could be found mournfully staring into the canal. But the football news at the weekend also cheered me up and made me very happy for the city. When I was studying there they’d won something else big (around 1994) and the whole town lit up. x
Yes I know what you mean about it being land locked. I remember the ‘lack’ of water eliciting such excitement in me when we would go to the sea during the holidays. I fo still love to visit Bradgate Park though, I find the views, feeling of space and the elements calm me in a way that the sea does too.
And how’s the cat getting on?
I so identify with the trauma of moving; 30 years in London and not entirely willing to leave for Dartmoor but my old mum became my priority. Luckily I have made arty friends here also from London – not at all typical of the demographic – I was extremely lucky to meet them, but then sometimes I feel a bit like I’m in an ex-pat community – an immigrant who hasn’t integrated!
But then I don’t like parochial attitudes so I think we Londoners bring a healthy mix to the provinces don’t we?
Loved seeing the photos Ros. I’ve never been to Margate but its situation is obviously beautiful. Most people have a yearning to look out at water, be it the sea or an inland Loch.
Happy days ahead for you, I’m sure.
such lush and glad it’s all working out well.
you hear so many people say they’re going to do the big move and never do so well done!
would love to live by the sea one day but just not a goer for now with kids commitments etc but never say never as they say 🙂
ps i wonder if you’ll ever become one of those who does a daily swim come hell or high weathers……..
Yep, I asked for the pics and there they are! Funny thing, while strolling two days ago I was thinking about how Eliot was wrong about the April being the cruelest month or perhaps the climate changed and now it’s May.
About the pics and story – beautiful period.
Ohh I was in Margate last weekend. I am myself considering to move to Hastings/St Leonards in the next few years…I know it is going to be hard to leave London behind, after 19 years…and I hesitate all the time whether or not I should move back to Gran Canaria, where family is and where I am from, but hey I belong to this country, despite the weather…I need to seas side and want a change, I really hope I will be able to make the right decision…maybe we can go for coffee next time i am near there.
Hey I cannot tell you how much I am loving it here – and such a friendly, creative community. Give me a shout next time you’re thinking of coming and we can get a coffee somewhere delightful!
Wow,
I came across your blog whilst researching some Tunisian pottery I incidentally just bought in Margate/Cliftonville charity shops. I’m also a new transplant from the Smoke, and like you never tire (so far 😉 of the sea…. although my flat faces kinda south. Anyways, now I shall read more, so good to find you!
Welcome Krisztina! To the blog and to Margate. I am now totally salivating at the thought of Cliftonville’s charity shops being full of Tunisian pottery. I’m off to ggole myself out of my ignorance now! shout us on twitter too if you’re out and about! x