A couple of weeks ago now, we spent a few days away on the Isle of Wight. As somewhere I grew up, moving to the 'mainland' about 10 years ago, it always feels good to go back and visit. It's not really somewhere I appreciated at the time, finding the ferries to get to concerts or shopping trips a complete hassle. But taking the kids back now, I realise just how beautiful it is, and what a wonderful place it must be to bring up young children.
A visit to Blackgang Chine had been much looked forward to. There had been lots of talk about it in the upcoming weeks before our break. Archie was excited about revisiting cowboy land and choosing a cowboy gun with his pocket money. Elizabeth enjoyed panning for gold, carefully picking out the little tiny nuggets to exchange for a shiny gold coin.
The kids love playing on the sandy beaches there, building sandcastles and collecting treasures, as I did when I was little. And there where lots of treasures to be found. We picked up pocketfuls of coloured sea glass and smooth pottery pieces, along with a few fossils and hag stones. I do love searching for treasures in new places, there's always something interesting to be discovered.
