a Saturday morning to savour
(and the art of appreciating the little, large and lovely things in life)
I am just on my way home from a one night stay at Lime Wood hotel- arguably- no, definitely- one of the most stunning places I’ve ever had the privilege of visiting (so much so, one of my ever-calm-and-collected phone notes actually says, ‘basically feels like I imagine heaven does.’ and my expectation of what lies beyond those pearly gates is HIGH). And, this might sound peculiar- but the approach to the hotel and the drive along the main road feels a bit like the drive into Manhattan from JFK airport. Naturally, there’s no horizon of grey skyscrapers or big yellow taxis steaming ahead in front of you; but that journey, and the almost cinematic-like experience that completely encapsulates everything you expect of the place you’re in- feels a little bit like the road to Lime Wood from entering the New Forest. It’s the British countryside in an almost Hallmark sense. Free-roaming horses flanking the roadside, lazily chewing on grass and cows sitting atop the hills on the horizon, dotted with woodlands and vast swathes of green. And that’s before you’ve even checked in.
Anyway, on this particular stay, I was invited along to the press preview of the wonderful Alice Vincent’s retreat that she’ll be hosting in November at the hotel. It’ll be two days of writing, foraging, relaxation, treatments, reflections, food and all the delicious things in life- and when I say I was pinching myself and recording nearly every other moment to document like a digital scrapbook, I absolutely was. It never ceases to amaze me the mad, wonderful, special places my job affords me the chance to visit and although I normally wouldn’t share press trips over on here, being a huge admirer and fan of Alice’s (her writing is some of the most beautiful I’ve read, and listening to her is no different)- I came away feeling completely absorbed with inspiration- like a tiramisu sponge finger soaked in coffee, and wanted to share a little bit of that with you, which I hope you might find some joyful glimmers in too.