2025: M&A’s Christmas staycation-daycation with friends…

Today it’s Boxing Day or Friday 26th December. We had arranged the night before to all meet up at Nikki’s at 9.30am this morning for breakfast so it was somewhat confusing when Nikki, who was up early as was I doing my exercises said ‘I’m going to send everyone a text to tell them to come up in their PJ’s for breakfast’…….good luck there then Nikki, it was after all only 7.17am! Funnily enough, Nikki didn’t get any responses to her text and was going to send every one a reminder until I remindered her that the chosen time to meet up was 9.30am.

Everyone arrived at the agreed time and breakfast was an exact replica of what we had yesterday, scrambled eggs infused with Parmesan cheese, smoked salmon and toast which was very yummy, apart from Nikki who had a yearning for jam on toast.

Nikki was going off to meet her daughter and granddaughter  whereas we, M&A, Helen, Rachel and Winston togged ourselves up in our warm clothes and for this staycation-daycation we drove off to the ‘secret road’ via Costa coffee of course, for a walk around the Lodmoor nature reserve, along the beach and then to the Oasis where we were going to initiate Rachel into the art of drinking yellow Pinot Grigio.

It was an overcast day but at least it wasn’t raining. How fortunate we’ve been this Christmas for it not to rain as usually when we’re away we usually have some sort on inclement weather. Having purchased our Costa drinks we parked at the ‘secret road’ and headed into the reserve explaining to Helen and Rachel that with Winston it was going to be a very slow walk, and being a little dog who takes little footsteps, it was indeed a slow, stop-start walk, with lots of wees and sniffing along the route, from Winston of course!

We ended up on the beach headed in the direction of the Oasis and well, lo and behold who should we bump into, going in the opposite direction but Jane and Mike. Winston couldn’t quite believe his luck…..all his favourite people were all here on his walk. We stopped for a chat and we went in our direction and Jane and Mike went in the other direction and poor Winston was torn as to which way he should go. After a lot of coaxing and cajoling he reluctantly walked our way. Of course he’d forgotten all about Jane and Mike when he realised he was going to the Oasis and sped along the promenade with Maice trying to keep up with him, Helen, Rachel and I just ambling along at a more leisurely pace.

We sat outside the Oasis on the beach and ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio and poured out four glasses of wine. When you see all the glasses together the wine looks even more yellow. We did comment on what it reminded us of, but decided not to dwell too much on that aspect, however we all agreed that it tastes much nicer than it looks!

After our little interlude at the Oasis we walked back through the reserve to the car. It’s such a lovely reserve no matter what the weather and its so nice to see the different birds enjoying the reserve as much as we do. Many of them were airborne doing murmurations across the water, others were just foraging under the water with bums stuck up in the air, some of the ducks were dozing and the egrets were standing stock still, absolutely motionless waiting to surprise their prey! It really is a lovely reserve.

So back home we all went our separate ways. Tomorrow we’re meeting up with Jane for another awesome walk. Winston will be so pleased!!

Hey, it’s Saturday 27th December 2025 and we’re meeting up with Jane, as we usually do on a Saturday and we’re walking along the coastal path to the Smugglers Inn at Osmington for our final staycation-daycation. It’s a really nice walk and today is the perfect day as the sun is shining, the sky is blue and the fields and trees are looking resplendent wearing their different shades of green. It was however rather on the cold side and it was also quite breezy, but nevertheless it was all gorgeous and worthy of our oohs and aahs at the very spectacle.

As usual we stopped off at the Costa drive thru for our morning coffee and headed off to Claire’s road where we parked up and headed off up the hill to start off our walk. Winston loves this walk as he’s off the lead practically all the way and he also knows there’s a special place at the end of it, the Smugglers Inn where he usually has a treat of some sort.

Usually when we do this walk in winter the ground is muddy in places due to their being excessive amounts of rainfall but today it was surprisingly dry with just a few muddy passable areas. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous, the sea on one side, beautiful scenery on the opposite side and the views are so spectacular whenever you reach the top of a hill, or come out from climbing some steps or rounding a corner. We say it every time and we’ll say it again…….we are just so lucky to live where we do. Mother Nature really heartens the soul, she’s beautiful.

We arrived at the Smugglers Inn an hour later…….well, let’s say Winston arrived first with Maice in hot pursuit hanging onto the end of his lead whilst Jane and I took up the rear. Winston is so funny….he knows every cafe and shop where we frequent and where he gets ‘treats’ so he always moves up a gear to get there. Now that Winston was in his ‘happy place’ we found ourselves a nice table outside and ordered three glasses of wine and three sandwiches.

We can’t actually believe we’re able to sit outside under the sunshine, without our coats on the 27th December….in this country. It’s unheard of and when you’re out of the wind it’s surprising how warm it is. Well, what a lovely lunch we had. Winston surprisingly was a very good boy and didn’t yap or bark too much for attention whilst we had our lunch plus Maice had also brought him his chew to keep him quiet.

After a very tasty lunch we made our way back along the cliff top back to the car. This was our final daycation and what a great way to end our staycation. It could have been totally different had the weather been inclement but luck was on our side this year and we’ve had the best time spent with our friends. We think they’ve enjoyed themselves too.

So, on that note, we say ‘Buckaroo’…..until next time.

Happy New Year…….we wish you an adventure filled 2026. Don’t forget to be kind to each other and have fun xx

M&A xx