A Letter to September

Oh September. Our relationship with each other is rather a complicated one. You put my beloved trees to sleep and chill the winds oh so slightly,  you tell me that the summer I love so dearly, that I had hoped to be endless is finally at an end and that winter will surely come soon. You are the beautifully-lit window between changing phases of the seasons, a last lull of peace and freedom before I must return to the city of chimney pots. I resent you, because I fear what you bring but how can I not utterly love you? You paint the flora and fauna magnificent colours of burned oranges and golds as you cover them in their autumnal sleeping dust, you empty the beautiful sands and seas of the hubbub of the summer so that I and others who call Cornwall home can dance upon them and splash in the sea peacefully and appreciate the last warm days in quiet. You spread heather over the cliff tops and fill the skies with hazy silvery and mauve sunsets that only September can bring, and you fill the air with the loamy smell of earth and foliage. September, you mark a season of bonfires, sparklers and spiced cider so who am I to fight like a child and cry for summer when you wrap your arms so tenderly around my shoulders and give me the most beautiful few weeks of the year? September, you are perfect and peaceful, and despite the bittersweet sadness you bring to me, I am eternally yours. 

Sincerely, 

Sarah 

Tuesday was one of those perfect early autumn days. Despite the wind who was thoroughly overexcited that day, it was really warm and sunny. The sky had that pearly glow of September and the seabirds were more peaceful and friendly than they are normally in the summer when they're in attack mode. Because September in Cornwall is remarkably quieter, I don't need to go to secret hidden beaches to enjoy the sand and sea - I can enjoy the popular touristy ones without needing to wade through windbreaks and dodge buckets and spades. George and I trundled over to Mounts Bay at Marazion which is a beautiful beach, nearly always windy when I go which means you can enjoy the kite boarders and wind sailors skimming across the waves. The tide was in which is my favourite way to enjoy the bay, and means if you want to visit the mount the Causeway is inaccessible so you can take a little boat over!

Berries and brambles have began to appear in the dunes which is as autumny as one can possibly feel on a beach.

I could photograph the waves all day. Each one is unique, and beautiful and hypnotic. Just sitting on the shore and staring out at the lapping waves blew away all of the cobwebs and put me in such a peaceful place.

The mount looking majestic. Did you know people live and work on the island? One of my friends used to work in the gift shop there. I couldn't imagine a cooler commute to work! St.Michael is the Patron Saint of the Fishermen and many people make pilgrimages to the island to praise and celebrate. It's not just a mecca to Christians and tourists though - legends have it that Ancient Ley Lines run under the sea and traverse the heart of the Mount itself attracting spiritualists seeking the ancient energy.
Cornish folklore tells the story of St.Michael's Mount being the home to terrifying giants and I remember getting chills as a wee school girl thinking that if I were to go to the castle, I'd be confronted with wicked giants who liked to gobble up little girls! :O

Did I mention it was windy? We took Georges little spyglass and peeped over to the castle. We sadly didn't see any giants roaming, just the Union Flag flying high.

These last few weeks have been exceedingly busy for us as George and I have been taking photographs non stop for people. You can view the photographs we take for people on my other blog (which is still being tweaked because it needs major cosmetic work) but also, George has bought a new camera which is beautiful! It's a Fuji XT1 Mirrorless camera and looks and feels like an old 80's film camera! He's set up a blog for himself called North Wind Photography inspired by his mother's family's name and is documenting his progression and self improvement of his photography whilst documenting his little adventures.

In the evening on his way home, George dropped me at Alex's house and she, her boyfriend Matt and I headed down to Kynance for a picnic. It was one of those dreamy evenings where the lighting is so incredible you have to pinch yourself to remember it's real. Kynance is my favourite beach in the entire of Cornwall, but alas it's everyone elses too. In the summer it gets so busy you can barely fit a spade between all of the people and it's also at it's best at low tide as it reveals a magical second beach filled with sea caves and an epic blow hole which works only in the stormiest weathers. We had the entire beach to ourselves and we ran about, playing hide and seek among the caves and rocks like children and splashing in the enormous waves until the sun faded and it became so cold that we reluctantly climbed the coast path back.

If you were to find mermaids and sea serpents or the ghosts of pirates and smugglers anywhere in Cornwall, you'd find them at Kynance cove. It has everything you could possibly want from a magical cove - waterfalls, gorgeous cliffs, heather and caves. It is the autumn and at that moment, we had it all to ourselves. We are so spoiled by this incredible natural world we live in. 

I also took some photo's for Alex and her Matt, so keep an eye on her social media and blog for a chance to see them! 

I have just over a week left home in Cornwall and I'm begging for each day to pass slowly. Moments spent with friends are precious and Wednesday was one of those perfect days of autumn that I want to encase in a snow globe and put on my mantle piece to look at when the days are cold and bitter. This autumn is going to be a good autumn - I've decided. The quest begins :)