Eavesdropping in on Dorset!

Do you like to eavesdrop?  I do!  I don't mean the glass-against-the-wall or ear-to the-keyhole type.  Just catching snippets of conversation, when you can't help it, from passing groups of people or while sitting in a restaurant.



Hooke Farm B&B

Here are a few snatches of conversation I heard while away in Dorset last weekend:

Father to young daughter who expressed a desire to have one of the fish she could see in the water 5 feet down over the harbour wall: "Well jump in and get one then". (Joking - I think!)

Mother to late-teenaged daughter passing the bench where we were sitting eating icecream: "Just so as you know, if you get a tattoo you'll have to move out!" (Serious!)

Husband to wife at next table one lunchtime: "I only asked what you're doing next Thursday and you just wittered on!"
(How rude!!)

Inevitably, writing this got me thinking about the origin of the word 'eavesdroping' (my daughter tells me I think too much) so I looked it up and according to Wikipidia - "Eavesdrop also means a small low visibility hole near the entrance to a building (generally under the eaves) which would allow the occupants to listen in on the conversation of people awaiting admission to the house. Typically this would allow the occupant to be prepared for unfriendly visitors".

Quaint side street in Beaminster

Hooke Farm B&B where we stayed for the 3 nights was what we'd call 'in the middle of nowhere'.  It was very peaceful and quiet at night, the only sounds being the creaking of the old house and at 4.30 am, one morning only thank goodness, a distant cockerel crowing.  One difference from other B&Bs we've stayed in is that the guests sit together at one long refectory-like table at breakfast.  A good idea I think as, inevitably, we soon chatted with the 2 couples we met and useful tips about places to visit and/or eat were passed on.



The Giant

 My photos look overcast but it was in fact quite warm and humid. This is the best photo I was able to get of  The Giant of Cerne Abbas (probably for the best though!!)

Jurrassic Coast

This amazing cliff was the view from the end of the harbour wall at West Bay (I think - we went to so many places) 

One of many noisy, scavanging seagulls

We watched the seagulls in action from a bench overlooking the beach.  They mostly just glided around at our level but occasionally homed in on little fishing boats returning to the jetty or benches as people moved from them (presumably to see what goodies they'd left).   

Taking in the view from a bench (one of us was snoozing!).  My legs didn't reach the wall!

It was a good break with plenty of good food and relaxing strolls.  Looking forward now to a camping weekend in August and a few days in Guernsey in September!!

Bye for now
Teresa x