Not for one moment did I ever imagine that my offspring would spend so much of their childhoods outside of the UK. Neither did I imagine that the experiences that formed their parents’ childhoods would seem quite alien to them, or even how – at the grand age of seven, my son has yet to set foot on a British beach! Oh well, at least he knows what a good old stick of seaside rock is now – my sister posted him some… At first he thought it was a big stick of chalk and went outside to draw on the patio with it!
I am not dismissing the childhoods they do have obviously, they are incredibly fortunate, and have experienced much more in their short lives than many others – but when we are in the UK, I really love the occasions that I get to see them enjoying something that featured in my top ten of things and places from my own childhood…
For all intents and purposes, I grew up in Hampshire, surrounded by beautiful chocolate box thatched cottage countryside. Contrary to popular belief, the summer months weren’t always rain filled, and I have fond memories of many a hazy summer day spent at Chilbolton Common (or Cow Common as it’s more commonly known), a site of special scientific interest that stretches over 45 acres.
Go back today, and you will see the same sights as I imagine you would have done some 50 years or so ago – paddling children with fishing nets in one hand, eyes set with steely determination on the clear river flowing around their ankles, and jam jars tied with string for makeshift handles in the other… Families would have surrounded them on the riverbank and in the long summer grasses of the meadows a little further afield. And I am sure that the odd picnic blanket invasion occurred from one of the many cows who really are the true guardians of this beautiful place…
We spent some time at my Mum’s last summer (after our epic Japanese adventure) and (once the jet-lag had faded sufficiently), we headed to Cow Common, where my Mum presented the Small People with fishing nets of their own and a couple of traditionally tied jam jars! In turn, they spent many happy hours (we had to pay several visits eventually!) chancing their luck in the crystal clear waters, and closely inspecting any catch that might have been having an unfortunate day(and were of course eventually put back!)… And we, as countless others have before us, sat on a picnic blanket on the river banks observing the proceedings, and warding off possible curious cow picnic blanket invasions… Bliss (not the cow bit though obviously!)!
I have just booked some flights home for a few days of the summer holidays- the news of which was met with rapturous applause, followed by a lightening quick “what day can we go fishing?”… Who knows, perhaps we will make it to a real British beach this summer too?!
Cow Common, Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Hampshire
Love your photos, they are so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Rellie! :)
I stumbled upon your blog looking for Bavarian ideas, when I noticed Hampshire. We currently live in Neusass not to far from you, but due to my husbands job we are all on our way back to the U.K and Hampshire is our next stop in this tapestry of life. I’m from Wales my husband Kent, our daughter was born in the Midlands and our son in Germany, what a mix of accents, memories and life long bonds. Hampshire will be as new to us as coming to this wonderful place, but from what I can ascertain from your fond memories, Hampshire will be a great place to live, just have to find that quintessential English home. Thank you for all your fantastic thoughts and ideas I only wish I stumbled earlier.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment Cheryl! I wish you all the best with your next chapter!…. Parts of Hampshire really are as beautiful as Bavaria, and you have the added advantage of having M&S and Waitrose for all that amazing picnic food – I am very very jealous!! :D Enjoy, and I hope you find the perfect home! :)
How very idyllic and picturesque – no wonder the children had a wonderful time at Cow Common and are eager to return. It’s great to be able to share some treasured childhood memories with your own children and watch them enjoy some of the same wonderful activities too. Thanks for linking up with Country Kids.
Thanks so much Fiona! :)
I grew up doing very similar things. I used to fish for newts and tadpoles in the village ditches. I really want Potato to experience some of the same things. Those photos are absolutely gorgeous. I hope you have a wonderful visit and the kids enjoy their fishing x
#CountryKids
Thank you so much! :)
Beautiful pics. I love those cows. I fancy going to Hampshire just to have a look at them. :) #countrykids
Thank you… Not too far from London! :)
What beautiful pictures! I love the fact that the cows clearly love paddling as much as kids! Great to find you via #CountryKids :)
Thank you Daisy! :)
Oh I do love the look, feel and activities of cow common. There seems something so important in repeating bits of your own childhood with your own children.
Thanks Gemma, it’s a gorgeous place… Definitely! I love reaffirming the cultural roots of my two from time to time… :)
This strikes a chord – I was talking about growing up in a different country with two British friends last night. All three of us are terrified of growing old alone in Germany – although we’ve all been here for a good few years now, and will probably have kids and grandchildren by the time we’re old, and it won’t be all that lonely. There’s still something “fremd” about living in a country you didn’t experience as a child, and I think that remains however long you live in another country.
Germany is my home, but England is my precious childhood memories.
Thanks Rachel, that must feel strange… I know that we won’t be here forever, but other friends of mine that have settled somewhere forever have never been lonely – I think that quite often the bond you have with friends in the same position is so strong it means that eventually they become like a second family – I am sure you won’t be lonely! :)
Who needs a beach? What a gorgeous place to have grown up in – and to take your kids to visit. Makes me want to get some jam jars and go fishing myself.
Thanks Donna! :)
I know exactly what you mean when you talk about them experiencing a piece of your childhood. I feel the same when I take Amy to Germany and we do things that I used to love as a child. It’s so special and sends be back to my childhood too x
Thanks Carolin! (:
The place looks so beautiful and its what i love about british – lots of green!
Thanks Otilia! :)
I love that idea! We have never been fishing in this sort of place and the jam jars look perfect for it. I bet my girls would love it. I will add it to our summer to do list
Thank you! :)
Such amazing pictures! It is so nice taking our children to places we visited when we were younger isn’t it?
It really is… Thank you Andrea! :)
Emma, what a magical place – I think I’d go anywhere you recommend, your photographs are so beautiful!
Thanks so much Sarah! :)
What a beautiful place to explore, not somewhere I know.
It’s worth seeking out… Thank you Mary! :)
What a splendid day that looks. And looks like the smalls had a fabulous time!!!
Pictures are ace
Thank you T.. They had a wonderful time there, glad it will be a happy memory for them too one day! :)
The real British beaches are amazing but it seems to me that your children are getting such an amazing experience of life with you. Cow Common looks and sounds idyllic and I love the idea of taking the children somewhere like that to experience the simple pleasures of life. Beautiful photos
Thank you Nikki… I hope one day I will get to show them England properly! :)
What a gorgeous place to go and relax, all those cows wandering around freely – they are friendly aren’t they? And what a lovely part of the world to have grown up in, and what an amazing adventure you are giving your children with your adventure – they must be two very relaxed and confident children. X
Ps. love that your son thought that the rock was chalk!
Thank you S… It’s a gorgeous part of the world! :) Yes, he was pleasantly surprised when he found out he could eat it! :D
very idealistic such English photos too
Thank you Helen, we have a beautiful country don’t we? :)
I know what you mean. Living in the Middle East, sometimes I just want to take my daughter out to feed the ducks somewhere – but there isn’t anywhere. Collecting tadpoles and watching them grow into tiny frogs before releasing them back into the river. Heck, just a walk in the green countryside or going rowing. Obviously we do other geographically available outings, but I do miss showing her the simple pleasures of my childhood.
Thank you R. For us, we have all of that, but you can’t beat the places that mean/meant something to you can you? x
Eeee… now THERE’S a proper childhood! ;) Your Cow Common looks absolutely gorgeous – look at that cottage! We drove through lots of little Sussex villages on the way down to visit my gran whilst I was over last month and I am now filled with dreams of one day moving into something like that. I’d love to see the Mini Dietz with a jam jar full of fish :)
That cottage I would buy in a heartbeat if it ever came up for sale! :D Thank you! :) x
Hope they enjoy the fishing and get to go on a beach. I think it’s surprising what children haven’t done when you stop and think. Silly things like playground games.
Thank you J… Me too! We lived very close to the beach in Denmark so we went nearly every day after school, but I think they would love a real English seaside! :)
Ooo this is a gem – and close-ish to me too! We’ll check it out in the summer hols :)
I will let you know when I am back in August, we can meet you there! :D
We spent so log as kids doing this! Catching fish and tadpoles! Such happy days! I hope the su shines for you when you come home!
Thank you Mary! :)
Oh my goodness – I haven’t seen orange string for YEARS! I have to find some! And that swan pic is just gorgeous. Lovely post – as ever ;-) x
Thank you Katy! I think it’s bailing twine, I am not sure where my Mum got it from… :D x
What a beautiful place to visit. I live in Hampshire and we have people visiting from Holland this weekend – this may just make it onto our list of places to visit – thanks for telling us about it!
I hope you like it Carrie, I am sure you will… thank you! :)
How lovely–it seems like a wonderful place to grow up (and to visit!).
It was, thank you! :)
Οι παιδικές αναμνήσεις είναι το βάλσαμο στην ψυχή μας!
Τι πιο όμορφο να έχει μείνει το περιβάλλον ανέπαφο (ίδιο) και να μπορούν τα παιδιά μας να βιώσουν τις χαρές της φύσης ,όπως όταν ήμασταν εμείς παιδιά!
Thank you Kalliope, that’s a lovely comment! :)
Wonderful photos! Sound so idyllic even with the nosy cows! Love that one of them lined up in the water with the thatched cottage behind – quintessentially English!
There’s something pretty special about taking your kids to places packed full of fond childhood memories xx
Thank you T… They are gorgeous cows… Did you notice the one with the heart on her head? :) xx
OOh what lovely pics particularly that last one (heartwarming)
Thanks Becky! :)
Beautiful Em. I remember doing exactly the same things with my mum. Lovely memories x
Thanks Em, I wondered whether you might see this post! :) x
go to a beach where you can go crabbing – nothing like a bit of bacon tied to some string for a day of pleasure.
We tried this in Denmark with bacon, and the crabs were quite fussy… In Norway they went crazy for bacon however! :D Thank you KV! :)
Their Daddy and Uncles spent countless hours there too ( dad even fell in the river in the depth of winter or was it Uncle G???)
Probably both… :D
Made me smile – we had a day of wild swimming in Hampshire following the river last summer and one of the places we went to was on Cow Common – on the other side of the common from where you were fishing. We had a blast! It’s such a great place – even with the cows!
Aha, that was our deep swimming pool when we were younger! How funny Sally, thank you! :)
Familiarity is a strange thing, isn’t it? I’ve loved seeing my boys run down paths and gardens that I once did as a child. It makes me smile so much. And I guess I’ll be seeing you on home soil in just over a week? :-) Love seeing you Finalist badges on your blog x
Thank you! Yes, see you next week!!! :)