We first saw the cottage on an Autumn day that was pummelling with rain.  Looking forlorn like an island in a sodden hillside forest.

We fell instantly in love.

The drive to the cottage reminded me of childhood trips to my Grandparents’ cabin in the woods.  The trees arching over the narrow lane, car bumping along the gravel and me in the back always straining to see around the next curve.

You can’t get there fast.  And when you do arrive you know you are ‘away’.  You can feel it with your first breath of clean forest air.  You can see it in the land that sweeps away to a river and to the sea.  You sense it in the space stretching out yet embraced by the hills on either side.  Curving like a gentle smile.

And if you ever arrive at night, the stars can greet you because there are only street lights twinkling in the distance at the water by the mountains’ foot.  It is dark dark and full of life.