Do you ever get up some mornings and feel, for no particular reason, thoroughly blue? This was my morning yesterday. I tried to shake it off with my usual cup of tea but by 10:30am I knew that my normal routine just wasn't going to be enough to shake my melancholy.

I wandered about the house for a while trying to find something to engage me but nothing jumped out. I remembered Kezzie's recent post about self care and decided that it was a day for a spare of the moment adventure. I'd been meaning to hit the beach for a while, and ever since I'd discovered that Natasha Newton had an exhibition at Peter Pears Gallery in Aldeburgh, I'd wanted to go .

A quick look at her website confirmed it as the last day of the exhibition and that was all the reason I needed to grab my bag and go. When in Aldeburgh I always drive straight down the high street to the very end and park on the shingle. This means a lovely walk back to the high street (passed my favourite fish n chip shop).

I found the gallery, tripped into the exhibition (despite the 'mind the step' sign) and there I was immersed in a world I rarely visit these days. I love exhibitions, I used to visit them regularly as a student but they seem so few and far between these days.


Both my Dad and I have paintings of Natasha's, mine sits on my bedside table and is the only original piece of artwork I own.

I follow Natasha on Twitter and Instagram so I've seen some of the paintings in the exhibition go from almost a blank canvas to the finished article, it was lovely to see them in person. I wasn't disappointed, I loved it as much as I'd hoped I would.


I like her painted stones as much as the paintings themselves. I took a few sneaky photos, I didn't know if I was allowed so tried to make it look like I was texting. I very much doubt I fooled anyone and chuckled at myself for being such a twit.


It wasn't a one person show, there where others exhibiting. I liked the work of Emma Green (above) as it (very loosely) reminded me of the type of 'painting' I used to do whilst at college. I say 'painting' because I was a design student, my artistic skill was described as 'able to make things look nice' - that's raw talent right there people.

Anyway, once I'd lingered and pondered long enough I tripped (damn that step!) out of the gallery and went to the beach for a wander. The warm sea breeze and the sound of the waves had the desired effect, I felt calmer and brighter.

 After a bit of a sit and a look I headed off to the chip shop. The best, in my opinion, is the one at the end of the high street - Aldeburgh Fish and Chip Shop (I think all three are owned by the same people so I don't know why I prefer this one but I do). There is always a queue but it's worth the wait. I ordered a child's portion of fish and chips, it's pretty cheap at £3 and plenty for lunch. Back on the beach I enjoyed the vinegary, salty, fishy-chippiness and sat back to breathe and feel the sun on my skin.

I agree with Kezzie when she said "Oh how could I forget how restorative that sea-air is". How could I possibly forget? I came home feeling clam and rested, with a plan to go and see Natasha's permanent exhibition at Snape Maltings Gallery, and to visit Marlsford Mill, my friend has a space there selling some wonderful preloved furniture. And I've been meaning to go for ages...