I think I’m getting hooked on luxury.
When The Welsh House offered us a weekend’s stay, I obviously didn’t have to think very much. My hardest decision was which of the three houses to go for: I opted for Brycyn with it’s ultra confident modern-meets-ancient architecture, wooden hot tub under the stars and – or perhaps despite – it’s total lack of mobile reception. Eep.
As it grew closer, I found myself both anticipating and dreading those three days offline – I’m all too aware how firmly my attention is anchored to my smartphone these days. I comforted myself by scheduling posts here & on twitter, and even attempting to do some for instagram too (for the record: it’s still almost impossible).
As it happened, I did find a little signal (I just stumbled across this by accident whilst standing on the bed, waving my phone in the air ;)). Regardless, I was pretty much as attached to my phone as ever – I left my ‘vlogging camera‘ at home, so most of the following was filmed on my iPhone – a fact that conveniently masked my tick-like reflex of reaching for my phone every couple of minutes.
Press play for wildflower picking in the sun, the biggest spider in Wales, pastel painted cottages and a whole lot of slow living inspo.
The Welsh House from Sara Tasker on Vimeo.
Though I missed the reassurance of reading my emails – what if somebody got in touch to say the house was on fire, and asked if I wanted them to put it out? – it was nice to switch of my e-obligations for a little while, and lie back in the hot tub to watch the clouds. Then we’d pad inside to wrap up in wooly blankets and snooze together on the sofa, as the sun put on a rosy pink sunset just for Orla outside the window. Oh, the lovely luxury!
Could you / would you do a weekend offline? & did you see the way that tarantula was looking at me?! Comments are my fave x
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43 Comments
Leave a Comment
Sara Tasker
December 03, 2015
AH! too kind Laura! <3 x
Sara Tasker
December 03, 2015
Oh, I missed this comment until now Anna! So sorry – off for a looksy! x
Laura Vonk
September 30, 2015
I love the vibes in all your pics! I’ve got a new fave, haha. X
Shrads
September 25, 2015
Oh. Just oh. What a beautiful keepsake for the three of you xx
Rebecca Harrison
September 25, 2015
Your video is lovely!
Allie
September 25, 2015
We haven’t decided where to go yet, but we have a weekend free for our honeymoon in November and we’re going to take a trip. Going out of cell service isn’t hard for Alaska, but we’ll probably avoid doing that since Diana is only 2 months old and staying with grandparents. However, I do plan on leaving my laptop at home and disconnecting! I LOVE the vlog. It’s amazing that all that film was taken with an iPhone – such beautiful footage.
Julia Smith
September 18, 2015
Beautiful vimeo, the light is glorious! As is Bryncyn, beautiful x
Sara
September 18, 2015
What a beautiful video! I’ve taken a big break from the internet, blogging, even reading other blogs. I think that time away is good for the soul and while it should probably happen more often, it really isn’t always feasible. It appears as though you had an amazing time even when an uninvited guest showed up in the sink! xx
xantheberkeley
September 18, 2015
I always find a surge of creativity without the noise of the inter-webs.
This is lovely and full of light. X.
Sara Tasker
September 17, 2015
Oh Claire – my heart goes out to you, tough day! Pleased to have given you three minutes of respite, at least! Hope today was a bit easier xx ps it’s always gin time! x
Sara Tasker
September 17, 2015
Thanks Teresa. It was truly lovely – except, what if I needed to call for emergency spider back up and had no signal?! Scary! xx
Sara Tasker
September 17, 2015
Ah, thanks Kate! So kind of you – glad it helped when you needed it x
Sara Tasker
September 17, 2015
Thanks Ana. It definitely helped that the house was so distracting! x
Sara Tasker
September 17, 2015
Oh, if I’d known I was nearby we could have had a cuppa! The iPhone is surprisingly brilliant and so easy for pictures and video. My friend Xanthe B does courses for making your own mini films – google her, if you’re interested! x
Sara Tasker
September 17, 2015
haha! Thanks Jane. Awful spider beast! x
Sara Tasker
September 17, 2015
Yes! I so love Marina, and she seems to work incredibly hard. I guess it just shows the utter silliness of the music industry. Thank you so much for stopping by – it made my day to see your name here 🙂 Missing you all lots! xxx
Hayley Bowker
September 17, 2015
Sara – that made me cry! The song was gorgeous – I love Marina and the Diamonds and wonder why she/they aren’t as widely known as, say Florence and the Machine. Keep enjoying your new CMFT-free loveliness. Hx
Jane Day
September 17, 2015
Such calm beauty, the spider, your face, brilliant!!! Jx
Becca
September 17, 2015
Sara, I love this film! This is so near to where I live and you make it look so magical! I’ve only just caught up with technology and got one of these phones so perhaps I will have to give film making a go. So beautiful and so inspiring.
Ana
September 17, 2015
Oh my! This is absolutly amazing!
I think I’d go a month offline in a place like that (dispite the tarantula!!)
I could so well live in such a house!
Teresa
September 16, 2015
This was lovely – looks had you had a lovely time – in spite of no signal and spiders – both scary!
Kate | Netherleigh
September 16, 2015
Just beautiful, Sara. Your vlog gave me the very escape I have been desperately craving. Thank you x
Silmarilli
September 16, 2015
Such a beautiful family..) and that video is so..calming and inspiring. You can really feel all that harmony and happiness . Thank you for sharing with it Sara, you’re truly amazing person
Stacy Blair
September 16, 2015
Ever inspiring as usual!! I want to start some blogs every time I see yours!! What are you using to edit??!!
megan
September 16, 2015
Such a beautiful little video. And just what I needed with the bad few weeks I’ve been having. Thank you so much for sharing this calming and beautiful glimpse into your time spent off line.
Nadine Fischer
September 16, 2015
Oh Sara, this is such a lovely little video. Like a mini-holiday to play over and over again. Thanks for sharing that! P.S. I definitely would go offline. Occasionally I do that when I visit home. Not that there is no internet in Germany ;), but since I live far now, I try to enjoy my real family time without electronics involved.
katyatapartmentapothecary
September 16, 2015
Such a perfect film – you are so talented! Beautiful (and now can’t wait to get there this weekend) xxx
Sheona
September 16, 2015
Oh, I love it! It looks so idyllic. Even the bloody spider! X
Rachel
September 16, 2015
Such a lovely film, it looks beautiful there. I love the Welsh girl music to go with the Welsh house too x
Juliette @ the evening glow
September 16, 2015
Loved watching the video! Hahaha your face when you saw the spider 🙂
Joanne S.
September 16, 2015
Hello Sara,
My daughter – 6 – and I loved watching this. I, too, am amazed at what your IPhone managed. I use my IPad sometimes, but the pictures get sooo distorted. Am wondering if the IPhone is better…
You inspire tremendously.
And would I go offline. Yes. That said, I love instagram.
Claire
September 16, 2015
Oh that’s lovely -I’m just at the end of a long day (and it’s not even gin time) with 2 sick boys at home and that transported me very nicely to somewhere else entirely!! Thank you!
Julia Williams
September 16, 2015
Yes please!! ☕️ 🙂 and I’m so looking forward to seeing you and Ffi next month! xx
Sara Tasker
September 16, 2015
Oh, such a great compliment Abigail – thank you! The iPhone surprised me too – it does lovely things with low sun and flares! Must delete more stuff off mine so I can do it more often! xx
Sara Tasker
September 16, 2015
Ahhh you flatter me, N! *beams* Just realised I forgot to give credit for the (illegal) music again. Gah! x
Sara Tasker
September 16, 2015
Ha! Such a great compliment, but I’m definitely still far too clueless to run a course. Maybe in a year or two! 😉
That said, it’s surprisingly easy to get started. Happy to show you what I know over coffee sometime! xx
Sara Tasker
September 16, 2015
Yes! I have a similar chair that is going to get the same treatment at home! 🙂 xx
Sara Tasker
September 16, 2015
Thanks Niki! It really was a wonderful little retreat! x
Abigail
September 16, 2015
I can’t believe that you made that beautiful video largely on an iPhone! It was absolutely mesmerising 🙂
x
Candy Pop
September 16, 2015
A beautiful, BEAUTIFUL little film. The lighting, atmosphere and music fit perfectly together. More film please!
Julia Williams
September 16, 2015
Sara!!! This is stunning – yet again! Pleeeease do a vlogging course! I’d take part for sure ❤️
rosie alittlelusciousness
September 16, 2015
Love those cushions piled up on the chair.
Rosie xx
niki thomas
September 16, 2015
fabulous place and lovely film, Sara.