Dear Diary Saga - bits and pieces

Llanhydrock Cornwall - fascinating - spent best part of a day browsing around the approx 51 rooms - they have a tell to tale no doubt - equal to any from Downton Abbey! - the grounds were magnificent.





I have posted pics of the Halloween trial which I found really entertaining - click on the text to read all about it - I never did find one and two.


This little poem was found framed in the kitchen area - leaflets were available - click onto read



The Llanhydrock Parish Church is in the grounds - beautiful stained glass windows


We ended the day with a visit to Looe and Polperro - both as picturesque as ever - tea and cakes were sampled at the Larrson cafe - worth a call if you are down that way

On to Polperro - quite a while ago we bought a painting from here - so this little fishing village is very dear to us and it has not changed so very much - in the pic above - the house on the cliffs with blue fascias - does anyone remember Rita Tushingham - well she used to live here
Further pics in the side panel

Dear Diary Saga Part 1

Dear Diary
Last week a spur of the moment decision was made to pack our bags take a break and hit the big wide road - actually the M5 down south.
Frantic measures were taken to book accommodation and flights. The plan was to spend time in Cornwall and also visit the Scilly Isles, and after two false starts away we went.
A good drive down and an over night stopover at the Holland Inn and Travel Lodge at Saltash proved to be ideal, although on arrival it appeared we were booked in for the wrong night, note to self , always double check the finer details!

Monday : - early start - luggage loaded - off to Newquay to catch the Skybus to St Marys - Scilly Isles. Good journey time to spare so we parked up and took a stroll through Newquay, and then afterwards took a quick drive down to the world famous Watergate Bay - the surfers paradise see pic
The airport was quite busy after the usual check in and security measures - of course my hand luggage did not pass muster - so B's luggage weighed under - so out with the extra boots and shoes and into his case - B's new knee bleeped at security , so he was frisked by a burley guard - in case he had a gun up his trouser leg - well it looked that way!

The flight was amazing - the plane takes about 12 people (I didn't count the seats),we were lucky to be right up front and could see all the controls and what was happening, of course I am convinced I could fly a plane now!see pic - the views were stunning being a clear sunny day - see pics in side panel.

On arrival at St Marys the taxis were waiting and off we went to the Santa Maria guesthouse - see above - we had a brilliant stay here in this accommodation - it was recommended to me by the tourist information on Scilly.


There was time for a quick stroll before our evening meal - so we made our way to the Garrison - past the Gateway house and onto the cliff walk - see pic above - the castle now an hotel was built in 1593 on the instruction of Queen Elizabeth 1 - this walk is a must for birders - walkers and those who love to stroll and stand and gaze

Click on the pic above to view and read text about the Garrison

Next day over breakfast a local boatman arrived - asking if anyone wanted to go out on any of the trips to the other islands - yes we said we will book for Tresco.
Tresco is famous for its botanical gardens.So off we went down to the Quay with the other adventurers , after a brief safety talk - away we went hanging onto our breakfasts!
After about 30 mins the boat chugged alongside a quay - the boatman checked details of return - and out we clambered with our colleagues - mainly birders with expensive gear and us with our bins.
We looked around expecting to see some evidence or direction to the Botanical Gardens - no one to ask - our colleagues had all vanished into the sand dunes. B spotted a chap working on a boat - " Oh this isn't Tresco mate this is Bryher - ( we had got off on the wrong island)we were on what appeared to be a pretty desolate island , to be picked up at 4.15 - now it was 11am - we were without a packed lunch - water bottle or anything!
Ok - so off we set to make the most of things- we had had an enormous breakfast - so what the hell we would survive!

Bryer is a most beautiful island - I was so pleased we had not missed this experience - although late in the season - flowers were still in bloom, an abundance of birds - one very special to me the Lapland Bunting see header pic - we saw seals and admired the white sands and rocky cliffs


We found an artists studio see pic above - unmanned with just an honesty box - we found this so refreshing-

As we came down towards the quay we passed the island church All Saints - the door was unlocked so we were able to spend a few moments to admire its simplicity with the oil lamps and beautiful stained glass windows (see side panel pics)
By the way we did find a tiny coffee shop - so all was not lost

The River

'With light fantastic toe,the nymphs
Thither assembled,thither every swain;
And o'er the dimpled stream a thousand flowers,
Pale lilies,roses, violets,and pinks,
Mixed with the greens of burnet,mint,and thyme,
And trefoil,sprinkled with their sportive arms,
Such custom holds along th'irriguous vales
From Wrekin's brow to rocky Dolvoryn,
Sabrina's early haunt.'

Dyer, 'The Fleece'

My Weekend

My weekend - a family affair - unplanned. Panic stations - eldest grandson who is 9 and autistic has to complete a Victorian project by next weekend.
Manic family search for an item from this era ended when my aged father coming up trumps - see pic - said item now hanging in B's garage (click on pic for a detailed view - a little bit like one of those pictures in a Ispy book - do you not think -how many things can you see beginning with 'B' I can count 7 - 1930's bike in the background - hopefully to be restored in readiness for the Steam Rally next year.
Victorian Memorabilia in the foreground of the pic - internet search gave us information - it is called a Steelyard measure - it previously belonged to our grandsons' great great great grandfather - taking us back to the 1800's - it was probably used to weigh potatoes - sacks of corn etc.
Health and Safety restrictions will apply I am sure when this arrives at school!!

How was your weekend?

Peace on Earth

Forever and beyond - tall dark tree trunks stretch to the sky - dappled sunlight - leaves glowing orange hues - scrunched underfoot - squirrels chasing - pheasants dashing - the odd unidentified screech - witch or mystic? (probably a jay!)- smooth brown conkers shining brightly - peace on earth

Feel Good Factor

Sunday

What gives you the feel good factor? - what does it for you? - what freaks you out- calms you down- takes you to another world of perhaps make believe or good old reality?
Maybe a spot of retail therapy - a glass or two of chilled white - or is it a good book tucked up in your favourite pjs - or maybe an hour or two spent blogging - what the harm because we all must reach a balance - and to achieve our goal we all take different routes.
Life is one big old merry go round - and the trick is not to let go - I believe that life offers each of us endless choices and it is up to us as individuals which route we take.

What did you do today that gave you that feel good factor?
I have included pics of my feel good factor for the day - a stroll around the Victorian gardens at Attingham - click on the boards to read the text.







Just needed to share this with someone - while down the local pub - for a glass of said white wine or two - local farmer telling a tale - that a few years back when living in Dorset - his brother brewed cider - and on one occasion the cider was left in an open vat in a shed (very hygienic!) - a cow got in and drank the cider - poor thing was so drunk for 3 days she had to be milked sitting down!

PS We have a new dog on the block called Riley - he is a rescue dog and belongs to my son - pics to follow