Sunday, Introduction, Hayle, Pasties, Birds, Hell's Mouth, Portreath, Soaking Kids, Swimming, Comedian, Rattler Cyder

We woke refreshed, bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to take on anything this strange isolated backwater (yeah, backwater, I believe Cornwall is the UK’s second biggest tourist destination after the Lake District) had to throw at us…why am I making this sound more like a fight than a holiday? Because I can…why, do you want make something of it reader, you looking at my funny mate?


We headed off to main reception; no I don’t know why I didn’t get any photos of this area either. The main restaurant was situated upstairs overlooking the pool and we grabbed a table, and some free pastries, at the back of the room and waited for things to get started. Deb got chatting to a lady from Ebba Vale, in Wales, who’d heard my Welsh accent and who had used this as an excuse to strike up a conversation with her until a shortly while later the resident comedian, a chap named Paul MaGahan who was to be that night’s “turn”, gave an amusing and rather useful talk about the area and the various attractions. His advice, especially about where and where not to drive to, was to prove very useful during the coming days.

With the intro talk over we decided to explore the surrounding area but without plans to go anywhere in particular. Deb was concerned that now it was out of season many places would be closed on a Sunday and so today would be about driving around and getting a feel for the place. First we headed for Hayle, which is, or so it claims, the “Pastie Capital” of Cornwall, boasting no less than SIX separate Cornish Pastie Shops.

Being the discerning consumers we are we, of course, stopped a the very first one we came across which turned out to be “Philps Pasty Bakery, East Quay”.

For a Sunday morning this little shop was amazingly busy and eventually after a few minutes queueing we acquired some “medium” pasties for Nat, Deb and Me and a couple of sausage rolls for Hannah who had, as usual (because they had meat in them), already decided she didn’t like pasties. I’m sad to say that, as big as these pasties were, I found them to be rather disappointing; they appeared to be comprised of a mass of, slightly undercooked, shredded potato which hid the occasional seam of beef. Anyway, enough of my culinary complaints, we seated ourselves over looking Quay to eat and were soon surrounded by birds of all kinds (mainly huge gulls and hooded crows). Utterly unafraid of people these pesky scavengers scurried around our feet pecking at dropped pastry crumbs. When we actually threw down small pieces for them we were then entertained by an impromptu display of Darwin’s theory of the “survival of the fittest” as the birds competed over these scraps.

Pasties finally consumed we once again set off to explore. We eventually found ourselves at Hell’s Mouth which is a dramatic cliff formation next to the road between Portreath Bay and Gwithian Beach in north Cornwall. The land is owned and managed by the National Trust and Hells Mouth lies on the Southwest Coast Path. Nearby is a car park and cafe. The views from here along the North Cornish coastline were fantastic. Hells Mouth lies on a popular 3.7 mile coastal walk which stretches from Godrevy Navax Point at one end to Basset's Cove at the other. Below I’ve embedded the photographs we took of this spectacular location.



We parked next to the café and walked up to the cliffs. Even here, with an unimpeded view over the Celtic Sea we were still unable to get a GPS fix on either my phone or Nat’s. I think the local “Cyder Witches” are interfering with the signals…spooky! Afterwards the kids each had an ice-cream whilst I admired the sovereign ring knuckledusters being worn by one of the local bikers who was parked there. There seem to be an amazing number of bikers in Cornwall! Back in the car we continued to explore until we ended up in Portreath. We parked up, there was another large group of bikers in the car park, and went down onto the beach. The kids decided they’d like to paddle in the sea and as you’ll see from the photos below they both ended up completely soaked. Lacking a change of clothing, you don’t anticipate the need in October; we got them stripped down and into the car. Nat wasn’t happy disrobing in public but he wasn’t getting into the car otherwise. In the end the car door and a strategically held coat protected his modesty. Hannah’s still young enough not to be too bothered.


It was late afternoon before we got back to Clowance; we’d stopped off at Morrison’s to buy some beer (a vain hope as it seems that they don’t stock cheap beer or cider the swine’s). By the time the kids had changed it was too late to go wandering again so we settled in for the day. A little later we all went for a swim and I had a sauna, no kids allowed. Afterward Nat and I decided we’d go to the bar to see if the comedian was funny than he’d been that morning. Deb and Hannah decide not to come with us. The chap was fairly amusing but the biggest surprise was his voice. He had a very powerful voice and could mimic songs excellently. When he did a cover version of a popular hit it sounded just like the original version. Why don’t people like him ever appear on show like the X-Factor? A very pleasant discover, although that can’t be said for the price, was Rattler (a draft local cider) which was very nice indeed. Even Nat, who professes that he’s not going to drink when he’s bigger, had a sip and expressed his approved. Rattler is made by Healey’s and it was their Cyder Farm that we visited later in the week. I nearly won a drink from the comedian when the bar staff told me the answer to a question he’d set the audience when I was in the loo but unfortunately he gave the answer before I had a chance to speak. About 23:00 everything wound up and Nat and I went back to the Coach House and to bed. All in all it had been a great day.

We're off To Cornwall Today

We left home quite early, away before 10:00, and set off on the long haul to the Wild (South) West; land of cider, mysticism, pasties, sun, cider, no mobile signals, pasties, no GPS signals (I blame the cider witches), did I mention the cider and pasties. Personally I was looking forward to the cider and the pasties but as it turned out I ate many pasties but drank little cider but even so I was still to fall in love with Rattler (link). As are all our longish journeys, this one was fraught with an underlying concern; would Nat suddenly and unexpectedly cover the back of my head with the contents of his stomach? He continues to get quite queasy on all forms of transport; he threw up AS the plane landed in Florida in 2006, so I grew more and more on edge as the time passed! We stopped at a couple of services for Loo breaks and maybe these short stops this gave his tummy time to settle because the trip passed without gastric incidents…thank God. Overall the journey took about five hours and we arrived, after getting lost in Camborne and stopping to ask for directions at the police station (No GPS), at Clowance Estate at approximately 15:00.


[Clowance Estate is situated in the centre of the Cornish countryside, between Falmouth and St. Ives. Set in 97 acres of magnificently landscaped parkland and woodlands, Clowance Estate comprises of an 18th Century manor house and its own private golf course. The grounds offer enchanting pathways with over 50 species of trees consisting of various unusual species including the Chusan Palms from the Yangtze River and other rare plants such as the Mexican Fleabane.]

Check in was at 16:00 but we were able to pick up our keys immediately and made our way to our accommodation; this was in the old Coach House (no.1) and it was up to the standard we’ve come to expect from timeshare properties. It would have been nice to have stayed in the lodges but what we were given was more than satisfactory.

After settling in Deb took the kids to the swimming pool next to main reception whilst I sorted out the TV, Nat had unplugged a cable, and the fell asleep on the sofa. We didn’t do anything particular during the rest of that first day other than mooch about and watch TV (they really need to get some sort of programme listings on the TV’s here because there wasn’t anyway of finding out what was on. There was next to no mobile signal anywhere on the estate so I couldn’t even access a TV guide on my mobile) during the rest of the evening. We had to be up reasonably early the next day to attend the introductory briefing that was being held in the restaurant at 10:30. Deb and the kids went to bed fairly early leaving me to indulge in my favourite hobby, to wit, falling asleep on the sofa!

Swimming With Jacob; Sailing With Scouts

Wednesday

Today was very wet in fact it was very very wet.  Why was it so wet? You might ask well there are two reasons you will have to wait for the second one but I will tell you the first one. The first reason is that I went swimming to Enderby with Jacob, Josh, who is Jacob’s brother, and Zak. While we were there we played a game were three people had to get a float from one end of the pool to the other sounds easy well it is for the first ten seconds because after those ten seconds a chaser is let lose on you.

The Second reason it was wet was because I went sailing with Scouts.    First I got picked up by Darren and he took, Jonathon, George and me sailing.

Once there we met Jacob, Zak, Brandon and the rest of the troop – Yahoo NO BEN.

Once Jacob and I had our life jackets on we got into our ‘pink’ boat this was the only ‘pink’ boat and took to the water. Jonathon ‘the wimp’ went in the leaders’ boat because he didn’t want to get wet!!!!!!!!!!!!

We sailed around and got attacked by Darren who has a super soaker, but also he capsized twice ha ha ha…..

Later on we purposefully capsized our boat twice – the 1^st time I got my leg caught on the sail the 2nd time I was at the front and got wet.  We also jumped into the water multiple times – I even jumped in when we were moving at speed and was abandoned by Jacob in the middle of the lake. Well maybe not the middle it was close to the shore but not to close.

By Nat (The Ginster) Jones 

Tuesday and Wednesday - Phone John, Occ Health Tel, Sore Throat, Occ Health Reschedule Friday, Shitty Day, No Sleep, Wed Am Bed, Swimming, Sailing

No much has happened over the last two days. Just after midnight I phoned work and spoke to JDM (mgn) re: my return and occupational health appointment. I explained that I was hoping to return, for at least one night, on Saturday but before then I had an appointment to see Lucy the Occ Health Nurse this morning. I explained that I still hadn't heard back from her to confirm this appointment and did JDM have her number so that I could check this morning. Luckily he had her number and I took it down. During this time I'd been feeling more and more unwell as my throat became increasingly painful and I continually coughed up a thick yukky mucus. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to go to the appointment and this, in part, was why I'd rang to get her number. Things got worse, I was unable to get any sleep and finally at 9:45 I gave up can called Lucy to explain why I wouldn't be able to make our meeting. Hearing my squeaky and croaky voice she thought this was best and we provisionally arranged to meet on Friday. I'm to call to confirm I'm fit and to arrange a time that day. I didn't really do anything much else for the rest of the day other than watch TV and drink too many beers in a vain, but enjoyable, attempt to ease the soreness of my throat. I stayed up after everyone else had gone to bed and eventually at 6:00 on Wednesday morning went to bed and slept until Noon*.

Shortly after I came downstairs Nat left to go swimming, with his pals, Hannah was almost inconsolable when she found out she couldn't accompany them, at Endeby Leisure Centre so we'll see him when we see him altough he can't be too late as his Scout Troop is going sailing this evening. I made Deb and Han and myself some salad sandwiches (it took me 30 minutes!) for lunch and now, because I used all the remaining bread, I'll have to pop to ASDA at some point to buy some more.

*When she got up Deb finally accepted the inevitable and phoned her work to report that she was sick and would be absent for today. While I've found this bug unpleasant it's hit her much harder and she's been feeling quite unwell for the last several days. In fact, as I was writing this she quietly crept upstairs and went back to bed where she's now fast asleep.

Me and Han, Nat Gets Back, Walking Monty, Swimming In The River, Mud Mud Mud, Shrek 4, So Nacho

Deb woke, ate, washed and departed for work without disturbing Hannah or me. We were both flaked out and  fast asleep on our respective settees. My phone alarm, reminding me to take my daily tablets, woke us at 9:45. I immediately changed the channel so that we could both watch the great J.K. whilst we finished regaining consciousness. I can't remember a single thing from this programme so obviously I wasn't as awake as I thought. Nat was away over night at Jacob's and expected back any time after 11:00. He eventually turned up around 11:45 and I told them both to get ready to take Monty out for a long walk. if I hadn't Nat would have been straight upstairs to his room , on his X-box and not seen for the remainder of the day. They got changed, I filled a bottle with squash we grabbed a towel shoved everything into a bag and departed at about 12:30. We planned to walk to Kings Lock on the Grand Union  Canal and stop at the Lock Keepers cottage, which is now a lovely small cafe, for a drink and a sit before turning round and heading home. On the way there we stopped at the river where Hannah and Nat both went paddling. Monty didn't go paddling and appears to have a strong aversion to the water. This is unusual in a gun dog, he's a Labrador Retriever, but Monty is definitely hydrophobic! We finally arrived at the cafe only to discover that it doesn't open on Mondays and Tuesdays. We sat for a while, ate crisps and drank squash, well I had a larger, before returning home. While we were there three boys turned up and started swimming in the lock and jumping off the lock gates into the canal. They're not my kids.


Viewap

On our way home, after we crossed the bridge over the Soar, we diverted through the filed to where some kids appeared to be swimming in the river. Both Nat and Hannah knew one of the kids, Jasmine a former cub with Hannah and now a scout in Nat's troop, and so we arranged to come back for a swim after we'd taken Monty home and picked up some trunks. We did exactly that, I popped to ASDA while the kids were getting their stuff, then we walked back to the river.  Hannah and Nat were both in the water as soon as we arrived and they both used the rope swing to jump in. neither appears to be able to hold up their legs and as a result as soon as the swung out their legs dragged in the water and pulled them off the rope and into the drink. We stayed until 4:00 then left for home as we were suppose to go to the cinema and I got the times confused and thought we had to be there for 4:45 when in fact the film started at 5:45.  Deb came home just after we got back and the kids were getting cleaned up. We left for the Vue and there discovered my error. We decided to spend the unexpected hour travelling to Huncote tot he pavilion leisure centre to see if we could sin Hannah up for some of the courses that Shantelle was going to. They're fully booked but will give us a call as soon as they become aware of any vacancies. This was the first time I'd been into Huncote in years, I used to shoot large calibre pistols at an outdoor range nearby during the 1980's but it seemed little changed from what I remembered. We headed back to the Vue via the Sainsbury's supermarket at Grove Park Triangle, I noticed that the empty Borders store was being stripped and refitted, where we purchased some nachos and dips for after the film. Sherk 4 was made to be seen in 3D and we watched it in 2D, it was no longer being shown in 3D?. I haven't seen Shrek 3 but Deb, Nat and Hannah all say that it wasn't as funny as number 2. Shrek 4 was OK but not particularly funny, but I think the script was, to a degree, sacrificed on the altar of 3D. We were home at around 20:00 and I prepared the nachos. Nat wanted to immediately pour all of them onto a plate, cover them with cheese and microwave them. I prevailed upon him to let me see what happened when we did that to a few before we risked ruining the all. It worked a treat so we had; Nachos, regular and tangy cheese, covered in nacho cheese and grated cheddar microwaved for a minute and then eaten with salsa dip... yummy!!!

We all watched BB11 then the kids went to bed, Deb watched the reminder of the Bruce Forsythe "Who Do You Think You Are" while I sat down and wrote this. When Deb goes to bed I'm going to watch the TV, then, after midnight I'm going to call John, at work, to see if he's heard anything from Occupational Health about my supposed appointment at 11 AM tomorrow morning. I'm not travelling all that way if it's not definitely been arranged; I still haven't heard back from Lucy either by phone text or email.

Saturday 7 October - It's All Going Swimmingly

Here's a couple of photos I took of Han this morning when she had her swimming lesson at Winstanley College. She used to be very hesitant of the water; when Nat had a birthday party at Saffron Lane Baths a few years ago she adamantly refused to enter the water. Through out the whole time there she clung to granddad who was obliged to sit with her for the whole time at the edge of, but not in, the pool. Everything has changed since we went to Florida. when we stayed in Naples you couldn't keep her out of the pool whenever we were at the hotel. She was jumping in, swimming under water and in alls ways acting part dolphin.

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

Saturday 7 October - It's All Going Swimmingly

Here's a couple of photos I took of Han this morning when she had her swimming lesson at Winstanley College. She used to be very hesitant of the water; when Nat had a birthday party at Saffron Lane Baths a few years ago she adamantly refused to enter the water. Through out the whole time there she clung to granddad who was obliged to sit with her for the whole time at the edge of, but not in, the pool. Everything has changed since we went to Florida. when we stayed in Naples you couldn't keep her out of the pool whenever we were at the hotel. She was jumping in, swimming under water and in alls ways acting part dolphin.

From 2006-10-07-1634-40

From 2006-10-07-1634-40