Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Out and About in Cornwall

Over the last week and a bit we have been visiting some places we like in Cornwall.  We went out to Rame Head which is one of the headlands protecting Plymouth Sound.  It was quite a blustery day.
 Rame Head.  The building in the distance is an old chapel
 The Coastguard Lookout
 A small bunch of windswept bluebells
 Viv with our friend Eve
 
 Dartmoor Ponies who spend their winter here
 Viv and Bob with Rame Head in the background
 Spring flowers in a hedgerow close by

Nearby their is a  small seaside village called Seaton which has an interesting beach cafe which caters for dogs in a very different way - you can buy your dog some canine ice cream.



It has been a very late spring in the UK after a quite severe winter.  Consequently, the spring flowers have been delayed.  We went up the Tamar Valley looking for bluebells (and other spring flowers of course.
 Wild flowers (including Bluebells) in a lane near the town of Callington

 In the grounds of Cotehele House near Calstock




The Duchy Nursery Garden Centre is not far from Lostwithiel and Bodmin and they have a nice cafe with great views over the Fowey River valley.  It is a great place to go for a coffee or to have lunch.
 Viv and I just about to tuck into brown onion soup with a Gouda floater.

There is a great view of Restormal Castle from the Cafe.
Restormel Castle - Engish Heritage

We also visited Falmouth recently where I took some photos of a naval Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship being refitted.  My great uncle, Richard Billett, a marine engineer served his apprenticeship at these docks back in the first decade of the 20th century and worked there again at the end of the First World War for a short time.

Falmouth Docks - Wikepedia


Sunday, 6 May 2018

Saltash May Fair

Yesterday, Saltash enjoyed the annual May Fair with many interesting stalls along the main street and in two adjacent parks.  The weather was fine and there were lot's of people.








During the day we met up with our friends, Eve and Alan, as well as my nephew, Jonny, his partner Louise and their two children, Isabella and Joseph - whom I met for the first time.
 Eve and Alan

Jonny, Isabella, Louise and Joseph

A Cosmic Egg

We visited Buckland Abbey which was home to two Elizabethan Sea Dogs, Sir Frances Drake and Sir Richard Grenville, to see a Cosmic Egg - An artwork by Andrew Logan installed in the medieval Great Barn at Buckled Abbey.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey/features/the-cosmic-egg
https://www.theplymouthdaily.co.uk/news/entertainment-reviews-local-news/cosmic-egg-display-buckland-abbey


 The Spring flowers and the blossom were evident.



Saturday, 5 May 2018

Back in the UK

I arrived at Heathrow at the crack of dawn on the first of May after a very relaxing flight with Royal Brunei Airlines, and, after picking up my mother and a Honda Jazz from the car rentals, we proceeded on our way down to Cornwall.  It was 3 degrees at Heathrow when I landed!

Our first stop was Great Chalfield Manor, a house that dates back to the 15th Century, near Melksham in Wiltshire. 
 Great Chalfeld Manor
 The moat

 The Stables
 In the Gardens


The next day we carried on to Saltash via a village called East Lyng which was home to my mothers family in the 19th Century.  It was also near the Isle of Athelney where King Alfred the Great supposedly burnt the cakes!  We were looking for the grave of my Mum's great great grandfather, John Phillips, but we couldn't find it!
 The memorial to the monastery on the Isle of Athelney which was founded by King Alfred the Great
 East Lyng Church