Mel's Cornish Adventure: 2009

I arrived back in the UK just in time for Gia's 3rd birthday celebrations, the jelly was great but....

I was not so keen to share in the pasta eating experience!

Happy times

and the full english the next morning with my family was pretty good too!

Back in Cornwall we enjoyed an evening out with Anne's son Matthew and his friend Ed and partner Nicky.

The next morning we were needing to stock up on food so headed off to Tesco's but I should have known it would not be that simple. Anne suggested a bit of wave watching first. The Autumn storms in Cornwall can be pretty spectacular it seems.

We took a slight detour and in Charlestown watched the waves crashing up over the harbour wall.

Complete madness- this lad was planning to go surfing - the waves were 10ft plus and local radio was telling us not to go near quays!

There was still a couple of hours to go before high tide and the waves were almost breaking over the top of the wall.

Not happy with 10ft waves Anne wanted more so, forget Tesco's we were off to Fowey - but what about my beer!

We parked the car and then the w-a-l-k word was mentioned. Before I could argue we were on the coastal footpath.

We headed up to St Catherines Castle, an old fortification and gun battery which is thought to date back to Tudor times.

We watched the waves crashing on the rocks below.

Anne wanted to walk further along the footpath - I tried to hide but it didn't work.

How far are we going this time? Not too far, just around the headland to see if the waves are bigger on the other side I was told - why do I fall for it every time?

Over the stile................

................through the woods.................

Aren't the leaves wonderful.............yes great, how much further?

.............down the steps...............

wait for me..........

After 20 minutes walk we admired the waves and the view and then had to walk all the way back, it was great - I think!!

Last Friday was a sad day as sent my Renault off on the scarp lorry. The cam belt failed on a trip up the motorway and with quotes in excess of £1500 for repair it was destined for the scrapyard.

But Anne had the perfect cure for my blues.............how about a nice w-a-l-k?

What... in the rain?
It was howling a gale force 9 wind and lashing down with rain but we were off on our travels and in Porthleven we got soaked on the seafront.

Then off down to the Lizard and Kynance cove where surprisingly we were the only people on the beach! I have to admit the waves were pretty amazing.

I am so glad I bought this coat!

Leaving the wild seas and driving rain we walked the coastal path back to the car and headed off to our next stop, the seal santuary at Gweek.

I just couldn't resist pretending to be a seal but nobody threw me a fish!

Ok I know it's not a seal but they have otters there too and we watched them being fed.

The sanctuary has some resident seals who cannot be returned to the sea but generally it rescues and nurses injured seals then returns them to the sea. At this time of the year many baby seals are injured or separated from their mothers in the stormy seas and need help. We visited the hospital unit and saw several seal pups some only a few days old.

Cod and chips please!

We have seen some wild weather and wild water the last couple of weeks but temperature of 15 degrees so not so different to Olvera it seems.

Brewery trip this weekend so may be back soon!

Well, September has arrived and the children have gone back to school, the sun has come out again, along with the roses and the butterflies.

Last weekend the garden was full of butterflies.

We went off to a local farmers store to get me a new waterproof, couldn't resist a photo call with the owl!

We had fun at the garden centre ...................

................... and in the park in Truro after a shopping trip.

Last weekend we had a drive into Newquay - a very English scene but what a backdrop.

Of course as you are now very aware, any day out involves a walk, this time we walked along Fistral beach. The sun was shining and the waves were good so there were plenty of surfers in the water. I was ready for a rescue mission!