Destroying species is like tearing pages out of an unread book, written in a language humans hardly know how to read, about the place where they live. -Holmes Rolston III, professor of philosophy (b. 1932)
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| No More blogging! I want the mouse!! |
Hello Donna Florida and Carefree Cactus!
Trust you are both well and enjoying Vinnie's retirement. Have had such a wonderfully busy time with Ayn here, this past week that I'm desperately behind in my correspondence and diary keeping. Have almost lost track of what day of the week it is but here are a few, wee "snippets" from last week.
Up at 7:05 am this morning. Looks like another gorgeous day. Will collect Penelope and Madcap at 10:00 am after they checkout of The Alverton. Think Cora Lee wants to go to Newquay and they'll spend day with us. Their train back to London doesn't leave until 6:00 pm so will give us a chance to take our time wherever we decide to go, whatever we decide to do.
Hello Raymond!
Trust you are continuing to enjoy good health. Glad your terrific summer weather oes on and on and on. You better pop over to France so that you can get some cycling in. However, Whistler sounded pretty good. I've always wanted to explore resort and environs at this time of year. Cora Lee did mention that Elmore Leonard had died. I think we first discovered him in the mid '80's. More recently, over last Christmas in Simi Valley, we watched the very interesting, compelling "2010 FX series, Justified, based around the popular Leonard character, U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, from the novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and the short story Fire in the Hole."
Fondestos from Coriandre to you and Sylvia. Cheers, Il Conduttore!
Hi Chris, thanks for the email last week. Our daughter Ayn has left after 9 great days. We have been enjoying and exploring Cornwall. Have some London friends down for weekend and we will go to Newquay today. Have seen 2 plays at the Minack theatre and seen the Lizard and Land's end. Have visited 2 Cornwall wineries and St. Austell Brewery.
Mind you we have had great weather so that makes a difference.
I'm starting to think about next phase of my trip to Italy and Patrick is making plans for France. It's hard to believe that our time in England is drawing to a close.
I really enjoyed the chance to meet you and Mandy and hope we will keep in touch.
I will definitely contact Ian and Roy when I have their email and hopefully we will be able to meet them. I know my dad would really enjoy that. I will try and arrange a meeting this winter when my parents are in Vancouver. Hope that you and Mandy will put Vancouver on your list of places you must visit as we would love to have you stay. Will send message from Italy, Best Corinne
Trust you are in good health and that your terrific Vancouver summer weather goes on and on and on. You better pop over to France so that you can get some cycling in now that you are kitted out with the MotionX-GPS on your iPhone and are actually using it on your latte runs! Very, very impressed with your stats! Onward!! Fight!!!
Fondestos from Coriandre to you Branko. Cheers, Il Conduttore!
Hello Chris and Jim!
Trust you are both in good health and that the terrific summer weather we've been blessed with here in Cornwall extends to Yorkshire and goes on and on and on. Fondestos from Coriandre, (She's brushing a fur-clad engine turning over at 1000 revs as I scribe!), to you both. Cheers, Patrizzio/Il Conduttore!
Hello Whirlygig and The Gulf IsIand Goils! Trust you are all in good health and that your terrific Vancouver summer weather goes on and on and on. Have you seen Ragin' Bull's latest toy? Told him that he better pop over to France now that he is kitted out with the MotionX-GPS on his iPhone and is actually using it on his latte runs! Very, very impressed with the stats I received! Onward!! Fight!!! Fondestos from Coriandre to you three. Cheers from Patrizzio/Il Conduttore!
Trust you are both in good health and that the terrific summer weather we've been blessed with here in Cornwall extends to Bucks and goes on and on and on. Fondestos from Coriandre, to you both. Will be in touch later this week about France, etc. Cheers, Patrizzio!
Spud looks pretty cozy!!! Nice bag!! is that Nana's??? may need to borrow that!!
Mags had a very bad night, throwing up tons and confused and
wailing, kept me up most of the night, almost thought about staying
home, as didn't want to leave her, poor kid.When she did sleep it was on
my chest or stomach.
love you
Hi Chloë!
Terribly sorry to hear about poor Maggs! Feel badly that she is obviously not well. Hope she will improve, at least enough to let you sleep. Sadly, don't think she is headed for a complete recovery, no matter what we wish for.
You'll have to go to Tinsel Town for the bag as it is our early birthday present to Ayn. Take Spudnik with you as I'm sure Ayn misses him already!!
Up at 7:05 am this morning. Looked like another gorgeous day so was pleased as we were to collect Penelope and Madcap at 10:00 am after they checked out of The Alverton. Cora Lee wanted to go to Newquay and they said they'd be delighted to spend the day with us. Their train back to London doesn't leave until 6:00 pm so will gave us a chance to take our time wherever we decided to go, whatever we decided to do.
The Londoners were not quite ready when we arrived at the Alverton at just before 11:00 am
so Cora Lee and I took the opportunity to wander through the various rooms on the first floor. From A Short History of The Alverton, provided by one of the staff at Reception, I learned that the central section and East wing of Alverton Manor was built for William Tweedy, a financier, a senior partner in the Cornish Bank. The fortunes of this major banking house were linked to those of the tin mining industry and when cheaper imports of the ore from Tasmania and Queensland forced the closure of many of the Cornish mines, the bank was forced to close its doors in January 1879. Sold to a Mr Pascoe, who added what is now known as The Library, it was sold again, in 1883, to the Order of Epiphany, a group of five Anglican nuns brought from London by George Wilkinson, 2nd Bishop of Truro. The Order grew rapidly and a Chapel was built, (now the Great Hall), in keeping with the style of the late Gothic Revival. Interestingly enough, the man who worked on some of these additions was John Loughborough Pearson, the leading architect of Gothic Revival, responsible, as well, for the design of Truro Cathedral, the first cathedral to be built, (construction started in 1880), on a new site in England since Salisbury Cathedral in 1220.
Alverton Manor remained the Home of the Order until 1984 when it became too big for the remaining nuns who moved to the old Episcopal residence of Copeland Court, on the other side of Truro. The house then became the hotel one sees today, but not quite. Over the last year or so, I understand, there have been some major refurbishments to the dining areas, the bar and lounge and to the Great Hall. It was a delight to stroll these rooms and the connecting corridors admiring the wonderful paneling, magnificent staircases with their massive balustrades, the soaring arches of the once Chapel, all quite fittingly and tastefully accentuated/drawn together with modern furniture and colourful fabrics, rich carpeting and subdued lighting. From the large patio which runs the length of the main dining area one has a good view of part of Truro, an even better one of the main buildings themselves.
By the time we'd had our own mini-tour, our passengers were downstairs, settling their bill, so I brought the car down from the carpark, up a small rise behind the hotel. Baggage loaded we made for Newquay and were there by about 12:30 pm. We found free parking, (2hr limit), at an Asda near the centre of town and strolled towards the ocean. We knew
that the resort is widely regarded as the surf capital of the country and apparently it is a centre for the surf industry in Britain. Walking down the main street this was quite apparent as both sides were lined with many surf stores, board manufacturers and hire shops. The architecture of the town, or at least what we saw of it, is not particularly attractive but the same cannot be said for the magnificent cliffs and three beaches we could see from the lookout we happened upon.
Once we'd taken in the waves and the many surfers, both on the beach and waiting to catch quality breaks we felt we'd seen enough and decided to head for St Agnes for lunch. Most of the restaurants we encountered touted fast food or else were specifically geared for the undiscriminating tourist crowd. We wanted something or someplace with a little more personality and quality. Cora Lee knew of such a place, just off the beach at St Agnes, so we returned to the car, with more than an hour to spare, and left the surfer dudes to their hollow waves and sun-bleached dreadlocks.
Almost half-way between Newquay and Blackwater we came across a sign advertising Healey's Cornish Cyder Farm so we decided to take a look. Busy place but we didn't have much trouble parking and we soon heading for the large Tasting Room/Shop, forgoing the tractor pulled wagons one could ride to have a tour of the farm. Much like any tasting counter we've encountered, rows of product with staff ready to pour. Since I was driving I limited myself to the non-alcoholic Elderflower Pressé, quite a fragrant, concoction of elderflowers steeped in the farm's own spring water and liked it so much I took a bottle.
I wasn't aware that Healey's produces Rattler, the cider Cora Lee often ordered at many of the pubs we'd visited. Was also surprised to note that quite an array of distilled spirits, the so called Classic Whiskey, Brandy and Eau de Vie, are made as well. Pretty pricey, however at £175, £79.95 and £20.70, all 500ml! My traveling companions are not hard-core cider drinkers so after a few tastes of various flavours and strengths Cora Lee settled on a litre jug of Scrumpy, 7.4%, and we returned to the car.
As I mentioned, we were going to St Agnes, only about 4 miles from Sydney House, and I know this route fairly well, having biked from home five or six times since being here. What I hadn't realized until leaving Healey's was that the farm is located in the tiny hamlet of Penhallow, a place I'd ridden to, two weeks or more ago, when I had thought I might try to go as far as Newquay. Quickly changed my mind once I realized how very busy the A3075 was and Penhallow was my turnaround saviour!
About half-way to St Agnes we came across B3285 which leads to Perranporth so I suggested we drive there first. I'd ridden to this town once before and wanted to explore it a bit more. Quite a bustling sea-side town with a very nice feel to it. Took a road out of the town which snaked up and around a hill overlooking the beach and parked for a few minute to take a few snaps. Only a single beach, about the size of one of the three we'd seen in Newquay, but what made it such an extraordinary sight was the fact that it literally covered with rank upon rank of colourful umbrellas and beach tents/huts, a virtual Woodstock or Glastonbury village, the sun shelters so close to one another that the underlying sand was almost completely invisible. Quite a holiday sight but one that suggested gaiety and fun rather than overcrowding and bickering.
After enjoying this remarkable splash of colour we next made our way into St Agnes and then after a few wrong turns we found the beach. Parking lot, closest to the beach, was full so I dropped the gang off and made my way back up the hill to another lot. Was able to park there and then walked back towards the water to take a few pictures of the beach itself, quite a small one, bracketed by wonderfully rugged, jagged rocks, but filled with sun bathers and surfers and others walking or playing on the sand or in the water.
Cora Lee was on the lookout for me and I followed her to Schooners Bistro, right above the sand of Trevaunance Cove. Penny and Madcap had claimed a table with a wonderful, panoramic view of the beach and we ordered drinks, (non-alcoholic ginger beer for me, beer and cider for the others), and chatted until our food came. I had Thai Fishcakes, wonderfully spicy; Penny opted for fish & Chips while Cora Lee and Madcap both had the Chowder. Everything was delicious and we were pleased we'd decided not to have lunch in Newquay.
Penny and Michaelo insisted on treating us so after the bill was settled, we climbed back up the fairly steep hill, feeling the still considerable heat of the late afternoon sun on our backs. Out of St Agnes I thought we had time enough to show our city folk one last beach destination so drove to Porthtowan, an oft visited spot as it lies at one end of one of my favourite bike routes. Just a quick circle through small centre of town to get a flavour of the place and then back along the road which passes a number of ruined mine stacks and engine houses, reminiscent of medieval castles destroyed in long ago battles, now so weathered that they seem a natural part of the landscape.
Through Wheal Rose and past Etherington Farm Shop, (pointing out that this was where the steaks for Saturday's dinner had been procured), and then it was Smokey Joe's Café at the top of East Hill and we were pulling into the parking lot of Sydney House. Gang felt like tea, rather than G &Ts, so once teapot was ready they sipped their Darjeeling while I enjoyed my Instanto. Sun was still hot so we sat just off the patio in the delightful garden nook which boasts two comfy chaise lounges. Out train travelers to be stretched out and relaxed for half an hour or so and then it was time to head back into Truro.
Back at the station there to lead them around the side to cross the tracks to reach Platform 3, for London bound trains, without having to climb up and down the overpass steps. This was an issue as their one bag probably weighed about 70 lbs! Kisses and hugs and snapolas and thanks, after Penelope finally found the tickets, and we waved goodbye. Too soon, however, as guard arms were down by the time we were at the crossing so we ended up chatting, over the fence, until the rain from Penzance left the station. More waves and reminders to be in touch over the coming week to sort out details of our London stayover.
Once home we did a bit of tidying up. Neither of us were particularly hungry so I worked on The Diaries while Cora Lee read and watched TV. About 8:00 pm I peeled and diced two turnips and put them on to boil. Back to my laptop until they were tender enough to mash with butter, salt and pepper. Made a mixed green salad with diced orange, topped with Feta and green olives. Cora Lee took her dinner back into the Proper Lounge to continue her TV watching and I ate in the kitchen, with Spudnik to keep me company for a time.
After all the relatively busy, full days/evenings of late, it was a pleasant enough way to spend some quiet time. Hard to believe that we have less than a week left here in Cornwall and must really start thinking about packing in the next day or so. Amazing how much stuff we've already acquired so need to think carefully about what we will be leaving in London until our return there in October. Not too, too bad to cart around non-essentials when one has a car to stuff but another matter, altogether, when one is traveling by train or flying.
Time for bed as I really want to read tonight. Fondestos and Love, Dad!
DID YOU KNOW?...Aunt Leah’s, through the Link program, is the only service delivery model in the Lower Mainland that guarantees a continuum of care and planning past age 19 for foster children, giving support based upon the individual challenges faced by each youth. The Link is an example of 'best practice' as supports tied to youth’s developmental maturity instead of age serve to increase the youth population’s housing tenure. These young people receive ongoing help with house & job search; life skills & employment training; emergency food, clothing & shelter; housing subsidies; academic tutoring; parenting education; plus emotional support. This support is given by familiar and trusted adults – that the youth previously knew before aging out of care – through drop-ins, scheduled meetings, weekly group life skills and parenting sessions, an emergency food and clothes hamper, job training opportunities, and weekly group meals.
Jessica Lewis
Hi Patrick Sr.,
sorry for the late reply. Are you back from your trip across the
pond? You should have visited Pat Jr and my native country aka the
northern regions aka the scandinavian underbelly aka Sweden, I think you
and Cora Lee would like it there. The food is not
bad, not to mention the free-flowing aquavit, and the women are better
than good, although not sure if Cora Lee would allow you to partake in
the latter activity.
Couple things that came to mind when I read your email: 1. I
thought the parrot was you finding your doppelganger in the animal
kingdom; and 2. given your numerous connections, did you have any
influence in the naming of the recent addition to the royal
family? I hear the Duke of Cambridge is a fan of the single malt,
although interestingly enough there's a rumour that the Duchess fancies
herself a jack and coke before bed
When is our next NRBC meeting by the way? My concern is that at
least one of the two members in the picture - of the two members in good
standing - may not be on such footing if the meeting does not take
place soon!
Hope you and Cora Lee are having a fantastic time wherever the winds have taken you
Take care, VL
