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Lynnie
29th July 2008, 09:28 PM
Hello everyone,

My name is Lynn and I live at Praa Sands, not too far from Minack, with my husband, 3 sons and 2 cats! I work as a vet nurse and run 3 websites. Consequently I don't get a lot of spare time but hope to visit here from time to time to say hello to like-minded people!

My first Derek Tangye book was A Cornish Summer which I bought whilst on holiday in North Wales. That was probably about 1985. I LOVED the book and just had to read as many of Derek's books as I could get my hands on. I originate from Liverpool and had instantly fallen in love with Cornwall when I visited relatives here as a 16 year old. When we had children, I thought it would be a much nicer place for them to grow up. Derek's books HAD influenced me a lot. One of my most memorable days was about 19 years ago. I was so into Derek's books that whilst on holiday we thought we would try to see (from a distance) where about Derek and Jeannie lived. I had figured out on a map roughly where it was. We drove down a narrow lane in the hopes of seeing the cottage from afar and then we'd turn around. It wasn't that I was trying to pry or anything but these books meant so much to me that I longed to see for myself where they all took place. When we were partly down this lane we realised that there was actually nowhere to turn the car around. The next thing that we knew was we were at an opened gate that lead right into Derek's yard and it was the only place where we could turn the car around. I felt SO bad. Then I spotted Derek in the yard, he was getting a delivery. When he saw us he came over to the car and we were ready to be told off and thought we deserved it, to be honest. I apologised to him explaining that I had just hoped for a distant glimpse of the cottage. He was so lovely to us. He told us to park the car and have a wander around. he showed us the cottage and his confusion room!! Our eldest son was about 3 at the time and we had photos taken with Derek and the donkeys!! The book "Jeannie" had not long been pulished and we bought a copy from him which he signed!!! We told him that we would love to live in Cornwall. He said that it might not be easy but if it was what we really wanted, we should go for it! He was such a lovely, friendly man and it was very sad when he died. It was a real privilege to have met him! We have lived in Cornwall for 12 years now and I often think of that wonderful day when we met Derek!

Gary Kennon gave me the link to this site, so THANKS Gary!!

Thanks also to Linda for the welcome! :D

Lynn

Brenda
30th July 2008, 12:58 AM
Hello, Lynn,

...all the way from Skinner's Pond in northern Ontario. It seems that any of us who picked up one of Derek's books by chance many years ago were transported in the same way, and experienced the same need to see the Cornwall that he wrote about. Those of us also fortunate enough to have met him were lucky, indeed. It seems he was pretty consistent in welcoming all of us to Minack and sharing the magical place that he and Jeannie inhabited.

Hope you do get a chance to drop in to the forum from time to time, in spite of that busy-sounding life you have. I think you'll really enjoy the chatter about Derek and Jeannie, the books, Minack and all things Cornish. Welcome!

Brenda

Kath Mulligan
30th July 2008, 07:28 AM
Hi Lynn, lovely to "meet" you via the forum. Lucky you, achieving your dream of living in Cornwall, how I envy you.

I too was lucky enough to meet Derek and as you say, he was a lovely man. We had approached via the coastal path from Lamorna and I was very nervous about intruding but Derek spotted us hovering about by the gate and invited us in. He immediately started chatting away and putting me at my ease.

You sound to have a very busy lifestyle, but I look forward to hearing more from you as and when you get chance to look in at the forum.

Since you live so near to Penzance, perhaps you will be able to join some of us at Memorial Weekend next March too?

Kath

gloria townsin
30th July 2008, 10:52 AM
Hi Lynn
Great to have you here in Minack cyberspace. We looked at some properties in Praa Sands at the beginning of the year but have now bought a property in Mullion, so not that far away. At the moment though we are still based in Hertfordshire while work is done at Mullion and hope to completely move down in a year perhaps not so long depending how things go.
As Kath says Memorial Weekends are wonderful and so many nice people to meet who love the Chronicles and it's all on your doorstep. Nice to hear your story and hope to hear lots more from you. :D

Linda
30th July 2008, 12:20 PM
Hello Lynnie and a big welcome to you!

I am so glad too that Gary sent you to us. He hasnt forgotten us!

I am also envious that you are in Cornwall...how wonderful and doing a very important job as a Vet Nurse!

I would love to hear about the the websites you run...what are they about? Would be happy to put links above or on the website if they link in someway? Even if they dont do tell us...we are a curious lot!

Welcome and look forward to hearing from you even if for a moment.

Linda

Lynnie
30th July 2008, 06:53 PM
WOW, what a wonderful welcome from you all! Thank you so much! :D

Brenda - I think that you are right that Derek welcomed all fans, even when they dropped in unexpectedly and uninvited. It is strange that when I mention Derek to a lot of people around here and at work, they haven't heard of him. Of course I put in a good word and have got a few more people reading his books and they too have fallen in love with them!

Kath - next March will be quite a busy time for me but I will certainly do my best to get along for the the Memorial Weekend - sounds lovely!!

Gloria - we could have been neighbours! Mullion is beautiful and I'm sure that you will love it there. Perhaps we can get together for a cuppa when you finally move!

Linda - Gary put in a very good word for you and quite rightly, this is a great site that I hope to spend more time on it in the future. My websites don't relate to Derek but thanks anyway for the offer of adding links. I'm a huge fan of Wet Wet Wet and Marti Pellow and my two main websites are www.brandnewsunrise.co.uk for Wet Wet Wet and www.martipellowonline.co.uk for yes, Marti Pellow (who will be appearing in Cornwall next March and I am so excited about it!) My other website is my work one - www.regentcourtvets.co.uk Between them they take up quite a lot of my spare time.

So, I will certainly be dropping in when I can and thank you all once again for such a warm welcome!! :D

Lynn

Janet Swan
31st July 2008, 03:11 PM
Hello Lynn - a belated welcome from me too! Do log in when you can and tell us about anything from Cornwall, please. Those of us who live far away and wish we didn't just love to hear any news. And although I visited Dorminack a few times, I don't remember seeing inside the Confusion Room - can you remember much about it? I know Derek described it in the book of the same name, but would be interested to read your impressions.

Janet

gloria townsin
31st July 2008, 04:17 PM
When I am in Mullion it would be good to meet up Lynn. :D In the meantime we will love to keep chatting with you via our wonderful web-site. :D

Mili
31st July 2008, 07:01 PM
Very nice to meet you Lynn!
As a cat mom and advocate I thank you for the work you do!
And I think I am the newest fan of Derek & Jeannie Tangye here, but as you can see I already won the Minack Superfan title!
Your story about meeting Derek is as awesome as all the lucky ones!