Tuesday 1st September

[Kath Mulligan]

We had a glorious start to the month this morning with hot sunshine and blue skies, so I decided it was an excellent opportunity to take Mum out shopping and get her used to being out and about again. We were out for about three hours and it was lovely all the time, then as I was about to leave her house a little while ago, I glanced up and saw some very black clouds looming. I had literally just got through my front door with all my bags when the heavens opened and we are now in the throes of a thunderstorm! After all the soakings I got last week, it felt good to have missed this downpour! Having said that I am out at an RNLI meeting tonight, so what's the betting the rain will time it to perfection then!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

At least it missed you this time Kath.....reckon you've had enough soakings to last you for a while.

Good luck for later....weather here, sun trying to keep goin' but the wind is rattling the doors where it can get through, so not terribly warm.

Theatre looks better than it has for the past few days though.

[jane jackson]

Glorious one minute and then a sharp shower. We're due to go to the Minack tomorrow afternoon but don't think we're going to get away with it this time according to the forecast.

Glad you escaped the deluge Kath, also glad your Mum was able to get out in the dry too.

[adesmith]

I had a look at the Minack webcam and it did look a bit brighter than it is here. The sea looked wonderful and to think I was swimming there just a week or so ago! We have had a bit sunshine here but it has just come over very threatening now and started raining. Just one rumble of thunder earlier this afternoon. Glad that you missed the deluge Kath. Hope that you catch a break in the weather for the Minack tomorrow Jane.

[Kath Mulligan]

I've just looked at the Minack webcam and it is horribly wet, so don't know if your performance will go ahead, Jane, or be cancelled. Must say I shouldn't fancy sitting there in those conditions, especially since there are thundery downpours forecast for your area this afternoon!

Fairly dry up here so far, just the odd light shower, but we have the heavy rain due to reach us around late afternoon.

Kath

[jane jackson]

Really pouring here and have had the Minack Webcam on since 12.45. At that point I could see the name boards on the Friends seats but think they've been removed now ~ difficult to tell with all the raindrops on the screen. I'm assuming it's been cancelled, the forecast didn't hold out much hope for the afternoon performance. They may well be ok this evening as the local forecast shows us clear of rain late afternoon, hope so as it must be so disappointing for the performers.

We were lucky in that we had it dry for our early walk on Long Rock beach so the dogs are ok. There were loads of Sanderlings on the beach and quite a few black and white birds with long beaks which I think might be Oystercatchers from looking on our chart.

[Kath Mulligan]

At least tonight's performance is going ahead, but it doesn't look any too warm.

The expected rain has now arrived here, although it's steady rather than torrential at the moment.

Kath

[adesmith]

My drive home from work was dreadful because of the torrential rain. I unfortunately have to use the M4 to get home from Cardiff and it was actually a bit scary. It felt like the car had no grip and at times it was hard to see out of the window! Seems to have eased off now though.

[Kath Mulligan]

Bet Rachel was glad to see you home safely, Adrian. I am always on pins when I know the girls are on the roads in horrendous conditions.

The torrential rain and winds did their worst with us overnight I'm glad to say. Still very windy and showery now but nowhere near as bad as it was around 4.30 this morning when it wakened me up.

Kath

[Liz]

Hope your first day back went well Adrian - the children here aren't back until Monday, teachers in on Friday. It seems to have been a very long holiday this year, seven weeks in fact, I expect parents are beginning to run out of ideas and energy to keep their little dears happily occupied.

It is so windy here today, part of my runner bean row is leaning precariously but I can't complain after the wonderful crop they've given me this year - picked another huge basket full this morning.

I was wondering how many here are planning to be at the Lamorna Festival this year?
I have a hospital appointment on Monday so I'm leaving the booking of accommodation until after that.

If we can come it will be on the Friday and we'll probably stay until the following Wednesday.

[gloria townsin]

I, or rather we are planning to be there. Unfortunately we will miss John's talk on the 18th Sept. as I am going to spend a week with my friend in Spain who I haven't seen for a couple of years......just long, long phone calls (Eddie and her husband say it would be cheaper for one or other of us to fly over!! How rude!!). I leave on the 21st from Luton so can't be in the far West just a few days prior to leaving. I didn't know about John's talk when I booked. But once back on the 27th we will be travelling down the highways and byways to Bryher and hope to enjoy all the Festival has to offer. Looking forward to seeing as many FOMS'ers and forum members as possible, very much looking forward to it. I keep looking at the 'what's going on' catalogue and have looked at many of the links. Very interesting. Hope you make it Liz and look forward to seeing you there. Would love to have open house at Bryher for anyone who wants to stay but it's not really in a fit state for visitors, though we love it as a parent loves their scruffy child.
Patricia asked me yesterday what we are doing as I always seem to be saying we have been working on it and we are held up for this or that reason.......well our latest hold up, I think you will find a reasonable one, is that finally we have got the builders quote for the alterations, bearing in mind this has nothing to do with the insurance work that came to almost £20,000.....and the quote is for £79,000!!!! yes just a drop in the ocean, eh? When I told Mim and John last week I actually enhanced the figure and said it was for £80,000.....then had to come clean and say - well actually £79,000.......Mim said I must stop exagerating.........We're beginning to think it would have been cheaper to knock it down and rebuild it completely. The builder has now told us he has had to 'cover himself' and that it might be £15,000 less.......oh lucky us!! So what about covering ourselves? If we say go ahead and let's hope it does work out cheaper (mind you it would have to be more than £15,000 cheaper) and it doesn't, we have accepted his quote and so legally we would be bound to pay it, well that's how I see it. It's a bit like going into a shop for something, you look at the price and think it's too much but the sales assitant says 'well it might be less but you will have to agree to buy it, I'll ring it up on the till and then there's no going back you will have to pay what the till says, whether it's the tag price or cheaper'......you wouldn't agree to it would you? I don't know if we are being seen as daft or the builder is just chancing his luck. Another builder from Mawgan who I have contact with via his brother is so busy February would be the earliest he could begin and that depends on the next months being good weather. Plus he can't even give us a quote for two months. We are looking through Yellow Pages which is not what we wanted to do as our original builder does work well and is good at his job. Ah well......Bryher will be worth it, even though Patricia asked if we ever wished we hadn't bought it.

[Kath Mulligan]

I am travelling down to Penzance on 30 September and coming home again 6 October, Liz and shall be staying with Jane who has very kindly offered to put me up (or should that be put up with me!).

We are planning to visit some of the Open Studios, go to the concert in St Buryan Church on Sunday evening, and hopefully fit in a trip to Oliver Land too. Don't know what else as yet. I'm really looking forward to it and hoping for some Indian Summer weather while we are there.

Kath

PS. Gloria, I think you need a visit to Oliver Land too for a whole host of Ambrose Rock wishes to get you through this wretched building work at Bryher. I was really hoping that this other builder would be able to help you, but February is dragging things out a bit too much, isn't it? Before you know it, another year will have gone by and you still won't have made the final move. Wish I could magic up a suitable builder for you but all my brother's contacts are up here, so that's no use to you.

[jane jackson]

I'm looking forward to your visit Kath and the Arts Festival. Do hope the weather bucks up by then as it's been sunshine and very heavy showers today and is pouring at the moment!

Gloria, that sounds an awful lot of money but it will be worth it in the end when you and Eddie have the Cornish home you're happy with. I can see your point re the £15,000 possible difference. Good reliable builders do seem very hard to come by especially when you haven't lived in an area long so don't have the contacts built up over the years.

Look forward to meeting you Liz ~hope you can make it down here for the Festival.

[adesmith]

Thanks Liz, it was a bit of a shock to the system and as you know I am not overly settled there at the moment so I was a bit miserable yesterday evening. A bit better today and tomorrow the pupils are in and I enjoy being with them and actually teaching so that will be good.

I am a bit sad that our visit to Cornwall is a bit later in October - it would have been nice to be there when all the rest of you are. I have got a feeling that we are going to have a nice warm and sunny indian summer and I hope that it is when you are all visiting beautiful Cornwall and enjoying the arts festival.

Gloria I really hope that you manage to get something sorted asap so that you can really enjoy Bryher. Its going to be fab when its finished!

[Liz]

It will be lovely to meet you all if we are able to get to the Arts Festival. I would love to have heard John's talk on the Wednesday but unfortunately my John will be working until the Thursday evening.

I think the Pints and Poetry Evening at The Lamorna Wink, will be our first chance to meet up with any one of you who will be there for the festival.

I was really interested to see the illustrated talk about Seal Weatherby advertised, I really like his work, in fact I have a poster above my PC which I bought from the Penlee House Gallery, showing one of his horse paintings. It is advertising an exhibition which took place in 2007. We always visit the Gallery when we're in Cornwall and I noticed today that there will be an exhibition of Marianne Stokes work during the Lamorna Art Festival week. Her painting 'Madonna and Child' has to one of my all time favourites and I'm not usually into religious art. I love her use of red in her work - quite stunning.

[Kath Mulligan]

I love the Penlee Gallery too, Liz, but unfortunately it was closed the week we were down in June as the Wild Cornwall exhibition (which I saw at Memorial Weekend) was just finishing and they were setting up the new one.

Don't know if the Pints and Poetry evening is on mine and Jane's agenda - if so, probably see you there, if not, no doubt we shall meet up somewhere during the Festival.

Kath

[Liz]

I'll have to make sure that I know what you all look like before I go - I think I remember seeing photographs somewhere of you all at the March gathering.

[Janet Swan]

Gloria - this is probably too late now, but have you looked at 'Trust A Trader' website to find builders in Cornwall? I found a roofing contractor through this site and was very pleased with his work and the price he charged me. IF there are any builders in the West Cornwall area registered, you would also be able to see comments posted by their clients.

Janet

[gloria townsin]

Thanks Janet and no I didn't know about this site/service. Will take a look. We are far from settled on a builder, we need to get more quotes and proper ones at that, non of the spoken 'well it covers this or that' I want to see in print what it does and does not include.

We will try to get to as many of the Festival days as poss. and if Eddie can't be there I will drive 'Katie Ka' and go alone. (I live in hope we will be in the midst of some kind of building work by then, although it isn't far away). We could use the badge system as per Memorial Weekend. Or 'Forum FOMSers' will have to think of a way to identify themselves, only no funny hats please!!

[Kath Mulligan]

There are several photos of Gloria, me, John, Mim, Patricia, Jennie and Gerald in the AGM section of All Albums, Liz, and if you look at my photos under All Albums, you will also see Jane on one of those pics.

Don't know offhand of any other forum members who are coming to the Festival.

As Gloria says we could use the stick on name badge scheme that we use at the AGM, but having said that, I think I should feel a bit embarrassed - like a child on a school outing - walking around Lamorna wearing a name badge!! ;) It's fine in the room at the Queen's Hotel when everyone else is also sporting the name tag. Mind you, if we all meet up at any of the events, you couldn't possibly miss us - just listen out for the noisy chatter and you will have found us!!!

Kath

[Liz]

I'll check through the albums Kath, haven't a clue what I've done with the FOMS badges I was sent, never mind there's time to look.

I'm really looking forward to some time in Cornwall again, I get so excited even though I've seen everywhere several times over - well not everywhere, there are always hidden away places to find and explore. My favourite part of the journey down is when we turn off the M5 on to the A30, it always feels as though we're nearly there, even though there are still many miles to go. Likewise, the worst part of the return journey is turning on to the M5 again, the holiday really is over then and its a long slog back up to Shropshire.

[Kath Mulligan]

It's an even longer slog up to North Derbyshire, Liz!! I know what you mean about the turn onto the A30 though. We always think, nearly there now, even though there is probably well over 100 miles to go - and oh the joy of seeing those signs "Welcome to Kernow". A lot of my pleasure in turning onto the A30 is the knowledge that the horrible motorway journey is behind us. We generally join the M6 at Sandbach, then it is motorway all the way to Exeter.

I don't remember having a FOMS badge amongst my membership pack, will have to dig it out and have a look. Seem to think I got a keyring but it's a few years since I joined now, so I may have got that wrong.

Kath

[Liz]

You are absolutely right Kath - it was key rings not badges - its the brain cell not working again... :girl_wacko:

[gloria townsin]

The badges I mentioned were just stick on labels we used at the AGM I have got a brooch with my name on. I've got a feeling it was bought for me at Blackpool one holiday time. So I could wear that as it doesn't actually look like a childs kind of thing.
I wouldn't worry Liz we are bound to find a way to meet, I'll let you have our telephone number at Bryher and my mobile, though I'm not that good about keeping my mobile charged - it seems to always be bleeping at me to top it up. Only thing is, as Adrian discovered, if you are actually on the Lizard and use a mobile to ring me it might be difficult to get a signal, think Adrian had a problem by the harbour. I'll send my tel. no via the members page. Kath knows it already.

[Kath Mulligan]

And I'll give you my mobile number, Liz, so one way or another I'm sure we'll find a way to all meet up. Will PM it to you.

Kath

[Liz]

I wouldn't worry Liz we are bound to find a way to meet, I'll let you have our telephone number at Bryher and my mobile, though I'm not that good about keeping my mobile charged - it seems to always be bleeping at me to top it up. I'll send my tel. no via the members page. Kath knows it already.

Sorry I haven't replied to this Gloria - somehow I missed seeing it. I'll let you have my numbers as well.
Not long now until the Festival, it will be wonderful if we do get a touch of an Indian summer, not that it really matters, Cornwalls such a magical place whatever the weather...

[adesmith]

My favourite part of the journey down is when we turn off the M5 on to the A30, it always feels as though we're nearly there

My favourite part of a journey to Cornwall is as the A30 dips down just before Launceston and crosses the Tamar. I dont know if anyone has read 'Bella Poldark' by Winston Graham (the final Poldark book written just before he died) but it ends with Ross, Demelza and Bella Poldark returning to Cornwall after their adventures. At about that point Bella asks for the coach to be stopped and she climbs out (they think she wants the loo) and when she climbs back in she is carrying some soil and she says 'Cornish earth'. I always think of that now as we arrive back on Cornish soil.

[Kath Mulligan]

I have got all the Poldark books, Adrian and absolutely love them. Got both the TV series on video too, and am now getting them on DVD as the videos are getting a bit worn. Have you read Winston Graham's autobiography too? That is a super book full of the most wonderful photos of Cornwall.

Talking of books, in the Summer edition of Wavelength, Patrica quotes a passage about being called back to Cornwall from a book called The Call of Cornwall by Frank Baker and I decided to try to find it even though it is now out of print. Good old Amazon came up trumps and I have just had an email to say that it has been despatched to me today, so I shall keep that to read on the train to Penzance.

Kath