Tuesday 15th September

[adesmith]

Well it really does feel like autumn in Newport. The wind is whistling around the house and there is a chill in the air. Although I have tidied a lot of the flower beds up for autumn/winter I did leave some Cosmos in that were by the front door. They had grown quite tall and had lots of buds. Thought I would leave them until I really had to take them out but the wind did it for me and they were flattened when I got back from work, completely snapped. Never mind. I am going to sort out my fuschias and geraniums over the next week or two and get them ready to over winter in the greenhouse. I also need to wrap up my treasured succulents (many bought in Cornwall) so they are protected. Then its time to plant the bulbs and all done for another year, apart from a bit of tidying etc.

On another note, I am really enjoying the Wavelength newsletters. I needed a touch of Cornwall when I got in today and they did the job nicely. I read them whilst on the exercise bike and the dreaded 15 minutes flew by!

Fingers crossed for good weather for everyone for the Lamorna festival. Please save a bit of sunshine for us when we are down at the end of October!

[jane jackson]

It was certainly a glorious day down here today and we've only just now shut the lounge french doors at 10pm. Have been over to the Lizard with my friend who's visiting and we sat outside at the cafe by the point having lunch. We did drive through Mullion down to the cove and thought of you Gloria but didn't know where Bryher was so couldn't call in for tea. We're making the most of this Indian Summer so do hope it stays or comes again for Lamorna Arts Festival and your half term Adrian.

[Kath Mulligan]

It was certainly a glorious day down here today and we've only just now shut the lounge french doors at 10pm. Have been over to the Lizard with my friend who's visiting and we sat outside at the cafe by the point having lunch. We did drive through Mullion down to the cove and thought of you Gloria but didn't know where Bryher was so couldn't call in for tea. We're making the most of this Indian Summer so do hope it stays or comes again for Lamorna Arts Festival and your half term Adrian.

Think Gloria has gone back to Croxley today, Jane so you wouldn't have seen her anyway.

After a grey start, it's been a lovely day here too with warm sunshine this afternoon, but it has got a bit chilly this evening and the wind has got up a bit. I was standing out on the patio watering my new lawn with the hose when a sudden gust blew the water back all over me - only had a light blouse on so it was a bit of a shock!!

I was looking at the BBC's long range forecast yesterday and they have said by the end of the month it will be feeling decidedly autumnal with the possibility of heavy rain and strong winds - let's hope they are wrong! I had a sneaky feeling this Indian summer had come just a bit too early to last until the Festival.

Kath

[Annette]

Decidedly chilly here today and very cloudy. We did light the fire last night! Autumn is definately here, even some of our trees are changing colour and that is usually more October than September.On a positive note a new series of Doc Martin on Sunday to cheer us up.

[Sybille Weber]

Rather unsettled and cool over here in Germany for more than a week now with temperatures between 13 and 17°C quite unlike Cornwall where, judging by the Minack Theatre webcam and all those beautiful pictures on Cornwall webcam, summer is still in full swing. Wish I was there. Don't mind the autumnal weather over here though as I have not been able to go out anyway after my operation last week and will have to go into hospital again tomorrow. Hope to be back home on the weekend though when lovely warm late summer weather is forecast. A nice rest by the lake would be lovely.

[Kath Mulligan]

Hope everything goes ok for you Sybille and that you are soon back home able to enjoy sitting by the lake.

Brightish and breezy here today. Just come in from a trip to Buxton and coming back via the scenic route I couldn't believe how many of the trees on Long Hill have lost almost all their leaves already. Drove past a house whose walls were completely covered in Virginia Creeper which was vivid scarlet - stunning sight, was wishing I had my camera with me. The hills are all covered in purple heather too so it was an enjoyable journey.

Kath

[gloria townsin]

Annette you have just made my day, even month with Doc Martin news.....hope the new series is as good as the others, would hate it to start to fade storyline wise.

Yes we had left Bryher by the time you arrived Jane.....well at least it was 11.15am as we drove out of the driveway. Easy to find though, turn right in front of the Garage (which will apparently soon not be there as they are pulling it down to build seven houses and two flats - something that didn't show up on our searches), anyway that's Trewoon Road, you will quickly find Bryher after you've turned. I envy you your harbour visit.....we had a lovely morning there last Friday before driving on to Cadgewith.........where I took the Barn Lane (Road?) entry, shall make sure I don't do that again!! I was very lucky to be going downwards when nothing was coming upwards as there are few, if any, passing places and the road is single file. As I have just read the little book 'Once Twas Serpentine and Fish' by Michael Tangye I found Cadgewith even more interesting than before as I could identify the old cottages, fishing lofts and curing cellars. Also 'Kiddleywinks' where an elderly man was watering the garden, on our way back we noticed the garden was full of birds darting around as he had numerous bird tables with food.
Saturday we went to Falmouth, lovely weather. Sunday we went to Gunwalloe as already mentioned, Monday the weather wasn't so good and I felt really not well with my horrible cough.
On the way down we noticed the trees and hedgerows changing colour and even more so coming back. Autumn....how my Dad hated it knowing what follows. I don't mind Autumn really, used to make me think of cosy evenings indoors knitting and planning, but now I do wonder if I will also dread it as I get older.
When are you next down Adrian? I think you mentioned half term but not sure when that is.

[Kath Mulligan]

Annette you have just made my day, even month with Doc Martin news.....hope the new series is as good as the others, would hate it to start to fade storyline wise.



Mine too! What a mouth-watering weekend in prospect. Strictly is back on Friday & Saturday, then Doc Martin on Sunday. All the decent programmes returning to help to ease the thought that autumn is here, with winter not far behind. I should think the new series of Island Parish will be starting soon too.

Kath

[Sybille Weber]

We also have Doc Martin on TV over here, however, it's a German adaption set in a village on the German Northsea coast. It is something out of the ordinary though and we usually don't miss an episode. Would be interesting to see the English original.
The leaves on many trees are starting to turn red and yellow over here, too. Much too early as we had hoped for a late summer holiday by the German seaside at the end of September. However, having missed at work for two weeks now because of my illness I will not be able to have a holiday then anyway. Maybe sometime in October.

[Liz]

I'm really pleased about the return of Doc Martin I so much enjoyed the previous series, fingers crossed the next will be as good.
I love the intro pictures of Port Isaac and could watch them over and over again!

I hadn't realized Island Parish will also be returning - makes autumn seem quite worthwhile...
I've only had one holiday in the Scillies and loved it but its so expensive to get there and then accommodation on top - makes it somewhat out of reach at the moment.

The Lamorna Festival looms ever nearer, we'll have to arrange some sort of meeting place/time for folks who want to meet up?

[Annette]

I'm really pleased about the return of Doc Martin I so much enjoyed the previous series, fingers crossed the next will be as good.
I love the intro pictures of Port Isaac and could watch them over and over again!



Errmm....we do watch them over and over again, and Saving Grace :biggrin:

I have only been to the Scillies once, to Tresco on the helicopter. Its one of the best places I have ever been to, it was a golden June day and the sea was almost sapphire blue, it was really magical.

[Sybille Weber]

The Scillies were on TV here yesterday. It was a feature about a family (by the name of 'Julian' I think) who run a daffodil farm in the Scillies! I guess Jane (at Dorminack) with her connections in the flower trade will probably know them.
Lots of beautiful scenery and daffadil fields in it, too, and a sea just as you describe it, Annette.

[adesmith]

I wonder if they were the family that run Churchtown Flowers, Sybille? We have bought flowers from there quite often and they are always delivered fresh and on time. In the winter and spring they have Narcissci which have a wonderful scent and then Pinks in the summer. They are very reasonable compared to most mail order flowers and so we have sent them for lots of 'get well soons', birthdays and treated ourselves as well.

I love 'An Island Parish' and I also enjoyed 'A Seaside Parish'. We noticed when walking on the harbour at Penzance that they had been filming 'An Island Parish', so it wont be long! Never watched Doc Martin. Maybe we should give it a go. We do record all of the old Wycliffe programs but not being a 'crime' program fan it is primarily for the Cornish scenery.

As I drove home today I noticed just how much the trees are changing colour but I have to say at this stage I really like it. I love autumn, always have. Its funny how a season when so much is dying back around us can be so beautiful.

We will be in Cornwall next at the end of October, Gloria. I think it is the 23rd October when we travel down. Its only a short trip (Friday night until Wednesday) as Rachel is at work and I will inevitably have some work to do. We are bringing Rachels Mum and Dad down as we usually do on our autumn trip. Cant wait to be in Cornwall again. Hopefully Rupert will have grown his few inches so that he can climb up Lizard Lighthouse!

[Barbara]

Good to know another series of Doc Martin is in the pipeline. I'm not sure when it will get to us - probably won't take too long. I'm always charmed by the scenery. Even while the show is running, I find I one eye in the background trying to take in all the details of the setting.
We are moving into spring over here and although it is still a little chilly, the days are a becoming a little warmer and the willow down at our duckpond has begun to shoot its leaves.
We went for a drive into a nearby valley recently - well known around these parts as a beauty spot.These days it is full of wineries. It used to be a very productive dairy farming region and there are still quite a few working farms there. It is at its best this time of year - rolling green hills and roads that meander all about. As the summer progresses the hills will lose there rich shade of green and turn to gold.
We visited a curious little place called Gnomesville. It is out in the middle of nowhere snuggled into a grove of trees beside a trickling stream. Hundreds and hundreds of ceramic gnomes live there. They are clumped here and there - people just bring them along to this place and move them in. My son was enchanted - it was like a real village! - something I would have loved to have encountered when I was a child.(I was always a great one for pixies and fairies)
The day we were there was very rainy, but it sort of added to the atmosphere. The gnomes live a pretty carefree life, no doubt - they looked perfect through the rain and the mist.

[adesmith]

I love the sound of Gnomesville Barbara! Wish it was closer, my son would love it.

[gloria townsin]

That reminds me of some long ago friends and neighbours who's four year old son insisted they were moving to 'Gobbelin'.......in fact it was Godalming. He is now 46....eeek!! how has all that time flown by?

[Sybille Weber]

I wonder if they were the family that run Churchtown Flowers, Sybille? We have bought flowers from there quite often and they are always delivered fresh and on time. In the winter and spring they have Narcissci which have a wonderful scent and then Pinks in the summer. They are very reasonable compared to most mail order flowers and so we have sent them for lots of 'get well soons', birthdays and treated ourselves as well.
.........

Yes, Adrian, I believe it was Churchtown Flowers. A very nice family run business, it seems.

[Kath Mulligan]

I've used Churchtown Flowers several times too, and always been very pleased with them. Their narcissi are very heavily scented and always reminds me of my first Memorial Weekend in 2007 when there was a vase of scented narcissi on the table at the Morrab Library.

Kath

[jane jackson]

I've been out all day with my friend and having looked at this forum, you've all been very busy posting ~ finding it difficult to keep up!

Good luck for tomorrow Sybille, hope you get your health problems resolved this time.

I too use Churchtown Farm on St Martins for sending flowers, they are very good.

I'm also looking forward to Doc Martin on Sunday and "Strictly". Island Parish is great too.

We went to the Minack this afternoon for The Mikado and that was really good. A beautiful day too with lots of sunshine.

[gloria townsin]

I dropped by at the theatre Jane via the web-cam, didn't realise you were in the audience, it looked beautiful weatherwise.

[Annette]

Thank you all for the tip off for Churchtown flowers, sounds perfect for my Sisters birthday next month.

When we were in Port Isaac in the spring they were holding a public meeting to discuss the new series being filmed in April.

If you have not seen "Saving Grace" its well worth watching as its the forerunner to Doc Martin, the scenery is breathtaking and Brenda Blethyn is a great actress. Martin Clunes of course plays the Dr.

Barbara, we went to the Camel Valley vineyard last October and the autumn colours of the vines and surrounding trees was really beautiful. its another lovely place to visit for Christmas present bottles of wine :biggrin: