Sunday 1st August

[jane jackson]

It's still warm here in PZ but unfortunately it's raining, more than just a drizzle. I was thinking about Adrian on his holidays down here as last year we met them in Trengwainton Gardens on the sunday morning and we were intending to walk the dogs there this morning but not at the moment ~ don't fancy leaves dripping water down my neck! We had a good day yesterday for gardening although not much sunshine but it was very pleasant working out there. Thought of you Kath as I bought 3 pink thrift plants from B&Q on wednesday and planted them out yesterday. I'd gone looking for heathers as our few small ones are flowering now but no luck there but then I saw the pink thrift so I grabbed them. Earlier in the summer all I could find were white ones which I didn't fancy. I also bought yet another fuschia but it's a hardy one with pink and green leaves so couldn't resisit it.

Can't believe it's now August! This is the month I have to book my train tickets for visiting Hertfordshire friends in October ~ that sounds autumnal!

Here's to hoping August will be a lovely sunny month.

[pauline]

Nice but Dim describes the weather here today. Just thinking about getting a jumper.

Can't quite make it out but our lawns have dozens of mini mole hills and kicking one has revealed flying ant nests. Out with the powder as the cat is bound to sit on top of one.

Hope Adrian and family enjoyed their hols. No doubt we will hear soon as to their exploits.

[gloria townsin]

Stormy is the only way to describe the weather here...........not actually storming and the sun has just appeared but still it is heavy as though a good storm is needed. I am a bit headachy which is how I get in this weather. Have naughtily added to my family today..........a Pomeranian puppy. He would love the girls to play but they are being a bit prima-donnarish and just about tolerating his baby antics. He was bred by my vet's nurse who has bred some lovely poms....he is zommped out at present having chased a tennis ball, the orange one not the luminous yellow, duffed up his tiny cuddly toy and had his lunch. Soon be time for his dinner. I really thought he wouldn't eat when I got him home as it would all be too strange for him, but Jenny assured me he would, and he did! I should think his tummy is about the size of a walnut so only tiny quantities at a time. He would look funny standing next to your girls Jane. Although Jenny has a Munsterlander and Rottie, Morse and Lovejoy, plus a Chinese Crested, two JR's, Sidney being the eldest, Anise, Nutmeg and Elianore the poms. And she runs an obedience dog club. Plus she has cats.

[Kath Mulligan]

Apparently it has been quite overcast here all day today but Elizabeth and I headed over the Pennines to Butterfly House, between Sheffield and Worksop, and then to Renishaw Hall and Gardens, again near Sheffield. It was black as night with very threatening clouds as we drove over the Snake Pass but once we dropped down from the peaks the clouds lifted and the sun came out and we have had a very pleasant day.

Butterfly House is not somewhere we would go again, pricey for what you get and some of their animals don't look to be in the best condition. There were two red squirrels in an enclosure which worried both of us because they were displaying real signs of stressed behaviour, rocking and dancing about almost on the same spot and not being still for a moment.

Renishaw House and Gardens was beautiful, and somewhere I have not visited before. We didn't have time to go round the Hall, just wandered around the gardens instead which were stunning. Lots of garden "rooms" with sculptures and shaped hedges giving wonderful vistas onto different sectors of the gardens. Lots of nectar plants too so the bees and butterflies were having an absolute field day. I have taken lots of photos so some of them will no doubt be finding their way onto Facebook later.

Pauline, we shan't be hearing about Adrian's holiday just yet because they have another week to go yet, not due home until next Sunday.

Kath

[jane jackson]

Oh Gloria how wonderful ! You'll have great fun with your new addition to your family, he sounds tiny compared to our 2. Hope your girls enjoy his company and his antics ~ he'll keep them young and you on your toes. What does Eddie think? Suppose he's used to you bringing home all these animals over the years. Have fun!

[gloria townsin]

I did run it past him first...........wouldn't be fair not to.........I think he has got used to me and my animals........left to himself he probably wouldn't bother but he enjoys them once they are here, he wasn't as keen when I was showing and had more than enough dogs to look after, that is the silly side of the hobby. I have to say I do enjoy a smaller family. It will take the girls a while to get used to him at the moment they are being real woosies - he is as light as a feather but does baby pounces which they don't think much of. They will settle down.

[Janet Swan]

Aw! Congratulations on your new "baby", Gloria. Looking forward to photos. While in Sheringham on Saturday, my friend and I (both cat people) were absolutely enchanted by a little black labrador puppy out, for the first time having completed her injections, with her proud owners. I love the way young animals "baby pounce", as Gloria says, they have such a zest for life when young.

Janet

[Linda]

Congratulations on your new 'baby' Gloria!!!

Oh you are going to have such fun aren't you!

..and so 'wee' as they say up here...
:)

[Kath Mulligan]

How did I manage to miss the bit in your post about your new "baby"? Thought you had decided not to have any more dogs, only donks! What is he going to be called? I can imagine that your girls are finding him a bit of a handful at the moment. Look forward to seeing some pics of him.

How's Matt doing by the way?

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I know ......... my resolve weakened when I saw Jenny's puppies when they were three or four weeks old. I think his name will be Trystan........not quite the conventional way of spelling it, but I guess it will be shortened to Tryst.....so a bit of Cornish connection. The girls are slowly beginning to come round. He has decided they aren't much fun......but he has lots of toys and the best of all is the inside cardboard of a toilet roll....wouldn't you just know it?? I had thought if I had another dog I would look for a rescue but all the small breed rescue dogs are miles away in Wales and with things as they are I just couldn't see when we might be able to get there. Local rescue's all seem to have large or medium breeds and I didn't want a big dog........I loved my Shepherds but taking them back and forth as we are at pres. I need a transportable size, which he is.
A viewing tomorrow........but who knows........
Matthew is unfortunately not much better re backache.........which I just really didn't want to hear.......neither does he for that matter. He has an appointment at the doctors on Friday so I have told him to really impress that things are no better the pain is just the same as his next appointment with the surgeon is in 5-6 weeks.......then if he has to have another scheduled that will probably take another 2 - 4 weeks and so it goes on........I can see we will have to bite the bullett and pay but if it involves surgery we will be in for around £25,000 according to Matthew's quote. All the years my Dad and Eddie not to mention Matt and myself have paid in to the NHS to discover they are doing operations to enable women to appear 'in tact' for marriage - blood boiling or what? Then for something such as this...pay or wait and wait and wait. We paid for his last two knee operations, plus a couple of procedures for myself, it is infuriating.

[jane jackson]

I'm sorry to hear that Matt is still in pain after his treatment, how frustrating for him. At his age you just want to get on with life and not be waiting on hospital appointments. I agree with you that there seem to be too many operations done on the NHS that aren't necessary. To have to pay £25,000 would be dreadful after all those years of paying in to the Health Service.

Good luck with the viewing today. Perhaps they'll fall in love with Tryst and want to buy his home!

[pauline]

Pleased to hear you have called your little boy "Trystan" as you know I'm a great fan of "All Creatures". I have always had a fancy for a toy poodle but it MUST be black. They are so soft and cuddly and I love animals with long coats but for the time being am very happy with Jasper my cat. Good luck, I'm sure he is adorable and a great time waster!

[Sybille Weber]

Lovely to hear about little Trystan, Gloria. (Just like Pauline it immediately reminded me of 'All Creatures', too.)
Sorry to hear though that Matt is still suffering from pain. I so hope the pain will gradually cease and that something can be found to make him feel better again.

The weekend over here was quite hot and sunny (around 27/28 degr. C). We spent the weekend in the Taunus Hills at my mother-in-law's who was celebrating her 80th birthday. It would have been nice if there hadn't been such a lot of road works and hold-ups on the roads. It took us 4 hours to get there instead of the usual 2 1/2 and the same again on the way back. We arrived only just in time for her birthday dinner. There were 35 people altogether, and many stayed until Sunday, too. We did go for a walk on Sunday morning as the countryside is so nice around there, but it was too hot for me, so it was rather a short walk. We spent the rest of the day in the garden, having lunch and tea there with all the others, and although I tried to sit in the shade whenever possible, I came back home with a sunburn.
Overcast and a bit breezy now, but dry and around 20 degr.

[gloria townsin]

It seems roadworks are the dirge of all journeys........a journey that the sat nav tells you will take an hour can have at least half an hour added to it, it's always the last thing on our journey back from Cornwall as they have been working on our local section of the M25 for a couple of years.
Wow your temperatures have been hot, not nearly that high here though muggy and generally warm but little or no sun. Today torrential rain, now a bit of sun, so changeable, we did have a few streaks of lightening earlier and some thunder which didn't go down well with Bobbi......she really hates it and fireworks and yet Faith isn't bothered so she hasn't taken a lead from her.
Matthew is saying he will go back to his flat today and see how he gets on but I would rather he stay until he has seen the GP at the end of the week. But I expect he will do what he wants......as long as he comes back if he has a problem.

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Roadworks around Norwich are making parts look untidy and not good for the summer visitors plus adding extra time to journeys. Not very summery here today either overcast and threatening to rain. Looking forward to temperatures in the high twenties again!!

Hope Matthew will soon recover Gloria and congratulations on your new little fur-baby Trystan. I can well imagine how cute he looks!

Gill

[jane jackson]

:rant:I've just typed in this thread only to be told I wasn't allowed to and to log in again!!!!!!!!!! Think it was because I stopped to look up something for Bryan online and it didn't like what I was looking for and logged me offline....................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was saying that luckily there aren't many roadworks around here at the moment thank goodness and I agrre Gill it's not very welcoming for visitors to have them.

My friend Linda has arrived from Chard in Somerset and has just told me her new neighbours have 3 Poms ~ how about that for a coinsidence?

We're off for a day trip on The Scillonian tomorrow as we thought it was something her 13 yr old son would enjoy. They went as a family to St Marys for a fortnight 3 years ago but on the plane so he hasn't done the sea journey. I'll think of you all when we pass Carn Barges and Tater Dhu lighthouse. When I went past in April I really looked hard but couldn't see Dorminack cottage but my distance sight isn't so good and I really don't want to have to take my driving glasses.
Hopefully the weather will be good as we've taken the gamble on the forecast being accurate. It's so lovely here now after a rainy start I hope it hasn't peaked too soon!

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Have a lovely time with your friends Jane. How good to have a day trip on The Scillonian sailing past Carn Barges and Tater Dhu what an adventure! Have you a pair of binoculars or a telescope to take with you so you can see Dorminack?
Sunshine is on order for you tomorrow ~ enjoy!

Gill

[Janet Swan]

For those who would like to live Jane's journey on The Scillonian, do take a look at Cornwall Webcam (under the green Link tab above) as Charles has just returned from a holiday there and today there are lots of lovely pics of his journey.

Janet

[Linda]

How did your viewing go Gloria?

[Kath Mulligan]

Roadworks around Norwich are making parts look untidy and not good for the summer visitors plus adding extra time to journeys. Not very summery here today either overcast and threatening to rain. Looking forward to temperatures in the high twenties again!!

Gill

Hope those roadworks are completed before I head for Norwich next month, Gill! My friend will be driving with me as navigator so if we get diverted, goodness knows where we will end up. May be late for our get together and sending out urgent rescue messages! I've already asked Gary for directions as to the best place to park since I haven't been to Norwich for over 20 years, and my husband was the driver then so I wasn't taking much notice of where we were going. It's probably all changed since then anyway.

Kath

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Hopefully the roadworks will be gone in September Kath. As for parking the Park and Ride service is very handy with no need to drive into the centre. If we meet at the castle cafe as suggested by Garyto me in the spring then the P&R bus stops in Castle Meadow nearby to the cafe. Have you heard from Gary in the hope of changing the day of our FOMS meet as Saturdays are not good for you?

Today we were at Southwold. We had a lovely walk (route march) across to Warbleswick and took the ferry (small row boat) back across to Southwold where we stopped for fish & chips on the quayside. The harbour is quaint and countryside around is lovely. Well worth a visit. Did anybody see the Twiggy documentary this week which came from Southwold?

[Kath Mulligan]

Gill, if you check your Private Messages I have sent you one detailing all Gary's plans for our FOMS meet - somewhat more ambitious than I was expecting!! It's now taking place on Sunday 19th September. He is still suggesting the Castle museum cafe, along with a river cruise in the morning and a charabanc tour of Norwich in the afternoon. He will be texting you shortly about it all.

Re Southwold, we went there whilst we were staying at Rushall Lodge four years ago and tried to get fish and chips from that cafe at Walberswick (?) but it was shut. We also got very wet because we had walked quite a distance from where we had parked, without coats, and suddenly the heavens opened! Oh boy, were we soaked by the time we got back to the car.

Kath

The Park and Ride sounds absolutely ideal for us. Does it run on Sundays, do you know?

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Kath I have just seen your message and sent a reply. Unfortunately I have just realised the Park & Ride does not run on Sundays. Could we not change the day as a weekday would be so much easier for you if the meet is going to much longer than originally planned? But then a weekday may not be good for others if OK with us.

The fish & chips cafe is on Southwold Harbour. Fortunately there was no rain not too warm though but the fish & chips were very nice.

Gill

[pauline]

I saw the Twiggy documentary at Southwold which is about an hour from home. Felixstowe is our nearest coast and people think there is just the dock area but along the other side of the promenade the beach is very good, not crowded at all and the town has a variety of shops and cafes.

Did anyone notice Twiggy had dangley earrings to start with which changed into studs. Probably filmed over two days. Southwold is a lovely place to visit although paying 10p to enter the ladies is a bit much, but I know a free W.C nearby!

Have just been watching "Earthcam" in New York where people are waveing to the camera and the traffic is noisy, a lot of hooting horns. Terrific. Can't seem to find a webcam in Cornwall which is actually live. Anyone know of one?

[Kath Mulligan]

I saw the Twiggy documentary at Southwold which is about an hour from home. Felixstowe is our nearest coast and people think there is just the dock area but along the other side of the promenade the beach is very good, not crowded at all and the town has a variety of shops and cafes.

Did anyone notice Twiggy had dangley earrings to start with which changed into studs. Probably filmed over two days. Southwold is a lovely place to visit although paying 10p to enter the ladies is a bit much, but I know a free W.C nearby!

Have just been watching "Earthcam" in New York where people are waveing to the camera and the traffic is noisy, a lot of hooting horns. Terrific. Can't seem to find a webcam in Cornwall which is actually live. Anyone know of one?

The Minack Theatre has a live webcam, Pauline. John and Mim have waved to us FOMS members on it before now when they have been at a performance.

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

Kath I have just seen your message and sent a reply. Unfortunately I have just realised the Park & Ride does not run on Sundays. Could we not change the day as a weekday would be so much easier for you if the meet is going to much longer than originally planned? But then a weekday may not be good for others if OK with us.

The fish & chips cafe is on Southwold Harbour. Fortunately there was no rain not too warm though but the fish & chips were very nice.

Gill

Too bad about the Park and Ride, that would have been perfect. Ah well, never mind, we shall just have to brave the city roads, or even look at whether we can get in by bus, since both us have our bus passes!! It can't be changed to a weekday because of the others who are coming as some of them are working during the week. We shall be there by one means or another.

Kath

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Pauline I didn't notice the earring change by Twiggy very observant of you! Yes it is a bit much having to pay 10p to go to the ladies. The free one I know is by the brewery. Is there another?

Haven't watched Earthcam sounds like fun.

[Mary Young]

Another coincidence. We are going to Southwold for a 5 day break end sept beg oct. We have never been there before but reading your posts i'm beginning to picture it. Will have to try that fish and chip shop.
This is an unexpected holiday. Daves brother will be 70 then so instead of having a party my sister in law has rented a large seven bedroom house and invited us and other members of the family to stay with them. Should be a fun few days.

Mary

[gloria townsin]

The viewing went o.k. or as far as I can tell. A single man who is relocating from Bristol but he is looking at all the options open to him........ie. house, apartment, bungalow etc. So it will be a while before we know if he is really interested in our property. Tell the truth with all that is going on with Matt at the moment I'm not really that bothered, it's really better that we are on the spot to look after him should he need further treatment, which I suspect he might well. But how I would like to be at Bryher........

[jane jackson]

I saw the Twiggy programme but didn't notice her change of earrings ~ very observant Pauline! Bryan always says I'm not very observant. I did enjoy the programme especially as we'd been to Southwold last year with a friend who lives at Finningham near Stowmarket. It's her favourite place for a trip out and we really enjoyed it. Had fish and chips too.

[Janet Swan]

Have Twiggy and Alan on video so must remember to watch it soon. As for 10p to visit the loo, that's nowt - in London at Victoria Station it's 30p but St Pancras is free! I remember I used to pay a dear old man 5p a time to use the loos at Penzance Bus Station some years ago - but he's gone now and the loos are worse for his absence.

Janet

[Gill Bilcliffe]

I am sure you will be having a good time at Southwold Dave and Mary in September. Whenever we go we don't want to leave feeling a day there is not enough! Just down the road there is RSPB Minsmere to visit and lots of pretty villages maybe too much to do in a five day stay especially with a family gathering too!
All being well and dodging the showers we are going back to Southwold again tomorrow but we will have to skip the fish and chips as indulging once a week is more than enough!

Gloria you are there to help Matt now which is important and hopefully by the time the house is sold all will be well with him. Bryher is on the horizon so keep positive.

Gill

[Kath Mulligan]

Enjoy Southwold again tomorrow, Gill and you too Mary when you go there. I have always been fascinated by the lighthouse being set back from the seafront whenever I have gone there, seems quite bizarre. Gill, am I remembering correctly - there are lots of different coloured beach huts along the seafront, aren't there? I have been to so many places I sometimes get a bit confused by what I saw and where!!

We shall all be in Lyme Park on Sunday afternoon as Claire and her chorus are singing there - out in the gardens if it is fine, in the Hall if it is wet. Elizabeth will be there in her capacity of unpaid official Chorus photographer!!

Kath

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Yes Kath the lighthouse is set back in a residential street! As you walk around the the area the lighthouse can be spotted looming up behind a row of pretty terrace houses then seen down an alleyway. It really is quite bizarre. The beach huts are very colourful and very expensive to buy almost the cost of small house! The pier has nice craft shops cafes and a display of weird and wonderful homemade slot machines.

Tomorrow we will go off the beaten track away from the crowds as the countryside walking to the beach is lovely. I heard a cuckoo there last year. Enjoy your day at Lyme Park Kath.

[Kath Mulligan]

Yes I remember the slot machines and the craft shops on the pier. We bought some really delicious homemade fudge from one of them - it had all gone by the time we got back to Rushall Lodge!! Enjoy your walk to the beach, hope the weather is kind to you.

Kath

[pauline]

Pauline I didn't notice the earring change by Twiggy very observant of you! Yes it is a bit much having to pay 10p to go to the ladies. The free one I know is by the brewery. Is there another?

.

Inside the amusement arcade, on the pier, well hiden away. Don't tell anyone!