Saturday 26 June 2010

BBQ at Jo and Paul's

The weather has been fantastic just as I knew it would be because Jo had ordered non-stop sunshine for Kelly, Paul and Dylan. They were visiting for the weekend and we were invited to a BBQ so we could meet them.

It was a lovely evening and with the BBQ fired up, drinks in hands and camera at the ready we had a great time. Dylan is gorgeous and I couldn't stop taking photos of him. For a child who wasn't used to dogs he had soon made friends with Fred only to be confronted by Hamish as well. No problem! All big buddies by the end of the evening.

We had a lovely meal and Dylan especially enjoyed the chocolate eclair ...

Jo had made her famous scones and after being on BBQ duty Paul settled down to enjoy a glass and a scone closely watched by Dylan. Not sure if he had his eye on the scone or the beer!!

Many thanks to you both for a fab time x

Saturday 19 June 2010

Anniversary Flowers

We arrived home from walking Hamish yesterday to find a card on the mat which said that a florist had left some flowers with a neighbour. Jamie had organised a lovely basket of flowers to arrive in time for our anniversary which is today. He had been in touch with Simon and so the card told us that they were from Jamie, Phill, Simon, Vikki and the grandchildren. Aren't they gorgeous?

This morning we had cards to open as well ...

This evening we went out for a lovely meal with Jo and Paul as it was their anniversary yesterday. Thank you to everyone for thinking of us today x

Sunday 13 June 2010

Twelfth Night in June!!

Every Christmas in Portreath we have decorations attached to the rock below Lighthouse Hill and they're lit up and visible from the beach and the harbour. Well they've finally been taken down and it's only June! A cherry-picker arrived at the harbour yesterday and we began to wonder why it was here until this morning when a chap climbed aboard and took it down to the far end of the harbour where the decorations were removed.

They were then carried up to the boat shed and stored. I wonder if they'll go back up in December??

Saturday 12 June 2010

St Agnes Gig

Gig racing is a very important part of life here in Cornwall and the teams are very competitive. St Agnes Gig Club have now joined the Portreath Harbour Association and they've brought a gig over so that they can launch here and do their training. Tonight was their first session and they soon found out how steep our slipway is ...

The gig was launched eventually ...

and they climbed aboard and set off working their way between the moored boats ...

Good luck to them for the race season but of course I hope Portreath beat them!!

Saturday 5 June 2010

Salcombe, Barns and Blazing Sun!

As we only have one more night at Slapton Jo and Paul wanted to take down their awning so that Paul could repair the leaking rooflight with the fibreglass kit that he'd bought. It all happened very easily ...

and after a quick brush down ...

and a fold or two ...

it was soon packed away. Paul did a great repair job and then we all set off for the drive into Salcombe. We've never been here before and it was just the perfect weather for a first visit. As we'd set off late it was lunch-time when we arrived so we managed to find a bench with this view of the river ...

It was really hot and the dogs were suffering in the heat so after munching our sandwiches we quickly moved on into the town. We passed the lifeboat station with the boat moored at the end of the pontoon ...

and walked on up the main street. There were several little alleyways with views of the water ...

and at the end of the main shopping street we came to the memorial ...

There was a race just starting below us ...

We were all very hot now and with very little shade from the glaring sun we began the trek back to the car. We were on the lookout for a nice little cafe with a view of the water but it wasn't until we were almost back at the carpark that I spotted this place called Island Street where we were able to sit out of the sun but could see the water ...

After a very welcome cappuccino for us and water for the boys we continued to the car and tried to follow the instructions that Jo had received from her friend who lived nearby. After driving down a mega narrow lane which thankfully we had to ourselves, we arrived at Easton Court Barns and all I can say is WOW! Jo's friend Judy and her husband had bought the barn as 'ripe for renovation' which in other words meant it was pretty derelict. It is now beautiful and if you want a special place to stay then book in! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera as I'd left it in the car but please take a look at their website and the gallery of photos. We were treated to a cream tea and then had to make a move back to the campsite stopping on the way to get a photo of the tank which is in the car park at Torcross ...
It is a reminder to us all of the terrible happenings of Operation Tiger and the preparations for the D Day landings ...

We returned to the site and the RV which we'd moved this morning to its new pitch on the grass ...

Supper was delicious fish and chips supplied by Jo and Paul - very yummy! Thanks guys.

Friday 4 June 2010

Dartmouth and a Boat Trip

It was decided that today would be our day for Dartmouth and after reading a booklet on the area we found that there was a two hour boat trip in the afternoon which went along the coast to Slapton Sands and included in the cost was a cream tea. We spent the morning wandering around the Dartmouth shops as Jo and Paul wanted to buy hats and we saw the terrible damage from the fires just the other day ...

I was amazed that it hadn't spread to this beautiful building which was so close by ...

After a picnic lunch in the shade of the gardens we hurried to the boat ready for the trip which began at two o'clock. We moved off from the quay ...

and settled down in the shade at the stern ...

The ferry was just arriving on the Dartmouth side of the river ...

and then we reached the castle ...

A lovely little gaffer was out for a sail ...

and the boys settled down under a bench in the shade - it was so hot!

We were the nearest to the food and so we had our cream tea before the rest of the passengers - it was yummy!

Then we listened to a recording all about the D Day landings and Operation Tiger. It was fascinating stuff. The new hats came in handy ...

Slapton Sands and our campsite is up on the hill somewhere!

Everyone else came back to collect their cream teas which was a difficult operation as there was a bit of a swell and then we turned around and headed back to Dartmouth ...

Past the castle again ...

The yacht club ...

and then we moored back at the quay ...

This was our boat the Fairmile ...

and once we were all off her then people were climbing aboard for their return trip to Brixham where the boat is based. It was then a short walk back to the car via the bandstand ...

and home to the campsite. A brilliant day which ended with a lovely meal at the Queens Arms in Slapton and a walk around the village. I spotted another thatched cottage with the 'signature' owl ...

and as I said before - it's not really vehicle friendly!

Back to the site for our last night on this pitch as tomorrow we have to move on to a grass one ...