Dog-Sitting Day

Mark, Stuart and their dog Sharpie have been joined at their camp-site by their neighbours John and Leigh, two children Declan and Ewan and their two dogs. I offered to have all the dogs here so that they could go to Portreath beach for a surf.  I was envisaging four small dogs all playing happily together and then they arrived!!  When the car pulled up it had a miniature pony in it!  Grayson is a Leonberger – the Gentle Giant which is about 3ft in height at the withers!!!!  Their other dog was Rossie a 14 month old rescue springer spaniel who fell in love with Hamish and followed him everywhere that he went. 

After the initial investigation of their temporary home they all settled down very well.  Grayson and Sharpie the bulldog spent the morning outside in the shade …

While Rossie kept his eye on Hamish in the house …

In the afternoon I handed over the dog-sitting duties to Mike’s sister Lesley as she’d arrived to keep him company while I spent some time on the beach with the others.  The surf was great and I had a lovely time with them.  Poor John who already had a dodgy back when he arrived, stood on a weever fish and had to visit the Surf Club to get his foot treated.  He had to sit for 15 minutes with it in a bowl of hot water – as hot as he could take it.  Meantime Leigh who was enjoying the sunshine which was topping up her tan, had a seagull do the unmentionable all across her stomach!!  However they all had a fantastic time and have vowed to return to Cornwall another year.

Fun in the Harbour

Our friends Mark and Stuart are camping in Cornwall this week and they came over to try their kayak at Portreath.  The sea was too rough so they pumped it up to use in the harbour.  Jo and Paul were also here – Jo in her wetsuit ready for any eventuality!

I was so impressed with the kayak that I searched the internet for one and have ordered from Amazon.  Reckon the grand-kids will love it next week!

Crocus Transported to a New Home for the Winter

I was up bright and early this morning as the crane was booked for nine o’clock and I had loads to do beforehand.  Crocus is off to a workshop where Roger, his daughter Nicki and the team from the Cornish Wooden Boat Company can work on her and make her fit to sail. 

Roger and co arrived before eight and prepped her then while they waited they began stripping the old trackmark decking off her.  This showed up a few problem places on the deck but I have every faith in them that they’ll get her sorted.

The transporter arrived and so began the delicate job of lifting and settling her on the flatbed trailer …

Roger and the chaps had left and were at the shed getting it ready to receive her but Nicki stayed and travelled with her …

It was then just a case of reversing out from the harbour, the driver nipping over to the pasty shop to collect some sustenance and then they were off …

I received a text later to say that she was safely tucked up inside the workshop.

Now the expensive bit begins!!

Crocus has her own Blog.  If you want to follow her progress then check her out here.  As you’ll see she hasn’t been worked on for several years which has been due to Mike’s health.  He has finally accepted that he’s unable to finish her which is why she’s been moved today.

Portreath Art Exhibition

The Art Exhibition is an annual event and is always held the first week of August.  The Club members set up the Hall on Saturday and in the evening they have a Preview Night for friends and family.

On Sunday the Exhibits are free to view by the general public until the following Saturday evening when all is dismantled.

We popped in on Sunday to see mum-in-law Pam’s stand and I had a good look round while Mike and Hamish sat and waited for me.  Hamish was peeping at me through one of the chairs …

On Tuesday afternoon we were back again as Jo and Paul came down.  I’d seen a picture I really liked on Sunday and it was still in a browser on Tuesday.  When we got home I grabbed some money and nipped back to buy it before it disappeared!

It is a watercolour called ‘Wistful Gaze’ by Mandi Baykaa-Murray and it so reminded me of my Dales mare Meg that I just had to have it!

It was a very good Exhibition with some amazing work but unfortunately the sales were a little down this year.  One person who sold a picture was Pam who sold her painting of Glenfeadon Castle …

The Millennium Hall was filled with art work …

Making the Most of Sunday

After popping round to see Pam and getting the boys to do a couple of small jobs for her, we dug out the wetsuits and all made our way down to the beach.  The weather was glorious but there were no waves.  Jamie volunteered to stay with Mike so that I could go in the water then we’d swap places …

While Mike had a snooze we swam and played with a ball in the sea …

I changed places with Jamie but it was very windy and not very pleasant on the sand.  Mike and I decided to make tracks for home and the boys would follow on.  We  had to get a pic first though …

After lunch we piled into Phill’s car and drove to Perranporth where we parked high up on the hill …

The boys walked down into town where Phill bought another camper for his collection and then when they got back we drove to Callestick for a cream tea …

Mark had to milk the cow and do his James Herriott impersonation …

and then we had a look at the animals on our way back to the car.  I just fell in love with this beautiful calf …

All too soon it was time to say goodbye to them all but it won’t be long and they’ll be back for their camping holiday.

Dogs on a Kayak!

During the heatwave I was sitting on our verandah watching the antics in the harbour.  One of my friends from Pilates came down with her husband, two dogs and a kayak.  With all of them wearing life-jackets they set off for a paddle around the harbour to get the dogs used to floating on the water …

Brilliant!!  They all really enjoyed themselves.

Some Get it Very Wrong and Some Get it Right!

We’ve had two visiting yachts so far this summer.  The first one, “Kynance”,  I just happened to spot as I looked out and saw a mast.  With all the boats in the harbour being fishing boats then a mast is decidedly unusual and required some investigation.  Hamish was thrilled to have his harness and lead produced and we walked around to take a look.  Apparently there were some very embarrassed sailors keeping well hidden in their cabin as people came to see them and to try and help.  They emerged eventually and ropes were used to attach them.

When I walked Hamish the next day the yacht had sailed on the morning tide and I was subsequently told that it was heading for St Ives.

The second yacht had obviously got it just right as it was moored up next to one of our fishing boats.

The “Tir an Og” also sailed off on the next morning tide and disappeared.