Tech Day or Shopping? What Do You Think!

Mike and I went our separate ways today!

It was a Tech Day at Collins of Probus and definitely not my scene or Jo's so we hit the shops of Truro while Mike and Paul did their 'thing' at the garage ...

gleaning loads of useful info on the cars, eating fish and chips (naughty, naughty!) and generally chatting all day about engines and all those parts that mean nothing at all to us but are to do with an MX-5!

Jo parked at the Park and Ride and I got to use my new bus pass - great - a free trip into town. There are certainly some perks when you get older. She had a list of presents that she needed to buy and I only had a couple of things that I wanted but it was good to have a mooch around and not be feeling guilty that I was dragging Mike along where he didn't want to be. We had lunch in our favourite haunt - The Lounge - and then it was back on the shopping trail before getting the bus back to the car.

It was Redruth's turn to have their Christmas lights turned on tonight and so Mike brought Hamish over to Jo and Paul's and we all walked into town. We just missed the actual turning on but we had a wander around and Jo took these photos ...

our local radio Pirate FM were in attendance ...

and the boys met some new friends ...

MOT Day for the MX-5

We all went over to the garage this morning to take the MX-5 in for its MOT. Hamish came with us ...

so that we could take him for a walk while the test was being done. It wasn't the greatest of roads for walking along but we made our way to where the road splits. This is the way to Bodmin ...

and then returned to the garage - Collins of Probus - to find the 5 on the ramp ...

It's a bit of a hike over here but the owners are all 5 enthusiasts and know the cars inside out. We wouldn't trust anyone else with our pride and joy - except Paul of course!

She passed - thank goodness. Hamish was put back in the car ...

and we set off for home a few pounds lighter but legal for another year!

Ducks Galore!

For some reason all the village ducks were at the head of the harbour this morning. They were hoping for food but I didn't have any - only my camera ...

They were still around when we got back from Hamish's morning walk and they were holding up the traffic as they waddled across the road. I wasn't quite quick enough to catch them on the road but caught them as they were making their way into the parking area of the flats ...

As the tide came in they were back on the harbour wall and waiting ...

and then they took off ready to go fishing for food ...

Primrose and Moth

Out walking Hamish this morning I spotted a primrose growing on Primrose Terrace!

I had to photograph it and when I looked closely I saw it had a moth sitting on a leaf ...

I'm not 'into' moths so have no idea what it is - maybe someone can tell me.

Dear Ancestor ...

I found this on a blog and for all of us who are keen genealogists I think it is very poignant.

Dear Ancestor

Your tombstone stands among the rest; neglected and alone
The name and date are chiseled out on polished, marbled stone

It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn
You did not know that I’d exist
You died and I was born.

Yet each of us are cells of you in flesh, in blood, in bone.
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse entirely not our own.

Dear Ancestor, the place you filled one hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left who would have loved you so.

I wonder if you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot, and come to visit you.

(unknown author)

Jo and Paul's First 5 Drive

They were worried sick that it would all go wrong and they even hoped that nobody would turn up!

Should they have worried? Of course not!

We all met (10 cars) at Treasure Park near Redruth for coffee at 10am and then after being handed our instructions for the drive ...

we set off with tops down (apart from a couple of cars) and headed for Portreath.

It was then the coast road to Hayle where we made our way inland towards Fraddam. Here it got a bit tricky as we criss-crossed our way over to Marazion but it all went soooo smoothly it was sickening!!!

After a pit stop at Jordan's Cafe car park ...

and the obligatory photo of St Michaels Mount ...

plus a view over towards Penzance ...

we set off again minus one car as its occupants were still enjoying a coffee! It wasn't far now to the lunch stop at the Engine Inn, Cripplesease ...

where we all enjoyed a variety of dishes - we both had cottage pie and it was yummy. There was a fantastic view at the back of the pub ...

After lunch we set off again towards St Ives and Lelant. We travelled so many new roads it was unbelievable! Jo and Paul have only lived in Cornwall about 18 months and yet they found a fantastic route which took us into unknown territory.

We were making for the Penventon Nursery on the Redruth to Falmouth road where we were finishing the run and having tea. When we arrived we found that they had a room full of Christmas decorations to die for! I was dragged away for a cuppa and cream tea but made sure that I had another look before leaving! I got a couple of tree ornaments and a magnetic reindeer!

isn't he cute? But I must make sure I keep him out of Hamish's reach as he loves soft toys!

Well done Jo and Paul - a lovely day.

Winter's Nearly Here ...

... when the big fishing boats are brought out of the water.

The crane arrived at lunchtime and preparations were made on the harbour head while everyone waited for the tide to come in.

Once it was deep enough the Good Fortune made her way in from the outer harbour, strops were attached and up she went ...

landing very gently on the hard ...

Next to come in was the Ocean Princess and the process was repeated ...

before the last boat Cosmo's Mariner appeared and she too was lifted out and settled on the hard ...

We Will Remember Them ...

On the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month ...

My great uncle Private (8th Bn. Glos. Regt.) John Northcote Marshall b 1876 - 6 Sep 1918, died and buried in France.

My uncle Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr. 7 Sqdn.) Jack Allan Marshall b 1916 - buried 3 Oct 1941 in Cambridgeshire ...

A Special Day

Another momentous day.

If my father had been alive he would have been celebrating his 100th birthday today. The weather was foul but we went over to Constantine church ...

to take some flowers ...

When my parents were alive they lived in Gweek so we had a 'birthday' lunch in the pub there and had a drink for him. Happy 100th Daddy xx

As a young man ...

and doing what he loved ...

The Big Six-O!

It is a very significant date today!

I can now travel for free on the bus and I can draw my pension! Yuk – I feel ancient!

However I’ve had a fantastic weekend with Mike and my boys and while out for a meal on Saturday evening with family and friends I was presented with tickets to see Strictly Come Dancing – The Live Tour 2009 at Wembley!! How cool is that??!! Roll on February – I can’t wait! Maybe turning 60 is not so bad after all! Thank you so much Jamie, Simon and Phill.

The day has made me a trifle nostalgic and so I found this card which was sent to my parents back in 1948 welcoming me into the world …

and this is a photo of me in my pram at the tender age of four months - ah!

From that to this …

in 60 short years!

Mike asked me what I'd like to do today and as it was a sunny morning I said I would like to go to Godrevy for a walk and to see the seals. The beach was very busy ...

and the lighthouse was as good as ever ...

The sun was shining over St Ives and the sea and the rocks below looked lovely ...

On our way back we climb over this sort of stile made of stone ...

to be greeted by the sign telling us how far it is to get home!

It was cold and breezy but certainly blew the cobwebs away.

Home for lunch and a piece of birthday cake ...