Christmas Pressies

Hamish loves Christmas! From the moment I start wrapping presents he is trying his hardest to get at them and rip them open. His main present was a new wax coat as his old one is just a tad too small for him. We were going to get him the same again but couldn't find it and so got this very smart one instead ...

There's a flap under his tummy and so I can't wait for a wet muddy day to see how much cleaner he'll stay! He had a selection of treats and a few soft toys as well ...

By late morning the expensive one was already in the bin as he'd chewed it to pieces! The cheap ones that I'd found in charity shops were lovingly taken to bed and are immaculate! I gave Mike a satnav ...

I think I must have had a senior moment as I've always said that a satnav in one of our vehicles would mean divorce! I love navigating when we're out and about as I've had a fascination with maps since schooldays. I just love reading them and finding out of the way places to visit. We do get caught sometimes though when we try to drive through large towns and cities in the RV hence the satnav. Pam and Lesley (Mikes' sister) came over for Christmas lunch and then we watched the ballet Cinderella in the afternoon. Pam gave us membership to English Heritage so we're really looking forward to the spring and visiting all the local places as well as the rest of the country.

Pendennis Castle

Earlier this week we received a call from Mike and Sharon our MX-5 area co-ordinators asking if we'd like to be on a small committee and go on a site visit to Pendennis Castle as they were hoping that the Club would accept it as a location for the Spring Rally 2012. Naturally we said yes!

We all met up and drove in a small convoy of four cars to the Castle to meet Loraine Matthews who is the Hospitality and Events Manager. We entered via the disabled entrance ...

and found ourselves in front of the Barracks building which is huge ...

This was all new to us as we'd never visited before - it was on our 'to do' list for when we get our English Heritage membership. Loraine took us in and we all sat around a large table where we discussed things like how many toilets would be needed and how the parking would work. Then she showed us which rooms we would have access to and gave us a guided tour of the part that the general public get to see. It was all very interesting and we really must come back next summer ...

Lorraine then had to disappear as she had a wedding booked for 1.30pm and she had to set it up in the castle. We were told we could go anywhere we liked! It was a beautiful morning and so we wandered over to the castle passing the cannons etc on the way ...

We went inside and up a winding staircase which brought us out on the roof with a fantastic view ...

All the MX-5's would be parked on the grass - what a sight that would be!

We then climbed higher still until we were on the level from where the flag is flown ...

Back through the door ...

down to the bottom again and into the room where the wedding would be. It looked so pretty ...

It was then time to make our way back to the cars but not before we had a look around the shop which is in the old storehouse ...

We were just about to say our farewells when a Search and Rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose flew round us on its daily trip ...

The vote was a unanimous thumbs up for the site and now it's up to Mike and Sharon to put our ideas to the National Committee and hope that they like what they see. Fingers crossed!

Surprise Parcel!

We have received a fantastic John Lewis Christmas hamper from the owners of a neighbouring house. They don't live in Cornwall and we keep an eye on their place for them when they're not here. Thank you so much Pete, Jackie, Katie and Lucy it was such a kind thought and you are very naughty! See you all after Christmas.

Internet Problems

I've been very quiet of late I know but my pc has been driving me mad as the internet keeps dropping out. Apparently it's all due to the superfast broadband which BT are working on in our area and is supposed to be ready for March next year. I just hope that our bit is sorted soon because I don't think I'll survive til then!!

We've had loads of snow which was very pretty but it was followed by frosts like I've never seen before in Cornwall. Taking Hamish for his walk in the evening on a skating rink wasn't very easy.

Last Saturday the Harbour Association had its Christmas Dinner at the Waterfront Inn ...

We left before the karaoke began so the highlight of the evening for us was the snail racing!!

The village is beginning to get decorated now for Christmas ...

and on Wednesday this week we've got the annual singing of carols outside the Arms.

Fingle Bridge

It's our last day here on Dartmoor and so this morning we were taken to see Fingle Bridge. We parked, crossed over the bridge and looked back at the pub ...

Then began a lovely walk in the woods along the riverside ...

The dogs ran free ...

and with the leaves on the trees changing to autumn colours it was beautiful ...

Just a few of the many photos that I took ...

We could hear the deer rutting in the woods opposite but never saw any sign of life ...

We retraced our steps back to the bridge ...

and then went to the pub for a coffee. Mike and Hamish posed on the little bridge on our way out ...

and then we made our way back to camp passing this sign on the way which made me smile ...

In the afternoon we went for a lovely cream tea at Bovey Tracey and we finished the day at Trago. We've had a great week here but unfortunately it's come to an end and we'll be homeward bound tomorrow.

Meldon Reservoir and Lydford Gorge

We woke this morning to a really heavy frost ...

We'd suggested that today we drive to Meldon Reservoir as this was somewhere that Jo and Paul had not visited before and we could hopefully have a walk on Dartmoor. We parked and walked down to the water. Crossing the dam with water on one side ...

and a lovely view over to the viaduct on the other ..

We then went through the gate ...

and tried to walk but it was so steep that we gave up and after taking photos ...

we made our way back down and went the other way which was much easier as it was flat! We found a little gate and went through it finding a picnic area at the end ...

Jo and I went off to try and get a photo of the dam ...

Looking further down the reservoir there is an island and a tor in the distance ...

It was very sunny but also very cold so we returned to the car and drove to Sourton where we stopped at the Highwayman Inn for lunch ...

This is the pub that we were brought to by the MX-5 club and we really wanted to show it to the others. After lunch we drove on down to Lydford Gorge as this was somewhere high on Paul's wish list of places to visit ...

We decided on the short walk to Devil's Cauldron and set off down the track ...

We crossed the bridge at Pixie Glen ...

At one stage we looked down and could see fish swimming in the clear water ...

Then it began to look more like a gorge ...

We reached the Devil's Cauldron and Jo and I went as near as we dared ...

but Paul and Mike went right to the end (where there was no rail to hang to!) and Hamish watched anxiously waiting for his dad to reappear ...

We then followed the river up to Tucker's Pool passing the way out which we'd be returning to later ...

With the water sometimes below us ...

but mostly beside us ...

and passing little features ...

we finally found the Pool where Hamish was very pleased to be able to have a drink of the beautiful water ...

After a brief stop ...

we retraced our steps back to the way out and walked up and out of the woods ...

It was then time for a cream tea at the cafe ...

Very, very yummy! As we'd taken the short route we hadn't seen the 90ft waterfall and so we drove to the other entrance where Paul went on his own to see it. We were all too tired to move another inch! He returned remarkably quickly and then drove us all back to camp.