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 …

Postbridge, Reservoir, Dartmoor Prison Museum and Two Bridges Hotel

The clapper bridge at Postbridge was first on the list for today.  We were very lucky and managed to get some photos without strangers wandering across it!

When we went up onto the road a riding school came past and made their way to the pub for refreshments …

Crossing the road we found two horses grazing and then coming to the gate to see what was happening …

We made our way back to the car and with time to spare before visiting the prison museum we found somewhere to stop by the side of Burrator Reservoir for our picnic lunch.  We had water flowing down beside us and after eating I climbed up high to look down …

After lunch we moved on to Norsworthy Bridge where we parked and went for a walk …

When we arrived back at the car we found some cattle wandering about …

We drove back to the Dam and stopped for some photos …

It was now time to visit the Dartmoor Prison Museum where photos are not allowed unfortunately but we did snap this quick pic of the prison as we left the area …

As we approached Two Bridges we decided that a coffee was required and so stopped at the pretty hotel which turned out to be dog-friendly – bonus!

The service was very slow but once suitably refreshed we took a couple of photos of the bridge and then made tracks for camp - it had been a long day.

Carriage Driving and Christmas Decorations

One Thursday a National Trust leaflet dropped out of The West Briton, our local weekly paper and I spotted that there were to be carriage rides for just £3 around the Trelissick Estate.  This immediately took my fancy and I thought Jo would be interested as well.   This morning was the first day of the rides with booking taken from eleven o’clock and rides due to start at midday.  We arrived and booked our seats on the 12.10pm drive …

It was a hive of activity getting the horses ready …

We had a bit of time to spare and so went for a wader around the gardens.  I’ve been to Trelissick so often to walk Hamish but had never been inside the gardens before.  They were all geared up for children visiting with boxes showing the Twelve Days of Christmas although we only saw three of them on our travels …

Considering it was winter and many trees were bare, it was still a lovely walk and I’m determined to come back when flowers are in bloom.

Then it was time to get back for our drive.  While we waited we had a  look around the stables and tack rooms which  were all decorated …

Santa’s little helper was ready for us and off we went …

It was only a short drive but thoroughly enjoyable. After a visit to the NT shop where I found a birthday present for Lesley, Mike’s sister, we left Trelissick and moved on to Carnon Downs Garden Centre.

Jo wanted to find a birthday present for a friend and I was keen to see all the Christmas decorations.  It didn’t disappoint!