Back to work for the rest.

Tree and I have just finished a week off work together and I need a rest quite frankly. The week previous to this one and I was off work anyway with an upper respiratory infection, which doesn't go down well in a hospital, so was tired before I started.

Anyway, we went down to Cornwall at the start of the weekend to see Joy and Nige, stopping at Glastonbury on the way for lunch. We picked the best time to go as the weather was gorgeous and hot. We spent a lot of time scouting out the beaches and found some more wicked caves in Constantine and the Lizard Point. One of them was lined with this amazing red Algae and the photo doesn't show how red it actually was by a long shot. We also got to see Joy's new shop in Perranporth as the signs were put on this week. She should do well with the location and the summer crowds. We sold loads of the shop stock as well, so one less thing to worry about.

On that note, Tree and I are thinking about going to 3 or 4 festivals this year as punters rather than traders. We both have enough on with work that we would rather enjoy the festies like we used to rather than work them. We have had positive feedback from loads of organisers who have said they would love us to come anyway, trading or not, so why work if you don't have to. We will still keep the marquee for future events but just take a year out maybe. Besides, Noz loves me (why I don't know) so there is always an open invitation there!!

We came back to Worcester on Wednesday and have filled our days with relaxing, eating out and a bit of gardening. Just my trip to Brighton to look forward to now...it's a hard life innit!!

Into the Dragon's mouth.

I recently heard this time of year being described as "entering into the dragon's mouth" which I thought was quite a good description for the darkening months until we come out again in the spring. It was also a coincidence that, while we were staying at Perranporth this week, we decided to venture onto the beach and explore a side that is only exposed when the tide goes out fully. We found loads of caves and cut away old tin mine shafts. One cave even resembled a dragons mouth !! Some caves had little pools of water in them and you expected Gollum to be sitting beside one. The largest cave had amazing acoustics but we couldn't stay long as the tide comes in quite quickly and we couldn't risk getting trapped.

We spent time exploring North Cornwall and have ruled out moving there as it is too exposed and barren. On the way home we went via Totnes and stopped for the afternoon. There is still a possibility that we move to Devon instead and it would be better for me with regards to the workshop and sourcing timber.

Sun, glorious Sun.

Well how lucky can you get? Tree and I just had a weekend in Cornwall, catching up with Joy and Nige, and what glorious weather. We went down on Friday and arrived late after traffic was bad, as usual, through Avonmouth and the weather did not look promising, but Saturday morning and the sun was shining and couldn't have been better. We spent the day in St Ives and had a beautiful lunch at a new veggie restaurant we found on the harbour front. The best bit was that all the other eateries were packed but this one was empty. One up for the veggies I say!

When we got back to Perrancombe, Joy roped me into acting as a marshall for the Perranporth Surf Challenge Junior Biathlon which Asher had entered. The entrants were split into two age groups with differing lengths to the course. They had to run into the sea, swim out and around two buoys, run across the beach and then around the town before coming to the finish line. I was stationed half way round the course and pointed them in the right direction. Near the end of the challenge the stragglers got slower and slower and Tree and I gave loads of encouragement. It is surprising how they pick up with a bit of cheering on. The last runner had a stitch and the other marshalls were closing up the course behind her so Tree and I ran the course with her, pushing her on to the finish. Asher came 10th and was well chuffed.

Sunday was so sunny we decided to go to Trevone with Joy, Marley and Asher and take the boards. The sea was flat as a pancake when we got there but we still went in and had a laugh. Surprisingly, the sea was warmer than when we came down in August!

We set off on early on Monday and took a detour through Bude and stopped at Clovelly. I have been there before but Tree hadn't and, like me, thought it was too commercial and the idea of living there, "romantic but impractical". It is one of those places that is nice to visit once but doesn't merit a return. We stopped at Barnstaple for lunch and then headed back to, by now, rainy Worcester. All in all a good break.