Housewifely

If I can drag myself away from Diagnosis Murder re-runs I plan to make fish pie for supper and do the laundry and hoovering... it just seems a very housewifely thing to do!

Hope

Hope is a strange and precious thing. I’ve realised over the last couple of days how much I’ve been hoping. From small not-really-that-important-in-the-big-scheme-of-things things to life changing things. My partner’s best friend is pregnant, and is currently in hospital and risks losing her baby through complications. If I could physically cross every part of me I would. We think the worst is over but she will be hospital for several more weeks. We keep hoping and sending good thoughts but in cases like this, it just doesn’t seem enough – or is it?

I’ve just submitted a job application for a job I really want and I find myself thinking about it at odd times – what would I do for this part of the project, how would I solve that problem – and all the time I’m hoping that I at least get an interview…

… because if I do get this job, it means we can step up our house-hunting in Cornwall. I’ll have to move away from my family, which I’m dreading, but at the moment, we’re finding long-distance house-hunting very difficult. At least if I took some temporary digs in Cornwall I could go to viewings every week.

Last night my partner made marmalade and be both spent a good hour hoping it would set!

And I’ve even entered a competition that I hope I win… Basically it’s all about the hope…

I believe in karma – do something nice, something nice happens to you – but I wonder (and I’m not well versed on my Eastern philosophies) if karma isn’t just about the action but about the process. Do something nice and you not only have something nice happen to you, but you have the strength to hope and not give up when everthing seems overwhelming.

It’s all a bit much for my tired brain to handle, so instead I’m going to up my being nice and doing good because I want our friend to be better (and she will be) and I would really like an interview for this job. The rest is up to the universe and I fully appreciate that the universe may well decide that well-set marmalade just isn’t a priority right now…

Photography website

I need a site dedicated to my photography and where people can buy pictures online, but I have a minscule budget... any ideas?

An autumn afternoon in the woods...

We spent a lovely afternoon in the woods out in Downe (Kent). The dogs ran themselves ragged and then slept soundly all the way back home. Unfortunately I’m almost too knackered to make dinner now…

Last night we watched the wedding DVD and although it’s a really bad copy, for some reason, we watched it with big grins from the beginning to the end. You forget so much of the actual ceremony! The nicest thing was how happy and healthy we looked. It may seem strange to notice how healthy we looked, but we literally glowed. We had caught a bit of sun and rest, relaxation and happiness did the rest. Tonight we plan to go through the official photos so we can get some printed out for a special photo album we have – as well as get a couple framed.

We still haven’t finished all of our thank you cards yet. I hope people don’t think they’ve been forgotten. We will get round to all of them soon!

I’ve just been on the National Theatre website because I am desperate to get tickets to see Warhorse but they are sold out until the end of January 2009! It’s a very popular play (clearly!) but I’m determined to go see it. It’s the second run (the first one sold out too) but they do do daily tickets where you queue up at 9.30am and hope to get tickets for that night’s performance. In case you’re not familiar with the story/play, it’s about the horses that fought in WW1 and the book made me cry!

Anyway, I need to make dinner…

Mail order madness

Forgot to say, have ordered some very cool stuff recently – my moo cards (which are very cute business cards with your photography on the back.) I have loads of cards but none in my new married name. A signed copy of Terry Pratchett’s new book, The Folklore of Discworld, some great Animal sunglasses – although I can’t work out whether they make me look cool, or like an idiot… it’s a fine line - and finally, two new camera lenses. I should get some great shots at the winter solstice (watching the sun coming up in the ruins of a castle).

So it’s all good, but I am avoiding checking my bank account for fear of a nasty shock!

Round up

Well, I haven’t yet shifted this gastro virus which has left me a little useless. I did manage to get away for my smallholding course, which was absolutely fantastic.

I thoroughly recommend Bicton Rural Academy (part of Plymouth University) – it’s a beautiful campus and the course was extremely well run. I got to handle sheep, cattle and pigs, drive a tractor and a quad bike and learn some really, really useful stuff about growing fruit and veg. I’m planning to do other courses in the new year.

The B&B farm (Quentance Farm) I was staying in was nice but I wouldn’t stay again – they got my booking so wrong that I was in a different room each of the three nights I stayed! It was just too much hassle in the end. Although to be fair they did reduce my bill and it was convenient for the college, but the breakfast was fairly standard as were the rooms (and there was only one that was en-suite).

I stayed with some friends in Plymouth on the Monday night which was very cool. Except we got some take-out and even though I only ate half, it made me feel really sick all over again. (I’ve since seen a doctor and they’re running some tests, but finally after two and a half weeks I am starting to feel better.)

The idea was to house-hunt during the day on Monday but it didn’t really work out. I did view a house but it was completely unsuitable and left me feeling a bit down about the whole long distance house hunting malarkey…

On the Tuesday I decided I wanted to go back to Cornwall and just have a nice hassle-free morning. So I went for breakfast at Route 38 an American style diner and then headed to Looe (about 8 miles away). I ended up having a fantastic time – did some shopping (got chatting to a woman in a surf shop that gave me some great advice about moving down to Cornwall and being patient about finding our new house!), picked up a pasty for later and then sat on the harbour enjoying the blue sky and hot sun before finally heading home.

Wednesday I took the car in for a service and left £325 poorer. The service was £251 and I had the two front tyres replaced. I actually really like the garage, Premier Autocentres near Sidcup in Kent, a Hyundai dealership – although they deal with all cars. (We need to get the car serviced at an authorised dealership otherwise the warranty is invalid.) Premier is genuinely friendly and helpful and they do a great job. Considering how many dodgy garages there are out there, it gives you peace of mind to find a good one.

And today was notable for getting into a stand-up fight with some fuckwad in a Tesco carpark. He parked in a motorcycle only space then hit my car door with his, really hard, and then he smirked at me! So I leapt out of the car and asked him what the hell he thought he was doing. He thought it was cool to call me a faker (is that an insult and if yes, what does it actually mean? Seriously I have no idea.) Then he told me to fuck off and tried to act the big gangsta (pretty hard to do in a Ford KA especially as he was also too scared to get out of said car). I called him a fucking idiot and got back into my car because my temper was well and truly lost and I didn't want the situation to escalate any more than it already had. My fairly new, fairly expensive car is my pride and joy. I also really can’t stand selfish people that don’t give a shit about other people’s property because they happen to drive around in a shitty rust bucket, so this was never going to end well!

I was only in the bloody carpark because it turned out my phone wasn’t working and when I finally figured this out and fixed the problem, I got 8 texts one after the other; one telling me a friend was ill another telling me a friend’s grandmother had died and as they had been sent to me the previous day I wanted to respond straight away.

Anyway, to end on a more positive note, my partner and I are going away for a few days before Christmas (to watch the winter solstice in Dorset) and I’ve just booked the hotel. Then we’re coming back to spend Christmas on our own – something we’ve always wanted to do but never have. We normally host Christmas at ours and go all out. This time, it’s going to be just her and me and the dogs! There will still be a fancy dinner and decorations but it will be peaceful and low-key. Bliss!

(Photos: SUNSET OVER EXMOUTH, LOOE HARBOUR)

Job applications

Finished one application yesterday and have another that needs to be in before 5pm today! Both great jobs and I hope I feel as satisfied with this second application as I did with the one I finished yesterday...

Wish me luck!

Hotel reviews

A website can only tell you so much, and when I’m trying a new service or staying in a hotel that I haven’t stayed in before, I always try to look for reviews (trip advisor is good for this) so because we stayed in three very different hotels – none of which we had stayed in before – I promised myself I would ‘review’ them on my blog and I hope that someone finds that useful…

First hotel: the Poltair in Falmouth. The Poltair is impressive for a number of reasons, not least quality and value. They are dog friendly and for that reason we choose a family room for extra space. As it turned out, the dogs went on their own holiday and it was just me and my beloved. The room was very large, clean and with a stunning view over the sea (we also had a shared balcony). The room contained a double bed, a single bed and a sofa. It also had a fridge which was fantastically useful as we had champagne, beer and mineral water to chill and one day (after several days of eating just a bit too much) we bought some salad from M&S and had a picnic in our room! There was a TV, kettle and hair dryer as well. The bathroom was small but very clean and more than adequate. The only criticism was that the bed was quite soft and a little on the small side. The problem with beds is that you’ll never please everyone – some like soft, some like firm – but if it wasn’t for all the exercise and sea air making us conk out each evening, we might have found it a bit difficult to sleep.

The gardens are literally award-winning having won lots of prizes in the Britain in Bloom competitions over the years. They have free internet access and can even print stuff for you at a small cost. The foyer contains the obligatory but very useful tourist information and maps and when we checked in and checked out we were offered help with our luggage.

The breakfast was really good with a good choice: scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, kippers, full English, pancakes etc. I looked forward to breakfast each morning and had a full English every day just because the fried bread was the best I'd ever tasted (I justified it with the amount of walking we did!)

The Poltair claim that nothing is too much trouble and you can't help but believe that. Towels for swimming, herbal tea bags in your room… not a problem. The owner Malcolm was warm and welcoming and always happy to help.

The hotel is quiet and peaceful and yet only about a twelve-minute walk from the centre of Falmouth (and that’s my twelve-minutes so about six to eight-minutes for the rest of you!) There are gentle slopes down into town but very accessible and not particularly taxing (for those of you that don't know, I have limited mobility because of arthritis in both knees and crumbling kneecaps!). Incidentally the Poltair have a comprehensive access statement which can be viewed on their website.

Finally on our last day at the Poltair, we found a card in our room – it was a congratulations card from all the staff wishing us all the best for our wedding and the future. That says it all really! 4/5 www.poltair.co.uk

Second hotel: the Porthminster, St Ives. The Porthminster is a grand old luxury five star hotel and seems to balance this sense of age and grandeur with modern convenience and service.

The staff were fantastic. So much so that within two days of checking out we had sent a card to the General Manager to ask him to thank the staff for all they had done. Again, there is a real sense of wanting to make your stay special and so extra requests are not seen as an inconvenience but rather, dealt with in a friendly and efficient way.

We were in the bridal suite which was gorgeous with a massive bathroom (two-person Jacuzzi), sitting room, large bedroom with a ginormous bed, and two balconies. My mum’s room was more typical and quite small, but still a lovely view, very nice bathroom, flat screen TV and lovely furnishings - she was very happy and comfortable.

There are two pools, indoor and out (we used the outdoor pool which was heated and much more fun!), a games room, two bars, a gym, private sub-tropical gardens and direct access to the beach. The breakfast was notable for good presentation and lovely fresh fruit available every morning and again, the service was excellent. Really we couldn’t fault anything. (When we checked out the porter not only cleared our room for us – and remember, we didn’t just have the luggage we checked in with but a lot of wedding presents – he also packed the car.)

That said however, it is important to remember that our experience was special and different because we were getting married. A ‘regular’ holiday maker might take a slightly more critical approach but we were wearing marriage-tinted glasses and thought everything was perfect! 4.5/5 www.porthminster-hotel.co.uk

Third hotel: the Hen House, Lizard Peninsula. The Hen House (so-called because they do actually have hens!) is a luxury B&B with only two rooms. It is an oasis of peace and is tucked away in a small hamlet called Tregarne. I can’t remember what the name of the room we stayed in was but it was the biggest and was superbly decorated with a gorgeous bathroom. The bed was one of the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in and everything was spotlessly clean.

There is a resident dog, Morgan, a huge and very handsome beast that happily allowed us to give him a cuddle each morning because we were missing Pluto and Bess so much.

The Hen House excels in being green and indeed, has won awards in sustainable tourism so if that is something that matters to you (it should matter to all of us but I shouldn’t preach…) then rest assured you’re in the best place.

The breakfast was amazing and was definitely the best of all the places we stayed. In fact I’m not embarrassed to admit that I have missed it a little… The way it was served was also lovely. The breakfast room looks out on to the garden teeming with birds and everything was so nicely presented. The owners Gary and Sandy are really friendly and conversation with them felt easy and natural – it also helps that they have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the local area: walks, restaurants, attractions, best routes to get from A-B, weather! They will happily lend you maps as well which is very useful.

Although we didn’t take the dogs, there is a fenced in meadow for dogs to exercise and run about like lunatics, a drying room for wet towels and even a place where you can wash your pooches on those occasions where your dog decides to keep its youthful good looks with an all over mud mask…

It is a very special place that we would really, really recommend, and ideally suited for a romantic getaway. (They also have a self-catering barn but I couldn’t be that close and not have one of their breakfasts!). Not only do we want to go back, we're also considering giving a weekend break to someone as a gift. 4.5/5 www.thehenhouse-cornwall.co.uk

(So much for blogging after the weekend!)

A mixed week...

It's been a tough week; we had my partner's much-loved grandfather's funeral to attend on Monday. It was a very sad, but also, at times, a very joyful day. And then I came down with a virulent gastro virus which completely wiped me out.

I'm feeling better today though and it's also our two-week weding anniversary which is nice!

Anyway, I promise to get back to blogging regularly post-weekend. Why post-weekend? Two job applications with a Monday deadline!

(Found this photo on Facebook taken at the 40th birthday party we went to just before Cornwall. It made me laugh!)

I'm back!

I'm back but still too knackered to blog in any great detail.

In a nutshell...

Day 1 - Arrive at Poltair Hotel in Falmouth go for award winning fish and chips
Day 2 - Cornwall Pride, drinks in Truro in the evening
Day 3 - Shopping in Falmouth (I spent an absolute fortune!)
Day 4 - Blue Hills tin mine, cream tea in St Agnes
Day 5 - Lands End, St. Michael's Mount, meet with the registrar (lovely woman!) and then dinner with a friend down for the wedding
Day 6 - Isles of Scilly (Tresco) by helicopter with two other friend's also down for the wedding, lovely dinner with them in the evening
Day 7 - sea kayaking, massage, dinner with our best man and his partner and then a visit to Cornwall's only gay bar!
Day 8 - another massage, arrive at the Porthminster (wedding suite with two balcony's and a gorgeous view!), pick up my mum, dinner and drinks with wedding guests in the evening
Day 9 - final breakfast as a spinster!, swim, WEDDING!!
Day 10 - Eden Project, go for a swim, drinks in the hotel bar
Day 11 - tea and cake for elevenses, drop mum off to station, Porthleven for pasties, drive to new hotel the Hen House
Day 12 - Roskilly's, Lizard Point, Coverack, Cyder Barn (for local booze), back to Roskilly for evening milking and b-b-q
Day 13 - Seal sanctuary in Qweek, Coverack, Mullion, Poldhu Cove
Day 14 - Falmouth, river trip to Tolverne (Smugglers Cottage), dinner in Mannacan
Day 15 - View a house, pick up dogs, find time for another pastie, head home very reluctantly...

Now I'm trying to find space in the house for all the new things we bought including some artwork, doing laundry and answering emails!