Vid.No.1 This was the view from the back door a couple of minutes ago (if you look closely, the lightening struck within the first 3 seconds and then the thunder followed)
It is tres exciting, but I am glad that I wasn't taking Naughty George on his daily drag when it all kicked off. It could have been perilous. The lightening could have struck a tree, causing a branch to land on our heads. And Naughty George has got so much bling on his dog collar that he's a natural scampering target for any self-respecting lightening strikes.
I am not implying that I want him dead or anything, but NG reached new levels of git-dom today.
Picture the scene; I was abruptly awoken (with a pounding headache because I've had a cold for the last couple of days), at 6.30am by Izzy shrieking; "MUM! MUM!"
I leapt into action and ran downstairs brandishing a frying pan that I had found under the bed, half expecting to find an intruder in the living room.
Instead, I found Izzy in the aforementioned living room, standing stock-still like a statue.
"What's up chicken?" I asked with a perplexed look on my face.
"Naughty George has pooed inside," she said with a stricken expression, staring at her contaminated foot.
I surveyed the scene, and it quickly became obvious that not only had Izzy stood in the shit, but she had undertaken a victory lap encompassing the whole ground floor.
"You utter bastard, George" I muttered under my breath ..... over and over again ...... as I spent 25 minutes cleaning and disinfecting my daughter, the floors, rugs and other miscellaneous soft furnishings.
And throughout the whole gut-wretching experience, Naughty George was lying in his basket, on his back with his paws in the air, snoring contentedly.
As you can imagine, I was quite keen for a bit escapism after such an intimate encounter with such a large volume dog of squit. Hence I was glad to jump back into my blog and continue with the goings-on of my holiday in Cornwall.
If you remember, I went on holiday with Izzy, my friend Sarah, and her friend Gary. And because I am like Mother Theresa (except that I probably quaff more bread and wine), I have got some photographs for you.
Oh, but before I forget, the photographs are of a day out that I had planned. On my own. Without a spreadsheet or internet connection (there wasn't one). It was like being a caveman, except that I didn't paint a picture of a bison on the caravan wall using crude colours.
Here goes ...............
Pic.No.1 I had decided that we would have an early lunch in a harbour village called Mevagissey
Pic.No.2 I had visited Mevagissey a lot during my youth, when we used to sail around the Cornish coastline for our holidays. See that little boat in the middle? That's your best yacht that is
Pic.No.3 More boats. It was more a working fisherman's harbour than a swanky yacht destination, so there wasn't much Bolly sloshing around
Pic.No.4 This is Gary, Sarah and Izzy. They are standing next to a van with 'Mevagissey Wet Fish' advertised on the side. Hmmm someone needs to employ a marketing agent
After lunch, I had planned that we would visit the 'Lost Gardens of Heligan' (you can click on that link to see the reviews on Trip Advisor).
To give you a bit of background (because it is really cool): Heligan had been the seat of the Tremayne family for more than 400 years, and was one of England's most mysterious estates. No-one outside of the estate knew what was contained within the walls. At the end of the nineteenth century its gardens were at their zenith, but following the the first World War, they deteriorated quickly, with bramble and ivy drawing a green veil over what was called the “Sleeping Beauty”. Decades of neglect meant that the gardens had become lost to sight.
It wasn't until the 1990s that a conservation trust discovered a a tiny room, buried under fallen masonry in the corner of one of the walled gardens ..... which opened a door to the gardens which had been hidden for more than seventy years.
Upon the discovery, a bunch of mentalists decided that they wanted to restore all one thousand acres of the gardens. And so they did ..... and after twenty years of back-breaking work ..... we have the Lost Gardens of Heligan which we visited whilst on holiday ....... gnarly or what?
Pic.No.5 This is a map of the Lost Gardens of Heligan. The real-life proved to be a LOT bigger than they appeared the map
Pic.No.6 The gardens were magnificent - meandering paths with tons of hidden areas waiting to be discovered. This was Gary and Izzy in an Italian garden
Pic.No.7 Izzy with her hero - Sarah
Pic.No.8 This was bloody brilliant. An arched walkway dripping with fruits of various kinds
Pic.No.9 A Scarecrow in the vegetable garden. Looking at his dress sense, I think he might be from oop north
Pic.No.10 A rhubarby, cabbagey type plant in the vegetable garden
Pic.No.11 Many of the gardens were walled ..... like the flower garden
Pic.No.12 This is what you encountered when you entered the flower garden
Pic.No.13 There were loads of flowery type things in the flower garden, not unexpectedly
Pic.No.14 An arty shot of a pink flower thing
Pic.No.15 Just off the flower garden, we happened upon this secluded watery haven
Pic.No.16 Next to the watery haven was a pagoda filled with flowers .... and Sarah had a quick sit down because she was knackered. She's always knackered so I am going to get her a t-shirt with 'I'm knackered' emblazoned across the front
Pic.No.17 A yellow dangly flower
Pic.No.18 After the more formal walled gardens, we headed out towards to the more natural conservationist landscapes. This was a green gypsy caravan, but it had been converted into a bird hide
Pic.No.19 Hurray! It's me. Oh, and Izzy of course. Blending into the background like chameleons
Pic.No.20 Flippin' hek. This tree was like something out of a horror movie
Pic.No.21 Was it me, or did it have a face? I think it comes from the Triffid family. I expected it to always be the same distance behind us, no matter how far we walked
Pic.No.22 This was the 'Jungle' section of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and it was truly marvellous. It was just like a jungle, except it was in England. How did they do that?
Pic.No.23 It was covered in dense undergrowth and trees, and it had boardwalks linking the steep inclines so that we were literally walking through the tree-tops
Pic.No.24 This is a pinky type flower that we walked past. Probably a dandelion or something
Pic.No.25 Sarah and Izzy. Imagine having one of those bastards in your salad (the leaf, not Sarah or Izzy)
Pic.No.26 This is a swampy type pond in the Jungle area
Pic.No.27 Izzy and I took a quick moment out to do a 'Zoolander' in the stepping stone section of the Jungle
Pic.No.28 Gary does a 'Harrison Ford' in the jungle. Kind of. Except he didn't kill snakes or get anywhere by swinging on ropes
Pic.No.29 Another Jungle pond
Pic.No.30 Finally we emerged from the Jungle section and arrived (blinking) into open countryside. We found a bench to sit on for a while (because Sarah and Gary were knackered), and noticed that we could see Mevagissey village in the distance
Following our rest, we continued walking, and in no time at all, we left the Jungle and headed into the 'Forest' section of the Lost Gardens of Heligan .......
Pic.No.31 Look! We found this sculpture of a bird crafted into the forest floor. I did pose next to her, prostate on the forest finery, but my baps looked to have an unusual configuration in the picture, so it didn't make the Editor's cut
Pic.No.32 This is the forest sculpture that Heligan is famous for ..... a head nestling amongst the trees. Look! It has got the same hair as the Ginge
So that's about it when it comes to the Lost Gardens of Heligan. I have to say though, that it was a lot more magnificent than the pictures depict (I should be on commission or something). You could literally explore for two days and not see everything.
Enough of that. By the time we finished with Heligan, everyone was Hank Marvin (starvin'). And because I was responsible for planning, I had organised for us to go to a small harbour town called Fowey for dinner.
I love Fowey because it was another place that I regularly sailed to as a kid (with my Dad, obviously. Otherwise I might have been considered precocious). It's also the place where all the yachties hang out. And because the yachties generally have a dime or two to rub together, you could be sure that as well as being picturesque, Fowey had lots of fine eateries, and an endless supply of Bolly.
Pic.No.33 We parked the car and walked down Fowey's narrow twisting streets towards the Harbour Square. I thought that this person's front door was the dogs danglies. Except that I wouldn't want to try and get a sofa up there
Pic.No.34 The main street in Fowey (if you are in America, it is called 'Downtown')
Pic.No.35 We decided to eat in an Italian restaurant overlooking Fowely Harbour. Look! there is a bird soaring on the right hand side
That's enough of Cornwall, although I think there are two more posts to come ... what do you think, should I write them, or abandon the subject and go onto something else? Hmmmmm.....
So dahlink, have you seen the signs of Autumn where you are?
Picture 21: It's hasn't got a face but it has got an arse and a lobstery claw x
ReplyDeleteChrist, you are right! It has gone even more sinister than I originally anticipated!
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You should be on commission because now I have added Heligan to my Bucket List to see the sculptures!
ReplyDeleteYou could merge the two remaining posts into one!!!
ReplyDeleteI and I am sure others are dying to know why you have to move, Googled your area and can see no reports of a new motorway coming through your neck of the woods.
Loved your travelogue, but must say that I'm worried about NG as he is so very old and really can't be expected to eat the same kinds of things he could as a pup or wait as long to go outside. I hope you'll have him checked out. (Sorry, I'm an animal lover).
ReplyDeleteThen, as a urologist's daughter, I must point out that I hope you were not "prostate" on the forest finery.
Please have George looked over.
Those first photos of the village look like St.John's, Newfoundland. What a great looking area!
ReplyDeleteNow to those 'Hidden Gardens'!~ OMG! Can you imagine finding something like this?! I can't believe what they re-did to bring it back to what it was. Incredible and great photos Annie.
What a wonderful and unique area of the UK.
By all means please post more about Cornwall.....PLEASE!
Wonderful to see pics of Fowey. Although a Taff by birth., Fowey was home for around twenty odd years (long story) If you sailed there as a kid, there's every chance we may have bumped into each other in an earlier life, as I spent my youth mucking around in boats.
ReplyDeleteJosh has declared Albert Quay the equal best crabbing spot on the planet, jointly held with Obidos lagoon.
The capacity for the world to be a small place never ceases to amaze.
My Dad's surgery was a bit further down the road in your picture of Fore St
Do you ever just stay still? Love the piccies as always and it makes me realise how fortunate your daughter is to have you.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Alejandro
Brilliant tour round the Lost Gardens..thanks.( I have never been there) We are having the same problems with our old dog..bless 'em they just can't help it. We make sure he is confined to a smallish area of hard floor when on his own, and are very very careful when we enter it ! Mind you, he did a whoopsie right behind me when I was washing up, without so much as a woof to ask to go out....I was not best pleased at that one!
ReplyDeleteHello Katie, thanks for stopping by! I have to say that it is well worth a visit. In fact Cornwall in general is .... bloody loads to do, there is! And you're right, I should be on commission ;-)
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Greetings Robert, the trouble is that if I merge two posts into one, it will be enormous because I have got so many photographs. I am dying to get the holiday posts finished so that I can go back to random stuff!
ReplyDeleteI will be doing a post on my house move too *patience Jeeves* ;-)
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Howdy Anne, thanks for your advice about NG. I kind of assumed it was old age, but I have booked an appointment with the vet this afternoon to check there aren't any underlying causes. So I will let you know how it goes ;-) I do worry about him because of his age.
ReplyDeleteBlimey, you are the third person today to have a father who was a doctor (joining the ranks of me and Gumph).
Ha ha! I missed that prostate thing - I should leave it in for comedy value!
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Howdy Jimski, I wonder if the historical links between the UK and Canada have any influence on the architecture over there? Ummm....
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine finding something like the lost gardens, and I can imagine even less thinking 'oh yeh, I will bring these back to life'. They are immense - the photographs just can't convey the scale of it.
More Cornish posts coming up, as requested!
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Morning Gumph! OMG - it is a bloody small world. Seriously, Fowey was one of our most visited sailing destinations .... and you lived there! It's kind of freaky to think that we could have bumped into each other when we were younger ....... do you still sail?
ReplyDeleteFowey is a beautiful place to live, why did you leave?
On another note, my dad was a doctor too. And Anne (not me), who commented today, pointed out that her dad was also a doctor. We should consider setting up a series of small, but complex, splinter groups.
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Awww you are a charmer this morning A! Nope, I never stay still ....... too much to see and do he he he!
ReplyDeleteHow are you matey?
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You have my sympathies. Dog plop in the kitchen isn't the best. Did you manage to body-swerve the whoopsie he did behind you?!
ReplyDeleteI am taking NG to the vet today to see if there is anything wrong with him. Will let you know how I get on. How is your mutt by the way?
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What a brilliant blog, Loved it. Great piccies and commentary as usual. Especially liked looking at the lost gardens. We visited there in April (there are a few piccies on my site on April 13) and we were blown away. What an amazing place and to see it now at a different time of year with different flowering plants and fruit is great.....Hope NG isn't too poorly....Talking of dogs we pick up our new puppy tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteOh forgot to add....I think the rhubarby cabbage plant is actually chard. Gail bought some once thinking it was rhubarb and wondered why it still tasted awful even after putting a pound of sugar on it during cooking.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to the other two posts...your travels are always super interesting.
ReplyDeleteI adore gardens and that one looks beautiful. As always, your pictures are awesome esp. the cute pics of your girl, Izzy. The prone lady in pic 31 is interesting. I have never seen a garden with a prostrated woman/shrub.
Poor Darling George! Something is going awry, I think. I hope your vet has a clue as to what's up.
I love your adventuresome nature. The Autumn leaves are starting to appear here but I have not gone to any of the local gardens or festivals. I really should attempt to get out and do something fun.
Autumn? Here? Surely you jest. The leaves here drop in February to be replaced by the buds in March.
ReplyDeleteTry giving NG some pumpkin. It may help regulate his "problem".
Luckily I had my wits about me as I turned from the sink! Hope you get on OK at the vet's, but I suspect you will be told he is just getting old! Dillon and I had a good walk this morning.....he wasn't "dawdling "like he sometimes does..... that drives me nuts. I like to walk quite fast. He is 15 at least, but appears to be in good health still, though getting more and more anxious if I am not with him, and also has cataracts , but can still see quite well, and has been very deaf for several years now. Not easy taking him to the vet as he is terrified and won't let the vet anywhere near him if he can possibly get away. I have to muzzle him, so no hope of getting his teeth looked at, which is a worry!
ReplyDeleteYOU'RE THE BEST! Hugs to you and to NG too!
ReplyDeleteHello you! I will do a post on it, but just to let you know that Naughty George passed his medical with flying colours, and apparently there is nothing wrong with him (phew)! The vet checked everything and said he was amazingly fit for his age. She also came up with a really good suggestion - that NG eat specially formulated Senior food. She pointed out that the digestion of older dogs doesn't work so well, which may explain the plopping, and that he would benefit from food that was designed to be more easily absorbed.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your advice .......... I really appreciate it, and I am not so worried about the git anymore ;-)
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Oh yes, it did have a huge influence on our architecture here....God Save the Queen!
ReplyDeleteThat just slips out! Oopps!
I meant to add that I really empathize with Sarah and Gary....they are alowed to be 'knackered' (love that word really).....they are TEACHERS don't forget!
You know what? You are WONDERFUL!
ReplyDeleteSome old lady from the US writes to you, telling you what to do about your dog, correcting your wording, and you, very graciously, take her advice and thank her for it. I hope we meet some day (damn, i was in Oxford this summer!) so you can give me a smack and I can buy you a bolly, whatever the hell that is!XO! Anne
Crikey you are well lucky. We have got six months of cold and rain before spring and summer show their faces!! Pumpkin eh? How does that work then?
ReplyDeleteAw thanks Cheryl, and thanks for stopping by ;-) Blimey, yeh, if you have the chance to do some fun stuff - seize the moment! Glad you like the pics .... it was hard choosing which ones to use cos I had hundreds of the buggers!
ReplyDeleteYou were in Oxford and you didn't look me up? Tskkkk, shame on you!
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I would love to visit Canada properly and do a tour. Like you say, I bet there are a lot of similarities in things like architecture and place names etc. Oh yeh, I forgot about teachers being allowed to be knackered! he he he!
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