Cornwall - Part Two - St Ives

When we went to Cornwall a few years ago the one place I really wanted to go and visit was St Ives as I had heard so many good things about it.  Unfortunately we ran out of time that year...this time though I was determined that we would fit a day in and we certainly did!

What a day we had as well!  Beautiful sunshine greeted us, easy parking up on the hill and a pleasant walk down into the township.  One good thing at going on holiday when we did is that the schools are back so less holiday makers around.

The tide was out.

We enjoyed several walks around the area and looking back towards the town.

The lifeboat station lookout.

Wonderful scenery.

Well yes unfortunately there were some tourists...

People enjoying the beach.

Narrow cobbled streets

All in all a fabulous day which we thoroughly enjoyed  (as did Henry and you can see what he got up to over here)

We arrived home and had a lovely late afternoon in the garden with the dogs.

The cottage we stayed in.

Shadow chasing the ball...you wouldn't believe he is 15 and can hardly walk sometimes!

The Camel Estuary.

Pirate also enjoyed running around as if he was a puppy.  Again you wouldn't believe he is 15 and only just a few months early was suffering from Kidney Failure and didn't look like he was going to make it.  What a miraculous improvement he has made!  Certainly worth the special diet and medication to see him running around and enjoying himself.

To finish the day off we were treated to....

A magnificent sunset!

C'est la Rentrée - Resolutions & A Giveaway

Well I am back having had a good break as well as a lovely week's holiday in Cornwall (see previous post). I have decided I am no longer going to be ruled by pain and Chiari Malformation and am going to try making a big effort to get myself back on track, the last few months really having gone past in a blur.  I am going back on Raw Foods, starting with a week of juicing to see if that will help me feel better mentally as I have just felt so sluggish, unenthusiastic and just generally unmotivated these past months.  I am still on my medication which is perhaps having some positive effect on the pain although of course I have to take extra medication to counteract the side effects, although will be coming off those in October to see how I get on.  I have a Ketamine Infusion booked for 7th December and am waiting on an appointment with a neurologist...trying to get this one on the NHS so who knows how long it will take for the appointment to come through.

My older son has just left home and has started at Maritime College with the Merchant Navy.  His company is Princess Cruises  and he is a Navigation Officer Cadet.  So changes there as well.  

Today I started on clearing out the garage which is currently the home of my guinea pigs.  I am going to move them into my boarding shed now I don't have so many, and have been swapping hutch blocks around. I will sell off the unused hutch blocks.  I feel I am now ready to move on from the Cavies and all that involved, especially as I haven't been breeding or showing for a couple of years now.  I have just got the 'old folk' left and have a nice number to enjoy.  

One hutch block (three double hutches) have been scrubbed out today as well as a two hutch block.  Hoping to scrub out the other block of three tomorrow and then will take photos of the blocks that I am not keeping which is a three storey double hutch block that I made and a large Avondale block which can split into either 12 singles or a variety of singles and doubles.

Once the garage has been completely cleared and cleaned, I can then start sorting and clearing the porch and house.  It really is time for a good clear out and September seems a good time to start that what with it being that time of year for Rentrée Resolutions  which I have been doing for the last few years with Floss.  As she has done each year Floss is having a giveaway and you can find out how to enter over here.

Last year my list looked like this:

MY RENTRÉE RESOLUTIONS 2011/12

Enjoy life to the full

Embark on some form of study: Human Nutrition

Continue with Raw Foods & Exercise

Build up a very slow practice routine on clarinet

Finish current projects before starting new ones

Don't spend any more money!

I have to confess to not really doing very well with this list of Resolutions!

Enjoy life to the full...I have in some ways but in other ways, things have gone past in a blur since starting medication again in December after getting a shock diagnosis.

Some form of study...I gave up on the course

I kept up with the exercise and raw foods up to a point then gradually slackened off...

Tried to practice the clarinet...unfortunately just too painful.

As for the last two...nuff said!

So WHAT shall I attempt this year?

I really want to try and get my house in order despite the lack of enthusiasm and oompf!  Although it has been bothering me quite a bit, it hasn't enough for me to really do anything about, which I think is partly a result of the medication I am on.  Yes I keep blaming the medication!  Of course it is also me that needs to change as well and I really do want to try and do this as the mess really has been getting me down.  So I think I'm probably really only going to have three Rentree Resolutions this year...

1.  Enjoy life to the full - it is such an important one to have - taking opportunities when the arise and enjoying family and friends.

2.  House! Only the one word needed really as I know what it means!

3.  Return to healthy eating and juicing to see how it helps me feel.

I will keep you all posted and update with how I get on.

Phew!  Time to make a cup of tea now!

Kettle is boiling...

Cornwall - Part One

We have just returned from a lovely week long break near Wadebridge in Cornwall.  We had the most fabulous time, a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing (although lots of walking) holiday.

On the 3rd September we went to The Lost Gardens of Heligan.  We had the perfect day weather wise, not too hot, dry and warm. I just love it here, we have been once before with the boys, and this time it was nice to just come by ourselves (hubby and I).  We could really spend the time enjoying it.  Last time we came here was several years ago and during a rather difficult time with our younger son and to say that trip was stressful is an understatement!  What a change a few years has made.  This time although our younger son came on holiday with us, he didn't want to come out at all on any of our trips, so we just said fine.  He played on his PlayStation which we had had the foresight to take with us!  So all around less stress for him and us.

I will let the photos do the 'talking'...

For those who don't mind reading about some of my doll madness...there are more photos of Henry enjoying  Heligan as well over here.

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Just a brief check in

Just a quick interlude during my break to say I have finally finished and got up to date with my Inchy Hexagon Flower Swap and my flowers from April through to August are finally finished and are in their packages waiting to be posted first thing Monday morning.   

Another thing I want to show is this wonderful patchwork quilt I bought the other day for £5 from a charity shop.  It also has two matching pillowcases which I haven't put on yet as the bedroom needs an overhaul first, but I wanted to see what the quilt looked like on the bed.

Yes, sorting the bedroom and maybe even decorating it is on my To Do List!

Catch you all in September if not before. :-)