Well, we had a good break (though another week would have been ideal). The campsite at Padstow was a great find and we had good evidence the Rick Stein really has taken over the place. The queue for his takeaway fish and chips stretched round the block at all times of the day and most of the evening.
But the above is a picture of me and Molls reading in the van following a (mercifully short) shower. (I would like to state here that Himself did not drink all that Bass, nor did I drink the entire bottle of wine. Hic.)
The book in question was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece, Annie Burrows. (When Mary Ann became too ill to do the necessary edits, she asked her niece, another writer, to do it for her.) I would wholeheartedly recommend this book, which I intend to read again in the near future – but the story of how it came to be written is one in its own right.
We have many memories of our trip - 10pm in the wash rooms at the campsite when they were inundated with everyone brushing their teeth. As a sign of the times, the room hummed with overzealous electric toothbrushes.
Port Isaac on a wet Monday morning – watching the fishermen bring in crates of fresh crab. A dismal mother crouched on a drizzly beach with her two children, trying to interest them in rock pools.
Driving over Dartmoor in teeming rain. (You get a recurring theme here?) Dartmoor to me is one of the most special places ever, and bad weather only makes it more atmospheric.
Walking along the edge of the river Dart one morning, when a cormorant skimmed the surface, heading purposefully upstream.
A boat trip down to Dartmouth, and seeing clouds of steam rising from the dense woods on our left – a steam train wending its way through the woods and over a viaduct.
And lastly, coming home to Falmouth carnival and seeing our friends all cavorting round a wooden whale. Lucky for us – and them – the sun came out.
And now it's Monday and back to work. The morning started with a wet dog walk and having to weigh the cat. Ever tried to do that on a pair of kitchen scales?
16 comments:
Love that book, loaned to me by a friend last year. Instructions for cat weighing: A. hold cat in arms, stand on people scale, read number. B. Put cat down, read number again. A minus B = wgt of cat. Easypeasy. love, SIL.
You're going to post some more about your trip with photos Yes? Can't wait to hear more about it, though it sounds as though the weather wasn't kind to you?
We just got back from another weekend jaunt so I have plenty of trip blogfodder too. :)
Ah so that's where we went wrong, SIL!!
Ak - well the first few days were DIRE but after that it cheered up!
Campsite showers sound like marina showers - all that teethbrushing with people you've never met before! I love Dartmoor too - whatever the weather and it sounds as if you made the most of your holiday rain or shine. I don't know if it's the same with camping but when we come back from the boat I'm struck by how soft and comfortable the house feels!
I absolutely love Padstow. I nearly went there a few weekends ago but ended up somewhere else entirely.
Your little van looks lovely. You looked so snug in there with your book! Who needs the sun when you have warm covers, warm dogs and red wine, eh?
Chris - yes they're very similar. And yes you really appreciate home comforts after camping in a van!
Elaine - just read your account of your time away!! And yes our van is very snug indeed. Particularly when Moll takes up most of the duvet....
Thoughts of weighing your cat on kitchen scales made me laugh!
rosiero - you try actually doing it!!
Glad to hear you had a good holiday. Your images of Dartmoor and Devon are beautiful. I had a chuckle at the recurring theme. At last we are getting some rain here. The difference is we want it.
Tilly's itches are getting better, found a dry food that is helping.
Mark x
I have an entirely romantic idea of England in the rain... but only because I'm not there!
Glad you enjoyed the holiday, FP.
Grump - glad you are getting some rain - perhaps we can send the rest of ours over t you? And good news that Tilly's itching is better.
JJ - yes the rain can be very romantic - but not for long, and especially not when you're in it!!
Great picture, and your trip sounds such fun.
I bought a copy of this book for my mother in law as she is from Guernsey.
Debs - she is bound to ennjoy it!
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