Friday 17 June
As per usual when travelling to Cornwall we set off on Friday evening, there's no way I'm doing the M5 and the A30 on a Saturday!
Approaching Beastie and Bwmps' bedtime and I'm sitting at the side of the road near J48 waiting on Nelson's outfit to fill my mirrors.
Soon enough we have a convoy, with both rigs behaving themselves as they should be and we stop for a comfort break at Taunton Dean.
After getting ready to come in scorching heat I'm dismayed to feel the weather turning as we head west. The tow over Bodmin Moor in the fog was interesting as was the stretch through the roadworks near Perranporth!
1am sees us winding down the legs in our layby off the A30 at Crows-en-Wra for some well needed shut eye.
Saturday 18 June
Despite not pulling in until 1am we're awake quite early. I open up the blinds to see what the weather's doing as it feels quite windy. Doesn't look too bad, but this was as good as it got .... not good for setting up day.
Nelson & Co must have been waiting on us as opening the blinds and are round lighting a flame under the kettle.
The staff at Trevedra know that we always come down overnight and had said that we could park up in their car park until our pitched were vacant. 9am sees us checking in with 1 vacant pitch so we can start the pitching process in wind and rain.
Lets just say that setting up was a struggle, and leave it at that!
Herself and I have popped out for provisions and Nelson sends an SOS. His awning rail is coming away from the van and you can see daylight through it. There's no way I can do a proper fix today, so I pick up a roll of Gaffa tape, borrow a step ladder from the site and botch it with the aid of a ratchet strap.
I'm now very hungry as it's way past tea time. The Weber is still in the roofbox and I don't have the energy to climb up there for it and start to cook our tea on my little Kampa Fryup. Nelson goes running back inside and comes out with a box.
Happy Father's Day from him and Roids. It's a Vango Scran Plate, about 3 times the size of my Kampa. It gets unpacked and set up, discarding the instruction leaflet, and fired up.
Houston, we have a problem. It has smoke bellowing from the power unit. I turn it off and cook tea on my old Kampa and have to tell a gutted Nelson that it's not working.
Sunday 19 June
I'm up early and it's stopped raining. The sun's not exactly burning the grass, but at least it's dry as I take the dogs over to Sennen for their early morning stretch.
Back on site Nelson and Co are round to give me my Father's Day stuff. Spoilt I was, and I'm re=given the Vango for photographic purposes.
Nelson has sorted a return to Amazon but we're both gutted. You know that thing about men and instructions? Well when packing the contraption back up I glanced at the front page, which in BIG red letters said.....
WARNING.......... THE ELEMENT HAS A PROTECTIVE COATING OF OIL. TURN ON IN A WELL VENTILATED PLACE WHILE THIS BURNS OFF AND EMITS SMOKE FOR 15 MINS.
What a plonker!!!!
After breakfast Bwmps needs a nap, so I volunteer to get some steps in and push him to every corner of the site before we head off out to meet Grumbles on the A30.
The only other thing today was a trip to Toolstation and Screwfix to pick up the kit to repair Nelson's awning rail.
Monday 20 June
Really pants start to the day today weather-wise. Spent it dodging heavy showers, getting some very wet steps in and sitting around the awning playing with Beastie and Bwmps. early afternoon and it's clearing up. Nelson and MBW are heading into Penzance for some odds and ends
The afternoon flew by and we've not gone anywhere, so get scrubbed up and head to Lands End for the evening. The Turpin Booth has closed and for a Brucie Bonus the Turpin Machine is out of order. We take drinks outside looking over towards Longships before joining Bwmps and Beastie in the park.
Tuesday 21 June
The weather's turned and first thing we take the opportunity to carry out some repairs to Nelson's van. His awning rail gets the good news with a tube of Sticks Like Shit and some 40mm screws, along with a good dash of hope that the bodge will last till we get home.
With the windbreaks up, Nelson,s van fixed and our Isabella re pegged out tidy, I'm in a better frame of mind, so take a few pics of our set ups.
Herself needs walking sandals having left hers at home, so before it gets too hot she heads to Penzance with Grumbles who's going to treat Herself to a new pair from Go Outdoors if they have any.
Back on site, and inside our enclosure it's getting hot, and we had a bit of a moment. I'm sat there minding my own business when Grumbles get up and stands up in front of me. he then starts fiddling with his belt before just dropping his trousers to his ankles! I'm a bit taken aback but realise he has a pair of tailored shorts on, complete with another belt on underneath his trousers!
He doesn't bother taking his long trousers off, but sits back down in his chair with his trousers round his ankles!
I need some space, and as luck would have it Bwmps needs a walk, so Dats gets some steps in.
Herself and MBW have now decided that both they and Beastie need a sun hat. Into the cars we pile and head for Penzance. We walked the length of Market Jew St under shop canopies and stood under air con units to keep the dogs cool as we went. We cross the road so they can look in Peacocks, but no shade option available so take a bench outside.
We'd been sat there no more that 5 mins with the dogs when this old biddy approaches me.
" I hope you don't mind me saying so ......"
You know then that as soon as they open their mouth you will mind.
"But you really shouldn't be here with the dogs, it's far too hot."
"Thank you for your concern, but it's really none of your business."
"It is my business, I used to donate to the RSPCA, so know what I'm talking about!"
"The dogs are fine, until 5 mins ago they'd been under constant shade or in an air conditioned shop, we'll be another 2 mins at most."
"You should look after your dogs better, people like you shouldn't have dogs."
"Like I said, it's none of your business, now please walk away."
"It is my business, those dogs are abused, I can tell."
"If you don't walk away I'll start swearing at you."
By now we have an audience.
"But, but , but ....."
I swore and she turned her back.
Our dogs are like our babies now our boys are grown up, and I'll not sit silently and be accused of abusing them.
The shopping expedition is a success and we make tracks to the beer garden of The Pirate Arms and play area. Beastie wanted to play on the swings, so I made my way over to the play area with her. Two local delinquents saw our approach and made tracks at top speed to take up position on the swings.
|OK I thought having immediately got their number.
They make a big deal of having fun while Beastie waited. They even sat there doing nothing, just chatting while sitting on the swings. I don't mind waiting turn, but when people take the piss .....
Now I thought I was being discrete, but apparently I wasn't and the others were laughing at me glowering at the delinquents so Beastie could have her turn!!
Nelson and MBW treat us to a fish supper from Buzz's to be eaten back at the van.
Wednesday 22 June
Blue skies this morning as I take to dogs over to Sennen for their early morning run, and wipe the sleep from my eyes to take in the view towards Gwynver with |Cape Cornwall in the distance.
After a morning messing around the van we drive to the end of the A30 where they want £7.50 to abandon a car. Nelson and MBW want to do the attractions so we take a seat outside the hotel to enjoy a zoider looking over towards Longships.
I went into Arthur;s Quest with them, but found it to be very scary, it was a good job Beastie and Bwmps were there to hold my hand!
As with all the attractions down here, you exit through the gift shop, so Beastie gets a sword and shield set to play with after. I'll have a moan here. What sort of git packages up two swords but only one shield?
Dats' aging knees get a pounding as Beastie wants to play at being a Charging Knight, but how can you refuse?
There's nowhere I'd rather be on the longest day of the year.
Thursday 23 June
We wake up to a scorcher, though not quite as yesterday. Nelson and MBW get breakfast on before we make tracks down into the cove for some beach time.
It's still out of season, so parking spaces are plentiful in the harbor car park. I'm feeding s fistful of pound coins into the Turpin machine, get one ticket for 3 hours printed for Nelson and then one for me. What I didn't hear before pressing print was the machine rejecting a coin, so ended up paying over the odds for just an hour ticket. Not wanting to waste that I resolved to trudge back up before it ran out to get another one.
My timeline has been polluted of recent months with this cold water swimming being all the rage. Friends are raving about it, though some are cheating by wearing wet-suits for the activity. I'd vowed I was to give it a go while down here this year.
Stripped off to my swim shorts I make my way to the water with Herself looking on waiting for the screams. By the time I'm knee deep I'm starting to regret my silliness and by the time my gonads are getting wet I'm gasping.
Now attracting an audience I start to swear as the water laps over my belly and up to my armpits, but I'd look like a right dick if I chickened out now.
I went in, and stayed in long enough to have a little swim, but I'd rate the experience as somewhere on the scale between torture and exhilarating!!
Still, once the crowd of Canadians armed with baseball bats had dispersed and the sun warmed me enough to stop the tingling, I started to feel the benefit and got stuck into some serious sand castle action with Beastie and Bwmps.
Losing all track of time until it suddenly struck me that the ticket would have run out. Checking my watch I'm 15 mins over so waddle as fast as I can possibly up the steep ramp back to the car park to see a plastic yellow envelope tucked ever so carefully under the wiper blade!
Early afternoon and it's getting too hot without any real shade, so we return to site. Nelson and MBW get into JFO and Nigella mode and cook up a feast for our tea before we head into Penzance and the penny slots.
Beastie loves the arcade and almost tore up the tarmac as she darted (Sonic stylee) towards the welcoming doors of the Grand Casino.
Friday 24 June
We wake and the scorching sun of yesterday is absent. It's a bit windy and the skies don't look very promising.
By the time we've has breakfast the heavens have opened and an awning day is on the horizon due to webcams across Cornwall showing much of the same. Bwmps isn't having it though, so Dats puts his waterproof clobber on, the rain cover cocoons him in the pushchair, and Dats gets some serious wet steps in.
Late afternoon and it starts to clear up. We're all scrubbed up for an evening out, courtesy of Grumbles. We've got a lane booked at Country Skittles with a meal following.
Beastie thoroughly enjoyed, Bwmps less so as it interfered with his eating time, the boy loves his food.
After yesterday's late night the babies are put straight to bed on return to site, too many late nights are no good for them ..... or our peace and quiet for that matter!
Saturday 25 June
After a morning of slurping tea we pile into the cars and head into Penzance, where we meet up with Coupons, Nursy and Mike, who traveled down yesterday and are stopping a few miles away.
We're in town to take in the Golowan Festival, and thread our way through the throngs on Market Jew St browsing the stalls as we went before taking up a place roadside to watch the parade.
Herself's G&T was quite spectacular, and came with an assortment of fruit and a Xmas tree!
Chips are procured and we take them back to the awning to scoff while putting the world to rights.
Sunday 26 June
Been down here a week so far, and the furthest we've gone is Country Skittles, all of 16 miles away. That's going to change today as we've arranged to go to Newquay with Coupons & Co.
Breakfatsed and changed we bell Nursey to tell her we're on our way and rendezvous in Lidle car park in Hayle.
Parking in Newquay was troublesome, but then it always is, especially so when you're looking for spaces to abandon 3 cars.
Exiting Manor Car Park we turn left onto Bank St where Beastie starts on her mission to empty wallets and purses.
Her and Bwmps got spoilt, and Beastie decided she needed a Tattoo, of a fairy of course!
By now Herself's knackered knees are giving her some serious gyp, so grabbing the savage Herself, Grumbles and me with our 3 dogs as well head for Walkabout where Herself can take some pain killers with a few glasses of liquid anesthetic while watching the surfers do their stuff off Towan Beach down below.
The afternoon flew by and we're soon joined by Nelson, MBW, Beastie and Bwmps. Apparently Coupons has not finished her retail therapy quite yet and needs another waterproof coat.
Suggestions of grabbing a bite to eat there were roundly ignored by all, so I hinted at grabbing some pasties to be eaten on the green by the bandstand. I was hungry 2 hours ago and got more and more frustrated with each pasty shop they marched past.
Bowgies was suggested for tea so we thread our way through the lanes to West Pentire. Things are going too well. We bag 3 spaces in the car park and walk in to see dozens of empty tables. That's as good as it gets.
"Excuse me, are you serving food?"
"Yes we are, have you booked?"
"No"
Heir in Charge frowns.
"How many are you?"
"8 plus 2 children"
Heir in Charge frowns and huffs.
"No, I can't possibly fit you in, we're full."
This is my reaction above
"Are you sure? It's only 5pm and all these tables are empty."
"Yes, they're all booked for 7.30pm."
Still starving I turn around to deliver the bad news.
"Do you want to book for another evening?"
Grumbles pulls me out of the door before I can deliver my stinging reply! By now the others have agreed that we'll travel back west to Hayle. I almost cried on the spot. Half hour later we're parked up at The Old Quay House and I charge inside.
"Are you serving food?"
"Yes, how many are you?"
"8 plus 2"
There was much mumbling and nodding and looking at pieces of paper. One raises my hopes and says he'll go and see if it'll be suitable. My heart sinks as he goes UPSTAIRS. He returns all smile after he's obviously been moving tables around to make one big one.
"Yes we can accommodate you"
"Upstairs?"
"Yes"
"Coupons can do stairs, she's disabled."
He's gutted at the wasted effort, and my stomach is starting to pick a fight with me.
"Sorry we can't accommodate you then"
Me and Grumbles are nearly out the door when he chirps up "We've got a stair lift mind"
I could have kissed him. The food was superb, the service attentive, and we have a great end to our day out.
Coupons and Co head off to their van and we take the road back west to Sennen. We're sat in the van and just after 10pm when Nelson messages us.
"Are you guys still up?"
We were just about to turn in but answered
"Yes, why?"
"Cos there'd be no point in coming round otherwise!"
With Beastie and Bwmps fast asleep in their bunks, complete with a baby monitor Nelson and MBW negotiate the course of awning zips and join us in our for a game of "Cards Against Humanity"
It got messy!!
Monday 27 June
Grumbles went home today, setting off at 8.45am sharp.
After breakfast we head off out to meet up with Coupons and Co in Marazion. The sun is out but it's very windy down there, then again it always is, that's why it's so popular with wind surfers.
Parked up in Folleyfield Long Stay we take the beachside path up to the village with St Michael's Mount to our right.
We walk as far as the Godolphin Hotel, just 1/3 mile, and it's clear that walking any further is out of the question for Herself today. We grab all the dogs and take a table with a sea view to enjoy a few drinks while the others set off to explore.
Very pleasant it was too. Coupons and Co return a while later to join us after having explored every nook and cranny, including a craft fair, and we sit soaking up the view.
Nelson and MBW have taken Beastie and Bwmps down to the park to burn off some energy and we join them before returning to the cars.
We all returned to our caravan where the Vango and the Weber are pressed into action to create a BBQ for 7 which was demolished in the frankly cavernous awning we have.
Tuesday 28 August
We wake up and it's raining. @DerekTheWeather's gap toothed west country cousin is promising much more of it with a healthy dose of strong gusting winds.
Nelson and MBW are taking the babies up to Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay this afternoon, so we're left with Beastie and Bwmps while they get all their shit together to go out. A bag of balloons comes to the rescue and proved amazing value for just a £1.
Herself however is shit scared of balloons for some reason, so was not as enthusiastic about the experience as Beastie and Bwmps!
It was proper mun out there for most of the day and our Kampa sturdy wind breaks were defeated by one particular gust, so muggins here needs to get wet to dismantle them before 1 - the poles destroy themselves, and 2 - a pole puts a hole in the side of Nelson's van!
The only consolation being that the heavy rain is washing the seagull shit off the awning roof lovely.
Come 4.15pm and the rain stops. The dogs have been cooped up all day so Herself and I take them over to Sennen Top Car Park to have a bloody good run and sort their guts out. Looking over down towards Gwynver the Atlantic looks angry.
We drop down into the cove to do some wave watching from the comfort of Toyah in the Harbor car park, but remarkably the clouds clear and the wind drops.
I lose a layer and we clip the dogs on for a walk along the flat part of Cove Hill as far as The |Old Success where we sit in the warm sunshine and enjoy a pint of Korev.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we'd be doing this just a few hours ago as I was chasing windbreaks across the members field in the lashing rain just a few short hours ago.
We exchange messages with Nursey and their day has been a mixed bag too. They'd got soaked and abandoned a shopping spree in Penzance, snoozed all afternoon and had an unsuccessful outing to bingo before enjoying the sunshine on the beach near their static.
Wednesday 29 June
After yesterday's total washout we're a little relieved to wake and it's not hammering down. Nelson, MBW and the little ones are heading back up towards Newquay today and the delights of Lappa Valley.
Herself and I wave them off after breakfast, not wanting to travel too far from the van as Roids is coming down to join us for a few nights. Still recovering from a 4 night stag jaunt to Portugal he missed his 4am alarm call and planned early start and doesn't text us to say he's on his way until 10.30am.
Coupons & Co meet us on the A30 and we head down to Lands End. Again? you say. Well yes, we love it down there, and neither Nursey or Mike have been before.
After settling Herself down on a table with refreshments in bright sunshine head off after the others who gone out towards the First & Last House viewpoint. I didn't get very far. Mike had spotted incoming rain and had the electric assist on Coupon's chair cranked up to warp speed and was running behind it in a race against time. Nursey was lagging some way behind.
We retreated inside to the comfort of the conservatory, before buying some pasties to take back to the van for an early tea. I'm beginning to think that coupons is a jinx or something where Lands End is concerned, as the weather always seems to turn when she visits!
Roids arrives and demolishes his pasty before we set off in the direction of Penzance. The plan was to take a stroll along the prom until Nelson returned from up country. That didn't happen as no sooner had we cleared Newlyn than the heavens opened, and boy did it rain solid for a good half hour.
Beastie arrives and we waste no time in bursting through the doors of The Grand Casino once more. We had a fun filled hour or so in there, and armed with a couple of thousand gift tickets (probably enough to get a pencil and a sharpener from the kiosk) Beastie's trooping round like she owns the place with arms full of cuddly toys that myself and Roids have won her and Bwmps on the cork rifle range.
I think the owners were glad to see the back of us now that we had our eye in. Easy enough once you work out which way they've fiddled with the sights to put you off!!
Still dry we decide to take a stroll along the prom and grab a drink outside The Lugger Inn. The other hopped over a stepped crossing of the wall, but Nelson pushing Bwmps and me pushing Coupons need to walk up as far as The Jubilee Pool to turn around. It started raining again, we can see the others nice and dry under the gazebos , but get a soaking for our efforts.
Still a pleasant hours was had cwtching under the infra red heater, even if it did appear to have an energy saving bulb in it!!
Thursday 30 June
Blue skies today!
After breakfast it's kite flying time. Beastie enjoys a kite and had remembered there was one in Nelson's van from 2 years ago down here.
They have unused tickets for Greeb Farm and Aardman Grand |Experience from last week, and with Herself unable to walk any sort of distance we decide to join them down there. Well hold onto the dogs soaking in the view anyway.
All too soon it was time to move on again as we've arranged to meet up with the others where |Coupons treats us all at Country Skittles to an evening of bowling and grub.
Beatie was insistent that Coupons took her turn, and to be fair she can get Coupons to do stuff that other's can't. I just hope the Motability people aren't following!
We wave goodbye to Coupons & Co as they return to their static and we head west. We don't go straight home though, instead parking up in Sennen's top car park to have a play with the dogs and watch the sun set on a fantastic day all round.
Friday 01 July
Been down here nearly 2 weeks now. How did that happen?
Nelson was up and outside at 7am starting to take his awning down while dry, as they're leaving tonight to be able to attend a wedding tomorrow back home.. I ignore the bangs until he empties my front locker at 8am looking for my peg puller and get up to help him. We're done by 9.30am and they get ready to go out for a pre-booked swimming session in the pool at Nursey's site just up the road in Hayle.
Roids is also going back today as he has a Mikey Rayer planned for tomorrow. Bacon butties are washed down with steaming tea before we head down into Sennen Cove for a stroll and an ice cream. Off my beer for some reason and have a coke instead!
2pm and we're waving him off. I don't envy him hitting Bristol, Newport and Cardiff in rush hour on a Friday evening!
Herself's not well, she's not well at all, and takes herself off to bed for the afternoon, not rising until Nelson & Co get back from their swimming expedition. Never let it be said the wimmin cope with manflu better than men do!.
A fish supper was had before Nelson and MBW help us drop our bone dry awning before they depart at 8pm on the long 280 mile tow home for them.
I won't lie to you, breaking camp was a struggle. I've not been right for a few days, but was breathless beyond the norm lugging the awning about and packing away.
I had a bit of a moment after they'd gone. We've loved every second of having Nelson, MBW, Beastie and Bwmps pitched next to us down here for 2 weeks, and will be eternally grateful for the opportunity to spend so much quality time with the babies. We've had a walkie talkie in each van for the two weeks. They've been very handy as well as a lot of fun.
After waving them off I spotted it on the shelf, picked it up then my heart sank as I realised my little buddy wasn't next door to answer it anymore, but was on the A30 heading east!!
Herself and I had a little cry.
Saturday 02 July
We both wake up after rough nights and are feeling little improvement, there's an elephant in the room that we're both avoiding, but nods are exchanged and we decide that we'll head for home today instead of tomorrow, cutting short the holiday by 24hrs.
With very little to do it still took us an age to get hitched up and ready for the off, but after giving the dogs one last walk in the doggy field are pulling out onto the A30 at 11.40am for the, what I anticipate to be an arduous tow home.
Surprisingly the traffic was good, especially for a Saturday and the wheels kept turning. I needed more comfort stops than usual to keep myself awake and alert, but we're pulling up outside 'Home is where you drag it Towers' by 5.45pm.
We both dive for the testing kits, and yep, both got Cornish COVID!!
Putting that to one side, we've had a fantastic 2 weeks down in west Cornwall .... again. A great holiday, but one far from our usual. We were fortunate enough to have the grand kids pitched next to us for the whole time, though it's fair to say that time spent around the vans was far from relaxing!!
Grumbles came down to join us for his first holiday in years, Roids made a flying visit and we met up a few times with Coupons & Co.
Didn't travel around as much this year, mostly due to the cost of fuel, but we did enjoy spending so much time at Lands End, in Sennen Cove and on site for a change.
