Cornwall.....

 ...it's been a while!!

It's very nearly been a whole year since I went to Cornwall. I've visited my parents in between at Strawberry Fields, Lifton but not gone all the way down to Cornwall. So, I had to go to my favourite place, St Ives. I managed to park in the train station carpark and walked the familiar route down into town.

Even on a grey cloudy day, the light is magical.

Porthgwidden Beach

I did do something new!! 

Why I haven't been before escapes me!! 

I, on a complete whim, decided to go to the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Gardens.

Barbara Hepworth

The gardens were beautiful.

Although there was an annoying party of older people, who stopped in front of all the sculptures talking!! I decided to spend longer there and waited for them to move on!! And I'm glad I did!

It completely filled my cup x

Her spherical forms were just beautiful x

And her studio was a moment captured in time. 

It was as if she'd just 'popped out' for a coffee or something.

Such a talent.

I had a fabulous few hours wandering around, before meeting Mum and Dad 

at the Old Forge for a bite to eat. 

Tuesday morning I got up and went for a wander around to Tehidy Woods and encountered the overly friendly squirrels. They completely rule the roost. People have over fed them and they expect you to do the same, so come at you. Will crawl up you!! So I did a lot of feet stamping and fast walking!!

It is a lovely space to walk, just 5 minutes up the road from Mum and Dad.

Lots of fungi spots....

....although dad had his own impressive crop at the top of the drive.

Went out to the Royal Oak at Perranwell for lunch.

Then I got Dad out for a walk out at Godrevy

The cove was full of seals.

Sadly Mum is unable to walk now and is reliant on a wheelchair and completely dependent on Dad. They had so many plans and are now limited to what they can do. So a walk and a blast of fresh air is exactly what was needed.

The sea has such fabulous powers.

I would happily live near the sea.

So on Wednesday it was time to head home, after a precious couple of days with Mum and Dad. I do wish I was closer. Getting old isn't much fun!!

I took a detour on the way home via Golitha Falls.

I'd not been before but it was too far off the A30 and another chance to get fresh air and surround myself with places that fill my cup and just make me feel grounded.

The journey back was frustratingly slow. I'd decide to stop off at IKEA on my way home. That wouldn't have been a problem but there had been a lorry fire on the M5 at the Exeter junction, so all the motorway traffic was being re-routed through Exeter, so it was not the best timing!!

And can we just take a moment to see how fabulous my shop bought basil is doing!!! The trick apparently, is to water if from the bottom, letting it sit in a bit of water, rather than water it from the top. 

Thursday and my day to walk with my friend Lynn. We decided whilst the paths were still firm, we would venture up and around Compton Dundon Beacon. It has a few challenging 'up's' so a good workout, and she's 15 years older than me and always pushes herself. 

Today (Sunday) it's wet! Typical as it's the start of half term. 

Both Jeff and Sam broke up on Friday. Sam has headed over to Bristol to stay with Poppy for a few days and Jeff is ready for the break. It's been a busy first term. He picked the last of the sunflowers yesterday and cleared the front trugs, in bulb planting preparation!! It really is hard to register that we are two thirds of the way through October already! The clocks will go back next weekend and the hard months will begin. This is when I wish I could just disappear somewhere lighter, sunnier, warmer....

We are off to Lisbon on Wednesday for a few days. The return flights were too expensive to go for longer but a few days away will do wonders for a reset. Typically the weather is looking mixed and the sun returns as we fly home. It will be what it will be and a few days exploring together will be lovely regardless of the weather. We've not been to Portugal before, so we're looking forward to exploring a new place. We will embrace the hills and I'll report back once home!!!