Family Holiday March 2017 - St Ives, Cornwall 24.3.2017

 We made it to Cornwall. - the exposed southwestern tip of England where the weather, which is mildly grey and unpleasant in the south of the country, is completely exaggerated. Storms, gale force winds, torrential rain - we had it all.

Home for the week was an original tin miners cottage (with a new fireplace, thankfully!) booked through airbnb in a tiny place called Wheal Kitty. Here's a few pictures of the inside, the outside will have to wait for better weather.  It had everything we could possibly need and piles of character into the bargain.

Onesies were the dress code for some of us ...

But nevermind the weather, time to explore. Today St Ives,

Matt wasn't impressed by the narrow lanes. We missed a turning and look how steep this road is, fortunately there was no oncoming traffic, but that was pure fluke. 

 

This was Kate's first Charity Shop - she had to be persuaded out of there ..

by Cornish Pasties!

We meandered through the picturesque narrow lanes, holding up traffic and annoying the locals, down to the harbour.

To lunch

Then back out into the cold and further meandering along the sea front.

With warning signs all along the way, these are mean birds!

Though Kate stopped for a chat.

 

This is such a pretty little town, I wish we could have come back, but there was so much to see, this was our only visit.

Yes, much hilarity as usual!

A reminder of times past and, Poldark!

Family Holiday March 2017 - Camden Market 22.3.2017

The perfect weather from Tuesday didn't last but we had arranged to meet up with Jo and Penny at Camden Market so we hopped the train in East Grinstead and various tubes to arrive only about an hour late. Sorry Jo!  I've never been to Camden before and thought it would be mostly under cover.  Most of the stalls were in the sheds but most of the restaurants were on the outside. A bit short sighted in London I think.  What a great market though.

Jo, doing what she does best. 

Kate and Kean before they hit the shops. 

Spectacular shoes!

And the heavens opened! We had lunch at a local Costa, the first place we could find somewhere to sit down.  It was lunchtime and everyone had the same idea as us - get out of the rain.

I decided to leave Kate & Kean in London to do an Art Walk in East London and head back to the farm, so I was on the tube at Embankment when the shooting at Westminster took place.

As we all know, this kind of terrorist outrage shuts a city down so I was fortunate enough to catch a train home. Kate & Kean found a friendly pub, met up with Tessa and waited until the situation normalised. It gives you a good shake, this kind of event, even though you aren't directly involved. First thing you do is find out if your family are all okay, then the outrage happens - our city! our people! Even if you are just visiting - we are all affected. The worst of humanity brings out the best of humanity, so, no, the terrorists don't win.

Back to the calm and beauty of this farm.  

Family Holiday - March 2017 - Bodiam Castle & Hastings 21.3.2017

It feels like I'm dragging this out - sorry about that. I came back from holiday to the busiest month of the quarter - with travelling out and spending days at client's premises, it's been insanely busy in the office and by the time I get home, I'm brain dead, so blog posting happens on the weekend along with catching up on the rest of my life. Bear with me, there's still lots to see.

Today we explored East Sussex. 

Firstly, Bodiam Castle. Dayne had the day off but Matthew was working. Tim had a day off from the kitchen and joined us. They do look alike, so don't get confused. He's just as crazy as the rest of the bunch.

Really? Let's annoy Mom.

And give the bird the bird...

Back to business. Bodiam Castle - built by Sir Edward Dallingridge (sometimes called Dalyngrigge) - soldier, King's Knight, Member of Parliament - in 1385. Partially dismantled during the civil war, the castle was restored in 1829 and handed over to the National Trust by Lord Curzon in 1926.

Signs of spring, but not warm. At least the sun was shining.

The castle is surrounded by an impressive moat with very large fish - not photogenic though, but certainly as large, or bigger than the ducks.

Great castle to explore - bats, dungeons, murder holes - something for everyone.

The cool kids ...

Ruins

Ancient graffiti ...

Hooligans, not much changes.

Next stop - Hastings. Site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, these days a fishing port with a beach based fishing fleet.

And if you're ever in need of some pirate gear...

We visited the Fisherman's Museum.

Yes, there is a whole fishing boat in the middle of the building - apparently the back wall was removed to bring it in.

Feeling peckish we started looking for an eatery still serving lunch at 3 in the afternoon,

but some more seaside shenanigans to be going on with..

Aah, there you have it ...

No one brave enough to have whelks, cockles or jellied eels though.

Fresh from the sea!