Hopefully a brief interlude

I was intending to write a few words and take a few pictures of the places that I visit on the Cornish coast dururing my working day. Unfortunately the doctor has signed me off work and has been brutally honest with his opinion that it is unlikely that I shall get well enough to return. I had five cornary bypasses eighteen months ago and it would appear that I again have serious heart problems. I am hoping that if such is the case then I shall be well enough to spend more time at my condo in South Florida. My next scheduled trip is on Boxing Day with my partner and two youngest children who will be away from univerity then. We have a trip booked from Miami to the Bahamas on the Carnival Imagination so I am keeping my fingers crossed that the trip will go ahead.

Meanwhile here is a shot of Imagination and a couple of the condo where I can, hopefully, put my feet up for a while !

All In A Day's Work

Working in a rural community has its compensations. My "patch" is a delight to drive around on a nice day with many interesting things to see and pleasant spots to pull in for a light lunch.

Just a short distance from my office is one of the oldest man made stuctures in Britain - Trethevy Quoit.

The quoit was erected around 4,500 BC as a burial chamber. Originally, it is believed, it would have been covered in earth and grass. The stone is Cornish granite.

Five or six miles west is the most patronised store in the West of England, Trago Mills. Trago was founded by the eccentric father of the present owner, Bruce Robertson. His father, Mike, started selling very cheap goods from a small shed on the site and in a very short time became a multi millionaire.

The founder was always incurring the wrath of the local council and the planning committees by just developing the site without planning consent. It is now an attractive country park with a number of lakes stocked with Koi Carp and many varieties of duck and other birds. The Fowey river runs through the property and I often sit by the river with a light lunch. There is a large restaurant and "takeaway" with a comprehensive menu.

My travels then often take me to Launceston two or three times each week. Launceston is an old market town dominated by the castle.The castle was built in the 13th century on the site of an old defensive earthwork. In the 17th century it was used as a prison and in 1656 George Fox, the founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) was imprisoned therein for eight months. George Fox believed in truth, equality and peaceful solutions to conflict. His offences were to refuse to doff his hat to the gentry, to not swear oaths in court and to speak against what he believed to be the hypocracy of the established church.

(The autobiography of George Fox is available in full on the web. Just Google "George Fox Journal" to get it. It covers well his imprisonment at Launceston and elsewhere. I often wonder what he would think of the mixed bag of folk that comprise Quakers today - including "yours truly").

(I will add to this post when I get a chance to take a few more pictures - I can't spend all my working day doing things other than working -lol)

Today I had to take a different route. The first place of note to pass was "The Hurlers". The Hurlers are one of three stone circles quite near to each other. They date from the Bronze Age and were erected, probably as a religious site, around 1500 BC. It is said that the stones were once local folk who played "hurling" on the Sabbath and were turned to stone for their sins.

Just a short distance down the moorland road was an opportunity for a quick photo stop at King Doniert's Stone. Doniert, or Dungarth, was an old king of Cornwall and Cornish people still consider themselves separate from the rest of England.

There is a thriving Cornish independence political party known as Mebyon Kernow and a number of them speak Cornish, though now as only a second language.

Lunch was taken, ( with one on my patient's I must add), at a delightful tea room on Kit hill. The 400 acre hill was given to the people of Cornwall by Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall, in 1985. It is dominated by an ornate tin mine chimney, sadly now spoiled by an array of mobile phone aerials and such like.

The views on a nice day however are still impessive. The cafe has lots of small animals and birds which makes it a good attraction for children.The whole area is strewn with the remnants of tin mining. Tin has been mined in Cornwall since the time of the Phoenecians with whom they are said to have traded around 1300BC. The last mine ceased production in 1997. There is talk of this last mine, South Crofty, being reopened but I doubt it will happen.

For my next contribution I hope to write about the days I work in the coastal area of North and East Cornwall. Just by way of introduction to that I close with a snapshot of my favourite Cornish beach on my working travels - Bossiney Cove.

Value for Money

A few weeks ago I arranged to have a free hearing test with an audiologist who is permanently based in the large pharmacy of a national chain. The test was most impressive and took well over half an hour. At the end of it I was presented with an impressive array of frequency charts and advised that I was definitely in need of a hearing aid. When I enquired about the cost I was advised that the aids supplied ranged in price from about 1,000 pounds to 6,000 pounds. (about 1700$ US to 10,000$ US). I thanked the tester for his time and advised him that at those prices I would just have to concentrate a little harder when the TV was on at low volume or I was in general conversation with others!

A few days later I spotted an advertisement in a magazine that is posted to me quarterly. The full page advertisement marketed aids at seventeen pounds and ninety five pence (about 35$ US - I do not have a pound sign on this laptop computer!). The aid supplied came together with spare batteries, other spares, instructions for use and a cleaning brush. As I knew that this particular magazine would not accept phoney advertisements I decided to give one a try. In actual fact I ordered two as there was a substantial discount for buying a pair!

One arrived in the post this morning, just four days after ordering, with a note saying that the second would arrive separately without extra cost to me for postage. I was very impressed with the contents of the package and even more impressed when, after following the instructions carefully, I inserted the device to give it a try. I was amazed at how well the aid performed and I could turn the TV volume down extremely low and still comfortably hear the broadcasts.

I guess the really expensive ones would have been impressive too but on my limited funds would not have given me the same delight as this purchase did.

A Stroll Into History

It has been a depressing summer weatherwise and on the financial front too. Today I skived off work a little early in order to transfer a proportion of my meagre wealth into a safer haven than it was with HBOS bank. Rumour has it that the takeover of HBOS by Lloyds, to prevent the former going under, may not go smoothly and investing in a bank whose assets are mainly tied up with dodgy mortgages seems to be a bit risky at this moment in time. The sun was out for a brief while so I decided on a stroll round Plymouth waterfront just a few minutes from where I live

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Plymouth waterfront is steeped in history and it is a priviledge to have such a place on one's doorstep. I had a camera in my pocket and took a few shots to embellish this post. Below are some of the plaques commemorating some of the historical events that had their beginnings at what is now known as Mayflower Steps. It was from these steps that the Pilgrim Fathers boarded the Mayflower to travel to America to create a settlement there. It was here that the first emigrants to Newfoundland, New Zealand, Bermuda and many other places set sail.

Here too, some of the Tolpuddle Martyrs returned from Australia after having been forcibly transported there for daring to form a trade union. In more recent times the first transatlantic crossing in an aeroplane landed in The Sound. Sir Francis Chichester sailed from and returned here after completing the first solo circumnavigation of the world on May 20th 1967.

There are many commemorative plaques at the Mayflower Steps and just some of them are featured here.

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Above the waterfront is the Royal Citadel, built by King Charles II in the 17th Century after the English civil war. As Plymouth fought on the side of parliament against the royalists. the guns of the citadel pointed over the city as well as out to sea. The restored king did not trust the Plymouthians!!!! Alongside the citadel is Plymouth Hoe, overlooking Plymouth Sound. Here it was that Sir Fracis Drake insisted on finishing his game of bowls after the Spanish Armada was spotted approaching the city. Afterwards his fleet defeated the armada and this made Drake a national hero.

Near the Mayflower steps is where Robert Lenkiewicz, Plymouth's well known artist, had his studio. Sadly he died a few years ago but his pictures now command a high price. He was quite a character and attracted much publicity. About twenty years ago he wanted my eldest daughter to sit for him. I strongly discouraged her as most of his female sitters seemed to end up pregnant with his many children! Lenkiewicz befriended a tramp in the city and christenened him Diogones. When Diogones died the artist had him embalmed and concealed the body. It was only found after Lenkiewicz himself died.

The artist is the prominent sitter in this painting of his

Alongside his studio was the "Barbican Mural" which has now fallen into disrepair. When painted it was impressive and quite a tourist attraction. I think the city fathers should be condemned for not ensuring it stayed in good repair

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Plymouth still has some of its historical features. This is New Street which was Rag Street in the 17th century. I read an historical novel a while back - "No More the Sword" by Marcia Treece. The novel centred around a fictional family that lived in Rag Street during the turmoil of the English Civil War.

Time for bed!

Charity Shops Galore

Sunday is the one day of the week when I give token allegiance to the care of the environment, leave the car behind and travel by bus. The fact that I have a free senior travel card could also be a factor! The trip to the Quaker Meeting House that I attend is only about one mile. It is situated at the end of Mutley Plain in Plymouth.

Mutley Plain

The Plain must be the charity shop capital of the country with no less than seven outlets within one hundred yards of each other.

In this shot there are actually three next to each other

Only the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) is open on a Sunday morning and I often drop off a load of tat there. Usually it is no longer required DVD's, video films and books. Whilst there I always pick up a light book to read at the bus stop where I have a half hour wait. Last week it was a volume of incredibly silly signs, which amused me. As I spend a considerable time in South Florida one that appealed to me was from the Everglades:

THOSE WHO THROW OBJECTS AT THE GATORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO RETRIEVE THEM

Today it was "The Biggest Book of Bloke Jokes Ever". My partner thought it was hilarious and I just had to accept that we men can laugh at being the butt of female humour! One that did amuse me was:

How do you kill a bloke?

Ask him to jump off his ego and land on his IQ.

On a more serious note, there is a lot of animosity from the regular business community against the proliferation of charity shops. The charity outlets do not pay business rates and many of them now sell new stuff as well as goods handed in by the general public. When they first opened they were fully staffed by volunteers but now most have salaried managers who are urged to meet sales volume targets. I have some sympathy with the business commuunity on this point.

Mutley Plain is just four hundred yards from the main university campus and the area is well patronised by the large student population. The rest of the street is made up of fast food outlets, bars and night clubs and agencies marketing student accommodation. At weekends the place is a hive of activity with a good presence of the law. The charity shops provide a good service to students on a tight budget but, on quite a lot of occasions, I have seen goods priced well in excess of what they cost new in Poundland (same as Dollar stores in the USA).

"Caveat emptor".

In the footsteps of King Solomon

For over a quarter of a century freemasonry has been one of my pastimes and I believe that I am a much better man, in every respect, as a result. Freemasonry is "a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols". Lodges meet up to twelve times each year and usually, in basic craft freemasonry, perform one of three morality plays or ceremonies at each meeting. In the first ceremony an initiate is taught the value of charity; in the second the usefulness of the study of the seven liberal arts and sciences, namely grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. The third ceremony, from which is derived the expression "being put through the third degree", teaches how best to prepare for one's death and for the life hereafter. Every applicant is required to express his belief in God but his understanding of God is left to his own convictions. Atheists are barred from membership. In UK lodges there are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Quakers and many who express their faith in other ways. Because freemasonry has no creed we can all congregate together and give allegiance to "The Great Architect of the Universe" and other all encompassing descriptions of God. (Worth reading Rudyard Kipling's "Mother Lodge" to see the mixed bag of folk in his lodge).

The lodges that I belong to meet in three different locations, each with with their own lodge building or temple. The biggest of these three is King Arthur's Great Hall in Tintagel, Cormwall, the legendary Camelot of Arthurian legend

The picture above is of the masonic temple in Tintagel and it is open to the public throughout the year. Many Americans visit as it is not far from where the first settlers to the "New World" sailed from Plymouth. In the foreground can be seen the wooden replica of the Round Table but the large granite round table is at the top of the picture below the granite "throne", surrounded by eight foot high granite pillars, with Excalibur, embedded in a granite stone, on top. Freemasonry has no direct connection with the King Arthur legend but the "Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table" does meet there. Incidently, just two hundred yards away is the temple of the female freemasons in the local area. It is worth noting that at a meeting I was at last night it was anounced that a donation of 3,000.000 UK pounds (about five million or more US dollars) had been made to the UK osteoporosis society and a donation of 1.6 million pounds made to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to provide a new boat for a place in South Wales. Considering that freemasons do not approach the general public for donations that is a lot of money to come out of the back pockets of members. The meeting last night was held in Launceston, the old capital of Cornwall, where the founder of Quakers (George Fox) was imprisoned, in the castle, in the seventeenth century, for dissenting against the established church. (I only mention that because I happen to be a Quaker!).

The above picture is of Launceston lodge.

The lodge that I frequent most is in the small market town of Wadebridge, in Cornwall. That entails an eighty mile round trip for me from my home in Plymouth. I continue to attend as I have many friends there and presided over a lodge there last year - not quite the same as presiding at Tintagel and occupying Arthur's throne, which I did for two years in the past. Makes one feel like a bit of a meglomaniac!!!!!

Wadebridge Temple

I think that I have waffled enough for one day but at least I have discovered how to put photos between the text!

Scaling the Heights

There are forty three steps up to my office. The office is at the top of a delightful old manor house set in beautiful Cornwall – probably the prettiest county in the whole of England. The office is converted from accommodation once used by domestic staff who worked “below stairs” – a bit ironical that! The population trebles in the summer months when hoards of people on vacation descend on us.
Over the past few months I have been glad to get to my desk and catch a few breaths and I can no longer manage ten mile walks on the undulating Cornwall Coast Path with its stunning seascapes. ( I have not yet got the hang of putting the images between the text). I am thankful that I have walked the whole of the path in the past and have happy memories and scores of photographs to remind me of those good times.

I guess the payback of advancing years and an ill spent youth around the waterfronts of the world has to be accepted. I am grateful that I was able to travel the world in the middle 1950's before it became a much smaller place with air links to all points of the compass and computer terminals at every airport that makes them all look much the same.

Now - as a "newby" blogger, and having frittered away time trying to get pictures, unsuccessfully, between the text, I am going to have to make a dash to meet an evening appointment. I do hope to improve on both length and content with my next effort.

First blog

I have never written a blog before and do not claim to have any real skill in committing my thoughts to print. However, having a go could be fun so I will give it a try.
Last Sunday I returned from a cruise on a beautiful ship named Costa Serena. It sailed from Venice which required a flight from the third London airport (Stansted UK) and that was preceded by a 300 mile plus drive to get to Stansted in the first place. I have cruised a number of times before but mostly in the Caribbean on English speaking trips. On this trip I was accompanied by my partner, who happens to be my ex wife, our 20 year granddaughter and my son who is three years younger than she is! I arrived in Venice extremely tired after the long drive and flight and although there was five hours of free time before sailing I gave going ashore a miss in order to catch up on much needed shuteye. The youngsters went ashore and had fun! This cruise was very different to previous ones and was geared to the Italian passengers who made up a good 80 per cent of the travellers. Every announcement was made in five languages and there was no way of switching the system off. Italian, followed by English, German, French and Spanish was a bit wearing on the eardrums. The food turned out to be first class with everything imaginable available for breakfast and seven course lunches and dinners served in the ornate dining room. My only criticism was that the kippered herrings offered for a breakfast choice were like biting into a lump of rock salt!
Our first port of call was Bari in Italy and the weather was good and the place pleasant for sightseeing and shopping. The following day we docked at Katakolon in Greece and had a fantastic day. I had booked a taxi a couple of months earlier to meet us on the jetty and take us to Olympia where the first Olympic games were held.

Olympia

I found the taxi driver on the internet and he was absolutely great and was waiting on the jetty as soon as we stepped off the ship. We had four and a half hours with him for 140 Euros plus a 20 Euro tip (about 230 US $ in total). He spoke perfect English and took us to a number of places on the return trip that were well off the tourist track. The organised trips to Olympia on crowded buses would have cost about twice as much so that was a good decision of ours.
We were next due to call at Izmir in Turkey but due to a medical emergency had to divert to land a sick passenger. Izmir was cancelled and we had a splendid day on the Greek island of Mykonos instead. Istanbul was a great day with a visit to the Blue Mosque via the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar being truly memorable.

Granddaughter - suitably attired!

Sadly, my son and granddaughter were both robbed near the Blue Mosque by a shoeshine man but I guess it taught them not to get their notes out in a public place without due care in future.
Before returning to Venice another great day was experienced in Dubrovnik in Croatia. The walled city is really impressive but, unfortunately, I got caught by a torrential downpour whilst on the city walls without anywhere to shelter. I was absolutely sodden and back on board the ship had to wring out all my clothes, including underwear.

It was a great week but I would not cruise with Costa again - everything is extremely expensive onboard compared with ships that use US $ or UK pounds - and the cruise was really aimed at Italians with other nationalities not really catered for.
I am going to finish here and see what happens when I try to publish this blog - at least my good pal in Brisbane Australia will read it.