Kevin's Watch

Yesterday I had a good day. E. [my wife] and I got into our car around 10.30 and began to drive. It was one of those bright late summer days when autumn is just beginning to kick in and everything is at it's best. I soon realised how lucky I was that I live in the most beautiful part of the most beautiful country in the world. Cornwall was once described as 'an ugly picture in a beautiful frame' by some benighted fool who had no understanding that my county does not yield up its gems willy-nilly to all and sundry. Over the course of the next four hours I saw the cliffs and sea stretched out around me under an azure sky. I visited 3000 year old megalithic tombs and 1200 year-old stone chapels. I saw trees bedecked in ribbons standing next to trickling rivers noted for their ability to grant wishes - evidence of a still thriving pagan tradition that has continued unabated from the very time of those granite artifacts I mention above. I drove through sleepy villages and though light sprayed woods, greener than Andelain at it's best and I could barely stand the beauty of the purple heather and gorse covered valleys that turned the high slag heaps of the 18th century tin mines into regions of wonder. And then I went home and had a late Sunday dinner with E. and a couple of bottles of wine. It doesn't get much better than that!

That does sound like a good day.

Makes me miss Cornwall.

--A

sounds awesome.

Today alas I return to work, but the memory still remains! Tell me about your special days when they occur guys (and Av - half a days travel will have you walking the maze at Glendurgan! ).

Haha, y'know, I never saw a single tourist attraction in my time in Cornwall. (Except technically the house I stayed in I suppose, but I didn't notice at the time because it was owned by my friend's parents.)

Spent all my time on either their land, or on that of other friends whose families had property there.

--A

peter wrote:Tell me about your special days when they occur guys.

Yay, I'll take up that invitation.

Yesterday (since it's now after midnight, the day counts as having past) I woke up early and obsessed with a few things - as I usually do lately.
I wrote and mailed a piece of Bad Writing to deer for her input, read and thought about a Galileo book I have, and then went JOGGING around 7:30. (yay, regaining health?)

Then did stuff around the kitchen and did homeschool with my kids. There were struggles but rewards. We start most school days with art this year. My older son and I are both obsessed with it, and that helps. I taught the little one some things about scissors-handling during art, too.

Had a good tutoring session with a student in the afternoon, and then obsessed over another project or two after I got home.

Cornwall was once described as 'an ugly picture in a beautiful frame' by some benighted fool who had no understanding that my county does not yield up its gems willy-nilly to all and sundry.

This amused me!

It's true Linna. It's all about hidden places and time of day and lighting etc. A grim place one moment will be bathed in glory the next - and then it's gone! Most places probably have this feature, but in Cornwall it's the norm.

Glendurgan would have been near where you used to stay Av - Mawnan Smith IIRC. It has a small maze and a garden of exceptional loveliness, especially in spring when the rhododendrons are out. (Most Cornish gardens are spring gardens.)

You recall correctly. Actually, the place I stayed was famous for its gardens too. I was terribly sad to learn the house was lost to the family under some strange agreement with the National Trust when his father died:

Carwinion

--A

That's very sad Av. By and large families get to stay on in Trust properties (I believe at least). I guess it's all drawn up at the time the agreements are signed but it does seem harsh!

Yeah, such a beautiful place (built of stone quarried on the property, private beach) and such lovely people too.

Ah well...

--A

I see the Trust have put the house up for a twenty year lease, which is a bit like adding insult to injury. Not, I feel, terribly sensitively handled!

Bureaucracy.

--A