Yesterday I went to the Eden Project, somewhere that Dad and I had planned to do when he unexpectedly didn't wake up one morning. I didn't make it for another 5 years and then it was to celebrate my 50th Birthday with the now ex. I had a couple of visits when I moved here, because events were held there by the college, but at £23.50 to get in I think it is overpriced for most pockets which is a shame. However, the ticket to get it can be made up to an annual ticket for no extra cost, yes brilliant, but not helpful if you live in Yorkshire for instance or unless you happen to come to Cornwall every weekend.
Yesterday, The Eden project, gave free access to Truro College members, just show your card and you and up to four members of your family got in free. I took along a 'Sister' and two of her children and a little 6 month old grandaughter and we had a good time. I also brought a 'local access' ticket whereby for the grand sum of £12.50 I now have two years free access to the centre and I am planning to use it regularly. It is only about 40 mins away from Tre Agan, and it will be nice to capture the changing seasons; I did take the camera yesterday but it ran out of battery power and I couldn't manage to open the cover in order to change batteries.
I did however, manage to go up the new rainforest walkway, up to the top of the rainforest biome and it is suspended on steel wires and as you walk up/down it has a wonderful wobble, just think of the millenium bridge in London before they fixed it. The views were marvellous, but my friend couldn't do it because of the baby so I tried not to spend too much time knowing I could come back at any time in the future.
Good times ahead, I will post pictures as soon as I can download from the camera.
Showing posts with label Tre Agan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tre Agan. Show all posts
07 January 2013
02 September 2012
Introducing Piran
When I moved to Cornwall, originally I was going to have two cats, Piran and Saffy but when I finally got Tre Agan, Piran had gone walkabout and Saffy wasn't allowed to come on his own. So no pets until a month later when Murphy came to stay. Then 9 months later, Jasper arrived.. no there is no relationship or pregnancies involved in the occurrence.Something was missing though, and both Jasper and Murphy were both very keen on cats, keen as in chasing them if they had half a chance.. Jasper being the worst of the two almost pulling me over.
August arrived, and with it this little chap, also called Piran as he is mainly black with a white heart patch on his chest... what else could I call him, and he is rescued from feral communities.. sadly for him, he has already had his nuts removed before I got him, but that is a good thing with a male cat. He spend the first two days hiding in the study (his den) and then introduced himself to Murphy who as usual was so laid back as to be horizontal. An introduction to Jasper was made behind the stairgate and didn't go terribly well - was I making a huge mistake?
Then on 23rd August, he casually walked downstairs, sat on the dining room table and surveyed his kingdom and two black labs - I picked him up and sat on the sofa with him and Piran fell asleep on his back... Jasper was curious but nothing more after that the household has settled down and now it looks as though they are good buddies.
Piran loves snuggling up to the dogs bellies, Jasper is more obliging that Murphy on this, and they are often found in the same bed. Peace reigns (or Piran) at Tre Agan.
19 March 2012
Cooking on Gas
Yesterday was a good day, a batch of granary bread for sandwiches this week. Last week's loaf was turned into breadcrumbs, wasting nothing as this can now be used as a topping for sweet or savoury dishes like tomorrow's courgette and tomato bake with sage and garlic which I will let you know how it tastes.
When you cook for yourself, it is surprising how vegetarian I become, as it is easier to cook without meat than to buy too much for one person and waste it.. excluding the dogs from the leftovers lol.. though I do like a whole chicken as the carcass can be used to make the most delicious stock or soup.
In addition to that, I made two marble cakes, one of which is now in the freezer. This was partly to use up some old eggs but I enjoy eating cake made at home rather than shop brought and it is generally much cheaper even when you add in the time and the gas used.
While these were cooking, I put together a lasagne, half of which I had for tea last night with some garlic bread and the other half I will have before college tonight.. filled with a selection of veggies, onions, garlic and tomatoes it was lovely but would have benefited from longer cooking and would have done if Jasper hadn't bolted over the wall once more in the afternoon...
This time he was caught and with stern words ringing in his here 'get back here.. NOW' and he lept over next doors fence and back round the front. Where I thought he was leaping over, was not in fact where he was getting over, but was helped instead by the hedge stepping and he is a very athletic dog.. who now has to go out into the garden on a long line until new arrangements are made for the bottom hedge to be increased with visible deterrents for the miscreant.. he knows he has done wrong, and later in the afternoon he was treated to a lengthy game of ball until he cried mercy which meant that the entire evening he slept away as he was too tired to leave his bed..
When you cook for yourself, it is surprising how vegetarian I become, as it is easier to cook without meat than to buy too much for one person and waste it.. excluding the dogs from the leftovers lol.. though I do like a whole chicken as the carcass can be used to make the most delicious stock or soup.
In addition to that, I made two marble cakes, one of which is now in the freezer. This was partly to use up some old eggs but I enjoy eating cake made at home rather than shop brought and it is generally much cheaper even when you add in the time and the gas used.
While these were cooking, I put together a lasagne, half of which I had for tea last night with some garlic bread and the other half I will have before college tonight.. filled with a selection of veggies, onions, garlic and tomatoes it was lovely but would have benefited from longer cooking and would have done if Jasper hadn't bolted over the wall once more in the afternoon...
This time he was caught and with stern words ringing in his here 'get back here.. NOW' and he lept over next doors fence and back round the front. Where I thought he was leaping over, was not in fact where he was getting over, but was helped instead by the hedge stepping and he is a very athletic dog.. who now has to go out into the garden on a long line until new arrangements are made for the bottom hedge to be increased with visible deterrents for the miscreant.. he knows he has done wrong, and later in the afternoon he was treated to a lengthy game of ball until he cried mercy which meant that the entire evening he slept away as he was too tired to leave his bed..
11 March 2012
A Saturday at Tre Agan
I knew I should have taken photos before and after... yet another fail...
Yesterday was the perfect day, up, walk the dogs, strip the beds and hoover the house... yep all of the house.. so glad it isn't such a big house lol. Put the washing on, head out to the garage and get the hover mower out... find the extension cable - can't find the safety plug nb note to self be extra careful ...
Plug it in, eventually, press the start button... nothing. hmmmm try holding in the handle and press the button.. hey presto.. and the front garden was done in no time at all. Mind you it was defnitely the shorter of the two pieces of grass.
The out the back, pick up the doggy doos.... start mowing the lawn... is it really only 11 degrees C, I am sweltering and the sweat sorry perspiration is running down my neck... this grass is much longer, in places 7-8 inches and slightly damp, so it is much harder going. I have to stop regularly and degunge the wet grass from under the machine, not to mention unload the grass cuttings into bags ready for the dustbin men.
Finally an hour and a half later, the job is done.. there are lots of cuttings still on the lawn, but I am hoping that they will rake up when it dries out a bit now the first cut has been done, or a later cut in the week will pick them up.. will have to wait and see.
The washing dried, almost, just a few bits left on radiators, and while watching the Welsh play rugby against the Italians I cracked on with the ironing... before taking the Pond boys out for their second walk of the day, heading up to the field with the balls to give them a good run.
Afterwards, a cup of tea for me, dinner for them and a nice long hot relaxing bath before tea of warm boiled egg salad with baby leaves...
A good day, a productive day and no doubt I am going to feel some muscles tomorrow.
Yesterday was the perfect day, up, walk the dogs, strip the beds and hoover the house... yep all of the house.. so glad it isn't such a big house lol. Put the washing on, head out to the garage and get the hover mower out... find the extension cable - can't find the safety plug nb note to self be extra careful ...
Plug it in, eventually, press the start button... nothing. hmmmm try holding in the handle and press the button.. hey presto.. and the front garden was done in no time at all. Mind you it was defnitely the shorter of the two pieces of grass.
The out the back, pick up the doggy doos.... start mowing the lawn... is it really only 11 degrees C, I am sweltering and the sweat sorry perspiration is running down my neck... this grass is much longer, in places 7-8 inches and slightly damp, so it is much harder going. I have to stop regularly and degunge the wet grass from under the machine, not to mention unload the grass cuttings into bags ready for the dustbin men.
Finally an hour and a half later, the job is done.. there are lots of cuttings still on the lawn, but I am hoping that they will rake up when it dries out a bit now the first cut has been done, or a later cut in the week will pick them up.. will have to wait and see.
The washing dried, almost, just a few bits left on radiators, and while watching the Welsh play rugby against the Italians I cracked on with the ironing... before taking the Pond boys out for their second walk of the day, heading up to the field with the balls to give them a good run.
Afterwards, a cup of tea for me, dinner for them and a nice long hot relaxing bath before tea of warm boiled egg salad with baby leaves...
A good day, a productive day and no doubt I am going to feel some muscles tomorrow.
09 March 2012
DIY Question
Since I moved in, which was almost two years ago now - May 2010, I haven't put anything up on the walls other than curtain rails which the ex and his Dad helped to do.
The reason why is that this is a timber framed house? whatever that means. All I know is that I am not supposed to just bang nails in, though have no idea why.
I want to put pictures up on the wall, to make it seem like a home, not just a house.
Can anyone please give me some advice please on doing this, they are not heavy pictures, though I do have a 3 x 4 foot mirrror that I want mounted in the stairwell to bounce the light around even more.
I love living here, and have plans to sand down the windows and repaint the insides white (they are currently dark brown and show all the dust).. so I have my work cut out for me as it will take a while to get around all of the rooms but I plan to start with the kitchen as that is my home from home.
The reason why is that this is a timber framed house? whatever that means. All I know is that I am not supposed to just bang nails in, though have no idea why.
I want to put pictures up on the wall, to make it seem like a home, not just a house.
Can anyone please give me some advice please on doing this, they are not heavy pictures, though I do have a 3 x 4 foot mirrror that I want mounted in the stairwell to bounce the light around even more.
I love living here, and have plans to sand down the windows and repaint the insides white (they are currently dark brown and show all the dust).. so I have my work cut out for me as it will take a while to get around all of the rooms but I plan to start with the kitchen as that is my home from home.
06 September 2011
A Dark and Stormy Night
Whew.. glad that night is over and done with. The winds howled around Tre Agan relentlessly from about midnight last night.... this morning, the rain threw itself down on me and the boys as we took our morning walk around the streets of Redruth, I tried to avoid the areas with trees as much as possible as a lot of debris was still falling.
Then a trip to see a student on the North Coast, by which time the winds had dropped to a steady blow and the rain eased... by the timeI got home it was drying up but feeling chilly. Nothing like a slow introduction to the delights of winter.. now where was Summer?
Then a trip to see a student on the North Coast, by which time the winds had dropped to a steady blow and the rain eased... by the timeI got home it was drying up but feeling chilly. Nothing like a slow introduction to the delights of winter.. now where was Summer?
26 June 2011
Potato Harvest
I can't remember the variety, but they were lovely and went from being part of a plant to on the plate in under two hours and the texture was absolutely gorgeous. Me, I'm a picky potato eater and don't always like them especially if they taste a little earthy; but these little chaps were like ambrosia on the tastebuds.
The last time I had potatoes like this, was when Dad was still alive, but it certainly won't be the last time I attempt to grow them. Still searching for some late seed potatoes to plant for harvesting late summer.
23 June 2011
Mellow Yellow
Decided to update the downstairs toilet, which is quite dark not to mention cold in winter, and everywhere is painted cream so we acquired some 'warm sunshine' paint.
The jury is out at the moment, if the lights are on, the yellow is overpowering, just think acid yellow and with only a limited amount of light coming through the small window it is a little better, but I have a sneaking thought that I may be repainting it before too long perhaps by adding some magnolia paint to tone down the yellow.
Best laid plans of mice and men... still only the other bathroom and kitchen to go this time around. I have an idea they all involve yellow and white but in varying degrees of yellowness.
The bedroom is next on my list, and I already have some purple paint, which will make a nice contrasting wall feature while the others will be a little less in your face.
The jury is out at the moment, if the lights are on, the yellow is overpowering, just think acid yellow and with only a limited amount of light coming through the small window it is a little better, but I have a sneaking thought that I may be repainting it before too long perhaps by adding some magnolia paint to tone down the yellow.
Best laid plans of mice and men... still only the other bathroom and kitchen to go this time around. I have an idea they all involve yellow and white but in varying degrees of yellowness.
The bedroom is next on my list, and I already have some purple paint, which will make a nice contrasting wall feature while the others will be a little less in your face.
28 February 2011
The Garden at Tre Agan - Update
The sun is out, it has some lovely warmth to it and life is looking promising in the garden at Tre Agan.
My seedlings are coming along great guns, with my marigolds practically bursting into 1 inch seedlings in 24 hours.. which will provide me with plenty of flowerheads for making some more handcream later on in the year.
My sage seedlings are also going great guns, with me having already thinned them out already. I hate having to decide which ones are going to be left growing and which ones to discard.. I feel like a killer.. which in reflection I was.
No signs yet of the sweet peas, peppers, pansies or viola's but it is warm and bright and I am ever the optimist.
I have planted the buddhlea today, I chose a davidii from the choices I had and the clematis are looking strong and healthy with lots of shoots on the plants so I am eagerly looking forward to when they have flowers on them.
My seedlings are coming along great guns, with my marigolds practically bursting into 1 inch seedlings in 24 hours.. which will provide me with plenty of flowerheads for making some more handcream later on in the year.
My sage seedlings are also going great guns, with me having already thinned them out already. I hate having to decide which ones are going to be left growing and which ones to discard.. I feel like a killer.. which in reflection I was.
No signs yet of the sweet peas, peppers, pansies or viola's but it is warm and bright and I am ever the optimist.
I have planted the buddhlea today, I chose a davidii from the choices I had and the clematis are looking strong and healthy with lots of shoots on the plants so I am eagerly looking forward to when they have flowers on them.
20 January 2011
Wall to Wall Blues Skies and Sunshine
Here at Tre Agan today, I was treated to blues skies and sunshine from early morning to evening time and it was not only welcome but a good chance to air the house as well.
Murphy and I took a nice long walk this morning, the frost lay on the ground but the sun had some real warmth to it and we enjoyed our amble through the lanes of Redruth and some of the parks as well. We set off down the hill to Victoria Park, with it's original Victorian bandstand and did a circuit of this park including the bowling green with its velvet surface. Then onwards to Trefusis Park, Murphy can have a run here if there isn't any other dogs around, he still has issues over coming back when there is a dog to play with other than that he is happy to run around by himself rushing from smell to smell. Our final port of call is the football field, where he normally plays ball (when I remember to bring it) this morning it was occupied by a little terrier so Murphy had to content himself with a sedate walk around the edge.
On our return, we both had breakfast. It can be a little disconcerting when a large black lab sits in front of you, drooling like only a lab can, as you eat your cereals, hoping that he might be lucky and get some for himself. Shhh don't tell anyone but he does get a few as a treat now and again.
Cleaning the house was done steadily, the hoovering of numerous black hairs from a light beige carpet make it look cleaner and tidier and a spray of glass cleaner on the dining room windows made the sunshine even brighter.. it was even nice enough to sit outside during the mornng with a cup of coffee.
Murphy and I took a nice long walk this morning, the frost lay on the ground but the sun had some real warmth to it and we enjoyed our amble through the lanes of Redruth and some of the parks as well. We set off down the hill to Victoria Park, with it's original Victorian bandstand and did a circuit of this park including the bowling green with its velvet surface. Then onwards to Trefusis Park, Murphy can have a run here if there isn't any other dogs around, he still has issues over coming back when there is a dog to play with other than that he is happy to run around by himself rushing from smell to smell. Our final port of call is the football field, where he normally plays ball (when I remember to bring it) this morning it was occupied by a little terrier so Murphy had to content himself with a sedate walk around the edge.
On our return, we both had breakfast. It can be a little disconcerting when a large black lab sits in front of you, drooling like only a lab can, as you eat your cereals, hoping that he might be lucky and get some for himself. Shhh don't tell anyone but he does get a few as a treat now and again.
Cleaning the house was done steadily, the hoovering of numerous black hairs from a light beige carpet make it look cleaner and tidier and a spray of glass cleaner on the dining room windows made the sunshine even brighter.. it was even nice enough to sit outside during the mornng with a cup of coffee.
11 January 2011
11.11.11
Sounds good, doesn't it.. but it has passed like a ship on the ocean, just another day.
I delivered the last set of training for the Cornwall libraries today, there is some more interest in running more, but I don't know if I will be selected to deliver them; I can only hope I am lucky enough but you never know.
On another note, Tre Agan has been plunged into darkness since before Christmas, as the street lighting on the estate has been out of commission; it looks as though that situation may be changing as they have been testing some of the lights. I am hopeful that instead of peering through the dark and gloom when walking Murphy in the dark mornings that I can see the luminescent glow of street lights instead of just stars :-)
Murphy is a growing boy, he is filling out in some of the right places, and some wrong ones too... he needs more exercise.. something for both of us to work on.
I delivered the last set of training for the Cornwall libraries today, there is some more interest in running more, but I don't know if I will be selected to deliver them; I can only hope I am lucky enough but you never know.
On another note, Tre Agan has been plunged into darkness since before Christmas, as the street lighting on the estate has been out of commission; it looks as though that situation may be changing as they have been testing some of the lights. I am hopeful that instead of peering through the dark and gloom when walking Murphy in the dark mornings that I can see the luminescent glow of street lights instead of just stars :-)
Murphy is a growing boy, he is filling out in some of the right places, and some wrong ones too... he needs more exercise.. something for both of us to work on.
07 January 2011
On the 12th Day of Christmas.. my true love gave to me...
Yesterday morning, while getting ready to go to work, there was an ambulance parked outside Tre Agan. Not for us here but Liz who lives next door is due to give birth in January.
I was up at 6.45am and it was parked there then, with all the activity in Liz's house rather than a general scoop and run. Apparently it was still there at 8.30am when SOH was around and about.. I had long since gone to work.
Haven't seen the family, but it seems appropriate that their baby was born on the 12th day of Christmas. Will keep people updated.
I was up at 6.45am and it was parked there then, with all the activity in Liz's house rather than a general scoop and run. Apparently it was still there at 8.30am when SOH was around and about.. I had long since gone to work.
Haven't seen the family, but it seems appropriate that their baby was born on the 12th day of Christmas. Will keep people updated.
29 December 2010
Thoughts on the end of 2010
As we draw near to the New Year, all of about 48 hours away now, my thoughts turn to what 2010 has meant to me..
1. Started a new job last January working as an Admin Assistant and it renewed my enthusiasm for work.
2. Lived in a touring caravan for 5 months, which made me more appreciative of the space I have now.
3. Sold the house, and became mortgage free; something I never thought I would achieve until I retired.
4. Brought a house in Cornwall, with views from the front over to the coast at Portreath and at the back towards Carn Brae and I still love looking at both views.
5. Adopted Murphy a week before his first birthday, and he has settled in well here at Tre Agan and I think likes us too.
6. Started a job as a Key Skills Tutor in July, and love driving all over the west of Cornwall meeting my clients.
7. Enjoyed a lovely break in the South of France, and went topless on the beach.
8. Starting training for my Post Graduate Certificate in Education in September which will qualify me to teach in Further Education when I have completed both years.
9. Celebrated my first year, living in Cornwall. Don't ever want to move again!
10. Celebrated my first Christmas in the house... and even put decorations outside.. something I never did at the Back of Beyond.
I am sure there have been plenty more ups (and downs) but these were the highlights of the past year and I hope for 2011 that we have plenty more.
I don't know about all of you, hopefully 2011 is a good year for you and may your New Year be peaceful and happy.
1. Started a new job last January working as an Admin Assistant and it renewed my enthusiasm for work.
2. Lived in a touring caravan for 5 months, which made me more appreciative of the space I have now.
3. Sold the house, and became mortgage free; something I never thought I would achieve until I retired.
4. Brought a house in Cornwall, with views from the front over to the coast at Portreath and at the back towards Carn Brae and I still love looking at both views.
5. Adopted Murphy a week before his first birthday, and he has settled in well here at Tre Agan and I think likes us too.
6. Started a job as a Key Skills Tutor in July, and love driving all over the west of Cornwall meeting my clients.
7. Enjoyed a lovely break in the South of France, and went topless on the beach.
8. Starting training for my Post Graduate Certificate in Education in September which will qualify me to teach in Further Education when I have completed both years.
9. Celebrated my first year, living in Cornwall. Don't ever want to move again!
10. Celebrated my first Christmas in the house... and even put decorations outside.. something I never did at the Back of Beyond.
I am sure there have been plenty more ups (and downs) but these were the highlights of the past year and I hope for 2011 that we have plenty more.
I don't know about all of you, hopefully 2011 is a good year for you and may your New Year be peaceful and happy.
21 December 2010
Thought I had got away with it...
Looked out this morning to see two feet of snow
They aren't here at Tre Agan of course, but whoever did this was damn clever and I thought I would put it here to amuse.
They aren't here at Tre Agan of course, but whoever did this was damn clever and I thought I would put it here to amuse.
20 December 2010
Busyness
I have been a bit busy over the past two weeks, hence my lack of posting for which I would like to apologise.
Work has been busy, and evenings I have been trying to finish my Cornish Christmas Stockings.. I cut out three (one for Murphy, one for SOH and one for me) needless to say I have only finished the first two... but they look nice and I promise to put photos up.
The weather has meant everything takes longer, journeys, getting to places to pick up things and even college got closed one evening which was fine except we were supposed to be doing our presentations. Still we managed to get them done eventually but the Microteach now has to be done and after the official hand-in date of 7th January which is looming ever more close these days.
Tre Agan is jollied up for Yuletide, plenty of greenery and suitable figurines adorn the house and Murphy has been purchased a set of reindeer horns complete with bells.. it has taken a little while to get him accustomed to wearing them but he happily trots round now with them on and the neighbours think he's great.
First christmas in the new home, it is going to be good one.
Work has been busy, and evenings I have been trying to finish my Cornish Christmas Stockings.. I cut out three (one for Murphy, one for SOH and one for me) needless to say I have only finished the first two... but they look nice and I promise to put photos up.
The weather has meant everything takes longer, journeys, getting to places to pick up things and even college got closed one evening which was fine except we were supposed to be doing our presentations. Still we managed to get them done eventually but the Microteach now has to be done and after the official hand-in date of 7th January which is looming ever more close these days.
Tre Agan is jollied up for Yuletide, plenty of greenery and suitable figurines adorn the house and Murphy has been purchased a set of reindeer horns complete with bells.. it has taken a little while to get him accustomed to wearing them but he happily trots round now with them on and the neighbours think he's great.
First christmas in the new home, it is going to be good one.
20 October 2010
The Garden at Tre Agan
It is a South facing garden, and has sunshine from morning to evening which is great in one way as it is a suntrap, but I would like to have some shading for Murphy.
The stone wall needs clearing of all the weeds, brambles and everything else. but you can see some of the stones near to the pine tree. The fences are 6 ft high, which provides a nice amount of privacy, but we have also installed this brush fencing which you can see on the picture middle left. This is where the clematis are planted as they get some shade in the morning.
The picture on the left is one of the two clematis I have planted. Neither one of which is blooming very well, but it has been hot and dry, when they were planted and now is cooling down rapidly as we head into Autumn so I expect them to do nothing until spring time.
And that is the limit to the garden here at Tre Agan, I would love to train some apple and pear trees against the opposite fence, but equally given the softer climate here I would love to have a peach or nectarine bush.
While it isn't as huge as the garden at the back of beyond, it is big enough to have some nice planting and I want to get some fucshia plants in, but not so big that it will take up all my time in taming it which was starting to be a big problem at the back of beyond.
Any and all ideas for planting welcomed.
18 September 2010
Je Suis Fatigue
We arrived back home, late last night, after a marathon journey back from the Languedoc region of France. Up early we had to drive to Marseille and return the hire car then we found the plane was delayed by Air Traffic Control France which meant we landed at Gatwick an hour later than we had envisaged. Not only late, but also at the wrong end as the plane was required at the North Terminal, but we were due to have landed at the South so onto buses with our luggage following us we headed back across the airport.
Finally, we picked up the car at the hotel which we had used to overnight and park at (reasonably priced too). We asked the satnav to find the way out of London Gatwick towards home, and by now it was nearly 6pm so Aggie (the satnav) told us we wouldn't reach home until midnight.. Little did she know how much we wanted to get home and by 11pm we were here. Jaded, fatigued and a little sad to see the end of a great holiday but home we are and we were greeted ecstatically this morning when we collected Murphy from his holiday home at Newquay though he got more excited when we pulled back into Redruth and he recognised where he was...
Today is a slow day, for necessity. We have lots to do but time to spare to do it in and time is precious. We had a great holiday with temperatures not less than 25oC (though it got up to 30+ during our stay) all the time we were there until Friday when it was a little cloudier and cooler.
Pictures and story to follow later
Finally, we picked up the car at the hotel which we had used to overnight and park at (reasonably priced too). We asked the satnav to find the way out of London Gatwick towards home, and by now it was nearly 6pm so Aggie (the satnav) told us we wouldn't reach home until midnight.. Little did she know how much we wanted to get home and by 11pm we were here. Jaded, fatigued and a little sad to see the end of a great holiday but home we are and we were greeted ecstatically this morning when we collected Murphy from his holiday home at Newquay though he got more excited when we pulled back into Redruth and he recognised where he was...
Today is a slow day, for necessity. We have lots to do but time to spare to do it in and time is precious. We had a great holiday with temperatures not less than 25oC (though it got up to 30+ during our stay) all the time we were there until Friday when it was a little cloudier and cooler.
Pictures and story to follow later
02 August 2010
Disaster Zone
Given the weather yesterday, a day we had set aside for going out on the bikes, which was grey dank and drizzly at Redruth we decided to haul everything out from under the stairs and have a tidy up while at the same time I baked a madeira cake (chocolate) and a victoria sponge cake.
Well what a disaster the two cakes turned out to be, first of all the sponge cake appeared to rise and then when nearly cooked sunk like the titanic after the iceberg. The texture wasn't right, it seemed too crumbly and too sticky so I suspect that the recipe is wrong. The madeira I had more hope for as I have made it successfully on a number of occasions, but not yesterday. I was gutted when it came out more like a ring cake with no middle, I don't even know whether it is edible or not.
I have not idea why this happened, the oven was defnitely warm enough, the eggs were only purchased last saturday and I can only wonder if the measuring scales were accurate.
Still, not to let them beat me I will keep trying and have at the moment in the cooker, a plain vanilla madeira and a pecan spice madeira. I will split the plain one when cooked and put buttercream inside it with some jam, the other I think should stand up for itself.
It is not a nice thing to do when you see the results of your failure, and it brought home to me just how much I hate failing at anything I do.. hmmm time to rethink my coping strategy I think.
Well what a disaster the two cakes turned out to be, first of all the sponge cake appeared to rise and then when nearly cooked sunk like the titanic after the iceberg. The texture wasn't right, it seemed too crumbly and too sticky so I suspect that the recipe is wrong. The madeira I had more hope for as I have made it successfully on a number of occasions, but not yesterday. I was gutted when it came out more like a ring cake with no middle, I don't even know whether it is edible or not.
I have not idea why this happened, the oven was defnitely warm enough, the eggs were only purchased last saturday and I can only wonder if the measuring scales were accurate.
Still, not to let them beat me I will keep trying and have at the moment in the cooker, a plain vanilla madeira and a pecan spice madeira. I will split the plain one when cooked and put buttercream inside it with some jam, the other I think should stand up for itself.
It is not a nice thing to do when you see the results of your failure, and it brought home to me just how much I hate failing at anything I do.. hmmm time to rethink my coping strategy I think.
18 July 2010
Sunset at Tre Agan
Not of tonight, as it is still too early. But this was taken last week when we were treated to the most gorgeous sunsets I had ever seen with the Sun setting out over the sea towards St Agnes. What a lovely place to live Tre Agan is I am sure you will agree.
23 June 2010
What a beautiful evening
The weather is glorious, wall to wall sunshine with just a cool breeze to take the edge off the heat but all the same it is wonderful and dry. For those people on holiday, it must be lovely to be able to enjoy it and sitting here in my office looking out I just want to be out there too.
I have a couple of planters to pot up tonight with some busy lizzies, marigolds and some Winston Churchill Fuchsia's which will look lovely and put a dividing boundary between us and next door who children like riding their bikes over our piece of garden despite being politely asked not to. So these long tubs will mark the boundary and look pretty too.
Hopefully I have enough plants to plant up the big blue planter which this year will just have annuals planted in it while I think what to plant. I need to replace the lavenders, rosemary and herbs from the Back of Beyond and sadly my dwarf lilac didn't make the transition nor a hardy fuchsia that was lovely. I would like some philadephus and a californian lilac the varieagated variety which was just turning into a nicely shaped shrub but we neither had the time nor the space to bring them all and given we lost the two we did bring I cannot be sorry to have left them behind.
I also want to plant a honeysuckle and have found one that I can take a cutting from, which has the most glorious scent and will look nice in one corner of the garden and growing along the top of the wall, I also need to get some suitably spiky plants to deter visitors from entering/leaving the garden that way lol.
Plans, Plans, Plans and somehow it was nice just watching and imagining in the sunshine last night.. Browning was right when he said Oh to be in England now that April's here... well make that sunny June and warm evenings full of bird song and quiet fox cubs exploring the fields and hedgerows and this is a beautiful land.
I have a couple of planters to pot up tonight with some busy lizzies, marigolds and some Winston Churchill Fuchsia's which will look lovely and put a dividing boundary between us and next door who children like riding their bikes over our piece of garden despite being politely asked not to. So these long tubs will mark the boundary and look pretty too.
Hopefully I have enough plants to plant up the big blue planter which this year will just have annuals planted in it while I think what to plant. I need to replace the lavenders, rosemary and herbs from the Back of Beyond and sadly my dwarf lilac didn't make the transition nor a hardy fuchsia that was lovely. I would like some philadephus and a californian lilac the varieagated variety which was just turning into a nicely shaped shrub but we neither had the time nor the space to bring them all and given we lost the two we did bring I cannot be sorry to have left them behind.
I also want to plant a honeysuckle and have found one that I can take a cutting from, which has the most glorious scent and will look nice in one corner of the garden and growing along the top of the wall, I also need to get some suitably spiky plants to deter visitors from entering/leaving the garden that way lol.
Plans, Plans, Plans and somehow it was nice just watching and imagining in the sunshine last night.. Browning was right when he said Oh to be in England now that April's here... well make that sunny June and warm evenings full of bird song and quiet fox cubs exploring the fields and hedgerows and this is a beautiful land.
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