08.03.13

...I have a sunrise... just that it's not accessible at moment and internet in B n B is a bit shaky so ... here is a field of daffodils I passed on the way home after viewing 5 houses in st Just... none had quite the impact of the very first one I saw... can't wait to go back and see if I still feel the same...

...here's that sunrise!

07.03.13

Morning view from my B & B window

 It was pouring with rain and I had an early phonecall from Ros, the Lady Captain at Cape, to say that the ladies probably wouldn't be playing in the rain but would be there for coffee - so I went and had a lovely time gleaning as much information as I could from this lovely group of ladies.

 I walked down to Priests cove... this is looking across the course... the dark brown area in the middle left is a sunken orchard - or it was - the golf club are in the process of clearing it out...

This one is specially for Alastair... 

The rocks in the distance are known as The Brisons;  the info board says... that on certain occasions they look like Charles de Gaulle in the bath! (ok... a sloping bath!!!)

After spending the morning with the ladies and walking, I visited 3 properties... will tell more... but not yet... really liked one and am going back on Sunday afternoon to ask some questions. :-)
Keith has had a successful trip and seen two apartments he likes... :-)

06.03.13

On the way...

 Keith and I set off at 6.30... overcast and a bit damp... left Keith in Bath after looking at one or two of his potential places... not inside, just the crescents. Absolutely beautiful place. He had viewings lined up at 11am and on and off through the day.
I drove on to Penzance - took a while to get to the motorway but about 21/2 - 3 hours from M5  (junction 23 I think), near Bridgewater. This was the evening sky :-)

Looking towards Mousehole

St Michael's Mount just visible

05.03.13

Tuesday morning misty and frost which turned into a glorious day...

... St Piran's Day today and my hand-over - no longer Lady Captain; or Pesky Capitano as I was commonly known! It was an absolutely perfect day for golf - it was still, the frost went and it was so warm we were shedding clothes left, right and centre! One of my playing companions, Annie, played the best round I have ever seen her play - with 7 pars and 3 birdies - stunning. 
So now my Captain's responsibilities are over although I am there to support the new one whenever needed. 
Off tomorrow - Keith going flat hunting briefly in Bath and me to Cornwall - looking at properties; looking for a special place.:-)  May not get chance to blog till I get back... but I will try!

04.03.13

Monday morning... about 6.15... no frost but bitter when I hung out the washing in the sunshine about 9am

03.03.13

A heavy frost this morning :-)

02.03.13

This was an unearthly hour to be out...

... today was part two of the Captain's handover process and it meant crawling out of bed at 6.15.  I say crawling because I hadn't slept much during the night - about 3 hours worth so waking up was hard!

The reason for the disturbed sleep was excitement/anxiety/anticipation because Keith and I had received a second and improved offer on the house the evening before and we had responded with a counter-suggestion, so we were waiting with bated breath.

I had to be up at golf at 7am because it was the New Captains' Drive In. This is the one where the new Captains are welcomed by buckets full of water (this time not from the pond!). After the drenching of Jean and Colin everyone  headed out to a different hole where they were starting and waited for the rocket to be sent up to start us off. 

My group started on the 14th hole and by the time I got to the 18th was ready for a bacon bap - a treat from my fellow Past-Captain. It was bitterly cold playing and fairly slow as so many folk were involved. The house/offer situation kept me on tenterhooks, so I could be seen checking my phone frequently (a banned activity on a golf course!). The golf didn't suffer too much initially - but when Keith's text arrived to say we'd agreed a price... (after the 11th hole we played) ... then I lost all focus and standard of golf nose dived! It was exciting and a relief ... well you can imagine... Golf took second place after that, my playing partners had to keep hold of me because I was in danger of floating away!

So, another step forward... finding new homes is the next one :-)

01.03.13

1st March dawned dull and overcast and cold again.

View from Bridgie's bedroom

 Today was the day of the formal Club AGM so I had to give my Captain's report on the year and put the Captain's Jacket on Jean - my successor. All went well... stage one of the handover completed!

28.02.13

Last day of February.. this morning's sunrise..

...this was just before 7am this morning...it is light from about 6.30.  I've managed two months of sunrises... will get trickier as the months pass - gonna be fun!

This afternoon Keith and I emptied the little house of its contents; spread them on the lawn to be aired, despatched to the bin or allocated a new home. The spider webs and general detritus were sucked up by the vac but the damp patches remain. The clematis which almost covers the house has slowly penetrated all corners and the felt roof has leaked... but it is not bad for 18 years worth of fun!  Phil, Tim and Bridgie bought it out of their little savings accounts... it used to be the only part of Heron House we owned!

27.02.12

Another cold, grey  morning...but the sun came out this afternoon and the dining room is bathed in the evening sun now :-)

and this is how it set :-)

26.02.13

Final Fling Tuesday!

 Not a rosy sunrise this morning but another cold grey day... however, it was Final Fling Tuesday... my last Tuesday in charge... so we played 9 holes of golf in teams, then came back to Heron House for lunch - everyone bringing something.

 What a lovely feast we had... salads... home made quiche (don't think I've ever tasted better!), salmon mousse, chicken wings.... etc etc;    and the puddings... well the meringues did literally melt in your mouth, although mine was so fragile it almost melted in my hand- it was delicious!

 One of the ladies had made me a special Farewell cake... delicious and much enjoyed by all... 

 Here are some of the lovely ladies.. a little blurred but I was on my fourth glass of Bucks Fizz!

And there was hardly room for me... and had to look through the window at the lovely pudding table!  
The Pavenham Golf Ladies are a very special group... and I am hoping that when I am settled in the far West, I will have a steady stream of visitors :-)  

25.02.12

I woke up abruptly this morning and thought I'd take a photo out of the front of the house for a change...  suddenly I realised we hadn't put the wheelie-bins out! Not a major issue you might say, but when you have been sorting through as much stuff as we have over the last week then it is... I flew down the stairs, dressing gown billowing... and ran out to the recycling bin which I could only just move, then ran back for the other bin... by the time I was back inside and upstairs the bin lorry had arrived! They come early in Pavenham! Phew... just in time - and worth the manic moment and rude awakening!

It was yet another cold and grey day but slightly milder than yesterday. A visit to the garage procured a second key for the car ( I don't like just having one as I've had to bail us out so many times with the spares that I hide away for safekeeping) So.. for about £150 I know feel safer... seems a a lot of money for a key but what do I know?

A trip to Sainsbury also lightened the purse - I'm having a Farewell to Captaincy party here tomorrow afternoon for the ladies at golf...(making use of a tidy house - wouldn't dream of it otherwise). Everyone is bringing something but  emergency rations seemed a good idea ..in case they're needed... and if they're not we have some yummy cheeses to look forward to. 

24.02.13

Tiny snowflakes on another bitter morning! 

We had the Captains' Farewell and Welcome dinner last evening and although instinctively I rather dread these things it was really fun. Excellent company; some dancing that we hope wasn't filmed and a little wine - we have such a special group of ladies at the club they will be hard to match!

Thought you might like a look at where I'm hoping to play when I'm in Cornwall. The club is undergoing a lot of building work... their FB page has an interesting video! 

http://www.capecornwallgolfclub.co.uk/On-The-Golf-Course.html

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cape-Cornwall-Golf-and-Leisure/208458132621577

23.02.12

Quite expected to see a frost this morning but these last three days have had none - but bitter weather.

22.02.13

Strange how sometimes bitterly cold days just don't look it!

21.02.13

Almost same as yesterday - bitterly cold easterly wind.

The loft calls again today - am going to try and clear most of it today :-) I'd like to clear it all but that might just be too high an aim!

20.02.13

Today in contrast is overcast and bitterly cold... it doesn't look it, but it is colder than yesterday!

On Monday Keith went up to see Meriel and since he got back yesterday evening we have continued with the clearing and tidying. 

Monday I spent sorting all our board-games... so many of them.. up in the loft in boxes... 13 Dead End Drive, Simpsons Cluedo, Go For Broke, Monopoly (in various guises) and many more. I have gone through them all making sure they are all as complete as is possible... next step will be finding homes for them. The real family favourites we are keeping... but I'm sure you can picture the pile to give away!

We have a sign board up outside the house and the advert goes in the paper this week so we will see how things progress...

19.02.13

Another glorious sunrise.. the planes were leaving vapour trails which caught the light but phone camera and cameraman not quite  good enough!

Tuesdays are the Ladies golf days... and it was simply beautiful to be out... 

Two more for Jac...

 ..there were even ducks...

 ...and Penny went fishing ! The ground so wet and soggy where the frost had thawed that it was difficult to retrieve the ball :-) 

18.02.13

About 6.50 am

But this is about 7.30!

The last three days have been lovely - cool mornings.. then warm sunshine. The Robin sings from the branches outside the back door each morning and follows us around the garden chatting happily away! We have aconites and snowdrops out; the first primroses are showing their little faces and the daffodils are on their way. 
I have just cut the grass again to keep it looking nice... I say grass... but in reality large patches are moss - but then - I like moss :-) 
The dining room has been so warm we have had the doors open while we work on laptops or read the paper..... 

and today's sunset :-)

17.02.13

Sunday frost

A tree for Jac

Sunrise over the paddock at the bottom of the garden :-)

Through the kitchen window...

:-)

The early morning is so beautiful... and now it is staying light later - light till about 5.30 today - could almost play out after tea :-)

16.02.13

Saturday morning sunrise..

15.02.13

Another beautiful morning...