Godolphin House

I love visiting National Trust properties, so did not miss the opportunity to go to Godolphin House near Helston while I was down in Cornwall. This is a fairly new acquisition by the National Trust and you can read about it if you click on the above link.

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It is just coming to the end of a massive restoration project and is only open occasionally as the rest of the time it will be used for holidays. It has sleeping for 12 persons. Not cheap, but what a wonderful setting to spend time in.

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All mod cons now provided for guests. To my mind they have integrated the modern amenities into this wonderful building very well indeed.

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For once we were allowed to sit on the furniture and take photographs.

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The house was used in the 1970s for the filming of the Poldark series.

Unfortunately it was a very dull day when we visited, so my photos do not do it justice.

They have not done a lot to the gardens as yet, but they will be worth a visit in the future.

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Ann x

Sennen, Cornwall

Sennen Cove, Sunny Corner Lane and Gwenver Beach. Some of my other favourite places to revisit when I go family visiting to Cornwall.

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This is Ella, my niece's border collie puppy. She has only just started going out for walks on her lead, meeting other dogs and learning how to behave. She is wonderful and instinctively 'sits' and 'stays' when asked - even now at only a couple of months old.

She has also had her first day at 'work' in the stables where Jenny is a Manager. Jenny and her partner live in Sennen (lucky things) and so we went on a fab walk during the best October weekend for years!

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Looking across to Sunny Corner Lane.

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The beach was very crowded on the Sunday and Maggie and I even went in the sea! It wasn't too cold (really!) and we stayed in about 10 minutes - fantastic.

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Looking towards Gwenver.

The surfers were out in force as the line-up of waves was so good!

(I don't really know the jargon - just trying to show off!)

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Ann x

Biopsy

My right boob is black and blue. Yesterday I had to go for a vacuum assisted breast biopsy - I think they must have used a vacuum cleaner!

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I had a similar procedure on the left side in 2007 when everything was found to be OK, much to my relief. Because since then I had had no follow-up or checks of any kind I requested some further investigation to make sure all was well. It was found that there were further investigations needed on the right side that had probably appeared since the last x-rays!

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Obviously, blind panic sets in, but we turned up at the appointed time - they were running late - as they do and three-quarters of a long hour later I went in to see the consultant. He explained that the x-ray prep would take the longest time, but the actual biopsy procedure would be much shorter.

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Top clothes off, becoming hospital poncho on! Then up on to the couch! Well, they do things differently in the super all singing all dancing new Breast Care Centre in Llanelli (including 3D x-rays for a start). I had to lie face down with the correct boob hanging through a hole in the centre of the couch - the other one was hitched up somewhere!

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Then, the manipulation started to get the 'operation' site in the correct position. First it had to be pushed and prodded by unseen hands from below (I had now been raised up I realised as I could only see the heads and eyes of the nurses who periodically enquired if I was all right) - No that's wrong I was facing the other way first! That was before they had taken 3 or 4 x-rays, decided things weren't quite right and had me kneel up (remember I was raised up about 4 feet!) and turn completely round the opposite way! What a performance. Another 3 or 4 x-rays taken. The consultant had to be called to check all was OK. Then another doc came in to 'observe' and I was told I was a 'challenging' case (not me personally - they said I was 'doing well') to them getting the correct position for the procedure.

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The vacuum bit was very noisy - a bang, then rumbling - I told you they used a vacuum cleaner! with ice cold something sprayed on, anaesthetic administered and then about 6 'vacuums' taken. Not the most comfortable thing.

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The consultant patched me up saying that it 'looked like World War I'. - It does!

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Appointment next week to get the results. Fingers crossed.

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Ann x

Thank you Amanda !

Just returned from holiday to a lovely surprise package from Amanda at Eight-by-Six.

Of course, as you can see, I am obviously still a 'holiday spin' 'cos I have uploaded the pictures back to front - sorry

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The reverse of the very pretty pincushion

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A lavender-filled pincushion from Eight-by-Six

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In the surprise package was the very pretty pin cushion.

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Other goodies from Amanda's RHS giveaway.

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Thank you Amanda.

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Ann x

Back Soon .....

Off to Cornwall to see the family - leaving Other Half in charge.

See you soon.

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The lovely St Michael's Mount in Mount's Bay.

One of my favourite holiday visits.

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Ann x

Catching Up (2)

Ironman Wales

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Probably best to go to the website (link above) first then take a look at some of the videos - make sure you view the 2011 ones - "Ironman Wales 2011 Montage" is pretty good, gives the atmosphere. The 7.00 am swim was awesome in the rising sunlight. We went to Wiseman's Bridge to watch the cyclists going by (there were over 1500 entries, so they were cycling past most of the day. After their 2.5 mile swim and 100 mile cycle ride, they then had to run a full 26 mile marathon as well! The whole day was fantastic.

Did anyone you know enter? If so, I hope they had a wonderful time.

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We all had bells and plastic 'clappers' to add to the cheering as every contestant went past.

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My sister had a great time.

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What next? - Ann x

Catching Up

Been pretty busy lately -

First of all my youngest sister arrived for a stay ...

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I am the oldest of four -

Mary 2nd sister, Myself 1st, Cath 3rd and Maggie Youngest

Our Dear Dad groaned when he thought of all the weddings!!! But they are other stories ...

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We took Maggie to Anna's Welsh Zoo . This is run by Anna Ryder Richardson who used to do house and room makeovers - can't remember the name of her programme. She now does a lot of work in trying to save endangered species and also periodically has a programme on ITV.

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Spot the new baby gibbon. (If you click on the pic it is enlarged and you get a better view.)

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Managed to get my own shot of a nuthatch!

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These are wallabies, the smaller version of the kangaroo.

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We spent a most enjoyable day and Maggie enjoyed every minute, especially the lemurs.

A lot of very good work is being done here for endangered species.

Loads of information to be found on their website.

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Then ...

Tenby hosted Ironman Wales !!!

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To be continued .....

Birthday Girl .....

No - not me.

Nancy at 90!

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Preparation

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Cameras!

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Nancy in the Middle!

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Some of the cakes

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The Spread!

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Only the best china!

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The Cake (made by Val)

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"Happy Birthday to You"

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Ready, Steady, Blow .....

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Cut a piece for all

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY

from all your bowling friends.

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Nancy joined our Short Mat Bowling league twenty years ago

at the relatively young age of 70!

She is a regular player in her club of Hundleton.

She is full of life and fun and loves gardening and outings with her gardening club.

I hope I do half as well if I ever get to 90!

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Ann x

Today's Pickings ...

We may have a large garden, but not a lot in the way of produce.

However, we are delighted with today's pickings.

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Apples, runner beans, tomatoes, raspberries and elderberries.

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These are the autumn fruiting raspberry, don't know what kind they are, but they are enormous. We had them with yoghurt for our tea this evening. They produce more and more every day.

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Have grown tomatoes before and been quite successful, but they are not so good this year.

The small ones are very small and the large ones are mostly still green.

I am giving them some extra feed though and keeping my fingers crossed.

We are eating them everyday at the moment.

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The elderberries are stupendous. There are so many, I have no idea what to do with them.

So far I have washed and frozen some and plan to mix them with our apples for pies and crumbles. I am sure I could make a cordial too, but have to find a recipe.

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These apples are only the windfalls at present.

There are loads left on the two trees we have so we have lots to look forward to.

We have already had one lot of windfalls with rhubarb in a crumble (delicious).

I have also part cooked some down with a bit of sugar and put it in the freezer for future use.

Our apples are James Grieves and Laxton's Superb.

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Never seen so many runner beans in our life. We are eating them nearly every day and freezing, freezing, freezing. Our two freezers are full! Lots in hand for the winter.

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Talk about 'the season of mellow fruitfulness' - our autumn season has begun with 'massive productiveness!!!'

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Hope you are all having a wonderful productive season.

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Ann x