Newquay revisited

Yesterday was completely un-blogworthy. We're enjoying ourselves being exceptionally lazy, and don't even feel bad about it because we might as well make the most of our unusually luxurious accommodation.

Today we tried a bit harder and managed to go out whilst it was still morning (just about). The weather was still pretty grim so we decided to head over to Newquay and the northern coast. I have been to Newquay many times before and have always loved it, in fact those of you who followed the Oz blog will remember that I compared it to Manly. However, maybe it was because it's so early in the year, or maybe the recession has hit Newquay just like everywhere else, but I was disappointed to find it somewhat run down. I think Claire was of the same opinion although she didn't mention it.

On the positive side, it had stopped raining and the sun was even breaking through the clouds. After a spell of indecisiveness (pasty vs. fish and chips) we set off to the beach clutching our still warm Cornish pasties and Costa coffees. By the time we'd finished eating, the weather was practically tropical and I was seriously considering taking my coat off! The only reason I didn't was because I was worried that a particularly naughty dog running riot on the beach might eat it / run off with it / rip it to shreds etc.

We drove the short distance round the coast to Crantock beach which is, in my opinion, one of the best beaches in the world. There was hardly anyone on it so we spent a happy hour with the kites (well, one of the kites - the big one nearly dragged Claire off into the sea never to be seen again). Only one near miss with an over enthusiastic boxer dog getting tangled up in the strings prior to take off. We wished we'd brought swimming stuff, but weren't up for skinny dipping.

Another cream tea, and then back to the hot tub. We have noticed that the fashion in scones of late seems to be tending towards the plain. Call me old fashioned, or even unfashionable if you really want, but give me a classic sultana scone any day. Hopefully we will find some tomorrow.

On the subject of tomorrow, it is our last day here. Apart from the quest for sultana scones, we are hoping for some more sunshine and a trip to Bude beach. We're calling in at Weston-super-mare on the way home, all carefully timed around the rush hour, and plan on eating fish and chips by the sea before returning home.






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Location:Cornwall

Busy doing nothing

We slept in this morning. I had refused point blank to set the alarm clock and we woke up at 11am, almost exactly 12 hours after going to sleep. It was nice not to get up feeling like I hadn't been to sleep but I felt decidedly groggy and the feeling of everything being too much effort did not go away for the rest of the day. I have agreed to the alarm clock being set for a respectable time tomorrow morning.

We have had a few issues with workmen today. After breakfast, we noticed that the fleet of Volkswagens had all gone out, so thought it would be an ideal time to try out the hot tub without being interrupted or delayed by someone else already being in it.
However, we arrived to find a white van parked in front of the window, with workmen milling around in a typical workman style of not really doing much work. I did notice that one of them was eating a Cornish pasty, which I would have been quite pleased about in a stereotypical kind of way, were it not for the fact that our hot tub experience was now quite clearly going to have to be delayed.

So we decided to go out straight away instead. As it was getting on for 1 o'clock we set off for a picnic and a walk by the sea nearby. Upon reaching the end of the drive, we found the road completely blocked by a triangular "men at work" sign, 4 workmen in yellow waistcoats, and a lot of bits of tree. To be fair to them, they were actually working quite hard, and were quite close to the mark with their 5 minutes they said it would take to clear the road.

We started the walk at a little cove called Millendreath which looked charming on the map but turned out to be a bit of a ghost town. There was a vast boarded up seafront building which looked like it would have served numerous cream teas and ice creams in its day, but looked quite depressing in it's current state. We later found out that it had closed down due to it's owner being sent to jail for an armed robbery!

Our walk took us almost immediately up a steep hill and onto a coast path which I'm sure had more uphill than downhill. I was still feeling lethargic and unfit although Claire seemed quite sprightly. We eventually settled on an agreed picnic spot and were just about to open our sandwiches when a local chap turned up and started quizzing us about the helicopter which was flying around overhead. He wanted type, colour, number of rotors (if that's what the windmill things on top are called), and of course what it was doing. None of which we were really able to answer satisfactorily. He regaled us with tales of coastguard rescues and deaths at sea (just what you want when you're trying to relax with a chicken sandwich), and also informed us that the weather was about to turn and there was going to be torrential rain starting tomorrow.
I noticed eventually that Claire had stopped talking and was quite deliberately looking first at her unopened sandwich and then at the man. I decided to try the same tactic in the hope that he'd take the hint and leave us to it. Several awkward silences later he asked "are you going to eat those sandwiches then?". I had to bite my tongue to avoid offending him but a few minutes later he said goodbye and walked off.

We ate our lunch and immediately went in search of a cream tea before the man could return. When we were feeling suitably sick after too much jam and cream we returned for another go at the hot tub. This time was much more successful and we have both decided we want one when we move to our house in the country.

It's of note that over the past 24 hours I have learnt a couple of surprising, if not downright shocking things about Claire. Firstly, whilst doing the census I discovered that Claire quit school before completing her A levels! I'm not sure why, but I find this quite disturbing, although I'm gradually coming to terms with it.
Secondly, I found out that my ridiculously laid back and calm girlfriend has in the past suffered from panic attacks. I was relieved to find out that she has not had any since meeting me.
Who knows what shocking home truths are in store tomorrow!

I have just checked the weather forecast and to my annoyance, the man from the picnic spot seems to be right. From Wednesday it is going to be pretty wet. So we are going to make the most of tomorrow with another coast walk to an isolated beach, followed up with another trip to the hot tub.


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Claire's Birthday

My birthday present to Claire in January was a bit of a let down (Me "what do you want for your birthday?", Claire "don't mind", Me "oh ok then". Result = no present). We've had similar problems before, and both still owe each other a kayak as a result of 2010 birthdays. So when we got back from Australia I decided to put an end to the present drought and started typing crazy things like "luxury Cornwall break" into Google. So now we are on our way to a romantic Cornish cottage with its own hot tub and free horse parking in the stables.

We decided to come in the car rather than by horse. It's my third day of having nowhere near enough sleep amidst night shifts so Claire's driving first. Apparently it's supposed to take us about 5 hours to get there but at the rate Claire's going we'll be there for an afternoon tea in no time. We're both starving and I have a combination of post night shift fatigue and blogging travel sickness.

We made it here without being pulled over for speeding once! We knew it was going to be good as soon as we arrived when we saw that the parking area was full of VW Golfs. I think between the holiday makers here there are Mk3 right through to Mk6 Golfs lined up. Claire is gloating as hers is the newest and shiniest, although I'm pretty sure all the others would beat us in a race hands down. Maybe I'll suggest it later in the week.

The cottage is amazing so the birthday present has been a success already! We are both going to be having at least 2 if not more washes a day as there is a shared hot tub looking out over the countryside, plus a bubbly jet bath and very fancy shower in our bathroom.

As well as washing, tomorrow we are planning to go to the beach and maybe even the pub. Claire is also talking about some wild swimming at a waterfall nearby. I have pointed out that it's March and we're in the south of England not Africa which did not go down very well. Apparently there is a teashop nearby so at least I will be able to experiment with cream teas as a cure for hypothermia.

This evening, amongst other things, we are going to fill in our census. Although we reckon the census police wouldn't be able to track us down here, we are both of the opinion that we shouldn't take any chances as we don't want our holiday to be ruined by a dawn raid.

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