Glorious sunshine!

My, hasn’t the weather been wonderful?  I was telling a guest this week that if it starts cloudy with what we call ‘mizzle’ in the morning, by about 11am it will be glorious sunshine.  If it starts sunny then usually it turns grey and damp.  Doesn’t always work, but I tend to believe it!  Hopefully it is here to stay.

I always think of the beach when it is like this.  We don’t often get the chance to go, but the North coast is worth a visit.  It is further to drive but with stunning little villages and towns such as St Ives, Padstow and Rock it is worth the effort.

I find it best to arrive in St Ives by train.  The views across the bay are utterly stunning, make sure you sit on the right hand side to fully appreciate them.  You can easily pick up the train from St Erth, or go from St Austell and then change at St Erth – it just saves on trying to find a parking space.
 

St Ives is famed for it’s allure to artists, apparently the light is better there (so they said on Countryfile).  The narrow streets are full of lovely little shops, and there are some great places to eat too.

Padstow, is also a lovely place to visit.  Well and truly on the map now thanks to Rick Stein the small harbour side village is packed full of ‘Stein’ treats.  Whether it is his cake shop, chip shop, bistro, or restaurant you are guaranteed to find some yummy treats.

Closer to home this weekend sees the May’s Poultry Auction take place.  A real traditional farming affair with the best of the best chickens up for auction – I am tempted to pop along and see if I can get Jeminia Duck a couple of friends to keep her company.

Finally, if you are visiting I can thoroughly recommend Mevagissey on Saturday night.  The end of the feast week sees a carnival and fireworks display – one not to be missed!

Summer sun is here!

Heidi's Ice Creamm Tricycle!

Sorry I am a few days late with the blog this week, I have been away for the weekend with Alison, enjoying the sunshine!  It has been lovely and sunny here in Cornwall, and we are hopeful it might be here to stay (fingers crossed!).

Last week we extended the chicken run, we now have a Pekin run too.  The Pekin chicks are growing up so fast, I have built them their own run so they don't get bullied by the bigger chickens.  However for the time being I have Heidi & Alison's new chicks in the new run.  They have a make shift house, but they were desperate to venture outside, so we had to move them from the stable they were in.  Jemima the duck is quite a character.  The smaller chicks cuddle her to keep warm!

A view from the Hall Walk

Friday  saw the arrival of our latest business venture.  Well I should say Heidi's business venture- an old fashioned Ice Cream Tricycle - it is quite a sight!  I have included a picture of her going around River Valley.  From next week Valley's Ice Creams will be on the cycle trail between London Apprentice and Pentewan - so do pop down and sample some of the lovely local ice cream!

This really is such an exciting time of year, everywhere you look there is another Cornish event on.  However you can't beat a good walk when the sun is out.  My favourite walk is through Luxulyan Woods, sheltered from the sun I am quite often the only person around.  If not there is  the Hall Walk starting from Fowey and walking the opposite side of the harbour,  the views are stunning, and the cup of tea and slice of cake are a well earned treat at the end!

A few more new arrivals!

Hello there,

Jemina and her friends!

I am back after a lovely week away.  We visited the Appleby Horse Fair with our two friends, it really was very interesting with so much to look at and so many interesting people.  We managed to squeeze in some wonderful walks in around Hawkshead.  I am glad to get back though to the hustle and bustle of Tregongeeves.


Whilst I was gone we had a devastating fox attack down at River Valley, he took all the chickens and two ducks.  So Heidi & Alison are on the offensive, making the run more secure and tidying it up.  In the meantime they have acquired a duckling (Jemina) and 6 chicks of various varieties.  They are up in the Tregongeeves stables, so take a look at them if your visiting, they are so adorable.


The summer season brings Cornwall to life with so many events and activtites on.  In the coming weeks we have guests staying with us who are visiting the Eden Project Sessions - various musicians are playing throughout July in their outdoor stage.  Talking of musicians Alison, Charmaine and I visited Cardiff this week to watch Take That in concert - what a show, we had a super time.


I also noticed the programme for the Minack Theatre this week, it looks like they are some greats shows being performed this summer - and all at a cheap price, tickets are usually around £9.  The Minack is an outdoor theatre on the edge of the cliffs - the stunning location means it creates a wonderful atmosphere.


Off to catch up on bits and pieces now!

The start of the feast week & festival season in Cornwall

It has been a busy week with Judith and John away, they have been having a nice time in Windermere.  Richard and I have learnt the ropes up at Tregongeeves, which is a lot to remember with so many animals and buildings to look after!  It is such a pleasure to welcome guests in each week though, this week saw the return of some guests who have been staying with us for over forty years.  It was lovely to hear stories about Richard’s Grandad, who I never got to meet and how things used to be done back in the day. 

Last weekend we saw the first proper heat wave, which brought the camping field at River Valley alive  The smell of barbeques and the sound of laughter filled the air.  

At Tregongeeves we have had our work cut out with the chickens and chicks; we now have to move the runs each day to make sure there is enough grass for the ever growing balls of feathers!  With this hot weathers comes the challenge also of making sure all the water feeders are topped up…I never knew how much water chickens drunk (apparently it has something to do with needing water to make eggs!).

This week is the Royal Cornwall Show.  It really is a great show and we can recommend a visit.  The Royal Cornwall Shows seems to mark the start of many festivals around Cornwall, and they never disappoint.  Last year we stumbled across the Polperro Festival; streets were full of Morris Men and music was coming from every corner.  A guest this week was also telling me about Mevigessey Feast week which takes place in a couple of weeks.  The event I am most looking forward to this summer though is the Fowey Regatta.  The tiny streets are filled with entertainment, food and drink.  But for me the highlight will be the Red Arrows flying through the valley – they never cease to bring me out in goose bumps.

Judith will return next week, so bye from me!

Enjoy this weather on a beach!

With Judith on a well deserved break this week in Windermere, Richard and I have been appointed as the official blog writer, animal looker-afterer, and house sitters! 

This week has not been a good one on the animal front.  At River Valley we have something preying on our poor chickens and ducks.  This week we have lost six chickens and one of our new ducks – Tafty, the pretty little female.  The animals are being kept in their pen for a few days to try and put the suspect fox off them.

On a happier note the chicks at Tregongeeves are growing up very fast.  We should soon be able to work out how many cockerels and how many hens we have.  Judith has had some helpers this week; with children from Gallery helping collect eggs, and feed Splodge his favourite food…black bananas!

With this glorious sunshine it is a great excuse to hit the beach.  From River Valley, you can hire bikes and head down to Pentewan, a beautiful little village with a pub who’s beer garden is over looking the old harbour.

Or you could try Porthpean, a great sandy family beach, with parking, a small shop and at low tide there are lots of little rock pools to explore. 

Whatever you are up to, we hope you are enjoying this great weather

Heidi & Richard