Half term Halloween Fun

Tregongeeves is all set for the Halloween Half Term Fun.  Next week younger visitors are invited to take part in a pumpkin carving competition (I will be carving mine over the weekend!).  There is also a Half Term Quiz to see how much the young guests can find out about Tregongeeves - some quiz clues might even be within the blog!

Judith and John continue to enjoy their trip away in South America - tomorrow they fly to Brazil having been in Peru.  In the meantime their children Alison and Richard are holding the fort at Tregongeeves - anyone arriving this weekend will get to meet Alison if you have not met her before.

There are lots of things for you to enjoy across Cornwall during half term.  Why not visit Halloweden at The Eden Project - their ice skating rink is now open, a real winter treat.  Or if you fancy braving ghosts then why not visit Pendennis Castle near Falmouth followed by a trip to the Maritime Museum.

If animals are more your thing then a trip to Newquay Zoo would be a great day out. There are also a whole host of seals awaiting your visit at the Seal Sanctuary near Helston.

Talking of animals Alice the Shetland Pony is on stable rest after a run in with a much bigger horse.  She is healing well and loves company in the stable.  In fact since she has not been able to roll around in the mud she is looking rather glamorous!  The chickens are in the dog house so to speak at the moment as they are not laying many eggs - maybe they are missing Judith?!  Jack and Ginnie are being looked after by Mo & Eric while Judith is away so you may see them around the cottages if you visit.  Jack has had a short back and sides and looks more like a puppy now rather the old fella he is.

We hope you enjoy half term where ever you are.

Judith has disappeared!

Hello,

Sorry there has been a bit of time since our last post - the summer has flown for us all down here, especially since the new addition joined the family.  However Granny Judith has eagerly volunteered to look after her new grandchild every week which will mean more regular updates about what is happening here and around Cornwall.  However as I write this blog today I have a wriggly little person my lap which means i can't put in the usual links!

Anyone visiting in the next few weeks will notice a big difference - no Judith!  Judith and John are on a very well deserved holiday in South America - a real adventure of a holiday.  Mo and Eric are living in the house and have the massive task of looking after all the animals including the dogs Ginnie and Jack whilst they are away.

This week Cornwall has been bashed by the weather like the rest of country - this morning on the news we heard that some of Mevagissey has been flooded.  Despite the wind and rain, it is still really warm here and in between the showers we have had glorious blue skies.

Cornwall has so much on offer even when it is raining - locally there is the ship wrecked centre in Charlestown - the museum that time forgot!  Or you could get an annual pass for The Eden Project and visit the Biomes on a rainy day and go back another day to enjoy the outside gardens.  St Austell also has a bowling alley and lovely cinema.  Or for you brave souls don your water proofs and visit the Camel Trail.  We did this Sunday - if you start from the Borough Arms, which has a huge car park and does a great carvery you can walk through the sheltered valley admiring the Camel Valley Vineyard.

the return of the blog with lots of news!

Firstly we must apologise for the lack of blogs recently as you will have seen from the last blog we have been a bit busy with our new arrival Jessica.  All is going well and whilst Granny (Judith) wholes the baby I am able to make the most of using two hands and fill you in on the comings and goings a Tregongeeves.

We have had a busy summer in more ways than one with full cottages, new animals and the tourist board inspection.

We are very proud that we been awarded Four Star Gold Awards for another year by the Tourist board inspector which shows all our hard work over the winter months have paid off which hopefully you will agree with when you visit.

Full cottages have meant a full array of animal helpers for Judith which is always appreciated as the animal numbers are ever increasing.  Willing volunteers have helped collect eggs, feed Splodge, watch the blacksmith attend to the donkeys and poo pick from the sheep and horses.  Some of the helpers are pictured.  Thank you to everyone that has helped Judith over the last few months.  As for the new arrival - we have another donkey - Olga, who is a young lady is settling in well after some much needed pampering to her feet.

The rest of the animals are all well, still lots of eggs being laid after they had a bit of a sort of their homes last week.  We have welcomed two new horses - Alfie and Flo- to the livery.  Splodge is, well, Splodge - still telling everyone who will listen he is hungry!

Pictured right are our merry band of house keepers taking a well earned break after a very busy summer.  The team work hard every Saturday to turn the cottage around ready for visitors.

With a slight nip in the air of an evening it is hard not to think about the winter.  Fancy a change of scenery or a relaxing weekend?  Then why not pop down for a short break in a cottage.  With fast trains direct from London and quieter roads, Cornwall is never far away if you need to relax and recharge.

New arrival...of the two legged variety this time!

As you may know Judith and John have been awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild.  I am delighted to let you know Richard and I had Jessica Rose Clemo on Friday 3rd August weighing in at 8lb 8.  It was all rather quick - Richard was happily at work cutting the grass when I had to get him home - within a few hours Jessica was born.

'Tis Beautiful (as the Cornish would say!)

Golly, hasn't the weather taken a turn for the better.  We have been blessed with stunning sunshine since last Thursday.  It is amazing the difference a little bit of sunshine makes to the spirits.  Guests have been soaking up the sun on their patios and every night the smell of barbeques engulfs Tregongeeves.

As we worked the weekend we get a day off in the week and yesterday we took advantage of the glorious weather and headed over to Mawgan Porth on the North Coast.  Just a 20 minute drive away the coast line is quite different to the south coast.  The tide was well and truely out, but the cooling water was well worth the walk.  We set up camp for the afternoon and settled down for an evening barbeque.  Sausages taste so much nicer with the waves crashing in the background!

If you are heading to Cornwall for a bit for relaxation, why not try your hand at something a little bit different.  There are plenty of opportunities to hire a surf board, go out kayaking, try a bit of coasteering or simply hire some bikes from down at River Valley Holiday Park.

Looking ahead, we still have a few bookings available in September - our money is on an Indian Summer so why not pop down for a break when the schools have gone back and it is a little bit quieter?

More additions to the flock!

Hello there,

Just went I thought we were full to the brim we acquire a few more animals for the petting corner!  Today Judith has come home from shopping with some new black chickens.  I am not sure of the exact breed but have been told they are very pretty!  We will take some pictures as soon as they have settled in.

Rosie and Jim no longer look like little lambs anymore.  They are in the front paddock with the donkeys and Alice the Shetland.  They still act very much like puppies though and will come when you call them.  If you are visiting then don't forget to give Declan plenty of attention too...he may be a little bit older, but he was also bottle fed so loves the human attention.  Wilma and Betty are slightly more shy.

I am sure you have seen on the news and experienced the monsoon season that seems to be the UK summer.  Depsite the weather warnings that have been issued for the South West it really hasn't been that bad - and we are not just saying that!  We have had lots of rain, don't get me wrong, but it seems to come in bursts and over night.  In fact as I type this I would say that it is very hot and the sun is breaking through.  On Sunday night we actually had our tea on the beach, after I got quite sunburnt in the day (lesson learnt!), I am pictured walking along Pentewan Sands.

Cornwall will now start to get quite busy, the local schools break up this week and lots of people are entering holiday season, which means there is loads happening right on our door step.  In a few weeks the Charlestown Regatta will take place from the 28th July to 3rd August with lots of live entertainment, music and fun to be had by the family.  Slightly later in the month is the highly acclaimed Fowey Regatta taking place 19th to 25th August.  The Red Arrows display across the harbour really is worth seeing.

In you fancy a little a bit of culture why not visit one of the many outdoor theatres that spring up in Cornwall throughout the summer.  One of our favourites is the Miracle Theatre Company - they are hugely enteraining and are performing at The Lost Gardens of Heligan on 1st August.  Or you could venture further afield to the highly popular Minack Theatre, which is worth  visit in the day time to admire the views or to see a show in the evening.

"Ba ba black sheep (or white sheep) have you any wool...?"

In the case of Wilma, Betty and Declan the answer is no!  Finally our three sheep got shorn yesterday - although now the temperatures have reduced slightly I bet they wish they still had their winter coats on.  I am pleased to report all three were well behaved for the sheep shearer and now look very smart and fresh.

I am pleased to report the donkeys seem to be back to their usual selves and are happily wandering around the field.  However we are having to keep an eye on Alice; she is a very old lady and recently has been showing her age a lot.  Judith is giving her some extra TLC to put the spring back into her trot.

I would be exaggerating if I said we had been blessed with back to back sunshine this week, but the rain does seem to have come over night and in the morning and cleared by mid morning - which seems to work quite nicely for getting out and exploring Cornwall.

If you are looking for things to do on damper days there is plenty to do in Cornwall, for example, the more energtic amongst us could try your hand at surfing - it is one of the many things Cornwall is famed for after all! Or why not explore the Helford River by canoes (I fancy doing this!).  You could always wrap up and go food foraging - the in thing with food and countryside lovers.

Or if you fancy a more sedate and relaxed rainy day activity why not take a trip on a real steam engine at Bodmin - keep an eye out for themed days.  You could combine a shopping trip in Truro with a wander around the impressive Truro Cathedral, situated in the heart of the county town.  There is also Lanhydroch House, an impressive National Trust property that has one of the best upstairs down stairs layouts we have seen.  They have lots of activities on throughout the year for all the family.