Day 8, Thurs 6th Oct.

Glenmorangie Distillery at Tain and Portmahomack

This is a day Mike and I had both been looking foreward to, both of us love Glenmorangie Single Malt Whiskey. The first thing that we learned was that for all these years we had been pronouncing it wrong! It is pronouced like the citrus fruit, orange with an m on the front and a y on the end, we had always said with stress on the or!!!

Mike and I paid our £2.50p for the tour and Sue would go on the next one if we thought she could make it as Babs warned us there were a lot of steps!! Well she was right I counted 121 as I went round. I do not know that Sue was capable anyway as she had been sampling the whiskey while we were away. For someone who professes not to like whiskey she had done quite well LOL ........

Left is Mike in the still house.

Right is Sue outside the still house using the wall for support Ha Ha!

Then back to the cottage for lunch.

In the afternoon Sue and I went off by ourselves to see a couple of potteries, too expensive for our taste though, to be polite!

Then we went off for a ride to Portmahomack in the Dornock Firth. Not so rough as Dunnet head but then it is not the Atlantic.


That noise is still there, getting more worried now!

Day 7, Weds 5th Oct

A lazy day in at last.........(some hope)!

All I did in the morning was go to the shop to get a paper for Mike and then watched the flocks of whooper swans, pink footed and grey lag geese flying over, masses of them.

On the way to the shop I noticed the noise Sue mentioned but hoped it was just a brake pad rubbing against the disc? ..............

Not as much rain as they had forecast but very windy.

In the afternoon we went to Tesco in Tain to do some shopping and called into Glenmorangie Distillery to see what time they opened to go and have a look around tomorrow.

Day 6, Tues 4th Oct

Visit to John O'Groats and Dunnet Head............

Well so much for a lazy day in!!! The weather forecast is not at all good for tomorrow so decided it would be advantageous to go out today.

After breakfast we set off for JOHN O'GROATS and when we got there it was very windy and cold, as can be seen by the way we are all wrapped up.

As we were up this far we decided to go to The Castle of Mey which was the Queen Mothers home in Scotland, unfortunately it had closed on the 30th September, as it seems most things do this far north! We then decided that as we could not lunch there we would go on tho Dunnet Head which is the most northerly part of mainland UK.




This is the proof (left) that we made John O'Groats and boy was it cold and windy!!!

This is Dunnet Head lighthouse (right) the most northerly part of the mainland.

The sea here was very rough and we all loved watching it.

This was going to be a late finish, heaven forbid Mike may even miss Pointless!!!! LOL

On the way back Sue noticed rather a disturbing noise coming from the front of the car, me being a little on the hard of hearing side I did not so thought she was hearing things or imagining it. More of that later.

We got back just in time for Pointless much to Mike's relief and I was dispatched to get a "chinky" for tea................

Definite lazy day in tomorrow, knackered now!!!

Day 5, Mon 3rd Oct

Woke to a beautiful sunrise and visit to Dunrobin Castle........

We were up and breakfasted by 0900 and then decided to go to Dunrobin Castle as it was not too far away up the coast and had a falconry display.

When we arrived we parked right by the door (thanks to the blue badge) only to find out that the falconry display was about 1/2 a mile away walk down a load of steps but woohoo as 2 of our party were disabled we could drive there. So off we set and arrived with 5 minutes to spare.

It was a lovely display with the birds flying among the spectators and were so close you had to duck at times as you felt they would hit you.

Below is Andy Hughes the falconer with part of Dunrobin Castle in the background.

After this we went and had a look around the castle.

Mike and Sue with the lovely tame Eagle Owl (below).






Had a super fish & chip lunch in Golspie sat overlooking the Moray Firth then a bit of shopping and home for a relaxing evening and a wee dram............



Full day today so lazy day tomorrow!

Day 4, Sun 2nd Oct

Knackered so a chill out day.........

We rested today as we were all knackered from all the travelling!

Sue cooked us a lovely roast pork lunch and Glyn slept most of the afternoon (no change there then LOL).

Only showery today.

Day 3, Sat 1st Oct

The last leg to Hill of Fearn..........


This is the cottage we stayed in
Upper Midoxgate Cottage.


Below is the view from the front door.




We left Cumbernauld around 0930 after breakfasting well in the pub next to the hotel, guess what it was raining haha....

We stopped for a snack in the Cairngorms at a cafe and stopped for shopping at a supermarket in Allness on the way. It continued to rain all the way to Fearn!!!!

We had a bit of a problem finding the cottage because of the remoteness of it but got there in the end............

Well the cottage was warm and comefortable when we arrived

After settling in for a while we went to Tain and got a chinese meal for tea and chilled out for the evening

Day 2, Fri 30th Sept

The day we reach Scotland

We were up at 0430 to set off at 0500 and got away at 0510 with Sue and I leaving all our toiletries behind!

We made very good time (better than any of us thought) and were at Lymm truck stop in Cheshire by 0900 for breakfast.

Sue and I had planned a surprise for Mike as one of his wishes for the holiday was to meet someone we had all known for several years on facebook, June Perkins, who lives in Halkirk in northern Scotland about 16 miles short of John O'Groats. What Mike did not know was that June was on holiday at Morecambe.... We just told him we were going to Morecambe for lunch, we stopped at Lancaster to to buy some cakes to take with us and June was supplying the rest of lunch. After a bit of a search we found her caravan park and eventually her!
A funny thing happened while there as June's husband Dave had not seen us bring in the cakes, after eating a lovely sandwich and a bit of pork pie I fancied a custard slice that we had bought and said so,

Glyn and June.

Dave also is very fond of these and had some in the fridge, you should have seen his face when I said I fancied one and he thought I was going to have one of his!!!! Bless him he was quite willing to let me have one of his but the relief was great and plain to see when he realised that we had brought some with us, he even gained one as we brought two and I only ate one........

Sue and Dave.

After about 3 very enjoyable hours with June & Dave we set off again for our hotel for the night in Cumbernauld, NE of Glasgow we arrived about 1645.

One point to note is as we crossed the border into Scotland it started raining and continued to do so all the way to the hotel, is this an omen of things to come?

Mike and June.

After we settled into the hotel we then went to the pub next door for an evening meal. Then back to the hotel to shower and relax before bed.

Day 1, Thurs 29th Sept

Set out after breakfast to Mikes in Coleford Somerset to arrive before lunch and meet Jane!

Had trouble getting the key to the guest room but eventually got them!

Early night as early start tomorrow x

Dates for October 2011

Birthdays

3rd Keaton is 17
4th Lisa (Glyns foster or 8th child as she is just like one of my own) is 27
7th Alice (Liz's Daughter) is 15
18th Wayne is 43
19th Ben (Richards son) is 22
19th Ashleigh (Richards Daughter) is 16
29th Nick (Lindy's partner)
31st Nathan is 38
31st Martyn is 36

Wedding Anniversary's

30th Lee & Lucy

The camera saga!!

Well lets go back about 18 months ago my camera packed up and we were in no position to get it fixed due to lack of funds.
About 8 months ago we got the money from DWP so I decided it was time to do something about it and got an estimate, £120 to £150 and decided to leave it a couple of months as it was not urgent.............
So a month ago I decided it was time to get it done ready for when we go on holiday to Scotland on Sept 29th, alas due to Sony having taken over Konica Minolta some 2 or 3 years ago they no longer make the spares for my camera!!!!! Not a happy bunny.....
It is funny how things work out as I had, a little while ago bought Sue a new digital SLR for a present, either for birthday or Christmas, and it was a Sony Alpha 350 as all my lenses fitted it and we could interchange. I had noticed for some time that Sue had not been using it much and the reason was that with the arthritis in her hands it had become too heavy and painful for her to use.
Problem solved now I use her camera and Sue can carry on using the light ones that she has prefered of late!
Thank you so much Sue, I am sorry that you can no longer use it but it means I have a very good camera to use on holiday, I love you honey xx

Dates for September 2011

Birthdays

4th Lennon (Gary's son) is 8
8th Alex (Sharon's step-son) is 11
8th Robyn (Wayne's daughter) is 20
9th Sharon is 44
12th Emma (Gary's wife) is over 21 yet again!
15th Debbie (Wayne's wife) is also over 21!
15th James (Sharon's son) is 20
24th Damon (Gary's son) is 19
25th Gary is 45 (if I remember correctly)
25th Lucy (Lee's wife) is not as old as Gary!

Wedding Anniversary's

27th Mark & Nicky's 14th (Sue's son)
30th Martyn & Sarah's
30th Glyn & Sue's 17th

Dates to Remember for August 2011

Birthdays

1st Peter Howe (Sharon's husband)

4th Libby (Nathan's daughter) will be 6

6th Tobias will be 14

9th Samuel (Louisa's son) will be 8

11th Charlie (Lee's son) will be 7

18th Tyler (Mark's son) will be 13

29th Harry (Lee's son) will be 14

31st Jack (Nathan's son) will be 10


Wedding Anniversary's

14th Gary & Emmas wedding anniversary

25th Liz & Brendan have been married 10 years.

More will be added as I get them

A baby on the way!!

It seems Amy is pregnant!!
It is due a day after mum's birthday, March 3rd 2012, many congratulations to Amy and Michael also to Denise and Andrew who become grandparents for the first time Woohoo xx

Amy & Michael Wedding

It seems Amy is getting married to Michael Wray on the 19th November 2011 at 1200 at Bakewell Register office, Woohoo!!!

2 months on August 2011

Well not a lot has happened since I posted part 3 so perhaps this will be a little on the boring side........
We have indeed been able to look forward now and seem to enjoy life to the full again, it seems I was very moody and surly over the past couple of years but am told I am getting slowly back to my old self!!!
We are very much enjoying the company of family during this summer period and have had visits from Michael (my brother), Denise (my sister), Liz, Brendan & the girls, Lindy, Nick & Karis, Sharon & Pete called in one day when Pete was working in the area, Richard and Ben have been, Stella and Lainie are with us at the moment and Lisa & Shannon are due on the 20th.
We then have about a month before off we go to Bonnie Scotland (with Mike) on the 29th Sept for 3 and a half weeks with travelling!! We are both so looking forward to it as it is probably the last time that we will be going to the very north of the country as we plan to go to John O' Groats while there!!! If I can find Wi-Fi while I am away we will no doubt keep you posted on that one?......
As an update on part 3 :- Gods timing is as usual wonderful!!! the DWP eventually got back to me about the interest on the mortgage for the Garth Close property!!! Well, well over a year after first applying for it I got a phone call to ask if it had been dealt with as it seems to have just turned up in the pile on someones desk?!?!? Well we went through it all and it seemed they owed me some back payment. Well they paid it within a week so that has left us with a small surplus to requirements which coincided with a rise in the rent, so all bases covered, thank you God again!!!
Well I think that is about it for now except to say GOD BLESS ALL THOSE WHO READ THIS and I pray that He is as good to you as He is to us xx

Dates for July 2011

Birthdays

5th Louisa is 29

7th Natalie (Louises Daughter) is 12

11th Philip is 60

12th Richard is 42

30th Joseph (Louises Son) is 18

31st Lainie (Stellas Daughter) is 7

Wedding Anniversary.

21st Nathan & Claires 4th wedding anniversary

Dates for June 2011

Birthdays
2nd Sarah will still be over 21 (Martyns wife)

5th Brett will be 15 (Garys son)

6th Laila will be 6(Garys daughter)

Excuses

Well hello again!!!
As many of you will have noticed I have not touched this for many moons. The reasons are many but the main one I think is that on the 15th June 2009 something happened that made it seem like my world had started falling apart!!! It continued to fall apart for many months.
Over the next few weeks I will slowly recount all that has happened since that time in graphic detail telling it as it all went on (as much as this old brain will allow) haha.

PART 1: JUNE TO OCTOBER 2009

Well I suppose the beginning is the best place to start!

On 15th June I went for a treadmill test at Abergavenny hospital and it was found that I had stress angina and that was effectively the end of my HGV licence for the time being I thought. It turns out that my thinking was right but it was totally the end of it as I was not bad enough for a bypass operation but too bad to hold an HGV! Catch 22 situation.

I was told not to go to work but to go and see my GP the following day and was duly signed off. I stayed off work until 19th October when Next terminated my employment as I was no good to them with no licence. They had (bless them) tried everything to keep me, even to trying to persuade head office to acquire a 7.5 tonne vehicle for me to use as I had at that time retained that licence.

I went to the job centre on my way home and was told by them that I was to ring a number to give details to get unemployment benefit.

I did this the next day only to be told that as my chances ,with my skills, were less than 1% of getting another job I would be passed on to the department of works and pesions and get pension credits, thereby getting early retirement.

Well you can imagine my consternation, in one foul swoop I went from a joint income for myself and Sue of around £44,000 (thats around £850 a week) to a total joint income of £198 a week on pension credits.

TO BE CONTINUED !!!

PART 2: OCTOBER 2009 TO MAY 2010

CONT.............
Well the first place we went was to the CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) to see what we could do and basically to cut a long story short they took over the handling of our debts and negotiated with our debtors to bring everything down to a managable level.
The only problem that we still had was the mortgage!!
I approached DWP (Department of Works & Pensions) who agreed to pay the interest on the mortgage. I then went to our motgage lenders and asked to have the mortgage changed to an interest only loan on the understanding that we would sell the property before the term of the mortgage was finished to pay off the capital, this was duely agreed and the done.
Well the DWP with their usual efficiency, and problems with staffing, had a backlog? This went on with no payments from them by February 2010, despite repeated phone calls from me and being passed from pillar to post and things came to a head with the mortgage lenders!!!!!!!!!!
Early in March 2010 we started to get threatening letters from the lenders because there was by this time considerable arrears owing which we were assured by the DWP would eventually be paid.
Sue & I by this time were getting very frustrated with the DWP and not being able to speak to the person dealing with our claim.........................
Enough is enough and by March we had certainly had enough, so we decided to hand the keys back to the lender and move into rented accomodation, thereby saving court costs etc.
Where to move to was the next question?
There was no longer a need to stay in the area we were in due to the fact I no longer had to travel to work so we decided on the Devon/Cornwall border area as we had friends there and knew of a good church there so while we holidayed in the area in March we looked around!!!
We found what I considered to be a lovely bungalow in a village location, but Sue was not too keen. I felt the reasons were twofold, firstly it was a really dull day and secondly it was the woman from the estate agents who was really obnoxious. I, on the other hand could see past all that and felt it was the place for us.
Well we looked at a few other places and nothing was at all suitable.
We went back home at the end of the week having found nothing and I was quite despondent as Sue had not seemed to go for the bungalow!!
We agreed to go down a couple of weeks later and have a look at some more houses and flats but nothing seemed like the right place and Sue agreed to look at the bungalow at St. Giles-on-the-Heath again. Well this time the weather was beautiful and even the woman from the estate agents was pleasant. I think that the latter may have been something to do with the question I asked her in the shop in front of her manager "do you have to work really hard to be that obnoxious, or does it come naturally?"
Well push coming to shove we had all the paperwork done and the move date was 4th May 2010. We moved in on that date with the bungalow full, as was the garage having the overspill.
The keys were posted registered post to the lenders a few days later and here we reside!!!
As a postscript by the time we moved we still had received no mortgage interest from the DWP.
You may think that that is the end of the story, alas there is still more to come which I will continue another day!!!!!

PART 3 :- BANKRUPTCY! May 2010 to June 2011

CONT................
Well we settled into the bungalow well but still had the enormous debt problem!!!
On advice from CAB it was decided that the only coarse of action for us was bankruptcy.
How to pay for it was the next problem? £450 each, total £900, (had to be paid in cash as courts trust no-one lol) the only assets we had left were the car and my beloved motorbike!! Well the bike had to go and sold quite quickly as the spring is a good time of year for it.
All was arranged and on the 11th June 2010 we attended Newport (Gwent) County Court and were duly declared bankrupt with debts of around £60,000, Sue understandably found this a real trial but bless her she coped and was much relieved when it was all over.
So off back to Devon to get on with our lives, we both had found it very hard dealing with what we imagined to be the stigma associated with bankruptcy, but it seems that that is no longer so bad as it was years ago!!!!
We have very much kept ourselves to ourselves since the bankruptcy as this is a village after all, although the locals have been very welcoming we are still concerned about what they may think of us and what we have gone through?
We have been very reliant on God to provide for us over the past few months which He has done with great goodness and at times even generosity. Also I am so pleased and thankful for the support and prayers we have had from members of Launceston Community Church which we regularly attend.
Another bonus has been how much we have seen of family since we have been here as we are only a short distance off the main A30 they call in to see us on the way to and from holidays in Cornwall, they also come to stay this is such a beautiful area close to Dartmoor.
Well back to the subject! In Feb 2011 the house in Wales was at last sold and all the debts attached to that sorted. We are now asset free except the car which is essential here as there is no bus service to speak of, also it is very necessary to get Sue around with her arthritis getting worse all the time.
So on Friday the 10th June 2011 we are being discharged as bankrupts by Newport CC and will be totally debt free from that date!!!
Also from that date we will no longer need to look back, all the trials of the past 2 years can be forgotten and we can look to the future!!!!
We have a 3 week holiday planned in Scotland in Sept/Oct with my wonderful brother Mike who has become a great friend again.
Finally some thanks for help and support over this difficult period of our lives,
Our families
Launceston CC, especially Mervyn and Rachel, Chris and Jayne and the support of the house groups
Also I thank God daily for what He has done in financial and moral support and encouragement, even His forgiveness because I still try to do things on my own even though I know I should rely on Him more!! After all HE HAS BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, THANK YOU JESUS.

Dates to remember for May 2011

Birthdays

20th Louise (Glyns daughter)

23rd Freya (Lees daughter) who will be 10

24th Sue (Glyns wife)

24th Elizabeth (Glyns daughter)



Just 1 Wedding anniversary

16th Wayne & Debbie who have been married for 8 years.

My visit to Chichester

Good day to all who browse this blog. I have just been down to Chichester for a week. My brother Anthony had an operation and I went and looked after him, sad to say it meant that I had to leave Glyn, not good.
While I was down there I managed to catch up with a few old friends, Brenda, Lin, Linda. It was very good catching up with them all had some good natters.
Tony is now on the road to recovery so have come home to look after the old man once again.
The weather was kind to me while I was away which made it all the better. Must admit it is lovely to be home.
I am looking forward to going on holiday in August with the children and grandchildren.

Peace perfect Peace!

My peaceful place.

You know every now and again you find a place that is so peaceful you have a job to go past it! Well this is my place. I leave for work 10 or 15 minutes early sometimes just so that I can stop here. It is on a B road between Usk and Chepstow. You get all of 1 car every 5 minutes or so along the road (except in the rush hours when you perhaps get double that number).
There always seems to be a plethora of birds singing all the year round and just sitting listening to them is such a joy.

Wild flowers such as Primroses, Cowslips, Violets & Bluebells are all there in abundance.
Behind where my bike is parked there
is a path that leads to a stream with a bridge over it and there are logs that have been made into seats the other side, you can't even hear the traffic from there, what there is of it!!
I always call here if I come home from work this way as it really is my chill out place. It is a forestry commission picnic site and therefore has a name which I forget (senior moment, but will write it down next time I am there).
It is a place that I just feel at peace with God and the world and so close to nature. I also find it is easy to wonder at God's creativity where there are so many of His wonderful creations in one small area.

Dwi um tryoch siarad Cymraeg

Well now after being (as many of you will know) fascinated by the Welsh language since I was a boy I am now having a go at learning to speak it!
Here I am at 60 years of age trying to come to grips with a new language??? Actually I only started last Thursday 14th May and I am finding it quite fascinating.
I was pointed to a web site by a welsh speaking friend (Lois) who still does not know what she has started!
You do not learn to read or write in welsh, just speak it. I can therefore do it at work as it is all in down loadable mp3 format. Just put it on a mp3 player and away you go.
Below is the link to the web site so that you can have a go, believe me it is quite easy once you get started.
http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/home/
Below is the link that will take you directly to the downloads (I am doing the southern version)
http://www.saysomethinginwelsh.com/lessons/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11
I am on lesson 2
Dwi um tryoch siarad Cymraeg, by the way, means in welsh I AM TRYING TO SPEAK WELSH! I do not know if it is spelt right but that is how it sounds.

Well who would have thought it!

Well who would have thought it. After having Oscar for all these years we discovered at 1830 last night that HE is a SHE and we have to call her OSCARINA.
She proudly produced an egg and we expect at least 2 more before she finishes. Of course it is infertile as there is no male involved HA HA!
Is that a virgin birth?
We started to guess that something was different a couple of weeks ago when she started cooching (Welsh slang word for cuddling) up to me and bit Sue quite hard, something she had never done before. Though of course we never guessed at the time but hindsight is a wonderful thing!
So let me introduce you to OSCARINA though I should imagine that we will have a bit of a problem getting her to say it after she has been calling herself Oscar for all these years.

Allotment update

Well thanks to good weather and a star named Rob Evans! I managed to get up there yesterday under the watchful eye of my beloved Sue and just about got it up to date.
The runner bean sticks are up and ready, all beds are ready to be planted and just one bed, the fruit patch needs forking over around the bushes that are there already (see below).
Runner beans in pots ready, 4 rows of potatoes in, a row of cabbages in, tomatoes & cucumber in grow bags in the greenhouse.
I got 2 gooseberry bushes in the fruit patch to go with the 2 blackcurrant bushes already there.
Rob helped me with all the heavy lifting that had to be done putting the slabs down in the greenhouse etc.
Showers and sunny periods today and my bald patch got burnt enough yesterday!!!!!!!!
Again Many thanks to Rob Evans who has the plot next to us!

Off Sick

I am a bit peed off really as I tore some muscles in my shoulder whilst delivering to Next in Truro on Saturday last. Not too bad on Sunday, Sunday night I had a job to sleep or get comfortable as the pain was quite bad! Hoping it heals by Thursday so that I can get back to work?
Tried to rest it over the next few days but in the end had to go to the docs today (Thurs) and he laughed and asked if I really expected it to heal in 5 days?
As I said to him "you can always hope". Well he has signed me off until next Thursday and said it should be OK by then!
I AM BORED ALREADY! any suggestions as I cannot even get up the allotment. We are going out later to get peas, runner beans etc. to start off in the greenhouse but there is so much more I would like to get done up there. Well at least most of the heavy work is done so it is only pottering and I have no doubt Sue will have to come up to "keep an eye on me".
Well happy days at least the sun is shining.

Sharon, Danielle & Natalie, Race for life

Sharon, Danielle & Natalie are doing this years Race for Life in Memory of Sue (Mike's late wife) & Natalie's Late Grandmother Lee Bourne who's passing was announced in an earlier post.
It is on 31st of May in Milton Keynes and all donations will be very gratefully received.
As this is a charity close to all our hearts lets be generous!
Donations can be made (very simply) online, the link is below, it must be easy because I did it!
We look forward to some pictures and a report from Sharon when it is done!!!!
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/sharonhowe1

March 2009 Holiday in Splatt

Having been back nearly 2 weeks now I thought perhaps it was about time I posted about it. Mind you pressure of work has also had a lot to do with it being delayed!

I think it is safe to say it is the best spring holiday, weather wise, that we have for some years as we only had one shower and that was during the night.

Consequently we went out most days, some to look at National Trust places and others just to take in the sights and enjoy the fantastic weather.

The holiday was marred a little by the fact that we had to come back a day early (missing 2 days really as we would have gone somewhere on the way home) as Tony (Sue's brother) was to have an operation on the Friday, especially as the op was cancelled at the last minute and Sue was already on the train going to Chichester when she received the phone call.

This is possibly the nearest you will ever see Sue to a bull! Still I suppose she gets enough from me?

Godreavy Island & Lighthouse (near Hayle)

These pictures were taken at All Saints Church, Dunterton. Illustrating the difference a lens can make! The left one was taken with a fisheye & the right with a normal wide angle!

All Saints Church, Dunterton. Again taken with a fisheye lens. notice the curve of the tower!

I just love using this lens. Ha ha!

I found whilst out for a walk on the nature trail this very small fly who seemed to be so photogenic that I just had to try to get it with the macro lens (above & below)

A mother and her 2 sons. I hope they will be luscious steaks in the not too distant future. Ha ha!

http://www.splattfarm.co.uk/index.htm

More Karis (how she grows)!

Tresmeer (North Cornwall Railway)

As many of you will know I have always had a healthy interest in railways so recently we have been holidaying at a place called Splatt in Cornwall.

Next to the cottage we stay in intrigued me as there was a disused railway line and station. The station house is still lived in.

Me being my usual nosey self wanted to know more, so here we go.

Above picture. Up Railcar at Tresmeer c1960.

Tresmeer was part of the North Cornwall Railway that ran from Meldon Junction to Padstow.

The Stations In Order From Meldon Junction To Padstow

Meldon Junction.. Maddaford Moor Halt.. Ashbury.. Halwill Junction.. Ashwater.. Tower Hill.. Launceston..Egloskerry.. Tresmeer.. Otterham.. Camelford.. Delabole.. Port Isaac Road..

St. Kew Highway.. Wadebridge.. Padstow.

Of course this line became a casualty of the Beaching Axe with the last train running over the line on 28th January 1967.

Above picture. Railcar at Tresmeer just before closure c1966

Above picture. As the station looked in the 1960's. The goods shed, far left is also a dwelling house today.

The above two pictures are as Tresmeer Station is today. These were taken by me (from the bridge shown in the top two pictures) on 24th March 2009. Note the station sign (arrowed) in the top picture still surviving after all these years!

Above. The very last train to run over the line waiting to leave a very wet Padstow station to return for the last time to Meldon Junction on the 28th January 1967.

If you want to see more look at. http://www.northcornwallrailway.co.uk/

Link to the cosy cottages we stay in.

Very comfortable and welcoming. http://www.splattfarm.co.uk/index.htm

Sarah

Lets go back a few years to when I first met Sarah. She was working at a Next in Salisbury. We seemed to hit it off straight away as she had a sense of humour. Lets face it you need one to be around me.
Sarah is a very pretty girl who has a wonderful personality and is very easy to get along with.
Well as time went on she became delivery manager and moved to the new shop on the retail park when it opened.
While she was there after a while I noticed Sarah was losing weight, that was fine to start with but it just went on and on! I was starting to feel that she may have some sort of eating disorder? As I only go to the shop to deliver periodically I supposed I noticed the difference more than those who saw her every day. One day I got there and she was looking really drawn and ill and again I spoke to her about it.
Well to cut a long story short the next time I went Sarah was off sick!
Unfortunately at that time I lost contact with her as I had no phone number or anything. I thought & prayed for her often.
Well I was delivering to Cotton Traders at Wilton yesterday and to my great surprise and delight Sarah came up to speak to me as she was there having gone out to get a bit of fresh air.
Next have terminated her employment as she has been off so long which I must admit I was disgusted about when I heard it from her work colleagues, as were they!
Well it is a eating disorder but Sarah has now put on a stone since she has been off work and is now looking forward to the future. It is still going to be a battle and an uphill struggle.
I am still praying for her and would ask all those who read this to do the same.
We can at least keep in touch now as we swapped phone numbers and she is going to look for me on Facebook so hopefully keep in touch that way as well.
Sarah may be coming near us to a clinic in Bristol as an in patient for a short while so I will obviously go to see her and take Sue to meet her.
Well God Bless you all
Glyn

The Late Lee Bourne

Is is with some regret that I have to report that Andy's Mother (Louise's partner) passed away peacefully yesterday after a long illness (cancer).
Our thoughts & prayers are very much with Andy & Jojo and their families at this sad time.
If anyone would like to add to this feel free to leave a comment or email me a photo and I will add all to this post?

24/01/2009 The late Berkely John "Jack" Dowdle (Updated)

I am sorry to announce the sad loss after a long illness of the much beloved Berkely John "Jack" Dowdle. My ex father-in-law, Sue's uncle & my children's grandfather.
I have very fond memories of him and have had a lot to be thankful to him for over the years.
After an accident, some 2 years ago now, he spent much of the time in a nursing home in Trowbridge and I know he will be very much missed by us all.
Rest in peace Jack.

If anyone would like to add to this feel free to leave a comment or email me and I will add to this?

Pictures of Karis from Lindy & Nick

These were all March 2009

Siskin (updated 16/03/09)

Now up to 7 of these very pretty birds started to come into the garden during the recent bad weather. They seem to like the thistle seed feeders and so far have stayed.

Although smaller than the 8 to 10 goldfinches that are resident with us they do not take any crap from them and more than hold their own when the goldfinches try to chase them off the feeders. It is quite funny to watch them at times.

This is a male and as is usual in the bird world the female is nowhere near as colourful.

March dates to remember

We only have one date that I know of this month and that is
12th Joel (Martyn's son) Is 2
31st Nicky is getting OLDER (all of 38) lol

18/02/2009 Lainie's Big Night

It is called Lainie's Big Night because it is the first one that she has ever spent away from Stella.

How it came about was Stella was spending the week in Chippenham with "her new man" (Richard) and thought it would be nice to spend some time as just the 2 instead of the usual 3!

We were only too happy to agree to have her for the night, but at the crunch Stella was not too sure.

As it turned out everything was fine and Lainie could not have been happier having a sleepover with nanny & grampy. It made her feel like a big girl and as usual she was as good as gold.

Stella on the other hand was apparently a nervous wreck!!! I think they enjoyed the time alone even though Stella had a hangover the following day.

Lainie & Nanny then went on to make Welsh cakes and Rock cakes in the morning as I was going to work, so I saw very few of them, as Lainie had to show them to mummy!

I just want to say what a joy Lainie was to have around as Nannies shadow and look forward to repeating it in the not too distant future?

03,05 & 06/02/2009 Snow in Trevethin

Snow drifts on the bridle path in Lasgarne Woods

Snow plough at last

Snow on holly leaf

Outside back door

The garden

One snowed in car

Well this was the sight that greeted us on the 3rd of Feb. a sight to behold for those snow lovers like Sue!

Thankfully the snow plough got to us by mid afternoon but too late for me to go to work. Such a shame that lol.

We managed to get out to attend Jack's funeral on the 4th but early morning on the 5th in it came again! On the 6th we had a blizzard so alas I only got to work one day that week. Still I did enjoy the enforced holiday he he!

As I look out of the window now there is still traces of snow to be seen on the mountain tops across the valley over 2 weeks later.

21/01/2009 Karis Annie Hornby

If you had told me 5 or 10 years ago that Lindy would have children, you would have had to pick me up off the floor from laughing!!!
After the sad miscarriage last April (see earlier post) she had a very healthy Daughter born to her and Nick by C. Section at 0559 on 21st January 2009.
Mother and Daughter doing just fine as we understand from the 6 week check up that Lindy had last Friday.

Karis Annie




Karis & Lindy (Just call me Rudolf)

14/01/2009 Diabetic Clinic

Would not normally put such a mundane thing on here but it was a milestone as perhaps you will understand as it unfolds.
My average B/S was 7.9 and a bit high so I have been put on yet more tablets to try and get it down. I am now just 1 tablet a day short of going onto insulin!
This is where the Dr had me in tears as she told me the fantastic news that N.I.C.E. have just passed a new synthetic insulin that does not induce hypo's so therefore it can be prescribed to ONLY those people whose livelihood depends on their licence, eg. LGV & PSV drivers.
It is apparently very expensive but as a LGV driver I qualify and can get it prescribed. As prescriptions are free to me it is great news and a great relief hence the tears.
I can only say THANK YOU Dr. BALBOA for the news and the hug!

Catch Up

Well it has been some time since I have posted anything on here due to lack of interest among other things. Now I thought that I would keep it up to date as short term memory not so good and I can remind myself of all the good things and bad that has happened over the years.
I will try to get them in chronological order as far as I can?
SO HERE GOES!