Will today be a good day for sightseeing?…The consumption of animal products…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
The first animal we encountered in the paddock was pigs. As our readers know, I love pigs.  However, as cute as they are, they can’t match the appeal of a handsome warthog.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About St. Teath, Cornwall*:

From this site: “The village has an interesting history. St Tetha, (from whom this village acquired its name) came over from Wales, with her sisters, to this area of Cornwall to bring Christianity to those living here. Since then, the village has seen much change with the rise and fall of both mining and the railway. There is plenty of evidence of both around the area.  The oldest part of the village surrounds the village square – the focal point of the annual summer carnival, Remembrance day, Christmas lights, and New Year Celebrations.”

So far this morning, the sun is shining, but we’re noticing dark clouds rolling in. If it doesn’t rain, we’ll be on the road to go sightseeing in a few hours. Taking photos on rainy days has become a source of frustration for me, and I am determined to avoid adding rainy day photos to our inventory.  
We were especially enthused to see the pygmy goats. Unfortunately, the grass was too mushy and wet for us to get closer for better photos.
Yesterday, as I’d promised myself, I finished our 2018 tax prep and forwarded the documents and worksheet to our accountant in Nevada. It was a tedious task, but somehow I managed to get through it when I already had a considerable amount of the information in place, ready to enter the form. What a sense of relief that was!
Adorable pygmy goat “baaaahing” at us as we admired him.
Now we wait to hear from the accountant with questions. We’ll probably chat with him in the next week and wrap this up, putting it behind us. We have until October 15th to file the return electronically, which he’ll handle for us.
 
A few mornings ago, after a rainy night, we decided to explore the various paddocks to see the farm animals. It was lightly misting and still quite cloudy, but we couldn’t have been more pleased. 
Beyond this bush are two wind turbines which are prevalent in England.
After a lengthy walk in thick grass, we had to wash our shoes, leaving them outdoors to dry when the sun finally peeked out. The shoes I wear most days when we’re going out are water shoes.  

With only five pairs of shoes, I can’t risk ruining a pair in rainy weather making water shoes perfect for our travels. They are ideal on rainy days and yet, are outrageously comfortable.  Tom’s tennis shoes were also a mess, but he waited until the grass dried and then brushed off the grass using a dustpan brush.  

The countryside beyond the farm is comparable to a patchwork quilt with varying shapes and colors.
As we walked through the paddocks, we realized we’d have to ask the owners, Lorraine or Graham, to escort us so we could take better photos on the next sunny day. Undoubtedly, over the next ten days, it will be bright once or twice.
Geese and ducks co-habitat peacefully in a paddock.
We love African animals, but we are also drawn to barnyard animals who have a unique charm of their own. Sadly, some of the animals we saw here will eventually be slaughtered. I doubt the goats or the ducks and geese, kept for their eggs, will be subject to that dreadful fate.

Yesterday, I wrote about how we eat meat, chicken, and pork, yet we have angst about slaughtering animals. Isn’t that hypocritical? I suppose some would say it is. But, the reality remains…we have emotions about this topic.
More beautiful scenery as seen from the farm.
Unfortunately, I can’t be a vegetarian/vegan based on my strict diet, nor would Tom, who doesn’t eat vegetables or fruit. The way I justify this in my mind, which I must do to make peace with it, is the concept that God, a higher power or whatever your beliefs, created an environment with a “pecking order.”  
Every morning and also during the day, we hear the roosters crowing.  It reminds us of living in Kauai, where there are thousands of feral chickens.
As a result, readily available protein sources (necessary for life itself) are provided to each creature on the planet, including humans. Living in Africa for two years during the past seven years placed us in a position to accept the hard facts about the animal hunt and subsequent consumption of the captured food source.

No, I won’t get further into a philosophical view of whether or not to consume animal products. We each have our reasons, rationalizations, and dietary needs.
The last time we had access to a clothes dryer was in Costa Rica over two years ago.  What a treat!  Our clothes were washed and dried in a mere two hours, compared to a day or two of hanging them in humid weather.
Now, as I wrap this up, we’re watching the weather to see if today will be a good day for a road trip.  

Have an excellent day filled with beautiful surprises!
Photo from one year ago today, September 10, 2018:
Check out those long eyelashes. For more photos, please click here.

Exciting purchase in the countryside…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment

Although the building is small and unassuming, Button Meats offers a wealth of grass-fed meats and poultry with a heartfelt welcoming we couldn’t have appreciated more.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About St. Teath, Cornwall*:

“The village of St. Teath is situated approximately three miles (5 km) southwest of Camelford and seven miles (11 km) northeast of Wadebridge. The hamlet of Whitewell lies to the west. The parish population at the 2011 census was 2628. An electoral ward also exists, including Delabole and St Breward; the population for this ward at the same census was 3,957.”

*Based on the fact we are currently located in a somewhat tiny village, we’ll be adding information in “Fascinating Fact of the Day” for the surrounding areas as well.
On Friday, this is the sign we spotted on our way to the property, asking our property owners if they’d recommend purchasing meat at this location. They enthusiastically explained they buy all their meat at Button Butchers, and it was well worth a visit. At the end of this week, we’ll return for our final week’s meat supply. 

This morning, after a fitful night’s sleep, I arose, bound and determined to tackle the task of putting all our tax information together for our accountant in Nevada.  

Over the past months during my recovery, I couldn’t seem to get motivated to get this done. It weighed heavily on my mind. As of now, Monday at noon, I am done, having sent the worksheet and attached documents by email, including a few questions, for the accountant.  

Two cases are filled with a variety of meats, homemade sausages, and streaky bacon.

He’s very competent and will most likely be done submitting our forms electronically by the end of the week. No signature is required.  What a relief to have this almost behind us!

My next daunting task is getting to work on setting up Plan B and a supplement for Medicare, so at least when we’re in the US, I’ll have coverage. Plus, I’m contemplating a trip to the Mayo Clinic while we’re in Scottsdale, Arizona, to check to ensure all is well with my heart and recovery.

It was raining when we arrived, making the refrigerated cases foggy, but the butcher/owner John was more than willing to show us or cut for us anything we desired.

United Healthcare Global Plan doesn’t cover our trips to the US.  Thus, the only coverage we have while in the US is Medicare Part A which only pays for 80% of any required hospitalization but not doctor visits, outpatient tests, or treatment or prescriptions.

Now that I am down to only three prescriptions with the opportunity to refill them online at reasonable prices from a reputable company we’ve used for years, ProgressiveRX.

Sausages don’t often work for my way of eating based on wheat and other grain fillers.

As we’ve mentioned many times in the past, the responsibilities of our lives as US citizens remain constant regardless of where we may be at any time in any part of the world.

On the most recent cruise, only 2½ weeks ago, several passengers asked us if we’ll ever give up our US citizenship. This will never happen for dozens of reasons I won’t get into here since the list would be too long to list.  

John toured us through the cooler.  I cringed a little seeing the hanging pig carcasses.  But, if we’re going to eat meat this is a harsh reality.

We have many benefits and reasons always to maintain our US citizenship, plus with it comes down to it, there is a certain sense of pride in being American. And yes, regardless of “political disharmony” in the US (which we won’t get into here either), we still and always will feel a strong sense of patriotism.

Today’s photos depict one of many reasons we both feel connected to the countryside or outlying areas of many countries in the world. As we’ve often mentioned, we are not “city folk” as much as we may be in awe from time to time visiting large cities.

More hanging/aging meats.

Sure, cities such as St. Petersburg, Paris, London, Rome, and many more hold a certain appeal with their luxurious historical buildings and history. But for us, a visit to a small town in the country leaves us reeling with delight, as has been the case here in the UK in Falmouth and now in St. Teath and their many quaint surrounding areas.

On the day we arrived at the Mill Barn cottage (actually a large house), we noticed a sign at a nearby farm inviting passersby to stop to purchase grass-fed local meat. We couldn’t have been more thrilled. 

Massive slabs of grass-fed beef.

On Friday afternoon, we returned to the less-than-a-mile away Button Meats and purchased all the beef, lamb, pork, bacon, free-range eggs, and chicken we’d need for a week.

We always giggle over finds such as this delightful farm offering a wide array of healthful meats, chickens, and eggs. The butcher/owner John cut beef for us precisely as we needed to make old-fashioned pot roast, a favorite of Tom.  

Prime rib is located on the back shelf.

I selected two lamb shanks to add to the beef in the large pot we borrowed from the owners whose home is next to us (not attached). They are kind and thoughtful, willing to assist us in any way possible. But, we make every effort not to ask for many extras.

Speaking of thoughtful owners, John, the property owner in Falmouth, sent a US $300 credit to our credit card (via Homeaway’s system) with an apology for the inconvenience of the towel debacle the first two days we were there. How nice it that!!!  

We got a kick out of John, quite the fine butcher.

We’d never asked for special consideration of any type. Here’s the link to John’s property in Falmouth, which we thoroughly enjoyed once we had towels on hand. The owners here in St. Teath are equally kind and accommodating.

We’ve been fortunate to have had many great experiences with owners throughout the world over the past almost seven years and, they are with us. We would treat their properties with the same consideration if they’d been our properties, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.

Of course, we’ll be back tomorrow with more, sharing photos of the animals in the paddocks here on the farm. It’s raining, so we’re staying in doing laundry and preparing tonight’s special dinner.

(Apologies to our vegetarian/vegan readers for today’s meat photos)!

Carpe diem!
Photo from one year ago today, September 9, 2018:
Vervet monkey drinking water off the roadway after a downpour during a drought. For more photos, please click here.

A drive through the historic town of St. Ives…Facts about the enchanting town…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
I stood in the pouring rain to capture this photo.  Sadly, it wasn’t a sunny day.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About St. Ives, Cornwall:

From this site: “St Ives is a town in Cornwall, England, known for its surf beaches, like Porthmeor, and its art scene. The seafront Tate St Ives gallery has rotating modern art exhibitions focusing on British artists. Nearby, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden displays her bronzes and other works in the modernist artist’s former studio. Boat trips go to Seal Island, just west of town, to see the seal colony.”


Unfortunately, there was a downpour as we drove through the enchanting town of St. Ives, Cornwall on our way to our next holiday home in St. Teath, Bodmin, Cornwall, on Friday.
It was dark and dreary as we drove through the town of St. Ives.

Also, the town was packed with end-of-summer tourists, and we couldn’t find a single parking spot that didn’t require us to walk for 15 minutes up steep hills to reach the center of town and all the sites. 

Narrow roads and historic buildings created a fascinating view of the small town with approximately 12,000.

Our raincoats were packed deep inside our luggage, plus we didn’t feel confident in leaving our bags unattended in the car, which included all of our digital equipment and laptops.  

St. Ives Parish Church.

Thus, we could only drive through the town at a slow pace as we worked our way around tourists with umbrellas and raincoats and an endless parade of vehicles. We can only imagine how much busier it must be during the warmer summer months.

Many towns, villages, and countries throughout the world have these colorful buildings lining the streets.

The quality of our photos was hampered by the crowds and the rain. I could only get out of the car once for photos when Tom parked for a few minutes in an illegal spot in front of a hotel. I got soaked attempting to capture a few ocean shots.  

Old and newer structures are built into the hills to take advantage of the scenic views of the ocean.

With check-in time at 2 pm at our new location, we didn’t veer from our course when we wanted to stop for lunch which was impossible in St. Ives but would have been fun.  

Note the surfers at a distance.

Instead, we stopped at a cute cafe, Pots, in the center of town in Bodmin and had a nice lunch, as shown in the photos below. We were able to park on the street and quietly enjoy our meal.

We love little cafes like Pots, extensive menus, freshly made food, and loads of playful ambiance.
My grilled chicken salad at Pots.
Tom’s spaghetti bolognese. Notice the buttered bread to the right. He devoured his bread and then mine. He never ate another bite the rest of the day, bypassing dinner since he was so full.

Here are some facts about St. Ives:

From this site:

  • St Ives is home to one of the oldest inns in Cornwall. The famous Sloop Inn, which sits on the Wharf overlooking the harbor, dates back to circa 1312 and has welcomed fisherman through its doors since the 14th century.
  • The branch train line from St Erth to St.Ives is deemed one of the most picturesque railway lines in England and takes in the sights of Hayle Estuary, Porthkidney Sands, Carbis Bay, and St Ives.
    The narrow, tightly packed roads made driving through the pretty town slow and tedious but well worth it.
  • St Ives is home to one of only four Tate Galleries in the UK – Tate St Ives. The others are Tate Britain & Tate Modern in London and Tate Liverpool. The artist movement in St Ives has gained world acclaim, with masterpieces created by Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, and Alfred Wallis, who were all residents.
    The rocky shoreline in St. Ives.
  • St Ives September Festival takes place for two weeks every year and has been running since 1977. There is something for everyone, with over 200 events over two weeks relating to music, dance, fine arts, poetry, arts, crafts, and theatre.
  • Of only eight Blue Flag beaches in Cornwall, three are in the St Ives area – (Carbis Bay, Porthmeor, and Porthminster). The Blue Flag Award is an independent recognition of environmental excellence run by the non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Worldwide there are over 2,000 Blue Flag beaches in 36 countries.
Now in St. Teath, in this stunning 300-year-old renovated stone barn, we are pretty content and looking forward to venturing out in a few days. Today, with the sun shining, we’ll head to the paddocks to see the animals on the gorgeous farm. Tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos!


May your Sunday be a day of rest and contentment.

Photo from one year ago today, September 8, 2018:

This baby elephant appeared to be no more than a month old. For more photos, please click here.

Another swoon-worthy location in the Cornwall countryside…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
The main living area in the house, including a den through the door at the far left end of this open area, is spacious and comfortable with every possible amenity, including Netflix on the new high-quality, high-def TV.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Bodwin*:

From this site:
“St Petroc’s Parish Church in Bodmin is totally out of proportion to the current size of the town. It was the largest church in Cornwall until Truro Cathedral was built. The current church dates back to 1469, on foundations believed to have been laid by St Petroc around 540AD. You can have fun on a treasure hunt inside the church, looking for the man with five fingers and a thumb immortalized in the carved misericords (hinged seats in the choir stalls). Easier to find is the 12th-century font, the effigy of Prior Vivian lying on a chest and the holy well of St Guron in the churchyard.”
* Based on the fact that we are in a relatively remote farm location surrounded by many wonderful small towns, our Fascinating Fact of About….” will include some surrounding areas. Bodwin is the largest town in the room with a population of 12,788, which is approximately 20 minutes from our new location in Treveighan/Tredarupp.
All the walls are stone including in the kitchen and baths.

The drive to Tredarupp to our new holiday rental was longer than we’d expected. Leaving Falmouth at 10:00 am and with check-in at 2:00 pm, we decided to take a longer route and visit the town of St. Ives. A popular tourist location was suggested to us by Barbara and Chris at dinner last Tuesday night.

The owners thought of every possible amenity included insulated grocery bags available for our use.
Unfortunately, as often is the case in the UK, it was rainy and cloudy, and we were a little disappointed with our photos. We’ll share those from St. Ives and more over the next several days when we’ve chosen to post photos of our new temporary home today.
Although it’s very cool now, I doubt we’ll use the wood-burning stove, preferring not to make a mess.

Before our “stuff” began cluttering the spacious house, I zipped around and took photos while admiring every space before us. There wasn’t a single aspect of the place we didn’t like.

We’d lived in another 300-year-old house in Boveglio, Tuscany, Italy, in 2013. It’s a 300-year-old property renovated but holding to its original stone structure and thick stone walls. Here’s the link to photos of that property. 

This is the area where we’re seated now as I prepare today’s post, sitting on the sofa on the left while Tom sits in the plaid chair to the left, all very comfortable.

However, the Italian property had several obstacles, some of which were hazardous. See our link regarding those issues here.  However, this property in Tredarrup does not have obstacles other than accessing the back entrance, where parking is located, via eight uneven stone steps to the house. I’m extra careful.

The den, an area we’ll be unlikely to use when there are windows and comfort in the living room.

When we walked in the door, we immediately felt at ease, seeing that everything was even more lovely than depicted in the photos.  The lovely owners, Lorraine and Graham, were greeting us when we arrived, reminding us to notify them immediately if we needed anything at all.

This morning, we had breakfast at this dining table.  Note the size of the refrigerator. Although not full-size, it is much better than the “shortie” we had in Falmouth. But, there again, we improvised and made it work during our two weeks by the sea.

The only item I may need is a large bowl, but there is every other kitchen gadget imaginable. I’ll wait a few days and see how I can improvise without it, perhaps using the largest of the cooking pots, of which there are plenty.

The king-sized bed in the master bedroom.  The bath is not ensuite but next door to the master bedroom.  

What can I say? We’re immensely comfortable in this house and slept like babies in the king-sized bed with lush linens, blankets, and pillows. I never awoke once during the night.


Both bathrooms are located on the lower level resulting in the necessity of going downstairs many times a day, again, great exercise for me. I’ve already been up and down about ten times as we continued to get organized.  

This is the guest bathroom with a nice tub with a shower (inside the tub).

This morning we drove to the tiny town of Camelford to the “Food Co-Op” market for groceries. Yesterday, we visited a local farm where we purchased all the meats we’ll need for these first seven days. (More on that tomorrow). 


Tonight we’ll grill two lean ribeye steaks on the Weber grill on our veranda accompanied by sauteed mushrooms and a salad of fresh greens and veggies. The weather continues to be dreary, rainy, and dark.  

The second of three bedrooms.  We placed our open suitcases on each of these twin beds for easy access as we live out of our bags, ideal during these short two-week stays.

Of course, I can’t wait until it dries up a bit to walk out to the paddock and see the pygmy goats, pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, and geese. Most definitely, photos will follow shortly after that.

The master bath with a shower and lo and behold a medicine cabinet, ideal for our toiletries.  Few bathrooms in houses throughout the world have ample counter space or cupboards in the bathroom.  Cruise ships typically have more storage space in the toilets than in holiday homes.

As for today, we’ll stay put. On Monday, I am committed to preparing our tax information for our accountant. I have tons of receipts to scan (using the camera) and log into the system. It’s a tedious task, but I am determined to put this nagging task behind me.  

Our accountant arranged for an extension since I was in no shape to tackle that daunting task only days after I got out of the hospital for the two surgeries on my legs. Tom does the “heavy lifting,” cooking, laundry, and researches our future cruises and travels, and I do the “paperwork.”

The entrance to our new home, Mill Barn, a finely renovated 300-year-old stone house.  It’s extraordinary!

Once I am done on Monday, we’ll be heading out on the first sunny day. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for us during our remaining 13 days in this part of Cornwall. It will pass all too quickly!

Accomplishing dreaded tasks is a fantastic way to feel uplifted and immensely accomplished. May your month of September be so fulfilling.

Photo from one year ago today, September 7, 2018:
The lions were very far from us, and thus, these photos aren’t as straightforward as we’d have liked, but we were always excited to see them.  For more photos, please click here.

An interesting road trip on the way to our next location…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
This has been our view for the past two weeks.  This has been an excellent place to stay!

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Falmouth

“In 2016, the town was credited with the highly prestigious accolade of GB High St Best Coastal Community.”

_________________________________

We’re packed and ready to go.  Tom hauled all the bags downstairs and now has to haul each 23 kg (50-pound bag) up two flights of stone steps to reach the car.  
As it turned out we have a choice parking spot and once at the top of the steps, he can begin loading the bags into the car.  Our lovely and helpful neighbor Sheena came by to assist Tom in hauling the bags!
Check-in time at our next location is 4:00 pm but the owners promised to notify us if we can get in earlier.  Most likely, we’ll dine out tonight in our new town, St. Teath, Bodmin, Cornwall.  We won’t have room in the car for groceries if we stopped to shop on the way.

We’ve decided to do as we’d done in Falmouth, we didn’t unpack.  We lived out of our suitcases after taking out only toiletries, a few clothing items, and odds, and ends.  If we need something else, we can dig through the bags to find it.  It made packing quick and easy.

At this point, both needing new clothes, which we’ll purchase in Minnesota (there’s no state sales tax on clothing, saving us 8%) we’ll continue to wear the same items over and over again, saving a few nice items for outings. 
We’ve had a good time in Falmouth, having a chance to scour the area and we’re left with great photos and memories of our time in this charming seaside town, the largest city in Cornwall with a population of 27,700 as compared to Cornwall’s over 555,0000.
Overall the house has been comfortable having everything we’ve needed.  As mentioned in past posts, the only drawback has been the parking situation and the 25 uneven stone steps to reach the road.  But, we’ve certainly had the benefit of some extra exercise while here.
I’ll always remember Falmouth for another reason…it was here that I finally became well after coronary bypass surgery when I stopped three medications.  I began the weaning process while in Ireland, completely stopping them while here in Falmouth.
Finally, after all this time, I can walk, climb steps, and bend over for the first time in almost seven months.  This morning I dropped my phone and it ended up under the bed.  I was able to get on my hands and knees to retrieve it when only three weeks ago, this would have been impossible.  
No words can describe how pleased I am to feel better.  It’s not perfect and it may take a full year before I am 100%.  But, in the interim, I am capable of enjoying our world travels with the enthusiasm we’ve come to know from the beginning on October 31, 2012.  Soon, we’ll celebrate our seven-year world travel anniversary!
In only 63 days, we’ll be in Minnesota to spend time with our family.  In the interim, we’ll continue to revel in the wonders and fascinating scenery and history of Cornwall from three different perspectives and one in Wales.
We’ll be back tomorrow with all new photos from today’s road trip and arrival at our new home.
Be well.
______________________________________________
Photo from one year ago today, September 6, 2018:
Two Ms. Bushbucks and the baby, waiting for the pellet delivery.  For more photos please click here.

Changing our criteria…Last full day in Falmouth…Tomorrow, “on the road again”…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Our holiday home is located in this colorful grouping of attached yet individual dwellings.  We captured this shot from across the harbor.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Falmouth

“Falmouth was made the Royal Mail Packet Station in 1688. In 1805 the news of Britain’s victory and Admiral Nelson’s death at Trafalgar was landed here and taken to London by stagecoach.”
Tomorrow at 9:45 am, Tom will load our bags into the car, and we’ll be on our way to our following location, entitled Mill Barn in Tredarrup, Treveighan, St. Teath, Bodmin (yes, all of these).
A red barge with a crane, seen from across the harbor.

From what we can tell from the photos, the property is ground-level and has a master bedroom with an ensuite bath on the main floor. This will make moving in and out much easier than it’s been in Falmouth.
Don’t get me wrong, we’ve loved this location but getting our three 23 kg (50 pounds) bags down from the second level of the house, following the walkway to the stairs, and then hauling them up 25 steep and uneven stone steps is no easy task even for Tom who is quite strong.

Fishing ferry for rent.

I’m of little assistance since I must carefully navigate the steps to avoid a fall while still a little unsteady on my feet. He won’t even let me haul any of the carry-on bags up the stairs.
In the future, we’ve agreed to be more mindful of renting properties with relatively easy access. We don’t mind a flight of stairs leading to the bedroom. It’s a good exercise, especially when I tend to go up and down a dozen times each day.  

As we drove as far as we could along the oceanfront roads, it was easy to see how close properties were to one another.

But, a one-bathroom house with the bathroom upstairs is bothersome. From now on, we’ll strive to book properties with at least a ½ bath on the main floor if it’s a two-story property.  Otherwise, one bathroom is satisfactory.  

As for the parking situation here, or the lack thereof, we’ll also investigate the availability of a designated parking spot, whether close to the property or nearby.

The blue sea and bright green neatly trimmed oceanfront property.

Otherwise, everything else here has been suitable for our needs.  However, we’re grateful Tom isn’t taller than his six feet. If he’d been three inches taller, his head would have hit the kitchen ceiling.  

But, we understand the nature of oceanfront properties and the limitations that may arise when they are remodeled with the intent of using every available inch of space to enhance the potential rental income.
Many of the small towns in the area have banners flying to the main part of town where shops and restaurants are located.

We’ve enjoyed our time here, and yet we’re ready to move along.  How do we like staying in one location for only two weeks? These four properties in England will give us a clearer view of whether we prefer shorter-term stays instead of our usual two or three-month stay.
We’ve been living out of our suitcases except for a few items we each stored in drawers and cupboards. Packing has been quick and easy. We’re both done packing except for the toiletries items we’ll use in the morning, the non-perishable groceries, the digital equipment, and a few odds and ends here and there. 

Entrance to a pretty park in the neighborhood with park benches.

There’s no more packing required today. We can sit back and relax, reveling in a sunny day with marvelous views. Since Tom landed a close parking spot, we won’t be heading out today to ensure we hang onto that spot, making loading the car more effortless in the morning.
Tomorrow morning, we’ll prepare a post, upload it before leaving. On Saturday morning, we’ll share photos of our following location. We won’t be posting “final expenses” until after our stay at the fourth location, grouping all the English countryside properties into one total.

May your day be meaningful and stress-free.

Photo from one year ago today, September 5, 2018:
My friend Little was lounging in the garden. It’s not easy lying down and getting comfortable when you have tusks. For more, please click here.

Dinner at a pub with new friends…Two days and counting…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Chris, Barbara, and Tom are standing in the pub at the Boathouse.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Falmouth

“Some of the surrendered German U-Boats were dispatched to Falmouth at the end of World War I. It is thought that this was for ‘explosive trials’ testing for weaknesses in their construction. According to the Atlantic Scuba Dive Centre, the UBoats now lie off Castle Beach, Pendennis Point, and Dodman Point.”

It’s always a special occasion to have the opportunity to meet new people. Barbara and Chris are local property owners and summer residents of Falmouth, which made the evening all the more meaningful.

Their knowledge and love of the area were inspiring and educational. They had a captive audience with enthusiasm for this fantastic seaside location rife with history and neverending charm.
We returned to the Boathouse Pub and Restaurant since it was a convenient walk for all of us with their property only a 15-minute walk from the pub and ours, a mere five minutes, downhill on the way and somewhat challenging on the uphill return.  
Seafood chowder with tomato sauce, scallops, hake, mussels, clams, and prawns. It probably contained more tomato sauce than I should have in a single dish, but it was delicious!
We appreciated they were willing to walk further than us on the hill roads. I suppose the locals who walk these hills become pretty fit. We’ve seen several seniors who seem to be managing the mountains with ease. Undoubtedly, after years of walking up and down the hills, they acquired quite a degree of fitness.

When we walked in the pub’s door, Barbara and Chris had already arrived a few minutes before our planned 5:45 pm. It was such a pleasure to meet them both, referred to us by theirs and our friend Liz from Bristol, where they spend most of the year. They have several rental properties in Falmouth which are not necessarily holiday rentals. They arrange the rentals in such a way they can spend the majority of their summers in Falmouth as avid boaters and outdoor enthusiasts.
Tom’s bacon cheeseburger with chips and a side salad.  He handed the salad over to me.

Their adult children and grandchildren come to visit while they’re here during the summer months while they all take advantage of the many water-related activities readily available in Falmouth and its surrounding villages.

As it turned out, our meals at the Boathouse were fantastic. I had one of the best dishes I’ve had in a long time, meeting my dietary requirements; a rich seafood chowder made with a sugar-free tomato sauce. The portion was huge, and I savored every bite.

Tom, not much of a seafood kind of guy, had a burger with chips. He blissfully devoured my mini-loaf of crusty bread, which usually would be used to “sop up” the juices in the chowder.

Barbara and Chris’s shared plate of fried calamari.

Barbara and Chris also had seafood, sharing a massive pot of mussels and a platter of fried calamari. The conversation was lively and animated as expected…a friend of Liz’s would be a friend of ours!

Back at the house, we watched a few shows, drifting off the bed by 11:00 pm. We both had a good night’s rest feeling refreshed and invigorated this morning. We gathered the last few items of laundry to wash in preparation for tomorrow’s packing. With the cool and humid seaside weather, clothes can dry for days.

At this point, I’m 90% packed, with only odds and ends we’re using around the house. We’ll have consumed all of our perishables and packed such items as coffee, coconut cream (for coffee), tea, and spices. With our concern for baggage fees, we purchase all new spices each time we move from location to location.

Barbara and Chris’s pot of cooked mussels.  
This will be the second time since 2012, we’ve been able to drive to the following location, taking our remaining foodstuff with us. This time, the packing is easy when we have no concern about the individual weight of our bags.  

The weight of our bags won’t be a concern until we fly from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 8th (after the upcoming transatlantic cruise). It’s hard to believe we’ll be in the US in a mere 65 days!

For those of you still working, enjoy “hump day,” and for those retired folks, enjoy yet another day in the life…
Photo from one year ago today, September 4, 2018:
In the late afternoon, we had so many visitors. We lost count. For more photos, please click here.

Socializing tonight…Three days and counting….

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Entrance to the Church of St. Mylor in the sleepy town of Mylor, Cornwall.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Falmouth:

“Operation Chariot, a famous Commando raid on the heavily defended docks of St. Nazaire in France during World War II, which helped to shape the war at sea, was launched from Falmouth.”

While in South Kensington, London, in 2014, one of our enthusiastic readers took a train from Bristol to meet us in person.  We were flattered by Liz’s interest in meeting us after she’d been reading our posts for the previous two years. Here’s the link to that beautiful day with Liz.
The view of St. Mylor from atop the several flights of stairs. I walked up and down all of these steps with relative ease, well worth the effort.
As mentioned in prior posts, we had a fantastic day with Liz in August five years ago and have stayed in close touch since that time, often exchanging long email messages back and forth.

When Liz read we were coming back to the UK, we were hoping to see her again, especially when we navigate closer to Bristol as we move north/northeast from one of our four locations to another. It appears we’ll be able to meet up in October.

At the bottom of the steps, I was treated to this view.
In the interim, Liz contacted friends who have a rental in Falmouth and were going to be here for a few days until Thursday when they return to Bristol. Liz and Glenn are close friends with the couple.
 
Much to our delight, yesterday Barbara (and husband Chris) contacted us by email to set up a time to get together for dinner, leaving open lots of possibilities as to where we’d meet. In her thoughtful message, she offered to come this way.  
An easy walking path to the graveyard and opposite side of the church.
With the dreadful parking situation coupled with Tom’s frustration over driving around for 45 minutes to find a spot, we decided to go back to the Boathouse for dinner tonight. (I can easily walk this hilly short distance). Barbara and Chris, familiar with the pub, enthusiastically agreed.

This evening at 5:45 pm, we’ll meet them in the pub, staying for dinner after happy hour. We’re so looking forward to socializing once again. The views are spectacular from the pub, and there’s no doubt we’ll have a great evening.
Thanks, Liz, for referring your friends to us!
The cemetery overlooks a yacht club and the sea.
We’re heading to our following location in a mere three days, a converted barn in St. Teath, Bodwin, Cornwall approximately a two-hour drive from Falmouth. We’re so looking forward to our two weeks in this inland area, on a farm with goats, pigs (yes!), sheep, and chickens. Gosh, I need an “animal fix!”

Undoubtedly, the second of our four-holiday homes will serve us well. Of course, as any of our avid readers are aware, the fact this property and the next are located on farms was highly instrumental in our booking these particular properties.

On Thursday, we’ll pack with no worry as to the distribution of the weight of the luggage, except, of course, for the fact Tom has to haul the bags down a flight of stairs in the house and then up 25 uneven stone steps to the street.  

The steep steps from our holiday rental to the street.  Tom will have to haul the heavy bags up these uneven 26 steps.
I’ll go up with him to watch the bags as he gets the car from a distant parking spot and then stay with the car when he goes up and down for more. This has been the one drawback of staying at this lovely property in Falmouth. It would have been much more manageable if we were typical “weekend travelers” with a tiny suitcase or duffle bag. 

For now, over the next few days, until we depart, we’re pretty content, looking forward to making new friends this evening, enjoying the gorgeous ocean views, and simply “being” while reveling in my newfound well-being.


Tomorrow, we’ll share details and photos of our evening out tonight, more food photos, and whatever treasures we may find in between.
Be well.

Photo from one year ago today, September 3, 2018:

Last night, Tom took this photo when he checked the thermometer to find a toad doing the same.  It was 25C, 77F at 2200 hours, 10:00pm. Over the next several months, this toad often rests atop this decorative fixture, later joined by a mate. For more photos, please click here.

Dinner at a local pub with photos…Unusual sunrise…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 2 Comments
View (overlooking an umbrella on the veranda) from the second-level dining area at the Boathouse Pub and Restaurant.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Falmouth

“Falmouth is home to one of the leading art universities in the UK, but in addition to the creativity the students bring to the town, there are many creative industries located in Falmouth. With a host of shows and exhibitions, Falmouth arguably holds the title for the most creative town in the entirety of the UK!”

On the last several days of the cruise, Tom and I each came down with a cold. His cold resulted in a runny nose, and mine was an outrageous cough. In an attempt to avoid writing more about medical stuff, I didn’t mention it here.
Tom ordered our drinks at the bar.  I had one glass of red wine while he had a beer.
Of course, I was concerned about the dreadful cough turning into pneumonia which is more likely to be an issue after open-heart surgery. Fortunately, I never had a fever, and after about three days, it started to turn around.
 
His cold has since entirely resolved while my cough continues, but he is obviously on the mend. You know how that goes…once it loosens up, it feels as if it’s on its way out.
The sitdown bar.  We moved to the dining room located on the other side of the wall for our meal.
Once we arrived in Falmouth, I purchased several packs of Hall’s sugar-free cough drops. For the first time, I found the cough drops helped. This morning I ran out. I don’t cough that often, but when I do, it’s loud and annoying. Otherwise, I feel blissfully delicate.
 
Tom didn’t care to drive to the pharmacy to purchase more cough drops with the parking situation here. Nor did I ask him to do so. He’d gone around the block for 40  minutes a few days ago looking for a spot and didn’t want to deal with that again.  
My “Sunday Roast” with lamb, cooked cabbage, mashed pumpkin, carrots, green beans, and peas. I traded my starchy vegetables for Tom’s cabbage.
I can’t stress how problematic it is to find a parking space in this area. When finally finding a spot, it often blocks away from the property, requiring a strenuous walk up and down endless steep hills. It’s not pleasant.
 
This morning he insisted on walking to the pharmacy without me.  I wanted to join him, but he felt I wasn’t quite ready for that long a walk up and down these hills. I pleaded with him not to go since I didn’t need the cough drops. I’d be fine without them. He wouldn’t listen.
Tom’s Sunday Roast with beef, oven-roasted potatoes, cabbage, carrots, mashed pumpkin, and Yorkshire pudding.  The potatoes were his favorite.
He took off on foot to the pharmacy, a hilly walk about 10 minutes each way. There was nothing I could say or do to keep him from going or let me join him. Considering that Tom is not an exercise-kind-of-guy who prefers not to walk long distances, I knew this wasn’t his idea of a good experience.
 
However, he recently returned with four packs of sugar-free cough drops and a little brown bag containing two donuts filled with cream and jelly. That’s my guy, always making lemonade out of lemons.
 
Of course, it’s killing me watching him eat the donuts. In my old life (eight years ago), an occasional donut would be a favorite treat. I began eating this way in August 2011 but seldom consumed processed sugary foods before this date.  
Sunrise this morning when Tom was up shortly after 5 am.
Now, all these years later, I haven’t so much as a taste of sugar, starch, grains, or carb-laden foods. At times, I’ve thought, “a lot of good that did me,” but the heart doctors explained I would never have survived if I hadn’t been so conscientious about diet, exercise, and health my entire life. So it continues.
Speaking of food, last night we went out to dinner at the mentioned Boathouse, a short hilly walk from here. We’d made a 6:00 pm reservation, arriving around 5:00 pm for happy hour.
 
The food was fresh, hot, and overall good but nothing compared to the Sunday Roast we’d had at the Andover Arms in London while staying in South Kensington for two weeks in 2014. It was one of those memorable meals we’ll never forget.
Upon taking this sunrise shot, Tom noticed what appeared to be a duck in the cloud formation.
Last night’s dinner was good but not necessarily noteworthy. We’d preordered my dish as gluten-free and starch-free, but Tom’s plate was both gluten and starch-free when the meal was first served.  The server returned both plates to the kitchen and started over.  
 
There were still many items on my plate that I’d specifically stated I needed to avoid, including sugary carrots and starchy peas. I passed my carrots to Tom and pushed my peas around the plate. I love peas, and it was difficult to avoid eating them.
 
It was disappointing that the indoor part of the restaurant doesn’t have a bar with barstools, allowing guests to mingle. There is a bar, but it’s used for handing over beverages to guests and servers, not for socializing. The main bar is outdoors on the veranda, but it was too cool and windy to sit outdoors comfortably.
Zooming in, he could more clearly define the shape of the duck in the clouds.
By 7:30 pm, we were back at the house, spending a pleasant evening streaming a few favorite shows, me sipping tea, and Tom, his ice tea. It was a good evening, as usual.
 
Today will be a low-key day. I have some “paperwork” to handle and two separate meals to prep. Tom will have bunless bacon cheeseburgers with a side of rice, while I have crabmeat salad stuffed into two halves of a small avocado with veggies on the side. 
 
May your Monday be filled with good food and beautiful surprises!
Photo from one year ago today, September 2, 2018:
A pair of laughing doves, commonly seen in the parks and our garden. For more details, please click here.

Beach scenes in Falmouth and gorgeous surrounding areas…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
The greenery, the cliffs, and the white sand beach create a stunning scene at Swanpool.

Fascinating Fact of the Day About Falmouth

“With the development of Falmouth Docks in 1858 and the introduction of railway services to the area in 1863, the town was thriving with business and tourism. Falmouth currently has three railway stations to service the town and is currently noted as one of the key resorts in the UK’s number one tourist destination, with Cornwall attracting an average of 4 million visitors a year!“
Falmouth and its surrounding areas are rife with things to see and do. Whether the casual vacationer wants plenty of dining options, diverse shopping, gorgeous beaches, and over-the-top scenery, this is the place to be. 
A food stand at the beach.
We had no idea how much of a holiday town Falmouth would be, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the opportunities we’ve had to experience this special location.
Tonight, we’re walking to dinner at the popular, highly rate Boathouse Restaurant and pub, specializing in the “Sunday Roast,” which we were required to pre-order when we called for a reservation. Walk-ins cannot be guaranteed there will be anything left when they arrive.
The beautiful Falmouth Hotel.  From this site: “A unique, Victorian chateau-style hotel set in 5 acres of landscaped gardens,  a prime seafront location, award-winning dining, Caudalie spa, and leisure facilities and overlooking Falmouth Bay and Castle Beach.  On one side is Pendennis Castle, the headland, beach and sea and, on the other, views over to the famous port of Falmouth.”

Some reviewers whinged, leaving fewer stars than they would have when they arrived at 7:00 or 8:00 pm requesting a table and the “roast.” It certainly makes sense that the establishment would only prepare so much food in an effort to avoid unused portions going to waste. These small pub/restaurants can’t afford a lot of leftover meats.

Tomorrow, we’ll post photos of our Sunday Roast experience as we had when we were in South Kensington, London, in 2014, as mentioned in our post of August 28, 2019. 

There was nowhere to park to investigate this historic building.  Thus, a photo while driving.

Need I say we’re enthused to dine out. After all the food on the ship only nine days ago, we needed a break from “big food” and have cooked our meals in the tiny kitchen, mostly basic meals with some form of protein, vegetables, salad, and rice (for Tom only).  

Also, since we arrived here, we haven’t had a wine or cocktail. We’d had enough on the cruise and decided a break would be good. But, I am anticipating a glass of red wine tonight at the bar in the pub at the restaurant. After that, we’ll be back to our teetotaling ways, most likely, except when dining out.

The beach at Swanpool, a popular holiday location.   From this site:  “Swanpool Beach is a delightful swimming cove with adjoining Swanpool Lake Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Excellent watersport centre where you can try your hand at dinghy sailing, kayaking or windsurfing. Bouncy castle located on the beach during the summer months for the smaller children. “

Knowing we’re leaving Falmouth in five days, I’ve been thinking about organizing some of our bags, but these short stays in England, requiring lots of packing and unpacking and…living out of a suitcase makes it seem like no sense at all.  


On Thursday, we’ll throw it all together, pack our leftover food (mostly non-perishables) and be on our way to the next location, a 90-minute drive from Falmouth.  

Steps leading to an overlook at Falmouth Bay.

The concept of shorter-term stays is very appealing for our future travels, but there will be circumstances where longer stays are more appropriate. The only drawbacks are the extra packing and unpacking and how we get from one location to another.

Three locations of our four rentals in England are in Cornwall (with one in Wales), and all are within a two-hour drive of one another. This makes travel easy and ultra enjoyable. No possible overweight luggage, no waiting at airports, and no immigration checks and issues (as long as we comply with the terms allowed by each country).

A place to sit and savor the view. 

Gosh, I have a whole new outlook now that I’m feeling well after all these awful months. The future looks bright, and the prospect of walking without pain and exhaustion is truly a gift as we tour an area now and into the future.


Happy day for us and for YOU!

Photo from one year ago today, September 1, 2018:

Every evening around dusk, before Frank and the Mrs. (to his left) go off into the bush to “make their noise,” announcing the beginning of the night, they stop by the veranda steps for birdseed which we happily provide for them. Whatever is left is eaten by either the helmeted guinea fowl or, believe it or not, the warthogs.  For more photos, please click here.