Mum and dad's visit part two

Friday dawned a little grey but not cold so we set off to explore the most westerly part of Cornwall; Newyln, Mousehole and the Minack. We enjoyed Newlyn: Very unpretentious fishing port. Once we'd wandered down the quayside and had a look in the gift shop windows we went into the Newlyn Gallery for morning tea/coffee and cake looking out over a rather damp coastline.

Then it was off to Mousehole. I only visited a few weeks ago but was sure that mum and dad would like it. And they did. We enjoyed wandering around the tiny little streets and into the shops and galleries. Cornwall has a prolific selection of lovely things to buy and we particularly liked one shop where mum and dad bought a bowl and I bought, well dad bought, a bracelet of blue and opaque recycled beads.

We had lunch at The Ship Inn on the harbourside. A really delicious lunch and a chance for mum to have crab again, while dad and I opted for scampi and chips. In stark contrast to yesterday, we were served by Mel, the landlady, who couldn't have been friendlier or kinder or more attentive to our needs.

Our last stop of the day was The Minack Theatre. Even though it was trying to rain it was spectacular. Well, it was so many things; spectacular, beautiful, simple, awe inspiring, dramatic. And all the vision of one genteel lady, Rowena Cade, who was looking for a location for her am/dram production of The Tempest back in 1932. It has been evolving ever since.

The seats are re-turfed every year. Not sure why they are turfed; we thought they might get a little damp.

 Looking down at the stage with Porthcurno beach to one side. See the couple in the rain jackets on the balcony? We had met them the day before at Kynance! A really nice young German couple who asked us to take their picture up on the cliffs above the Cove.

A rather grey Porthcurno. Just a few days later Ross and Demelza were wandering across the sands in similar weather filming series two of Poldark.

We really enjoyed the whole experience. Both walking round the open air theatre and enjoying the comprehensive, professional exhibition. Looking forward to returning, hopefully next year, to see a production.

Apart from a minor distraction when I nearly crashed the car into a tractor while singing and dancing to YMCA down a narrow country lane, we got home safely for tea.

On the fourth and final day of mum and dad's visit we headed to St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula via the King Harry ferry which is a delightful way to travel.

We liked St Mawes: It had a nice feel about it. We enjoyed a walk through the village and up the hill to the castle which, being Cornwall, is closed on a Saturday (handover day)...

... and then wandered back again with lunch in a cafe by the harbour listening to the klaxon sending sailing boats off on some sort of very complicated race circuit.

We retraced our steps as far as RNAS Culdrose and then turned left for Helford where we enjoyed an ice-cream and a walk down to the jetty, where you hail a ferry by folding out a sign with a batman symbol on it to catch the ferryman's eye over at Helford Passage!

And then home for delicious local fish and chips - best ever we all agreed. Before packing up and heading up country in a vain attempt for me to get Libby ready for university. I always optimistically think these things are going to be a lot more fun than they are!!

Love from The Lizard Girl