Life's a beach

It is a very special week in our household

It is Molly's birthday today and Bruce's birthday tomorrow

We bought them some new toys and headed out to the beach for some seaside shenanigans

The pair of them absolutely love the beach and would stay there all day

Here is Molly being just a little bit canny, waiting for Bruce to do all the hard work. Bruce braves the waves, e retrieves the stick, only to be met by  a relentless Molly who snatches the stick from his mouth as he heads back for another throw

And you can see just how fearless my little labrador is, absolutely nothing will stop her, it doesn't matter how big the waves get she will frolic in the surf all day if we let her

So that was the first of many I hope. We all love our beach days, nothing like the sea air to blow away the cobwebs

Love and happy hounds

Tracey

xxx

Bryan Adams at Eden

One of the highlights of this summer has definitely been our trip to Eden to see Bryan Adams

Neil won the tickets in a competition. Worth over £250.00 they also included a four course meal, champagne reception, nibbles and drinks after the concert and a goodie bag each to take home with us

Unbeknown to me, Neil had also been in touch with Bryan's tour manager and arranged back stage passes so we could meet the man himself

Eden's function room looked stunning

All the tables were adorned with these spectacular centrepieces, hollow glass skulls artfully displaying stunning exotic blooms

Our meals were so beautiful to look at and utterly delish

We enjoyed a tomato salad and asparagus starter

Mango sorbet

Mediterranean tomato rissotto

Grilled banana dessert ( scoffed down before I remembered to take a photo)

We both ate the same and our vegan tastes were catered to perfectly

We were allowed backstage anytime we wanted and caught a few moments with Bryan before the show, he was an absolute gent, very soft spoken with his trademark husky Canadian drawl

He was much smaller than I imagined he would be, I felt like a giant next to him ( thank goodness I didn't put my towering heels on)

We wanted to see the show from the front of the stage so joined the crowd and spent over two hours singing along to all the classics, what a showman

The band were fantastic, Bryan's voice is one of the best I have heard live and I would definitely put this gig in my top five of all time

Thankyou Eden for an absolutely fabulous night, the gig, the food, the staff and the venue were all faultless

xxx

Anniversary

Neil and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary back in May

I wanted to make him a keepsake rather than a card, so crafted this little exploding box

When the lid is removed three layers of pages flop outwards

Each of the pages is embellished with a pocket, in which to hold tags

I made 25 tags in total and wrote on each of them a little message

25 tags

25 years married

25 reasons why I love him

There are many more

We decided to spend the day together pottering around Padstow

Loved this doggie made from wellie boots

We headed to the harbour first then meandered around the tiny streets

We stopped at Rick Stein's for lunch. I love Rick Stein, have watched most of his shows and was looking forward to the experience

Sorry Rick, we have enjoyed better fish and chips in Grimsby ! It wasn't awful but it wasn't the best we have had either, and, for the price, I would have like to have eaten from proper plates rather than the cardboard it was served in

We then drove a short distance to Port Isaac

We really liked it here, it was still off season so not too busy

We don't watch Doc Martin so didn't partake in the hunting down of all the sites from the TV series but we did enjoy it for the picturesque fishing village it is

After a quick wander round the shops at Wadebridge we headed back home for an Italian meal

Neil asked me if I would do it all over again (meaning marry him) and I said yes I would

He then presented me with a stunning new wedding band

(see - he's definitely a keeper)

We spent the evening with our lovely friends Sue and Paul at Fowey and discovered a fab local band Assassins of Silence

We had decided at the beginning of the year to celebrate our anniversary this year with music, we both love mostly the same kind of thing so choosing gigs we would both enjoy was a breeze

That is a whole other blog post though as this one is getting rather long, so I will leave our gigging adventures til next time

xxx

Still here

Hellooooooooo

We are still here, although you would be forgiven for thinking we had fallen off the planet

FIVE months on from my last post, much has happened and not much has happened if you know what I mean

In a nutshell

*      We have been up country to visit family

*       Friends and family have been here to visit us (Mum and Dad, Tony and Carol, Kev and Jackie)

*      We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary

*      Amy and Robbie finished uni

*      All three 'children' are now working

*      Amy has had a tonsillectomy

*      Robbie is learning to drive and has his first car

Some of these events will be blogged in more detail later. I have just finished editing all the photos from the last five months, 700 photos, two hours and three coffees later I have decided there is far too much to wade through in one blog post

And in other news

We had an unexpected little windfall, so bought ourselves this fab little campervan, we have been away in it a couple of times already and are planning our first trip away with the dogs soon

The dogs have had a wonderful time in the woods, on walks and especially on the beach

We have had some gorgeous days out, exploring our stunning county, sometimes just the two of us, sometimes with friends or family and often with the dogs

I gave up trying to cover the grey and have been gradually adding more and more highlights, I am really happy with the results and my hairdresser is fantastic, Paige has the patience of a saint with my stubborn hair

We have also had some amazing days/nights out, we have enjoyed some fantastic gigs this year, local and further afield, found a couple of new festivals, added a few new bands to our playlists and generally broadened our horizons musically ( much more to come on that in future posts )

And yes, I have still been doing a little crafting, much much less than I used to. I toyed with the idea of giving it up and freeing some space by getting rid of all my craft clutter  stuff, but the feeling didn't last long. 

It may take me a little longer to actually get started, but once I have all my pretties out on the table, I remember just how therapeutic it is to have a craft and play session

This is my most recent creation, a card for my lovely friend Sue

I know this is a bit of a 'mixed bag', but you know what it is like to have so much to catch up on that it is difficult to know where to start

A very sensible person once said "just start", once you get going, the fear of the blank page disappears and the rest is much easier, how true this is. Now I have a million ideas running through my head and rather a lot of photos on my hard drive, no excuses then !

Back soon

I promise

xxx

Sandy paws and salty licks

Yesterday was our first foray onto the beach this year

These gorgeous blue skies tempted us to don our warm clothes and venture onto the sand

It was actually a little breezy and definitely blew away the cobwebs, you can see the surf rolling in behind Bruce as he waits for the ball to be tossed back into the waves

Molly did the usual and buried and then 'discovered' her ball leaving little holes all over the beach

We wandered from one end to the other and back again, Bruce dashing in and out of the water, Molly my little partner in crime searching for flotsam and jetsam

We found this gnarly driftwood, far too big for Molly to play with but texturally beautiful 

And this chunk of Maritime debris, rusty and redundant, all the way from Manchester

Molly loves exploring, just like me - look at that happy little face ( unfortunately she gets so excited by her new finds she often loses her ball !)

Heading back, wind in our faces, two happy pooches and all the cobwebs completely blown away

The nearest I will ever get to a selfie ! This one was an accident, but look at that beautiful sky

Love and salty kisses

Tracey

xxx

Charlestown with Tony and Carol

Are you all enjoying the Olympics ?

We have all been enjoying the coverage and the cycling has made me think of some special people, my lovely friend Trish back  in Lincolnshire and her husband David who is a cycling enthusiast, doing wonders with local groups promoting the sport and its safety

And this other lovely couple below, Tony and Carol

Tony and Carol are both keen cyclists, Tony used to be Neil's supervisor at work and they are very firm friends even after retirement

We got a message a little while back asking us if they could pop down and see us some time, they were heading to Monkey World in Dorset and were happy to drive the extra few miles to catch up with us

What we didn't know was that they did it all in three days, they travelled to us from Dorset for a meal and catch up, then travelled all the way back up country to Lincolnshire on the same day, both me and Neil felt a little choked up to know they had made such an effort

We had agreed to meet in Charlestown as it is such a pretty little harbour ( and rather well known now due to Poldark)

We enjoyed a really lovely meal at the Rashleigh Arms ( where Robbie works )

We chatted and ate, and laughed and caught up and generally had a wonderful afternoon with our dear friends

Thankyou so much for coming to see us Tony and Carol, hope you are enjoying the cycling, both yours and the Olympics

Love and friendship

Tracey and Neil

xxx

I'm baaaaaaaack !

Hello

When Neil asked me if I had given up blogging I realised that my posts have been less than regular

It has been a case of life getting in the way, in a very nice way of course - all the kids are home yayyyyyyy

I mentioned in my last post that Robbie was the first to arrive and quickly found himself a job to tide himself over the holidays, he is still working hard and doing lots of hours, he has finished the  training he was offered so will be getting a pay rise shortly. He survived last week which was the Charlestown Regatta and was his busiest week to date. We are beginning to notice a big difference in the amount of people visiting -  our sleepy little towns and villages are becoming increasingly busier with lots and lots of holiday makers enjoying all the joys of Cornwall, thankfully the weather has been kind with most days dry, sunny and warm.

Ben and Amy are also here now, and both working

Amy has got a job in the tea-rooms at the Lost Gardens of Heligan and absolutely loves it, she says the people she works with are all super friendly and helpful. She commented last week that she loves the general laid back nature and genuine friendliness the Cornish people have, and she gets lots of yummy treats to eat on her breaks

Ben is working at a seafood restaurant - Wreckers -  in Charlestown just across the road from where Robbie works, he also works similar hours so it has been easier for Neil to drop them off and pick them up at the same time

And last but not least AJ is working as a kitchen porter at The New Inn in Tywardreath, he has applied for an apprenticeship at the Eden Project but wanted to keep busy and earn himself some spends over the summer

And now for a little crafting update ( I found a few images on my computer of projects that I have not yet uploaded to my blog, so I will try and incorporate them into my next few blog posts)

My mum's birthday card from last month

I created an 8" x 8" card base, I extended the Nestabilities die to fit the card, matted and layered the patterned papers and added a punched border, using a Martha Stewart border punch

The flowers were created using a variety of Marianne dies ( the largest actually being a snowflake)

The butterflies are also a Martha Stewart punch

And next I have a page from my bullet journal last month

Each month I create a 'memories' page, a little reminder of the things that made me smile that month, I love that my bullet journal allows me to document what I want, how I want ( and I get to do lots of doodling)

And finally all our pets are super happy that we have a house full of knees to sit on, extra playmates and many more opportunities for spoiling

Sox alternates from being super sleepy and peaceful, knee hopping as each of us gets on with our daily activities to being ultra playful, taking a swipe at dangling dressing gown belts, laces, ear phone wires and generally anything that catches her attention

One full house = happy kids, happy pets and one very happy mum!

Love and family fun

Tracey

xxx

Duran Duran

On Friday we went to see Duran Duran at the Eden Project

The weather was perfect, not a cloud in the sky

What a stunning setting for the gig, definitely the prettiest place I have ever seen a band

I took this photo as everyone was starting to arrive, it was a sell out, so all those empty spaces soon filled up

The event was the finale for the BBC's music day and was filmed for the one show

Duran Duran were supported by Izzy Bizu ( who was very good )

And Laura Mvula (who was very good but not my cup of tea )

Duran Duran were outstanding, we have seen them before at a much smaller venue but they just seem to get better with age

Eden lit up the biomes once the sun went down and an ethereal blue glow radiated out behind the stage

The whole project stays open on gig nights, so you can use the restaurants and cafe, they put on a huge barbecue and of course you can wander the gardens if you like, it really was a very laid back but special atmosphere

Thankyou to my lovely hubby for the special treat, it was a fantastic night 

Love and rock star kisses

Tracey

xxx

Cardinham Woods

Come walk with me, let Molly and Bruce guide us 

Today we are going to stroll around Cardinham Woods, 15 minutes away from our house 

The girls at work have been telling me how wonderful the woods are but, until I got there myself, it was hard to imagine what was so special about them. Well, all I can say is that they were not wrong, the woods are truly outstanding

There are plenty of trails to follow, all clearly signposted so you can't get lost, for both walking and cycling

Lots of children's activities for all ages, stick man trails, badger clubs and all manner of nature inspired games

A couple of child play areas

And a beautiful old stone cottage that is now an excellent cafe 

Streams meander through shady passes, beautifully clean and bubbling over boulders and branches

There are quite a few wood carvings hidden here and there

We chose to go on bank holiday monday and the weather was uncharacteristically glorious, and, although there was plenty of people visiting, we spent most of the time on our own, the woods are so big it's easy to find a little seclusion, peace and quiet

Bruce and Molly, always a little way ahead, lead the way.They are both so good off their leads now, super friendly with all other dogs and their recall is good now too, they forge ahead but never let us get out of sight

Bruce waiting for us to catch up

What are you doing down there Mum ?

And just in case you are in need of refreshment,  the Woods Cafe. We didn't use the cafe we took pack up and ate it along the way in a quiet spot, a sunny little nook nestled in the trees

If you are ever in the Bodmin area, it would be a crime to miss this stunning scenery, Cardinham Woods will definitely be a regular haunt for our family, I can't wait to show Amy and Ben

Love and leafy loveliness

Tracey

xxx

Gorran Haven with BA and LJ

I received a phone call a few weeks ago from my lovely friend Joan, she rang to tell me that she and her equally lovely hubby Alan were visiting Cornwall and would we like to meet up. I couldn't have been happier, marking the date of arrival on my calendar and looking forward to catching up with our dear friends

Joan and Alan were staying a little further down the coast, just past Mevagissey in a little harbour town called Gorran Haven

Our friends arrived on the saturday and we agreed to meet up for Sunday lunch at one of our local pubs

Lunch was delicious and five hours later we were still sat there catching up on all the news

We had such a wonderful afternoon and decided to meet up again on the thursday, this time in Gorran Haven, Neil and I hadn't been there before so it was also a chance to discover another little stretch of the coastline

We met at the cottage Joan and Alan were staying in and walked down to the harbour 

Just to the left of this photo, on the harbour was a little eatery - The Mermaid Cafe, we sat and chatted, had lunch and then decided to take a little stroll along the coastal path

Joan and Alan never stop smiling, they are like a tonic and we had such a wonderfully relaxed afternoon

We left the harbour and followed the path around the cove

Looking ahead, it was pleasantly warm but not sunny, at least it stayed dry for our gentle coastal amble

And of course we took time to take in the views, almost all of the path is beribboned with white 'bluebells'

Even on this relatively dull day the sea was a lovely turquoise colour

We didn't venture too far on the path, turning back after a little while and heading back into town

We took a slow wander around the narrow streets and up to the local hotel for a nice cold drink

Back at Joan and Alan's holiday cottage, we took a moment to capture our special day

I hope it's not too long before we can all meet up again

Love and special friendships

Tracey

xxx