As I was going to St Ives

Well, we all know the rhyme don't we?

The kids eating their first Cornish Pastie on the harbour

It was advised to us that we took the train into St Ives as parking is very difficult to secure.  It was a bit of a pain, as trains only went once an hour; and it was pretty windy and cold up on the platform - though ti was exciting for the kids to be on a train and for us to buy tickets. The train took us along the seafront and the view into St Ives was very pretty.

Originally a fishing village, St Ives is now a very popular seaside resort and holiday destination. Though mostly closed, the harbourside shops were setup for the summertime, with every second shop being an icecream parlour or a cafe.

We stopped in for our (now traditional) hot chocolate at the oldest pub in St Ives - and possibly of all of Cornwall. The Sloop Inn has been dated back to the 1300s, and it would be easy, once your eyes adjust to the gloom and your head stops hurting from bumping into the low beams, that the tiny bar was once filled with dirty pirates and low lives spilling from the ships docking at the harbour.

Though far too windy and wet to sit in the front, I can imagine how atmospheric it would be to sit on the cobblestones with an ale and look out over the seafront on a sunnier day. The front basically runs straight into the harbour ( so I think you'd need to be careful if you'd had a few too many one night and had to walk home!)

No doubt too, the tiny cobblestoned streets would be filled with holiday makers in spring and summer; but to day it was slick with rain and hurried locals desperate to get into a warm spot.

Clowance Estate - Cornwall

How frightfully delightful!  The kids and I are enjoying a week in a beautiful resort in Cornwall - in a town I can't even pronounce - Praze-En-Bebble.  You can't see the banjos - but you can hear them from here.  It really is far flung and into the wild - as much as the UK gets.  However - the resort itself is beautiful. I can only imagine how manicured and gorgeous the fairways are during high season. ( It's set overlooking a gold course and lakes, surrounded by a ivy covered forest - simple breathtaking)

As we drove in, I squealed with delight... no - didn't see a squirrel.. but spotted the first daffodils for the year.  The kids thought I'd gone completely mad ( perhaps not too far from the truth?)

We have a self contained chalet, which looks over a small woodland and pond. So far we have spotted a number of very fat rabbits and busy squirrels. We have a pretty friendly squirrel who has visited our balcony for nuts - delighting both the kids and I.

I am sure in the summer and spring its an incredibly busy place. The pool area is pretty flash - indoor of course; with the temperature at a very warm 30 degrees.

I grabbed some photos of our Chalet. Its got a great little kitchen and a pretty big lounge area - considering the size of the apartment.  

The kids have a shared room - which they are now used to.

In the summer months there are a bunch of activities and things to do - involving a fully equipped shiny gym, archery, clay pigeon shooting, golf, tennis and boating on the lake; but as  you can imagine, most ( all) of these are pretty much out of action while its cold and dreary. 

There is a bar which offers (questionable) entertainment - not limited to the ubiquitous lounge singer/ comedian and the every popular quizz night.  Forgive me - for I am about to go to both...Lets hope I survive the ordeal..grin.

The great squirrel feeding zone

Anyone who knows just a little about me, shakes thier head when it comes to my obsession with squirrels.. Yep.. I go balmy, completely lose my cool when I see squirrels. In fact, I can't just tupe squirrels... It must be shouted... SQUIRRELS!!!!!!! Sorry, where was I?

After a dreary day full of red tape, I attempted to sakvage it with a walk through Hyde Park and to the squirrel hotspots.

Its pretty desolate and damp at the moment, but take it from me, summertime is glorious...

The kids were armed with peanuts and to thier credit, sat sensibly and oatiently for the tree rats to find them.

Yep its a souring one degree.. Perfectly balmy.. Brrrrrr