New Year's Eve

After a sunset frolic in the waves at Ghylly we finished off 2015 harbourside with fireworks and ship's foghorns blasting us into a New Year. A half moon hung prettily over St Anthony's lighthouse in a star filled sky on the first clear night for weeks. Hello 2016.... http://ftlife16.blogspot.co.uk/

Christmas

We had pre-Christmas sherry with Grandma FT, who was in fine form. With the dreaded lurgy lurking in several family members, Christmas Day was reorganised and Grandma Marks hosted a superb spread. We all joined in Hannah's Snowman Challenge (see video) which transformed Simo and Grandma into Snow People amid much merriment.

On Boxing Day, we lunched with The Eberts and had round two of present opening. In the evening, The Simpsons came out of quarantine and appeared for round three. The next day, we walked at Lyme Regis. Simo and Luke egged each other on sufficiently that they decided they 'had' to go in. Here they are enjoying themselves (video).

Mild Mid December

A day on The North provided a walk along Godrevy Beach and then across to Carbis Bay for a walk into St Ives. This light saturated corner of Cornwall always looks amazing - and it did again today. We sampled delicious Tregothan (English) tea and tea cakes; managed a brief amble before fish and chips and more wandering. We walked all 5 of St Ives' beaches and watched the lifeboats practicing ramming the beach (really). It was ridiculously warm for the middle of December.

Tim's Traditional Christmas Visit

Tim arrived for some pre-Christmas jolly japes: After taking in the excitement of the BIG city, we left Truro for Trellisick House and Gardens which were decked with holly and lit up. The Story Republic players sang to us and did a bit of festive storytelling. Later we watched 'Tomorrowland' which no-one understood. Then after rising early Tim experienced rowing the estuary in a howling South Westerly - and did very well. Then we set off on our bikes for The North coast, reaching Porthtowan. We crossed back to The South coast, through the mining trails before collapsing on the sofas to look at Tim's Vietnam pictures.

Newquay Gales

With howling Southwesterlies battering Cornwall, we popped over to The North coast to look at the waves. A walk along Fistral yielded interesting stones for craft ideas, the wind was whipping sand in great whirling patterns. We had very delicious fish and chips in town, had a look at the surfers by the harbour wall, took a romantic photo and then met Tim Mellors for coffee. Then we trawled the surfy shops for Christmas presents and by the time we got back to the car (parked half a mile from the nearest seawater) it was covered in salt spray. That's how windy it was!

Nige & Sarah

A nice walk round to Restronguet, pausing for a drink in the Pandora worked up an appetite for tapas in the evening. With the sun shining on Sunday, we took the opportunity to enjoy Gylly which was flat calm (apart from the wave that soaked Nige). A very nice weekend.

Sunday Saunter

While Claire trained in the gig, I tried out my sore back on the paddleboard. We both ended up crossing The Carrick Roads to St Mawes on a beautiful autumnal morning. On the way back I paddled under RFA Mounts Bay, docked opposite Kiln Quay.