My First Crop

I've got FOUR peas ready to pick, and if I leave them long enough for the others to catch up, they will have gone past their best, and so I made the decision. Pick the peas!

I decided that as there were only a small amount in the pods (18 peas in total! That's 9 each LOL) I would add them raw to some lemon and corriander couscous, and serve it with some lamb steaks.

In they came and it took seconds to pod them

but the end result was lovely - Can't wait to be able to harvest the carrots and onions!

Wheels Of Wadebridge Car Show

We last saw our MX-5 mates back in May when we attended Sharon and Mikes Ruby Wedding Anniversary, so we were really looking forward to attending this car show.

I had checked the weather forecast for Wadebridge, and it did not look at all good for the day.

We headed up to the A30, and by the time we had fallen into convoy with Sally-Ann and Mike, and got a couple of miles up the road, the heaven's had opened.

Six or seven couples met up at the sports centre in Wadebridge so that we could enter the Showground together and make our way to the exhibitors spot set aside for our club, and a couple more cars joined us a short while later.

The MX-5 Cornwall flag got put up, but unfortunately it was so windy, we did not dare to erect the exhibition tent, for fear it would fly away!

Paul put the kettle on, and we settled down for a long and wet day

between showers we managed to get down to each stand and check out what was on offer, also managing to look at the steam engines and sales stands

Suddenly the clouds parted, the rain stopped and it got warmer. Although the wind kept up enough for us to want to use a brolly as a breaker, we were all able to get out our chairs and eat our picnics!

The place got very busy

and after more mooching around to see what was on offer, we returned to enjoy the company of our friends

It was soon time to head back home, and the sun shone down on us as we headed back down the A30, and homeward bound once more.

The Big Valet Job

It seems that lately, the only time my little 5 gets some TLC, is when there is a club event on that we are able to attend.

As tomorrow is an arena event, with full club stand and touting for new members so to speak, he wanted my little Betty Blue to gleam and sparkle with the joy of being there.

having washed her, he then clay barred her, and then finally polished and carnuba waxed her.

The wheels were polished and the tyres blacked, and you could see your face in her paintwork.

Role on Wheels of Wadebridge, Betty is ready for her close up!

Day 5 - Heading back to Cornwall

A sad day, but it is time to head back home. The reason? We are attending a car show with the MX-5 Owners Club on Sunday, so we don't want to miss it.

As Paul did the last vehicle checks, I took the opportunity to walk Fred and to take a few pictures of the lovely Barley Meadow campsite.

we shall certainly be returning, and hope to get the same pitch again - number 10 is now claimed by us for future use LOL!

just as I was putting my camera away, a nice chap walking his pooch asked if we wanted a picture together, and bless him, he did a grand job, despite my awful hair flying around everywhere!

An hour and a half later, and we were home and the varacan safely back in the yard.

We are now looking forward to the car show on Sunday, but I think Paul has some valeting to do on my '5' first!

Day 4 - Finch Foundry and House of Marbles

We had wanted to visit Canonteign Falls today, but the cloud base was low and the mizzle continuous, so we knew we would not get the benefit of the views if we did go. With that in mind, plan B was put into motion. Finch Foundry at Sticklepath.

We approached through a narrow roadway that runs through the centre of the building and parked up in a large parking area at the rear of the property.

Here we could see the tea rooms and the water wheels that fed the machinery inside

On an hourly basis there is a demonstration in the forge, and Ken was our guide through the history of the building and it's owners and workers

having shown us some white hot metal being cut by the mechanised scissors via the water wheel, we then proceeded upstairs for a further demo of the blades being sharpened on a mill stone, also powered by water.

we found it fascinating that so many well know sayings came from jobs like these. If you look at the picture below, it is of 2 men sawing wood (using a saw made by Finch's). The wood is held down on either side by a metal dog (again made by Finch's).

The saying that comes from this is 'The Under Dog' (chap in the pit) and 'The Top Dog'. (chap looking downto the pit)..... Cool eh!

Outside was the summer house and the Quaker Burial ground associated with the village.

Behind the graveyard is a lovely river, and we took a short walk up the banks before leaving and moving on to our next stop.

House of marbles is in Bovey Tracey, and contains all of the history of how marbles came about and just how long ago.

Here is Paul with a marble making machine.

We then walked through an area that showed how to make glass and looked down on the glass blowing works and shop.

Another history and information filled day for us, that we finished off at a lovely little coffee shop in Bovey Tracey.

Day 3 - Fingle Bridge

Today it was Fingle Bridge day - the place that is the reason for our trip.

I had already been online and found the website about the Inn, and found that it had a webcam in operation, and so, as we arrived, we called Sally-Ann and Mike to advise them we were in situe and ready to wave at them! Daft I know, but that's us all over. After a few tweaks to our position they could see us well and we waved away happily, much to the dismay of the others on the bridge and in the pub gardens!

Before stopping for food, we headed off in the general direction of what looked like a circular walk through the woods and along the River Teign

unfortunately after about a mile and a half we realised that the circular walk wasn't circular, and so headed on back the way we had come, and found a seat outside to have lunch.

Despite the heavens opening on us, we ate under the brolly in the pub garden, and then went for another walk in the opposite direction, on the hunt for the old water mill ruins.

It is a beautiful place, and we only wish the rain had not come along to dampen the proceedings.

Day 2 – Newton Abbott,Torquay, Cockington and Paignton

We had another busy day ahead of us today, and by 10.00am were on the road towards Newton Abbott, to have a look around the huge Trago they have there

The place was HUGE!

and it took some time to cover all of the floor space, but somehow we did, and still walked out empty handed.... talk about will power eh!

From Newton Abbott, we headed on down to Torquay, where we walked along the promenade

around the harbour area, where we were able to check out the money sat on the water (that's boats BTW!)

then through the gardens

Fred was in his element, and took loads of compliments from passers by.

Moving on from Torquay, we headed off to Cockington. I had been told by a friend at work to try and get there if we could, and boy are we glad that we did! What a wonderful place!

Having parked in the village we walked through some grounds, not knowing what to expect, and came across this wonderful place - Cockington Court.

walking around the side of the house, we came across the stables that had been converted into craft studios and enjoyed watching this chap doing some glass blowing

before moving on to see the old machinery in the other units

walking through some gardens we came across the local chapel

before coming back to the front of the house, and the tea rooms

needless to say we had to stop and eat something nice and yummy!

we then made our way back to the car, and on towards Paignton

by this point there was mizzle in the air and despite not raining it was trying to make us wet.

We walked along from our parking spot down towards the town centre, taking in Paignton Pier and the old fashioned beach huts. Unfortunately this was as far as we went as it was not the sort of town that we tend to enjoy, and was very commercialised, with a fun fair on the green.

We had enjoyed a very full day, and were now feeling very tired. It was 18.00hrs and we had quite a drive back to the caravan.

We finally pulled up just after 19.30, having sat in stationary traffic due to an earlier accident. Despite this we had a wonderful day and now it was time to plan tomorrows adventures.