Saturday 11 October 2008

Things to do in Autumn

Go to Cornwall for a week right at the end of the season when all the cafes are winding down and the souvenir shops are eyeing the shutters and longing for the end of the month.
We had several days of really good weather which was good for us AND for cornish farmers who have had such a dreadful summer they still had not managed to get the hay cut. A few more weeks and there would be no point because any last goodness would be gone from the grass. We arrived and four days later they were beginning to cut - we did good!
We stayed in DS1 timeshare apartment which was luxurious and perfectly placed for doing all the touristy things in the lobster claw end of Cornwall - Goonhilly, Land's End, The Lizard, Helston, Penzance, Mousehole. We went to Praa Sands. No big deal I hear you say but I haven't been back there since I was about seven so it was really strange to not find anything familiar on the road down there but to instantly recognise the shape of the cliffs and the rocks on the beach. I so wanted to ring my mum and tell her about it but of course she has passed over so I got a bit teary. DH cwtched my until the tears were dry and that somehow made it a perfect day.
Then we visited some special friends and saw the progress the builders are not making on their alterations to the house.
It was good to be able to make them laugh a little. We didn't stay late because they are working so hard and have to get up early for the animals.
We came home and the surgery sent us notes to say we could have the flu jab. I was a little reluctant, given my propensity for allergy and reaction but after discussion with the nurse I let her jab me. She said I might experience "mild, flu-like symptoms" and I did. I spent three days in bed coughing sniffing sneezing and sweating and then three more lying like a limp lettuce on the settee also coughing, sniffing, sneezing and sweating. I think I'll give it a miss next year.
I managed to photograph some of the autumn colours of the Virginia Creeper in my garden and I hoped to catch it through all its changes. I might venture out tomorrow and take a look.

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