The last few days
After we buried Eponine and cried a few tears we packed ourselves up and headed down to Cornwall to start our break a day late. We arrived at the cottage after dark and chatted to the in-laws a bit before bed. Isabella was duly doted on. All good.
The cottage is built upside down, in that the bedrooms are on the ground floor and the lounge and kitchen are upstairs. I really wanted to like this arrangement, but it meant that I felt a little insecure sleeping with the window open, and also as the stairs creaked really badly it meant that anyone who got up also woke everyone else. This was something of an issue on that first morning, and I was a little frazzed. However, everyone was wonderfully patient with me, and we headed out to Padstow after lunch.
I wasn't impressed with Padstow at all. Whilst a lot of people had told me that it was picturesque, I didn't find it to be so at all. It appears to me to be a middle-class tourist trap, largely run by Rick Stein. We went to the Lobster Hatchery, which was much smaller than expected, but there were diddy lobsters in there so that was kinda cool. Then there was yummy ice cream and we marched on up to the top of the hill, sat there a bit, then marched on down again. I got a yummy pasty, and then we all got fish and chips from Mr Stein. It was the first time I'd ever got monkfish from a chippy, and it was rather nice, if somewhat expensive. It was a shame that there was nowhere to sit and eat them on the quay though, so we ended up on the wall in the car park, which was hardly ideal. Izzy saw some jackdaws and got unduly excited by them.
Tuesday began with Isabella's first swim. She looks so totally cute in her little red swimsuit. ephraim, Mary (my mother in law) and I took Izzy into the pool gently. There was some crying, but also some enjoyment, so I'd call it a qualified success. We didn't keep her in there very long as it wasn't very warm. I got her out and dressed, then the others looked after her while I had a proper swim, which was really lovely.
After lunch we headed off to meet Ros and her new bloke (well she's been with him for 6 years, but I haven't met him before). As we can't exactly sit in a pub or cafe cos of Iz, we decided to visit Restormel Castle. We didn't get very long there due to Jay picking a rather odd route to get there, but never mind as there wasn't much to see anyway. After the castle shut we went and sat in the park at Lostwithiel in the drizzle. It was great to catch up with Ros though.
In the evening the in-laws were lovely enough to babysit so that ephraim and I could go out for a posh meal - our first since our anniversary in April. It was fabulous to get done up and have a proper romantic date with lots of gorgeous food (scallops, yum yum) and wine - and of course my lovely husband. When we got back we discovered that Isabella had been playing her grandparents up somewhat. Oh dear.
Yesterday we got ourselves packed up and left the cottage after lunch. We went up to Tintagel, as I'd wanted to go there for years. I was really disappointed, as there was hardly any castle there, and it was all nasty steps up and down the cliff face. That meant that ephraim spent most of the time petrified, and consequently I had to carry Izzy all the way. She's over 13lb now, and there are a lot of steep and precarious steps. Even though it wasn't sunny and there was a cold wind blowing my clothes got drenched with sweat, and when I eventually stopped walking I became rather cold and damp (thanks to Subaru for the heated seats that kept me warm on the way home). After the castle we walked down to Tintagel Haven and watched the waves crash on the beach. There was a really nice atmosphere there, so that was worthwhile, and I found that I enjoyed it more than the headland. Then we came home.
It was just what I needed, as the getting away gave me some distance and enabled me to stop crying over Eponine. I shall always miss her and always be upset though.
The break was fun, but really didn't make me feel any more positive about Cornwall. I find it really claustrophobic and arrogant. It always seems to be foggy and everyone drives really slowly on roads where overtaking is impossible. The tourist attractions I've been to have also been immensely over-rated, in my opinion. But I did have a good time as I was in good company and away from home, and that is what matters.
Big love to the in-laws for enabling us to get away.
In other news, as well as having her first swim, Isabella has learnt to squeal with delight. This may be the cutest thing ever. She can also repeat vowel sounds and melodies back to me semi-reliably, and rolled onto her side and back again unaided this morning. This is all very exciting. On the down side, she has been a bit mardy and puked more than usual. I wouldn't be surprised if she has picked up a little bug in the swimming pool (my ears and throat are sore too) but she's not got a temperature or anything so we're not concerned. Just knackered!
The cottage is built upside down, in that the bedrooms are on the ground floor and the lounge and kitchen are upstairs. I really wanted to like this arrangement, but it meant that I felt a little insecure sleeping with the window open, and also as the stairs creaked really badly it meant that anyone who got up also woke everyone else. This was something of an issue on that first morning, and I was a little frazzed. However, everyone was wonderfully patient with me, and we headed out to Padstow after lunch.
I wasn't impressed with Padstow at all. Whilst a lot of people had told me that it was picturesque, I didn't find it to be so at all. It appears to me to be a middle-class tourist trap, largely run by Rick Stein. We went to the Lobster Hatchery, which was much smaller than expected, but there were diddy lobsters in there so that was kinda cool. Then there was yummy ice cream and we marched on up to the top of the hill, sat there a bit, then marched on down again. I got a yummy pasty, and then we all got fish and chips from Mr Stein. It was the first time I'd ever got monkfish from a chippy, and it was rather nice, if somewhat expensive. It was a shame that there was nowhere to sit and eat them on the quay though, so we ended up on the wall in the car park, which was hardly ideal. Izzy saw some jackdaws and got unduly excited by them.
Tuesday began with Isabella's first swim. She looks so totally cute in her little red swimsuit. ephraim, Mary (my mother in law) and I took Izzy into the pool gently. There was some crying, but also some enjoyment, so I'd call it a qualified success. We didn't keep her in there very long as it wasn't very warm. I got her out and dressed, then the others looked after her while I had a proper swim, which was really lovely.
After lunch we headed off to meet Ros and her new bloke (well she's been with him for 6 years, but I haven't met him before). As we can't exactly sit in a pub or cafe cos of Iz, we decided to visit Restormel Castle. We didn't get very long there due to Jay picking a rather odd route to get there, but never mind as there wasn't much to see anyway. After the castle shut we went and sat in the park at Lostwithiel in the drizzle. It was great to catch up with Ros though.
In the evening the in-laws were lovely enough to babysit so that ephraim and I could go out for a posh meal - our first since our anniversary in April. It was fabulous to get done up and have a proper romantic date with lots of gorgeous food (scallops, yum yum) and wine - and of course my lovely husband. When we got back we discovered that Isabella had been playing her grandparents up somewhat. Oh dear.
Yesterday we got ourselves packed up and left the cottage after lunch. We went up to Tintagel, as I'd wanted to go there for years. I was really disappointed, as there was hardly any castle there, and it was all nasty steps up and down the cliff face. That meant that ephraim spent most of the time petrified, and consequently I had to carry Izzy all the way. She's over 13lb now, and there are a lot of steep and precarious steps. Even though it wasn't sunny and there was a cold wind blowing my clothes got drenched with sweat, and when I eventually stopped walking I became rather cold and damp (thanks to Subaru for the heated seats that kept me warm on the way home). After the castle we walked down to Tintagel Haven and watched the waves crash on the beach. There was a really nice atmosphere there, so that was worthwhile, and I found that I enjoyed it more than the headland. Then we came home.
It was just what I needed, as the getting away gave me some distance and enabled me to stop crying over Eponine. I shall always miss her and always be upset though.
The break was fun, but really didn't make me feel any more positive about Cornwall. I find it really claustrophobic and arrogant. It always seems to be foggy and everyone drives really slowly on roads where overtaking is impossible. The tourist attractions I've been to have also been immensely over-rated, in my opinion. But I did have a good time as I was in good company and away from home, and that is what matters.
Big love to the in-laws for enabling us to get away.
In other news, as well as having her first swim, Isabella has learnt to squeal with delight. This may be the cutest thing ever. She can also repeat vowel sounds and melodies back to me semi-reliably, and rolled onto her side and back again unaided this morning. This is all very exciting. On the down side, she has been a bit mardy and puked more than usual. I wouldn't be surprised if she has picked up a little bug in the swimming pool (my ears and throat are sore too) but she's not got a temperature or anything so we're not concerned. Just knackered!