Featured image: The ubiquitous primrose, growing in cultivated flower beds or wild in drystone walls.
Cogitation 7.2018 Saturday 17 February Look right. Clear? Cross to the refuge in the middle of the road. Look left. Proceed when clear.
The absolute importance of first looking right, then left to cross a street in the UK is not to be underestimated. I remind myself repeatedly, “Look right, look right.”
On Friday we used a pedestrian refuge to cross a busy highway to walk on a Truro circular path through open countryside and urban development.
It’s good to be here, safe and sound in Cornwall. We’re back at a rented flat in Carbis Bay/St Ives.
Facets that reflect what draws us here
Footpaths. We walk, take the train, or ride the bus. The footpaths are many, giving us a place to think, exercise mind and body, visit as part of a walkers’ club, space to cogitate.
Friends. We’ve found friends or they’ve found us. This is our eighth longer term stay. I like what Henry David Thoreau said, “We do not wish for friends to feed and clothe our bodies . . . but to do the like office for our spirits.”
Food. On our walk on Thursday we had lunch at the Tolcarne Inn in Newlyn, next door to Penzance. Memorable lunch. Seafood, yes! I had Raywing, Marty had Hake. Fresh from the docks of Newlyn. On Friday night I made leek and potato soup. Accompanied by Emmental Cheese and Pumpkin Seed organic crispbread.
Folklore. Lots to learn about giants, fairies, sprigens, and other characters of Cornish mythology.
Fotos. In the flow of “Fs” I avert my eye from what spelling purists would want. Let the photos tell their own story.
Fun. We’ve visited with a few people. We look forward to the weekly walks with the West Cornwall Footpaths Preservation Society. We anticipate family and friends visiting us during our time here. We also got tickets for the musical Evita next month at The Hall for Cornwall in Truro.
Faith. Lent started as we arrived. The Church of England is encouraging people to give up single-use plastic for Lent, a bid to cut environmental damage. We look forward to worship at St Anta here in Carbis Bay and Evensong at Truro Cathedral. On 23 April we plan to attend the funeral of a person from St Anta, Liz Laramy, who died in hospice, 6 February. Liz was church secretary and Server. She is aptly remembered as kind, gentle, humorous, and diligent.
Flowers. We’ve seen a few blooms about, though the daffodil fields have been picked. What remains in the fields are daffodils that will be harvested as bulbs. A bouquet of daffodils graces our table, a welcome smile from our landlords Sue and Chris.
A prayer. I wrote this prayer last Sunday during a study class at our home church, Prairie Street Mennonite Church:
“Dear God, Today we give you general praise, only because our hearts and minds would burst if we came face-to-face with you as on the Mount of Transfiguration. Still, there’s nothing in your outrageously overwhelming grace and love that is lost on us.
“You chose us, resulting in our freedom to follow Jesus daily in life. What profuse praise does overflow from our lips. Grace us with faithfulness according to the reconciliation you so kindly and surely work out in our Prairie Street community, in faith communities worldwide, and in each of our lives.
“According to your purposes, preserve us, unite us in Christ, give us a fresh vision of your kingdom now and coming. Bless us all in your mystery of quickening our comings and goings as changed people this week and always. Amen.”
John
It's About Now 
Oh to actually see flowers in bloom seems like a miracle! Glad to hear you are settled in your home away from home and I look forward to hearing about your weekly adventures and pictures!
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Miracle indeed. The daffodils on our table were like pencils when we arrived. They’re open now. Nice!
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John, not only one photo of daffidils but two photos of these beautiful flowers. I am love the ubiquitous primrose. I would love to be there.
Al
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Maybe being virtually here will get you actually here. In any case, thanks for your applause.
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So glad to know you have arrived safely in Cornwall. Knowing what joy it gives me every time I arrive in England, I can only imagine your pleasure at beginning your 8th long-term stay. The only primroses blooming in Port Townsend are the ones in a pot beside our front door; what is blooming are snowdrops and daffodils and pink flowering plum trees. Spring is on the way! Hope you enjoy every moment in Cornwall.
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Precious moments indeed. Today we walked a total of seven miles to and from lunch at Scarlet Wine Bar in Lelant. We met three people we knew enroute. Getting acquainted with hills again. A nice kind of tired hits you late in the day. Best to you and Stanley!
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Hello John,
I had to look up “Spriggans” in Cornish folklore. Never heard of them before! You will enjoy Evita: Don’t Cry for Me Argentina! I can see you are already enjoying the footpaths and taking in the beautiful flowers.
Monty
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Dear Joihn & Marty,
Wonderful to hear you arrived in Cornwall safe & sound. Your prayer was what we needed to start our day.
We are soon ready to start on our way to President Stolzfus Inauguration. A place you might be going if you were in the area. Some of us are more excited about this day that we were about the National election for President.
Nothing exciting has happened to our Pr. St Family since you took your flight. I will begin miss you more keenly when you are not seated in your regular place on Sunday morning at the church.
Do you wish you were in S. Korea attending the Winter Olympics? YOU would be so excited seeing John Henry skiing,
On Sat, Feb 17, 2018 at 5:21 AM, It’s About Now wrote:
> John Bender posted: “Featured image: The ubiquitous primrose, growing in > cultivated flower beds or wild in drystone walls. Cogitation 7.2018 > Saturday 17 February Look right. Clear? Cross to the refuge in the middle > of the road. Look left. Proceed when clear. The absolute ” >
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John & Marty:
Glad you’re looking right when crossing the road in Cornwall! Winston Churchill failed to look left once in New York, and almost paid for it with his life. See http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/nyregion/thecity/07fyi.html
Keep sending the lovely pictures!
Nelson
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Thanks for the historical note, Nelson. Right, left, right, left; left, right, left, right . . . could be the start of a poem. Thankfully we’ve got many paths away from roads, though Tuesday’s walk had plenty of mud as you’ll see in this coming Saturday’s post. “Our leader promised us mud and she didn’t disappoint,” one walker said at the end. Wonderful to be here.
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