Post 9/2023 Cornwall UK Saturday 18 March . . . More it is. A rainy week has been encouraging, if limiting. More moisture is needed to replenish the county’s and country’s water supply (see last week’s blog). I’m not quite up to the exuberance of Gene Kelly in the 1952 musical Singin’ in the Rain, but as occasions call, I’ll don raingear and step up to the challenge.
The week 12/03-18/03
Sunday. Rain. (Rain designates a steady, prolonged downpour. Showers mean intermittent. Wind means your umbrella is at risk of collapse). After church we walked to the Cornish Arms for Sunday Roast. Fine worship service. Good roast. Walking home in the persistent rain was okay.
Monday. Showers. Laundry day. Reading day. Later in the afternoon we did more than three miles on foot, up and down, up and down. No showers. No complaints or siiffness.
Tuesday. Ah, sunshine. Took the bus to Penzance. First stop on arrival: Sullivan’s Diner for a bacon bap and a white coffee. Neither Jubbly nor Gabriel there; will return. Basic, substantial breakfast. Walked familiar paths, checked out the exhibit schedule at Penlee Gallery & Museum (left our visit for a day the sun may not be shining), walked along the Promenade and stopped at the Jubilee Pool for an ice cream. Shopped at the Greengrocer, got back to St Ives in time to pick up chicken at Harvey Brothers Butchers, took the bus back to Carbis Bay on our 5 Pound Sterling all day bus pass.
Scenes from a walk around Penzance
Wednesday. Returned books to the St Ives Library, picked up a couple more. Walked home mostly via the South West Coast Path. Took part in the Alpha Course evening at St Anta, a series of interactive sessions to discuss life and the Christian faith in an informal, fun and friendly environment, the evening starting with a meal.
Detail on the tea towel shows the area where we spend most of our time in County Cornwall, from “home from home” in Carbis Bay (next to St Ives).
Thursday. Showers again. Short walk to the mobile Post Office, booked a haircut, picked up a few things for the dinner when Steve and Marilyn Bowden graced our table.
Friday. Delightful visit and lunch with Ann Trevorrow. Her elderly cat Jenna came round a few times for an ear scratching and then retired to her niche nest.
Interesting weather report for the day: “A murky start for some with low cloud . . . Becoming brighter with sunny spells and scattered showers, heavy at times and perhaps thundery with hail. Mild but breezy especially at the coasts. Maximum temperature 15 degrees C.” That about covers it.
I had a Guinness for St Patrick’s Day. Read some jokes: “Why did the leprechaun go outside? To sit on his paddy-o. / When does a leprechaun cross the street? When it turns green. / What instrument does a show-off play on St Patrick’s Day? A brag-pipe. / How does a leprechaun work out? By pushing his luck.”
Two more: “What does a leprechaun eat for lunch? A ba-larney sandwich. / Knock, knock. Who’s there? Irish. Irish who? Irish you a happy St Patrick’s Day.”
Saturday. Sun! Did a closer-in walk, picked up groceries at Tesco. Random thoughts coursed through my mind to and from the supermarket, how we’ve walked these paths over the last 15 years. I feel part of the scene, muse on the familiar, the miles on foot, home from home, church, friends, guests, groups, excursions, those who have passed, much that has changed, the still to be discovered.
The weekly St Ives Times & Echo carries a column called, Weather Record, a report on local weather from the National Coastwatch St Ives for the past week. Here are totals for the week ending 12/03/2023: “Sunshine for the week – 26.5 hours. Rainfall – 18.4 mm. Daylight at week’s end: Sunrise 06:43 Sunset 18:21.” Love the precision. Love the look back. Love the volunteers’ effort.
What’s ahead? “Wet and windy conditions for rest of March,” noted the headline in i Saturday 18 March. Jake McKee wrote, “The UK is set to be lashed by wet and windy conditions for the rest of the month after an Arctic blast of freezing and snowy weather just days before the start of spring.
“Although temperatures will become milder, it is also forecast to get wetter and windier–conditions the Met Office says will continue until the end of March.”
So be it. Classic spring weather. May warmth, enough water and a happy outlook be your lot.
-John
It's About Now 
Jimmy Dean is quoted as saying “I can’t change the direction of the wind but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” And Roger Miller said “some people walk in the rain, others just get wet!” I like that! Amazing you have been doing those treks for 15 years.
LikeLike
Fine quotes, Kaye. Thanks. We’re doing our share of walking in the rain.
LikeLike
Glad you can be so philosophical about the rain. We took a late afternoon walk in 54-degree sunshine — refreshing! Trees are just beginning to leaf, so your spring is ahead of ours.
LikeLike
Thanks, Marlene. I like the word “refreshing.” Glad for all that refreshes.
LikeLike