Quiz nights, with good ol' Graham and Carol

If it's Tuesday night, it must be QUIZ NIGHT at the Safe Harbour Pub! Thanks to the super Landlords Graham and Carol, the place is bustling, so one needs to get in early, to get the best tables.
It's a bit of a hike up the hill (I like to call it the mountain) but it's worth it.

Our quiz team name is THE SPONGE HEADS, Dino says that his brain is like a small sponge, that has become completely saturated. He has not been able to absorb or retain any new knowledge that he's acquired since the mid 1980's.
His field of expertise is the life and times of Bjorn Borg, gondola questions and space shuttle crashes.
Needless to say, he's not much help at the table, but he's pretty enthusiastic, plus he buys the drinks. 
It all kicks off at about nine o'clock at the Safe. The pens NEVER work well and people are forever chatting when Graham is reading out the questions, but we keep coming back for more.
We know we don't stand a chance, Dino has finally realised that the questions are culturally biased... "Why don't they ever ask about Italian wines?"

So come and see my little half Italian, as he waits keenly for the question "Who was Wimbledon champion from 1976 to 1980 ?" to be asked.

Sculpture of the Month - She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not...

Roger is quite the romantic... he dreams of long walks on the beach, candle lit dinners and rooms filled with fresh flowers, he is quite tender and sweet.

Each day, on his way to work, he stops in at his local coffee shop "Brown Sugar", and orders a macchiato (a double espresso with a splash of milk)  from the lovely Bianca. 

According to Roger, she is the most beautiful woman in the world. 

He has for many years loved her from afar... She is 20 something, studying 18th century Russian poets and likes nothing more, than snuggling up in front of a roaring fire. 

However, our Roger is ever so shy and timid, he just cannot bring himself to ask he out. Instead, he will walk along the coastal path, pick himself some daisy's and say to himself over and over and over again... "She loves, she loves me not!"

We LOVED being beaters!

Dino and I were invited to take part in our first ever shoot! We were the beaters (not the shooters).

Oh the thrill of being a beater (flushing out unsuspecting pheasants into clouds of gunpowder and lead pellets) it is not for all folks, one needs to be light on their feet, fast and stealth like, quite skillful if you ask me (and not mind the odd bird getting shot).
Our fellow flushers, came with their highly trained Springer Spaniels, it was truly a delightful to see them, doing what they do best...  

Our fellow flushers

We have some delightful friends just outside Fowey, who raise pheasants. Happy, plump, and well fed pheasants. They roam freely all year round and come the colder months, the season begins. 

The day started off cold, misty and wet, but we were not frightened by this. We had all the gear, and off we went. There were 4 drives in total, 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. WHAT is a drive? Well, it involves, beating or making some noise in the undergrowth and directing the birds to where the shooters are. We stopped for a gloriously British lunch.... a scrumptiously scolding hot Stilton soup, followed by a venison stew and some warm pudding, all washed down with some local cider and ale. 
When the day was over, and the feathers cleared, Mr Sunshine appeared. We all had a brace of birds each, a brace is made up of 2 birds, normally a male and female, tied together. We loved the whole pageantry of the occasion... the estate, our hosts, the shooters, the clothing, the long lunch and most importantly, our fellow beaters and their tremendously enthusiastic dogs.

We enjoyed another day, steeped in Cornish tradition (if you like killing birds)

Brace yourself

Painting of the Month - They have come to see me bat, not you umpire! W.G.Grace

William Gilbert Grace, also known as W. G. Grace, a man of many talents.
Born in 1848, he was an English first class cricketer, an outstanding all rounder, he excelled at all the essential skills of batting, bowling and fielding, but it is for his batting that he is most renowned.
What a real man, most would say.
He also qualified as a medical practitioner and he was also a champion 44-yard hurdler, a footballer, he loved playing golf, lawn bowls and curling.
What a real man, most would say.
He was an extremely competitive player and, although he was one of the most famous men in England, he was also one of the most controversial on account of his gamesmanship and moneymaking.
What a real man, most would say.
He also loved poetry, collecting and pressing autumn leaves and adored baking frangipane tarts.
What a real man, most would say.
However, don't be fooled, he LOVED being the centre of attention, a bit of a prima donna, a diva...
On once being given out LBW, Grace is rumoured to have said: "Play on. They came to see me bat, not you umpire." 
 What a real man, most would say.

Sculpture of the Month - Hold Tight

This is Clive and Buster, they both adore windy days.
Clive is a specialist in wind turbines, he talks about them, he designs them, he builds them, he photographs them... he just loves them.
He also delights in taking his best friend Buster out for daily walks, he plays badminton twice a week and enjoys eating english raspberries only when in season.
If you happen to walking along the coastal path, just beyond the Gribbin head lighthouse, and it's a very blowy day, you just may come across Clive yelling to Buster, "I'd better Hold Tight"

Tally Ho!

Our good friends in Fowey, have said that one cannot possibly live in the South West, without seeing a Point to Point! 

Yes, yes, yes, I can hear you now... WHAT is that ?

Well, it is a country day  at the races, lots of beautiful majestic creatures, and plenty of people, elegantly dressed, drinking, betting and enjoying a superb day out. 

Thundering hooves

So off we went, it was a chilly day in December, the sun was shining and the air was crisp and clear, perfect conditions for standing in the great outdoors. 

We were determined to immerse ourselves in the whole event,  starting with our clothing. We had to think of a "Barbour" advertisement!  Upon arrival, as far the eye could see, there were various hues of brown and green, everyone looked so smart, dapper and British... we had done well. 

There is a strictly followed rhythm to the day.
First things first, into the large enclosure that was warm, buzzing and full of chatter. A few tall glasses of G & T and pints of ale, all round.

Next, back outside, to inspect the horses for the upcoming race. To be quite honest, they ALL looked fast to us, instead Dino, who stood well back (because of his fear of large animals) made some featherbrained comments about their coats, tails and colours. 
Then, back indoors, where we discussed odds and placed bets.

Everyone's a winner

Finally, dash out to find a good vantage point... and then they were off!

The muffled enthusiasm of the race caller over the tannoy, the vibrations underfoot of the thundering hooves and the restrained cheers of the composed British crowd... Ahh, just delightful!

I believe we did not back one winner, in fact, in the last 2 races, our horse did not complete the race. 
However we did not care, it was all about the DAY!  

Painting of the Month - Where Are You ?

Gretchen loves to ski, all day, everyday! She lives in Alaska, with her husband Burt and their huskies Fluffy, Cuddly and Handsome.

After many years working on crab trawlers, she finally has landed herself, her dream job. A fully qualified ski instructor. She is ever so competent, professional and very kind. Her only problem is that she is a little too fast, and thus she often loses her clients.

So next you happen to be in Alaska's Alyeska Resort, listen out for "Where Are You?"