Just Humans Being...

It's been another tiring trip. We are used to our fairly quiet little hamlet, so staying in a hotel on a busy main road has meant sleepless nights for the three of us... The hotel was hot & the beds were uncomfortable, but it was cheap & clean, so we're not grumbling really. We did have a lovely day in Bakewell with Bebe & relatives from Yorkshire. We'd forgotten how beautiful the Peak District is... The Roaches on the Staffordshire Moorlands Bleak Moorland And pretty Derbyshire countryside Staffordshire/Derbyshire border Green & stormy Bebe in the back of the car A Bakewell pub with Bebe's (& Sime's) cousins - who we haven't seen for over 10 years! Our cheese rarebit tart - was pretty awful... The incredible shrinking woman... River Wye in Bakewell, complete with carp... Ducks & ducklings In a world of her own... A lovely day & great to catch up with relatives On the way home... The guy on the quad bike used scare tact

We've travelled over 300 miles today in torrential rain... We set off early to avoid the traffic, but the rain slowed us down. The journey has taken 7 hours & our first port of call was to see Bebe (Sime's Mum). She was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year & so far she has managed with daily visits from a care agency to continue living on her own. Today, we've been quite shocked at how she has deteriorated over the last 3 months & surprised that the care staff haven't contacted us... Her home is neglected, her rubbish has built up, her clothes unwashed & she looks totally bedraggled... We've got our work cut out over the next couple of days & how long do we let her carry on like this? Such difficult decisions... Sime full of concentration... Hugo sleeping in the back... Rain... My favourite car! A 40 year old Morris Minor Traveller. And an old Austin campervan... Brekkie stop... Sime's veggie fry-up... Finally in the hotel...

We're quite excited, as on Sunday we're heading north for a few days to visit our folks... Not only will it be great to see everyone, but it's just nice to get away & staying in a hotel always feels like a holiday to us! Hugo's coming with us again, which is lovely & although we have things to sort for Bebe - we'll also be taking her out for a day to meet up with relatives in the Derbyshire town of Bakewell . A town renowned for it's puddings & it's Pride & Prejudice connection! We've had a busy couple of days & tomorrow will be yet another one, so tonight we're going to chill out, eat chocolate & watch  Fantastic Mr Fox  & try to have an early night... See you soon! Kay & Sime xx

Hugo's been busy with his Circus Workshop & Cornwall Alternative Teens group over the last couple of days, so we decided to take the two days off work...   Yesterday we were in Falmouth & this headland is called Pendennis Point...  Henry VIII had  Pendennis Castle  built back in 1540 just above the headland, but it's very well hidden! The sea was a lovely colour... This is the lookout for the castle... Some years ago, Sime & the kids saw seals in the sea here, but there weren't any yesterday! The village across the water is St Mawes & another of Henry VIII's castles  is just on the left. We think the large sailing boat is one of the  Tall Ships Of Charlestown , we see them quite often near to where we live.  The speed boat looked like it should be moored in St Tropez!   Lots of activity & that's  St Anthony's Lighthouse  on the right. The day was finished off with a treat... Says it all... Today we ventured over to the North Coast...