Friday 6th October

I left Cornwall in pouring rain, arrived at Buckland Abbey near Plymouth and the rain stopped!!

Buckland was a former Cistercian Abbey and home to Sir Francis Drake. It's very disconcerting when walking around the top floor to see a church arch.

The house has been turned into a museum to Drake, with the top floor (damaged by fire some years back) turned into a mock cabin and containing exhibits on monastic life. The gardens are quite small and it probably doesn't sound very exciting but I like it.







Went on to Slapton Ley. The weather was very odd. Windy then sunny then a rain squall then sun. Lots of Great Crested Grebe on the Ley, Cetti's singing a way and Shags in the bay.





Annoyingly my little travel scope broke!! Where the pod connects to the scope. A visit to in-focus next week.

Thursday 5th October

Over dinner with Jan & Tony last night the chap serving dinner dropped a bombshell. They are not serving food tonight as they are having a Harvest Festival auction for cancer charities (a good cause). So I'm invited out for dinner at J&T's. Very handy, will be much nicer than the National Trust might have served up.

I took Dave's advice "Go seawatching you won't regret it" And got blown to pieces. Saw Gannets, a swallow and Rock Pipits.

Tiring of the excitement I went to Landhydrock. The gardens are stunning and even better in June. The house is fascinating, old Kitchens, Servants rooms, Highly recommended.






I wanted to buy some wine for tonight and the National Trust were selling some from a local vinyard. There were two types and I bought a bottle of each.

The pub is fine, food is pub standard and was ok. Beer from the St Austell brewery was good. The house whites more than acceptable. it cost me about £60 per night including two drinks. and is rated *** by me



Saffy resident greeter.

Wednesday 4th October

Ah well its a nice day so lets try and find that Vireo. Stupid bird showed 20 minutes before I arrived and I spent the best part of 2 hours watching garden birds. Still 2 choughs mobbing a Peregrine was a nice substitute.




I should have ticked some churches but subconsciously I had decided I needed to spend a week in Cornwall sometime in the next 2 years and as the sun was shining I went to Trerice.

After a Sandwich I viewed the Lawn Mower Museum! The house is not grand but the type you might actually like to live in. As the weather is "turning" tomorrow I parked myself in the garden and read. Very relaxing.

As I strolled back through the small orchard I espied a chiffchaff, very nice.

Tuesday 3rd October

An early start and a bit of sea watching. Divers going through and gannets. Off to St Michael's Mount. The tide was in so a boat trip there and back. Stunning views.










As a Red Eyed Vireo had been reported.... it wasn't there and hadn't been seen for five hours. There were 10 people diligently waiting. I went for a walk and the rarest thing I saw was a Chiffchaff.

Decided to stop in to Tregwainton for a late afternoon cuppa and a stroll.






Weather gorgeous.

Monday 2nd October

As I departed Devon it CHUCKED it down but as I drove into Cornwall the sun came out!! Had morning tea with the lovely Jan.

Nice stroll around Padstow harbour. Shag in the harbour and Turnstones pretending to be feral pigeons. Lots of Gulls.








Looking across to the other coast Sandwich Terns whizzed through and a buzzard was hovering.

Spent the afternoon at Prideaux Place (overlooks Padstow). Owned by the Prideux family for 400 years. Intereting guided tour.




I've been very lucky with the weather this can't last!!

Sunday 1st October

I awoke to find it hammering down. Given my plan was to go to Prawle point looking for Cirl Bunting this was not good!

Still by the time I set out it was dry. I hit one more downpour but by time I arrived at Prawle the sun was shining. It was windy though.




No Cirls!! Lots of Gannets offshore. Did find Stonechats, Linnets, Mipits, Rock Pipits and had views of a Peregrine. As I walked back... suddenly hang on.... Yes a nice Cirl Bunting, not quite in full plumage but a nice bird.

I had considered looking around Slapton Ley but instead went to look around Dartmouth Castle.







Nice views of the harbour and across to another castle. Also a Shag in the harbour and a fly through Oystercatcher.

Popped into Dartington Hall. Its an "arts centre" but the gardens are attractive.





It had been dry and mainly sunny all day but as i write this at the hotel the heavens opened!! Got lucky today!

Saturday 30th September

The alarm went off at 5am and I "rushed" about getting ready. It was a leisurely drive down. I went for a look around Buckfast Abbey.



The church was built by the monks in the early 20th century. Its a fine building if not as grand as Downside Abbey.

I'd like to show you some pictures but photography is banned as this is "a house of god". I'd have more sympathy if Buckfast didn't also have a gift shop, restaurant etc.

I then went to visit Saltram House near Plymouth. You can do a little Birdwatching hear so of course.... there were Buzzards overhead, Curlew, Little Egret and 3 Greenshank.

Any ideas?


A digiscoped Little Egret.


The gardens had the usual plus a showy Nuthatch. The duck pond often has Mandarins but not today. Anyway I had a nice Tomato and Vegetable soup and got on with my book.

The house is very fine, what you see from the outside covers a tudor shell (you can see this from the inner courtyard). The house has some lovely pictures and is well worth a visit.

The gardens are parklike and as the sun was shining I carried on with my book.





Had a cup of the and a scan of the Guardian's blog watch had no mention of the quacks of life!!

This is all very civilised! Into my hotel and then a walk.




Summer Berries and Clotted Cream Creme Brulee on the menu. I texted Jan, she'll hate me!

Back Again

Well I'm back.

I'm not rushing to write up 8 days of holidays!! I have 150 photos and I have a house guest today so you'll have to curb your impatience!! I'll take the laptop to work and prepare photos during lunch hour and start putting blogs up over next few days.

Had a great time and was incredibly lucky on the weather.

Reading your own obituary

Paul Vance who wrote "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" was watching TV and was a mite alarmed to be told he had died!

Apparently Paul Van Valkenburg told his wife that he wrote it as a teenager under a pseudonym but sold the rights. When he died his wife told the press that the writer of Itsy..... had died.

His family were ringing up believing there father had died!!

For the full story

The Friday Questions......

As I'm on holiday next week you can have a double dose of Dave's questions...
will add my answers later.

16. you ready for some more?
well since i'm asking

17. what's your favourite animal?
birds!!!

18. of all the 10 commandments, which do you think Pete breaks?
my lips are sealed

18a. most often?
saying nowt

19. what's your favourite beverage?
tea

20. what/who would you have on your desert island? (5 things please!)
Field Guide
Bins
Scope
Wind up radio
laptop with internet access

21. what's the best board game?
chess

22. what is immediately to your left?
pillow

23. what would be your 1st major purchase upon winning the lottery?
a big big birding holiday with some good friends

24. when was the last time you farted?
this afternoon

25. name your top 3 puddings.
profiteroles, bread & butter pudding at the Miners Arms Eyam, Mum's Apple Pie!!!

26. do you know anyone famous?
No

26a. who?
No

27. what age would you like to be again?
Uhm none thanks

28. if you could change 1 thing about your life, what would it be?
I'd be retired!!

29. name the person you shared your first kiss with.
Maggie Fleming

30. what is your favourite film?
None really, like old Hitchcocks and old John Ford Westerns

31. What's the first thing you do in the morning?
go to loo

32. Who in the world would you like to....
a. go for a beer with?
Dave

b. go birding with?
Simon Barnes would be interesting or Jeri Ryan......

c. go shopping with?
no one i hate shopping. Michelle if anyone though

d. snog?
Jeri Ryan

e. punch?
a couple of sad muppets

f. have a secret romantic trist with?
Jeri Ryan

g. serve at the fishmarket?
flipper

h. go to Africa with and film Big Cats with?
no one i'd be birding

i. ermmmmmmm.
indeed.

33. What do you think of the Royal family?
better than the alternative

34. What is your most prized possession?
don't prize possession, but bins most important

35. Who has inspired you?
bill oddie got me into birds

36. Have you ever taken/would ever take hallucinogenic drugs?
no

37. Is there anything more frightening than being chased by a
battalion of monkeys armed with hammers?
being told there's a BV66A audit

38. What's your favourite biscuit?
chocolate ginger

39. What's the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?
BLUSH

40. What's your favourite shop?
bookshop

41. Do you consider fishing a blood sport?
no
a. why?

42. Did you have a happy childhood?
mostly

43. What do you reckon folk in the future will think of us?
a bunch of self centred idiots

44. What will be your next purchase?
uhm lunch

45. Name 10 female presenters of Blue Peter. no google no.
lesley judd, caron keaton, val singleton uh