Tamar

This is a companion piece to a similarly-themed article on Pete’s site, which, all things being equal, should be published at roughly the same time. We have not read each other’s entries before publishing, and have taken care not to discuss them.

For Graybo.

Wednesday All ready to set off in time for Bernard’s nap. Plan worked perfectly: he slept all the way to Frome. We strolled around, had lunch, and then he slept pretty much all the way to the cottage. We are on the Cotehele estate, in the grounds of the mill. Very beautiful, hoping it stays this sunny.

Thursday Went to the beach at Looe. Bought yellow buckets and spade (including larger spade for Daddy), then walked a long way in the wrong direction. Crossed harbour on small ferry boat and finally found beach. Hired a parasol, and Pete dug a moat all around our small piece of beach. Bernard spent the day in the moat, and had sand for lunch. We had fish and chips, and I supplemented the baby’s lunch with possibly the most public breastfeed ever, but no-one noticed.

Had afternoon tea back at Cotehele Quay, followed by dinner in the garden. Bernard took ages to get to sleep. Amazed he wasn’t tired after such a busy day, plus he is working on standing up from a sitting position, which he manages sometimes.

Friday Went to Plymouth, which felt a bit weird in the company of my Pete and our son. Walked around the Barbican and the Hoe, noticing things that have changed and things that have stayed the same (like Cap’n Jaspers). Lots of regeneration and development. Had lunch at the China House, and Bernard ate most of my sea bass, which was good because I didn’t really like it. He was bored in the National Marine Aquarium, but Pete enjoyed it. We saw sharks and turtles, and bought a book and some bath toys for the boy.

Bought eggs from one of the roadside stalls on the way home, and had omelette for dinner in the garden (better when B drops most of his food over the side of his chair). Played Bomberman on the PS2. Huge spider. I mean, HUGE.

Saturday The Eden Project was inspiring. We want red hot pokers for the garden. Surprised there are so many lifts, and the packet of fudge we bought in the shop contained individually cellophane-wrapped fudgelets. But on the whole we really took in the whole Regenerate Repair Refuse thing, and were so absorbed that we lost track of time. So Bernard had a tantrum in the restaurant because he was so hungry. First time I’ve been embarrassed by his behaviour, but don’t blame him, blame myself.

Very hot day, and he finally ate some pasta carbonara and fell asleep in the rainforest biome. We found out via txt that Pete’s best friend is in Torquay for the weekend. Bernard refused fish (whiting) specially bought and prepared for him at tea-time. We took him down to the meadow behind the cottage for some nappy-free time in the grass. He loved it.

Sunday Went to Torquay to meet up with C&L, who had their hearts set on having a cream tea. However it was lunchtime so we also had lunch, then no room for cream tea, but ate one anyway. Only managed half an hour on the beach, then the tide came in and anyway it was the deadline for getting B back into the car for his homeward-nap. Poor baby really had yet another day of sitting in the pushchair.

He ate a large helping of chicken korma (Seeds of Change jar sauce, for future ref), and we all went for a good long walk around Cotehele grounds after dinner.

Monday Tried to make pancakes for breakfast using Cotehele flour, but no functioning scales in the kitchen, which is why they stuck to the pan. Nothing to do with my poor technique. Had the emergency pastries instead, very sticky sweet decadent continental breakfast.

Went to Dartington Cider Press Centre, where Pete bought a guitar for B; then to Teignmouth (via heavy traffic, in which B wailed constantly). Obligatory family visit to my uncle, aunt & grown-up children (who were not much bigger than Bernard the last time I saw them). They have an impressive garden with a seaview, and gave us a nice lunch which B refused to eat.

Returned to cottage via pasty shop. Walked up to weir after dinner.

Tuesday Went down to Portwrinkle beach. Steep cliff, grey shingle beach, rock pools, not too busy, very pleasant indeed. Good lunch in a pub in Crafthole, which we assume is, in the Cornish way, pronounced crawfle. Then drove to the Maize Maze, and sat in the car having a polystyrene cup of tea, while B finished his nap. Spent an hour and a half wandering the maze, collecting stamps – it was enormous and great fun – we found them all!

Down to Cotehele Quay for ice cream after dinner. B magnetically drawn towards the edge of the quay.

Wednesday Packed up and took long route across Dartmoor, via Two Bridges, which took much longer than I expected and turned out to be a mistake, because B woke from the carsleep before we reached Street. Stopped there for lunch and shopping at the Clarks Village. B woke again about an hour from home; I was driving so Pete deployed toys and songs to entertain him, with reasonable success.