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Thursday to Sunday Heathrow to Singapore

Our plane left Heathrow after a delay of about 45 minutes because they couldn't detach the boarding tunnel. Most passengers aboard were English and Irish Lions fans who were going to Melbourne for the rugby World Cup. It was an uneventful flight and because most people aboard headed for the transfer lounge it meant we had an easy exit into Singapore. Boy, what a shock, although it was 7 o'clock in the evening it was still warm and humid. Got to our hotel by taxi and fell into bed.
Friday morning didn't exist for us and when we got going we went looking for something to eat and finished up at McDonalds after an awful visit to the local food court. In the afternoon we got on the hop on hop,off bus and toured the city. The buildings here have to be seen to be believed, very modern and very different. Back to the hotel and we fell into the pool to cool off. Refreshed we walked along the riverfront for a beer and dinner. We are located at the Quayside and is a very lively place at night, but everybody is happy and it seems very safe.
Saturday morning, and our body clocks have still not got into gear, so after lunch we got on the river taxi and went to the Gardens by the Bay. These are relatively new and feature huge metal structures which are intended to look like trees. There are also two Glasshouses (Biomes) with international plants and flowers in them. It was as we were walking towards these that we met Jan and David who were walking in the opposite direction. One in a million chance of catching up with them. Anyway we organized to meet up for a drink and dinner later in the day.
The gardens are beautiful and the biomes are similar to The Eden Project, not as big but more controlled and featured plants from all over the world, including giant baobabs from Australia and Africa and old Olive trees from Europe. After a couple of hours there we got the Metro Train back to the hotel and into the pool again. Feeling refreshed we met Jan and David and went for a beer and dinner at the riverside.
Sunday and we headed for the Metro again to take us to the Botanical Gardens. These are well established and feature a collection of orchids in all colours, lots of walking here and the weather takes its toll on you.
Back to the Metro to take us to Raffles where we had a Singapore Sling each and threw our peanut shells on the floor as is the custom. They must make a killing here as the drinks were 30 Singapore dollars each, anyway it was one of those things you do.
On the train again to the hotel where refreshed ourselves in the pool, boy did we need the pool!
After dinner it was time to pack our bags for the final trip home. Up before sparrows tomorrow for the 7:45 flight SQ207 which is due to land in Melbourne at 5:05pm
It is now tomorrow (Monday) as the hotel didn't have free WiFi, we are at the airport waiting to board. Of course we were early, but the lack of people around makes it easy.

Wednesday 26th Heathrow

We left Angela's at 10:30 this morning after a very pleasant couple of days. Angela shepherded us up to the Motorway then we hit the M5 going up to the M4  for a two and a half hour drive to Windsor.
Decided we might as well have a look at the place seeing as we were going past it, however we didn't really have enough time to do it justice but at least we had a look. St George's chapel was lovely and the Private apartments were well preserved and presented. It's a noisy place with planes flying over it all the time.
Although we still had plenty of time, we decided we'd head for the car rental return which we got to after only one wrong turn. Car handed over and then it was into the shuttle to terminal three. People going everywhere of course and we are now sitting in the departure lounge waiting for the flight to be called, although we still have another three hours to wait.

Monday and Tuesday Cornwall to Somerset

Left Cambourne Monday morning and drove North west to have a look at Newquay. This is the surfing place for Cornwall and has sandy beaches. It wasn't really warm but people were getting on to the beach, many in wetsuits for a bit of surfing. Continuing along the coast road around Watergate Bay which has wide sandy beaches and could be a nice place to spend summer holidays.
Then it was on to Port Isaac (Doc Martin country). We had to park outside the town so it was a walk into town. It must be a mixed blessing for a town such as this to be involved in a TV show, it brings in the tourists who spend their money there, but some must regret the lack of privacy.
We then had a two and a half hour drive to Angela's house in Somerset so we hit the road again. Skirting around Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor, through Launceston, around Exeter and towards Taunton.
Angela is Janelle's cousin-in-law whom we have met before and she has made us very welcome. The cottage Angela lives in is in a beautiful spot down the end of a narrow lane with hedgerows right up to the edge of the road. The weather has turned bright and sunny which makes the area look all the more lovely.
Tuesday morning also dawned bright and clear, so after doing some laundry we headed off for a look around  West Somerset. First stop was the village of Dunster, where after a walk around town had lunch at the local pub, it being a traditional British pub with low beams and wooden panelling. Dunster Castle overlooks the village and this was a home of the Luttrell family since the 1400's and was handed to the National Trust in 1976 . This castle is different to many we have seen as it would be quite comfortable to live in and is well preserved. We then had a look at Minehead, Blue Anchor and Watchet which are on the coast of the Bristol Channel. The tide goes out a long way here and we could see Wales in the distance.
The it was back home to reorganize our cases ready for flying out tomorrow.
Singapore here we come.

Sunday 23rd The Cornish Coast

Today we did a circuit of western Cornwall, starting off with Falmouth which is a port township facing the English Channel and therefore a popular port for ship repairs. The inner port however, suffers from the rise and fall of the tides which vary hugely during the day, the small boats in the harbour were all grounded, waiting for the tide to come back in.
Then it was across country through Helston to Penzance. On the way we thought we would have a look at St Michaels Mount, but so did everybody else in England so we couldn't find anywhere to park so had to be satisfied with passing glimpses.
Penzance is a twin city of Bendigo, but we couldn't find any reference to the connection. They suffer from great variation in tides here too!
The coast road from here appeared more interesting than the main roads so we continued around through Mousehole (pron. Moozle). By this time the sun was shining and it was a beautiful sight. The road continued and became the typical narrow country road, with which we have now become used to.
The next stop was Lands End which is one of those things you have to do. There are the usual tourist traps leading up to the Point and we succumbed to having our photo taken in front of the sign post showing how far from home we are. Although the sun was out, so too was the wind, it played havoc with my hair (???). However, it was great to be there.
Continuing around the coast, we had a look at St Just. A bit further out, Glen said to pull into a side road so she could take a photo, I continued down that road and it became the narrowest we have been on, bushes brushing both sides of the car, thank goodness we didn't meet any other vehicles.
Further around the coast was St Ives and were lucky enough to get a carpark on the Esplanade so decided to have tea there. We like St Ives, it seems to have its own micro climate and is very pleasant. This time the tide was in and was different to see the harbour from the last time we were here.
Tomorrow we head northwest and will leave Cornwall for Somerset, and have enjoyed our time here. Like everything you could spend days exploring each town or village, but we have had a good overview of the area.


 

Saturday 22nd The Ancestral Trail

Saturday 22nd The Ancestral Trail
We are staying at Cambourne which is about 5 or 6 miles away from Redruth.
Redruth is the town from which both Glen's Great Grandparents and my Great Grandparents emigrated to Australia in the Mid 1800's.
Our first stop this morning was to the historical records place in Redruth to see if we could find an address where my relatives may have lived. We weren't able to find any more information than we already knew, despite the help of the very helpful staff there.
We already knew the address where Glen's Great Grandfather, Sampson George, lived so we went there to have a look. Taking photos of the place we got talking to the current owner and she invited us in for a cuppa which we accepted, and had a great chat with her and her partner. They seemed as  happy as we were to exchange information.
Had a Pasty in Redruth for lunch
We then headed down the Lizard peninsular to Mullion, where Richard Thomas, my Great Grandfather was born in 1841. I had the name of a farm where the family probably lived and when we found it got talking to the current farmer. Most of the buildings on the property were built around 1900  although there were older outbuildings which indicated there may have been other buildings there before then.The farmer knew of Thomases that had been in the area he couldn't provide any information, but was friendly.
We continued down to Mullion Cove which faces the English Channel and watched the sea breaking over the sea wall.
We continued down the peninsular to Lizard Point which is the most southerly part of the UK and we really felt the full force of the weather. The wind had been blowing all day but was especially strong there.
It was a very interesting day and one of the reasons for doing this trip. It was interesting to see the area that our ancestors left. Although it is beautiful country, rolling green hill, fields with hedgerow borders, sheep and cattle grazing. also saw a family of foxes on the distant hill when we were talking to the farmer. You could imagine that life was difficult for them and how brave they were to seek a new life in a new country.
Dinner tonight was in a local pub called Tyacks which is also a familiar name in Bendigo. We see place and shop names with which we are familiar in Bendigo due to their Cornish origin. Almost a feeling of old home - a bit weird really.

Friday 21st The Lost Gardens Of Halligan

We packed up this morning to head further west. The hotel we were staying at is part of a chain and we decided to book ahead to an hotel in Cambourne. Doing this means we don't have to worry about looking for somewhere to stay when we get there.
Just out of St Austell are the Lost Gardens of Heligan. This Estate was the home of the Tremayne family for over 400 years and contained extensive and productive gardens. During the middle part of the 1900's the gardens declined and became derelict. A severe storm in 1990 devastated the site and that led to new owners starting to recreate the "lost" gardens. This has been ongoing for 20 years and has been a huge undertaking but has recreated something spectacular. The area includes large vegetable gardens, flowers, fruit trees, rain forest, an Italian garden, lawns and so on. Well worth the visit and we spent several hours there.
Then it was about an hour's drive to Cambourne and we think we will go to St Ives for seafood tea. Wonder if we will meet a man with seven wives? - Al thinks one is more than enough to handle!!!
9:30pm
We did go to St Ives and enjoyed fish and chips for tea. The town is a fishing village with lots of boats in the harbour. However it is not a deep water port and all the little boats are left stranded when the tide goes out, really enjoyed the place.