Magic Brought Us What We Wanted!

There are many tales of sorcery and witchcraft within Cornwall and sometimes magical things can happen all by themselves.

A while back my wife insisted that we needed a new broom for sweeping our garden paths. Me, being me, said, "What's wrong with the two we already have?" They seemed  okay to me. I'd only used one of them a couple of days previous.

Anyway, to keep it short, I was wrong! We needed a new broom. "Okay, I'll conjure one up by magic," I laughed.

Two days later we set off for a walk from home. We have several routes to choose which give us a three to four mile journey. We decided on which direction we should take and set off without a mention or thought of a broom.

We walked about a quarter of a mile and reached a house, where the owner was clearing out unwanted bits and pieces. Most of this he had thrown into a rubbish skip but, against the gate, was a sign which read: Free. Please take away. Next to this were five new brooms still with their original labels!

We stopped and the man saw us looking at the brooms. I asked if I could have one of them. He replied that he'd rather I took all five of them. He went on to say how he was clearing out his garage and sheds of everything he no longer needed.

So, suddenly, we were the proud owners of five new brooms. They were exactly what my wife wanted - magic!

I know there are only four brooms in the photo above but we had already given one to our son.

It's a funny old world at times, especially if you believe in magic!

Thanks for visiting my blog, I hope you have lots of magical moments.

Out and About: Piskies, Flowers, Art Work and a Rainbow.

As we walked along the damp Cornish lane we wondered if a piskie would try to send us the wrong way or play some other trick with us - as is their custom. They are always full of fun and even have their own nursery rhyme.

"See-saw, Margery Daw,

Sold her bed and lay upon straw,

Sold her bed and lay upon hay, 

Piskie came and took her away."

Somehow a pansy had flowered, it's roots squashed between a crack in the surface of the lane.

A tree had recently been cut and was now laying comfortably on a bed of moss.

There is always something to see on a walk but often we don't seem to have time to stop and stare.

The sky turned a dark blue. The old pillar of a viaduct, which once carried trains to Cornwall from London stood, proudly next to the updated viaduct. It was originally built in 1859.

Suddenly the world looked brighter, there are always a few flowers to see even in winter.

The Camellia below is from our garden, where my favourite border collie dog is buried. He was so wonderful and will never be forgotten.

We wandered into St.Austell town centre. All was quiet because of the Coronavirus lockdown.  

Some artwork caught my eye.

I have walked through St. Austell many a time but have never noticed the art work high above the Fore Street.

On our way home a rainbow, but we didn't see any bluebirds flying high.

Finally, for today, a few bursts of winter colour.

Thanks for visiting my blog - all good wishes.

The Spiritual Book, the Suffragette and the Cornwall Car Boot Sale

Something a bit different today and not really about Cornwall. But there again, perhaps it has a smidgeon of a connection.

A while back I bought an old book at a car boot sale (which was in Cornwall) prior to the virus lockdown. I like old books and this particular one was titled the 'Natural Law in the Spiritual World'. I read some strange books!

Once home, with my fifty pence purchase I flicked through the pages and noticed the paintings and drawings the previous owner had created, which were also dated - as seen on this post. 

Then I noticed on the inside cover was the ex- owners name, see photo below. It was Mary Aldham, with the date 1884.

For some reason the name seemed familiar to me and I looked through some bits and pieces I have collected over the years (much to my wife's despair!) and realised that there was a well known suffragette by the same name. 

One of the suffragettes aims was the right for women to have the vote. Probably the best known suffragettes were the Pankhurst family: Christabel, Emmeline and Sylvia Pankhurst.

Now I can't be sure that the two Mary Aldham's are the same person - but they could be as the dates seem to fit.

If they aren't, it is still a nice coincidence. When such things happen, coincidences and synchronicity often appear to have some sort of meaning or relevance.

Mary Aldham while in Prison

  

Mary Aldham went to prison seven times during the suffragette era. The most known incident  was in 1914 when she attacked a portrait of Henry James at the Summer Exhibition of the Royal Academy.  She slashed the portrait with a meat cleaver while shouting out, "Votes for Women".

As for the book itself, it was written by Henry Drummond, photo below, described on Wikipedia as an evangelist.

The book came about following Drummond's studies in natural science while at college in Glasgow. The Natural Law in the Spiritual World was first published in 1883.

It is strange how such a book, with those added paintings, drawings and signature could end up on a car boot sale in Cornwall.

If you are interested in coincidences, here's another one on this blog: The Coincidence Meeting At Boscastle, Cornwall

Thanks for visiting my blog, all good wishes.

Readymoney Cove and St. Catherine's Point, Cornwall

Today's photos are based on Readymoney Cove and St. Catherine's Point - just along the coast from Fowey. 

The photo above shows the cove. You may just be able to make out some steps by the Cornish stone wall. These lead to a path taking you up the cliffs to St. Catherine's Point and St. Catherine's Castle. It also leads to the coastal path heading towards Gribbin Head.

The photo of the cove below is looking from the opposite side.

Next is part of St. Catherine's Castle. There are more photos of the castle on my post St. Catherine's Castle, near Ready Money Cove, Fowey, Cornwall.

A gun tower was built in 1538-40 by Thomas Treffry for Henry VIII (reigned 1509-47) as part of a national defence programme.

If we look back towards Readymoney Cove we can see the former  coach house, once a home of the author Daphne du Maurier, but now owned by the British actor and comedian Dawn French.

Another photo of the cove, which is at the entrance to the Fowey River. Can be quite idyllic on a Spring day - but gets busy in the main summer a season.

A stone shelter and toilets ...

... and a seat overlooking the sandy beach.

There is a lovely walk along the coastal path from Ready Money Cove towards Gribbin Head. See my post, with 12 photos, Walking From Ready Money Cove, Fowey to Gribbin Head, Cornwall

Thanks for visiting my blog - stay safe!

A Winter Walk Along the Beach at Carlyon Bay

I needed a walk by the sea, so we headed along to Carlyon Bay. Not a favourite beach but it is one with a lot of elbow room. This is important in these strange times of the coronavirus.

We drove to the beach car park and, unfortunately, a few other other people had also decided to sample the delights of Carlyon Bay. Okay, perhaps saying delights is a bit over the top, as there are far better beaches.

If you should visit this beach watch out in the car park (free in the winter) as there are some nasty potholes, especially near the entrance.

From the car park we strolled down the steepish hill and alongside the crumbly cliffs.

We walked the full length of the beach. At the far end it's possible to climb up the cliffs to reach the coastal footpath.

I always like looking at rocks and cliffs seeing the patterns and any creatures hiding away.

Looking back across the beach, all was a little hazy, but can look lovely on a Spring day.

On our return walk, looking inland, there were a few trees.

Ah yes, we then arrived where the beach isn't quite as good as it should be. Back in 2003 it was planned that Carlyon Bay would have a multi million development with housing, shops, restaurants and so on. 

Unfortunately there were planning problems. To quote the developers. "The scheme was commenced in 2003 and was partially built out, before being halted by planning difficulties. After a Public Inquiry, a new scheme was designed for which consent was granted in 2011".

But this hasn't come to fruition, very little appears to have happened. This means that much of Carlyon Bay doesn't look as good as it should. Sad to see.

It's still quite pleasant though, to walk along the beach while looking out to sea.

We returned to the car park full of fresh air, despite some of my comments.

The beach can get busy in the summer season, see my post Carlyon Bay, Cornwall in the Sunshine.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

The Stone Inscription, King Arthur and Tintagel Castle

I photographed the above stone / slate quite a few years back. Some say that this has connections with the legendary King Arthur.

In the late 1990s archaeologists discovered pottery from the 5th and 6th centuries on the eastern side of Tintagel Castle, Cornwall. They also found the slate / stone as in the photo above. It was covering a 6th century drain.

On the slate is the rough inscription:

PATERN COLIAVFIT ARTOGNOV

It appears that someone called Artognov wanted people to know that he had made or built something at Tintagel Castle.

Professor Charles Thomas of Exeter University translated the inscription as, "Artognou, father of a descendant of Coll, has had this built"

This got many jumping to conclusions that Artognov was actually King Arthur, who is said, by some, to have been born in Tintagel Castle. See my post A Flavour of Tintagel Castle and the Story of King Arthur.

The date of the slate, 6th Century, ties in with the time King Arthur is said to have been born.

Unfortunately it is now generally accepted that the stone does not have any connection with King Arthur ... but experts aren't always right!

Part of Tintagel Castle

The Fin Whale Stranded on the Cornish Beach

As with all of the English population we are under lockdown because of this awful Covid-19 virus. We have to stay indoors, other than for exercise and essential trips. So, for a while, some of the photos will have to be mainly from the past.

I'm starting off with a sad story from my archives - and an evening I will never forget.

I had just been told that I had kidney cancer and would have to have my right kidney removed. I'll add straight away that I am now okay and was given the all clear a while back.

Anyway, back to that night. I wanted to have a walk on my own to get my head straight about the forthcoming surgery. I headed for the long beach at Carlyon Bay.

On the beach I saw immediately that a whale had been beached with nasty wounds to its head. 

A Coastguard Rescue man soon arrived at the scene.

Looking at the whale it was obviously in trouble as it lashed out on the shore. So very sad. 

Somehow the local radio got hold of the story and soon scores of sightseers were on the beach.

The fin whale was about 65ft long.  I've read since, that fin whales are the second largest animal on the planet and are an endangered species.

Police and maritime experts arrived, but were unable to help the whale.

 

A plan was made to float the whale out to sea but this turned out to be impossible.

I stayed for several hours hours willing the whale to somehow survive.  The weather turned for the worse and the rain poured down, almost as tears for this wonderful creature struggling for life.

When I eventually left it was quite dark. Sadly the whale died during the night. 

It is thought that a boat must have injured the whale.

Thanks for visiting my blog. I'll try and make future posts a little more cheerful!

See also:

The Meeting With Barrel Jellyfish at Carlyon Bay, Cornwall