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March 2012

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I am currently going through the rather noisy introduction to Led Zeppelin, they were a bit before my time so whilst I’ve always recognised some of their music I was never a fan.  My house now resounds though to Robert Plant screaming and wailing through the floorboards as my eldest has suddenly discovered them.
I was pleased to be able to tell him that if he liked Led Zeppelin he may also like The Who. Apparently someone at school said Zeppellin were a lot like Abba, so it’s nice to see that when it come s to music I am at least better informed than one 13 year old.  Although if put to the test on current music I imagine they would thrash me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfR_HWMzgyc Kashmir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWeAtLr8bX4 Puff Daddy’s version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4QqMKe3rwY&feature=fvsr Abba
The funny thing is a few years ago Puff Daddy did the theme music for the film Godzilla and completely lifted Zeppelin’s Kashmir beat.  At the time, when I pointed this out to Thomas he was full of derision, what did I know about Puff Daddy? Furthermore if there was an old fogies song in there it was Puff Daddy that made it awesome.  I reminded him of this conversation the other day but unsurprisingly he had no recollection of it.  Mark Twain once wrote “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” This is a regular occurrence in our house.

Music seems to be the preserve of youth but I don’t think that’s quite fair.  Certainly they have more time to listen, discover and create music than someone trying to work 9 -5 and run a house and all the other boring grown up stuff but I don’t think we love music any the less. I used to fall in love with a track and then play it 10, 20, 30 times in a row.  I still do and I don’t think I’m alone in this because my ipod has a little repeat button that means a track can be looped eternally.  I’d like to think I’m pretty important in the eyes of Apple but somehow I don’t think they’ve added this piece of software for just one compulsive addict.  Lots of us must do it.

In fact I have to say I love my ipod and youtube, suddenly I am surrounded by music again and discovering new stuff and tracking down barely remember tunes.  Many’s the time that I’ll be out walking with Harry, my headphones on and the perfect random song choice comes on.  It’s not uncommon to spot me break out into a little arm waving samba and two step on top of Carn Grey, and many a seagull has be startled by the bellowing of Nessum Dorma or just me laughing to hear “Running up that Hill” exactly at the moment when I am, indeed, running up that ruddy hill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp43OdtAAkM – Running Up that Hill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGKQ8YASCY – Nessun Dorma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_LN3XEcnw Mambo No. 5

Music is something that resonates very, very deeply into our memories, moods and personalities.  The power of it is widely known as it is a well-respected form of therapy and it certainly cures me. So if you’ve got out of the habit of listening to music, stick something on and brighten your day.

St Austell – the come back?

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Welcome to the town of St Austell, so we didn’t win the city bid and not only am I not surprised I’m also not sure if the prize was that big a deal anyway. I understand why St Ashap’s went for it and why they got it, they do have a cathedral after all, they must be thrilled to be finally recognized after all these centuries, and Chelmsford and Perth are really quite large.

What it has done though is make us relook at our town and consider it in a positive light.  It’s been so easy to denigrate the place over the last decade.  The rot appears to have set in according to local gossip when the council said no to Marks and Spencer and they went to Truro instead.  I wasn’t around then but I know people who used to shop in St Austell who  started to shop in Truro but let’s be fair, Truro may have a smaller population than St Austell but it has a far larger commercial centre in which shops can flourish. It has more open areas within the shops to have markets and street fairs, it was the county seat and had other reasons for people to visit; the cathedral, the law court, county hall, the theatre and so on and all of these factors must also have had a factor on where shoppers chose to spend their money.  As I said I wasn’t here at the time and this is one of those topics where I run the risk of being shot down as an outsider that doesn’t know what they are talking about. However, looking at it dispassionately, having M&S would have been great but the argument that other big businesses followed M&S into Cornwall and into Truro doesn’t really wash, where would they have gone in St Austell? Even with a brand new shopping centre we still don’t have anything large enough for a second department store.

Maybe losing M&S created a loss of confidence in the town amongst the people of St Austell; lord knows the amount of times I hear that that decision was the wrong one suggests that people were very bitter and resentful about it.  And it is fair to say that St Austell has undergone something of a steady decline over the last few years but I can see a town getting back on its feet.  I went to a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting and it was a pleasant eye opener.  I’m not a member but they had an open meeting where all businesses could come along.  The Chamber held their hands up and said that in the past they had had issues but they were making a new start, that included a greater level of inclusivity and a more open a receptive attitude towards new schemes and businesses.  One great new event is going to be the first St Austell Spring Fayre on the 28th and 29th of April with  Plants Galore, Flower Show with St Austell in Bloom, Children’s Fun & Games with the Big Green Bus & Eden Cafe, Food and Drink from Cornish Producers, Live Music & Entertainment.

The chamber will be supporting this venture along with providing real support for new businesses and I think it marks the start of a very positive new chapter in St Austell’s very long and important history

Climbing Kilimanjaro for Little Harbour, Childrens Hospice.

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As you may remember I started this year determined to do more for myself, have a challenge, get out there and have fun.  Now over a rather lovely extended Sunday lunch over at a friend’s I told her of my plans and desires.  I woke up the following morning wondering how we had drunk so much, how lunch had turned into evening and  how had I agreed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?!

It was hard to believe but yes Lucy and I had decided that we both wanted a challenge and climbing Africa’s tallest mountain seemed suitable.  In the cold light of day it also seemed barmy but also quite exciting.  We knew a few other friends that might want to join in so we put it to them fully expecting hoots of derision and laughter but no. They were just as keen!  It did give me pause to wonder if there was some sort of January madness going around that was affecting mothers of boys.  Maybe for so long we’ve watched our children doing mad exciting things and realised that we also wanted a piece of the action.

So we got together and agreed that if we were going to do this then it would be nice if someone else benefited from this other than ourselves.  The obvious charity that sprang to mind was The South West Children’s Hospice, Little Harbour.  We all have children and whilst we have never needed the hospices services, thank God it’s there.  They’re local and they needs support so that was decided.  The next thing we all agreed on was that we were going to be self-funded, the charity will not have to pay a penny towards our costs. Every pound we raise will be spent by the charity on themselves. 

The next thing we did was go and meet Mary at the hospice.  Now at this point the horrible reality of the situation became clear.  These children and their families desperately need the hospice, it is a wonderful place and everything is done to make sure that all in the family are relaxed and taken care of but the truth of the matter is that this is a place for children with a limited life expectancy, generally they are not expected to live into their 20s and often they die much younger.  It was a heart breaking tour and we left feeling very moved.  However, we also knew beyond any doubt that we had chosen the right charity to support.

With that in place we decided on a date – next February and a training schedule – arduous, building up to gruelling.  So far I haven’t quite made it to arduous and am still on “quite puffed” but I will get there.  We don’t have a sponsorship page in place yet but that will come and in the meantime we are planning lots of events and plant stalls and casino nights and cake stands and hoping to raise as much money as we can. If any of you out there know of any companies that would like to get involved and support us then please contact me in the shop (Hurley Books) and we’ll  chat.  So that’s me sorted for the year and I am hugely looking forward to it!

Mothering sunday and all I want is a clean car…

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So, Mothering Sunday is almost upon us. Traditionally it falls on the 4th Sunday in lent, which this year is on the 18th of March. This Christian festival, which dates back to roman times when it was used to honour the Virgin Mary, is a celebration of motherhood. In later years it became a day for servants to enjoy with their families at a time when the working week was far longer than it is now but, as time went on, the custom began to peter out. Mothering Sunday enjoyed a revival in the 1920’s when a lady named Constance Penswick Smith created the mothering Sunday movement. The revival gathered pace during the second world war as American soldiers serving overseas began to observe the traditions of mothering Sunday and it wasn’t very long before some bright spark saw the commercial potential. Heavily promoted, Mothering Sunday, or mother’s day, became the dream date for every florist and card manufacturer up and down the country.

And so we arrive at the present day. I have two children and I also have a husband who is less than enthusiastic about observing the traditions of this auspicious day. Steve has always felt that he must make the effort, particularly where the boys are concerned. When they were younger they were plonked at the dining room table with crayons and blank paper and told to “make a nice card for mummy”. These creations were, of course, lovely and I still have most of them somewhere. As they have grown older Steve has taken them into town, given them a fiver each, and pointed them in the direction of Poundland. Young children always work on the basis that 5 presents are better than one. Steve works on the premise that the boys are choosing the presents so they must be special. Some of the more memorable gifts over the years include a bag of bird seed, a spatula and some rubber gloves. There has also been a lot of chocolate, some of which I’ve eaten.

This year could be interesting because the boys now get pocket money and Steve, being an ex-financial adviser, is determined that they learn to budget. So, whatever I get this year, will be after their weekly spend on phone top ups, sweets and magazines. I’m not hopeful but, then, I don’t mind because whatever they get me will be wonderful. Although their best presents have always be the ones they made themselves. Incidentally, I don’t wish to give the impression that my husband stints on his own mothers gift. His parents live in Blandford, Dorset, and there is no Poundland there so he sends his mum flowers every year. I love flowers and am considering a move to Blandofrd myself.

13 years ago my eldest son was born on mothering Sunday. As I was lying in the hospital bed coming to terms with motherhood the midwife came in and asked what I was getting for mother’s day. I replied that having just given birth and having been in labour for, what felt like, days, It was the last thing on my mind and that, anyway, my mother would understand. The midwife gave a nod towards the baby by my side and said “I wasn’t talking about your mother, I was talking about you..”

I hope all you Mothers out there have a wonderful day.

Plymouth, Cornwall.

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We were in the audience at Plymouth Pavillions last night laughing with Billy Connolly when he started singing a song about the flowers of Devon.  Devon! Why on earth was he going on about Devon and then the penny had dropped, we had left God’s own country and crossed the border.  I know that Plymouth has special dispensation for all those unfortunate Cornish children that had to go there to be born but in all honesty it isn’t Cornwall.

Isn’t it funny how each county gets proprietorial? Some counties seem rather relaxed about their identity but we know that’s not the case here.  It’s not just those living in Cornwall that seem rightly fascinated with the county or country depending on your leaning but so does the rest of England. The media is full of Cornwall, every five seconds there seems to be another show based in Cornwall, recently we had Caroline Quentin frolicking around in holiday homes and the River Cottage boys foraging along the highways and byways.  Next week Monty Hall is down at Penzance, Claire Balding is Rambling in Looe on Radio 4 and so it goes on.  I can’t think of another county that receives such constant attention. It’s not just TV and radio though, every time I pick up a magazine you might be forgiven for think that the only stretch of coastline in the UK is down here.  I’ve moved around a lot and whilst Cornwall does have jaw droppingly beautiful beaches we’re not the only one.
I’m not complaining and all the free publicity is great but the upshot is that everyone heads for Cornwall.  Like I said not complaining and I love the variety of people it brings into the county – you have to admit we’re not the most diverse bunch of people but I just wish that it didn’t cause so many issues.  I was driving into Newquay last week and someone has posted a sign on one of the main welcome boards that reads “Be nice or go home.”  Now, I know that doesn’t seem hugely friendly on first glance but is it that different to “Please drive carefully through our village”? It’s just some local asking for their home to be treated with respect and courtesy – god knows Newquay is suffering at the moment although it’s not just visitors and Councillors should really look at their decisions to allow so many clubs and bars and topless joints to open up. Those are problems of our own making.
Half term has passed us by and we all noticed that the roads seemed a bit busier than usual, Tescos was running out of stock faster than usual, on Saturday the queues at the petrol pumps were silly and gradually the county felt that little bit fuller.  Now it’s emptied out again but we all know that Easter is just around the corner and along with the visitors comes the good weather (well sometimes) the outdoor concerts, the plays in the park, the festivals, the events and shows which we all love. So even if I have to reverse 500 yards uphill every other day and never find anywhere to park I still love the start of spring and everything and everyone else that comes with it.

and one for the dogs

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It’s been a wonderful week as I’m back in the shop. I love listening to people wandering past the puzzle board and arguing the toss.  This week it’s a nice easy one just in case like me, people still have cobwebs in the attic.  It’s this “Mr Blue lives in a red bungalow. His kitchen is red, his carpet is red, his windows are red even his dog is red. So what colour are his stairs?” So far most people have got it right and one 8 year old wandered in and told me it was too easy. Mind you just as I was about to go out and change it I heard two men trying to figure it out and not succeeding, so I’ve left it in place.

 

 

I’ve also had all the locals passing comments over my recent articles, so apologies for the ones that don’t feature Meva and no I don’t owe Steve an apology! Others have wondered where I’ve been hiding and wanted to know if I’ve been hibernating? It’s certainly feels like it coming back into the fun and bustle of Mevagisssey but I’ve actually been working really hard on The Cornish Bookshop for a re-launch of the website.  It’s been long, boring and frustrating but I know have a fabulous new site that should work with greater ease.

 

 

Something new this year in the shop is treats for dogs.  I know it’s a bit gimmicky but it’s a nice gimmick.  From time to time we give out stickers and badges and even sweets to well behaved children and one day I was laughing with a dog owner that we let children in so why wouldn’t we let dogs in. After all they are vastly better behaved! It was a jokey comment but it got me thinking, we love having dogs in the shop so why not have a little treat for them as well?  So now we have a dog bowl full of bonios that have a little scoop bag tied to them as well.  After all you can never be too prepared.  We’ve been trialling it this week and so far so good; dogs are thrilled to get a treat and owners are pleased to see their pooches getting a quick pamper.

 

 

Lots of the other shops have also been trying out new things although none of us have gone so far as Bon Appetite who stopped being a café and have become a bit of a treasure trove.  Lots of interesting  and useful bits and bobs now line their shelves.  The antique furniture shop has now moved from her tiny space into David’s old place The Loft and now she’s got loads of room to spread out and really show of her fabulous wares.  My favourite addition to the village though is a marvellous new florist, so there should be some wonderful arrangements in the shop over the coming months. There are a few empty shops which is bonkers given how good trade is in Mevagissey, so I hope we see some more independents coming in soon.