Stroller 'Round Eden

Fri 19 May

I was woken by a laughing Lily this morning at 7.30, so decided to get up instead off my typical response which would be to roll over. I gave Lily the gift my mum had sent over for her and Daisy; one of my favourite books growing up "Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy". It was a hit.

We had lunch at home and then headed off (in the rain, again!) to the Eden Project in St Austell. The Eden Project primarily consists of two huge transparent domes, and these are filled with plants from around the world. Watch the film Bio-Dome for more! I am not so interested in plants, but I was impressed with the spectacle of the place; these domes we huge, an engineering feat, or somesuch.

I had a crash course in operating a three-wheeled stroller before we headed back to the carpark in the rain to get the two shivering girls into the car. Later that night Kate picked up her husband Dave from the train station who had travelled to Bodmin after work in Bristol. A few drinks and dinner before heading to bed at a reasonable hour knowing that tomorrow would be another early start.

Pereunt et Imputantur

Thu 18 May

Some forms for the farm had to be delivered to Exeter so we jumped in the car and headed along the A30. We crossed the mighty Tamar (which separates Cornwall and Devon) and drove around the north side of Dartmoor. While Joe sorted out something flash to wear to the York Races with his mother, I visited the Exeter Cathedral.

This cathedral is just shy of its 1000 birthday, and the highlight for me was the 500 year old astronomical clock in the north transept. The Latin phrase "Pereunt et Imputantur" at the base of the clock is usually translated as "they perish and are reckoned to our account", referring to the hours that we spend, wisely or not (thanks Wikipedia).

Kate Button, who is Joe's sister, and her daughters Lily (2) and Daisy (6 months) had driven down from Cardiff so we met up with them briefly before we drove back to Tregawn through Dartmoor. The sun came out which made for good viewing of my first thatched roof - a brand new one at that! When we made it to the top of the Moor it was photo time in the rugged terrain, and typically for an area that gets 60 inches of rain a year - it started to rain. We felt the thirst at Postbridge and luckily enough England's third highest pub was there for our convenience - the Warren House Inn. We popped inside for an Otter Ale and a pickled egg, and I had my first traditional farmhouse scrumpy; a curious experience. It had a very strong, but bitter, apple flavour, and the alcohol taste was very strong. Definitely had that stright-outta-the-barrel homemade feel about it. Other highlights included the Aston Martin DB9 (means nothing to me) and the old man with the monocle (means a lot to me).

The rain was teeming down so we ventured on to Dartmoor Prison in Princetown which was erected in the early 1800s to hold prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars. Another hour on the road and we were checking out some potato fields (the Button's main crop) before heading the Matthew's for takeway Chinese. Obviously while we waiting for the food to be cooked we headed to the Molesworth Arms for a half of Tetleys Smoothflow. Sweetbix!

Golf On The Cornish Coast

Wed 17 May

Joe was feeling poorly, so without a tour guide I was left to my own device. I was given a car (the Golf), a map and some loose directions and told to head for the hills - literally.

My first stop (not including when I stalled it on the farm) on the north Cornish coast was Boscastle. Boscastle was hit by flash floods on 16 August 2004 when an obscene amount of rain fell there in the five hour period. The flood damage is still evident now. I got to witness first hand how the rain can be heavy there. I followed the path to the end of the harbour so I could look down the coast. It was sunny when I walked there, but once I was the furtherest I could possibly be from the Golf the rain hit. Sh!t it was heavy and I was drenched. I rushed back to the Golf and got the hell outta there in case Floods Mark II hit.

I took the narrow hilly roads to Tintagel, a place the Buttons reckoned Mum and Dad went to when they were here in the late 70s (turns out it was 1980). I am yet to verify that though. Due to the rain I didn't even get out of the Golf.

The Golf self-navigated the unmarked roads to my next stop Trebarwith. The rain was still falling but I found sanctuary in The Port William with half a pint in hand, a St. Austell Tinners Ale I believe. This Inn is supposed to boast the best view in Cornwall. I would say it had potential but the dark sky meant the vista was limited. I plan to head back there on a clear night to see the sunset.

I headed home, via Delabole and St Teath, and found Tregawn (the Button farm) with only one phonecall for help. Turned out I was just around the corner, but these little roads are narrow and easy to get lost in.

Arsenal looked to be the goods with a 1-0 lead at half time against Barcelona, but Barca's relentless attack in the second half attack got them the victory. Two great games of footy in England for me so far then.

Plymouth Pilgrims

Tue 16 May

We headed to Plymouth to see the steps where the pilgrims headed to "North Virginia" on the Mayflower in 1620 (about the time the Button's house was being built I guess!). We looked in an old Elizabethan home, and had an ice cream.

It started to rain so we headed back to Michaelstow (where the Button's live). After dinner, so supper as it's called, Joe took me to Port Isaac to watch his friends rowing in the Atlantic Ocean on traditional Cornish row boats. The tradition is that when huge ships docked out in the harbour the first boat to get there would get the contract of bringing the crew ashore - thus the races!

We felt we had earned a drink, so we had a beer overlooking the harbour. A pleasant evening and a magic view.

Early In Newquay

Mon 15 May

Checked out the R+W's new apartment with Wendy. Very nice indeed! After that we headed to Canary Wharf for a cruise around and a beer. Got home to pack my bag and head to Stansted for my first experience flying Ryan Air (9pm flight to Newquay). Took about 5 minutes to check in and get through "customs". No problemo.

I arrived in Newquay 20 minutes early, but Joe Button was 20 minutes late. Do the math. Once he was forgiven we headed back to his place to see his parents (Andrew and Jean), have dinner, and three pints of the local bitter (Sharp's Eden Ale). They live in a grand old house - literally - the house was built in the early 1600s!

Our family had Joe to stay in Christchurch in 1993, so I am returning the favour and crashing with them for 9 or so nights.

Goblet Of Fire

Sun 14 May

I held myself back a bit the night before because I thought I had a lunch with some relatives I had never met before. I was quite looking forward to going to Kensington (darling) but it just didn't turn out; people had to be in different places.

In lieu of that I had an English style breakie with Alex and his mate Jimmy (who reminded me of Herries). We watched the final of Shipwrecked (well done the Sharks!) and then I tubed home to do some research on Cornwall (where I was heading the next day) and my first viewing of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Almost A Hammer

Sat 13 May

I woke up with most of my health bars in tact (70%) and caught the tube to Angel (an unexpected detour required because of maintenance) to meet Alex to watch the FA Cup Final. I met Alex in Christchurch late 2000 when he came over from the UK to work on the Women's World Cup cricket. Because I don't have a Premiership team to support yet we decided that if the underdogs West Ham beat Liverpool then they would be my team.

Alex was a bit rough as well so we started slowly on the beers (my first Foster's Top which is a glorified shandy), but once the first (of six) goal was scored we were in the groove! I supported my potential new team till the end, but as you know, they lost in penalties. The search continues.

After the game we played some pool (two from three) and then caught the tube to Arnos Grove for "Ribs and Chicken" and then attended a going away party briefly before heading home.

First Ball At Lord's

Fri 12 May

Headed to London Bridge to meet an old friend Hannah who works at Monmouth Coffee at the Borough Market. I was a bit early so I had one of their famous coffees - on the money (even though it was gratis!). Had an unspectacular lunch at the market though, but this was more than made up for by the mango smoothie.

I farewelled Han and walked along the Thames to Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Next to Buckingham Palace and through Green Park to catch the tube to Lord's (St John's Wood on the Jubilee Line) where I hoped to catch the last session of day two of the first test between England and Sri Lanka (got it!). Tickets were only a tenner (my sort of price point) so I cruised into the Mound Stand beer in hand (my seat was about mid-off if bowling from the Media Centre end). The first ball I saw was a wicket (Mubarak lbw by Hoggard for a duck); how about that!

After 20 overs I decided to head off. As I was walking out I saw a familiar face - well not too familiar as I hadn't seen him for years, but at least I recognised him - Mike O'Byrne from StAC. What are the chances? Mum reckons one in a million. He was hosting clients, but they had long since gone so I joined him and a colleague for a sandwich, an Australian beer (Fosters) and New Zealand red wine. After the final ball we walked out with the masses, past the Spearmint Rhino limo (and therefore skantily clad ladies) to a public house for a beer. Justin (Mike's mate) produced some cards so some drinking games were played and lost by all.

At about 11, Mike, worse for wear, went home but the three of us kicked on to Club 92 (or something like that) for a final beer before making our way home. I think they Justin and the other guy were introducing me as a movie director! Sweetbix!

I navigated my way back to Russell and Wendy's just fine...arriving at 1am. Lovely.

Real Life Chavs

Thu 11 May

I woke up well refreshed, hoping 10 hours sleep would rid me of and jetlag. After breakfast my mission was to buy some shoes and a mobile phone, so with Wendy in tow we headed to Ilford (bought mobile) and Romford (bought shoes).

What I was later told, was that Romford is the Capital Of Chavs (click here if you don't know what a chav is). That made sense from what I saw; Burberry shorts/hats/stroller liners. Truly horrendous.

Navigating The London Underground

Wed 10 May

The plane arrived on time and I was almost the first off the plane, however my bags were the last to appear on the conveyor - what a start!

After talking to Russell (second cousin) and his wife Wendy on the phone, we worked out the best tube route for me to collect the house keys from Russell's work (Piccadilly Line to Greenpark, then Victoria Line northbound two stops to Warren Street). I listened to Pluto's Pipeline Under The Ocean on my iPod on the tube, so I guess it was about a 40 minutes journey.

Their house is a five minute walk from the Redbridge station on the central line (10 minutes carrying 4 bags!). I had just made myself at home (i.e., had a shower and a cup of tea) when Kiera and Wendy arrived home. One photo album later Russell got home and I had my first meal as a Visa holding citizen.

And So It Begins...

It has taken me a week to sort myself out, so this is me just back-filling my trip so far.

Tue 09 May

After all my packing and some final admin, my (old) flatmates dropped me off at the airport. There was no queue at check in so I just cruised through customs to get my duty free (new camera, Sony T7) and headed to the Koru Lounge for a final can of L&P.

NZ2 bound for London Heathrow (via LAX) was uneventful.

And so it begins...