Duchy of Cornwall.

Well, the move finally happened, which, in part, is why I have not written for so long!

The actual day of the move was a nightmare with the removal men. Because it was such a distance  (over 300 miles) they deviced it would be done over a couple of days, But they wanted to charge more for a weekend drop so we decided they could do it on the Monday. In the event it arrived late Tuesday afternoon. And then there was only 2 members of staff to unload a Pantechnicon and a whole house load of furntiture.

In the end we were in safe and sound and then the hard work began. The new place wasn't as clean as it could have been and we spent the weekend before the furniture arrived, cleaning it. Then we started on the patio as that needed de-cluttering as it had been left to get overgrown. We managed to get it looking like a home within the week I was off luckily. We have done several more adjustments to the place since, but nothing that stopped us being comfortable. Just getting it the way we wanted and making it our own.

We've been out and about a bit, but work has taken a great deal of time as well. We've turned the second bedroom into my office, along with a bed settee for when we have the inevitable visitors!

All our animals (3 dogs and 2 cats) have settled well, and seemed to love the walks up the hills and on the beaches. There are lots of dog owners in the village so it hasn't taken us long to make new acquaintaces.  There was also a joint venture with the neighbours as the local pub ( less than 50 metres away!) had applied to turn their garden itno a Beer one. This would have impinged on ours and others privacy and created unwanted noise. The local Coincil had turned it down but the Brewery appealed. Glad to say they lost so no Beer Garden.

My wife is finding it hard to settle as we have left our eldest daughter and 3 grandchildren behind in Lincolnshire. We miss them greatly but I have my work to be able to throw myself into. Dawn doesn't have that at present, though she is looking to do some volunteering to get her out a bit. Dawn and Paula (the eldest) were often going out and about together. They only lived about 10 minutes away from us so it was easy for them to meet up. It has only been 5 months so weknow it will take time, but fingers are crossed that it gets easier for her.

Photography-wise, Cornwall is an ideal place. Whether it be landscape or seascape, people or pets, aircraft or ships the Duchy gives you plenty of subjects.  Really spoilt for choice. Haven't managed to have anything else published at present, as not had chance to work properly on anything. But now we're more settled I can get back into the swing of things.

I shall keep you informed.
BFN
Paul

Too Long

I didn't realise it had been so long since I had written here. A few things have changed since I last wrote.
Firstly, job-wise. End of last year was a big upheaval for the project I work on. Emphasis was changing from support in the community to remote support by telephone. We were cut from a team of 12 down to 5 field-based nurses with an increase of telephone Support Line advisers. I was one of those at risk of being made redundant or having to fight a colleague to keep my field-based position. It was evident that anyone who stayed field-based would have their territory increased, meaning more driving, longer hours, etc. I volunteered to switch to the telephone side of it and was successful. Because of our Head Office being in Reading, most of the Support Line members operate from home using a telephone system linked to our Head Office servers. What a brilliant idea!  Now my daily commute entails walking from the lounge to my home office with a cup of tea in my hand!
Four months into the job and I have to say it was a good move.

House-wise, we are still in Lincolnshire at present but that's only because the wheels of solicitors' carriages move at a snails pace! We have sold our house and acquired one in Cornwall, near St. Austell. We can't wait to get down there, but sadly we have to because of the legal side of the transaction.  But at least we are on our way.

I have had another article published in This England, Spring edition, about one of our local landmarks here, Grimsthorpe Castle. I have also had a commission from Airgun Shooter magazine to chronicle my return to Air Rifle Shooting. Since the age of 13, I have been shooting guns of one sort another and recently have become re-interested in the sport.  I am doing a series of articles that have taken me right from finding out about the guns available these days (been about 25 years since I last used one!) to actually joining a club and entering competitions. It's been a very enjoyable journey and there will be a possibility of me being a regular contributor to the magazine in the future.

Sadly, due to health problems, I have had to curtail my two-wheeled escapades. Old bones and joints don't sit well with cold weather and heavy bikes any more, so the Thunderbird I loved so much has gone to a new home where she will get more use than I was giving her. It was a hell of a wrench after over 40 years of riding.

So that's all caught up now. I will try not to leave it so long next time.