Happy New Year!

We went to Wadebridge, looks to be about the same size as Bodmin but we found it more interesting. To be fair we were too busy getting turned around in Bodmin to see much of it. Being a Saturday the shops were mostly open in Wadebridge. They consisted of pubs, tea houses, bakeries, butchers, deli’s, general stores, a wine shop, clothing stores, charity shops, etc. What gave it some charm is that the shops are not chain stores, they are individually owned and operated so each is unique. It has a pedestrian only street which I always like since you aren’t dodging cars. Very attractive town and busy. It used to only have one bridge but they’ve added another for cars and one for foot traffic over  the Camel River. Nice lunch in a pub and a rather large shop since we had the car.

Sheep farming is big business in this area although we don’t see much lamb on the menu, guess they export much of it. We see the occasional herd of cattle and a few horses. Of course we would see much more without the hedgerows lining the roads. Really it is like driving through an open tunnel of vegetation. Hedgerows divide the fields as well so when you do get to a higher area it is quite beautiful, they also leave mature trees in the fields, many are bent due to wind. It is very green in the fields now, what I expected when in Ireland. We went in September so they had just finished harvesting causing it not to be as green as I had hoped of the Emerald Isle. Certainly I wasn’t disappointed, I was just glad to have followed up on my promise to my grandfather to visit. This was long before we applied for Irish citizenship or had even had the foggiest notion we would. Wonder what he would have thought of that!

We did find St. Maybn and wanted to go back so Sunday we got twisted around again, keep thinking you can get there by the back roads and perhaps you can but we can only manage by taking the “highway” for a small stretch. Anyway being Sunday they had a fixed menu of appy, hot meal and dessert. You could choose to have all three courses or one or two. Very, very good food, we had the one course, hot option and I didn’t need dinner! It was a busy place and included owners with dogs inside. I haven’t figured out the ruling on that yet, some allow and some not it seems. I think it depends on if they are designated Pub or Restaurant, that would be my guess.

Former mail truck outside the St. Maybn Inn, retired now.

Old beer fountains, retired as well.

St. Maybn has a twin church to St. Tudy and they share services and announcements of functions.  The pubs are quite different in mannerisms, while St. Tudy has not had food service for a week, St. Maybn does and benefits by it. Last Friday we were the only patrons in St. Tudy and mainly because I was using the WiFi.

So, yes, as you have been reading we eat lunch in pubs mostly. Doesn’t mean we always have a pint especially if Bruce is driving anywhere. I usually have tea that is brewed strongly, as they serve it here, so I have to add milk. The food is mostly good, sometimes fantastic and the atmosphere is jovial. Locals are usually in for a pint, I would say it’s their “home away from home”.  Usually the deal is you go up to the bar, order a beverage, sit and look at the menu, go back to the bar, order the meal and pay for it. The bartender will ask where you are seated and bring the food out. Maybe I’m wrong but I haven’t been tipping, it doesn’t seem expected or done. Décor usually includes many horse brasses on leather straps that were used on draught horses, lots of old pictures and a fireplace or two burning wood and coal.

Now for something completely different. This picture shows the door handle and latch on most of the doors in the cottage we are in. I’ve never seen anything so unique! The ball on the left is the spring loaded latch and goes into a corresponding hole in the jam. Wonder how old a system that is …

 Happy New Year and wishing you success and happiness in 2014.

Cheers, Bev, Bruce and Lexi Cat