RSS

Category Archives: Penryn

Guest Blogger

Hi everyone! I’m back and glad! This was our last full day in Cornwall but it has been, of course ,wonderful so far. Today, I went to Choir with Granny and was probably one of the best ones I’ve been to. Everybody is always so nice and welcoming and loves to help me during songs I don’t know. My favourite song was a Liberian song where we sang Cockadoodledoo in Liberian so if I ever want to go to Liberia, I can say Cockadoodledoo!
(I’ve tried to add an MP4 here but it’s not working – yet)

The day was foggy and murky yet seeing the ship wrecks on the mud was like a scarecrow in a field of daisies.

Later on, we went to Porthtowan for what was meant to be a fleeting encounter with the waves and pebbles but we got caught up and forgot time was running and stayed there for almost an hour stepping over stones and finding lettered pebbles.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on April 11, 2024 in Cornwall, family, music, Penryn, Porthtowan, Postaday 2024, Sea, singing

ShelterBox, Swans and Alan Brownjohn

29 Feb

A representative from ShelterBox came to choir today to collect the money we raised from our gigs over 2023. It is always moving to be brought up to date with their activities. They are working with MAP to get help into Gaza. Thanks to Mandy for the photo.

The tide was in this morning as we were rehearsing and the swans are back. I loved the contrast of the white swan and the colourful reflections in the water.

The poet, novelist and humanist, Alan Brownjohn, died last week so I thought I would share one of his poems,
The Director, with you. The format of the poem is four line stanzas but for some, irritating, reason, WordPress chooses to squash them all together. I hope this doesn’t spoil your enjoyment of this poem.

We get bored, we get restless. We feel there is more

Than merely existing – eating and drinking and dying,

The daily, the trivial round. We feel we must matter,

That somehow or other our presence in the world must count.

And then there are those with this urgent need for self-

Expression, the wish to put something out into the world,

To put down, for the record, what it was like to be them,

To be this self and no other and alive at this time.

Some find a medium, a skill with words, paint or stone,

(Though often enough they seem to mistake their need

To make for a gift to make something) while others remain

Frustrated, and find destructive ways of expression.

These are the difficult ones, the ones who can’t see

A possible pattern to things, order in all the disorder,

The sense of a journey, with somewhere, perhaps, to arrive,

The end, or the goal, which might justify it all.

So what can be done? It is tempting to preach and advise,

And point to the ways that others have found and followed,

The patterns which worked for them, the things which helped them through,

But that, of course, is exactly what they want to avoid.

So there really is nothing for it but kindness and patience.

Hoping, as always, that time will work its wonders,

That growing older may bring a kind of peace,

A slow-dawning recognition that things happen and pass.

He will be sorely missed. But we will always have his poetry.

And an extra one for you today, February 29th, a new word, courtesy of my SIL Bissextile

Leave a comment

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 29, 2024 in charity, environment, Kindness, nature, Penryn, photography, poetry, Postaday 2024, ShelterBox, Uncategorized

Tags: Medical Aid for Palestinians

Man Down, Porthtowan Beach and Happiness Calendar

01 Feb

What a lovely day! First singing with the most beautiful backdrop of the Penryn River and the giving of our donation to one of the charities we have supported over the last 12 months, Man Down, a local charity looking after the mental health of young men.

Photo by Mandy Rolleston – thank you.

Our eldest daughter came for the day to celebrate the birthday mentioned yesterday. We had lunch out at the Blue Bar in Porthtowan and walked on the beach in the lovely apricity, watched the dogs playing and the surfers having fun. We cooked a delicious birthday dinner together.

It’s the first of the month so time for the Happiness Calendar. Happy Days to all my lovely readers.

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 1, 2024 in Cornwall, environment, Happiness, nature, Penryn, Postaday 2024, Uncategorized

Tags: Man Down

Reflections

18 Jan

What a glorious day to go singing in Penryn with the backdrop of the Penryn River. It was so still this morning with the bluest of skies and the the loveliest of reflections. We are so lucky to rehearse with a view as beautiful as this.

Leave a comment

Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 18, 2024 in Cornwall, environment, Happiness, nature, Penryn, Postaday 2024, Uncategorized

River, Seagull and Pumpkins

19 Oct

High tide in the Penryn River this morning

Perched on a buoy

Hallowe’en display at the Muddy Beach Cafe.

Leave a comment

Posted by mybeautfulthings on October 19, 2023 in Cornwall, environment, nature, Penryn, photography, Postaday 2023

Tags: Muddy Beach Cafe

Wreck, Earrings and Hope

05 Oct

As I parked on the quayside ready for choir this morning,I became aware of a commotion on the far side of the river. By the time I had focussed and zoomed, the hoohah was all over but I liked the photo anyway, the Mallard Ducks, the ripples on the water and the wreckage of an old boat.

I bought some beautiful, hand-made earrings in Santa Fe and wore them today, Kokopelli on one side and a maize plant on the other.

I planted bulbs this afternoon, full of hope for a Spring full of colour and scent.

Gypsy Girl crocus

Mixed dwarf tulips

And a poem for today, National Poetry Day,

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on October 5, 2023 in Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Penryn, photography, Postaday 2023

Tags: Wendell Berry

Singing, The Grand Canyon and Dancing

21 Sep

It was so good to be back singing with my choir this morning with the Penryn River at high tide looking so very beautiful.

More Grand Canyon photos for you. Click on any photo for a bigger version. It truly is an awe inspiring place. It truly takes one’s breath away.

The Lodge at the North Rim

Point Imperial

Angel’s Window

Sunset at the North Rim

Each time we have been to the Grand Canyon, we have gone right up into the dark carpark, to dance under the stars. We have Bruce Springsteen with us!

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 21, 2023 in America, Arizona, Cornwall, environment, Penryn, photography, Postaday 2023, travel, Uncategorized

Tags: Angel's Window, Bruce Springsteen, Dancing in the Dark, North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Point Imperial

Egret, Black Headed Gull and Salad

20 Jul

As the tide went out this morning birds enjoyed the mud flats.

Egret

Black headed gull

I made a delicious salad last night to go with our salmon, using fresh broad beans lightly steamed, fresh courgette in half moons lightly fried and all tossed in a white wine and olive oil vinaigrette with freshly chopped mint leaves. I love our allotment produce..