Today was the Christmas Market, last one of the year, and it went well.
The other stalls around were delightful – next door to me a cake stall with gorgeously decorated small cakes and some delightful biscuits, made by Pink Peach Cake Co.
‘Love Betty’ was across the way and a lovely young woman, a student at Falmouth University, bought a coat that suited her so very well.
‘Love Betty, Reloved to beloved upcycled fashion’
We got caught in a downpour when shopping in town so we popped into our favourite coffee shop, Home Ground, to shelter and have some excellent coffee. There were roses on the window ledge.
There are still flowers in our garden despite the wind and rain. I decided to bring some in to enjoy indoors.
I have shared Mary Oliver’s poems before and this seemed so apt for these nights that are drawing in earlier and earlier, not eight o’clock tonight but by seven o’clock it was properly dark.
Lamps – Mary Oliver
Eight o’clock, no later
You light the lamps,
The big one by the large window,
The small one on your desk.
They are not to see by—
It’s still twilight out over the sand,
The scrub oaks and cranberries.
Even the small birds have not settled
For sleep yet, out of the reach
Of prowling foxes. No,
You light the lamps because
You are alone in your small house
And the wicks sputtering gold
Are like two visitors with good stories
They will tell slowly, in soft voices,
While the air outside turns quietly
A grainy and luminous blue.
You wish it would never change—
But of course the darkness keeps
Its appointment. Each evening,
An inscrutable presence, it has the final word
Outside every door.
I noticed some windows in Redruth for the first time today and loved the fact that ‘DRESSES’ and ‘MANTLES’ are still etched into the glass. I’m hoping a local reader will know what the shop was in its heyday.
The West End Drapery Stores were quite something and the premises are still lovely on the outside. One section of the old shop is being renovated and has been recently painted and the floor tiles cleaned up.
I baked some Courgette and Mozzarella Muffins today and they were delicious.
Taking this photo of the rainbow paper flower, I was aware of the Welly Dogs, Tinners’ Hounds, in the reflection.
Just a few moments later as I walked up Fore Street, I noticed two hounds tied to the two Tinners’ Hounds beside a lamppost. That amused me.
There are berries in the front garden. I think they are from a Rose of Sharon that has planted itself.
The last of our family leave tomorrow as our Nephew and family return to Munich. We have spent a lovely evening with them. It has been a busy and thoroughly enjoyable couple of weeks.
My market stall was pleasing today though not as many sales as last time for various reasons.
We have some gin stones, little cubes that we keep in the freezer, which chill the gin without diluting it!
I had two and a half hours reading magazines in a waiting room this afternoon and found several interesting recipes which I photographed. Tonight I made Maple Soy Chicken with Pak Choi and Mushroom Stirfry which was, indeed, very tasty.
Ten years or so ago, when our first Grandchild arrived, I bought a beautiful Noah’s ark. Today, as none of the LiveWires now play with it, I have passed it on to our lovely neighbour for her visiting Grand nephew and nieces to play with.
I have unexpectedly been offered a stall at tomorrow’s monthly market in Redruth to sell my glass pieces and I have accepted! I’ve made a new sign for the stall.
We are living in troubled times and need to keep our hope alive. 
Especially seek out truth and love, Dear Reader .
One of the charities that The Suitcase Singers supports is the Invictus Trust. The Invictus Trust was set up in January 2010 by Ben’s family and is dedicated to the memory of Ben Cowburn, a wonderfully vibrant young man whose struggle with mental health issues had tragic consequences. The Invictus Trust is named after the poem that inspired Ben. Click on the links to find out more.
Today we presented a cheque for £600 which Ben’s Father accepted with gratitude. He explained that the money we have donated will be the icing on the cake for the new unit which is about to open in Cornwall, the first such unit in Cornwall. The money we have raised will go to equipping the music room and to the parents’ accommodation. Until now, young people with mental health problems could only be treated outside Cornwall so this is a wonderful development.
The Suitcase Singers and the Invictus Trust cheque
This is our walk into town. Aren’t we lucky?
Imagine the perfume in the lane as I walked past this Jasmine hedge.
Jasmine perfume filling Church Lane
Commentator Award
