Gratitude.

Creeping back to near normal life after three weeks on antibiotics.

Gratitude for so many of your kind  comments, prayers and emails. How blessed we are to have friends from so far and near. Thank you so much.

Grateful for loving family and friends who were a huge support and brought me jellies and other easy to eat things. (including live yogurt which I loathe but is in the words of my Grandma, 'Good For You').

So grateful for a husband who put up with rather odd meals without a murmur (except to beg me to rest more)

Grateful too for two or three hot sunny days, when sitting in the garden was such a gift.

All I need now is an injection of energy and a brain that might come up with something to write about!

Off line for a while.

Off line for a while, recovering from a nasty chest infection and on second round of antibiotics.

A village wander

Let's have a wander around the village.

It's name makes people curious.

Playing Place? The name comes from the Cornish 'Plain an Gwarry'. What's the history? It's said that way back in medieval times there were troupes of players, musicians, dancers who performed here in one specific place. Sadly no one seems to know where it was!

I suppose the Community Hall is the centre, where things go on.

Years ago I ran a Brownie pack here, and I believe there are still Cubs groups. 

So many opportunities...Aerobics, Choir, Folk Dance, Garden Society, Line Dancing, Bowls...and more. Our church has a monthly lunch for anyone in the village and about 40 of us enjoy that.

So many villages have now lost their shops, but we are fortunate to have a little Spar shop with Post Office included. the goods are more expensive than in the city supermarkets, but it is convenient if you don't want to, or can't, drive.

There's a very good bus route into Truro about 10 minutes away. No I haven't yet tried it.

A little further round the village and we come to the Alms Houses, dated 1726.

Not too many villages have Alms houses, but we are the proud possessor of four tiny cottages.

You never know who you are going to see in the village, but a sight that we all enjoy is M. leading his two horses round the lanes for their exercise. One is a lovely shire horse, whose name is Caleb. Sadly I haven't always carried a camera when they are around.

Children can have fun in the village too, although we sadly lack a traditional Village Green. Next to the Hall is the skateboard rink and a play area.

It's one of those villages that isn't quite one thing or another. It is less than 5 miles from the city, but not part of it. The population is around one thousand. The church is about four miles distant and not in the village. The primary school is on the outskirts. The pub is a mile away.
So somehow it has not got a socially integrated village feel, although it is a very convenient place to live with easy access everywhere.

Surprises

My birthday came and went this week. Nowadays I really don't get very enthusiastic about birthdays...they tell me the years are passing too quickly.

We had a lovely day, with friends coming in for a simple lunch in the Conservatory. The sun was shining which made it very pleasant.

There were phone calls from Australia (son), a voucher from Canada (daughter), beautiful cards and some thoughtful presents too.

On the same day, I received a surprise gift from Debbie, a charming lady with a very talented daughter, Stephanie. It was so kind of her to send me this delightful set of tea holders and mats, and I think they were from Stephanie's shop.

Surprise gifts are so lovely!