Thursday - Tintagel Castle, tree house stay and gin making lesson!

Hi!

Today we had to be up and out quite early - we had to leave the apartment by 10am.  We went and got some breakfast before heading out to Tintagel castle.  It turned out to be a really nice day - but there were so many steps up and down!! I loved it lol.

There was not much of the actual castle left.  But whilst we were looking around - I finally decided what my super power would be if I had one lol.  I would love to be able to see back in time - not necessarily travel in time - but to be an observer.  I got to thinking how awesome it would be to see the whole castle and the people that lived in it...then started thinking - imagine Rome! Or our house in 1790 - and especially how it looked inside - the decor and the people - the land!!  In the end I just got really pissed off because I can't do any of these things and will never be able to!!

Anyway...we left Tingagel at around 2.15pm to head to the tree house we had booked for the night!  We eventually found it down the most narrow country lane I've ever witnessed!  We met with Shona, who had been working making lavender oil - and the smell was amazing!  She led us into a field - along a line of trees and to our tree house!  It looked awesome - with a little table outside and a rope/tyre swing outside (which I was told was 17 years old so not really safe to swing on) - so when she had gone I had a go! lol

The tree house was up quite a few steps - 18 foot high I believe - and inside was small! It was quaint and sweet but you couldn't really spend more than one night there!  Outside (back down steps) was basically a shed with a porta-loo and a shower.  Andy was NOT happy about the loo because, he explained, as a bloke his dangly bits touched the bottom as it was so shallow (he explained how he had to use sanitising hand wash on his bits lol).

Basically it felt like camping!  

So - at 4.30ish we made our way back to where we met Shona - in a wooden building - full of jars of stuff, and spices and all sorts of things!  She explained that they make candles, perfume and gin - and that making perfume was not too different than making gin!

There were four Swedish ppl joining us but they were late - so she took us around - what looked like overgrowness - but she knew exactly what every plant was!  We picked lavender, chives, roses...oh god I am so rubbish - we picked loads of things - all of which could be added to the gin!

Then she explained to us that Gin is basically made from Vodka - as Vodka is basically just alcohol with nothing added!  It was 60% Vodka however as you lose some alcohol in the distilling process.  To that we added juniper berries, cinnamon and angel root?  Then we could choose what other ingredients we wanted.  The Swedish people arrived at about this point - and caught up with us.  

Here are some of the things that I chose for my gin (on the paper) I tried to go for a floral flavour

Then we all took turns distilling the gin - it was simmered - the alcohol would come off first - followed by the water.  I was weird because you tasted the gin and then the water - and then you mixed them.  Everybody tasted each others gin - so it was really interesting - but because you didn't taste them all side by side it was difficult to really compare.  They were all awesome though!!

Andy's turn....

After a really good educational time - that left us determined to buy our own distillery stuff - we went back to the tree house and very soon after we were brought lots of yummity food!!

We then got cozy in the tree house - and drank gin and tonic whilst we had a game of snakes and ladders lol...then I kicked Andy's butt at cards!

We went to sleep quite early - and had a great night sleep!!  The next morning - very soon after I woke up - we heard a 'Hello!' and we had been brought a full English breakfast!!

We polished that off - got packed up - and headed home!

:-) 

Wednesday - New Quay, Cornwall

We eventually decided that we could not be bothered to go anywhere today - not out of New Quay anyway - we went into the town - and played in arcades for a while lol.  It was just 2p machines - but we had loads of fun! Won a few trashy cheap bits of rubbish lol.  This is what we won!

The seagulls were so sweet with their babies!!

I finally got my cornish pasty for lunch - and it was lush!!!!

We went and spent a couple of hours in a bar - sitting outside in the sun over looking the sea - it was so nice!!  We didn't leave there until quite late - we then went on a bit of a pub crawl!!  Didn't get wasted or anything....

Tuesday - New quay Cornwall

So...today we started off with Breakfast at the hotel....and decided to drive out to Tintagel.  The weather wasn't looking so great and it was raining a bit - so when we saw signs for the Eden Project we decided to go there instead.  It consists of large domes - they have a rain forest in one of them - and the other was Mediterranean - there are also gardens and a section concerning planets.  It was so nice!! I loved the rain forest part, it was obviously really hot walking around in there - but amazing...

Here are some pics....

I could put so many pics up here - too many to choose from.  We had a yummy lunch (burritos) and then bought a bottle of Cornish gin (Tarquins) which came with two gin glasses...then we made our way back into Newquay.  

We then went to new accommodation - it was an apartment that we found on airbnb.  It was so much better than a small hotel room - living room - TV kitchen - fridge! proper bathroom - just a one bedroom apartment but pretty cool!!  We ended up staying in and ordering pizza!!

Monday - Newquay, Cornwall

Hi!

After a not-too-bad sleep - we went and got some breakfast and a coffee - and then decided to walk into Newquay again.  Andy wanted some comfy trainers, so we looked around the shops for a bit!  We bought a raven skull (resin) to go with our rather weird collection at home - and it is also a Raven and Andy supports the Baltimore Ravens - so it was pretty cool.  I got a dress and some trousers and Andy got some trainers.  We then went and sat down and got these....

Hehe.

Andy then got fish and chips - I was still full from my eggs benedict at breakfast - although I did nick a few chips and a bit of fish :-)

Then we went in the arcades and played on the 2p machine!  We totally blew £2 each!

We then headed back to the hotel and Andy had a shower and I caught up with this blog!!  It is now 6.20pm - and I guess I'd better get showered!  We are going to head out again and get food and have fun soon!!

Catch up laters!!

Sunday - Exeter 10k - then Newquay Cornwall

So - Andy woke me up when my alarm went off (as I had ear plugs in and didn't hear it!) and I got up - not feeling 100% but not as hung over as I could have been!  I got ready for my run and we arranged with the hotel that I could come back and get showered afterwards.  We went off for the run!

I was a bit nervous to be honest - 10k run - it could possibly get really ot and I might possibly start feeling ill!!  We hung around a bit - and then we were off!  It was a fast start really - first 1k was just under 6 minutes - which is fast for me - and I managed to stay a fairly quick pace for the first 3k or so!  I saw Andy who took a few pics...it was really nice to see him while on the run - and the next time I saw him - Helen, Paul and Eli were there!!  Made me feel quite emotional really!!  Or - as the woman I was sort of running with at the time said - 'totes emosh' lol.  I saw them a couple of times and it really spurred me on!!  I felt okay on the run! I never find it easy and some hills were still too much - but I ran my fastest pace - an average of 6.30 per kilometer.  I didn't get an official time - it was a Race for Life - cancer research UK.  My watch also told me that I had only ran 9.8k but at the pace I ran and from the stats I had - I did it in 1hr 5m.  So I was really happy with that!

So - after that and a quick chat with Helen and Paul - we rushed back to the hotel so I could get a shower - and then we headed off to Newquay in cornwall.  We booked a hotel for 2 nights - as we sat in the car about to leave lol.

We arrived in about an hour and a half - and got booked in no problems!

The room was really nice - the bathroom tiny - which isn't a problem and the view was pretty cool!!

We got sorted and then went for a walk!  Not that my legs were still aching or anything lol.  The beach was amazing - never really seen a beach looking like that in the UK before - sunny for a start lol...big, packed and the sea looked awesome!  

We continued walking around the coast line - taking in the views and just feeling great!  

We then stopped off at a pub and sat and had a couple of drinks - outside watching the people of the beach and the seagulls! We were there quite a while.

We then headed off to another place for a bit where we joined in a pub quiz and bingo hahaha - didn't win either but did discover a new gin - Tanqueray Sevilla (which Andy ordered a bottle of on Amazon).  We then decided to head back to the first place for food as it had looked awesome.  The place was called Bellushi's....we headed back after this - and crashed - I was still feeling so stuffed....

Fri/Sat - off to Exeter

Hi

Well the plan was to go off to North Devon for a night - and then go somewhere Saturday before heading to Exeter saturday night - ready for my 10k run Sunday morning - but instead we had to take Bitsy to the vets! She could not walk on one of her back legs.  The vet seemed pretty clueless to be honest - but we now know she has a very scabby foot, and sores under her 'arm' pits, she has a sore chin and a scab on the back of her neck.  The other cats seem to have smaller scabs on the back of their necks too...there seems to be some sort of skin condition - but the vet reckons she had stood in something caustic - licked it getting her chin infected with it - and....well...its rubbish!  The vet did take her off and give her foot a good clean though...

So - Friday night we played pool with Connor and Emily - had a good time as usual!

Saturday - we finally got off to Exeter!  I found a room for us in a pub - I thought it was above the pub but it was a hotel attached to it - so it was much better than I expected!  We went out around Exeter - we went in a place called the Rum & Crab shack - just to get a cocktail - and we left hours later! lol.  We ended up eating in there and having a few cocktails.  The vibe was good and it was a fun place to be so we just stayed there!!

 This is Andy in the Rum & Crab Shack! 

I sent Lissa a pic of us both and she sent this back....

So we thought it would be funny to sort of get in the pic too - so sent her this:

then this:

we got Helen and Paul involved and sent these:

then Connor....

Lissa then sent these back....

Haha! That kept us entertained for a while!!

Once we realised that it was quite late, I was quite drunk and had a 10k to run the next morning - we headed back to where we were staying - and went to the bar! hehe.  I was sensible at last and had a pint of coke.  We decided to video message Helen and Paul - which was really funny - we took this pic...

In general everybody thought it was quite funny that I was quite drunk and had to be up and at the place for the run by 8.30am the next morning - I was a little concerned myself!

We went to bed about 11.15pm - I wore ear plugs and had an alarm set for 7.30am....

Mon/Tues/Wed

Hi!

So, Andy is off work for the next two weeks! So - Monday we drove out to Wooky Hole! I was worried it would be really kid-orientated but - although a lot of the stuff was for kids - the caves themselves were good...although not as big or impressive as I thought they'd be.  So it was - alright....a nice day out though!

We got back and cooked a nice Hello Fresh meal and chilled....

Tuesday - yesterday - we did nothing lol.  We tried to arrange where we are going to go as we plan on disappearing for a few days - and seeing some of Devon and Cornwall - incorporating a 10k race I have on Sunday in Exeter.

My new running watch (Garmin forerunner 235) turned up so I spent some time trying to figure it all out!

Last night Paul came around and did music stuff with Andy so I spent all night watching back-to-back episodes of Wentworth Prison lol.

Today - Wednesday - it is 12.30 and I've done nothing but play with my watch! I am now debating going for a run - maybe a 5k - Emily want to go out and do her couch to 5k running - but that will be very easy for me - so I might go out twice.

-------------------

So _ went out for a run - just over 6k because I must have missed the usual turn-off!  I struggled today and didn't do a great time...but I got out there and ran!  Then I stayed in my running gear so I could go out with Emily, but when she got back she didnt wanna go! so I binge watched Wentworth again while Andy was in the studio!

Sunday

So - we got up at Helen and Paul's - after a good nights sleep! 

Paul again, fed us well at breakfast - then we got ready and went to the beach - I think it was Broad Sands. It was awesome weather - and Helen and Paul took their two Kayak's.

Connor and Emily went out in the double Kayak and I took the single one - and we went for a wander around the coast! it was really run!!  We then chilled and chatted and had a beer! and we stayed until about 3pm - then we set off back home.

Saturday!

So - I don't even remember what I did Thursday and Friday so it cant of been that interesting - actually Friday I sort of felt ill - I could hardly move.  I felt weak and had no energy! I had wanted to get the house all tidy ready for Andy's two week holiday....but I just couldn't! I managed to rouse myself after a few gin and tonic's - enough to have a few games of pool with Andy, Connor and Emily.

Saturday - we were lazy and chilled - until we got ready to go to Helen and Paul's - Connor and Emily came along - we got there, and had a few drinks in the garden and had a BBQ - Paul always does amazing food - he is really good at entertaining - I can never pull it off like he does!  We then got a couple of Taxi's into Paignton and went to the spinny.  Wasn't sure what Connor and Emily would make of the Spiny as it has an older clientele and the live band isn't always amazing, but we always have a good laugh - and we did again.  I think Connor and Emily enjoyed it as much as we did. 

Me and Helen messed about on snapchat - the bottom one here - really made us laugh!!

When it got later - we were talking about leaving - and Helen really didn't want to go! So - she suggested shots - Andy and Paul - went to the bar and got Tequila shots!! 

Just a few random pics:

We always finish the night having a quick wander n the beach in the dark. Then head to the taxi rank via the chippy! lol

We got back to Helen and Pauls and carried on for quite a while - we were in the garden and looking at the stars because it was so clear - we could see the Milky Way - Andy was trying to stress how significant it was - but we were all pretty wasted lol.  I did however try my best to take in the sight!!

Eventually went to bed about 3am.  We'd had an awesome night!!