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NEWS from CORNWALL: A quarterly publication from SeaGlimpses: 19-issues were published
between 1998-2003, growing from a 4-page news-sheet to a 24-page 'little magazine'.
Our editorial diary now continues -only- on-line, with monthly updates -

DECEMBER'04 Update: [End] The past few weeks have proved to be busy ones at SeaGlimpses, either with
visitors here or with journeys up-country to London and South Wales. We stayed with James and his fiancee mid-
month, a lovely three-day break, treating ourselves to 1st-class train tickets, which still meant a long journey from
Penzance to Paddington and then across London by underground, but at least we arrived ready to sample the local
hostelries!! On our second trip we drove up-country via the A30, M5 and M4 near to Cardiff for 48-hours. The trip up
was ok, but the volume and pressure of traffic on our return journey - especially on the M4 from Cardiff to the
bridge was unbelievable and quickly reminded us of the reason we moved to the Land's End over 3-years ago now!

We wish all our customers - and everyone who visits this rather erratic diary page a Very Happy 2005.

[Early] The mild, rather stagnant weather so far this month has, at least, meant we have been
able to tidy-up our new allotment and best of all, rediscover the delights of a winter bonfire. After all the hard 'spade
work', leaning on a fork handle and occasionally encouraging a bonfire to burn through is sheer delight. And in a rural
setting the smoke is unlikely to encur the wrath of anyone. The consistently mild weather (we have only had one 'touch of
frost') has also kept summer flowers alive - we still have bright blue Lobelia in flower and geraniums, whilst at the same
time we are on our second week of bunches of lovely early yellow-trumpet daffodils. It will be interesting to see if the long-
forecast cold winter reaches us here in the far west... we do also have a considerable stack of logs!

NOVEMBER'04 Update: [Mid] After the takeover of Safeways by Morrison's the supermarket options in west
Cornwall are dire. Safeways at least offered an alternative to Tesco's 'value' items; Morrison's are apparantly
attempting to out-do even the vast range of these. And the standard of their 'fresh' produce is frankly appalling. Thank
heavens for local greengrocers and butchers - if you appreciate quality and remember flavour - and have one near you,
support them for all they are worth, spend your last penny with them. If the only options in the future are Morrison's
flabby, heartless 'Hot-House' (!) lettuce, under-ripe tomatoes and rubbery 'greens' then I despair!. For us it is worth
a ten-mile round trip, or more if neccessary, to buy really fresh, seasonal local produce from farm gateways.

[Early] After an eighteen month wait we have recently taken on a 15-pole (90-foot long)
allotment in nearby Heamoor. Rather frustrated with the limitations of growing crops on steep terraces or in pots -
without moving on - this is the answer. On a sloping, sunny site and neglected only over the past summer, it is really only a case
of removing annual weeds and a general tidy-up in readiness for next season. It is not ideal, not exactly 'just down the road',
but we will see what can be produced from it over the next 12-months or so. Watch this space.

Work is underway along Newlyn to Penzance prom to repair the storm damage from a couple of weeks ago. My son, James is
still gutted that he returned to London after a long stay with us, just 3-days before the storm hit! Our photo's did little to appease him.
I think it is only a matter of time before he succumbs to the 'pull' of Cornwall and moves nearer to us.

OCTOBER'04 Update: [End] Unusual to hear Newlyn and Penzance making national news, yet the storm that hit the south-west
Copyright: Tim Scott

on the 27th certainly created havoc along the south-coast - from the Land's End up to Devon and beyond. The expression,
'Mountainous Seas' now has a whole new meaning with much damage to the sea walls and flooding, from Penzance harbour
along the bay westwards to Newlyn and Mousehole. Even the harbour wall at Lamorna Cove - up to 4-feet thick gave way
to the might of that evening tide. We have some spectacular photos', but on the other hand the misery of those who were
directly affected - including the Tolcarne Inn and several properties in Newlyn, is a different viewpoint on the storm. And the media
forgot to report that Newlyn was again flooded Friday morning with all roads to Penzance promenade closed.

Those of you who have visited us will recall our horizon on the far side of the coombe is - or
was - dominated by a line of mature fir trees. Unfortunately, over the past couple of weeks, most of these have been
felled, changing our outlook forever. The worst thing to come out of this is at night, when what was a dark sky-line is
now just an orange glow of horrible - and for the most part unnecessary - street lights. The culprits are the landowners,
Bolitho Estates and, amazingly, a local councillor. The moral, never assume these people act in everybody's best interest
- the councillor(s) neither contacted us or any of our neighbours, or advised the District Council's tree officer the work was
to be carried out! I am reminded of a album track be Enya; 'The Memory of Trees'.

On a much more positive note Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is back with a new television series at the end
of this month. 'Beyond River Cottage' follows Hugh's progress as he sets up a new business from River Cottage HQ
(close to his farm near the original River Cottage in west Dorset.) Channel 4's, thursday evenings, check listings for times.

[1st week]: A typical autumnal mix to the weather at the start of the month with Cornish mists, rain and
wind with just the odd lovely half-day of sunshine - such as on the afternoon of saturday 2nd. After a visit to the Logan Rock
inn at Treen, we walked out across breezy cliff-top farmland towards the Logan Rock itself, turning right along
the coast path towards Treen Cliff and Porthcurno. The light over the sea was lovely; we found violets and campions
flowering alongside blackberries, the tide was going out and a line of drying sand emerging from the surf on the beach
below us. It was a time to pause and remind ourselves why we made the move to west Cornwall three years ago this weekend.

The 2005 Organic Gardening Catalogue is now available, go to www.organiccatalogue.com. Also take a look at www.hdra.org.uk

SEPTEMBER'04 Update: We were sad to learn of the death of John Seymour on the 14th September. Seymour was a
unique individual with strong views on modern lifestyles. The Guru of self-sufficiency, two of his books 'The Complete Book
of Self-Sufficiency' and 'The Self-Sufficient Gardener' have been the 'bibles' for many folk since they were published.
John Seymour died peacefully, aged 90 and has been buried on land that was once part of his Welsh farm. Bibliography

Sue King presents 'Taste of the West'

[early month]: The latest ITV-Westcountry series of 'Taste of the West' has just finished. This little gem of a program searches out pubs
serving up the best of local produce. The winning recipe in this series was a delicious-looking wild boar chop dish with all
ingredients local to the south west. The runner-up seved a dish of whole Gurnard with mussels. As the judges commented,
how fantastic that alongside the traditional pub food, meals such as these are also offered - and at reasonable prices. One of
the major scoring points of the competition though was the use of local, if possible organic, produce. Excellent!

Amber at 3-years (the story of Amber: 'To Cornwall With A Cat' is still available at £2.95) / 'On the Edge' an allotment with a view, just around the bay from SeaGlimpses.

A kind of hush is slowly settling over Penwith. The pressure of the last couple of weeks, which peaked on
Bank Holiday Monday with the Fish Festival here, when several thousand visitors swamped Newlyn, is subsiding. Only the pastie and
fish and chip shop owners look miserable. Suddenly there are parking places again, no queues at the bar - everyone has relaxed,
with time to talk. As Old Bill commented in a drunken moment, 'we love to see them, but we love to see 'em go!'

The season is already noticeably changing; huge bunches of Parsley, daffodil bulbs and pots of Kaffir Lillies are appearing for
sale for a few pence at roadside entrances. Our own runner beans, and even some tomatoes are already well past their best. Even
our Hydrangeas' look weather-beaten - hardly surprising with all the rain during the past few weeks. Ironically,
with the visitors leaving, the weather this week has been lovely with no rain forecast until friday. Also, perhaps ironically,
the next few weeks are an ideal time to come to Cornwall!

May & June'04 Updates | July & August'04 Updates | Latest Updates

For details of 'To Cornwall With A Cat' view our publications page Hare's Ear Publications

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18/01/05