Well, we're
finally off again, and not a second too soon . And typically us, the plan (if
there was one) has changed. Originally we were setting off for Italy to the
Apuglia region which is as far south as you can get in Italy, but found out
that there was literally nothing to do there at the time we wanted to be there.
Boring or what? But let me first show firstly you where we stayed in Cornwall.
It was a manor house called Trenython Manor; and I must say... very very posh. Out
in the middle of nowhere, in the Cornish countryside. Totally idyllic. All
except for the weather. Still feeling like it was minus something in the
breeze.... and continuing with the norm... no sunshine either. When does the
sun actually shine in the UK in Winter, because we’ve not seen it. The picture
was taken inside the manor house which has been totally done up to reflect its
original splendour and I think they’ve done a really good job of it as well. Hope
you like the picture that was taken just inside the entrance where you check
in. The lodge we had booked was really really excellent and had some friends
come down to stay with us . Plenty of room for us all. While there did a bit of
touring to those magical places with names such as Polperro, Looe, and Fowey,
(pronounced Foy to the uninitiated.) SO nice to walk round the ancient towns
where smugglers definitely us to ply their trades, and you can still see the
hidden caves where the loot must have been stashed. A roaring fire in a low
beamed pub made us feel welcome over a long lunch in Polperro. It’s amazing to
see just how short the doorways used to be, a testament of us all getting
taller; generation by generation.

Anyway,
after that, ended up in Reading with Carla our daughter and had a couple of wonderful
weeks with her. And... wait for it..... we went to see the Queen. And had our
photo taken with her.... There we were in the station, and....you like our
picture with her.

Oh, I must
tell you about a set of long lasting; energy efficient light bulbs we bought as
a couple of lamps were not working. The actual bulbs were no trouble to put in
at all, an easy replacement . Inside the box was a slip of paper with what can
only have been written by an absolute zealot employed by the 'Health and Safety
Taliban.’ My apologies in advance to a very special person who is in that
branch of work, and is absolutely nothing like this at all. A really lovely
person. This piece of ‘instructional literature’ advised purchasers that there
was a miniscule amount of mercury contained within the lamp and that it should
pose no real health risk to anyone. It continued.... ‘should the lamp be broken
take the following precautions. 1. Evacuate the room. Assist elderly persons to
leave immediately. Open all doors and windows for at least fifteen minutes. Wear
protective gloves. Don a face mask. Use eye protectors. Carefully sweep up the
broken glass. Vacuum the area and throw the bag away immediately.’ As if that
were not enough, if the bulb ‘happens to break on or over a bed’, as well as
all the above, you should ensure that you throw all the bedding away!’ Now I
have to ask you..... as normal sane people.... living in the 21st
century .. don’t you think they’re trying to turn us all into dear little
unprotected lambs who know nothing at all about common sense! And to make
matters worse, they would probably have had to pay a consultant thousands of
pounds to write it as well! Another thing if you buy a packet of nuts, on the
label it actually says ‘may contain traces of nuts’ Now what idiot ok’d that
one! I just don’t believe how they’re trying to turn us into helpless little
darlings. They may just as well say ‘packed by someone who had a friend who
knew someone who had peanut sandwiches for lunch so be careful and don’t have
them! There!!! My ranting and raving is now over and I’ve got it off my chest.

Back to the
plot!

Now we’re in
the spectacular town of Dubrovnik. All I can say is if you haven’t been here
and love the sights and sounds of a medieval walled city; this is the real
thing. It does exactly what it says on the tin and wows tourists in the best
possible way. I even think it’s better than the architecture of both Prague and
Florence . And I hope you like the photo’s of this wonderful place. We’re going
to do our best to extend our stay here because surprise surprise, there’s a
carnival on here as well. Something we just didn’t know about. Talking to the
tourist office and the actual organisers, were told that we would have to wear
masks just as they did in the olden times. And I must tell you that some of the
masks are quite grotesque. Several looking like hideous bird like faces with
totally extended noses. It all kicked of last night, Friday with a parade down
the main street. It’s only a small carnival here, with about one hundred people
in the procession. Please click on the pictures because they become short
videos. The funniest group was between either the penguins or the (and here’s a
new word for the English dictionary) the Yakki’s. Now this is a cross between a
Yeti and a Yak with huge Swiss cow bells strapped around their waist. They have
a particular way of walking, more like and here’s another new word for the
dictionary, a swaddle which is cross between a sway and a waddle to sway your
booty in order to get all the bells to all jangle and clang at the same time as
they prance down the road . Click the picture which will turn into a video and
you’ll understand exactly what I mean. Then, you can make your own minds up as
to which is better and funnier. Just being here in this atmosphere is so exhilarating.
And then it just got better. After the carnival procession was over they’d
organised a party for the participants in a huge local bar. And this is the good
part, somehow we managed to get ourselves in (in other words, we gate crashed
their party). And what a wonderful party it was. Everyone, except for us all
togged up to the nines in all sorts of different costumes. Pirates, penguins,
soldiers and most of all, he Yakki’s with their bells. An excellent disco and
totally party atmosphere.

A gypsy woman
came up and took hold of my hand, turned it face up . Then gently stroking it indicated
that she read palms and it was her destiny to dance with me. Meanwhile Dyana
was left to hold her own with the rest
of the gypsy women. Fortunately the
Gypsy gave me back to Dyana, otherwise I don’t know what I’d have done . Lots and
lots of local folk music followed by great disco. They even had a girl dressed up
as a cannibal with a parrot. Really funny. We collapsed into bed late; tired,
exhausted, and knowing we’d been at a fantastic party.