Ready, Steady, MUNCH

Just a small mid morning snack to see him through till lunchtime.

School's out for the Summer

The city's school children are enjoying some excellent weather for the first week of the summer holiday.

This was quite early on Friday morning. It will be really busy by the afternoon.

Jacob's Ladder

It looks as though some problem with the roof has developed, on this recently completed (3 years ish) apartment block on the Barbican.

Maybe they really don't build 'em like they used to?

Reflections

Multiple images reflected in the chrome of this wonderful Triumph motor cycle.

A Quiet Courtyard

Often the courtyard areas of blocks of Council flats in central city areas are soulless and drab. But here in Notte Street, on the Barbican, the residents have created a tranquil oasis, right in the centre of the city.

All they need now are a few balmy evenings to enjoy their patio.

Flower Towers

The weather has been mainly cloudy and showery for the last couple of weeks and everyone has been moaning about it.

But for the dozens of Flower Towers throughout the city centre area, it has obviously been just what they needed because they are looking splendid.

It is not often, in these days of spending cuts, that people praise the City Council for doing a grand job.

 

The Fortune Teller

If you are passing along Southside Street, on the Barbican, and you need to know what the future holds in store, then Raiven is your man.

He can unravel the mysteries using his Tarot Cards or his Crystal Ball.

Graduation Day

On Friday just over 200 students graduated from the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, (172 doctors and 47 dentists).

Here graduates and faculty members get ready to enter St Andrew's Church, where the ceremony took place.

The Peninsula Medical College is a joint venture of the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter and the National Health Service throughout Devon and Cornwall.

Where have all the Black Cabs gone?

We all ride in a yellow hackney cab, a yellow hackney cab, a yellow hackney cab. .......

Low Tide

An unusually low tide in the River Camel estuary

It's a dog's life

The Bun Shop in Southside Street

 Calorie free confectionery

What a difference a day makes.

After a brief spell of sunny and warm July weather, the temperature dropped, the wind rose and the showers became heavy and frequent.

Only those with winter clothing, or something very private to discuss, sat outside.

Fish and Chips

There are few better ways to eat fish and chips than outdoors in the sun, sat by the sea with friends.

But,

PLEASE DON'T FEED THE SEAGULLS!



They are becoming increasingly aggressive and some people have been injured in attacks.

The Coastal Path at the mouth of the River Camel, North Cornwall

Today we are back in North Cornwall, on the opposite side of the South West Peninsula from Plymouth, walking another beautiful section of the 630 mile Coastal Path.

We are at Rock, where path comes down onto the beach so that you can catch the ferry across to Padstow, from where the path heads out again towards the sea.

A Proposal? A Knighthood?

Neither, I'm afraid.

This young man was simply making a fuss of a beautiful young puppy belonging to the lady.

The Coastal Path at Wembury, nr Plymouth

I previously posted a map of the South West Coast Path National Trail together with some views from it as it snakes along the cliffs of North Cornwall (4th July 2011).

Here the path arrives at the village of Wembury, on the southern coast of Devon, having followed the eastern shoreline of Plymouth Sound from the city waterfront.

It is a wonderful walk of about 12 miles or so and very popular with both visitors and local people all the year round.

You can also follow this coast in one of the pleasure boats that operate from the Barbican, in Plymouth.Enjoy a cruise

The church, dedicated to St Werburgh, overlooks the small beach and looks out to the Mew Stone and Plymouth Sound.

The present structure dates from the fourteenth century and with its unbroken record of births (from 1611) and deaths (from 1612) it is of consderable historic importance.

After passing the church, the path follows the low cliffs to the mouth of the River Yealm (in the centre of the picture) and the beautiful waterside village with its tranquil yacht haven, which lies hidden from the sea.

Gnomes under attack.

"The recent introduction of this group of sinister insurgents presents a clear and present danger to our long established and well loved population of Garden Gnomes." claimed a senior spokesperson at the Gnome Reserve.

The Hogwarts Express?

This steam train came over the Tamar Bridge at the weekend. I suspect it was the end of term train bringing the young wizards home for the summer holiday.

Canivore heaven, vegetarian hell

Over the weekend, the quayside  on the Barbican  became a no-go area for vegetarians as a visiting meat market set up its stalls.

 

Dramatic Rescue

A lifesaving class in action at the Tinside Lido on Plymouth Hoe early on Friday morning.

This is an unheated sea water pool and it was very cold indeed.

Bunkered

This is St Enodoc Golf Course at Rock, on the estuary of the River Camel, opposite Padstow.

Windows

Plymouth Sound

Yesterday afternoon, almost to the minute that the weather forecaster promised, the sky darkened, the wind picked up and the heavens opened.

The Cornish flag

The black and white flag of St Piran flies vitually everywhere in Cornwall.

It is often alongside the Union Jack and the Cross of St George.

But today I spotted this composite flag for the first time. The shield, in the bottom right, is the Cornish coat of arms, which usually bears the motto "One and All" or " Onen hag Oll" in Cornish.







The other flag in this picture is that of the RNLI, The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, certainly one of the most respected organisations in the Duchy where there are 14 lifeboat stations and 57 of the busiest beaches are patrolled by professional RNLI lifeguards.

The beautiful village of St Mawgan in Pydar, Cornwall

St Mawgan lies hidden from view, deep in a valley about 4 miles from the bustling holiday town of Newquay. It is not on a main road and only local people would ever need to go through it on the way to somewhere else.

  

 A shady stream flows gently through the village and in places cars must use the ford to cross it.

The Falcon Inn has good food and an attractive patio.

The church dates from the 13th century and the tower was built in the 14th, with the oldest bell cast in 1378.

The churchyard has numerous intriguing memorials.

The interior of the church is at its most stunning during the annual Flower Festival

which this year is from 10th - 13 July.

 The Village Shop and Post Office boasts a splendid Tea Room and Tea Garden, with superb cakes.

  

Many, first-time visitors are drawn to the village's famous Bonsai Nursery and its Japanese Garden.

Take a stroll through The Japanese Garden

The Coastal Path

The South West Coast Path National Trail follows the glorious coastline of the south west peninsula.

It runs for 630 miles (1014 km),  from its start on the north coast at Minehead, down the rugged and beautiful Atlantic shores of North Devon and North Cornwall, around Lands End and the Lizard and back past the historic and picturesque towns and villages of South Cornwall, Devon and Dorset which face out on the English Channel, ending at Poole Harbour.




Trevose Lighthouse (above)
Watergate Bay - heading towards Newquay (below)