Cornwall 2022/2023

Perhaps rather more modern than some of the others.

Another attractive corner in St Day. Sight and Sound. Beethoven's Moonlight sonata - worth waiting for the explosive third movement here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4591dCHe_sE

Redruth and cross seen from Carn Brea castle (a 15th century hunting lodge, now a restaurant)

The back of the house at dusk.

Neolithic property - foreground, medieval hunting lodge behind. Modern industrial and residential complex on the plain below. The sea at Porthtowan can be clearly seen too.

The former Wheal Pink copper mine was located exactly here. No one would believe it today unless they knew! St Day, Cornwall. Marginally better on large.

The castle at Carn Brea with the sea at Porthtowan in the distance. The castle was built in the 15th century as a hunting lodge and has been a restaurant for at least the past 30 years. The same owners but has been closed for some years on and off. Currently open and it seems to offer a sort of French / Indian fusion. I'll look at reviews. OK here goes: www.google.es/search?q=carn+brea+restaurant&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwim49Tt7Z3-AhVTQ0EAHUT9CU8Q7xYoAHoECAkQAQ&biw=1252&bih=556&dpr=1.09) Sight and sound: A favourite Beethoven piano sonata, expertly analysed by Andras Schiff. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk-iqxqixhY&t=255s

It's good that I can now walk this path in daylight after a few months of dark and dismal light for any shot! Better perhaps on large and then on large again, to follow the path into the light at the end of the tunnel!!

In other words my occasional walk to the pub for my swift half and then a quick return to cook supper!

Rather different weather from my last visit! A bit puzzled by the lack of boats!

Monument erected in 1836 in memory of Francis Basset, First Baron de Dunstaville, an influential mine owner. Paid for by public subscription by legions of grateful miners (or so they say - I have my doubts that ANY mine owner would have been that beloved by his serfs / minions / slaves!). Perhaps marginally better on large for stonework detail.

Carn Brea Castle / restaurant. I possibly posted a similar shot before, or it may have been on Panoramio, but I felt it was odd enough to be worth another shot! Sight and Sound. A much underrated singer: Eric Burdon and War: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbuIjsw2gX0 With this song, funk and laid- backness combine beautifully (imho!)

Downtown City of Truro on the first really bright day this Spring. The cathedral sits on a very slight rise; enough for it to dominate the town (sorry ... 'city'!)

Possibly the last of my low-light shots. The weather is slowly getting more Spring-like and I shall be back in Spain next month anyway. Sight and sound. Janis again: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfK0tChiWQ4

A special wine and one I'd been looking forward to for quite a while. Glad I was patient! After 25 years, it was still fruity and was perfectly in balance with a fairly hefty thwack of tannin, but the latter wasn't too aggressive. I reckon this would still be enjoyable in 50 years time! As it was only my mum and me (my dad would have loved to have drunk this but can't drink alcohol these days), we have enough in the decanter for a glass and a half each with tomorrow's meal. Even though it is 25 years old, I have no doubt that it will be just as good tomorrow having been opened 30 hours previously. I know the light wasn't great so I'll write what it says on the label: Léoville Las Cases, St Julien 1998. A second class grand cru, generally referred to as a 'super-second' and commanding prices up near the first class grand cru claret level (in other words into the stratosphere!). My excuse is that I bought it before the explosion of classed growth claret prices when the market was skewed by the Chinese putting pressure on demand ... and that it was my 65th birthday! Maybe I should have thought to give the table a quick wipe with a cloth first! In summary what was so astonishing to me was that this wine was like a classic from the early 2010s, At a blind tasting I would have guessed the year as 2015 or thereabouts. Only 17 years out!

I occasionally take this longer route if I have time. But until today, it has been too grey and dull to bother with photos here. Today was more spring-like. There really is some rather understated yet attractive countryside around St Day. Sight and sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJIRgm7aDKs The Rolling Stones at their (very early) best. Perhaps better on large for detail.

On a minor road between Carharrack and St Day, Cornwall. I don't know what goes on in that building. It doesn't look Cornish and doesn't look old (nor modern for that matter). I'll try and find out somehow ...

The weather has warmed up sufficiently for the horse to be undressed for the first time since autumn! Perhaps on large to do horse justice! Sight and Sound: More Janis and I think my favourite song of hers and a genuine reactor not messing up a performance. www.youtube.com/watch?v=azWUxxgN_Yc