Cape Cornwall

At last the sun is shining in Cornwall after a week of mist, fog, drizzle and general greyness.

It is amazing how some blue sky can lift the mood. After a busy day we didn't have much time for an adventure, but you don't have to go far from St Just to appreciate what the area has to offer.

In fact, we only went down to Cape Cornwall and walked down to the right of the Cape past the ruined chapel. This view is north towards Botallack. The sea was choppy and the wind was brisk, but with the sun on our backs it was a very refreshing afternoon.

Then back home and, despite the fact that the recent wet weather had taken its toll, I managed to cut the grass in the garden for the first time this year ... surely it must be Spring soon.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

While the TV is telling us that there is no snow in the West ... I beg to differ. We were supposed to be off to Heligan today, but the snow has scuppered that. The first picture was taken at 8.30 this morning. Then later when we took the dogs out for a run the sun broke through.

As you can see, Stan LOVES the snow!

St Just Feast

Taking place on the first weekend after the 31st October, St Just's Feast is a very popular traditional local celebration.

With its roots firmly in the past, the weekend consists of a church service and Mayor's procession on the Sunday, and a meeting of the hunt on the Monday - with lots of drinking and entertainment in between.

As far as I can gather, Feast celebrates a dedication of the church, but has its roots in pre-Tudor England. I read in a letter in The Cornishman this week that when Henry VIII wanted to destroy the icons of the Roman Catholic Church, including the celebration of feasts, he sent a Cornishman based in Bristol, Sir John Tregonwell, to carry out his orders. Unfortunately, but fortunately for the continuing tradition of Feast, reports of plague in the area meant he did not travel to this part of the South West and Feast survived. Fascinating.

Back to the present, with the Cornish Flag flying above the church, on Sunday Pendeen Band and the bells of the church rang out clear across the sunny town, and today, Monday, the hunt milled around the Market Square ready for their Feast day hunt with the band playing them off.