Friday 28 February 2014

A view in my sketchbook

...from our last trip away. We stopped near Helston in Cornwall and I sketched the view, which included this strange metal structure.  At first I thought it was to do with the local airfield (especially as there were helicopters buzzing around) but discovered it was part of an attraction at a theme park called Flambards!




Today linking to Paint Party Friday
with thanks to EVA & Kristin
for hosting.


(click on the Location tab below
to see where Helston is)



Wednesday 26 February 2014

A visit to Lanhydrock House

The National Trust property, partially open for half term. Unfortunately the House itself was still closed til the end of March, but we had a lovely to walk round the parkland and around the outside of the house.   The Gift shop was open - certainly was worth going into as it is in part of the main building with panelled walls, high ceilings - beautiful.

The only slight hindrence was the weather - off and on rain/drizzle but it didn't stop us.  Again the little camera I was using perhaps didn't get as good a selection of photos as I would have liked, but the fault is mine - I must remember to read up on the settings!

Quite a long walk from the car park down to the house, and on the way we saw some fallen trees the result of recent storms.  In fact talking to a member of staff I was told that the estate had lost about 60 trees of varying sizes....






and so down to the gatehouse...


William couldn't go into the Gardens themselves, so he got his walk around the parkland instead...I enjoyed the wander in the gardens...

this is from the other side of the gatehouse

turning around to face the house itself


this would have been the old stable block

and I had to photograph this ancient looking doorway to show you...



it must take ages to trim all these little hedges..but very effective (I wonder what got covered up for the Winter there in the middle of these - perhaps we will get back there to find out one day)


I did grab my sketchbook and pen for a very quick 'impression' of the gatehouse (I added the paint later on)...




When I walked around the back of the house, it was from a raised pathway, which gave me the opportunity to look down on the building - so a video opportunity now for you to see what it was like...




That about concludes our visit from Tavistock to Penzance

- my other posts on this trip were:





If you click the Location tab below it
will take you to the map showing
where Lanhydrock is

*****




Tuesday 25 February 2014

Penzance

On arriving down in Penzance the weather dramatically changed - for the worse.  Never mind, we had been lucky up til now and considering the awful conditions, everywhere recently, we were just glad to be down there.  Staying again at the Queens Hotel on the seafront, we found our room overlooked the prom,  Brilliant, even with bad weather it is good to have a view...

I had a smaller camera for some photos on this trip, which I haven't sorted out the Settings, so forgive the blurry pics...this is not an excuse for the weather though...


a lot of dog walkers


including a certain lurcher and dad...(who pointed me out to William so he could see me - I know we are sad, lol)...


and had to be lifted off the wall!



here's a short video ...







You can just see St. Michael's Mount  


Back to the hotel for a spot of relaxation - notice whose enjoying the view (and not of the photographer!)...

Whilst the lads were walking, I was sketching...well you didn't think I would miss an opportunity like this did you?









On our final full day in Cornwall
we went to Lanhydrock,
and that will be 
another post


If you aren't sure where Penzance is, click on the
LOCATION tab below for the link to the map
 










Monday 24 February 2014

Plymouth Hoe to Bigbury-on-Sea

During our recent trip we went into Plymouth.  In fact we stopped at the Hoe...


and had a good walk around -






Look at the seagull in the next picture....Classic painting shape don't you think!




Like so many places Plymouth Hoe had suffered from the recent storms...check out these pictures with the windows now boarded up..





Moving on we drove down the coast....first stopping for lunch (and a sketch)


arriving at Bigbury-on-Sea








the island at Bigbury would normally be a photo opportunity, but I would have been facing directly into the sunshine (not complaining about sunshine), but the photo would have been too difficult, so I sketched the hotel and island instead...


A great day with lots of walks
and taking things easy -
plus the weather was good
(we seem to be obsessed with the weather here)


Next stop was

Penzance

but I'll keep you waiting for that 

til another post


***








Saturday 22 February 2014

Tavistock to Penzance

Another four night stay away....this time down to the edge of Dartmoor and the Coach House Hotel, Tavistock. 


A friendly family run business and dogs very welcome....so William had a good time too.  Spoilt in fact, getting sausage for breakfast - how kind was that of them.  (photos with permission from owner's mother)...





The weather was fairly good to us, very mixed actually.  One minute we had sunshine, the next it had clouded over, but didn't stop us getting out and about.  Here, let me take you around the countryside a little..... (sorry some are quite dark - I had the wrong setting on!!)...

A few of the photos were taken from the car....






















not sure if this was a folly or an old tin mine shaft...


I got a couple of quick sketches done when we stopped for lunch




and I'll finish off for now with a short video journey down one of the lanes....


More travels next post.



Sunday 16 February 2014

Road Trip - Burley, New Forest (final part)

....and oh did it rain- and rain and rain and rain!!!  (you get the idea it RAINED).  We had been so luck up til this with the weather, so we really couldn't complain.  In fact it came down so much I couldn't take photos of our location!  Such a disappointment.  Our Hotel was the Moorhill House Hotel at Burley in the New Forest.   Although I didn't take a photo of the shop, there is one that had been there for many years, it has now changed to a place making solid oak and pine kitchen fitments, but has kept the old name of John Willies - years ago it had been a Saddlers (there was a very sad story regarding the family that ran it many years ago, but I'll go into that in the future at some point - we do intend to return here after all).

I did get a pic of the bar at the Hotel, where we had our evening meal (and yes William was there with us too).




and a sketch



I have to say that this hotel was lovely - in fact we hope to go back one day...it is definitely on our Return to List.

So, what to do when it is pouring with rain and the wind is getting up - well, we took to the car and travelled to Southampton and surrounding area.  That way we could each take turns going into shops.  I took the opportunity too of sketching in the car - what better occupation on a wet day...



we also met up with old friends for lunch in a pub, we got there early so I sketched - Again!






here's a photo of it...(any local readers of this should probably recognise this place)...


and on one of the wooden beams is a proverb :


in case you have trouble reading it, the proverb is:

"The church is near but the road is icy.  The pub is far away but I will walk carefully"

(although what that exactly means I'm not sure...may be it's make sure you stay upright and get to the pub for the drink you need after the trauma of trying to get there in the first place!!!)

*
That just left our journey home, via Weymouth - and how lovely the weather improved for us:



for years there have been Sand sculptures along the sea front


- they have gone very high tech and house them in a sort of fiberglass hut:



and then we drove over to Portland  and enjoyed the view...





and so on home

We had a wonderful road trip

I hope you have enjoyed the journey too.


********************