Whole day in Devon Part Four : Ice cream, Bluebells and. . .The quiz nightly Horrabridge.

KOur mission is to be fed and at the quiz by 7.30,so we need to get going., back through the lower parts of  Dartmoor I've th cattle stops .

Oh we manage a Devonshire cream ice cream, a must to experience in Devon, and so it is.

It is made from clotted Devonshire cream.and then on top is layered actual straight Devonshire clotted cream. It is very smooth it is almost yellow. But get the name of the name  on they van. I love  it

And then treat of all treats in the cooler shadier wooded parts of Dartmoor on the way home, hah, a mass of bluebells, which mainly are finished here and usually are a thing of May but it's a late season here, in England this year, everywhere. Is this not lovely. is this also not a kiwi fern beside ? No it's a kind of bracken that is dormant and quickly sprouts. The bluebells dominate and then the bracken can grow big, so much so that at Knole they can hide the deer.

These stone walls line the road which is narrow. or see below, which is more 

Now this is a road.  Imagine meeting a Pajero and horse float on this. And you do and they (the locals) seem quite unphased when they meet a car. You can see that I have the prized front seat and I am not wasting it. The fields are higher than the roads, which are old, but I still don't understand how they are lower than the fields.

It's some lovely home made soup and  wiener and chunky bread a quick change, and armed with snacks and tuff we got from YELVERTON ,

(I keep thinking of Galverston the song,.) We did not buy these but look at the personalised coke above, that Lewis is displaying. 

It's all a bit of a tradition and is held in the school hall.

This photo of our book group team may be an indication of the consumption - nervous of the red wine you se in the fore ground. But do not think BGGT  translated Book Group Got Talent, were as dilly as this picture. At one point and for a while we were 2nd. and there were lots of groups.

Another reasonably appalling photo. And I was drinking coke at this point.

That's the score board in the distance. Goodness knows how we managed that. These twomin the foreground, well  one of them you can only see her black hair on right ) had husbands providing the deeper questions like science and hard out sport. But no cheating. Anyway we got third equal, and the people migrated on foot across the park and to the pub.

It was a very fun  evening and we got home at midnight, Lewis left a detailed babysitting letter. I am exhausted.

Part three

It's on to the next  thing. I say a real English Fair. It's all too unbelievable. I am getting the lot in one day. This is fundraising for the church at Meavy which just happens to be where Sarah and Ian got married.

We'd seen the villagers yesterday in the rain trying to put up the bunting on a very small green, but like Martinburough it swells in size with all the stalls. And they are all here today. and probably many from Plymouth etc. We park in a paddock and wander down - there are hundreds here, but  get the names of these attractions:. penny roll, hoopla, dog show, coconut shy, and right in the middle is the ancient old oak after which the town is named. It is propped up with a steel pole. A newer oak is nearby, and it must be a mere 100 years 

Off they go Ewen in green Flynn in the stripes and Meavey church in background by oak.

And the wisteria is out, bliss so Sarah melds in in her purple, and the sun is shining for the fair.

And this is the ancient oak hundreds of years, with Lewis looking on.

And here is the couple who were married in this very village, thirteen plus years ago.

Ian and Sarah Burke, who have been in New Zealand. Who would believe this man had cooked hundreds of sausages.this day.

And here is the church where they married and where Sarah was christened.Tthere is a framed chart recording the history of it  all the christenings with Sarah's name hanging in  the bell ringers foyer.

Bell ringers! And the bells do ring. yes. Oh it's all so English. But we must move on as there are prizes being won.

Sarah and Ewen with a cork gun. Don't you love it. And I am excelling as a photographer am I not?

But it's  all a success, because here is the booty. .  .

A frog, with open mouth and long legs, although the coconut being held on the head is a coconut shy prize.

And there is more to do at your traditional village fair folks.

This is the penny roll or maybe this one  is where you bounce the ping pong ball into a jar that is a rather clever painted scene of the village green and the oak without all the stalls.

The clown was popular.

I think the brownies ran this stand.

Inside the pub there but we don't drink and we don't stay because we are in the book group,team at the Horrabridge annual Quiz night and we need to feed the family, beforehand and be there to win at 7.30..its daylight til well after nine here so the day gets away on you.

Tired and successful we head off. This photo is to,prove that kids here an go into a pub and  not get in to trouble. Sarah Lewis and Flynn. Two of these people are under age. What do you make of that New Zealand.?

Whole Day in Devon Part 2

Wherever we went there is history for Sarah, from where her grandad owned a business, to where her grandma held her watching the weir in Tavistock or  she rode her pony or where she lived as a child. Slowly a picture was developing and then we got to Tavistock a pretty town made of stone built around/beside the river Tavey. There is an old viaduct incorporated in the town structure. Note also English sports car in foreground, with roof down . Parking is a challenge.

And below the stonework in the buildings, detailed, and old. This is a shop, a sweet shop, actually,which there is more about.

This is one of, if the hotel to stay at in Tavistock. Note I can't remember the name, but it's right in own.

And I  think this is a part of a town wall. Don't you just love it when several days later the old Alzheimer's thing kicks in and here you are and it's all a fog. 

But I still find this lovely. Not everyone knows my fetishising of driving people to distraction living out my childhood fascination with the Famous Five by Enid Blyton.

Pat in Kent nearly choked, when I mentioned them, so that is the thing to do, to curb my lyrical waxing on. But this picture above is a perfect place for a jolly good picnic, in fact they the Five, come from Devon. So I am in heaven here. I am actually George (not Miranda, whose escapades A family member suggests mine seem to resemble) and we have a dog in the Burke family, so that is all good.  Rather !!

Ewen is very fit and sporty. Stand on that wall ? No sweat.

 The pastry away

Aha now I remember its called the Bedford, the Bedford hotel. All vey castle like. So we visit the pannier market inside the walls, teeming with options,have lunch at the Pasty  Shop, as in Cornish pasty. 

Oh the choices there are , it is frantically busy, so time to decide as we wait for a seat and I have Beef and Stilton. This is Sarah's treat and it is perfect. She says,  and it's true a pasty was a meal for Cornish miners. And because , they could not wash their hands, for lunch,they held on to the ornamental pastry side seal, to eat it,  and threw the pastry bit away. Well, it's taken pasties to a new level now. Heaps of flavours.

But. Look here is another item of note. How to personalise a car -put eyelashes on it see below. oh the things you see when you are a true traveller.see below:

isn't it pretty and another view

But enough frivolity we are off to a sweet shop to do some serious shopping with the boys.

It is their treat, and I am to learn the ropes:1. You take a tray and tongs, soo. .  .  .

And you drift around and choose

Soo. .  .and this is Flynn but we all did it as you can see. Oh what a sport I am to join in this hard task, all the more tricky and brave because I don't know half the sweets. But all in the days work for a true Famous Fiver. Yes we did spare a thought for Ian slaving over a hot BBQ , but we were busy as you can tell. . So onward and upward. .  . 

I am taking this lesson very seriously, Lewis and Flynn are the Instructors. 

And does this large woman need another lolly. .  .absolutely not, but I am a good pupil, and slim little Flynn a great instructor. He was born in New Zealand but was too young when he left to remember a lot.

then it's back to the car  via the famous Tavey river,because we have more to do and Ian will join us, after his slogging at the fundraiser .

This weirdness the river, in the photo helps the salmon come up river . very lovely  We have our sweets. Ewen,Flynn  and Lewis.

Same path, different view,ie river on the left, and actually it is the way back to the car park .in Tavistock.wouldn't you just die to be surrounded by this natural stuff. But we can't loiter there is a fair ,an English fair at Meavey Oak, and yes that is the name of a neighbouring village. That will be part of the next instalment as this day is turning into a serial. We will pick up Ian and then. . . 

In the meantime bear with me as I too read my journaling s and cringe at the seeming lack  of proofread ing . scaredy when I say I do proofread .

a Whole Day in Devon ! Part 1.

Saturday, well,it's all action in the Burke household.

Ian has his fundraising BBQ and al the ingredients for the Cavaliers.

There are fish to be fed inside and out by Flynn who next wants seawater fish and is saving for those.

He is very thorough and his tank is a credit to him.

It is dry enough for me to see  Ewen's very clever flips on the tramp . He first jumped on ours out in New Zealand, when he was tiny so that is cool to see all manner of flips in quick succession. 

but after a few housekeeping things for me we head off through the moors to Tavistock.  here is what I saw in the moors. Harrietbwould love this .

See above, the wee goal sleeping beside its mum.

These are Devon Black Face sheep - their wool seems more like hair and in most cases they are rubbing it off  on gorse and branches.

Aw isn't he a sweetie.

and yes, they are by the unfenced road, but yes there was this mad NZ woman leading a little family wildly across the moor for one more photo. They are wild ponies,many of them, and it is breeding season. undeniably gorgeous.

The children were energetic, and helpful in spotting. And Sarah kindly turned the car around as we pursued good shots.And I have many. we are talking here about a person who when a girl doodled by drawjing and arguably perfecting the perfect horses head. Oh yes, Pat Smyth, in the making. So I find these Dartmoor ponies just lovely.

But then here is where they come for picnics not five minutes from their home

Lewis and Ewen and Flynn playing Pooh sticks. Haven't they grown all you Burke fans.

And here is Sarah at their Summer picnic spot.

And here is a view across the moors. Breath taking. 

And here is one of many tors which are distinguishable and have names. Yes I was told but I dont remember.They are obviously higher up on the ridges, where there is a rugged colder and unpredictable  climate. See below a tor .

So you can see we have lots to tell as, as yet we have not got to Tavistock.

Saint Pancras, then Paddington to Plymouth.

The fast train from Ebsfleet to Saint Pancrass takes 17 minutes. This costs $15 and the notion is that I need enough time to lug bags via the tube. Saint Pancras is milling with people from the Eurostar which seems to arrive every hour. I book my seat here with National Rail and they throw in a return tube fare. All god , now to get rid of my big blue Trolley bag as I am only going for two days. eft luggage is at Paddington, platform 12.

I won't be back til Sunday night at 7.30 so I am charged a third day at the rate of £9 per day. I agree to this and then in my Scottish fashion I think better of the waste. £27 is more than the bag is worth.I return and take it out again.  Would rather  spend  the money own something enjoyable with the  Burkes. So it's back to the big bag when I'd deliberately downsized. At any time there are about 14 screens changing ing in a row - all updating you with departures and arrivals and clarifying which of the 12 platforms will be used as and when they know. Can you imagine the crowds? what I can see is that there is National Rail line called Connect o Heathrow- only half an hour £10,  and an Express to same £20, here from Paddington. vey helpful for Tuesday when I catch the plane to Canada.

How inspired was that to get a hotel in Paddington.  Thanks Andrew. will be back here on Sunday night.

Anyway the trip is fun because of the guy from Cornwall who I am sitting next to. Excellent value, as he points things out, is a rugby fan, has four kids three boys and a girl, and is a business man returning to Cornwall.We try to cheat and get my iPad on Wifi.  the train does have electric plugs for charging computers. it is high speed and the trip takes a little over 3 hours.

The whole of the Burkes family is there. On the platform! How exciting. 

They have it all worked out, and we are off on a tour of Plymouth, even seeing such places as the pub where Beryl Cook the artist was inspired for her painting.

It was about this moment, as I was going to take a photo of where this hallowed artist irked (and I, a great fan of Beryl Cook), did not know she haled from here, that a big bus approached on this narrow street. 

It was a tour bus, a bit like the Contiki sort, complete with courier and microphone, and it was clear they were going to wreck my photo. So I hammed it up, and carefully concentrated my camera on the pub. It was such an act, and the courier was quickly onto it,  just like a set up Andrew and I might stage, and staged it was and we were both really laughing, as the bus, predictably,cruised nearer right across my vision. 

He grabbed his mic., oh it was like Contiki days gone by, anything for a bit of light relief for the passengers. He commented probably something like "Look here folks, this woman thinks she going to take a photo! Lets see hat we can do about that!" Probably worse. They sprang to their windows hooting, all of us sharing the joke, as my camera focus was obliterated by the side of this massive bus. Ever the actress, I endeavoured to get that photo. Little Flynn who is 9 watching on,was wetting himself with laughter .

And such a photo - this is Beryl's pub with Sarah and Ewen.

We went to the historic parts, where the naval college has always been, and where Ian trained. And where Sarah and Ian spent their youth. he stories abounded. such an old town/city.

And then home via the moors which are heralded by a Cattle Stop. These kids are country kids I have decided. What could be more rural than moors, moor ponies and Black faced Devon sheep.

Very cute little village called Horrabridge, with a tumbling river and a weir, almost the same look of houses as the Cotswalds. Most type of amenity, hairdressers,  plumbers, biggish primary school,and a very attractive pub.

The kids showed me their pets and toys and skills on the tramp. I introduced Ian and Sarah to Viber and so now we are all hooked up. Viber means you have free talking and texting if you have Wifi.

Anyway I after a lovely meal, and Sarah has been working all week on an Art extension, programme for gifted kids in the regions schools,Ian suggested we go to experience Horrabridge pub.He is chopping onions as he says this as a fundraiser is organised by his local charity club called the Cavaliers.It is a sports match in aid of Help for Heroes. This chap in their village, has lost part of several limbs and they are fundraising for a wheel chair. Its a sports contest, and part of it is a BBQ, of which Ian is in charge.The place smells amazingly yummy as various condiments are added. It occurs to me,not for the first time, that the timing of my visit is not easy for them. Sarah's big art project with newspaper constructed and concrete bandaged figures of people doing various tasks is quite astonishing. Some hurdlebtonhave orgaNisedvwith another art specialist. Ian has worked out however that tonight has to be the night to experience their 'local',  as we have a busy Saturday. More anon.

And we do. We walk to it through the winding streets, It has beams and character,and is very old, and the people truely friendly. Tribute is a locally made beer and I try that,lots of friendly chat and actually, lots of drink, and a really easy stroll home over the second of two bridges in the village.

"Cute" they are but so authentic. I love it here. So glad I came, as Devon sums up all I love about things English. And here I stop.