Saturday 30th August 2025

Woke at 0630 with back pain…got up and did some exercises. I guess the drive yesterday took its toll, on top of the steps at Minack, and having a guitar strapped around my neck for half the week! Ventured downstairs to make myself a tea. Put four bowls of soaked oats together for breakfast later. Cath turned up and we chatted for a bit before I took a mug of tea upstairs for Aki. Porridged at the kitchen table. Went for a short walk with Phil and Roxy…perambulated the boundary of the Victorian asylum…now, of course, converted into over 100 housing units. It started to rain halfway round. We returned to No.4 to say our farewells, and headed down the A38, joining the M5 at Exeter. The intention was to stop for lunch at Clevedon Pier, but signs started to appear warning of a 45-minute delay between junctions 23 and 21...we decided to stop at Taunton Deane service station for an early lunch in the hope that the blockage would have been cleared by the time we set off again...but signage now warned of a 3 hour delay!!! 

We decided to come off at J25 and head for the A303 via Langport, but the route through Langport was closed due to bridge repair work, so we had to drive a few miles south-east to hook up with the A303...by now heaving with traffic trying to avoid the M5. It was slow going. Aki drove on through the rain, though, and we stopped at Fleet services on the M3 and changed drivers for the final leg in to London. Everyone seemed to be coming home from the Bank Holiday week...it was terribly slow-going, with endless tailbacks...we didn't get home until 1930...the journey had taken about 8 hours instead of the projected 5. We'd bought an Indian banquet for two from Waitrose at Fleet, and Aki warmed it up while I lugged stuff in from the car. Tidied up a bit after dinner, then collapsed on the sofa. Early bath and bed...

Friday 29th August 2025

 

Woke around 0745. Got up and made tea. Finished the packing that Aki had started yesterday…need to be out by 1000. Porridged. Lis came up to say farewell. Put our stuff in the car then walked down into Mousehole for a last look. Aki wanted to show me some paintings in a gallery in the village…nice, but I felt Aki could do similar just as well, and save us £2,300!!! Had coffee in the garden of the Old Coastguard Hotel and took in the sea view before heading back up the hill to the car. 

Drove to the Potager Garden near Falmouth to meet Helen and Martin for brunch in the cafe there. A bit pricey but it was very good…the best mushrooms on toast I’ve ever tasted! Had a little wander round the glasshouse and the artist studios before heading back to the car for the drive to Moorhaven. Slow going on the approach to the toll on the Tamar Bridge. Got to Centre Court around 1645 to be greeted by Phil and Roxy, their five year old border collie. Cath still at work. Chatted at the kitchen table over a cuppa tea. Got stuff out of the car...Cath rocked up, having been given a lift from work in a huge Range Rover...she got out on her crutches. She's still awaiting an operation to replace a part of her ankle, after two failed operations. Phil served up spaghetti bolognese for dinner, and we repaired to the living-room to chat before News At Ten. They are still working on the house, and have bought a used kitchen, the units for which they have stored in the hall...the place still looks half-finished twenty years since they moved in. The dog is sweet, but very needy, and constantly begging for attention, resulting in my black trousers being covered in white dog hairs...I was relieved to get to bed at last!

Thursday 28th August 2025

Woke at 0830. Got up and made tea. Put a packed lunch together while Aki cooked eggs for breakfast. Sat at the dining table watching squalls of rain roll in from the Channel. Helen and Martin rocked up in their electric hire car at 1100…they are stopping in Liskeard for a few nights. We walked down into Mousehole for a coffee. I left them there and drove to the theatre via the Farm Shop in St Buryas. 

Helen and Martin coming to see the matinee later. Got to the theatre to learn that, due to an extreme weather alert, this evening’s show had been cancelled, so the matinee becomes our final performance. The show went well, with Martin South playing Ahab with the audience of a head mic…bet he’s very relieved there’s only one show today…as, indeed, am I! The rain held off. Then it was get out…I hauled my guitar up to the car park, then descended one last time to collect my belongings. With my hernia op due next week, I was happily able to observe the chain gang in action as they passed the dismantled set up the cliff face! 

Aki phoned to say she was on a bus from Penzance to Treen, and I drove off to meet her in the Logan Rock Inn as the forecast rain started to come down. Found myself driving past Nutty Nick, walking in the lane toward the Logan Rock Inn...as it was raining, and he was in a t-shirt, I slowed to offer him a lift...he stared resolutely into space, shook his head grimly, and walked on. I got to the inn and rescued Aki, and we drove off before Nick turned up...I couldn't bear the thought of having to share the space with him for an hour or so before the rest of the gang turned up. As the weather was worsening, we decided to turn back to Mousehole. Parked up and walked down the hill to the Old Coastguard Hotel and snacked on some starters, and enjoyed a couple of beers as the rain hurled itself against the window panes of the old coastguard look-out. In a perceived break in the weather, we decided to make a dash for the AirBnB...as we crossed the road in front of the hotel the rain suddenly came down in drenching gusts that seemed to shoot up my trouser legs as we walked up the steep hill. We were soaked by the time we got in. Dried off and prepared for an early night...got to be out by 1000 tomorrow morning.

Wednesday 27th August 2025

Woken at 0700 by thunder and lightening…got up to watch a strong westerly find hurl rain at the windows. Made tea and sat at the dining table as the weather cleared and the sun came out. Porridged. Set off in the car for Crowlas, to meet up with Jim and Katherine at their niece’s house. Lucy, and her fella, Sam, bought a tiny one-up-one-down tin miner’s cottage two years ago, and have been working on a tasteful modern extension on a cramped site that falls away to marshland at the rear. Sam has gotten through an incredible amount of heavy work. Looks great…but he’s now in demand locally, slowing their renovation down, but it’s perfectly liveable in. Mandy, Jim’s sister, was also in attendance…but Sam was out working. 

We had a coffee and then drove into Penzance in two cars. Parked near the harbour and walked up to 45 Queen Street, a trendy eaterie housed in a barn like old warehouse. Good vibes. Enjoyed my fish finger buttie. Jim leant me his dad’s sailing sou’wester, which happens to be yellow…if it rains I’ll don it for the handyman sequence…I’ll match the yellow set. Left them at the car park and headed back to Mousehole. They are coming to see the show tonight. Did my exercises on the balcony then headed for Minack. Sun shining…but windy. Ate my dinner on the stone bench outside the Stage Door. Show went well, though Martin’s voice was beginning to fail…not sure how he’s going to get it through two show’s tomorrow! Jim and family had driven off by the time I’d changed and climbed back up to the car park. Drove back to Mousehole in the dark…passed Nick walking northward along The Valley…wonder if he’d been hanging about near the theatre…

Tuesday 26th August 2025

Woke around 0700. Got up and made tea for our guests. Drove them into Penzance to catch the 0910 back to Exeter. Aki and I waved them off, then took a short stroll around the town centre…impressive old Town Hall building with a sizeable cupola, but little else of interest. Ordered sausage and egg sandwiches at Sullivan’s Diner, and drove back to Mousehole. Ate our repast on the balcony. I did some exercises. I headed for Minack at noon, stopping at a Farm Shop to buy a steak pasty. Got to the theatre in good time to discover that Nick, our sturdy Captain Ahab, had walked out on the production last night after issuing an ultimatum to the director…either use his method of igniting the harpoon at the end of Act 1, or he goes…the director waved him goodbye…Martin South is to take his place this afternoon! We worked through three or four set pieces for Martin’s benefit. He’ll be using a script, of course. Show was all but a sellout…Martin came on and did his first two or three scenes off book…very impressive. He got an extra cheer from the audience…and us…at the curtain call. I walked up to the car park to eat my ‘dinner’ in the car and listen to R4. Bought ice cream at the shack. Aki and her chum from JCUK were watching tonight…they loved it, and were especially effusive about Martin’s turn. A couple of nasty squalls blew in after the interval…my guitar got wet…managed to play most of it in the musician’s all weather gazebo. Really not looking forward to Thursday’s forecast deluge!!! Met Aki in the car park…her chums had already departed…and drove back to Mousehole in the gloom. 

Monday 25th August 2025

Woke around 0800. Tea and porridged out on the suntrap balcony with Midori and Dan. Another scorcher on the cards. They popped into the village to get some provisions and I took the opportunity to do my exercises on the balcony. Midori had brought her hairdressing scissors and gave me a bit of a tidy up.

Headed for Marazion around 1100. The place was packed with Bank Holiday visitors. Fortunately the overflow car park serving visitors to St Michael’s Mount was huge and we found a space…Dan paid the £5 parking fee. We walked along the beach and then shuffled across the causeway toward the impressive island….we turned back at the gate and walked into town. 

Lunched at The Godolphin…bright, modern pub with views of the Mount. Drove on to Porthcurno. I dropped the gang at the beach car park, then parked up at the Minack and walked back down the hill. Joined Aki and chums in the queue for ice cream then we headed down to the beach…it was rammed! Aki and I climbed the stone staircase up to the theatre car park so she knew where I’d parked up, and I gave her the key then walked across the field to Seabreeze. The director and her fella are stopping there…a big modern detached house built for holiday letting…they are sharing with about seven others. The whole company rocked up for notes. 

Femi seemed in a very strange mood…very subdued. Nick had a run in the the director over the ignition of the harpoon, accusing her of cutting off her nose to spite her face…Angharad visibly bristled. I snuck out before the end to sort out my guitar ahead of sound check. Evening show was a sellout. Nick was slightly under par, but seemed OK. We were granted an enthusiastic reception at curtain call. Met Aki, Midori and Dan at the car. Drove back to Mousehole in the dark. Midori and Dan had really enjoyed the show. Eventually got to bed around midnight after a quick shower…

Sunday 24th August 2025

Woke around 0800. Tea and porridge. Slowly got my act together. Left Aki behind…awaiting the arrival of chums from Exeter…and drove into Penzance to buy batteries from Sainsbury’s only to discover they didn’t open until 1100. Picked up a coffee and drove to Minack, stopping at the convenience store in St Buryan to buy batteries, and a pasty for later. Got to the theatre for 1045 and the start of a long day’s tech and dress rehearsal. Broke at 1400 for a 30 minute lunch break. Slow going! The director getting increasingly exasperated with the less disciplined members of the cast! Limped through to the end of Act 2 by 1730 and took a break…I took my pasty up to the car park and ate whilst listening to the news on R4. Dress rehearsal went up on time at 1930 in front of a handful of Minack staff members. They seemed enthusiastic. Still some bits need ironing out. Got changed quickly and headed up the hill to jump into the car and drive back to Mousehole…in the dark. Took a circuitous route which gave me some time on the A30, and took me back via Newlyn…felt the most comfortable route given the driving conditions! Dan and Midori were readying for bed when I got in…managed a brief chat before I got in the bath…thoroughly knackered!