A boating lake.

My daily drive to Newquay hospital takes me past this lovely boating lake on the edge of the town.

I tend to think of Newquay as a busy tourist playground, with Surfing thrown in. I didn't know that a quiet place like this existed.

On my way home I stopped and had a wander through the grounds, enjoying the beautiful trees, the birds and the rustling of the water.

There are mature trees set all around, some with benches under for a tired traveller.

 At one end there is a pretty rose garden, and I was surprised to see how many  of the different varieties were still in full flower.

There is a small cafe further down the lake where I stopped for a reviving cup of tea. You can also hire boats for a row on the water, but no one was out that day.

Swans and other water birds drift around, and the visiting children enjoy feeding them.

It's a little oasis on the road back home.

Ups and downs

Due to the fact that my husband is back in hospital for a few days, I'm going to be off line for a while.

I plan to do some craft work to occupy my hands and mind while he is away.

Hope it won't be long before we're back.

Webs.

Aren't spiders' webs magical?

It was a misty Autumn morning here, and the garden was full of sparkling lacy webs.

 Like gauzy ballerinas' tutus.

 Here, guarding a little clump of the first

Michaelmas Daisies.

They are a real sign of Autumn.

Apple cooking.

A very kind friend bought me this basket of windfall apples from her orchard today. The pink ones are eaters, the rest cookers.

So is there a delicious smell of softly stewed  apples in my kitchen?

No.

There is however, a very nasty burnt pan.

That's what happens when one loses concentration.

Fortunately I haven't lost too many. Try again.

My husband suggests a 'pinger' to remind me.

These few stems of Gladioli were all beaten down by the wind a couple of nights ago.

I love their frothy flowers.

There is still some colour in the garden, but every time I pick something to bring it indoors I feel sad that the garden is robbed of a little of the remaining brightness.

Over the border?

I suppose, with all the hullabaloo about Scotland's possible decision to become independent, that someone had to set this one up.

It was of course, a prank.

Dahlias

There is a bit of colour left in the garden .

These lovely Sarah Raven Dahlias have just begun to flower.

It's their first year so they are rather later than usual.

 This one is called 'Chat Noir' or Black Cat.
Grown with a background of feaathery pink Cosmos ithe colours are cheerful together.

Some people leave the corms in the ground over Winter, some dry them.

It's the first time I've grown them, so I'm happy to listen to any advice.

Carers

Carers, caregivers, support workers...... the name doesn't matter.

I am a full time carer for my husband now, and that seems normal to me.

But we now have visiting professional careworkers to help him dress, shower etc.

I don't think I had ever realised exactly what their jobs entailed. Our two ladies are on the go in various peoples' homes from 6 am through till 10 pm.

They have breaks through the day, but what a long day it must be.

And yet they arrive, fresh, smiling, full of empathy.

They are objective, yet love a joke, they give advice if asked, but never prescribe.

They never talk about other clients.

Our ladies are of mature years, though there are many young people going into the profession now. My husband likes his 'girls', as he calls them and I hear them laughing at each others jokes.

Many of our local agencies supply relief staff to the hospitals and care homes.

I'm always happy to see our ladies as they run up the path in their smart uniforms.

(photo from Google, not our agency)

Hydrangea change.

Isn't it amazing that these Hydrangeas, photographed in July are now a completely different colour?

Yes, it is the same bush, taken two months later!

They have never turned quite such a lovely shade of crimson before, so I think I might try drying some of them, and see if the colour stays true.

The good, the bad.....

The good today is that my husband can come home tomorrow.

We had a chat with the Occupational therapist at the hospital and they have suggested one or two alterations in the house to make life easier for him.

I'm so looking forward to having him back!

The bad.....well,

I went into the local garage where I always get my fuel.

The same young man who served me last week was there.

I told him, very clearly, to put Diesel in the car, even saying that I come out in a rash if I handle diesel.

As I went to pay I noticed that he had just finished...and was slipping the Petrol nozzle back into the pump.

Panic.

I did manage not to erupt, but called the manager and explained. He took over, and the car is now waiting to be pumped out and cleaned at their expense.

He was desperately apologetic, offered me coffee and a lift to the hospital if necessary.

However, I'm hoping that the car will be ready for me to drive by 2 pm, when I normally go to visit.
It's left me a bit shaken.

I am so thankful that I noticed it before I tried to drive off.

A swap parcel.

A while ago I joined a swap organised by Betty of Betty, the wood fairy.

The idea was to send gifts showing something of the county or country in which one lives.

I was partnered with Kimberley of Creative Chaos, who lives in New Zealand.

Her parcel arrived this week and was carefully hidden in my recycling box by the postman, so I didn't at first see it.

What exciting things!

The little Kiwi card was designed by her son at his school.

I love Earl Grey tea and wonder if NZ Earl Grey will taste different to English.

She sent some interesting postcards of the regions, a Kiwi key ring which I shall use for my car keys.

There were candies, some manuka soap which I look forward to using , and a delightful ceramic heart.

We were asked to send one handmade item, and Kimberley made a lovely shower cap for me in a fabric with the N Z Christmas tree flower on it, which will stop my long hair from getting wet!

Thank you Kimberley.

I hope my Cornish parcel reaches you safely.

The last harvest

The vegetable garden is coming to an end.

The last lettuce has been picked, and eaten...mmm, smoked salmon salad, fresh tomatoes warm from the greenhouse, a potato salad....

... made with the last of the potatoes dug from the vegetable bed.

Nothing to do with vegetables. I thought you might like to see a couple of shots of Helston cottage hospital.

By the way, the title 'cottage hospital' may not be familiar to all. They date back to the 1800s in England. It was felt that people would be better treated amongst family and friends and by local doctors who knew them, rather than having to make a hazardous journey to a city far away. Often there were no local facilities for the poor in the villages, and in 1859 a small cottage in Cranleigh, Surrey, was converted into a 'Village hospital'. There would only have been six or eight beds.

At the rear outside the Day room is a Sensory garden given by the Friends of the hospital.

Today it was warm enough to sit out for a little while, watching the breeze gently moving the grasses. One of the nurses told me there wasn't enough colour in the garden, but I love the differences in the greens and reds of the plants. They are more soothing than a riot of colour, I think..