CATCH UP

It's been a long time since my last entry on this blog but there has been plenty of things to write about but not the time. However we find ourselves right now, comfortably ensconced in the charming Cornish Cottage owned by our good friends Fran and Ade. Needless to say we are about as far west as we could be, from the high ground that surrounds the cottage one can see Penzance, in the westerly distance, across what was today, thanks to a sudden turnaround in the weather, a sun kissed and sparkling Atlantic Ocean.

But let's wind the clock back a tad. At the last entry the World Cup was about to start and despite what many thought was a disappointing competition, I was thoroughly entertained by it all, right up to the end when Spain emerged victors and sunk without trace the best of my pre-tournament bets, that being the Dutch to win at 10-1. From the whole four weeks of cut and thrust, I emerged with a miserly £8, This has since been turned into a rather fortuitous £189 thanks to a each way treble coming home two weekends ago. Anyway, I digress.

Good old Rustan...here again

Halfway through the World Cup we had the annual Swengland Presentation afternoon. The blisteringly hot June weather meant that this year, as last, the afternoon was blessed by sunshine into the late evening. Rustan was in attendance and not only presented the awards but was the main man in the production of a Swedish Midsummer table, featuring all the delicacies associated with the time of year in his homeland. This included the Janssons Frestelse cooked properly, unlike Christmas when he was forced to use the highly salty British anchovies. This time he brought his own from Sweden. It disappeared without trace.

Guess who is the new Champion

I then paid a visit to an old familiar place. I wonder if some of you blog readers will recognise it from these two photos?

Look familiar?

And this??

Another real treat before the journey to Cornwall, was a trip to North London to go behind the scenes at White Hart Lane. The guided stadium tour is something I have wanted to do for ages and Trish and I joined the other fans at two in The Megastore to meet our genial host for the afternoon. I really enjoyed it of course. We eventually made our way, via the dressing rooms where the last plunge bath in The Premiership resides, soon to be in the Wembley museum, out onto the pitch. Of course last season we had three seats in the section of the ground reserved for the privileged members of 'The Captain's Club' which were right next to the tunnel. This information I imparted to our host who regarded the information as if coming from a habitual liar. Trish and I went and sat in our old seats, probably for the last time.

Look what I found in the trophy cabinet

Me and a really old cock.

My hero!

The school term lurched slowly to it's conclusion at the end of July and our thoughts turned towards the summer vacation. This year we have decided to spend it at home, taking trips away to see friends and family. So that's how this week, we find ourselves here.

Cornwall coastline

We took the train down from Paddington at midday yesterday and arrived six hours later in St. Erth met by Fran, Ade and son Joe. Cornwall has always been one of my favourite places, ever since my first visit here in the mid eighties with Goran, Ulf and Rob. The haze of that trip is still etched upon my mind. Today we have visited the Atlantic coast at Godrevy and marveled at the rollers crashing in on the Cornish beach which reminded me of the magnificent rollers from the Pacific that I saw tumbling in on the Sunshine Coast in Australia when I visited Jim a couple of years ago. It really was a magnificent sight. We also were able to see seals playing in the surf and rocky coves in crystal clear waters, rivaling that of the Caribbean this time last year.

Ade's in heaven

Sunshine Copast? No, Cornwall

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Fran, Ade and Joe moved down here in December last year and it is an idyllic retreat, as different from the drab, neolithic streets of Luton as it is possible to imagine. Built over 150 years ago it is picture perfect with a view of the sparkling Atlantic from the well stocked garden at the side of the house, a giant, magnificent, eucalyptus tree taking pride of place. Fran is at home here, it long being her dream to move to this area, a dream which unlike so many other people, she has realised. Ade and Jo, master of the music and filming, are also likewise happy, enjoying the long, steep, stamina building walks in the surrounding countryside. Ade now has a well stocked fridge sporting ales with typical eccentric English names such as 'Cornish Knocker',' Betty Stogs' and Doom Bar. He too is in his 'alement'. How marvelous it is to see happy people, friends who are enjoying life to the full it seems, in a beautiful part of this often and deservedly maligned country. Surrounded by green hills, fabulous views and unspoilt nature, they are now contented and fulfilled.

Good pubs, great beer, bigger gut.