I had hoped to be able to spend Christmas with the family in St Agnes, and, for once, it wasn't me disorganisation, but rather not knowing whether I had to work after christmas that stopped me booking travel a reasonable time in advance when it wouldn't've been ridiculously expensive. When I finally convinced the boss to tell me that he didn't want me to work over the break, I went online to look for transport as quickly as I could.. then I baulked at the price.., then I thought about the cost of airfares from NZ, and not knowing when I'll next be in the uk and have a chance to see them, I decided that it was worth it. After too much fear of missing my flight, and the resultant long period of hanging around in the airport waiting for the flight, I arrived in Newquay at about 6pm, and found Ian and Jenny waiting for me. Half an hour later, We showed up at The Croft, where a glass of G'n'T appeared in my hand, and shortly later I was sitting at the table enjoying a delicous meal (prepared by means of argument between Rob and Richard)... and the wonderful company of 16 relatives.., (of varying distance)
After a night of fun, drinking too much, games (articulate) and catching up, I crawled off to bed for a good night's sleep, ready to explore an abandoned mine the next morning... morning came and went, and by mid afternoon, we were walking along to road to a location I probably shouldn't name, which was renamed to “another name I probably shouldn't mention” during the course of our exploration. Unfortunately, before leaving, I was warned that I would return caked in mud so I left my camera behind.., The mine was quite an experience... far more expansive than anything I've had the opportunity to explore in New Zealand. Lots of branching tunnels, some short drives with dead ends, and large caverns in other places where seems of Ore had been found. Pockets of foul smelling (and sometimes dizzying) air, clayey cave-ins, old propping and shoring, some of it intact, and some quite definitely collapsed.
After about 4 hours of wandering around underground, we climbed about 35m of steel ladders (some recent work had been carried out in the 90's) and emerged in the yard behind a factory, lights were turned off and stealthy progress made to the driveway, followed by ducking through a hole under the wire fence, and a scramble down the hill. After a couple of quiets at the local pub, we headed back to a hungry and slightly impatient crew at The Croft. We ate, drank, and headed into the village for a few more drinks at the pub before midnight mass at the church, across the road. High Church (or “bells and smells” as I fondly know it) is quite an experience to have whilst rather tipsy and carrying an over-inflated bladder.
Christmas Day started around 10am.., with a glass of Buck's fizz (bubbly mixed with orange juice), breakfast, and a quick trip to the beach for the local Christmas traditional swim... keeping up the Doble tradition of arriving pretty much when everyone else is getting out of the water. ...............
Boxing day saw us heading out to Gwethian to fly kites...trivial pursuit
the 27th was a bit of a detox day with less drinking and 3 hours of walking along the cliffs, althoguh we didn't make it as far as porthowan before, stopping for a picnic lunch, then returning via the beacon.
Sunday the 28th was my last day, and luckily I managed to squeeze in a quick bit of kiting before catching the coach from newquay to London at 3pm.
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