Days 41 42 Bodmin, R & R in Plymouth…

 41 caught my pre-booked train (getting good at booking stuff online now) down to Bodmin. Met at station by Jane and Kevin. Over to Jane’s place for morning tea and chatter, met Nicola (daughter), Bonnie (granddaughter), and Rolypoly the wee dog, very friendly. Sumptuous lunch was served, Cornish pasty and salad…yumm. Then the scrabble game. Jane won. There are some new scrabble words. Including QIN a Chinese zither! I didn’t know that one. Then Jane and Kevin drove me up to a huge monument built to honour the work of Sir Walter Raleigh Gilbert who hailed from these parts. Then through the narrow-streeted town back to Bodmin Parkway station where I caught the 3 17 train back to Plymouth. A lovely visit to a lovely part of Cornwall. Btw, Jane and I met on facebook scrabble quite a while ago, but I stopped playing when I was getting seriously addicted. In the evening, I ventured down to the Barbican again and chose another cafe for my fish and chips and mushy peas, nice.

42 left Travelodge to do some serious walking. First though I went through the Anglican minster nearby, St Andrews. Dates from the 15th century, but was seriously damaged during the Blitz, 1941/42. The famous Resurgam (I shall rise again) word was inscribed by a woman on the day after destruction, and indeed it was rebuilt, but it took many years. I love these old churches. Then I wandered around the city centre and then up to the Museum, which was very impressive, including an interesting display about Lady Astor, who was the first woman to sit in the English parliament, and was an MP for Plymouth for many years.

Continued walking through to Central Park to the home ground of Argyle, Home Park. Thought about buying some shirts but at 80 dollars each decided I would stick with the one I’ve got already. A circus was set up nearby, Billy Smarts. That was going when I was a kid. It has been a lovely day and the walk through the park was just gorgeous. I came back for a rest, but was out again this evening, walking up to Mutley, Mannamead and back down Torrington Place to the city. On the way I passed Clifton Place, where my grandparents on my dad’s side lived, 74 Alexandra Rd and 16 Western College Rd where I flatted as a student and finally 58 Torrington Place where I worked as an articled clerk 1964 to 1969. It’s just about renovated as student accommodation, being so close to Plymouth university. Aah memories. 

Tomorrow I’m hoping to meet up with another couple of old friends, Christine and Jeff, am waiting on a reply to my email. And I have to go to the library and print out some tickets. I’m bussing up to Lunnon on Thursday, arriving at Victoria, finding my way on the underground to St Pancras and catching another train to Bedford. Another friend to visit there.

ok me ansums, ‘ave to get mee sleep now, nitey nite…