The cost of living

Luxulyan Valley

Had a great day out yesterday at Bedruthan Steps and Padstow.  As its not far from home its nice to get out for a walk with the camera and not have to drag a couple of surfboards around with me, only on occassion mind you normally i prefer the boards!! So it struck me yesterday that I never fully appreciated that my parents used to drag me to a beach every weekend and we would sit with our sandwiches (mine usually filled with sand!), melted chocolate roll and the Mr Kiplings apple pie that this all costed money.  Now I have my own kids, it certainly struck me that there doesnt appear to be anything that is cost free with the exception of a walk on the moors! I am interested in knowing what is available out there which is cost free.  Even a walk in the woods cost £3 these days.  Dont get me wrong I dont have an issue with paying for a decent meal(just like to promote Scott's National Trust cafe at Bedruthan Steps, the best of food every time!) its just a trip out is never less than £20 and we are only doing the trips for my family to get out and get some exercise, but to do that we have to do that within the confines of our village where parking doesnt cost and we can walk everywhere.  not really sure where I am going with this but just wanted to moan about why everything cost these days and would really like to know if there is anything that doesnt come with a raffle ticket attached to it.  In connection with this I am setting up a facebook page called Corwalls free stuff and a twitter stream #cornwallfreestuff good to get a discussion going about free stuff in Cornwall? what do you think?

Great summer

 Constantine Bay Reef (Mika 03/09/10 )

Well the summer is officially over for us in terms of school holidays. Its been a blast, whilst the surf could have been better, this past week has seen the best swell of the year with sun and a decent 4-6ft swell at Constantine. Although it was a tad of a paddle out for my dodgy shoulder!

Highlights of the summer for me have been the fact that I have spent so much time at the beach and the fact that my son has developed(finally) his fathers desire to grow gills and has simply learnt to surf instantly.  First wave and he was on his feet, the rest was easy.  I have now turned into a taxi for him with every evening a trip to Harlyn to get some surf he has been as keen as mustard to get in.  Mind you I dont think that I had two surfboards of my own for my 9th birthday or anyone to teach me to surf.  I certainly didnt have the talent to get up on my first wave. Been great all round and now just need to get through the winter to the next one. Got some great pics too!

Sams first wave

My boy

My girl

Sam