STACK NEWS ISSUE FOURTEEN December 2010
Welcome to the FOURTEENTH edition of Stack News!
Our cover star this year is Templeton – we call him Spotty – pictured in his field next to The Stack with his new friend. Spotty’s ‘mum’ lives in Penzance so Jayne makes sure he has fresh water on the rare occasions we have freezing weather. This year snow has come early with several inches falling overnight and making everything look very pretty.
Last time we reported that Roger’s mum was in hospital recovering from a broken hip sustained after a series of falls. Unfortunately she was not well enough to leave hospital for three months and spent last Christmas there. Although she did make a reasonable recovery she was not fit enough to remain at home and is now being cared for at Trevaylor Manor where she has settled in very well. It’s only a couple of miles from us and therefore easy to visit – Casey is a popular visitor and likes to try and spot their cats, as well as enjoying a biscuit or two if he’s lucky. There are lots of activities including a Christmas candlelit supper for residents and their families, and trips out in the minibus.
Some of you will know that Roger has two mothers. He was ‘adopted’ by his Cornish ‘other mother’ Christine and her family some time during their forty plus year friendship which started with a trip to the Minack Theatre by the Questors Theatre of which Roger was a member. Sadly, Christine was taken ill recently and passed away after a short stay in hospital on November 3rd aged 85. We will all miss this special lady for a very long time.
October was also a sad time when we travelled to London for the funeral of Jayne’s aunt ‘Nigs’. Hopefully the day was made a little easier by the presence of a large ‘blue’ dog. Yes Casey came along for the ride (or in his case a long sleep in the car).
Earlier in the year (July), Casey insisted on a short holiday – this time to Lulworth Cove in Dorset where we stayed at The Castle Inn: A traditional family-run 16th Century Thatched Inn and Hotel. Very dog friendly too, with dog biscuits on the bar, a bowl of sausage at breakfast, and all the dogs staying photographed for their website.
Other ‘out of county’ visits included Jayne’s mum for her birthday and Xmas, with Casey enjoying meeting up with Xena and Charlie when we stayed at Les and Carol’s. Jayne again ventured all the way to Birmingham in January for a moth conference.
Jayne continues with her web design activities including a new site for ‘The Chocolate House’ in Penzance – once a shop, this is now a luxury self catering cottage (Jayne was hoping payment would be in chocolate). She also completed and passed her PHP programming certificate and even did a short cookery/healthy living course – her stem ginger cookies are rather good!
No ‘formal learning’ for Roger this year, just a few guided walks looking at local prehistory. Casey has also opted out of training and agility classes preferring to attend the less formal monthly ‘meet and greet’ walks organised by the Cornwall branch of the Retired Greyhound Trust. These events are attended by around fifty greyhounds, plus their lead holders, at different locations around Cornwall – even one that included a church blessing for the dogs.
Not much to report on the house – just maintenance items this year, including a nice new electric garage door. Our cars, Dave the Discovery and Erika the Kangoo, are sheltering from the snow as we write Stack News, and Marchant, Jayne’s bicycle, is still peacefully rusting - although he has moved from the car port to a more comfortable home in one of our garden chalets.
If some of the foregoing jottings seem to make little sense, you may find the back issues of Stack News helpful. They’re all available at www.dingdong.me.uk There are also links to some other locations, including pictures of our scenic flight around Penwith in May, plus some of our other pictures and of course Jayne’s websites.
So there we have it – our fourteenth edition comes to a close. Another year where we seem to have been really busy doing not very much. Watch your letterbox in twelve months time for the next edition of Stack News!
Best wishes for the festive season from:
Roger and Jayne
