Sunday 5th September (2nd day in Newquay)

 I'm in Newquay for two weeks, and what a palaver it took to get here.  I had a phone call on Friday to say my train had been cancelled so I wouldn't be travelling on the 9.47 and would be travelling on the 11.47 instead.  I wrote this all down on a piece of paper, then on Saturday morning, I received another call saying that the train had also been cancelled. if I could get to the station at 11.00, there would be a train at 11.30.  I booked passenger assistance so someone called Tony helped me, just as well as the case weighed a ton.

it was a sunny morning as I left Salisbury and I went to M and S to get sandwiches but forgot a drink. I was going to get a taxi but opted for the bus instead, this is the first time I have tried out my pink suitcase which is smaller than my old one which was a bit awkward. the old one has gone to Salisbury museum for them to put their costumes in whenever they travel from place to place.

Am I writing history?  Well, I don't know about that, I suppose I am but what will life be like in 100 years when we are all gone.  I've seen a lot of change in Newquay, when I first came the Grayhound buses were still running trips to other places in Cornwall.  I first came down here with Penny (a childhood friend from Rowdeford girl's school) the bus station had blackboards with all the trips they were doing.  The place's included Lands End, Looe and Polperro, then Ted came along with his tours.  I wasn't too sure about him, as by then I was with my parent's.  I remember I was in an arcade with them and the Pink Panther theme came on.  I booked through the TIC and I'm glad we did, the first place we went was where they filmed Doc Martin was very popular.  Then they did a remake of Poldark which became very popular, Port Isaac was where some of the filmings of both programmes took place.

Anyway, I had to wait a while at Westbury then got on the Penzance Train, so I didn't have to change at Exeter St Davids, as it was stopping in Parr anyway.  I sat near a German family who had a cute but noisy baby, I think the grandfather was Italian as he kept saying Mumma-mia.  We passed through Dawlish and Teignmouth which pulled at my heart string's, I'm going to leave Salisbury one day and all its crap behind and live in Devon.  Some people don't believe me but that's what I want to do.  I don't want to spend the rest of my life in Wiltshire, the very thought of growing old in this godforsaken city horrifies me!

It took another hour from Parr To Newquay, it wasn't as drafty as I thought it would be.  Sunny when I managed to get off, and the call of seagulls is always welcome.  I let Jackie know I was here and wandered over, I have to be very careful but I want to make use of these 2 weeks.

Went to Weatherspoons for dinner as Bunters my usual cafe closes at 5 pm.  It was a bit busy but not that much.  Had Pasta Alfredo and pulled chicken, a lot of Weatherspoons pubs are dark and dingy.  Visited Sainsbury's to get some milk. sugar and Ovaltine, I want to get more points on my Nectar card.  I have started to build up images for the next photo book.

Slept ok last night, although my head started hurting, this is a sleep disorder I have.  watched a documentary about Elizabeth Taylor and her fiery relationship with Richard Burton.  Jackie has to have a lot of patience to put up with me, I love coming to Newquay.

I met a nice couple from Hampshire at breakfast this morning, Jackie has a new cook as her nephew has left.  Secretly, I think it could have been due to the bad review that was on Trip Advisor.

I went into town and stopped at Bunters, the manager looks a bit rushed off his feet.  I think maybe he was probably horrified when he saw me; I'm enough to drive anyone up the wall.  I said I would be back at 1pmish.

I've seen a nice pair of walking trousers in Millets which I might get before I go home, it's getting it into my case that's the problem.  There is a National Trust property I might visit called Trellisk House which is near Falmouth, I can get a bus to Truro and change onto another one that goes to the house.

I am a bit lonely without my parents but they are housebound now, this damned virus has affected a lot of people.  I went to an afternoon tea at St Thomas House the day before I came here, I saw Alan Crooks and we got chatting.  His wife Sheila I know well had to be rushed into hospital on Christmas day 2020 of all days.  She has been diagnosed with acute Leukaemia which like my dad can be hopefully controlled.

I went to Bunters and had macaroni cheese and Garlic bread, I might go back for dessert after typing this.  I sat at the table with 2 empty chairs facing me, seem's like a dream that my parents were me.  

A load of cyclists on the tour of England rushed along the street, they started in Lands End and I have captured them on my phone.  Well now I must finish as times getting on, I'll do an update later; that's if aliens from outer space don't decide to take me off in their mother ship.  I'm hoping to go to Fistral and do the nature trail,

I had to change at Westbury station which is just a tiny bit smaller than Salisbury