Cornwall, Recipes, Stories, Places to visit, Food and Drink, History, Photography,
Apologies for the radio silence! I am very busy with my photographic career. I thought my readers may be interested in some images I recently took of Falmouth fisherman, Les Angell on my professional photography website blog! A lovely man to spend the morning with.
http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk/2016/11/13/the-story-of-an-oysterman/
We are delighted to be celebrating our first year wedding anniversary tomorrow and I though it was about time to put some of our honeymoon pictures on one of our blogs! So if you head over to www.acornishcoastalwedding.com (our wedding blog) you will see them.
Go grab yourself a cuppa tea and a piece of Saffron cake and enjoy the pictures!
M&B
Just a little bit of fun on this February afternoon. I (a Cornishman) have just driven into central Oxford and bought one thing…… a Cornish pasty. It was not my intention but there I was ambling down the street and all I could smell was pasties coming from a Cornish Bakehouse shop. Ansom Waz! So I bought a giant (wasn’t that big compared to me mothers) steak (yes STEAK) traditional Cornish Pasty. I had to lock it in the boot of the car to keep the smell at bay.
Still, it was proper tasty! Certainly one of the best I’ve had north of the Tamar and highly recommended.
Where ‘s your favourite pasty from north of the Tamar? Please answer below.
Here is a little video I found by Holly Turton – which made me smile! Probably because I fell asleep in that shelter one night in my teens on my long walk back home to Budock Water.
Slightly late for Christmas but Happy New Year to all My Saffron Bun readers.
With a recent visit to Cornwall planned to see my parents they thought it would be nice to take us out for a Sunday roast. All we had to do was suggest somewhere to go? I jumped on the computer and typed in ‘Best Roast in Falmouth’ and at the top of the Google results was a review which rated The Waymarker between Falmouth and Gweek highly. Trip Advisor has a few reviews on The Waymarker and upon reading them I thought it was definitely worth a go.
So, after a quick call to Mum and Dad who said ‘Oh yes that’s Paul Mann’s relative who runs it – we’ve passed it by but never been in there. Shall we give it a go?’
After a quick email it was all booked up for 1pm Sunday. Well, what a Cornish Gem – The Waymarker is a timber frame construction built in a tranquil old granite quarry at Trewardreva, Constantine. With beautiful countryside surrounding the building and plenty of outside seating I imagine it would be a great place to stop off to relax on a warm and sunny day. We opted for the more civilised indoor seating arrangement as we were having a cooked meal. After hearing the rave reviews online we decided to all go for the roast beef.
Whilst we waited for the meal my parents had a couple of shandies and Becky and I thought we could try some local beverages. Becky went for an Elderflower Presse made in Duloe by Cornish Orchards while I went for a more alcoholic option of a real ale. Lizard Ales of Coverack, on the Lizard peninsula brew half a dozen different ales in an old nuclear bunker and I opted for the classically named Kernow Gold. A cracking light and refreshing ale suitable for lunchtime drinking.
With the drinks going down well, it was not long before our meals arrived. Wow, they looked mouth-watering! It transpires that Rhiannon who runs The Waymarker is a farmer’s daughter. That combination of farmers daughter and cooking will usually result in a hearty meal especially when roast Beef and fresh veg is concerned! It was a really great meal, friendly service and an idyllic location. So if you are in the area, its well worth trying this little gem tucked away off the beaten track between Falmouth and Gweek.
After that delicious meal we had to try to walk some of it off so headed for the Penrose Estate to walk down to Loe Bar via Loe Pool.
Loe Pool is a fresh water lake located on the Penrose Estate with a shingle bank separating it from the sea. Measuring 50 Hectares (500,000 sq metres) it’s quite a large lake that we later realised.
Becky and I headed off as my parents wanted to take a more leisurely stroll and not walk all the way to the sea. It’s a ride I have done on my bike before but never on foot – Dad did say its a ‘Hell of a walk’ – He was right! After a 40 minute walk we realised just how much further we would have to walk around Loe pool before then turning around and walking all the way back. Not wanting to keep Mum and Dad waiting too long we turned around and headed back with the idea of driving to Loe Bar car park and walking along the clifftop to see the bar, the pool and the sea.
The scenery around the pool, the bar and the south Cornish coastline is just stunning. The clear blue skies and the fresh vegetation were just glorious. Its well worth a walk for the able-bodied person, next time we will plan to take all day to do the walk and take a lunch with us to have on the beach (bar).
A word of warning. Do not attempt to go into the sea on Loe Bar, there are very dangerous under currents here coupled with the steep shingle bank which acts like quicksand so do not even consider stepping foot in the water. Several lives have been lost along this stretch of coastline. So be safe and keep out of the water! The dangerous swimming conditions and remoteness keep this beautiful beach off the bucket & spade brigades go to lists – excellent. Check out how quiet it is on a Sunday afternoon!
Here are some of my favourite pictures taken that day
We finally got back to Falmouth, where we went up to Pendennis Point to admire the view…… and have a Mr Whippy too!
Today I would like to introduce to you Catherine Lucktaylor, an artist who relocated to Cornwall 3 years ago. Here is her story…
I have been a practicing artist for over 20 years and three years ago I took the plunge and relocated to Cornwall. I now live in West Cornwall surrounded by the sea, ancient stone circles and sacred wells.
My love of Cornwall began about 12 years ago when I put my bicycle and camping gear on the train and headed to Penzance. I spent a week exploring West Penwith and fell in love with the wildness of the land, the beautiful turquoise sea and stunning cliffs. The people I met were very friendly, helpful and welcoming. I particularly loved the Mermaid of Zennor, which is a beautiful carving of a mermaid on a pew in the church at Zennor. I created a mixed media piece inspired by the carving and have been making mermaids ever since.
My creations include beautiful and sensuous ceramic sculptures, pots and jewellery. I take inspiration from the ancient myths and legends of Cornwall which I blend with the sacred art and earth based spirituality of my West African heritage. My elegant sculptures and ceramics are designed to create an aura of magic and ethereal beauty to enhance any home or garden.
I always hand build my sculptures, pots and jewellery individually, so each piece is unique. I have recently been making raku fired ceramics. Raku is an ancient Japanese technique which has been adapted to modern times. The pieces are fired to around 900 degrees centigrade in a specially made gas fired kiln. They are removed from the kiln when they are red hot and plunged into sawdust. This dramatic process gives the beautiful effects unique to raku. The thermal shock causes the glaze to craze and enables the smoke to penetrate the clay body.
I am especially pleased with my latest ‘rock pool bowls’ and ‘landscape pots’ and I am currently working on a private commission for a mermaid garden sculpture.
To see more of Catherine’s magical artwork visit www.catherinelucktaylor.com
People are up in arms on the south side of the Tamar as those in charge of the country namely the The Chancellor of the Exchequer in his 2012 Budget has announced that VAT will be added to hot food. This means the Cornish Pasty will incur an additional 20% VAT to its price. This increase will dramatically damage the Cornish economy and could potentially damage employment in Cornwall too.
Boo… Mr Osborne, surely Mr Cameron is not happy with this decision for all the holidays he has in the county! Another 40p on top of a £2 pasty, whatever next? 5p if you want it in a bag!
The pasty is a staple diet for the Cornish and a popular attraction for visitors. Pasties are expensive enough as they are without putting the cost of them up.
Well, followers of My Saffron Bun please have your say and sign the e-petition on the HM Government website here.
Mother's pasties - you will not be putting VAT on these beauties Mr Osborne!
Ok, let’s get this blog a bit interactive with a bit of audience participation!
Whether you live in the county as several of my followers do, holiday down there or like myself are Cornish and live outside of the county – this post is for you! Do you have a fond memory of Cornwall, from your childhood or maybe more recently? It could be something life changing or something silly but when you think of it makes you feel great and gets the Kernow blood pumping though your veins.
So, please send them in, with a photo if you like and I will post them on My Saffron Bun. If you wish to remain anonymous that’s fine, just let me know.
Please send your fond memories to mysaffronbun@gmail.com
Go on – you know you want to! Thanks 🙂 Here’s my effort…
Who said men can't multi task?
This is a photo of Becky and I on a bicycle made for two (mainly pedaled by one!) on the Camel Trail, Padstow. We always go from Wadebridge to Padstow and hire bikes from Bridge Bike Hire who are good chaps and always supply decent bikes, well ones that will get you to Padstow and back. The scenery is stunning all the way and its an easy 7 miles each way although it doesn’t feel that far, well maybe on the way back!
When we get to Padstow its got to be Rick Steins Fish and Chips for lunch, eat in or on the quay. If it’s a nice day I’d do the quay option, you will be served quicker and the views are better!
Have a great weekend, whatever you get up to?
Turning Leaf Ring
Riptide Studs
Turning Leaf Earrings
Riptide Bracelet
Turning Leaf Bangle
Double Drops Pendant
” I take all my photos on the beach which is just at the end of the lane where I live and couldn’t wish for a better photography studio”. All images © Marsha Drew
If you are visiting Rock, Polzeath and the North Cornwall coast then you must pop into The Winter Gallery at Polzeath to see Marsha’s work and other Cornish artists work.
My Saffron Bun 