Fairies & Dragons all at Little Winnick

This is an important notice to any little people coming to stay - the tooth fairy does visit Little Winnick, no matter where you are from, they will find you here.  This week one of our younger guests had a tooth fall out whilst she was in her caravan.  Her Dad told us she was a bit concerned that the Tooth Fairy would not know where to visit, but thankfully the Fairy had visited reception and left a letter for her, along with a small token for the tooth.  The young guest very kindly brought the tooth in wrapped in kitchen roll as proof it had fallen out!!  Whilst we are on the subject Father Christmas also watches over everyone here too and makes sure everyone is being nice...you better be on your best behavior.

To accompany the fairies that float around we also have a dragon on the park this week - Timothy the Bearded Dragon.  He is a lovely chap (well confined within his caravan, don't worry he will not escape), I would not describe him as cuddly but I did have a little stroke of him.  He had a prickly demeanor about him!  He is in one of my favourite caravans currently on the park - she is called Daisy, is a vintage caravan and has been restored brilliantly by her owners.

This week I came across a guest who claimed he was working in his 'office' aka the top of his car, as that is where he could get phone signal!  Phone signal is pretty patchy here, as we are nestled in a valley.  There are 'spots' which are better than others to get signal but come expecting none and then you will not be disappointed if you get some.  Most guests leave saying it has been wonderful escaping from the technological world we live in.  That said we do offer WiFi across the park.  You can buy vouchers from us in reception or directly from Club WiFi.  Wifi costs:
2 devices:
2 hrs =£3
24 hrs = £5
48 hrs = £7.50
1 week = £25

5 devices
48 hrs = £15
1 week = £25

The next few days see's lots of lovely events locally:

1 August - 1000 Fish Festival in St Austell
1 & 2 August - Sticker Country Fayre & Vintage Rally
2 August - Porthpean Fun Day
5 August - National Play Day at Kidzworld
5-8 August - Garden Truro
7 August - Drop in Yoga on the beach

Family Fun

The school holidays have finally arrived - how did that happen?  In my mind it is still April.  Anyway, Cornwall is a brilliant place to visit with children no matter what their age.  We are full for the next few weeks but still have some availability towards the end of the month so give us a call and we will see if we can squeeze you in.  Here are a few ideas of things to do:

1. The Lost Gardens of Heligan - If you are a regular blog reader you will know how much I love this place.  As of today they have their Lost Summer event and if past events are anything to go by it will be brilliant for all the family. They are also now open until 7pm.
2. Breakfast at Fifteen - bookings taken 7 days before the date you would like to go, this is an amazingly child friendly restaurant with exceptional views.  The breakfast is lovely - a bit of a treat.
3. Carnglaze Taverns - recommended by guests that stayed last week this is a magical place, full of mystery and fairies!
4. Lappa Valley - Have a ride on the trains, but check the departure time of the trains before you go so you are not sitting waiting for the next train!
5. Newquay Zoo - we went there on Wednesday.  A lovely zoo, laid out nicely with a  good selection of animals and excellent cafe.  There is lots to do near by including the boating lake and a miniature railway.
6. Walk to the beach - leave the car behind for the day and visit Pentewan Beach (not dog friendly).  Take a picnic and enjoy the sun.
7. Dairyland - fancy seeing some animals?  This is a small but lovely farm attraction, watch the cows being milk, bounce on the trampolines or make use of the huge indoor play area.
8. King Harry Ferry with a few castles enroute - A little adventure for you, drive to St Mawes first to St Mawes Castle, it is small but lovely castle and a lovely village to explore, then catch the King Harry Ferry across the River, driving on to Pendennis Castle.  You can pay to go in or there is a lovely walk all around the moat.
9. Coastal Path walking - you can access the South West Coastal path from Pentewan, so why not walk across to Mevagissey taking in the stunning scenery and then catch the no. 24 bus back which stops right outside.
10. Do nothing - I know this is on a list of things to do, but you are on holiday, the sun will be shining at some point and we have games, toys and books you can borrow from reception so just have a chill out day recharging.

You may remember about the adoption process of the chicks I hatched to the hens.  Well I am pleased to report Lady has taken to motherhood like a duck to water and is now happily nurturing three chicks.  They will not return to the park for a few weeks as they are too small to get up into the run at night.  In sadder news Lady's partner, Bird came to a dramatic and upsetting end.  I basically accidentally squashed her.  Well she got herself in a position to be squashed.  It was all very upsetting especially trying to explain to Jess that Mummy and Bird had a little accident.  Anyway enough said, Lady and her chicks thankfully are all doing well.  

Local Events

26 July - Trewithen Country & Classics Fayre at Trewithen Gardens - a lovely event

26 July  - Pentille Festival of Motorsport

30 July - Last night of Proms & Carnival part of Charlestown Regatta

1 August - Carnival Day Padstow.

Today's important lesson is do not buy an ice cream during a busy check in....it's melted all over my desk!

Tea by the sea and a school girl error

We had a huge check-in this weekend, with schools finishing and a gig at the Eden Project we were full to the brim and are bracing ourselves for this weeks massive arrivals.  It is brilliant to see the park full and to meet so many lovely families.  I had to smile to myself as I worked Saturday - it felt like all the departures were caravans and all the arrivals were tents - obviously that was not the case there are still plenty of caravans and motor homes on the park but there are a lot more tents!  We like all our guests whatever you arrive with/in, however one of my favourite things is walking around the park admiring all the tents and gadgets and gizmo's that people bring.  I get big tent envy  (So if you see a strange lady looking at your tent it is probably just me admiring it!).

On Friday the local fisherman from 'Aquila' popped in as he had some spare mackerel.  I LOVE mackerel and asked him once before if he ever has any spare to drop some in, well now every so often we get a little present.  I went home and gutted, boned the prepared the fish, wrapped them in foil, dug some potatoes from the garden and picked some peas (Jess' current favourite to be eaten straight from the pod) and packed the bucket barbecue and beers.  Then after work on Saturday we headed to Porthpean beach for a barbecue tea.  Before we moved to Cornwall I dreamed this is what you do on long hot Cornish evenings...turns out I was right.

Now, do remember that my first job of the day when working reception is to write up the tide times for guests.  As we walked onto Porthpean Beach and headed for a spot where no one else was I casually checked with Rich that the tide was going out.  He reminded me I was the one who have looked at the tide times that very morning.  I had spoken to a lot of people through the course of the day and had forgotten my name let alone the tide times.  So we set up our tent, BBQ, opened a beer and went for a paddle.  Only as I put the aforementioned fish on the barbecue did we truly notice the extent and pace that the tide was coming towards us.  So, we had to quickly move everything across to where everyone else was sitting (and probably laughing at us) and eat quickly before we got washed away.  Morale of the story - check tide times before you do anything that involves the sea!

What a fantastic way to enjoy a Cornish evening though.  Why not make the most of the long, lazy Cornish evenings and visit a beach for tea - a fantastic day way to finish a long day of travelling if you have just arrived.  Our favourites are:

1. DIY - Barbie on the beach - pick one of the many awesome beaches near by, we went to Porthpean as the car park is right near the beach, grab some fish from the fish stall in Mevagissey or meat from Kittows and check tide times!
2. Caerhays Beach Cafe - open every night through the summer holidays - one of my favourite and most magical beaches. (one day I hope to own the Castle!!!)
3. The HubBox - Part of Pentewan Sands Campsite - open to non residents. Walkable from here.
4. The Ship Inn, Pentewan - walkable, dog and child friendly just take a torch for the walk home if you have a late one!
5. Fish & Chips on Gorran Beach - Buy a bag of chips and wander down to the beach.  Park at the top of the village to avoid little roads.  I once got so scared of the little roads here I lost my car...long story!
6. Sams on the Beach , Polkerris- cool, trendy, relaxed, very family friendly, great food and even better cocktails.
7. Sams on the Bay , St Austell -  as above but on the beach with live music
8. The Hidden Hut, Porthcurnick Beach - worth the little drive and walk to find, the food is yummy, it is a bit pricey but worth it.
9. Mevagissey Fish & Chips on the Harbour - get fish and chips and then as you look out to sea
   
   head to the left, this is the quieter side of the harbour and beautiful.  
10. The Rising Sun, Portmellon - stunning location, but we would recommend you turn off the SatNat, don't go in via Mevagissey unless you like seriously small roads and lots of reversing, go in via Gorran Churchtown.

LOCAL EVENTS THIS WEEK:

24-26 July - Boconoc Steam Fair

25 July - Start if Charleston Regatta Week

25 July - Perranporth Carnival

25 July - Grampund Local Produce Market.

'Sunshine' on a rainy day

"Sunshine on a rainy day

Makes my soul, makes my soul

Trip Trip Trip Away..."

And you know what today my heart and soul tripped away as my 15 month old reminded me that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.  She was that little ray of sunshine on a rainy day.  Although she has been walking a good three months she has not seen big puddles (a good indication of how good the weather has been!).  Today she was utterly amazed by the puddles.  I cannot put into words the shear joy and delight she had towards puddles. She started touching them, sitting in them and then jumping in them.  She obtained a small crowd outside reception, as the joy and excitement was infectious.  When do we loose that love of jumping in puddles? Or in fact the love of the rain?  It is, after all, at this time of year warm rain! So with that in mind, I have complied some wet weather ideas for you...just incase you get the odd damp spell during your holidays!

1. Jump in puddles.  You are NEVER too old to stick on a pair of wellies, or even better take your shoes and socks off and jump in puddles until your hearts content.  Don't just watch the children - do it yourself.  (there will be a prize for the best picture of puddle jumping during the summer holidays - post them on Facebook)
2. Forest School Adventures at Cardinham Woods - join Claire and her team for what are brilliant sessions exploring the outdoors, eating scrummy things and developing outdoor skills, all around the campfire.  (we go and these are BRILLIANT!).  The weather will not spoil your fun, the more mud the better.  Daily sessions throughout the school hols.
3. St Austell Brewery Tour - well worth a visit, all indoors and you get to sample their produce at the end!  Booking is a must as the tours get very busy.
4. Bodmin and Wentford Railway - Enjoy a ride on a steam train.  Can you beat the smell of a steam train?  If you fancy stretching your legs get off at Bodmin Parkway and walk the old coach road into the grounds of Lanhydrock.
5. National Maritime Museum - I used to groan at going to museums as a child.  This would have been my idea of heaven though; lots to do, touch, try, experiment with and learn.  A really interactive place for young and old, situated in the vibrant town of Falmouth, also well worth a visit,
6. Mevagissey to Fowey Ferry - we went on the ferry on a glorious day and got soaked from the sea spray so logically you might as well go on it in the rain and you will not notice the spray.  Treat yourself to lunch at Sam's - the burgers are brilliant.
7. Multi Activity Days - 8-14 years old - Polkyth Leisure Centre - a fun day of activities from swimming to tag darts - sounds like great fun.
8. Kidsworld - a huge indoor play centre in Par, it has a skytrail, climbing wall, dodgems, indoor play, sand and water play and a treehouse scramble.
9. Take a bus trip - bus no. 24 stops right outside the park, so why not take a trip to St Austell Bus & Train Station where you can access connections across the county.  You can purchase a weeks bus ticket for unlimited travel for £25, which works out £3.57 per day to roam around the county.
10. Drive to the other coast.  More often than not, if it is raining here then the North coast will be basked in sunshine.  Each valley seems to have it's own micros climate so go for an explore and hunt out the sun.  Or just stay put and puddle jump!

Getting broody (this could end in divorce...)

It is exciting broody times at Little Winnick this week.  Lady and Bird, the two very tame and adorable chickens who guard reception have been broody for a while.    Lady is the broody one -we got her some eggs, but she stopped sitting when we put them under her so I have had an incubator in our back bedroom - in the meantime she went back to sitting on her eggs.  To cut a long and some what miraculous story short this week three chicks hatched!  So Tuesday night I returned home from work with a box of chickens under one arm and a Mcdonald's under the other!!  Richard's reaction was not good.

So on Wednesday we undertook an 'adoption process'.  Lady is very young and I was not sure how she would react.  But after consulting our friend Google, we converted our shed into a little pen, and then when both Lady and Bird were asleep we took her eggs and replaced them with chicks.  Now, a few days in, so far so good and the adoption seems to be going okay.  We will give them a week or so then they will return to Little Winnick.  Best not talk to Richard about the chickens though.  He does not want chickens in the garden and was less than impressed when the very tame Bird came into our kitchen last night when we were having a BBQ.  They are just so tame!!  I should say our new chicks have be named Annie, Clarabel and Thomas.  We have no idea what sex they are but I will let you work out who we allowed to name them! (Thomas mad Jessica)

We have had a lovely week both weather wise and adventure wise.  Last Saturday we were lucky enough to enjoy an evening meal at Salamander in Mevagissey (a rear treat with two young children).  What a treat - the locally inspired menu is a delight and the service was brilliant.  We then wandered to the front to watch the finale of the Mevagissey Feast Week - a huge fireworks display over the harbour.  What a treat.  If you are thinking of when to stay next year then you must try and be here for the end of Feast Week - it is spectacular.

On Wednesday we popped into Griggs.  From the outside this is a agricultural store, however their selection of Joules, White Stuff, Frugi and various other clothing at a cheaper than normal price is well worth a visit along with the restaurant which does brilliant food.  We enjoyed breakfast there, we were there to buy chick food so I had to butter Richard up a little!  It was one of the nicest breakfasts we have had a while, and very reasonable too.

What's on this week:
Today - Truro Carnival
13th July - Stithians agricultural Show
17th -18th July - Lafrowda Festival - Penzance
18th July - Camborne Show
18th July (and every Saturday morning) - Lanhydrock Park Run
19th July - 12th Annual Motorbike Show - Lemon Quay Truro.

Herman - officially the best guest of the week..maybe the month

We love all our guests dearly, but some times you can't help smile every time you see some, or even just think about them.  And Herman has that effect on me.  When I saw a group of guests pointing at him I thought it was a bit rude and wondered how I  would defuse this situation, poor Herman cannot help his looks.  Then I realised what Herman was.  A tortoise!  As I am writing this I am smiling to myself.  He is without doubt the loveliest four legged friend we currently have on the park!

We are full this weekend again, the good weather and two rally's have ensured we are full to the brim.  Many of those in are extending their stays longer to make the most of this glorious sunshine.  This week, as with the rest of the country it has been glorious.  We have had the odd shower, but to be honest it is a welcome break from the heat.  The touring park is look lovely at the moment with a fantastic mixture of tents, caravans, motor homes and various other set ups.  I have been wandering around the park this morning look on enviously at those cooking breakfast, eating the fresh strawberries and generally enjoying the sun.

With two tired and teasy little girls on the afternoon of our day off we went for a drive, as we sometimes do to aid sleep.  Now it was a brilliant example of the SAT Nav Vs. Maps Vs Guess Work dilemma people often face in Cornwall.  The first rule of thumb is don't solely follow your SAT NAV.  It will take you on, very, very little roads.  We can normally tell by the colour of people if their SAT NAV has taken them on a little adventure to get to us.    So with this in mind, with our trusty road atlas in hand we set off for an adventure across Bodmin Moor and then through some country roads visiting other campsites along the way for a little bit if market research.   We were fine, until I missed a turn and went on some very skinny roads which were not on our map.  The sort where the hedges are 10ft tall, your wing mirrors touch either side and there is grass growing up the middle.  In fact we ended up in the entrance of a farm and had to do some very tense reversing. According to Richard there is never a problem as if you get too lost in Cornwall you will eventually get to one of the coasts, then just turn around and go in the direction you actually want....as the driver I am not sure my nerves could cope fully with this view.  Moral of the story - use agood map!

With the mixed bag of weather comes the dreaded need to pack tents away wet.  We had that fun after our camping adventure here last weekend. with two tents used we had a lot of wet tents to put away.  I have to say putting up tents and to an extent packing them away is one of my favourite past times.  Randomly, believe it or not, I actually have a degree in Adventure Recreation.  Some 15 years ago when I got my degree I never thought we would be in Cornwall with our own campsite.  But that said those skills learnt over three years on various expeditions, putting up various tents and staying in some awesome places are coming in useful now.  You just can't beat putting up a tent, the smell of it, the noise of rain on it, the anticipation of unzipping your door to see if the sun is out...I love tents.  So if need a hand putting up a tent give me a shout!

A new feature of the blogs for those of you staying over the next few weeks is what is on, so here are a few highlights for the next few days:

Tonight - Carninval and fireworks at Mevagissey

11th July - Truro Carnival

11th July Craft Fair & Children's Fun Day at the Merlin Centre, in aid of MS 

18th July - St Ewe Garden Fete (a lovely old fashioned church fete)

26th Jul - Trewithen Country & Classics Show, in aid of Marie Curie