If we were having coffee, I’d tell you we’ve just returned from a fabulous, albeit freezing-cold holiday in England. Bristol and then, Cornwall, for a family get-together and then back to stay with one of our sons while we catch up with friends and more family. If I thought it was cold in Portugal, I was surprised to discover I needed a thick jumper plus two, yes TWO coats, when we arrived in Cornwall.
Bristol Docks and The SS Great Britain
We flew into Bristol Airport, spent the day and an overnight at Bristol Docks, and drove down to Cornwall the following day. Mr. P had always wanted to visit SS Great Britain, so it was the ideal opportunity. We were pleasantly surprised by all the activities and the choice of restaurants at Bristol Docks. We stayed at the Bristol hotel, which, while in the perfect location right on the river, I would not recommend.
Cornwall
Day 1
The following day, we drove down to the Ratellack Resort near Padstow via the scenic route (we got lost) to meet up with our English and French families. Fourteen of us in total. It was great to see all six grandchildren together (aged from 5 to 14 years).
I loved the resort. We rented two big self-contained barns for four nights, each with a hot tub. Although I took my swimming costume, it was FAR too biting cold for me, and I ducked out.
Day 2
It has been on my bucket list since it opened in 2001, and what a day out. I had no idea it was so huge or built in an exhausted clay pit. The moment we came through the entrance and out onto the balcony and looked down over the various biomes, my heart sank. There was no way, even if I managed to walk down the winding, steep paths to the bottom, I would ever make it back up. No one told us there was a lift, Doh! Anyways, Mr Piglet to the rescue insisted we hire me an electric buggy. A lifesaver!
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Day 3
Padstow – Scones, Fish and chips and Cornish Pasty
The plan was to explore the town, have a Cornish cream tea, fish and chips and buy some Cornish pasties. The first attempt to sample a cream tea was in a tiny, overcrowded second-rate tea room stuffed with dogs and people. The scones and ambience were far from memorable. Luckily, thanks to the size restrictions of the premises, only Mr P and I suffered that experience.
Padstow’s Quaint Harbour
We then caught up with the rest of the family and, while deliberating what to do next, it began to drizzle. Walking the crowded, narrow streets, amidst dogs, pushchairs and people, is difficult in a large group, and as we pondered and wandered, the heavens opened, so we found a pub, and we enjoyed a family lunch of fish and chips. We had planned to eat sitting on the harbour wall out of the paper, but even if the weather had been forgiving, no doubt the seagulls would have plagued us.
Padstow, no doubt, is like many seaside resorts and the victim of mass tourism. Coachloads of people swarming like ants. IT’s becoming like that in our secret corner of the Western Algarve, and the thought terrifies me. But then, in Cornwall, we were the tourists. Ho hum …
Day 4
Cornish Cream Tea in a Cornish Tea Room
Our DIL found the perfect place!
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The owner of the tea room recommended some beaches … we chose one. Despite the biting cold wind and a trek across some sand dunes (my son pulled and my Dil pushed me up the hill). We were not disappointed
We arrived back in time to watch the older grandchildren try flosurfing …. from the comfort of the bar while sipping a strawberry dacqueri
Day 5, 6 and 7
We returned to stay with our son and family. Played with the dogs and grandkids. Met with my oldest friend for lunch and family before flying back to Portugal. It was an exhausting week of socialising and eating … but great fun!
Are you feeling exhausted? Can I offer you something a little stronger than a coffee while I show you the 1000 photos I took of family and the furgranbabies
My thanks to Natalie for hosting the Weekend Coffeeshare
Piglet in Portugal 
I miss Cornish pasties and clotted cream. Thanks for the memories.
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