Afore We Go

Once again it's been a tad too long since I sat to impart my brand of drivel to the slavering masses (well the half dozen regular and dozen or so occasional readers). I can only blame my own indolence and the blazingly hot weather that tempts me into sloth with remarkable frequency.

His Rustiness, Mrs The Millbrooker and I will shortly be off to foreign climes again, so this will definitely be the last set of witterings from me for around three weeks as we'll have no internet access (or extremely limited access at best) during our time pootling around in Brittany.

So, this is a brief catch up and an "au revoir" and an "à bientôt" until sometime in mid August when there will be a myriad photos and stories of Rusty doing French things.

To be truthful, since the last posting on these pages, we've been a little lax in snapping away; but I'll do my best with what we have.

July 12th saw our first foray to a well established event that is many Wreckers' favourite of the season - the St Mellion Cherry Feast. I must say, I understand entirely why it's so well liked - it's become a firm favourite of ours, too.

Rusty was, as I've become accustomed to, the star of the show as far as many Cherry Feast goers were concerned and much time was spent talking about his training (and mine), how Guide Dogs is funded only by charitable donation and how wonderful the work they do is. His Rustiness got huge amounts of fussing when he was off harness which, of course, he enjoyed immensely.

Being the dog he is, though, nibbling at grass that might or might not have had cherries dropped onto it was of even more interest.

And that, I'm almost shame-faced to admit is all the photos we have of the last couple of weeks of Rustiness. It's either been all-too routine so that we just didn't think of getting a camera out, or all-too busy with exactly the same result.

Allow me to quote from my Facebook page about last weekend, for example (with apologies for how the software that runs these pages presents cut-and-paste text):

"Ok, let's list the next couple of day's activities.....car is now packed with kit to play until midnight tonight in a marquee in Jack's field for his party; once we're finished that and we've repacked the kit for the return journey we'll get to bed somewhere around 2ish, I reckon. Up on Sunday morning to leave the house by 9 to catch a train to Bath where we'll lunch with mum-in-law and Trickers and then stay the night at their place; up on Monday to catch the 0913 from Bath to Chippenham, meet Sis at Chippers station approx 9:45-10:00 and we all head off to Bromham for Auntie Jo's funeral; we then get the 1344 from Chippenham, changing at Bristol, to arrive back in Plymouth at 1648 where I start my evening shift at 1700. Thank goodness we're going on holiday on Wednesday............"

This is the marquee in question (thank you to Marie whose photo I have shamelessly nicked from Facebook).

Rusticles was the perfect picture of patience (how's that for alliteration?) throughout gig proceedings - quietly lolling about attached to a ground anchor to keep him from running amok among the numerous guests and accepting large amounts of fussing from said numerous guests.

Like I said, this is a brief catch up - plenty more to come when we return; until then ......

Weddings and Walkies

Call me an old softy, but I do love a good wedding. I've been honoured to be invited to quite a few in my time, but none better than the recent jumping of the broomstick by our old friends Tea-Time Taylor and the lovely Jewel.

It was nearly two weeks ago now, and life has been abnormally hectic for yours truly in the interim. Decidedly slow-paced for any normal person, but hectic enough for me - what with having to go back to work after three months of being not well enough to count money in a small back office at the railway station.

But I digress, the first part of this posting is unashamedly slushy and it's all about the delightful wedding day that began at Graylands registry office in Liskeard. We found his Rustiness a decent little corner to flop down as the ceremonials took place.

I'll slip in a couple of rather nice shots here before we get back to how His Rustiness got on with the gathering.

The signing of the register - altogether now......aaawwww.....

And here we have L-R John (bride's dad), Bridget (groom's mum), Tea-Time Taylor himself, the new Mrs Tea-Time, Iggly Piggly, Bobby (bride's mum). What a great group, all genuinely lovely people to know.

In varying forms of jalopy, we small but select throng made our ways to Tregonhawke Cliff and its legendary Cliff Top Cafe which Tea-Time had arranged to take over for the day for the reception. My goodness me, but I don't remember ever seeing the place quite so smartly done out.

Before we all piled into the cafe for an extremely yummy vegan slap-up, there was a fair amount of special wedding waiting about and having a drink (ginger beer for me). Tea-Time is our vegan, teetotal friend - they do say that opposites can attract, says he as a determinedly omnivorous old soak.

Rusticles made lots of friends - especially this wee fellow called Josh who adores dogs in general and, now, Rusty in particular.

The Cliff Top Cafe's setting is glorious and the weather was warm. What more could a guide dog ask? 

This is the view from my seat at the meal - we do live in a rather special place, I reckon.

I'll leave this part of the post with the traditional cutting the cake shot and what I think will be one of those lifelong great memories - as Mrs The Millbrooker and I left to make our way homeward, we came upon Tea-Time and Jewel holding hands in a circle with her dad and his partner. They were singing, it was a tune and lyric that we know well, so we joined in from the sidelines before being invited into the circle. And so we stood in the summer warmth, overlooking Whitsand Bay singing.

"May the longtime sunshine upon you

All love surround you

And the pure light within you

Guide your way on."

Call me an old hippy - I think that's just beautiful and it felt perfect. (If you want to hear the Incredible String Band playing what I believe to be the original - it's here. You'll need to fast forward to 10:28 for the particular refrain...)

Moving on from that terrific day - Mrs The Millbrooker and I have done a fair bit of wandering around the Rame Peninsula, keeping Mr Rusty fit and enjoying the countryside and coast.

The Rose Bay Willow herb is in fine fettle at this time of year; wouldn't want it in the garden, but as a wild indigenous plant on banks, it's smashing.

The cliff road is a favourite of ours, but His Rustiness has to work that bit.

Mrs The Millbrooker spotted this skylark on the old WWII buildings over Treninnow Farm. Great shot.

I believe I've mentioned before that Rusticles likes streams - he really loves the brook that gives Millbrook its name. He went absolutely doolally - galloping in and out of the water and forgetting that he'd be brought up short by his lead. People sometimes say to me what a clever dog he is. Nope. He's very well trained, but clever?

And, I'm pleased to say that Mrs The Millbrooker caught some of the action on video.



And lastly, without getting into the dullery (I just made that word up) of going to work - trust me, you'll get loads of that nonsense all too soon, here's a few of the shots of our latest dance out with His Rustiness at Mt Edgcumbe as we dodged heavy showers to entertain the public.

Until next time  .....