Narrow diversion

We woke up late, just before 8.00. Van-Man walked Lottie round the small fenced off square for dogs and then we had a quick breakfast before heading to Porthcothen beach for probably our only fresh air for the day. The wind had lessened overnight and the morning was mild. The beach was deserted, making it more alluring than normal. Only one other dog walker arrived as we were leaving. The waves started rolling up the beach as we retreated but there was still plenty of golden sand to walk on.

Cooling down after chasing seagulls

Van-Man intended going to our daughter’s house via the wider road but the road was diverted at Morgan Porth. The narrow winding road with infrequent passing places was not the best route for a short but plump motor home but the only other way was back to Padstow and a huge diversion. Predictably we met a lorry on a narrow section.

Seagull

Van-Man pulled tight to the stone wall. I pulled in the wing mirror and he inched forward. The lorry crept towards us and it was obvious that he couldn’t get through the gap.

The lorry driver signaled that we should reverse so reluctantly Van-Man inched backwards. As we cornered backwards a side turn opened up opposite us. Van-Man stopped opposite it and the lorry squeezed past.  We headed off again and this time got through the narrow section before meeting a big van at a wider place.

gull flying

We reached our daughters town from the wrong side so Van-Man had to negotiate streets barely wider than his van. At last we pulled up in our daughters drive much later than intended.

Our son in law headed off for work doing a large landscaping job for a client while we looked after the youngest child and tackled the housework. I concentrated on the laundry while Van-Man tackled the kitchen hampered by Verity playing with him. They enjoyed their games so much that she fell asleep just as I was about to do the school run.

I set off alone and collected Asher from Preschool. Then I headed to the main school. I picked the first two children up fine but Asher disappeared on the way to the third classroom. I panicked but a helpful friend of my daughters steered him back to me.

The walk home was uneventful and the children were well behaved. I made macaroni cheese for them all and helped get the children to bed while Van-Man cleared up again. Finally we ate a beef stew that a church member had made with a weary son-in-law.

We headed back to Padstow about 20.30 bleary eyed with a resigned hound. Fortunately the weather was dry and warm for January with the temperature 9 C