We are now closed for the winter and will reopen in February. Although shorter than normal, the season has been so busy and Mrs. B&B and I have decided not to open for the New Year festivities. The firework displays have been cancelled and it is still unclear what the local pubs are planning to do. Covid is still around us and this will be considered before their plans are finalised.
In the closed period we are having our Foredeck room en-suite refurbished. The ceilings have been re-plastered in the bedroom and bathroom and are awaiting painting. Engaging tradesmen has proven difficult but we are now confident we have this sorted and the room will be resplendent when Schooner Point re-opens.
The work on the lower front garden has just begun with the area being cleared of weeds and buddleia but this will take some considerable time to complete. The plan is to terrace this area to make it more manageable and to allow a better show of the hydrangeas. If it is possible we plan to add some renowned Cornish plants such as Echiums and even, perhaps, an Agave or two.
The boats have just been taken from the water, the trees opposite are now a golden yellow, the geese have flown and the town is quieter. Winter is on its way but we are already looking forward to next year, bookings are already coming in. Looe should see some of its amazing events return. The Raft Race, The Lugger Regatta, The Looe Carnival and Looe Live are all due to take place in 2022. Come and take part and while here enjoy the delights of Cornwall, cream teas, pasties, the freshest fish ‘n’ chips, wonderful seafood and local ice cream. Mrs. B&B and I can’t wait to see you so don’t forget to book direct, for best prices.
Finally todays shirt had to be a Rolling Stones one, Sticky Fingers, with the sad news of Charlie Watts recent passing. He will be missed and is irreplaceable. RIP Charlie.
During July we have experienced some wonderfully hot weather, marvellous for our guests to enjoy the beauty Cornwall has to offer or just idle on the beach. We have managed to get out on our travels again. Two walks completed since last writing, both on very warm days. Firstly from Polzeath beach back up The Camel Estuary to St.Enodocs Church, across the golf course and back to Polzeath Then we visited St.Anthony Head. We completed a circular walk of about six miles. Starting near Towan Beach and walked The South West Coast path to Porthbeor Beach, right round past the old gun emplacement to St.Anthony Lighthouse and then beyond until we could see St.Mawes across the water. We passed Place House, beautifully positioned opposite St.Mawes and St.Anthony Church, where we popped in to have a look, It was surprisingly large inside and the church yard has a stone coffin. Kind of strange. From here we made our way back to the car.
The last couple of days has seen some rain and you can almost hear the plants in the garden sighing in relief. We have planted many new plants and flowers including another Echium, which seems to be doing well in its sheltered spot. Our Echinops is in bloom and the bees are loving it. Our resident Slow Worm population has started making an appearance as well. There has been some good news on The Chough front recently with the Cornish Chough Society announcing that 63 Chough chicks have hatched from 23 breeding pairs. Hopefully they will go from strength to strength.
Before I go new t shirts have been bought, mainly by Mrs.B&B for my birthday and todays is a new bright orange one from The Jam with the unmistakable lyrics “sup up your beer and collect your fags”, you know the song!!
Well, we now have a target opening date of 17th. May. Lots to do before our guests arrive in lovely Looe. The scaffold is down but we are still hard at work getting everything ready for that date. It would seem many other business’ in the town are doing the same, Kelly’s fish ‘n’ chip shop is receiving a full refurb and a number of shops being given a make over. All the boats have been lifted back into the water ready for all those trips around Looe and Polperro that the summer visitors love.
Whilst I have been redecorating the house exterior Mrs. B&B has started on the garden. Decking has had a lick of paint, weeding and planting at front and back well underway but still plenty to be done to be ready for opening. With all this going on we have needed to be fed, obviously. I, yes I, have made Moussaka whilst Mrs.B&B has been busy conjuring up delights such as beef madras with saag aloo, beef bourguignon with roast potatoes, chicken with tarragon sauce, souvlaki pork kebabs with lemon potatoes, steak and chips with creamed mushrooms and pea and asparagus risotto with wild salmon. Thank you very much!
Mrs.B&B and I have been out and about on The South West Coast Path again. Kingsand back towards Mt.Edgecumbe and also Readymoney Cove, near Fowey, west towards Menabilly. Had a quick look at the ruins of the 16th. Century St.Catherines Castle which we felt was well worth it as the views across to Polruan are wonderful. Hopefully we will get out again before opening.
Just to finish up, todays T - shirt is another from The Rolling Stones, It’s Only Rock’n’Roll. Great track but was given such a cringe worth video, check it out if you haven’t seen it. The look of panic on Jaggers face is a picture.
Well, it has been a while since I last posted, we have been so busy and now we are open, accepting guests again. It seems to have been a long time but we are back. We have already had returning guests and it’s a real treat to have Gary and Vicky stay with us again.
Since my last blog Cornwall has come alive with wildlife. Orca’s in the bay off Porth Curno, Basking Sharks in Mounts Bay and off The Minack. A Walrus also visited the Padstow area. We have seen Jays and even had a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on our bird feeder. On social media there have been a number of reports of Choughs being in the Looe area. A couple of sightings and people have heard the unmistakable chatter of them, I have to say I have neither seen or heard them but it would be nice to think they are here.
We have managed to get out for a couple of walks, firstly from Manabilly to Polridmouth, up to the beacon on Gribben Head and then back along by the top of Polkerris and back to Menabilly. Secondly we took a walk from Helford to St.Anthony in Meneage, and then back through the woods to Helford. It was a little muddy and very humid but well worth the effort. The South West Coast Path is not to be missed.
Cornwall is again in the news and on TV. The G7 Summit is due in the next week and St.Ives is already feeling the weight of public gaze and physical restrictions. It would appear that the media have been centred in Falmouth and this area is also being affected with numerous restrictions in place. We feel Cornwall should benefit from all the attention and we hope the local economy is rewarded.
Mrs. B&B is doing her best by keeping you up to date with regular Instagram and Facebook posts, however, for me the report says must do better. I will try to do so by blogging more regularly. Finally, todays t shirt is another from The Doors, one of my favourite bands.
Looe featured on the TV show Devon and Cornwall recently. The St.Georges swim was shown, this entails swimmers being ferried to Looe Island (St.Georges) and then the 1 mile swim back to Looe Beach, not for me, that’s for sure. Looe’s fishing industry was the subject of This Fishing Life recently. The show gave a graphic insight into the trials and tribulations of our fishing fleet and the hardships they encounter. It has made Mrs. B&B and I resolve to support these guys as much as we can.
Cornwall is ever popular and has been featured in many other TV programmes recently, including Walking Devon and Cornwall, Cornwall with Simon Reeve, Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out, Rick Steins Cornwall, Cornwall Air 999, Saving Lives at Sea and of course the Doc Martin re-runs. These shows high light the delights of our beautiful county and hopefully will encourage all you lovely visitors to venture down here, when it is safe to do so. Our leader, Boris, is also doing his bit for the area by selecting Carbis Bay, St.Ives to stage the G7 Conference this coming June. This, apparently, is already having an effect on the hospitality industry with many bookings for the area coming in early.
Mrs.B&B has been busy in the kitchen recently cooking up some fabulous delights for us, with some time on her hands she has got stuck right in. We have dined on Thai prawn curry, roast beef in a giant Yorkshire pudding, risotto with fish and egg, goulash in a loaf, roast lamb, and mackerel pate amongst others. We have even had pudding, plum crumble and also numerous home cooked breads. I’m not overly fussed on big meals, ha ha, but I got stuck in and managed to eat all of it. Surprise, surprise I cooked a Valentines meal for Mrs.B&B. Starters of crab and avocado followed by seafood tagliatelle. The desert was a mango fool but this had to wait until the day after as we were too full to even to contemplate it.
This time the t shirt is of Eric Clapton’s or should I say Derick and The Dominoes Layla Sessions album. To give it it’s full title The Layla Sessions and Other Assorted Love Songs, absolute classic.
The COVID 19 figures are falling, the vaccination programme is well under way and Boris has outlined his plan to recovery and we are now preparing to welcome guests from 17th. May. As always consider others, respect yourselves, stay safe and we look forward to seeing you in Looe.
1 Trelawney Terrace, Polperro Rd, Looe PL13 2AG
01503 262670
enquiries@schoonerpointlooe.co.uk
