"BEAM ME UP BRADDERS!!"

WEIGH-IN WEDNESDAY

Bit of a disaster this week 2lbs ON. Struggling somewhat down in Cornwall. Can't seem to get my head in the right gear like I could in London. People coming to stay and eating out quite a bit are not conclusive to dieting. I know some of you will be disappointed by this, Kate has already said she won't comment anymore until I lose and God knows what THE EVIL ONE will say. So until I turn things around I'm going to put a halt to the Blog for now. When things 

improve the Blog will be back!

"BEAM ME UP BRADDERS!"

Our Pasty Shop Owner Friend, Nicola Bradbury was involved in a daring training exercise at the weekend. She was airlifted from the sea and winched aboard a Royal Navy Helicopter.

Once she was safely aboard the Helicopter she was winched back down again and collected by the Lifeboat below. This was a very tricky exercise as both the Helicopter and Lifeboat were travelling at speed and had to be synchronised together. I heard later that although Nicki likes

Lifeboats she seriously hates Helicopters!

These photographs were saved from a Video that my friend Peter Mishcon (Angus's Godfather) who was staying with us at the weekend shot.  We were in a carpark overlooking the bay and the exercise took place quite a way out to sea. He used a magnification of 300% and the camera was static on a cement post. Nice job Peter! Great Job Nicki!!

PISCES SECOND COOKERY BOOK LAUNCH

Last Friday in St Peters Church in Port Isaac I was asked to open the World War 11 Exhibition which commemorates the lives of all the Port Isaac people who died in the war.  As well as this - there was a launch of the second Cookery book that had recipes from both Dame Eileen Atkins and myself:

THE TIMELINE OF THE EVENING

The Port Isaac Second Cookery Book

This Recipe "Fire Alarm Salmon" was "borrowed" from The Evil One - thanks!

With the GULLS SINGING GROUP!

"Signing our Recipe Pages!"

THE GULLS with their songs from the "40's"

THE NAMES OF THE PORT ISAAC FALLEN DURING WORLD WAR 11

Whilst the GULLS sang their final song I read out the names of all the people from Port Isaac who had died during World War 11.

PETER AND PENNY MISHCON

Angus's God-Father Peter Mishcon and his wife Penny came for the weekend.

On the Saturday they spent the afternoon sitting outside the Mote Restaurant watching all the comings & goings in and around the harbour or "The Platt" and counting everyone who had donated a £1 photo for the Lifeboats - I am delighted to say,  that as of this afternoon,  (Tuesday 12th May) I've reached my Target of £1000.

Whilst Cindy waited for Roger, her father, to arrive from Chicago, The Mishcon's and I went to a lovely 15th Century Pub built by stonemasons called St Kew for Sunday Lunch before they headed back to London from the train station at Bodmin Parkway. As a bonus for the Weekend

Peter, who is incredibly practical and can fix anything (!) mended my Photo Printer. Many thanks Peter!

CINDY'S DAD ROGER

We are all delighted that Cindy's Dad Roger, was able to make the long ,journey from Hutchinson Kansas to spend a short period of time with us in Port Isaac. With this possibly being our last Series I'm just very glad that Roger could sample some of the "Doc Martin" delights first hand. I know a lot of loyal watchers of the show back in Hutchinson (thanks to reminders from the Franke Family) will be very jealous of Roger's trip.

"So where's Doc Martin's Surgery and Bert's Restaurant Roger?"....... " Just take a look behind me Luvver!"

"Oh, Sorry Roger - I'm going to need a pound for that photograph with me!!"

FROM PORT ISAAC TO BARCELONA.

Nestling between those two marvellous Spanish plates of Pasta & Asparagus are two delightful little Salt & Pepper pots made as Boats - bought to remind Gus & Lizzie of their recent Cornish 

trip.

LETTER FROM NEW ORLEANS

(Travers)

Last weekend I went to New Orleans for a bachelor party for a college friend who is getting married to his UCSB college sweetheart in July. I had never been to New Orleans, and man was it a fun time. Cindy gave me a list of places to see and things to do, so while some fragile boys where sleeping in every morning, trying to recover from their hangovers, my friend Chris and I explored the city (albeit sometimes not feeling to chipper!). The evenings were rowdy and spent exploring the bar scene, Bourbon St is a total trip: 

(A beer in America's oldest bar, 1722. Lafittes Blacksmiths Bar located on Bourbon St.)

wild, fun, disgusting, smells horrid, but great for people watching! There were 12 guys who made the trek across the country. Things got wild and weird! 

(Selfie next to the Mississippi)

The food in New Orleans is incredible, so so good. I went to an old school diner, and all I could think about is how much Pops would love this place. 

(Best omelet of my life.) 

Dad has always been drawn to the traditional diner, and this is the best one I have ever been to by far. All the wait staff talk in creole, super fast, never write down orders, yell at people taking too much time, and the food, holy shit I was surprised, AMAZING.

(An incredible old school diner in New Orleans, Dad you would bloody love this place! You sit down and the guy goes "hi baby, what we eating today baby, chuchu, lets get this training rolling baby, what we eating baby, coffee baby, chuchu!". My favorite place I went to.)

It was also incredible to see the Mississippi river for the first time in my life. So many street performers, live bands playing jazz in the streets, so fun. 

 (Reggae next to the mighty Mississippi)

As you can imagine there is lot of stories that are not quite suitable for this audience, but there are plenty of funny stories to be shared when we all grab a beer next....It was the first time in the south for me, and it is incredible how different it is to life in California. Three days was not enough to explore this weird town, I am looking forward to going back. A huge thank you to Cindy for all of her recommendations, I tried to take a picture at each spot she suggested, although I am not a very good photographer!    

Thanks Travers - sounds like an amazing time!   

LETTER FROM PORTUGAL

(kate)

I have taken very few pics-I had no feeling for the house I flew out to buy but I have had an inspirational time in Lisbon-I am love with it.

(Oaks and I fell in love with this piazza a few years ago)

(Washing Lisbon style)

(View from Maxi's Flat)

(Lisbon)

I plan to move out and rent a divine flat for a song and carry on teaching to survive and have time to write and think and live a life again.

London has sapped me and I have to work 8 hour days 7 days a week to keep the balls up in the air.

Now Oaks is done there is no need to live like that and I can have a new adventure.

So Lisbon here I come.

I am going to hand in my notice to the landlords and take the plunge!!

Thanks Kate - sounds like another great adventure around the corner!

MAISIE'S LATEST ILLUSTRATION

We have two boys, aged three and six. The six year old is very wilful and oppositional. That, in itself, is a problem, but I am as worried about how my husband responds to him. He gets so angry and ends up roaring, shouting and threatening our son. He has grabbed our son, roughly, several times in the heat of the moment. My husband does know he is doing wrong, but he just blames his own upbringing, as his father was a violent man who terrified the whole household. I don’t know how to deal with things when it gets volatile, but I worry about them both

Maisie's other news is that she has recently been selling her Artwork and has so far reached 1500 Euros - fantastic job - well done! 

APPLE

Last Tuesday I drove to Exeter to have a ONE-to-ONE session to learn more about iPhoto.
Whilst I was there I had another session learning about:

Well, how could I resist one - being such a huge Apple Fan, having been  Introduced to Apple by the EVIL ONE all those years ago.

They've sold out of them at the moment - but it's on order and will hopefully come in July when I will review its wonders - watch this space.

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