Bits & Bobs

Usually, we write a blog after returning from a trip, but we have decided that we need to be better about writing about everyday events and life here in England.  As a result, the following is a list of random things that have been going on.  

Cream Tea and sweets at Dolly's Tea House

London Riots
As most people have heard, it’s been an eventful few weeks here with all of the riots taking place throughout the country.  Fortunately, we were not directly affected by the riots in London or the riots that drew less media attention that took place in other cities throughout the country.  It was certainly an interesting topic around here as most Britons struggled to pin-point the exact cause behind them or the message that was attempting to be sent.  It was essentially all triggered after the police shot and killed an unarmed man in their attempt to arrest him.  The riots appeared to escalate as a general “anti-police/anti-government” movement.  As of this week 3100 people have been arrested.  As we live in a relatively small town the joke has been that the closest thing to a riot Truro has ever seen was when a bum knocked over a garbage can and someone drove the wrong way around a roundabout :-)

Falmouth Boat Ride

Last weekend Katie and I decided to spend the day in the town of Falmouth for the last day of their Falmouth Days Festival.  Normally, we would travel there by train, but we decided to take a boat that leaves from Truro and navigates down the canal that empties into the sea.  It was a great way to see a part of the area that we haven’t seen before.  The highlight for me was seeing a 500-year-old cottage (with a still functioning thatched roof) where General Eisenhower stayed in the days leading up to D-Day.  We spent the day strolling through town, stopping for cream tea at a local tea house and enjoying the opportunity to explore a familiar area in a new way.  

Brangelina

Katie looking for the Brangelina super-yacht

One topic that has had Katie (and the rest of Cornwall) rather excited was the fact that Brad Pitt is currently in the middle of shooting a movie a few miles from here in the town of Falmouth.  A few weeks ago there was a story in the local newspaper stating that they were seeking “extras” for a few scenes.  Not surprisingly, hundreds of locals turned up and got to spend the day on a film set.  Katie and I had plans that day, but looking back, it would have been a fun experience.  As the past few weeks have gone on, more reports have come though that Brad and Angelina are staying on a “super-yacht” just off the cost of Falmouth.  As a result, Katie was on strict “Brangelina” watch during our day in Falmouth.  

Seagulls

Our poor neighbor's seagull ravaged garbage

When you grow up in Wisconsin and live in Minnesota, there is one thing that you don’t ever worry about….seagulls eating your garbage.  Racoons, yes, but not seagulls.  The sound of seagulls filling the air is something that comes with living so close to the sea.  It’s one of the things I like the most about being here as you are constantly reminded of this fact.  However, on quiet mornings, when the weather is warm our friendly seagulls like to make there way through our neighbourhood looking for anything to eat.  Last week, on garbage day, Katie and I were awoken VERY early in the morning to the loud sound of seagulls right outside our door.  After glancing out the window to find the neighbours garbage strewn about the street, we knew that ours was next.  Fortunately, we were able to scare them off temporarily until cars and busses began filling the streets for the day and our garbage man collected our bags.  Now, it’s something we think about every Wednesday night as we place our garbage bags on the curb.  

All of these random events are an excellent example of the experiences that fill our typical days and weekends here.  When your typical “boring” Saturday involves a seaside boat ride and a stroll through a small fishing village, you know that your life is pretty great.  Since our future is unknown at the moment, we're doing our best to enjoy every minute we have left here!

Random store window in Falmouth :-)