[FLYING BANANA]

Talk about short notice of Laura coming down, I received a text on Friday, 8th, morning informing me she was catching the Noon train from Paddington and would be getting into Plymouth at about 15.30. Luckily I had already prepared the spare room. The bed was all made. Space made in the wardrobe with a few spare coat hangers.

I took Banana to meet her, my first visit to Plymouth station so needless to say I missed the car park, twice. But parked up at 15.15 and £2.20 to park.
Sure enough Laura was the last one to appear from the train. I went to take her holdall from her and it dragged me to the ground. My word it was blooming heavy. We had a hug, and she burst into tears but not from sadness but from happiness of seeing me.
We was soon driving home.

Now Laura suffers from chronic fatigue, which means she gets tired very quickly. Where most of us can store sugar in our bodies and the energy gradually seeps out we can go all day without a nap. Alas Laura is unable to store that energy. So she eats a little but often to keep her energy levels topped up. Coupled with this she is dairy intolerant and only eats gluten free food. So this was going to be a great challenge for me to work round. Took me just 1 day to adapt to her way of life.
So after we dropped her stuff off at the house we went shopping for gluten free food and dairy alternatives.

So we had chicken salad for our evening meal followed by fresh fruit. Laura turned in at 20.00 and slept right round to 10.00 Saturday morning. I carried on with my chores but without making any noise. Saturday morning I was doing gardening when she finally surfaced. She looked rough. I made her some coffee and she had some cereals. I told her to go back to bed. So off she went. I carried on gardening as the weather was sunny and warm.
I sorted out another 12 strawberry plants to give away.

At about 16.00 Laura finally reappeared and asked how the shower worked. She apologised about being tired, I said it didn't matter as long she was rested. After her shower she got dressed and came down again. So we made a pot of tea and had a chat about things.
We prepared dinner together. Lamb shanks, sprouts and spuds with fresh fruit for dessert. After we washed up Laura said that she would like to go for a walk. It is part of her yoga workouts that she does. So I put my jacket on and we had a 20 minute walk which seemed to refresh her a bit. All the way round she hooked her arm in mine. She kept apologising about her tiredness. I just said it didn't matter and I was adapting to her way of life.

When we got back we made another pot of tea and then she went to bed at about 20.15. I cleared up and sat down to chill out. I googled about chronic fatigue and read up on the issue. No cure but it can be controlled by drugs, which Laura takes anyway. I had a single malt and turned in by 22.00.

Sunday 10th and I was in the shower and dressed by 07.00. Made the tea
and I had my breakfast. I prepared dinner in the slow cooker, we was going to have a beef casserole. It was another sunny start to the day. Laura appeared at 09.30 and looking more rested. She made some tea and had her breakfast. We was going to Polperro, today and taking the Bear. So she went and got ready which took about two hours.
So off we went on the 15 mile drive to the fishing port of Polperro. We pass through Looe to get there. Laura just kept commenting on how beautiful the scenery was.

Soon parked up and we took a steady stroll down to the harbour. It is a very pretty place. We walked around the harbour and onto the beach. Then doubled back to the tea shop next to the museum for lunch. Laura had a crab salad and I settled for a ham salad baguette. We had a pot of tea. After lunch we walked up the cliff path on the left side of the harbour. When I first moved down I down the same walk but had to keep stopping to get my breath and I never reached the top. But this time I done the walk all the way to the top without having to stop. I was well pleased and got a kiss on the cheek from Laura.

We strolled back down and we both took some photo's. We then made our way back to the Bear. On the trip home I went for the scenic tour. Again Laura loved the scenery. Home to the wonderful smell of the casserole. Laura said that she needed a nap. She set her alarm for an hour. Once she was rested we ate our casserole. More fresh fruit for dessert. After we washed up and made some Lemon n Ginger tea and had a chat about things. And at 21.00 Laura finally turned in. It had been a long day. So I had mt single malt and turned in as well.

Monday 11th. I was up early as usual and got my washing on. I knew I could get it out onto the line before Laura surfaced. Once that was done I done some weeding on the side garden. Sure enough it was nearly 10am before Laura came down for her breakfast. She asked if it was OK with we could have a lazy day today. No problem I said. I suggested that we could take Strawberry into town and see if we could get any gluten free pasty's, then a trip down to Waterside for a stroll along the waterfront. Then continue onto Tamar Nurseries to get some winter pansies. We could have lunch there in the restaurant

And that is what we did. We got the gluten free pasty's from the little Oggie Oggie shop, the big pasty bakers, Rowes, don't stock them. Had our stroll along as far as Brunel Green. And up to the nurseries for lunch. Once home Laura went for a nap and I planted out my 18 pansies.
We cooked our pasty's with some veg. They was nice but I'd not buy the gluten free for myself.
After we had washed up Laura asked me how I had met Val. Well, out came the photo albums and I told her the story. The memories were soon rolling down my cheeks. I had to go to my bedroom and compose myself, Laura knocked and came in with some tissues and gave me a hug. She said that she knew how much I loved Val, and how much I missed her. Laura missed her a lot as well.

We went back to looking at the wedding photo's. Laura must have left me at some point but I cannot remember at what time, but there was a glass of malt looking at me. And it was nearly midnight. I best turn in after drinking the malt.

Tuesday 12th. The day started off well but ended with Banana coming home on the back of a recovery truck. She is certainly getting her money's worth out of the AA.
After our usual start to the day we left home at Noon to drive to the Minack Theatre at Portcurno which is the other side of Penzance, roughly 80 miles away. And I decided to take Banana to give her a good run.
If you have never been to the Minack Theatre then it is worth a visit. Or google it and be amazed.
We spent a lovely afternoon there, Banana had run sweet on the trip down. We had a walk along the coastal path before returning to Banana. Got in and turned the key and she started but then the engine just died.

The time was 17.30 and it would be at 21.15 before we was rescued. I'm so glad Laura was with me as I went into meltdown over my anger at the car, but I was more concerned about Laura. A strange electrical issue ended with a duff battery.
I phoned Allen and explained what had happened and asked him to go around to the house to put the lights on, which he did.

It was 23.35 before we got home. And I was shattered and cold, I felt sick and could not stop shivering. Once indoors Laura made me a hot drink, and she put the heating on. I was made to sit down whilst she made me a sandwich. Neither of us had eaten since about 14.00. Once i settled back to my old self Laura said she was putting down as another experience. And thanked me for keeping safe. But I said it was the other way round. Laura made me go to bed whilst she cleared up. As soon as my head the pillow I don't remember anything till I woke up at about 9am.

I had a shower and went downstairs to find Laura having her breakfast. I was surprised. She said that she wanted to let me rest for the whole day. We could sit out of the decking in the sunshine and just have an easy day. I have never been so thankful at having this sensible young lady looking out for me.
I did go out and try to start Banana but the battery was dead. Oh! Well I would have to order another battery.
After we had rested for most of the day, I did feel a lot better. We went for a walk down to Anthony Passage then onto towards Trehan but we turned back when we got to the railway bridge.
Once home we warmed up the last of the casserole and had dinner.

Thursday 13th. I was up early showered and dressed. We have a local tyre and battery shop which opens at 07.00. So I ordered a battery for Banana. I took Strawberry to collect it. Oh! How they laughed when I turned up in the Pink roller skate. But home and swapped the batteries over. Banana started, and I left her ticking over for about 20 minutes before turning her off.

I was pleasantly surprised to find Laura up and dressed when I went indoors to get cleaned up. We was off the Carnglaze Caverns at Liskeard. We took Strawberry first to Trago Mills for a spot of lunch then onto the Caverns. You have to wear a hard hat, which they supply, and have suitable footwear before you are allowed into the Caverns. They hold music concerts, along with a cinema and they are licensed to hold weddings in the Caverns. There is bar in there as well but was shut.

It was an experience in there as above your head is a colony of horseshoe bats. So no flash photography.
Once we came out we returned the hard hats and then we went on the circular woodland walk. There is a viewing platform which overlooks the village of St. Neot.
Then back to Strawberry and we then cut across Bodmin Moor towards Jamaica Inn for a pint of Rattler cider. We had a walk around the gift shop where I found a fridge magnet with the words for a special friend. That was for Laura.

Laura had already bought me a piece of slate with a beautiful Poppy design on it. We left the Inn and we cut back across Bodmin Moor towards the village of Dobwalls. Then back onto the A38 and home.
Laura was cooking dinner tonight. We had gluten free pasta with vegetarian pesto along with flame grilled chicken pieces with green beans. I'll try anything once. We then both had a glass of my homemade Blackberry gin.
We sat and chatted. Laura was now more relaxed and went on to tell me about why her and her other half, Oliie, had split up. I told her on what thought about the whole matter. But she still wants to make it work.

Friday 15th. I had a eye examination at 12.20 down the street. Laura was staying in and starting to pack ready for her trip home on Saturday. As her large holdall was not looking too good I lent her my large blue suitcase. I'll not need it for awhile
And for the 4th year I'll not need new glasses as my eyesight is still good. I also had my eye diabetes check done at the same time. All OK.
I tried to get some more Gluten Free pasty's for Laura to take home but they had sold out. Then home to find Laura cooking lunch. Gammon steaks and pasta. She was also cooking more pasta to take on the train with her for her lunch/dinner. To save her cooking once home.

We took the Bear to Healey's Cider Farm, home of the Rattler cider. The Healey farm is also home to the Donald Healey car museum. But sadly the museum is closed for the foreseeable future. But we had our samples of cider, well Laura worked her way through about 14 samples including one of Gin.
Laura bought a couple of bottles to take home with her. I bought 3 cases of cloudy Rattler. I have more company coming down on the 24th.

Then we drove out to Pentire Head near Newquay to watch the sun set over Fistral Beach. We returned home via The Halfway House on the A38 at Liskeard for our evening meal. Laura had another pint of Rattler. I settled for a soft drink.

Saturday 16th. Laura was up early again. She wanted to go back to Polperro before getting the train home. There was a fast train that was stopping at Saltash at 16.34 and she wanted to catch that. I had explained on Friday she would have to get up early if we was going to the beach.
She had packed my blue case and it was blooming heavy. But I put that in the back of the Bear along with her rucksack.
Then we drove to Polperro for our final visit. We had a stroll up onto the East Cliff where she went rock climbing. I sat on the bench and watched. Once she was back we popped into the 3 Pilchards pub for lunch.

Laura had 15 king size prawns with chips and a side salad. I settled for the ham ploughmans, and that came with a pork pie as well along with Salad, granary bread, spicy chutney, coleslaw and a large pickled onion. Laura went for another pint of Rattler and I had a soft drink.
The time was trotting on and it was 15.20. Time to head back to the station. We made it with 8 minutes to spare.

Then it was hugs, and a few tears from us both. Then she was on the train and gone. She phoned me at 20.20 to say she was home at the flat in Camden. Thanked me over and over for her wonderful holiday. I cannot wait for her to come back.

Photo 1. Polperro Harbour.
Photo 2. Looking across the entrance to Polperro Harbour.
Photo 3. Laura at Minack Theatre.
photo 4. The stage is set at the Minack Theatre.
Photo 5. Laura at the cider farm.