Just about 5pm looking out to Helford and the only storm of the day caught against an early evening sky gave an extraordinary light to the river full of moorings tugging hard against the outgoing tide. The houses peeping from the wooded bluff just this side of Frenchman's Creek and along to the utterly transformed Shipwrights Arms together with a proper village shop with proper food and slow dough bread make for something that is hard to beat for a change and a rest. Get up to the Shipwrights for a real surprise 01326 231235
at 800 feet on a hill above Pennyghael, a strip of a place along Loch Scridain at the western end of Mull, three stone cairns sit in a close row nicely seen on the summit from many angles. We re-clothed them with fallen stones and brought the three men to life and who guard the waters of Beinn and Lochain at which our many casts drew no result. Get on up there a have a wonderful time www.holidaymull.co.uk/minisites/killunaig is just the best place out.
amongst the islands of Croatia and normally aside a marvellous clear blue water bay sit rather un-commercial eateries often run by a family who go fishing and have a bit of stock back at the family smallholding. So with no menu or so much as a pricelist a feast of what ever is to hand appears on a platter, suitably charred on the oak fuelled fire and with crusty potatoes and very red tomatoes this simple food does everything for the sole easily replaces lost energy from the morning swim.
So this summer has turned out to be more reliable than most for those looking to eat outside and enjoy the warm evening air. No better an example of this recently rare British weathering was brought to us in some style at Moorish in Wiveliscombe where we celebrated a birthday around a long white table clothed table in a balmy courtyard scented with herbs and squeaking with swallows with exquisite food, service and atmosphere. Occasionally all those nice things come together and become etched into the summer calendar when all agree that there is no better place to be - but only provided the weather ...
So this is where the discerning Dorset folk cluster of an evening away from the crowds and with BBQ apparatus and large pebbles as breadboards the farm produce is consumed washed down with juiced up Elderflower and occasional vino shipped from the uncles estate in southern climes.
Using a variety of media and styles the work responds to mood and geography but is more than often an observation of simple scenes in everyday life and on the travels across Europe.