Walking around the Valley of Rocks

A very hot Sun day, even with a light breeze on the coast. We had Cherry Pie at Mother Meldrums, and took in the epic views below Castle Rock. I have no head for heights but I challenge myself to go a little further along the path each time but looking over the edge its a long way down and a long way up!!. TBF its an easy walk for most people. 

This trail forms part of the South West Coast Path, from here you can enjoy the fabulous views across the Bristol Channel, clear azure water across to Wales, sit a while or walk further on to complete the loop or head for Lynton. No goats today but the sound of leather on willow as the Lynton and Lynmouth Cricket Club played a perfect pitch under Rugged Jack.  

It’s an epic site geology-wise but also a place of myths and legends that inspired poets and writers. As you walk down passed the cricket pitch Rugged Jack and Castle Rock formations veer up beyond on the right, looming over the valley on the left is another rock formation known as the Devil’s Cheese Wring, home of white witch Mother Meldrum who featured in RD Blackmore’s Lorna Doone. The tearoom is named after that, there was for years, a scarecrow witch on a broomstick, hanging from a tree but this was taken down for fear of upsetting folk.

There was a smattering of heather, mainly bracken and coastal grass filled this time of year and I noticed what looked like a lot of Ragwort, a pretty yellow, daisylike wild flower dotted through the grassland and between the rocks. It’s brilliant for insects and pollinators, harmful to cattle and horses, not sure about feral goats, lets hope not.

I've made a compilation of photos and a video of a snippet of the match see Youtube link below:

Into the Valley

Match Day at Lynton and Lynmoth Cricket Club

 

Pat Adams' North Devon Focus. My North Devon Coast & Country Chronicle

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"Lynton and Lynmouth Cricket Club was established in 1876. The ground, which is thought of by many as the most picturesque in England, is situated in the centre of The Valley of Rocks, between two giant tors, with sweeping views down to the sea.".

Heanton Nursing Home Celebrates New Garden Water Feature

Heanton Nursing Home are admiring the newest addition to their garden – a beautiful stone water feature. Generously fundraised and donated by Alan Fulford, husband to Dorothy, a resident at the North Devon care home.

Alan shared his motivation behind the donation, mentioning that ‘Dorothy loved to sit by the fountain at home.’ He and a friend attended numerous car boot sales selling gold to raise the funds needed to purchase the same fountain that he and Dorothy enjoyed together. Now, they can continue to enjoy the feature at Heanton Nursing Home. Danielle, a Kitchen Assistant, said how Dorothy ‘asked me to take her out to see it’ after a shopping trip, and after they settled in the garden listening to the calming stream, Dorothy said “oh it’s peaceful isn’t it.”

Heanton Nursing Home encourages a Continuation of Life to Family Members living at the home; and the stone water feature with multiple waterfalls can be enjoyed by all family and team members as it has been expertly positioned on the patio, to compliment the stunning grounds overlooking the estuary. Bree, an Admin at Heanton said how ‘our other family members are also enjoying it and sit out there longer than usual,’ and adds ‘we have also had comments from visiting professionals about how lovely it is.’

To thank Alan for his gift, the home has arranged for a plaque for the wall above the fountain, which will remind all of his kindness and generosity.

 

Heanton Nursing Home Media Release 

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To find out more about Heanton Nursing Home please visit https://www.heantonnursinghome.com/

Bastille Day with Carole Mann at Edenmore Nursing Home

While everyone was caught up in the excitement of the football final on Sunday 14th July, Carole Placet Mann had her mind on a more special occasion: Bastille Day, the French celebration of independence and freedom. 

 

Bastille Day, on 14th July, marks the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, a big event in the French Revolution. The day is celebrated with parades, fireworks, parties, and public gatherings, symbolising French unity and the values of liberty and equality.

Carole, originally from France, was born in the 1960s near Versailles, in the suburbs of Paris. For her, Bastille Day has always meant holidays, fireworks, marching bands, and the best French food you can imagine. She fondly recalls street banquets with neighbors, all celebrating the Republic.

This year, Carole spent Bastille Day at Edenmore Nursing Home, where she works. She joked with her colleagues, hinting at bringing out the guillotine if they made a mess in her kitchen. Carole's life up till now has been quite a journey. She studied languages in the 1980s and moved to England at twenty. After ten years as a personal assistant in Hammersmith, she switched gears to special needs education, working in places like California and Vietnam. Carole has been married to her husband, Mike, for thirty years. They have traveled a lot due to his job, raising two children, Eliza and Philip, along the way.

Joining the Edenmore team

Carole joined Edenmore in Ilfracombe over four years ago. She started as a carer and became a home-maker after a year. She considers everyone at Edenmore Nursing Home her second family. Known for her hospitality, Carole makes sure visitors always get a drink or something to eat. She also ensures her teammates never skip lunch, playfully warning to put their names on the food and fluid charts if they do.

Aprons
True to her home-maker past, Carole is easily recognisable in the hallway by her unique kitchen aprons with big pockets, a collection that is now at 27. Her daughter recently mentioned that another one is on the way. Carole’s apron collection started in her childhood in Normandy, where her parents were farmers. Her mum always wore an apron, and she bought Carole her first one, with polka dots, when Carol was just nine years old. Carole didn’t like getting her clothes dirty, and the habit of wearing an apron stuck with her.

Carole’s love for aprons is just one of the many ways she brings a piece of her heritage to Edenmore. Through her food, stories, and warm presence, Carole continues to share her culture with the residents, fondly referred to as family members, making Edenmore Nursing Home a place where diversity and tradition are celebrated.

We like to celebrate the lives of the people who live and work with us. One of the ways in which we do this is to write about and share their inspiring stories. 

 Edenmore Nursing Home Media Release

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To find out more about Edenmore Nursing Home please visit www.edenmorenursinghome.com-