As previously revealed, we took our usual jaunt to Cornwall, via the Tamar Bridge. Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge, looking like the Loch Ness Monster, can be seen to the left. It was built in 1859 to carry the Great Western Railway, and was Brunel's last project. The road bridge was added in 1961 and originally led into Saltash, but now it goes through a tunnel under the town.
We managed to catch up with most of our friends on the first evening; we had a pretty good idea where they would be (the Red Lion or the Blue Anchor, not necessarily in that order), then on Monday we went to Trengwainton, a National Trust garden.
In common with many estates of the period, it has a ha-ha (or a-ha). This is basically a trench between the manicured lawn and the pasture so that grazing animals can't get onto the lawn but there's no fence to break the vista. It can just be seen about a third of the way up this shot.
A stream runs down the garden, via a pool and several little cascades. There's not much colour left at this time of year; mainly hydrangeas fading to strange shades of blue, violet, white and green.
St Ives offered plenty of opportunities for arty-type photography; as arty as I get, anyway.
We always call at Trevarno Garden at least once, to stock up on honey (from their own hives) and soap (hand-made on site, from mainly home-grown ingredients). They keep peafowl 
and have recently added some ornamental pheasant (the 'strange birds' that Henry saw at Kew).
Lanhydrock was the destination on Tuesday (National Trust again). The gatehouse is 17th century
but the main house was largely rebuilt after a fire in 1881.
After a pub lunch, we called at the Eden Project, which is not to be missed. I have many more photographs taken inside the biomes, which I may post separately.
On Wednesday we drove down to Lizard Town and walked to the Point, the most southerly part of the British mainland. Great views, and some arty-farty photo-opportunities again.
Thursday we basically lazed around; lunch at our friend Annette's pub, including one of Zia's pasties.
Friday we went to Trelissick which has great views (courtesy of another ha-ha) over the River Fal.
Saturday was a shopping day; I bought another guitar (bad Ian!) and a cello for my wife's Christmas present (not a surprise), then we headed back home on Sunday.
