Hever Castle

On July 12th, Mr K and I decided as I was staying with him and it's always been on my list of things to see and do that we should pay a visit to Hever castle.

Brief history (because I couldn't help myself!)

I'm a huge Tudor fan and was so, so excited to visit the castle and the gardens. Hever Castle was built in the 13th century and is best known as the place where a young Anne Boleyn grew up until leaving for The Netherlands in 1513 to receive an education at the court of the Archduchess Margaret. Anne returned to Hever in 1522 when her Father requested her return to England to marry her cousin James Butler. The marriage plans were broken up by Cardinal Wolsey and Anne went to the court to serve the current queen; Catherine of Aragon. 

Hever came into The Kings' possession after Thomas Boleyn died and he later gifted the castle to Anne of Cleaves as part of their divorce in 1540. 

After the Tudors, Hever Castle passed through various owners, the first being the Waldegrave family in 1557 and the Meade Waldo family from 1749 to 1903. During this period of ownership, the castle fell into a poor state of repair, it was leased to private tenants and at one point even housed cattle!  In 1903, it was acquired and restored by the American millionaire William Waldorf Astor, who used it as a family home. He added the Italian Garden and in 1983 the Astor family sold the castle.

The Visit

Day Trip #3 The Man Engine in Cornwall

The Man Engine is an amazing tribute to Cornwall's mining history and I loved that I got to take the children along to see this amazing 10ft plus man engine because I really thought of him as a real work of art not just a tribute or something to go down in history for it's height and meaning, I thought it was wonderfully made.

The Man Engine came to our local town after visiting quite a few towns before ours, it was actually nice to have something like this come to us rather than missing out because I couldn't afford the travel (usually the case) 

Loaded on the lorry before being bought out to show off

We waited in the crowd for about half an hour before the choir sung Camborne Hill and other songs and there was a brief talk about why The Man Engine was built, plus a moments silence for those miners who lost their lives all those years ago. He then slowly rose up, overlooking us all. We didn't see a great view of him at first but after 15 minutes people started to leave so we walked around town to get him front facing and it was amazing!

Overlooking Camborne

The children were mesmerised by him and I was really impressed by him too. He was able to move his arms up and down, his head side to side and accepted a giant Cornish Pasty from the towns Mayor which was pretty cool. As more people left we got closer and closer until eventually we saw him slowly coming down which was cool because we could see his face and helmet and all the smaller features you miss when you're further away,

The Man Engine being collected to go onto his next town

Midge and A posing, they loved The Man Engine!

After we saw him being loaded back onto the large lorry we browsed some shops and got some lunch from one of the local bakeries. Midge wanted a sausage roll and Little A really wanted a proper pasty like 'the big robot had' so that he got (and the last one much to the grown men in the queues disappointment!!)

Midge enjoying her sausage rolls

Little A extremely pleased at getting the last pasty!

I then treated us all to a hot chocolate. We got to sit for a bit and chat about what we had seen and I got to explain a bit more about why people had built The Man Engine. I'm sure it went in one ear and out the other but at the time it was nice to discuss! We went home shortly after to relax and look through the leaflets we had picked up. I'm putting one in the book I'm making for my American pen pal, hopefully she'll think it's pretty impressive too.

Trevithick Day 2015

Trevithick Day this year was fab! Midge and I went together for quite a few hours because I thought it would be too much for A (we took him later) we fully embraced the spirit, rain and all! We mooched around then landed in the funfair where I was suitably ripped off on a prize stall but it was her only prize stall! Midge got her prize ( at £3 for one go it was a guaranteed one but she didn't care) then she went on a bouncy castle and we went on a ride together (this was a lot faster than it looked, Midges face changed quicker than ever. I wasn't sure if she was going to cry, panic or chuck up! It was fun though.

We then sought out chips, postcards, a souvenir of the day for Midge (a very pretty head band) candy floss and sweeties then we moved on to the steam engines. As always they were spectacular. We looked at the old cars too, turns out Midge is into all this engine stuff!

We checked out the church as usual where we left prayer messages and viewed the miniature railways. I wanted to get photos because I knew A would miss this bit.

Then we caught musicians and dancers and I signed up for a Cornish language course.

Later we could hear the engines from our back garden and A was so excited we ventured out into the pouring rain to watch the engines journey up Camborne Hill. Then we took him into town to get some candy floss and see the small engines that hadn't left town yet. He is so little still that he doesn't know what he missed, he got to see the engines in their finest bit and it was the first time I'd seen them go up the hill too!

I felt so much pride this year, I'm not sure why. I've lived here now nearly 14 years and I'm pretty loyal to Cornwall, I don't see myself ever leaving and if I could I'd certainly put myself down as Cornish. I have another many years before I can do that down here though ha!

Cupcake Mumma

2014: Nearly Time to Say Goodbye

We've raced through 2014 and I have to say I can't really fault 2014 for us as a family (which I'm very thankful for.) Mostly we have been well, school has been good and we have managed to come a long way with Little A. We've continued to live in a house we love and are thankful to our landlords who are much better than previous ones we've ever had! My sister has continued to do well at university and I am so proud of her and my brother has left Cornwall to start his own chapter. Whilst we miss him this Christmas, we know he's perfectly happy where he is and that in turn makes us happy.

Like many bloggers around this time I wanted to reflect a little and write about 2014. After all, this blog hosts many of our memories. Photos will have to wait though (not long though! New laptop tomorrow from Mum and Pop!!)

Anyway, onto 2014 and what happened for us. As every year we started January with Midges birthday, this year her sixth. It was of course a lovely day, inspired by Hello Kitty which she was obsessed with at the time. I've already been told to expect a Frozen theme next year! She had friends over and dressed up, ate food and had a hissy fit because she lost pin the tail on the donkey. I still like to remind her of this! A week later it is her Dads birthday. I know we spent it partly as a family and partly him at football! We did have a night away in Plymouth at a favourite hotel of ours a few weeks later and that was lovely. Even had a sit down meal! I also had the very wonderful chance of going to the very first Story of Mum Mums Retreat at the beginning of January for a whole 24 hours. My friend Kat came and it was so great!

A month later Little A turned 3. I baked him a Toy Story cake because he really loved it at the time. He had some lovely presents and my Aunt came over to see him. Sadly he was poorly leading up to and including his birthday so it wasn't quite the occasion we had hoped! I learned that my best friend was expecting her fourth child and while it was unexpected I was excited for her!

In March I travelled to Kats in Bath and stayed with her and her family. I went up for the purpose of sleeping rough for the night in a park to raise money for the homeless charity Julian's Hospice. That was a cold night but a humbling experience indeed. I remember being extremely cold as 3am hit and being incredibly thankful that I was heading to a warm house to get some sleep, food and warmth.

I enjoyed having the little ones home during the Easter break and we had secured Little A a place at the nursery attached to Midges school. I attended a craft work shop with Midge where we made an Easter tree. Since then the same tree has been a halloween tree and now a winter tree! I wonder what everyone else did! The summer holidays were very long indeed; that much I remember! Kat visited with her family and we went to Paradise Park which was great fun. At the end of the summer my husband finally had some time off so the last week we did some fun things like going out to eat, taking the children shopping and other stuff I can't remember!

I've just remembered that I took Midge to Portsmouth by train and we had a lovely time with our cousins. We traveled to Cambridge with them and celebrated my cousins wedding. It was a small family and close friend gathering with a wonderful do at my Aunts house. I always go there and feel I have the most amazing family in the world!

Midge started year 2 in September and has been doing very well. She's settled in fine and coming on in her work nicely. I love how her imagination is being stretched more and more and she has started to love reading more and seeing me write letters to my own friends has inspired her to get her own pen pal too. I sent out a travelling notebook this month and it's still travelling around somewhere! Little A started nursery and we had a great start with getting him speech therapy and he is now under the S.E.N department to help him catch up. He's made some friends and loves his teachers and to be honest, I love them too I think!!

Ah October was fab! Little Tilly was born (Kats little girl!) and she was so precious! I visited a couple of weeks before my birthday to see her and her boys plus the new addition! My birthday was a wonderful day where I was spoilt rotten. I had a sit down meal with my babies and hubby and ate a yummy birthday cake too. Just before that I took Midge with my Mum and I to London to see my cousins and visit the Harry Potter studio tour. We totally lost ourselves there (me more than most) I had an absolutely amazing time!

And then we close with the winter months where we had a great bonfire night (usually my most disliked event of the year) but not this year. This year we made s'mores, had sparklers and watched fireworks go off in the distance. We saw Titan the robot at the local town light switch on, enjoyed both the children's school Christmas performances and crafting lanterns, making our own chocolates and writing Father Christmas his letters. I've enjoyed a fabulous Advent swap from Instagram and look forward to January where I can start swapping again! Our Christmas Eve has been wonderful and I hope Christmas Day to be just as good.

As for 2015 and what it holds I really don't know? I hope to see Kat and her family soon and to stay up there again and this time experience Bath Spa for myself! I visited Bath Spa this year and it was amazing walking around, I do love the history but I wouldn't mind going to the actual spa for myself! My sister will turn 21, Midge will be 7, Little A four and starting reception! I'd like a hotel break for our 2nd wedding anniversary and I have friends getting married in June plus a Cambridge holiday in July to look forward to! Oh wow, there's more than I thought!

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and I wish you all so much happiness for 2015. Thanks for reading as always.

Love,

Cupcake Mumma

Blogging History!

I have come to witness a fair number of amazing things happen over the course of this year and I feel like I've really got something to look back on. When my children have children I'll be able to tell them about the time I watched the Olympic Torch travel through a local village and I got so close. Then I'll show them the photos of the amazingly patriotic event.

Then there was the actual Olympics which isn't going to be happening in this country in my life time again (or until I'm very old if lucky!) Granted, I only watched it live on my television but I still felt a part of something. If I was there it would've been the most incredible atmosphere but everything and everyone would've been tiny little dots whereas on my TV I saw every little detail. I felt truly proud to be British on that day.

Then tonight, well there was only word for what I was watching live on TV tonight and that is: WOW.

Felix Baumgartner has skydived 24 miles from Earth and it was AMAZING. My heart was thumping watching him go down, especially when he started to turn a bit. He landed like he had just done a run of the mill skydive and not a record breaking jump!

They are appalling quality photos but hey, I have those photos now and with them the memory of history in the making.

CupcakeMumma

Trevithick Day

Here in Cornwall we celebrate Richard Trevithick, the pioneer in steam-powered rail. Richard Trevithick invented the first high-pressure steam engine and also went on to build the first full scale working railway locomotive. To read more on Richard Trevithick and why he is so important to the Cornish please click this link!

Every year at the end of April it is Trevithick Day in Cornwall and come rain or shine the stalls come out, the rides come out, the food and drink flow, the steam engines make their travels to the town centre of Camborne along with vintage cars and lots of people!

We were very lucky to have the sun shine for us on Saturday only experiencing small showers on and off through the day. We packed Little man in his back carrier to avoid the fuss of pushing the buggy through the crowds which was a nightmare last year!

First of all we did a quick glance of the stalls before buying anything, we like getting a feel of the things on offer instead of just diving in. There was this huge stall selling all sorts of sweets, have you ever seen so many?

We bought some lolly pops and flying saucers which are my favourites, plus the face the little ones pull when the sherbet hits their tongue is priceless!

Then we watched the parade come through town. The smaller steam engines led the way with Camborne Town Band playing their music behind them. Little Miss and Little Man were really interested in what was going on. Little Miss loved the steam engines and couldn't wait to see the bigger ones, Little Man just couldn't believe what was going on!

Enjoying the parade

Afterwards Little Miss bumped into a school friend who had her face painted so, off we went to find the face painter!

Then it was time for the big engines!

This is the replica of Puffing Devil, the first high pressured steam engine built by Richard Trevithick.

Me and Little Miss in front of the Colossus

Favourite shot of the day

 Finally, before heading home and popping Little Man to bed and collapsing onto the sofa ourselves, we took Little Miss around the fair for some rides. Daddy got a Scooby Doo toy for Little Man and a Hello Kitty toy for Little Miss on those over priced but fun fair ground stalls. I'll leave you with Little Miss on the rides!

Cupcake Mumma

Adding to Collections:

As many of you know I collect postcards and have been for about a year now. I have a little tin under my bed where I keep them all safe. Some of them are picked up when I visit a new place, some are bought from the same shop as I got one before but the occasion is different and some are really, really old. 1930's old, which is amazing. Most of these are dated and have lovely small written notes to friends or loved ones on. I'm a bit of a history lover and I adore the thought of holding something that was in somebody else's hand so many years ago.

Last weekend I went off around the market and I went to my favourite stall hoping to find some good postcards from years ago. Sadly there were only 2 proper postcards. I have been known to pick up very old photos from this stall too as the old fashion, traditional photography just pulls me in along with the fashion of say a young woman or child.
Anyway, I picked up a couple of postcards costing 75p each. As you can see i'm not the hard core collector just yet. To spend nearly a fiver on a postcard it would have to be pretty special to me!

Another collection I enjoy adding to is my stamp collection. A few months ago my Mum brought over a memory box I made when I was 12/13. Inside was a little pocket of stamps I had started collecting and never carried on. Well, going around the market I came across a new stall full of postcards, medals and yes, stamps. At 25p each I thought i'd treat myself!
I'm drawn to stamps for their artwork and fine detail. This is another reason I using Postcrossing as I love seeing the stamps on the back of my newly delivered postcards from all over the world.

These are just wonderful! My favourites by far!

 On leaving the market I came across a lady selling bags of stamps. Most of the stamps have been 'stamped' during mailing which is a shame but i got rid of very little and mostly duplicates to be honest. I can still see a lot if not most of the detail on these stamps.

And what do I do with all these old stamps? Put them in a tin of course! I found the perfect one. A vintage quality street tin bearing Major Quality and Miss Sweetly. This tin doesn't have the Quality Street logo which has puzzled me a bit but I think it's wonderful nonetheless! I gave it a clean up and now it's all ready to be loved again.

Major Quality and Miss Sweetly all cleaned up

Lovely designs of the setting 

'Mackintosh's Quality Street'

 What do you collect? I'd love to know!

CupcakeMumma

My Saturday: Family time and Museum fun

We all decided to have a family day out today. Both Other Half and myself don't feel that we spend enough quality time together as a family these days so what better way to rectify that than head out bright and early on a Saturday morning.

I wrote yesterday about living thrifty and being as cheap or budget conscious as possible these days and how sometimes, for me at least, it doesn't always feel good. At the end of this post I featured some photos of my most thrifty finds. I found that today, with my £30 pound budget in my purse for any shop finds, something to eat and bus fare, I kept this post in my head particularly my past finds and I started to feel good again. I remembered how I felt to come across a really good 'find'.

Anyway as usual I digress...We hopped on the bus (for once was cheaper than the train although hideously boring so I did wish now and then that I spent double amount on the train fare! Glad I did not though!) We eventually arrived and first set about something to eat. I used some spare change in my purse to pay for lunch. It was in a superstore and it was absolute pants. I'm sure all you pay for is the packaging these days huh?

Other Half wasn't happy- here he is in one of his rare immature moods scribbling 'rip off' all over the receipt. Oh dear.

After lunch we pushed on and got down to going in and out of a few shops. We went around the indoor market which is full of all sorts of stores. Other Half bored us rigged with his exchange stores after that we we visited a couple of charity shops before setting our sites on the local Museum. I had this on my Project Zero list and completed it a little while ago (here) but never got round to viewing upstairs. I loved it. Little Miss was a bit too hyped up to enjoy it, but she liked the art gallery and the children's section. Being 4 I can't expect her to fully appreciate the Ancient Egyptians or Cornish Heritage just yet can I?

We got home at half past six both children still wide awake, both parents slightly worse for wear! Other Half crashed out in bed same time as i settled Little Miss and has only just resurfaced (as I go to the pit.) I'll leave you with the photos of our day. Have a good Sunday,

Cupcake Mumma

All Aboard!

Other Half's foot isn't far off the Cornish Giants!

A bank note for 5 Guineas from the Cornish bank. 

Funnily enough these are toilet accessories and furniture from the Roman times.

Isn't this Snuff Box beautiful? It's dated C.1750-56

Japanese Samurai swords. Wow.

Little Miss having a go at a puzzle in the art gallery

The finished piece!

If you're ever down this way, please think of heading to Truro and visiting the Royal Cornwall Museum. It really is great! 

http://www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk/