MAY Summer finally arrives in Torquay in late May. Flip-flops, li-los and pasty white bodies revealed to the sun. The giant tethered balloon goes up and down at regular intervals. Families descend on the beach and the first sandcastles of the summer are built. This is the traditional 'bucket and spade' holiday that we had as children. Let's have more of them.
The harbour is full of boats, and the regular boat trips to Brixham, Dartmouth and Greenway are in full swing. The boat trips are a great way on enjoying the coastline, and seeing areas that are inaccessible by car.
SUMMER ARRIVES IN TORQUAY
There is so much to do now. We went to visit the Miniature Pony Centre, which is situated in North Bovey, Dartmoor. It is lovely drive there and the ponies are very small and very woolly. I had set my heart on having an Alpaca or three for my birthday, after falling in love with the ones I saw at the Devon County Show last week, but I think a Mulberry handbag might be cheaper, as you have to have a group of Alpacas!
Below: Left: Torquay harbour; middle: Making sandcastles on Torre Abbey beach. Below right: Ponies at the Miniature Pony Centre .
Above: Ted came to visit in June and was a great ambassador for dogs. We only like to have one dog at a time, and must be 'cat friendly'.
BIG MIDNIGHT WALK 2010
Sally stayed up all night on 5th June to serve bacon butties to the many thousands of women who took part in the Midnight Walk in aid of MacMillan Cancer Care and Rowcroft Hospice. They certainly needed them after their 13 mile walk around Torbay!
Left: Ted came to visit with his owners, and proved that well behaved dogs are less trouble than many children. We only like to have one dog at a time, and they must not chase Oscar.
Left: Neil enjoys a rare free evening out on the Torquay harbourfront.
Above: Peter Abel from Dortmund completed the Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportive 2010 on the same day that Germany beat England.
DISTINGUISHED VISITOR TO TORCROFT HOTEL
Mrs Chris Allen came to stay with her family to celebrate her 94th birthday, and just happened to mention in passing that she used to work as Agatha Christie's cook every summer at Greenway. She told us that Agatha Christie liked plain home cooking and always drank tap water. How unlike the celebrities of today.
Above: Oscar enjoys the World Cup.
Left: Morris and Ann Rowe stayed at the Torcroft in March 2010, and Morris made this lovely miniature wheelbarrow for us.
JULY We went on a trip around the Torquay coastline on Greenway Ferry Company's 'Fairmile', a refurbished World War II vessel that sails from Torquay to Brixham, Dartmouth and Greenway. Travelling by boat allows you to really appreciate the unspoilt coastline around Torquay - there are only little coves and inlets mostly only reached on foot, so no ice cream vans, car parks or noise to spoil the tranquility.
Jessica, Laura and Sally took part in the Waiters & Waitresses Race, held on Paignton beach on 28 July. This annual event is organised by the Torbay Carnival, and all proceeds go to local charities. Jessica did us proud and came 3rd, having run with a beer-filled mug down the beach.
BANKSY HITS TORQUAY - or not - that is the question. I noticed a graffiti-ed wall in Brixham last week, and presumed someone was ripping off Britain's greatest rip-off artist. Now the Grosvenor Hotel has one too. Why won't he/they do one of our hotel? We have a 15ft square wall near our entrance in need of decoration (it even has a round ventilation hole newly rendered in it).
So, Banksy, if you really exist - come and do your best/worst at the Torcroft!
