FACEBOOK

blogger widget

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Cornwall 2024

My adventure to Cornwall was nothing short of exhilarating! I was finally reunited with Beth and her vibrant little clan. With Beth’s blessing, I’ve incorporated some of her lively descriptions, sprinklingin some of my own, and captured it all in pictures.

This journey came right after my trip to Spain with the Nordic walking team. I marveled at the spectacular Harry Rocks before I was warmly welcomed by my dear friend Jan, who lives in a delightful home near Wareham. I could hardly contain my excitement the next morning as I awaited Beth and "les girls." When they pulled up, I was stunned! Essie and Nora had grown so tall and radiant, practically transformed from the last time I saw them at just six years old. Now, they were almost 14 and bursting with energy!

As soon as they leaped out of the car, they clung to me in joyous embraces, chattering away in a delightful symphony of excitement. "What a beautiful house!" they exclaimed as they explored Jan’s lovely home, their eyes wide with wonder. Sweet Jan graciously allowed them to roam, making their day even more magical. After sharing tea and cookies filled with laughter and stories, it was time to hit the road to Cornwall.

The drive to Launceston was absolutely breathtaking! The weather was perfectly cool and sunny—the ideal backdrop for our adventure. With both girls eagerly filling me in on everything that had transpired since our last reunion in 2019, I knew that these five glorious days were going to be a whirlwind of fun and unforgettable memories!

“ We've just had the most wonderful visit with our beloved Grandma Gri Silvia Gri Buongiorne ❤️. It was such a joy to spend time together and create lasting memories. I found myself taking photos constantly, but now that the visit has passed, it feels like I didn’t capture nearly enough—each moment we shared was truly precious. This autumn has been one of the most beautiful I can remember, with dry, crisp leaves and warm sunlight. It felt as though Mother Earth was sharing in our joy and reflecting it back at us. During her stay, we really wanted to show Grandma Gri all of our girls’ favorite places and the beauty of Cornwall. 

We explored Lanhydrock National Trust, Golitha Falls, and Minions, soaking up the stunning sights of Bodmin Moor. We also hiked the breathtaking South West Coast Path from Boscastle to Tintagel village and spent an enjoyable morning at The Box Plymouth Museum, followed by some shopping at Drake Circus, where Grandma generously spoiled her granddaughters! 🥰 We visited Castle Drogo at the National Trust and admired the lovely views of the Teign Valley Gorge, and finally took a trip to National Trust Tyntesfield

Evenings back in our cozy cottage were filled with shared meals, movie nights featuring the girls’ current favorites (Nora loved The Martian, and Esther was enchanted by Howl's Moving Castle), and lively card games. Essie even took Grandma for a long, leisurely walk through our beautiful village and the fields, showing her where she walks Wren every day.


After a lovely day at Tyntesfield, Beth and her family graciously drove me back to Bristol to visit my wonderful Argentinian cousin, Lorraine Melrose. Growing up together in Buenos Aires, Lorraine has always been a source of peace and warmth in my life. She welcomed our lively group with open arms, and we enjoyed a delightful afternoon filled with coffee, tea, and cake. 

Before we knew it, the time had come for us to say goodbye. As Beth, Dan, the twins, and little Bertie began their journey back to Cornwall, the weight of parting filled my heart, and I found myself in tears. The memories we created together were so precious, and though it was difficult to part, I am grateful for the wonderful moments we shared and hold onto the hope of meeting again soon.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18cP8Znv6q/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1VWQRgWawR/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16hrYprYQi/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16oKZAbMDz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Sunday, January 5, 2025

End 2024. Hello 2025

I hope you're doing fantastically well, I apologize for the ridiculous delay in getting back to you as I was caught up in the utter chaos of festivities. 

We recently had our big Thanksgiving event, which my daughter May organized with the precision of a military general. I couldn't resist lending a hand since I enjoy working with her and she's the only one who can tolerate my antics. She is calm and organized, making everything run smoothly, except when I'm around. This year, we hosted around 40 people, fewer than in previous years, which was a huge relief because I didn't have to mortgage my house to feed them all. 

Now, we are getting into the Christmas spirit, and I have put up my little tree, mainly because Robin enjoys decorating it and I enjoy watching him make a mess. Growing up, my family didn't celebrate much, so I never got deeply into it, but we do like spending time together and exchanging gifts, mostly so we can return them later👀. I'm glad you can relax and have a pleasant time with your neighbors, as long as they're not too annoying. 

Winter has arrived, and the weather has been quite blustery, not ideal for walks, but perfect for staying indoors and eating an entire pizza by myself. I have a few winter projects lined up, including making some mosaic work, which I learned about when I visited my sister in Patagonia and she taught me how to make a mess with tiles. My next project is a garden pole for May's garden, which will be a bit of a job, but I've been wanting to try it for some time, mostly so I can prove to myself that I'm not completely useless. 

I've also been working on a travel blog on Facebook of my Spanish and Cornwall adventures.

Christmas has come and gone, and it was nice to spend time with loved ones, except for that one relative who always argues about politics. 

New Year's was different this year, as the younger ones organized a mystery murder game, which was entertaining, mostly because nobody knew what was going on. We stayed up to watch the fireworks but had to return to our warm cabins and get our beauty sleep which was around midnight.

The cold weather has been a challenge, and everyone is staying indoors until it passes, or until we all start to smell really bad. 

Soon, life will return to normal, and the school schedule will get us back into a routine, which I'm sure we'll all promptly ignore. 

Happy New Year 2025, may it be less chaotic than the last one.






My homie Hobbit in charge of the decor


sleigh, bells, 
sleigh, bells,snow and carols



baby its cold outside