Page 43 - recollections of a life in Porthleven

1807 with a great loss of lives. This wreck also brought about the invention
of the Breaches Bouy, a life-saving apparatus which was designed by Henry
Trengrouse from Helston.

Anyway, on with the story, after looking for the illusive doubloons we would
make our way over the Bar up to Loe Pool. On the way to the Pool we would
look for small pieces of wood, cork and gull’s feathers. This created more
fun as we would be in competition with each other to find the largest feather.
Why were we looking for wood? Well Dad always carried a pocket knife
and he would craft sailing boats with holes for the feathers. The feathers
would make excellent sails! You should have seen them go when a breeze
got behind them!!

We would play around the Pool for a while, getting wet feet I am sure, before
we made our way back along the Bar and downs to get back to Trewarvas.
We would not go along the beach but follow the Cliff Road back.
After running around on the beach so much and on the downs you can
imagine how tired our young legs were. And after asking a few times, Dad
would pick the two of us up. One of us would ride on his shoulders and the
other would be carried in his arms. We wouldn’t be carried all the way home,
but most of it.

When we got back to Trewarvas Gran, Grandad and Stephen would be
waiting for us in the front room. After taking off our shoes and socks
outdoors, so we would not carry in any sand, we would wash our hands and
sit down to have some lovely sandwiches, Gran’s saffron buns baked that
morning, and if we were lucky, warm scones with jam and cream.

After tea we would play a few games such as snap, pickup sticks, or it may
have been a game of dominos with Grandad. The radio would be on and I
can remember the shipping forecast, followed by Sing Something Simple
with the Black and White Minstrels (or was it the Cliff Adams Singers?).

At about 7 o’clock I would go up for my bath followed by Margaret. We
would then come back downstairs to have our milk before being carried back
up to bed by our Dad. In a very short time we would both be sound asleep.