Just A Small Town Girl...

It's in your head now, admit it.

Today, I had the afternoon off work.  I had a few things I needed to do, such as visit the doctor to find out why everything keeps spinning (it's Vertigo, in case you were wondering and not, as I first suspected, that I've become a Timelord and can feel the actual turning of the Earth, more's the pity).  

Venturing into a relatively small town that you've lived in for the past seventeen years gives you a feeling similar to having a wee on a really cold day; it's comfortably warming.  

There's plenty to be said against living in a relatively small place for a long period of time.  People always either know your business or want to and I do often envy my sister, who lives in London and can seemingly order a takeaway from anywhere at any time.  Here, once it's past 10pm, you're pretty much screwed and almost nowhere delivers.  We don't have that busy, bustling, exciting atmosphere of a city going on and if I want to go to a decent array of shops, you're talking about a car journey of at least forty minutes (longer if I decide Truro doesn't have a big enough selection and I have to go all the way to Plymouth).

But there's so much to be said in favour of living in a smaller place, too.  For all the times I joke about living in "the arse end of nowhere," it's home.  And it's home because just popping into town has put the most enormous smile on my face.

Hooray!

For a start, the whole "everyone knows you" thing doesn't have to be remotely negative.  I actually love the fact that today, my mum and I went into a local jewellers to pick up a ring Mum had had cleaned and the staff immediately spotted our dog and went: "Rusty!  Hello!"  Then they hurried off to get him a treat (it's no wonder he's so porky).  Afterwards, I popped into a small clothes shop we have in town, since I needed a new handbag (I appear to have bought a case; my new one is seriously huge) and the lady in that shop knew us, too.  When I finally went to see the doctor, it was like having a catch-up with someone you've known for ages (who just happens to be able to diagnose you and prescribe you with the appropriate medication for your condition).

We live in a place where almost every time I pop into town, someone I know will say hi.  For some people, that's the epitome of Hell, but I think it's really nice.  It makes you feel like you're part of a community.  From the elderly guy who lives on the hill by my house, to the local GPs who've known me and my ailments since I was 16 years old, there's something rather charming about being in a place where you're known and accepted.  

Of course, there are days when I'm not feeling well, or I'm in a foul mood and I don't want to stop and say hello to anyone.  And there are times when I think it would be lovely to live somewhere with more going on.  Who knows, maybe I'll fall in love with a city boy and be swept off to London, where I'll totally change my mind about being something of a Country Mouse.  But, for the time being, I'm rather happy being a Small Town Girl.

Besides, when you've lived somewhere for as long as I've lived here, simple places start to become special to you.  There's the bench I was sitting on when I got together with my first ever boyfriend.  The seat in the doctors' waiting room that I always choose.  The restaurant where I know exactly what I want from the menu before I've even sat down.  Little things like that add up to make a place feel like home.  And I guess in a way, this post is a bit like a love letter to my hometown.

The shops, the cafes, the people.  It's always good to have a moment when you realise that for all the times you've moaned about where you live, you stick around for a reason.  And that reason is because deep down, you know you love it, really.  And I do.

Wadebridge... Will you be my Valentine?!

Sunday Challenge 23rd November 2014: Food Review!

The view from our table at The Mariners in Rock.

Okay everyone, try not to expire from shock, but... IT'S THE RETURN OF THE SUNDAY CHALLENGE!

I know, I know.  I don't even remember what my last Sunday Challenge was, let alone how long it has been since I did one, but this week I'm actually back on track for a change.  I wondered for a while as to what my first challenge in forever should actually be, but since I'm a foodie and since my dad had booked a table for lunch at The Mariners Public House in Rock today, I thought: "Why not try being a food critic?!"  So here goes...

Newly opened in July, The Mariners sits overlooking the Camel Estuary in Rock.  It's one of many dining establishments owned by Michelin starred chef Nathan Outlaw, so my expectations were high from the outset.  Throughout the week, the pub offers a menu ranging from standard bar snacks (fish finger sandwiches and pork pies etc) to more substantial meals, such as pork schnitzel with fried duck egg.  On a Sunday, the pub boasts a traditional lunch menu at a very reasonable price (especially for an area such as Rock, where prices can be high): £12.50 for one course, £17.50 for two courses and £22.50 if you can squeeze in all three courses.  Lunch is served from 12 until 4:30 and we arrived at 12:30pm, having skipped breakfast in readiness...

We were offered a choice of tables by a very friendly waitress and opted to sit by the window to make the most of the beautiful views around Rock.  I actually work not far down the road, but I rarely get a chance to admire the scenery, so it was lovely to take it all in.

We all decided to go for a starter, given that the menu was so appealing - it was almost impossible not to!

Soused herring with white cabbage, mustard and salad cream.

One thing you can rely on in Cornwall is an abundance of beautiful seafood, so it was no surprise that my dad went for the soused herring.  It came with a delicate mustard-flavoured salad cream and white cabbage.  The herring was so fresh and not overly pickled in any way that dad had no trouble polishing it off!  Even mum, who's not usually a fan of herring, tried some and said it was delicious.

Mariners' Scotch egg.

Mum chose the Mariners' Scotch egg and actually gasped when it arrived at the table, because it just looked so good.  The egg was perfectly cooked, with the yolks still soft.  The sausage meat surrounding the egg was spiced beautifully, giving the whole thing a really deep, delicious flavour when you bit into it.  And yes, I did demand a bite...  The chutney served with it complimented the dish really well and mum was very happy with her choice.

Cauliflower soup with goat's cheese and crusty bread.

Meanwhile, I went for the cauliflower soup, served with crumbled goat's cheese.  The soup itself was beautifully thick and creamy, with the simple, yet delicious taste of cauliflower shining through.  The addition of goat's cheese was something of a master stroke; it's not a flavour combination I'd necessarily have thought of, but oh my goodness, does it work!  The tang of the cheese perfectly complimented the delicate cauliflower, adding to the taste and yet not overshadowing it.  It was all I could do to stop myself from licking the bowl...

Sunday roast!

Mum and I had both chosen roast beef for our main, whereas dad had gone for pork.  The beef came with a lovely horseradish cream and a huge, fluffy Yorkshire pudding.  Dad's pork was served with an apple and whiskey compote and of course, it came complete with some deliciously crispy crackling.

There were an array of vegetables on offer to accompany our roasts and they weren't your bog-standard limp carrots or overdone sprouts (and I say that as someone partial to an overdone sprout...).  Instead, we had honey-glazed parsnips, which I'm told were beautiful (I'm not a parsnip fan, but I did sample the glaze!), as well as calabrese, carrots (cooked whole, with a stunning glaze on them), creamed leaks and cabbage with bacon and roast chestnuts.  There was so much food on offer, we couldn't quite believe how generous the portions were!

The meat itself was beautiful; my beef absolutely melted in my mouth and dad was practically in raptures about how perfectly moist his pork was.  

And then there were the potatoes...  I don't know what magic they sprinkled on them, but they were so crispy on the outside, yet fluffy and light on the inside.  Just perfect.

Being a Sharp's Brewery pub, there were plenty of local beers to choose from to wash your lunch down with and dad enjoyed a very refreshing pint.  Mum and I stuck to soft drinks, but we were kept just as refreshed and offered top-ups by the attentive staff.

Having gorged ourselves on the mother of all Sunday roasts, we knew we couldn't manage puddings, which was a shame as the menu looked delicious!  Maybe next time I'll skip a starter in the hope of saving room...

All in all, I was hugely impressed with The Mariners.  The food was absolutely lovely and the staff were all very friendly, knowledgeable and conscientious.  In fact, we enjoyed our lunch there so much, we've already booked our next visit!

If you're in the area and you'd like to check it out, you can call The Mariners to book a table on 01208 863679, or drop them an email at info@themarinersrock.com.  There's lots more info, plus sample menus available at their website.  

Why boredom is no excuse for anti-social behaviour

Photo "borrowed" from Wadebridge police. Please don't arrest me.

A week or two ago, Wadebridge Police shared the above photo on their Facebook page, along with the message that the driver responsible for these tyre tracks had been issued with a "Section 59" warning - ie. a reprimand for anti-social driving.  This covers careless or inconsiderate driving, as well as driving in any kind of manner that may cause distress or alarm to nearby residents.

I'm going to state here and now that I fully support the police in this.  I've been scared witless when driving alone, thanks to idiots who think overtaking on a blind bend is a "cool" thing to do, or who tailgate you when you're travelling at 30mph in a 30mph zone, because they somehow think the speed limit doesn't apply to them.  The comedian Jon Richardson once said that being in a car can make you feel brave, because you're encased in metal and that basically means you're Robocop.  But too many people take that "bravery" to a ridiculous level and forget that a car is a machine capable of great speed and that when they crash, they can cause severe injury and even death.  Or perhaps they don't forget those things and they just enjoy taking risks.  Who knows.  All I know is that people who drive in a deliberately aggressive, careless manner are, in my opinion, total arseholes.

My opinion aside, inevitably people began to comment on the photo once it had been shared on Facebook.  Some praised the police for their actions, others suggested that they should find "better" things to do.  Of course, few things would seem more important to those people, had the driver of the car hit a child, but hey...

Then one comment started to surface over and over.  The same argument, being used as an excuse.  "I bet whoever did this was a kid.  And I bet he was just bored.  There's nothing for kids to do around here, so you can't blame them for kicking off."

Wadebridge: Nothing to do.  Except go to the cinema, or travel to the beach, or play football in the park, or...

Here's the thing: that's bullshit.

Boredom is a horrible thing, I agree.  And I agree that sometimes, being in a small town and feeling as though you have nothing to do can make you angry or fed up and more likely to want to act out.  But it's not an excuse for doing so.  Taking it as such is ludicrous.  Would you allow a murderer to stand in court and say "sorry I killed that pensioner your honour, but I was bored"?  Of course not.

The Manic Street Preachers are famously from a small town in South Wales where, by their own admission, there was nothing to do.  So they read books, watched films and, in their own words, "stayed in and dealt with the boredom."  Eventually, they decided to learn instruments and form a band.  The rest is history.

The fact is, whilst feeling bored out of your brain is lousy, it can pave the way for things.  When I was bored as a teenager (before I could drive and get out for the day), I'd write stories.  Some people choose to paint or draw.  Others might take up sport; going for a run is a known way of getting the adrenaline pumping and ceasing that feeling of dullness that we all get from time to time.  We can read a book or a magazine.  We can go for a walk or arrange to meet our friends.  We can mess about in the kitchen, cooking something from scratch.  We can find something  - anything - to pass the time, without resorting to dangerous driving or other forms of anti-social behaviour.  

To suggest that people are almost forced into criminal activity through boredom is to entirely ignore their potential for creativity and imagination.  To use boredom as an excuse for anti-social behaviour does nothing but take responsibility away from a person and that's ridiculous; we must all take ownership of our actions and face the consequences that they may bring.

My opinions on this haven't always made me popular.  Saying that boredom is a lousy excuse for anti social behaviour causes some people to suggest that I've not checked my privilege.  My answer to that is that you don't have to be privileged to see know that petty vandalism isn't nice and will more than likely end you up in trouble.  You don't have to be well educated to realise that deliberately driving at high-speed, zig-zagging across the road in a built up area with a speed limit of 30mph is dangerous and illegal.  You don't have to be rich to know that going for a walk with your mates might be better than staying indoors and cyberbulling someone online.  Boredom sucks and the frustration that a lack of money or ideas creates can make you want to rail against the injustice of it all (believe me, I know from experience of being a totally broke, deeply hormonal teen, living at one point on an RAF base with just one shop and literally nothing to do and nowhere to go because there were barely any buses out), but it doesn't excuse any of those things.  That's what I'm saying; not that boredom isn't lousy and frustrating, but that it shouldn't be used as an excuse for crime or anti-social behaviour.  We all feel bored from time to time.  How we choose to deal with that boredom is up to us.

For what it's worth, I think more money should be put into services for young people.  A decent youth club, an Am Dram group, a cafe/meeting place aimed at younger members of society...  All those things would be welcomed and would make a difference to the lives of young residents of small towns across the UK.  We need to listen to younger people and ask what they want and how they'd like to be spending their free time.  We need to encourage them to use their creativity and skills and we need to show them that they are all valued members of society; too often young people are discriminated against because of a minority that do commit anti-social acts.  We should never tar an entire group of people with one brush.  People come from all walks of life and they should be listened to and appreciated equally.

Shows like Educating Yorkshire prove just how important it is to remind the younger members of society that they can achieve whatever they want to and they can be whatever they choose.  Let's give them those positive messages, rather than lumping them all in with negative press.  These could be the teachers, doctors, actors, musicians, mothers and fathers of the future, after all.  Let's not insult them by suggesting that they can't help but commit crime because they're bored.

When a person commits a crime - petty or otherwise - there could be a dozen reasons for it and we should listen to those reasons, because doing so may help prevent further crimes in the future.  But having nothing to do doesn't make it okay to rob an old lady, or steal a car.  It wouldn't stand up in a court of law, would it?  Boredom isn't an excuse for anti-social behaviour and frankly, I'm bored of it being used as one. 

In Praise of My New Tattoo

I have a Doctor Who tattoo now.  Doctor Who tattoos are cool.

Today I went and had a new tattoo done.  For a while, I've wanted a quote from Doctor Who inked somewhere about my person, but I hadn't entirely settled on what or where until I happened upon this one.  It's taken from Matt Smith's 11th Doctor's quote:

"I am and always will be the optimist,

The hoper of far-flung hopes

And the dreamer of improbable dreams."

There are several reasons why this is the perfect Who quote for me, but it can mainly be whittled down to this one: I'm not afraid to dream big.  I'm often found daydreaming about something or other and when I have a dream or a goal that I'm passionate about, I reach for it, however barmy others might think I am for doing so.  I guess that's a quality I share with the Doctor and it's something I'm quite proud of.

And of course, it's a Matt Smith quote, for goodness sake.  My Doctor.

Hello, sweetie...

I'm absolutely thrilled to bits with my tattoo; it says something that is important to me, whilst also referencing my favourite show - a show which continues to astound and delight me, years after becoming the fan I am now.  The tattoo is also beautifully delicate and feminine - I especially love the shooting star!

So I'm using my blog to give a big shout-out to Chaos Custom Tattoos in Wadebridge.  It's a fabulous place and I can't thank Lorraine enough for my gorgeous artwork.  Not only did she create this tattoo, but she designed the Manics one on my back as well, which I also absolutely adore.  Both are original pieces that had talent and care poured into them and as a result, I am thrilled with how they look.  If you're in Cornwall (or fancy a trip down!) and you're after a new tattoo, I really cannot recommend Chaos highly enough.