December 5 - off searching for the ancestors

first of all, I must say that I may sound like I am complaining alot about England and Cornwall.

 But I am truly not.

It is fantastic to finally be here and a wonderful pilgrimage and learning journey for me.

All growth for my soul. What I am writing is merely what i am observing and feeling at that moment. And because I have had such a delusional image of England and especially Cornwall [an image of my own making, I might add]..I have been disappointed at times. I knew it was going to be winter [not a problem because I like the cold] and I knew many things would be closed.. what I didn't know [naively some would say] is that Cornwall is not the Cornwall of my ancestors.

the past few days I have been homesick, which wasn't helped by Clematis Cottage being not what we expected so my judgement of the area was clouded. But having the opportunity to be on some of the land where my ancestors once may have lived, settled the discontent somewhat and once again I can see the beauty in the land - the hedgerows, the nests in the bare trees, the twinkling christmas trees that are everywhere..

we headed to Newquay, being guided by our trusty GPS who has been nicknamed Mary.. she took us along back roads and once into someones farm yard.. with us laughing all the way! i did tell Joe we were on a dirt road, but he thought it was just leaves and mud from the rain, until we landed up in a cow paddock in someones farm yard

Newquay .. a seaside town.. very cold and windy but the sun was shining. Newquay must be very popular in summer time as there are many guest houses.. most of them closed for the winter. The beach looked as if it would be wonderful for surfing.. but i couldn't bare to walk on the sand at this time of year.. so we just wandered around for a time, then had lunch while i wrote my blog. crab cakes and a green tea for me. .. and then heading back to the car after a quick shop for essentials like chocolate and christmas decorations

and off we headed in search of the ancestors to St.Enoder and Indian Queens [from my research Indian Queens was actually an Inn that my ancestors opened and ran].

we found St. Enoder first.. a gorgeous, leafy green village and I sighed with relief.. at last, some of my delusions seemed real..

we stopped at the church and I went through the gate and as I wandered around the graves, looking, searching for some recognition of names..

a rainbow appeared over the hill and I felt a wave of peace wash over me. I think this was a sign that this indeed is where my ancestors did come.

 

I had no idea if any of these were the graves of my ancestors.. I just knew that they were here, once, living in such a beautiful, peaceful place and that this is part of me wherever I may live..
Joe being the adventurer that he is, went to see if the door of the Church was open.. and we went in..I am going back there before I leave..

[and the hail and rain came just as we got into the car]

and on to Indian Queens.. we didn't stop as it was late so will return before I go home. anywhere is not from from anywhere in Cornwall!!
so today.. we head to find Arthurs Stone and maybe a little while back to St. Enoder Church where I wish to sit for some time to contemplate..