Miscellanea

Cowslip Quilting Workshops at Newhouse Farm near Launceston

This may seem like an odd image to use in an item about quilting workshops but then Jo Colwill's business runs in and from a purpose built workshop set in the midst of farm buildings on husband Steve's organic dairy farm where the Colwills have farmed for about a century. Jane has been a Cowslip devotee for some years now, has attended classes there and has had help from Jo with some of her more difficult quilts. She and her friend Mary have made regular trips to Cowslip to admire the works displayed and to buy supplies. It was during the major BSE scare, when the Colwill's feared for their dairy farm, that Jo decided she could make a living from her quilting skills. The business has grown and a vast range of classes and workshops are held - not just quilting but also knitting, appliqu�, silk painting, stencil work, basket making and more. The well-stocked shop carries a range of fine fabrics, threads, accessories, tutorial books and hand-made greetings cards. A caf� (open daily 10-5) serves morning coffee, light lunches and cream teas. Lunches include a variety of baguettes and filled jacket potatoes and the specials board includes home made desserts. Jane recommends the place, the shop and the food. If you want to know more, do take a look at Cowslip's web site.

Newhouse Farm on minor road from Egloskerry to Launceston

Organic cow and calf on Jo's Newhouse Farm

This review was written by Oliver Howes and is reproduced here in his own words. All text and photographs remain his work, preserved in his memory.

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Ferries - some for cars, most just for passengers

With a coastline so indented by rivers and tidal creeks, particularly in the south, it is no surprise that many ferries operate, mostly across south coast inlets. Only three carry vehicles - Torpoint ferry from Plymouth to the Rame Peninsula; King Harry, across the deep Fal estuary from the Roseland Peninsula; and Bodinnick across the river at Fowey. Pedestrians and cyclists are better served. Theirs operate from Plymouth to the Rame Peninsula, from Fowey to Polruan, across the Helford River near Trebah Garden, and, in the north, across the Camel from Padstow to Rock. There are said to be couple of seasonal high tide ones - over Gillan Creek in the south and over the Gannel to Crantock Beach in the north near Newquay. Falmouth is best served of all. Ferries operate from here to St. Mawes across broad Carrick Roads; to Flushing just across the Penryn River; to Mylor Yacht Harbour up the Fal; and to Truro by way of the National Trust's Trelissick Garden, the Smugglers Cottage Tea Rooms at Tolverne, and Malpas, location of the excellent Heron Inn. There is even a 'park-and-float' service which operates from Ponsharden, up the Penryn River, to the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth but, because of tides, this is only intermittent. St. Mawes has a second ferry, across Percuil River to Place.