by Maggie Fogarty | Oct 29, 2014 | Uncategorized |
On a recent trip ‘up country’ I heard the sad news that actress Lynda Bellingham had died. I was privileged to work with Lynda in the late 1990s on an ITV popular factual series about the work of RSPCA inspectors.
Despite filming in some difficult circumstances, Lynda was always the true professional and a joy to work with. She was funny, unstarry and uncomplaining – not something you can say about some other celebrities despite their ‘friendly’ on screen personas. The tributes were deserving and heartfelt and I’ve still got the lovely hand written note she sent after we finished filming – a thoughtful gesture so typical of her.
‘She had a terrific personality didn’t she?’ a camera man who worked on the series remarked after the news of her death broke. She certainly did and it’s not a bad way to be remembered.
Over to Cornish cockapoo, Bonnie, for her latest take on life.
‘Hiya folks,
Made my first trip ‘oop North’ with the rents and coped well with the long journey. Didn’t whinge once in the car which bagged me some brownie points. (More pats and treats – yeah!).
Mind you, did have a massive strop about my bedroom on the first night – after all a gal can’t be a model pooch all the time. Still, had a ball with the relatives and in the end I got to like the old cottage we were staying in, creaks and all! Glad to be back in Cornwall though and I missed the sniff of the sea.
Let’s face it, Bonnie is a salty dog at heart and now that I can go on the beach there’s no stopping me. Just need a cool surfing buddy to really get me going. Woof and out….
by Maggie Fogarty | Oct 10, 2014 | Uncategorized |
‘Why don’t you pop over for afternoon tea?’ Hardly an invitation to be turned down, especially as it came from the indomitable Lady Marie Herbert – writer, healer and wife of the late Arctic explorer, Sir Wally Herbert.
I’d already interviewed Marie for a magazine feature and she is one of those fascinating people who you just have to keep in touch with. So afternoon tea it was, in the sitting room of her Penzance home, surrounded by Polar expedition memorabilia and the paintings produced by Sir Wally.
It was civilised, hugely enjoyable and it struck me how the tradition of afternoon tea – or coffee if you must – deserves to make a comeback. Not just for socialising either. It is so much easier to talk about work projects over a late afternoon cuppa served from a proper pot along with a few delicious bites to eat. Of course this has to include cake. No cake, no real afternoon tea!
I’m now on a mission to push this brilliant tradition, all thanks to the lovely Marie. So around 4pm switch off that smart phone, tablet and computer for a while – ironic I know coming from a blogger and social networker – and get talking face to face. Over a nice cuppa of course.
Now over to pup Bonnie for her latest take on life….
‘Hi there folks,
It’s been a big week for me – a very first hair cut! I overheard my rents talking about the top of my head looking like Boris Johnson, whoever that is.
Anyway, next thing I know I’m at ‘Just Pet Care’ in St Just, having my wavy coat trimmed. I was a bit nervy at first – didn’t like the sound of those clippers – but Pip, my groomer, was lovely. She is a trained veterinary nurse too, so has us mutts sorted. Before you could say ‘walkies’ those paws were neater, ears nicely shaped and the top of the head felt a whole lot lighter. I no longer resemble that Boris guy! Even got a bag of goodies to take home.
Here’s a pic of me after I got back and don’t I look a Bonnie girl eh? Woof out….’
by Maggie Fogarty | Sep 30, 2014 | Uncategorized |
One of the most touching First World War exhibitions has just taken place on our own doorstep.
The tiny Quaker meeting place in Marazion, recently housed a thought provoking tribute to those ‘conscientious objectors’ who resisted the call to arms on the grounds of their pacifist beliefs. Many paid a high price, with harsh prison sentences and hard labour while being ostracised by their own communities. No one could read the letters sent from prison or the evidence put before the courts, without being moved by the stories of those who stood by their beliefs and principles.
Of course this doesn’t lessen the sacrifice of the young men who did go to fight – my own grand dad’s brother lost his life on the battle field. Yet at a time when the world is becoming increasingly war torn, this small exhibition begs the question made famous in the Pete Seeger song – ‘when will they ever learn?’ Or should that be ‘when will WE ever learn?’
On a more cheerful note, our cockapoo pup Bonnie is enjoying her new role as West Cornwall’s ‘doggie friendly’ establishment reviewer. The latest place to get her ‘paws up’ sign is ‘The Old Coastguard’ in Mousehole. Here mutts are made welcome in a lovely relaxed atmosphere with incredible sea views. Over to Bonnie for her latest take on things….
‘Hi Folks,
Did another one of my ‘socialising’ sessions at ‘The Old Coastguard’ hotel and all I can say is – what a find. Great garden area looking straight out to sea and a chilled sitting area inside where my rents raved about the comfy loungers and ‘ambience’ whatever that means.
I somehow think we’ll be back here and I spotted some other happy looking mutts hanging around. With all these four legged friendly places to visit, ain’t Cornwall a great place to be a pooch? Woof and out…
by Maggie Fogarty | Sep 16, 2014 | Uncategorized |
Hey folks,
This is where I take over the blog… well, with a bit of help from my rent Maggie who can use a key board.
So with all this space to myself, I’ll give the low down on some of those Cornish pubs and restaurants I’ve been trying out over the summer. It helps with my ‘socialisation’ – or so I’m told. Yeh right! More like the owners wanting an excuse to try out the places for themselves. Anyway, here’s my top 10 pooch friendly west Cornwall places….
1) ‘Godolphin Arms’, just down the road from my pad in Marazion. Views to die for, great doggy friendly staff and nice crunchy free biscuits. I always get a big welcome from Robin the manager. Not too far from the beach!
2) ‘Tinners Arms’ in Zennor. When I visited there on a warm July day, I got my very own bed to lie on and a big bowl of water. What more can a hot pooch ask for?
3) ‘Ship Inn’ Mousehole. Love the old stone floor – a girl’s got to cool down in the summer heat – and lots of other mutts to ogle at.
4) ‘Kings Arms’ Marazion. Another one right on my doorstep and I’ve got to know a regular doggy dude called Cody. He doesn’t like to share his crisps but otherwise he’s a handsome hunk. Nice fresh water and plenty of it.
5) ‘Gurnards Head’ Zennor. Gorgeous smell of roast meats and an ideal meeting place for us four legged types. A chilled out kind of Sunday spot.
6) ‘Lugger Inn’ Penzance. Right across from the promenade and plenty of places to chill outside. No free biscuits but loads of water bowls and in good sniffing distance of the sea.
7) ‘Harbour Inn’ Porthleven. Great spot to lounge around either inside or out and the staff seem to adore us mutts. Always get a pat and a friendly play there.
8) ‘Falmouth Packet’ Rosudgeon. Love the beer garden and there’s a clever house pooch who I’ve seen opening a door all by himself. That’s an art I’d like to master – very handy. (Or should that be paw-ey?)
9) Yet another Marazion one – this time a ‘Deli’ whatever that means. It’s called ‘Delicious’ and I hear it lives up to its name. Mutts always welcome even though it’s not that big a place. Smells divine, especially those local sausages!
10) ‘Victoria Inn’, Perranuthnoe. Another fantastic Cornish dog friendly pub and the humans are always raving about the food there. Haven’t managed to snaffle any scraps yet but nice laid back atmosphere.
Loads more places to try out as part of my pup ‘socialisation’, so watch this space. Woof and out…
by Maggie Fogarty | Aug 30, 2014 | Uncategorized |
With my latest short story ‘Key’ just published and the Novella almost complete, I’m looking forward to the next big challenge – a post graduate University research project looking at the experiences of women working in broadcast journalism. As with all new ventures, the start and finish will be the toughest to crack but I’ve worked with some fantastic and talented women who I’ll be calling on to contribute.
Talking of talented women, I’ve just done an interview with the inspirational Lady Marie Herbert, a writer, therapist and healer. Marie was married to the late Arctic explorer, Sir Wally Herbert, and spent two years living in an Inuit community on a tiny remote island off Greenland. All I can say is what a gal and what a truly incredible life, though not without deep personal tragedy. I’ve been lucky enough to interview some fascinating people and Marie is certainly up there with the best.
I also met up this week with broadcaster and journalist Lisa Brinkworth who has done some amazing work, sometimes putting her own life in danger. Yet another amazing woman and we had a brilliant catch up – neither of us could believe that 12 years had flown by since we last worked together!
Now over to our very Cornish cockapoo pup, Bonnie, for her latest missive….
‘Hi folks,
I’ve certainly been hitting the Cornish pub scene over the summer. My owners call it ‘socialising’ but I have a sneaky feeling it’s for their benefit rather than mine. Still, I usually get treated to tasty biscuits and fresh bowls of water, so what’s not to like? It’s also a great meeting place for us mutts – all supposedly ‘socialising’ with their rents. Come to think of it, those fun dog shows are brilliant for the social life too. Yours truly got another rosette last week in the best pup section. Hey ho, at this rate I’ll need my own rosette display shelf but I’m told that a girl mustn’t boast. (Stuff that says me). What this girl needs is an agent! Woof and out…’
Recent Comments