On a bitterly cold day we drove to the home of the Doc Martin TV series, Port Isaac (known as Port Wenn in the series). The main reason we went though is it is the ‘home’ of Fishermans Friends, the sea shanty group we first discovered via Show of Hands.
We parked on the outskirts of the village, taking the coastal path into the centre that took about ten minutes. For a village that hosts a famous TV series it is very unspoilt with very little mention of it around the place. You can walk up to the entrance of Doc Martin’s surgery, but it is a private residence so good manners should always be foremost in people’s minds!
The village consists of many tiny streets, so tiny even cars cannot get through so you’re able to meander about in safety. We were determined to have a Cornish Cream Tea here so called into a lovely little cafe, where we spotted one the Fisherman’s Friends group serving behind the counter! We would have said hello and said thank you for their music, but they’ve experienced a tragic bereavement in the last few months so thought we’d leave him be.
Our scones were amazing, warmed up for us along with clotted cream and strawberry jam. We enjoyed the experience so much we forgot to make a note of the cafe name!
On our way back to the car park Dean had the urge to try an oyster again so we called into another cafe (name unknown) but we did spot ‘Bert’ from the TV series getting into his car – lovely friendly chap.
About Dean
Angela and I decided that there was more to life than working hard to keep up the payments on the mortgage, to pay the gas, electric, phone bills etc. etc.
SO............
In 2008 we sold our house, I initially took a year off (Unpaid) and Angela handed in her notice!
We bought a motorhome and set off for a year of travelling!
This was the best thing we had done in our lives (Apart from getting married) and we have no regrets.
During the year I managed to secure a redundancy package which felt very strange. Almost sad as I had worked for the same company for 19 years (BT).
It was always our plan to have a whole year off before thinking about the 'W' word.
We began applying to the Camping and Caravanning Club (CCC) for the position of Holiday site assistants in August 2009. After the interview, work experience and induction we were finally given a contract at the CCC site in Inverewe (Scotland).
Our plan is to work through the summer in the UK then head to Europe to overwinter before coming back to work the following summer season.
Hopefully these few words and our blog will inspire others to get off the hamsters wheel and see that there is more to live than having a house and material things.
A cliche I know but this is not a rehearsal, life is too short!!!
Since our first contract in Scotland we have worked a winter contract in Oxford (never again!) not Oxford but a winter contract. Hereford for two years, living in a yurt for one! And Cornwall. In between our working we have also travelled a bit.
Hopefully this website will give you an insight into our alternative lifestyle.
Get out there and live the dream!
