1. Stormy start to December
Endless gales seemed to have been sweeping in from the Atlantic, bringing equally endless rain.
On Saturday night, 28/29th November, we had an especially violent storm, hammering and bullying its way inshore, accompanied by violent rain squalls. It kept many of us awake, especially those living near the cliff edge.
When we got up to the Cook Book on Sunday morning, it was obviously dangerous to open, as slates and lumps of cement had been blown off the roof of the adjoining Bolitho Club. The wind was still blowing, and we were downwind!
After consulting committee members of the Bolitho Club and Tony Boyns, the mason who has been working on the back roof, we called the police to let them know. They in turn called Cormac and within 40 minutes Tony and David had the area in front of the cafe closed off with barriers, our outside tables, cones and safety tape.
It wasn’t until Tuesday morning that the wind eased enough for it to be safe for Tony Boyns to get onto the roof to clear off loose slates and secure the damaged area. We were able to re-open on Wednesday.
Incoming Storm
Roof Damage
The Cook Book Closed Off
Repairing the Bolitho Club Roof
2. Cape Advent Fair – Sunday 6 December
When the owner of Cape Golf Club, Terry Glazebrook dropped in for a coffee earlier this year, one of the conversations we had was about organising events in St Just to increase business generally. This led into further discussions, including the possibility of a book fair, rapidly discarded as being too risky, before settling on a craft fair some time before Christmas, from which Cape Advent Fair was born.
David suggested asking Pendeen and St Just Primary Schools if their choirs would like to sing at the fair. A friend recommended asking Bolitho School choir as well. Kate Beckly joined the team, bringing with her enormous energy and enthusiasm. Preparations for the fair really took off.
On the day, there were twenty five stalls with the most wonderful selection of locally produced crafts,- cakes, fudge, glass, leatherwork, calendars, cards, decorations, jewellery, soaps and stocking fillers to name just a few.
The choirs sang beautifully. The Boiler House Quartet brought us carols and traditional songs from West Cornwall, Father Christmas met scores of children in his grotto, Mark Harandon and Mary Ann Bloomfield told stories for all ages, mulled wine flowed – a good time was had by one and all!
That the first Advent Fair at Cape Golf Club was an undoubted success is largely due to the support of the stallholders, the range and quality of goods for sale, the whole-hearted enthusiasm and support of the staff of the Golf Club, especially their Events Manager, Kirsten Halford, and the excellent publicity that Kate arranged.
Between us all, we raised a magnificent £820.51 towards the sensory trail that Nancealverne Special School will be creating for its students.
A very big thank you to all who made the fair such an enjoyable day.
In Full Swing
Pendeen School Choir
Bosorne Leatherwork
Claire and Daisy on Claire’s Fudge Stall
Young Entrepreneurs
Josh Prichard raised over £160 on the cake stall for Nancealverne School. Well done, Josh, and many many thanks to everyone who baked and donated cakes, mince pies and other goodies.
Photograph by Don Kirk
3. Christmas and New Year
We are closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
We are closed on New Year’s Day.
4. Refitting The Cook Book
We are closed from Monday 4th – Sunday 24th January inclusive.
During this period we will be refitting and repainting The Cook Book. There is always a lot to do to keep a late eighteenth century cottage in good order. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause our guests.
FINALLY
We wish the many guests who support The Cook Book, our lovely staff, our excellent suppliers and the craftsmen who keep us going a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
