DM has a big birthday today (yes, he's the ripe old age of 40) and we've been celebrating. Nothing could be further from his last 'big birthday' when he had a huge party at his flat (not that I was there - I was in my wilderness years at the time). I asked him if he wanted a party this time and he said no, he wanted nothing more than a quiet weekend in Cornwall.

Well, I couldn't let it all go by completely unmarked could I? So, I invited a few friends for supper in our local pub and Gary, his friend of twenty years came to stay for the weekend. It's all been a bit chaotic as Gary has a tiny Jack Russell with a BIG personality who kept Rosie and Archie in check all weekend so there's been a bit of fur flying.

We spent the day up on the moor, showing Gary some of the spectacular views and exploring more of the moor and mines. We've managed to locate the 'donkey pool' this visit for the first time. It's a really deep pool, man-made to feed the steam engines with water in the mid 1800s and it's odd because it's almost on the top of the hill. It's surrounded by a big pile of granite slabs that have the marks on them still from the cutting process. Strangely, the stuff they pulled out of the hillside to make the pool is just lying around yet granite commands a high price these days. I suspect the price has rocketed in recent times and there are now by-laws preventing removal of natural stuff from the moor. Anyway, the granite piles offer shelter from the wind and hide the pool from eyesight. it's apparently wonderful to swim in, not that we tried it. I keep saying 'one of these days, I do a gallery of all this' and never quite get the time.

This photo was taken at Jope's Shaft, where we've taken shots before - this is DM with his medium format TLR, a gift from his folks, recreating the shot he took of me on our first exploration of the mine.

Nothing could have spoiled this day, not even the odd light shower we encountered on our trek.

Home then down to the pub for supper and a fabulous corner of the pub, all decorated up with balloons and streamers. He even had a cake with candles........and a rendition of 'happy birthday to you'. The only blot in the day was hearing Dee recounting the tale of her horrific car crash yesterday, where her car left the road and plunged down the railway embankment towards the tracks and was only stopped by a couple of trees in her path. Luckily, both Dee and her little daughter, Lucy walked away with no more than a few bruises, after they'd been pulled free from the wreckage by the emergency services. My heart was chilled thinking about what might have been and I'm sure I don't need to say how we all saw what a lucky escape they'd had.

Our windy trek up the road home was such a treat with a zillion stars shining down. It's too beautiful to do justice to with a few words in a diary and I'm too thrilled to have come home, lit the fire and just chilled out with our friends, Archie on guard by the gate and Rosie on my knee.