We offered my folks a choice of things to do today, either to visit Eden and Heligan (two wonderful gardens here in Cornwall, Heligan was lost for many years and has recently been restored to its former glory and Eden is a futuristic experience with two biospheres built in an old quarry, one tropical and the other mediterranean. Both experiences are wonderful.) The alternative we offered was a drive around our rugged coast, a breathtaking experience in its own right but with the special added attractions of a visit to the Minack Theatre and Crantock Beach where my beloved Toby's ashes are scattered.

They chose the latter, partly because they felt it would be less tiring for me (most of the day in the car) and partly because they really liked the idea of the coast road.

After the gales, rain and wind earlier this week, my parents arrived and we have had nothing but unbroken sunshine ever since. Today's weather can only be described as glorious.

This photo was taken early in our day, as we drove down the hill towards Penzance we spotted St Michael's Mount in the bay with the sun shimmering on the sea and cotton wool clouds. We made a short detour to a beach car park where Rosie and Archie got the chance to wet their toes and charge around barking at seagulls while we photographed. I took some from the other side of the Mount, with the castle in sunshine and the blue sea but for me the mysticism of the place went better with this silhouette view.

Our trip to the Minack was made perfect for me when I overheard my Dad say to my Mum 'isn't this an amazing place' and my Mum responded 'it's perfect'. That made my day - we have found something here that they related to and that they loved too.

Later, I got my first walk on Crantock beach since we bought this house (in fact today was the first time we'd been to the seaside since we've been here) and, while Rosie and Archie ran, my parents strolled, DM played, I paddled my toes in the Atlantic Ocean and best of all I got to chat with Toby. I told him we'd be able to spend more time with him soon. So, my day worked out just grand.

Weirdly several people have commented on this image as a 'good B&W shot' - actually it's not been desaturated, it's exactly as it came out of the camera.....and the camera has no B&W mode.