Go West
Monday November 7, 2005 by Paul Martin
The first day of my summer break was a long awaited drive down to Cornwall to see my mother and my dog Bluebelle. A four hour journey I always do with a big grin on my face, driving west in to the sun, down the A303 to a county that has inspired so many – the rugged textures of Cornwall. And all the time anticipating the welcome I would receive – on arrival mum making cheese on toast and Bluebells jumping all over me, and generally going potty for 5 minutes. I had a wonderful week down there, a way to unwind, lazy lunches and for chauffeuring mum around.
The following week I spent in Wiltshire with Bluebelle, catching up on all the odd jobs that had escaped my attention for the last six months and seeing a bit more of Charlotte, finding time to breathe together. When all this comes together, I feel like the luckiest bloke on the planet! This was followed by a few days in Cambridgeshire with Charlotte, time for Bluebelle to catch up with her boyfriend Oswald the Bassett hound who lives there. The highlight of my break was going to Burghley Horse Trails, in Stamford, Lincolnshire. What an event and what a beautiful house. We had a fantastic day watching the cross country and equipping Jonny with a new rug for winter. But of course Burghley Horse Trails wouldn’t be complete without the essential ingredient – the picnic! Fantastic!
I also managed to spend some more time with Jonny, and his stable mates Polo and Victor. And boy – all the mucking out – hard work, there’s no need to go to the gym! All in all it was a great chance to catch up and do all those normal things I miss when I’m on the road.
The World Is Your Oyster
Holiday over and it’s great to be back at work on Flog It after my summer break, refreshed and the batteries fully charged up! And to top it off reunited with my trusty side kick, Bluebelle, who has been on the road with me over the last few weeks.
It was straight into auction down in Dorest, Thomas Hardy Country, I don’t know who enjoyed it more, Bluebelle for myself!
We were staying in a hotel right on the coast opposite Chisle Beach, a few miles off Portland. The views were stunning, the sea to one face, cliff tops and walks to another and inland lakes and marshes to the opposite. Heaven – you can imagine it, plenty of walkies for Blue, (when not on duty.) With early September sunshine – far from the Madding Crowd. Dining alfresco on the hotel veranda, sampling fresh locally line caught Sea bass, with a chilled crisp dry white wine. I really did have an, “ love my job moment.”
Ok, lets not forget the work! While we were there, we did an overview of his life, took a rowing boat ride across Weymouth harbour to look at some nautical memorabilia and I even had to go stone sculpting. I just couldn’t resist becoming a stone mason for a few hours, working outside in the elements in a disused quarry., chipping away at some Portland Sandstone on a sculpting course. I couldn’t come up with anything as good as the Anthony Gormley ‚“diving figure“ they had there though! Mine was, lets say a contemporary image, which has now ended up in Charlotte’s mothers garden; ‘best well forgotten. You’ll see all this on the show in the new year.
We had fine valuations days in Tunbridge Wells and Llandudno in North Wales. With super turn outs and quality items. Auction action in Colchester, with a piece of Trokia selling for £1700. While I was there we spent 4 days filming around the area taking a ride on the river Stour through Constable country. Starting at Flatford Mill, the scene of the famous “Haywain” painting, we then ended up in Dedham, at the Alfred Munnings museum. The renown outspoken horse artist. And you know I love horses so was completely made up, like a kid in a sweet shop. This was then followed my a chat with an oyster fisherman on Nailsea Island and sailing a traditional 200 year old fishing boat complete with wooden hull and red canvas sails. This was unbeatable, under full sail on a crisp sunny morning with an autumn chill in the air. I felt I was no longer in the twentieth century – it’s good to be back.
Paul
