Tooting Wurzel becomes a Surf Chick...

Last Thursday and Friday (6 November) we had Simon van Booy, 34, from New York talking to us and giving us a workshop. He had just been announced as the winner of the prestigious Frank O’Connor Short Story Award for his collection, Love Begins in Winter. Simon’s funny and interesting talk was also attended by the Dartington Campus – commonly known as the ‘wacky’ campus – mainly because one girl once turned up in a coat made from Parma ham (how expensive - especially for a student – not to mention smelly) and our lecture confirmed this. One attendee, a rather well-built chap turned up in boxer shorts and socks. We at Falmouth assumed that it was a bet, but I have been since informed that this was to do with ‘performance art’ as this was his course. Get thee to a gym that’s what I say. Although we were fortunate in that his lecturer persuaded him not to turn up in the buff – his usual attire – that or ladies’ undies. How we laughed.

Back to Simon though. He was utterly brilliant and apart from saying that it was better to be miserable to write made he me feel that anything it possible! I sadly admit that I have written several his ancedotes and jokes down purely because they are something far more brilliant than something I could ever attempt myself.

I’m officially a ‘surf chick’, well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. On Saturday night (7 November) I went to ‘Board Shorts’ – puns intended, a series of short films on surfing, which was part of the Cornwall Film Festival which was this weekend.

So what on earth was I, a self-confessed shirker of most physical activity if ever there was one, doing at this event? Well truth be told, my neighbour, a bona fide surfer, was reviewing it for a local magazine, ‘The Stranger’ and he had a spare ticket. That and the promise of lots of fit, Greek god like youths. I was not disappointed. Many sported what I thought was very dodgy facial furniture in the shape Magnum style ‘taches but these were all for a good cause, namely Movember a month long charity event for men’s health and particularly Prostate Cancer. So all for a brilliant and worthwhile cause (and they all still looked cute…).

Knowing nothing about surfing I was in for a treat. The eight films were truly inspiring, both visually and emotionally. None more so than the ‘Beach Boys’, a film about three young autistic boys who had been brought out of themselves by the experience. It was humbling in the extreme to watch these children and their parents. One father said that he would ‘wear a blue hat on Thursdays’ if it would have made a difference to his son’s development – and surfing certainly did that. To watch these children, who previously did not communicate with the world around them, come to life reduced me to tears.

This week has mostly been overshadowed by having no internet access in my room – which may sound trivial, but when you have to run backwards and forwards in torrential rain and howling gales to the library to post work (yes, the weather forecasts were very accurate) it’s not much fun. I didn’t think it was possible to get so get soaked to the skin in such a short space of time – even with an umbrella. I also have no phone and no light and no television aerial. Suffice to say the maintenance department are not keen on me right now and the feeling is entirely mutual.

On a lighter note I have been accepted on a bursary placement for a screen writing workshop run by the BBC next weekend. I am slightly dubious about their criteria but I’ve been accepted so I can’t be that bad. We shall see.

I will report back on the film festival this week, but I wanted to get something up for you lovely people sooner rather than later.

Still to come….

Don’t forget Pastywatch is on going…..and now I have my camera there will be photographs (ooh!)

Sushi night at the Star & Garter (ahh!)

And much more besides…..

Tooting Wurzel is very wet and cold

Hey me again, back already....missed me yet?!

As you can guess from the above title - it is wet and VERY cold here. Made it to Truro today - Cornwall is very lovely - even in the relentless rain! Truro is a city as it has a cathedral - a prerequisite for that definition - but is tiny nevertheless - and beautiful.

Sadly no pasties were tasted, but I did find out that Cornish pasties should NEVER have carrot in them, as you can't grow carrots in Cornwall due to the carrot fly - *tootingwurzeltrufax*.

I bet you're glad I'm here, eh? This a short update I know and it's posts like these that make me wonder if I've made the right decision to follow this dream......your feedback is appreciated - you are my readers as I'm constantly being told, and your opinion counts!

Big love x

The Tooting Wurzel has been working hard

Sorry these have been sporadic. Sadly work has been getting in the way! Pastywatch continues....


Oggy’s still rates as the best.


Rowe’s are rubbish – minced beef – for those not 'au fait' with pasties it has to be chopped steak!
I also have to dispute Morris’s Pasties claim to be the best pasty (as voted for by the Times and Telegraph) – and it was tasty but a very poor amount of filling – not enough meat (story of my life!). I’m sorry I haven’t got any pictures up yet.

I hasten to add that this is only my humble opinion and no way should be used a benchmark in pasty-tasting.



I was also going to include the links for the companies above, but apparently cornish pasties companies are big into franchises, and as such, the only notable things their websites show is how to get a pasty franchise. But hey - if that's your things there's plenty out there!

I should also explain that they have a delightful version called a ‘cocktail’ pasty. This immediately makes me think of Ferrero Rocher – ‘with these pasties monsieur, you are spoiling uzzzz’ – it is in fact a mini pasty! A scaled down version if you will. I can’t wait to have a party to serve these little treasures. They are fabulous.



I am visiting Truro tomorrow, so if you're really lucky I may have some fresh pasty news.



I am also now a member of the allotment society (membership - humans: 45 collies: 1) and on Saturday I (mostly) planted purple sprouting broccoli, little gem lettuces, broad beans and peas - so I will be including updates on this too - providing the slugs don't get there first.



Before I sign off I thought you might like to see where I sat last weekend, whilst supping a pint of fine Cornish cider:




We were at a lovely pub called the Boathouse, this is the view, and here's the map

As well as doing this I also have to do a professional blog as part of my course, along with a website, so this is why it's taking me so long! I will, of course, add links to them here....