Diary of my holiday with Denis & Pat Green

 continued from last month's issue.

Woke up to a very warm and sunny morning on Friday 8th July, as usual we had our breakfast at 8.am, and the taxi arrived at 9.30.am to take Denis, Pat and me to Brixham, which took half an hour's drive. We went through the busy harbour and shopping area of Torquay and Paignton, which was another busy seaside town. After passing through these holiday resorts, we had a lovely rural drive to Brixham. This idyllic harbour, noted for its many winding streets and little interesting shops, along with its busy fishing port and deep sea fishing vessels, has strong connections with Sir Francis Drake, and the Golden Hind, not to mention William of Orange, who sailed from Ireland and landed at Brixham in 1688. Denis and Pat did some shopping together, giving me an hour and a half browsing through the little shops, and admiring the coastal scenery beyond the horizon. I also took some photographs of the harbour, the Golden Hind, and the statue of William of Orange.We got back to our hotel so Denis could drop off all the shopping he had done with Pat at Brixham. Whilst Pat was waiting in the Baytree Café at Babbacombe, Denis and I walked back to the Café, where we all had a lovely lunch. Afterwards, I spent the afternoon at Torquay harbour and shopping area, so I could do some shopping for gifts, whilst Denis and Pat had a relaxing afternoon at the hotel. Later in the evening, I went to the Oasis bar, and listened to a one man Comedian/Vocalist and Guitarist, but none of his jokes impressed me or the other audience. I decided to leave early, as I was feeling rather tired. Arrived at the hotel around 10.15.pm, had a cup of tea and then went to bed.

On Saturday 9th July, it was a very warm and lovely sunny day. The taxi arrived at 9.30.am for our journey to Teignmouth, which took half an hour. When we arrived at 10.am, Denis and Pat made their way to a Christian bookshop, to which they have made frequent visits during their stay at Torquay in the past. I had nearly two and a half hours to explore this seaside town on my own, as this is a popular seaside resort, with a lovely sandy beach along with a Victorian pier and promenade gardens, not to mention the rocky cliffs of Babbacombe beach across the Lyme Bay. I also had time to visit the local museum, with its many exhibits, when this resort was a thriving fishing port, depicting the town's history through the Victorian era, and of the role the townsfolk endured during the first and second world wars, right up to the present day. Even though this was a small museum, it had three floors of interesting exhibits, which was well worth visiting. I met up with Denis and Pat outside a café, as they already had refreshment, and we made our way back to the bus terminus, as arranged for our taxi back to Torquay. Upon arrival at our hotel after a delicious lunch, I made my way to the Bygones museum depicting what life was like in the reign of Queen Victoria. It has many exhibits and made up shops, along with the interior décor of a parlour and sitting room, and with other buildings of interest. This visit took me two hours to complete, which was an educational interest to young and old alike. In the evening, I had a little rest and made my way to the Royal Hotel at Babbacombe, in which I had a pint of Bitter shandy on the terrace. I returned to the hotel for a cup of tea, and retired for the night.

Leon Bartosiak

 to be concluded next issue.