Liz Ringrose

03 January 2005 12:24

Leaving (not on a jet plane)

Dear Paul

I'm so sorry to hear that you're leaving St Ives, and the website. We will all be the poorer for the lack of your sense and sensibility. I know I've not been a regular contributor but I've always kept abreast of the goings on. I wish you all the luck in the world with your new life and hope you'll let us know how you're doing.

During 2003 we seriously thought about moving to Cornwall. Because of distances involved for my husband's work (he has to travel to clients) we 
reluctantly decided Devon would be more sensible. In the end, after getting to the point of finding a house, we decided against it. Devon, pretty as it is, is not Cornwall. We took a Devon local Newspaper for six months and I don't think we saw a black face in it once. Living in Leicester we enjoy a multicultural society and I decided the area we'd chosen was just too white-middle-class for me. There was also no writer's club to speak of that met every week. We turned our attention back to Cornwall. After much soul-searching we had to admit that we couldn't do it. We would not be able to afford a house with land for our dogs, and the kind of work my husband does (Management Consultancy) just wouldn't pay enough. We felt terrible admitting to ourselves that there was too much we'd have to give up. As we could never be the kind of people who buy a holiday home we reluctantly gave up the idea completely, and will continue to enjoy Cornwall in the only way we can - as the dreaded Ems.

I totally agree with everything you've said about life in Cornwall so I won't reiterate all those points again. I just feel terribly sad and have no idea where it all might end. My friend in Mousehole keeps me up to date with how things are there. (DARK is the word at the moment due to the holiday homes being empty). Maybe one day, when the entire population of the county speaks with a Surrey accent, and the lanes are gridlocked (even more so) by 4X4 vehicles, someone with influence might wake up to the situation.

Once again I wish you all the very best for the future.

Liz Ringrose.

Vile Jelly

04 January 2005 09:41

That's a tad optimistic, isn't it? Since when have I ever known what I am
doing?

In a way it's a pity that I won't really be around here for the next year or so as I think things could be getting quite interesting (and not in a particularly pleasant way). If you knew the burg at all you'd be surprised how much of it is, sometimes covertly, up for sale. Quite a few people I know have already upped sticks and left in the last couple of years. If the present trend continues it is difficult to see what will be left of 'old St. Ives' once the last generation of wrinklies pops its clogs. Any business established in the 1990's will be regarded as a historic site!

I suppose the one consolation is that when the Home Counties jet-set finally get to buy their retirement home in St. Ives they'll discover that they've already ruined the place and might as well retire in Surrey.

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