Peace and quiet amongst the noise!

In St Ives this afternoon for a meeting. Crowds everywhere. Tourism is a double edged sword here - Cornwall needs it, yet I feel St Ives has lost a big part of its community due to the tourism.

My favourite time is in the winter months when I can walk around freely with so much less hustle, bustle and noise.

So today, I had about 15 minutes to spare before my meeting and I sat in the memorial garden at the end of Fore Street. Beautiful birdsong, and flowers rustling in the breeze, sent the noise of the crowds into the background of my awareness for a while. Two other people sat separately, one reading, one drawing and me - well I just had time to centre myself before my meeting ..... and reflect for those few monutes on those who gave their lives for our country during the first and second world wars .....