3.   Woodlands in the Winter

Sally reports:  You’ll find plenty of weekend and school holiday fun at Woodlands Leisure Park near Dartmouth. During our Winter Season there is still so much to enjoy and at a reduced admission price. What could be better?

Rainy days don’t stop play, the Empire of the Sea Dragon has five floors of mega play equipment, hang on to the Trauma Tower as it shoots up 50ft., the double drop slide is scary but safe, there are towers to climb, tubes to slide through and two more rides. The Master Blaster involves all ages with the zippiest game in the Universe, volcanoes, blasters and cannons keep families in a firing frenzy of fun. The Ice Palace is the perfect fantasy play centre for under sevens.

Test the Rock’nRoll Tugboat, visit Animal Farm there’s still lots to do even though the water rides & Toboggan are closed. Paint a present in the China Palette, take a ride on the Woodlands Chuffer

On a crisp, clear day, get the blood pumping with a race around Action Track 1 or a tough challenge on the purpose built Commando Course. Maybe wind down a little and appreciate our fascinating animals at Animal Funtime or admire the beautiful birds of prey at the Falconry Centre.

After all this activity you can warm up or cool down with refreshments at Ray’s Diner. Who said Winter was boring? 6th November 2006 to 9th March 2007

It's time to book your holiday in Dartmouth now, for Self Catering click here,  for B&B click here,  for Hotels click here.  For a Tourist Guide to Dartmouth click here.

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4.     Christmas Morning in the DA

People who haven't been long in Dartmouth often ask us "what is the DA?"  It is of course the Dartmouth Arms Pub on Bayards Cove.  It might look a bit like a locals' Pub (because it is) but it's also full of very happy visitors who have discovered what a great and hospitable place the DA is.  Famous for its pizzas cooked in a real Pizza Oven and many other 'affordable' mouth watering dishes, crab sandwiches for lunch in the summer, cool beers, if you haven't been in, try it?   The garlic bread at the top of the page is from the DA, don't dilute it with cheese, just garlic, with extra garlic!

Christmas morning saw Landlord Phil Geen with his new great nephew Daniel Geen, bless............

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5.    The tragedy at Penlee 25 years ago

The Penlee lifeboat disaster occurred on 19 December 1981  when the Penlee lifeboat  went to the aid of the stricken coaster Union Star in heavy seas. Both vessels were lost with all hands, leaving 16 dead, 8 from each vessel.  Every 19 December, the Christmas illuminations of Mousehole are turned off at 8:00 pm for an hour as an act of remembrance.  Dartmouth poet Kevin Pyne had this poem given out on the 25th anniversary by the Bishop of Truro.  Kevin commented "it’s a great honour for me as a poet"

“Where were you on Penlee Night?”
The angel Gabriel asked at role call on that day,
“I was out and about”
On a dark storm filled vicious ocean off Tater Du”
The guardian angel heard the brave lifeboat coxswain say.

“And what were you doing?”
The lord he asked, as he stepped forward
To meet with those he bid that favourite angel should ask why,
“We were attempting to save fellow seafarer’s lives
“Nothing more.”
Was all the blunt Cornish coxswain did reply!”

“You and your crew had better come in”
The good lord he said, “Because heaven is made for you;
It’s full of seaman and fishermen,
And those who would lay down their lives for others,
So what can it hurt, but to take another few!”

And there they stood those ‘life boatmen’
Fresh up from the sea,
Whilst they talked and laughed with other folk
Together with those of ‘the little Union Star’
And with others who had left their ‘Mark’
On that day now risen into eternity.

They talked about the places they’d been
And about their previous lives and homes beside the sea,
They even exchanged ‘fishing stories’
And discussed the price of fish at Christmas time,
With the apostles up from Galilee.

They talked and laughed and laughed and joked
While it was others ‘shed their tears’
Until after a while one of the Penlee eight said, “my goodness!
Where ever went those past twenty five years?”

Now one by one their loved ones come
To join them ‘as the lord might please’
And to live a life ‘of eternal joy’
Beyond what we mortals remember in our earthly sorrow
‘As the tragedy at Penlee!’

© Kevin Pyne (Seafarer and Poet) “I worked the river Dart that night, it was awful.”

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6.   Memories of Dartmouth

 

In 1916 this was higher street now a Thai Restaurant we think ?

Sharpham on the River, we can't quite get our head around this. You can hire a boat in Dartmouth, motor peacefully up the Dart, and moor at the Vineyard for a cup of tea.
It didn't look like this when we sailed up?

 

 

 

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7.    Midnight Mass

More than 200 people attended Midnight Mass in St Saviour's Church on Christmas Eve.  The traditional service marking the birth of Jesus was led by vicar Simon Wright and included all the well known Christmas carols like "Once in Royal David's City", "Silent Night" and "O come all ye faithful".
If you missed it and still want to sing carols, next Sunday (New Year's Eve) come along to the Sung Eucharist and Carol service at St Petrox Church at 11.00am.
 

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8.     Small News

• The NEXT issue will be the New Year Special. 
  We will review 2006 in pictures, report on New Year's Eve in Dartmouth, and remarkably, bring another poem to you from Kevin Pyne.   'Dartmouth dot TV'  don't you just love it?
  
   

• It's time to book your holiday in Devon now, for Self catering click here,  for B&B click here,  for Hotels click here.  For a Tourist Guide to Dartmouth click here.
   

• Is your business advertising here, press the "where to stay" "eating" or "shopping" button on the top of this e-mail, are you there ?  Do you want to be there for free? Do you want a web site "all" inclusive for £150?  Who you gonna call?  Err, yes, that would be us then.
   

• If you want your event covered, we need the information in the week before publication, no earlier.   100-200 words, a photograph and if applicable a web site link.  If you don't have a photograph invite us so that next year you will!
   

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