Grumpy Volunteer's Corner

by Keith Evans

Recently I saw half a dozen Father Christmases crossing the Main Hall which was very confusing for the little kiddies. Their failures in future will probably be traced back by some nutty Psychologist to the traumatic experience at the museum and an ambulance chasing lawyer will sue us. We must be more careful.

I was giving a talk in the Lookout last week. A young couple were listening intently whilst their infant son crawled around the floor. Suddenly he sat back on his nappy and screamed the place down. Well, I thought, my oration wasn't that bad. His mother picked him up and started breast feeding him. That shut him up.

The lighthouse exhibition is drawing to a close. It has been very popular I think, with a nice mix of history, nostalgia, entertainment and technology, especially optics and the transmission of light from candle power to the modern diodes.

Which reminds me, during the blitz my parents and us four kids had been an air raid shelter for several hours. About one in the morning it had been quiet for about an hour when my mother said "Come on, we're going home. We have to be up in the morning." We made our way up the road through the inky darkness of the black-out. My father struck a match and puffed at his pipe. An aircraft droned overhead. There was the unmistakable whistle of bombs. We dived for cover on the grass verge as a couple of explosions rent the air in the fields behind the houses, then all went quiet except for my mother berating my father. "That was your fault, that pipe of yours." "Nonsense" said my father, a very placid man, "they wouldn't be able to see that." "Yes they would" said my sister. "No, they wouldn't" said I, siding with my father. Thinking back, my mother was probably right, as usual.

Happy chickens



Feast or Famine!

by Mike Pennell, NMMC's resident poet

I did the shift last Sunday
(not many Tourists in)
We had a full team too today,
it seems we cannot win!!

The Lookout was a lonely place,
no one to talk to there,
and Cornwall was deserted
even Hold was rather bare.

I sat down at the Waterfront,
but let the breezes blow,
I did have one or two who played
though business was quite slow.

The Penguin never got shook up,
the Lighthouse kept its list,
the few who played were quite adept,
with all the hazards missed.

I think it was fine weather
that kept most people out,
It’s all wrong for November,
but the rain WILL come, no doubt.

Or when it’s snowing heavily,
and folk come through the door,
We’ll have just TWO on shift that day,
Please can we have two more!!!

Return of a Grumpy

by Mike Pennell

I waited till you got the Prize
before I came back in;
a Grumpy Volunteer
could have meant we didn’t win!!

I made my way to Falmouth
and found a place to park -
it’s hard if you’re not local,
I’m just glad it wasn’t dark.

I found I was still recognised,
and welcomed with a smile,
a hug was rather nice as well
(not had one for a while!!)

We didn’t have too many tourists -
Perhaps they weren’t told I was back!!
I was going to ring up the “Packet”
to tell them I’d not got the sack.

I managed to navigate safely
Though they’ve moved an exhibit or two,
but the Café still serves good Espresso –
and a double of those sees me through.

We won!

NMMC wins Volunteer Cornwall Host of the Year 2011 Award

Linda and Colin receive the winner’s award and prize presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Col. Edward Bolitho, and the sponsor Lynda Quee, Service Manager, Health Promotion Service.

There were 14 awards presented at the Volunteer Cornwall; Cornwall Celebrates Volunteering Awards 2011 on Friday 28 October, each category shortlisted down to just three organisations/individuals. These awards are first and foremost about raising the awareness of the amazing work done by all volunteers. We were shortlisted for and ended up winning ‘Host of the Year’, an award for organisations who regularly host volunteers.

Well done us!