Kung Hei Fat Choy! (Happy New Year!)

For all those lovers of Chinese food - tonight's the night many Chinese restaurants celebrate their New Year with a feast (almost certainly, you'll never eat it all!). This is the year of the ox.

If you are in the Penzance area why not take advantage of Chan's Oriental Foods shop just off the top of Causewayhead in Penzance? Owner Steve Chan used to run the Dynasty restaurant on the Helston Road - these days he can be found in his new food shop which offers just about everything oriental in the way of food and cooking supplies - and they will order in if needed. Steve also gives one-to-one cooking lessons to enlighten you on the secrets of Chinese cooking and food preparation - give him or his wife Ket a call on 01736 350455 or 07816 456534 for more details - if all else fails, they will cater for your own Chinese Dinner Party at home!

Light on fish, heavy in the sky

On passage, the Holyhead Towing Company's Norsemaid survey vessel lays astern of the Britannia V in the iceworks berth.....
inside the market, Monday morning's auction finished very early with little fish to sell.....
all the information you need to see what is planned with the port next door, head to the PZ Gallery building where detailed plans and papers are on display ahead of the port's re-development.....

waiting for Spring to arrive, a cheery poster depicting the Jubliee Pool in warmer days.

Rue des beaux arts

Straight to the back of a waiting lorry, another big trip of fish from the neeter Silver dawn heads for Plymouth market....
a break between showers leaves the quay running with rainwater.....
another wooden sail boat anchor trawled from the depths by one of the beam trawlers.....
filling with water on every tide, the Roseland presents a sorry sight.....
despite the stars atop her masts....
the boat is named after a house in Old Newlyn Town, this small passage named in acknowledgment of the presence felt in the village made by the colony of artists that lived and worked there...
almost all the fleet are in tier over the weekend.....
the Smugglers Restaurant gets a mini-facelift before the seson starts.....
hoping to catch some pas trade, Telawney Fish are open for businesss.....
the smallest pelagic net in the port is in need of some serious repairs.....
Ebay auction shop, Going Going, Gone! has done just that, and has re-appeared as a barbers for those in need of a trim.....
in the cold and damp Jelbert's Ice Cream is selling no more than old coats......

while the Stove Shop looks to have been kept busy while the temperatures were low.

A certain Fred Steele commits pen to paper!

For all those who fished from Newlyn back in the 70s and 80s the name Fed Steele will bring back many memories - many of which would be unrepeatable in the proximity of those with tender ears and of sensitive disposition! Fred, ex-skipper of both privately owned and Stevenson's vessels has written and published his own memoirs in what could be the first of several books - this early chapter in his life ends around 1972 just as he is about to embark on a new career doing a 'proper job' fishing from Newlyn.

Copies of the book can be obtained from Barron's Newsagent in Newlyn or Books Plus on the Terrace in Penzance at £9.99 or for those who are not in the area, give Fred a call on 00351 919254648.

A review of the book as it appears in the Cornishman.

St Ives 75 years ago today - the 'forgotten lifeboat disaster'

St Ives Harbourmaster, Stephen Basset (left) will lead a memorial service in the village today.

In the early hours of the morning, 70 years ago today, the St Ives lifeboat was launched to the rescue of an unknown stricken vessel off Godrevy Point. Hours later and after capsizing three times, the lifeboat was washed ashore on rocks at Godrevy. Only one of the lifeboat crew survived, he walked ashore from the rocks where the boat was wrecked.

See an account of the story here and an image gallery of the lifeboat.

Deepest water fish filmed for first time

Any boats working the deep water off the edge of the Continental Shelf might just get one of these in the gear - a short video clip of the deepest living fish filmed to date.

Still sunk

Day 2 and the Roseland still sits on the bottom while a decision is made on how to float her.....
good to see the red duster flying on the visiting tug Pendennis......
one piece of sheet steel waiting to replace the cut-out section of the Billy Rowney's side.....

floured and seasoned Mount's Bay sprats fried in olive oil finish off the day.