After a busy weekend with the kids, after work on Monday I take a little me time. I often grab a takeaway tea and cake from the wonderful Honey Pot cafe just over the road from PZ360 and then take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful sub-tropical Morrab gardens. There is a little spot between the bamboo and the bandstand where I read a book and get lost in my book to the sounds of the seagulls and the smells of a mediterranean garden in bloom. If I’m feeling a little more adventurous and feel like getting out of town and in to nature I like to visit the Tanglewood Gardens, which are just a short ride away. The kids absolutely love discovering all the wildlife there, but it’s also a great “me time” spot.

Tuesday is swim day. I am a member of the Jubilee Pool, an outdoor, sea water lido, which is just a few minutes walk from PZ360. I used to go in in a wetsuit throughout the year, but I think I have now fully acclimatised to the Cornish sea temperatures and now only use one on the coolest of days. It’s such a buzz to swim in cold sea water and the atmosphere at this Art Deco lido is second to none. There is a real community spirit there. On days when I feel weak I book myself in to the GeoThermal pool and just relax in the warm waters whilst looking over the Atlantic Ocean.

On Wednesdays I often go shopping on the High Street. I am a big far of local Cornish produce and Penzance really has it all – bakers, florists, butchers, green grocers and fishmongers with fresh line caught fish from local fishermen. I often treat myself to explore some of the other shops on Chapel Street selling interesting, quirky designs. and vintage/retro clothes and ornaments. I love Pin Up Boutique and The Mirva Collective. I often pop in to a local art gallery or two. Penzance has a thriving arts scene and really feels great to be part of it. Here are some of the top art galleries in Penzance.

Thursdays are date nights. We meet outside PZ360 and look at the board for the Acorn Theatre next door or Penlee House open air theatre a few streets away for any upcoming shows and concerts.  We take a stroll along the lengthy 1840s- style promenade, with the wind in our hair, talking about life, love and the universe, all the way to Newlyn where we will stop in at the incredible, contemporary Newlyn Gallery before going to our all time favourite place to eat fish, the Tolcarne Inn, a historic maritime restaurant by the sea wall. If we don’t feel up to the walk, we just go and sit on a bench by the sea in Penzance and tuck in to a splendid takeaway box of fish and chips from the Market Place Fish Bar and watch the world go by before sunset.

On Fridays the local school finishes early and so do we! I pick up the kids from school and we let them pick from their favourite activities. Aside from skating down the promenade on rollerblades, or at the new skate park on the promenade or going to the pirate ship themed playground by the sea front, they almost always want to do something involving the sea. We either go paddleboarding around the Penzance harbour, take a boat trip out on a sealife exploration (we’ve seen dolphins, sharks, whales, seals and so many species of bird) with our favourite local boat/fishing company, or head to the most amazing local beach at Marazion where we swim, barbeque and build sandcastles as we look out over St Michael’s Mount.

This is just Monday to Friday! Penzance and West Cornwall generall really do have so much to offer in terms of history, culture and incredible landscape. As a family we love discovering new walking routes around the Ancient Penwith monuments or jumping on a train to the bustling city of the Cornish capital of Truro of catching the Ferry or even a helicopter over to the Isles of Scilly to experience an even more laid back way of life amongst some of the most stunning scenery the UK, and possibly the world has to offer! We really couln’t have picked a better place to live and PZ360 with its friendly working culture,  incredible views and central Penzance location is just an ideal place to spend my days at work.