The old lighthouse was silhouetted by a flash of lightening; all around the remains of hurricane Spike began to batter the Cornish coast, the building's foot-thick granite walls and double glazing keeping its fury at bay. Inside Daphne was preparing the treat she had promised herself all day. She went around the bathroom setting and lighting candles in various places their soft buttery light to filling the room. She then ran the bath, pouring in various bath oils and scents as it filled. When all was done she turned off the main light, removed her robe and stepped into the bath. The water was about as hot as she could stand; Daphne slowly lowered herself into the bath accompanied by a chorus of aahs, oohs and ouchs. Finally, when all but her head was fully submerged; she sighed, rested back on her bath pillow and closed her eyes. No more mysteries, never again, no more running, no more hills, I'll move to some place flat, have a lift installed in my house, I'll use a golf cart to get from room to room, I'll get a sensible job, one with lots of sitting down... Still there were a few compensations to the day, she reached over and put the floating tray in the bath, Daphne stared at the enormous cream tea in front of her and unconsciously licked her lips now where to begin... The tray was piled high with scones, there was a whole jar of strawberry jam, two tubs of clotted cream, butter, a knife and a spoon. As she cut open one of the scones a series of muffled cries came through the wall from the bathroom next door; Velma was obviously doing the same thing as Daphne. A few seconds later there followed a satisfied sigh.

"Houston, the Dinkley has landed" whispered Daphne.

Daphne's attention returned to the food in front of her. The scones were similar to the biscuits back home but were made with butter, hence their flaky texture and contained currants. The strawberry jam had huge chunks of strawberry in it; the butter came from a local farm as did the clotted cream. She had been unsure if the clotted part was simply a reference of what it would do to her arteries but Shaggy had assured her that it was a kind of very thick cream. This was what they needed after today, comfort food, and comfort food in all its unhealthy glory. But then Daphne started thinking if this was true. Butter was basically milk, and her mother always told her ever since she was little that milk was good for her. The scones contained fruit as did the jam. Well if this didn't make this a health food then what did? But how to reconcile the clotted cream as that was over 50% fat? Daphne then recalled Velma telling her that fat was used for insulating nerves; even better, the cream was brain food. She was sure that Velma would agree with her line of reasoning. A worrying thought now formed in Daphne mind; she knew Velma had taken into her room the same size cream-tea as her and given the rigours of the day both trays would be empty quite soon. Who would get them out the bath when they were finished? More importantly, who would bring them more food? Those were concerns for later and she focused her attention back to the task in front of her. Daphne decided to take a scientific approach to the cream-tea, was it better to put the jam on the scone first then the cream or the other way round? Both approaches would need to be thoroughly investigated. As she set about preparing her first test she reflected on the day. Today had been one of the hardest days she had ever known both physically and emotionally. Normally mysteries tend to follow a familiar pattern, but once in a while things turn out different, and this mystery had been one of them. Daphne licked some jam off her fingers this was meant to be a holiday, there shouldn't even have been a mystery... yeah like this has never happened to us before. Only Velma was supposed to have been working, she had been asked by a TV company to do some research on some local smuggling legends. A job like that was almost as good as a holiday for Velma. The rest of the gang had hitched a ride as 'consultants'. Daphne had planned to consult the surfing off the Cornish coast whilst Shaggy had declared himself some kind of culinary ambassador. Fred was simply looking forward to visiting someplace new and different, and trying his hand at driving a car with a manual gear-box, and roundabouts.

On reflection things had started to go downhill before they had even left Coolsville. Poor Freddie she thought recalling the miserable flight over he'd had. A couple of days before they were due to go Fred had gone down with a sinus infection but after they had arrived in Bristol he seemed OK again. They caught a fast train down to Newquay then picked up the car the TV Company had hired for them. They enjoyed the journey through the Cornish countryside right up until the point Fred had crashed the vehicle near their hotel. Fortunately they had run into a hedge and there was no damage to the car or them. Daphne took over the driving and got them to the hotel. Fred could barely walk and could stand only when holding onto something so he was taken to the local hospital. He was checked out by one of the doctors, a Dr Jome, who diagnosed an inner-ear infection. Fred's sinus infection had moved to his ear and knocked out his sense of balance. He felt fine, but had no sense of balance whatsoever; he couldn't stand without help let alone drive. With some antibiotics he would be up and about in a week or so but for the moment he would be pretty much stuck in the hotel. Daphne took a scone, cut it lengthways, buttered it then deposited a spoon full of jam and another of cream on each of the open halves. She gave an appreciative 'mmmm' as she began to eat her way through her first half, making sure that sure that not a crumb fell into the bath.

Her ears pricked up when she heard Shaggy's voice through the wall. Well she wasn't too surprised, it sounded like he was checking if Velma was OK. The sound of a chair being moved made Daphne conclude that he was sitting in the bathroom. Velma wasn't in any moral danger, but her cream tea might be mortal danger. It sounded like Shaggy was borrowing the back scratcher Velma picked up a couple of days ago. She didn't envy Shaggy his leg must be really itchy under his plaster-cast. I'll be glad when we get back home and start our regular cases again, I need a break she thought, still they sure had got their money's worth out of their travel insurance. And things had started out so well for them even with Freddie unable to stand-up by himself...

Their first full day in Cornwall was a 'do-nothing' day to get over jet-lag and the like. Everyone but Fred would be going to the beach so before they left they walked him into the lounge, Daphne on one side Shaggy on the other with Velma and Scooby going in front to get the room set-up. They moved a chair in front of the TV and Fred was gently lowered in.

"Thanks guys. I didn't want to be stuck in the room all day" said Fred as Daphne and Shaggy eased him into a sofa in front of the TV. Velma handed him the remote control and a TV guide then pushed a footstool in front of him to rest his feet on.

"Yes! Loads of sports channels" said Fred as he scanned the guide

Velma looked over the listings guide at him "I've marked all the educational channels for you."

"Thanks Vel, now I know what ones to avoid" he smiled.

"That's not quite what I meant Freddie" said Velma sternly.

"Yes Mother" whispered Fred; he looked at Daphne as she hid her mouth behind her hand to stifle a chuckle.

"Now Freddie you know Velma is only trying to help. Right let's check your temperature."

"But Daph, you just did that before we came down" complained Fred.

"Now, now Freddie" said Daphne putting her hands on her hips.

"Come on Velma, let's get out of here before she takes our temperature" whispered Shaggy, his hand smoothing her behind as he guided her out of the room. She slowed and he gave her a backside a gentle squeeze.

"Later Fred and Daph might see. Let's go get ready; I've got a surprise for you at the beach."

"Might see what?" said Fred.

"Nothing" they said and hurried out the door.

They were just about to set off for the beach so while Shaggy and Scooby got their stuff together the girls went in to the lounge to check on Fred one last time, he was reading from a book whilst waiting for a game to start. Daphne sat next to Fred and quietly fussed over him, checking his temperature for what seemed like the hundredth time already that day.

"What's the book you're reading Freddie?" asked Velma

"It's an English phrase book" he replied "You know I always try to learn some of the local language of the places we visit."

Velma just stared at him; Daphne held her head in her hands and gave a little groan.

"Fred, you can already speak English" said a long-suffering Daphne

"Yeah, but not British English, I thought it would give a bit more colour to our time here" he replied. Fred waited expectantly to see if the girls had noticed that he had said colour rather than color, they hadn't, peasants he thought and sulked for a few seconds till Daphne plunged the thermometer in his mouth again.

"Come-on Daph, surfs up!" said Velma as she pulled Daphne towards the door much to the relief of Fred.