A Trip To Newtown.

A break in the clouds allowed enough sun through for me to enjoy my morning cuppa out on the terrace listening to the waves and working out a plan of action for the garden. The sun was still shining for my visit to Newtown (Drenewydd) making it feel pleasantly mild. 

However, once I returned to the mountains the sky turned grey and increasingly wet. I hoped that once I reached the coast that the rain would be gone but no, it was still raining.

My trip to Newtown on the far side of the Cambrian mountains, was to collect my digital piano which has had the faulty parts replaced. It's a very easy journey, from Aber, head west on the main road through the mountains and at Llangurig turn left and go north to Newtown. No Satnav needed. The second road was almost empty and even at a steady 55-60 mph it was stress-free driving.

 

I collected the piano from the music shop and then went to the nearby Tesco's for petrol, the loo and some shopping. Peter had asked me to pick up some tomatoes and of course I checked out the sale rail in the clothes section. There I found some black leggings reduced from £15 to £5. Black leggings are my everyday, out of the house outfit unless I'm doing a specific activity. My current pair have gone baggy on the knees but when I put on my 'good' pair last weekend the zip pinged open and I had to wear the old ones. They don't have changing rooms at that Tesco's so I tried the leggings on over the ones I was already wearing and then bought two pairs as the price was so good.

I then drove to the main town car park and had a leisurely stroll around the town checking out the charity shops. I didn't find anything this time but looking is part of the fun. I did see some cardigans that would have been suitable for the carnival but didn't fancy paying £7.50 for a single day's use.

There were lots of interesting buildings in the town but many were for sale and there were a number of empty shops. All signs of a town in decline or at least from its heyday.

This is the market hall. I got excited when I found a place that sell 'barefoot' shoes but they were closed. I've been wanting a pair for a while as they look the right shape for my broad feet but have heard too many horror stories about buying them on-line. Going somewhere to try them on first is what I need so it was a shame the place was closed.

On the way home I stopped in the mountains for a coffee and some shortbread that I'd bought in Newtown. I enjoyed the view, what there was of it and then found myself behind a tractor and trailer going to 25mph. There were too many bends in the road for me to overtake and by the time he pulled into a layby there were about a dozen cars behind.

I had every intention of going to choir tonight but by the time I got home late in the afternoon my aches and pains and general fatigue got the better of me. Plus the road inland out of the village is closed while they do work on one of the railway bridges. This morning I took the coast road instead but to get to Tal Y Bont I would have to go the long way round nearly doubling my journey. So instead I am having a quiet evening at home.

Sunny.

An unexpected sighting of the sun today. It was so warm and sunny at the zoo that first off came the coat and then the fleece leaving me in just a vest top.

I felt so tired this morning and could have done with a long lie-in followed by a day of doing nothing. But I have several things scheduled for each day this week and there won't be time for a rest until Saturday.

First stop this morning was the Post Office to send Romas some stuff he forgot to take with him on Sunday. 

After that I went to the zoo and spent nearly five hours making curved and spiral paths through the grass and weeds in what was the large play area. Last week I'd had a conversation with the owner about my ideas and also briefly about making a willow structure. And this week a circle of tall willow sticks has appeared next to the play area. I do hope it gets finished off properly.

This evening's Pilates helped ease my aching back. Five hours was far too long to be gardening on my knees but I really hate leaving a job half done.

Now for some photos of Whitchurch.

This was the pub where we had our Sunday lunch. Most of us chose the roast lamb. The portions were generous and I ended up giving two of my delicious roast potatoes to Vytas and Romas.

There are many old and interesting buildings in the town. This was another pub currently being refurbished.

Snowdrops in the churchyard.

The River Test runs through the town. Large trout could be seen in the clear waters of the shallow chalk river.

We walked along the river, past the uprooted willows and across a very soggy water meadow with more snowdrops. 

The village pond next to the silk mill was filled with ducks and trout waiting for offerings of bread.

A Family Weekend .

We have just returned from a most enjoyable weekend in Hampshire spent celebrating Vytas' 40th birthday.

We drove down on Saturday, past the last remnants of snow on the mountains and into the balmier climes of the home counties. It took us almost three hours to get to our planned 'half-way' stop at a service station this side of the Severn. It was raining so we sat in the car eating our cream cheese and smoked salmon bagels thinking up dramatic stories about the people hurrying past on their way into the service station. That had started after speculating about the owner of an expensive Merc parked in a disabled space (no blue badge of course). Let's just say I have a vivid imagination and my ideas would have made good film plot lines.

[All the photos in this post are from the party on Saturday evening. Above, the cake made by Sally.]

After our stop we still had a few more hours before arriving at Vytas and Sally's house in Whitchurch. Once we came off the M4 onto the dual carriageways we were surprised by the amount of traffic and the frantic speed at which everyone was driving. And by the number of deep potholes even in the main roads not to mention those in the motorway. 

Once we got there we helped load Vytas' car with food and drink for the party which he ferried round to the nearby venue. It was especially good to spend time with Romas before the party. He, along with a number of the other guests were staying at a local pub.

The party was held in a very smart modern community building which includes a library, in Whitchurch. Part of which is built over a stream with a glass panel set in the floor so that you can see the water underneath. There was a well stocked kitchen with everything needed for all sorts of functions and the main hall had an easily moved dividing wall. 

(Sally in the green dress and Vytas behind in a green shirt.) Vytas' friends had travelled from all over the country to help him celebrate with family. You wouldn't think it by the way they dress but most of them are scientists. (Or maybe you would.) It was a lovely party as it was more about chatting and having fun so the music was kept in the background until right at the end of the evening.

It was also great to catch up with our friends whom we have known since Rachel and Alex were born.

Later on after the children had been taken home we made a start on clearing up which for some reason included seeing how many helium balloons were needed to lift Vytas' plait. That was after we had played Pass The Parcel which had sweets and silly forfeits for the adults (not adult-themed I hasten to add).

After nearly all the clearing and cleaning had been done and we were waiting for a lady to come and collect the key some of the party goers danced in what I can only describe as a free-style fashion. And why not?

But the evening was not yet over and some of us walked to the nearby very old rabbit -warren style pub. The pub was open late as they had a band playing. Although their audience were obviously enjoying the performance the music was dire and very loud. We quickly opted to sit in the heated outside area to socialise for another hour or so.

I had wondered how we 'the parents', being of an older generation would fit in with Vytas and Sally's friends and if conversation would just be of the polite sort. But to our surprise we had so many things in common especially with the smaller group at the pub. For a start they were all active members of the Sealed Knot (Civil War re-enactment society). We took Vytas to his first muster when he was only 3 months old and were active members for a number of years before we moved out of London so there were plenty of stories to exchange and songs to sing. A couple of the guys at the party were Welsh speakers too so we had fun chatting and singing in Welsh. Vytas' friends are nearly all scientists and after chatting with several of the women (mustn't keep thinking of them as girls) who have had official diagnosis, it seems that most scientist are ND so we had a lot in common.

Clearing up after the party.

More tomorrow.

Still Wet.

A different sort of wet today, a pervading grey sea mist in milder conditions.

Off on a trip today, back soon.

 

Very Wet.

It was very grey this morning. I just about managed to drink my coffee outside before the first drops of rain sent me back indoors. For the rest of the day we've had extremely heavy showers interspersed with occasional brighter moments. By the time I got home the sea was looking quite wild which was lovely to watch from the comfort of an armchair.

At the stables I rode my lovely Tex again. Beforehand I had time to carry on with brushing out his wet mane. I've nearly reached his ears but there's still more mane flopped over on the other side.

In the lesson we did a lot of work in sitting trot plus for a lot of the time several of us rode without stirrups. Tex is so comfortable in the trot which made it easy so as usual I concentrated more on asking him to be on the bit. Each week he gets a bit better which is very satisfying.

The rain got so heavy that a young girl who was having a private lesson in the arena came in and rode in the school with Chloe who was teaching her, running by her side. We are used to avoiding each other so it didn't make a lot of difference to us.

 

At Morrisons they now have clematis in the garden section. I couldn't resist picking up two more and then when I noticed the 3 for 2 offer went and chose another one. 

Last week in Charlie's I advised a chap looking at the clematis that he would do better getting one from Morrisons. Okay the Charlie's one was a lot bigger but at £18 also a lot more expensive.

In town I donated yet another bag of stuff to the Climate shop where I bought three ring binders for Pete and a dark blue sheet to turn the boat into the sea for the carnival, for the grand price of £2.

By the time I got home I was, as usual worn out. I planted the clematis in the back garden, put a saucepan of apples on to stew, prepared a salad for supper and had a shower before finally crashing out with a big mug of tea.

Done.

It wasn't much of a surprise to look across the bay this morning and see snow on the mountains. Just a light layer which was gone by the afternoon.

This was about the only break in the clouds that let the sun light up the snow and the wisps of cloud forming in the valleys. For the rest of the day it has been grey with the kind of damp cold that gets into your bones.

I carried on sorting and cleaning the utility room and at last it is done. Peter seems to have given up on sorting the garage/ workshop so I may have to tackle that (for my own sanity) at some point but for now my spring cleaning is done. Now I can get on with much more interesting things like gardening and creative projects.

I will admit that unlike the other rooms which really are very tidy I moved some stuff which sits on the worktop and on top of the freezer making it look messier. It has had to go back for the time being. But I was taking the photo as part of a before and after series to go in a photobook so I wanted the room to look its best. 

2019, when the builder had already removed everything bar the old boiler. Both walls and the roof had to be replaced and when we moved in several years later there wasn't even an outside door.

Originally this had been a second kitchen but soon after Chick and his friends moved in (in the 1980s) they decided they were happy living communally. 

Off to disco aerobics in a while and that's my day done. Yesterday at choir there were only eleven of us and most of the songs were new to me. I was the only tenor so it had to be a very fast learning curve. I'm sure it's good for the brain.

Chilly.

It has been grey and very cold again today. For a while in the morning there were strong winds sending plants swaying and bin lids down the road after which things got much calmer. Now that it's night it has started to rain lightly so there may be ice by morning.

 

I had a baking session today and made cookies. I started with my basic recipe some of which I used to make ginger and dark chocolate cookies as I have both crystalized ginger and powdered ginger in the cupboard. I have to say they turned out to be rather tasty but then I love ginger. The rest I made into the usual peanut butter and chocolate chunk cookies which everyone likes.

I also managed to do some more tidying in the utility room. It's not completely organised but a lot better than it was.

I'm off to choir in a minute with plenty of warm clothes as the large village hall can be cold.