| |
[May. 10th, 2008|06:36 pm] |
Weather has been very muggy and hazy here yesterday and today. Last night was a tremendous storm, not a lot of thunder but amazing lightning flashing and a torrential downpour.
Today has been very lazy. The grandchildren came for the afternoon and it was nice to be able to sit out in the garden playing guess the plant. Because most of the garden has been planted by the previous owners and we have no idea what or where anything is. Quite exciting. Also baked an orange chocolate cake which smells pretty fine if I do say myself. Hope it tastes as good.
Our sheep seem to have disappeared from the next field, we have not seen them for several days. I guess the next time we'll see them will be in the butchers. |
|
|
| Out and about |
[May. 8th, 2008|10:38 pm] |
Yesterday another stunningly sunny day we decided to take off to explore Anglesey. So packed lunch in the car and off and away. Alas not to Anglesey it would seem. As we headed into town it became apparent there was an abnormal amount of traffic around and indeed looking up at the motorway bridge we could see everything was at a standstill in the direction we wanted.
Oh well nothing for it but to explore somewhere else and it turned out not to be a disappointment after all. We headed on to a new route for us along the coast and the railway line. We were going to try and find a large rusty liner we had spotted from our train coming back from London. It looked rather steampunky and in need of photographing. And we found it and managed to negotiate our way along a neglected foot path right beside it.
( more here )
Time for lunch after our exertions and then we decided to check out a beach. We had seen a sign post earlier on our route marked simply "Beach".Sounded about right and off we went. Driving up the tiny road it began to look suspiciously like the scene in the Mad Max film where the bad guys tormented the girl and her kid. Ah well the natives here seemed friendly enough. Approaching the top of the rise and expecting to find a concrete promenade with dainty seats and a shelter or two we were bowled over to discover completely wild sand dunes. So the day ended gloriously sitting on the sand in the sun with a cool breeze from the sea.
( A RSPB reserve no less ) |
|
|
| Escapologist dog again |
[May. 6th, 2008|01:11 pm] |
|
In other news Benji aka Houdini went AWOL again yesterday. Unfortunately unsuccessful in trying to find him as we scoured the village. But news this morning that he's been found. Don't know all the details yet but spent the night in the cells! He can be seen here http://www.nantycorn.com/lost_dogs.htm. Second and third pictures! |
|
|
| Gorgeous weekend |
[May. 6th, 2008|12:44 pm] |
How great to see warm and sunny weather. The countryside is looking fabulous now everything is starting to come out.
Saturday mostly domestic cleaning, washing and did some work on the garden. Looking quite nice now.
Sunday drove to Llangollen for the monthly antiques market. Brought a small wine table, couple of nice framed pictures and cameo brooch.
Yesterday so sunny - breakfast in the garden!!.
Then took off to a Spring Garden, Plant and food and drink fair at our favourite castle at Bodelwyddan.
Strolled amongst the plant stalls, tasting all the food and drink, oohing at the cuddly animals in the animal rescue display and the fabulous owls, munching on fresh hot doughnuts to the strains of a very cool jazz duo in the sunshine all under the shadow of the lovely castle. Stunning.
|
|
|
| Elections |
[May. 3rd, 2008|01:50 pm] |
Well our village made it into the local papers as our new local council candidate beat the existing one by just 4 votes. Well for here that's pretty exciting. Goodness it made me feel we had actually made a difference!
Well as for London mayor - just say couldn't resist a bit of a gloat.
Yesterday was a gloriously warm day spent shopping and on the promenade in Llandudno. Didn't make the pier this time but will get there eventually. There was much gearing up for the bank holiday weekend where it appears an invasion of motor scooter fanatics seemed on the cards. Streams of them gaily decorated with flags, fox tails and polished hooters and lights were buzzing round the town. Looked like a film set from Quadrophenia!
The evening supper with my son and the kids and the final of this weeks Great British Menu. |
|
|
| Polling day here too |
[May. 1st, 2008|06:26 pm] |
|
Yes we have council elections today and we went proudly to make our first vote in the village. In was in the local school, very sweet and we had the choice of two candidates, not bad for a small village . Not quite the excitement of London mayor I guess, just hope my not being able to vote doesn't get Ken in again |
|
|
| London |
[Apr. 28th, 2008|12:39 pm] |
Saturday morning had a pleasant drive to London - well if you can call crawling up Marylebone Road pleasant. Set up temporary home in my friend's flat in Kings Cross (with gothic views of the Midland Hotel), had coffee, changed and drove off to The Ship Inn in Holborn for the Dracula Society meet up. Although only a short distance from the flat it took ages as the traffic was absolutely solid. I don't know what was going on in London that day but there were police vans everywhere and police standing about at corners looking menacingly tooled up.
Finally arrived and got a lovely greeting from everyone pleased to see us. Nice to see ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) belle_fille1982 and meet her new man, very charming and surprisingly had many shared interests and acquaintances. Following a buffet meal and the AGM we had a reading of a MR James story by an elderly actor whose name I have forgotten and hadn't recognised. He was launching a new CD featuring readings of James stories but I was a little disappointed by his story telling especially as he decided to cut chunks out of it. It somewhat took the suspense from the tale. May have been better to have picked a shorter story.
Anyway the rest of the evening was great with much booze and catching up to do the time whizzed by.
Sunday morning round the corner to the local caff for breakfast and then a friend dropped by at the flat. Finally left London at 3.00pm in the sunshine. As we drove through Warwickshire a huge black sky enveloped us and the heavens opened and it belted down the whole way until Telford. The sky finally clearing as we wound our way home through the lanes accompanied by a glorious sunset over the mountains.
As the the song says, it's nice to go travelling but it's so good to come home. |
|
|
| Election time and bloody My Space |
[Apr. 25th, 2008|12:37 pm] |
Well a little minge today.
Yesterday I received forwarded post from London containing our Poll Cards to vote for Mayor of London and London Assembly. This morning I receive Poll Cards for the local elections here in Wales. Talk about democracy, it seems technically I could vote in both elections. Does make you question the meaning of election results.
Another annoying thing is I am completely unable to change my email on My Space. Having found the relevant page to amend one's details I duly enter my new email address only to be informed that they have sent an email to my old email address where I am to click the relevant link to enable the new address. How daft is that! My old email has gone which is why I am changing it, I have no old email address. OK I find via the help page a section supposedly just for this occasion. Here I find an email address to send my message to. But lo and behold what does it say? We've sent a reply to your old email address. I give up! |
|
|
| Superb weather |
[Apr. 23rd, 2008|10:19 pm] |
Monday saw the arrival of sassygoth24. She brought the sun with her and it has been an absolutely glorious couple of days. We visited Bodelwyddan Castle
and walked round the lovely walled gardens and woodland walk.
Then on to The Marble Church
a gorgeous gothic church - probably the only one in North Wales.
Today went for a drive up into the hills to Llyn Aled a reservoir in the most bleak and wild countryside but lovely in the bright sunshine, we could see right across to the Snowdonian ranges still snow capped.Saw a buzzard sitting ona gate post - magnificent sight. Dropped Sasha back at the station at Colwyn Bay and then drove on to Llandudno for a bit of shopping and then sat on the beach in the sunshine. Got home knackered! |
|
|
| Musings and general waffle |
[Apr. 20th, 2008|02:07 pm] |
We've been doing our usual dashing around the countryside and gardening but now the weather has turned depressing, grey and decidedly damp and I'm having a general slouch about and only do what I feel like day.
Watched the film "The Fountain" the other night. This has to go down under my movie/book category of WTF! An absolute haunting and mesmerising film that left me having to know more. Fortunately http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountain_(film) provided the answer, so I will now watch it again. Be interesting to know if anyone else has seen it. If you like strange films then you'll love this.
Have also been enjoying the series of Dexter on ITV (recommended by my son who saw it on satelite last year) - the idea of a serial killer working for the police is pretty bizarre and right up my street. I have now ordered a couple of the books which promise a little more detail than can be shown on TV. Although I have to say they handle the subject pretty well considering it's mainstream TV.
We are looking forward to a visit from a friend tomorrow. Just hope the weather brightens up a bit. And next weekend we're up in London for a Dracula Society do on Saturday. |
|
|
| and there's still more shopping |
[Apr. 15th, 2008|05:30 pm] |
Yesterday we visited Llandudno a Victorian seaside town. Originally had intended just to pop into Staples for some very necessary and boring printer cartridges and paper but we were enticed by 2 hours free parking and a sudden improvement in the weather to investigate the town's treasures. It's an
And a great variety of shops from a designer steam punk collection through to elle cheepie and charity shop and an incredible kitchen shop that had everything you could ever want and then some. It was like a tardis. There was so much to see we only made it half way down the high street and never got to the sea front before our parking ran out. Still it's always nice to leave a place with something to come back to.
Today I have been mainly gardening between the showers. When they stop it's been gorgeous - blue sky and quite warm. |
|
|
| Kamikaze wildlife |
[Apr. 13th, 2008|05:47 pm] |
|
I don't know if it's the season, may be mating makes animals and birds dozy or just suicidal, but the local wildlife have taken to leaping out or flying straight into the car as we drive around. The roads are littered with the corpses of pheasants, badgers and rabbits and I can't count the number of birds we have narrowly missed as they dive bomb us out of the bushes as we pass. Pheasants are particularly stupid as they just stand at the side of the road seemingly waiting for you to arrive just so they can throw themselves in front of your wheels. Yesterday we all but ran over a black rabbit and then as we turned the corner we came face to face with a lamb jumping about in the middle of the road. Well that's going too far. The temptation for roast dinners grows. |
|
|
| Another busy week |
[Apr. 10th, 2008|09:31 pm] |
Monday shot off to Colwyn Bay to buy a bar stool Colin wanted for the kitchen. Ever the one to get a bargain Colin had found the same one on the web and proceeded to wave the printout to the guy behind the counter asking how near he could match the price. After much bargaining and cash only he came up with a pretty near offer so off we toddled clutching a huge box. Later the kids dropped round for tea as it was the last day of the holidays.
Tuesday the doctors for me. Results of my blood test - cholesterol now down to 3.6, blood sugar is 7.8 but now they like it to be 7. So back in 3 months for another blood test and maybe more medication. There was a time when my results were "normal" but they keep moving the goal posts lower and lower. I reckon the whole nation will have high cholesterol at this rate!
Back at the car park we were dismayed to find the car key did not work. After much pressing and eventually opening the door manually we realised the battery was totally ******ed. Thank goodness for the AA who arrived in 10 minutes and charged us up. Getting home we just had time to ring round and find a local battery dealer before my hair appointment. We made a 20 minute journey in 10 and then left the car at the garage. Returning discovered they had ordered the wrong battery and it didn't fit - so another 45 minute wait for the van to bring another. Eventually it was fitted and the car started and I was much relieved to get home.
Yesterday was dentist for Colin. God it's all medical now - sure sign we're getting old and decrepit. But what a coincidence to find that the dentist had lived in Norbury and knew our old dentist, had also worked at the Eastman Dental Hospital and knew Colin's consultant there. Sure is a small world.
Well tomorrow you will all be pleased to know we are having nothing to do with doctors, nurses or anything remotely medical. Weather permitting planning to visit a garden nursery in Conwy. It's warming up now and I'm planting and seeding the garden for the summer. Makes a change from decorating |
|
|
| Llangollen |
[Apr. 6th, 2008|05:49 pm] |
It's the monthly antiques market at Llangollen and as we only had a dusting of snow here compared to the south we decided to go along. Came away with two nice red upholstered chairs, rather medieval looking for £20 the pair, a nice bracelet for me and a rather nice dish to put our keys in on the hall table.
As the sun was shining at that moment we decided to check out the town and investigate the local shops, I got a black frilled and lace skirt for £3 in a charity shop and more supplies of Welsh cakes (which I've rather become addicted to) in the local bakery. There were several interesting shops still to see but it was getting quite cold and a vicious ice shower descended so we headed homeward for hot soup.
Colin found his ideal shop! Unfortunately it was not open but I rather think somehow we'll be back.
|
|
|
| Electric Mountain |
[Apr. 3rd, 2008|07:12 pm] |
An hour's drive took us to this amazing place in the Snowdonia National Park. Surrounded by stunning scenery this is the second biggest hydro electric plant in the world and built inside a mountain. Full of enormous valves, turbines, and gigantic cogs, the cave could have accommodated St Pauls Cathedral! Very steampunk.
We took the tour but were not allowed to take in cameras or phones so have included some images from the website.
Arrived in the morning with the cloud swirling down across the mountains and road, very atmospheric. When we emerged from under the mountain the sun was shinning. A totally different look. I love this place. |
|
|
| Busy busy |
[Apr. 2nd, 2008|10:22 pm] |
It's a real busy week. Monday was mostly medical. Visit to GP for Colin and chiropody for me where I enjoyed the delights of having my feet dopplered (that is testing the pulses in my feet) and tickled by bits of wire! It appears I am healthy from the ankle down anyway!
Yesterday we went shopping here
A magical place full of gift shops, cafes, handicrafts and all the mountaineering and climbing gear you could ever want, even a Goth shop with a great collection of Alchemy and witches on broomsticks, all surrounded by hills and waterfalls.
Brought loads of stuff needless to say including a mask for the Midsummer Ball for £9.99 which I had just had an offer on ebay rejected, seller wanted £15.99. Very pleased about that!
Tomorrow off to Electric Mountain with my son and grandchildren. More of that later. |
|
|
| Back from the Smoke |
[Mar. 30th, 2008|05:42 pm] |
Well actually returned last night but too shattered to do anything but plonk down in front of the TV with a large G & T. Has been an extremely busy couple of days.
VC was great fun. Thanks for the ovation! Really wonderful to see so many of you, too numerous to mention and it was great to catch up with everyone's news. Back to our friend's flat in Kings Cross via the local burger bar. Well flats actually as she has two and so we had one all to ourselves.
Next morning all four of us trotted of to a good old fry up breakfast at the cafe round the corner followed by a visit from another friend and later a wander down to the new St. Pancras station. Very impressive and a pleasure to see how they have renovated the old gothic building. Only had my phone camera Lots of up market shops and eateries and one section that appeared to be having it's opening day complete with jazz band and lots of freebie food being handed out.
The evening two more friends joined us for dinner and a very boozy and hysterical evening was had by all. Holiday photos will never be the same again!
The next morning those of us who did not have severe hangovers repaired once again to the caff for breakfast and we then took off to Euston for our journey home. A very miserable one as the rain was lashing down.
Today has been gorgeous, warm and sunny. Lovely walk up the hill - getting fitter and fitter now, didn't have to stop so much!
Now to catch up with 4 days LJ! |
|
|
| Our turn for snow |
[Mar. 25th, 2008|04:48 pm] |
Well to be honest it was very wet and wasn't settling when I woke this morning. Still it had settled on the nearby mountains and looked pretty superb as we drove through the countryside early to the GP - yes yet another fasting blood test. I do hope this will be the last for some time. I was really ready for my breakfast at 10.30 having not eaten or (more annoyingly) drunk anything but water since 8.00pm last night. Still I did manage to tuck into some rather nice roast lamb at my son's, complete with crispy roast potatoes and a couple of glasses of red before starvation!
Then having discovered there was a second series of The Book Quiz on BBC4, we endeavored to drag our brains from a drunken stupor and managed to answer a few of the questions.My son couldn't believe the coincidence of not only a question on Sherlock Holmes but Dracula too! So that's two down to us!
We were also visited by our local "care in the community" member. Unable to open her back door and having lost her front door key poor Colin was dragged out to gain entrance. After a struggle and finally brute force he managed to get it open. I hope this doesn't get to be a habit! |
|
|
| Easter Sunshine |
[Mar. 23rd, 2008|07:00 pm] |
|
Well apart from a couple of hail showers it has been quite sunny and little wind so time for a spot of gardening. A couple of hours lugging sacks of soil improver and compost around, spreading it round flower beds and pots and my back and thighs started to protest. How unfit must be I! That's winter for you - missing out on walks and you start to fall to pieces! Back in for a nice cup of cappuccino from our new coffee maker which, I have to admit, terrifies me. It's so complicated and makes such a noise I'm giving it a wide berth and leaving it to Colin to take charge of, he seems to have the measure of it and it was his idea anyway. Still the end result is delicious. Off to do some keyboard practice. |
|
|
| More gales |
[Mar. 22nd, 2008|06:54 pm] |
God this wind - I have never known a year like it. Last night was really rough again gale force winds battering at my satellite dish and disrupting my TV signal. In the middle of Torchwood too how dare it. I kept missing chunks of conversation so following the story became somewhat difficult. Fortunately I have so much recorded stuff to watch which kept us entertained the rest of the evening.
The winds seemed to have abated this evening though it's pretty chilly out there and had a bit of sleet whilst we were out shopping. Not a bit like last Easter. Perfect day to get out the pans and do some baking and the kitchen now smells of warm cake and spices - delicious.
Having a quiet weekend. Dinner at my son's Monday and then off to London Thursday morning. |
|
|
