Craig y Nos

Off to Craig y Nos today for a spinning demonstration, or so I thought! No one else from the guild turned up! But I had packed my wheel and a lovely picnic, V and the girls were happy to bumble around under the trees, so I had a pleasant afternoon spinning in the sunshine. There were hardly any people there but I did speak to two nice ladies who took some information on the guild and on Ffald Y Brenin. I should get a commission from that place I tell you.

I was not actually chewing a wasp when this was taken,
the sun was right in my eyes
and I did not realise how fearsome I look when I squint.

We are not keeping still for a photo when there is blossom to catch!

The castle was once a home to the opera singer Adelina Patti and later it became a hospital for soldiers wounded in World War II. It is now a hotel, but the grounds are now part of the National Park which has some of the most dramatic scenery in the local area. The mountain rock is an unrelenting grey, which never looks anything other than bleak even under such a pretty sun as we had today. Winter suits it well though, if you like that kind of harshness, which I do - but today we stuck to the gardens and the cherry blossom.
Lily and Eden were enchanted by the falling petals and chased around like a pair of demented kittens trying to catch them. Sometimes they are just so flippin' cute I can hardly think straight when I look at them.

Breakfast at Bracelet Bay

Frosty again this morning, but undeterred we set out for the Gower. It was not cold in the sun and the sea was a glorious gentle blue.

Joe's ice cream and hot chocolate might not be a nutritionally sound brekkie, but the sea breeze certainly gave us an appetite.

I wonder what's for lunch?

Yesterdays Drive

Rhigos Mountain. It has a little lay-by which is haunted by sheep and lost ice cream men. Today there were only gladitorial chaffinches fighting for a frankly uninterested female. I tried taking pictures of their aerial combat but of course they were far too quick for me. I consoled myself with the view.

It was pretty chilly, we had to dust a light frost off the car before setting out. V regretted his refusal of the hat that I dug out for him. Granted it is a particularly insane looking one - earflaps and all - so he paid the price for vanity in the coin of burning ears. We put the lid up on the way home as the temperature plummeted while we were up there. But sitting there with Gods own country spread before us, nothing but birdsong and the breath of trees...there was nowhere else on earth that we would rather be. You can keep the Algarve, I am glad to my heart's core that I live in Wales.

The two old farts. V took this at arms length. I am saying "That'll never take us" hence the frown.

the obligatory cocoa.

On the way home we had a slightly dicey moment on a roundabout and a lorry who could not be bothered to check his blindspot. I thought, as likely maiming or worse got too close for comfort, that I had at least spent a perfect last morning. V looked at me as though I was nuts when I told him this afterwards. There was never any danger apparently. Funny these stupid things happen and we realise how glad we are to be alive.

Have a happy, sunlit day.

A Lovely Day

It has been a day for the queen today, full of nice treats. From the Baileys latte and warm raspberry and white chocolate muffin that I had in my favourite cafe this morning, to the posh face cream that I bought with my easter money that Daddy gave me (36 and still calling my father Daddy, there is no hope for some people). Sitting there in my cafe, dreaming my usual dreams when I am on my own and it was most peculiar - I suddenly felt lonely. I am frequently on my own and am very happy to be so but it was the weirdest thing, I just wanted company: good company that you can have a giggle with but be challenged too by good conversation... Very strange, maybe it was the fact that Dizzy leaves me for the US today for a fortnight...
And then I remembered a happy thing: that I was soon to have company that afternoon in the shape of the lovely Pippa up for a visit all the way from Bristol. And we did indeed have a lovely time together, the girls were overjoyed to see her. Tea, a long chat and a nice meal, the best kind of day spent with a friend. Thanks Pippa.

Sooo... I have lit the fire and done the dinner dishes. I think I will have another glass of wine and sneak some chocolate while the girls are playing upstairs and then I'll start on the black spots for the ladybug. Progress shots soon.
Hope you have had a lovely day too
Nos da cariad