Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth is a nice place, but these photos are probably not going to show it.  Highlights of our stay here included

• the Four Seasons Hotel - right up there among the best family rooms we've stayed at

• the Varsity Pub - discovered on the first night and so good we returned on the second night.  Plus Mum and I hit the cocktails -  mojitos all round (discovered these in Myanmar 6 months ago - they must have left quite an impression!)

• our trip to Portmerion (but that's another post)

And the not so highlights of our stay included

• the hotel alarm going off at 3:45am with a decibel level that meant staying in the room was not an option.  Interesting though to see all the guests in their jimmies and hear a funny man saying he thought he could hear a bit of a noise as he sat directly in the firing line of the alarm's sonic boom.  Also interesting to see all of the dogs evacuating the hotel, including a huge St Bernard.  Did I mention dogs can stay in hotels rooms with their owners over here?  I guess that doesn't appeal to everyone, but I'd take my little Lucy-loo with me anywhere, and she'd be as good as gold (probably less bother than the kids and she certainly wouldn't jump up and down on the beds!).  And nope - I have never noticed a doggy smell in any hotel we've ever stayed at.

• the weather - fresh again, and drizzly and windy.

no sun baking on this here beach

Welsh freshness at its best.

Gorillas in the mist.

Pembrokeshire Part 3

Sunday was more exploring, we checked out Pentre Ifan, an ancient burial site that looks a bit like a mini stonehenge.

Then it was on to a nearby forest for a stroll....

...followed by dinner at the Swan Inn in Little Haven.  Charlotte very kindly babysat the kiddies, so it was a very peaceful and relaxing meal, with Mum ordering the dish of the night - Lemon Sole.  Huw ummed and ahhhed about dessert for a while and then at the last minute decided on the warm chocolate pudding.  Bec had very kindly looked one up on her iPhone, which was huge and gooey.  When Huw's arrived it was a tiddler beyond belief, just over a table spoon's worth.  We all felt Huw's pain, but had to give him credit for his "What's this?  Honey I shrunk the pudding?" comment.

Pinched this piccie from the net.

Thank you so much Dave, Michele, Charlotte, Andrew, Katherine and Florey for having us, we had a brilliant time.  I just wish it hadn't gone so quickly.  Please come and visit us here in Essex :)

Pembrokeshire Part 2

Today started with a trip down memory lane with Dad.  Dad grew up in and around Haverfordwest and lived in a variety of houses, including a vicarage and for 4 years during the war - a fort with no electricity or running water but complete with a dungeon and huge moat!

Then in the evening it was party time.  I am so mad I didn't take photos as it was one of the few (if not only) occasion when 9 of the 10 cousin's on Dad's side were together.  The only one missing was Tim. Dave managed to fluke the weather for a while and we got in a good hour of barbecuing before the rain set in.  It was lovely to see the Welsh relies and to meet the new additions.  And a big thanks to Dave and Michele for organising the get together :)

And because posts are so much more interesting with photos, here are some professional wedding shots from Bec and Huw's wedding.  Not a bad Price scrub up effort :)

Add caption

Pembrokeshire Part 1

Today we ventured out into the bracing December air for a tour of Pembrokeshire.  We started off here in Tenby, where we had fish and chips for lunch and then a stroll along the beach.  The only problem with the stroll was the wind which, putting it mildly, was just a little fresh.  Not sure if the pictures accurately convey the exact level of freshness......

And then it was off to the remarkable St Govan's chapel, built in the 13th century and perilously perched in amongst the inhospitable cliff's at St Govan's Head.

After this it was off to Freshwater West. As well as having sand dunes for a bit of tobogganing, Freshwater West was also where they filmed the scene of Dobby's death in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1.  I don't know about the water at Freshwater West, but the wind was certainly fresh!

We're going to Wales

Here is our next trip away, 8 days in Wales.  The first four will be with David and Michele in Haverfordwest, then 2 nights in Aberystwyth (how long has it taken me to work out how to pronounce that properly!) and then 2 nights in Cardiff (Steve is beside himself with excitement because we're going to do a Dr Who tour!).  654 miles all up, good thing the car just passed its service with flying colours.

Boxing Day

My appetite has returned and good thing too as on Boxing Day we drove to Potten (near Cambridge) to have lunch with Mum's old school friend Chris, her daughter and son-in-law Celia and Simon and their daughters, Izzy and twins Maddie and Josie.

It was THE most delicious lunch and after being sick for so long I was making up for lost time!  Plus we now have a fabulous new salad recipe - red onion, coriander, pomegranate seeds and lime juice, very simple, very colourful and very very yummy.

Celia and Simon have an amazing house that reminded me of something straight out of Escape to the Country.  It had huge bedrooms and a lovely new extension, but the piece de resistance for me was the dining room, complete with an aga oven.  In fact I was so taken with the oven I took pictures of it and the food of course, but none of any people - shame on me :)

We had a lovely day out and thank you so much Chris, Celia, Simon and girls for making us so welcome and for the delicious lunch.

Christmas Robins

Look what Grandma got for Christmas.......

Cheep cheep

I made it!

But only just. After hanging on at St Joseph's for 7 weeks and 2 days and then the end of year science dinner down I went. Sick as a dog. It started in earnest on Monday evening, followed by three full days in bed and a feeble trip to the Dr's. I've now nearly finished a course of antibiotics and have only just felt like I've returned to the land of the living.

It has been such a bugger and a disappointment being sick when Mum and Dad are here. I was so looking forward to them coming and spending time whizzing around, enjoying time off work whilst the kids were still at school. Oh well, the only good thing to come of it is that in 3 days I ate 3 small pieces of toast and now am the skinniest I've been in yonks. Might need to buy myself some new threads, either that or eat more J.

Maldon in the sun

Finally, third time lucky - Maldon in the sun, and how beautiful does it look.

How gorgeous is this St Bernard pup - she was only 14 weeks old and already weighed 22 kg and
was putting on 2kg a week!

Frost!

Continuing on with the cold theme, not snow this time but a spectacular visit from Jack Frost.  The trees were completely white, and closer inspection revealed they were covered in long, thin white needles of ice.  Having never seen frost like this I googled and this morning's display wasn't just ordinary frost, nope - turns out it was hoar frost which in case you were wondering.....

occurs when water vapour touches a very cold surface and freezes instantly, a process known as deposition. This often happens on the leaves and branches of plants, covering them with ice crystals that look like spiky white fingers. 

Hoar frost needles, Sainsbury's car park and the view from Daniel's bedroom.

Hoar frost creates a very, very spectacular display and this morning transformed the landscape into a beautiful but cold winter wonderland.

Snow!

This is what we woke up to this morning......

White out.

Optimistically Emily and I set off for breakfast club.  We went all of 1 mile, then sat in traffic for 10 minutes, then did a u-turn and slid all the way home.  Underneath that thin layer of snow was ice.  I was lucky and only did 2 small but hair-raising skids.  Others were less lucky and I watched a little Fiat slide slowly and gracefully by, both back wheels locked in a useless brake.  Fortunately he had a clear path ahead and coasted gently into the curb, before straightening and crawling slowly on his way.

Treacherous driving.  The guy on the right is spreading salt on the road.

After dropping Emily off back home I tried the other direction to school, no traffic jams this time and I was about half way down the newly discovered short-cut of Church Lane when I got a call.  School was off!  Whee heeee.  Another u-turn and I was heading back home.   Not so lucky with the traffic jams this time and what should have taken 5 minutes took 30.

Cars going uphill lost traction as they accelerated, cars going downhill slid as they braked.  Any car that stopped, even on the flat, had trouble with wheel spin.  I was lucky - I only had to stop once and managed to get started again.  I reckon my top speed on that trip home was 6mph.

Church Lane

Then I caught up to Steve and walked Emily to school through Mill Meadow, which was looking stunning in the snow.  Then it was home to collapse in a heap.  Driving on ice is really stressful, school is really stressful, naughty students are really stressful - it seems I have a stress imbalance in my life and I don't like it!

The walk to school, Emmy in her new coat.

Mill Meadow

Another look at Mill Meadow.  A bit colder than before, but still beautiful.

Lighting up Brentwood

Christmas celebrations are happening everywhere.  Main streets are being closed, Christmas lights are going up, Christmas crafts and food abounds.  And there is mulled wine.  Saturday it was Brentwood, on Sunday the celebrations moved to Billericay.  We sampled sausages, cupcakes, marshmallows, punch, chutneys and fudge.  I sampled mulled wine.

We met a Stig imposter and saw the Brentwood Christmas Tree.

And we succumbed to the cupcakes we'd sampled.