May 16 Mumbles and Bethlehem Walk May 16, 2022

Our last Walking Well walk was near the village of Bethlehem. Driving up through the country lane where both verges were covered in garlic was a treat. At the end of the road there ‘s an old chapel in a very pretty setting surrounded by bluebells and of course more garlic flowers.

At the start of the walk, there was a steep hike up the hillside, which meant breaks for a breather and then we reached the top where there were wonderful views over the countryside. The path took us through a woodland that was covered in bluebells, garlic and all sorts of wild flowers- absolutely lovely. Soon we joined up with a country lane that passed a garden with tortoises out on the grass, enjoying the spring weather and a farm with lambs in the meadow and cows in the fields.

Some cows posed to have their photo taken

Other calves were very shy and refused to be photographed!

Our walks wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t have the ‘Last of the Spring Beer’ gang…. front and back views too!

Leaving the road we climbed over stiles, ambled through meadows, walked along the side of a river, jumped across a stream, climbed another steep slope, ran down a hill , back to the lane with the chapel and that completed a wonderful walk. Thank you Malcolm the walk was perfect.

In the last weeks we have enjoyed a visit to Mumbles, where my mum and dad used to live. How it’s changed! New buildings , new shops and busy crowds. The views, however, haven’t changed and they are still breathtakingly beautiful.

Mumbles Lighthouse

At home, the long awaited arrival of the Canadian goslings came. There were six but sadly only four now remain…we don’t know what happened to them. The geese have enjoyed their walks around the Pond Field and in our garden too!

Recently we were fortunate to have number of hot air balloons fly over our garden- it was a wonderful sight.

The birds have been very busy in the garden collecting material for their nests- pleased that the soft wool from a friend’s ewe proved very popular with many birds.

The garden is now in full spring mode. Everything is growing quickly and the borders and meadow is filling with colour. The buttercups in the Pond Field are my favourites! The sheep in the next field would love to enjoy the field too!

hawthorn

Ukraine has not been forgotten.

Flowers help the soul and aid the grief.

For our niece

Thank you for reading.

April 24 Llangadog Walk, Dinefwr Walk, Botanic Garden of Wales, Lampeter, Aberglasney Visit and David Cowdry Art Exhibition April 24, 2022

It’s my fault I’ve left writing this post for too long and now I’ve too many photos to show!

Walking Well Walk around Llangadog was most enjoyable. It started at The Telegraph Garden Centre and then wound the way across the fields and along the banks of the river.

We tramped onwards through the fields trying to keep a distance away from the ewes and lambs but to no avail as they all ran and scattered everywhere. There always seems to be one lamb left behind!

The path led back across Llangadog Common where we saw two lambs that had been ‘adopted ‘ as they were orphans. Back in the village we crossed over the bridge and headed back to the garden centre, where we all enjoyed a coffee and cake! Thank you Phil for a most interesting and enjoyable walk.

One of the ‘Last of the Spring Beer ‘ group missing today!

A short drive away is the lovely town of Lampeter. There’s a university there, a Sainsbury’s , numerous lovely shops, some excellent cafes and best of all a Welsh Quilt Centre with beautiful quilts for sale and a museum to visit too.

A nearer drive is to Llandovery which again has great cafes, lovely shops and a colourful square.

I had a grand day visiting the Botanic Garden of Wales with a bestie friend! We enjoyed walking over the Waun Las Nature Reserve checking on trees and looking back on to the Great Glasshouse below. The gardens looked amazing with all the spring flowers and the woodlands carpeted with bluebells.

The latest Walking Well Walk was a walk led by Pam around Dinefwr. The stunning scenery of the castle and Newton House is further enhanced at this time of the year by the masses of bluebells in Dinefwr Woods. It was a delight to walk up the hill passing banks of primroses towards the castle and then through the woods which were as blue as blue with the bells! ( Photos don’t do them justice!!)

We walked back through the woods and over the fields filled with ewes and lambs and saw the white cattle , which Dinefwr is famous for, in the distance. A hot chocolate and chocolate cake in the cafe warmed up the soul after the walk as it was a very chilly wind that blew us back to the cars! Thank you Pam for a wonderful walk.

Three ‘Last of the Spring Beer ‘ group back today!

Today, a visit to Aberglasney ends the week on a high note! The sun was shining, the wind wasn’t so chilly and David Cowdry has an exhibition on in the mansion.

A quick look into the Ninfarium to see the pretty orchids that are flowering in all spaces on the walls, in the old fireplaces and on the old windowsills!

Outside in the gardens the borders are full of beautiful spring flowers and the Malus Arbour is a sight not to miss: from Aberglasney website: Aberglasney’s Malus sargentii Arbour is one of the Gardens most striking features when in full flower. This stunning Crab Apple from Mororan in Japan is situated in Aberglasney’s Lower Walled Garden and is a wonderful sight when it is alive with bees and hums like some kind of natural electric motor. The single white flowers are followed by small cherry-like fruits, which last well into the autumn.

The icing on the cake was seeing David Cowdry’s exhibition. His paintings are amazing!

Back home the garden is getting a mind of its own already! The grass needs mowing, the weeds are growing but everywhere looks colourful, bright and full of spring!

Flower from Jane

My thoughts are still with the people of Ukraine, wherever they are.

Thank you for reading.

April 7 Carmel Walk, Aberglasney Visit April 7, 2022

Yellow and blue flowers in my garden now- Ukraine is not far from my thoughts every day.

Tomorrow it’s another Walking Well Walk in Llangadog but first I thought I’d better write about the last walk we went on to Carmel.

The walk was led by Malcolm and there was a good turn out of walkers and their dogs. It was a truly beautiful spring day. It was a delight to walk along the country lanes and tracks seeing the countryside coming alive with lovely wild flowers, primroses, coltsfoot, wood anemone plus many more. The birds were singing in the trees and there was that frisson of excitement at the start of a new season when jumpers and face masks are discarded and you can feel the warmth of the sun on your back. Heaven!

Must return to the woods when these garlic plants are flowering

The walk led us through to the old quarry where there are still signs of past industry. It’s a huge space and I’m pleased the sun was shining as it could be quite intimidating if it was cold, damp and dark! There are the old railway tracks laid into the ground showing where the trains used to shunt along taking the quarried limestone away. We passed the old limestone kilns and caves where bats roost. Also in the woods is the only turlough (seasonal lake) in Britain!

Thank you Malcolm for a wonderful walk. We finished by all sitting together in the sunshine and having a quick picnic brought from home. Just perfect.

Aberglasney Gardens continue to amaze me. Every time I visit, which as you know, is frequently I am bowled over by the sights that I see. The tulips are now coming into flower, the meadows are full of fritillaries and the sun is out…sometimes..so lots to see and enjoy!

Back home the Canada goose is sitting on her nest on the island, the mallard and moorhen are also nesting so soon there’ll be the sound of little feet paddling and wings flapping to look forward to.

Due to the fact that there is still a virus amongst our garden birds feeding the birds has been kept to a minimum. However, this has annoyed the squirrels who can’t find any food on the bird table!

Canada Goose and Mallard ‘dads’ waiting for eggs to hatch!

Over the last weeks we have enjoyed sunshine followed by very chilly weather and now wind and rain. Seems to have suited the garden though!

Korean fir

Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Yukigoten‘

Thank you for reading . Rufus, the best cat in the world, is as you can all see, a poser!

Hope your Easter is a happy one and of course filled with love and chocolate!

March 20 Aberglasney Magnolias and Llansadwrn Walk March 20, 2022

I know, I know I’m always going on about Aberglasney gardens but they really are special and at the moment their magnolias are in full bloom. Not only that but it has stopped raining and the sun has come out too!

Sadly it was still raining when I went on our Walking Well Walk around our village Llansadwrn. The rain and cold, however, didn’t stop a number of walkers plus their four footed friends from turning up. We all set off down the Roman Road in the village in high spirits which actually didn’t wane at all even though we got very wet and muddy! It stopped raining…a bit …by the time we had completed the circular walk and found ourselves back in the Reading Room enjoying a chat and drinking coffee. Thank you Sue for your first walk as our leader.

The weather plays a huge part of what happens in life and with the sun arriving quite unexpectedly spring has gone into fast forward!

The bees were seen flying from under our roof tiles ( they’ve been there now for years and years and like it so much they are staying!!!). They lined up on the watering can to have a refreshing drink! The mallards have settled in on the pond and like resting on the bale of barley straw. The straw is supposed to help clear the pond of weed…it doesn’t work! The Canada geese have a battle every morning with their youngsters from last year! Of course the rain and now the sunshine has made the grass grow so lawns need mowing. The Pond Field also needed a quick grass trim but carefully not too severe so all the dandelions and celandines can flower.

Continuing from my last post: photos from my garden are all yellow and blue flowers as I think about everyone in Ukraine.

Back in Aberglasney everything is in the pink!

The first day of spring in the UK astronomically occurs on the vernal equinox, 20 March 2022. TODAY! Hooray!

The clocks will go forward next Sunday, for Daylight Saving Time, Sunday March 27. Let’s hope the sunshine stays and everyone can enjoy the yellow and blues of Spring in peace.

Thank you for reading.

March 8 Llandeilo Walk , Cars at Botanic Garden of Wales March 8, 2022

It’s hard to write about my activities when the world seems to be in such turmoil. To show support for Ukraine all my flower photos will be in yellow and blue.

The Walking Well Walk led by Biddy was most enjoyable as we started in Dinefwr and ended in Dinefwr! A circular walk that led us over fields, new bridges, across main roads and up country lanes. We saw trees that had fallen in the storms, baby lambs gamboling after their mums and huge molehills like mini mountains!

It was good to see the first dandelions and flying insects and the woods, where the bluebells flourish later on in the season, all cleared of fallen debris.

There have been plenty of birds in the garden to keep me glued to looking out of the window. Any slight movement I make means the birds fly off in a flutter! Not so the squirrels! Banging the window or opening the window and shouting obscenities means they just carry on eating the sunflower seed giving me disdainful glances all the while!

The long tailed tits are reluctant subjects and do their very best to keep hidden. As you can tell the nuthatch has attitude! The robins look good all year round not just at Christmas time!

A visit to the Botanic Garden of Wales together was a treat! Jim came too as there was a vintage car display being held in the courtyard.

We enjoyed a lovely walk around parts of the garden and of course treated ourselves to a scone and coffee in the newly refurbished cafe.

The show was interesting and it’s good to recall some of the cars we have owned over the years. There was a Morgan, an original Mini and others that we wished we had kept!

Back in the garden the land is still very wet but the plants are holding their own and doing their best to brighten everyone and everything up.

The six lovely rams are back in the next field. They are having a rest after a very busy season! I just love them- they have wonderful faces and expressions! The farmer who looks after our field has put silage on it this afternoon …it really feels like spring is here!

Other welcome visitors back on the Pond Field are the two Canada Geese who are preparing their nest on the little island. Two mallards have settled in on the pond too. The two resident moorhens are keeping watch on these new arrivals and letting them know who is in charge….such a lot of name calling!!

The views over the Carmarthen Fans from our garden continue to inspire me. Lots of photos and an early March book made. Now that the evenings are lighter and hopefully the weather improving I thought I’d get a March book made whilst it was still raining outside and before gardening started in earnest!

A very appropriate coloured bird of paradise flower caught my eye in The Telegraph Garden Centre Llangadog.

Thank you for reading.

February 21 Llandeilo Walk and Wet Windy Weather February 21, 2022

We’ve got off very lightly through the three recent UK storms: Dudley, Eunice and Franklin but some villagers were without power for long hours listening to the rain pelting down and the wind blowing a hooley!

After Storm Arwen last month when a number of our trees were damaged the last storms have finished some of them off! Sadly our lime tree which was the favourite roost of a buzzard has had its last roosting!

Lime tree

Willow

Our house was like a castle, with a moat, when the rain poured down so heavily the house became surrounded by water.

Looks as though we could have needed our little boat on the pond, however, it got blown away and landed down the bank by our overflow pond. Instead of it maybe saving us we had to safe it!

At least we’ve had some great sunrises before the storms and the early spring flowers are managing to keep their heads held high whilst their roots are paddling madly in water.

One tree that survives everything that is thrown at it – including me with shears and electric saws..is the monkey puzzle tree which grows more menacing and dangerous with every passing year!

A short circular walk around Llanwrda cheered us up as it was lovely to meet some friends to chat to and share comments about a local issue.

The Welsh Government is planning to plant three woodlands to commemorate those people lost to covid. One of the woodlands is going to be at the bottom of our road. How interesting and exciting is that?!

Pansies in boxes on bridge overlooking the river Dulais upstream

Looking downstream

Centre of Llanwrda

Garage in Llanwrda

A proper Walking Well Walk, over the swing bridge in Llandeilo, along the banks of the river Towy and through the Tregrib Woods, was led by Malcolm and was really enjoyable. This was his first walk leading us! We were all well behaved so hopefully he’ll come back and lead many more interesting walks!

All the walkers in our group are delightful. We chat away with one another passing to and fro so by the end of the walk you’ve talked to everyone and sorted the world out.

Three of our lovely walkers do bring to mind a certain TV series though.. maybe we should rename the series Last of the Winter Wine!

Thank you Malcolm.

Llandeilo has a new mural which is situated under the archway from the carpark to the shops. It’s very good and a warm welcome to shoppers in the town.

A year seems to have flown by for Jim as it was his birthday…again! He received his card from me with the usual thank you. It’s only when he opens it he finds the messages that I have written to him over the last 7 years!! It has really saved a lot of time, money and effort to reuse the card. I promise to buy him a ‘new’ one when he reaches another decade! Our daughter sent him a harmonica so he could play Happy Birthday to himself! He did!

I ordered Staffordshire oatcakes to be delivered. They arrived and he’s happy!

Chocolates from a friend

Even though it was Jim’s day we managed to do all the things that I planned! We called in to the library to get a pin for my library card so I could download Libby by Overdrive on my ipad! Brilliant app …I can now download any magazine for free! It’s been wonderful to read the nature, history, art magazines I’m interested in all bang up to date for free!

We also went on to Aberglasney for lunch. Not many there due to the rain and wind but we enjoyed a very tasty lunch. The Gardens have been closed for the last few days due to the storms so hope all their trees have been safe.

I missed out on visiting Gelli Uchaf : https://thegardenimpressionists.com to see their snowdrop garden. Blow the storm!! Wonderful website, blog and of course garden!

Having lots of time indoors due to the storms has given me a chance to complete a February painting book of nature in our garden. Not sure if there’ll be a March one!

Love all the patterns and life in nature around the garden.

On our windowsill

Thank you for reading. Hope you have all survived any storms and any poor weather conditions where ever you are. Spring is nearly on the way (March 20) ..well in the northern hemisphere that is!

Take care.

February 3rd Paxton’s Tower and Salem Walks February 3, 2022

Weeks ago BC…Before Coronavirus….I went on a walk with Llandeilo Walking Well Group up to

Paxton’s Tower which is a folly erected in honour of Lord Nelson by Sir William Paxton in the 1800’s.

The tower has magnificent views along the Towy Valley but on the day of the walk these views were shrouded in mist, rain and drizzle. We were a jolly bunch getting up the hill to the tower and could see the valley and all the floods too. Well worth the climb.

The walk continued down through woodland glades that had felt the force of the latest storms. It was wet underfoot but a really enjoyable walk .

There was a bit of scrambling over fallen tree trunks and a careful eye kept over some big branches overhead but we all made it back to our cars in one piece!

We even discovered a bee hive…with bees flying to and fro. Proves it wasn’t that chilly just fresh! Thank you Pam for a great walk.

Our most recent walk was through the fields and byways around Salem, a pretty village in the Towy Valley. We met at The Angel Inn car park and set off up the road. There were more walkers than previous months and hopefully that’s a sign that everyone is trying to get back to normal in their activities.

The weather rather let us down as again it was rainy, drizzly and damp! We knew somewhere along the walk we would pass a wind turbine but it was hard to see anything far ahead or indeed close to!

We knew we were getting closer and closer and out of the gloom suddenly it appeared…quite spooky as it whirred around in the murk!

A rustle in the fields bordering the road stopped us in our tracks! Wales is the land of dragons and witches and we weren’t sure what we could see …it was all very eerie and mystical!

The mystical creature.

Thank goodness there are some very sensible people on our walk and they pointed out to me that in the next field there was an alpaca…so mystery solved! I was hoping for something to challenge the Loch Ness Monster!

Funnily enough on our circular walk we ended back at The Angel where we all enjoyed some light refreshments. Thank you Biddy for a great walk.

Jim and I set out on a local walk around Llandovery. Again the weather changed our ideas as it began to rain heavily so our short walk was even shorter!

We were pleased to find that they have used us as a template for their road sign!

The river was about to get even wetter with the rain and this wonderful old house- Ty-Ficar Pritchard, stands proud in all weathers.

Ty-Ficar Pritchard Llandovery

Of course no post could pass without a mention of Aberglasney Gardens.. Spring is starting to bloom in the gardens with drifts of snowdrops under the magnolia trees and clumps of daffodils with their nodding heads at the entrance to the carpark.

The sculptures by David Petersen really stand out in the spring sunshine.

Back home the borders are beginning to fill up with flowering snowdrops all the way down one side of the drive , hellebores and the wonderful heather just keeps on going …love it!

The lichen, toadstools are everywhere and the scarlet elfcups are very showy amongst the fallen branches and leaf litter.

Best of all though the crocus have flowered this week to bring an even brighter splash of colour to the border.

This burst of excitement was followed by another when the Canada Geese flew into the pond…. whole weeks earlier than last year! The long tailed tits are still visiting and long may that last!

Self isolation in January gave me a bit more time to complete another ‘book’! I enjoy watercolour painting and decided I’d put my paintings in a concertina book…only small 4 inches square..keeps me out of trouble! This ‘book’ is called…January…what a surprise!

So all in all a good start to February with more walks to look forward to and more plants flowering in the garden and more paintings to do!

Thank you for reading and hope you are all staying well. Try some art/craft work keeps one smiling and enjoying life even when it’s raining and cold outside!

View from garden when taking Rufus his morning walk

January 15th 2022 Staying in January 15, 2022

Not the best way to begin the New Year: a sore throat, headache, runny nose and feeling tired and a positive LFT! It’s not all doom and gloom though- it’s just a bad cold and like colds they can be spread very easily which is why Jim has also tested positive- not sure he’s delighted to have caught it from me!

Self isolation ends next week for both of us so looking forward to getting out and about again!

Staying in has meant lots of lying down on the settee and looking out the window at the sunrises, sunsets, birds and mice on feeders!

The birds have kept me amused from the shy woodpecker to the camouflaged log tailed tits!

Even though we have had a great deal of rain it surprised me to fine how many birds queue up for a wash in the bird bath and a drink.

I feed the birds once a day in the morning. However, I’m always pleased to see that the teasels and the other plants, with their seed heads left on through the winter, attract the birds too. Saves on the cost of the seed and peanuts which is really getting far too expensive! I think Senior Citizens should be given a bird seed allowance…as long as they don’t eat the seeds! Maybe I’ll start an online petition…I’d have to be careful how I’d word it…” Free bird seed for Senior Citizens” …nope ..I’ll have to rethink that one!

We’ve had a real mix of weather with heavy rains followed by frosty days and nights and swirling fog thrown in too! I bought a rain gauge to keep up with rainfall measurements and of course that was the best thing to do to stop the rain!

The garden has been very wet, wet, damp, and totally frozen but some plants have survived and are bringing colour to the borders already!

It’s good to see the garden coming back to life…after all it’s only January! There’s lots more of winter yet! The problems after Storm Arwen haven’t gone away but they’ll have to wait until the weather dries and brightens up!

Even if there have been a few ups and downs over the last weeks the garden and the views around certainly help to lift the spirits!

From the top of the drive a view over the Black Mountain

A view over The Pond Field early morning

A view over the Carmarthen Fans from the garden

Thank you for reading. Do hope you are all keeping well and virus free. Hopefully in the UK all lockdown restrictions will be ended by the end of January and then the spring will really look like a season of new beginnings.

December 30 th Black Mountain Quarry, Aberglasney December 30, 2021

Oh, the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we’ve no place to go
Just sit down and read below!

Just before Christmas there were a few dry, sunny but chilly days and we made the most of them by going out! We piled in the car and drove through Llangadog and up the windy roads, climbing higher and higher, up the Black Mountain, until we reached the first car park. The views over the Towy Valley from here are spectacular- especially on a clear day! The cloud bank over the distant hills slowly moved closer but we gave it the evil eye and it stayed away!

Driving further up the mountain we arrived at the next car park where there was a display board explaining the history of the landscape and the story behind the quarries, where limestone was quarried years ago.

Being keen to visit the quarry, I followed a path, over the lunar like landscape, to the top of the hill, by myself. The views continued to be amazing but the chill wind started to blow more strongly and the quarry loomed ahead huge, desolate and intimidating. I wished that I wasn’t alone!

Safely, back in the car we drove down the road off the hill and stopped at yet another carpark and enjoyed the wonderful views towards Carreg Cennen Castle.

Carreg Cennen Castle

Back at home the birds and other creatures keep giving pleasure! Well some of them! It’s always this time of year when the squirrels invade the garden and try to steal all the bird seed or indeed the feeders too! I have put cages around other seed feeders but this one I just rigged up an old hanging basket to cover the feeder. The goldfinches kept a very beady eye on the feeder but it didn’t keep the squirrels from having their fill of the seed!

The mice also help themselves, hopefully, it will make them too fat to climb the walls and get in our loft …again!

I was out in the garden at exactly the right time to witness a buzzard preening and sunning himself. He sat quite majestically on the top branch of our lime tree. The really top branch had been felled in Storm Arwen! This is his favourite position overlooking our pond field. I felt quite honoured to see it all! Too many photos but can’t decide which to leave out!

When it’s sunny of course a visit to Aberglasney is expected! The Ninfarium is awash with gorgeous orchids and the house, the parterre and the cloisters all look their best in the winter sunshine.

The coffee and sandwiches are pretty brilliant too!

Our garden has lots of interesting happenings! Signs of spring with the hellebores appearing and shoots of snowdrops poking their heads through the leaf litter. Next door’s lovely cat and sheep in the field check me along their drive…all those eyes following my movements… any food around?!

Thank you for reading this post. It’s the last one for 2021! Looking back the year has definitely had its ups and downs. Our visits out, my garden, my painting and my family and friends all bring me great enjoyment. This year our visit to see our son and his family in Canada in October was a highlight. Recovering from operations and treatment for cancer he’s on the mend!

Writing these posts is also very enjoyable- it gives me a reason to keep taking all those photos! It also keeps me in touch with all the wonderful visitors we welcome to Lletty Cottage- all our friends now.

So out with the old 2021 , in with the new 2022 : may you be happy the whole year through.

Happy New Year!

December 17 Aberglasney, Christmas Lights, Visit to Brecon, Telegraph Garden Centre December 17, 2021

Only eight more sleeps until the day!

How often in the past when our children were small did we have to count down these last nights with their growing anticipation and excitement building with every hour. Now we are just quietly enjoying a wonderful visit from our daughter and family for a weekend of relaxation and catch up – all of course proceeded by lateral flow tests before we sink into days of reading, walking and eating…our Christmas days have really changed! ! What a strange world we are living in now!

Our garden is also quietly dying back into its winter slumber. The recent storms have caused many trees and bushes to be uprooted but all is quiet now. The only sound in the garden are the birds flocking to the feeders, the sheep baaing in distant fields and the wind rustling the few leaves left on the trees.

Every morning the bullfinch and jays join our breakfast scrabble at the bird table with the sparrows, chaffinches, gold fiches, green finches, blue tits, nuthatches and recently joined there by the long tailed tits….but can I get a decent photo…no! The mistle thrush, however, sat calmly and beautifully on the fence so I could focus and snap away! I think it was very full of the crab apples that it had just eaten off the trees!

The squirrel in our garden from my grand father’s home is slowly being taken over by moss- another job to wait until the spring!

Morning walks with Rufus are still lovely even when it’s frosty and freezing or wet and rainy but especially when the sun rises are brilliant and bright.

A visit to Aberglasney is always included in a week and a walk around the gardens collecting foliage for flower arrangements is always a pleasure. A stroll through the greenhouse is also very enjoyable and a place to keep warm on a cold and frosty day.

We enjoyed a quick drive out to Brecon to visit their market. It was all very quiet in town and hardly the buzz one would expect just a week before Christmas. We walked around the lovely town and enjoyed looking at all the decorations in the shop windows and had a very tasty veggie soup in a bookshop plus cafe! Everyone had made such a great effort to brighten the town up. We called into the wonderful museum/library. It was only a quick visit as the heating was on in the building and wearing face masks we both became too hot!!

We are very fortunate that the new Telegraph Garden Centre is open just down the road from us. There’s also a great cafe there too…amazing cakes! So it’s no surprise that a weekly visit there is also on the cards and a joy to see all their Christmas trees and plants all displayed and ready to buy!

Our Llansadwrn village has come out blazing with lights again for Christmas. It all looks very festive especially the decorations in the church porch.

Back home our decorations are up and memories refreshed about some of the decorations. Some belonged to my parents and some have been given to us recently and some long ago by friends. The Babycham Bambis belonged to my mum also the tin candles and bell…. she loved them!

Well it’s time to wish everyone who reads this post (especially QSP in USA) a very special Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year, wherever you are.

I know we all hope for a better year next year and I’m sure it will be!

Thank you for reading and see you in 2022!!