Starting on a positive note and not mentioning the weather…. just yet…. is an effort to look at all the benefits of the easing of lockdown in Wales. We have been able to travel the highways and byways again and visit the seaside and other favourite places.
Our first away day was to the lovely town of Aberystwyth. The sun was shining, the crowds were gathering and there was a lot of bare skin to be seen on many of the walkers along the promenade! T shirts, shorts and other scanty wear seemed to be the order of the day for all the youngsters and not so young! I sensibly kept on my thermal vest…there was a brisk wind!
As the day progressed the crowds and the queues for coffee and snacks grew but everyone was in jovial mood and we had a lovely time.
Walking along side the harbour it was sad to see all the fishing boats moored up and all the fishing gear and lobster pots tied together unused through the lockdown. Hopefully they’ll all be put into action again very soon.
Passing through the centre of the town one expected to see tumbleweed blowing through the streets! The shops were all closed( open April 12…yay) but many were closed permanently…some large retailers had shut up shop and gone! Let’s hope many more smaller independent shops step in and take up the mantle and open up their shops so all the visitors can enjoy a walk through this lovely town and enjoy their shopping too.
It was interesting to see our villages Llansadwrn, Llanwrda and our local caravan site Aber Marlais marked on a Saxton 1579 map on show in a Aberystwyth University display on the prom…we’ve obviously always been very important!!
Another sunny day saw us driving through Carmarthen and on to Narberth. A very popular busy, little town with many small shops, cafes and restaurants to tempt one. Only the food shops were open and a cafe with take away coffee- which was just perfect! We had a good walk around the castle, the churchyard and down some country lanes. On returning through Carmarthen Jim called in for his second jab…done and dusted…. and I only need my second jab now for us to be sorted.
I love estuaries…everything about them ticks my boxes! However, I’m the only one who likes them so it was a treat just for me that we ended up in Lawrenny on the Milford Haven estuary of the Cleddau river. I walked along the shore enjoying the sights and smells all around whilst he who doesn’t like the sights and smells sat on a bench and tried hard not to like the sunshine!
Water skier 
Driving home across Neyland bridge
Returning home from the outing we saw our local AdClad hot air balloon enjoying the views over our garden and then flying off into the distance!
Of course no post would be complete now without some photos of Aberglasney Gardens. It is wonderful that they are open again so everyone can enjoy the colourful spring borders with their trilliums, magnolias, hellebores, fritillaries in the meadows and lots more besides.
Great friends shared a morning with me at the Gardens and we enjoyed our take away coffee and hot cross buns before our saunter around the gardens- a wonderful way to spend a morning.
Back in Llansadwrn, my kind friend invited me to go on a local walk. The views from her home over the Carmarthen Fans were beautiful as always but now they were covered in snow as well!
We walked along country tracks admiring the statuesque trees, the fields of nature, the tumble down long deserted farm houses and carefully trod through the woods carpeted with wood anemone and bluebells in waiting. It was all delightful.
At the end of the walk I was even given a wonderful hand made gift. …..a peg woven sheep’s wool cushion. perfect for rolling up and taking on walks and putting down to sit on and keeping those parts of the anatomy dry! Thank you. Rufus has other ideas about keeping parts of his anatomy dry and warm!
Only now will I mention the weather! We have enjoyed some really sunny and bright days but we’ve also had wind, snow and very chilly days as Wally my wheelbarrow mate shows!
How the garden has kept going I’m not sure. Yes, there are frost burnt leaves and some withered stems but the garden is fighting back! The Canada Geese are settled on the pond and Mrs Goose is sitting on her nest on the island. She went to sit on exactly the same day as last year!
Thank you for reading. Hope your gardens and lives are now recovering from frost and lockdowns! Lots to look forward to …tulip time and bluebell wood walks….can’t wait!
