Easter Bank Holiday

Weather forecast was good so I took a day off work and went down the caravan early - Wedesday night to be exact to meet the Caerphilly Pink Brains who had camped out in Newquay the day before. By the time everyone had unpacked - a few beers later and everyone was in bed (or the slowly deflating rubber blow up torture bed as we know it.)













First thing in the morning me, Amanda and Bethan (Bronwyn didn't come up until Friday) head off to Portmadog - best part of 3 hours away. This was going to be the highlight of the weekend for me- going to Glaslyn to see the Ospreys - I had visions of taking photos of these majestic birds swooping down over the lake and catching salmon. The reality was somwhat different as the enthusistic birdwatchers at the site pointed them out in a few trees some mile and a half away where they could have been sparrows for all we could see- still we could see them on the TV in the hut and at least Amanda remembered to turn the mobile off not to frighten them.

Slightly dispirited we headed up to Caernarvon and wandered around the castle and town for a few hours which is Amandas favourite thing so at least all was not lost. Unfortunately when we got back Jonathan, Leanne and kids had left as Lewis had not been very well the night before.


Friday came and me and Amanda went into
Newquay to the Penwig which has recently been done out- all of a sudden pubs seem bright clean places now the smokers have been kicked out - the Penwig is now a fantastic pub and I can see us going there more and more - unfortunately this time as usually happens with afternoon drinking Amanda spent the rest of the day unconscious in bed (apparantly something to do with tiredness and nothing at all chardonay related).

This left me alone putting up our new 50 sack of charcoal capacity BBQ together until Ann and John came up with Bronwyn and when Amnda blearily returned to the land of the living the weekend got started..

The Caerphilly Pinks reappeared on Saturday when we all went over to the Teifi Martians and walked the legs of Morgan (or possibly the other way round) before returning to christen the BBQ for the night. What was to follow after the BBQ unfortunately was the worst display of snoring I have ever heard. Jonathan must practice to be that bad no wonder he had a sore throat in the morning. Despite constantly pillow battering him throughout the night he was completely undaunted and snorasaured on and on and when me and Amanda eventually got up with eyes like Christopher Lee in the morning ,Jonathan went back to bed after Leanne had got up (until Mr eyebrow was brought into action later on in the day).

Eventually we all got out of the caravan - Caerphilly Brains off to see Thomas the tank engine with the kids which they said was really good and the rest of us up to Nant Bwlch for the day. This I really enjoyed - Nant Bwlch yr Arian is a a forestery walk that we've been loads of times before but becasue its so high its usually quite windy and cold - but this time the warm Easter sun made it a real pleasure even when we went off road and Ann got stuck in a bog and had to be rescued leaving her shoe stuck in there. She was not amuzed and waved her stick repeatedly spoiling my photography in the process. Once everyone reassembled at base BBQ number 2 started and was followed by a night of DVDs (well 20 minutes of James Bond before everyone crashed again)

Last day in Newquay and we head off to the witches cauldren on the Pembrokeshire Coastal path. An hours drive, 1 picnic and five hundred yards later we are heading home as Bronwyns boyfriend Niall has come to see Bronwyn at the caravan for the first time but unfortunately managed to have a car crash 2 miles from the caravan. Luckily no one was hurt but the car had to stay in Newquay whilst Nialls dad came to pick him up - not the best first trip to caravan land but I'm sure there'll be more and at least Bronwyn now has someone to swap near miss stories with.

I spent the rest of the afternoon in bright sunshine down the beach on my own with camera and oyster catchers for company which was quite nice after such a hectic few days. Eventually after BBQ number 3 Ann, John and Bronwyn head home, followed by the Murphys on Tuesday morning leaving the Caerphilly Pinks to enjoy the rest of the lovely weather forecasted for this week.

Next weekends set to be hotter still if you believe the weather man - BBQ number 4 is already at the planning stage. Lets leave with a few more images of a hectic but fun weekend.