Nearly

Last week we planned to get away asap - chill on the veranda with some cold beers and perhaps fire the BBQ up - all this came to a crushing halt as I walked out of work on Friday afternoon only to be called back for another three hours emergency reporting information required first thing Monday morning.

This being a life and death situation (of the 1 minute review paper variety) I had to stay -3 hours later our plans for an early lift off had gone so me and Amanda got through the wine destined for the caravan and chilled out at home instead.

It was still a shame as the weekend turned out to be beautiful yet again, if this is global warming you can spray all the Old Spice you want into the air.

When we eventually got there Ann and John had gone out but poor old Niall and his dad Tim were hard at work trying to secure Nialls car after last weeks accident for the trip home. After they left I took a wander around the beach ( where the terns have returned for another season for any of you bird nerdy types out there) and lanes whilst Amanda chilled and started the BBQ off. Clive came over for a few pints later on and normal caravan life was restored.

Sunday the four oldies went for a walk to Cors Caron - its been a long time since I had this much walking and the old legs were a bit like jelly after we returned. Cors Caron is an interesting place which we like but this Sunday we had little choice to be honest. The baking weather which had settled all over S Wales was also in the West but a thick coastal fog had surrounded Newquay and we had to drive at least 10 miles inland to escape it but it was worth the effort. The new visitor centre is now open in the middle of the marshland and will doubtless be a hit later this year for all the vistors.

After returning to lovely cooked dinner we all headed East after a quiet weekend.

This week Amanda has come down with all sorts of chest and ear infections so would not have made it to Newquy anyway but the big story of the weekend was Bronwyns formal at the Marriot in Cardiff. For months Amanda and Ann have been scouring Wales for just that perfect dress but finally after what seems like an eternity the day had arrived and what a picture she looked as did all her friends. Stretch Limos, Overnight hotel stays, Dickie Bows and double vodkas at £10 a throw all seem a long way from what I remembered of our sixth form formal parties which started in the Beach in Ystrad Mynach and ended with chips in the village later in the night.

Everyone sounded like they had a great time though and preparations for next years bash are already under way.

Bethan had a weekend with her friends who were up until 4am on Saturday watching films and chatting and would probably still be there now if we hadn't eventually run out of partience and herded them all upstairs for bed. If truth be told Amanda and I saw little of either of them all weekend (although my credit card has seen plenty of them) so I attacked the garden which was a long time overdue and fitted our new washing machine in - who needs posh parties and long nights with your mates when you've got that kind of excitement to look forward to.

Sunday the four of us went out for a meal and to say I'm stuffed is something of an understatement - the diet can wait for another week. Well the weekends over yet again and not sure what lies in store for next week- and thats just the way we like it - living life on the edge, gripper style. :0)

PS - I've posted a photo of Morgan from our Easter weekend just to even up the Lewis/ Morgan photo balance which was noticed at the pink palace - apologies all round apart from Jonathan who has deeply hurt my feelings comparing my pre mown garden to the Borneo rain forests.

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.

Lift Off

Last weekend was a busy one- Amands birthday so we all trecked to the Ffwrm Ishta in Mchen for a meal on Friday night which was very nice and then me and Amanda had a day out in Cardiff shopping for a present followed by going to see the Ospreys and Blues in the Millenium stadium- the first game we watched since the Warriors folded. Did enjoy it although forgot how cold these places get in the evening.

In the week then we head down to St Davids centre to see Bethan performing in the Foyer of St Davids centre and both the girls in the choir in the main hall which was really nice.

Finally this weekend, we make it down to the caravan on Saturday evening where eventually after sorting ourselves out we get out for a walk around the lanes and a couple of pints in the pink pub (which in truth is nice at the time but always a mistake as by the time 7 pm comes around I'm ready for bed and walking around wide awake at 2 in the morning) before returning home and settling in for a video fest. It is at this point though I have to let everyone know we now have a photo refuser amongst us and as such I am forced into taking the only shots available at extreme wide angle lets hope this is not a continuing trend as the rest of the family are set to yet again be cyber starts in 2007.

Sunday morning me and Amanda shoot off to Aberaeron and get some supplies in whilst dropping into the harbour master for a coffee which was very civilized. On our return and with sandwiches packed we head off to the Teiffi Marshes for a stroll and an easy introduction to the weeks ahead. The weather is really nice now and fingers crossed looks set fair for the Easter break.
After taking a few photos and a few miles later we return to the van - everyone shattered (and out of condition) most chill out in the van whilst I head accross to the beach in front of us to make the most of the remaining daylight and take a few more photos.

Although the sun is bright its still cold at this time of the year in the wind but it is great walking weather so when we return later this week hopefully we can take advantage of it. Ann and John go home late on Sunday whilst the rest of us come home Monday morning. 2 days to get through work and then a nice break with hopefully plenty of sun to get out and about with.

The Caerphilly Pinks have made their way down the van whilst we vacated but not sure if they will be there when we return as Jonathan is still in a bad way with his back - lets hope still too bad to touch the 12 individually marked cans of Fosters I left chilling in the fridge for my return :0)

Its good to be back.

Not quite lift off

Still not made it down West and looking at what the kids have planned over the next few weeks don't look like its going to happen until Easter at least.


Bronwyn is starting to get into gear in her job in the Millenium stadium, trying to save some money to get away for a holiday. Last week she was in the box with members from the British Olympic committee who weren't that friendly according to her but did leave a tip at the end of the day which is a plus point in her book. Amanda and I picked her up from Cardiff after the game- thats a real experience, being the only sober people in a sea of Red shirted drunks - I've never noticed it before, always being one of the masses, but it was quite an education. Bumped into Lisa and Byron in the chip shop in Tir y Berth on the way home after they had been to the match and sounds like they had had a good day out aswel.

Bronwyns driving continues even after her driving instructor quit - the car in the picture is what we noticed when out and about on a Sunday morning - its the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the Dick Van Dyke film which was doing a promo spot outside a new housing Estate in Penallta of all places.

Bought myself a new camera ths year so eventually after all the rain managed to get down to Roath park and take a few photos. Still not had enough time to get used to all the settings and its always dark when I get home but hopefully the light nights and weekends on the coast will rectify this - anyway posted a few shots which are all handheld at Max zoom (apart from the daffs) 504mm + digital zoom which is why they aren't that sharp but photographing birds you just can't stop yourself trying just that bit extra zoom.

Going out for a meal on Friday this week to celebrate Amandas birthday while on Sunday Bethan is paint balling with her friends - this sounds like a lot of fun but no doubt will also entail a lot of bruises - still should be a good day out for her. With the kids out and about me and Amanda planning to go to Cardiff for the day for a mooch about and a few pints in town.

Just a few lines to get back into the habit of posting - looking to sunnier days ahead.

Gearing up

Well - if the truth be told last year I just ran out of steam at the end of the year which didn't end until the beginning of November down in caravan land. So apologies to all my regular readers (thats you Mike by the way) for the abruptness of the column but it is on its way back.

So here we are again at the beginning of a whole new caravan year - we've already had a text from Clive and Jane who are down the owners club getting their year started. Amanda, Bethan and I have already made our first journey down West in February. A lovely bright winters day when we spent a few hours having Sunday dinner in the Welly and walking around the beach. Quite suprizingly for this time of the year Newquay was pretty much full - we were really lucky to get in for Sunday dinner as the pub was full within an hour of us arriving - it was a really nice day - but as always its not quite the same when you can't stay - but we're nearly there again.

So whats changed for this year then? - well Moira and Allan our long time neighbours have moved on to new pastures, although still in the park, Bronwyn being a young lady now (her words) won't be with us every weekend, work for me is getting longer by the week so I can't see the Friday night experience starting for quite some time now and Jonathan is having real trouble with his back so my guess is the Caerphilly Brains won't be frequent visitors at all this year but you never know.



Whats been going on since last year? - Well lots really - Bronwyns learning to drive, has her own car and a new boyfriend - Niahl whos a nice young man with a car - a bonus for Bronwyn but he is a Cardiff Blues fan so you can't have everything. Bethan is back learning the piano and taking her exams again becoming the foremost muscian in the house and me and Amanda are a few months older and a few pounds heavier (well ok a bit more than a few pounds in my case). Christmas was the most hectic we've ever had and the shocking weather over December meant it was the first time since the kids were born I wasn't able to get any outside lights up on the house.

New Years Eve this year was in Ann and Johns house which was an Elvis and get drunk night which was a cracker and we've had the worst snows in the valleys for years. In my case the worst nightmare trip home from work also as I pulled out of Newport at 11am only for the windscreen wipers to pack in leaving a 4 hour drive home in Blizzard conditions - just as well we could only go 10 miles an hour the whole way I suppose. Anyway on the upside - both Thursday and Friday Amanda, Bethan and I had early finishes and a walk through the snow up to the Cross for a few pints and something to eat.

Heres a few more memories from the winter - summers on the way at last.