Llantwit Major

What a fantastic stay with family in Llantwit Major, S. Wales. It  was a perfect mix of madness, when the house was full of four-legged pooches, so excited to be with us all, amd Mabli toddling around in perpetual motion, whilst Betsy amazingly closed her eyes for a short nap

And trips to some of the many coastal areas and forests, only a short distance away.

It was marvellous to spend time with Annie at the local fair in St Donat's Castle, used as a college now for overseas students. I had not been there for years, so despite overcast skies, and some quite welcome showers, we had a great day enjoying the magnificent grounds and gardens with their rather strange and sometimes grotesque animal statues,with the garden  levels gradually descending to the stony beach.

A highlight was certainly an opportunity to see several rescued owls close up. What magnificent creatures they are.

The beach there may not be perfect for swimmers, but the cliffs and colours were spectacular.

It is always great to come home to the dogs. I only had one evening alone at home and so enjoyed Peaches' company. She was utterly exhausted after her busy day walking, chasing the birds and madly doing circuits of the garden, before twirling around in circles trying to catch her tail. No wonder  she slept well and frequently had bad-hair days

We spent a lot of time at local beaches. Ogmore is one of my favourites with its almost volcanic- looking rocks. The clouds seem to add character to this beach and helped us cope better with the higher than usual temperatures. 

It is so beautiful there, and made more special being with Ceri and the matriarch of the dogs, Molly. Sitting, staring, chatting with Ceri as if we had never been apart, made these excursions so very special. 

The following day I was back again, this time with my great- niece and two great great nieces. What a phenomenal view it was and such vibrant colours, and how fabulous to share this with Bethan and little Mabli, and Betsy, not in photo!

Walks to the beach from home were frequent, and always special. Here Annie and I crossed some meadows to reach the clifftops, where we enjoyed breath-taking views along the cliffs towards St Donats. I will miss the sea for the next six weeks, but know there will be other pleasures in store for me.

Life at Ceri's, and at Annie's too, is never boring. Family members pop in frequently and the close family bond is very evident. 

Ben, my nephew and one of the few males around, seemed to have the magic touch with his little niece Betsy.

Meanwhile Ceri made the most delicious pizzas for us all, the base being made from only flour and greek yoghourt. 

Ceri and I had a fantastic day at Cosmeston Lakes, which I had not been to before. It was a perfect place to be on a very warm day.- such cool, lush forests with majestic trees affording us sought after shade

And amongst the foliage we thoroughly enjoyed the company of squirrels, and occasionally rats! Luckily, I am not worried by them. They are more or less the size of the squirrels but don't have the beautiful fluffy curley tails!

Wild orchids added colour to the forest floor. 

Oh, so happy to be once again with the Welsh side of my family, though I do wish Mark and David could be here too. . There seems to be quite a family likeness + many years between Ceri and me! Poor Ceri!

Next stop Penarth pier, and a trip back down Memory Lane. Piers were a big part of my childhood when I visited my grandparents in Brighton. There the pier has entertainment as well as junk food, but it was still fantastic to see the little sweet shops here. 

And the lovely wrought iron railings creating beautiful patterns on the pier. What better than to have Fish and chips on the pier! 

Considering the fact that my main purpose for going to Wales was to visit family, we did a lot of wonderful excursions, many totally new for me. Dyffryn House and Gardens is a magnificentNational Trust Estate, with extensive grounds and a splendid, partially renovated residence. 

The gardens, largely cared for by volunteers, had become somewhat overgrown due to Covid lockdown. However, they are doing a great job restoring the pretty borders and extensive vegetable garden and Arboretum.

There is some rather weird and wonderful stonework,
I love the play area for kids with its natural play equipment, some with fabulous animal carvings. What a great idea.

Our final evening out was at Barry Good Sheds, converted train carriages from Barry Docks. It is a very modern, technological concept, with numerous small kitchens offering different types of food - pizza, burger, Mexican, Greek, Thai, Indian. The choice varies daily and everything must be ordered using a QR code. As I didn't have access to wi- fi, I had to rely on others. The only time you see a waiter or waitress is when they deliver the food in recyclable boxes with wooden cutlery. It is a bit impersonal, but very relaxed, and the food was delicious. Was great to be there with another great niece, Daisy, who is soon off on her travels to Australia and hopefully NZ.

And here she is relaxing with her mum and dog Peaches. 

It was a great holiday, full of love and laughter. Saying goodbye was not too hard, as I will be back in August.