I've been here six weeks now. I should be fitter after the stairs and walking but it doesn't show on the scales. Dayna and Bruce have been wonderful, taking me around the country in England as well as Wales.
We visited Cardiff castle and went back for a Welsh Banquet there. We've also been to Castle Koch, Caenarvon Castle and Warwick castle. Warwick is much more commercialised than the others and we saw a joust there and many wax figures. Too wet on the day we visited to tour the ramparts.
We've visited St Fagan's, an open air Museum of Welsh life, the Big Pit, a museum of coal, Brecon Beacon railway, Cheddar Gorge, Stonehenge and Bath. I had a trip to Swansea and to the Gower and beach areas on the Welsh coast (too cold for swimming.)
We had an interlude in Rome where I saw historical buildings, including Vatican , St Peter's Basilica, the Colosseum and Panthenon and many, many people. Our very comfortable flat was on the fifth floor and only a block from the station. The non working elevator meant more exercise. I wouldn't tackle anything like this without expert guides. We found paying for tours saved hours of queuing at several of the venues. Lovely weather for three days then some showers. After our return to Cardiff via Wednesbury, we had a fortnight of great weather. I walked to the local shops (20 minutes) and bought an extra cabin size case (from the local op shop). This one has wheels.
I went with Dayna to North Wales and to Wrexham, Caenarvon and the place with the longest Welsh name. We called at a seaside town Aberwrystwyth for fish and chips on the way home. That day it poured.
A week in the Cotswalds when we visited several of the little? townships as well as Stratford upon Avon, Oxford and Warwick. We were there for the Queen's diamond Jubilee celebrations and the street party in Chipping Norton. The Cotswald stone is a lovely yellow sandstone. I even saw a thatcher redoing a house in Chipping Camden, where we stayed. Many tasty meals out and about, coffees and the occasional wine. Bruce's Dad John was the driver for most of the time. We returned to Wednesbury with them, via a shopping outlet in Hatton and went out to the Crooked House for a seven course taster banquet. Superb presentation of each course. Sunday lunch was at the Cider House, another drive into the country to find it. I don't know how any one finds these places.
Good to have a few days to draw breathe, catch up on the laundry and emails before we head off on Thursday for Paris, London and the Isle of Wight.
Excellent news from Glenn this morning. He has a new job based in Canberra with Palantir.
So good to have had a chat with all of you. Lisa I'm glad to hear you have a new oven I'm sure you'll be testing it out well.
Love and hugs to all from Mum.
