Friday, October 12, 2007
12th October Relaxing in Wales.
Today has been an easy day and it needed to be after the pains of last night.
Those pains have settled again but I am full of chesty cold now.
The day didn't exactly dawn, but somehow just drifted to a time when you realised it wasn't night anymore. The sun didn't break though and it was murky, misty and drizzly.
We drove up the hill and parked the car at Morrisons and walked through the alley ways and narrow streets of Upper Bangor to Ekatarina's school. The playground was full of parents and children; some children lingering by Mum or Dad and others off to run and greet friends. Katya was pleased to see Fatima who walked with us up from the main road. The bell was rung and the children lined up outside their classes and in they went, with a wave, for the day.
We called in at the post office for me to post 2 parcels and then went to Morrisons for a few bits and to debate what the evening meal might consist of.
We went home then and made some breakfast which we just hadn't had time to do earlier or Katya would have been late for school.
Bill and I then drove westward to Pete and Jean's house. Normally we enjoy tremendous views, back across Snowdonia and then across the sea to Anglesey and then over the bracken and heather covered hills of the Lleyn Peninsular. Today we could have been driving across a plain for the mist and low cloud meant that we saw nothing of the mountains or the sea on either side.
We joined Pete and Jean in the kitchen and had a cup of tea before lunch and there we sat enjoying food and more cups of tea and lots of chat for several hours.
It was very relaxing and good for both Bill and me. Bill is feeling quite run down too and his back and knees are aching. Maybe the damp is getting to his rheumatics!
It was still sort of light as we drove back home - but very grey. The mountains and grey cottages have atmosphere in winter weather, but the towns just look dreary. Although Carnarvon Castle stands black and tall against the Menai Strait.
Ekatarina was watching Superman (the Christopher Reeve film) when we got in. Nice not to be watching CBeebies now she is so very nearly 7 years old.
Then we talked and played.
Dinner was soon dealt with because we decided to get a Chinese take away which was delivered to us - a huge range of tasty dishes and pretty well enough for tomorrow too. I enjoyed my dinner!
After dinner Ashley put on a CD that we had been talkng about. Last weekend I had bought CDs to sell, but thought that The Medieval Babes sounded interesting. We loved it when we played it at home. I think we proudly thought that we alone had discovered them! But Ashley has them already and Pete and Jean have 2 of their CDs.
It is beautiful and haunting medieval music performed by a group of attractive young women. Bill now has a video to enjoy because Ashley found him one in a charity shop.
Katya began to dance to the music and talked to me about the meaning of her dance.... she said her dancing was about being thankful and celebrating the good things in our lives.
It was lovely dancing.
Then we went to bed and read - of course- Angelina ballerina. Last night she told me that there is a book called Angelina's Christmas that she would like. Well, I know that amongst the things we had brought up wrapped for Christmas presents is a copy of that book. Hooray!
The weather for tomorrow will not be any better and so we have looked for indoor things to do and we are going to Pili Palas (Butterfly Palace) where there are lots of activities and things to including of course some beautiful butterflies (just ripe for photographing!).
So despite feeling run down it looks like I am in for a nice day out with Katya, Ashley and Bill.
Bill is now dozing and so I think we should pack up and go to bed soon.
Those pains have settled again but I am full of chesty cold now.
The day didn't exactly dawn, but somehow just drifted to a time when you realised it wasn't night anymore. The sun didn't break though and it was murky, misty and drizzly.
We drove up the hill and parked the car at Morrisons and walked through the alley ways and narrow streets of Upper Bangor to Ekatarina's school. The playground was full of parents and children; some children lingering by Mum or Dad and others off to run and greet friends. Katya was pleased to see Fatima who walked with us up from the main road. The bell was rung and the children lined up outside their classes and in they went, with a wave, for the day.
We called in at the post office for me to post 2 parcels and then went to Morrisons for a few bits and to debate what the evening meal might consist of.
We went home then and made some breakfast which we just hadn't had time to do earlier or Katya would have been late for school.
Bill and I then drove westward to Pete and Jean's house. Normally we enjoy tremendous views, back across Snowdonia and then across the sea to Anglesey and then over the bracken and heather covered hills of the Lleyn Peninsular. Today we could have been driving across a plain for the mist and low cloud meant that we saw nothing of the mountains or the sea on either side.
We joined Pete and Jean in the kitchen and had a cup of tea before lunch and there we sat enjoying food and more cups of tea and lots of chat for several hours.
It was very relaxing and good for both Bill and me. Bill is feeling quite run down too and his back and knees are aching. Maybe the damp is getting to his rheumatics!
It was still sort of light as we drove back home - but very grey. The mountains and grey cottages have atmosphere in winter weather, but the towns just look dreary. Although Carnarvon Castle stands black and tall against the Menai Strait.
Ekatarina was watching Superman (the Christopher Reeve film) when we got in. Nice not to be watching CBeebies now she is so very nearly 7 years old.
Then we talked and played.
Dinner was soon dealt with because we decided to get a Chinese take away which was delivered to us - a huge range of tasty dishes and pretty well enough for tomorrow too. I enjoyed my dinner!
After dinner Ashley put on a CD that we had been talkng about. Last weekend I had bought CDs to sell, but thought that The Medieval Babes sounded interesting. We loved it when we played it at home. I think we proudly thought that we alone had discovered them! But Ashley has them already and Pete and Jean have 2 of their CDs.
It is beautiful and haunting medieval music performed by a group of attractive young women. Bill now has a video to enjoy because Ashley found him one in a charity shop.
Katya began to dance to the music and talked to me about the meaning of her dance.... she said her dancing was about being thankful and celebrating the good things in our lives.
It was lovely dancing.
Then we went to bed and read - of course- Angelina ballerina. Last night she told me that there is a book called Angelina's Christmas that she would like. Well, I know that amongst the things we had brought up wrapped for Christmas presents is a copy of that book. Hooray!
The weather for tomorrow will not be any better and so we have looked for indoor things to do and we are going to Pili Palas (Butterfly Palace) where there are lots of activities and things to including of course some beautiful butterflies (just ripe for photographing!).
So despite feeling run down it looks like I am in for a nice day out with Katya, Ashley and Bill.
Bill is now dozing and so I think we should pack up and go to bed soon.
