Valentines in the Eye of a Storm

It was another Landmark Valentines weekend this time spent in a small village just outside Cardigan. Landmark properties, whilst slightly more expensive, are worth it for their eccentric character, olde world charm and location.

 

We were wrapped up warm like two bugs in a rug as for 48 hours Storm Denis played out overhead. Gale force winds and lashings of rain. When we first arrived we slightly overshot the turn off and did a Uie by this bus stop. By the following day it was three feet under water and the main road to Cardigan was closed.

 On this pic the river should be beyond the trees, centre picture, in the distance.

By chance on the Sunday it eased off a bit so we went to walk Poppit Sands. An easily accessible beach via the lifeboat station if your ever oput that way pop into the beach cafe - good snacks served by friendly owners. Within half an hour the wind dropped, the rain stopped, the clouds parted and the sun came out. Bizarre. 

Nearby is the small hamlet of St Dogmaels with its large monastic ruins. A 12th century abbey nestling next to the Teifi estuary outside Cardigan.

We then went up to Mwnt Head, a picturesque N.T. holding with a remote C12 Holy Cross church. Rugged and wild. The wind picked up again and you could lean into it without falling over. 

Soon it was time to retreat back to our cosy bolt hole.

Weekend of Entertainment.

Friday saw us at Kings Theatre Gloucester, a cosy little local theatre run entirely by volunteers. A seasonal interpretation of a work by Thomas hardy was performed by the talented HammerPuzzle group, out of the Everyman Cheltenham, a four hander with Anthony Pinnick, Katy Withers, Charlie Ryan and Tamsin Kennard.

Seriously well received by audience and reviewers.

Saturday we were at a great music venue in the Gloucestershire village of Winstone c/o Moira and her partner.

The main set was performed by Gathering Tides who have a completely original approach to traditional and contemporary music. Weaving together folk, jazz, rock and more, this young and innovative band transcend genre labels. With a line-up of fiddle, electric guitar, bass and cajon they slip effortlessly from heavy riffs to fiery fiddle tunes, or from smooth improvisation to klezmer.

“Seth Bye (fiddle and a prodigious musical talent) has been performing foot-stomping fiddle tunes on the folk music scene for many years. Sam Baldwin's powerful, driving electric guitar playing has roots in progressive rock. Dan Cippico (bass) brings jazz and feel-good vibes to the mix, and Alexander Henshaw on cajon has a passion for funk, folk and samba”.

Last Christmas of the Decade

A true northern Christmas spent with Sis in Carlisle 🎅 

Christmas Day itself was bright and crisp. After the celebrations we spent a lovely afternoon in an unusually peaceful Keswick.

So good we visited it twice but New Years Day was much busier.

A special treat was a trip to the Glasgow Royal for a Glenn Miller concert conducted by Ray McVay.

The concert hall also housed this wonderful public space piano.

M and I also included a day on the Solway Coast walking the length of the beach at Allonby then back up the coast to Silloth.

Wishing you all a Pleasant and Peaceful New Year.