HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALLY



Sally and David

Tomorrow is my daughter Sally's birthday, no numbers she'd kill me if I divulged her age! She's currently suffering with no voice due to laryngitus and a cough as she has a chest infection too! I hope she feels a bit better tomorrow.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALLY

Australia Day 2012 On Llangollen Wharf



The shark's back in the canal

Eric all wrapped up

Today the Australian flag was flying on Llangollen Wharf as we celebrated Australia Day. We even had two Australian holiday makers Adam and Jack on a hireboat who'd extended their stay in Llangollen to come to the barbecue. Although it was bitterly cold in the wind and at one point  hail stones delighted the Aussies, something new to them. Lots of  different sausages tasted delicious and the dogs hoped for a taste which they got when the adults were full. The 'grog pot' was a treat and helped ward off the chill but I  left them all to get warm back on the boat.......I know....... a wimp but I was so cold.

A New Walk- Plas Newyd And Cae Madog Wood



Looking across Llangollen

The last few stiles and we're back in Llangollen

Yesterday we made the most of a dry day and tried out a new walk from 'Walks Around Llangollen And The Dee Valley' by David Berry. We warned Nick and Eric we'd be gone a few hours and didn't get back til after one o'clock. The walk started with a route up to see Plas Newydd home of the 'Ladies of Llangollen' and then up Vicarage Road to  a path into Cae Madog Wood which skirts Barber's Hill. According to the walk book the hill was named after a barber who was hanged on the summit for killing his wife in 1739. The dogs enjoyed the woodland and Connie was soon nose down following scents.

We decided not to walk the country lanes skirting the Vivod Estate and did the shorter walk which meant following the road towards Glyn Ceriog and then taking the signed bridleway back down to Llangollen via some unusually high stiles.  Lovely views from the bridleway which climbed down into Llangollen but it started to drizzle which was a pity. Checking the route in the book meant it took us longer than it should have but then again it was nice to walk a new route. Next time it won't take so long.

Upcoming Events........ A Barbecue On Llangollen Wharf



Liz, Nick and Connie are back after visiting a friend Heather on the Chesterfield Canal. They'd been called on to do a bit of lock wheeling as there were loads of locks. Liz said Connie looked at her dried food after being spoiled by a taste of  Heather's cooking. It didn't take her long to eat what was on offer as she rarely leaves food for long while Ben leaves his food until he feels like eating it.

A view on our Valle Crucis Abbey walk

Yesterday we did the Valle Crucis Abbey walk......again but this time we squelched in mud and didn't see anyone else. The road back to the mooring basin seemed to be longer than ever and then the dogs had a very necessary wash in the shallow section of canal used by the horse drawn boats in the warmer months. On the way back we noticed that there didn't appear to be any sheep on the hill with the ruins of Castell Dinas Bran on so  today's walk was soon planned.

The low lying mists

Today we walked up the hill......lots of puffing and panting.....with lovely views of the low lying mists. No sign of sheep so we walked around the back of the hill but there was loads of mud. We walked a short section of road down hill and then back across some sheep fields to follow a track then back down the hill and alongside Dinas Bran School and back to  the boat. As we didn't come back  via the canal dog washing place it was out with a bucket of warm water which ended up mud brown. I had plenty of mud on me too.

Nick and Liz are hosting an Australia Day Barbecue alongside the boats (NB Henry & NB Bendigedig) on  Llangollen Wharf on Thursday 26th starting about midday. If you're in the area come and join in. The 'grog pot' ( a hot punch) of NB Blue Toad fame will be awaiting contributions. Unfortunately Mike and Moira who started the trend in 2010 are back home in Tasmania ........just a bit too far away! I know quite a few bloggers are heading up to Llangollen but they've not got here yet! They're too far away as well when you can only move slowly by boat.

Australia Day 2010

A Walk In The Woods With Eric And Ben

Another view of Llangollen looking towards the mountains

Llangollen again

Today I was fed up with towpath walking so asked Eric if he could cope with a walk in Pen-y-coed Woods. He didn't really know what he was letting himself in for as it's a climb but I knew we'd be fine as long as we had pause for breath moments. It took us about an hour and a half to complete a circular walk but he did it! Ben had a lovely time off his lead keeping an eye on us to make sure we were still following the track. Nobody else in the woods perhaps it was too chilly for them today.

On the way back we stopped for some shopping in the Coop as Ben waited outside attached to a convenient post, cowering if any lorries went by. Back on the boat we had a plougman's lunch and later I made some chocolate  chip cupcakes as I've bought a new recipe book 'Cupcakes and Muffins'. Other than that we had a lazy afternoon.

Happy Birthday Lisa

Lisa is the blonde one!

Thirty years ago today my little bundle of joy arrived safely nearly ten pounds in weight. Today she celebrates her birthday......................doesn't time fly!  Eric says I sound like a real old granny writing that.......well I'll admit to the granny bit but I'm not that old!

Where Have I Been?

I've been on a visit to Newport as I had a dental appointment today and now have to go back for a filling and a crown.......£179...... it's not cheap on the NHS! Luckily Arriva's Club 55 is back on until March 28th so at least my two visits will be £17 a time instead of £40 ( with a senior railcard). I didn't stay long just an overnighter giving me time to meet daughter Clare for coffee in the afternoon and then down to stay with my dad. Paula popped in with the mail so we now have up to date boat licences displayed on the boat as well as new insurance documents. The TV licence made me smile it's valid until 2016 as long as we continue to pay the direct debit to save paper. You can now receive it by email and view it online or print if off yourself.

My dad

My cousin Alison had a family get together at her house in the evening, organised as we only seem to meet these days at weddings and funerals as we'd had no weddings for quite a while. My Dad whose 83 was the oldest member of the family there, as his older brother isn't up to evenings out. I don't know how much he heard of the conversations as he also leaves his hearing aid at home.......deliberately. Lots of catch up chats with some of the the family, we'll have to do it again. Hello to Jen and Malcolm who read the blog, nice to see you both and thanks for the lift back to dad's house.

Eric stayed on board NB Bendigedig and had the job of taking Ben walking in the rain this morning. It's my turn tomorrow let's hope it's dry and warm.