Pembrokeshire

We were lucky enough, P and I, to have another little break away last week, a few days in beautiful Pembrokeshire. We haven't been for several years so were were really looking forward to it. We stayed in a lovely hotel in the Welsh countryside and spent lots of time on the coastline. Here are some of my snaps. 

Spotted this little boat in the harbour at Fishguard. It really reminded me of 'Swallows and Amazons'.

The Lower Town at Fishguard, so pretty.

We spent some time (and a bit of money) in this lovely little bookshop there, and I loved this yarn-bombed bike outside.

Strumble Head lighthouse. The day was extremely blowy, and the scenery wild and beautiful. Such striking colours in the sunshine.

Heather-clad cliffs and white horses racing out at sea.

We stood in the bird-hide, an old WW2 submarine look-out, and watched the sea and cliffs through our binoculars, mesmerised by the relentless salty wind and cries of the sea birds. Two experienced birders were there, and I wished I knew my sea-birds better, although we did identify oyster-catchers and seals. We found it hard to tear ourselves away.

Lovely Welsh dry stone walls, full of floral life.

Newport beach, with jaunty poppies and a jade green boat.

Sand ripples left by the outgoing tide.

The wind blew so hard we were almost blown off our feet. It picked up the top layer of dry sand and blew it across the beach in waves, a whirl of currents and eddies, like a ghostly sea swirling around our legs.

The beautiful Preseli Mountains. Sheep grazed near the rushes on high boggy ground, and the clouds made fast-moving patterns of light and shade across the hills as they scudded across the sky.

The deep sea inlet at Solva, crammed with sailing boats.

A pretty village ,with lovely galleries and craft shops to while away the time in.

We had a little walk into the hills along a wooded path full of ferns and foxgloves, a quiet and magical place.

Further up the valley was the still-working Solva Woollen Mill

I was really fascinated by the machinery and processes involved in weaving wool..

Time for Welsh cakes and a cup of tea.

Pembrokeshire is full of brightly-painted houses, and not just by the seaside, but inland too. They are everywhere. The favoured colours seem to be yellow and deep blue-green. 

The beautiful cathedral in St Davids, Britain's smallest city.

Expansive Newgale beach in St Bride's Bay. We've been here several times, and it's our favourite beach in Pembrokeshire. A little village, campsite and large pebble ridge,

then flat sand stretching away to the sea and hills.

It's always breezy here and the beach tent has to be weighed down with pebbles, but it's a wonderful beach to relax and pootle on.

Then on for refreshments at the secluded and bohemian Druidstone Hotel.

Perched on top of the cliffs, it's a stunning spot to sit and look at the view from.

Littlehaven, a pretty village and harbour, was a good place to finish the day and enjoy the evening light.

Last time we were here the tide was out and we rock-pooled around the base of the cliffs - I have never seen so many shellfish and shore creatures.

The setting sun lit up the rock-formation of the cliffs, showing the huge geological upheaval that happened here long ago.

Our last day, and we headed home with a stop-off in mind at somewhere special. Laugharne - the home of one of my favourite poets, Dylan Thomas. We'd been here once before on a very dingy evening, but on this day the sun was hot and the views were wonderful.

The town, with its Norman castle, sits on an estuary. Below, its salt marshes riddled with squiggly little channels, give way to mud flats and sand. Beyond it and around it are lush hills. This is St John's Hill, the setting for one of my favourite poems, 'Poem in October':

'It was my thirtieth year to heaven

Woke to my hearing from harbour and neighbour wood

And the mussel pooled and heron

Priested shore

The morning beckon

With water praying and call of seagull and rook

And the knock of sailing boats on the net webbed wall

Myself to set foot

That second

In the still sleeping town and set forth'

The poet's home, the boathouse, is a treat of a place, perched on the hillside overlooking the estuary.

I toured the inside, walking around the homely parlour and reading hand-written letters and fragments of his work. It was rather moving. Quirky little touches gave the impression that something of Thomas was still there.

Thomas' writing shed, just above the boathouse. I can imagine how this place must have inspired him.

Estuary patterns made by sand and water, cool blues, mauves and yellows.

Funnily enough they are echoed in the souvenirs that I brought home with me: shells from Newgale beach and woven mats from the woollen mill. Treasures from a special holiday.

Thank you for coming along with me and listening to my holiday tales. 

See you soon x

The Rest of the Week

Goodness me, we're in June already. Slow down summer, don't go too fast! 

Two years ago I began a hexagon patchwork which I mentioned in this post and this post, and as that summer wore on I put it away, only to take it out briefly last summer to add a bit more. This week I have taken it out again and added lots more hexagons, making it into a large rectangle. I'm thinking of making it into either a little tablecloth or a quilt for our bed, although that last idea's perhaps a bit ambitious. It would be nice to finish it soon.

In the style of a magazine photographer I made a little photo-shoot with the patchwork, a jug of sweet williams (the first of the year - hooray!) and stocks, some roses from the garden and the teacup candle I made earlier this year. P walked past and smiled - he's used to me doing this sort of thing.

After my regular crafty get-together with my friend Jane (this time we may have done rather more chatting and drinking tea and coffee than making), I got on with some more hexagons in a different colour combination. This time it's fresh greens and lavenders and I'm planning on something smaller, a cushion cover, in fact. In that way I might actually finish it this summer.

As it was chilly and wet I decided to stay indoors at the dining table instead of taking everything out to my shed and spent a comfortable hour cutting, pinning, tacking and stitching.

I usually show you my calendar each month and realise that I forgot last month, so here is May, which for me is the month of bluebells, cow parsley and lilac,

and June, which is always full of roses.

I had to do some shopping in Bath last week and while I was dashing hither and thither I stopped to look at Pulteney Bridge and the horse-shoe weir, and was reminded of how beautiful it all is.

Yesterday P and I spent the day in Bristol. We went there to buy something for me which reconnects me to a skill which I have neglected for too long. 

I'd learnt violin briefly as a child, but took it up properly as an adult when D started school. I had lessons for several years and got as far as Grade 3, then life got busier and the time to practice became rarer as I started a training course and returned to work.

 Four years ago I put away my violin and there it's stayed in its case in a cupboard. But recently it's been quietly calling to me and so P and I went off to Bristol to the beautiful violin shop where I originally bought it. There I bought a new bow (J has my old one). Rather like Harry Potter choosing his wand you have to try a few before you find the one whose sound you like, but I came away with a bow, shoulder rest and rosin, kitted out and ready to start playing again. It's not an expensive violin, but I wouldn't swap it and playing it really does make me very happy indeed. 

I don't have lots of free time for practising, especially in term-time, but as our children are grown up now we find ourselves increasingly able to pick up the things that we used to love doing as well as finding new things too. I know I can find fifteen minutes a day. There's something special about making your own music and it's been proven that learning an instrument is good for you in all sorts of ways. And I do like playing a good hornpipe or jig.

While we were in Bristol the sun came out and we spent a very agreeable day doing not very much. We drank coffee, sat on College Green among the many students and people enjoying their lunch-breaks, and had a little picnic. Later we browsed in our favourite second-hand bookshop and I came away with some bargains. I'm still reading Robert Macfarlane's 'Landscape' which is excellent, so I snapped up his imaginative account of walking Britain's ancient routes 'The Old Ways', as well as these two lovely old paperbacks on wild flowers.

We strolled in the sunshine, drank tea by the harbour and ate ice creams. It really was a day of recharging batteries, ready for work again next week.

We've finished the week by spending today in Lyme Regis. We arrived late morning and bought pasties to eat on the seafront. It was quite hazy to start with and visibility along the coast wasn't great.

But before long the sun came out and the beach became busier. We read books and drank coffee - very relaxing. It was pleasant to hear the gulls and waves, and smell the sea air.

I do like the little cottages along the seafront, especially the thatched ones. 

It was very warm indeed and P went in for a swim, as always. He said it was chilly but invigorating.

By late afternoon it was time to head for home, and we walked back up the beach to the car park. 

It was a very summery day out and so good to be back at the coast again.

I'm back at work tomorrow, so won't be around quite as much as I have been lately, but I hope you have a lovely week and that the sun shines for you.

See you soon x