Arts

Film: The Merchant of Venice

What is it with Shakespeare and sitcom actors? If it's not Richard Briers in Much Ado About Nothing or Calista Flockhart in A Midsummer Night's Dream it's Mackenzie Crook in The Merchant of Venice. That's not to say this isn't a good film, just that I'm puzzled by the way comedy actors gravitate towards ol' Shakey. (Are they trying to prove they're proper actors?)

Whatever the answer, there are two people who make this a great adaptation: Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons. And neight of them have anything to prove.

Ceredigion Coast Path , Coastwalk

Aberystwyth → Llanrhystud

Distance: 10.7 miles
Ascent: 652 metres
Duration: 5 hours 7 minutes

Uphill
« Borth | Aberarth »

South of Aberystwyth, just past Tanybwlch beach, the coastpath heads steeply uphill. Despite living in Aber, Emma hadn't climbed the nameless hill - until today. And from the fact that we didn't see another soul between the foot of the hill and the end of the walk ten miles later I'd say very few Aber residents have looked back on their town from this viewpoint either.

From the summit of that first hill the path rolls around close to the cliff-top through fields and disused farmyards. We saw a nature at its fastest - a hare dashing across ahead of us - and at its slowest - a ram contentedly sleeping off the day.

It's been a bitterly cold day not helped by a relentless drizzle. But doesn't that just make the post-walk cup of tea so much better?