Thursday, 23 January 2014

Coastwalk

The date is set

Exciting news: we will cross the border very soon. We've set a date, so this is your last opportunity to let me know if you're going to join our small band of walkers on the final coast walk in England.

Please join us — it'd be so much better with you there.

Posted by pab at 21:12 | Comments will be back one day. Please email me instead!

Saturday, 11 January 2014

Cycling

Wet feet

I went out for a ride at lunchtime. I was expecting to see flood water, but I wasn't expecting to have to cycle through it.

cycling-through-floodwater.png

The road I was on looked like a causeway yesterday. Today it would seem the tide has come in.

The mud/splash guards couldn't stop water soaking my legs. At the pedal reached the bottom of the stroke it skimmed the surface of the water but at one point was completely submerged, with the water just about at the level of the hub.

Great fun, but I'm certain it's not done the bike much good!

Posted by pab at 21:15 | Comments will be back one day. Please email me instead!

Tuesday, 7 January 2014

Places

In praise of Ceredigion

When Emma told me she lived in Ceredigion, I had to admit that I didn't know where it was. On the other hand, I knew exactly where to find Aberystwyth – even though I'd never been there.

Aberystwyth has been in the news recently. The sea that has tore into its prom is the same one that provided the backdrop to our engagement.

Aberystwyth is also said by some to be "the star" of Hinterland, a dark new BBC/S4C crime drama.

They're wrong.

The real star is Ceredigion: its wild landscape, its people and the way they seamlessly flit back and forth between English and Cymraeg. And those places: Borth, Cwmystwyth, Pontyarfynach. The hiraeth is strong today.

Catch Hinterland on iPlayer now before everyone starts talking about it (so far it's only been broadcast in Wales; it'll be on BBC4 later in the year). Then go and visit west Wales for yourself. Your spirit deserves it.

Posted by pab at 22:04 | Comments will be back one day. Please email me instead!