Happy New Year, and here’s the weather!

Well, yes this greeting is a bit late but just wanted to be different. And I thought I’d start (!) the year by commenting on the nation’s favourite topic – the weather. Generally speaking it is the opening gambit in many a conversation. But why?

For starters I think we talk about it so often because it is so unpredictable, and I suspect because of the geography and size of our British Isles it may well be the only place on earth with quite so varied weather patterns. So when we meet someone in the street we can say ‘it’s gone very cold again’, or ‘isn’t it mild for January’ and ‘great weather for ducks!’ I’m sure you can all think of plenty more stock phrases like these.

Then there are the unusual extremes of weather we can get. In 2010 we had two of the hardest winters probably ‘since records began’. (Have you noticed how news presenters love to say this!) This of course gives everyone plenty to talk about, or more like whinge about – ‘why there’s not enough salt, grit?’ etc etc. (I do think it’s a bit unreasonable when some people blithely quote ‘they have snow but manage to carry on as normal’ about other countries. Of course they do because they KNOW IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN so not surprisingly they can prepare for it and are used to it!)

Which leads neatly to my final thought on this subject (for today at least). Oh what fun we can have when the weather forecasters get it wrong. It’s more than 20 years ago but we still hark back to Michael Fish when he patronisingly assured a viewer that no hurricane was on its way. Since then he has tried to make out his words were taken out of context - apparently he was referring to Florida. Unfortunately for him it matters not if this is true because for Jill & Jo Public watching the forecast on TV he got it well & truly wrong!

Les X

PS This year’s resolution – to write something in this blog once a month. Don’t hold your breath!

Four Go Down To Mumbles (and do other things as well!)

… a weekend with our good friends from Leicester …

It just so happens that Rich & Ros had just arrived when I got back from a meeting (on a Friday night? Yes, I know, I must be mad!) We spent the rest of the evening (and early hours of the morning) scoffing nibbles & quaffing copious amounts of wine, beer & lager, catching up on each others news & gossip. They had brought with them a variety drink including bottled lager brewed by Singha the new sponsors of Leicester City Football club. Bed finally at 3am – well, we had a lot to talk about!

Not surprisingly we all had a long lie in Saturday and
eventually got out gone two after a very leisurely breakfast. Jeff drove us round to Knab Rock, the far side of Swansea Bay, and from there we strolled to Mumbles Pier. R&R have just recently come up with a lovely idea of visiting every pier in Britain. Armed with their book of piers, with old pictures of them all, they are also aiming to take current day photos taken as near as possible from the same spot. We felt quite honoured to be with them visiting their very first ‘collectable’ pier!

Mumbles Pier is situated just before the lighthouse, on the corner as it were of the bay. Sadly the far end of the pier is now in rather a bad state of repair although ironically it does mean you get numerous Kittiwakes nesting round all the ledges in the summer. On this occasion we walked to the end passing along it a quartet of Turnstones in winter plumage, which amazingly only flew away if you got very close. We were also lucky in that it had looked like raining but for the whole time it remained sunny, and very warm when out of the wind.

We then walked up to the road to see if we could find where the original photo had been taken, but all agreed that the actual place was no longer there. Maybe some of the cliff had been cut back to make way for the road leading to the pier, but Rich still managed to take a good enough shot. Jeff then had his ‘dose’ of the amusement arcade fun, whilst Rich & Ros looked around the Basstastic fishing shop, coming away with a new ‘toy’ – a crab & lobster basket! We had a coffee in the café with the baby grand pianola – very strange hearing music and seeing the keys moving when there’s no-one actually playing the instrument! Then back to the car for a little detour round the back of Mumbles as far as Caswell Bay.

Relaxed at home with some nibbles before dinner – a very tasty Lasagne even if I say so myself, and a nice light pudding of blueberries, strawberries, beautifully arranged by Jeff as the picture shows, and vanilla icecream drizzled with rich Belgian chocolate sauce – I sound like Masterchef!!!! Then a quick late night visit to the Brunswick for Abbott, Courage Best and Hob Goblin. It was one of those night when everyone seemed to be down there so said hello to many friends & regulars.

Back at home we had all intended to go to bed it bit earlier but somehow this didn’t quite pan out. Maybe it was because we put the telly on just for one last drink or a coffee but end up watching the footie league show. This triggered off various odd bits of football trivia and before long I had jotted down loads of possible questions to have a sports round at the November quiz we are putting on, all connected with football! Jeff then sensibly went to bed. This time the three of us left started on politics … thank goodness the clocks were falling back in the morning!

Not so late getting up, helped of course by the extra hour. After breakfast we waved them off as they went back home via pier number 2 at Penarth. Got a text later “penarth ticked off” – wonder how long it will take to do them all?!

Les X

Tywyn - A Flying Visit

This half term Jeff & I managed to sneak in a quick Autumn visit to Tywyn, just an overnight stay. At first the weather on the way there was a bit miserable – low cloud & poor visibility so not much in the way of scenery. However the trees were just about perfect, at the time of year when you get all shades of browns, reds and greens. We took the route through Ammanford, Llandeilo, Llandovery up round the Sugarloaf, then cut off the corner to head towards Rhayader. But Jeff had discovered a back road to Elan Village – very narrow with few passing places, and as I am one of the world’s worst at backing I was very grateful when he took over. (I think I get worried not so much about having a prang but of getting stuck in a ditch by the roadside in the middle of nowhere!) We reached the ‘village’, mainly a collection of buildings in old stone, pumping stations and the like all there because of the reservoirs. It was still a bit misty, and a bit mysterious, as we drove round them, but whilst the sun never actually made a proper appearance the mist did lift allowing clearer views of the mountains. You then get to this fascinating boggy expanse where the Wye is sourced, followed by a road meandering down to Devil’s Bridge, where we stopped for tea and were lucky enough to see a Vale of Rheidol train pull in – still steam albeit oil fired not coal. Then on to Aberystwyth, with a quick detour round the harbour and promenade, and coast roads up the estuary to Machynlleth, and back down again to Aberdovey & Tywyn.

Interestingly in Wales we seem to see more red kites these days than buzzards, and certainly this was the case. If the light is in the right direction they are quite beautiful to look at, and easily recognisable by their forked tail.

Over the past year Tywyn seafront has had some interesting sea defences constructed, using a pile of large boulders which it is hoped will ‘break’ the waves so they hit the main prom with less force. Bit sceptical as this pile is only at one end so not quite sure how this will help the other end!

The guest house was very comfortable, right on Tywyn High Street. We decided to drive up the valley to our favourite pub, the Railway Inn, for food. As luck would have it, the place was unusually busy as they were having an auction in the Barn – a restored building just next to the pub – and we were warned that the food would take some time. But it was worth the wait, and because it had been longer than anticipated they gave us a free bottle of wine! We then drove back to Tywyn so we could both drink, first trying out the Corbett Hotel – dead! – but ending up in the Tredegar Arms. It was quiz night but we arrived too late to actually take part, although I managed to get hold of some questions for future use in the annual quiz night I organise. And for those of you who are interested, we had Cwrw Madog & Old Speckled Hen in the Railway, Hancocks in the Corbett, and finished off with Doom Bar in the Tredegar. Unfortunately none of these were at their best, although the Doom Bar was quite reasonable.

We woke to a sunny morning which meant we had a lovely drive round our favourite route – up the back road to Bird Rock, to see Cormorants and Choughs, with the added treats on the way of a whole host of Yellowhammers, and a Jay feeding in a field then flitting through the trees. It was then back round to & a short ride along the inner coast road to a layby which gives wondrous views over Cardigan Bay. And to finish we did our usual ‘back’ coast road round to Broadwater to see if we could spot any waders. The usual Cormorants were there, a few Swans and a group of Canada Geese but other than gulls couldn’t actually identify anything else.

We ended our mini stay with a round trip on the Talyllyn Railway. I have been coming here since 1969, and even though I’ve been on the railway countless times before I still love it. It’s so worth a visit that I’ll leave it there – this way you will just have to come and see why I keep coming back year after year.

Les X

Women in Business Award Finalist – Luncheon Awards Ceremony

Jeff & I went to the luncheon awards ceremony on Thursday, and so pleased that some of the local FSB committee also came to give me their support.

Whilst I didn’t win my Go Green category, being both nominated & shortlisted has still brought business benefits as I have had quite a bit of free publicity with my name being mentioned in the Evening Post, and both article & picture – see here – in Swansea Bay Business Life Magazine. Plus I have gained a Highly Recommended plaque which now has pride of place in my office at home.

Les X

PS The overall winner of the awards was at on our table. As she also had a trophy for winning her category I went and asked her if I could have one, although in hindsight I should have asked her for the bottle of Moet & Chandon instead – but she would have said No to that as well!

PPS As you can tell by the date, still not quite managing to blog every week but have finally caught up today. So keep your fingers crossed …

Flying High

Ian has been promising to take me up in a light aircraft for what seems a very long time. Every two years he needs to do so many hours to keep his pilot's licence, but each time we've arranged a trip either one of us can't make it or the weather's poor.

But at long last it happened last wednesday - just a half hour over Gower with a couple of practice landings. But it was well worth the wait with wonderful Welsh views. Only trouble is I can't wait to go again!

Les X

Women in Business Award Finalist!

Up til last year I have nominated myself in the IT category but got nowhere. However this year it’s being run by a different sponsor and maybe because of this I decided to try for the Go Green Environment Award instead. To my total amazement I’ve actually been selected as one of the three finalists!

Since being told I’ve had some still photos taken, which hopefully will appear in the local paper and maybe Swansea Business Life magazine. I’ve also had to do a short video recording which will be shown at the luncheon awards ceremony late September - I think I may go and powder my nose when that’s happening! Jeff & I have got tickets so even if I don’t win anything it’s still a free lunch!

Wish me luck!

Les X

Puffinus Puffinus & Puffins

Last Friday Jeff & I had the afternoon off to go to Skomer for an evening trip round the island. The wind was a bit on the gusty side and a sky a tad murky, described later by the boat man as ‘dirty weather’. But we had a pleasant drive round through Loughor & Llanelli, then Kidwelly where we turned off to follow the coast lane to Ferryside. Llansteffan Castle was as usual quite enigmatic viewed from across the water. After a light bite we carried on to Carmarthen then fast road to St Clears, and slower road to Haverfordwest. We both find it quite fascinating that the roads just get narrower & narrower when finally as you approach Martins Haven where we get on the boat it's a lane with passing places as only just wide enough for cars.

As you already know we like bird watching (not twitching!) and this trip was to do just that. But before we even got on the boat there were swallows flying in & out of the public loos. Inside there were a number of nests in both the gents & ladies, but some birds were actually on top of the toilet cisterns, and others sat on the road, not being particularly bothered that there were people around. As we got on the boat something appearing to be a bottle bobbing up & down in the water turned out to be a seal – absolutely perfect example of one doing what is known as ‘bottle nosing’! Not far out to sea it started being quite choppy and we were told it was very unlikely that we could go round the island. As it happened it really didn’t matter. For a start we saw hundreds of puffins, in the water & flying together with razorbills & guillemots. Now I hate to sound a bit blazé but as much as I love them these were not what we had come to see.

A few started flying across in front of the boat - they stay out at sea as great bird rafts all day, then come back at night to roost. The ‘dirty weather’ was actually in our favour as this encourages them to return earlier, and then we saw them, I mean really saw them – thousands in the water, in the sky, all around. Puffinus Puffinus aka Manx Shearwater. For those of you who have seen the marvel of your common starling when in winter they perform in the sky late afternoon you will understand when I say that this was similar. They are superb flyers, a bit like a cross between a swallow, a swift and a tern. Just black & white yet beautiful. On the way back the boatman said that we would never see a better display of these birds and I think there is no doubt at all that he’s right.

Les X

PS It was obviously all too much for me as I slept all the way home!