Day 303 Ready to Go!

An early and short post today.  We're all ready. I just have to pack my camera now that I've done todays photo.  Mum is still on the assessment ward but Huw is taking over all responsibilty for her and Dad.  I'm going to concemtrate on the trip and not worry fruitlessly over things I can't change.


I've taken a couple of quick pics. One for Our Daily Challenge of Tape and one appropriate to our travels.  We'll spend virtually all of tomorrow in the air and I suspect most of Tuesday asleep! Hopefully will be able to update on Wednesday but I can tell you already that tomorrows photo will be of Singapore Airport!

Tangles

20kg - just on the weight limit!

Day 302 Aargh!

Well today started off quite well.  We finally finished packing and were pleased that cases and hand luggage were within the weight limits. We picked up MiL and my Dad and took them out for lunch.  Dad decided to pay, out of the blue, which was very nice of him. It was a big meal and after we dropped Dad back home he settled down in the armchair for a 2 hour nap! We booked MiL into the very nice care hotel in Porthcawl for the 5 weeks we're away.  They took ages booking her in and she seems determined not to like it there.  It's a really friendly place and the other guests were very jolly and her age so I hope she settles in.


We then called around to Glan Rhyd Hospital where Mum is.  We knew they'd sent her to A&E this morning but hadn't heard any more.  On arrival we were told she was still in Princess of Wales Hospital so we trundled over there.  She's in a short stay ward while awaiting an orthopaedic bed.  She was quite bright and perky and didn't seem at all distressed to be in a strange place though I can't see her being happy for long. I had a chat with the on call orthopaedic doctor after getting home and filled him in on her medical history. They're planning on moving her to an orthopaedic ward and getting the surgeon who operated on her hip 7 years ago to review her next week. It's quite unsettling leaving while she's in a sort of limbo and when I can't liase with her doctors next week.  I suppose I've just got to let go.  She'll be well looked after and Huw is quite capable of supporting Dad.  I just feel it's my responsibility.


Anyway we were late home, late eating and both feeling dejected so once again it was 10.00pm when I got my camera out. So no suprises, a single photo for ODC "triangular" No this isn't a triangle but you can see plenty of them on it.

Day 301 More Last Minute Preparations

We seem to have lots of little things to do before going away and were kept busy doing them today. In the afternoon I took Dad to visit Mum. She's been having pain in her hip which has stopped her walking for the last few days.  She has an appointment next week  with the orthopadic surgeon who operated on this hip previously but it was decided to get her xrayed and reviewed by the oncall orthopod sooner.  It's going to be rather difficult keeping in touch with what's happening when I'm away.  Fingers crossed they won't suggest surgery.


After dropping Dad off I went to the sea front in porthcawl to take some photos. I got some nice ones and can't decide which is "the" photo.  I'll just post them and decide later. Any opinions gratefully received!

Day 300

Thursday 27 October

Wow! I've kept it up for 300 days! As usual at a milestone I've a rubbish photo!  Had a busy day with bits and pieces again.  We're more or less packed now and I've bought Mia's birthday present which Mel will give her while we're away. More importantly Huw and Mel popped around after her 20 week scan and the baby seems to be doing fine.  This was the scan to check for structural defects so it's nice to know everything is intact.  We've also discovered it's a girl and we've all instantly switched to saying she not it! Here's the scan photo.  She's not too pretty yet but she will be!






This evening we had a lovely pub meal out with some local biking friends.  We used to do this once a month but have lapsed this year so it was nice to get together and catch up with each others news. 


The scan obviously isn't my photo so I just did a quick one for Our Daily Challenge which was "Through a Hole" - mine is more down a hole but was all I could think of!

Ian Down the Plug Hole!

Day 299 Getting Ready

Its really not long at all till we set off on our trip to Australia. I spent the morning doing odds and ends that needed sorting before we leave, paperwork, bills etc.  It wasn't much but took an age. PM Dad and I visited Mum.  Amongst other stuff I've been pulling the paperwork together that we'll need so that made a quick photo for today.

Tickets & Passports

Day 298 Pembroke Dock & Home

Tuesday 25 October


It was wonderful to wake to blue skies and sunshine! As we weren't going home till mid afternoon we decided to drive over to Pembroke Dock in the morning to see the Flying Boat Centre.  During the war Pembroke Dock was the largest operational flying boat centre in the world with up to 99 flying boats, mainly Sunderlands and Catalinas based there. Today there's a small museum and workshop which tells the stories of some of the pilots and is also restoring a Sunderland which was sunk in the Haven.  So far they are working on the two engines they have retrieved, most of the plane is still underwater.   Ian was particularly interested as his Dad flew Catalinas in the war but not from Wales.


The first photo is of reflections in the pickling pond adjacent to the centre.  The centre itself was of no photographic interest.  This pond was apparently used to soak masts and spars in the 19th century but I can't find out much more about it

By the pond -not sure what it was used for

We also called by the Gun Tower Museum but that was closed.  It is here in this Martello Tower just satnding in the Haven.  It was a very low tide but it is usually surrounded by water.  There's some interesting information on Martello towers and how they got their name here in Wikipedia though, annoyingly although they describe such towers in the rest of the UK and the world they don't mention the Welsh ones!

Anyway, after that we packed up the van & headed home picking up the boat en route. Huw met us at home to help us push it up our drive and then we had a pleasant evening meal at The Barn near Miskin with Mel, her cousins and Huw

Day 297 Wet! Wet! Wet!

The forecast was right!  It has poured with rain, without respite, all day.  Apparently we could have 100mm or 4 inches today and some roads are already flooded. Ian took the trailer & boat over to Robeston Wathan for the service but was soon back.  We've enjoyed a quiet day reading,internet browsing, doing crosswords, watching tv etc.  I did make a quick photographic foray outdoors and got myself and the camera pretty damp.  Here's the best of a wet bunch!

Dripping Sloes

Goultrop Bay

Canoeists, Broadhaven Beach

Day 296 RIP Marco Simoncelli

We had a rather sobering start to today as we watched the Malaysian MotoGP from Sepang, first thing.  A horrible accident during the second lap claimed the life of Marco Simoncelli, only 24 years old, a rising star and great character.  I'm not going to say any more, the implications are obvious.

After Huw Mel & Mia left, Ian and I got the boat up to the caravan and ready to go for its service tomorrow.  The forecast is for heavy rain overnight and tomorrow so we don't want to be messing around in a muddy field in a deluge. This afternoon I went over to Newgale and took some photos in the rather wan sunlight  which was struggling through a layer of grey cloud.  My favourite is the silhouette but the ones on the beach are ok too.

Wind Blasted Hedgerow

Looking to Rickett's Head

Blustery Autumn Walk

Day 295 Walk to Little Haven

Saturday 22 October


Despite a poor forecast we had a lovely sunny morning here so decided on a walk.  There was a strong southerly wind so we kept to our (northern) side of the peninsula and just had a stroll to Little Haven but by the scenic route inland to make it longer.  Approaching from a different angle gave us some nice views and my three photos were all taken from a lane we rarely walk but which took us into the far side of the village.  We had a nice lunch in the Castle Inn on the edge of the bay then returned to the van by the coast road.   The tide was in, so no chance of coming back along the beach.


After a shopping trip to replenish the groceries we were back to greet Huw, Mel and Mia who came down just for an overnight stop. It was good to have them here. We enjoyed a nice meal of roast ham, mash & peas then walked to the Ocean Bar on Broadhaven seafront Here we unexpectedly bumped into another family from the site whose two daughters were Mias best friends here during the summer.  While the adults chatted the three girls played happily all evening .  At ten o'clock they were disappointed not to win the weekly game held there of "Open the Box".  The person who won did give them his winnings.  He'd only got £1 instead of the £180 jackpot! It was a  very pleasant evening.


I've been experimenting with different processing techniques so would appreciate your opinions.  The cows are pretty much au naturel but I've tweaked the other two!

Little Haven & St Brides Bay

We're being watched!

Tree Lined Drive

Day 294 Back to Broadhaven

It's been a bitty sort of day today, had my haircut, picked up a prescription from the chemist, took the cardboard boxes that the awning came in to the recycle centre. Did a bit of housework, called in to see Viv and then went to relieve Ian at the boys flat in Cardiff where the workmen were replacing a window and doing some painting. Back home, mid afternoon and set off to Pembrokeshire.  I had the camera on my lap as we drove down, hoping to snatch a quick photo en route. I took this one in the High Street in Haverfordwest, only a couple of miles from our destination.  Our Daily Challenge was black and white and grainy, which I've tried to achieve.  I've gone for a high contrast processing.  I hope it isn't too dark. Its always difficult to judge tones on a small laptop!

High Street

Day 293 Still at Home!

We spent the morning waiting for the garage to let us know the car was ready to pick up.  We used the time to start pulling together some of our stuff for our trip to Australia and also for tomorrow when we're off to Broadhaven for a few days.  We need to get the boat trailer serviced and shut up the caravan for the winter.  Anyway the car was ready at about midday so we went to pick it up.  It cost us £145 plus a full tank of petrol!  At least its unharmed! 


I took Dad in to see Mum this afternoon, called in to see an Aunt & Uncle on my way home and then had a quiet evening with Ian.  I'd not taken a photo by this time so turned to Our Daily challenge which was rain.  Looking at all the posts on the Flickr site it seems that most of us worldwide haven't had rain today. A lot of people had to fake it with watersprays and hose pipes.  I took mine in the shower! I think I've too much on my mind to be particularly inspired at the moment but bear with me, things should be much more interesting once we arrive in Australia on 1 November.

Pitter patter raindrops!

Day 292 At Home

It was an odd sort of day. Did some leisurely housework and sorted out some stuff ready for our forthcoming trip to Australia, while Ian took his Mum out for a drive in the car.  We did some brief babysitting in the afternoon and  then early eavening we set off to go to tonights Cardiff Scientific Society meeting.


  We stopped at the bottom of the hill to fill up the (diesel) car with....unleaded petrol! Ooops! Big mistake! Just glad it wasn't me that did it. Fortunately we realised and didn't start the engine but pushed it to the side of the forecourt. I walked home while Ian waited for the RAC and got towed off to a garage.  They weren't able to siphon the petrol out so we will have to wait till the morning when they'll take the tank off to drain it. It was a good job we were close to home so I could get the other car to pick him up.  That was a bit of excitement we could have done without!


After yesterdays glut I've just got a boring photo today. Our Daily Challenge was textures so I took this.  There's no interesting composition but I may be able to use the texture to brighten other photos in future

Day 291 Cardiff Bay

Tuesday 18 October

I had a wonderful day today! I'd arranged to pick up my friend Viv and go off for a photoshoot.  It was great to have a day set aside to take photos with a fellow photographer.  Poor Ian is very patient when we're out together but I am very wary of him getting bored so I always feel rushed.  It was also nice having a girls day out! We first parked by the barrage at the mouth of the bay. I'd heard about this amazing artwork that I wanted to see.  These concentric yellow circles are not photoshopped but are actually painted on the structures of the barrage.  It only looks like circles from one spot otherwise all you see are seemingly random yellow lines on the railings, pavement, lock gates and sea wall.

 

 We walked out on the sea wall to view the entrance to the bay. It was incredibly windy there so I was puzzled to find this chap sat on a bench reading. He was well wrapped up but it can't have been very comfortable! There were nice views though of Penarth Pier and Flatholm and Steepholm. Back on the barrage we took some shots looking the otherway. Here are the masses of boats moored at the mouth of the River Ely as it enters the Bay

  It was time for lunch so we headed for the shelter of the main restaurant area. Here we were out of the wind so could enjoy a sandwich sitting in the sun, outside one of the cafes. The final part of the day was spent photographing some of the architectural interest around there.  I took far too many photos to post here so I'll just stick to the ones involving the Water Tower.  This large reflective sculpture is supposed to have a constant stream of water running over it but today it was dry! It still had great reflections so I took loads of photos of it from all angles!

Water Tower

We weren't the only photographers in town!

Self Portrait with Viv in the background.  I love the way it slims us down!

Water Tower & Millenium Centre - I like the contrast & weirdness of this one

Millenium Centre Reflection

And finally, one of the statues, entitled People Like Us, with the Norwegian Church in the background

Day 290 Home

As we were picking Mia up from school this afternoon  I went over to Porthcawl this morning to get Dad & take him in to visit Mum.  The trip was a bit of a dead loss as Mum slept most of the time we were there. I was home by lunchtime & processed yesterdays photos before setting off to Mia's school in Porth. We  took her home & stayed for a cup of tea after Mel got back.  It's been a quiet day.  


Our Daily Chalenge was Monday and as I take Dad in to see Mum most Mondays I took a photo of her holding a balloon.  Balloons are the thing she finds most entertaining but not today.  She fell asleep holding this one. I've processed this quite a bit & if it looks a bit dark, that's because it's how I feel after visiting

Day 289 A Quiet Sunday

Once again sport on tv dominated the morning. First we, sorry Ian, watched the second ruby semi final where New Zealand, unsuprisingly, beat Australia then it was MotoGP from Phillip Island. Australia.  At least the Aussies were triumphant there as Casey Stoner clinched the championship, only one of 5 riders to do so on two different makes of bike.  Keeping to the Aussie theme we had a nice chat to Gaz on skype & heard about their weekend road trip

After lunch Ian went off to play golf with Huw so I was free to find some photos.  I didn't go far, just to Porth where I'd spotted a reasonable view of the pithead at Trehafod.  It's a museum now, all of Wales' deep mine are closed but the winding gear is in place & I thought it would make a reasonable photo. the sun disappeared as I arrived and I felt the shots I took were a bit static so I turned my attention to the small waterfall beside the road.  Finally, as a real bonus, I spotted a bee on some yellow flowers.  Again lots of photos as I couldn't leave any of these out!

Wet!

How About in B&W?

Wetter!

The Waterfall

At The Bottom

Buzz!

The Original Destination - think I've overdone the processing a bit. :)

day 288 Rugby Disappointment, Bike Ride & Fontygary

We had a full day today!  It didn't start well with Wales' defeat to France in the Rugby World Cup Semi Final.  Once sam Warburton was sent off early in the first half I couldn't bear to watch!  They were so close to winning though, even with one man down. It was a great effort and for once the best team certainly didn't win.


Anyway after that we had to get out and blow the cobwebs away so we set off on an exploratory bike ride of about 14 miles.  We were researching an alternative route for the last part of a ride from Cardiff going along the upper level of the Taff Trail above Taffs Well, Nantgarw and Rhydyfelin.  It was much nicer than the cycle path alongside the busy road as it followed an old railway line through woodland.  It's a bit longer and although it gains more height than the direct route it does so at a much more manageable gradient. 


After a rest and a shower we were ready to go again.  This time we took the car to Fontygary for a walk along the beach and on the cliff above.  It's a very dramatic bit of coastline that stretches for miles.  I've too many photos again but can't pick any to leave out! 

Cliffs

Fossils in the rocks

Winkle & whelk tracks

Passing Traffic

Walker on the Beach

Autumn Colours on the Cliff Top

Dragonfly on the Path