Birthday trip away. Turning 56, feeling 40!

So how on earth may I ask did that happen.  

One minute your 30 off on a trip to Greece to celebrate.  The next your 56!!!  

On the other hand I am truly blessed to have the best person in my life, my Son who is 22 now and between him and his amazing girlfriend keep me both mentally and physically way younger. 

So basically I am now re living the last 16 years, but with the addition of being slightly older, but alot wiser! 

To celebrate my birthday it will be an extended affair thanks to said two people firstly involving a camping trip to my favourite country Wales! 

The first part of the fun having seen the oh so funny Susan Calman's Grand Days Out-South Wales where she had a trip on a boat around the bay at Cardiff.  So to my complete joy Son had organised a trip too!

We then after an amazing lunch in the Docklands headed to Museum Wales St Fagans what an amazing place.  So much history, great for walking.  They even had a craft fair where I may have purchased a skein of yarn!  

Day two, well this was up their on the absolute brilliant days, namely due to sea and an incredible Geological beach being involved!! 

We headed to Monknash Beach 

To get to the beach you walk down through this beautiful woodland where there is a small waterfall. 

I have never been on such a fascinating beach.  You have the headland which is full of thousands of years of history. 

Then you have rock pools, and the beautiful, beautiful sea. 

I was happy I spotted a fossil!! 

One of the eye opening things that both Son and girlfriend are very keen on is clearing any rubbish they find on the beach and are both strong supporters of 4 ocean a charity who's statement is 

"4ocean was founded on the belief that business can be a force for good and that the small choices we make every day, collectively, have the power to change the world.

Together, we can end the ocean plastic crisis and build a more sustainable future where humanity grows alongside nature, not at its expense."

In the space of 30 minute's we collected all this rubbish!! 

After the beach we headed to Dyffryn Gardens National Trust

The grounds where spacious and just lovely to walk around. At the moment you can not go into the house as it is under renovation. 

But both Son and I love books, he collects travel books, me novels.  We bagged ourselves 4 great books for £6! All of the money goes back into renovating the property a great idea the National Trust does. 

At the end of the walk we lead on the grass and I watched the clouds drift by, so much fun! 

The view from the campsite my last being 55!

The next morning on my birthday we woke to a beautiful day. 

Originally I was set to head off on a solo trip, but Son asked if I'd like to join them for a spontaneous day of surprise and fun.  

Well that was a no brainier!! 

Firstly we went to a lovely town called Cowbridge it was a really nice vibe to it. 

There they had a great Vintage shop Happy Days Vintage an eclectic mix of great things. 

Not least this beautiful chair that would look great in my house! 

After this whistle stop visit we headed to a place I didn't know was in Wales. 

The Royal Mint Experience for £17 you get an incredible tour and if you go on the weekend you can even go inside the factory where they make the coins.  It is well worth a trip. 

To finish off my birthday treat before I headed home we drove to this stunning Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons Pontsticill Reservoir. 

Created in 1927 it holds 15,400 mega litres of water in the 110 ft embankment. 

I'm times of very low water you can see the remains of the Chapel, built in 1829 that is now submerged in the bottom of the reservoir. 

I hope you have enjoyed my birthday festivities as much as I have! 

Easter Sunday walk along the canal

Easter weekend traffic is always terrible on the motorway here in the UK.  So I try and stay local and enjoy what is only 20 minutes from me and why wouldn't you when you see what there is.

If you have followed my blog for a long time you'll know I often go to WWT Slimbridge.  To get there you go over the The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.  

It is a ship canal in the west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness. For much of its length it runs close to the tidal River Severn, but cuts off a significant loop in the river, at a once dangerous bend near Arlingham. It was once the broadest and deepest canal in the world.

I was so chuffed to see a boat named after me!! 

There are all sorts of boats along the river bank.  I loved how they managed to get so many flowers on this one. 

They also had a huge boat that was for river cruises. 

This sign was great that I came across too.  Only 34.5 miles to Bristol Cathedral! 

The other brilliant thing about the canal was the much slower pace of life.  The fact that you can just listen to nature as you walk and the people you meet who are so friendly.  

On my way both up and back I met Mike who was 70 and happily fishing this stretch of the river, which he does 3 times a week.  

He lived in a cottage nearby which dated back to 1610 with his wife who he met when he was 17 and she was 14!!! and they have been together ever since. 

He was such an amazing guy to chat to with so many stories to tell and a great fisherman.  

While I was there he caught two 10lb Seabass.  He showed me his hook and line it was so thin it was incredible the skill needed to thread it.  He also always put all the fish back he caught. 

I did a respectable 6.5 mile walk from Slimbridge along the canal and back.  As I'd parked in Slimbridge carpark I had to have a whistle stop visit!! 

The gardens were so pretty too. 

Finally I managed a tiny bit of knitting on my Son's sock in the Duck Decoy hut. 

I hope you have enjoyed your Easter and this blog. 

Until next time.....