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! 

First time in Oxford

So even though I have lived near Oxford for over 30 years I have never visited. 

So yesterday was a brilliant treat.  

Exploring such a fascinating city was so much fun.  I'm not normally a fan of cities, I don't like the crowds and the built up space.  

But like Norwich I found it such a great place.  The buildings are stunning.  I have never seen (except London) such a huge mix of nationalities.  

The fact that so many academics come to study and goodness there are so many different areas of study. From music to science and art it is just incredible. 

I am also a big fan of Inspector Morse.  Inspector Morse embodies cultured, upper-middle-class Britishness, and enjoys the finer things in life - good beer, vintage cars, fine opera. He and his trusty companion, Detective Sergeant Lewis, solve the crimes that plague the environs of University of Oxford. Although he's a brilliant detective, Morse is not infallible - and he's often pretty grumpy to boot. But he and Lewis tend to make sure the bad guys pay for their crimes

The series ran from 1987-2000 for a total of 33 episodes.  So I am going to research some of the locations for a return trip. 

But for now here was the adventure done on the first visit. 

Knitting outside Christchurch College on the Broad Walk

This shop was disappointing it was VERY small but glad went to have a look, but just far too much commercial knick knacks for me

This is Pembroke College which is 400 years old. 

A telephone box with different layouts of the Sylvanian Families.  

It was a forgone conclusion that I'd visit the wool shop The Wool Hound to see James Makes Yarn.

Some of the other eclectic finds on the trip. 

This is Lincoln College with almost 600 years of amazing history. 

The streets are just such a mix of architecture. 

We asking for tips I was recommended by two people that must visit Blackwells bookshop which has been selling books since 1879.  It is the most amazing shop I have been in and if you get the chance it has to be on the visit list. 

Finally with all the hype of the Barbie movie I just had to share these Crocs, but goodness they where heavy! 

Walking for Maggies Centre

So in the month of August I am taking part in a charity walk for Maggie's Centres a fantastic resource for people who have either been through, or are going through Cancer Treatment.

The event requests that you walk 31 miles wiithin the month and as I walk a minimum of 50 miles a month anyway I have up'd the anty to 100 miles walking for the month.

Today I have raised £108 which is amazing, but obviously I would like to raise more for this incredible charity.

So this weekend for a change of scene I was joined by a good friend to do a walk in a place I have walked many many times.

Brean Down is owned by the National Trust and is a beautiful place to visit.  The walk along the headland give some incredible views which I have shared with you.

As part of the charity walk we have been kindly given t-shirts to wear.

I loved how the flowers on the headland matched the t-shirt.

My friend was steaming ahead of me on the walk.

The views at the end are so worth the walk.

I just loved the details found in the fortress.

 

Can't beat just standing and taking in nature.

After a refreshing walk we stopped off at the cafe for some delicious lunch.

The beauty of the sea is the huge expanse of just openess.

So many rock pools to discover.

The beach has a tide that comes right in and then leaves such interesting finds behind.

We were so blessed with the weather, apart from a couple of small showers just look at that sky!

The area is part of King Charles III England Coast Path which aims to open up paths around England as close to the sea as possible.

This little bungalow was one my family stayed in twice which has great memories attatched to it.  You could literally walk down straight on to the beach.  Sadly they no longer rent it out.

As you walk along the beach a few properties, oh my goodness this Grand Design house called Sandmore has been built.  On the ground floor was an incredible white grand piano!

I walked about a mile and half along the beach just enjoying the view, the fresh breeze and the incredible view.

But I would find it hard to find a better postion than this to sit and knit and take in the view.