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| where we stayed |
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| giant jelly |
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| bilberries |
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| mystery caterpillar |
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| mystery fluffy things |
Just back from a fab week up in North Wales, where the mountains meet the sea. I'd forgotten how much I love it up there. We stayed in "a picturesque unspoilt fishing village", and it actually was. No chippies or trashy shops or any shops at all in fact. So quiet, and with stunning views across the estuary to Snowdonia. It was one of those holidays when you come home thinking you might like to move there forever. Mountains in one direction, beaches in the other. Loved it.
There was rain at times and clouds hanging low over the land, but we got out and did it all anyway. We tackled a little of Snowdon (the highest mountain in Wales) although we only made it halfway, partly because of the rain and partly because of the smaller legs. We cooked sausages up there and channelled Bear Grylls at every opportunity.
I met the lovely Annie which was an absolute pleasure. So good to talk to someone about blogging, no-one round here knows I have a blog as far as I know.
We did a really hard walk on the last day. Not a long one, but quite arduous and scrambly. The littlest boy was an absolute star. He wore a red band round his head and marched on up front until his legs wore out. We were all tired by the end of it.
The biggest boy got to see red kites and ospreys, which made him happy. The middle boy got to survive in the wild. And the littlest boy had some time at the beach. Their best activity was going down to the sea in the evening, just a minute away from the house, and skimming the lovely flat slate pebbles and scrambling over the rocks.
All in all a top week. It's back to reality now though, it'll take me a couple of days to settle back in. In the meantime I shall be googling houses to buy in North Wales.
Oh that looks brilliant. What a fab place to stay. So glad you had a good time!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous photos, especially the ones shrouded in mist. It looks like you had an excellent time doing the things you all love to do. I've never yet come back from a holiday without telling everyone how much I want to live in the area we've just visited (The Cotswolds, Devon, Cornwall...), it's my pattern. I get over it each time - usually when I realise how prohibitively expensive those kinds of areas are.
ReplyDeleteAlso - how adorable are those sock tan lines in the jellyfish photo? Cuteness! xx
WOW these photos are gorgeous... maybe my favorite ones you've posted yet! No one around me knows I have a blog except my best friends (who don't even read it haha). It's like I'm living a secret life here on the Internet haha.
ReplyDeleteI would love to meet you both! My husband's family is from Wales, I always have thought it would be a lovely place to visit. Your trip looks spectacular.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Google for me too! That looks like a wonderful place to live.
ReplyDeleteI have to ask ......in the photo with you son standing in the water ------ did the man fall off that boat??? LOL
oh, these pictures take my breathe away. what a wonderful adventure. I want to move there!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, come up this way! That would be fab. So glad you enjoyed Wales - your photos are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDo I spy an Annie Proulx book? And speaking of Annies, it's great to finally meet up with fellow bloggers isn't it?
Have a great week (I'm now craving sausages cooked on a mountainside)...
S x
Looks idyllic my kind of place add a tearoom with crafts and it would be perfection. Sounds like you had a great adventure.
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely photos, a beautiful place. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh that sounds and looks a wonderful holiday. We too failed Snowdon on our first attempt (snow up to our thighs in April) but we made it on our second one May half term. We love the Welsh coastline especially around Pembrokeshire where we've had amazing times coasteering and sea kayaking. We used to walk miles and miles with our children too. Lovely memories. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe've spent many a happy holiday in Wales over the years and your photos took me right back. I've now climbed Snowdon 3 times, but the last time my knee kept locking for a week afterwards - I've decided that I'm getting a bit too old for mountains! Love the teddy bear shot! xxx
ReplyDeleteI live on the edge of all that so it's familiar to me and your lovely photos still have me oohing and ahhing!
ReplyDeleteIt was fabulous to meet you, and as you say, apart from anything else, it was a rare chance to talk blogging. I just wish the Welsh weather had been kinder to you all.
Oh, and your mystery fluffy stuff is common cotton grass (Eriophorum angustifolium), once used to stuff pillows.
Oh how beautiful! We visit Wales once a year and have big dreams of living there one day! Where was the beautiful fishing village?? Stunning whatever the weather!! P.s (first time I have ever commented on anything!) ��
ReplyDeleteLovely to have your comment Queenie May. The village is called Borth y Gest, it's near Porthmadog. I can highly recommend it! CJ xx
DeleteOh the joys of holidaying in an unspoilt place! Your photos are stunning, as always. It takes a while for reality to sink in after a lovely time away, doesn't it? x
ReplyDeleteThat jelly fish is something else and I love the littlest boy's tidemark tan! It all sounds very idyllic, helped by getting away from normal life, housework and social media. At least you know that you can go back whenever you want!
ReplyDeleteIt looks absolutely beautiful. Another place to add to the list of potential holiday destinations. I have been to North Wales several times but it was as a child and I don't remember a huge amount, other than being made to go on steam railways by our Dad and getting my younger brother to ask the local youths sitting on our holiday cottage wall if they could speak "Scottish" as well as Welsh!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonder of a holiday. Your photos captured such beauty. It's lovely to know that all of you had such a special time there.
ReplyDeleteYour holiday looks and sounds wonderful ... and very well done to littlest for all that walking!
ReplyDeleteIt looks, and sounds, like you really enjoyed yourselves. That's certainly always been my sort of holiday, one far away from the maddening crowds. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteIt's just beautiful. I would love to see it in person someday but your photos and narrative are the next best thing. I'm glad you had such a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely set of photos. It all looks and sounds beautiful. Your mystery pillar looks moth-like but I don't know which one. And the mystery fluffy stuff looks like cotton grass? xx
ReplyDeleteA beautiful getaway CJ. Sounds like there was something magical for everyone. And us? We get your beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing. I'd love to see Wales one day.
ReplyDeleteLooks just fab, what amazing scenery! :) xxx
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that each of your children found something that made them happy.
ReplyDeleteHow long did the sausages take to cook???
It sounds wonderful from your description and the photos are fabulous. We holidayed in Wales a couple of years ago and left wanting more, it's hard to get back to reality sometimes. Have a great week. Jane xx
ReplyDeleteOh wow CJ - these photos are absolutely stunning. I think my favorite is of your little guy with his bandanna surveying the magnificent view. The clouds look so moody. I'm glad I am back from my vacation and checking back into blogland so I could see these! I will now start planning our vacation for next year.
ReplyDeleteLOVED seeing your fun seaside visit. How fun to meet up with Annie! No photos to share? :-) As a sailor, I was thrilled to see the sailboat photos. We're heading to our lake camping trip next week. I'll be sailing soon! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as though you had the most perfect time in the most perfect way for everyone!! So glad that you got to meet Annie, it is so great to meet bloggers isn't it! I love all the Bear Grylls channelling that went on!! xx
ReplyDeleteI have just found your lovely blog and wanted to say hello. Your photo's speak so many words and are truly beautiful loved the one of you and your little boy and his teddy bear so sweet and carefree. Wales is such a beautiful place with stunning scenery. Love the photo's of your allotment and enjoyed reading your posts about it and the lovely vegetables and fruit you have been bringing home such a lovely time of year. Best wishes to you, Dee :-)
ReplyDeleteIt looks and sounds like you had a wonderful week. North Wales is a beautiful, wild place and your photos capture that perfectly. Love the pictures of your boys scrambling up hills, as I did lots of that when I was a child and so did my own children. Looks like teddy had fun too :)
ReplyDeleteCathy x
What a beautiful place! I loved Wales when I was there two years ago. And lucky you to be able to meet up with Annie. I am so jealous! We attempted a meet-up when I was there, but due to time constraints it didn't work out. Well done on the hiking, and on making it halfway up Snowdon.
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures. My boys still talk about our holiday in Brecon a couple of years ago. So unspoilt. We talked about moving there too...
Leanne xx
Oh and meeting Annie. That must have been brilliant. X
DeleteGreat photos - and you can't beat sausages cooked on a trangia!!
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
Amazing pictures. You have summed up your week beautifully! I love that pebble lamp! Glad the weather allowed you some trips out. We went to Scotland last summer and, try as we might, the weather made us stay indoors for far too many days :(
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures, we took our children to North Wales when they were 11 and 9. Your images remind me of our holiday there too doing similar things to you. Glad you had a lovely holiday. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteLove your holiday reading. Two of my fave authors:)
ReplyDeleteTell nobody about the blog? Why does that sound familiar to me? Perhaps because none of my immediate family know I blog, either! (yet.... there is something coming up in a few months' time that will be a MASSIVE give away!)
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pictures. My husband's family is from Wales and it's somewhere we eventually want to go. I felt myself relaxing just looking at them. One day. It's harder to plan since we live across the pond.
ReplyDeletewhat a wonderful trip, anything with sausages cooked on a trangia has to be perfect. happy times x
ReplyDeleteYour 'mystery fluffy things' are commonly known as Bog Cotton / Sedge Grass and properly named as Eriophorum angustifolium.
ReplyDelete