Kyre

A few random snaps of our few days with Joanna and Tony over New Year. Mainly a story of eating and drinking, and chasing the various animals around in onesies

Barmouth on the Beach

A few photos taken on the beach on the way from Porthmadog down to Joanna's house, this is Barmouth. The light was quite punchy and the kids were in high spirits. I often like my photos when they are just records of them doing their stuff unaware of me. They were marching, Greg leading and Miranda keen to impress him.

Criccieth

This is a location I think I will return to. The beach at Criccieth looks out towards Snowdonia, and what a view. In reality I thoink you'd need to keep your boat at Pwllhelli but the sailing options around here give superb views back to land. Suspect you could beach launch here but worth bookmarking for future reference....

Caernarfon Castle

A trip to Wales would not be complete without a visit to a castle or two. This is Caernarfon Castle which I have to say was impressive, the walls stretch out into the town and we had fun trying to find somewhere decent to eat (before giving up!)

Harlech Castle which we passed also looked superb, and Criccieth Castle too both of which sit impressively on a big rocky outcrop.

Bala

A visual record more than anything of the sailing potential of Lake Bala which nestles in the North Wales mountainous landscape. You can sail here it would appear subject to purchase of a ticket, the slipway runs from the car park.

My Mum and Dad had ambitions of buying a house overlooking here when they retired, what a place too!

Snowdonia

A few days to explore the mountains of Snowdonia before we head south to Joanna's for New Year. Behind us is Glyder Fawr and Tryfan and to the left the foothills of Snowdon. One day I will get back on top to take some proper photos.

Porthmadog

A slightly grainy pic as it was almost dark by the time we had walked around the headland from Porrthmadog to Borth y Gest and looked out over the hills towards Snowdonia.

Rather a windy trip over from Holmes Chapel across North Wales to say the least, but we did manage to stop at Penmaenmawr where we ate a picnic of bread and cheese behind the windbreak.

Christmas

Lewi has been hankering after a classic boat for some time, and he's managed to persuade us that he can restore an old boat for his Duke of Edinburgh Award 'learn a new skill' aspect.

Father Christmas came a little early when he realised that a suitable boat was for sale near Juliet and Nich's (...who we just happened to be visiting for Christmas)

So now we have another boat -  a Scorpion!

Just wait your turn

Enter stage right, Miranda with buckets of food for the goats. Ginger you can see poking her head over the top of the door. Domino in his pen waiting for a tasty morsel from Mrs Bountiful... The piggies Maggie and Mikey have no need to worry, they never get left out.

All in all, another happy session down at Barry's mini farm which Miranda is very partial to.

You take the slide

reminds me of an old helter skelter we once went down...

Roman Posting

 These taken during our recent posting to Isca in modern day Gwent. Now called Caerleon it was once one of only three major Roman garrisons in Great Britain.

We were fortunate enough to have an enactment day, and naturally we entered into the spirit of things!

Greg was a Mermerillo, I was a Centurion I think...

Homeward Bound

I have a nice video of this shot as we sailed back into Lymington on Spook; the dark sea sloshing by and the sound of the wind make a great background to the spectral sideshow. However it only works full screen and not in thumbnail form!

Messing around afloat

I found this photo of the boys larking around at Calshot and thought I should make use of it. Greg and Lewi playing the fool with Jake and Kyle after a day's racing. It was getting damn cold as I recall but their endless enthusiasm for things afloat or sink worthy kept them going til the bitter end...

Spook

Been for a nice winter's sail today with Andrew Watts on Spook! Lewis especially enjoys this boat as it's a real sailors boat packed with clever ideas, thought through by someone who loved the craft of sailing. She is fast through the water and very responsive.

We managed to get her doing a few things she'd not done before for Andrew, such as poling out the Genoa downwind reaching about ten knots on the run down to Cowes. We stopped for lunch at the Folly and witnessed a great sunset in the way back.

It's just come to my attention that the great Junior Murvin, who's classic "Police and Thieves" was accompanied by Lee Scratch Perry, has died aged just 67. I have played that record a lot, an awful lot...

Last time you did that Dad you fell over (...backwards!)

Seems only five minutes ago when we had Popsie balancing on Dominos back, a little blimp barely capable of sitting upright. Things have changed and now she's in charge - of Domino at least!

This is walking (backwards!) through the woods at the back of our house in the autumn leaves

This is what it looked like back in 2006 just after I started writing this blog