An evening in Llandudno.

So, Summer has returned to the UK after an absence of several years. 

I can't remember a time of such settled warmth and sunshine for such a long time. 

Isn't it lovely?

On Friday evening we took the picnic basket off to North Wales ..... to Llandudno.

The resort was basking in a shimmering haze and the sea was like milky glass.

We ate on the beach and then headed up Marine Drive above the iconic pier. It would have been nice to go on the tram to the top of the Orme, but nothing is ever open in Llandudno in the evening. It just shuts down .... like a ghost town.

I just love the red, white and blue bunting at the gateway to the pier.

We had a little walk on the Great Orme in the late evening sunshine and watched the seagulls gliding over the sea cliffs. I've been coming here all my life, and normally the wind is gusting and howling. This time it was silent, broken only by the far off cries of the gulls. Just magical!

This is Mr B's stomping ground, he spends half his life rock climbing here. 

I prefer not to look too closely at the cliffs. I prefer not to see what he gets up to!

From here there are good views of the Welsh mountains, and Conway Castle is in the distance, but the heat haze made it all seem soft-focus. 

I recalled the times I came here as a child, wrapped in an anorak as we huddled against the elements.

At 9.30 it was still hot, and children were happily paddling and building sandcastles, everyone making the most of a special day.

We reluctantly dragged ourselves away to head home.

It's St Swithun's day. 

Legend has it that whatever the weather is like today will be repeated for the next 40 days. 

Looks like we're in for a good summer then!

Go to Jail .... do not pass go, do not collect £200

Last weekend we spent the afternoon behind bars ... at Ruthin Gaol to be precise.

There's been a prison on this site since the 17th Century, and it's the only purpose built Pentonville style prison open to the public as a heritage attraction. We were able to explore the nooks and crannies of this fascinating building, and learn about life in the Victorian prison system ...

We saw what the prisoners ate ... a very 'appetising' plate of scouse at weekends (often much better food than on the outside)

We went into a number of cells on the lower floor

The old bath was still there ... every prisoner had a bath once a week in cold water, bad enough if you were first in the queue, but horrendous if you were 20th!

this is the governor's office

Female prisoners did laundry work and spinning

Jobs for the men included treadmills and unravelling rope.

Upstairs we were astounded to see the true scale of the building as the floors opened out above us.

This is the condemned cell where a door led to the gallows outside. The last execution was in 1913 ... I felt quite sorry for the man until I read about his crime.

While the building was very interesting, we found the stories of the prisoners even more fascinating. The tales were heartbreaking at times ... most people were imprisoned for petty thieving as life was so difficult for them.... they were probably just trying to keep their families alive. So sad!

However, the most infamous inmate was the Welsh 'Houdini' .... a certain Coch Bach Y Bala ... or the 'little redhead from Bala', who spent more time in British prisons than outside. He was a kleptomaniac, and stole things that were of little use to him. Managing to escape from the prison three times, instead of lying low, was prone to boasting about his exploits in the local hostelries, leading to his swift recapture. He was eventually shot by a landowner, and hundreds of locals turned out for his funeral, even selling postcards of the event!!!!

It was a very unusual, but thoroughly fascinating visit ... and at only £3.50 each, an absolute bargain!

Valle Crucis Abbey

Out for a Saturday afternoon drive to Llangollen, we came across this lovely little abbey and decided to have a closer look. It was deserted ... we've never had such a beautiful place all to ourselves before.

 I loved the elegant arches in the Chapter House.

We were surprised at how much of the abbey had survived. There was a great deal of roof still remaining which covered an upper floor which had once been the monks' dormitory.

I was intrigued by the ancient carvings around the abbey .... still clearly defined after eight hundred years of weathering and destruction. They certainly made things to last in Medieval times!

In a little summer house behind the abbey we met this guy ...... an animatronic monk who was spookily lifelike as he sat writing at his desk. As we approached, he lifted his head from his writing, looked us straight in the eye, and began to speak ... we nearly jumped out of our skin! He proceeded to narrate the history of the abbey .... Henry VIII has a lot to answer for!

Tale over, he returned to his writing and we stepped back out into the sunshine.

How lovely is this, the abbey reflected in the only complete Abbey Fishpond in the country!

Llandudno Pier

On a very hot and sultry Sunday afternoon we headed towards the seaside .... at Llandudno in North Wales. When I was a small child, this is where we holidayed every year. My grandparents moved their family there during the last war, away from the air raids in Liverpool. My Dad grew up there, and took us back at every opportunity.

I wanted to take a stroll down memory lane, so we headed to the pier ... in all its faded splendour.

I loved it ... it brought back so many happy memories .... and joy of joys .... there was a Punch and Judy show taking place as we stepped off the pier!

They're still doing the same voices!

My day in great detail ...

Radiotherapy ~ Day 24 (9:05)

6.15 Wake up feeling tired, another night of broken sleep

7.00 Can't get back to sleep so I get up

7.05 take my medication with a glass of cold water - two months ago the thought of this upset me a lot, but I don't even think about it now, it's just part of my daily routine.

While Mr B. takes Inca out for her morning walk, I get her food ready. When she comes back she thinks the 'food fairies' have been .....

7.30 Time for my shower, I dry my hair and get dressed in my best jeans and a new stripy T-shirt which has a sparkly heart on the front. Mr. B. thinks it's very amusing. I take no notice and put it on anyway!

8.15 I have my breakfast of muesli and berries and fruit tea, watching the BBC news

8.45 Mr B. drives me to the hospital.

This is my 24th appointment at radiotherapy, my second to last.

 I've been doing this every week day since 28th July.

9.20 No delays today and I'm called in quite quickly. The session lasts about ten minutes and the actual beam of radiation only about 20 seconds in total. I discuss care of my skin with the radiographer and she gives me some new cream to rub in.

9.45 I leave the hospital, yet again feeling so greatful that my cancer has been 'well behaved'. If you are ever feeling sorry for yourself, one glance around an oncology waiting room will make you realise how lucky you are.

10.00 Arrive at M&S Food store in Heswall to purchase a picnic. It's a beautiful day and we are going to make the most of it. Mr. B. is going back to work tomorrow after the miserable wet summer holidays and wouldn't you know the sun is blazing!!! So, we're off to Wales to enjoy our last day out for a while.

By 12 noon we're eating our picnic at Betwys-y-coed sitting on the rocks above the river, in the warmest sunshine we've had all summer ... bliss! Mr. B. goes browsing in the outdoor shops - visiting expensive coats and sleeping bags, that he doesn't need, but likes to see that they are still there ... for 'one day'!

I buy these little chaps for our dragon project that we will do in school  after Christmas.

Next stop ... Harlech Castle

Now, we do like a good castle ... and this one proved to be a very good castle indeed. Mr. B. bought the guidebook and proceded to read it very carefully examining the entrance for the portcullis grooves and the arrow windows ... looking at every detail

He does this in every castle we ever visit ... he is an expert on castle gateways .. but then loses interest and we just wander around the rest of the site ... going up and down winding staircases and gazing through arched windows.

The views from the top of the towers are breathtaking ... and it takes your breath away climbing the stairs to reach the top!

We stroll around the little town, and find some lovely little antique/vintage shops to browse in, but nothing takes our fancy today and we head off to the beach.

... and yes, I was straight in for a paddle. The water was lovely and warm!

Next stop was Barmouth, quite a big, bustling town full of holiday makers soaking up the sun... with more good shops and a fantastic beach.

We've never been to this part of Wales before, and we were so impressed with the whole area ... the scenery is stunning, and the beaches are wonderful. We think we might come back to stay with the caravan in the future....

Time to set off home, and we drive across country past Lake Bala, through Ruthin and Mold and finally back onto the Wirral.

7.15 Home again, and we unpack the car. Inca gives us a huge welcome. She stayed  with our lovely young man today .. and missed out on a paddle in the sea.

We eat a quick meal of pasta and Mr B relaxes after all the driving he's done today.

I catch up on some texts from friends asking how my treatment is going and we make plans for a meal out very soon.

9.20 I'm at the laptop writing about my day .. and will be in bed by 10 pm at the latest.

It's been a lovely day!