Wet Welsh Christmas (Part Two)

One important item to go with us on our holiday was the Christmas Cake.  I didn't ice it beforehand as I didn't want it to get damaged en route and so once we had arrived I sallied forth, purchased icing sugar and set to work.  What I hadn't realized was that while I thought I had bought icing sugar made from cane sugar, I had in fact bought icing sugar made from sugarbeets.  In our family sugarbeet sugar was generally frowned upon but I didn't notice the error until the evening of Christmas Eve - when all the shops were closed - and so I had to make do with what I had.  

Putting my ingrained anti sugarbeet sugar prejudices to one side I set to.  The results looked okay!  It tasted a little different but I couldn't help that and justified things by saying to myself that we could always 'not' eat the icing when we cut the cake.  

I decorated the end result with holly picked from a bush outside (and laid in boiling water for short while to kill any unwelcome friends).  

It all looked rather festive:

The cake has lasted from then until now, with pieces being eaten every day.  In point of fact I am sitting eating the last piece as I type these words!

* * * * *

The weather during our stay in north Wales was decidely fierce on occasions and the River Dee (which runs through the centre of Llangollen) was quite a torrent:

I really liked this blue 'gothic' doorway at the side of the local police station:

We went on some delightful drives among the numerous valleys.  This is not far from where we were staying:

I took this photograph while we were having lunch on the side of a narrow lane.  The countryside was criss-crossed with these hedgerows.  We aim to return in the summer for a short holiday too.  I expect they will all look spectacular then:

But north Wales is not just about valleys (no matter how green they are).  It is also about sunlit uplands:

And stark, rugged mountain scenery and remote lakes:

Behind this cloud (in the photograph below) is Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon).  I have never seen it myself because whenever I get near, it is covered in clouds: be it summer or winter!
On the left is Y Lliwedd and on the right is Crib Goch.  Yr Wyddfa is in the centre, completely obscured.  It stands some 1,085 metres:

I can tell you that when I took that photograph it was absolutely freezing.  The wind was like a knife and seemed to blow right through your bones!  Thank goodness AGA and I could return to the car and have tea (for me) and coffee (for him) from our respective thermos flasks.

Even in Winter Wales is a magical land:

But at the end of the day it is nice to return to the valleys again:

I hope you enjoyed looking at these photographs.  If you ever get the chance to visit North Wales - do not hesitate - grab your bags and go!

Wet Welsh Christmas (Part One)

AGA and I decided to spend Christmas far away from it all, on the Welsh borders.

It rained.

A lot.

There were long, long periods of dull grey weather as well.

But on the plus side we really appreciated the few periods of sunshine and blue skies!

* * * * *

This is how are journey started:



We drove from home to Calais and stayed there overnight.
Early on the following morning, I somewhat nervously drove the car onto the Chunnel train, bound for England.
It was my first time taking a left hand drive vehicle from Europe to England.  My nervousness was not helped by going on the Chunnel train as I do not like going under the ground (let alone under the sea as well!)  However I was pleasantly surprised.
No disasters took place.  The train didn't stop half way, or catch fire, or break down.  The Chunnel didn't collapse either; and we arrived safe and sound at Folkestone roughly half an hour after setting out.
We then motored upwards and westwards (through driving rain) until we reached the English Welsh border; made for Llangollen and arrived at our destination just a short drive outside the village of Llydiart y parc, by which time it had stopped raining:

Our cottage (roughly where the light is on in this photograph) was originally one of the out buildings of this farm but has been renovated into a very nice, modern (but not too modern) place where one can retire to be far away from the madding crowd.  The 'big house' is also rented out and at the time was catering for a family of nine people spending Christmas together.
The owners live on site, are courteous and genial without being over the top - in fact the perfect hosts.  We had stayed at this place before and once again, not only was our welcome warm but the accommodation was, as usual, excellent:

And so we spent a pleasant Christmas surrounded by beautiful countryside:

Sheep:

Various pheasants:

The odd llama:

And not much else:

* * * * * 

This area of Wales is associated with Owain Glyn Dŵr (known in England as Owen Glendower).  Just down the road from where we were staying is the site of his manor at Glyndyfrdwy:

It was here that Owain proclaimed, or had himself proclaimed, Prince of Wales in about 1400, and then led a very successful revolt against English rule before mysteriously vanishing:

The cause of Owain's revolt was a land dispute with his neighbour Reginald de Grey, who resided at nearby Ruthin:

Modern day Ruthin has some very nice buildings.  AGA and I decided that we could quite happily take over the Castle Hotel and reside there:

Reginald lived within the sturdy fortress that was Ruthin Castle.  When Owain Glyn Dŵr and his men came and attacked the town they destroyed it although they could not overcome the castle:

Now alas the castle is little more than a ruin within which was built the present day Victorian 'castle' (now a hotel):

Back at Glyndyfrdwy we went to the top of the mound where Owain had himself resided.  AGA took my photograph leaning against one of the old oak trees that now grace the summit:

I hope that Owain didn't mind that the descendent of the man who burnt his manor to the ground (for Reginald de Grey is my ancestor) was now strolling nonchalantly about the place, having his photograph taken!