I wish it was possible to stop the clock when the children go back to school after holidays, so that I can get round and do all the jobs I can’t do while they’re at home, without it eating into my ‘productive’ time. If anyone manages it, please let me know the secret…
But half-term was good.
Our early tentative plans to camp in the Brecons were consigned to the bin when the torrential overnight rain reminded us just how it feels to get into a damp sleeping bag. Instead the Other Half googled and came up with The Farmer’s Arms in Abergavenny – terrific find, the sort you don’t really want to let on about – and so off we went to meet up with my brother in Hay-On-Wye (best town in the world), and scour the shelves for books on Roman architecture.
Thanks to Booths and the Hay Cinema Bookshop, we now have every book ever published on the subject (I may be exaggerating, or possibly not…) which was a relief and also extremely good fun – a bit like doing a private treasure hunt.
Just before we left Hay for Abergavenny, I ditched the others and nipped in to Wool and Willow. I’d had a good feeling about it when we passed by in the morning, and I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve come home with a gorgeous stash of silks, dyed by Jenny Cook of Glasbury – I’ve used some already and they stitch brilliantly – so happy.
We drove home the next day taking in a selection of ruins – well this is me, I can’t pass up on the chance to visit a castle or two…
First there was White Castle…
Then there was Tintern Abbey…
And finally, Chepstow Castle…
I’ve really missed out on heritage trips over the summer, so it felt very good indeed to be wandering over the ruins. More about these in a future post.
But for now, it’s back to the stitching.
❤
Dreaming In Stitches 
what a privilege to experience those visits to the castles….we live in a country that’s just over 300 years old….and those castle ruins? how long have they been standing? must have been awesome…
I have to admit, castles give me an enormous thrill and I’m sure the physical connection they provide with people and events from centuries back, is part of their allure for me. Chepstow is probably the oldest of the four buildings we went to last week – it was begun shortly after the Norman Conquest. The buildings we see now date from the 12th and 13th centuries. White Castle was re-fortifued for the campaigns against the Welsh in the 1260s. Very old all, and all totally captivating. I really do feel privileged to live here.
thank you for the hi-story.. “I’m sure the physical connection they provide with people and events from centuries back, is part of their allure for me”… a few months ago we stayed in a chateaux in France…and that ‘connection’…for me, it was so ‘real’… thank you for sharing:-)
w.r.t your question: here in the southern hemisphere time ticks second by second;-) so, i’m learning to ‘do whatever my hands find to do’ … as the house fills unexpectedly and randomly with ages two to eighty four throughout the course of any week…
What a lovely expression – I think time is a slippery character – mercurial and difficult to pin down.
…and then some days, it is as if time stands still….(when one visits a castle;-)
I’m going to echo Sonja and say: Wow! Amazing to live in a place with so many old structures and such ages! Reminds me that I really do live in the “new world” if not the southern hemisphere 😉 Oh, and if you find that post-holiday clock-stopping mechanism, do share! I could defintely use one too!
I suppose it’s the kind of thing a lot of us here take for granted, but history is my life-long passion, so I guess I’m more tuned in. The castles and medieval cathedrals are wonderful, but of course there are many older examples of human activity here – stone circles, hill forts etc, it’s just harder – for me at least – to feel quite so connected to the people who made them. Come and visit and I’ll show you some favourites!
ha ha. Someday when I do make it over, I’ll have to troll through your blog archives and ask you to give me a list!
If you come, I’d be delighted to put together some suggestions for you.
What a lovely way to spend half-term, Anny. The Welsh Borders are unbeatable.
Well pretty well unbeatable as you so well know – although the North West Highlands? close call I’d say.