Blogs from Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe - page 2

32 days and counting - Suzy is standing in the snow. The weather has turned nasty. It began to snow last night and we woke up this morning to a heavy covering and a grey leaden sky. The journey to work was fraught to say the least with abandoned cars littering the road making it hazardous for overtaking and difficult for the gritters and the snow ploughs to clear the way. Gwernymynydd Hill was a shambles, drivers out of their cars with shovels trying to dig their way out. Cars left in the middle of the road. In the end I got to work,turned round and came home again. This time last year March was fairly temperate with mild weather and the reservoirs empty.Drought was forecast. What a difference a year makes. The clocks change next ... read more

Suzy is parked in the snow on the drive wrapped up against the cold wind and the driving snow. The snow started early this morning with a bit of windy flurry. As the day progressed her silver screen covered in snow insulating her against the cold and her little rubber boots became hidden by the drift that was accumulating up against her. I think she probably wasn't jealous of the fact that I had to go out to work and leave her on the drive. I know where I would prefer to be. The drive to work had been fairly uneventful in the morning however as the day progressed the snow came down and turned everything into a world of white. Gardens and trees that looked brown yesterday now have a nice white coat. The few ... read more

Autumn has definately kicked in. The mornings are getting much darker and gloomier and will continue to do so especially when the clocks go back in less than a months time. It is becoming dusky in the evening around 6.30. All colour has gone over in the gardens apart from the remaining hardy roses, dahlias and chrysanthemums. The leaves of the trees are taking on the Autumn colours of bronze, gold, yellow and crimson. And those that have already changed are being blown off like confetti in the wind. The Indian summer we had hoped for is a bit intermittent. When the sun shines it is here but most of the time it is cooler and raining. Shops are beginning to fill up with all things Christmas and the gardens are looking very sad for themselves. ... read more

It's been easy settling into semi-retirement. Instead of dreading work on Sunday nights it's a lovely feeling to realise that there are still more days without work. Things have been moving on apace with Suzy as we have gradually filled the fridge up with food to take with us on our trip, items have been moved from cupboard to cupboard as we try to find the optimum use of space and everything bar the kitchen sink has been taken into the van. We have produced a shake down list with all the items we need to take with us and we keep coming back to it as we realise we have forgotten to list something. The list seems to grow by the day as we think of something new. . A new atlas of Europe has ... read more

Sometimes it is easy to overlook the area around which you live. Take it for granted even. We travel all round the world and yet what is just round the corner from us is strange and sometimes unknown. The Clwydian Hills which surround the vale of Clwyd being a case in point. Less high than Snowdon, less rugged but yet just as majestic in their own way. We walk locally sometimes just round the block- a flat 3/4 hour walk with views to die for of the hills brooding in the weak winter sun. Lanes full of brambles, holly, ivy and beneath them the green and black spotted leaves of the Cuckoo Pint just springing to life. Lambs frisking in the fields, snuggling up to their mothers. The waggling of their tails echoed in the shaking ... read more