Blogs from Wales, United Kingdom, Europe - page 8

Well Well what an odd experience . I had seen a photograph this morning of an empty sad looking town/city centre. I wondered if perhaps so early the shoppers decided not to come in and pay parking fees . If they waited until 11 am the parking was free. And of course the workers who did not work would not fill the spaces in the car parks and there would be plenty of for shoppers. And day visitors if we get such a thing. We left home at the usual time of 12.15 . Being creatures of habit we liked to go into Wrexham early, park up in Glyndwr University Car park before it filled up and pick up the pre-match burger and cup of coffee. We paid up our £3 to park and left my ... read more

It was a cold and chilly end of January day. The nights are just starting to draw out but it still has that chill that only comes just before Spring arrives . We had not been out for some while. We were stagnating if the truth be known. We kept saying we ought to go out and just visit anywhere but anywhere was finding hard to find . We had been living here for a little over 2 years and in that time I had continued to find things to see and do. However, since Christmas things had quietened down. There were no new exhibitions to visit . Walking was not on the agenda. The roads had been flooded and we had suffered the first snow of the winter. We were getting complacent . Shall we ... read more

"Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognise; a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black curious eyes of a child -our own two eyes. " "All is a miracle." Woke up to the words of Thich Naht Hanh and they made me smile . I had not quite got a blue sky nor were the clouds white and there were no leaves on the trees. But I was out for a walk and there was enough out there to make me think about the miracle waking up and being able to get out for my walk . My walk was a usual one but with the most of unusual thoughts. I looked for the blue sky and it might have been there somewhere but the clouds which were not ... read more

Christmas is always that time of year when the National Trust properties open up for the festive period. A few properties open their doors, fill the halls with holly and decorations and hope to get the visitors in. Visitors who fill buy a lunch or perhaps buy a gift or two for the family. Locally there are three properties open. On our doorstep Erddig. Just a short drive away . The servants quarters are reported to be decorated. Christmas trees are decorated in the dining room and some of the smaller rooms . Chirk the second closest has their trees up. We went last year Jo, myself , Woolly and Sion to the Mad Hatters Christmas Party. I have no idea what the theme is this year. Furthest away is Powys Castle . Their trees are ... read more

INTRODUCTION: Wales is often called a big little country. It is 160 miles from north to south and 50 miles from east to west. Wales is a country within the United Kingdom. It has its own language and its own flag. The Welsh language is spoken by about a quarter of the population with most speaking English. All signposts show both languages, Welsh first. Wales shares the same head of state and central government as England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Wales also uses the same money. In medieval times Wales was an independent nation, but lacked a government and ruler. It was slowly annexed by England in many wars & battles. Although the Welsh retained their strong sense of national identity by the middle of the 16th century they were part of England. In 1997, Prime ... read more