I have survived a weekend in Wales with Chantal and Andree! Just the three of us in our friend’s cottage near Bala, but it actually went remarkably well, although it was an occasionally challenging journey there. Having asked my Smartphone to direct us off route to find us somewhere to eat, while Satnav was still trying to get us back on track for Wales, I ended up with four female voices all giving conflicting advice. Thank goodness the dogs kept quiet.
We arrived on Friday in heavy rain, but Andree was immediately impressed with the cottage and the views. Nevertheless we didn’t venture out, instead opening a bottle or two of wine (since I prefer red and the ladies prefer rose or white) and having a cosy relaxed afternoon evening in front of the wood burner.
On Saturday morning the views were still a bit grey and misty, although were enhanced by a vision of the Mother-in-Law without her teeth. We drove to Barmouth, where we parked up and walked with the dogs to a café/ restaurant where we love to sit outside overlooking the estuary, and have a meal and beer while watching the world go by. I was advised that it was too cold to sit outside, and so I left Andree and Chantal to secure a table inside while I returned the dogs to the car a few minutes away, walking back to find the Ladies still outside. A decision had been made that it was too cramped and claustrophobic inside. After a long and indecisive discussion, which did not involve me, there was an eventual agreement that we could explore Barmouth and maybe pick up some fish and chips or a sandwich. The sun had emerged, and so I returned once again to the car for the dogs. By now I was on “Hello” terms with people sitting on benches and at outdoor café tables between the restaurant and the car.
I returned to find that Andree was puzzled because this was not the Barmouth that she remembered from caravanning days, and it was clear that she knew the north of the town, the side closest to the caravan field where she and Jake stayed over several years. We decided to drive to Taly-Bont, the village where Andree and Jake had stayed, and so again headed back to the car with the dogs. During my car-restaurant-car-restaurant trips I had spotted a beach-side café with a large dog-friendly conservatory, and the Ladies must have been hungry, because there was quick agreement to pop in for a snack – the food and service met with approval from all of us.
As we drove to Taly-bont Andree was looking out for a particular pub overlooking the sea, where she and Jake had enjoyed a lager, and I think that she had an idea that we could pop in for a drink for old times’ sake. Andree suddenly shouted “THERE!” and I did a sharp right turn, to the surprise of the 4-wheel drive vehicle behind me. The pub had been repossessed 3 weeks previously.
Andree pointed out the field where she and Jake had enjoyed many holidays, and we drove down to the beach, where Andree and I walked with the dogs along a path through the dunes while Chantal photographed the sea, returning back along the beach, to the delight of Tia who loved the wide open space.
That evening we enjoyed an excellent and well earned (I felt) meal at the local pub close to the cottage.
On Sunday we went to Betws-Y- Coed, where Chantal and Andree spent two hours happily browsing and not buying anything. Andree nearly purchased a set of nice coasters, a wedding present for her neighbour, but in the true spirit of Browsing, she didn’t buy it. The longest browse was in an outdoor clothing shop, where fortunately I was able to settle comfortably and contentedly on a chair and read my latest e-book using the Kindle app on my phone.
We retired to a pub for a well-deserved pub lunch and had time to stroll down to Swallow Falls before returning to the fray, this time for serious browsing-with-buying. Chantal and Andree spent over an hour purchasing 2 items in an outdoor clothing shop. I got into trouble because I wandered outside with my camera while Chantal was in the changing rooms, and consequently I didn’t hear her calling to ask for my opinion. Apparently the shop assistant asked a few men in the shop whether they were called Neil, and he greeted me with relief when I returned, clearly matching the description that he had been given.
Monday dawned damp, but soon turned warm and sunny. We went to a garden centre to buy shrubs for the cottage garden, the requested re-imbursement for using the cottage, and both Andree and I succumbed to the temptation to buy plants for ourselves.
Back at the cottage we enjoyed lunch outside enjoying the sunshine and views – this had been the plan for every day, but Welsh weather intervened. We cleaned the cottage, mowed the (large) lawn, and stopped for a break to visit a recommended tea room in the hills behind the cottage. It was up a long narrow road, but was well worth the trip, with superb views over the surrounding hills to Lake Bala. We were the only customers, and happily chatted to the owner, promising to return in August, our next trip to the cottage.
We returned home on Monday evening, leaving late enough for the roads to be quiet. More photos in Our Recent Photos
Technically we live in Oaktree House, but sadly the tree had to go.
We now have a thriving Oakstump at the front of the house.
