The Welsh Orient Express

 Nu and I had a table to ourselves in a coach that looked as though it had been plucked directly from the set of Murder On The Orient Express

It was quite lovely

The train left Chester just after 9 am and we were tucking into a glorious brunch soon after we skirted Oswestry and followed the Welsh border south towards Cardiff. 

The staff couldn’t do enough for us.

A friendly middle aged lady sat opposite us with her elderly parents. They were from Whitstable and it was the parents anniversary . She quipped that she knew that Nu and I were not married and were friends 

“ you never stop talking to each other” she said

It was true , we have talked for twelve hours straight.

The train went through Hereford and entered Cardiff around one and we walked up to Cardiff Castle where our guide showed us through the Victorian house, through rooms King Charles held private meetings in only last week.

The quadrangle at Cardiff Castle

The beautiful roof garden on the top of the Castle’s Tower

We finished at the Castle, had a drink in the sunshine and mooched around the city centre before catching the Northern Belle home.

The five course dinner which was served in the deco dining car was truly lovely and by the time we came to a final halt back in Chester Nu was sipping the last of her port and I had just finished my coffee as the 1930s singer ( complete with spats) sang me happy birthday

I’m so lucky to have Nu

The day was perfect

Northern Belle

 It’s too late to play around with blogger. I have Uni every Tuesday evening until 9 pm and tonight blogger won’t even let me comment at all on my own blog after I eventually sat down fifteen minutes ago.

I eventually gave up the ghost

Tomorrow Im off with Nu on the Northern Belle,

It’s her birthday gift for my 60th…

She’s always come up trumps in my life….always has

What larks Pip

Balancing The Books

 It’s autumn and with yesterday all done and dusted the passing into another season feels so much more poignant. 

I’ve dug out jumpers and made pea and mint soup this morning and walked the dogs at 7.30 am when it felt cold and quiet and darker than I expected. 

And the day has an anticlimactic feel to it, which is exactly what I didn’t want to happen

And so I’ve taken my coffee upstairs and opened the office again.

Roger is happy in the kitchen, where I have hidden tiny bits of dry bagel around his bedding and under the table . He is happily searching for crumbs with satisfied nom noms when one is found.

Mary is asleep on the reading chair.

I am behind on paperwork today. 

Of looking at the bills,

Of checking for the best deals, of balancing the books.

There are other things that need sorting too. 

Online mandatory training for work, the Village Pond open day 

Updating the village website

Organising a meal here for my family ( it’s been over 5 years since I hosted anything) 

A super dinner party for friends, promised and overdue.

My friend Nigel hasn’t visited for a few years too, he needs a date to come over

I haven’t made lists in ages. 

Spare time is wasted on tiktok, YouTube, day dreaming, going out!

I need to make one today.

The filofax is ready.

I feel I need to be worried more about money too

The electricity bills need checking

Bloody hell the website says I’m 700 quid in credit ! 

There’s a turn up for the books! 

Shit, I’ve just remembered Bluebell needs an MOT and service 

Bollocks I need to get dog wormer too! 

11 am and 16 things ticked off so far

Just 15 bigger things to do

Happy Days Again

My nephew went to London yesterday, he’s been a bit low recently 

He went to soak up the emotion and experience of the “Queen’s Weekend”  and also met up with his daughter who lives there .

He sent me this photo last night after meeting up with her and her boyfriend,

They were scootering through central London

I love it so much

Funeral

 

I think broadcaster Huw Edwards explained the pomp and traditions around a State Funeral to me better than anyone else has.

He said a few days ago that a State Funeral is designed to be SEEN .

That resonated with me 

It makes sense.

The lying in state, the Grandchildren’s vigil and the Queue ( which was a phenomenon all of its own)  all had a theatrical, visual and ceremonial power of their own and in the case of the “ the queue” allowed the public to give a nod or a curtsy with their own faces joined in the spotlight.

I’m watching the tv now and will add to today’s blog as the morning progresses. 

Justin Trediau has just arrived who , apart from King Felipe of Spain, must be one of the most attractive world leaders.

The gun carriage has just left WestMinster hall amid a blast of bagpipers 

The hair on my neck , stands up.

142 sailors pulled the gun carriage through the streets from Westminster Hall to the Abbey

I’m glad it’s all over now 

But I’m proud to say , it’s all been done incredibly well, 

I have my highlights……Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex have shone out as did the grandchildren’s vigil, not an easy undertaking in anyone’s mind and Charles will be a safe park of hands as king and has already stamped his way forward with his impromptu walkabouts and blustery pen gate.

It’s been a funny old week all told 

Like I said, I’m glad it’s all over

Ps I hope Charles keeps the Queen’s personal bodyguard Major Thomson has proved to be a bit of on line celebrity 

Chewer

Dorothy is just about coping with Roger’s wayward ways 

I went to stock up on “ funeral food” for tomorrow and wish I hadn’t. 

It was worse than bloody Christmas and Tesco’s was packed.

I got my nibbles, bought faggots in gravy for my tea and added pigs ears to my final items.

Roger needs to chew on something.

The new man in my life is a chewer and a hoarder, only this morning I ventured into his crate to find the following items hidden under his bedding

1 hairbrush

1 flip flop

1 small plastic container of olive tapenade

2 pencils

One sock 

I chewed plastic clothes peg

And oddly the red cloth lobster given to me by Mrs Trellis but with its antenna chewed off

 

Rice Balls & Charles

 

Yesterday my nephew Pete rang me up to see if I wanted to go to a local food festival with him .He’s a total outdoorsy speed junkie so this was a change of direction for him so I was delighted to do something different . 

We were accompanied by my elder sister Ann and have just spent an enjoyable hour perusing the stalls and buying up tidbits not usually seen in Welsh high Streets.

I bought a selection of Italian Arancini rice balls and some overly expensive olives and after we had a nice chat and a drink in the gardens of the Glasfryn which is a restaurant overlooking Theatre Clwyd.

Pete showed me a photo on his phone, it was of when my father and mother met King Charles when he was a budding Prince Charles and was taken in the 70s

I hadn’t seen it for years

My mother looks terrified . 

My father just very proud

Queue

 I’ve been toying with the idea of going to London to see the Queen .

But common sense took over.

I couldn’t justify the expense, not with Bluebell’s service coming up 

The phenomenon of “ The Queue” seems to be hotly debated in some areas of the media with reporters accusing people of loving the spectacle  of queue over the prospect of showing respect to the Monarch 

I’m not sure that’s the case, I think throughout all this period the  turning up to watch the proceedings has been the only way that many can feel “ a part “ of things. 

During the processions applause has been the only other way of participation for many 

I get it, totally….

Today I met my friend Polly for lunch at Bryn Williams at Porth Eirias 

The portion size was small but the linguine was tasty enough.

The restaurant is situated in the Sea Activity Centre on the Prom which resembles a soviet bunker from its land side

It was nice to get the wind on my face afterward, and I stood on the Promenade for an age watching the white horses show themselves in the bay