A Walk to Lift the Spirits

 

After a week of storms, the gales and rain left us with some sunshine and Tam and I took advantage and did my favourite walk (for the views).  

We are still going through our belongings, shedding more clothing to the charity shops when they open again, and sorting through fabrics (more to go for community patchwork), and yes, still a few more books.

Looking into the distance, the river Towy has burst its banks along the floodplain of the valley.

The mountains were looking beautiful as always.  We will miss that view when we leave but hey, there are ones nearly as good where we are going.

The lane ahead, and many trees stripped of their leaves already (Ash are the last to get them and the first to lose them).

    A different view of our "Canter Field" walk, which enters along the lane heading past the white house in the centre.  That is built on what used to be the Canter Field, and the one we had our hay bales from each summer when we had the horses.  Neighbours of ours used to live in the farm you can see, but after he died, his wife moved into a bungalow and I believe their son took over the farm.

    There is still more paperwork to be dealt with from the Vendor's Solicitors, and the Agent for the house we are buying has been in touch to see what we might want left with the house, so we have inherited a garden bench, plant pots, a big Buddha head and a roomy bookcase in the house.  

    I am feeling very tired and just want to sit and read.  Tea is going to be very straightforward - home made fish and chips.  Spuds are peeled already.  Whilst Tam does the meal I will quickly mix a Manderin Orange cake so that can go in the oven when the meal has come out.

    I've nearly finished Ted Baker's Blood Water and can recommend it, moreso if you know the Purbecks in Dorset, which are very familiar to me.  When we first moved here, we hadn't intended to stay longer than to do the house up, and head back to the West Country, but then our plans went completely awry, and now it seems we are destined to see out our days in Wales.  The West Country has always been pulled beyond our grasp, one way or another.  Wales is so beautiful, so we won't complain.

    

The walk with the best view

Yesterday we felt the need to see our favourite view again, from the lane which eventually goes to Horeb x-roads.  It was clear enough to see the glaciated flat tops of the Brecon Beacons - Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du. The car needed a little outing as it has only done 30 miles in 7 weeks (and one of those journeys was the 20 mile round trip to Carmarthen and back!)

Downhill a little bit, and the view is of the more local fields and then the woodlands of the Towy valley, before the heights of the mynydd above the Amman valley.

Hedgerow trees put on their greenery and, below, this was the view ahead.

A different and clearer view of Dyffryn Iron Age Camp.

Whilst the steepest of steep hills would give you an amazing view of the Carmarthen Fans.

Skies were a mixture of sunshine and threatening cloud, which provided a wonderful foil for these Beech leaves.

The lane between the two houses is one regularly walked by us - it's the one I walked along to get to the beautiful Chestnut trees last week.  The nearer of the two houses used to be where the Gamekeeper lived, but is now a private residence.

Getting lower down the hill, but (below) there are still wonderful views.  That lane you can see leads (steeply!) up to Pantglas.

This is where our neighbours Roy and Menna used to live.  I think their son lives there now.

Bush vetch, which was attracting the bees.

Finally, the first flower on my lovely yellow rose by the gate.  I lost the label so don't know its name but it flowers all summer long.

Apologies for the lightweight post - I will try and do a better one tomorrow, but have been busy outside again today and just want to Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.