Some sea air

I had to see my asthma nurse this morning, and afterwards we went on to little Llansteffan.  Fortunately the tide was WAY OUT and the views fabulous.  As we often do, the outward walk was along the beach, down towards Scotts Bay, and then back along the cliff top.  Wish I could have stayed all day but Keith has a job to finish here.  Words aren't necessary - just enjoy the scenery.

I would have liked to walk right around into the river mouth overlooking Laugharne, but Keith needed to get back.

Looking across to Pembrey and then Rhossili Downs and Worms Head.

The end of the road - where the Cockle Pickers drive on to the beach, I assume.

Wonky Churches - part II - Cwmyoy

Cwmyoy Church nestles beneath the red sandstone of Hatterrall Hill.  HERE is a link to a page which shows details of the landslip and some far better photos of the church than I took!!  You can see on the left, another ancient preaching cross.

Lovely old carved heads  ("cusped" according to Coflein).  The window is probably 14th C.

Inside the porch was this beautifully-carved memorial to Joan Prosser (the old "ff" was "ss" in those times and there were Prosser memorials inside the church too).  She died on the 25th January (which year?)and was the daughter of Richard Gundy.

Above and below: there were a number of unusual decorated plaques on the walls.  Perhaps they are connected with the Prosser family? as there is the memorial to Joan, which also has beautiful carving?

The stoup, set into the wall in the porch.

The doorway into the tower.

There is debate whether this a "weeping chancel" where the non-alignment of the nave and chancel was deliberate with the nave represented Christ's body in death, and the chancel his head, inclined to the right.  That said, the rest of the leaning angles must surely be down to the landslip.  We felt quite drunken whilst walking around in here!

This probably started life as a wayside or preaching cross before being brought into the church. It dates to the 11th or 12th C.  The representation of Christ on the cross is quite rare but as this was close to Llanthony Priory, it would have been on the Pilgrimage route to St David's (and Offa's Dyke passes close by).

It has had an interesting life, as it was buried (probably during the Reformation) and not discovered until 1861, when it was dug up on a local farm.  It 1935 it was placed inside the tower.

In 1967 this was stolen and turned up for sale in an antiques shop in London. Fortunately it was spotted by the Keeper of Sculpture from the British Museum and rescued.

A sad memorial to a little 3 year old daughter, Joan Williams, and below, her mother and namesake, Joan.

The same family also lost two daughters named Mary, one 8 years old and the other just 14 weeks.  Hard times then.

A tilted window . . .

There were many old memorials in the churchyard, and a lovely memorial walk with words carved into the flagstones.

Looking out of the window today (heavy rain and strong winds), I'm glad we went out when we did!

A day of Wonky Churches

We had to go to Hay on business yesterday, and after a quick lunch we went up to Hay Bluff.  It's been a while since our last visit and it was just the day for stunning views . . .

Looking across to Pen-y-Fan . . .

Heading downhill towards Capel-y-Ffin. Once upon a time this lane (single track with passing places) would be choc-a-bloc with tourists driving the other way, but it was really quite quiet yesterday. I mentioned it to Keith and he said it's probably down to the price of petrol.  We were fortunate to only meet folk coming the other way right beside a passing place!

The Rev. Francis Kilvert described the wee church of St Mary the Virgin as "squatting like a stout grey owl amongst its seven yew trees."

The view back up the valley.  There are always some flowers here in a vase.  It is a tiny church, some 26 feet by 13.

Then tomorrow, just a little taster of Cwmyoy .. .

I said it was wonky!!

A few wildflowers from Snowshill, Gloucestershire

Some photos of wild flowers taken on our visit to Snowshill Manor. A view across the fields along the pathway from the car park to the house.

Bellflower - probably Creeping  I think.  A plant which doesn't grow here in Wales.  A joy to see it again.

I know this as Rose Mallow - think it's a washy version of Common Mallow.

I didn't get the leaf for this, but it was in a damp ditch so possibly Hemlock Water Dropwort.

Wild Carrot.

Common Knapweed.

Purple Loosestrife.

White Campion.  Something which used to grow in our garden when I was growing up in Hampshire, but here in Wales we only have the Red Campion and at the seaside in Cardiganshire, I've found Sea Campion (which is also white).

Field Scabious.

Along the way we saw Chicory growing on the verges (we don't get that in Wales either).  It's a plant I love and which brings back happy memories of walks along a stretch of the old Somerset & Dorset Railway near Blandford, when staying with friends of ours.

Looking across to the side of the house . . .

Wild flowers moving towards Autumn

Our beautiful river, down by the bridge.  Today I walked back half-way from getting the paper (my good man dropped me off). Unfortunately my legs were feeling "feak and weeble" after climbing up the steepest part of the steep hill behind the house yesterday and really didn't enjoy today's walk. I am very unfit from not being able to walk in June/early July.  I took some wild flower photos, so here are a few:

Betony, which I've also found in white along another lane locally.

Common Cow Wheat, which grows on the bank, beside the Betony, beside the river . . .

On our journeys, this wild flower (Rosebay Willow Herb) more than any other shows the passage of time from Summer towards Autumn.  When I see the flowers being spent and turning to seed pods of cotton wool, so that only a few flowers remain at the tip, my heart sinks as I know summer is spent.  Into autumn the foliage changes to beautiful bronze, flame and Lucozade-orange tints.

Leucozona glaucia - a POSITIVE ID of a hoverfly - these seem to love Umbellifers.

Regular visitors will know that this walk is being shown in reverse!  Here's the view up-river - water levels quite low at the moment.

One of the Hawkweeds?)  The leaves have confused the ID . . . Might be Common or Leafy.

Looking back across the valley.  The farm is the one by our house (you can just see the yellow of our South-facing gable end).  On the ground, only a couple of old farm buildings are visible from the house, but the Google Earth image is not an encouraging one for potential buyers as I doubt they even get to the Street View . . .  Can you tell I am feeling despondent?

Above and below: Hemp Agrimony.

The start of my walk - looking across and up the valley.