Summer versus Winter
It’s cold! The weather has taken a turn for the worse and after last week where we were searching out ‘little worn’ summer clothing it’s a real contrast! A week ago I was sitting on the beach at Borth in the blazing sunshine – yesterday I was shivering at home hoping the ‘sweep’ turns up in a fortnight’s time to give the chimney its annual de-soot! Yes, I’m afraid I do my share of polluting in the winter months, although I feel I make amends in lots of other ways!
Borth
Although I have enjoyed a few fair-weathered family holidays in Borth (which is on the North Wales coast) when the children were small, day trips have never proved very successful. Our first expedition was a ‘treat’ on the train! On reaching Borth it poured with rain and the wind was hurricane force – it was awful! And, on the homeward journey we were delayed at a tiny remote train station called Dovey Junction due to flooding!
Another memorable trip, in more recent years, a warm mist hung over the seaside town all day, robbing my LTA of his favourite occupation of peering out to sea through a pair of ancient (2nd World War) binoculars! And, yes there is a third memory (‘they’ say everything comes in threes!!) which began as a beautiful morning and gradually developed into a horrendous thunder storm, which confined us to our car to eat our picnic and an early journey home!! Wow! Borth is our nearest seaside destination. Lovely when the weather’s fine, but ‘no place to hide’ when it ain’t!
At the moment sea defences are being constructed there! Part of the beach is still cordoned off while huge ‘plant’ machinery (I should know the names of such monsters as my LTA spent a large proportion of his working life operating such machines!! But you know how it is!!) threatens to level and position tons of stones in varying sizes. The part which had already been ‘done’ had in my opinion (for what that’s worth!) been spoilt! Although there appeared to be a few small ‘surfing’ waves, there were no shells!! No shells, imagine that!! My main reason for any trip to the seaside!!
Mugengyo Taiko Drummers
Since my last ‘blog’ I have been to the Theatre Severn to see and ‘hear’ the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers! Two plus hours of amazing drumming by muscular men and women! How such a level of athleticism and concentration is maintained over that length of time I can’t imagine! I felt tired sitting watching! My daughter learnt the basics at ‘big’ school, so it seemed like a good idea to go along and see the professionals! Not my usual ‘tipple’ but highly recommended for a very entertaining and almost hypnotic evening! Friends and family asked me ‘wasn’t it boring, two hours of pounding drums?’ The answer was definitely ‘no’! Truly astounding!
Making Up
Well, I must go and feed my birds! (Making up for the smoke pollution!!) I have a huge ‘squabble’ of sparrows at the moment! (There aren’t supposed to be many about!! I seem to have them all!) I find sparrows such a cheerful bunch. They have a way of lifting the spirits with their energetic twitterings, which at this SAD (seasonal affective disorder) time of year is essential!
Harvest Festival
The local farmers are in a frenzy, hurriedly trying to outdo each other on the hedge trimming front, ready for the Harvest Festival service at the local church, where their ‘god’ is thanked for the yearly bounty! I used to have to attend such gatherings when I worked at the local primary school, and my thoughts were always drawn to the poor starving people of countries where there is no food! Where is their ‘god’?
England Rugby Hopes Dashed
And as for the England Rugby World Cup squad, the less said the better!! You’ve got a few months to pull it all together chaps, before the Six Nations!!
Thanks for your time!
The Bumpkin Rambler xx
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