On my Bike

As the weather improves I've had my bike out a couple of times recently. On Sunday I ventured around the Great Orme and although it was threatening rain I avoided a downpour while having coffee and cake in the only Cafe at the far end of the peninsula. A posse of Bikers came roaring up the road... see pic.

It's only about 8 miles around, but it gets quite steep as the road rises with the cliffs. The great part was coasting down the other side and took a fraction of the time to get back home.

When I got home, what I really wanted to do was go on and on, but the rain started coming down and I was ready for lunch.

Llawen on her new bike.

I went to Julie's new house with her daughter and grand-daughter on our bikes, but the track was really too bad to cycle, though it is drivable.
The Chalet is a tiny stone cottage built into the hillside, more like a monk's cell than a cottage! But the surroundings are magical, at least when the sun shines!!

More of my life

Following Michael's Blog... http://www.gymnastmike.blogspot.com/... I read that he thinks his blog has become boring and I know what he means! While I was having my great adventure I had so much to write about there wasn't enough time to do it justice, but now I'm home again I've settled into my quiet, uneventful life, which maybe I think isn't so interesting! However, some of my readers have been kind enough to request that I continue my blogging and I've certainly had enough time to assimilate my experiences.

It's very comfortable back here with all home comforts around me after 'roughing it' quite a bit for the previous six months. However, this has the effect of making me quite lazy, not taking regular exercise and eating and drinking too much. Is this because I'm bored? I wonder. I'm doing things to let people know I'm back and available for Therapy, as well as advertising Introduction to EFT Workshops, but not enough interest so far.

The trouble is that I've come back to the task of paying off my credit cards that enabled me to travel and the one way I can do this is to go back to Personal Care work; that is, living-in with an elderly person for a week or more, helping them with all the things they are unable to do. The advantage of this is that I can choose to accept or reject any work offered by my agency. At the moment I'm working one week, then home for two, which isn't so bad. I do have some free time when I can use my laptop, but can't get on-line while I'm there as old ladies tend not to have Broadband! Mostly, I tidy up files and write up ideas for workshops and newsletters. And I read! This last week I finally read The Deer Hunter. I'd been moved by the film when it came out, how long ago? I'm usually behind the times but it meant more to me having been there, where it all happened. I must look out more 'must-read' books for the next time I go away.

When I'm home I watch too much TV, but while I'm on-line I can ignore it until something catches my attention. Funny, I never had that problem while in Viet Nam. During the day I was usually busy preparing lessons, while the evenings were taken up with teaching and I miss the routine and pressure to come up with new ideas. Then I miss the companionship of Mark and Judy... and of course Michael, who'd take me on his bike to go shopping or eat out.

Here at home I live alone and have my car to take me wherever I want to go, but I don't want to give the impression that I'm sad and lonely! I do see my girls; Julie visits and often stays over, while Annie is only seven miles down the valley and works in town, where I can call in to see her.

My sister Di came for Easter with her little dog CJ and we had a great three days catching up.

My dear young friend Sian lives just down the road, though I haven't seen very much of her lately, she's so busy! This young lady was virtually housebound when I first met her, so I'm very happy to see such a great change in her life.

My 'twin' friend Dot (our birthdays are only 24 hours apart) lives in Holyhead, the Ferry Terminal for Ireland, which is at the 'end of the world' on Anglesey; too far to say, 'come over for coffee', or 'let's meet at the cinema' and I miss having someone to spend evenings with, to go to the Theatre or just have a drink. I think there are far too many women like me, stuck indoors when we want a little adventure!

I wonder what we can do about it! All suggestions gratefully received.

Where I Live

Here, for Michael and other faithful readers, are some pics of where I live in North Wales, which is one of the most beautiful areas in the UK. Actually, I'm not from Wales, but a refugee from England and have been priveleged to live here for the last 27 years, which is longer than I've lived anywhere else.

I moved from a little house in the mountains to Llandudno only 5 years ago and its quite different here on the coast. I love the mountains, but when cloud and rain regularly descend on them, here the sun shines!

Llandudno is a Victorian Seaside Resort, built on a flat narrow peninsula ending in a huge rock, called the Great Orme, jutting out into the Irish Sea. The town is built on the shingle bank that joins it to the mainland. In times past the effect was that of a sea monster raising its head from the sea and hence named Orme or Worm by the Vikings, alledgedly. At its narrowest point, the peninsula is only one mile across and I live midway between the North Promenade and West Shore. This pic is of our annual Victorian Extravaganza that takes over the town. This is a ride at the top end of town below steep slopes of the Orme.

My favourite walk is along the West Shore towards the Orme and up the footpath called Invalids' Walk, presumably because in Victorian times rich people in Wheelchairs would be pushed up the slope to admire the elevated views. It would be quite a push however and I see no wheelchairs there today. This brings me round the lower slopes towards the North Promenade, town centre and back home, a walk of approximately 2 miles.

This is the view towards North Shore and the Little Orme. The next one is of the Pier looking towards the Little Orme.

When I'm feeling really energetic, I go further up the Orme, exploring its many nooks and crannies, which can take an hour or so walking. The Orme is home to feral goats that were introduced in Victorian times and now plague the gardens of the town in winter!

However, this is only a small sample of the scenic delights here in North Wales. There will be more at a later date!