Marching Around

After the exertions of the bothy tour I returned to Coventry and Shropshire to put the wheels in motion for Mum's move to the country - there is plenty yet to be done but it should prove to be a relativly seamless transition to a new chapter in life with lots to look forward to.

In between I enjoyed a few days north of Llandovery with good walks and company whilst staying at the excellent Camping and Caravanning site at Rhandirmyn which is but a short waddle from the equally satisfactory Royal Oak.

Whilst in the Neath Valley I returned to the old silica mines that were once a favourite haunt when I lived locally and spent a couple of hours exploring underground whilst familiarising myself with the intricacies of an excellent Go Pro video camera. Using the Fenix torch as I had done last year in Box Stone Mine produced some encouraging results enhanced on a return visit the next day by diffusing the light output with a piece of white muslin. A quick blast at Halfway on the bike also produced some good footage and I hope to introduce clips from a trip planned for Coed Y Brennin in the run up to Easter in to this blog.

Mum and I then headed to Sheffield to celebrate Penny's forthcoming significant birthday, with Mum heading north to York for a couple of days and Penny and I enjoying some superb scenery and remarkable light conditions around Ladybower Reservoir.

Back in Coventry a new VW Up for Mum demonstrated to me how much car design, comfort, sophistication and economy has come on in recent years although for me the practicality and adaptability of the van takes some beating and the recent attention of Carwoods (www.carwood.co.uk) to the diesel leak has resolved a starting problem when parked on a slope or unused for a day or two. The pump's spindle bush had worn and as this had been replaced with a steel bush 140,000 miles ago in Portugal a new cover was required this time as the pressing itself had worn. Anyway with 293,000 miles on the clock I guess similar issues are to be expected but I still have no desire to trade up and have as yet to see anything that would inspire me - perhaps the forthcoming Horizons Unlimited event will shed light on the matter.

The old Kangoo was delivered to a new owner in Manchester giving me the opportunity to visit that city's Museum of Science and Industry before catching a train home - the abysmal signal until near Wolverhampton made me question the logic of an HS2 line when surely providing opportunities for passengers to work whilst on the move would be a far cheaper, less disruptive and probably more productive strategy. Anyway such luxuries even if afforded would have been of little use to me as my Sony Experia had gone in to meltdown - amazing how these gadgets take over your life and become seemingly so crucial. Perhaps in my case this is exacerbated by my nomadic lifestyle and the current need to monitor not just my own affairs and finances but those concerning Mum, the house purchase and sale, car related matters and a busy social life whilst on the move. The replacement thick phone was just about capable of calls but its smart counterpart had scrambled most of my contacts so
 
 IF REGULAR READERS OF THIS BLOG HAVEN'T HEARD DIRECTLY FROM ME FOR A WHILE PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I MAY HAVE NONE OF YOUR INFO.!!!!!

Anyway a repair seems to have been undertaken although the covering email suggested a replacement handset was to be supplied - as part of my travel security measures my original device was discreetly marked to help identify it if stolen and the so called replacement has miraculously also been so marked - clever these Sony johnnies eh??

As a high tech back up I will tomorrow be purchasing a new fangled 'address book' which seems to be an alphabetically segregated collection of paper that is cunningly bound together and can be written upon with a magical stick - what a technological marvel to behold it will be - piccies and review to follow.

Another enjoyable break in the mid Wales hills took me back to Moel Prysgau bothy for lunch where we took shelter from the snow and carried out the usual junk that visiting aliens from the Planet Zog leave,  followed by a real cracker of a day starting at the beautiful and isolated Soar y Mynydd chapel and incorporating the Doethie Valley, Tyncornel hostel and a remarkably eroded track back across to Llyn Brianne.

Finally I returned to Sheffield - as my long planned Scottish trip has been put on hold whilst family matters are addressed I was actually able to join Penny for her birthday meal with over a dozen friends and colleagues. In the days beforehand we walked extensively with a hard day in low cloud enriched by wine, cake and good company, a brighter day above Castleton and for me a long overdue blast on the bike following the Trans Pennine Trail up to the Woodhead Pass.
 After a lovely evening I returned to Coventry prior to a longish spell away over Easter with bothy work parties planned at Penrhos near Dolgellau, Lluest Cwm Bach in the Elan Valley, socialising in and around Brecon and other goodies to be reported on in due course.

A few pics sit HERE and looking ahead you can pin me down by clicking HERE

Boggy days and Bothy nights

Having dropped coal at four of our five proposed overnight stops three of us met up at Glangwy campsite where the hard working owner Sue was dealing with early lambs but nevertheless found time to welcome us. The van provided a place to dine well and discuss the week ahead and early the following morning we were away after a rogue shower heading across to the first of many planned minor tops : Cerrig Gwaun y Llan. Leaving phone and wallet behind as neither would be of much use I followed the others along a stock fence that had dry marram grass neatly woven in to its strands by the strong winds of the past few months.
Good navigational skills from Chris put us on the various summits including Pen Lan fawr and Esgair y Llwyn as we tracked SE towards the Elan Valley bothy, lingering above the Cwmystwyth road to enjoy the sunshine before dropping down to the old slate mine that was probably the source of that building's original roofing material.
The reborn bothy provided a welcome end to an excellent first day and we set to to light the stove and cook evening meals - a pack of brazil nuts left by a previous occupant were largely devoured by yours truly and punishment came in the form of alarming stomach cramps for most of the night.
Thursday dawned dry and bright and the stove was coaxed in to life - the bothy would benefit in due course from a sub division as the large open space was difficult to heat and would be chilly in mid winter but for now the team of volunteers will be soldiering on with the repointing of all internal walls with the next push possibly scheduled for the Easter weekend - watch www.mountainbothies.org.uk for details or contact me directly for an update.
The contouring path round to the Craig Goch  dam soon had us warmed up and as we tracked across to the Claerwen dam picking up another summit  (Craig Dyfnant) en route we spotted a small newly roofed building in the distance that might merit further investigation. A fast descent on our backsides brought us to the waterside track and me to the realisation that I had mislaid my Thermarest way back up the hill - given the strong winds it was unlikely to be retrievable so we trundled on following a fast flowing stream up the Afon Arban with many a boggy section. The final mile or two across to the forest edge at Carreg Wen Fawr proved hard work as the bridle path marked on the map is non existent and the tussocky bogs were harder still thanks to our full packs - a persistent hailstorm added to the endeavours and we were pleased to reach the firebreak which marked the final section of our 19km route. I was reminded of the last time I followed that route in the 1980's on mountain bikes when a friend and I were forced to ditch the bikes as they were slowing our progress, leaving us to return for them the following day. Indeed we arrived at MP bothy after dark which made finding the coal I had hidden rather tricky as the trees assumed very different identities in the glow of a head torch. However the elusive bag was finally unearthed and we enjoyed a very cosy night as a covering of snow fell. I used spare clothing to replace the lost mat and was surprisingly comfortable and enjoyed another of the Aimless Idiot's Moroccan couscous concoctions.

 


Friday morning started with a session up the Towy track towards Strata Florida that involved a couple of river crossings before we cut through the forest to higher ground and a surprisingly snowy vista. In the distance lay a tin shearing shed and after crossing a large bog and spotting half a dozen geese we entered its airy interior for a sheltered lunch. The sun emerged during the afternoon as we headed north to Dibyn Du and the others picked up a phone signal to check in with family - I had been reporting in by the Spot device anyway - before we dropped towards the distant Teifi pools. Whilst following a sheep trod I stepped on an unassuming patch of ground and was instantly up to my waist in a small but very deep bog - fortunately due to the earlier snowy conditions I was in overtrousers so remained dry and was able to extricate myself immediately after which the ground reformed to await the next victim. Llyn Egnant looked sublime as we reached the road head and Chris recounted his fly fishing exploits of a previous visit.

The warm sun as we approached the bothy brought out the best in this wonderful area and showed the well maintained building in a truly warm glow. Our coal, food and gas stash was recovered and I was delighted to find an army style camp bed available that would provide me with some comfort. The old range was lit and cooking began using the Belling gas stove kindly supplied by the Elan Valley Estate. Another evening of joking and laughter was interrupted by the arrival of a couple from Aberystwyth Uni. - I think the lass was perhaps somewhat new to the scene sporting as she did a pink duvet, pillows, hot water bottle and slippers.
They retired to the rather chilly spare room despite our friendly overtures and by 10pm we too were up to the other wood panelled sleeping accommodation where my camp bed proved disappointingly unsatisfactory as it creaked noisily every time I moved and being off the floor provided no insulation giving me my coldest night of the trip.
The weather continued to hold as we walked north again passing Llyn Fyddon Fawr that would merit a return in summer with a tent  and reached our most memorable top (Domen Milwym) that provided a sunny and lofty spot for lunch. Surprisingly given the boggy nature of much of this part of mid Wales finding a good source of water for a brew proved tricky but eventually billy's were boiling as we surveyed a panoramic vista covering we estimated some 500 square miles and looking back across much of the terrain we had covered over the last few days.

A gradual descent in to Cwmystwyth led to a meeting with a rather lively horse and its rider whom we met twice more as we climbed out towards the Hafren forest stopping for lunch by a stream after a steep climb out of the village. A couple of hours through the woods, partly on a local long distance footpath brought us to our overnight accommodation where fellow MBA members and volunteers had been hard at work on the annual maintenance of NS bothy. A new latrine pit had been dug and the Ty Bach installed which was duly christened - aligned in accordance with the skills of the engineers of Pisa it provided a useful amenity and added to the sophistication of one of the more quaint of the Welsh bothies. That evening saw useful and productive discussions regarding the condition of our existing bothies and commitment to the new project in Snowdonia - the Speaker ruled with fairness and diplomacy over the unruly front benchers and as ever we are very much indebted to the efforts of our very own Mr T the Welsh Area Organiser. A welcome appearance was made by the MBA Chair who had travelled down from Scotland but quite a few made an early start on the Sunday morning as a motor rally was closing the access tracks from 08.30.
Thus we left a depleted but committed workforce to carry on painting and fettling -  Mike decided to opt out of this last stage as his knee was playing up so Chris and I headed north towards the distant wind turbines of Cefn Croes. Up at the head of the valley we took shelter at the foot of a turbine and cooked up lunch whilst a variety of classic rally cars roared past - their presence and the first real rain of the trip persuaded us to leave Banc Dolwen for another day and we were soon pulling another bag of black gold from its hiding place adjacent to NR bothy. The bothy snug soon warmed up and we were joined later by Mike who had retrieved his car from Glangwy for a final evening of mirth and merriment giving us a chance to dry out our waterproofs, review the undoubted success of the last few days and sleep soundly on our last night out in the sticks.
The final morning saw an easy stroll down to Glangwy and we went our separate ways after one of the most enjoyable trips I have undertaken recently - much of this was due to the great companionship of my two co conspirators but also the quality and availability of the bothies, unexpectedly good weather and the superb mid Wales scenery - the entire walk remained within the borders of OS Sheet 147.
Since then I have returned to Coventry with plenty on my 'to do' list - the dishwasher has been repaired, the van's rear brakes fully overhauled and progress made on a number of fronts regarding the family.
A diesel leak on the old girl requires specialist attention but assuming that this repair is completed on time I will be heading down to West Wales this weekend after a brief foray to Shropshire although at this stage it looks as if my planned journey north of the border will be curtailed if not cancelled. However everything is rather fluid at the moment so watch THIS SPACE for my whereabouts and CLICK HERE for the photographic account of last week's exploits.

Winter Wonderings

Firstly an apology for the month long gap between posts - the Epson wireless printer I spent some time installing has corrupted my net book causing it to crash every time it tries to log in to a wireless network - solutions on a postcard please. Despite much uninstalling, system restoring and the like the problem persists so this post is being sent via an older machine which saw much use in Oz and NZ and had been looking forward to its retirement.
Anyway the last month has seen my usual variety of activities whilst simultaneously tying up my late father's affairs - part of which involved trips to Yorkshire and London where Madam Tussaud's provided a surreal diversion on what would have been his 80th birthday. The spectacular and cavernous interior of Westminster Underground station placed us at the heart of democracy with the city transforming after dark in to a vibrant and colourful scene.

Back in Wales I enjoyed a long day walk in the waterfall country of the Brecon Beacons National Park meeting no one on a rare break from the torrential winter rains before assisting in the introduction of 4 novices to the joys of caving with a few hours spent in the Upper Series of Ogof Fynnon Ddu in the Swansea Valley. The team all enjoyed their experience and proved very competent with all of us appreciating the warm, dry and windless conditions that contrasted sharply with the conditions outside that made our return to coffee and cake in the van something of an ordeal.

Another almost spring like day last weekend saw a group of us enjoy several hours mountain biking in the Wye Valley combined with arboriculutural challenges as a large number of substantial trees had fallen in the previous week's storms. Excellent navigational skills from Dale saw us explore a range of tracks and bridleways and it will be an area to return to after in my case a surprising twenty year absence. Dovetailed in to all of the above were a number of forays to the bothies located on OS Sheet 147 to secrete coal and in one case food and gas to sustain us during our 6 day walk starting tomorrow.

3 of us are intending to link 5 bothies via various tops and tracks with the social interaction of the Wales Area Meeting on Saturday 1st March at Nant Syddion providing a welcome diversion. Spotty Spot HERE will track my whereabouts and the photos reached by clicking HERE cover the last month of meandering.

Mid Winter ??????

The aftermath of the Christmas and New Year flooding lingered on across the Somerset Levels where an excellent small site at Heath House provided a superb view of the calm waters and an opportunity to walk locally at the tranquil Shapwick Heath bird reserve. 
A mate's birthday celebration in Bristol was an entertaining evening with excellent food and conversation at hand but little alcohol for me as I was in charge of logistics.
Back in Coventry after visiting a friend in Shipham I spent some time persuading a new wireless printer to talk to my netbook which will make it easier to print off stuff whilst on the road. The old one which has served me well and been down to the southern hemisphere and back was rehomed in Somerset - I expect we will exchange Christmas cards for a year or two.

Bothy antics resumed with a visit to the Elan Valley project where the Welsh rain has defeated an oak door fitted to the loo - it seems beyond repair and an alternative arrangement seems necessary. Changing the door to a window and opening up a new access from the store shed seems to be a suitable solution which will retain the 'loo with a view' and make use more comfortable in inclement weather.
Whilst there I met a guy staying for the night and we arranged that I would pick him up next morning en route to Snowdonia before heading up to the cosy comforts of the small site outside Llangurrig where hook up, telly and internet made for a comfortable night. The owner Sue works very hard to maintain a simple but satisfying place to stay and I was touched to see she had written to the Club magazine to thank those who had been so supportive last year when her late mother had been ill - I look forward to return visits later in the year.
After calling at www.nannerth.co.uk to inspect their accommodation I picked Donnard up from the Elan valley and we headed across to Dolgellau and fish 'n chips for lunch before dropping in to Penrhos bothy where a spindle for the stove damper was missing. However a quick return to town sourced a suitable M12 bolt and an hour later all was well.
A further hour later we were pulling up in the Pennant valley in SW Snowdonia and as dusk fell walked up to the new potential bothy project where Mike and Keith had the stove alight. I had decided to spend the night back in the van so departed well after dark and was soon alone in a large bog with little in the way of markers as to my onward route. However thanks to a decent torch and the distant lights of Porthmadog acting as a guide I avoided the deep flooded former slate quarry and reached my cosy abode where a dozen tea lights soon had things warmed up as tea simmered. Incidentally a cheap 12v PC cooling fan improved things considerably as located in the roof it redistributed the warm air back to floor level and I may look in to incorporating a length of ducting to refine the system further.
Heavy rain on Saturday morning encouraged me to lie low until Martin, Frank and Juliet arrived after which we all headed the mile or so up the mountain with coal, food and other provisions for a thorough inspection of what will be an interesting MBA project. The owner and Leeds Mountaineering Club (the current incumbents) seem content to transfer responsibility for this intriguing building to the Association and whilst as ever access is a little challenging there seemed to be plenty of support from those of us likely to undertake the work. The two side barns need fairly urgent attention to the roofs, some internal work is required regarding fire regulations and the current porch will be removed as it is somewhat incongruous!!

A photo in the link shows Martin looking forward to more wall pointing which should be less tedious than the sessions endured last year at LCB! After a constructive chat with the owner and a fuss of Ben the sheep dog I returned to the van leaving the rest to enjoy a cosy night under clear skies.
Sunday dawned dry and bright so that by 9 a few of us were climbing to the end peak of the Nantlle Ridge for superb views across Anglesey and the Lleyn peninsula. A few exhilerating hours saw the ridge completed and a return via the substantial Cwm Pennant slate works where a veritable terrace of potential bothies caught my eye. The impressive inclined planes led down to a disused railway that took me neatly back to base after some seven hours on the hills - new boots had only caused one blister but the so far unusually mild winter meant I missed out on any snow and ice on which to try out newly acquired crampons.
A wet Monday persuaded me to return to Coventry across mid Wales with some new areas worthy of further exploration (such as the Tanat valley) traversed. Later this week a brief foray to Yorkshire and Derbyshire beckons so you can follow me around via Spotty Spot here and look back at some pictorial highlights HERE

Storming in to 2014

Portugal caught the tail end of the weather systems that washed out many a UK Christmas with torrential rains and powerful winds causing a long power cut during most of Christmas Eve giving me a chance to do some reading even if by candlelight as I decided the village bonfire was unlikely to be lit.
Christmas Day itself proved much better with a good walk taking in some Roman stepping stones and a minor bonus as a wrecked T4 van owned by a Brit still had the sun visor I have been after since Morocco.
Gary dropped by between visits to Spain and Lisbon so I gave him some peace by heading down to the Roman ruins and spectacular churches of Evora returning via Evoramonte and a brief foray back in to Spain.
On the Saturday what should have been a quiet meal for two became quite a party as we joined another UK couple and their local builder and his family for a meal in the restaurant in Portagem. As their lad spoke very good English we were all able to enjoy the excellent atmosphere and food and later retired to a local bar until well after midnight.
During the last few days of my stay I had Maya to walk and enjoyed a mix of conditions whilst during the drier spells the neighbours continued to pick the campsite olives and prune back the trees - on New Year's Day a couple from Yorkshire arrived and were soon settled in at the start of what I am sure will be another busy but successful season for Gary.
I was away to Lisbon before daybreak the next day and by 10.30 had returned the hire car, checked in my case and was soon airborne on time for Bristol. Crossing the south west of the UK gave some impression of the floods, particularly over the Somerset Levels where we flew right above the Cheddar reservoir.
Thus my short sojourn south was at an end - the van started first time after sitting for a fortnight - and I was soon enjoying a beer with family in Shropshire.

So endeth another year with much to be thankful for - I have a link here to the last of the Portuguese piccies but hope you will find time to click here for a link to a larger album of pictures taken over the last decade since I adopted digital photography.

These reflect a host of shared experiences and happy memories and I would like to say a huge

to all those friends, family members and fellow travellers whose contributions are so very much appreciated.

A winter project over the next few weeks is to scan in some of the 3500 slides that evoke memories from the 80's and 90's - not a bad way to pass my first winter in the UK for 8 years.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

FIND ME HERE

Portly in Portugal

After a memorably successful badminton club dinner at the excellent Star Inn in Talybont on Usk I drove across to Bristol in foul weather and settled down for a good kip at 1am in the long stay car park after the ANPR had granted access. Around 8.30 I wandered over to check in and drop my bag off - the Easy Jet app making both these tasks pretty straightforward and then read the papers until my flight was called. The route over Cornwall, the Bay of Biscay and northern Spain crossed much of the terrain driven last Christmas and we arrived after a bumpy landing in Lisbon where a Fiat 500 sat waiting for me. Not having driven a left hooker before I was pleased to have my own sat nav with me which soon set me on the A road to Marvao and I arrived around 5 - an hour or so before dusk.

Gary had allocated me his cosy and comfortable twin single room with ensuite kitchen and bathroom and I was soon settled in - for me it makes a change to have to pack a suitcase but most essentials seemed present. After an excellent meal and a catch up I slept a solid 10 hours waking to blue skies and a sharp frost. A trip to the supermarket put local delicacies in the boot for lunch and I then explored the Sierra de Mamade National Park that sits in this corner of the Alentejo.

Hilltop fortified Marvao was as remarkable as I remembered it with the setting sun adding greatly to the scene but of course it soon turned cold under the almost cloudless sky so I dropped back to Camping Asseiceira in time to join Gary and two friends for a meal at a small family run restaurant in Portagem where the bemused owner indulged me with a taster of all 3 desserts on one plate. It was a good evening with Joao and his mother looking forward to their trip to Germany to see his brother and a new addition to the family. Gary left for Spain the next day and after checking all was well I took a spin south to a couple of small towns and the local mountain from where a panoramic view extended in to Spain and I took a doze in the sun.
Back at San Antonio all was well and the cat and I sat in the cosy kitchen enjoying the peace and quiet.
Yesterday I walked up to Marvao following a network of farm tracks and cobbled routes passing smallholdings where little has changed in the 5 years since I started coming here. Cork oak trees mix with olives and vines, goats and sheep graze beneath and presumably the same old lady was bashing away at her laundry in the large font tucked away beneath some of the huge granite boulders that are strewn around.
After some more photo opportunities in the town I enjoyed a good lunch and on my return leg met Joao and his mum who were just leaving for the airport. They had very kindly dropped in with a card, wine and some choccies - what a lovely gesture but not good for the waistline.
Further trouble lies ahead in this area as today I discovered that Gary's fridge has packed up so a steak, several pounds of sausages and a nice piece of salmon need eating up soonish - well you have to help don't you?
I moved everything salveagable in to the camp site fridge and freezer and thought initially we had had some sort of power surge as my phone was also dead - however as no other appliances were affected and no warning lights were flashing  I think it was just a strange  coincidence and after a quick search on Google found out how to overcome 'sudden death' on the Sony Xperia and all is well again.
I also noted whilst checking to see if the car insurance was valid in Spain that it expires before I return it to Lisbon so made a quick call to Europcar who assured me that that was fine and that if I did get stopped by the police they would foot the bill   ................  I see another of my letter exchanges coming on! Incidentally my good friends at Sadtanduh logged my latest complaint on the 12th but only wrote to me on the 18th which, considering the nature of it, is already a black mark against them but let's not prejudge - it is Christmas after all.

Talking of which on C/Eve the local villagers light huge bonfires that burn until New Year so I hope to walk down tomorrow night and watch the spectacle.

Anyway today saw a foray in to Sapin where Valencia held a large colourful market and side roads took me down to the calm waters of the Tejo that are backed up behind a large hydro scheme. Bonelli's eagles floated lazily around - I wonder if he knows they have escaped?
Back at the site which seems very strange without its usual array of campers the neighbours were picking the olives - ladders saw them in to the trees and nets caught the black shiny prizes which were bagged up to be pressed in the New Year.
During the course of some Skype calls I learnt that a friend and his two sons had had a very close shave with a falling tree on the A40 - quick thinking saw them pass under it as it fell causing 'only' a cracked windscreen, dented roof and frayed nerves. Thus a beer has been cracked open and I am looking ahead to a revised 2014. There is much to look forward to with bothy forays, a week in Knoydart and the 2014 HUBB event already booked in - I shall probably give a presentation or two at the latter but you guys can have a sneak preview by clicking here and follow my locations at the reinstated Spotty Spot here.

Wishing you all a safe and festive Christmas - FELIZ NATAL

And finally - click here for a track from my old favourite JW : the lyrics seem strangely pertinent to the situation pertaining ; a pity the video clip is a bit cheesy.

Langdale Luxury

The prospect of a fortnight based in Langdale filled me with anticipation as I trawled around Tesco's in Skipton to assemble the groceries to feed the forthcoming visitors. I arrived on a fine afternoon to find the lodge in the usual perfect order after a lovely drive through the Dales from York, once troublesome glow plugs (last changed in Portugal in 2006 and 140,000 miles ago so not bad) had been overcome by a jump start.

Friends arrived later that evening and a few pleasurable days were spent catching up, enjoying local walks and some settled weather. After a brief interlude during which I headed over to Wasdale, Buttermere and Honister via the Wrynose and Hardknott passes to enjoy some spectacular views I greeted another group of friends from my caving days.

On the Friday we caught a bus up the valley and began to ascend the impressive fells that close off Great Langdale. Our walk from Dungeon Ghyll up to Crinkle Crags and round over Pike O' Stickle was quite a challenge in very windy but dry conditions and we arrived rosy cheeked in the pub that as a group we had last sat in perhaps thirty years ago during memorable New Year's Eve celebrations.
Saturday saw a completion of the Fairfield horseshoe in almost spring like conditions with a large raven providing additional interest on the summit as a front drifted in from the north. The Langdale facilities were enjoyed to ease aching bones and joints after another strenuous day.

Sunday's walk over Wetherlam and the Carrs was enjoyed in dry conditions with a moment of reflection at the Halifax wreckage before a descent towards dusk and an excellent meal in the Britannia.
On the Monday we all enjoyed a nose around Tilberthwaite and its spectacular slate quarries after which the boys headed home and another quartet of friends from Brecon arrived. Another relaxed and highly amusing few days passed with only a brief but severe storm on the Thursday interrupting activities and even this had blown itself out by mid morning - the accompanying power cut caused some problems at the leisure complex with sliding doors but otherwise as ever the level of service was superb with the housekeeping girls accommodating my interruption of their routine with good humour. All those who came were very appreciative of Mum's generosity in allowing us all to stay for the fortnight and indeed for me it was the best spell there for years - thanks guys.

The knackered glow plugs which are being replaced in Bristol this week necessitated a jump start from the maintenance van after which I headed south to catch up on family affairs including chasing yet again my good friends at Santander who continue to provide a remarkable level of customer service, a cheque book issued last year was cancelled the same day thus rendering it useless : a fact that did not come to light until I submitted important ones to HMRC which has caused great inconvenience and some embarassment.

Anyway my fortnight in Portugal is fast approaching with lots to do before then so here are some pics from oop north and a link to an excellent video of the new LCB bothy sits here

Nice one Alan especially the time travel trick given the date on your video !!  I hope to get up there and inside (ongoing door swelling issues may well be resolved by then) in mid January when a group of us also hope to assess a new project in Snowdonia.

Unlikely to post until in the Alentejo in a week or two so again Crappy Histmas to one and all..................