Knitting and stitching

 I have been home for 2 weeks and it is nice to get back into normal life. I didn't stitch much at all on holidays. We were too busy. When we were at Penny's, I did knit some socks and then made two more hats for the hospital babies when I returned.

It had been lovely to see all the girls in my Wednesday stitching groups. It is very inspiring to see what they have been making. Sue has knitted this very cute mouse.

Roni has been very busy too and has completed these wonderful cushions.

Jayne did a lovely class with Wendy Williams recently and made these delightful bags.

I am back to stitching and have started the Owl and Hare Hollow BOM from the Homespun magazine. I am not sure if I will do the whole quilt but I am loving the stitcheries.

Hay on Wye and home

 On Wednesday, 12th July, we walked to Hay and had delicious morning tea at one of the lovely cafes. We then had a quiet day until Penny came home with little Isla. She is a delight but is a very busy 2 year old. We managed to get her fed and off to bed eventually. She is with Penny and John as her other Grandmother is very ill. She coped very well considering her parents weren't with her. On Thursday, 13th July, we visited Brecon. It was a lovely town with a cathedral and a cathedral cafe!

We also had lunch, in between rain showers, and walked along the canal.

In the evening we all went to dinner at Tomatitos, which is a lovely tapas restaurant in Hay. Isla decided I was the chosen one and she sat on my lap for the whole meal. We also saw Rob Bryden having a drink in the bar. Very exciting.

The next day we went to see an archeaological dig at Arthur's stone. It was very interesting and the kind man who told us all about it was very informative but it was very wet! It is a Neolithic barrow or buriel ground at the edge of the Black mountains. 

In the afternoon we relaxed as it continued to rain and later I went into Hereford with Penny. On Saturday we walked into Hay to get some groceries at the market and had a damp morning tea. Sunday was fairly similar. We went for a walk along the river and then had lunch in town (which was tricky with a toddler and a large pram and rain!!)

Penny and I knitting while the miss slept!

that afternoon we drove to Heathrow and endured the 12 hour flight, 7 hours in Singapore (made better being at the outside pool in the airport and being able to have a shower), then the last flight home and waiting for the bus to Canberra. It has taken a few days to get over the jetlag.

Wales

 After visiting the castle at Caernarfen we then drove to Anglesey over the Menai Suspension Bridge. This amazing bridge was finished in 1826 and was designed by Thomas Telford. 

We then visited Plas Newydd, a national trust property. It had a very interesting history. As you can see it was all a bit damp!

We then drove to Beaumaris for a yummy welsh afternoon tea in a cute cafe. Headed back to the flat for an easy dinner. On Tuesday, 11th July, we made the decision to head back to Hay a day earlier as the weather wasn't very good. On the way we visited Conwy to see the castle and the suspension bridge there.

We also visited Porthmadog and had lunch in the park. We then headed back to Hay.

Hay on Wye and Wales

 We are home and I am still a bit jetlagged. I slept in till 10.30 today and am not sure it has made me feel better. Still I must have needed it. So to go on with the overseas adventures. On Saturday, 8th July, we had a quiet morning and then in the afternoon John took us on a wild ride down the lanes to a goat's wool shop, where the lady dyes the wool and has it made into jumpers, socks and other goodies. It was in the middle of nowhere! Bruce got some socks and Penny bought a lovely cardigan with very long sleeves! We also visited a cute old church.

When we got home we started to shorten the sleeves which was quite an effort but it worked and it all looked much better. In the evening, as it was John's birthday we went to the Old Black Lion restaurant for an amazing meal. On Sunday we walked up to St Mary's church and swelled the congregation! We walked past these lovely fields on the way to church.

In the afternoon we headed to Snowdonia. We had a slow rainy trip to Caernafen where we were staying. The sun came out in the afternoon so we checked out the castle.

On Monday, 10th July, we first went to the castle. It is absolutely amazing. Many steps and so many towers. Our flat is just up the road and it is very covenient though it is a bit damp and musty. It is the basement of one of the cute houses you can see near the river.