18th January 2012

Last Tuesday, Nan, Sue, and I ventured off to North Wales. The previous day had brought a dusting of snow, about half an inch still clinging stubbornly to the ground, and more was predicted throughout the week. Naturally, we set off with a healthy dose of trepidation, fully expecting a white-knuckle drive, but, to our relief, the journey was far less dramatic than anticipated.

We collected Nan from her flat just after 9 a.m. and enjoyed a smooth, uneventful trip, arriving at Aunt Josie’s just before noon. She had lunch ready: salmon, mashed potatoes, and mushy peas, which went down rather nicely. With appetites sated, we left Nan with Josie and headed to our hotel, the De Vere Village in Saint David’s.

Next, we paid a visit to Ray and Jan Bengree, Sue’s relatives, in Upton. They were minding one of their grandchildren, and Ray soon had to dash off to collect another from school. Not wishing to disrupt their routine, we kept our visit brief and returned to the hotel.

That evening was gloriously uneventful. We relaxed in our room, watched a bit of TV, and later dined at the hotel restaurant. Rather than seek out the local nightlife, which probably involved a couple of freezing walks and dodgy car parks, we opted for an early night, savouring the quiet calm after a long day of travel.

The following morning, after a hearty English breakfast, we set off for Flint Castle. Originally, we had planned to visit Noel and Gay, but on Monday evening, we received a call: Noel had a job interview in South Wales, so we rearranged our visit for Thursday morning instead.

Despite the bitter cold and a thick, atmospheric fog, we had a thoroughly enjoyable time exploring the castle. Its rugged beauty seemed even more striking against the bleak backdrop. After wandering through the ruins, we decided to take a coastal stroll down to the old harbour.

It’s remarkable how age changes one’s perspective. Things I might once have dismissed, like the wading birds with their quirky calls, thanks to Sue, now hold me spellbound. We lingered, watching them for longer than expected, and even took the time to read all the information boards along the way. Once, I would have found that dreadfully dull; again, I found myself genuinely intrigued by the history and minutiae.

After reaching the harbour, we lingered for a while, admiring the view, reading the information board, and then admiring the view once again. We were enjoying ourselves so much that we decided to continue walking along the coast. Along the way, we passed more wading birds and ended up debating whether they were oystercatchers or dippers, though we never reached a firm conclusion. A pair of binoculars would have been very handy, but hindsight is a cruel teacher.

By the time we returned to the castle, a couple of hours had passed. Feeling a little chilled, we spotted a convenient café nearby and treated ourselves to hot chocolate and soup, a perfectly cosy end to our morning adventure.

 

Afterwards, we returned to Brymbo to pick up Nan and Josie, and together we visited Hope Cemetery to pay our respects at their mother’s grave. We laid some flowers before continuing to see Doreen. She had been quite unwell recently and still looked fragile. We stayed only about half an hour, not wanting to tire her out.

Once our visits were done, we took Nan and Josie back to Brymbo, then returned to our hotel. That evening, we had a carvery at a nearby pub, because nothing says “holiday treat” like a plate piled high with meat and trimmings. Later, in the hotel, we settled down to watch a bit of TV and, once again, opted for an early night, enjoying the blissful calm of a day well spent.

After another substantial breakfast, we checked out and drove to Mold to visit Noel and Gay. Light snow began to fall as we made our way to their home, perched halfway up Moel Ffamua along a long, narrow, and rather rough lane. We spent about three hours catching up on family news. As we left, the snow was falling heavily, transforming the drive back to Brymbo over the mountains into a truly spectacular wintery scene. I was glad to be driving then rather than a few hours later!

When we arrived at Josie’s, we discovered that Nan had taken a tumble on the pavement the previous evening while attempting to attend a local concert. She injured her eye and hand, and though she didn’t look too badly hurt, she was rather embarrassed. With the snow settling thickly, we decided it was time to head home to Harborough. Despite the traffic and the worsening weather, we arrived by 7 p.m.. The house was freezing at just 3°C, a stark reminder that we really should have left the heating on!

Though the long forecast snow had arrived, I managed to complete my morning bike ride, my first off-road ride in months, across fields now frozen solid. Meanwhile, on Sarah’s Facebook, I spotted the news that she’s been accepted to Hallam University for next year, though fees have now risen to £9,000.

At lunchtime, we received a call from Jamie. He was on a delivery run to Birmingham when his van broke down, leaving him stranded in a snowdrift, while the motorways were closed due to the weather. Later, he called again to let us know that the company had reached him with a 4×4 vehicle and was transferring the meat from his van to its intended destination. Unfortunately, when they arrived, the business was closed, much to everyone’s frustration.

Another call soon followed, informing us that the 4×4 had now become stuck in the Midlands, just like many others caught in the snowstorm. Plans were made for an overnight stay. Fortunately, they eventually managed to get Jamie’s van running again, but upon reaching Leicester, they became stuck in traffic once more. After several more hours of delays, they finally made it back to Harborough very late in the evening.