Various ramblings by the small hobbit

Autumn Holiday

As I mentioned earlier this month, our original plans for our autumn holiday were effected by the (non)-running of the railways, so following a quick revamp on the Tuesday afternoon, we were still off on holiday on the Wednesday.

Two of the places we visited were gardens which we've been to before: the National Botanic Gardens of Wales and Aberglasney Gardens.  Instead of posting photos of our visit here, there are links to collages I've posted to fan_flashworks 

National Botanic Garden of Wales

Aberglasney Gardens

It will come as no surprise to most of you that there was cake: (Hummingbird cake)



and I added to my dragon collection - shown here with his new friend:

We had our holiday destination planned, but due to problems with the trains, we changed our plans at the last minute (less than 24 hours before planned departure) and went to south west Wales instead of north Wales.  We spent three full days in St David's, somewhere we'd not been before, but had wanted to visit.

In our free days we explored St Helier, where we were staying, and took a coach tour around the island.

A couple of days ago Daughter and I returned, having been on an organised trip to Jersey (an island in the Channel Islands) to celebrate their 80th anniversary of Liberation Day.

While VE Day (Victory in Europe 1945) is celebrated on 8 May, the Channel Islands weren't liberated until 9 May.  As can be imagined, there are always celebrations on this day, and particularly this year, being the 80th.

When we left Chester we went on to Llandudno for a few days and from there we took the bus to nearby Conwy to visit the castle.

Our final day began at Pegasus Bridge, where the first airborne landings were made by glider.

I'm back from my second battlefields trip this year.  This time it was a tour commemorating those who took part in the D-Day landings, since it is now 80 years since they happened.

This time we began on this side of the English Channel, where the build up took place and where some of the armada set sail.

At our first stop we found a small building open with a display of paintings by Marie-Elise Meyers, a painting from Bastogne, who recalls the events of the Battle of the Bulge and sends out a plea for peace.

We had an overnight stay in Wales this week.  On the way down we called in to see the sea at Llanelli Beach:

We went to a number of museums while we were away.

( museums )