We decided to use the M6 toll, and sped along.Then we turned off on the A5, and A41 to Chester. We did some shopping at the Sainsbury's there, and had a cuppa. We arrived at the rented bungalow in Kinmel bay just before 6 pm. I unpacked, then ate my sandwich, then realising I hadn't packed the tights I bought, called in at Sainsbury's to buy some, and something to take away the smell of smoking from the bungalow. It's really strange, the bungalow is non smoking, yet there is always a smell. Perhaps the owner smokes, or maybe it was once for smokers, and the smell lingers, or maybe some have no regard for rules.
I picked up a scented candle, and a couple of diffusers, but one proved so strong, I put it away again after a few days. I went over to my sister's and caught up on all my sister's news, but as usual struggled to hear all that she said against the TV noise. I guess that as she lives alone apart from her dog, it makes the house less quiet for her.
I left at around 11pm, and drove back. Husband had been relaxing after the journey. I had worn my compression stockings from the hospital as it was such a long journey, and it was a relief to remove them. As usual, in a strange bed, I struggled to sleep, and consequently overslept, so much so that we were running late and didn't make it to the morning service. It starts at 10.30 am, and is at least a 15 minute drive to Rhuddlan.
Later we went for a walk, and blew away the cobwebs. We walked along the sea front towards Towyn, and were passed by lots of cyclists. We stopped at one point, and a lady stopped beside us protesting that her saddle was too hard, and she had ridden far enough. We got chatting to her and her husband, it turned out they had ridden from Rhos On Sea, around 10 miles. It's ideal for cycling there, mostly flat. After our chat we said goodbye, and walked back, me even more determined to look at bikes. It was so hot that I removed my fleece. Others were walking in T shirts.
We cut through some side roads, and discovered a whole lot of bungalows with not very well made up roads, but huge green areas, where folk had planted flowers, put benches, bird tables, and garden tables and chairs.
We arrived back, and I started lunch, the gas pressure was a tad low, I couldn't even see that the hobs were lit, but could feel the heat.We had steak, mushrooms, tomato, broccoli and baby potatoes.
The heating was on in the bungalow, and whilst my catarrh had been bad at home, it was now worse, with the familiar face pain from the sinuses. It was too cold without the heating, so we had to cope.
Later I drove over to collect my sister, and we had tea. No one else was available for visiting us. Sister wanted to go back before Downton, as she didn't like leaving the dog alone for too long, so I drove her back at about 8.30, and then husband and I watched Downton live for a change.
On the Monday we decided to walk into Rhyl. It was a tad windy, but we walked down past Asda, and along the sea front, then we crossed the new pedestrian and cyclists bridge. At the far end of the bridge we discovered that there was a cycle shop, so we went in for a browse. One of the staff came over and was quite helpful, but we said we couldn't really buy there, as we would have also had to buy a cycle carrier. It does help though to know what is available. There is also a cafe next door to the shop, I don't know how well that will do in the winter months, but there are a lot of cyclists who use the route.
We walked along Wellington Road, and husband made off for one of the junk shops, I didn't want to join him. I did spot a particular clock in another place, which was only £45. We used to have a clock like it when I was young, but my Mum gave it away. The chap in the shop assured me that it worked, but when I met up with husband later, he reckoned that the price was too cheap, they go for about 4 times that much when they come up on ebay.
He headed off to the barber's, and I continued into town, there was stuff I needed to buy at H&B. The demise of the M&S has affected Rhyl quite badly, more shops have closed since they went, and as the young woman assistant said, it will deter other businesses from moving in. There are still a few shops empty in the shopping centre. The proposed new development where the fairground was has still not started, the company involved are the people who did the development at North bay Scarborough, which is really attractive looking.
We met up again and went to our usual place for lunch. For once they had not sold out of lasagne, so husband had that. My choice of salmon was not available, so I had braised steak, and very nice it was too. Husband continued his tour of the charity shops, and I found the cycle shop which has been there for as long as I can remember, and they had the bikes I like in stock, so now at least I have handled one, tried it for leg length etc. I explained the situation to the manager, he was quite helpful. He is a real enthusiast, has 14 bikes and never owned a car. I met up with husband again, and he came back to the shop with me and bought himself a gel saddle for comfort. We then hopped on a bus back to the bungalow, relaxed and had a light meal before visiting my sister.
On the Tuesday, we went to Llandudno, we had a meal at the Cottage loaf again. This time I chose a pork chop with a sort of black pudding fritter. I've never seen such a huge pork chop. There was mash, and a 'jus', and veg, and the flavours were amazing. It was easily as good as that which we had at the Grand in Eastbourne, and a lot cheaper.Husband had fish and chips, and he said they were so much better than what he had had on Saturday, we decided to skip desserts, then went off to tour the shops. I bought shoes, I found a jacket in EMW, which would go with a skirt I bought recently. I don't think I had anything new last winter; and I bought a pair of warm joggers for the colder weather.
I also got a new pvc shopping bag in the lovely kitchen shop. The only problem with upvc coated bags is that the handles go after a while. I've thought of a way I can replace them, but haven't tried it yet.
We went back to the bungalow and again had alight meal, it saves me having to cook. then we spent the evening with my sister.
On the Wednesday we decided to go and visit Erddig, a NT property. Unfortunately it was a much duller day, it was quite a drive from where we were staying. However we arrived at around lunchtime, and decided to sample the food in the stableyard cafe. Husband had a pork casserole, and I had cottage pie. In NT preoperties the cafes always seem to be in the stableyard. It was very interesting going round the property. The last 2 owners were pretty broke, and didn't even have electricity, the last brother handed the property to the NT in 1976. Of course the Coal Board didn't help, by tunneling under the property from the nearby Bersham colliery, and they had to compensate the brothers as the house was on the verge of collapse. There is a lot there about the servants, and the servants quarters are on show. It's well worth a visit. Afterwards we had a carriage ride, pulled by a beautiful shire horse. Then, mindful of the rush hour, we headed back. We have certainly had our money's worth of NT properties in our first year of membership.
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| Chapel |
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| Real candelabra |
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| red drawing room |
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| Portable shower |
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| Servants bedroom |
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| Laundry |
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Music room
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Before we went away however, I had read on a Chester forum that there were roadworks on both sides of Chester, and that traffic was horrendous, so we decided to give it a miss. We decided instead to go to Betws y Coed. It was a very mild day, we had lunch at the Alpine cafe, eating in the outside covered area. I had a savoury cheesecake, which was interesting, and husband chose welsh rarebit with bacon. Mine came with salad and chips, so I said he would have to share my chips. Unfortunately as he sat down, he misjudged the width of the bench and topple over backwards. he fell into a confined space and had difficulty getting up. Fortunately all he had was bruised elbows and pride. I must confess to getting a fit of nervous giggles, once I knew he was ok. When someone left, we moved to seats with backs for safety.
After lunch, we did a tour of the nick nack shops,and then made our way up the main road via all the outdoor shops. I skipped a couple of shops as I had to go up to the cash machine, and arrived at the bridge over the river Llugwy before him. I could see folk on the bridge watching something, and when I looked there was a heron on the rocks, so out came my camera. Husband caught up,and he took quite a few shots too.
We decided to head back before the traffic got too heavy, and that evening I cooked pork steaks,and veg. When we arrived at my sister's my niece was there, and after a while there was a knock at the window, which turned out to be my nephew, so we had a time of catching up and chatting with them.
Friday morning was a time for finishing packing, popping to the supermarket, then the cemetery,and putting flowers on Mum and Dad's grave, then sandwiches, packing the car, cleaning up and setting off for our Son's home in Cheshire.
It was our Daughter in law's Birthday, so I took flowers and chocolates. I took a meal for us, as the plan was for them to settle Ethan, and then go out for a meal whilst we babysat. We had our meal, son downloaded New Tricks for us to watch, as my sister doesn't watch it these days. Eventually Ethan did go off so they were able to get a break, and have a meal out. I wish I could babysit for them more often. They came back refreshed, and with a cake they had picked up in a late opening supermarket, which was a substitute Birthday cake. Our Son was working on the Saturday, but we were up early enough to see him. Then we just spent a pleasant morning playing with Ethan, and chatting, leaving after lunch, and stopping at Watford Gap for a drink, and arriving home at around 4.30. We called in at the garage with the M&S for something for the evening meal. I put the heating on, but the weather has continued mild, so the radiators have hardly been on.
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