After The Rain Came {and my first hill}

Hello Friends!

Though April showers may come your way
They bring the flowers that bloom in May
So if it's raining, have no regrets
Because it isn't raining rain, you know, (It's raining violets,)

It's been an odd April.  We've had hardly any rain, and most of us who garden have had to begin watering by watering can or hose in the last week or two.  It's also been bitterly cold for the time of year.  So, imagine the collective sigh of relief to sweep the country as we see rain in the forecast.  Truly, I never expected so many of us to be saying how happy we are to see rain at the end of April, surely normally the wettest month.

One morning, almost at the end of April, I awoke to that long awaited moment of blissful petrichor on the air.

The rain came in the night, silent, gentle and refreshing, yet not nearly enough but it's a start.  Although it's cold today, and I awoke early to a grey sky kind of day with scudding layers of clouds, the world is brighter, greener, slightly more lush and verdant, sparkling as it does only after fresh rainfall.

My return to walking begets more walking, and my desire to do so is growing daily now.  I have not been around my beloved, green valley since February of last year.  How my heart has missed it and my feet have yearned to tread those steps so familiar to me,  where my forebears also walked.  Although I never knew him, I always think of my Dadcu {grandfather} who walked this way many times daily, for he lived {with his daughter my Mum, and his wife my Nanna} in the grey stone house on the hill by the cemetery at one end of the valley, and he worked in the Cathedral at the other end of the valley.

As I began following the old, familiar way down, I turned to take a photo of some picturesque stone cottages

and the wall, opposite, covered in bluebells, white garlic flowers, valerian, and more

Just around the bend is Ty'r Pererin an old Victorian school, now a pilgrim visitor and education centre

I continued on my way, and suddenly I was more than half way down the hill, the point of no return ahead, for now the only way home is to turn around now, or go forward and up a hill.  Naturally, my planned route is the longest, steepest hill.  Decision time!

Onward, and downward I go.

The hill leading down to the valley

I have put it off, and put it off for one reason.  The hills.  Going down is not so bad, but coming up is another thing entirely! It's a long and steep climb from the river up to the Cross Square!  Still, with views like these, it has to be worth it; it has to be done, right?  I got this.

The bridge where my Dadcu would stop and light his cigarette,
before climbing up to his home on the hill.

The lichen smothering this tree looks like a fuzzy fluffy coat!

A lone dandelion clock!

I love mossy banks, covered stones and walls.  Here's one of my favourites 

How Green is My Valley?

Folk lore says that the higher up in the branches the rooks build their nests, the finer the coming summer will be.  I think we're in for a pretty fine summer from the height of these nests, don't you?  Any higher and they'd be out of tree!

Of course, no walk around my valley would be complete without a view or two of our magnificent mediaeval Cathedral.

and as I started my climb up the hill, I  paused for a moment where one of our greatest Welsh actors, Sir Anthony Hopkins, stood just a week before.  Congratulations, Sir Anthony, on your recent Best Actor Oscar {I like to think he picked Wales over Hollywood}

This is what he saw

If you ask me, that's a view that beats anything you'd see in LaLaLand.  Maybe I'm a little bit {a lot} biased.

I got there just in time to catch the Call to Worship bells ring out to bring the faithful to Wednesday morning worship, but had no idea how much the wind was battering me until I played it back!  {hope it works, if not I've shared to Twitter and Instagram}

You know it's cold out when you come home and wash your hands {Hands; Face; Space washing of hands} and as you run the cold water through, your hands are so cold that the cold water feels warm.  I should have worn gloves, but they hamper my photography.

Until next time

Stay Safe, Stay Well