Wednesday 28 April 2021

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

16 comments:

  1. Lovely photos
    Every time I see your pictures of St Davids it annoys me that in all our visits to Wales (often once a year) we never got to visit there.

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  2. I have been to St David's just 3 times I think. We should have gone again before leaving Carms as a bit too far for a day out now. Lovely photos and how nice that this is "your" family area. I am along way from my roots in Devon (dad) and Northants (mum). Ah well, I did have some of mum's family uproot from London to go to work in the mines and they stayed and multiplied . . .

    I noticed over 30 Rooks' nests in trees by the garage where my daughter had to pick her car up from today, they were high like this too.

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    1. Yes, a few tens of miles makes a world of difference, but the A40 is such a pretty road. Well, I think so. I've spotted other rookeries higher than usual, so let's wait and see.

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  3. Deb, how grand that you have let us join you on your beautiful walk! You are blessed to be able to trod the same steps that your grandparents followed. I adore the lovely photo of the mossy stone wall. So lush and surely happy to have received some much needed rain. And the little windy video of St. David's Cathedral is quite telling of your weather and ancient roots. Enjoy every beautiful step, my friend. xoxo

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    1. Glad you enjoyed it, my friend. Following in Dadcu's footsteps makes me feel nearer to him. I wish I had known him, apparently he was a really gentle, gentleman. I don't call it wild and windy for nothing, do I?
      Take care xoxo

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  4. You had a wonderful walk, Deb, and I'm glad you are venturing out into the beautiful landscape again. Walking does us good, body and soul, and you have so many wonderful memories.... The old cottages are so lovely, and I would love to visit that magnificent cathedral. I have gloves I bought from Amazon which have special finger tips for taking photos or using a phone. Have a great day, hugs, Valerie










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    1. Thank you, yes walking is apparently the best exercise of all. It is balm for the soul and medicine for the body. I've seen those gloves. Take care!

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  5. This is such a gorgeous place to live and oh, you have captured it so well. I love the mossy banks photo, especially. And delighted that your native son took home his Oscar (I don't suppose you ever see him just hanging about, do you? If you do, give him my best! I love his work.) The village buildings are charming and so is the scenery, though that hill might be a bit of a bear! Thanks for this lovely journey!

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    1. Thank you, and I'll be sure to pass on your wishes to Sir Anthony who I think favours St Davids. On Christmas Eve 2012, he celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary by having a blessing at a private service in Lady Chapel at the Cathedral, and it's often rumoured he's been seen. He was here a few days ago as his photo on Twitter shows.

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  6. What an absolutely gorgeous work and your photos are wonderful. I felt as though I was there with you and I so enjoyed the post. Lovely to see the Cathedral I would so like to visit it one day.

    Gardens and countryside will be glad of some rain - as you say they look parched.

    I have some fingerless gloves with a mitten bit that goes over fingers when you are not taking photos. They really are useful.

    So pleased you are out walking again.

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    1. Thank you. I know you would love having a fresh batch of small churches, and Pembrokeshire is peppered with them, also Caldey island, as well as ruined castles, and our own Cathedral and Bishop's palace. I have some of those capped mittens, but always get in a kerfuffle with them.

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  7. A lovely walk - I especially love the flowering wall.

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    1. Being carless, it's good that I can just step outside my door and walk into the countryside just seconds away. Soon, that wall will be a riot of Valerian.

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  8. I would love to be able to walk around such a place rather then the city streets here. The cathedral is magnificent and kudos to Sir Anthony for picking his homeland over CA.

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  9. I'm glad you're able to get out and about more again, and were not only willing to tackle that hill, but successful in doing so. I loved listening to that video when you posted it on Twitter the other day, by the way. I may not go to church, but I do adore the sound of the bells.

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