carry on wales

Having spent part of this weekend up Fan Y Big and looking at Lord Hereford's Knob, passing through villages with such names as Three Cocks and Sucking, you might think that I had entered some dark 1970's Carry On dreamland.  However, what we've been doing this weekend is spending our time in Wales, not in some dark 1970's dreamland.

But, I guess that it could create some frisson of hilarity imagining some hairy-arsed ancient Druids wandering the Welsh landscape singing it into existence a la Australian Aborigines only able to come up with such names as previously mentioned*.

the view from pen y fan

Anyway, there we were indeed.  And a great weekend we had of it.  I am now the proud owner of a glowing red upper forehead and bright red wrists.  Yes, of course we used sunblock.  Just not enough. The 40 mile per hour gusts of wind were not enough to protect us from the ravaging of bright Phoebus himself.  Just enough for me to spend several hours appearing somewhat "storm-tossed" as the bard had it. Along the way I was able to correct someone's mis-quoting of Shakespeare.  "Lead On, MacDuff", he said.  Er, that's, "Lay On, MacDuff" I told him. What a geek.  Me, that is.

The sun shone all weekend and the wind blasted us occasionally.  We loved it.  The first walk I have completed since the breaking of the foot back in December.  It all seems to work okay - I just need more stamina.  I woke up this morning (der derdun der duh) and my legs were fine.  Little pain there to behold.  Mind you, I was told by an acquaintance that technically I had no right to be able to multi-task** that early on Sunday morning after the amount I'd "put away last night".

Well, as I keep telling kids at school, you won't get anywhere unless you practise.

As we walked down from our three peaks walk (Pen y Fan, Fan y Big and Crybin) we saw this genuine heart of oaken glory which we reckon is a good 500 year old oak:

A summer of weather like this weekend's would make loads of us stay and holiday here in England (no, I can't stand terms like "staycation" - too management speak for your truly).

* you may need to read Bruce Chatwin's Songlines to get that
** stand up, drink tea, breathe