Edmonton- November 2022

 I took 2 days to get back from southwest Wales to Manchester and stayed at a hotel near the airport, in Manchester, on November 5. For those who don't know, November 5 is Guy Fawkes Night. It as a rather strange English event celebrating the defeat of an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in Great Britain, involving bonfires and fireworks displays. Its history begins with the events of 5 November 1605 O.S., when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. The Catholic plotters had intended to assassinate Protestant king James I and his parliament. Celebrating that the king had survived, people lit bonfires around London; and months later, the Observance of 5th November Act mandated an annual public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure.From Wikipedia.

The fireworks started at around 5pm, just as it was barely getting dark and were still going when I got to sleep around 11pm. I think the neighbourhoods must have been taking turns. I pitied the poor dogs.

The return trip was uneventful and, 2 days later, I added to my jetlag by flying out to Edmonton. Aimee and Mike had a wedding to go to in Vegas and had asked me to babysit. Chris was already out in Calgary visiting friends so we had an early Christmas celebration with the whole family.

Christmas dinner. Picture by Christine.

My 2 youngest grandchildren met for the first time.Gigi and River.

New Christmas sweaters for everyone but River.

Gifts were unwrapped, elf hats worn

and the kids ganged up on Mike.

Cigi, unused to this active a household

alternated between being unsure

and wanting to be in the thick of it.

 

Wait a minute, how did I get this photo, Iggy isn't allowed on the couch (unless no-one is paying attention!)

When we got there River was sick with a very chesty cough. By the end of the weekend, when Jason, Chris and Cigi went home and Mike and Aimee got back, we were all sick (except Mike who went to work and avoided most of the germs), so there are not a lot of photos of the following 2 weeks. We wiped noses, searched for Tylenol (unsuccessfully), kept them home from school and daycare and tried to get some sleep.

They did make lemon curd and Avery discovered he liked marmalade.

Avery got an early Christmas present from me - a shelving unit for his room as he is the age now that he likes to collect things. Current fascination is geodes so I bought him one that I had at home.

 

Rick picked me up at the airport and put up with my coughing. Dr says I have bronchitis but it is gradually getting better.

It is so nice to be home,

just Rasta and I enjoying the peace and quiet.

And in Edmonton the defense of the Christmas Tree from River begins.

Wales - Aberglasney Gardens

 

Chris and Chris have a membership to Abergasney Gardens

They go about once a month

and it is different

every time.

After the paths through the gardens we went into the walled vegetable

and fruit garden.

Below the house are ponds and

walls, terraces.

We figured

it was time for

lunch. Shrimp jacket potato.

Watched by this cheeky little bird, Robins have really figured out patio dining.

Walk it off on another

woodland trail.

Then we went in the house. There were pictures of what a dilapidated ruin it was before renovation started. The gardens are a work in progress and the bottom floor is finished.

Part of the ruined area was glassed over

and turned into a greenhouse.

The rest of that level is a local craft area (I bought 3 skeins of local wool) and a video and information on the history and restoration.

Wales - walks around the mill

 

Opposite the mill was a small rusty sign that indicated a footpath. I set off but was shortly turned around by a large, aggressive dog at a farm.

So I set off up the road beyond the mill

Another obscure footpath sign but

I was again turned around, this time by a very muddy field.

Ok, stick to the roads, with grass and moss in the middle.

Still things to be seen.

As usual, no shortage of sheep.

A neighbour told Chris that this was an old church but I never got around to exploring it further.

Just a few flowers left in the hedgerows and the occasional blackberry.

We were on Google Maps to show them where I now live and noticed that just up the road from the mill

was a standing stone. It was quite a muddy walk across fields and the weather was definitely iffy

but worth it.

A single, large stone, on a rise, some smaller stones at its base (but they may just have been thrown there when clearing the field)

I always find them wondrous.

Raining somewhere, better head back.

It started to drizzle as we made our way back and we just got in before the downpour started. Of course that is when the lorry driver, delivering new batteries for the turbine, called to say he didn't feel he could drive down their road.

So Chris took the tractor up the road

bought the palett down and

deposited it by the front door, to then trundle them one by one through the house to the turbine room, under the weir.

And yes, Heather, that is an ancient John Deere.