Mazda in the Mountains and more

We really have enjoyed some damn fine weather in the last few weeks.
I'd go as far as saying that we've had great weather this year.
Winter is meant to be cold. Spring is meant to be green and lush. Summer is meant to be warm and growing warmer.
Other than a few minor not-so's this has been so.
I have taken odds and sods of leave in the last few weeks that has given me time to drop some fuel in Storm and go out enjoying the landscapes of mid Wales

Taken close to Gigrin on the edge of the A470 Rhayader




Storm overlooks the Elan river close to the entry to the top dam of the
Elan valley Reservoir system




A Bunch of 5s approach in ribbon formation
Elan Valley

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Above was on sunday 31st May 2009
Below was wednesday 3rd June 2009
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Dylife Gorge nr Llanbrynmair
-creating following the last ice age

Borth - shrouded in a sea mist

Ystwyth Valley - close to the head

Storm enjoys the views - as do i
The Elan Valley

Another time of day - at night

Tonight... i have my camera (this was last night but go with me)
So i will be taking some shots. We are on a break so we're parked up in a lay-by just south of Shrewsbury.
A few lengths back from two sleeping lorry drivers. Who are we to disturb the knights of the road. The garage sandwiches are nothing to write home about but they fill a hole along with the latte from the Coffee Nation machine.
Who would own up to creating such crap tasting cardboard?
we so need to learn from the french...pleeease!
It's good to stop and the air is mild so it's out of the motor to dump some rubbish and see what sights are there to be shot.
traffic.
We're in street-lighting which will affect the effect but let's have a look-see.

That's looking south. I lean against the sloping bonnet of the peril watching what's passing by. Whilst still sat in the cab i noticed that the traffic moved quite fast. Some eager to get past slower drivers. It's a whole other ballgame during daylight hours. More traffic less speed tho people still wanting to move quicker.
There's a freedom during the dark hours especially when it's dry.
Now, i'm leaning against a vehicle that stands out. It's lurid yellow with battenburg checks down the side plus the added lightbars etc. I am now stood holding the camera in front of my face pointing at the road.
I seriously reckon that people were not driving quite so quickly.
Now, as i said, our vehicle is yellow. A specific yellow that no other working motor can wear including the police but people are not quite as quick exiting or entering the 30 limit close to where we're parked.

Time to move on and watching traffic approaching may make for a shot or two.
Blurred but with light trails. A wagon is oncoming which gives an added dimension to the lights.
It allows me to stay awake. I couldn't get back to sleep meaning i've not slept enough so staying awake as much as possible has gotter be safer in case i ned to drive later. We're only just over halfway thro' the shift so i nede to be acreful. I may even need to refuse the keys if i think i'm gonna be unsafe. I don't wanna be contacting harshly with any static pieces of tall wood by the roadside - now do i?

Ahead another vehicle is marked as it spends times on the byways of the UK

It's a HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE vehicle which we follow into Craven Arms where he pulls over and we carry on our way.
I am grateful that we weren't needed later.

Coming to now part 3 of the Six Nations has kciked off. After just over half an hour and Wales has the edge over France in Paris in the Stade de France.3 -13
6 - 13 at 37 minutes and we're moving forward again
COME ON BOYS!!!!!...... it's a hard bruising game!
Oh dear... as we approach half-time the french touch-down.

What will the second half bring? It's hard to watch

Snowy Snowy Land

It's cold out there.

Britan is still under the white stuff in the main
and there could be more to come before it's all over.



Il Catto is not so keen on it's loveliness

This is more her thing.
Relaxed on the stairs in her crazy way ¬

On the other hand Storm beds in under her winter blanket

And.... being Six Nations opening weekend.....
Come on Wales!
Cymru Am Byth!

In honour of...

... that young feller-me-lad who finally, and unwittingly, kicked me buttock region into starting this 'ere blog.
I've done some half-hearted blogs but they get lost in the mists of time and myspace so thought it was time to do 'a proper one'.
So... diolch yn fawr to the chap who loiters, interestingly, in the Mobox!
- although i am trying to convince him that not all good things happen to people who hang about Paddington. Nuff said

I barely watch the news these days so it tends to be more luck than judgement if i become aware that a nuclear explosion has decimated half the human population of planet Earth (no Duran Duran please)
I catch the headlines from my ISPs homepage and that's about. Anything which contains the term 'celebrity' effects an immediate CLUNK as my wee cell switches into saver energy mode.
Forgive me but who on earth gets kicks from keeping abreast (hmm yes well) of the likes of Jordan or Posh or... or... am sure there's another name out there in Celebland but it escapes me.
People! This is your life. Do not be living vicariously through the precarious lives of the well-known who are, usually, known for no known reason - if you catch my drift.

In peaceful mad Wales we have glorious sunshine as I type. This, inevitably, brings out the suburban-frustrates.
No one could ever be referred to as suburban where I live. Sub-human, sub-sheep, sub-rabbit... ie. sub-rural which sits between rural and sparsely populated.
So anyne carrying typically suburban activities here must be viewed as frustrates.. or wannabees.
Of course, many would say the word should be TIDY. Your choice but I'm sure there's a point where one's lawn must become too manicured.
I, on the other hand, am happy with my sprawl of rhubarb in which lives the black panther of Powys and the postage stamp of wasteland that sits between it and the back door.

I'm clock-watching now as Tescos will be here anytime between... 1900 and 2100.
Yes even small parts of ultra rural/sub-rural can have their groceries delivered to their doorstep but they are the only ones who do deliver c/o the online system in the area. Shame cos i quite fancy a bit of Sainsbury's and they do nice coffee amongst other things.

Next. cat feeding and Desperate Housewives