Catch Up

I could use this blog to do many things. I'm sure it would be therapeutic but slating someone for being a liar will do no good otherwise so i shall stick with the happier side of life ~ mostly.

We had quite a winter. A proper winter, in fact. It's no good moaning. Yes it did last a bit long but there's nowt we can do about it so let's just get on and take it and embrace the good side that it brings.
We've had an amazing spring and my face glows regularly having caught the sun. I've already used some sunscreen. that is very early in the season tho' there is advice to be had now that says that it should be worn during the cooler months of the year as well.

So the thing that has caused the most jaw-ache from grinning so much is being out in the car with others who own the same model (various MKs.)

On the last sunday in March (on a liar's birthday as it happens) 10 mx5s and 13 people collected at Knighton Community Centre car park and were then led off by me[thev trusted me... wow!]
The route included Beguildy - Llaithdu - Bwlch y Sarnau - Pant y Dwr - Tylwch - Llanidloes - Clwyedog Dam - Machynlleth - Aberystwyth - Devils' Bridge(Pontarfynach) - Cwm Ystwyth - Elan Valley Visitor's Centre .... and farewells across the A44 running east.


By the clwyedog dam


Looking down on 9 MXs as one had bid us farewell in Aber.

~Ystwyth Lead Mines ~

It had been a very long day. Less for me since the start point was home and some people didn't home until pretty late in to the evening.

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The days were extending and the sun was shining gloriously so earlier this month on a grey start to a 12th - a monday morning i met up with Ali and her Arizona, Eric, in Leominster.
Despite slower traffic here and there we had a great run.
Down the A49 to Hereford. Across to Credenhill and up to Lyonshall - Kington - Crossgates - Rhayader - Elan Valley (dams and upper valley) - down the A470 before hanging a left towards Llanyre - Crossgates (lunch) - A488 Monaughty - Presteigne - Shobdon (airfield) - Mortimer's Cross - Lucton - Richard's Castle - finishing outside Ludlow Castle

Eric and Storm at the Craig Coch (top dam)

Castle Square, Ludlow with St Laurence's tower in the background

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I finally had a run out with the official owner's club - South West Midlands group - who had arranged to drive to and tour Abbey Cwm Hir Hall
52 rooms of amazing splendour that changes thro' the seasons and every room is decorated for christmas.
The time and effort put in to this place is really extraordinary.
The Hall
^^^ link to the website

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Abbey Cwm Hir Hall :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::some of the interior decor


..................................... One of various gramophones

the splinter group that are the Dot COMers
Eric, Snowy, Stealth, Storm & Petrel with their
respective owners stood alongside

Before we exited to find a pub for some grub and fluid.
Thanks to them and the rest of the OC and Paul and Victoria(the hall) for making it such a lovely day.

Summer Solstice

It's summer everyone!
well... june is the first of the summer months so i believe it starts on the 1st.
Atleast it's a dry day. A dry start anyway.
I hauled my sleepy body from my pit just before 06.00. This is normal for when i am working days but this was a choice this mornig.
Being Sunday being the longest day being early - it's time for another run out with the STORM!
-as seen a few days earlier -
I was in the car by 06.30 and away:::::::::::::::::: zoom zoom::::::::::

Talking as a loca.
I headed out on the Presteigne road. Hung a right at the Whitton turn. Over Whitton crossroads.
Cursing alot since the road had not long been topped.
AT the top of the Bush hung another right towards New Radnor.
In NR hung a further right on to the A44 to head west.
At Forest Inn hung a.... LEFT towards Hundred House. Sadly, this is where a sparrow decided to head-butt my nearside front wheel. Poor wee thing but i am as certain as one can be that it did not suffer. :0(
- and breathe -
Popped out at Llanelwedd where the Llan'dod road comes down. Much to my surprise a police noddy-mobile was coming out from Builth and heading north. Hmmm!
So - on over the bridge in to Builth and the old county of Brecknock!
thro' the town and out on the Cilmery/Garth/Beulah road. This is a lovely road. Plenty of ups and downs and sweeping bends. Mind you doesn't stop what little traffic is out at that time of day from cutting bends. tsk! good job i was 100 yards further back.
Beulah came... as did the turn for Newbridge.
Another cracking road full of more twists and turns.
When reaching the A470 at NoW the road seems like you don't have to think so much.
Left turn, me!
But not for long. Right turn, me for Lland'dod. It's a short but, again, twisty turny journey (ha) up past Llanyre.
I finally caught up with another vehicle but not for long.
Up to Crossgates - right for the short sprint to Penybont - left across the common and on to home sweet home. A trundle thro' town but very few people about.
Happy 5ing!

Not exciting to the world out there bt a good run for me.

Nice car...

...shame about the driver

I just wanted the driver to overtake me. I wanted to hear the sweet notes of the beating heart of the Aston Martin that was sat behind me exiting Llandrindod Wells on the A483 on the north bound carriage. Go one you can do it.... oh ok! The driver had sat off me. Ok - seemed sensible. That's always nice to see. Sense in a fast beautiful automobile.
Ok, so I, in a Renault Master dci, took the s bend halfway between Llandrindod and Crossgates a better than the floundering Mondeo in front. On the straigh the Mondeo ran away. I was not in a hurry. There was traffic coming towards us. I grumbled to myself "Bloody typical!" The AM would not be able to... ok there's a bit of a space now so... but again, the car is too far off. I returned my attention forward as a small van hove into view. As i noticed it the wing mirror on my driver's side alerted me to a movement. Now, the AM driver wanted to overtake. Now, when a van was coming towards now s/he was going.... phew! dramatically, the AM person behind it's steering wheel hauled the AM back in.
Why on earth they had waited until then to even consider the move god only knows.
We went seperate ways at Crossgates, thankfully, tho' i still missed the beautiful engine.
Shows... taste and money does not maketh sense!

I'll stick with the motor which this adorns.