Storm on Penybont Common

Pictures can speak louder than words
I had a day off. Ooooer!
So - the weather was looking better so let's get out. Let's drive some. Let's take photographs.
Currently i am firing off the cylinders of an Fe 250 (compact) and a Camedia 200-UZ. Both OLYMPUS. And a proper bridge en route.
So - i headed, initially, up Llanshay Lane. ha! waste of time and energy. The road was impassable for my wee motor the higher up so i about-turned an returned to Ludlow Road. Hmmm! what next? Well how about i just head in a south-wester direction and see what happens.
The above pic was taken on the Common so i was heading in a Llan'dod direction.
And i kept going. Now i was on the A44 so that'll take me towards Rhayader. Perhaps i could spot some Red Kites (Milvus Milvus) in the area. There were very few about as i entered the town so i headed for Gigrin. It was very quiet and far too early for feeding so, let's go where i know there are shots to be had.
Hello the Elan valley with your dams, steep sides and glorious outlooks.

Jumping out to take photographs led me to a chat with a couple from Surrey on their winter hols. Atleast they were in the right type of vehicle. A Jeep Wrangler... and a beautiful white alsatian.

Above is the top dam. Craig Coch. And below is the roadway that crosses the dam to a small car park and toilets.
Up and down the valley are loads of trails. In better weather i must get myself up there and see what nature pops out in front of me ¬

The below scenery is taken from the valley's road looking across to the mountain road that leads to Aberystwyth (turn left) or back to Rhayader. That's where i was heading. The weather kept closing in and then lifting. It was beautiful but did leave me with a degree of apprehension especially as, once on the road back to Rhayader, i came across drifted snow and impacted snow on the road. Fun fun fun in a small motor without standard road tyres and no weight in the boot.
There were quite a few other vehicles about. Vans, cars, land rovers.

I made it safely on to the mounatin road with very limited car-bogganing, thank goodness.
The below is the view looking up the upper stage of the ElanValley which the mountain road follows in an Aberystwyth direction. The worst part of the road was still to come. Can car bogan uphill?
Well, a few slips and slides later and i reached the crest.
Now going down can be significantly more dangerous but the east facing side of the hill was cleared and safe.
A glance at the clock told me it was 14.15. ooh! The kites are fed at 14.00. I assumed that by the time i got down in to town there should be some kites left loitering. And i was right. i could see them wheeling about as i came in from the west.
I pulled over on East St and snapped a couple of pics. including one of a carrion crow. I moved to the industrial estate near the welsh crystal place and lay back on the bonnet on my motor trying to get some shots of some of the kites that wheeled overhead.
My last look i took from the lay-by just out of Rhayader on the rise. It was great watching them wheeling and screaming with a few interuptions by buzzards.


It was a good trip out and i returned Storm in one piece.
And allowed her to enjoy her speed a little on the 44.
She's filthy now and desperately in need of a good clean. The weather will dictate when she next gets a quick brush over... if nothing else.

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!

Let It Show Let It Show Let It Show

Community Centre

29-01-09

So this is what happens when you emerge from a shipwrecked sea

Yes! The words to the song are Let It Snow (x3) but this time, this year we caught the weather on the hop.
It was our turn to turn the tables. TEME SPIRITS performed a show and the weather did not screw it up!
So ner ner ner ner ner to Frosty the Snowman et al! Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Three great nights with three great audiences. Honours go to
Thursday night audience
Friday night cast
Saturday night tricksters and party-goers!

Big up to my mate, Fo, who took to a principle role and performed out of her skin
Well done, Queen Rat! Big thumbs up!

Queen Rat

A good time was had by all. I am still in recovery. haha!

So - we beat the weather and then it came! The whole country has had a dose which is, nowadays, unusual. Scotland, London, Wales, East Anglia, Cornwall, Hampshire, the Midlands,.... everywhere eventually.

my back garden a couple of nights ago

Hare's Green yesterday

the montgomeryshire - radnorshire border on Dolfor
yesterday

DOLFOR (Monty side) - yesterday
before we encountered a snow drift

As the country has a reprieve for a day some of us are bracing ourselves for another dose. It's due overnight so i could be waking to a whole fresh batch of the white stuff. Tomorrow is a day off work so should i go tobogganing in Storm? Hmmm! maybe not :D
But i have enjoyed bumbling about in Frosty's genes in a rear-wheel driven sports car.
Yehaaaaa!

There she is at work. A wee twitch around the corner quick
response, bring her back in line and sorted.
Shame Mondeo farmer couldn't bloody learn to drive as well.
Tsk!

- DICK WHITTINGTON -

Cometh the hour...

The below photographs are courtesy of the BBCs
live feed as the inauguration ceremoney was taking place
-unless otherwise stipulated-



Barack Hussein Obama taking office as the 44th President of the United States of America

a couple of people turned out to cheer on the chap

michelle obama watches on proudly flanked by
bill and hillary
and george bush sr

the crowd enjoying the occasion in front of the Capitol building

backed by michelle this is the man behind the flag

and at the forefront of the nation with a mountain to climb

The expectations of the world, little exaggeration, are upon this man's shoulders.
I have never been bothered by the presidential elections and even less by the
inauguration ceremony but this was an unmissable event.
It wasn't even so much that he is black, tho it's significance can not be dismissed, but that
he just carries himself in a way that gives a confidence and demands a confidence.
I actually listened to his speech.
For someone with a relatively low attention span and high boredom threshold
that, i think, is saying something.
It seemed to come from the heart. They did not sound like empty words.
This guy means business. This guy is the business.
All these events took place yesterday. Before the American day was out he was
tackling the mess that is Guantanamo Bay.
He has nudged the ball and it is slowly beginning on it's first revolution.
Politically, he has Joe Biden beside him. I confess i know pretty much nothing about
the new V-P but, as much as with Obama, i wish him well as i wish the USA patience
and understanding.
Things will not happen overnight and, maybe just maybe, the more ignorant of it's fair
nation will let these men get on and may even come to appreciate their efforts.

Farewell Boss

RIP dear Doc.
The fabulous Dr Brian Davies, GP, was laid to rest today.
The service was held at St Edward's Church this afternoon. It was full to overflowing.
People who i haven't seen in a few years were there to pay their respects.
Three people stood up to do a little talk about him. His nephew by marriage, a former
doctor colleague from Hereford and Graham Benbow from here (formerly llanidloes).
All touched upon the Doc's aptitude ...ahem... for driving.
The only person who really didn't get a feel for the great man was the vicar. I don't know the
chap and the service was filled with christianity despite knowing that the Doc was an agnostic.
The Ghurkas sent three representatives out which was a really great touch and their uniform hat sat proudly atop his coffin.

I think the tears that did bubble up were less of sadness and more of being proud to have known the good fellow.

Thanks Dr D. Thanks for being the right person at the right time for so many people.

Top's Off! Zoom Zoom Zoom

I passed my driving test many moons ago in the March of 1986.
I was accepted in to my current employment in december 06 and then joined officially on
6th January 1987.
My first car, temporarily, was a beat-up mini clubman estate. She didn't last very long.
Then i got a brown V reg Mini 1000. I nicknamed her brown bomber. Named after
the great Joe Lois the boxer.
My next car was a white Fiesta 950cc. She was the Angel.
Next up was a red Fiesta 1400S. I named her the Devil.
I finally broke the mold and went against soemthing i'd thought to myself. I'll never buy a french car.
Hmm! well i began a long-running trend as i bought a Citroen AX GT. (1.4 twin choke) in white.
I had had no intention of buying another white car. Ho-hum! She was great. Like a roller skate with oomph!
And she took me to France. She took Katie and Jane and I down to Maurens (Bergerac). Due to the number plate, J312 AUY, i nicknamed her Joey.
Sticking with the french theme i was wowed by the beautiful Peugeot 306. A lovely shade of metallic blue with a d Turbo 1900 engine in her. Number plate N***GWL. She was french and looking at her number plate, once again, she became Noel!
I didn't lok after her as i should've done. But i still loved 306s. In fact, i still do.
So....

i bought another Peugeot 306. Another diesel but no turbo. This one was a 2l HDi and she was silver. Above is an arty pic i took of her whilst up in the Radnor Forest near the Black Mixen mast. I loved her. I still miss her. Hell! i only exchanged her last saturday (2 days ago)
The 306 has beautiful lines. There is no other standard small family hatchback that is that well styled. Even when she was filthy she looked bloody great.
I think that anyone who's owned a Pug who has a soul will never lose that warmth of feeling they generate. Of course, i'm not sure about the people who've owned the 307. Peugeot seriously got that one wrong wrong wrong!
So, since the late spring of 2008 i have ummed and ahhed about what would be my next car. My baby (the Bullet) was getting on. I had been pretty sensible since i started driving, as my choices shown have revealed.
Somewhere in my past i had said two things about vehicles.
Sometime in my life i wanted to own a sports car and a 4x4. (noteably a Land Rover re the latter) Was this the time to start chasing down one of those dreams? Damnit! why not?
Friends of mine have a mark 2 mazda mx5. They very very kindly let me take her out for a spin - or two. She has a 1.6 engine in her. She had great pick up. The newer mark 3s come in 1.8 and 2.0; that's insurance groups 11 and 13 respectively. For me, the 1800 (ok let's be pedantic... 1798cc) was gonna be just hunky dory for me. I just had to find one.
In Leominster the Peugeot garage (Bengry Motors) started back on the Mazda trail and began a dual dealership. I popped in back in the summer and they had a 2.0 roadster coupe in situ. Nice looking motor. Lovely electronic roof mechanism and oomph for the take off. I did ask the guy at the garage what engine was in her and he said it was an 1800. A... splutter....! do what? hmm! felt too quick for the 1.8 but hey ho! ya never know.
I researched and searched the internet for cars just to give me an idea on prices. 4 years old. 3 years old. Whatever the budget could go to -.
I finally came to some conclusions.
1.8 - TICK
Soft-top TICK
I tried to seeking out other Mazda dealerships just to se what they had on the forecourt but they're an elusive breed of garages.
This worked out just dandily for the guys and gals in Leominster cos i dropped in again just before christmas (08). This rather fine looking 1.8 soft-top demonstrator was sitting outside in the damp.
I looked her over. Bantered and bartered a little. Hell! she was, as good as, brand spanking new.
Trouble is, thro' christmas and into the new year the figures kept dancing around in my head.
What to do? Decisions were delayed as i went down with a crappy chest infection between christmas and new year.
Ping! as good as new... cough... cough... ok well, not quite but pretty close to normality.
Having checked with the bank that they would cover me for £X amount i was in a position to barter figures.
Cutting to the chase.................. see below!
My new pride and joy. It's kinda scary. Never owned something so new and expensive before.
It's pretty much rained since i picked her up on saturday so haven't been out far. A quick run to Llan'dod to acquire some additions for her inc. door protectors.

This is Storm. Her colour is Storm Blue.
Boy! they don't half come
up with some dopey colour terms.

Earth stood hard as iron

alongside llan'dod lake on 5th January 09.

Happy New Year.
It started before 2009 got under way but 2009 temps so far have barely peered over the zero degree celsius mark.
On a run up to Newtown following the teme valley road thro' Beguildy and Felindre the temperatures fluctuated between -8 and -12.

See this...!............................
I took this whilst en route (NO! I was not driving)
8 1/2 hours later and it was only -2!
It's about time we had some true winter temperatures.
Winters have hardly had the right to be referred to as just that.
They've been indifferent damp affairs which have been good for neither man nor beast.
I know alot of people don't want this kind of weather but, to me, it's the natural order of the day.
Let's hope for a better summer to follow this.

The sad thing is that people don't know how to cope.
Whilst i am being careful i just hope all my pipes survive intact.
Life shouldn't stop people just need to be wary of slip-ups as such.

Also, using the common sense that most of us are born-with wouldn't go amiss.
A chest infection rarely demands a 999 response! Esp. when the crew turning out to you are fighting their own chest infections and have got by without hitting those three 9s on their phones!


Farewell Dr Brian Davies former GP of this area who died last friday :0(
Great guy who so many could've and should've learned from...!