Fonmon and Porthcawl. Wed Aug 14

First stop, after 2 hour drive west, is Penmark Castle. Home of Mike's 21st, a St John. Behind this church. 

It's ruins now. But we had a toasty homemade leek and potato soup at the local Six Bells pub. 

The Welsh Hawking Center, funded by Arab money sponsoring their cross breeding program. This is a 4 month old peregrine-jera-lana falcon, bred for speed, desert conditions, and trainability. We watched training.  Spectacular.

Countryside reminds us of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Lakeville CT. 

Lots of birds, many just loose.  Everywhere. 

All signs are in English and Welsh, which uses few vowels and many double letters. We try to pronouce them all. 

Fonmon Castle, home of Mike's family, built by his 24th gg Adam St. John (Whiting side) in the 12th century. 

Black and red outlined walls are from Mike's ancestors' time. Sold to the Boothby's in the 16th century. 

In a room from original 12th century part of castle. Now an office. Note thick walls, call bells, retrofit pipes. 

Standing in entrance hall from 12th century, updated interior. 

Serious wall frescoes. Dog carrying rabbit.

Secret walled gardens. Heavenly. Thousands of raspberries. 

Artichokes, asparagus, swiss chard, peas, marrows ( squashes), etc. 

I'm expecting a hobbit to appear. Any moment now. 

Namaste. Cheers to Rene. 

Sweeping lawns.

First peak at Royal Porthcawl. Reminiscent of Dornoch. Has hosted Walker Cup, and British Amateur Championship. We're in the Vale of Glamorgan, just west of Cardiff. 

Dinner at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club. The Sparrows ( jolly men's group) sat next to us. Quietly beautiful here, gracious. Immensely friendly people. After all the kidding, introduced us to Sean Barrett, Speaker of the House of Ireland.  We thought they were still kidding. I should have said something heartfeltedly nice about Ireland... argh! 

Half a pint of Hancock's with Welsh Rarebit. They just call it Rarebit over here. Cheddar, mustard, onion, ale broiled over toast. More greens than we have seen since landing.

Penhow Castle Wales. Tues Aug 13

Smooth flight over, we both slept entire time on board. Delicious cappucino and brie/caramelized onion panini's at Heathrow upon landing. We are amazingly well rested, thank you ambien. 

Two and a half hours west on the M4, we're in Cymru. That's Wales to you and me. This is my 26th great grandfather Roger de St Maurs' Penhow Castle. Given to him in the 1180's by William the Conqueror as thanks for fighting in the 1066 invasion, Roger died in this castle in 1130. It was owned by us Seymours for centuries. Now owned by a film producer, whose elegant horse farm and home sit right next door. 

An elegant entrance. But, it really isn't a castle like Cinderella's. Maybe you could call it a manor house. Spectacular views. On top f a hill. Green rolling hills, forests, streams.    

AND THERE ARE SHEEP!

Plenty of sheep. Makes up for anything.

These are friendly sheep. 

Mike looking at headstones at next-door-neighbor St John the Baptist church, built later... in the 1200's. Penhow is the building in the far right, behind the stone wall.  

An absolutely charming B & B. After curry chicken, steak pie, walnut butterscotch gateau and two pints, we retire. Us Seymours sleep here in Penhow / Llanmartin once again, nine hundred years later. 

Anticipation

Nine different places to lay our heads over four weeks. Google Maps directions printed out as I don't trust technology in the tiny outposts of Wales and Scotland. Also printed out booking confirmations. We will not get lost on MY watch.

I love sheep. Thank you Anne. 

Which one are you?

All who wander are not lost. Tolkien.

July has taken Mike and I to:

 La Jolla (think Torrey Pines and LEAD Breast Cancer Symposium.. what an irresistible combo.) 

Then Mike to Boise to visit his dad. 

Mike and I back together in Chicago to visit Corey, and Liz. 

Then to Midland for "da Loons." 

And then to Blacksburg to visit Mack and Tray. 

Phew. 

Major life decision for me:

 this blog from now until a time of my choosing will be less wordy,

 more photo-y. 

You can climb back onto your chairs now. 

:)

Our goal, to END breast cancer. If you don't know where you are going, how will you ever get there?

My notebook of class notes.

My workgroup for the week. The Alpha group (we self-identified.)

The "bottom line." Priceless photo. 

After having his car totaled by another, Corey gets an A5. 

Corey's front door. 

We drove through Whiting Indiana. Such fun places Mike takes me. 

Mike's favorite climbing tree growing up, in Whiting Forest Midland MI. 

In Blacksburg, visiting Mack and Tray. And Howard and Patrick. 

Blacksburg CC. One of them shot a 73. I think.

New River CC, Radford. 

I think she missed us. 

Over my sink. 

The View from my IPHONE charging station. 

Greenbrier and Baseball

Where oh where have I been?

Family gathering at the Greenbrier. Wow. Elegant. Peaceful. Full of activity. And it is all thoroughly worthwhile, fun, truly exciting activity. Skeet shooting, horseback riding, swimming, golf, hiking, spa. Seven restaurants, each better than the next.

We rented a three bedroom cottage, with living room and kitchenette. Breakfast was relaxed. Then the days started! Five nights. Loved it all.

A stop in Midland, Michigan, and in Charlotte. Then home, to baseball. 

Howard with our new grand-puppy Patrick.

Loveable Sporty

Hope for Heroes in Leesburg

Opening Night in Sanford

Opening Night in Sanford