Holiday Near Ross

All the family

Gwilym, Ezra and Betsan

With the grandchildren

Gwion and the hotshots

We had a wonderful family last week near Ross in an eccentrically furnished old farmhouse surrounded by old cars found on AirBnB by my wife. On the Monday we actually gathered ahead of time so that we could have a stag do event for the men. This is because Gwion is getting married this month. So dressed in a pink cap with the words Dance Captain, as arranged by his brother and best man Rhodri, he led about 13 of us in a clay pigeon shooting event (two fathers, six brothers or brothers to be, two friends, a cousin and an uncle). As I expected, I could hit the disc sometimes but never worked out how to be consistent. Others did much better. This part of the day concluded with Chinese food at the farmhouse and a Mr and Mrs quiz with the prospective groom and bride.

The rest of the week was all about, playing and reading and walking and a trip into Ross. We also had visits from my sister and one of Eleri's and her daughter. We now have eight grandchildren and it was great to see them iteracting with one another. On the Friday my wife took our youngest and me to Newport, where we caught the train home. She went on to Trebanos near Clydach, where my second son and his family have just moved into a new house. Good times.

Family, etc

One reason posts have been a little sparse of late is that we have been spending a lot of time with the family over the Easter holidays.

First, in the week March 24-30 we had visits from our Aberystwyth boys - our fourth son Gwion and his fiancee Lydia and my first son, Rhodri and Sibyl and their four sons. That was a great few days with various activities including a visit to London Zoo one day for me and the six, which was very much enjoyed.

Then on April 6 Eleri, myself and my fifth son Owain (and Alffi the dog) drove to Wales where we met up with Eleri's sister Catrin and her family in Monmouth. We then stayed with her other sister, Fflur, too and her damily in a house in Ross-on-Wye back over the border for two nights. On the Tuesday our two Cardiff sons, Dylan and Dewi and their families visited us. That was a lovely time too. On the Wednesday we headed to Cardiff and after a lttle more family time, Owain headed back to London (with Alffi) by train and Eleri and I headed to Aber. Eleri stayed there all the way until Wednesday when she came home via Merthyr, where an elderly family member's funeral was taking place. I left Aber on Friday April 5. There was a strike that day and so instead of the more obvious five hoour Aber-Birmingham-London trip it was more like seven hours getting from Aber to Shrewsbury to Newport to london on the last traiin. It was also necessary to go by bus from Aber to Machynlleth. Marathon journey then and back late but plenty of time to recover the next day.

At some point my youngest grandchild celebrated his first birthday. It's not been that easy  first year but looks very bonny and is full of life.

This last week has mostly been getting ready for my trip to Kenya which begins Monday. I was also busy at the Evangelical Library on Monday, leading the Midweek Meeting Wednesday, leading a men's meeting this morning (Saturday) and preparing for Sunday. Busy days.