Half term - Off for a tree top adventure

It had been a pretty poor half term for the kids in terms of weather especially with storm Doris only hitting yesterday.  This morning I had discovered a little pocket of dry weather to take the kids out to Zip World in Betws to go on the Treetop nets.  2 hours of fun, 2 hours of peace and quiet I thought!  40 minutes! That's how long they could last before coming back to moan at me that they were bored and that one was hitting the other with the inflated balls.  They wanted to go home but I insisted they went back on to get my monies worth.  Another half an hour went by.  Off they came again. Too be honest it was exhausting for anyone on the nets.  They were like trampolines so every step required a lot of effort.  I treated them to a hot chocolate, with marshmallows and cream of course!  I then convinced them to go on again for the last half an hour.  As usual a bit of food = energy.  By 12o'clock I was trying to find them to drag them off!  They still insisted that they found it boring but secretly I think they enjoyed it!

Off for a run in storm Ewen

When you have a dog you have no choice to take them out for a walk whatever the weather especially when it is a young Beagle!!  We were still suffering from the tail end of storm Doris and with storm Ewen on its way, however sitting in a Valley, I didn't realise quite how bad it was out there!  Once I got further up out of the valley I soon found out. 40+mph winds and lashing rain/snow, being on a hill is not the best place to be in this weather.  I had some relief from the hedge row that bordered the road.  I actually felt quite scared, there was a constant roaring noise and the trees were bending right over, I had no chance of hearing any cars coming my way.  Added to that, I was drenched!  The poor dog was so nervous he was hesitating putting one foot in front of the other.  He kept looking at me like he was wondering what the hell was going on and like he was anticipating something bad to happen any moment.  We pushed on, already committed to our walk and finally got home 3.5 miles later.  We were rewarded with a lovely rainbow that seemed to bridge the Conwy valley.

Valentines Day

Our first Valentines Day meal out in years!!  We didn't go far - about a mile down the road!!  We booked a table at Maenan Abbey.  We were treated to a three course meal - I had smoked duck and chicken for starters, lamb for main and lemon tart for dessert.  Along with some sparkly wine and some chocolates mmmmm. Lovely!! Thank you Mark (and to Dave for babysitting)

Walk around Gwydyr Forest to Llyn Parc

Dave (my father-in-law) and I decided to take the dog for a walk in Gwydyr forest.  We parked up in the first car park not far from Gwydyr Castle.  The paths are quite wide with broken slate covering.  It was actually a lot colder than we expected!!  2 minutes with your gloves off meant you had trouble moving your fingers. It even started snowing.  It was a lovely walk especially when we turned from the centre of the forest to walk along the valley edge.  The path went steeply down.  I didn't realise how high up we were in the centre of the forest.  There a little waterfalls than run down the sides of the hill and directed under the path.  Then the trees opened up to reveal the Conwy valley!  Wow what a view.  To top it off the RAF transport carrier planes flew almost level with us as they navigated along the valley!  It was an easy walk of just over 5 miles.

Walk along river from Betws-y-coed

It was a lovely sunny day today and we decided to go for a little walk as we do most Sunday's with it being Mark's only day off.  It feels like it has been a busy week this week.  I started my two day a week job and volunteer two days a week leaving me with just Friday as my free time.  I am missing being able to go out on a long walk especially without the kids who do not share my passion for being outdoors!  I normally walk the dog just under 4 miles a day but this is on the doorstep of where we are staying.  Some of the fun is exploring new places.

A bit of a week

Probably the busiest week yet!  Had a fantastic couple of days with my new job.  Really really enjoying it and what lovely people to work for!!  Already looking forward to working next week.  Feeling lucky.  Its strange that things are busy all of a sudden with getting my new job and volunteering twice a week means I've gone from twiddling my thumbs to rushing round to try to fit everything in!  I know it is the case of trying to get into a routine and everything will fall into place better.  When I worked full time, my day would start quite early. I'd get up, do a work out, take the dog for a walk, get ready for work, go to work for 9 hours with no lunch or other breaks, return home, walk the dog, go for a run and then cook dinner.  I don't do anywhere near as much at the moment.  It is hard trying to get into a routine when you cannot settle somewhere and knowing that things are going to change in a couple of months (well hoping).  We are also having to sort lots of paperwork out too which means many visits to Llandudno, responding to emails and phonecalls.  Its good that things are moving but also the bank are being a bit funny about lending us the money to purchase the house now.  I feel so worried that they might say 'no'.  It could mean we don't get to realise my dream.  If I was working at the time of making the application there probably wouldn't be so much of a problem but I wasn't and with things being a bit more uncertain in the financial market, the banks are more reluctant to lend money.  It doesn't seem to matter that our repayments are the same monthly payments we have been paying for the last 13 years in which a couple of years would have been with one wage whilst also starting a family.  We never failed a payment before and not only that, I do and have intend to get a job.  I'll have to keep my fingers crossed in the hope that it will turn out ok.