Darran Valley

 This was the valley 40 years ago

and today.  A transformation.

 with a lovely park taking the place of the mine head.

 The change is even more dramatic when viewed from the head of the valley.

And so on to Gelligear Common to drive across it on the Roman Road.  More exploring done.

One more step nearer

Now a clad space, with still the board and plastering to be done but already now a warm usable space to do some woodworking.

Book - Rasputin, A Short Life

Not a very nice man.  A mystic who was a sex maniac and alcoholic, running a country to it's ruin in the back room.  Amazing that it might have been a British MI6 agent that done for him just before the 1917 Russian revolution.  A very good read 4 on the door for Frances.

Another Day

OK, I cannot deny it.  I have reached 70 years of age.  All this nonsense about repeatedly celebrating on your birthday when you clearly only have one, mine being on the 11th October 1946, doesn't wash with me.    But this time I made an exception and received a new outfit from my lovely Gek and a steak lunch at the pub.

The Rhymney Ridgeway Walk - Measycwmmer to Bedwas

After parking the van, we stepped out on to the Common, heading south towards Bedwas.

Turning around and swoping to the long lens, Pen-y-fan 30 miles to the north.

to the east, the Sirhowy Valley snaking its was towards Newport.

Could that be the Severn Bridge in the far distance?

Gosh, so it is.  Love these almost Mongolian crystal clear days.

Round a corner in the track and we were looking out over Caerphilly towards the channel and the Devon coast.  Here we were 1000 feet above sea level looking the the south west.

Creating a Posh workshop - Cut a New Door

 We had a new insulated garage type door fitted some time back.

Now a side door for easy access cut on the garden side of the building.  Neat.

Creating a Posh Workshop - Clear the Garage

A nice space, 18 feet by 10 feet,

 ready to be morphed into a cosy workshop with lots of insulation cladding for the walls.  No more shivering in the months to come.

Miniatura at the NEC

Gek's very first miniature fair with a stall of her 1/12 scale old masters  We had a great weekend of it, meeting with loads of nice people, customers as well as other stallholders who gave us good advice on how to approach selling Gek's art.  We sold 10 works, a very good start.  We will be back at the next Miniatura in spring next year.

The Gower

A blustery day on the cliff top at Port Eynon

Rhossili beach with Atlantic rolls powering in.