Lauren, Olympic Gold Metalist

 Ystrad Mynach is home to Lauren, the kick boxing gold medalist at the 2020 Olympic Games.

The town now has a gold telephone box on the same street where she lives with her nan. Well done girl!

A Rose Arch

A rose arch to the veggie garden.  Wonder how long it will take to fill with flowers?

Sugar Loaf Attempt 2

Pen y Fan to the north west.

Bristol Channel and the Somerset coast to the south, just visible.

A shadowie on the way.

Yellow spot is where we turned back. just gotten too steep and rockie. So near and yet so far.  Might, and it is a big might, try the other route to the top some time.

Peoples of Mongolia Photograph Exhibition

 

On the morning of 19th August 2006 we landed at Ulaanbaatar Airport to start our two winters stay on our VSO placements.  This portraits exhibition is to mark the event with people photos and their associated memories.

http://gekart.net/Contemporary/Mongolia.html

to access the show.

Two Jobs Done

First the Baldechino model for the Mackintosh Tearoom.

Finished?

Now it is with the baldechino atop it.

And the drive way tarmacked. 

Magic.

Pontsticill Reservoir

 The control tower,

with Pen y Fan in the distance. 

Old Barn Tea Room

 At the Tea rooms for lunch to meet up with the Cooper family again.

A chaffinch,

and jay for company too.

A very young bird,

judging by his/her fluffy bottom.

Taf Fechan Forest

After parking the car, and crossing the stream,

 

we welcomed the sun to accompany us on our amble

through the forest.

Gek about to enter a jungle.

Arrived at Torpantau station just in time for the trains arrival, the first with passengers since the first Covid lockdown.  And wonder of wonders, Niel and Sue, our neighbours were there too with thier grand kids!!

Back on the trail

A walk in the forest.

Chepstow Castle

 Just a flying vist to take a picture.

Tintern Railway Station and River Walk

Over a hundred years ago.

Today, a country park and river walk.

The Wye was very calm.

A peaceful amble we had.

Tintern Abbey

 On the way in.  Just to show the size of the place.

It has been derilict since the mid 16th century, when King Henry fell out with the pope of the day.

But it still has a sort of majesty. 

A later king had an oak planted here in 1911 to mark his coronation.

The only roof adding some protection to the stone work.