Monday, 25 June 2012
let there be light
Amazing hour watching the Olympic torch weave it's way through Sheffield in the sun
Monday, 18 June 2012
and the band played on
Too wet to sit down
the tug of war . . .
the maypole dancers pranced
no-one braved the soggy sponge
but a good old British time was had by one and all
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Meet the (grand grand) parents
Our trip to Aberdaron a few weeks ago was brilliant - 'Mull' weather - sunny skies, blue seas and picnics.
And Aberdaron really is the 'land of my (great grand and grand) fathers'.
Cue song:
Captain Daniel McNeil, a master mariner from Glasgow, married Jane Williams, the blacksmith's daughter from Glanarfon, Aberdaron, way back in 1878.
They had three daughters, Ginny, Mary and Kitty. Mary, my grandmother, in her turn, married Thomas and had six daughters - Mum is the youngest.
Here's Daniel with Jane, Ginny and Mary
taken by the travelling photographers from the Cambrian Gallery who went around Wales by horse and cart with photographic props and outfits.
and these are two beautiful ones of the fabled Kitty, who the family lost touch with before the second world war
now Daniel, soon after they first married, built a house in Aberdaron, using Scottish granite he had brought down by ship and he named the rather imposing house, right by the bridge in Aberdaron, Bellfield.
We've been researching into this and the best we've come up with so far is that there was a ship built in Greenock in 1820 named Bellfield - about the right time to maybe have been the one Daniel apprenticed on.
The house was sold by my grandparents soon after Shani, Mum's eldest sister, was born and the new owners renamed it Henfaes. Today it's in the ownership of the National Trust as rather luxurious holiday lets. Take a look at one of the flats here.
It was great to revisit last month and to also see the old blacksmith's cottage, Glanarfon where Mary was born before they moved into the new house in 1881, and even the Hen Siop where Jane's mother was born much much earlier and the school Mary went to just outside the village.
Given both my primary and secondary schools have already been demolished, it's great to know these places are still standing.
We're still researching Captain McNeil's life and times but even a weekend in the Greenock archives last year revealed nothing. And as for the mysterious Kitty . . .
And Aberdaron really is the 'land of my (great grand and grand) fathers'.
Cue song:
Captain Daniel McNeil, a master mariner from Glasgow, married Jane Williams, the blacksmith's daughter from Glanarfon, Aberdaron, way back in 1878.
They had three daughters, Ginny, Mary and Kitty. Mary, my grandmother, in her turn, married Thomas and had six daughters - Mum is the youngest.
Here's Daniel with Jane, Ginny and Mary
and these are two beautiful ones of the fabled Kitty, who the family lost touch with before the second world war
and this is Mary with my grandfather Thomas. I never met Mary or Thomas.
now Daniel, soon after they first married, built a house in Aberdaron, using Scottish granite he had brought down by ship and he named the rather imposing house, right by the bridge in Aberdaron, Bellfield.
The house was sold by my grandparents soon after Shani, Mum's eldest sister, was born and the new owners renamed it Henfaes. Today it's in the ownership of the National Trust as rather luxurious holiday lets. Take a look at one of the flats here.
It was great to revisit last month and to also see the old blacksmith's cottage, Glanarfon where Mary was born before they moved into the new house in 1881, and even the Hen Siop where Jane's mother was born much much earlier and the school Mary went to just outside the village.
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| Mum outside Bellfield (now Henfaes) |
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| Mum outside Hen Siop (tiny cottage one on the right) |
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| Glanarfon, the blacksmith's cottage |
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| The old smithy workshop opposite Glenarfon, over the little river |
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| Mum at the door of Glanarfon - her mother was born here |
We're still researching Captain McNeil's life and times but even a weekend in the Greenock archives last year revealed nothing. And as for the mysterious Kitty . . .
Monday, 11 June 2012
and mine
Not to be outdone - I got some great shots of the resident Post Office heron at Aberdaron the other week - so close on the low roof just above my head
and a massive dead crab on the beach at midnight for good measure
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| and he's definately looking at me !! |
and a massive dead crab on the beach at midnight for good measure
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Vince's birds
Now these photos from Vince are linked to our Mull extravaganza back in May and particularly to our day with Bryan on the Wild about Mull tour and our sea eagle boat trip.
Just to prove we did see all those birds and animules we ticked off the list - here we go!
Please tell me if I've labelled anything wrong!
And if you feel inspired to read about the whole holiday, start by clicking here and click on at the end of each instalment to get to the next day. Brew a cuppa before you start - it's a long read!
Just to prove we did see all those birds and animules we ticked off the list - here we go!
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| Wheatear, female |
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| Gannet landing |
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| Otter |
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| Redshank |
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| Eider duck |
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| Lapwing |
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| and the famous LINNET ! |
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| Oystercatcher |
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| Puffin |
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| Ringed Plover with a muddy beak |
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| Rock Pipit |
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| Short Eared Owl |
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| Tawny Owl |
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Red Deer |
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| Wheatear |
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| Buzzard with snake! |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Sandpiper |
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| Sea Eagle |
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| Sea Eagle |
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| Common Seal |
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| Skylark |
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| Song Thrush |
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| Stonechat, male |
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| Whimbrel |
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| Sea Eagle |
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| Gulls fighting over fish |
And if you feel inspired to read about the whole holiday, start by clicking here and click on at the end of each instalment to get to the next day. Brew a cuppa before you start - it's a long read!
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