Cowbridge, Aberthin and Stalling Down

Today 25th November dawned bright and sunny. Having seen the forecast my good lady had decided we should go for a walk, and we'd made the decision to do a shortish circular of around 4 miles, starting in Cowbridge, one of the Vale Trail's walks - Number 9 in fact, the Iolo Morganwg Heritage walk. This circular route takes in the historic market town of Cowbridge, its surrounding fields and wooded paths. The places of interest are linked to one of the Vale’s most colourful characters, Iolo Morganwg (1747-1826). He was a romantic poet, political radical and humanitarian, who was the first to propose that Wales should have its own national institutions.

As an aside, these walks are generally very well signposted with regular way markers.

We parked up in the car park in Cowbridge town  centre, and togged up in our boots and warm clothes, despite the sun it was chilly early doors) and set off - in the wrong direction. Once I'd read the map and instructions properly (the map's not great, but the instructions are excellent), we found the right path. Initially this ran by the river Thaw that bisects the pretty town of Cowbridge before setting out into the fields towards the village of Aberthin. 

River Thaw and Cowbridge

After some fairly flat walking through (not too muddy) fields we came up the small village of Aberthin. It's a small and pretty village, with two pubs The  Hare and Hounds and the Farmers Arms facing each other across the road (sadly both shut mid morning, or otherwise might have been tempting for a pint). Despite being less than 10 miles or so from where I live, I'd never ever been to Aberthin, but I might be popping back to try out the pubs/restuarant here.....

Form the centre of Aberthin we left the village and started upon Stalling Down a fairly decent ridge. The going was steady rather than steep, and on the way up we passed a delightful bench in memory of (I think) a John Moores in the design of what looked to me like a WW2 bomber - perhaps a Lancaster. There wasn't any detail about this, but it was an unusual bench.

Bench on Stalling Down

At the top we had glorious views over the Vale of Glamorgan, including a fairly large stables/gallops complex where horses were being given a thorough workout. There's a standing stone here at the top of the down dedicated to Iolo Morganwg and said to be the site of the first meeting of the Gorsedd (a community or meeting of bards) of the Bards of the isle of Britain in Wales

Standing stone on Stalling Down

From here the walk descended gently off the down passing a field with a couple of donkeys - my wife loves a donkey - who doesn't?!) and required the crossing of the busy A48 (via a pathed overpass), before turning up a track to a place known as "The Clump". This was apparently a place where people came to view public hangings back in the day, although there's no evidence of that today.

Cowbridge Donkeys

Here walkers following Trail 9 have a choice. They can either go back to Cowbridge or continue for a further couple of miles, taking in the pretty hamlet of St Hilary, which by chance also has a fantastic pub/restuarant.

However, that was not for us today, and from the Clump, we descended down an old track back into the road into Cowbridge, and thence back to our starting point.

All in all it was a pleasant walk in fabulous November weather, although once we were off Stalling Down, in truth the last section from the Clump down into Cowbridge was a bit boring. Once our gear was dumped, we treated ourselves to a coffee and panini in the local Costa, before indulging in a little Christmas victuals shopping in Cowbridge Waitrose.

This would be a pleasant walk at pretty much any time of the year, with each season bringing something different to see. Next time I might plan the timing a little better to co-incide with pub opening hours!

Cardiff City - Shambles of a club

Mick McCarthy, former Cardiff City Manager
Photo: Wales Online

So, Mick McCarthy's reign as Cardiff City manager is over (thank God). After an initial honeymoon period at the end of last term when he hauled us into the play-off's it's all gone horribly wrong this season. With the fans back at CCS full of optimism (maybe a slight overstatement), we then got rid of our all our wide players so cutting off the supply line for last season's 20 goal hero Kieffer Moore to the point where he's netted just once this season. We've been unable to score (1 goal in the last 8 games I think it is), and all of those last 8 have been defeats, including the 3-0 humiliation against arch rivals Swansea. Playing 4 or 5 centre backs every game and continuing the "lump it forward" dinosaur tactics, with no attempt to do anything but defend (and we've been pretty shit at that) has further frustrated and angered the fanbase. 

McCarthy failed to genuinely engage with the fans at any point, and his downfall has been inevitable given the current run of form. The loss to former manager Neil Warnock's Middlesborough last weekend, along with a man of the match performance from former Bluebird hero Sol Bamba might have been the final straw, although there are plenty of suggestions around that the decision  to dispense with McCarthy's services was a done deal long before that match.

Anyway, it's onwards (saying "and upwards" would be overly optimistic at this point) as City begin a search for a new manager, with former Blades boss Chris Wilder seemingly favourite (but why he, or indeed anyone else would want to come to City at the moment is a question that needs answering - see later in this post). Other names in the frame include  a few of the regular faces as these things come around - Chris Hughton (no thanks),  and Tony Pulis (definitely no thanks) as well as fan favourite Craig Bellamy (extremely unlikely), Frank Lampard (no chance) and even former boss Neil Harris (that's a no from me).

For the moment, U23 manager Steve Morison takes charge (at least for the next 3 games). He's widely applauded for having an U23 side that play attractive football, although that seems to get beaten out of players when they get to the 1st team.  Whether with the players he's got available, 3 games is enough for him to radically change the style of play and fortunes of the club on the field remains to be seen. Once thing's for sure, he's got a tough job on his hands.

As if all this wasn't bad enough, following the 'Boro game it came to light that just before the match (literally 90 minutes before!) City Chairman Mehmet Dalman met with a few selected fan representatives to set out the challenges facing the club at the moment. And it doesn't make for pretty reading.

On the pitch, managerless City sit just one place above the relegation spots, with a threadbare squad, players who seemingly don't want to be here, and a playing style that's archaic at best. Dalman indicated in the fans meeting that there would be no money for transfers not only in the coming January window, but also next summer. Hence my observation about whether Wilder, or indeed any other potential manager would want to come to a club with apparently no prospect of being able to shape and strengthen the playing squad. Moreover, Dalman also inferred that the whole footballing approach and playing style are being directed by owner Vincent Tan, the multi-millionaire Malaysian businessman currently bankrolling City, who once urged a former manager to get the goalkeeper's to shoot more! 

There were also inferences that a number of the current squad will not have their contracts renewed at the end of season, and with up to 10 players out of contract in the summer, that's going to be a massive problem for whoever's the manager at the time especially if there are going to be no funds available.

Additionally, the club continues to face a number of significant legal actions with potentially serious financial implications - the Emiliano Sala, Sam Hamman and Michael Isaacs cases all in progress, with Dalman suggesting that potential monetary losses in those cases (although that's not certain by any means) could amount to £50 million.

Mehmet Dalman, Cardiff City Chairman
Photo: Wales Online

He also made a number of remarks about the stewardship of the owner that many have interpreted as a bit of the old "slopey shoulders" syndrome by the Chaiman, apparently distancing himself from his boss.

There was also talk of potentially re-financing the club, although quite what that means or entails was not forthcoming.

All in all then, Cardiff City are in a pretty grim place. 

Relegation to League 1, and even administration is a real possibility unless City start winning, but quite how any manager coming in can change things around quickly enough given the current squad and lack of funds is a mystery. Add to that an owner who knows little about football, but seems to be driving the way we play from Malaysia, and a bunch of legal cases that could financially cripple the club.

We've also got a group of players who will be out of contract come the summer, with no doubt some of them already looking at the shambles who will be looking to their agents to get them a move to a more normal football club. 

As a side note, the players have to take some responsibility for the on-field results too - McCarthy was the buck stop as manager, but he can't kick the ball. That's down to the players, and almost without exception, they've underperformed this season.

And a secondary side note, on Saturday I felt a great deal of sympathy for the two young players who came on (Isaak Davies and Eli King) who should have been revelling in their 1st XI debuts but were caught up in the toxic atmosphere of anti-McCarthy/general performance boos and jeers during and at the end of the game. Not a way they're going to want to remember their debuts.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Championship must be looking at their fixture list, and marking us down as a banker 3 points.

Grim stuff. Who'd be a football supporter?

Boosted - get the vaccine!

I've just been to the local mass vaccination centre (literally two minutes up the road) to get my Covid-19 booster.

All very seamless, and hard to believe this time last year with vaccinations not even ready, that within 12 months I'd not only have been vaccinated once, but three times. It's been an astonishing success and roll out, and I'm very happy and grateful to have been vaccinated so quickly.

I simply cannot understand the anti-vax mentality, but I suppose it's their choice, albeit a bad one. Vaccines are there to improve health outcomes. Yes, there are risks, but frankly you take more risks crossing the road, or smoking, or drinking to excess or taking unprescribed drugs for kicks.

I'm now about to book my flu vaccine.....

#getvaccinated

Short Break to Sunny Bournemouth

Courtesy of a rather nice and at the time unexpected gift from someone, Anne and I last week had a two night short break to Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Pier from the cliff top

We set off on Wednesday morning, having planned a stop at Kingston Lacy (National Trust) which is close to Bournemouth on the way down. Though I knew roughly the way, I programmed (as I always do for any trip as much for traffic info as anything) the sat nav. All was well until we reached Bath, where for some reason the sat nav decided to not play ball, and started giving some really weird readings (like not being on the road at all!) and moving around all over the place. I held out for about 30 mins before deciding to re-set it, at which point the whole infotainment screen on the car decided it wouldn't load, rending us without sat nav, radio, or indeed anything else on the screen. (As an aside, the car's due to go in for some work and a software update soon and this has happened before, but not to this extent). Anyway, long story short, we reverted to analogue and a good old road atlas!

So we finally made it to Kingston Lacy on what started as an overcast day, but was getting brighter. As with every place we seem to visit lately, there was renovation work going on with fencing and builders vans and scaffolding around the place but nevertheless we spent an enjoyable couple of hours wandering the grounds. Anne went into the house for a look around (I was on the phone to the car dealer telling them I need this work done urgently!). Kingston Lacy is definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Kingston Lacy NT

We arrived at our hotel in Bournemouth, the Durley Dean, in time to dump our bags and go for a wander, down the cliff and onto the (very long and extensive) promenade. We went onto the pier (note it's chargeable - I think it was £1.70 each), before walking back up through the lower gardens into town looking for somewhere to have a drink. In my research planning, I'd seen a place called "All Hail Ale" a micro pub. It's a little out of the town centre, but not by much. It's a cracking little place, with loads of beers and ciders on keg/cask and a decent selection of spirits. We'd planned a quick drink before finding somewhere to eat, but there was a cracking pizza place next door Da Mario, in the top 20 places to eat on Trip Adviser in Bournemouth and you can order and have it brought round to you at All Hail Ale. So we did! And it was a fabulous pizza. 

Suitably replenished after pizza and a few *cough* beers we retreated back to the hotel for a nightcap. As is often likely the case in Bournemouth, our hotel seems to be occupied almost exclusively by older clientele and the odd contractor. Bingo was on offer for those of that persuasion! Not quite Fawlty Towers, but you get the drift! However, that's doing the actual hotel a disservice. It was clean, rooms and bathrooms have obviously been modernised, and it has a small leisure area with a pool, sauna and steam room which we made use of during our stay.

The next day dawned bright and sunny - the forecast had been cloudy. Whilst there are lots of places in the general area that we want to see, we decided to make the most of just being in Bournemouth, and walk along the beach promenade from town to Poole harbour/Sandbanks approximately 3 miles (each way) - at least it's flat!

First though we went for breakfast at the Olive Cafe, about 5 minutes from the hotel. A smallish cafe, it had an extensive menu with food cooked to order, and was first class. Fuelled up, we walked down through the gardens to the prom, and began leisurely walk along the fabulous beach with regular stops for coffee and ice cream to take in the sights including an ongoing groyne replacement programme, the little access cliff gullies or "chines" as I discovered they're called, and the many, many, many, many beach huts lining almost the whole promenade from Boscombe to Poole.

Some posh beach huts

More beach huts

The huge beach, stretching for miles

At Poole harbour, we skirted some of the houses (mansions!) on the beach - looking in an estate agents, there was a lovely 4 bed place for a cool £5.5 million overlooking Poole Harbour. We poked our noses through the windows at Rick Stein's restaurant which seemed to be doing a decent trade at mid-day. You certainly need a few bob to live here. The harbour was full of wading birds - oystercatchers, turnstones and we even saw an egret.

The sunny weather continued (we've been really lucky with glorious weather on recent getaways), and I was glad I'd packed and was wearing my shorts. Not bad for the middle of October! By the time we'd almost  completed our return leg, we'd done about 8 miles, so we were glad of the cliff railway that for the princely sum of £1.75 a head took you up to the top of the cliffs and almost back to our hotel.

After a swim and steam room recovery relax, we were ready to to head out for a meal. We'd pre-booked at Lola's, a Tapas bar in town which again has really good Trip Advisor reviews. We'd seen it during our walk in the morning , although it was shuttered up and on a main road through town, and didn't look very appealing. In the evening though it was a different place. Only a small independent place, capable of holding maybe 20-30 people tops, but really very nice and doing a roaring trade. Great service, fantastic food made for a lovely meal, and other thumbs up recommendation if you're ever in the area.

After our meal, we contemplated heading back to All Hail Ale, but instead went to the Goat and Tricycle (seriously, where do they get these names from?), a Butcombe Brewery pub serving an extensive range of decent beers. Although it serves food (who doesn't these days), it's a proper pub, even down to the old fella playing a piano in the bar! Well worth a visit.

By then, fairly knackered and replete, we went back to the hotel. 

In the morning we were up and away to avoid the inevitable Friday traffic (it's a minimum three and a half hour trip without any hold ups at Bath, Bristol, Newport and the current roadworks and on the M4 at J32/33. In the end, our journey back was pretty uneventful, driving through beautiful countryside - even the sat nav behaved.

All in all we had a wonderful break, and will definitely be back to this fabulous part of the country.

World Arthritis Day

Today is, apparently, World Arthritis Day, although I have to admit, despite suffering from the disease, it had passed me by until I heard someone mention it on the radio.

I suffer from psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis that affects some people with the skin condition psoriasis. It typically causes affected joints (usually fingers and feet in this type of arthritis), to become swollen, stiff and painful. I tend to suffer it mostly in the fingers and thumbs. I've also have osteoarthritis in my knees from years of playing cricket, although a partial knee replacement 3 years ago has worked wonders for that particular issue.

Interestingly when I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis I didn't even know I had psoriasis, but since then, both the arthritis and the psoriasis have become more prevalent. For years I self treated with moistening creams and ant-inflammatories, rejecting disease modifying drugs designed to slow down the degeneration of of joints caused by the disease - specifically methotrexate, an immunosuppressant as it's got a contraindication (side effect) list as long as your arm, and need regular blood tests as it can damage the liver. This means that you're not really supposed to drink (much) alcohol, and certainly have to keep it under check - a bit of a pain for a beer and wine lover like me...

However, a few years ago, I caved in as the pain in my fingers and thumbs, especially over the colder, damp months got unbearable. Since starting on this drug the arthritis is mostly well controlled on a low dose, and although the psoriasis has not disappeared, it has significantly reduced - it's handy having medication that controls psoriasis as well as slowing the joint degeneration. 

(I have to say, although I have far from given up alcohol, I do generally *cough* keep my intake fairly low).

As an aside, because I'm on methotrexate, it also means I'm on the "vulnerable" list as far as the 'rona virus goes, because it's an immunosuppressant. I can't in all honesty say that I fully shielded in the early days of the pandemic, although I was cautious for the first few months, during and immediately post lockdown 1. But I'd been double jabbed by the middle of January anyway.

This summer I had a flare up in one joint on the index finger of my left hand, which became very swollen and very painful. I contacted the rheumatology team, and last week they gave me a steroid injection into the joint, which worked wonders within 24 hours. Trust me, the first two photos here don't do justice to how swollen and painful this joint was. But it's virtually back to normal now. Thank God for the NHS by the way....

L index finger - very sore

L index finger - very sore

Immediately post steroid injection
Not the nicest place to have a needle stuck in!

In many ways I'm lucky that my arthritis is pretty well controlled on my current medication. Whilst I've got some slightly dodgy finger joints, it doesn't otherwise impact my life, and an occasional prophylactic ibuprofen if I know I'm going to be doing something that might cause some joint discomfort usually does the trick. I can play golf, do my gardening and pretty much just about anything else, although occasionally I have trouble opening jar lids, and my grip isn't what it used to be (but that might just be old age)!

Arthritis can be a terrible disease though, severely impacting people's ability to go about their day to day lives as normal, and frequently finds them in great discomfort, or even sometimes unbearable pain. It's often (like mine) not always immediately visible either.

Whilst (as yet), the disease and it's multiple variants cannot be "cured", it can with the right support, and if necessary medication or even surgery, be managed. And that, for most sufferers, is a blessed relief.

There are loads of resources on the interweb to help sufferers and those who care for them. Here are a couple.

Versus Arthritis

NHS Arthritis

Arthritis Action

Football apathy

Let's talk Cardiff City.

Image: Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

Actually, at this moment in time I'd rather not but I'm going to anyway.

The Bluebirds are in a spot of bother. Seemingly unable to score (certainly in the first half, and often not at all), they're now leaking goals faster than a colander under a running tap, and dropping down the Championship table towards that relegation trapdoor. Since beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 on 12th September, they've lost away to Coventry 1-0 in what was regarded as one of their worst performances in a long time (that's not saying much though after what's followed), 1-0 to Bournemouth at home, 5-1 away to Blackburn and 4-0 at home to West Brom. That's 11 goals conceded vs 1 scored.

And it's not just that they're losing, but the whole manner of their play. Long derided by just about every other club as "hoofball" merchants under managers Mick McCarthy and Neil Warnock (and less hoofing, but equally pretty dull football under other recent managers), it's absolutely the case that long ball football is what you get at City at the moment. The last few matches have been hard to watch as a City fan, and believe me, I've seen them play some rubbish over the years. The ball spends so much time in the air, you'd think all they do in training is play keep uppy and head tennis.

After Mick McCarthy's appointment and subsequent honeymoon period when City drove to within an inch of the playoff final, it's all gone a bit crap. Against Bournemouth McCarthy said he'd picked a squad to "frustrate" them (the opponents). What? At home? Surely you should be picking a side to win - or at least try to? Against West Brom on Tuesday, he unbelievably selected 5 (yes five) centre backs in his XI, and yet still managed to concede after only 5 minutes. The outcry from City fans on the announcement of that squad was pretty much universally incredulous.

Said fans have inevitably, and unsurprisingly turned on McCarthy, and although chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning" from the home (and away) supporters during the West Brom game haven't been realised, you've got to think it's coming. City haven't got the most talented players, but surely they're better than this? They kicked off against West Brom and the very first kick of the game was deliberately back to the keeper, who then blasted it high upfield - a tactic repeated every time we kicked off after they scored their 4 goals. By half time, pretty much every time the ball was carted upfield (every time we had possession generally), it was met with a chorus of boos. You can't tell me that this is the way the players want to play. It's down to the manager. It's awful, awful football, and genuine relegation form and style. The fans want him out but whether the club can afford to get rid is another matter, as well as even if they did, who can they get in to change things? There's a growing school of thought that the club needs a root and branch clearout on the field, in the dugout and in the boardroom, but I can't see that happening.

As things stand, we're due to go and watch them tomorrow against Reading. But with an atrocious weather forecast, and recent grim watching, I'm not sure I can bear the effort of going. Half of me says sod it, it's not worth the frustration of another afternoon of torment, and the other half says you support the team through thick and thin. I'll make a call tomorrow, but as I write this it's already swayed 45/55 in favour of staying home in the dry.

And this brings me to another broader point. After almost 18 months of not going down to CCS to watch City due to the 'rona, I'm much more apathetic about the whole support thing. Since the pandemic arrived, or just before, I've retired, taken up golf including playing on Saturdays, which now creates a golf vs football dilemma. My golf isn't always great, but I enjoy it, so torturing myself watching Cardiff City every week or every other week, just hasn't really been on my radar. I might get the vibe back, but going down now, just to see the rubbish they're playing isn't really a way to get me back into and excited as a City fan.

Ineptitude on a national scale - that's the UK for you

Credit: @Coldwar_Steve
https://coldwarsteve.com

Not many people are likely to read this - I only have a couple of followers, but it's cathartic writing this down, and maybe someday, someone will look at it and think, "Blimey, the country was in the shit back then...."

The country (the UK that is) is currently in the midst of a petrol crisis. Not a shortage, though that may still come at some future point, but a problem caused by a lack of HGV drivers to deliver the stuff to petrol stations. It started with BP indicating that they'd had to close 6 of their 1,200 or so stations due to lack of deliveries, not in itself an issue at all, but in true British style, within 24 hours we have a crisis and people are panic buying, queuing for hours to put half a gallon in their car and stations are naturally therefore, running out. A vicious circle, and one not helped by how this stuff is reported in the mainstream media (MSM). Come on, a headline saying BP has to close petrol stations - even if it's maybe 1% of their total is inevitably going to get people panicking.

The one sure fire way to get people to panic, is to say "Don't panic".

This is just the latest in a long line of utter fiasco's to emerge under the current Tory government's term in office. The underlying problem appears to be Brexit (yes, that old chestnut) which caused many European drivers to either voluntarily or, due to the immigration implications go back to their own countries instead of being employed here. Apparently there may be some other issues - lack of infrastructure to support drivers in their job causing many to leave the industry, so it's probably a miss-mash of issues ultimately but Brexit is surely in there near the top.

All in all, this government's legacy is beginning to look more and more like an A-Z of how to bring a country to it's knees, and mostly on the policy strategy of saving money. It's like we've brought the Administrators as happens when a company goes bust.

The list feels endless, but some examples include:

• Brexit (overall but some if the key promises of:
• "reclaiming" £350m a week given the to EU to spend on our NHS (nope that didn't happen)
• Enabling our fishing industry to recover and thrive (nope that didn't happen either)
• Getting back control (nope - if this is control, I'd hate to think what out of control looks like)
• Immigration policy tied to with Brexit (above) and Covid (below) has resulted in massive staffing shortages in the NHS/care homes, hospitality sector, HGV  drivers (and probably many other sectors), let alone the general principle of supporting genuine immigrants fleeing oppressive governments elsewhere - for them those vulnerable people perhaps a right case of out of the frying pan.....
• Shortages of food on shelves in some areas (again placed at the door of lack of HGV drivers)
• It's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic (OK, the pandemic wasn't the Governments's fault, but it's handling most certainly is/was)with
• Unnecessary deaths
• Immeasurable strain on the NHS 
• Disjointed strategies amongst the English, Welsh, UK and NI devolved governments
• Alleged (I use that term loosley) corruption in the awarding and handling of major contracts to supply PPE and other goods/services
• More shortage crises - toilet rolls or flour anyone?
• Failure to adequately support and fund the NHS (although this probably deserves a blog post all of its own)
• An apparent desire to privatise and defund the NHS, perhaps the shining light of the UK and the envy of many (most) other countries, resulting in increased waiting times, frustrated and burnt out staff who increasingly seem to be a target for abuse
• Having to get the army in to drive ambulances
• Chopping Universal Credit and raising National Insurance - together with a general history of hitting the poorest whilst lining the pockets of the richest
• Inability to speak and/or give answers without lying (just Google Boris Johnson lying) or evasion (constantly)
• Climate change response (or lack of it)
• Support for the travel industry

I could go on, but it's too depressing.

And the problem is that despite all the above, and the sense that the country is spiralling towards implosion, there is still a significant number of people who think the Government is doing a good job. 

To be fair, the one area that they have largely succeeded in, is the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, although they appear to be incapable to reaching the (relative minority of anti-vaxers/anti-maskers) who still think that everything that's being done to protect them and the woodier population is either a conspiracy, or an infringement of their human rights or both. They're probably the same people currently queuing at petrol stations.

The end result of all this, is a country that's fast becoming the laughing stock of the world. Our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson (BJ) is being seen as the bumbling oaf that he undoubtedly is, more worried about ruffling his hair before an interview than doing something about the mess him and his party have created and overseen, supported by a cast of minions loyal to him too scared to sway from the party line or speak the truth when asked a simple, straightforward question. And in all honesty, most of them (at least in the cabinet) are probably so rich that they'd never have to queue at a petrol station, or worry about bare shelves, or how they're going to pay the bills. Meanwhile we've got Foreign Secretaries brokering trade deals with Mongolia, whilst trade with our closest and mainly prosperous European cousins is increasingly becoming harder and more bureaucratic because of Brexit. I was talking with a friend yesterday who is a senior manager for a large multi-national construction company who said that materials were costing on average 40% more than pre-Brexit - and that's if you can get them.

BJ's recent trip to the USA to broker improved trade deals hasn't gone well either, with US President Joe Biden hinting that there was a bit "to work through". It suggests that the US particularly sees us as much less of a world player than we once were.

Far from the promises of bringing back control, the Tory government is rapidly stumbling from crisis to crisis, unable to plan, or foresee solutions, making policy on the hoof. They're a disaster from start to finish, but the bigger problem seems to be that both enough people realise this, and an unnerving sense that there might not be anyone else out there that could do any better.

My musing's are borne from frustration as we seem to lurch from one crisis to the next, with poor reporting and clickbait headlines stoking the fires. 

The photo at the top of this post from the brilliant Christopher Spencer (aka Coldwar Steve) who's Twitter account @Coldwar_Steve posts brutal, funny (in a tragic-comedic way) pictures of current key topics and "leading" characters sets out some of the issues at hand far better than I ever could. Go give him a follow.

I'll leave you with this (not mine).

Stunning South Pembrokeshire - a short break

As the regular reader of this blog will know, Pembrokeshire is one of my favourite places, and I've been going there since I was in my early teenage years in 192 (or 73 - I forget) - yes I'm that old.

Usually we stay in and around the St David's peninsula although we had a lovely short break in Pembroke after last year's firebreak lockdown, when everything was still pretty much closed.

A few weeks ago we booked an almost spur of the moment midweek break, staying in an Air BnB in Milford Haven - not because we wanted to go to MH particularly, but because it was a nice base for a couple of walks we wanted to do around Dale and Barafundle.

We arrived on Tuesday evening and found our Air BnB easily enough. It was a bit unusual in that it looked like it was previously a garage or some other outbuilding in a previous life, in the backyard of the hosts house. To be perfectly honest the house and garden looked a bit shabby. Our place though was clean and tidy although missing a few essentials - like somewhere to hang clothes, or a table to eat on (there was a small pull out table with a couple of stools, but it was small!). Nevertheless for £70 a night we weren't complaining too much, we weren't intending to spend a lot of time in the place.

We dumped our stuff and walked down to Milford Haven marina, only a 10 minute walk away as we were virtually on the banks of the Cleddau. On the opposite bank of the Haven the Valero oil terminal at Rhoscrowther loomed ominously, with tankers moored up on its jetties.  A wander around the marina (with it's plentiful restaurants and bars) was nice with plenty of people enjoying a drink in the evening sun, and we took advantage of one of the aforementioned bars for a beer for me and G&T for my good lady. 

Milford Haven Marina

Wednesday dawned bright and sunny - not bad for the middle of September, and we set off for the 20 minute drive to Dale. Our plan was a 7 (or so) mile walk around St Anne's Head. We parked in the car park at Dale (thank goodness for phone paid parking - no more messing around for coins) and walked up towards Dale Point Fort, now a field studies centre, but previously part of several fortifications around the Haven put in place to defend the deepwater harbour from first Napoleon and latterly the Germans in WW2. Staying on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path we passed a tall navigation beacon just before the coming to the gorgeous Watwick Bay. This secluded bay on this sunny day could have almost been in the Caribbean. If it wasn't for the fact it's a bit of a hike to get there, it would be packed with beachgoers. We continued along the path to the West Blockhouse Fort, another fortification now a holiday rental and stopped for a coffee resting against one of three more tall navigation beacons as we looked over to St Anne's Head and light. All the while, tankers and ferries made their way busily in and out of the Haven. 

Watwick Bay

Continuing our walk we passed Mill bay where Henry Tudor landed just a couple of weeks before defeating Richard at Bosworth Field, and then onwards reaching St Anne's Head. Here the current light stands a small distance from one of the previous two lights, now used as a coastguard watch point. Our journey continued around the coast path and headland, before reaching Dale West beach, where we turned inland, back towards Dale where we treated ourself to an ice cream and cold drink. We were quite surprised how busy the place was both on the beach and on the coast path given it was well into September.

Tankers in the Haven, Stack Rock Fort and Dale from Dale West

After driving back to our base, we ate at the impressive Impasto Pizza Bar in the Marina which we'd booked the night before. Recommended if you're in the area and like Italian food. The pizza was first class, the service good and the beers great! In the dark on the walk back from the marina, the Valero Oil terminal was lit up and looked far more impressive in the dark than it's industrial daytime look, especially with the light from the flames from the exhaust chimneys bouncing off the lowish clouds.

Valero oil terminal at Rhoscrowther

The weather kept up as day 2 again dawned bright and sunny. We drove to Stackpole Quay where we parked in the large National Trust Car Park (for free as we're members!). The car park was already pretty busy by the time we arrived at 10am with walkers and beach goers and dog walkers. The NT cafe was open so we grabbed a sausage and bacon roll and coffee which we ate on a bench overlooking the quay watching a paddle boarding lesson taking place. From here it's a short hike up the hill and over to the stunning Barafundle Bay. We saw our paddle boarders on their way around to the bay in the flat calm conditions. We hadn't planned to walk far as we'd done a 7 miler the day before, but we did carry on all the way to Stackpole Head. The walking is easy but the cliffs here are pretty high and sheer, and there are climbing staked hammered in every few yards as evidence that this area is a haven for climbers, so it's best not to venture too close to the edge. As the sun cleared the haze, we could see across the bay to the Pembrokeshire beaches of Swanlake and Manorbier, and Caldey Island, off Tenby. In the far distance, still in the haze, the hills of the Gower and Rhossili Down in particular could be seen. From Stackpole Head, Lundy Island was also clearly visible rising out of the Bristol Channel off the North Devon coast. It's around 30 miles away in a straight line, but looked a lot nearer that that from high on the cliffs.

Barafundle Bay

The cliffs around Stackpole Head are stunning, and looking toward the west another fine beach, Broadhaven South with it's classic landmark Church Rock just off the beach could be seen. On the grassy headland, we saw several distinctive Chough with their bright red beaks and legs as well as Rock Pipits.

 

Cliffs near Barafundle

Wandering back to Barafundle, the beach now pretty busy, we settled down for a couple of hours chilling in the (by now) hot sun. A paddle in the sea cooled us down a little, before a number of people near us got quite excited when a snake (we think a grass snake) was seen slithering across the beach towards some rocks. It was around 2 feet long and moving pretty fast. It wasn't an adder, so I'm guessing a grass snake was the only other realistic option in the UK.  I managed to snap a photo or two and a short video. I think it's the only snake I've ever seen in the UK outside of a zoo.

The snake!

After that excitement, we walked back to the car, via the cafe for an ice cream, and then home. That evening, we again ate in the marina, this time at Martha's Vineyard which we'd pre booked before we came. Primarily a fish restaurant, it's got a quite broad menu. My wife had some huge garlic prawns to start followed by the house specialty bouillabaise whilst I had whitebait followed by a hanging kebab. The food was nice with some minor exceptions - a flatbread I had with my main was a bit like cardboard and the squid in the bouillabaisse was tough. That's being a bit picky though. Otherwise the food was great and the service excellent.

A stroll back to our base, and that was pretty much it for the break. The following morning on checking out we visited the marina for one last time to pop into a couple of the shops - there's a nice shop that sells home made chocolates (Trwffl), before driving home (and getting stuck in an enormous traffic jam at Carmarthen). 

All in all, we had a lovely time. A relaxing (apart from all the walking) break, in brilliant weather in one of the most beautiful parts of the county. 

We'll be back - again....

A little bit of GAS

GAS otherwise known as Gear Acquisition Syndrome. The hunt for ever more camera gear in an attempt to find the perfect solution. I think I've got it - GAS that is, not the perfect solution.

I've always taken lots of photos, usually with whichever camera I had at hand. Until fairly recently (the last 18 months or so, I've never really had a camera that could be described as anything more than basic, or entry level.

However in the recent past - perhaps post retirement as I've tended to get out more and take more photos. If you want to see my efforts, check out my Flickr page.

This year I've upgraded kit in the search for an ever better gear solution. But the problem is that "better" or "perfect" is always subjective, and each time I've done, it something else catches my eye.

As things stand I currently have the following kit.

• A Fuji X-S10 mirrorless (a new camera released only at the end of last year) with a couple of lenses. It's a camera aimed at the enthusiast (more than beginner, but generally not professional photographer). It's not cheap and it is good.
• A Panasonic FZ330 bridge camera (all in one fixed lens). A pretty decent camera costing a few hundred pounds but one that has a small sensor so image quality can suffer easily.
• A Panasonic TZ60 pocket travelzoom. A good few years old now, handy for slipping in a pocket or when travelling - especially abroad where I wouldn't want the bulk of the other two cameras. It's getting long in the tooth now
• My trusty iPhone (XR) which is with me ALL the time, but despite the advances in phone cameras over the years, obviously hasn't got any decent zoom capability

I've just offloaded a Canon DSL and 4 lenses. Not because it wasn't good. The real reason was that having only a couple of months ago bought a huge (weight and size) and expensive telephoto lens I've come to the conclusion I'm not really going to use it that much, and like the Fuji, going out with a bagful of lenses and having to swap lenses for different shots all the time is frankly a pain - that's where the FZ330 wins - it's got one lens running from wide(ish) angle to long telephoto - but as noted the quality can suffer due to its small sensor if light is poor or clumsy operation/choice of settings occurs.

TZ60 and iPhone aside, here's my camera roadmap for the last 18 months. It's painful to read :-)

1. Sold a Canon 100D DSLR with 18-55mm kit lens, 50mm prime lens, 18-270mm zoom lens, 70-300mm zoom lens
2. Bought Panasonic FZ330
3. Bought Canon 77D DSLR, 18-55mm lens
4. Bought Canon 50mm lens
5. Bought Fuji X-S10 DSLR with 18-50 kit lens
6. Bought Fuji 50-230mm zoom
7. Sold Canon 77D and Canon lenses
8. Bought Canon 77D with 18-135mm lens
9. Bought Canon 28mm lens
10. Bought Canon 100-400mm telephoto
11. Sold Canon 77D and Canon lenses

In my defence, the Canon purchases (camera and lenses) were all bought used. When I sold the 77D originally I immediately regretted it - I prefer the ergonomics and menu system to the Fuji, but frankly the Fuji's a better camera (I think anyway). So I bought another one on a whim, when really I should have stopped and thought. It wasn't until I bought the 100-400 lens that I realised carting a load of lenses around for the sort of photography I do is 1) impractical, and 2) bloody heavy!

So now I'm at a crossroads. I love the Fuji, I like the FZ330, but what I REALLY want is an all in one that has better image quality than the FZ330 but the reach of a long telephoto in a one stop shop.

I know what the answer is. A Sony RX10 IV, widely accepted to be the best all in one 1 inch sensor long zoom out there. But it ain't cheap. But I suppose I have just sold all my Canon gear.

Oh, and I want another lens for my Fuji.

Oh, and I want to upgrade my Panasonic TZ60.

Oh, and the new iPhone 13 will be released soon - my XR is 3 years old now....

GAS.

Maybe I should take up knitting.

Margam Country Park

The "Castle"

Today Anne and I pootled off to Margam County Park near Port Talbot for a walk and a mooch. We haven't been there for donkeys years, since the kids were very small.  It's only a 30-40 minute drive down the M4 from Cardiff and we got there at 10am as the park opened. It's no doubt been very busy of late, but with the schools back, and an early arrival there were just a handful of folks and a couple of dog walkers about.

Talking of dogs, at the handily placed loos near the entrance, there's a self service dog wash, which could come in handy if you have a dirty pooch after your walk.

It's £6.60 to park (pay at the entry kiosk) which seems a bit steep until you realise there's no entry fee to the place. We started off with a wander around the Orangery, a place very popular for wedding do's apparently, and as you can see from the photo, it's an impressive building.

Orangery

In the same area, were the ruins of the old abbey, and quite impressive they were too. Certainly gave a feel for how the old abbey, or at least parts of it may have looked.

Abbey ruins

We then walked up towards and past the "castle". This 19th Century Tudor Gothic Mansion was designed by the architect Thomas Hopper for Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot. The house was built in 1830 – 40 at a cost of £50,000 using sandstone from nearby Pyle quarry. Listed Grade I as a mansion of exceptional quality, the Castle has some spectacular features such as the vast staircase hall and octagonal tower. 

Unfortunately it's closed to the public currently, and is covered in scaffold as there's restorative work going on. However, I managed to get a photo (see above) that cropped out most of the scaffold, fences and containers.

Adjacent to the castle is another set of toilets, Charlotte's Pantry, a small snack/coffee take out shop and Margam Adventure where you can hire electric bikes, mountain bikes (there are numerous bike trails around the park), pedaloes etc. However, at £15 for 30 minutes the pedaloes seemed pretty pricey to me - not that we were ever going to hire one!

Our plan was to do one of the four walks, ranging from about a mile and a half to 3 three and a half miles. All have downloadable PDF''s on the website. We chose the Cwm Phillip (green way markers). All the trails were very well marked - see the photo below, so you're unlikely to get lost. However, also note that when the guide says there are some steep parts, they're not joking!

Our path took us on a good path/trail through a quiet (we saw no-one else) valley with a stream running at the bottom. There were birds a-plenty flitting amongst the trees, and the occasional rustling in the undergrowth although we saw no four legged wildlife at this point. After a good while of (mostly) level-is walking the track turned right up a hill. It said it was steep, and it was - not ridiculously so, but you do need to be pretty fit an/or or take your time to climb up to the highest point in the park of 240m. Once up there you have pretty good views out over Port Talbot and it's steelworks towards Swansea Bay and the Gower beyond. It was pretty hazy for us, so the views weren't as good as they might have been.

Cwm Phillip

As the track started to descend we bore right along an old medieval drover's track (that's what the guide said!) but instead of turning back down the valley, we went a further few hundred yards to the "Pulpit" (which is part of another trail). This circular outlook was originally built apparently as a spot for shooting pheasants, and the large rock on it was opened by Prince Charles to commemorate the Prince's Trust in Wales. The views again would be spectacular if it hadn't been such a hazy day. 

The Pulpit

Photo on the Pulpit

From the Pulpit using our binoculars we could see some of the Park's deer herd in the distance on the valley floor, and agreed that we'd walk over towards them when we got to the bottom of the climb. Descending, we passed the entrance to an old monastic mine - not sure what they were mining, now gated and locked and possibly used by caving groups.

As we can round the bluff at the bottom of the hill, we unexpectedly spied deer lurking on the ridge looking at us, much closer than the deer we'd previously seen had been. We had an excellent look through at them  through the bins.

Deer on the ridge

A little further on, we then saw another deer in a field! Beyond her we could see quite a large heard, with a large stag lying down. In an attempt to move closer we crept cautiously towards a slight rise. As I topped the rise I was confronted with another twenty or so deer about 50 yards away! Whilst a few got up, giving us the eye, they weren't overly startled, so we backed slowly away, but it's the closest I've ever been to a herd of deer!

After our deer encounter, we continued down the path and came down to the main area of the park. Along the way the views back up the ridge to the Pulpit were quite fabulous.

The Pulpit from the bottom of the valley

Choosing not to go directly back to the castle, we detoured to a small farm park, adjacent to the Margam Discovery Centre a field studies centre. In the farm park were various poultry, sheep, goats, horses, cows and donkeys. Anne can't resist a donkeys so a of photos was mandatory!

Coming back out of the farm park towards the castle, we stopped by the lake for a quick snack and a 5 minute rest. By the lake we saw an inevitable array of wildfowl, plus a heron and a couple of big fish (I'd say at least a foot long) breaching on the lake.

One of several lakes/ponds on the estate

Then it was the final bit of the return leg to the Castle where we grabbed a coffee and a cake before walking back to the car park for the journey home. Even by the time we left, at around 2pm the place was still incredibly quiet, so if you prefer a bit of peacefulness in your visits, I'd wager it's best to come during term-time. As an aside, it's also well served for picnic benches, benches and toilets around the main buildings.

The Castle and adjacent buildings including Charlotte's

Pantry and the activity hire centre

All in all we had a lovely few hours at the park, and will definitely be coming back again. 

Recommended. 

Just an ordinary day

It’s barely after 9am on a very warm day in South Wales. The Met office yesterday issued for the very first time a severe heat warning covering much of the UK including this neck of the woods. Frankly, they’re a bit late - it’s been rostio here for a few days, knocking 30°.

Why is it that us British bemoan the cold and wet of our climate, only to moan like buggery as soon as it gets a bit Mediterranean like?

Anyway, no golf today (normally play on a Tuesday). Nevertheless, up with the lark, or at least when my wife got up to go to work at 7am. Breakfast on the patio (porridge - on a day like this 😂). Then watered the garden, fed the cat (again), emptied the dishwasher, changed a couple of plug sockets (been decorating you see), and brought the green waste bags in from the road. The other 5 recycling bags/bins won’t be emptied until about  2pm. Also sent a couple of emails in my role as cricket club Secretary. Just caught up on my social media feeds as well, although why I bother I don’t know. It’s either covidiots or sensible (ish) people retweeting or moaning about covidiots. 

Oh, and I’ve had a grump about next doors dogs, which bark incessantly driving me nutty. 

Just an ordinary day, and it’s only 9.20am. 

Covid update - my take

Blimey - missing in action again. I haven't posted since April.

Well let's ignore all the other crap going on (Brexit I'm looking at you), and concentrate on the Covid pandemic.

Last night, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson (yes, the clown really is still PM) announced that pretty much all restrictions will be lifted on 19 July, which many are referring to as "Freedom Day". Of course, this only applies to England. The Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford, was at pains to point this out, and say that he'd be looking at an announcement at the end of next week based on the latest scientific data. Read into that what you will.

It seems that people are now broadly divided into two groups. Those who think that we're fast heading towards (or are already in) a 3rd wave as cases are rising, rapidly in some areas, and that lifting restrictions is lunacy, and those who say that we just have to learn to live with Covid come what may (we do), and that although cases are rising, deaths and hospitalisations aren't, because of the massively successful vaccine rollout. There are of course the usual bunch of "others" - continuing Covid deniers and anti-vaxxers, but sadly and inevitably there will always be idiots.

Personally, I fall into the let's just get on with it  group. Yes it's a thing. No it's not going away. But deaths and hospitalisations are down. Continuing to base any decisions about management on cases rather than the latter seems illogical. We need to be cautious, but not to the point of being so risk averse we wrap ourselves in cotton wool when there's no need to do so. Continue wearing masks in crowded places and for example on public transport. Get everyone jabbed (or as many as will have it - and we're doing very well on this).

I frequently see people saying "it's not the same as flu", you can't treat/.manage it the same way. No it's not the same, but we've had years of vaccinating vulnerable people against flu - we're only just starting down this path with Covid. But the vaccine efficacy is also much higher for Covid. In the autumn we'll probably be into booster jabs for Covid, and the data already shows that vaccination is working. Lets run with it, and get ourselves back to as near normal as possible. Please.