3rd September photo - Fairy falls in full flow!

Today T & I went back into Wales for a days geocaching. We walked around Llanwrrst & Trefriw which are close to the lovely Betwys Y Coed. It was a very good time to go because of all the rain we have had over the last week made the rivers very full and quite a few of the caches we visited had waterfalls so they were spectacular! It did also turn a few footpaths into streams as well - but they were worth navigating just for the sights & sound of the falls.

My favourite one today was Trefriw Trail 4 (GC162az) - here we found some falls called the Fairy Falls which were loud, full and very powerful.

Today's photo is me at the falls.

The noise the tumbling water made was phenomenal! Apparently in the summer months these falls are just a trickle !! which goes to show what a wet summer we have had this year.

We had 2 for the price of 1 at this waterfall.

No waterfalls here - but the scene was so lovely - it reminded of a Canadian landscape.

2nd September photo - my new headphones

I am really into my music at the moment and have created lots of different playlists to listen to depending on my mood. I have just treated myself to some new headphones to make my music experience even better.

These are my new Image S4 headphones from Klipsch. They are in-ear, noise isolating headphones and were quite expensive - but wow the sound is amazing - so well worth the cost.

I have lost track of the number of Sennheiser headphones we have bought as a family - between mum, dad & 4 music mad kids we have got through loads - but despite them meaning to be the best I get so frustrated with them, as invariably one side fails - usually within months but sometimes within weeks! Recently I have been listening to my music, with sound just coming through my left ear only and thought enough is enough. When I found these headphones I thought they may be worth the expense as I have a fab Klipsch speaker for my MP 3 player which just fills the room with music - so I knew they were serious about excellent sound reproduction but when I saw that they offer a 2 year guarantee with the phones - I thought what have I got to loose.- if one side fails like the others - it will simply be replaced. I love the little silver tin they come with, which should protect them when they are not stuck in my ears - which they have been for the last 48 hours!

I have never had sound isolating headphones before - but they really work and are a god send in my noisy household. Now I can sit at my laptop and not hear any noise from the telly - with silly football or USA teen channels - crikey how rubbish are they!! - but the kids love watching them.

I have never had in ear phones either but I have got used to them quite quickly and can even listen lying in bed comfortably now.

1st September photo - apple & blackberry pie

I did make the apple & blackberry pie with the fruit we picked yesterday. We have had it for tea tonight and it is delicious - even Liam ate a huge bowlful and he is not usually keen on puddings like this. The trouble is I have taken 2 photos of it and I don't know which one to choose.

This first one - a slice of pie covered in yummy custard ready to eat....

or this one which shows the lovely crusty top of the pie itself...

perhaps I need another slice to help me decide!

30th August photo - Tal Y Llyn steam train

Today we had some strenuous mountain walks planned, but the bank holiday weather beat us. As we neared our destination we could not even see the base of the mountain as the clouds were so low and the rain was pouring down - so not ideal mountain walking weather - so we had to turn to plan B - the Tal Y Llyn steam railway.

This actually turned out to be a fun day out as I love steam trains. This railway has been in existence since 1865 and is maintained by a large band of volunteers. The line runs from Abergonollwen to Towyn and back again. We spent time exploring Towyn - but did not find it a place that we will hurry back to.

We chose the third class carriages - i.e. no windows thinking we would be able to enjoy the views more - which was fine going out - but coming back we realised that windows are quite useful in protecting passengers from the elements!

Travelling 3rd class style!
A traffic jam on the line - we had to wait a while for this other steam train to pass us by.

This photo is my POTD as I love to see the steam rushing back over over the carriages. The smell is so nostalgic to me as my Grandad used to be a steam train driver and lived close to the line and as children we would go and stand on the bridge and enjoy the trains rushing by underneath us and engulfing us in the steam.

If we had paid £2 more we could have travelled in first class style!!

29th August photo - A wheel on the top of a mountain!

Today's photo is this old abandoned wheel we found on the top of a mountain near to Dinas Mawddwy in Wales. We were led here following a geocache, which took us through another Slate mine - disused again - but still very interesting.

We think the wheel must have been part of some winching mechanism on top of the mountain for use at the slate mine lower down. Anyway it was a very random structure to find on the top of such a desolate hill top!
It was a long steep climb to the top but the views were outstanding at the top, which made the long hike so worthwhile.

The area around the slate mine was fascinating - we were very adventurous and had fun exploring. There were great big chasms where the slate had been blasted away - with waterfalls and caves - we just admired the caves but did not go in them - we were not that brave!

The slate that was still in situ was very different to the piles of grey slate you see lying about once mined - it has facets of many different colours running through it.

31st August - blackberry picking

Today Steven & I went blackberry picking along the coastal path between Aberystwyth & Clarach Bay and got a bowl full of lush fruit. Today's photo is of the blackberries before we picked them and I hope that tomorrow's photo will be the pie I am going to make with them!

Steven happily finding the fruit - he had to do most of the work as I had just been stung by a wasp - so was not a very happy bunny!

28th August photo - The Welsh Flag

We seem to be spending so much time in Wales at the moment that I thought a Welsh flag might be fitting as a photo of the day.

This flag is flying proudly outside the University of Aberystwyth.