roemin around

the shell hunter It was a cracking morning so before starting for home we took the van down to the Pembrey Sands country park. We parked behind the dunes  and had a bracing walk along the sands collecting a few shells along the way. The tide was right out, so no paddling this time. Just the odd dog walker on the huge beach  and Santa's grotto open for the kids in the park. Lovely winters drive home along the 'heads of the valley' road pausing in Abergaveny for a sandwich and arriving home at about 6:30.

Today we have been on a journey, a shopping journey (in an X factor sort of way). In the morning Alan drove us to Carmarthen where we did most of its shops, some of them three times. Then M48 to Llanelli to do a few more! The journey finally ended at 6:00 after finding presents for Jean and Adam. We stopped off at Josh's to see baby Markus and Rosemary prepared a multinational meal for us back at Jeans of Pizza, Chinese spring rolls, Mexican fajitas, French fries and salad.

the car park at Pembrey country park It was actually dry over night at Cardiff but turned into a very wet day for the drive to Pembrey. We stopped at the Outlet Centre near Bridgend for some Xmas shopping before dropping Rosemary in Trimsarin at Jeans scout group party. I checked in at CC site before going to see Alan. There were only three other vans on site. Another inch of water in the footwell - Houston we have a problem.

We are on our way to see Jean, Alan and Adam and have stopped at Tredagar Park near Newport to break the journey. Arrived after the park gates had been locked at dusk (actually about half an early by my calculations), so a walk in the rain to get the key from the wardens office was required. It poured with rain for hours and there was about an inch of water in my drivers footwell.

Sunny morning on pitch at Chatsworth CC site Another bright but chilly morning after yesterday evenings rain and its time to go home. We visited the Chatsworth farm shop again (so that's Christmas goodies nearly sorted) and wandered round the garden centre that we passed on the edge of the estate. Picked up a few reduced pansies, herbs and daffodil bulbs and had a coffee and mince pie (2 already and not even December!) in the garden centre cafe. It was a pleasant drive back down the A6 with the sunshine on the autumn foliage. We stopped at Matlock Bath to have a look at the historic Richard Arkwright mill, now a museaum and shopping complex. A bit more of Christmas sorted before arriving home around 5:00 pm.

some of the stalls at Xmas market No snow, but it rained heavily for most of the night and then cleared to a brilliant sunny day just in time for us to go to the Christmas market. There was a good selection of interesting stalls with many of the foodie ones offering samples and lots of visitors bussed in to take advantage. The house main was decorated in a Chronicles of Narnia theme with the main features reserved for the  Witch and Lion. It was very well done but too crowded for comfortable viewing. The hog roast in the stable yard was half price by the time we left so we grabbed two to eat in the van. We stayed overnight on the Chatsworth CC site, arriving just before the rain set-in for the night again. Found our pitch was occupied by 3 pheasants but they did not stay for dinner ;-). 

the main street at dusk This was just a short winter break in the Peak district to visit the annual Christmas market and decorations at Chatsworth House. First night was at nearby Castleton caravan club site. We stopped en route at Chatsworth farm shop for the ingredients for a mixed grill, then walked in to the village just after sunset to see the Christmas lights on the main street. There was not a lot to see without going to the caverns but the main street was quite pretty. We had a mulled wine, Caribbean coffee and mince pie before walking back for dinner. By now the ground was glistening with frost and snow was forecast overnight.