Monday, 22 November 2010

Outlook changeable

So, a bit of an update since my last post.

We spent the October half term in mid Wales staying at the welcoming and rather eccentric Neuadd Arms at Llanwrtyd Wells and at Fforest near Cardigan.  The weather started bright, cold and crisp (the coldest October day for seven years) and we enjoyed the year's first migrant thrushes (redwings) and soaring red kites as we took a walk in the countryside around Llanwrtyd Wells before enjoying beer from the hotel's own micro brewery.

Red kite sculpture at Llantwrtyd Wells
After skittering through icy puddles on mountainbikes at Coed Trallwm we moved to our "glamp site" at Fforest, our drive taking us through spectacular and desolate countryside around the Abergwesyn Pass. Here we paid our money and enjoyed great hospitality, luxurious tented accomodation; egg, toast and muesli for breakfast, Halloween fun and games and deteriorating weather.

Outside our luxurious dome at Fforest

Inside our luxurious dome at Fforest
Free however, was a paddle through the beautiful Teifi gorge to the sea and watching displaying peregrines, sparrowhawks, Canada geese and flocking starlings at the Welsh Wildlife Centre at Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve.  We'll come back to this part of the world.

Me at Poppit sands after my paddle to the sea
Since then work for the RSPB and with a local youth project has kept me busy away from my main employment with Leeds City College.  A highlight was Global Entrepreneurship Week when my friend, Brant Richards of Shedfire and Ragley Bikes visited to coach students with their Education Challenge projects.

Global Entrepreneurship Week
Some wet and muddy mountainbiking, kayak coaching for my canoe club, practice with Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and making sloe gin has put a spare time smile on my face as we head into winter.

Muddy trails at dusk on my local mountain bike circuit

Sloe gin in preparation for the new year
The biggest grin must go to the prospect of another addition to the Nutton family, however. Very exciting.

12 week scan of our baby

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