Things Are a Bit Weird

Technology!

Love it or hate it! 

Its great when its working but when its not, flip! its a nightmare!

My laptop recently gave up the will to live but thankfully I have an extremely capable husband who has fixed it. However, in trying to get to my blog I got caught up in google accounts confusion and even had to create a NEW blog just to find this one... give me strength!

It only seems like yesterday that I was pounding a typewriter and I thought I had "made it" when my boss bought me a semi electronic typewriter.

How technology has evolved in such a short time, its amazing.

Next month it will be 24 years since my big brother Peter died. He was a technical whizz but I wonder what he would make of our world today because in those 24 years we have become dependant on computers and electronics.

The jury in my head is still out with regard to social media. I got into it when I became ill in 2009, I wasn't physically able to whizz around at a million miles an hour and so I had time to become familiar with computers and facebook.

I enjoy being able to connect and communicate with friends from all over the country and world and follow my favourite band but on the flip side, I dislike the intrusion, the voyeuristic way people can watch you, the fact that people communicate but do so ineffectively..... I don't like it.

Karma - Let It Go!

I have some stuff going on in my life right now which is causing me distress. It's not major stuff so don't worry. I am healthy (as far as I know) and I am alive and happy. The part of my life is one which should be relaxing and peaceful but sadly by the action of others it is not.

I have been building up resentment in my heart and that in turn has upset me and stressed me out because I don't want to feel negative emotions, they are detrimental to ones harmony and well being.

Then, today, on facebook - this message was posted by Emma Sims Holistic Therapies - I read it and I took note.

This is so right so today I will meditate for peace in my soul and the release of my negative feelings. After all, I am not responsible for the action of others - their actions, their karma - their lesson.

Namaste.

Love Hope Strength

Steaking!

Hmmmm.... streaking..... for me it conjures up images of people running naked!!!!

But no, its not!

Streaking is about running.

I have been off my running during the summer because I tend to get very hot when I exercise and if I over heat I become very ill. This has become worse ever since my cancer treatments so I really do have to be careful.

There has been a heatwave this year and its rendered me completely useless. I have been unable to run, walk the dogs, ride my horse or literally do anything. 

I was feeling pretty low about my running, especially as I am taking part in Erddigs 5K race in September which I am doing to raise a bit of money for North Clwyd Animal Rescue. Then in Septembers issue of Running for Women there was something in it about streaking. Of course it grabbed my attention for obvious reasons but I am glad I did because it has revolutionised my running!

I have set myself my own personal goal of running every day for a week for one mile each run. I am currently on day 5 and still trying to get my head around the liberating feeling this has given me. I am not running for long enough to over heat, I can run at any time of the day and am not restricted to early morning and its short enough to fit it in at any time.

I am hoping to fulfil my target of a week - 7 days and 7 miles and then perhaps another week.

It has rekindled and revived my love of running and is definitely something I will do during summer months when I can't cope with the heat.


( photo courtesy of google chrome)

Eco Camping - St Davids

Many years ago when we were first married, we camped our way around Wales. I fell in love with the peaceful serenity of St. Davids. Indeed, I prayed on a Holy relic and my prayers were answered.....

We decided to return there as a family. What struck me was how busy it was but it was a beautiful sunny day and I still felt charmed by the place as before.

The boys on their way into the Cathedral

The entrance 

View from the entrance into the catheral

A cute little alley within the Cathedral grounds

Beautiful trees there

By the ford waiting to buy ice cream

Jason and his ice cream

Inside the ruins of the Bishops Palace

Bishops Palace

Bishops Palace

If you look at the dents in the grass, they are where bodies are buried #justsaying

It was a lovely visit only spoilt by a foreign person peeing in the car park and not making the slightest effort to hide what he was up to - disgusting!

Eco Camping in Boncath!

I really didn't want to go on holiday... the thought filled me with dread. The fact that I would have to leave my beloved animals AND go camping with two autistic teenagers made it an abhorrent thought.

I managed to sort out animal care for a few days and him indoors selected some camp sites in South Wales. The booking was left until last minute and as there was no reply from the two selected so HI decided to do an online booking with a camp site called "Top of the Woods Eco"..... What was I letting myself in for?

Eco camping.... this was a novel idea but sounded just right for us.

Arrived on Sunday evening with another two parties just setting up as well. The field was really a meadow and was HUGE, surrounded by woodland and trees (my favourite things) and a natural haven for wildlife large or small.

I was intrigued by the idea of solar showers but it soon became evident that they were bags of water which were left to heat by the sun.....

The Shower Tents

The Solar Showers heating in the sun. Behind you can see our tent and the owners tent which is available to hire

Catching rainwater!

The owners had very kindly put 4 solar shower bags out to heat up in the sun for us ready for our arrival which I thought was incredibly thoughtful.

The tent didn't take too long to set up, it was a first time for this one because it was purchased last winter in a sale. I am so glad I bought it, an Outwell Nevada M - lots of space, cosy and really easy to assemble.

Our luxury bedrooms!

HI decided to ditch the blow up camp beds and opted for rigid beds which proved to be much better in my opinion. The only downer for me was that having asked HI to purchase a new sleeping bag for me, he did so, getting my a very pretty pink one which was "short"..... hmmmm short....... short for a kid maybe?????????

No1 son weighed up the problem in hand and suggested that I placed the top on the bottom and have the bottom on the top so that at least the head rest part would cover a bit of my body. Good plan but not good enough - thank goodness HI had packed a woollen blanket!

HI - Him Indoors

One of our Oil Lamps with improvised holder

The Meadow Land

It was quite late by the time everything was sorted and we hadn't brought food with us so we went in search of sustenance. The local pub didn't serve food on a Sunday which I thought was a bit odd so we followed directions into Cardigan and had a take out meal of kebab and pizzas for the boys.

Bed at last but peace was slow to come. 

Tired and restless with pent up energy after a long car journey and search for food, the boys had a little tussle and bicker before going to sleep and giving us some well deserved peace.

I was flippin frozen that night I can tell you but I survived! 

The peace and quietness, the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of the camp site more than made up for bickering teens and cold nights in mini sleeping bags.

I will tell you about the rest of our adventures in my next post if you are interested?