not much zip…
…again just now. I’ve been indulging my fantasy of being a wandering artist a little, sadly without the legendary Danny Gregory and Dan Price (who henceforth in this entry with be referred to as The Two Ds).
In comparison with The Two Ds my wanderings seemed far from Kerouacian - though perhaps more in keeping with my two heros did involve an ink pen and small sketchbook. G and I bought matching raincoats, packed a small picnic of non yeast and non sugar items (yum) and drove the forty or so miles to the foot of Cadair Idris, a mountain in Snowdonia that I’ve driven past but never explored. There we sat in the car, carefully poured our coffee out and sat watching the rain fall.
In between showers we did explore a small castle, and wandered around the foot of the mountain a little before stopping off for more hot drinks and non yeast fare in a favourite cafe of mine in the nearby town of Machynlleth. Not the longest artist wandering ever (indeed I was back in bed napping by 4.00) but I did enjoy myself and my pen and sketchbook will be ready for more when I’ve got a bit of my zip back. In fact N and I are talking about a longer adventure, perhaps down to Cornwall - somewhere else I’ve never been.
I must make sure my flask is washed out and ready…
August 26th, 2004 at 10:01 pm
I’m envious of your artist wandering..a small castle, wow. Never been in a castle. You got excellant drawings out of your day. Love that coffee cup! Ah, yes, I remember the yeast free diet offerings..its esp. hard in resteraunts but you seemed to do OK. I found it nearly impossible to stick to that diet. I had to cheat here and there…uh, I probably shouldn’t be telling you that right now. Sorry. How long are you gonna stay on it? Hope you get to do that trip to Cornwall. Thanks for sharing your artist date!
August 27th, 2004 at 4:11 am
Machynlleth. it’s been a while since i’ve been THERE. i’d love to be in cool, green wales right about now. instead, i’m sweltering in hellishly hot and humid houston, texas where it’s in the 90’s –but the humidity makes it FEEL as if it’s 105. my best friend was born in oswestry, right on the welsh border. (she never did succeed in teaching me to pronounce Machynlleth properly.) she lives now in keele, outside of stoke-on-trent. i try to make it over once a year for a visit. she’s managed to show me a fair bit of wales on my various trips. i’ve had some very lovely times there.
August 27th, 2004 at 7:39 am
Pat - I’m aiming at two months. If i don’t see any improvements by then I’ll give up (and eat chocolate).
Roxanne - I am appreciating the rain just now too. Sometimes I do crave warmer climates but generally like mix of weather here. As for Machynchlleth (Ma-Hunk-leth - sort of) I do visit often. On a hot day you can usually count on the weather being just a touch cooler there - and I like the book shop.
September 5th, 2004 at 8:54 pm
Bloomin eck - Machynchlleth is a blast from the past. When I was a nipper we used to spend a week at this place called Cwm R… (not sure of the spelling of the second word but it rhymes with ‘rider’ and means waterfall) every winter - about 6 miles out of Machinchlleth and otherwise very isolated. We had this whole valley with a waterfall at one end to ourselves (well, the sheep and farmer used it too) - magical! Haven’t been for over twenty years though. Ooh - memories! Hope you enjoy Cornwall.