A GRAND DAUGHTER - WELCOME AMELIA

No12 - WALES to HORNCASTLE

Our stay in Wales was marked by quite a lot of wind and rain. Normally, Wales does receive a lot of rain however even the locals are over the rain at the moment.

Even with the wild winter weather, the scenery in Wales was amazing.

Just a short drive from our accommodation on Tynllwyn Farm was the Vymwy Dam.

In this part of Wales there is a lot of stone hence it was commonly used in construction. This dam wall is made from stone (with no steel reinforcing). 

And one of the many stone road or rail bridges.......

And the many stone fences.

On Monday we drove to southern Wales to visit another relative. The scenery on the way was breath taking. Below the rolling green hills in the foreground and the snow covered Brecon Beacon Mountains in the background.

 Thelma (left) is related to Bryan. Her grandfather came from Scotland near Inverness. Some of his uncles and aunties emigrated to Australia in the 1850s.
The others in the photos are some of Thelma's family who dropped in to meet a couple of Aussie relatives. We really enjoyed a very warm Welsh hospitality.

Back at Tynllwyn Farm the rain and wind continued.

The next morning the sun struggling into the sky behind the leafless trees at the farm.

On Tuesday we drove to northern Wales to visit some of Nancy's relatives - Kathryn (and husband John). Kathryn's father and Nancy's father were cousins. Again we enjoyed a great day with them.

Kathryn and John with their son, who is also John.

This is the farm stay accommodation we stayed in at the Tynllwyn Farm.

Thursday we drove from Wales to Horncastle in Lincolnshire. On the way Nancy was keen to visit the Burleigh factory at Stoke On Trent. There she was given a private tour of the factor, it is one of the few china factories that still do everything on site, even the clay is sourced locally.

Below are some of the items in the Burleigh Museum.

The Battle of Britain plate quoting Churchhill's words, 'Never have so many, owed so much, to so few'.

Below is the mold for 'The Jug with the Budgie'. The mold is underneath with the finished product sitting on top. Notice the size difference - through the manufacturing process the size shrinks around 10%.

Burleigh have kept every mold they have ever used. We were shown their mold store - amazing!

In the years gone by the china and pottery was fired in a coal fired kiln. One of the jobs in this process was done by a 'Saggers Maker's Bottom Knocker'. How would you like a job title like that?

Once in Horncastle it did not take Nancy long to find an antique shop (or junk shops as most locals called them).

This morning we had coffee with Jan and Stuart who lived in Beerwah some years ago. We will catch up with them again on Sunday. On Monday we drive to Heathrow Airport to catch our flight home. Until then, take care. Bryan and Nancy