Catch Up

Heavens where did the last 2 months go! Anyone would think I haven't been anywhere worth blogging!

I certainly have, but by golly it's been busy!

So lots to tell, but generally I think I am going to let the photos speak for themselves.

First was an amazing trip to somewhere I had never been before. Blenheim Palace. Accompanied by a good family friend and master of international espionage, known only as "the manager with a small m".

Being a regular visitor to Blenheim, the manager knew the perfect place to get that amazing first view of the glory that is Blenheim. We approached the gates and then led me with my eyes closed so stand in exactly the right spot. When I opened them, this is what I saw:

Pretty darn fabulous is all I can say.

So we wandered and explored and had a completely wonderful day.

So much to see that I actually went back the next day to explore some more. Their current offer is that if you buy a full day ticket to explore house and grounds, they will, at no extra cost extend it to an annual pass. Such a great deal.

I made the decision not to go inside this trip, there was so much to see outside and the day was gorgeous, so save that for next time.

It truly is an awe inspiring sight and there are miles of grounds to saunter through.

This was the lake on the edge of the grounds after a beautiful woodland walk. It is so easy to get swept up in the idea of a magnificent stately home and completely miss the incredibly beautiful grounds that surround it. Because that is what most people do, I barely met a soul away from the tourist hub that is the Palace tea room!

But a highlight not to miss is the butterfly house. Located in the Pleasure Gardens, a short train ride away from the Palace (I kid you not!).

It took about 20 minutes once inside the butterfly house for my lens to stop steaming up! I don't miss my old bespectacled days before I had laser surgery for that and many other reasons! I clearly remember walking into a warm shop on a cold winters day and being unable to see anything for at least 5 minutes!

Anyway, I digress. Butterflies. Hundreds of them, flying around, it is a beautiful experience, especially when they land on you. That is a special moment.

So much to see at Blenheim and ok it will be full of tourists (I am not a tourist, I am a visiting serious photographer, there is a difference), but if you leave the house and just do the grounds it will be so worth it.

I am going to try to catch up with the blog, but currently exploring other projects. I have just opened up my own Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Maisiebethcrafts 

The idea is to create and then sell some of my creations, in order to keep me out of trouble in the cold and wet winter months when I can't get out! Some treasures on the site already, do go check it out. Go on, you know you want to ;-)

Lessons Learned: When a butterfly lands on your rear end, don't get so excited that you hand your camera to a strange man and ask him to take a photo of your bum! It doesn't tend to go down well!

Diet diary: I knew there was an underlying reason I hadn't blogged recently!

Living dangerously

Having spent most of their lives warning my girls never to arrange to meet anyone they met on the internet, I arranged to do just that!

To be fair to Felix (names changed to protect the innocent!) we had been conversing about photography for a couple of years on and off and he is a devoted follower of the piece of nonsense I call my blog (So Hello Felix if you are reading this :-) )

I have admired his photography for the longest time and so it was wonderful to be able to meet up and see him in action and get some advice and inspiration.

He persuaded me to be daring and go somewhere new. I have never explored the Wirral area before and he knew the perfect spot to get me started.

The planned destination was Hilbre Island. This is off the coast at West Kirby and do check out this link for more information: 
Hilbre Island

It actually comprises a series of islands cut off by tides for 5 out of every 12 hours, but at low tide, you can walk across the 2 miles of sands to explore it fully. From the islands you have views towards Snowdonia on one side and Liverpool on another and when the sun eventually came out, Liverpool shone!

We arranged to meet about an hour after the tide turned meaning that we would be following the tide on its way out, leaving clear sand to walk on. 

However, we both arrived extremely early, decided to walk anyway and ended up paddling most of the way and spending the remainder of the trip with wet feet! Just too impatient to get going!

The islands are amazing. The rock formations are just incredibly beautiful. Being underwater for most of the time has done fabulous things to them, adding so much texture.

This is the old lifeboat station and I just loved the layered rocks that it stood on. Felix and I agree to disagree on this, but I really like the turbines out to sea and the juxtaposition of the old derelict building with the shiny elegant windmills.

This is taken from inside the building and what a fabulous view to have out of your door!

Now I think I have to admit to being a bit set in my ways. I wanted to learn how to take the type of fabulous landscape that Felix does, but still found myself looking at detail and texture and close-ups. So here is the obligatory rusty lock pic!

Being exposed to the sea and wind all the time has done fabulous things to the rocks, but the structures have suffered a little, and the little occasional coffee shop/information hut is being treated to some tlc.

Being a sunny Sunday afternoon, it got quite busy and it was actually lovely to see so many people enjoying the scenery and the sunshine. OK, you know I don't mean that. I prefer it when it is cold, stormy and completely deserted, but I am not sure whether I would be able to persuade Felix to venture out during a hurricane in February!

But people can add interest in photographs, she admits reluctantly.

But give me a dog standing guard every time!

However, my favourite find of the day, tucked away at the furthest end of the Island, is the ladder.

Looking more like an ancient totem pole, this is the most amazing thing on the Island. It is set into the rock face and the sea and the elements have taken a metal ladder and turned it into the most beautiful and extraordinary work of art. The patterns of the surrounding rocks and the spread of the rust as it searches for new conquests to engulf and beautify. The tear drops falling from the eyes of the beings forever trapped within the metal. I could go on...

This is how it is set into the rocks, looking out over the sea.

So another fabulous day. A fascinating location and wonderful and interesting company. Thank you Felix :-)

Lessons Learned: You know the old saying "Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet", well I have a new friend, so take a chance and meet new exciting people. But always let people know where you are, carry a whistle (thanks Hugh) and keep your gps turned on!

Another version of that saying, that I have just made up, is "New places are the favourites you just haven't been to yet". I now have a new favourite.

Diet Diary: Forgot to take lunch with me, so food on the way home was 2 chocolate bars and half a bag of crisps. So no, the diet is not going well!

However, the way is now clear to get out to do a lot more walking, so here's hoping!

Stern talking to

Right. Come on Sharon. Bum in gear. Let's stop faffing around making excuses and get out there!

Oh, but everywhere is crowded. It's too hot. It's raining. I have housework to do. OK that last one never happened, but you get the gist.

It was when I found myself digging out the comfy jogging bottoms and cardis that I realised that something had to be done. And soon.

So first opportunity after the holidays, out I went. Ease myself in gradually I think, so back to Criccieth.

Going back for the first time in ages was like reconnecting with an old friend. Since my last visit I had joined Cadw, the Welsh Heritage Association, so decided to visit the Castle.

As you know I have been to Criccieth about 427 times, and so the challenge as always is to find a fresh approach. 

So this is the view from the top, looking down onto the town and all the beautifully coloured houses. The sun was hovering, the clouds made an interesting sky and the rain kept off. But by heavens it was blowy at the top.

This is the view on the other side of the Castle, looking down onto the jetty with a couple of people precariously close to the end and the waves, admiring the view one assumes! Lovely to see the water that colour.

Regular readers will know that my hair has been a variety of colours over the last couple of years and is currently shades of purple. (went a bit overboard with Plum and it completely covered Flamingo!) I love it and what I hope it says about me, but at the top of the Castle, it was so windy and my hair kept going in my eyes. So I decided to put on my hat and it was awful. It was almost like wearing a mask, covering up an important part of what I am. It was the strangest feeling, almost an anonymity, so the hat came off! I have never been one to seek the limelight, but I like the feeling of being a bit different that the unicorn hair gives me!

Not sure what I am going to do when it gets really cold! Do they make see through hats?! I'll Google it.

I love this view from the Castle, through the arrow slits (apparently that is the official name because Google said so, although it doesn't sound grand enough). You can imagine that that is exactly the same view the archers would have had when the Castle was built. Keeping away those marauding English, nothing but trouble them!

After the Castle, I followed the railway tracks for a while. Not taken up train spotting yet, but I hadn't done it before, so I thought I would see what I found. And I found this by the crossing.

These gorgeous little pyramid stones with a sprig desperately trying to grow through the rubble. I am sure there is a metaphor for life there somewhere!

This is probably another metaphor, something along the lines that everything will end up in rust and decay anyway, so make the most of everything before that happens! But I do love a bit of rust!

So exploration started, new adventure beginning, cobwebs blown away and comfy trousers relegated to the back of the wardrobe!

Lessons Learned: Life is full of adventure and exploration. You never know what or who is around the corner, so take off the comfy clothes, grab your boots and discover what you are capable of! You won't be disappointed.

Diet Diary: You had to spoil an uplifting moment and ask didn't you! Well, don't. Not yet. We'll get there. Eventually. Still going with voluptuous, and after the selfies, quite frankly, ravishing!

Snowdonia Safari and being a bit brazen

I have recently found myself a bit reluctant to go to new places. I think my really sad discovery last year affected me more than I had allowed myself to admit.

So I thought the best way to get over this was to go to new places, but with someone else! I had come across Snowdonia Safaris on Facebook and they promised a tour around the undiscovered parts of Snowdonia.

So a day was booked with the delightful Bernard as my tour guide who promised to take me to places I had never been before!

First place was the Celtic Burial Ground at Capel Garmon. You have to go across fields and through gates to get to it and if you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't know it was there, if you see what I mean! Apparently it was only discovered quite recently, as it was underneath a hill. It was something to do with the military doing reconnaissance overhead and noticing something unusual.

Good start to the day.

Next onto Beaver Pool, Betws-y-coed. Scene of the demise of the last wild beaver in Wales. Wild? He was furious! ...Sorry.

Onto Cwmpennaman, a 15th C settlement completely in the middle of nowhere. No chance of ever finding that one again!

After a couple more stops, we headed to my favourite place of the day. Cwmorthin Quarry. I do love a bit of derelict industrial and this did not disappoint!

Bernard was an absolute fount of knowledge and really interesting. I had explained that I wanted to take plenty of photos and so there might be a lot of hanging around for him, but that didn't seem to be a problem. One of the major reasons I usually go out on photo trips solo, I hate making people wait while I faff and so I often tend to not bother with a shot if I know it is going to take time to set up.

Point me towards a ruined building, and I am a happy bunny! The more in decline, the better!

Lunch at the Ffestiniog Railway, Tan-y-Bwlch.

Then the final call of the day to the 11thC Eglwys Llanrychwyn, the oldest surviving church in Wales, complete with original beams.

Again, about 5 miles the other side of the Back of Beyond! It is an amazingly tranquil and spiritual place and does make you wonder how many of today's buildings will still be standing in a thousand years!

So a fabulous day was had and I think it got me over my nervousness of new places. I can't recommend Snowdonia Safaris highly enough! Bernard takes up to 4 people for either a half or full day and he makes the trip interesting and fun. Good times!

I do have something else to share with you, but those of a sensitive or prudish disposition should probably stop reading now!

I have recently been feeling my age and, I am ashamed to admit, got a bit frumpy. (Well there is something very comfy about jogging bottoms and baggy fleeces!) But determined not to slip back into old ways, I thought I needed to glam up a bit and just prove to myself that I hadn't lost the plot altogether.

So what better way than to take a couple of selfies. So I applied some slap, dressed in some really delicate girly stuff and played! 

Not my usual mountain top hiking attire admittedly, but did quite enjoy dressing up. Never done anything like this before but it was actually quite liberating. Wasn't going to show anyone originally, but when they came out really well, considering I took them on my phone, I decided to share. On Facebook, on Instagram, on Blip, on Flickr and now on here! (becoming a bit of an exhibitionist!)

And I must admit it did me the world of good. Starting to feel again like the amazing and sexy woman I know myself to be 😉

Lessons Learned: I am probably going to Hell. Was taking the selfies, wearing my little black lace dress, and let's be honest here, very little else, when there was a ring and a knock at the bell. I was expecting a parcel and so couldn't ignore it and you would never have seen such a frantic panicked coverup. Dragged on jogging bottoms and grabbed a zip up top, which wouldn't zip up. So I am rushing downstairs almost tripping over the bottom of my trousers and holding the fleece across me to protect any remaining modicum of modesty.

I open the door and there is an elderly gentleman standing there, clutching a pamphlet, who then proceeds to ask me if I ever feel I am doing too much!! Wait... what?!

Apparently most of us are cramming so much into our lives that we miss out on the world around us. But it was only when he mentioned those immortal words "Jehovah's Witness" that I became less witless, said thank you very much, but I really couldn't talk at that precise time. And he left, smiling!

So I don't know whether that particular Witness actually witnessed more than he was expecting to or he just smiled a lot anyway!

Diet Diary: Going for Voluptuous (no, the diet is not going well!)

The wanderer returns

Hi, yes, I am still here and haven't fallen off the top of a mountain or anything!
I have been having one of those years where things have been confusing, difficult, stressful or just downright exasperating! Kind of lost the explorer mojo for a while. 

However, think it is returning. As I was always told when growing up, time to put on the big girl panties and deal with it!

So this is a bit of a catch up, next few posts will be mainly pics while I wait and plan something interesting to tell you all about! I thank you for your patience.

Beth has finished Uni (she got a first!, we are so proud) so we have had a few days out. First one was as Blists Hill, the Ironbridge Gorge Museum.

This is a fabulous working Victorian Village, complete with dentist, bank, chemist, locksmith and so much more.

Full Ironbridge Details here It is an amazing place to visit, with so much to see, you can easily spend a whole day.

Gorgeous dress shop showing the authentic fashions of the day.

Fabulous place of course is the photographers! You can actually dress up in Victorian costume and have a vintage style photo taken. We declined on this visit!

Favourite place, and a definite must do, is the bakers where they bake fresh bread certain times of the day. Beth and I were lucky enough to be first in line and picked up an old fashioned loaf still warm from the oven. We thought we would just break the ends off to try it, but found ourselves polishing off the whole darn thing! And very good it was too!

This is the printers shop. They use the original hot metal type in their letterpress machines. This takes me back to my early years when I did an apprenticeship at a printers and just caught the end of the moveable type! Nostalgia!

Also having searched high and low and only recently found a printer's tray, I was amazed to see them just casually strewn around the shop! Very covetous!

Talking of Printer's trays, don't think I ever showed you my completed Eccentric Explorers Library Showcase. Took a long time, but am so pleased with it.

This was in the Post Office. On looking through my pictures I am finding I have gone more for detail than an overall view, so I have no photos of shop fronts or streets to show you! But I will be going back again, often, so hopefully you will get to see more.

Fire Buckets. 

Locksmith.

And my personal favourite photograph, oil guages!

So after heading back to the bakery to buy some good old fashioned currant buns, Beth and I called it a day.

Lessons Learned: museums can be fun! 
There is nothing better to cheer the soul than old fashioned bread, still warm from the oven, pulled apart with fingers and eaten while sitting in a garden with someone you love!

Diet Diary: Apart from half a loaf of hot bread, not doing too badly. Been very up and down this year, mostly up if I am honest! Struggled to get the Florida weight off, and yes I know that was a year ago. But then there has been Christmas, birthdays, Easter and every excuse I can come up with! But when I realised I was having to wear very big girl panties, I knew something had to be done. So new diet started. 3 camera bags to lose (3 x 10lb) and 9lb gone in the first already. Go Sharon!!

A full day

Do you ever find that sometimes life gets in the way of the fun stuff! Been doing a lot of extra shifts at work recently, and with some rather dismal weather just haven't been able to get out. So first available opportunity, I am there!

Big day planned! Well, not exactly planned, had a starting direction and I decided to just go where the whim took me. 

So I scurried on down to Trefor to photograph a bit of decay.

I have never been able to shoot it from this angle before, as the tide this time was way, way out. How it is still standing is a mystery as it looks like one strong gust of wind would topple it, but it is magnificent in its dereliction.

Normally the sea is a lot further in and I would be up to my waist where I was standing for these pictures, so it was fabulous to be able to wander among the boats.

Not done with my day out, I fancied revisiting Caenarfon which as it turns out, was not perhaps my wisest move bearing in mind the unpredictable weather and an encounter with the surliest lady in Morrison's cafe. It takes a lot to get me angry, but with not being in the best frame of mind anyway, I am ashamed to say I may have scowled!

Wandered along the harbour and loved this line of boats just standing there like a chorus line with pointed toes waiting for the tide to come in.

And of course you can't go to Caenarfon without taking a photo of the castle! Although I have taken many, it was interesting to have a view with such a low tide.

Shortly after taking this photo, that gorgeous bit of blue in the sky disappeared to be replaced by dark and ominous grey. This heralded the arrival of the worst hailstorm I have ever had the misfortune to be caught out in! It felt like being surrounded by 100 angry warriors firing darts at me through 100 blowpipes. And me wearing my only coat without a hood! Walking along in near darkness, wearing sunglasses so that I don't get blinded and holding my poor weatherbeaten hands over my head so i don't get concussion! Not my finest hour!

Of course once I get to the car, it stops and the sun comes out. Typical! So I head homeward, but not before stopping at Llyn Padarn, Llanberis and taking a shot of the most photographed tree in Wales!

Lessons Learned: Always wear a coat with a hood!

Sometimes a long and tiring day out with plenty of thinking room is the best way to get to grips with life, make all those decisions that you've been putting off and grab back control of your life. Which neatly brings me on to...

Diet Diary: I am ashamed to say that I have really let things slide. The mindset just hasn't been there recently and my "little behind" (see earlier posts for those thinking "wait, what?") is just getting bigger and bigger and is in danger of getting stuck in doorways! 
However, control of life grabbed, stern talking to given to self, summer clothes tried on amidst horrified shrieks and new determination has resurfaced! So onwards and inwards!

Yet another mini adventure

Have you ever had one of those days, or let's face it, years where you just can't seem to get your act together! I am having one of those and to quote the old Bing Crosby song "busy doing nothing, working the whole day through, trying to find lots of things not to do" And doing it pretty well it would appear!

So a stern talking to was given to myself and a trip planned. 

First stop Borth. I had been there once before and it appeared to be shut! Although to be honest it had been a very dull day and the tide was in so I couldn't see much beach. In fairness to those friends of mine who sing its praises, I felt I needed to revisit.

I will admit that the beach is gorgeous. Miles of sand and plenty of rock pools to explore, but that is all that can be said for it. The town itself is very shabby and seems to take a very complacent attitude of "we have a fantastic beach, what more do you want".

I am not for a moment suggesting they bring in arcades and Starbucks, but would a bit of a tidy up and a lick of paint hurt?! I am sure many people will disagree with me, but that is how I found it so I am sure others will too!

Although I did find the most gorgeous tea rooms, beautifully decorated with fabulous sofas to lounge on. And the fact that I forgot where I parked the car and spent a not insignificant amount of time wandering the streets looking for it in no way affected my judgement!

It would be ungenerous of me to say that the best way to see Borth is from a distance, so I won't!

On to the main ingredient in this cornucopia of delights that is my trip. Aberystwyth! Do you have places where you feel you belong and so you return to time and time again and each time feel more comfortable there. This is one place, along with Criccieth and Llandwyn. Don't know why or what it is about these places, but there is something there.

I arrived Monday late afternoon to unseasonal temperatures and glorious blue skies.

It was like a glorious summer's day, the sun was shining and the skies were blue and the beaches were full of happy people playing, paddling and later on having picnics. It was quite simply fabulous. 

However, the best part was the evening. A really good friend had told me that Starlings roost in the pier and they can be seen flying around at dusk. So later found me sitting on the prom by the pier, eating chips out of a bag, watching the birds perform their beautiful and natural dance in front of the setting sun, reflected in the calm sea.

It was such a perfect moment and I will admit to getting a little emotional! A mini break doesn't get much better than this! 

The next day dawned dull and a lot chillier, but fine for another explore.

Whilst the sky was mostly completely flat and uninteresting, it did throw up a couple of images to play with when it covered the sun. I am very into black and white photos at the moment, enjoying the completely different approach to light and texture that you have to use.

However, I still am one for the neglected and derelict image and this is one of my favourites.

Do love a bit of rust!

So final stop of the day, Aberdyfi. Another gorgeous beach to stroll along, but the town is bright and cheerful and a joy to wander through. However, a very stormy sky approached and I knew the time was limited!

OK, so I may have tweaked the clouds just a tad in Lightroom to bring out the drama, but we're all about being creative here, so a bit of artistic licence is allowed!

And talking of tweaking, OK maybe not tweaking, more full blown fartnarkling, but this is one of my favourite images from the day.

I am trying to get a bit more adventurous in my editing. I see so many really creative shots, but have been scared to take that next step.

Bearing in mind that I have taken steps and crossed lines quite a bit recently in my life, it seems daft that I am scared of a little bit of editing. No more! Look out for some wild and extreme photography from some more wild and extreme places!

Lessons Learned: How easy is it to slip back into a safe and unchallenging way of life. Very! But no more. The extreme and adventurous me has just broken out of hibernation. I have got daft things to do and many lines to cross! So watch this space and I will let you know where to send the bail money!

Diet Diary: Hah! No.

Rambling Record: Made a decision not to do the 1000 miles this year. With work, weather and other commitments I haven't been able to get out too much so far this year so my little behind has got an awful lot bigger! So am still going to hike as much as I can, but because I love it and not because I have to clock up some numbers!