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!