The Bristol Colonade ....

"Admired by its alert contemporary Horace Walpole for its grace as a Classical Composition, and enriched by Gothic Detail, it was also held in high regard by the Council for the Preservation of Ancient Bristol, whose good offices and the generosity of its former owners, The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company, have made possible its preservation in Portmeirion"

" This Colonade built circa 1760 by the Quaker copper smelter William Reeve. It stood before his Bath House at Arnos Court, Bristol. Damaged by bombs, it had fallen to decay, although scheduled as an Ancient Monument. Her Majesty's Minister of Works approved its removal on condition that it should be here re-scheduled"

It's a bit of a tall order ....

Long shots at Portmeirion .....

Underneath the Arches ....

Arches, entrances, and passageways are Portmeirion architectural enticements ....

The variety of Portmeirion ....

Portmeirion .....

What can you say about this place that hasn't been said before?

It's a visual delight, set as it is on the beautiful north west coast of Wales near the Llyn peninsular between Porthmadog and Penrhyndeudraeth.

You might have seen it as "The Village" in the 1960's British TV series called "The Prisoner", starring Patrick McGoohan. Apparently a remake is on the cards, but set in a different location.

However, as good as the old TV series was, nothing will compare to strolling around this amazing collection of totally improbable but wonderful buildings.

Windblown .....

Against - with, and against (the light) ......

A bit of local colour .....

On the move. Aberystwyth towards Portmeirion ....

Aberystwyth. The view from the top .....

This funicular railway was opened in 1896, and was operated by a water balance system.

The two carriages are joined by a cable system that passes over a pulley at the top of the hill. Water was added to a tank in the carriage at the top of the hill, until its weight was enough to pull the carriage at the bottom of the hill up the tracks.

Water was let out of the carriage at the bottom of the hill to create this imbalance. The carriages then travelled the length of the hill.

Once both carriages were at their stations, water was let out of the bottom carriage and added to the top one, and the system reversed. Drivers in the carriages controlled the speed of travel by applying brakes as needed.

In 1921 the railway was converted to electric motive power, and a nearly unique system was lost.

The Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway still operates on water power, very similar to the system I've tried to describe. If ever you're in either neck of the woods, they're well worth a visit, and a ride!!

The view from the top of Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth .....

Oystermouth .....

Tivoli Amusements. I remember it as a dark cavernous cinema turned dance hall .....

Some steps leading to a house that's just been sold. I wonder if they'll survive the upcoming renovation ....

Princes Fountain and Fountain Cottage. The fountain was built in 1863 to commemorate the Prince of Wales wedding to Princess Alexandra on March 10 of that year. The Prince was later to become King Edward VII. The fountain was also the villages' first reliable supply of drinking water and was crucial to improving public health in the area.

Three boozers. The Mumbles Rugby Club, the Oystermouth Social Club, and the William Hancock. Take your pick .....

Some scenes at Oystermouth ....

The indignity of it all .....

Bradley Manor, a GWR 4-6-0 engine, built in Swindon in 1938, being ignominiously transported on the back of a flat bed truck to - anybody know?
This shot was taken in late September on the motorway south of Bristol. The truck was headed south towards Exeter.

I know that the engine was last in use on the Severn Valley Railway, and there's loads of great videos on-line showing it working there, but the engine is no longer listed on its website, so where's it off to? The "Torbay Express" maybe??

Amelia Earhart & Burry Port ....

Until I saw this commemorative tablet here in Burry Port harbour, I had absolutely no idea where in the UK she had landed on her epic Trans-Atlantic flight in 1928 ......

Arcades in Cardiff ....

Duke Street Arcade entrance ......

Castle Arcade entrance .....

You almost step back in time when you enter a place like this. Old and modern combine to give the best of both. It's a pity that Swansea didn't have the foresight to keep the arcade that they had. It may have helped High Street out a bit. The ones that they have in Cardiff are gradually becoming a tourist attraction ......

Swansea Bay View ....

Taken on the lawn in front of our old house at Lon Cwm Gwyn. Sorry about the jitters ....

Mumbles Hill pictures .....

I love the quaintness, the quirkiness, and the quietness of this lovely walking trail around Mumbles Hill .....

Window gazing at Oystermouth .....

I can't remember the name of this cafe in Oystermouth, but they do a great pasty! Upstairs, you get a terrific view of the bay (if you can get a window seat) and all the passerby in the square below.

Before - and after .....

While in Wales, we visited Carmarthen for a day out, and we had lunch at the Weatherspoon pub and restaurant. I'm afraid I succumbed to the Olde Worlde Pork Faggots with chips, peas and Brains beer gravy.

A few rounds of local whole wheat bread and a pat of Welsh salted butter helped make a perfect chipbutty!

A pint of John Smith's Extra Smooth was needed to finish things off nicely, which it did!

Memories of a craftsman .....

Part of a spinning wheel made by my late brother in law .......

His home made lathe, strangled by cobwebs ......

His wood chisels, cutting edges gathering dust .....