Catching up with friends

We've been lucky to have friends come and visit us over the past few weeks. We've also gone into London to visit come old friends as well.

For those who don't yet know, Lucas has a girlfriend. Her name is Lucy, and she's a very lovely little girl whom Lucas met at the Banbury mothers' group. She has just started to walk as well, so Lucas better start learning otherwise he won't be able to keep up with her anymore! She'll be hanging out with all the cooler older boys who can stand on their hind legs, walking and talking like little Rory Calhouns.



Jordon, an old work colleague of Nat's who lives in Oxford came up to Banbury the other day. We headed out to Bloxham to a local pub (The Red Lion, which I believe is the most popular pub name in England). Nick, a colleague from work decided to drop by as well.

Lucas enjoyed the day as he got to practice walking by pushing his stroller all around the lovely play area that surrounded the pub.



The following weekend we travelled to London to catch up with Nicole and Silvana, who are both ex- work colleagues of Natasha's.



Last weekend Michael and an old family friend, Rae, dropped by on their way back from a George Michael concert in Manchester.



We headed out to The Unicorn in Deddington, where Lucas got some more practice walking his stroller around the beer garden.

Silverstone Test Session

I, along with other factory staff, got to attend the morning test session at Silverstone last week.

Wales - Day Four

We left the YHA on Monday morning and headed home, but not before making some scenic detours along the way!

First off was Dolwyddelan Castle on the A470, a small Welsh Castle built to guard the mountain pass near Blaenau Ffestiniog. Much of the castle is now in ruins, however the main keep was restored during Victorian times.



The keep offered commanding views of the nearby highlands.




We continued south (past more spectacular mountain passes and rustic mining towns) and arrived at Harlech. I wanted to go to this castle as a) it looked spectacular and b) 'Men of Harlech' was an old standard for my high school marching band.













After Harlech we were treated to a lovely coastal drive, through several summer-holiday destinations in Wales such as Tal-y-bont (which has the biggest caravan park we had ever seen in our life!). Many of the towns and villages felt very much like Lorne back home.

We had lunch in Dolgellau, where Natasha took some signs in Welsh which she found rather amusing. Its a rather strange language, with 29 letters, and a rather distinct lack of vowels!

Wales - Day Three.

The heavens opened the following day, when meant we were severely limited in our activities. We took the time to drive through the many spectacular winding mountain passes in Snowdownia.

We headed west on the A55 again, turning left onto the A5 heading towards Bethesdsa. Within a few miles we were driving around the bare, rocky highlands of Snowdonia. We reached Capel Curig and headed down the A498 to Beddegelert, over a spectacular mountain pass along the way. Beddegelert is a very pretty village at the base of several mountain. Many of the towns and Villages in this part of Wales feel like the Dandenongs. We kept heading south and ended up having lunch in a small town called Tremadog, just outside the mining town of Porthmadog.



We had lunch at a local pub, 10 quid for the Sunday afternoon 'carvery'... roast ham, beef, lamb... hmmmm...

After this we headed north on the A4085 through some more mountain passes and the lack Llyn Cwellyn, returning to Caernafon to take some pictures of the castle from the opposite side of the river.



I then decided to tackle the A4046, a winding road that passes just below the peak of Mt Snowdon. We passed the town of Llanberis, which is next to the mountain lake Llyn Padard.









It was good duck weather!



We drove past the base of Snowdonia, driving through the Pass of Llanberis, once again spectacular scenery and views.. and then back home via the A5 again. A shame the weather was so bad as the mountains in North Wales are spectacular.

Wales - Day Two

The forecast rain held off and we were treated to a cold, (but still sunny) day in Wales. The view from breakfast at the hostel promised a good day ahead.












Conwy castle includes a large wall which surrounded and protected the entire town. It still exists to this day, which means that you have to drive under the walls (via very narrow archways) every time you leave and enter the town centre.



The bridges that span the river were built long after the castle itself (which was built from 1283 to 1287 by Edward I). The central suspension bridge was built in Victorian times, and a rail bridge was constructed at the turn of the 20th century. The road bridge was built in the 1950's. The A55 expressway (ie dual carriageway) runs underneath the river.












The inside of Conwy castle is all ruins, which makes a nice place for all the local birds to make their nests.

After Conwy castle, we headed down the A55 along the northern coastline towards Caernarfon. The A55 itself is quite an engineering marvel. Think of the Great Ocean Raod, but a dual lane carriageway with large sections of the road boring straight through the mountains and cliffs.

Caernarfon is the largest castle in Wales, and was built as a seat of government. Prince Charles had his investiture here when he became Prince of Wales.


















Caernarfon Castle houses several museums and displays within its vast mazes of walls.

Lucas found the hectic pace a bit much at times! After Caernarfon we got back onto the A55 and drove across to the island of Anglesey, and headed north to Beaumaris, to see the local castle. Beaumaris Castle is very pretty, but because the money ran out before they managed to finish the battlements, it lacks the imposing nature of the other castles.





Beumaris in Wales was just like at home. Nice beach, a bit pier and friendly locals!