Conwy Castle

After many months of saying I would go to Conwy Castle after so many times of walking past it we finally went back in November. The castle itself sits on the Conwy Estuary and overlooks the ocean but it is now just ruins.

Considering the castle is in ruins we had a great time running around and taking selfies, the castle is actually quite large and there is lots to see and learn about. We started on the ground floor level but we kept of finding sets of stairs to take up up a level and there are a couple of towers you can go all the way up and look out over the ocean.

There are lots of different signs and things to do and read and I particularly liked the one which explained how all the rooms would have been set up in the castle, this is on the upper level so you can look down over the ruins and picture the layout of everything.

I like to imagine a king and a queen having banquets and enjoying a nice summer in Wales even though the castle was never complete.

Overall we really enjoyed our day at the castle and once we had finished running around we headed off for some lunch and then we went to do some pottery painting and I painted a little fox tree decoration which is so adorable if I do say so myself!

You can also watch the video on my Youtube: https://youtu.be/DU1r5YEMYN8

Thanks for reading,

Meg!

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The Great Orme

After Conwy water gardens we headed back over to Llandudno and found somewhere to park near to the Orme, We then walked over to the tram station and got the tram p and down, it was so much fun. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would I just wish that I could have got the cable cars down but maybe I will next time!

We didn’t stay up there for long, we had a short wander around, we got a drink in the cafe at the top and we had a look around the museum and I was obsessed with the marine tank they had in there! We sat and watched the ferries and boats going passed for ages and there was a buzzard that I watched for a while.

I also really wanted to see the famous Orme goats but we only saw them at a distance as we only stayed a couple of hours before heading back down on the tram as it had started to get quite windy.

As we headed down the mountain there were some sheep on a small patch of grass which was really funny as they were clearly escapees from somewhere.

Overall we had a really lovely time and I would take a wander back up there to get a drink and try and find some goats.

Actually the first time I did see a goat was back in January and it was just by my road in Llandudno on the side eating a hedge. They come down into the town in winter which is just hilarious!

Thanks for reading!

Meg!

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Conwy Water Gardens

We had headed over to the water gardens as my house mate had recommended the pancake house there. After a quick google it showed there would be different animals, a nice walk and of corse pancakes!

I dove us all over there and it was a pleasant drive through some country lanes and only about 30 minutes from where I live. I was little bit disappointed once we got there though as they were having work done and some of the animals such as the otters and the capybara had been relocated for the time being.

We went into the pancake house forest, only me and my sister ate as my parents had got food at the B&B they were staying at over on Anglesey.

I got a bacon and maple syrup pancake and it was amazing, the service was great and it was a cute little traditional Dutch place. There was also an aquatics/reptile shop there and a pond filled with koi fish which were really cool!

We had a wander around the grounds, there is a big fishing lake there which had some ducks on it, there were some little birds flitting around in the trees and there were some wild ducks on the ponds and as we had got duck food we were feeding them.

There were also ducks in an enclosure that we got to see , it was a bit of a sad enclosure though!

It was a nice walk in the fresh air though, and food was extra good!

Thanks for reading!

Meg!

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Newborough Forest

I love taking trips over to Newborough forest so it was no surprise that I would take my sister and my cousin when they came up to visit in November.

We drove over and parked up in the car park near to the beach and we took a slow wander along the beach as I collected some shells, I also filmed a video which is available on my youtube channel! https://youtu.be/Paeb-yKF6eI

I collected shells and seaglass and took some pictures of a raven that flew over head. We walked towards Llandwyn island and we could see the lighthouse. The tide as way out by the time we got there and I stayed by the strand line but my sister and my cousin walked down towards the sea.

I didn’t find much as I was wandering along until we got, almost, to the point we would be cutting up into the forest and we found a good shell collecting patch where there were different shells and seaglass which was fun as I was starting to get a bit disappointed with my small haul.

We then cut up past through the forest and we headed back to the car. I had hoped we would see some more ravens or some red squirrels but there was no luck this time.

I really enjoyed my trip and hope I can get back soon.

Thanks for reading!

Meg!

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Januarys hoop moves!

So after a break over Christmas I am back to aerial hoop and boy do my muscles hurt! You really don’t realise how much you use your Muscles each week until you miss a few and feel like you have used muscles you didn’t even know existed.

My first week back at hoop I practiced my straddle dismount and I learnt how to do a straddle mount! I also learnt side star and candle stick and feel like I am adding to my repertoire!

In my second week back I found out we were focusing on conditioning, I managed to do a top bar toe tap mount and from there a scarab pose, I wanted to do more but I was lacking energy and decided to listen to my body.

I didn’t end up doing as much hoop as I would have liked to this month as I travelled home and then had to focus on my assignment.

The little hoop that I did do I feel I made good progress and I am looking forwards to doing more hoop this month and learning new moves.

Thanks for reading!

Meg!

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Hoop Group Session

A few weeks back I had a visit from my sister and my cousin and since I have been going to aerial hoop classes we decided to do a group session for us to try something different together.

For those who don’t know what aerial hoop is, it is essentially a giant, metal hula hoop hung from the ceiling, it spins and swivels and you do acrobatics on it.

So far I have only had about 12 sessions but I have learnt a few different shapes and moves and can (kind of) form a routine.

We attended a session altogether at Mermaid studios for circus arts in North Wales and it was a 3 to 1 session. As the instructor already knew me I managed to have a bit of a play with different moves and I got to show off a little bit whilst my sister barely even made it onto the hoop. On the other hand my cousin did very well and I was very impressed.

Whilst they were learning the beginner moves, I managed to learn some that I had missed from the beginner sessions. Scissor legs where you sit in the hoop with your legs straight out and secretary seat where you sit with your legs crossed over one an other. The only problem with these moves and with man in the moon is the hoop has to sit right between your glutes or you fall out the hoop. I have only had one fall so far and it left me a little bit shaken but I got straight back up and on the hoop again!

I cannot wait to get back to hoop after the Christmas break!

Thanks for reading,

Meg!

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Chester Zoo

On this occasion my trip to Chester zoo was only a couple of hours as we had lunch plans with a family member. We had gone over to the zoo with the intention of spending a few hours seeing all the animals but due to the size of the zoo we only managed to see a small amount as we had to leave after 2.5 hours.

We still had a really great time and saw so many different animals but being a zookeeper I end up getting distracted and watching the animals for extended periods and so I ended up slowing down our group as I just want to watch all the animals and get the best photos that I can.

The first thing we saw were the elephant, because who can miss them so close to the entrance. I love seeing the hi-way family even if I don’t really take many photos of them. They are so much fun to watch and the youngster are just so sweet.

We then headed over towards the lions and we stopped into the butterfly house on the way, my camera completely fogged up which was totally unhelpful but I did get some nice pictures on my phone.

We then headed around to the jaguars and I stayed and watched them for ages. It was fascinating watching Napo as he called out whilst he was in the inside enclosure.

We headed around and saw the orangutans before heading back towards the entrance briefly stopping off to see the rhinos.

Overall we had a really nice few hours and I cannot wait for my upcoming trip, this time I will get to spend the whole day there though!

Thanks for reading!

Meg!

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The Smallest House in Conwy!

Back in October I took a trip with my family to wander around Conwy, we went in the shops and we were planning on going into the castle but we ran out of time, we did walk past the castle though and every time I see it I think it is just incredible.

We went to upstairs at Anna’s first for a drink and some food and then we went for a wander around the shops looking at all the touristy bits and pieces and collecting things for us to put into our journal.

We then took a path which led us to the harbour and we stumbled upon the smallest house in Conwy, this house is nestled between normal sized houses and the castle walls and is painted bright red so you cannot miss it!

At the time that we visited they were open and doing tours, we managed to snap a quick picture as we got their just as they were closing but it was cool to see as I know lots of people visit and it was something touristy to show to my family along with the castle.

We then headed back up into the town and carried on looking around the shops before the car parking was up and we headed back home.

It was a lovely afternoon altogether and we had a good look around (which is when we spied the pottery painting that we then visited in November).

I haven’t yet completed my journaling from my family’s visit in October but will be sure to share what I create when I do!

Thanks for reading,

Meg!

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Bodnant Gardens

A while back I took a trip to Bodnant Gardens which is owned by the national trust, as a member I got in for free so one autumn afternoon I decided to head over and see what it was like. It had got to a point where I had been in for a while and I was going a bit stir crazy and I just wanted to get out and get rid of some energy.

I actually filmed a video which is available over on my youtube channel: https://youtu.be/l3zXXMqLoSY

I really enjoyed my trip to Bodnant gardens, I’m not much of a plant person but I can appreciate some beautiful flowers when I see them. I also really liked the giant pine trees they had there. Part of the estate is on a cliff/valley where the old water mill was and you follow a windy path down to the bottom to see the mill, it was really beautiful and the views were stunning!

Mostly I had gone over there to have a cup of tea and ended up getting a cream tea in their café before going for a wander and I ended my trip by buying some cute journaling supplies from an art studio selling local artists work.

It was a really lovely little shop and I got some wonderful things!

Whilst I was there I also took a few photos, I had taken my camera and of course had my phone and took some pictures of different flowers as well as the different landscapes and statues and things I found in the gardens themselves, let me know which photo is your favourite!

Thanks for reading,

Meg!

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