It was the Monaco Grand Prix last weekend so this week’s F1 Wednesday post it seems appropriate to dedicate it to Monaco!
Our Life In Eryri / Snowdonia
I’m trying to edit some videos of my recent trip to America and went in search of photos from a previous trip. It was a fly/drive trip in that we flew to LA and joined a bus tour. One experience I did whilst on this trip was fly from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas which meant flying over the Hoover Dam. That wasn’t all… instead of spending time in the casinos of Las Vegas we went on a day trip to raft down the river through Black Canyon just south of the Hoover Dam. And to get back to Vegas we had to drive over the dam… the only thing I didn’t do was stop and stand on the dam. I feel like I need to go back to do that… I do love a good dam!
#HooverDam #GrandCanyon #BlackCanyon #ColoradoRivet #Rafting #USA #Nevada #LakeMead
4 days ago
So the cat’s out of the bag… we’ve been to Disney! This time we made the trip out to California to visit OG Disneyland. Was it worth the extra 3 hours to get there? Maybe not. Did I enjoy it? Yes I did!
Firmly in my midlife crisis stage of Disneybounding this is one of the outfits I had - any guesses who I was?
#DisneylandResort #DisneylandAnaheim #DisneyBounding #disneyboundinguk #disneyboundingislife #RobinHood #maidmarianfox #maidmarian #loungeflydisney #loungeflydisneyparks
1 week ago
🏴 Haul allan a mae’n hanner tymor! Esgus am hufen iâ….. er mae’n oer!!
🇬🇧 Sun’s out and it’s half term! Good reason to have ice cream… even if it is cold!!
2 weeks ago
New video about Curragh’s Wildlife Park coming up today…but in the meantime here’s some very chilled capybaras.
I dare you not to sing the song! 🎶
#curraghswildlifepark #visitisleofman #summerholidays #daysoutwithkids #capybaras #capybarasofinstagram
3 weeks ago
"I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf!"
🇬🇧I feel like I'm overdue a trip to the mountains... this is a photo of me walking up to Stwlan at some point in 2023. Such a nice walk and I need to do it again... SOON!!
🏴Teimlo bod hi'n hen bryd i mi fynd am dro i'r mynyddoedd eto... llun ohona i yn cerdded fyny i Stwlan rhyw dro yn 2023. Taith gerdded bach gret a rhaid i mi wneud o eto... yn FUAN!!!
#BlaenauFfestiniog #Stwlan #Cwmorthin #Dolrhedyn #MountainsGandalf #Eryri #Snowdonia #LlechiCymru #WelshSlate #VisitWales #DarganfodCymru
4 weeks ago
🏴 Ar ffordd nol o Fachynlleth, nes i stopio yn Ganllwyd (mae na doilet handi yna!). Es i am dro bach sydyn iawn i ymestun y coesau. Dwi o hyd yn cael fy syfrdanu hefo faint o lefydd bendigedig sydd gennym yn lleol.
🇬🇧 On the way back from Machynlleth, I stopped in Ganllwyd (there’s a handy toilet there!). I went for a quick little walk to stretch the legs. I am still amazed by how many wonderful places we have locally.
#PamMyndIFfwrdd #Eryri #Snowdonia #Ganllwyd #RhaeadrDu #DoorstopExploring #VisitWales #DarganfodCymru #BeautifulPlaces
1 month ago
Old Caernarfon - Llanberis branchline. Not far from the site of the temporary Caernarvon Morfa station and the Caernarvon Pant station. At one point there were 3 stations - Morfa and Pant as already mentioned and the main station (where Morrisons is now).
In 1852 the tunnel under the Maes was built and connected all 3 lines. Morfa station was closed to passengers in 1871. The line through to Llanberis was used for regular passengers services up to November 1930 with special excursions up to October 1963. Last goods train ran September 1964 and track lifted in February 1965. Sad times.
#abandonedRailways #Caernarfon
2 months ago
🎶 Take me home, take me home, to the place I belong. Cos I miss ya, and I wish ya, would take me home, take me home
🏴 Dim angen dweud mwy…
🇬🇧 Enough said…
#Tanygrisiau #Adra #Moelwynion #MoelwynMawr #MoelwynBach #LlynYstradau #Eryri #Snowdonia #MountainsGandalf #NorthWales #BlaenauFfestiniog #LlechiCymru #WelshSlate #YnaTrWyfIIfod #ThisIsWhereIBelong
2 months ago
🏴 Eira yn Llechwedd heddiw. Plantos wedi bod ar yn netiau a finna yn bysnesu ar y lle. Adeiladau Newydd wedi ac wrthi’n cael eu creu. Dwi jest gobeithio wnaiff yr olygfa yma byth newid. Hwn yn olygfa eiconig yn fy meddwl i.
🇬🇧 Snow in Llechwedd today. Kids went on the bouncy nets and I went to nosey. New buildings being constructed. I really hope this view never changes. It’s an iconic view in my mind.
#Llechwedd #CeudyllauLlechi #LlechiCymru #BlaenauFfestiniog #Eryri #Snowdonia #Zipworld #ZipworldLlechwedd #HoganStiniog
2 months ago
🏴 Fuon ni allan i chwilio am eira ac wrth gwrs es i syth i Tanygrisiau. Cinio yn Caffi Llyn cyn cerdded i fyny i Rheadr Cwmorthin. Wedyn ddaru ni sleidio lawr allt Dolrhedyn - llithrig iawn allan yna! Er oedden ni yn oer a gwlyb ond duw oedd o’n hwyl!
🇬🇧 We went out in search of snow and of course I went straight to Tanygrisiau. Lunch at Lakeside Cafe before walking up to see Cwmorthin waterfall. Then we slid down Dolrhedyn hill - it was rather icy out there! Despite the fact we were cold and wet it was fun!
#Eira #Cwmorthin #Dolrhedyn #BlaenauFfestiniog #Tanygrisiau #Eryri #Snowdonia
2 months ago
🏴 Atgofion RhFf yn cychwyn yn barod! Oeddwn i draw yn Minffordd yn ffilmio pwt bach ar gyfer Heno (gwyliwch nos lun !) ac ar ffordd nol es i fewn i Boston Lodge i fysnesu. Ac edrychwch be ges i weld! Merddin Emrys mewn gwyrdd!! Wedi mynd yn wyrdd ar gyfer dathliadau 70 eleni.
🇬🇧 FR memories are starting already! I was over in Minffordd filming a little tidbit for Heno (watch on Monday night !) and on the way back I went into Boston Lodge to have a nosey. And look what I got to see! Merddin Emrys in green!! Gone green for this year’s 70 celebrations.
#MerddinEmrys #BostonLodge #FfestiniogRailway #RheilfforddFfestiniog #DoubleFairlie #SteamTrainLife #HeritageRailways #HeritageRailwayPeople #Eryri #snowdonia
2 months ago
Finally post 3 of 3 of 2024 highlights and this time it’s my highlights of volunteering with the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.
1 - filming first day of trains
2 - James Spooner with the first Mountain Spirit service at Blaenau Ffestiniog
3 - a Penrhyn Lady at Blaenau Ffestiniog station with snow on the background
4 - Britomart at Y Stesion to launch the FWHR Top Trumps cards
5 - a visit from Lily and Chuquitanta from the Richmond Light Railway
6 - at Tan y Bwlch
7 - Penrhyn Ladies at Penrhyndeudraeth during the first Snowdonian run of the year
8 - Lilla and Velinheli bask in the sunshine at Minffordd
9 - exchanging tokens for the gravity train run
10 - selfie at Rhiw Goch - somewhere I don’t get to visit normally
11 - first glance of No 134 at Dinas shed
12 - refurbished Pullman carriage launch at Y Stesion
13 - Palmerston at the Vale of Rheidol
14 - another Penrhyn Lady passing under footbridge 2 on Tanygrisiau
15 - two Ladies and our newest Double Fairlie leaving Nantmor with the second Snowdonian run of the year
16 - Lyd passing through Tanygrisiau
17 - Megs and I ready for our epic Snowdonia Circular tour
18 - Lilla on Santa Grotto duties at Harbour Station
19 - Penrhyn Ladies rwady to depart Harbour Station during Twixmas
20 - final train picture of 2024 - the Penrhyn Ladies arriving at Tanygrisiau
And here’s me thinking I didn’t do as much filming this year but still managed to fit a lot in.
#ffestiniogandwelshhighlandrailways #heritagerailways #steamtrainlife #heritagerailwaypeople #eryri #snowdonia #ffestiniograilway #tanygrisiau #minffordd #blaenauffestiniog #porthmadog
2 months ago
2024 look back… post 2 of 3… the non train highlights!
1 - started the year with a lovely walk along Dinas Dinlle beach with the dogs
2 - eeek I turned 40!
3 - met a friendly cow at Llanfair
4 - started off as a lovely day in Blaenau but ended up@being horrible as we lost our Beaglebum Gemma
5 - nice day in Caernarfon
6 - trip to Mynydd Parys
7 - visited the Llandudno Extravaganza and Transport Festival
8 - where Megs acquired this rather wonderful harness
9 - fab weather for Gwyl Fwyd Caernarfon
10 - met a T Rex at Universal Studios Orlando (as well as a mouse in T’other park)
11 - managed a dip at Dolrhedyn
12 - as well as at least one dip in the sea at Dinas Dinlle
13 - went over to the IoM for a few days and saw the Great Laxey Wheel
14 - and visited the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire
15 - took everyone for a walk to Beddgelert Forest for the first time
16 - took some pictures of the Northern Lights
17 - went walking to Moel Tryfan and Alexandria quarry
18 - did my Snowdonia Circular tour and took the best photo ever of Megs
19 - said goodbye to the National Slate Museum (until 2026!)
20 - Christmas Eve visit to a very foggy Tanygrisiau
And that’s not even half of the adventures took in 2024 but I can only share 20 photos at a time. Looking back I realise that I do get up to a lot… no wonder I’m always tired!
2 months ago
Well since it’s the last day of 2024 let’s take a look back at the year… post 1 of 3… my non FR railway highlights.
1 - TO THE TRAINS!!!
2 - a visit to the Severn Valley Railway
3 - special trip to the Talyllyn Railway for the launch of the 75 Appeal
4 - went on the Rhyl Miniature Railway
5 - finally attended an open day at the Joys of Life Railway
6 - found the time travelling steam train at Universal Studios
7 - visited the Bala Lake Railway
8 - first train of the IoM trip was the Douglas Bay Horse Tramway
9 - followed by the Isle of Man Steam Railway
10 - then the Manx Electric Railway and Snaefell Mountain Railway
11 - Lacey Station
12 - another IoM railway the Groudle Glen Railway
13 - and the IoM Steam Railway again
14 - not forgetting the Great Laxey Mine Railway
15 - back in the UK we met Thomas at Drayton Manor
16 - Megs and I at the Vale of Rheidol Gala
17 - the VoR’s Drakensberg approaching Capel Bangor
18 - special guest on the North Wales Coast - Sir Nigel Gresley
19 - did a rail tour from Crewe to Blackpool with Vintage Trains. Our noble steed was Bahamas
20 - found a new to me cafe in Pwllheli
A lot of trains and that’s not all of it! Separate post about the FWHR coming but wow I’ve been busy trainspotting this year!
#steamTrainLife #HeritageRailways #MainLineSteam #GreatLittleTrainsofWales #Trainspotting #heritagerailwaypeople
2 months ago
Taid a fi ar lan y môr Porth Dinllaen - yr unig adeg dwi wedi bod yno!
Me and Taid on Porth Dinllaen beach - the only time I’ve ever been there!
#TaidAFi #FiATaid #PorthDinllaen #12mlynedd
3 months ago
I had an emotional moment on the way in to work this morning. The song The Black Hills of Dakota came on and it started me off crying. It was played at Nain’s funeral 3 years ago and it still makes me sob.
But after that Gwena by Gwibdaith Hen Fran came on and I saw this view. Maybe I’m daft but I felt like Nain sent me a sign to brighten my day. And so by the time I got to work I was fine and enjoying the crisp morning that it is here.
Funny things emotions.
3 months ago
🏴 Es am ginio i Buffers yng Ngorsaf Pwllheli heddiw. All rhywun ddweud wrtha i sut ar y ddaear tydw i erioed wedi bod yma cyn heddiw?! Bwyd blasus a lleoliad gwych!
🇬🇧 Went for lunch to Buffers at Pwllheli Station today. Can someone explain to me how on earth have I not been in here before?! Good food and a great location!
#Buffers #Pwllheli #AmserCinio #Lunchtime #PlatformLunches
3 months ago