Adult learners festival

It was a long week for CADW last week but such a rewarding one. On Monday I spent the day at the top of a spiral staircase with my spinning wheel. I taught several people to spin. I had a long and complicated chat with a polish woman who didn't speak English, about how her Mother still earned a living from her wheel. This involved lots of pidgin English and a notebook of drawings between us. Such a lovely lady and so refreshing to find a person who was not willing to let a trivial thing like a language barrier get in the way. I also found out that it was a good friends birthday that day. I was a tad cross to have not been informed but spent a worthwhile few minutes choosing a card and thus finding a book that I have since poured over. " the lolly pop shoes"
The next stop on my Cadw tour of Wales was Caerwent.
Upon arrival I found that I was to spend the day with a dear friend S. A gem of a woman with such inspiring knowledge. I got to play at being Roman Woman and had a the most blissful makeover. This is a relevant place for a link to S's fabulous book...http://www.amazon.co.uk/Artifice-Beauty-Sally-Pointer/dp/0750938870/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275343834&sr=1-1.##
Thursday brought St David's palace and medieval herbalist. Here I found my new found herbal knowledge came into it's fore. Of course all put into a first person capacity...A wonderful place and dear to my heart. I will always treasure St David's palace..A place of joy and discovery.
and last but by no mean least Laugharne. Famed for it's Dylan Thomas connections, you may find the Castle becomes secondary. This castle, however, has such beauty. A true home and a good feel. I loved being here and got to play Tudor Gentry to boot. Lady Perrot entertained en mass. I also found the most wonderful and talented silversmith around the corner from the castle. Such beautiful pieces. When I returned at the end of the day he had shut up shop. I was somewhat disappointed but at least I know have a reason to return :)
Bless welsh castles, I love them all

Super Centre Parks.....

wow, what a way to spend a birthday. I had all the ingredients for the perfect birthday. Good food, good company, good venue. This year was spent at centre parks with the bath crew and M. It was fantastic. We arrived Friday evening and indulged in a fabulous meal and a few good glasses of bubbly. G was a huge hit all round and all the girls fell for her charms. Saturday brought a long walk with M and then a play in the pool. The evening was a girls evening of food, cake, drinks and silly games. The best of all was the day in the spa on Sunday. Followed by a wonderful Indian meal. om nom nom.
As for the company, I missed J but the others were wonderful...such great girls. Next time is already being planned :)