Llyn Llech Owain Country Park
With my 5 mile Monday run out of the way by 11am this morning, we thought we'd make the most of the remainder of the Bank Holiday weekend and head off to a local country park.
It had been many years since I had been to Llyn Llech Owain Country Park and I was keen to show it off to the rest of the family whom had never had the pleasure of seeing it previously.
Llyn Llech Owain is situated in the village of Gorlas, near to Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire and is easily accessible from the nearby A48. Here's a link to the park on Google maps.
The park is essentially a peat bog, lake and woodland reserve of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and has a wide range of interesting wildlife in its different habitats.
A modest £2 all day parking fee applies and there is a visitor centre, café, childrens play area - one for toddlers and one for the older kids.
There are numerous picnic spots dotted around for you to enjoy the different scenery on offer - whether it be the lake, nearby woodland, foresty or even the distant views of Pembrokshire's Preseli mountains.
The choice of several different walks around the lake and surrounding woodland making it an ideal destination for nature lovers and especially families with children.
Access to the walks is pretty good with the lake being circled by a boardwalk and the other paths suitable to pushchairs - with a wee bit of effort.
A well positioned bird watching hut - with views over the lake - will be a favourite with both ornithologists and part time birdwatchers. It also provides a tranquil spot in which to fully enjoy nature's beauty.
There is also a man-made bog pool in the park, which was created in order to provide a rich habitant for the various insects and amphibians which live in and around the lake.
The kids were drawn to the visitor centre (shame it was closed) or the mini tower as DDWT Junior refered to it!
They also liked the Welsh water pumphouse which meant they could get an even better view of the lilly pads on the lake - we didn't see any frogs though unfortunately.
Several of the boardwalks have sections which border the lake's edge thus allowing you to scrutinise the water for sign of wildlife.
At one of these sections, we were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of dozens of tadpoles merrily swimming around just inches away.
We probably spent the best part of 2 hours wandering around the park and I've no doubt that we'd have been there longer if it wasn't for tiny feet and tummys starting to ache and rumble.
I'm sure that visiting the park on a Summer's evening with the sun setting - or even sunrise perhaps - would provide an even greater insight into the full range of birds, insects and other wildlife in their natural habitat.
So if you're stumped for something relaxing to do one weekend afternoon or even weekday evening - then head off the Llyn Llech Owain Country Park, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Newgale Sands in Pembrokeshire
An early start today as I went for my 2nd run of the holiday, as we'd planned on spending the best part of the day on Newgale Sands.
We'd had the idea of spending the day down on the beach after admiring it's beauty - albeit from afar - on our trip to St. David's a couple of days ago.
Newgale is approximately 6 miles north of Broad Haven and has pretty much everything you'd expect of a Blue Flag beach with a long golden beach, surfing waves and stunning scenery all around it's edge - as you can see from this video I did.
There is a free car park adjacent to the beach as well as toilet facilities and a small ice cream stall - which was closed when we were there (darn it!).
The beach was stunning and ideal for anything from sunbathing to flying a kite, or even in our case using the pebbles from the natural sea defences as a source for a sand dinosaur!!
I've got to say that the credit for this bit of creativity must go to my 6 year old son - not moi!
Although the day was - or at least felt - the warmest day of the year thus far, the sea breeze/wind made it feel cooler than it probably was. Having said that, it made perfect conditions for kite flying and we duly took the opportunity to give it a bash.
Thinking back, whilst it was my son's first attempt at flying a kite, it must have been the first time in donkey's years (i.e. over 25) that I'd had a go and it was great fun! In fact I'd forgotten how much fun flying a kite was/is 
Despite a sumptous alfresco lunch, it was apparent that by late afternoon that the sun had taken it's toll on us all and with enrgy levels flagging it was time to head home to recharge the batteries.
Given the clear blue skies, we made a brief stop on the way back to Broad Haven at Maidenhall - an ideal picnic spot a couple of I hasten to add a couple of miles south of Newgale - to admire the stunning coastal views from a higher vantage point.
By now my face felt like a pair of brand spanking new leather shoes... and it was a surprise that I didn't stop any traffic on the way back - such was the red 'ish amber glow to my complexion!
Thankfully Mrs DDWT's moisturiser came to the rescue and I'm hopeful of a reduced and non-blistered facial glow tomorrow morning!
Exploring Broad Haven
An early start to proceedings today as I opted to go for an early morning run, the first of the holiday thus far. In typical fashion it was also the windiest day thus far and the hilly terrain provided me with an alternative run out to my usual surroundings.
My 35 minute run took in the main road between Broad Haven and Little Haven, as well as some of the surrounding lanes and tracks - not to mention what I can only assume is Broad Haven football club's home ground?
A quick shower and it was time for us all to have a much anticipated bacon butty breakfast. Not exactly in keeping with the healthy theme I know, but what the heck we're on holiday!
Next stop was Broad Haven beach with our goal today being to walk around the cove to Little Haven - tide permitting (unlike yesterday).
Thankfully a quick check on the Pembrokeshire tide tables via the internet on my mobile meant that we knew we'd have to be well on our way before the low tide at 11:30 am.
Although Broad Haven beach is wonderfully sandy there are enough rock pools near the coves to the south and north ends of the beach to make them an intriguing destination for kids of all ages (including big ones like me).
With the sun beating down on us in what felt like the hottest day of the year thus far and the kids starting to flag it was time to make a hasty retreat to the house for some much needed refreshments - but not without stopping for a dollop of Pembrokeshire's award winning ice cream from Upton Farm first though!
This evening saw a beautiful sunset and the location of our holiday home provided an ideal photograhic opportunity...
Trebanos in the snow
Thought I'd share a few snaps that I took whilst getting the papers from the garage in Trebanos earlier today.
Just a shame the snow hadn't come a week or so earlier *sigh*
Coed Gwilym Park
With the cold but sunny weather continuing during the opening few days of 2009 we decided to make the most of it with a visit to Coed Gwilym Park, Clydach in the Swansea valley.
With plenty of wide open spaces, two playgrounds, a small wood and the nearby canal there was plenty to keep DDWT Junior amused. The tennis courts also gave him ample opportunity to have a 'dabble' with his Christmas presents (from this and yesteryear!) - remote control cars!
Here's a brief picture guide - but you won't beat making a visit there yourself.
Feed the ducks
With the end of my week's annual leave fast approaching and DDWT Junior almost climbing the walls with boredom at home, it was definitely time to wrap up warm and head off out for a long walk!
If there's one good thing about living in the Swansea valley - there are loads actually but that's for another time - then it's the beautiful natural scenery that sprawls all the way from Ystalyfera right down to Swansea, which makes going for a walk a relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable experience.
We headed up along the Swansea valley canal towards Pontardawe, facing the full force of the usual wind funnel down the valley and feeding the ducks/geese along the way.
Our destination was the playground at Pontardawe leisure centre - how else could you get a 4 year old to walk several miles!!
Our walk and usual stoppages took us out of the house for around two and a half hours and despite feeling frozen by the time we got back it was a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
Morning sunrise
As is the norm for most mornings in our house, we were up very early once again - like 6am early.
For once though it was an extremely worthwhile early morning wake-up call as I got the opportunity to photograph the most amazing morning sunrise over the Swansea Valley.
Amazing or what? Needless to say I've now sent them off to the BBC and South Wales Evening Post to see what they think and whether they'll publish them as has been the case previously.
Focus the mind
In light of my Dad's news yesterday, I felt it was imperative that I try and focus my mind and continue to go about my/our business in order to remain both positive and strong.
With this in mind, I decided to go for an early morning run. I opted to cover the same route as my run last Sunday - albeit it a slightly slower pace. Still the 32 minute 25 second had a semi-positive effect, even if I did feel 'shot' after it.
In the afternoon Mrs DDWT thought it would be a good idea to get out and about, so we headed off to the Swansea Sea Festival.
Unfortunately by the time we got there - gone 3pm - most of the displays had finished. We were fortunate enough to catch the Newfoundland dogs lifesaving display, which was very impressive.
DDWT Junior enjoyed the mini-pirate ship and the shanty music was quite entertaining as well. Baby DDWT spent the whole time sleeping!! So if you wanted to see pirates of all ages (and sizes) - some on stilts - then it was the place to be
We also made yet another visit to the National Waterfront Museum, which in all fairness never ceases to amaze us with the amount of information and quality displays on offer. Here's a tip for you, it's a great place to take the kids especially during the summer holidays.
Whilst inevitably casting our eyes towards the sea, it was impossible to ignore the sheer height and size of the Meridian Quay development.
Looking back to a previous post I made about the development (back in April), you can see how much its come on. Quite amazing!
Dick Barton's
Phew what an eventful day I've had - which is the complete opposite to a normal Saturday whereby I don't do much at all.
My first port of call was my Mam and Dad's who needed a piece of roof fascia board replacing and a leaky window sorted. I must confess to having been a touch nervous about undertaking the task - I'm not a lover of ladders and the bit that needed replacing was literally right on the edge of the house.
After a bit of trial and error I managed to get the ladder in a safe position - the narrow pathway below was safer than the embankment further back! It was then time to start fiddling with the replacement wooden fascia. After what seemed a 'grand old duke of york' time going up and down the ladder - I finally got the ideal fit. It was then time to add a cement finish! I was glad to see the back of job number one, but pleased with the result nevertheless.
The leaky window fix was a darn sight easier and straightforward I can tell you. I was even afforded the luxury of having DDWT Junior supervise in his new found role of foreman!
It had been a good start to the day and my parents were happy with the jobs I'd done.
We decided in the afternoon to take a trip into Swansea to get a few jobs done rather than sit around the house and garden. These 'jobs' included a visit to Toys 'R' Us where DDWT Junior finally got another Playmobil Dinosaur which he'd been promised and Baby DDWT got a small gift for her pushchair too.
Tea time quickly arrived and as it was such a lovely afternoon/evening I suggested that we took a nice stroll from Blackpill down to West Cross - well Dick Barton's chippy to be precise. Dick Barton's is legendary in these parts and I don't think I've set foot inside the place in over 20 years, until tonight that is.
It was actually quite nice to take the family there as my parents had done with me when I was small. So the house of DDWT can now say that they've all experienced Dick Barton's - well all of them except baby DDWT.
With our tummies full it was time to make our way back to the car, but not without taking a few snaps and having a pit stop at Blackpill lido.
So all in all it's been a busy, but very enjoyable day. I'll have to remember days like this when I'm next lounging around at home on a weekend!
