Heaven

OK, here it is, the post you've all been waiting for. My 30th birthday and a perfect weekend in Wales.



I came home late Friday night to roses and balloons and a mysterious package that I figured had to be galoshes, sitting in my messy room.



it was :). The most perfect pair of type 2-1 galoshes from my most wonderful Judith flat mate. The perfect gift I figure for a 30 year old. When I was younger, as in 29 or so, I felt that one couldn't buy galoshes, they were a frivolity. But now that I am an adult (aka:30) I can receive galoshes as a gift and feel so delighted about them that I will spend a good twenty minutes taking still-life photos of them.

Kim woke me up at 5:30; Judith was already up, and we all got ready to leave. Departure time: 6:20 am. We drove across England to the wild country of Wales. I bought anything and everything I thought I might want to eat and ate only a few of said items. Not important, what was important was that I do exactly as I liked on this birthday of birthdays.

We arrived at Park Le Breos (http://www.parc-le-breos.co.uk/)



just after 10. Cantankerous woman and Adorable Olive, the owner, rushed us to get ready with the rest of the group. There was some concern that there might not be a horse for Judith. But of course there was. After all, it was my birthday :).

We then proceeded to spend the day atop our respective horses in the blusteriest, oneriest weather in the heartiest, most breathtaking scenery. Fern swept hills and craggy beaches, shaking trees and foggy fields. It was much too wet to take many pictures. In another setting one might say that the weather was miserable. But in THIS setting it was perfect. I was pretty sure some melancholy 19th century novel had been written here. At any rate, it made me think of The Secret Garden and the way the wind blowing across the moor made Mary shiver with unease. So terribly romantic.

After lunch



we tromped through a village or two (can it be called a village if it only consists of a church and two farmhouses?) Then we were led to the top of a cliff looking down on a heathered cove area. Words fail. Hmm, I think I'll put in a pic of the site from my walk the next day later on in the blog....for now, content yourself with a photo of Rascal and I.



We finished an amazing day of riding around 4:30 and rushed to clean up and prepare for conference. Oer here the Sat. morning session can be seen at 5 pm on Saturday evening. We planned to watch it on Judith's laptop in our room. However, we failed to take into account that we had come to stay at a remote 19th century hunting lodge miles away from any other houses for the very reason that it was remote. Yes, you guessed it, no signal.

Judith and I realized this as Kim was taking a shower. So as soon as she got out, we hurried her along (not that she takes much time) and then we all jumped in the car and headed for Cardiff, hoping we could figure out where the stake center was. I had the distinct feeling that we wouldn't make any of the session based on this plan. I finally got signal while we were in the car. So we pulled off under a bridge off the freeway and watched what we could before the computer died. What we did get sustained us!

Then we made our way back into Swansea and to the local hang out street for some dinner. Tapas it was, and yummy tapas at that.

Our good intentions to figure out how to watch the next session from 9-11 were done in by our overwhelming exhaustion. So back to the lodge it was for a restful nights sleep!

In the morning Kim and I traipsed up the local hill/mountain. We found wild blackberry bushes and munched on our way. We rejoiced and philosophized and figured out the meaning of life and love and God as we hiked along. You couldn't really help it, you know. In the midst of such beauty one must speak of God.





On top of the mountain we shouted out our life intentions, knowing that the fierce wind would carry them to the ends of the earth and honor each and every one.



We descended, and we left, intending to make it to London in time for the next sessions of Conference. Which we did by the skin of our teeth. The three of us then sat in the living room, listening to prophets of God share His love and guidance with us and glowing with peace, joy and contentment.

It was a perfect, perfect weekend.