Town Tales

 It's been an eventful weekend in town . . .

Rali Ceredigion was back on the streets, with some interesting 'advertising' from the rally sponsors on Castle Point.

There was also a beer festival, which took over some roads - and the sun actually shone, so that people could sit outside.

Unfortunately, we were too busy with van and other stuff, to stop for a beer!

Did see the conclusion to the rally, as prizes were awarded and the cars paraded past.

Until next year . . .

Goodbye Summer?

So, after all that lovely sunshine, the beginning of July has arrived with a will - with some high winds, cooler temperatures, and a fair bit of (admittedly) much-needed rain.

I don't think anyone will be sitting on this deckchair today!

Last Day Before Lockdown

Well now we're supposed to be "socially distancing" - limited trips out and about, pubs and restaurants closed, even the leisure centre has shut its doors (no more swimming for the time being).  The prom was very quiet yesterday on a sunny Sunday, although elsewhere people hadn't really taken the concept on board, with  'unprecedented crowds' visiting some areas of Wales!

Today (one of my non-working days) was just as nice, so with Martin needing to pick up a work vehicle in Aberaeron, I went along for the ride (and to drive our own car back).

Had time for a short wander round a largely deserted harbour - except for a man and his two dogs, who were enjoying the water - and the local jackdaw population squabbling over scraps . . .

Back home again, and tonight Boris was announcing a 'lockdown' - now we have to stay at home and can only go out for essential shopping and a single solo exercise session.  At least we have the garden, and some rural country lanes for our daily wander . . .

A Bird By The Beach

Well actually, lots of birds by the beach - gulls, crows, starlings, etc. and one (slightly) more exotic Purple Sandpiper.








Didn't see the kingfisher today, but the sunset produced an angelic silhouette over the pier . . .

Mae hi'n heulog . . .

Last day of the holidays (bar the weekend), sun shining, and a lunchtime trip to Aberaeron, for chips (and ice cream) . . .




Took a few photos - mostly following this heron around seeing who could get the best shot (I'll give that one to Martin).




Finished the day with a sunset walk along our own prom (my shot!)  . . .

Costa del Aberystwyth

Bucking the traditional bank holiday weekend weather expectations - today was truly gorgeous.  An evening walk along the prom felt positively Mediterranean. 

Musicians playing, boats in the bay, and a beautiful sunset . . .

. . . and naturally parties and fires on the beaches.

We finished the day ourselves with a glass of wine, sitting outside on a still very warm night, listening to the distant sound of the Big Tribute festival.








We also had company . . . (actual size - think it's a Speckled Bush Cricket).

Calm . . . Storm

So, Friday morning saw us out walking the prom, before the promised 'Great Summer Storm' of 2019 - a lovely sunny morning, and some views of the harbour from across the gap (strangely something I'd never walked across before):

And here we have the prom on early Saturday afternoon - doesn't look that bad, but at times it was so blustery I could hardly walk into the wind, and there were some very impressive waves (although I failed to get a picture of any of them). 

All very unseasonable for August!

Promside

A lovely sunny evening for a walk on the Prom . . . so here are a few of the highlights:



A tall ship on the horizon and paddle boarders out in the bay.



Music by the Castle. . . .

Puss cat sunning himself, and I wonder what that is saying . . . 



Who would live anywhere else?

The Blog Where Not Much Happened

Well, it's been a quiet month from a blog perspective - very busy in work, so not much time for other stuff.

I can offer you another picture of a large deckchair (this one sitting in what was the paddling pool, but which is now a sandpit, but which looks like a paddling pool because it's rained a lot!).



And this photo of the red kites gathering for feeding time at Nant yr Arian on a lovely sunny late October afternoon.

Might have more to say in November!

Go Large!

Deckchairs come big in Aberystwyth . . . 

Opening Day

Yes, we have a Tesco - seen here as the building was in the final stages of completion - and it has actually opened (despite rumours to the contrary!).

It's a somewhat odd beast, it isn't as big as we'd perhaps expected (given the monstrous size of the building), and getting in and out of it is a bit of an Escher experience, with travelators going in all directions, and entrances that are really exits (you have to see it to believe it!).

It has a great rooftop car park though - with some fantastic views!


We're just waiting for M&S to open now - due in Spring 2017 - should happen (they are advertising for staff), just so long as the argument with the Council over 'Foodhall' signage doesn't get out of hand!

Tornado!

In work this morning, when the world outside suddenly went mad - from a bit on the breezy side to absolutely howling winds - everyone stopped work to go and stare out of the windows!  Within 20 minutes though we were back to normal, except of course for the collateral damage . . .

It turned out there'd been an actual tornado passing through - with caravans ripped apart at Clarach Bay, trees down all over the place, closed roads, and damage to roofs, chimneys, flagpoles, and floodlights (two were blown over on the local football ground).

Here's the local news report - but Aberystwyth weather was back headlining on the national news again as well!

For once we more or less got away with at home - no broken glass in the greenhouses, and all trees intact - although we did notice that the raspberry support posts in the fruit cage (which were probably rotten anyway) had been taken out.

It's a Monster . . .

Well now it's underway our local Tesco / M&S development is growing like Topsy:

Or as put in an overheard passing comment . . .  'It's a Monster!'

Onwards and Upwards

A walk along the prom today gave us the opportunity to check out progress on the bandstand.  As predicted it still isn't fully complete - but you can see that the end is in sight.

The 'cofferdam' that surrounded it, holding back the sea during the building works, has gone in the last week as well - just in time for Storm 'Imogen' tomorrow . . .

And since Christmas our Tesco has also finally made an appearance over the builders' hoardings - in fact it's going up quite rapidly at the moment, like a giant set of Meccano.


We'll just have to wait to see if once it's built they actually open it!

Bandstand Ups and Downs

Despite showing its mettle by surviving the 'great storm' of 2014, plans for a new Bandstand at Aberystwyth have remained on the cards (the initial design didn't go down very well).

Work finally started in January this year, and by February its demolition was all but complete - just cutting through that pesky ironwork . . .


It does seem to have been a very long build - although at least there are signs of progress, unlike Tesco, which still hasn't made it above ground yet for various reasons (drainage / buried fuel tanks / etc.)!

It appears to be more or less there now (and the new design is looking good) - but I'm not holding my breath for the promised completion by Christmas!

The Gates of Hell . . .

. . . well, that's how some people see it.

The arrival of Tesco in Aberystwyth has not gone smoothly to date - it didn't start well back in 2011 with vigils over threats to the old people's day centre on the proposed site  (they were still protesting even after its demolition!)

Then we had compulsory purchase orders, and the demolition of a 'grandmother's home'.

It hasn't been an auspicious start then - we may well end up with another Tesco ghost store in due course - but at least the plan includes a Marks & Sparks!

One Week On

One week later, and we headed back to the prom to check on progress on the clean up.

They'd had local volunteers out earlier in the day with their own spades and wheelbarrows (which made for a good news item), but the machines were still out in force clearing the last piles of shingle into lorries.   Lots of the paving slabs had been gathered up as well ready for relaying in due course.

Some of the damage was more apparent if anything - the holes in the seawall, and the undermining of the pavilion, which is now listing quite severely . . .

. . . as it turns out they're actually in the process of dismantling it for repair, but in the meantime the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales had the opportunity of recording the basement structures of the former marine baths on which it was built.

Still a lot of work to do . . .

En Garde

It's been a while since I last donned my fencing gear, and crossed swords (foil or epee) with anyone.

The 10th anniversary of the annual Triangular competition between 'Town' and 'Gown' and 'Old Boys' didn't see me come out of retirement either, but it was great to see so many old friends.





The competitors had a great day of fencing, followed by a gala final in the Marine Hotel - with the 'Old Boys' carrying the day, and taking the 'Taylor Trophy' which commemorates the legend that was our fencing coach Munro Taylor.  It was particularly pleasing to be able to cheer on the lads from my own 'era' to victory in the Men's Foil and Epee.

With the swords packed away, it was time for dinner, dancing, drinking (naturally!) and a good deal of reminiscing - might have to break out my fencing kit in 2014 . . .