The sun has gone

We have had a great run of good weather considering everyone said to us it always rains in Wales. I think we have had more BBQs in May than we had all last summer. As I sit here now typing this blog it’s pouring down outside, I can’t see the mountain I normally see out the window and the temperature has dropped by about ten degrees. I normally have the chairs outside by now and sit in the morning sun with a cup of tea. All this is after I get up early and get out on my bike before it’s too hot. Leaving the camper yesterday at 5.15am and doing 32 miles. Last week I did similar silly early morning rides.

With all the free time we have been having because of being furloughed it’s been good to catch up on jobs that need doing and other jobs that just pop up and need doing that aren’t on my list. Washing and polishing the car and camper is always on my list and they are or should I say were looking very shiny up until now. In fact they were shiny on top of shiny. The two photos below are water droplets on a very waxed and shiny car roof and the camper also has a nice shine to it demonstrated in the photo of the reflection.

Other jobs to do are to fix the door, I mentioned this a while ago and am still waiting for a part, a small spring which I am hoping is going to do the job. And now we have another problem, our fridge has gone Kaput. This is a bigger problem than just a spring. It is dead, kaput, out for the count, deceased, knackered what ever you want to call it, it is not coming back to life. I smelt ammonia and that means one thing, it’s lost all it’s coolant. The fridge is ten years old and when you think what the fridges in campers go through with all the miles we do on the lovely smooth roads NOT it’s surprising they work at all. Now our fridge is not like a fridge you have in your house, it might look the same but it runs on 240v, when we’re on hookup, 12v when we’re driving and gas when we’re not on hookup. It also has a oven on top of the fridge all connected and can’t be separated. And just to complicate things you can’t get this model fridge anymore. So the search is on for a replacement and then a dealer who can do the job. And of course get stock of replacement. Nothing is simple living on the road.

On the brighter side of life, walking around the campsite I have managed to get some great photos in the sunlight. The flowers, or weeds to some look like they’re floating, almost like spaceships coming into land on planet Snowdonia. The damsel fly was enjoying the morning sun. It took me ages to get that photo because every time I got close he flew away so I had to follow him until he landed again and try again. The things I do to get these photos for you out there reading this blog. And you just think we sit around all day in the sun drinking beer. The last photo is my favourite for a long time. This is a grass snake and was curled up basking in the sun. I was lucky to spot it and surprised it didn’t slither off as soon as it saw me. Even more surprising I got really close to get the photo and when I say close I mean within a foot of it. If it was an adder I would not have got this close. I got a couple of photos and then stood back and it slithered off into the undergrowth. It was about 3 ft long. That’s the snake not the undergrowth. Really pleased just to see one and even better to get a photo.

Floating flowers or weeds
Damsel fly
Basking Grass snake

So that’s us up to date, still waiting for the welsh leader to say we can go out to play and travel around. And open the campsite. Nikki says I need more peaple to annoy and talk to. Stay safe everyone. We will come out of this mad world soon.

Only last week

It only seems like last week I was in my fifties and now I have hit the big 60. Did I feel any different when I woke up, no, did I start to wear different clothes, no, have I finally grown up. Don’t answer that if you know me. Growing up is optional and I opted out a long time ago.

I got up in the morning early as normal and the camper had been decorated with banners and balloons just so I didn’t forget how old I was supposed to be. Thanks Nikki. A nice big bag of assorted chocolate and a couple of boxes of real ale which I really like and can’t get around here were there for the taking.

Just to remind me.

We had planned to have a BBQ with Gerry and Debra the other wardens, it was there anniversary also. the weather was not looking to good but was supposed to get better in the afternoon. So fingers crossed and yes it did Brighton up. While chatting at the BBQ we were discussing what you get when you reach 60. So I can get free travel in London, that’s useful I never go there. I can get a free bus pass in Wales, that’s good I don’t live here. I can get free prescriptions, that’s good I very rarely go to the doctors. So all in all not a lot. We ate and drank until the sun went down and the bugs came out to feast on us, then it was time to call it a day. Debra made me another chocolate cake. If your reading this Bill, i know you follow my blog, I was going to save you a bit but because of lockdown I decided to eat it myself. Sorry. This picture is for you. This is what you could have had.

Dream on Bill.
Berry and Debra hiding from the bugs, not camera shy.

This lock down is starting to get in my nerves now. Not because I don’t think it’s a good idea but because there is no general rules which apply to everyone. We are in Wales for the season and our rules are different to peaple in England. We are way behind. In England now you can go out and about as long as you return home at night. Here we can go out for shopping and only essential trips. From the first of June here in wales you can go and meet family but only travel five miles but we travel ten miles each way to go to the nearest supermarket. The beach car parks are closed down in Devon but you can go to Tesco and Sainsbury’s and park in there carpark and go in the shop with other peaple about. None of it makes sense. We are allowed out to exercise and luckily we can go out from the site to walk or I can go on my bike into some beautiful scenery and not see anybody.

The reason I am more frustrated is that before my birthday, you know that big day, I decided I was going to have a big present. Normally birthdays are just another day to me and Nikki but we do celebrate the big ones. I wanted a new bike so I started doing my research etc and found the one I wanted. Found a shop with one in stock which was really hard to find because not a lot of shops stock the one I want and being here in the middle of nowhere everything is miles away. We don’t even have a village shop here. Rang the shop and put a deposit on it. So it’s secured and waiting for me to collect. I was hoping that the welsh man who runs Wales and makes all the decisions Mark Drakeford was going to lift the restrictions so that we could go out and about like England. But no he never. He obviously is not a mountain biker and does not understand. So it looks like my new bike will just be sitting there in the shop waiting for the day I can go and pick it up. Until then I just look at it online and dream of the day I can get it and go off to the bike parks and play. That’s in between working of course. In the meantime I can’t even sell my old one because no one can come and look at it.

So that’s us up to date still in lockdown and still furloughed. The sun is still shining with this wonderful spell of nice weather. My garden is doing well, the car and camper are shiny on top of shiny so alls good really.

Butterfly enjoying the morning sun.

Woodland walk

Being in Wales we are still in lockdown, while England is allowed out to play to a certain degree. I really hope wales lift some restrictions soon. The next update from them is 28th May. We are lucky that we can walk from the site and see beautiful views of mountains and forests, lakes etc and not see another person. A couple of days ago I went out on my bike around the lake and it felt so good I went around again so all in all I did 20 miles and only saw one other person from a distance.

We had heard about a waterfall in a woodland not far from the site so yesterday me and Nikki decided to go and find the gate which takes you to the trail. I have passed the spot before but was on my bike and could not remember seeing any gate. ( probably going to fast ). When ever me and Nikki go out for a walk it’s a standing joke that I say just round the next corner because I always want to go further just to see what’s around the next corner. So we set off to find the gate. Where we thought it was it wasn’t so I turn to Nikki and say come on just around that next corner. It still wasn’t there only sheep in the road. Just as we were about to turn around there it was. It was around the next corner. Most gates have springs on so they shut behind you so the sheep can’t get out. I love this old gate with a block of concrete suspended as a weight and pulley system.

The ol gate

Across the field we go towards the start of the trail, through beautiful woodland. The nature reserve is called coed Llennyrch nature reserve and is a rare Atlantic oak woodland. There are lots of trails through it and they will be walked on another day. We heard a cuckoo but didn’t see him. We walked over this rickety old bridge, no safety net on the sides etc, no health and safety going on here.

Rickety old bridge

We could hear the waterfall and then it came into view through the trees. Now don’t get too excited we’re not talking Niagra falls here it’s just a small waterfall in Wales after a very dry spell but it’s in a beautiful location and right on our doorstep.

View from above

The climb down was quite steep and slippery but worth the effort when you got down to the bottom. Like I said not Niagra falls but beautiful anyhow. I can see myself going swimming in the pool on a hot day. I will let the pictures do the talking. You have to imagine the sound of the water cascading down, the birds singing in the trees, the cuckoo doing what he does, cuckooing and at the same time so silent with no one else around. Enjoy the pics.

Stunning.
Imagine the sound
So tempting to get in there.

So glad we went around the next corner and found the gate. We will go back there and explore more. On the way back we pass a nice old stone archway and Nikki always has to have a look in, its only a field with a horse in but she has to have a look.

Nikki’s lookout or lookin.

So that’s us up to date. Hope your all safe and well and we can all get out and about more soon. One final thing, I decided to have a haircut so Nikki got the clippers out and did the deed, I thought it was still too long so got a razor out and trimmed it back to the bone. It will grow. I was eating a squirrel when this photo was taken.

Cool for summer

Open for business

The campsite is not open for business but the bug hotel is up and running. Plenty of rooms with different themes and views. Ground floor is a hedgehog house complete with personal tunnel. Would be nice to think a hedgehog would curl up in there for the winter hibernation. I have filled it with dry leaves, just the sort of thing they like. The rest of the hotel is furnished with bamboo, old wood, slates, tiles and various branches. The whole thing was made using recycled fencing, screws and some slate for the roof from the old bug house.

Bug Hotel
Hedgehog tunnel into the basement.

The rest of the site is looking better everyday with a real good variety of colour. As some flowers die off others appear so it’s constantly changing everywhere.

The bees are busy flying from one flower to the next and so important in the life chain. Wasps are important also so I am told but I don’t like them after being stung by one at Cirencester last year and my whole hand swelling up and starting to travel up my arm. So as long as they leave me alone I leave them alone.

Took this photo this morning. A very busy bee

Yesterday me and Nikki had a stroll round the site and when we got back we could not unlock the door so had to get in through the drivers door and somehow I managed to unlock it from inside. Then the fun started taking it all apart and trying to discover what is wrong. I can open and close the door but can’t lock it. So at least we can get in and out. More internet research and no doubt more expense and it will be fixed sometime soon. In the meantime we have a open plan door panel.

The new look door panel

Yesterday was VE Day so we decided to have a BBQ and beer with the other wardens on site. We took everything up to a sunny spot on the site and had a good time. Played some old 40’s music, ate chicken, sausages and pork, with a bit of salad and potatoes. Nothing was rationed. We drank beer and wine and enjoyed the evening sun. Debbie made a winston Churchill fruit cake which was a old recipe. I don’t like fruitcake so she made me my own chocolate cake. Lilly their springer spaniel was enjoying running around like a mad thing.

Mad dog caught in flight

So that’s us up to date. I know every blog post seems like Groundhog Day but hopefully soon we will be able to get out and about and have some pictures of the surrounding area to show you all. In the meantime stay safe and dream of having a piece of this loverly chocolate cake. Shame you can’t have any but I can tell you it’s loverly. Now put your tongue away and stop dribbling.

Damn squirrels

The jacks on the motorhome need refurbing, I know I have mentioned it before and it was booked in on more than one occasion to get them done but the company let me down so I told them to forget it. Or words to that effect.

The guy that looks after the camper MOT and servicing etc is now going to do them when we are back down in Devon. I thought it a good idea to send him some photos so I was crawling about under the camper, like you do when you have nothing better to do taking some photos of the jacks and just having a look under there. When to my horror I noticed some wires that had been chewed. Not by me while I was under there although it was near lunch time. But by squirrels I think. It would not have been a mouse because of the way the wires were hanging down.

We do have squirrels around here and a lot of other sites we have been on have them and rabbits which like to go under the camper so it could have happened while here or at another site. So that was another job to do not on my list but had to be done. I also noticed the brackets that my extra alarm speakers are on were very rusty so I had to do a temporary repair on them while I was under there. The speakers will have to be replaced but at least they are not going to fall off now. I believe in the saying everything happens for a reason and in this case if I had not crawled under the camper I would not have noticed the chewed wires or the rusty brackets and something could have happened while out on the road.

The chewed wires and a cobweb

Another day in my life last week I spent five hours cleaning the car, only the outside. I know what you’re thinking …..it must be a bloody big car. It is an estate car. When we bought the car it was supposed to have a paintwork treatment done on it. I was not happy with the way they had done it, or not done it so I contacted the firm. They were very good and sent me out some free products, about forty five pounds worth. As it happens the products are ones I use anyway and have done for years so I was happy. But they sent them to our home address 300 miles from where we are now. Another email to them and they say sorry and post out another forty five pounds worth of products to where we are.

Weather conditions ok, water temp ok plenty of time on my hands so I start the deep clean process. Stage one. This involves washing the car, drying the car. Stage two. spray affected areas with product leave to soak wash off and dry car. Stage three rub a tar remover over affected areas, wash off and dry. Stage three. Wash the whole of the car and towel dry. Stage four polish whole car and buff off. Stage five wax the whole car and buff off. Stage six. Stand back and admire all my hard work. Luckily I actually like looking after my vehicles. Stage Seven wipe the bit of bird shit of the roof from the bird that was sitting up in the tree waiting for me to finish.

The end result

I have mentioned the bird feeder in the last post. The feeder is about a metre away from the window of the camper where I sit so I have a great view and they are used to me staring at them. I am sure sometimes they stick their tongue out at me. There are all sorts of characters. The tit family consist of Hoppy tit. Because he only has one leg but he does a good job of hanging on the feeder. Tatty tit named because he looks like he has been on the beer as well as the peanuts and flown through a hedge backwards. Freaky tit, he is weird, something wrong with him he is all puffed up and sits around trying to breath, the other birds pick on him. Think he should have self isolated. Tiny tit because he is so small, he is not getting enough nuts.

The welsh have bought out new rules for exercise, now if you go out on your bike you are only allowed to go as far as a reasonable walk would be. The route I take through the woods and around the lake is twelve miles but includes about a mile of that is on the road. So I have stopped doing that one now. Don’t want to upset the locals even though I never see anybody on that route. I will still do the woods and lake bit but just not go out onto the road. I very rarely see anyone and if I do it’s always at distance.

My bug house is nearly finished and should be in place next week. I built it all from what materials I had laying about. Bugs don’t do new and shiny. When we moved into this compound the whole of the gates were like fort knox covered in wood on both sides, the previous peaple had dogs so didn’t want them getting out. To be honest I don’t think Houdini could have got out. And you had to have arms like Popeye to open the gates. So I took off about 75% of the wood, kept all the screws and that is what my bird house is built from. I am no carpenter but the bug house is supposed to be rustic, that’s my excuse anyway. The bottom part is like a shed which is for hedgehogs to sleep in and hibernate through the winter. There are hedgehogs on site so will be nice if they use it. The size of the bug house is 45 inches high, 15 inches deep and 26 inches wide. It has different compartments with various materials in. Cones, bamboo,slate, twigs and hay etc so it caters for all sorts of creepy crawlys. I will post pictures when it’s in place. I have put a coming soon sign on the location so the bugs are informed and seem to be getting a lot of interest.

Getting there

Penthouse cones

We have heard a cuckoo around us the last week or so that’s a good sign. And my garden is coming along nicely. One area on site has a great swathe of bluebells which look so nice amongst the trees. That’s us up to date and we only have two months to go before the site opens on 1st July, that’s if the government let us. We will see. And remember that if you have a little argument with your wife, kids, partners because your all together all of a sudden because the way the world is at the moment. It’s not their fault. Stay safe.

Bluebells in the wood

The big day aproaching

I bet you’re all thinking, what big day, is the lockdown going to be lifted, is the world going to end, will they have a cure for Covid. Well it’s none of those although it would be nice if it was all over. Not the world ending.

The big day is my birthday and yes it’s a big one. The big 60 only a month away now. How the hell I have got this far nobody knows but I have. I still have my own teeth my own hair although not a lot at the moment as I decided to get the clippers out and cut it all off in this hot weather. It will grow again. It was Nikki that actually cut it all off, I think she felt obliged to because I said if she didn’t want to do it I would. The last time that happened I ended up looking like someone with alapeacha. I also don’t take any medication, again perhaps I should but then life would not be the same. I would have been working on my birthday thinking what a day to have a big birthday but then it is just another day. This one will be remembered for other reasons.

Life on the campsite is the same although it’s empty and we are not working I still seem to be doing stuff everyday. How would I have managed to do all these jobs if we were working I ask myself. My bird feeder outside the camper window is supplying the birds with some extra food. They can come and go to the feeder as they wish, no queuing or rations.

A pair of blue tits

In the compound I have now built a small patio from some old slabs that were hanging about. Not the best of patios but I did the best with what I had. We had to try it out with a BBQ and some beer and wine when I had finished. It works really well.

Our dining room

The flowers on the campsite are looking good and more are appearing each day. One of my favourites is this Tulip it looks like it’s on fire. Others I don’t know the names of, some are weeds but they are all nice.

The Tulip on fire

Today we booked up some sites for the winter. It will be another winter in the U.K. We need to make sure Mi Mi is all well and because we are furloughed our wages are short for three months and could be even longer depending what’s going to happen with this damn virus. We may even not be able to move around the U.K. only time will tell.

Me and Nikki went for a short walk the other day and on our way back stood and watched some lambs playing and dancing around. They really make me laugh just leaping about and all the time mums got her eye on them

The dancing lambs

So that’s us up to date. The last photo is another favourite of mine. A seeded dandelion head. I remember as a kid (last week) you had to blow them and make a wish. Stay safe out there and go on blow and make a wish. Just don’t spit all over your computer.

Blow and make a wish

Am I in Spain

Sometimes when I am out and about on my bike, looking at the mountain views, the big lake I cycle around, lack of traffic on the small roads, blue skies and sunshine (and they said it always rains in Wales!) added to that all the road signs are in two languages and then if you hear the locals speaking they talk in another language. It is just like being in Spain.

The weather has been fantastic the last couple of weeks, add to that the fact we are not working all adds up to being pretty damn good. The BBQ has been out on more than one occasion with a nice cold beer and glass of wine just to wash the food down. The camper is all washed and polished and nowhere to go. I did start it up the other day and let it get up to temperature, I even caught Nikki in the driving seat looking in the mirrors etc. Dream on girl, it ain’t going to happen.

All the trees are greening up, it’s almost like it happens overnight, flowers are springing up all over the site. My Snowdon garden is really coming into life. The birds are nesting and the dawn chorus at about 5am is fantastic. You will have to believe me on that one unless you’re an early bird like me. Some of the flowers on site below.

Went out on the bike the other day, a different way to which I normally go but still with some very nice views across to the mountains. The picture with the pipe in goes for a couple of miles at least and comes from the big lake I cycle round to a small power plant and the water is used for cooling.

Mountain views on bike ride
Water pipe

Today me and Nikki went for a walk up to the dam. She had not been up there before so I persuaded her to come with me this time. It’s a five mile walk but she did well and really enjoyed it. On the way through the woods I am always looking for photo opportunities and really like the one below. Taken under the trees looking up, makes a great shot I think.

My list of jobs is not getting much shorter because I keep finding other jobs to do which are not on the list but it keeps me busy. Sometimes I just have a nothing day and even two sometimes because I didn’t finish my nothing day on the first one. So that’s up to date. I hope you are all well and keeping safe and not getting too bored.

One of the locals saying hello

Easter but no bunnies

This weekend the campsite would have been fully booked. The arrival of motor homes and caravans trickling through the gates, all the different peaple from all over the uk. The laughter from most and sour faces from others, yes we get them all. You would think that as they’re coming away on holiday they would be happy, the smell of BBQ’s firing up and the ching of beer and wine glasses calling of cheers. We always join in on that one. Just to be sociable you understand.

But all that is not happening this year at Easter, instead we are looking after an empty site and it all feels really strange to be honest. Yes it’s nice having the time off because we like our free time but we actually like working in this job also. Apart from the sour faces. They can self isolate every year.

We went shopping the other day. Nikki normally goes on her own but I said I would drive her there and wait in the car. It’s a ten mile drive each way to Porthmadog and it feels like your in a war zone almost. The streets are empty of peaple, the shops all closed up and you don’t see many peaple walking the streets. Some you do see have masks on and there not burglars. Well they might be but I should imagine all the real burglars are pretty fed up because everyone is at home now so they can’t go breaking into empty houses. Just proves there is good and bad in all things. We parked up at Tesco and Nikki joined the queue which looked like it was a mile long but it actually moved along quickly. The queue looked long because of keeping your distance rules. I sat in the car listening to the radio and peaple watching. Saw some peaple arrive look at the queue and get back in their car and go, obviously not needing anything desperately. I saw a lady, before getting out the car, put her gloves on, mask and hood up. It’s a strange world at the moment.

Luckily we are in a wonderful spot and are able to get out for exercise. Apart from having the whole campsite to wander around we are in the edge of a little village with plenty of footpaths, woods, and a huge big lake to walk or bike around. My Snowdonia garden is looking good. This flower below is on its own but looks so nice. It’s called a snakes head fritillary.

Another part of the site is a dog walk. It has a bench seat in for the dog owners to rest their legs while the dogs tire themselves out. I often walk round the site and often just sit on this bench to chill out. It’s so peaceful with just the birdsong and sheep in the nearby fields making a noise. A nice noise. I watch as birds gather nesting material and fly off to build their nests thinking they are hidden but I know where they are. It’s surprising how much you see when you just sit somewhere really quiet and watch and listen.

My Chill-out bench

Another part of the site I found this tree fungi, ugly to some but at the same time beautiful just hanging on the side of the tree looking like it was built there from wood and now the paint is starting to peel off and crack in the sun.

I went for a walk the other morning from the site, through the fields and then up through the wood towards the lake and the dam. The short stretch of single lane road I saw one car. The rest of the time I was out which was about two hours and I walked five and a half miles I didn’t see a single person. Come to think about it I didn’t see a married person either. The sun was shining, only a small breeze, the birds were singing. I had a big grin on my face. (Not a sour face). Life’s good. I saw this big bull in a nearby field. He looked happy, but then in the next field were five cows with newborn calves. That’s why he looked happy.

What you looking at, keep your distance

As you come out the top of the wood and head down the overgrown track you see the lake spread out in front of you. The view is so nice. I think you will agree. We do feel very lucky even if we can’t get out to other places at the moment.

The view as you come out the wood.

So that’s us up to date. Stay safe everybody and hopefully soon we will be back to normal. My last picture today is a weed, the good old dandelion. But to me it looks like the sun. We all need some sunshine in our lives so I am sending you all some sunshine. It even goes out to the sour faces in hope they might cheer up.

Jobs to do

As from April 1st we have been furloughed for the months of April and May. Depending what’s happening in the country after that is anyone’s guess. This means that the government will be paying 80% of our wages, so at least we can still eat and have a beer or wine as long as we can get them in the shops. We can also stay on site and if we wish do some work on site, cutting grass etc. We are not obliged to but if the mood takes me I will be out there, on the nice sunny days sat in the ride on mower cutting the grass. I also have a ever growing list of other things to do on the camper and in our compound etc. So we will not get bored. If I get bored and want to get away for a couple of nights I can start up the camper and drive round the site and have the choice of 90 pitches to stop on. Another thing I suggested to the other wardens was we put a beer and wine on certain pitches and then go to each pitch in turn and drink the beer and wine. That way we have our own pub crawl.

On part of the site is a small area which is called Snowdonia garden. This was started in May 2015 by clearing the area of brambles etc and moving some large stones to form a rockery. They were then in consultation with the north wales wildlife trust to create a topological plan to include the forests of Snowdonia. Trees already in place at the back of the garden, the rocks were to replicate the mountains of Snowdonia. The lighter more open areas to the front were planted with bee and butterfly flowers. The stone walls already there have a long standing history with the area and play an important part in accommodating wildlife and their food. These walls are all over Wales. I love them. The hurdle type fencing to the garden has been constructed from coppiced wood on site demonstrating the ancient craft, historically used to keep the sheep in.

Snowdonia garden

I really like this area and it is now my job to keep it up together and any ideas I have to put them into it. This was my choice and I am very happy about it. Treating as my own little project and doing something for the wildlife in the area and hopefully when the peaple return they will appreciate it. They better do. I spent a whole day clearing it up of all the dead plants etc. I don’t think a lot has been done to it the last Couple of years. I will continue to do bits and pieces throughout the season and watch as it changes over the months.

It’s already starting to look nice.

Some of the plants already coming out and starting to look good.

Another thing I am going to build is a bug house or bug hotel. This will be a wooden construction which will have different sections in to attract different bugs. There is one here already but I want to build another which will be better of course. Mine will be five star. It will include dead wood for wood lice and centipedes, Holes for solitary bees straw and hay for invertebrates to burrow in, loose bark and old slate etc to make other homes. The bottom of it will be an area for hedgehogs to hibernate in. Will post pics when I have built it. I can’t get hold of the planning department at the moment because they’re all working from home. I will probably just go ahead and make it and face them later.

A loverly piece of rotting wood for a home.
More rotting wood and moss covered walls

I will keep you posted on the progress as the season unfolds and let you know who has moved in. My friend the tree peeper keeps watch when I am not there.

How things change.

Towards the end of last season we got the news we were to go to Snowdonia for the season. To say we were excited is a understatement. All through the winter we counted down the days, looking at maps, google earth, websites etc. The excitement grew and grew. Go to Snowdonia Mike they said. Fantastic. I can hike up Snowdon and have a hot chocolate in the cafe at the top, I can go to the mountain bike centre and blast around the tracks and downhills and have another hot chocolate in the cafe afterwards, I can go and surf at surf Snowdonia the wave pool in a lagoon and have yet another hot chocolate after to warm up, I can walk across to the pub from the site and have a beer with the locals or a hot chocolate, I can go on the steam railways and admire the views before returning for a hot chocolate, I can fly down the zip wire at over 100 MPH and then have another hot chocolate, not before.

And now here we are on a campsite with nobody to talk to and all the cafes, pubs, and attractions or playgrounds for me as I like to call them all closed. And now today we learn we can not go anywhere unless essential which is fair enough. Luckily we went shopping yesterday, although Nikki nearly broke down in tears at the checkout. Not at the price of our shopping but she was told she can only buy three bottles of wine instead of the six she had in the basket. My beer was ok as I had multi packs and by law your not allowed to split them. So three multipacks of beer with four beers in each. Don’t call me stupid.

So for now we will be keeping the site tidy, cutting grass etc and biking round an empty site to exercise, although the tracks from here are empty so I will go out on them sometimes because i am allowed to exercise and it’s so remote there is no chance of seeing anybody and even if you do you can avoid them. Stay safe everybody. Here are a couple of pictures. This is what I have to put up with.