12: Wales

I took a train from Manchester to Newport, South Wales. My friend was waiting for me at the station and we drove into her little village of Blaenavon a few miles away through the lush, dark green forests and hills. It was so nice to be back here and it was familiar. The roads wind around and around here. These hills are much higher than the Dales and the greens are darker. The turns in the road would give little hints of a vast beauty in glimpses through the trees.

Such a warm and happy welcome for me! Homemade seafood linguini, bottles of prosecco, EXCELLENT music on the music system, great conversation.

The days in Wales absolutely flew by. There were trips to Abergavenny, Cwmbran, Pontypool. I booked a very good massage in Abergavenny to help treat my concert injury — a sore foot and leg from standing at the Manchester concert for 4.5 hours (worth it!!!). I got to meet my friend’s posse of girlfriends while I was here this time, which was a treat. There was a Friday night at a local pub with all of them and the kids and dogs. I had my first encounter with midges and they are as much of a nuisance as I have always heard (but they are still a FAR cry from the Texas mosquitos). We got a table outside and the kids could run and play. We ended up singing as the sun went down and some of the locals came outside to us and asked us to come in and entertain! We opted to keep singing outside and it became uncomfortably cool for this Texas Girl and I ended up with someone else’s coat and a glass of cognac to survive. It is still a good antifreeze!

There was a shopping excursion into Newbury (back in England) and a lovely evening at a restaurant with my friend’s amazing daughter (she’s finishing her semester) and another new friend.

The next day took us into the village of Usk, which is an absolutely gorgeous town and worth seeking out. We got back to Blaenavon early afternoon and all of a sudden it was time for me to load up the elephants and go back to London. Like I said…it all went by so fast! Thanks to my friends for their generous hospitality and love…I enjoyed my time in the Land of Dragons!