Ollie Days 2

"Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it."
Greg Anderson

Brilliant reds and pinks streak the sky in an early morning display of stunning colour; an amazing sunrise this morning.  The bedroom has windows on all four walls so we left the blinds open on the East window to make the most of it [but if I'm honest to make sure we don't sleep in until 10.30 like we did on Dartmoor when it was overcast!].   

After breakfast Ollie takes me for my morning walk up the lane.  Great views across to Skirrid but I've left my camera behind.  We settle  down to play around with watercolours; K1 is keen to have a go after I got hooked on it during a transatlantic cruise a couple of years ago.  By lunchtime concentration is exhausted and it's time to explore further afield.

White castle is nearby so we head off in the car, with my superb navigation skills how can we go wrong.  When we reach Abergavenny I confess I've missed a turning somewhere, so I nip in to Waitrose to get some ingredients for tonight's meal.  I'd bought everything on Tuesday but left a few things behind - but remembered the red wine... But  if I hadn't missed the turn-off i probably wouldn't have seen the Red Kite prospecting overhead, the first I've seen in this area, a beautiful bird of prey.

I did find White Castle eventually and we had a good mooch around the Norman stronghold with its deep moat.  The natives around here were particularly restless.  We also met a walker, Tom Davies, who is walking around Wales to raise funds for Alzheimers.  He's having a short stroll - 1,100 miles he says, and I'm not arguing -  along Offas Dyke and the Wales Coastal Path.  On his last leg to Presteigne, due to finish on Saturday.  You can find him here -
https://tomswelshwanderwordpress.wordpress.com/author/tomswelshwander/
Interesting to talk to and his blog is worth a read.

On our return to the cottage the weather closes in again, don't envy tom on his walk but it does produce some spectacular views of Skirrid with the dark threatening clouds.

This evening I learn how to use an induction hob to make our evening meal.  K1's hit the Pimms early followed by red wine with, and in, the cottage pie [appropriate for our stay in a cottage I thought] so no complaints to the chef tonight.