Porth i'r Pentre Lodge, Llanover

“One thing is certain, and I have always known it - the joys of my life have nothing to do with age. They do not change. Flowers, the morning and evening light, music, poetry, silence, the goldfinches darting about.”
May Sarton
Decided to combine a walk with some photography (what a surprise) and family history research (for others) at Llanover. For my sins I volunteered to help with the journal, part of which is supporting members in getting their stories into the journal. Fascinating stuff, the ancestor in this story was a coracle fisherman from Cenarth who moved to Blaina to become a Puddler in the Iron Works and finished his days as gateman at Llanover (today’s blip). 
I was surprised by the numbers of orchids lining my pathway to the woodland, where there was an equally surprisingly enormous stand of Himalayan Balsam, must have been nearly ten feet tall! Buzzard and Kite kept me company on my way over the fields to St Bartholomew’s for a poke around the cemetery in search of a headstone, but no luck today. Unfortunately the church was locked so I made do with the entrance porch for my meditation, I could still enjoy the warmth of the day without risking burning my head (forgot my hat) in the direct sunlight. ‘Charmed’ by Goldfinches rising unexpectedly from the verges on my way back through the estate, and I thought I’d give the café in the old church a visit for coffee and cake before heading back to vote – election day today. Long day today, stayed up until about 3.45a.m. to see which way the wind was blowing. All change.