WOYWW 428

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE, SWEET LOVE...

also:

A GIN AND A TONIC - AH, THAT SHOULD DO THE TRICK!

Two lyrics for the the price of one this week - a wordy BOGOF :-D  The first to counteract some of the craziness going on at the moment and the second, well...you may just recognise a theme.

WARNING - PICTURE HEAVY POST!!!

I shall start with my desk..to be honest, no crafting has taken place here at all this week, it's a dumping ground. I've been trying to finish off those ornaments and am seeing blanket stitch in my sleep - the pack of yarn was bought by Julia and left here so I can make that jacket for her. 

As you may have gathered, Julia came back to Wales with us after we'd been to Winchester. It was fab to see her, I don't think we drew breath for four days :-D

On Thursday, we went to Llandeilo - a visit to the GinHaus was a must! The weather was glorious so sitting outside with a cocktail just had to be done....
Rhubarb and orange for me and blackberry waterfall for Julia!

They didn't last long!! We sat there for a while and then had a happy two hours stroll around the very funky shops and galleries in the town.

My mate!

Llandeilo is full of old buildings and little snickets and alleyways - this one just HAD to be explored. Isn't that doorway great?!

We did some tasting of the gin I'd bought when we got home (this was only our second of the day, don't panic!!) and I did some crafting as we sat there nattering away.

Slowly but surely getting through them!  The gin we were trying was this....

Rhubarb gin - very delicious indeed, especially with a slice of orange rather than lemon.

We went to Carmarthen for a mooch the next day and were amazed by the quality of the art in the galleries we went in. I could have bought three things and Julia loved a really colourful work. We found out the the Welsh Arts Council run an art purchasing scheme, where you can pay a deposit and then have 12 months interest free credit in order to buy art. The only stipulation is that it must be by a living artist - the English Arts Council runs a separate but similar scheme.

We went down to the beach on Saturday, to do a little beachcombing....

Rhys and Julia mooching along the harbour shoreline...

You can find all sorts of interesting things there!

The breakwater was created out of large boulders of industrial waste from the tin and copper works that were here in 200 odd years ago - you can still see evidence of it....

The bright green of copper was everywhere...

... and plants are amazing at colonising inhospitable spaces. I read the other day that Wales has the largest number of different lichen species anywhere in the world...there was a good variety down there on the rocks!

Julia's hubby, Mr Dunnit, came down to fetch her but before they left, we managed a beach walk and blackberry picking!

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed catching up with my mate, I do so miss her now we've moved.  Still, it won't be long before we meet up again at the Crop in Llandudno - she'll be getting bored with me soon, lol!!

I'll leave you with this pic taken by Mr LLJ - it makes me smile :-D

What a belter (and the pic's not bad either!!)

Well done if you've made it to the end - it was a bit self indulgent today but I don't care!

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37 comments:

Nikki said...

Looks like a fun time you had but eww to Rhubarb and Vodka to me looks pretty and if you like Rhubarb Yum but no thanks Gin and Blueberries does sound yummy for sure :)
hugs Nikki ??

Helen said...

what fantastic pics of you and Julia! really love the last one, but the one of them all foraging in the hedgerow made me laugh!. Everyone I know who's tried the Rhubarb Gin loves it; and it does look pretty. Helen
#?

Claire said...

Wow, looks like a wonderful day!! Gorgeous pics!
Happy WOYWW :)
Claire, no. 3

Lynn Holland said...

You can self indulge to your hearts content Jan because that was the next best thing to being there with you both. What a wonderful week. Love to you both xxxx Lynn (forgot my number)

Annie said...

What fab pics. They just ooze with love and friendship and no distance between you will ever affect that......it just makes the together times all the more special. I'm sooooo looking forward to the crop too.
Hugs,
Annie x#11

Sue said...

Hi Jan, So glad you had such a fab time with Julia.

Love the photos of you two.

Happy WOYWW
Sue #12

Unknown said...

A lovely post today Jan and I absolutely love that special photo of the both of you at the end.
Have a happy week
Lynda B no 6

Unknown said...

A lovely post today Jan and I absolutely love that special photo of the both of you at the end.
Have a happy week
Lynda B no 6

Twiglet said...

Oh Jan - that last one should be made into a poster - it just sums up your happy friendship perfectly. Hope the knitting goes well - looks a fab little jacket.

Anne said...

Hi Jan. Not joining in again :-( but lovely seeing/ hearing about your fun time together. I would have enjoyed the gin tasting! Hope to be back sharing my desk next week. Anne x

Christine said...

What a superb time you both had!
I used to visit Carmarthen when on holiday with small children but only pass through now on our way to and from PJ's discovered sister. Lovely town.
Great photos of you both - two absolutely special ones ... guess!
Have an enjoyable week
Christine #20

SusanLotus said...

SKÅL! As we say in Sweden. Cheers?
The drinks looks yummie. Why don´t you send me one? ;)

I love that area you are walking in. It´s always relaxing
in the nature and the feeling after is being refreshed.

Happy WOYWW!
Sussie, no number yet

BJ said...

What a lovely post - sigh. What a super time you both had together, these times will be even more special now you have moved away. As for the "Gingham" theme for the SWAP, well spotted, I run an online craft group (have done for about 12 years now) and yes Sue Dyer is a member. No one has said they have received their cards yet so no photos on the group yet so I popped along for a sneak preview of Sue's lol, thanks for the visit BJ#19

glitterandglue said...

Morning Jan. Have just read this week and last week's posts. What a fabulous time you have been having. Congrats to the band!!! Well, girl - you have done something I never have - been to an Eisteddfod! Brilliant - how's the Welsh coming on?? No, I don't suppose spellchecker did like LlanfairPG - teehee. A great time, too, with Julia - lots of different things seen and done (hic!). It's so good to visit with friends.
Take care. God bless. No, it's not long to the crop...
Margaret #2

Sarah Brennan said...

So glad you and Julia had such a great time. That gin looks interesting, beer and wine make me sneeze but I can drink the occasional gin without ill effect so I'll have to give it a try some time. Happy WOYWW Sarah #25

Neet said...

You are right - that is a belter of a picture! But then I enjoyed them all - especially the ones of you and your mate. Ginhaus, must look out for one of those, never heard of them before. Nice to see your desk full of things - lovely array of colours on there.
Have a great week.
Hugs & Thanks for visiting me earlier - Neet 13 xx

Cara said...

How wonderful that you and Julia got to spend some fabulous time together and sample so gin as an added bonus! Lovely to see Julia looking so well too. Have a great week x

shazsilverwolf said...

Hiya Jan, what a host of brilliant pictures! Love the silhouette one at the end too. Isn't that copper rock amazing? Nice to see so much Gin getting an outing, lol. Love & hugs to you all, Shaz XxXx

Julia Dunnit said...

Well they are fun photo of a very fun time. I dont remember any embarrassing silences or pauses, so we must still be getting on then!! Xxxxx

misteejay said...

Jan, the photos are fabulous (especially the last one). It looks like you and Julia have had a wonderful time. I don't like gin but that rhubarb version sounds interesting - perhaps if there was a rhubarb vodka...
Have a great week.
Toni xx

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

Look at you - like two peas in a pod! Fab photos Jan! I really like the shot of you G&Ts and the one in the sunset. It's a shame you two don't live closer to each other. Have a happy week! zsuzsa #29

May said...

The photos are fabulous... Love them all... looks and sounds like the pair of you had a great time... and that Gin sounds lovely ... I love your desk also full of wonder fabric & wool Perfect... May #17

Heather M said...

Hi Jan. Great photos. I love the snowflake love hearts. Sounds like a lot of gin was enjoyed, glad you both had a great time. Have a lovely week, Heather #30

Elizabeth said...

Fabulous post, Jan. The photos of you and Julia are just a treat. It is so good to see Julia looking so well. I'm not a gin lover but, as I've recently discovered the pleasures of fruit flavoured cider, I could be tempted to try the rhubarb gin too. Llandeilo looks like a very pretty little town - one I'd like to visit one day. Have a great week. Hugs, Elizabeth x #28

StampinCarol said...

Oh my, what a great post of love, friendship, and fun! Hope you have a great week!
Carol N #31

Lindart said...

You two are like peas in a pod! It was so nice to be able to see you two having fun and drinking Rhubarb Gin (who knew!). Reminds me of my visit a couple of weeks ago with my bestie in Niagara Falls! Thanks for sharing, Lindart #35

Cheetarah said...

OH this is such a heartwarming post! LOVE all the photo's you posted and seeing the great time you ladies have had! That last picture is just too precious :) and oh my Rhubarb gin, looks very delish!

xox Cheetarah happy WOYWW #37

Felicia said...

Jan, you two are just too stinking cute!! I LOVED all of your pix and banter! It's hard to catch a word in when I'm around as well, so I feel you! LOLOL Gorgeous photos and I'm so jealous of your stroll in those cool alley's! That would have been right up my alley.....uhh, no pun intended! LOL And, just so you know, gin and tonic is my all time fave cocktail as well......I bet that rhubarb gin was to die for! I'm so glad you and Julia had such a lovely time! We all need a "bestie" and doing great trips together is the best! Thanks for stopping by my blog and your lovely post! Blessings to you, Felicia #32

Plush Possum Studio said...

What a lovely day...breathtaking sights, fun alleyways to poke about in, blackberries (mmmmm) and a wild card of some rhubarb gin. Splendid. I like the art buying scheme. I wish we had something like it here in the states. Happy WOYWW!
~Rose of Rose's Art Garden #36

Suzanne Alexis said...

I love all the photos, especially of any British countryside (I'm such an Anglophile)! The last one is really the best! I had to smile at the word scheme. I know enough British English to recognize the meaning as the same as "plan", but in America it means "devious plan". Now I have to go look up belter . . . Have a great week!l

Suzanne #38

Bernice said...

Great photos - looks like you had a great time. I'm very jealous of all the Christmas craft fair things you have prepared already - I had great plans to make lots over the summer hols, but we're back to school in just over two weeks and I haven't even started yet!!
Bernice #24

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

What a glorious post! 'Lady M' would be proud of you with that gorgeous Gin (Steampunk Lady who uses Gin with everything and that includes puddings!) Have a great woyww and thank for the visit to mine, Angela x21x

April said...

What great pictures. Sounds like you girls had a great time. April #23

Lynnecrafts said...

A fabulous post Jan. What lovely pics of you both. The ginhaus is fab! I like the sound of rhubarb gin. Haven't posted this week as I'm still sorting out my thesis (and am home wheezing again, grrrr, but enjoyed your blog. Love Lynne

Belinda said...

Hello! I remember you from when I used to participate a long time ago. I love this post. It makes me miss my girlfriend who now lives across the country from me. Quality time with friends is the best and you two look like you know how to live it up. I have never tasted flavored gin but very curious what that tastes like. I love the photo of the alleyway. I collect photos of doorways on Pinterest so it was fun to discover a new one. Thank you for visiting my blog yesterday and have a blessed day!
Belinda

Annie Claxton said...

oh wow Jan what a brilliant collection of photos, and what a happy time you had together. I think I love the last one the best :o) Annie #22

ToadilyDiane said...

Great pics! I live the silhouette of you too with the sunset!

When life hands you a lemon...just grab some salt and tequila! 😉
Have a great day!
Diane #26

WOYWW 769

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