monkey business in the brecon beacons

[llywela]

I still can't access my journal from my work computer - looks like a webserver related issue. This is getting rather annoying now. I've submitted a bunch of support requests, but the LJ bods don't seem to be in any rush to sort it out. Grr.

But I can still post from home, so to celebrate that fact, let's have another picspam.

A few weeks ago, I went with the family on a trip up to the Brecon Beacons to visit the Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary, which is rather tiny but seems to provide a good home for all the rescued monkey and apes that live there.


Since it was such a lovely day and we were in no rush, we also stopped off at our favourite spot in those parts, a little lay-by alongside one of the waterfalls that tumbles down the hillside beside the A470: a perfect spot to park up, take in the view and clamber around on the hillside...which means I have posted pictures of this view before, but here it comes again!







We took with us for the day Chelsea's current best friend, Jessica, who is also the most sensible and stable friend she's ever had, so we're hoping this friendship lasts! Jess has had a tough little life, poor kid. Her mum died when she was only 9 - she'd had a form of leukaemia and had survived her cancer treatment and went back to work as a teacher, only to drop dead of a heart attack in the middle of the playground at break time. Seriously. Then because the type of cancer she'd had has a genetic link, Jess was tested - and was found to not only have a positive gene, but already had cancer. She's been in and out of hospital for the last 5 years, the cancer has recurred several times. But she's healthy at the moment, although understandably obsessive about checking herself for lumps. She and Chelsea have proved to be good for each other, as they have both been quite sheltered, for their own individual reasons, so they've been gaining a bit of freedom together and it's been good for them both. That day in the Brecon Beacons, we left Mum and Dad down on the lower slopes while I climbed the two girls right up to the top of the hill!


And Chelsea actually stuck her head right under the waterfall at one point!


The view is rather stunning from right up on the hillside.







Oh, and when I say that this is a favourite spot for my family, I'm really not kidding - when I went through all those old photos and papers for my digitisation project last year, I found photos taken at this same spot, alongside the waterfall, dating back 40 years!

So for example, here are some old photos taken at the waterfall way back in 1970:



In 1977:


And 1984:

Comments

[galathea-snb.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous photos! ♥ I can't wait to see it all myself. I hope the weather is good when we take our trip to the Beacons.

Btw, watched Primeval S5 in one go. LOL Such a well written and cohesive little season. Tell me when you finished it, because I was a bit confused at the end. *g*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed for good weather for us!

Wow, you got through Primeval S5 already? But you only found out it had aired on Saturday! Marathon! I've seen 5/6 episodes so far. One to go, but I won't have a chance to see it today - maybe tomorrow.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

What gorgeous pics - and what a coincidence, cos someone was just telling me about a waterfall (granted, probably not yours!) in the south Beacons and a mate and I are hoping to visit! *g* Innit weird - I've never thought about Welsh waterfalls in my life, and suddenly two come along all at once... *g*

I adore your 70/77/84 pics, by the way - you're an inspiration as far as family history goes!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Coinkidink is a funny thing! There are loads of waterfalls up in the mountains - you were probably thinking/talking about one of the larger and more famous ones, rather than our little trickle at the side of the road!

I love our old family photos. Luckily we've had people on both sides of the family who've tended to hoard such things - all of which I have now scanned and thus stored for posterity. Makes it so much easier to share the wealth!

The little boy in the 1970s photos is my Uncle Chris, who is now 50 and coming to stay with me this weekend to attend a family funeral...

[bowtrunckle.livejournal.com]

How wonderful that you have a family spot that's been visited repeatedly over the last 40 years (and the pictures to prove it). Lovely pictures. Love the sheep!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Heh, the mummy sheep kept looking at us askance, wondering if we were a threat to her baby - who was already big enough to take care of himself! In the end she decided we were simply a nuisance and scooted the baby off to pastures quieter!

[synaptikchaos.livejournal.com]

that is a beautiful spot

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I've always thought so - although I sometimes wonder if we shouldn't branch out and explore more instead of always going to the same place!

[catsdownunder.livejournal.com]

Your own 'family location' tour. Beautiful area and nice to see it still pristine.

[daphnis.livejournal.com]

Bless your generous heart for sharing so freely!! I've always wanted to visit Wales but never have been pecunious enough to make it happen. (Impecuneity, I've noticed, is something us poor folk seem to have an ample sufficiency of . . . . . so at least we are rich in Something!)

Coinkidink and synchronicity appear to be the obverse sides of the same coin, as it were. Aren't words fun to play with?

[roven75.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous spot, and the old family pics are great! Thank you for sharing!

[kelzies.livejournal.com]

Grr. Better let you back on LJ at work soon!

BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS. Absolutely gorgeous spot! No wonder the family have been going there for all these years!