We are home, home at last.
We have had an amazing week, and we were sad to leave. We all felt that somehow the week had gone far too fast, despite it being the normal length. There was definitely a bit of Dr. Who timey wimey stuff going on.
Or possibly something to do with druids.
We drove back through Snowdonia National Park in the late afternoon sunshine. Great shafts of sunlight pierced mountains awash with autumnal trees, and dark clouds rolled in across the hills, giving everything that amazing storm light quality that is my favourite and my best.
I sometimes forget how lucky we are in this country to never be very far away from stunning scenery, or ancient ruins, or historic buildings or just landscapes of such beauty that they really can take your breath away.
That, decent biscuits and a steady supply of excellent chip shops are pretty hard to beat, frankly.
We are all feeling much more relaxed. My twitchy eye is almost gone, and apart from 48 hours of an exciting water infection, and shutting my temple in the car boot in a grim car park in Holyhead, the week has been very splendid indeed.
Although none of us wanted to go home, being home is rather lovely.
It is bloody cold here though, by Welsh standards. I am currently sporting the latest in designer blankets and hot water bottles, and the heating is still cranked up to eleven.
The cat was rather alarmed to see us on our return. This is possibly because she was expecting granny bearing pockets stuffed with cat treats and hundreds of small paper balls, which she pings about the house for Derek to chase. The hallway was knee deep in paper balls. It was hard to open the front door. If you have ever seen the original Star Trek episode ‘The Trouble With Tribbles’ I think you will know of what I speak.
Then there could have been the fact that Derek is a bear of little brain and had simply forgotten we existed. A week is a lifetime in her teeny, catty brain.
After five minutes of cowering on the landing and the occasional paw waved through the banisters, she welcomed us home in true style by executing an enormous feline pooh in her cat box and digging it into oblivion while we were too festooned with bags and baggage to stop her.
That will teach us to go away.
Bastards.
