Into the Forest of Dean with

Mr Wales.  Well a former Mr Wales.  I hadn't seen my cousin Stephen since I was 10 or 11 and he was 18 or 19 so probably didn't see me at all.  He was into body building and became Mr Wales around that time.  He and Elaine, his wife, had invited Momery and me to visit them in Abergavenny.  Stephen is the family genealogist so I was expecting a cup of coffee, some family history chat then off we go.
My first surprise was when Stephen opened his front door and I thought I was looking at my Dad.  I recovered over anticipated cup of coffee, then Stephen suggested we take a drive to the Forest of Dean, birthplace of our Grandma, to search for Moy's Hill Farm which has family links.  He had long wanted to find the place and today seemed like a good day.  I can't say we piled into his car because it is large and luxurious and there were only four of us, but we arranged ourselves very comfortably and off we drove towards Gloucestershire through beautiful countryside and villages.  We stopped at Westbury Church

Elaine and I

and met likely ancestors in the churchyard.

 

To my surprise there were grapes

on the cottage opposite the church.

Our search took us to the Severn Estuary.

Momery and I

 
 We had a few false but beautiful leads, and then we found it.

The owners are a young family who knew nothing of our forebears but were very happy for a photo shoot - Stephen had come well prepared.

 

Westbury Church from Moy's Hill Farm

I love this photo:  like a feminist Midsommer Murder / Homicide

Despite trawling every country lane we couldn't find Hutt Farm so left that for another day...
We got back to Elaine and Stephen's place where they casually asked if we'd like something to eat.
After a feast of gammon and salmon en croute, the best raspberry cheesecake and photos for family records,

here with Jason, Stephen and Elaine's son

Momery and I returned to the Disability Suite somewhat later than expected.

The Day of the Doctor

Being Riversong I figure I'm allowed to play around with time and place today so we're going back to Bristol and Abergavenny.  Momery and I rendezvoused at Bristol and picked up our hire car from the evocatively named Green Motion Car Hire.  I was delighted, having always wanted a Fiat Bambina

(pictured here en route to The Rhondda 2 days later)

 with a sunroof

so I amused myself all the way out of Bristol and across the Severn into Wales.

Momery was not so amused as she had to drive, but also because when we got to Abergavenny all the advertised accommodation was fully booked.  I had advised against booking ahead...  Fortunately for me, after numerous phone calls, we found the lovely Llanwenarth Hotel where we were ensconced in the Disability Suite for 3 days, no other accommodation being available in the whole of Abergavenny.  The suite came with an Olympic swimming pool sized bathroom which flooded into my bedroom every time we showered.  I could hardly complain.

The River Usk, I think.

  

Breakfasts were a delightful affair. I think I had smoked salmon every morning.

 

It is noteworthy that the Night Bus which Harry Potter caught comes through Abergavenny, as did Gerald of Wales in the 12th century.

Singapore Sunday and Monday

On Sunday, Matt and Oscar were doing rugby things, Ella and Kit were at rehearsal, Rem was somewhere so Georgia and I took off in search of more Deepavali in Little India.  We were too late. Everything was being torn down and replaced with Christmas decorations.  I wasn't too worried because Georgia had covered it brilliantly the year before. Twice .
Monday may or may not have a been a public holiday, so we said it was and Georgia, Matt, Ella and I went to lunch at PS.  We had to wait for a table, so took in the environs.

 cool fish

 Christmas decorations.

I love that we could travel everywhere by public transport.  And I love that everyone accepts that I am so childish and lets me have the front seat at the top of the bus.  This, I believe is the start of Orchard Road.

Singapore Day 1

Tired but happy after a Halloween flight, I arrived in Singapore approx 0930 on the first day of the Celtic and Hindi New Year.  Georgia took me to lunch to celebrate.  If you look carefully at the middlish building with the sloping roof you can see some pillars - that's where the restaurant is.

Good views

Off to see the Merlion (curiously wearing a top hat)

and some old Singapore.

A Pimms at the SCC where Matt was organising a weekend Rugby tournament.

But still there is no escaping Visual Arts...

Singapore - Gardens by the Bay 'Where Wonder Blooms'

I thought I'd resume blogging with Singapore - may work back from there. See how the spirit moves me...  If you've looked at Georgia's blog, you'll know we went to the truly wondrous Gardens by the Bay.

The Gardens are lush and green

 and architectural too.

Like fireworks and fountains.

The apparently floating baby stuns  visually and technically - the sculpture is bronze and rests on the back of the hand touching the ground.

This mother and baby made me think of Shanah and Archie.

There are many sculptures

which Georgia loved.

Tarzan was elusive

but these guys were happy to play along.

It was afterall Deepavali.

It was a riot of colour and elephants.

My Mum would love it.

 Then you need a nice cup of ginger flower tea.

(I also had small but perfectly formed bouillabaisse - it could have been served in an egg cup)

 But there are reminders of domestic chores

and thoughts of home

and it is time to go.