Walking

Saturday, April 21st., Cadogan Square, London.

Excellent short break in North Wales. Weather marvellous. As my mother always used to tell me: "The Devil looks after his own!"  Unusually warm for April and, apparently, more so in London than where I was. Glad of that. I lodged in Menai Bridge which is a most pleasant little town, picturesquely situated on the straits which separate Anglesey from the mainland. Dominated by Telford's suspension bridge. I was reading about Telford. Remarkable man - son of a poor shepherd in Scotland and rose to become one of the pre-eminent Victorian engineers. I doubt it could be done now.

Plenty of healthy exercise and I am definitely leg-weary. Walked around the Penmon area, along the coast between Moelfre and Lligwy Bay, to Llanddwyn Island through the Newborough Forest, around Geironydd and Crafnant Lakes in Snowdonia, and around Llyn Padarn at Llanberis. Lots of Welsh spoken. Couldn't understand a word! People friendly though, at least those few I spoke to. Mostly I kept to myself and thoroughly enjoyed being able to please myself - nobody to consult, consider or compromise with!

I made a start on re-reading "Hilda Lessways" last evening. Disappointed. At this early stage I don't feel that the book has the energy of "Clayhanger", and Hilda herself is not convincing as a character. I shall of course persevere and hope for greater engagement as the plot develops.

Away from home

Friday, October 19th., Trinity Hall Farm, Hockliffe, Beds.

Wallpaper is a problem at present! I am experiencing difficulty in ensuring that the terms of an agreement I made with Adams to obtain particular wallpapers from Essex & Co., London, at an agreed price, are adhered to. But I am nothing if not determined, and it will be done.

In the meantime, because only two or three rooms can presently be lived in with dignity, I have taken a holiday in North Wales and returned yesterday.

Predominant colours, grey and green. Grey of the stone, especially the ubiquitous slate, and green of the vegetation which thrives in the damp climate. In fact there was not much actual rain, and the rivers, streams and lakes were rather less full than is usually the case in my experience. Much fungus, especially in the woods around the Conwy valley. Some spectacular toadstools, bright red with yellow veins, larger than a tennis ball, like a child's drawing of a toadstool. And colonies of smaller, dark, sinister looking fungi on the forest floor, or infesting damp, dead trees.

Conwy and Caernarfon both dominated by their castles. I prefer Conwy of the two. Circuit of walls largely intact. Like looking down on a model town. Grey streets. Spectacular views out towards the Great Orme. Much Welsh spoken in the north west Wales area, including Anglesey. Most people seem able to move easily from Welsh to English and vice versa. A sort of sense now and then that the staff and some customers in cafes deliberately move into Welsh when English people are present. Given the treatment of the Welsh by the English over the centuries I can hardly feel surprised by some lingering hostility.

Telford's suspension bridge over the Menai Straits is a triumph of engineering in the landscape. Not so the nearby railway bridge, which is functional but not beautiful. And of course the A5, Watling Street, connects this place to Holyhead as directly as could reasonably be imagined by a visionary engineer.





Additionally for October 19th., see 'Americans' -
http://earnoldbennett.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/americans.html

Lunch at Harper's, with chief members of staff including Major Lee, under presidency of Colonel George Harvey. I liked Harvey. Quiet, ruminative, accustomed to power and so on. Good laugh. Good story.