gothams3rdrobin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gothams3rdrobin) wrote2006-09-05 08:44 pm
gothams3rdrobin) wrote2006-09-05 08:44 pm
"I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky..."
I managed to wrangle a day off work yesterday, at Mam's request, and we took Rowan down to Milford Haven in West Wales. For those of you unfamiliar with the town (which, in fairness, would be pretty much ninety-nine percent of you), this is a little town which is one of the main ferry-ports to Ireland. I don't think it's known for anything other than that, but I could be wrong.
My aunt and uncle who run a resteraunt in Brecon have a small boat they keep at the marina in Milford Haven. They consider the boat to be pretty much their 'home', since their flat above the resteraunt comes with the business. It's a massive flat with three floors, though only the first one is actually inhabitable these days as it needs major repairwork. I can still remember playing hide and seek upstairs though, and each floor is the size of my own flat.
Anyway, the approximately ninety-mile journey took us about two and a half hours, including a stop at a little resteraunt in St Clears for a cuppa. Once we'd been shown around the boat, called 'Just The One', Aunty Anne radioed harbour patrol to make sure they had clearance to take us out for a trip down the river the next time they opened the locks. It takes some time to get out of the marina, as you have to wait for the first gate to be opened and then wait inside till they opened the second doors out into the river itself. There were two other boats leaving at the same time as us, and one of them came back in with us later on.
We travelled down river for an hour or so before Uncle John pulled us alongside this little getty down the hill from a pub/resteraunt. We disappointed a small group of guys who were attempting to fish, as they had to pack up so we could 'park' the boat (I have no clue of the right terminology, and I'm unlikely to ever learn it properly).
We'd intended to have lunch at the pub, but for some reason now that the schools are back in everywhere in that town closes down at two o'clock, and it was almost three by then. So we had a drink and some crisps before heading back to the boat, where Aunty Anne threw a salad together while Uncle John took us a little further down the river before we headed back again in time for the next scheduled entry to the marina.
Rowan loved every minute of it, though he was making Uncle John very nervous as he just would not sit still and kept trying to lean further than they felt was safe for him. These kind of nerves naturally brought out the 'psycho-mam' in me, and so the poor kid had to put up with a lot of hissed/shouted "Behave yourself"'s from me (I can be a nightmare when I'm trying to make sure he behaves in company). But on the whole he was pretty well behaved. Just exhausting, as normal! *grins* He slept pretty much the whole way home and went down with no complaints when I tucked him into bed and read him 'Snow White'. Though it was nine o'clock by this time! I wasn't up for an awful lot longer myself, and I've felt physically drained all day today - it's amazing how exhausting sitting on a boat or in a car can be! *laughs* I love travelling though - I think one of my ideal holidays would be a road-trip, even though I can't (and never will!) drive myself.
Because I can never resist, you will now be bombared by annoying photos of my family during this outing! *laughs*
My Mam, Aunty Anne and Uncle John with Rowan
Rowan helps Aunty Anne steer the boat!
And as an extra bonus: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v323/gothams3rdrobin/?action=view¤t=01010018.flv
This is a little home-movie of Rowan on the boat *grin* He made one of me too, but I haven't uploaded it yet....I look awful! *cringes*
This evening we made all the final preparations for Rowan's first day of school tomorrow *bites nails* I'm not sure how I'm going to be tomorrow, but hopefully I'll be fine. I know for a fact he will - he's been looking forward to this for ages!
His uniform is pressed ready (I will be taking a picture in the morning), and the necessary paperwork is in my bag. I have ingredients for a packed lunch, though I suspect he won't need it since the nursery staff are collecting him for me at noon. Best to be sure though. Mam's picking us up at eight thirty and is driving us down there for his start time of ten to nine (somehow I knew she'd find a way to be involved tomorrow morning) so I need to make sure we're up early and the morning routine over nice and quickly.
Welcome to my life for the next twelve years....
I would also like to give a little squee for this Sports Night story written by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
catwalksalone, because suchthefangirl and I politely asked her to expand on a drabble she'd written. Hee!!
There's loads I should say, people I should give shout outs to, but my brain melted yesterday and has yet to recover. Oh! Happy Anniversary for a few days ago, Rachel and Phaed! Everyone else...*hugs*
My aunt and uncle who run a resteraunt in Brecon have a small boat they keep at the marina in Milford Haven. They consider the boat to be pretty much their 'home', since their flat above the resteraunt comes with the business. It's a massive flat with three floors, though only the first one is actually inhabitable these days as it needs major repairwork. I can still remember playing hide and seek upstairs though, and each floor is the size of my own flat.
Anyway, the approximately ninety-mile journey took us about two and a half hours, including a stop at a little resteraunt in St Clears for a cuppa. Once we'd been shown around the boat, called 'Just The One', Aunty Anne radioed harbour patrol to make sure they had clearance to take us out for a trip down the river the next time they opened the locks. It takes some time to get out of the marina, as you have to wait for the first gate to be opened and then wait inside till they opened the second doors out into the river itself. There were two other boats leaving at the same time as us, and one of them came back in with us later on.
We travelled down river for an hour or so before Uncle John pulled us alongside this little getty down the hill from a pub/resteraunt. We disappointed a small group of guys who were attempting to fish, as they had to pack up so we could 'park' the boat (I have no clue of the right terminology, and I'm unlikely to ever learn it properly).
We'd intended to have lunch at the pub, but for some reason now that the schools are back in everywhere in that town closes down at two o'clock, and it was almost three by then. So we had a drink and some crisps before heading back to the boat, where Aunty Anne threw a salad together while Uncle John took us a little further down the river before we headed back again in time for the next scheduled entry to the marina.
Rowan loved every minute of it, though he was making Uncle John very nervous as he just would not sit still and kept trying to lean further than they felt was safe for him. These kind of nerves naturally brought out the 'psycho-mam' in me, and so the poor kid had to put up with a lot of hissed/shouted "Behave yourself"'s from me (I can be a nightmare when I'm trying to make sure he behaves in company). But on the whole he was pretty well behaved. Just exhausting, as normal! *grins* He slept pretty much the whole way home and went down with no complaints when I tucked him into bed and read him 'Snow White'. Though it was nine o'clock by this time! I wasn't up for an awful lot longer myself, and I've felt physically drained all day today - it's amazing how exhausting sitting on a boat or in a car can be! *laughs* I love travelling though - I think one of my ideal holidays would be a road-trip, even though I can't (and never will!) drive myself.
Because I can never resist, you will now be bombared by annoying photos of my family during this outing! *laughs*
My Mam, Aunty Anne and Uncle John with Rowan
Rowan helps Aunty Anne steer the boat!
And as an extra bonus: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v323/gothams3rdrobin/?action=view¤t=01010018.flv
This is a little home-movie of Rowan on the boat *grin* He made one of me too, but I haven't uploaded it yet....I look awful! *cringes*
This evening we made all the final preparations for Rowan's first day of school tomorrow *bites nails* I'm not sure how I'm going to be tomorrow, but hopefully I'll be fine. I know for a fact he will - he's been looking forward to this for ages!
His uniform is pressed ready (I will be taking a picture in the morning), and the necessary paperwork is in my bag. I have ingredients for a packed lunch, though I suspect he won't need it since the nursery staff are collecting him for me at noon. Best to be sure though. Mam's picking us up at eight thirty and is driving us down there for his start time of ten to nine (somehow I knew she'd find a way to be involved tomorrow morning) so I need to make sure we're up early and the morning routine over nice and quickly.
Welcome to my life for the next twelve years....
I would also like to give a little squee for this Sports Night story written by
catwalksalone, because suchthefangirl and I politely asked her to expand on a drabble she'd written. Hee!!There's loads I should say, people I should give shout outs to, but my brain melted yesterday and has yet to recover. Oh! Happy Anniversary for a few days ago, Rachel and Phaed! Everyone else...*hugs*
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You moor a boat. Just so's you know. The nipper looks like he's having lots of fun.
BIG SCHOOL!!!!!!! So exciting! Try not to cry *g*
Also, thank you for the squee. I worked out the story is equivalent to about 150 drabbles. That should keep you going!
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I thought it was something like that, but so so tired right now...
*bites nails* Can't make any promises there!
Hah! I no sooner click away from a story and I'm going "Okay, next?" - even if my eyes can barely open it's so late.
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...your Auntie Anne looks... alot like my mum and her sisters. It's uncanny.