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Welcome to my place in the blogosphere!
feel free to explore the Flight Deck and check out my books and website.
Then fasten your seatbelts, sip a glass of something sparkling and let's chat awhile!
I hope you'll stop by again for guest authors and spotlights from time to time.

Beloved Enemy joined Starquest and Children of the Mist to continue the Destiny Trilogy and I'm thrilled to announce was shortlisted for the R.N.A. RoNA Awards 2017, awarded 2nd Runner up in the RONE Awards 2017 and was the winner in the SF/Fantasy category of the 'Best Banter Contest'.

Showing posts with label Snowdonia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snowdonia. Show all posts

Thursday 8 December 2016

Wales - my homeland

A couple of nights ago I stopped by at one of my Publisher The Wild Rose Press's Tuesday 'chats'.  I wasn't able to stay long as I'm in  the UK, five hours ahead of Eastern time, and it was past my bedtime. I did promise, however, to post some pictures of Wales, so here they are.  Although I currently live in a small village in England, my heart is still in Wales and its scenery and legends inspired much of my writing.

Wales is a land of waterfalls, and I love waterfalls
This is one of the most famous, at Devil's Bridge.





And this is the bridge itself - which is actually
three bridges, one above the other.
The Graig Goch Dam (Red Dragon Dam) When I was doing
long distance and endurance riding in Wales, part of the course on one of the
rides was down the steep mountain on one side, then right over the dam
to the other side, an amazing experience!
This is the road to my sister's place in Wales where we stay when
we are visiting the family.  You can see the water lying in the
fields - it was a rare rainy day! 😉





Part of the bridleway where I used to ride
The shingle beach 
the harbour

Portmeirion, the Italianate village where the TV seriesThe Prisoner was filmed
Two more pictures of Snowdonia.  I could see the mountain range from
my home in Wales, and one day I looked across at sunset, to see the snow
sweeping down across the mountains like a mist.  This inspired the planet
Nifleheim, which appears in STARQUEST and CHILDREN OF THE MIST

I hope you enjoyed my little tour around some of my favourite parts of Wales - and if you visit the UK, don't forget Wales.  Most people visit the chocolate box villages in England, the rugged scenery and lochs of Scotland and the lovely countryside of Ireland, but forget all about Wales, which has some of the most spectacular scenery!

Sunday 29 June 2014

Welsh legend Monday - The story of Gelert

The Aberglaslyn Pass
http://www.beddgelerttourism.com/
http://www.beddgelerttourism.com/
In the heart of Snowdownia, a short walk from the village of Beddgelert, (Gelert's Grave)  two stones mark a single, small grave, one at the head and one at the feet.
According to legend, the stone monument in the field marks the resting place of 'Gelert', the faithful hound of the medieval Welsh Prince Llewelyn the Great. The story, as written on each tombstone, one in English and one in Welsh, reads:

"In the 13th century Llewelyn, prince of North Wales, had a palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, ‘The Faithful Hound’, who was unaccountably absent.

On Llewelyn's return the truant, stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The prince alarmed hastened to find his son, and saw the infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood. The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side, thinking it had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry.

Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. The prince filled with remorse is said never to have smiled again. He buried Gelert here".

Isn't that sad?  I suppose the moral is never act in haste, or jump to hasty conclusions. It makes me sad to think the loyal hound's bravery was rewarded by death at the hands of his beloved master, but he gained immortality as his story has been handed down through generations.