Over the Christmas holiday we went to west Wales, as we do every year. I grew up there and my parents and brother still live in the same little town, just ten miles from the beautiful west coast of Cardigan Bay.
We tend to visit twice a year, for a few weeks in the summer and a week at Christmas – and to be honest there is nowhere else on earth I’d rather be! I moved away when I went to university almost twenty years ago and never went back to live but it will always be my home, where I’m from and where my roots are firmly planted.
This year we travelled back to Wales on Thursday 22nd December and had a couple of days at my parents’ house to relax before the big day. It was lovely being back but to be honest we didn’t do much on these first few days, we mainly saw family and watched movies. The girls were tired after a long term at school and I think we all needed some downtime, being cared for by my mum.
Christmas Eve is always my favourite day, I love the anticipation and excitement that buzzes through the house. Every year we get together with mum’s family and share gifts. Also, I make a Christmas Eve hamper of treats and gifts for the girls to open in the evening, which of course includes matching Christmas pyjamas.
After Christmas day we were definitely ready to head out. Cabin fever had set in, so we had a few days of travelling down to the coast. The girls love running around the beach at any time of year, so it’s always a good choice for us. On the day after Boxing day we drove down to Cwmtutu beach, which is a small cove with rocks and caves and a beautiful pebbly beach, just twelve miles away.
The day after we headed over to Aberaeron for a walk along the seafront, where the girls climbed the rocks. The weather was clear and cool but with the sun shining so bright it didn’t feel too cold, we even managed to have fish and chips outside, sittingon the harbour wall. This is normally something we do in the summer, never usually during our Christmas holiday!
And on our last day we drove up to the bigger seaside town of Aberystwyth, where we again walked along the long seafront and played on the 2p machines in the arcade. I think this might have been one of Lili’s holiday highlights, she does love winning those tokens.
Of course the sunset came early, so we were able to stand on the pier and watch the sun go down over the horizon – and wow it was an amazing sunset! Even these pictures don’t do it justice.
It’s times like these that you realise that (as long as the weather is good) there’s nowhere like home!
Thanks for following me and my blog and I’d like to wish you all a very happy, healthy and wealthy new year.
Follow
