Tuesday 1st March 2011 Wendy collected me from the B&B and drove me all the way back to Gorseinon where I passed through a few days earlier with her. Pulling up at the regional Alzheimer's Society centre, I was met by ‘welcome' banners, bunting and welsh dragons... and a line of happy smiling faces. Stiff upper lip time... I failed miserably. Today I met just a few of the people who work so hard and with such compassion to help support those with Alzheimer's, and those who care for them. I interviewed some of the carers, I listened to their lives, their experiences, their guilt, their fears, their loneliness and their love for the person they cared for. As I sat talking to them, I realised that they all shared the same feelings. It wasn't until they had the opportunity to sit and talk to other people in the same situation that they began to realise that they really weren't on their own. Quite simply, amongst its many roles, Alzheimer's Society does a brilliant job in helping to support and bring carers together so they can ultimately support one another through sharing experiences and all the complicated emotions that go with that role. I left the office feeling charged with energy and humbled by what I had shared with the supporters of the Charity. Thank you to everyone at the centre for making my visit so special.
Wendy was again at the wheel driving me back to Ferryside. We arrived at 2.55 pm to find the crew members of the inshore rescue boat getting the RIB ready. They insisted that Wendy came along for the ride, and so we set off, closely monitoring the depth of the channel using the onboard navigation equipment. The channels move and change on a daily basis such is the nature of mud, sand, strong river current, tides and storms. As we occasionally planed and often idled our way round the point to Laugharne, I appreciated how tricky it must be to operate boats and rescue people along these shores. Most call outs are to people running aground, or getting cut off by the tide, and sometimes getting sucked into the mud. I am full of admiration for these rescue boast crews. Landing in the shallow water alongside the low sea wall at Laugharne, I was given a fireman's lift onto the shore. I waved farewell to the crew and Wendy, and watched them pick their way through the labyrinth of channels back towards Ferryside. I was in Dylan Thomas's village.
Wednesday 2nd March 2011 I had stayed the night in a lovely B&B at the top of the village and the owners made a donation to the charity and provided me with a huge packed lunch. I detoured via Dylan Thomas's shed which was perched on the edge of a cliff with outstanding views across the River Taf and the sea beyond. Through its window can be seen his writing desk and various items of furniture, just as it would have been in his day. Further along is the house where he lived for several years with his wife and children. It is here in Laugharne that he was inspired to write "Under Milk Wood". Then back on the path (in fact roads) as I was diverted inland by an extensive firing range behind Pendine Sands, the scene of numerous historical land speed reckons - a stretch of long flat sand over which the speeding wheels of cars driven by Sir Malcolm Campbell rolled. Broadway, Pendine and then along some steep paths, the likes of which I had not seen for many miles. It signified a change in the scenery and perhaps tougher going. Into Amroth - the start of the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path. A National Trail. An acorn way marked trail. A guide book complete with directions, maps and narrative. 30,000 feet of ascent. Joy! Lots of chats and donations. As the day closed I came up to Wiseman's Bridge Inn;. Perched right on the edge of the sea, the occasional wave sent spray misting against my room's window. What a fantastic setting. Becca, Lauren, Jack and Graeme looked after me well. Thank you all for your donation.
Thursday 3rd March 2011 A bright and sunny day. Spring is definitely in the air. From Wiseman's Bridge I plodded through Saundersfoot and into Tenby. Philippa came down from London to join me for her birthday week-end and we settled into a friend's cottage for a long week-end to celebrate her birthday. Then back up to London for a couple more weeks of work!
Follow my progress…
Wendy was again at the wheel driving me back to Ferryside. We arrived at 2.55 pm to find the crew members of the inshore rescue boat getting the RIB ready. They insisted that Wendy came along for the ride, and so we set off, closely monitoring the depth of the channel using the onboard navigation equipment. The channels move and change on a daily basis such is the nature of mud, sand, strong river current, tides and storms. As we occasionally planed and often idled our way round the point to Laugharne, I appreciated how tricky it must be to operate boats and rescue people along these shores. Most call outs are to people running aground, or getting cut off by the tide, and sometimes getting sucked into the mud. I am full of admiration for these rescue boast crews. Landing in the shallow water alongside the low sea wall at Laugharne, I was given a fireman's lift onto the shore. I waved farewell to the crew and Wendy, and watched them pick their way through the labyrinth of channels back towards Ferryside. I was in Dylan Thomas's village.
Wednesday 2nd March 2011 I had stayed the night in a lovely B&B at the top of the village and the owners made a donation to the charity and provided me with a huge packed lunch. I detoured via Dylan Thomas's shed which was perched on the edge of a cliff with outstanding views across the River Taf and the sea beyond. Through its window can be seen his writing desk and various items of furniture, just as it would have been in his day. Further along is the house where he lived for several years with his wife and children. It is here in Laugharne that he was inspired to write "Under Milk Wood". Then back on the path (in fact roads) as I was diverted inland by an extensive firing range behind Pendine Sands, the scene of numerous historical land speed reckons - a stretch of long flat sand over which the speeding wheels of cars driven by Sir Malcolm Campbell rolled. Broadway, Pendine and then along some steep paths, the likes of which I had not seen for many miles. It signified a change in the scenery and perhaps tougher going. Into Amroth - the start of the 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path. A National Trail. An acorn way marked trail. A guide book complete with directions, maps and narrative. 30,000 feet of ascent. Joy! Lots of chats and donations. As the day closed I came up to Wiseman's Bridge Inn;. Perched right on the edge of the sea, the occasional wave sent spray misting against my room's window. What a fantastic setting. Becca, Lauren, Jack and Graeme looked after me well. Thank you all for your donation.
Thursday 3rd March 2011 A bright and sunny day. Spring is definitely in the air. From Wiseman's Bridge I plodded through Saundersfoot and into Tenby. Philippa came down from London to join me for her birthday week-end and we settled into a friend's cottage for a long week-end to celebrate her birthday. Then back up to London for a couple more weeks of work!
Follow my progress…
