Wales

NfK, we survived the industrial revolution , I think things will change but not in my life time , saddens me , we have battled for centuries

I like Wales. Been to Aberystwyth ( my brother went to uni there). Been to Colwyn Bay, Betywscoed (spelling? - sorry, I'm sure that's wrong), Anglesey, and loved it all. I've got a Welsh name as my godmother was Welsh and my parents were unsure what name to give me to match my surname and my godmother suggested the name I ended up with! It matches my married surname too! That's about as Welsh as my heritage goes, though. Not aware of any Welsh ancestry. ?

How lovely to know Wales doesn't have a midge problem! I'm now looking forward to coming next year!

On a serious note - although on the map Norfolk looks close to London and we're only a little county and not a proper country, London has recently discovered we exist and I'm not sure I like it! Don't wish too much for too much development Anniebach, it snowballs and the sense of identity and place becomes more and more diluted and it's not the locals who generally benefit. Keep your mystery!

Me tooDyffryn but close to the sea in West Wales

Me too *Dyffryn"

After reading all these comments, I feel very lucky to live in North Wales, close to the sea and mountains. ?

The weather forecast shows sunshine for North Wales today and I could really do with a day ou! Off to pack up a picnic and then we're off⛰⛱ I find seeing the sea and the beach so uplifting ☀️

Well Wales doesn't have a big midge problem. So that is an extra bonus point

We had a 2 week holiday at Loch Lomond a few years ago, the flipping midges nearly ate me alive, spoilt what would have been a great holiday, scenery fantastic. But we never had any sight of midges whenever we were in the Kintyre area.
Thank goodness Wales doesn`t have the midge!

Ditto Chewbacca! We went up to Loch Garten one September and I've never see so many midges! Couldn't wait to get out of there and the ospreys had all gone off to South Africa anyway (very sensible!). Having said that we didn't see them anywhere else that week. Fishing when there is a hatch of midges on is an absolute bugger. I have a nifty mosquito net that fits over my hat but it's very claustrophobic - I don't know which is worse.

I did a walking holiday in Scotland and no midges

We went to Scotland once. Every midge in Scotland was waiting for me at Inverness. I came home looking as if I had a bad case of chicken pox. Never again

Midges would eat me alive anniebach

I prefer mist and rain, it's so good for the complexion.
And the jellyfish got DB, not me (I was probably still in a pram at the time, I don't remember it but it was one of those stories that got told and re-told for years.)

Noooooo! Not Scotland Jalima! The gnats there will eat you alive! Only went once, in September, never again. I got gnat bites on my gnat bites. Welsh gnats aren't as vicious!

Mr C took me to Ponty market when I first went to Wales, 50+ years ago. I loved it. So did my parents. It's a wonder I got there at all as he told me I needed a passport for the border. I believed him. But I was 18! Goodness, the naivety back then. We still visit Ponty and Porth to see family but haven't been to the Ponty market area for many years. The closest we get is Sainsbury by the dual carriageway. Small world, though. Castle Coch is just superb, our children and grandchildren have also been there and love it. My mother in law used to call it the Gibbs toothpaste castle. I've many wonderful memories of the area.

Jalima, perhaps best you try Scotland mist, rain , jellyfish

My brother got stung by a jelly fish in the sea at Colwyn Bay many years ago. We used to go on holiday there or to Llandudno, from the Midlands (nearest seaside!). Or a day trip to Rhyl on the coach.

You missed a real treat Oldgreymare. Have a great time and I hope the sun shInes for you

Packing and bored so just popping in to let you know I'm off home to Sir Fon tomorrow...
Neath Market also had a Faggots and Peas Cafe, Anniebachand gettingonabitI was never brave enough to try them (being from the North!)

I loved Pony Park and the cinema

I'm still fond of Ponty. The market is a shadow of its former self, and Marksies has moved out, but the new Lido is open now, and Ponty Park is as ever it was.

Quite a lot going for it, really.

This will interest you all, there was a faggot and peas cafe in Ponty market , just wooden tables and benches, my brother -cousin and I had a who can eat the most and I was so sick , my brother-cousin got a ticking off for not taking care if me, my aunt had allowed us to wait in there whilst she queued fir material , I was proud of him for not saying it was my idea , he had revenge by not letting me play Cowboys and Indians the next day

gettingonabit We went to Ponty market quite often. I always liked the purple buses from Caerphilly.

never go without a mac and umbrella even on what promises to be a sunny day

There are lots of fantastic rhododendron collections in Wales. Clyne in Swansea, and a hidden one, tucked away just behind the University.
And of course Bodnant, near Conwy, which has recently extended the areas open to the public.