Snowdonia

The husband is self-employed and tends to work in intensive bursts.  We knew that May through July would be a very busy time for him this year, so I have been on the look-out for things for The Boy and I to do to keep ourselves out of Daddy's hair.  When I heard a group of former work colleagues (and now good friends!) were going to Snowdonia for a few days over the May bank holiday I leapt on the Wales-bound bandwagon...

The plan was always for The Boy and I to drive up on the Friday, staying at a B&B a few hundred yards from the hostel our friends had booked, in a small village called Capel Curig.  As it happened, The Husband found he could join us for the first two nights, catching the train up on Friday afternoon and back on the Sunday.  No bank holiday for him - back for an all-day meeting!

Luckily I had company in the car from a friend-of-friend going, who happened to be a brilliant travelling companion.  I needed the chat and some assistance with The Boy - the traffic getting out of London and all the way up the M1 was horrendous!  As was The Boy's general mood, unsurprisingly.  A four-and-a-half hour TomTom journey took 7 and a half hours!!!

Anyway, we made it - somewhat exhausted but pleased to be waking up on the Saturday in one of the greenest, most beautiful spots in the country.

Saturday was a little "mixed", weather-wise, to say the least.  But we (the 3 of us - trying to join the 15-strong adult party would have been impossible!) managed a short stroll up to Lyn Llydaw lake from the Pen-y-Pass car park and back.  It was a great view for not too much effort, and once the rain died down The Boy really enjoyed himself.  He learned a few new words too: "stone" and "wet"!  The only unfortunate part of the day was our Snowdon Sherpa bus shuttle back down to where we had to park the car: the driver drove at a lunatic pace down the mountainside, with his back doors wide open.  I was clinging into The Boy for his dear life - and was ready to punch the guy in the face when I got off.  I didn't, but we will be pursuing this further and have the number of the bus concerned.

We spent Saturday afternoon wandering around Betwys-y-Coed and sampling the delcious offer from The Welsh Cake Company. 

That evening our lovely B&B (St Curig) even provided a babysitter, so we could join our friends at the local charity quiz held at the friendly Moel Siabod cafe.

On Sunday, before Daddy caught the train, we had a lovely sunny stroll through the bluebell woods and by the streams around Plas-y-Brenin.  The others all made it up Snowdon itself - although they did not get back until almost 7pm!

After waving Daddy off at Llandudno, The Boy and I fitted in a short play at Colwyn Bay: he enjoyed the bouncy castle and I tried to treat him to an ice cream.  But the poor thing was in full blown "I'm tantrum-ing just because I'm tired" phase by that point.

The drive back down to London on Monday was miles better than the outward trip - home in five hours, with the best run down Edgeware Road I have ever experienced in my 12 years of driving around London!

We were happy to be home, to catch up with Cat, but pleased to have spent a few days in the fresh air of the Welsh hills.  Now to support The Husband through the last few weeks of this intense work period, before the two-month summer holiday can begin properly!

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