Nature's architecture.

Concluding my visit to South Wales (honest) we came across this tree in the grounds of Margham Country Park. It had the most unusual trunk that I have ever seen.

Over time it had, for some reason, divided itself into five separate smaller trunks (trunkets?) to form a beautiful dramatic natural wooden sculpture that for me conveyed movement and the fight for light, space and survival. What do you think?

I just love the natuaral curves of this tree.

Architecture for all.

Following on from my previous ramblings concerning our visit to South Wales, I always try to take photographs of anything that takes my fancy. I particularly like buildings (see previous post), trees, colours and texture. Below are a few of my photos that I would like to share with you.
Plenty of colour. Cottages at The Mumbles.

The spire cought my eye. A lovely house in The Mumbles.

The pier at The Mumbles.

I loved the intricate ironwork on the pier.

Bathing huts overlooking the beach at Langland.

Much more traditional. The picturesque Tudor-Gothic style Victorian Mansion House at Margam Country Park.

Part of the 12th century Chapter House at Margham Country Park.

Porthcawl - a Welsh seaside town.

During my recent trip to South Wales we stayed with friends just outside Porthcawl and visited the town several times. Porthcawl developed as a port for coal exports during the 19th century, but it's trade was taken over by the more rapidly developing ports of nearby Barry and Port Talbot. However, despite this decline Porthcawl re-emerged as a very popular sea-side resort particularly favoured by the coal miners and their families from the Welsh coalfields. However, as with many resorts Porthcawl has suffered a decline in its holiday trade over recent years, especially since most of the south Wales Valleys coal pits have now closed. So Porthcawl is having to adapt to survive.

Today the town boasts a lovely promenade with views over the Bristol Channel and several nice beaches one of which we sampled, being encouraged by our friends to do a bit of body boarding in the surf. This was something I had never tried before, but thoroughly enjoyed, even if the sea was a might cold!

I just adore the subtle light in this image of my wife in the surf.

Catching the waves. Three of us in the sea at Porthcawl.

Boats of many colours. The small harbour.

An embarrassing condition!

During our South Wales weekend we visited the lovely seaside village of Mumbles near Swansea. Whilst walking with our friends along the promenade I came upon a small sailing dingy with a very unusual name. I would love to know the story behind the naming of this craft! Something to do with sand, salt or dare I say it, a case of crabs perhaps!

I couldn't resist taking this photo!

A "Lush" of Lifeguards?

We have just been visiting South Wales (more in another blog) seeing old friends and whilst walking along the beach at Langland I took this picture of a group of young lifeguards.

Lifeguards on Langland Bay beach.

Following on from my search for the perfect collective noun for a group of blondes,I wandered what a group of lifeguards would be called. My friend's teenage daughter, finding the group of men very attractive and "hunky" came up with the term "Lush" which in modern young English speak I am reliably informed means good looking and desireable. So a group of young lifeguards is henceforth known as a Lush of Lifeguards! Unless, you blog reader can come up with anything better.