Cathays Cemetery

A bit of a strange one today but honestly, Cathays Cemetery is a wonderful place for a walk around, which is what Nat and I did on bank holiday Monday.

Cathays Cemetery is one of Britain's largest cemeteries as well as one of Cardiff's main cemeteries. The cemetery first opened in 1859 with two chapels with another being built later for Roman Catholics.

As well as the Victorian graves, the cemetery also has a Commonwealth War Graves section, established after the First World War when Cardiff's hospitals treated servicemen who had been wounded in action. There are 685 graves of service personnel within the cemetery.

There are a number of well known figures buired at Cathays Cemetery, although I suspect it'll be mainly people from South Wales who recognise their names. In addition to these people, I also have numerous family members from both sides of my family buried there.

 

Bishop Hedley's tomb

  

 

 

John White's grave

 

  

This far end of the cemetery is very overgrown, it was quite sad to see

 

The grave of Sir William James Thomas

You can find out more information about the cemetery from the Friends of Cathays Cemetery, including details on guided walks around the cemetery.

My list in detail #8

Climb Pen y Fan 

Pen y Fan is about an hour away from Cardiff, I've seen it from a distance and I know plenty of people who have climbed it a number of times. I, however, have never climbed it.

The mountain is the highest peak in South Wales as well as the southern United Kingdom, it sits in the Brecon Beacons National Park (if you haven't been - go, it's beautiful). Standing at 886 metres above sea level it's the highest peak in Britain south of Snowdonia. It has two peaks - Pen y Fan and Corn Du. Thousands of people climb the mountain every year including the UK's Special Forces who use it as part of their selection process.

At the end of May I'm going to be one of those people (the general public, not the special forces - can you imagine?!) as I''m finally going to climb the mountain. Fingers crossed for a clear but not too warm day, look out for photos on here.

Make my own jam

This is a bit of an odd one for me as I'm not a massive lover of jam, in fact, the only times I eat it are when it's in a cake or with scones and clotted cream. That doesn't stop me wanting to make my own though. 

My parents have recently acquired two allotments, one of which I'm being given a bit of a say in what's grown on it. I'm hoping to grow my own strawberries so I can make my own jam. Admittedly I don't actually know how to make it, but I'll learn and my jam will be amazing (yay for optimism).

What I'm thankful for #8

My family

Having the means to be able to jump in my car when I want

Chocolate digestives

Being able to appreciate time alone

A job that helps me be able to do things I want

I'm kind of living in a world of self pity at the moment, I know why I'm feeling like I do (getting your decree nisi in the post will do that to you I guess) but this is the first time I've felt like this in three months so I think I'm doing ok. However, lists like these help me remember the good I have in my life. I'd really recommend them to anyone who is feeling a bit down or has some less than positive things going on in their life.

Time off

Last week I decided that I needed some time off work, I'd not had a break since Christmas and unless I took some time now I would have to wait until July for a few days off.

I thought I'd share some of the photos I took over the last few days.

Try the meatballs, they said. I did. I did not like them. Good trip to Ikea otherwise, I now have more storage in my bedroom.

I had to get my car serviced and MOT'd. It passed, but shelling out nearly £190 wasn't thrilling.

Thursday was my me day. I had a hair colour consultation, followed by lunch on my own and then a manicure.

I tried the KatiWok meal deal, soup, kati roll and chai tea for £7.99.

Mutton is my new favourite. It was excellent.

The colours I picked out. I went for the one on the left in the end.

Friday started off with a trip to Nata & Co to buy a few treats. I've never liked custard tarts so these were a gamble, it paid off though as they're incredible. If you're in Cardiff you need to try them.

Next up was lunch at the Penylan Pantry.

Starting with hot chocolate, which comes as a big blob of chocolate on a wooden spoon that you stir into the milk. So chocolatey. So good.

My mother's lunch. Wild mushroom pate, it was very good.

My lunch of organic onion soup along with toasted fresh bread topped with cheese. 

Penylan Pantry also sell fresh fruit and vegetables.

After lunch we had a wander around Roath, I would absolutely love to live in this part of Cardiff.

Bought this dude in Dunelm, perfect size for my makeup brushes.

It's been a good couple of days, I'm glad of the timing too as my decree nisi arrived in the post this morning so I now know when I'll be divorced. I'm holding onto good times like I've had this week to fend off the not so great feelings that come with getting paperwork from the court in the post.

Next week should be just as good, I have Thursday and Friday off work. On Thursday I'm off to the Celtic Manor for a day of spa and champagne afternoon tea, I really can't wait! Friday is a bit of a scary day as I'm getting my hair coloured, I'm having shades of blonde put through it. It'll be the first time I've been blonde since I was 20, wish me luck!

Weekly round up

1. Cardiff Blues vs. Scarlets at Judgement Day. We (Cardiff) won! 2. I bought myself a bunch of peonies, love them. 3. Met up with uni friends for lunch at The Heath, this is their new burrito - it's very good. 4. I keep getting called Sharon at Starbucks. 

5. Treated myself to new makeup from Topshop. 6. Little bit in love with the lipstick, it's a gorgeous colour. 7. Finally got to try Munchesters, their lamb wrap was good. 8. I found my Tiffany & Co necklace my parents gave me years ago, once I've got the knot out of the chain I'll be able to wear it again.

9. My first Mission Burrito burrito, so big. 10. Tapas from Bar 44, so so good. 11. Searching out notes in secondhand books, it's a fun hobby. 12. This dude, I love him. I got to spend the afternoon with Benny on Sunday, he belongs to my boss. Expect more photos in the future.

Girls afternoon in Cowbridge

On Saturday my mum and I went off for a girls afternoon to Cowbridge. We both love it there and have been going at least once a year (usually for the food festival in October) for years, it's our mother-daughter tradition. I had been to Cowbridge a few weeks back and discovered Happy Days Vintage Homestore for the first time, I knew I'd have to take my mum there.

After a wonderful lunch at Bar 44 off we went around the corner of the Duke of Wellington Pub to have a look around. Happy Days sells vintage and handmade items and has a little cafe tucked away on one side of the building.

They have a great selection of bone china tea sets, I pretty much wanted all of them.

There is a small selection of vintage clothing and accessories.

The vintage toy/collectable section is really great, it's like trying to play spot the toy you had as a kid.

After there we had a bit of a wander around the village, I was happy to see that High Rise Bookshop was open so in we went for a browse. 

We found some old Bibles with notes written in them.

 

All in all it was a really great afternoon spent with my mum, I'll be back soon Cowbridge!