Tryfan's work experience

This week was Tryfan's work experience week for school, which means that instead of going to school, he went to work the week at a local business.  Tryfs arranged this several months ago, and he was really excited about it (also nervous).  The company that agreed to let Tryfan work with them is the local firm called Cowan Architects (https://cowan-architects.co.uk/).  

It turned out to be a great week for him, as he was given a project on Monday morning and then expected to deliver the results at the end of Friday.  And so he got to ask questions and learn software and apply his own thinking and creativity to the project, which he found really fun and interesting.  This photo was on Monday morning.

Destruction in the house

We had a pipe burst upstairs which sent waterfalls through the ceiling light fixtures in the living room.  Ooops!  This was pretty major destruction and we had to call an emergency plumber, which then led to several weeks of reparation in the downstairs (as we would find out later).  

Since we needed to get all the furniture out of the TV part of the lounge so that the ceiling could be replaced and repainted, and then the walls also repainted, we figured we might as well do the rest of the open space too.  And while we were repainting everything, we figured we might as well sand and refinish the wood floor.  Soooo.... yeah.  But that was all to come later.

Austrian adventure - Day 4

This morning we had a lovely buffet breakfast and then headed out to decide spontaneously how best to spend the whole day before catching our flight late this night.  First we drove to Hallstatt to walk around this scenic town (which apparently is the inspiration for the fictional Arendelle in the Disney movie Frozen).  It was a bit rainy and filled with Chinese tourists.  We found that there a Chinese replica of this town! https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-18327751

We saw a couple who had just gotten married having a photo shoot.

Then we headed to EuroThermo warm water swimming complex and spent a few hours there. BLISS!

We found a place for a very late lunch nearby in Bad Ischl

Then we said goodbye to Chris and hung around the airport until our flight

In fact, we ate at the world's only airport brewery, here in Munich https://www.munich-airport.com/the-worldwide-first-airport-brewery-1270540.  Eventually we got into Gatwick and had a bit of a funny ride with an Uber driver that we talked into dropping us each off at our respective homes.  Nice to be home though after this great adventure!

Austrian adventure part 3

After our epic day yesterday, we had an even epiccer day today!  It started out very wet and socked in, but ever so dramatic! 

It was actually really amazing to be in the high scree slopes crossing snow fields beneath these towering giant cliffs.  And you can see we are all smiling!

Eventually the sun came out as we got towards the end of our circuit hike.

We were all pretty tired by this point though, smiles not quite so enthusiastic! 

We made it back to the car (it was the only car left in the parking lot) and drove 8 miles to the hotel we had booked.  Though it took a long time to get checked in, we made it to our rooms to quickly shower up before dinner. Result! Such satisfaction to complete an epic journey like this and relax...

Austrian Adventure Part 2

After I finished my workday in Vienna, I flew to Munich in the evening and met up with Chris, Anne Marie and Heather to start our 4 day backpacking trip in the Dachstein region.  Chris drove us to a little hotel on the outskirts of Munich and we had a celebratory bev to kick things off, then went to sleep and woke on Thursday morning to beautiful skies.  We had a great breakfast at the hotel, then drove to Gosausee to park the car and start our 40 km circular hike.

In fact, we started the hike with a swim in the lake.  It was just too tempting and the day was hot, and actually we didn't need to hike very far this first day. 

 So we went for a swim, dried off, then took the cable car up to the top of a mountain (not the highest peak, but high enough), had a beer at the cafe near the top of the cable car, then set off for a leisurely 2 hour walk to our first night accommodation.

Here is our cabin for the night, which served great dinner and lovely cocktails. It is called the Theodor Korner Hutte and can highly recommend.

On Friday morning we set off for what would be a very long and beautiful (although also difficult) day where we covered 13 miles of steep ups and downs and alongs the south flank of the Dachstein ridge.

The last 60 minutes was particularly tough, because our hut for the night was up on a ridge and below that was an exposed grassy steep hillside.  It was just then that the heavens opened and it was lightning and thunder and pouring rain. Very exciting! Also a little scary!  But we made it intact up to Sudwandhutte and were then treated to a very delicious and nourishing 3 course meal and a good sleep. We didn't quite manage to dry ourselves and everything out overnight, but mostly.

Austrian adventure part 1

I started off this morning by bus, and I had the great pleasure of sitting next to and chatting with Sam M from down the road.  The last time I started an adventure by bus I also saw him (back in Feb when I was headed to Indonesia), and it was great to hear about what he has going on in his life.

I flew from Gatwick to Vienna and then taxi to my favorite hotel Zoku, where I had a room that looked out to the middle of an active rollercoaster! It was so funny to have this view.

So I had a pleasant and productive evening, and then the next morning I set out for an all day work-related event which I would then leave straight for my backpacking trip.  Hence the weird pairing of work dress, heels, and a big backpack.

This fellow at Zoku was helpful in taking my photo, so I took his too as I set out!

Changing of the guard

 Rhods got back tonight and I'm leaving tomorrow for my backcountry adventure in Austria!  Tryfs is still feeling a bit delicate but he is on the mend.  Rhodri had a really fun trip and he is back safely with no injuries (always a bonus!).  So its all go here at the Lewis homefront, but in a good way.

Tryfs not feeling well

Poor Tryfs.  He has suddenly started not feeling well and having stuff come out both ends.  In order to be closer to the toilet but still able to rest, he has set up camp in the hallway on a folding mat.  Hopefully this will pass swiftly and we'll have our cheery, light hearted Tryfan back in no time.

Fantastic Pentastic

My mermadam friend Sarah is a professional musician and finally, finally I got to hear her play with her band down at the Hop Yard.  Yes, it was a Sunday night but it was well worth doing something a bit different!  In fact, a group of us went together and had a little pow wow up top on the Hop Yard patio before going down to the main venue for the gig.

The whole band was really goo, but Sarah is such a fantastic performer it felt really special to be there to watch her.

Cousin Rachel in town

My baby cousin Rachel was in town for a few days and it worked out for Rhiannon and I to go into London and meet her for lunch.  Rachel made the booking and it turned out to be such a gorgeous lovely place. I definitely want to go back.

It was really fun to talk shop with her, because she is also working in the renewable energy space, and when she was living over here a few years ago I was not yet working in geothermal. There is a lot to talk about these days!

Men's adventure in the Dolomites

Rhodri took a bunch of the local menfolk over to the Dolomites to do some hiking from a base in Madonna di Campiglio.  They left a couple of days ago and seem to be having a grand old time. 

This is the same place that Rhodri and I went in August 2019 to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary, and it is just so spectacular. 

I believe there are 8 of them on this trip: Rhodri, Tim, Marc, Gordon, Cormac, Mac, and a couple others that I can't think of right now.  It's great that they could get out of the postcode and get up to the mountains for some fun.  I'll be doing the same next weekend with my girlfriends....

Magical Friday eve

Tonight it was just Rhiannon and me, since Rhodri is in Italy and Tryfs was over at a friend's house.  I was feeling a bit restless and she was in a funk, so we went for a drive so that she could practice her driving skills and we ended up calling by Cat's house.  When we arrived, Cat and Gary were sitting in the back garden with wine and cheese and it was all very civilized!  They generously offered to share with us, and soon B came out to join us and then even Lee made an appearance.  It was such an easy and friendly atmosphere with beautiful evening light and warmth, it truly felt a bit magical.

I got to see Amy!

My long lost friend from Goleta is actually over here in Britain on a family trip, and I was able to arrange to meet her and her boyfriend right before going on the Geology Tour.  It was a hot day and we went to Bentley's Oyster Bar for some refreshing beverages and even had a couple of oysters. (I'm not a fan!).

It was so great to see Amy.  Even though I normally do see her when I am in Santa Barbara, its never enough time and it was great to just sit for a couple of hours with her and her boyfriend.

Geology tour of London

 I signed up to join a geology tour of London and it was great! There were about 20 of us and we spent 3 hours making our way very slowly around a small section of the city near Piccadilly. 

Afterwards we went to the pub and then I headed home!

The morning step

Even though we have a deck and chairs and benches and all sorts, in the morning I like to just sit outside on the top step.  Its just a nice spot to sit and get Annie cuddles.

Mid week beach

Now that it is summertime (ish), the Saturday morning swims are on the wane and I think its nicer to go to the beach in the evening. So tonight we made it happen, and it was a gorgeous evening for it. We brought snacks and drinks, swam and then lounged around on the warm rocks before getting back to our respective lives. This felt really nice.

Here are Cat, Ali, me, Emma, Sarah M and Sarah H. Kim and Anna couldn't make it unfortunately. Hopefully we will do it again soon.

Fun Run Marshalling

While I was away last week, I got 'volunteered' to be a marshal on the local Fun Run which took place at the Danehill Rec.  The actual course went around the Cumnor House School grounds so Rhodri and I were stationed up at the drinks stop at the far end of the course.  It was a super hot day actually (for England, that is) so I was quite glad to not be a runner and instead to be cheering people on and skipping through the sprinkler that was set up near my site.

It was all fine in the end, and I have to say the event was very well organized!  Next year hopefully more people will show up to do some fun running!

A long time away from the blog

Normally I keep the blog updated with about a 3 week delay.  And while I take photos and start blog posts along the way, I often post-date them and do a few posts all at once to try and catch up.  Well, starting in late February and going all the way through March, April, May and now the first 11 days of June, I haven't done any of that.  This isn't to say that there haven't been notable events and moments during this time, but to be honest, its been a tough time here in the Lewis family and I wasn't sure how to make sense of it or write about it.  The long and the short of it is that Rhiannon came home from Prin to deal with some medical issues. This was really disappointing for her, and while it feels important and right that she is at home with us, it has been a difficult few months.