But I don't speak Welsh....

Luckily, I'm told, that Welsh people are bi-lingual.  They speak Welsh and English.  Does that mean I will understand what that person sitting across the table from me at the pub next to the house I'm staying at in Pennal is saying?  I sure hope so.  I'd hate to be smiling and nodding to be polite and be offering to sell my first born child just for a ride into town!  I'm pretty sure Victoria will NOT appreciate this.

This past few weeks have been hair raising for not only me, who has been sitting on the edge of my chair, but for the people in Mid Wales.   They have had some really bad storms lately as well as flooding and threats of dams breaking and washing them all away!  Here's what happened:

Apparently, the storms they had were normal for autumn there, but not spring/summer.  Without getting detailed about it, these storms came in and flooded different areas of Mid Wales.  The home that we are house sitting for this fall was flooded with 1.5 feet of water and mud.  I learned of their fate by an email answer to one of mine, after people I know in the UK kept texting me to look at the news for the UK and that area.  People who have never heard of Pennal before me saying I was going there were now hearing of this small village on their local news.  WoW!   So I go to the BBC's webpage and search for Pennal.  This video is found in my search:

Blown away from this video, I immediately emailed Sian who a few days later answered telling me that they had flooded and would be moving out for 10 days as the insurance company does their magic.  The animals were fine (a dog, two cats and one chicken), so were the humans, and that they'd be in contact in about two weeks.  So I proceeded to bite my nails as I waited to see if their trip was still on to know if mine was still on.  If they canceled, I'd completely understand.  I can't imagine my home being flooded and what stress, frustration and anger it might cause.  Plus regardless of insurance coverage, things always cost more than we all think they should or could when it comes to home repairs.  

Finally, this past week, I got an answer that they were not back in the house but all was going well and it was still a go.  Yay!  

Remember when I started this blog?   My goal was meet people online before I go and connect with them when I get there.  Well, related to this weather story - let me tell you what I was doing when I was texted about this flooding.... I was researching businesses in the area and emailing them to introduce myself.  At the time, I was reading this website:  http://www.aberdovey-escape.co.uk/ .  No biggie you think, right?  Well, no, I suppose it is not.  But ... then again... I switch over to the BBC website to check out the flooding and I find this video:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18389616

Did he say he owned The Escape Bed and Breakfast?  Yup.  Here I was on their website without knowing what was going on and now I'm watching the owners on the web!  I've emailed them and verified that, indeed, these were the people on the news and it was their website I was on.  Amazing how the internet brings news from such a small town in the UK to people all over the world!  

Here's a another video that shows the seriousness of their flooding.  Note the water flowing through yards about half way and the firefighters/rescuers punching holes in peoples doors to let out the water!  I'm not sure if the pressure from the water prohibited the door from being opened or if they were locked doors.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18378593

My heart really does go out to all these people.  People in the US get flooded mostly from hurricanes and such storms and it's really an awful thing!

Pennal - where we are staying - flooded :(

At least the dam didn't break but still, enough is enough.  I'm sure flood warnings today are not a welcome thing.  I hope it dries out soon!!!!!

Peace ~ Love ~ Happiness

Marianne

God Save the Queen! 2012

 
This past weekend, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her sixty year Diamond Jubilee.  As an American, the thought of having one person in charge for so long is a bit mind boggling.  Our presidents are in office a maximum of eight years, so sixty is huge!  At first, my initial thought was "those crazy brits will do anything for a holiday" but after watching the celebrations, I'm astonished at how much the country really does love their Queen.  If you think about it, only those people who are older than sixty years old can even begin to remember royalty other than Queen Elizabeth II.  She took her crown on February 6, 1952.  Eighteen years before I was even born!

As to date, Queen Elizabeth is the oldest reigning British monarch.  In 2007, she surpassed her great great grandmother, Queen Victoria who lived to be 81 years old and reigned for sixty three years.  Queen Elizabeth II will have to reign until September 2015 to pass that mark.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not an overly political kind of person, but the monarchy in the UK has always fascinated me, as it does so many other people, including local Brits and Americans alike.  Proof of this is evident in Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding.  Many Americans were awake in the wee hours of the morning to be able to watch that wedding.  We were all fascinated by her beauty, her dress, the family, and her new place in it.  When she died, we all cried.  It's a family affair that has been played out in the public eye since the year 871 when Alfred the Great was the first effective King of England.  Queen Elizabeth is his 32nd great granddaughter.  It always amazes me that England has had some great Queens ruling them and America has never had a female president, but we'll discuss that another day.

Keep in mind, I know not all Monarchy in the past has been perfect and wonderful, but it takes a lot of guts to run a country.  Not all your decisions will be liked or trusted, and there will always be people out there hoping for your demise.  She is the Queen of over 134 million people.  She became Queen when her father died when Elizabeth was only 25 in 1952.  Can you imagine running one country, with alone others at the age of 25??  I sure can't.  It takes guts.  In my opinion, Queen Elizabeth has guts.  Lots of them.

So congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II for sixty years.  Her bravery and strength stands out. Her weekend long celebration included The River Thames Pageant, a huge concert, among other activities. Please enjoy the pictures I took of The River Thames Pageant.

~Peace ~ Love ~ Happiness
Marianne