A date in St Asaph
Hodmandod Senior laughs, but I swear that when my SatNav says 'Wales' the word is infused with affection. No one believes me, but I know it's true. She sounds besotted and a little drunk, which is worrying considering I am depending on her to guide me there. Tonight SatNav and I made it to the Farmers Arms near St Asaph. This is an eighteen century Inn. I can tell this because there are signs...
It is in an area of 'outstanding natural beauty'. I know because there is another sign. It is a warning. It comes just before an incredible sweeping drop on the A55 from the Halkyn Mountains. Ahead there is a grand green valley, and behind them the mountains of Snowdonia, all of them so incredibly gorgeous that I know SatNav's jaw is dropping with the loveliness of it all. 'Wales,' she says weakly. 'Take the third exit...' But she's lost the plot.
Unfortunately, I cannot show you this wondrous valley (there is no convenient place to stop), but I can show you this...
You will have to take my word for the bleating of baby lambs, and the smell of spring flowering trees, but they were all there when I went in. The audience were great: the Spanish Circle of North Wales, and I had lots of interesting questions. Thanks for inviting me, Priscilla.
It is in an area of 'outstanding natural beauty'. I know because there is another sign. It is a warning. It comes just before an incredible sweeping drop on the A55 from the Halkyn Mountains. Ahead there is a grand green valley, and behind them the mountains of Snowdonia, all of them so incredibly gorgeous that I know SatNav's jaw is dropping with the loveliness of it all. 'Wales,' she says weakly. 'Take the third exit...' But she's lost the plot.
Unfortunately, I cannot show you this wondrous valley (there is no convenient place to stop), but I can show you this...
You will have to take my word for the bleating of baby lambs, and the smell of spring flowering trees, but they were all there when I went in. The audience were great: the Spanish Circle of North Wales, and I had lots of interesting questions. Thanks for inviting me, Priscilla.
posted by Clare Dudman at 11:11 pm
4 Comments:
Oh, so it was at the inn? How delightful--another good event.
Yes, a pub! Great place, miles away from anywhere.
Marvellous description! Certainly makes me want to explore that area someday.
Just wondering about your SatNav system -- can it only direct you to countries (such as 'Wales'), nothing more precise than that? Even so, it would still have a much keener sense of direction than our systems, which identify only which planet we are on. ('Remain on the third world from the Sun' mine keeps bleeting, with a touch of sadness that it is unable to say anything else.)
Hi Paul - thanks, and this bit of Wales is certainly worth seeing IMHO!
Ha, funny about your SatNav! This sounds to me like a good metaphor.
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