Hello! Terribly sorry for the break in posts, I’ve been busy stuffing my face with chocolate oranges and popping in and out of the hospital (more on that later).
Back in October, just after my last post, I got the weekend-away-itch and started scanning the internet for somewhere lovely to go over my birthday weekend at the end of the month. The criteria was simply big windows on to a nice view, less then 3 hour’s driving from London, a good pub within walking distance, and not horribly expensive.
After giving myself far (far) too many options by scanning Tripadvisor, Booking.com, AirBnB, Cottages4U and whatever other nonsense I could find, and weeping into my keyboard, we threw half the criteria out of the window and went for far away and not-cheap, but very lovely Llety Bodfor in Wales.

Bodfor Terrace from the beach
It’s the first of the taller buildings on the left.
This was my third time staying in the last few years. The rooms are massive, and very well soundproofed, with views of the sea to the front, and views of the hills to the back. I was a bit disappointed that they no longer do breakfast on site, you need to go a few doors down to the Seabreeze B&B, but the food was so excellent we ended up eating there 4 times in the 3 days. Lletty Bodfor herself was looking a bit tired and showing her age around the edges (the window in our room didn’t close properly, making it a bit drafty), but was otherwise still lovely. It was the perfect place to hole up during the massive storm that was sweeping through the country. We like to go on holidays in sub-optimal weather. It makes for better anecdotes.

Fireplace in our room

Large double room

View from bed. Could be worse.

Two basins. Two! No beard trimmings in mine today, no siree.

Watching the rain over a cuppa.
We ventured out into the wind and rain to visit Portmeirion as well, which was just over an hour’s drive away. It’s a lovely area to stay in, though the drive there on a Friday night was a bit of a ‘mare. Snowdonia is also a short drive away though we decided not to risk that.

Aberdyfi

Aberdyfi

Portmeirion. Proof that the sun did indeed shine on my birthday. Briefly.

Portmeirion

Is it still raining? I hadn’t noticed.
All in all a very lovely birthday weekend, complete with getting the brooch I’d hoped for by Kate Rowland. Hoorah!