St. David's Day, A Welsh tradition and holiday... what's it all about?

Lets talk about St. David's Day.  It is on March 1...  every year.  St. David is the Patron Saint of Wales.  This is when the Welsh, we celebrate Dewi Sant or St David who died on that day in 589AD.  To mark the day, Welsh people around the world wear one or both of our national emblems - a daffodil

or leek

 -and celebrate at special concerts and parades.  On St David’s Day we wear the leek to celebrate winning a battle against the Saxons in a field of leeks. Lucky it was not a field of cows or sheep!
There are many other symbols that tie in with St. David's Day and Wales:  Welsh Symbols  There is the harp, the Welsh flags, and the Prince of Wales Feathers.  Let's see the National Anthem.  Seeing that Declan can actually sing it now, yes, in Welsh, this is a real learning curve for us oldies!  Here is the National Anthem of Wales:  Welsh National Anthem  Here you can listen to it:  The Welsh National Anthem being sung  Being that this is my first time in Wales on St. David's Day, I am a novice.  I am hoping to learn more and more.  It is all rather exciting.

With this wonderfully exciting holiday, celebration, comes some amazing food.  Fancy some:  bara brith, Cawl, Welsh Rarebit?  These are just some amazing foods.  Do NOT be put off by these foods.  Here is some ideas for you:  St. David's Day Recipes.  Here we have St. David's Day Activity Pack.

For now, I am going to soak up this half term break sunshine and glory that is just in abundance here.  It's a beautiful week, and full of happiness and sun and beauty.

Rain, winds and waves....

Seems that the storms from across the pond, aka - AMERICA are heading here.  Seem to be getting the rain, winds and being on the coast, the waves.  Mind you, we are NOT getting the flooding that is happening in the beautiful area of Somerset.  They are losing their homes, farms and animals.  It is devastating.  We are just on high wind alerts and lots of rain.  Sometimes, it seems to be very depressing, the grey skies, the rain...  but what does one do to keep that sunshine when skies are grey?  One thing is for sure, regardless of the weather, the British do 

Other things that one does to keep the sunny feeling and smiling.  I have yet to see a miserable face despite the weather, well at least here in Wales.

1.  Have that hat and scarf with you at all times!  A nice warm hat and scarf and some gloves.  Here is some Welsh ones from a lady in Wales, keeping it local for you all...  Welsh Blankets and other great Welsh items

2.  Always try and dress for the day!  Seems to be the motto.  Dress for the day and go forth.  I haven't seen many that don't dress nice for the whole day.  Hair, makeup (which is always natural looking), which mascara, liner and lips always help to make one cheery inside...  I have found this great, fun and nice line of products:  Soap and Glory!  They have it all!  Soap and Glory - the full story!

Their products are available at Boots the Chemist (Pharmacy) and oh so much more!

3.  Boots!  These boots were made for walking.   When in doubt where fun, cute and easy to walk in boots!  Get your Wellies on...  Hunter Wellies..  Click the link!  SO AMAZING!  

You can always just go for the simple black or brown boot.  But what a fun and cheery way to have some pretty wellies with the lovely rainbow of colours to brighten your day and make you smile.  

4.  Whatever you choose to do, there is always the best way to keep you all warm and cozy - TEA!  A nice cuppa!  There should always be time for tea in your day.  It really is true, it is the quintessential drink for the British and all that is British.  Read the history of Great Britain and its tea traditions here:  History of Tea in Great Britain 

 Yes, tea has its benefits, HEALTHY!  Many health food items contain tea leaves in them...  one benefit, it helps with decrease cell damage.  It also can help prevent heart disease, help to prevent some cancers, and is known to help with hydration versus dehydration.  These are just a few of the health benefits that this wonderful drink provides.  So yes, sit and have that cup of tea with some milk, and if you fancy, a teaspoon of sugar.  Tea for one, two or more, it just works and is really a warming and comfort.  Feeling down, sick sad or blue, the tea is always true to YOU!  Go on, curl up with a book and a cuppa.

Field of Light Exhibition - Edinburgh

Just a link today...  well worth reading.  http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/arts/news/field-of-light-exhibition-opens-in-edinburgh-1-3292998

The Week that NEVER Ended.. but mostly a great week!

Why did this week, never seem to end?  Is it a new week or is Sunday the end of the week?  Questions that make me think.  The week started off great! The week ended great...  where did it go wrong?  I have made some amazing great friends from Declan's school.  Honest, kind and real...  they are true women.  They are the ones that keep it real.  Single mums raising their kids.  Have learned a lot of what is what here.  Seems that every Monday we meet up for coffee at Wetherspoons....Here is what it used to be, and look like:  A cinema...

Here it is now

It's open at 8am for coffee and breakfast.  Yes, there is a group of locals that are drinking alcohol at 9am.  I shake my head and have been informed, by Sharren, "it's the European way!"  OK, but, I digress...  It's not what we do, we sit and have an English breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon, baked beans, grilled tomato, Irish Pork sausage, and a cup of coffee...  filtered coffee.  Here is where I am getting so much information.  Where to get my groceries...  where to get haircuts, pedis, manis, the list goes on and on.  It is a safety zone for us.  We can discuss anything with each other and there is no judgement.  We can just be.  

Tuesday - Friday just went crazy....  Crazy with Nursing Home search for my mother-in-law.  It's not like the US, where you find a home and you can put your mum or dad there.  It's far more complicated.  There are different homes, residential, EMI residential (EMI - for those with dementia that do NOT need nursing care), Nursing and EMI nursing.)  My sweet mother-in-law has been assessed as Nursing.  So we have been searching and researching and looking.  There are NOT a lot to choose from.  If you find one they have to assess and see if they can accommodate her.  Well, we found one, and sadly, we lost it, as no decision could be made in time by other persons, no more space and they won't rethink it.  (I can't even begin to explain the anger that has this me in).  We found 2 others, they cannot accommodate.  Fast forward to Friday.  Visiting Joyce at the hospital, and the discharge nurse comes charging towards me with a bitter and nasty look.  Neris is her name, and she threatened that if one more place refuses Joyce, we will have to start looking at EMI Nursing.  This is not an option.  I have now gone all Jersey/Texan on this woman, in a kind way.  

EMI Nursing is fine for those with severe dementia and those that have wild outbursts, and can be physically aggressive and verbally.  Joyce is NOT this way.  She sits in a chair, is blind from the stroke, and can only walk 10 feet in 30 minutes with some assistance.  We seem to have one more chance, on Monday another home is going to assess her..  please, I am asking you, pray.  That is all we can do.  PRAY!  Pray that they can take her.  Our hope is to get her out of the hospital this week.  

I will have to write more on this nursing home saga...  but the remainder of the week was fantastic.  Yes, Nursing Home saga continues, but, we must Carry On and Keep Strong.

Friday we went out with friends and the kids to celebrate Chinese New Year.  The Year of the Horse.  Had a simple meal and a glass of wine.  Saturday is when we go forward...  to the national sport of Rugby.  Went to Wetherspoons, http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-picture-house

We sat and watched Wales beat Italy with food, wine and laughs.  It may of been cold, wet and windy outside, but it was cozy and fantastic company inside.  We met more locals and honestly, no better place to meet locals, have laughs and cheers with people than the local pub.  Nice, fun, and good laughs.  Great food and great company.  The staff here are amazing and helpful and just nice!  

Tonight is Super Bowl Sunday...  I sit here in bed watching the game oh it's late here, and the game hasn't started yet.  I am missing the commercials and the parties. It's okay though...  I have Wales and the Rugby. 

More in the morning...  I am trying to stay alert and awake.  I have one thing left to say:  GO BRONCOS!  GO WALES!