Author Archives: BarryH

Back from the shops: Jinxed journey and verglas

Posted on December 15, 2012 by BarryH

When I was a kid we used to have to write essays in school on less than thrilling subjects such as ‘My Summer Holidays’, ‘An afternoon in the Park’ or ‘My Favourite Pet’.   So boring did I find this that … Continue reading →

Posted in Monmouthshire, Mountains, Wales, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hibernation time and images of cold weather

Posted on December 12, 2012 by BarryH

Late nights have been more frequent recently.  Four times in the last week I have been up until 03.00 and this has started to impact on the time I get up.  My boast that I get up at 07.30 whatever … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, Pontypool, Wales, Winter | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shafts of light in the winter gloom and hibernation

Posted on December 8, 2012 by BarryH

In the last week I have made another couple of trips to Cardiff in increasingly stressed and depressed pursuit of Christmas presents for the family.  Each time I arranged to meet up with friends in the evening, something to look … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bah Humbug!: Christmas and beyond

Posted on December 4, 2012 by BarryH

I regret that I don’t and never have, enjoyed Christmas.  Required jollity is not my thing.  Nor is the hyperventilating commercialisation which tries to drag behind it a vague connexion with the birth of Christ which the church does its … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Grumpy Old Men, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Winter colour

Posted on December 1, 2012 by BarryH

As forecast and commented in this blog, winter has finally arrived in South Wales (that’s Old South Wales, not the state in Australia where it’s now coming into summer).  Temperatures over the last two nights have dropped below zero.  Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

November Daily Blog 30: looking back on the month

Posted on November 30, 2012 by BarryH

When I started the November Daily Blog as part of the NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) challenge I had the intention of using it as an incentive to do something different and interesting every day. That ambition took a knock … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | 1 Comment

November Daily Blog 29: problem solving and the subconscious

Posted on November 29, 2012 by BarryH

I don’t suffer from insomnia.  I gave up on having ‘a good 8 hours sleep’ very many years ago.  Instead I stay up until I’m tired and then go to bed with the result that I drop off instantly.   I … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Health and humour, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

November Daily Blog 28: Rough-dug and ready for winter

Posted on November 28, 2012 by BarryH

Completely different feel to the day from the outset on Wednesday as if the grey and the wet of the past weeks belonged somewhere else, to another time.  Blue sky and cold air greeted me as I left the house … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, extreme gardening, Winter | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

November Daily Blog 27: The rain came down and the floods came up …. but who is to blame for the damage

Posted on November 27, 2012 by BarryH

Once again floods are headline news.  About 800 homes flooded in South West England over the weekend.  In north Wales residents in St Asaph have been evacuated as the River Elwy floods, train services to Holyhead disrupted and roads closed. … Continue reading →

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November Daily Blog 26: A change in the weather. Maybe

Posted on November 26, 2012 by BarryH

The weather may be on the turn.  In South East Wales the heavy rain looks to be passing through overnight and not returning during the 5-day forecast period.  Instead the expectation is that it will be replaced by sunshine and … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, Grey Britain, Winter | Tagged | Leave a comment