Tag Archives: Pontypool

Rambling through the grey and rising above it …… occasionally

Posted on February 8, 2021 by BarryH

I’ve written before on the psychology of time, about which I read initially in Thomas Mann’s book ‘The Magic Mountain’ when I was in the 6th form and more recently in Claudia Hammond’s ‘Time Warped’, published 2012, exactly 100 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Grey Britain, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Pontypool, Reflections, Wales, Weather, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged brecon beacons national park, Covid Pandemic, Gwent, Holiday Paradox, Jackdaws, Magic Mountain, mist, Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, philosophy of time, Pontypool, Pontypool Folly Tower, snow, Thomas Mann | 2 Comments

Rising above the grey

Posted on December 5, 2020 by BarryH

Rather than ushering in the Mediterranean to the UK, climate change is bringing increasing greyness interspersed with ‘extreme weather events’. Gradual descent into winter in November used to be marked by a week of hard frosts, sometimes with temperatures lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Grey Britain, Health and humour, Hiking, Landscape, Monmouthshire, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Pontypool, Reflections, Wales, Weather, Winter | Tagged brecon beacons national park, frost, Gwent, mist, Pontypool, Pontypool Folly Tower, Sunshine, Wales | 2 Comments

Say it with flowers

Posted on May 19, 2019 by BarryH

Sadly, I have been revisited by the misfiring which struck at Easter 2016 (see). It has now been sorted and I’m firing on all cylinders again. But it prevented my return to Greece for Easter this year ….. and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Photography, Pontypool, Spring, Wales, Weather, Wildlife, Winter | Tagged aquilegia, autumn leaves, collar dove, crocus, Flora, fruit, gooseberries, Pontypool, prickly pear cactus, snow, spring flowers, tulips, Wales, wild garlic | 1 Comment

All change

Posted on December 15, 2018 by BarryH

Back from Greece. Very soon off to the Canadian Rockies. But before I go, a sample of the brilliant autumn in the UK this year. As a planner by temperament as well as former profession, about 15 years ago I … Continue reading →

Posted in Autumn, extreme gardening, Nature, Photography, Pontypool, Wales | Tagged acers, autumn, autumn colour, gardening, maples, Pontypool, Wales | 2 Comments

Remembering the brightness

Posted on October 28, 2018 by BarryH

Posted in Reflections | Tagged brecon beacons national park, Gwent, Pontypool, remembering, Sunshine | 1 Comment

From Symi to my back garden

Posted on August 21, 2018 by BarryH

I’ve been experimenting with the technology to record some of the treks I’ve been doing on Symi, using a combination of apps to record routes and then create a 3D ‘fly-over’ incorporating photos taken along the way. It’s not entirely … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grey Britain, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Pontypool, Uncategorized, Wales, Weather, Wildlife | Tagged cabbage white butterflies, caterpillars, drought, Eyed Hawk-moth, gardening, goldfinch, Greece, Kokkimedes, monasteries, mountains, Nimborios, photography, Pontypool, rainbow, Stavros Polemou, Symi, Symi walks, trekking, Wales, wildlife, yucca | 7 Comments

Wales, Brecon Beacons National Park: spring into winter

Posted on April 6, 2018 by BarryH

I promised more images of winter before spring eventually arrives and I headed for Greece. My intention had been to post more photos of snow in the Canadian Rockies but once again plans were changed by events. The real effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grey Britain, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Photography, Pontypool, Wales, Winter | Tagged brecon beacons national park, climate change, global warming, Pontypool, snow, snowdrifts, spring, Wales, winter | 1 Comment

Pontypool, South Wales: ‘The Beast from the East’ meets Storm Emma

Posted on March 7, 2018 by BarryH

It doesn’t often happen but when it does it’s dramatic. And fun. In winter, cold weather comes to the UK from the continental land mass. It’s a cliché but nonetheless has an element of truth, that the Welsh Mountains are … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Pontypool, Wales, Weather, Winter | Tagged brecon beacons national park, Meteorology, Pontypool, Pontypool Folly Tower, snow, snowdrifts, Southeast Wales, Storm Emma, The Beast from the East, Wales | Leave a comment

From Wales to Greece: Greek Island Walks

Posted on March 30, 2015 by BarryH

Preparing to return to Greece has been taking precedence over escaping into the mountains recently. A spell of dry weather meant most of my time has been in the garden clearing, cutting back, pruning, planting, sowing, but that was brought … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Greece, Greek Island Walks, Nisyros, photography, Pontypool, Pontypool Folly Tower, Rain clouds, Symi, Wales, walking guides | 2 Comments

I was attacked by an airport: an unexpectedly wild walk

Posted on December 15, 2014 by BarryH

I did nothing to antagonise it. Malevolence on its part is the only explanation. That or ‘smart’ technology out of control. Which is even more frightening. I was on my home from Greece in the latter part of October. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Greece, Grumpy Old Men, Hiking, Landscape, Mountains, Pontypool, Wales | Tagged Abergavenny, Athens airport, brecon beacons national park, clouds, escalators, injuries, Pontypool, Pontypool Folly Tower, Pontypool Park, Shell Grotto, sunset, Wales | 1 Comment