Month: June 2012

Been meaning to get down to the Barrage for a while now, just to see what it’s like – so took the opportunity to visit today.

Took an initial detour into Cardiff itself to go to John Lewis and Next (and the lego shop), then off to Mermaid Quay and a look around the Bay. Luckily got there about lunch time so went and got some chicken and unlimited coke in Nandos, once fully full we walked along the new path out to the Barrage.

There is nothing there really, its an okay walk out there, but once past the Norwegian Church there is not really much to see – they are making a Doctor Who exhibition, and the area is supposedly being re-developed, but at the moment there is just a ribbon of tarmac, and too many cyclists.

Half way there are the toilets, and a concrete stake park and a couple of play grounds for the children. A little later on is dramatically signed “The Scott Exhibition”, which is in fact just a poster of the Arctic adventure.

Once at the barrage you can see some machines, and some water, some of it running fast. Luckily for us there was some high drama when a couple of boats wanted to come in and the whole section of roadway magically lifted into the air (it wasn’t actually magic it was a bascule bridge )

Best part for me was the “3 Ellipses for 3 locks” piece of art by Felice Varini, which I am sure many people miss. I loved that.

Then it rained.

So we came home.

Back home over the Bank Holiday extended weekend, and on a slightly drizzly day we thought we would take a look at St Davids..

Arrived at the City and parked just as you entered, where they had a new (to me) visitor center with cafe. Not much inside, but they had an exhibition by Graham Sutherland which I was not very impressed with. I looked at the notes by each painting which were supposed to explain them, and I thought someone had just put a random explanation next to any painting – made no sense to me at all..

We walked down through the town, in the light drizzle, and looked into a craft / art exhibition. Some quite nice stuff in there made from driftwood, but the most amazing thing was seeing Mr Dave Edwards who was my mentor in my original IT job all those years ago. Probably have not seen him in 15 years, can’t say he looked any different…

After the enlightenment of the craft fair we had a look at the cathedral, its still there and big.

Then a quick look into Fat Face, and off for afternoon tea. I had a scone with cream, which made me feel sick. And a glass of “home made” lemonade which was not good. Take me to a chippy any day…

The rain had slightly stopped by the time we trudged back to the car and home.

I like St Davids.