Places beginning with C

Can you tell where Stamps is standing? No it's not a prison, or a jewelry store or a wishing well...

It's one of our many many castles in Wales. This one is on the hill above our town and is called,(strangely, considering it's condition) Newcastle. That's because it replaced the old Roman fort that was originally on this site.

There it is in full view. It's only a little castle, but it's our very own.

As a treat for being such a good climber and getting to the top of Newcastle hill, we took him to the cinema. Looks like he hasn't stopped climbing yet. This huge stuffed dog was in the lobby advertising the new movie "Marmaduke" Can't wait to see it.

Bridgend - town of many bridges.

This is another of our sweet little towns - Pen-y-bont or Bridgend as we all call it. Outside the main council offices Stamps finds three large signs.
One is the Bridgend crest and the other two are the towns that we are twinned with. Langenau in Germany and Villenave D'ornon in France. We sometimes exchange students from schools and colleges; it is great fun. But as Stamps says, "that's two towns you are twinned with; surely that should be two towns you are tripletted with" LOL Stamps; you are a funny one.

Bridgend is also known as "little Venice." The river runs right through the center and in one mile of river there are 11 brdges of different kinds crossing it including one that runs the entire length of the river. Those little weirs don't stop the local canoe club from using it. The water level is usually much higher but we have been having lots of sunshine these last few weeks - lucky us hee hee.

Stamps in Wales

Hello Stamps and welcome to Wales. My word, you are the little traveller; look at all those badges you've earned so far! I've given you a little Welsh red dragon for your collection since he is the star of our country's flag.

Isn't Wales known as the "green, green grass of home?" Well, yes it is. And with good reason too. I live in the Llynfi Valley where the fields stretch out in all directions. Back when I was younger, many of these hills were black from the coal mining - St John's colliery was the last to close in 1985. But now we have lots of pretty countryside to walk in.

We are proud of our little Victorian town. This is the Town Hall "Neuadd y dref" in Welsh.
In other places the Town Hall is where the Mayor lives and works, but in Wales it is a much more important place. It was built by the coal miners and is the center of town life. The basement is a working market place and the upstairs is a huge concert hall. Many groups and clubs meet here and our local dramatic society put on plays, we even have touring groups to visit - Stereophonics even played here once.

Not one to be all upset about no coal mining anymore; many of our old buildings have been recycled. This is the Ironworks. This is the whole reason that our town was built here. No iron is smelted anymore but this huge venue is our Sports Centre.

Stamps visit to North Yorkshire

Stamps arrived safely in Little Barugh, North Yorkshire after leaving Susan in New Jersey, USA.  He was feeling a bit tired and jet-lagged.  On his first Sunday with us we took him to Westow village to watch us play Petanque, he decided to get in on the action but couldn't throw the boule, I warned him not to kick it, but too late:

So on Monday morning he had to share my Physio appointment with me, Sally massaged his leg for him.  Afterwards we all went to the Hidden Monkey Cafe in Malton for a nice cup of tea and toasted teacakes, Stamps met one of the many resident monkeys there and had a nice chat with him.

                                                                                                     

    

                






On Tuesday we decided to take a train trip from Pickering to Whitby, but before our train left  we called in at the Station Cafe for coffee and Stamps met Alan Reynolds.     


                                   Leaving Pickering Station

Passing through Goathland (Heartbeat Aidensfield) with station cat watching, 'Heartbeat' is the TV series about a village policeman that was filmed in and around Goathland and Whitby, the steam train featured in it and Goathland station was the Aidensfield in the series.

Passing under Whitby Viaduct

Whitby Marina 

Stamps decided it was easier to slide down the rail than to climb the 199 steps to Whitby Abbey, we both had to think of our legs! 

Jim and Stamps relax on a bench on the harbour at Dock End, looking towards the East side of Whitby, across the River Esk.  It was in the graveyard of St. Mary's church up on the cliff, near Whitby Abbey, that Dracula was supposed to have made his first appearance in the form of a dog after the ship his coffin was on sank after hitting rocks. 

Stamps with Mike Mitchell our steam engine driver, on engine number 76079, just before we boarded the train to return to Pickering.

Watching the scenery on the way back to Pickering.

Stamps looking at our photo's on the Station Collage Poster - in our Santa and Mistress Holly Claus costumes

Stamps rested for a few days and enjoyed the views from our garden, and the sitting among the colourful primula flowers in the sunshine. 

He climbed our Poplar tree, with a little help, to watch the sheep with their newborn lambs in the field over the fence from our garden.

 and he also enjoyed sitting with our two boy cats in the hidden garden.  On the left he is sitting with Rappy, and on the right with Rappy and Jet.

Today, Saturday, we went to Malton Market and Stamps met up with the Market Manager Dave, and with two of the regulars there, Keith who has the Tea Wagon and Eleanor who has the yarn and jewellry stand.

While walking through the market a little spaniel pup became very excited on seeing Stamps and wanted to make friends, Jim patted her on the head and scratched under her chin but unfortunately her owner got rather annoyed with the pup and dragged her away shouting at the poor little dog. 

Jim and Stamps in the market place.

We have enjoyed having Stamps stay with us, and apart from his mishap trying to use the steel boule as a football, I think he has enjoyed his stay with us too.