It was Christmas time in Wenvoe and as a nurse, Mandy had to work an early morning shift while Rob prepared the Christmas dinner. When Mandy returned home they exchanged gifts, Rob had one final gift hidden behind the tree, it was an engagement ring and he popped down on one knee to propose.....Mandy said Yes !
We made our way over to The Patti Pavilion in Swansea to see The New Jersey bar band, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
We took a drive up to Castle Coch which is just a few miles outside Cardiff. This is a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle built above the village of Tongwynlais
In Late August we decided to go on holiday to the North African Country of Tunisia. We flew from Bristol airport to Monastir. Sadly, the airline lost Rob's case on the way over.
So our first task was to got to the local souk to get Rob some new clothes.
The Hotel was decorated in an ornate style, with a fountain in the center of the lobby with flower petals floating in the pond of the water fall.
Our first base was the town of Hammermet, we took a walk into the Medina and were greeted with quite a loud explosion, a gas canister had exploded, the lively streets were suddenly disrupted by a deafening explosion. A gas canister had erupted, sending thick plumes of black smoke spiraling into the midday sky. Locals and tourists alike scattered in panic, their usual chatter replaced with urgent shouts.
We hopped into a local taxi, the driver nodding with a knowing smile when we mentioned the "Saw Mountains." As the city streets gave way to winding roads, we found ourselves immersed in a different world. The landscape changed dramatically—rolling green hills peppered with olive groves gave way to the rugged peaks that earned these mountains their distinctive name.
For the men, the highlight was being washed on a warm stone slab, a practice that dates back centuries. The sensation of the heated stone beneath you, combined with the expert touch of the attendants, created an almost meditative experience as the layers of stress seemed to melt away with each scrub and rinse.
Meanwhile, the women's section was filled with its own magical moments. Mandy, along with the other women, had her hands painted with intricate designs, a delicate process symbolizing beauty and tradition. The gentle strokes of the henna brush felt calming, and the designs, unique to each woman, told a story of artistry passed down through generations.
A walk around the Village of Wenvoe, South Wales. 2003. The village was surrounded by some lovely country side but the Capital City of Cardiff was only a few miles away.
