Peniarth Isaf

Welcome to Peniarth Isaf

Peniarth Isaf, a traditional Welsh cottage, has been our family home for the past 25 years.

Explore with us the village of Bwlch-y-Cibau, set in the beautiful landscape of Montgomeryshire in Powys.

Wander the garden through the seasons, meet the local wildlife, take a balloon ride with Tim, or catch up with the latest news of family and friends.

Family News December 2008

1st December and a bright but frosty morning in the garden.



Sarah has started doing work for the Nuffield Foundation, mostly from home, so Sue and I have been roped in to babysit for a day or so each week. Here we are entertaining Eddie with a trip to the German Market in Manchester.



It is so easy to hop on the tram from Sale and be into the city centre within a few minutes. Loads of little presents to buy for the kids here.



Couldn't resist one of these glove puppets for Eddie. He does love his cephalopods, so guess which one we bought him.



A pre-christmas visit to Chris and Malcolm's on Anglesey and lunch with Sue's mum here. It must be getting nearer to Christmas because Eddie was allowed his first ever chocolate from the tree. All downhill now!



I've suffered from Yulephobia and feelings of deep humbuggery on and off for years now. But after intensive nag therapy from dearest OH, I felt able to decorate a small tree for the first time in 15 years. "So here it is Merry Christmas..."



To be honest I do now feel the first pangs of Noelsomeness coming over me, and my nearest and dearest was amazed and delighted when I suggested we needed a proper effinoko for the top of the tree. So we set off to Shrewsbury to visit The Christmas Shop. I didn't know where to start at first and nothing seemed worthy of such a fine tree but eventually, there at the back amongst all the baubles, gewgaws and assorted ticktackery, was a dusty cardboard box of robins. Sure, some of them had twisted and scrubby old tail feathers or patches of peeling paintwork over their little polystyrene bodies but they all cried out to be loved.



In the end I chose this one with its eye hanging off by the optic nerve. The lady at the till was clearly struggling with her own feelings of personal mirthlessness because even when I pointed out the visually impaired condition of the bird, not to mention its crumpled and unconventionally hinged beak, she was less than willing to reduce the price much below 23 pence even after fully passing on the recent reduction in VAT. 'Glue it back on!' she said..... I don't know... some people!



Christmas day was another lovely family occasion with Eddie sleeping in until 8 in the morning. At an age when every present is unwrapped and enjoyed before wanting to open more, he was going to take at least two days to get through them all! Thanks to everyone for the gifts and cards and the messages from the other half of the family in Canada. What would we do without the webcam.

Gorgeous weather too and a walk down to the brook to say hi to Ken and Wendy and to play pooh sticks on the bridge.

Boxing Day was a chance to catch up with Christine, Derek and the girls who came lunch and picked up Mum to take her back home.



A couple of days left for the two of us to pack the cases before we set off to spend new year with Tim and Leah in Canada.