PODLA Report

 North Wales 27^th-30^th May 2005

The preparation for our trip to Anglesey involved being forced into shops such as Blacks and Millets to look for sensible clothing.

Being more of an ‘afghan coat and hippy skirts’ kind of chick, these shops are unfamiliar territory to me. 

In Blacks I was approached by the rugged outdoorsy salesman, in response to his “can I help you Madam?” I asked if he had anything in pink.  His bewildered reply being no, I then said “Well you can’t help me then!!”

I later found my sensible coat in the children’s section at Millets.  A Barbie pink waterproof Mack plus the obligatory Kendall mint cake.

After a 7 hour journey (we were towing…..AGAIN!) We arrived at the pub in Anglesey.

A surprising turnout of PODLAs, Hannah and myself, Paul Ashworth’s Mrs, Louise’s husband John, and our newest member, Baby Amelia.

On arrival at our B&B, Hannah and I scoured the various leaflets and brochures for local attractions. Anglesey had much to offer: Castles, horse riding, walks, Snowdon nearby and beautiful beaches.

We awoke the next day to quite horrendous weather.  The dive plan was changed to plan B, a quarry called Vivienne.  This wasn’t a bad thing for the PODLAs as the quarry was situated close to the Snowdon railway.  We donned our now very much appreciated waterproof wear!!

We watched the divers getting into the water.  This was a first for me, and actually quite interesting. 

Paul Usher and Graham Heald explained how the bubbles we were seeing were in fact big until they got close to the surface, and then they break up.  Paul let me hang on to his arm and I watched Patrick, Andy and Kev’s bubbles as they moved around the quarry.

Amazingly time passed quickly and before I knew it SMBs (that’s surface market buoys to the uninitiated) started popping up all around.

I was handed a sheet of paper and asked to write details down; dive times, air left etc.  I am now an experienced dive Marshall, and all without getting my hair wet!

After lunch we decided to head off to the Snowdon railway……which was closed due to high winds!!!

The next option was the Slate Museum; naturally we decided to go shopping instead.  The selection of shops wasn’t great, but a few smelly candles and a couple of postcards later, we returned to find our divers emerged.

Dinner that evening was an Indian restaurant (or rather, an Indian take away with some tables out back).  Not having a licence to serve alcohol, Graham Heald very kindly popped to the off licence next door and returned with copious amounts of wine! As did Paul Ashworth, many thanks Chaps!

2 hours and a lot of complaints later, our meal arrived.  Which was very tasty, unfortunately by this time we were all passed hungry!!!?

An early rise the next day, and a beach launch.  John and Amelia opted for the PODLA favourite, a day in the car park, while Hannah and I set off to find Canarfon Castle.

The castle was magnificent, a fine specimen of castledom!

Being “ladies wot Lunch” we enjoyed the wares of a local café before setting off on our quest to find the most ridiculously named town in the world. 

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch was, well, disappointing to say the least.  It took longer to say the name than it did to drive through it!!!

It boasted one rather naff shop claiming to a mill, and a railway station.

I dragged a rather reluctant Hannah into the cheesiest shop I could find and purchased a tea towel with “interesting places of Anglesey” printed across it.

We returned to find poor John still in the car park where we had left him and Amelia that morning.  He seemed a trifle distressed as Amelia had decided there was nothing nicer than Mummy, and she wanted her …….NOW!

We joined them on the beach, and looked to the sea for our divers return.

Dinner that evening was at a rather nice pub Hannah and I had investigated earlier that day.

The next day was another early start (seems to be the norm).

Patrick suggested I reverse the boat into the sea, while he “supervised” after much shouting and cries of “back a bit, back a bit more…keep going, you’ll be fine, of course you won’t get stuck, it’s a Land Rover!!!!” I was stuck…..in the sand….with the water lapping around the wheels.

A nice man in another Land Rover rescued us, thanks whoever you were! I do apologise for my language.

Andy joined us for the morning, having had problems with his ears, I think actually he just wanted to join in the crazy life style of the PODLA!

We spent the morning shopping in a nearby Tesco superstore.  We bought sandwiches and drinks for everyone and returned in time for that popular PODLA past time, a nap in the car.

The divers returned around lunchtime and the sandwiches were gratefully received.

 After lunch we said our goodbyes and started out on the long journey home.

That was my first trip to Wales, I was pleasantly surprised.  I’m sure it won’t be my last!

 Thanks to Ian McDean for organising the weekend, and showing us his beautiful homeland.

Graham Healds report can be read here along with some pictures from the weekend