Good timing. We’ve arrived back at The Cottage just in time for a North Wales heatwave!

As usual, we arrived home feeing like we needed a holiday to recover from the holiday. Happily, conditions were perfect for some Easter bank holiday Cottage garden appreciation.

Temperatures have been warm right from sunrise, with the outside temperature being warmer than inside for the first time this year.

On Tuesday, morning I took a coffee and sat listening to the birds outside the back door. There was a real mix of tunes, so I asked a birdspotting App (Merlin), to let me know what was out there making all the noise – it clocked 22 different types of bird and I could also see a couple of buzzards circling up high as well!

While we were away, ‘Storm Dave’ passed across Wales. The Cottage seems to have remained unscathed, but there were a few trees down nearby. We’d arrived back in time for the accompanying swell that it created. Clare noticed that not only was it going to be above 20 degrees at the beach, but there was also a windless 2-3 foot swell approaching! Still without the van, we had to cram everything into the boot of the car (including a 7-foot surfboard!). We hadn’t texted anyone, but we pulled into the parking area to find John just getting into his wetsuit. Great minds… An incredible blue sky, glassy waves, warm weather morning ensued.

Further warm weather continued back at The Cottage – while Clare worked in the Office, I set about tackling a bit of gardening…

A lovely way to return from a trip…