#Taff Trail
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Cefn Coed Viaduct
The third largest in Wales, Cefn Coed Viaduct was built to carry the Brecon & Merthyr Railway over the River Taff near Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales. Designed by Alexander Sutherland and Henry Conybeare, it consists of fifteen arches, each one with a span of almost forty feet, and is 257 yards long with a maximum height of 115 feet. Described as a graceful and majestic structure, it has an…
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(SPOILERS FOR THE DBZ SUPER HERO MOVIE) I left some space if you haven't seen the movie, if you have, don't mind this extra space:
Hey! Idk is this is been done (you can combine requests if need be) could you do a Gohan x Baby Reader (just like your other ones) where it's Halloween and Gohan accidentally releases his beast form, but the appearance of the beast form scares his sweet pea (the reader)? Idm I just thought I'd be adorable
Gohan x Baby. Reader [Halloween Special]
I wasn't planning on doing any Halloween one-shots, but oh well xD
Want more from me? Masterlist 2
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Cookies and Beasts (DBS)
Warning: Fluff, You making Vegeta soft
Halloween is strange...
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“Hey, you, calm down,” Gohan chuckled, tickling at your side.
At the moment, you were looking at his friends in confusion.
Piccolo and 18 were the only ones who looked normal.
The one your papa addresses as Krillin had painted his face and wore a weird outfit.
Auntie Bulma (she insists to be called) had wild hair and an even wilder outfit, her eyes were different colors, too.
Uncle Vegeta (Bulma insisted simply to annoy him) was forced to wear a beard, hat, and a dress-like thing. Papa said he was a wizard, whatever that was. Vegeta would hit people randomly with a big stick he carried.
Then Trunks and uncle Goten had strange teeth and even stranger clothes.
All the confusion caused your power-level to spike.
“Isn’t this [Name]’s first Halloween?” Auntie Bulma offered a cookie, which you gladly took.
“Yeah, I don’t think they've gotten over the costumes, yet,” he bounced his leg a little to calm you.
“Well, [Name]’s is definitely the cutest!”
You were dressed as a pumpkin, the puffy costume hiding you, the pumpkin top resting on your head.
“Videl picked it out.”
“I guess that’s why you’re dressed as a farmer? Where is Videl, anyway?”
“She wasn’t feeling well, but told us to go ahead.
Your eyes trailed to your sister, who was dressed similar to how Paw Goku dressed, things Papa called fake knives were in her hands as she made weird movements.
“Hey, Gohan. I found this weird device, I can’t seem to figure out what it does, could you take a look at it?”
“Huh? Sure.”
“Great! I’ll bring it out,” she walks off.
You offer your cookie to your father, tilting your head back until he looks down.
“You’re giving me some?”
“Yes,” you give him a small smile.
“Thank you, sweet pea.”
“Oo Welca,” you watch as he takes a bite, a little irked he takes more than you expected.
“You mean, ‘You're Welcome’? Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it.”
You decide to leave, so he doesn’t practically devour your cookie with another bite.
You wobble up to Vegeta, making him turn, “Oh, it’s you. The finger crusher.”
You ignore his glare, not finding it intimidating in the least, even more so with his costume.
“Hi!” you smile.
“What is it you want?”
You grasp the dress-like costume finding you like the simple material.
“Soft. Dwess?”
“What, no. It is not a dress!”
You tilt your head.
“It’s a robe.”
“Bobe?” the ‘r’ was hard to pronounce.
“Yes, not a dress,” he scowled.
You move on to the big stick, “Stick?”
“Staff,” he corrected.
“Taff?”
“Yes.”
You offer your cookie, “Wan?”
“No, thank you.”
You take the last bite, “Cookie good.”
“Is it now, would you like another?” he points back to a tray full of cookies on a decorated table.
You nod, grabbing at the air until he picks you up (after being sure no one was looking to laugh for weeks about it), you quickly grab a cookie (he doesn’t say anything when you sneak another).
“Dank you, Geta!”
“Yeah, yeah. Move along now.”
“Bye!”
You notice Paw Goku arriving with Mam Chi-Chi.
You giggle, dashing over to them as fast as your short legs would allow.
“Our little [Name]! You look so cute!” Chi-Chi titters picking you up.
You give her a kiss, which makes her notice the cookie crumbs and two uneaten cookies.
“How many cookies have you eaten? Have you eaten any food yet?”
You lift the cookies, “Yes.”
“That’s not food! Gohan should let you…” then you tune her out, you always do when she goes into her rambles.
“What cookies you got there?”
“Paw Goku, cookies!”
“I see. Can I try one?”
You get transferred over to him as Mam Chi-Chi looks for Papa.
“Yes,” he offer him one while eating the other.
“Yum! They are pretty good, huh?”
You brush a pinky against his green face, “Why?”
“It’s paint! I’m a Frankenstein!”
“Flank—hm,” you decided it was too hard to say.
“Mwahaha,” he tickles your neck making you giggle with a death grip on your cookie.
“Paw Goku, staph—” you screeched in laughter.
“Let’s go find, Gohan, hm?”
You sit on his shoulders as you look for your father, when you do, he seems to looked annoyed as Mam Chi- Chi chews into him.
“Mom, I know what to do with [Name].”
“But…” she rants some more.
“I’ll come back later,” Bulma looks in between them.
Gohan sighs, “No, you asked for my help. Let me see.”
“Gohan!” Mam Chi-Chi scolds.
He observes the device before turning it on, it didn’t do anything.
She reached for the device, “Don’t ignore your mother!”
Suddenly Papa’s power-level spiked and he transformed.
The power startled you, never having seen or felt anything like that before.
He growled, in irritation, “Stop telling me how to parent my child. If I want help, I’ll ask, mom.”
You cry at the scene, never seeing your Papa so upset.
“I see, it’s an emotion amplifier,” Auntie Bulma observed.
Gohan frowned at your crying, his expression dropping more when you nervously grip Paw Goku’s hair.
“Sweet Pea, it’s me,” he powered down, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you…”
You quieted, sniffing before you climbed down your grandfather, wobbling to your Pa to hug his legs.
“Hm, let’s go play some of the games, okay? Will that cheer you up?”
You nod.
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Day 16 - Atapuerca to Burgos
We were on the road a little later today, closer to 8 than 7.30. We couldn’t send our bags on today even though we were walking 12.5 miles as we had booked an Airbnb and there was no reception to receive them at.
There was a climb out of Atapuerca and it felt a bit milder so it didn’t take long before we stripped off our coats. The view back was lovely with the mist over the valley.
As we got to the cross at the top we got our first view of Burgos in the distance.
We pootled down the path in good spirits anticipating our breakfast. The signed path however didn’t follow the map so it took a bit longer to get to our first cafe. The freshly squeezed orange juice was the cheapest we had had, 3 euros for a large glass. We were joined by Scott and Shannon, and also caught up with Joe and Charles who we thought we’d left behind.
It’s amazing how on this walk we are back to our lowest level of needs - our only worries are having somewhere to stay and something to eat.
The path eventually reached the outskirts of Burgos and there are several ways in. We chose the one that took us down the side of the airport. It was a pretty soulless path with no cover that seemed to go on for ever, with factories by the side. However, the alternative would have been alongside the motorway. At the end we stopped for a well earned lemonade.
We then chose to follow the path that went by the river, using one of our apps to make sure we were on the right track. It was a much nicer way to go, passing through a country park eventually reaching a promenade area that reminded us of the Taff Trail near Cardiff.
But that bit seemed to go on and on forever. We took a couple of rest stops, and Jane was getting a bit fed up and decided to run it instead - I left her to it!
We couldn’t check into the Airbnb until 3 so I had messaged the host to see if she could recommend somewhere to eat, which she did. I don’t think that they were quite sure of us when we walked into this trendy place hulking our rucksacks, looking dishevelled and probably a bit smelly. But we got settled and I enjoyed a cool beer. Jane had a burger with egg and bacon and I had a sort of chicken Caesar salad on toast. They both hit the spot.
Our Airbnb is perfect for what we need. It’s on the top floor of an old building in an old square and we’ve each got our own room. We tossed a coin for the double which Jane won. It even has a tiny bath! It’s bright and airy and very comfortable.
As we needed to wash all our stuff we had to message the host to find out where the washing machine was (across the outside corridor). So we’ve taken it in turns to do our washing this time, just a 30 minute cycle.
Leaving everything drying we went out to meet Nicole for a drink, then went off to find the Texans (Alex and Tim) at a restaurant, and Scott found us. I think it’s still pinchos in Burgos but the food all tasted wonderful and what was even nicer is that it felt so mild sat outside
Jane, Scott and I went for a wander afterwards to find an ice cream and the cathedral which looked spectacular against the night sky. It’s definitely on the visit list tomorrow as we are here for a couple of nights to give us a rest and to allow us to explore this beautiful place.
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A walk down the Cowbridge Road East by Linda Boyce
My sociological walk takes me through the district of Canton, down Cowbridge Road East. A down at heel high street (Puwar 2012) in comparison to the bustling consumerism of the city centre of Cardiff less than two miles away. An area I’ve frequented many times on trips to an orthodontist on the outskirts with my teenage daughter, but never venturing a step further. I’ve previously been intrigued by the culture and people observed in this community. The walk contrasts the disparities between green spaces and the din of the urban space. However, the main focus of my walk is on the multiculturalism of the community of Canton and how everyday multiculturism (Wise and Velayutham 2009) is played out in urban areas like shopping centres and high streets (Watson 2016). I feel it is a place that stirs the ‘sociological imagination’ (Wright Mills 1959). A walk that allows me to get a feel for the textures and rhythm of social life in motion (Bates 2014), a place that is telling about society (Becker 2007).
I take the flaneur or rather the flaneuse approach to my sociological walk, as a straddling observer and participator, blending the reportage and poetique (Grantz 2005, p152). My true mission is to tap into urban energies, to stroll, to dawdle, a time of wasteful idling (Ferguson 1994). A floating existence in order to reveal modern urban cultures (Baudelaire 1965, pp 118-119). My walk, although a planned route, comprises of free play across the authoritarian city (Kramer and Short 2011), I find myself curious, and inquisitively heading down side streets to botanise the asphalt (Benjamin 1968) of this little place of Canton.
My walk commences around 11.05 on a Thursday in March at Cardiff University’s Glamorgan Building located near the Welsh Government building. I capture the unfolding portrait of Canton life using audio and video recording, along with taking photographs, to take the reader to where social action is going on (Back 2012). I also wrote scratch, field notes as I continued my ‘walkalong’ (Kusenbach 2003).
I head up King Edward VII Avenue and take a left turn, cutting through College Road to bring me to the crossing on North Road, directly opposite the Royal College of Music and Drama (RCMD) and its prestigious, contemporary building. Here, as I wait at the crossing, I feel myself consciously engaging with my sensual imagination (Vanini et al 2013). The hiss of the hydraulics of passing buses, the screeching brakes, the squawking seagulls circling above, the smell of the exhaust fumes that catch me in the back of the throat and the distant sirens whirring in the distance. I am listening, sensing and feeling (Bates 2014) the multi-sensual world (Lorimer 2005, p83), trying to understand the social and how it is researchable (Lorimer 2005, p84).
I cross the road and wander through Bute Park, immediately feeling the restfulness of this green space. As I enter through the park gates, I meander the path through the park, and drift purposefully in the recommended mode (Sinclair 1997, p4). I take some audio recordings in the park where nature is heard - away from the noisy hub of the city - and bird singing can be prominently heard over the background traffic noise. In contrast, the sound of a saxophonist playing jazz could be heard from the open windows of the RCMD behind me. My pace slows as I want to feel the textures and rhythm of social life in motion (Bates 2014). Cyclist’s dash past me, the sound of the revolving pedals, whirring of the bicycle chain and the rubber tyres on asphalt, is quite an appealing sound. This outdoor green space is a lived space with everyday life with rhythms and patterns (Lefbvre 1991). I also notice the visibly embedded bike trails and walking routes of pedestrians in the path. I come to a little café set alongside the River Taff, a perfect pit stop for dog walkers, joggers and pram pushers. I head up over the suspension bridge that bounces with my every footstep. I head out through a car park for the national express bus station, I can’t help but notice how even though this is in the confines of the park, a place of nature and trees, nature is being tamed, by way of an iron grating that encircles the tree in order to curtail the roots and stop them buckling paving slabs.
As I exit the park which brings me onto the main road that leads to Canton, the place of my sociological enquiry (Beck et al 1994; Lash 1999). I am bombarded once again with exhaust fumes and the cluttering noise of traffic and come across vibrant matter (Bennett 2009) of particular grot spots of litter, (Puwar 2012) - the left-over objects of commercial consumption. I cross at the junction, and with a slight left, I head down to Cowbridge Road, East. Passing the blue plaque outside of a Victorian townhouse signalling the birth place of Ivor Novello, a Welsh 1920s composer, better known these days for the eponymous music awards. Two older, gentlemen are strolling just in front of me as I catch with them as I pass them by. I overhear one gentleman asking the other, “I’m not too old, am I”? Realising that I was passing just as this was being said, there was a distinct silence between the both of them. I turn to smile at the gent who must be at least 80 years of age, but very spritely. Reassuringly I say, “You’re never too old, you’re as young as you feel!” They both chuckle. To the left are some disused offices and the St David’s Hospital. It is at this point, where my sociological walk and the multiculturalism of Canton truly begins.
I continue on my traverse, I pass a myriad of restaurants from global cultures such as Dubai Nights, Vivo Latino, Kimchi Korean and the famous Happy Gathering - a well-loved Cantonese restaurant. There is also cultural merging of cuisines for example with the Indo-Cymru restaurant - possibly in recognition of the proprietors’ cultural origins that they now have come to call Canton their home. There is a fruit-and-veg van perched to the side of the row of restaurants where a queue is forming. The chatty proprietor makes friendly gestures and calls customers by their first names. Talking about a variety of things, from local misdemeanours, to the score of the last city game, “seriously though Giggs - managing Wales mun,” one guy retorted. I motion further down the high street passing, a sex shop marketing their wares as ‘marital aids’. Further along, are a number of hire purchase outlets, casinos and betting shops that give me a sense that this may be a deprived area. These descriptions are the urban banality (Kramer and Short 2011) of the high street but are relevant, as these local territories shape the social interactions (Kusenbach 2003) in this community. These high street outlets give vitality to the ongoing life (Back 2013) of this suburban space. Where the actors engage with the places around them through the course of their everyday lives (Seamon 1979). As I stroll down the high street, I notice that Canton has a number of butchers, bakers and fruit-and-veg shops, along with cobblers and hardware shops that take over the space on the pavement to sell their wares. Reminiscent of the old ways of shopping, it is quite a ‘quaint’ high street with privately owned businesses and very few global retailers - an ‘everything on your doorstep’ type of high street.
I continue my journey down the road, past Shab’s, a Turkish barber’s, numerous tattoo studios and tanning outlets and multiple vaping shops, where the pungent smell of artificial scents spill out into the street through the plumes of smoke. I also pass a number of places of worship, a Baptist church that runs toddler groups, community courses and after school clubs further down and a larger church called the Wesley, that has converted its foyer area into a café, as I pass I notice a number of older residents catching up and chatting over a cup of tea.
I eventually come to a cross roads which is at the centre of Canton. I decide to loiter around a bench that is set directly outside Tesco Express, and as I sit down, two ladies sit down next to me disgusted with the price that they have paid for their sandwiches and they both agree that they, “will never do that again”. To the side of the bench there is a large tower, there as a sort of architecture of advertisement (Hessel 1968) that is pasted from top to bottom with a number of local events at the nearby cultural hub of Chapter and more risqué events such as the Lady Boys of Bangkok. I feel that this is a convenient place to scribble some field notes as I observe the consumerist order (Bauman 1994, p153) of shoppers. People mingle, congregate and socialise around these pigeonpoop-covered benches. As I sit there, the bench users are joined, on the outskirts, by two mobility scooter users wishing to rest at this place to enjoy the pasty and sandwich that they have recently purchased. I can’t help but notice that I am completely surrounded by cooing pigeons and I have to duck as they swoop over my head. I turn around to see an older lady feeding them, a complete frenzy of feathers and panicked pecking at the floor ensues. She notices me looking over and says, “Well I’m giving them their breakfast see, if I don’t do it, nobody will”. I smile back at her. “Bless her,” I think to myself. I pan around to people watch and notice the diverse social architecture (Kusenbach 2003) of the people on the high street. Indian Ladies pass wearing brightly coloured Sarees and Muslim women in Burkas all indicate their cultural background. As they pass one another, there is a friendly recognition between them, a social bond that the people have as a result of sharing this local territory (Kusenbach 2003). Outside the Tesco Express, a young, homeless girl sits with a knitted blanket over her knees reading a book. A number of people stop to give her money and a Muslim lady spends time chatting to her. They laugh together and they say their farewells. Sitting adjacent to her is a Big Issue vendor, dressed in a black head covering, she also gets a warm reception from passers-by. One older lady calls across to her and asks how she is today? “I’ll be back now in a minute to buy one love, I just need to get some change,” and she heads into the shop. I veer left down a side street to stumble across a gym, called ‘Hiya’ fitness - ladies only. Next to it is a shop Munfrid Styles, selling Shalwar Kameez, a traditional Indian outfit, and Sarees. Outside I see a group of Muslim ladies ready to head inside to the gym, but as they do they stop to wait for a local lady and they all walk in together, chatting. I continue my walk further down the road just taking in more social interactions and catching the visible practices as they happen (Laurier 2014). A group of older ladies pass me with each with a front loading shopping trolley, there is a near miss with my feet as they pass but they are more intent on getting the attention of their friend further down the street. “Allo, allo, allo Gal,” as they catch up with her, “Oh, we haven’t seen you for ages, how’s your Gallstones now?” “Ah I had them blasted see” she replies. I continue my walk further and receive many smiles and hellos from all walks of life - me, a stranger, being treated as one of the locals (Kusenbach 2003). Across the road I notice another hair dressing salon/barbers and above the salon, in bold red writing, is ‘Stavros Constantinou, Welsh, British, European and the world hairdressing champion – for ladies and their gentlemen’. The place is heaving, with people in the hairdresser’s chairs and a good crowd waiting and flicking through magazines and swiping phones. It makes me wonder about the numerous narratives and gossip that they exchange whilst sitting in the chairs.
In my reflexive turn (Emerson 2001), my initial impressions of Canton were that it was a socio-economically deprived area. However, the more familiar I became with the area, I found my attitude changed and I became quite fond of the area as I gained a feeling for its space and people (Bates 2014). This area was a closely knitted, multi-cultural space. The butchers, barbers and fruit shops were the hub of the high street where lived experience of knowledge was exchanged, along with snippets of gossip. There were pockets of deprivation, but it was a far cry from the consumerism of the city centre. Nevertheless, there was authentic, real-lived Cowbridge Road East culture - the storytelling and the catching up in the street, over shop counters and outside betting shops whilst having a cigarette - being more than anything that could be projected in the gentrified area of Cardiff’s city centre. The street felt alive and breathing with the same heartbeat and community spirit with feelings of friendly, neighbourly relations - unlike the multiculturalism in the realm of political discourse being portrayed as a divide in communities. This contrast may have been because a majority of the people were ‘in the same boat’, with similar circumstances and the lack of socio-economic status and materialism stunted the individualistic selfishness and greed of the city centre.
References
Back, L., 2013. New Ethnicities and Urban Cult. Routledge.
Bates, C. ed., 2014. Video methods: Social science research in motion. Routledge.
BAUDELAIRE: ‘Le Peintre de la Vie moderne’, Critique d'Art, II, Paris [1965].
Bauman, Z., 1994. Alone again. Ethics after certainty.
Beck, U., Giddens, A. and Lash, S., 1994. Reflexive modernization: Politics, tradition and aesthetics in the modern social order. Stanford University Press.
Becker, H., 2007. Telling About Society Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Benjamin, W., 1968. Illuminations (Vol. 241, No. 2). Random House Digital, Inc..
Bennett, S., 2009. Londonland: an ethnography of labour in a world city. Libri Pub Limited.
Certeau, M., 1984. ‘Practices of Space’, in M. Blonsky (ed.) On Signs. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Emerson, R.M., 2001. Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations, 2nd edn. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.
Goffman, E., 1963. Behavior in Public Places: Notes on the Social Organization of Gatherings. New York: Free Press.
Kramer, K. and Short, J.R., 2011. Flânerie and the globalizing city. City, 15(3-4), pp.322-342.
Kusenbach, M., 2003. ‘Neighboring: An Ethnographic Study of Community in Urban Hollywood’, dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles.
Kusenbach, M., 2003. Street phenomenology: The go-along as ethnographic research tool. Ethnography, 4(3), pp.455-485.
Laurier, E., 2014. The graphic transcript: Poaching comic book grammar for inscribing the visual, spatial and temporal aspects of action. Geography Compass, 8(4), pp.235-248.
Lash, S., 1999. Another modernity, a different rationality.
Lefebvre, H., 1991. Critique of everyday life (Vol. 2). Verso.
Lofland, L.H., 1998. The Public Realm. New York: De Gruyter.
Lorimer, H., 2005. Cultural geography: the busyness of beingmore-than-representational’. Progress in human geography, 29(1), pp.83-94.
Milligan, M.J., 1998. ‘Interactional Past and Interactional Potential: The Social Construction of Place Attachment’, Symbolic Interaction 21: 1–33.
Mills, C.W., 2000. The sociological imagination. Oxford University Press.
Noble, G., Wise, A. and Velayutham, S., 2009. Everyday Multiculturalism
Puwar, N., 2012. Walking through the litter, life writing projects, Sussex University.
Seamon, D., 1979. A Geography of the Lifeworld. New York: St Martin’s Press.
Vannini, P., 2015. Non-representational ethnography: New ways of animating lifeworlds. cultural geographies, 22(2), pp.317-327.
Watson, S., 2017. Making multiculturalism. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 40(15), pp.2635-2652.
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im exhausted.
Constantly, utterly exhausted. I can't put this anywhere else other than here. I've not used this account in two years. But I've got no idea where else to post. I feel like I'm unhappy about 75 percent of the time. My job doesn't feel like it has purpose and I don't even feel like I'm doing it for anything anymore. I don't do much I like, at all. I spend my weekends cleaning, or looking after the animals, or going to my partner's gigs, or trying to find time to spend with us together.
I don't regret where I am in life from the last year. I feel like I had pretty much no choice moving, it was either that or constant panic attacks. But since my two best friends for pregnant, I feel so isolated here. I miss Cardiff. I hate it here. I love this house but it feels like his. I feel constant imposter syndrome in this life and the last time I felt like an individual was so many months ago I can't even count. Everyone's too busy for each other all the time. My partner's always working, and we don't even have the same sleep schedule. And when we are up, he can't do the things he loves because I hate it like watching sport and listening to old music, and I can't do what I like because he hates everything I love. My music, the shows I love, any games I've liked, the food I like, a lot of the stuff I loved doing was based in Cardiff and I feel like we always go to places he knows, I feel like an alien here. Its always his car we take, his food we eat, his places we know. I feel totally lost and that would be balanced out if I could see any of my friends. But ones always at the gym or working a million miles away, two are always away and two are pregnant. And all of them are over 40 minutes away. Everyone has their own life. And I feel like I'm drowning in mine.
I've developed this weird obsession with cleaning the house. Like everything has to be perfect because I can't control anything else. Like everything will feel more mine if I clean and change it.
Even my rabbits feel different. Being in a different room to them breaks my heart and every time I see them I feel guiltier and guiltier about Chester being alive with her head tilt and splayed leg and Robun not moving much because of it. Going to the radio station feels like a chore, my finances are in the bin and yet I'm still constantly trying to spend money on other people to make them happy. I just don't feel right in my own life. I don't even know how to explain it to anyone I've had so many conversations with my partner and it's like I can't even explain it. I adore him so much but it's like we are the same and get polar opposites. I feel on the same page as him but a totally different book. All my friends say I look tired. I have nobody who I can actually talk to anymore.
He's trying so hard. And I feel so rubbish because I know that. I just can't shake this imposter syndrome feeling. That maybe I'm just not letting myself be happy, or maybe something is wrong, or maybe it'll take time. I have always detested change. I know that. But this feels so weird.
I've always been stuck on the past I know that. And I definitely feel like at least a part of me still lives there. But I didn't feel like that last year. I don't know when I started feeling like this again. I feel disposable. I feel like a housewife, and nothing else. Like somehow in the last year I've aged 10 years and suddenly everyone else has too. Maybe it's something to do with coming out of uni and feeling a lack of purpose again.
Maybe it's that I miss cycling down the taff trail twice a day and seeing the sun gleam off the river, talking to people every night, curling up with my housemate on his bed in fits of laughter, drinking with people and genuinely having a laugh during it, waking up and feeling like my life was mine.
I don't miss being on my own, not by any means. I mean I spent like 6 of those months talking to my other half every night anyway, but I do miss feeling like I had control over my life. I miss feeling at home in a place, in people. I'm living a life that doesn't quite feel right. Like there's so much perfect but so much feels weird. I constantly feel out of sorts. Like I'm in a dream and just about to wake up
I'm always looking for more to do, more to buy, or change, or fix, and hoping that I find the bit that makes a clock and suddenly I just feel like me again.
But I haven't felt like me for a long while now. I'm angry, and snappy, and tired, and I feel like I'm making everything. Sometimes I want to close my eyes and wake up in that bed again, turn to my left and see the rabbits, turn to my right and see the sun rising. And not have to worry about waking anyone up, and just being able to throw the curtains open at 6am and sit by my window with a book and play my music, or even just sit in bed and watch tv.
The days feel like they're flying and like they're so slow. I feel like I'm waiting for something and I don't know what.
Maybe I felt like this before I went to uni, maybe this was my perpetual state but I didn't realise until it felt better. Maybe it's my job, maybe it's my home. I don't know.
I don't feel like I'm getting what I need. I'm happy, but I'm not content. I feel like I'm half a person right now. Like I found all this wonderful stuff about me and the people I love and all this energy and it's disappeared. Its all gone now.
Its exhausting going places and being the girl who works a 9-5 when your partner is some crazy good musician. Everyone wants to chat to him and find out what he plays or what he does or tell him how great it is being so creative. And then there's me. Just, in an office job. The lackey, the groupie. That's how it feels. Its why I don't go to his gigs as much. I love watching him play, but I hate feeling like an NPC in my own life. Like the free time I have is spent as a sidekick. My head is so full of stuff. Just all the time. And I can never say any of it. Its so hard to say any of this and not sound like I'm complaining.
I should be happy with all this, surely. Surely I should, I've come so far. I've done so much and I got out of hell. Even my fucking ex said I sound like I've got a good life. So why do I feel like I'm screaming inside my own head all the time like there's something missing.
Katie says I'll get bored. She says she called it about a year ago. She's happy I'm happy with my life but she's said it's not enough for the girl she knows of me.
I'm so fucking scared she's right. I'm so afraid to spend my life like my mum did. Constantly from job to job, person to person never settling down and being content.
Its not like I'm going round painting a smile on or anything. But I feel like I'm about 65% of me, all the time. Like I've had to shut down bits of me.
I don't know what'll happen. Or if in a couple of years I'll think I was stupid for thinking all this.
I just want to be as happy and content as I am grateful.
I feel like I miss people that don't exist anymore. A home that doesn't exist anymore. And a life that doesnt. And maybe even a version of me that doesn't exist anymore. I don't like myself right now. For the first time in a long time.
I'm tired.
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🚴♂️ Cycling in Cardiff is a fantastic way to explore the city's stunning scenery and attractions. With a range of routes to suit all abilities, cyclists can enjoy a leisurely ride along the Taff Trail or challenge themselves with a climb up Caerphilly Mountain. 🌳 The city boasts a number of beautiful parks, including Bute Park and Roath Park, which offer peaceful green spaces to cycle through. Meanwhile, the Cardiff Bay Trail takes cyclists on a scenic route along the waterfront, passing landmarks such as the Wales Millennium Centre and the Senedd. 👀 For those looking for a more cultural experience, the city has a wealth of attractions to explore by bike. From the historic Cardiff Castle to the modern architecture of the Principality Stadium, there's plenty to see and do on two wheels in Cardiff.1. Exploring the Best Cycling Routes in Cardiff: From Scenic Parks to Bustling City StreetsCardiff offers a variety of cycling routes for all levels of cyclists. Start with Taff Trail, a 55-mile route from Cardiff Bay to Brecon. Explore Bute Park, a 130-acre park with a 2.3-mile cycling route. Cycle through Roath Park, a 130-acre park with a 2.2-mile cycling route. For adventurous cyclists, try the challenging Caerphilly Mountain route. Experience the stunning views of the city and the surrounding countryside. Another challenging route is the Garth Mountain, a 9-mile climb with a 1,000 ft ascent. For those who prefer a leisurely ride, try the Cardiff Bay Trail. Enjoy the beautiful views of the waterfront and the iconic landmarks. Explore the bustling city streets and the vibrant neighborhoods. Don't forget to stop by the bike-friendly cafes and pubs along the way. 🍻2. Insider Tips for Cycling in Cardiff: Staying Safe and Enjoying the RideWhen cycling in Cardiff, safety should always come first. Always wear a helmet and bright clothing, use hand signals, and follow traffic rules. 🚴♀️ Stick to designated bike lanes and paths, and avoid busy roads during rush hour. Plan your route ahead of time and be aware of any construction or road closures. 🛣️ Invest in a good lock and secure your bike properly when parking. Don't leave any valuables on your bike or in the basket. 🔒 Stay alert and aware of your surroundings, especially when cycling at night. Use lights and reflective gear to increase visibility. 🌃 Cardiff has many scenic routes for cycling, including the Taff Trail and Cardiff Bay Trail. Take advantage of these paths and enjoy the ride! 🌳 Join a cycling group or club to meet other cyclists and discover new routes. Don't be afraid to ask for advice or tips from experienced riders. 🚴♂️ Remember to stay hydrated and fuel up with healthy snacks before and during your ride. Enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery that Cardiff has to offer! 🍎3. Discovering Cardiff's Top Cycling Attractions: From Historic Landmarks to Hidden GemsCardiff is a cyclist's paradise with a mix of historic landmarks and hidden gems to explore. Ride along the Taff Trail for stunning views of the city and river. Visit Cardiff Castle, a medieval fortress in the heart of the city. Explore Bute Park, a green oasis with over 130 acres of gardens and woodland. Discover the Cardiff Bay Barrage, a 1.1km long dam with breathtaking views of the bay. Take a ride to the Roath Park Lake and enjoy the scenic views and wildlife. For a more challenging ride, head to the Garth Mountain for panoramic views of the city. Visit the Llandaff Cathedral, a stunning 12th-century cathedral. Ride through the Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve and spot rare birds and wildlife. Explore the Tinkinswood Burial Chamber, a prehistoric monument dating back to 4000 BC. Take a ride to the St Fagans National Museum of History and learn about Welsh culture and history. Cardiff has something for every cyclist, from leisurely rides to challenging routes. 🚴♀️🚴♂️🏰🌳🌊🐦🏞️🏛️4. The Benefits of Cycling in Cardiff: Improving Your Health and Reducing Your Carbon FootprintCycling in Cardiff has numerous benefits for both your health and the environment. Here are some reasons why: Biking is a low-impact exercise that improves cardiovascular health and reduces stress levels. 🚴♀️ It's an affordable and efficient way to commute, avoiding traffic congestion and parking fees. 💰 Cycling reduces your carbon footprint, helping to improve air quality and combat climate change. 🌍 Cardiff has an extensive network of cycle paths and lanes, making it easy to explore the city on two wheels. 🚲 You can save money on transportation costs and get a workout at the same time. 💪 Regular cycling can also help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. 🏥 It's a fun and social activity that can be enjoyed alone or with friends and family. 🤝 So, whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, cycling in Cardiff is a great way to improve your health and reduce your carbon footprint. 🌿5. Gear Up for Your Cardiff Cycling Adventure: Essential Equipment and Maintenance TipsBefore embarking on your Cardiff cycling adventure, make sure you have the essential equipment. A sturdy bike, helmet, gloves, and padded shorts are a must. Invest in a good quality bike lock to keep your bike safe. Carry a repair kit, pump, and spare inner tubes in case of a flat tire. Wear bright and reflective clothing to increase visibility on the road. Maintenance is key to keeping your bike in good condition. Regularly clean and lubricate the chain, check the brakes, and inflate the tires to the recommended pressure. Check the gears and adjust them if necessary. Inspect the frame and wheels for any cracks or damage. Get a professional tune-up before a long ride. Don't forget to hydrate and fuel up before and during your ride. Carry water and snacks, and plan your route ahead of time. Choose a route that suits your fitness level and experience. Be aware of traffic and follow road rules. Take breaks and enjoy the scenery. Now that you have the equipment and maintenance tips, it's time to hit the road! 🚴♀️🚴♂️6. Joining the Cycling Community in Cardiff: Clubs, Events, and Meetups for Enthusiasts of All LevelsIf you're a cycling enthusiast in Cardiff, you're in luck! There are plenty of clubs, events, and meetups to join. Here are some options: Cardiff Ajax Cycling Club: Established in 1948, this club offers rides for all levels, from beginners to experienced cyclists. 🚴♂️ Cardiff Jif Cycling Club: With a focus on racing and training, this club welcomes riders of all ages and abilities. 🏆 Cardiff Social Cycling: A friendly group that meets regularly for leisurely rides around the city. 🚴♀️ Looking for events? Check out: Cardiff Velothon: A popular annual cycling event with routes ranging from 40 to 140 km. 🚴♀️ Cardiff Triathlon: A challenging event that includes a swim, bike ride, and run. 🏊♂️🚴♀️🏃♂️ Cardiff Cycle Tours: A fun way to explore the city by bike, with guided tours available. 🚲 Want to meet fellow cyclists? Join a meetup: Cardiff Cycling Meetup: A group that organizes regular rides and social events. 🚴♂️🍻 Cardiff Women's Cycling Meetup: A supportive community for women who love to cycle. 🚴♀️💪 Cardiff Mountain Biking Meetup: For those who prefer off-road adventures. 🌲🚵♂️ 7. Exploring the Surrounding Countryside: Day Trips and Longer Rides from CardiffDiscover the beauty of the Welsh countryside with these day trips and longer rides from Cardiff. Take a scenic drive to the Brecon Beacons National Park, home to stunning landscapes and picturesque villages. 🏞️ Visit the historic town of Caerphilly and its famous castle, just a short drive from Cardiff. 🏰 Explore the rugged coastline of the Gower Peninsula, with its sandy beaches and hidden coves. 🏖️ Take a trip to the charming market town of Abergavenny and enjoy its food and drink scene. 🍴🍷 For a longer ride, head to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, known for its rugged cliffs and sandy beaches. 🌊 Discover the scenic beauty of the Wye Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 🌳 Visit the picturesque town of Monmouth, located on the border between England and Wales. 🏘️ Explore the stunning scenery of the Vale of Glamorgan, just a short drive from Cardiff. 🚗 With so much to see and do, exploring the surrounding countryside is a must-do when visiting Cardiff. 🌄 In conclusion, cycling in Cardiff is an excellent way to explore the city's hidden gems. With numerous routes available, you can choose the one that suits your preferences and skill level. Don't forget to bring your camera and capture the stunning views along the way 📷. To make your cycling experience in Cardiff more enjoyable, take advantage of the city's cycling facilities, such as bike rentals, repair shops, and parking spots. Remember to wear appropriate gear and follow traffic rules for safety reasons 🚴♀️. Lastly, don't miss out on the city's top attractions, including Cardiff Bay, Bute Park, and the Taff Trail. Cycling in Cardiff is an adventure that you'll never forget, so grab your bike and start exploring! 🚲 https://cyclingshop.uk/cycling-in-cardiff-routes-tips-and-attractions/?_unique_id=6480797de2a43
#Uncategorised#cyclingattractionsinWales#cyclingeventsinCardiff#cyclingroutesinCardiff#cyclingsafetygear#cyclingtipsforbeginners#aiomatic_0
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Summet walks 2019 - 3/??
Taff Trail: Potypridd, Nantgarw, Taff’s Well, Radyr, Pontacanna, Bute Park.
19/05/2019
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Can we please just take a moment to appreciate this ceiling at Castell Coch?
#castell coch#taff trail#south wales#castle#welsh castle#british castle#painted ceiling#victorian#painting#art#medieval
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I absolutely love where I live
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Houses That Bleed
Homes that bleed? You may have heard stories of buildings or houses that have walls that ooze blood droplets or trails of reddish orange bloody liquid pooling on the ceiling that are unable to be explained.
Case One: On September 8th, 1987 at 1114 Fountain Drive in Atlanta, Georgia. It was almost midnight when seventy-seven year old Minnie Winston stepped out of her shower and noticed blood spouting out of the bathroom tiles like a sprinkler. The blood was also seeping from the walls and had pooled together in several rooms throughout the house. After calling out for her seventy-nine year old husband William Winston, they noticed more blood pooling down the hallway, under their TV and it was even in a crawl space. Frightened, Minnie notified the authorities. After an investigation the detectives ruled out any signs of a break-in. The blood that was found was Type O and the Winston’s blood types were both Type A so that ruled out the factor of the blood being theirs. The unsolved case is believed to have been paranormal activity. Sometimes houses are known to bleed when they have a demonic or evil entity present.
Case Two: It was August 8th, 1989 at 593 west 11th street in San Pedro, California where Jackie Hernandez lived, in which a documented poltergeist attack was caught on tape. Dr. Barry Taff and cameraman Barry Conrad were called to investigate the home when they too found samples of human blood pooling and dripping from the ceiling and walls of the home. Jackie had experienced harsh conditions of an evil entity that made it known that she wasn’t welcome at the home. In the previous months to the investigation Jackie had seen apparitions of a dead old man, things in her house shuffled around on their own and she heard voices. She had claimed to have seen heads flying towards her in the attic as well. Cameraman Barry Conrad, whom was skeptical of the horrific claims, decided to investigate in the attic after hearing some sounds. His camera was ripped from his hands and flung across the attic, the lens on one side of the room, the body of the camera laying face down in a box on the other side of the room. After taking a break the men went back into the attic to further investigate, when something wrapped a wire around Barry’s neck and lifted him onto a nail in the wall, trying to hang him. Shortly after the incident Jackie noticed a red mark on her baby’s forehead and everyone left the bleeding home, never to return.
#Houses That Bleed#haunted locations#paranormal#ghost and hauntings#ghost and spirits#haunted salem#myhauntedsalem
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14 miles up the Taff trail and back. Somehow I managed to get lost! 🤣 I finally managed to return to the trail, back through Bute Park and home. (at Taff Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSCSc3IoRph/?utm_medium=tumblr
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gotdamn, hiraeth has gotten so much better over the years (yay i’m no longer spontaneously sobbing because I’ve been ripped in half), but the rugby just brings it back. I should be in a pub right now [well okay not right NOW right now, but this is my fantasy], having gone out for a ride on the Taff Trail earlier today. Motherfucker, this aches and I miss Second Home :(
Anyway, thanks to Billy Burns, Wales’ favourite rugby player in the world right you, you just keep on fuckin up there boi!
#personal#whooo next week's game is at a sane time even for me!#just got to wake up a tiiiny bit earlier than usual and I can watch on S4C!
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@the-wanderer-willow
There wasn’t the requite ingredients in the constant for valentines chocolate, but Akechi didn’t feel he could let the holiday go by without something for the firestarter who had helped him last this long.
With the help of a little blondie, Akechi learns how to make taffy, and he wraps a bunch of it up in wax paper.
Nervous, Akechi approach Willow, Elizabeth trailing behind him with an arms load of wild flowers.
“Uh, Miss W-Willow- Well, by my count it uh..It would be about valentines day so I made you some Taff-”
“SHUT UP AND JUST GIVE HER THE TAFFY LOSER!” Elizabeth giggled, shoving him forward with her foot.
Akechi stumbles slightly but offers the taffy out to Willow.
“Happy Valentines day?”
He tries.
#bleh#stupid mobile tumblr being stupid#The Betrayal of the Crow |Goro Akechi|#Guest Muse: Elizabeth Carter
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Taff Campaign Diaries: Tom and Sinvik
Art Credit:
Character art by @saph-y and @delborovic
Of course the campaign is still going! It’ll hopefully be going for a long while and continue to teach me all those exciting things around DnD, such as making maps, writing campaigns, reading rule books until my eyes bleed, and improvising when the players come up with amazing things. Those sorts of things.
In my next blog post I am probably going to be talking about where our lost souls are right now in their development, alongside of a module/adventure review that I’ve got coming up, but before I get to any of this I really, really, really want to talk about Tomakos and Sinvik a little more. Mostly because I just love talking about them and I love them. Individually and together.
Tomakos Drake belongs to @maverick-werewolf (we already covered that), and he is the main protagonist in her original novel series, while Sinvik Shielding is mine (which I also covered already). Together, we’ve been exploring them (and in my case discovering) over the past two years by playing them in various games, such as Star Wars: The Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, and Dungeons and Dragons Online. It was only a natural progression that they’d find their way into a DnD campaign.
So, what’s their deal in Homebound?
Tom arrives in Ved by ship, packing light. He’s got little more than his armour, his weapons, and his winning attitude on him. Oh, and a cat. Sinvik. His guiding light. His anchor.
She’s not always been a cat. It’s a recent thing. Very recent. And she’s certainly not a cat by choice. Though between an agonising death, her soul being pulled apart strand by strand by a curse, and walking the world on four soft paws? What choice did she really have? Better a cat than dead, even if she’s left with an urge to chase butterflies and to purr on occasion.
The curse is a curious thing. It would have tore her soul apart, if not for Tom’s crafty druid friend, who hid her soul by binding her together with a cat. As long as she stays like that, the curse can’t finish what it started.
But no one has got a clue on how to break it.
Thankfully, Tom will stop at nothing to find the warlock who’d cursed her. Heading to the ass end of everything? Psht. Easy. Not worth the mention. That’s what Ved is and no one argues against it. It’s a little known blob on any map and home to no one of import. Used to be it was at least a somewhat decently peaceful place, though that’s changed. What Tom finds as he disembarks, is a land ill at ease. Pirates nip at its heels. Monsters roam its wilds. People vanish into thin air. And those with means to, they pack up and leave for elsewhere.
Not a big deal though. It’s not like he’s here to settle.
Except he also doesn’t have much of a clue on what to do next, save for a vague signature on a half burnt piece of paper. That’s not a lot of a trail, even for someone as good as tracking as him, and so he seeks help from the local adventurer’s guild. Which is doing about as well as the rest of Ved: terribly. It’s fallen out of fashion years ago, its guild hall good as abandoned and empty, and the only member that it’s got left is an old half elf. Rorrik is his name. And even though he’s half blind, broke, and alone, he hasn’t given up tending the guild hall as best as one man possibly can.
The prospect of Tom coming to the guild, to give it some purpose, is enough to excite the old caretaker, and he quickly promises to help. In return, Tom offers his swords and is promptly sent to check on a long abandoned mine a few hours from the hall. One that, Rorrik says, is filled with kobolds that have been sending small parties to harass him most evenings.
But what Tom finds there aren’t kobolds at all. He’s attacked as he approaches, not by a kobold, but by a man. And once he cleared the only still passable mine shaft, he finds a man-made hideout, not a kobold borrow, buried deep into the hollowed out mountain. It’s far from empty, too, and he’s forced to fight a few more people dressed all in thick black robes.
Venturing deeper, and following a rhythmic, metallic GONG reverberating through the air, he eventually finds a large chamber. In that chamber stands a lit brazier, white smoke billowing out from it. Another man, also dressed in black, stands a little in front of it, striking a metal gong while he mutters words under his breath.
Around the brazier, stand a handful of dazed or unconscious figures. They are all dressed in perfectly white gowns. Spotless. Not a smudge on them. And as the man strikes the gong over and over again, whispered words falling from his lips, white tendrils begin to shape from the smoke and drift towards the people in white.
Tom, thinking he’s stepped into some unsavoury ritual, does what any other good adventuring hero does: he interrupts it all.
And something goes awfully wrong. After a blinding flash of light knocks him on his ass, the tendrils fall away from where they hooked themselves into the figures surrounding the brazier, and they all collapse into heaps on the floor. Which at first isn’t all too bad, since they’re all still breathing. A good thing, overall.
Except then a few of them wake up and hoo boy are they confused.
Tom, on some god’s whim, ended up interfering in a ritual (it’s purpose unknown) that caused a few lost souls to be yanked from their perfectly mundane world into a perfectly chaotic one. And just like that, he’s got more than just Sinvik’s curse to worry about, since what sort of hero would he be if he’d left those poor souls to fend for themselves.
And this, my dear readers, is how Tom and Vik got mixed up with the Homebound campaign.
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urbanxfantasy replied to your post: Dennis would like to apologise for today’s shit...
((Yesterday other beth told me Dennis was drowning her plants and the first thing I thought was on your Dennis just trying to be helpful but massively over-watering the garden))
He’s never been much of a gardener :p
The banks of the river Taff burst today so all the towns along the Taff trail just got super flooded, the pics are crazy
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Summer Walks 2020 - 02/??
Taff’s Trail Cardiff to Tongwynlais + Llandaff Cathedral
25/07/2020
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