We did go to Wales. A thaw set in late on Saturday as forecast, and the school contact in Barry thought things would be OK by Monday; so no postponement. Fortunately Dot was feeling better by Sunday morning. I still had a cough (and still do), but went to church, as I was down to preach and lead the prayers. Happily I managed to get through this without succumbing to a fit of coughing, apologised to Eleanor for not being able to attend her installation as an Honorary Canon at the Cathedral in the afternoon, and drove home to pick up Dot.

We eventually got on the road by about 12.50pm and had an excellent journey, stopping only once to change drivers. The roads were no problem and quite empty of traffic. As we got into Wales, there was a lot of snow in the countryside – quite spectacular. We arrived around 5.30pm at Gail’s Guest House and met Barbara. Nice room. Side roads in town still very snowy. We all went to find the school, which we did eventually, and then had a meal at  Brewer’s Fayre.  Later I went for a walk round local streets and got some excellent views out across the Bristol Channel. Many of the roads were circular, and I was surprised to arrive back near the guest house from the opposite direction, before retracing my steps.

Not a particularly good night’s sleep. Had breakfast immediately after the others left, paid and negotiated a late checkout for noon. Had a shower, then went and filled the car up at Asda (card only) before bringing it back, parking nearer the guest house and putting the luggage back into it. Had a chat with woman who was cleaning the rooms. I originally asked her if she was Gail, but apparently Gail is dead. She was Marian – very lively and easy to talk to.

Eventually I left, drove around for a bit and then parked at the top of the hill before walking along the clifftop, until I had a view of the main beach. Then I walked back on a lower path, which eventually reached a fairly secluded beach. I crossed it, then walked back on a path up the cliff to a point I had found the previous night  – only a couple of hundred yards from where I’d parked the car..

Drove down to Asda again to buy a sandwich and go to the loo, then returned to the same road, which had a nice view of the sea, and ate it. The sandwich, not the sea. Weather had deteriorated, with quite a bit of rain, but in a dry gap I walked round for a bit , then helped a guy who had got stuck in the snow at a nearby roundabout. Gave him a bit of a push and showed him where he could find a spade. Found a £10 note in the snow.

Eventually drove back to Asda again and at 2.45 found myself parked outside the school. The dynamic duo emerged at 3.10, armed with excellent feedback. Apparently, however, the school had been very cold. We drove (in convoy) back to Asda again to have a drink and go through the feedback, then left for home – and a much worse journey than the one the previous day.

Very bad hold-up on the way to the M4 (caused by traffic lights on a roundabout), then lots of rain. Dot drove as far as services on the M5, then I drove as far as Corley services on the M6, where we got a Kentucky Fried Chicken from a guy who seemed as if he had only recently been introduced to the concept.

I continued driving to Cambridge Services, where we stopped. The weather improved, but the A11 was blocked at Thetford, and we had to follow a diversion through Shropham. Just what you want after a journey of nearly 300 miles. At home we managed to get everything out of the car before collapsing into bed.

I went to the Archant coffee morning this morning (all present and correct) but felt exhausted. Dot was too tired to come. We went to the supermarket in the afternoon, and Dot roused herself to watch Norwich City draw 0-0 with Nottingham Forest.