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https://njbrannigan-zvxuy.wordpress.com/2026/04/23/diary-of-a-lump-27/
Diary of a Lump Pt. 27
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
Musings on the byways of popular culture
by 25 Comments
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Extremely enjoyable, informative read and the photos are superb, glad you got to spend time in God’s own country š One of my best friends is from Borth, but to my shame I have never visited it.
@dai, thanks. Thereās not a lot at Borth but thereās something about it.
Another excellent read Niall. During lockdown the only places I seemed to visit were the doctors and the hospital, when we finally went to a restaurant having booked, greeted at the door I announced I’d got an appointment.
We visited Ynys-hir RSPB reserve just up the road when my son was at Aberystwyth Uni which was a splendid day out they happened to be filming Springwatch when we were there.
@hubert-rawlinson thanks š
What a lovely break from being a patient 24-7…glad you had such a great time.
I’ve received two phone calls from doctors “just to check if everything’s fine” in my lifetime. Both times I was so shocked and surprised that I couldn’t really think of anything to say, or even remember any aches, pains or concerns that I could bring up!
@Locust thanks š. I realise that I was very fortunate to have the GP that I did but, when she said, āThatās the doctor I signed up to be,’ I know that thereās at least that aspiration.
A refreshingly honest response, rather than the āwell, weāre too busy for thatā that gets usually trotted out.
(Jings, Iād hate to be a young doc nowadaysā¦ā¦)
@retropath2 Absolutely.
Who knew that there was a river Ystwyth? (Lots of people except me, obviously.)
Iād have thought writing your diary and posting it here would be a handy antidote to chemo brain. Thank you for another instalment. Great photos, too.
āAberā means mouth of river in Welsh so place names starting with that will have a corresponding name of the river following it.
@dai thanks. That makes perfect sense
I did wonder if the word aber gave rise to the word harbour but it seems not.
@mikethep The name of the holiday let is Ystwyth House so it all flows š
Terrific missive from the front lines of west Wales and Modern Medical Britain. Love the photos, and blimey doesn’t the place look splendid – so glad you got the weather for it.
Neil.
Really? That’s just lazy reading. If you see her again, glance at her name badge and then call her something different!
@Vulpes-Vulpes thanks. I’ve had it my whole life. For so many years there were no other Niall’s in England that people might have heard the name on TV or the radio. I always wanted to meet Niall Quinn, to hug him, because he made the name recognisable, at least to football fans. Nowadays, if I say, ‘like Niall Horan,’ I get some nods of recognition.
I’ll have to introduce you to my friends Ailbhe and Aoife. You can fume together!
@Vulpes-Vulpes indeed.
I spent most of my summer holidays until my mid-teens between Tywyn and Porthmadog. I remember passing through Borth on the way to Aberystwyth to access Devil’s Bridge. Apart from a weekend in Tenby, Mrs F has never been to Wales. I’m going to show her those photos. She enjoys a craggy outlook {insert your own punchline…}
After 30 years we too unconsciouly slip into hand-holding (and I adopt an amble, as my legs are much longer than “petite” Mrs F’s). A passing teenager in Cheddar Gorge last week told us it was “sweet to see old people still holding hands”. I’m not old, I’m only 56, I felt like telling her.
A week away is just the ticket for many of life’s hassles. I’m pleased you enjoyed yours as much as we did.
Our family had many caravan holidays in nearby New Quay, so many happy memories. Donāt think it ever rained š Would also visit Devilās Bridge and Aberystwyth, but donāt think we made it to Borth, have been to Dolgellau a few times further north so I must have been close
Tenby is one of my favourite places on earth, but sadly it seems latterly to be getting overcrowded with the stag/hen party folks
I don’t think I’ve ever been to that bit of coast between, say, St Davids and Aber. So somewhere else to explore when we get our campervan.
We stayed at New Quay a few times when my son was at Aber Uni. On the harbour wall we saw several people looking out to sea turns out they were watching bottle-nosed dolphins which are resident in the bay. It’s said to be the place that Dylan Thomas based Llaregub in Under Milk Wood upon.
Itās a lovely place. I stopped there briefly a few years ago on a drive from south to north Wales, hadnāt been near in about 40 odd years. Didnāt seem to have changed too much
Used to catch crabs off that harbour wall, too easy they were basically suicidal
@fentonsteve thanks š
Lovely positive post and so good that you got some respite from the relentless treatments.
And holding hands is de rigeur in this house too.
@SteveT thanks š