NEW ZEALAND CONNECTION

My son Richard and his wife Jo are off to New Zealand to spend Christmas with Jo's family. He hopes also to track down relatives of Thomas Maddock who emigrated to New Zealand in 1842. He sailed on the Sir Charles Forbes from Gravesend on 1 May 1842 arriving on 22 August 1842. Here are some photos. Thomas married Anne Smith in 1840 and she died in Aimea, West Nelson and is buried in Nelson Cemetery. Thomas also married Charlotte Catherine Courtennay in 1858 in Residence of James Poppleton Horn. Charlotte was born in Hampshire, England and is buried in Taylor Cemetery, Blenheim.

RECENT VISIT TO LLANGOLLEN

On Friday we visited Llangollen again and walked in the hills once again! How peaceful.

WALKING IN BEDDGELERT

Last weekend we went to look after our friends dogs, cats and chickens at Cae Mawr near Snowdon. On Saturday we went for a beautiful walk in Beddgelert along the Fisherman's Path. Beddgelert is famous for its Legend of Gelert.

LITTLE WHITE RABBIT'S AUTUMN WALK TO VALLE CRUCIS ABBEY

Two weeks ago Little White Rabbit enjoyed an Autumn walk around Llangollen, passing the Chain Bridge Hotel (hopefully the bridge will be repaired in the not too distant future), The Horseshoe Falls and returning via Valle Crucis Abbey founded in 1201 by Madoc ap Gruffydd Maelor, Prince of Powys. The abbey is now a ruin in a beautiful corner of the valley. Its stones still show marks of a fire which severely damaged the buildings in the 14th century.

Canooists on the River Dee

"Hello ducky" says LWR

Look at the Autumn tints

The old chin bridge badly needs repairing

The Horseshoe Falls

Valle Crucis Abbey