Chasing the relatives in a small, small world

Up and at them, we are heading to Blaenavon in South Wales this morning after a great breakfast and a chat to the young waitress who is heading to Australia later this year. We left our phone number in case she gets stuck or wants to visit Byron. She is a graphic design uni student and we had thoughts of our two at this age.

Blaenavon is a world heritage site within the Brecon Beacons National Park - an old mining town that played a leading role in the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Not to mention the child labour, tuberculosis and lung disease, it provided something like 80% of the iron, steel and coal for the developed world. In the early 1900's when prices slumped the Welsh miners immigrated around the world looking for work.

Hence the connection - Ross great grandparents were born here and so we looked them up at the cultural centre but couldn't find much. Didn't help that we had forgotten our piece of paper with all the details on it. It's an old mining heritage town with some excellent museums  and information centres. It still has the stink of coal that all good Novocastrians remember, although Ross had a cold and swears he couldn't smell it. We took a few photos and an email address to contact when we collect a few more family details. It was interesting and we are heading home to start a bit of research on all sides of the family.

Baptist Church in Blaenavon

Headed across the mountain and dropped into Abergavenny - the opposite to Blaenavon - green, farming, beautiful buildings and castles. All because they didn't have coal. A quick walk and then headed off to our BnB for the evening - a sheep farm called The Celyn that Ross picked randomly a few nights before.

On the way to the BnB via the narrowest lane ways - single way - we ran into - not literally thank goodness- 4 cars and 2 horse and riders, fun backing uphill with horses in front and the unknown behind. We decided to pick up our evening meal if we came across a little shop so we didn't have to drive the lanes at night. A big welcome by Colin and some instructions to his local pub for tea as we hadn't found any shops. We set off with trepidation.

Off to the Dragons Head at Llangenny - see below for the cosy, quaint, brilliant little pub we went to for tea, hosted by the lovely Karen and George. While we were having a quiet half pint of cider and larger we chatted to the publican. When we told them we were home exchanging and were from Australia they remembered some Australian home exchangers that had passed through a few years ago, from the east coast, had a daughter in London, lived near the beach, name of Wendy and Dave - only our bloody next door neighbours in Ocean Shores!!!!!!!

So after a great tea - duck and orange for Toni, steak and ale pie for Ross - a chat in the bar and some time spent marveling at the connections and declaring it's such a small small world we headed back to our BnB and a good nights rest.

We woke to mist on the mountains and a full Welsh breakfast including black pudding (not too bad with bacon) we headed back to Abergavenny for another wander through the church, St Mary's Priory to view their spectacular tapestry which was completed in 2000. - it took 6 years but is bright and vibrant and very relevant for today. Through the local markets, the castle and the town where this shop name took Ross fancy.

The rain started to set in and we headed back to our base in Coventry - our last excursion as we head to Ireland on Monday.