DAY 97 - 112: Cardiff

On the 12th of August I took the train from Basingstoke to Cardiff where I spent one night in the YHA.

From the 13th of August I house sat between Llandaff and Whitchurch (I haven't forgotten the "e", it is Whitchurch), north of Cardiff. I stayed in this very old farmhouse from the 1560s. I have always loved watching TV programs showing how these old homes are being renovated, so this was really interesting for me.

And the little dog I was looking after, Meg, was gorgeous. The owner told me she was a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle cross (a Cockerpoo) but I didn't think this was right. I thought she was probably a Cocker Spaniel and Fox Terrier cross. Very well trained and so good natured and also smart. There was also a small hamster and a bunch of tomato plants I had to look after which the homeowner had not told me about. Not a problem, just a surprise....

The train station was only a 10 minute walk away, so I could easily visit Cardiff every now and then. But what I enjoyed the most was walking the dog. There are amazing parks and walking trails along the river Taff and in the Forest Farm nature reserve. I think I tired out the dog!

The other nice thing about this house sit was that they had Netflix! I binge-watched all of Jane the Virgin! All of it!! Yup this is what I did instead of writing as I promised myself...

THE HOUSE IN LLANDAFF

The 1560 Farmhouse in Llandaff and Meg, the most gorgeous dog ever.

It is a large house, with very thick walls. The glass conservatory is where the tomatoes were growing. Would be difficult to heat in winter, windows are single-glazed and they do not close very tightly either... Lots of work left to do. I always thought I would love to live in a home like this but honestly, it is a rabbit warren on the inside and you cannot just go and rip walls out, given how thick they are. Would be very expensive to make it into a comfortable home.

The original entrance way seems to have been here on the side but the steps going up to that gate are no longer useable.

This cottage is in the back of the farm house. An elderly lady lives there. I only saw her once, sitting by the window, watching TV.

The side gate into the garden.

The pond in the front garden

This 'alien' craft in the front garden is just a place where you can sit in the garden when it is cold and wet outside. It has heating and music installed.

A huge mill stone in the garden.

The inside of the front door.

The large fireplace in the formal lounge. The owner believes this fireplace dates from the 1800s and that the original is behind it.

The formal lounge. There is a face carved in the pillar on the left.

The main staircase to the second floor.

A small window into a small cupboard behind. In this case the homeowner keeps his wine collection in that cupboard.

The steps are solid beams, the banister hand carved.

The dining-room and kitchen to the left, the games room (also with a large fire place) straight ahead and Elin's treatment room to the right. She is a reflexologist.

Thick plaster. In other parts of the home the walls have been covered with wallpaper which was then whitewashed to look like the original.

Lots of original details.

One of the beautiful internal walls. You could expect a knight walking through that door, couldn't you?

Smaller fireplace in the family room

Geraniums growing in the conservatory.

The kitchen has obviously been done but not really to a high standard. I am hoping this was just to get it useable with the final work still to come. The cooker in the back has a huge ceramic top.... but the cupboards are old and just painted over.

CARDIFF CASTLE

Cardiff Castle wall

These bits are left over from an old Roman wall.

The castle tower

Cardiff Castle

Castle windows

Walkway along the castle wall. See the fuzzy bit in the middle of the photo? My camera lens got scratched!!

The Castle

Details on the ceiling in one of the rooms.

In one of the hallways

Ceiling detail in another room. Every room is differently decorated.

Wood detail on the ceiling and on the balcony.

Ceiling and chandelier.

A large reception room.

Beautiful fresco.

So much detail, you can stand there starting for a long time.

Beautiful old fireplace.

Another ceiling. I do stare at ceilings a lot!!

A decorative bowl.

A beautiful mirror with candles.

A beautiful large chandelier.

The library

Detail above a fireplace.

Lovely fireplace.

These days we try to make everything in our homes go together. Not then, every room was decorated totally differently.

When Obama visited. He is the tall, tanned dude in the middle.

Steep stairs really do my head in.

Exterior of Cardiff Castle

Proof that I indeed was there!

The castle-keep at Cardiff Castle.

The castle-keep on the small mount.

Part of the castle wall.

At the entrance to the keep.

Old stairs going up the inside of the walls of the keep.

Window in the walls of the keep.

The castle keep was a large circular structure build in stone. on the inside, there were wooden structures that were attached to these thick stone walls by beams, anchored into those square holes that are visible.

This hole was a toilet. everything fell out into the moat.

This shows how thick some of these walls were.

Not sure what this was. Outside the keep.

View of the castle from outside the keep.

View of the keep from the side.

Replica of a catapult displayed on the castle grounds. The striped tent was one of a bunch of tents they were busy putting up as there was going to be some festival on the weekend. It was going to rain, so no... I was not going to attend even if there was going to be mead!

This guy posing for his wife did not know he was doing me a favour. I was actually hanging around hoping someone would get in so I could get a photo and he unwittingly obliged!