Late to the party ....

Today seems to be the last day of the ‘big freeze’ - though it’s probably the coldest morning yet. We head up to the woods wanting to make the most of mud-free paths - and also in the hope of finding today’s blipable subject. 

We climb up towards Pwllycrochan, the pool after which these woods are named - ‘Cauldron Pool’. Once a large estate owned by the Erskine family, its days of hosting shooting parties have been replaced by use as a local nature reserve. 

The pool is iced over, but rather dull; climbing higher, we discover a waterfall of sorts feeding the water down the hill.  It’s pleasant enough - though no match for those majestic Welsh falls out of reach in lockdown. It’s constructed from  gabion baskets, the wire frames making clear its artifice. But even so, delicate icicles, a frozen flow over which the water trickles, transform it into something grander. In comparison to the majestic ice structures Blipped over the last week, it’s insignificant however. And after all these images celebrating ice, I can’t help feeling I’m late to the party - and underdressed. 

Our walk back through the woods is magical, sleety snow starting to fall on the dry leaves with a gentle crackle. 

Then of course, it’s back for rugby. I feel relieved but exhausted after the Wales v Scotland game - glad we’ve won, but feeling slightly embarrassed that again it was against a team of 14 men. But then there’s Zammit ....... 

Sorry Scotland.