Boxing Day Pram Race in Beaumaris

It's one way to reduce the calories and exercise after the over-indulgence of Christmas day. It is also a way to start drinking at lunchtime and carry on all night...
But Beaumaris, once again has put on an event that is certainly different... A pram race!

Hair raising in George and Dragon

It's amazing what a few drinks will do, but somehow a plan was conceived and Mick, from Belfast, has had his hair removed for charity. He used to have a pony tail, but has had it removed and is now collecting for an anorexia charity. His daughter is a sufferer and has been from Belfast to London for treatment recently.
I think Mick is donating his hair to the Brillo pad factory...

He has raised over £250 so far, but I will post here again when I have a complete total, in the New Year.
(photos taken by Carol from George and Dragon, Beaumaris)

Menai Bridge (Porthaethwy)

The Menai Bridge is a memory that dates back to possibly about my 2nd or 3rd year on this planet. Its difficult to tell what is a memory and what is family folklore, but as I was here for the first time when I was 2, this bridge has always been part of what I can remember. So, to finally be able to walk the full length, both ways and to photograph it all, I feel that I have achieved a simple but a life long ambition. I do think that the Welsh tourist people have missed an opportunity here, they should do as Sydney have done and make this bridge climbable.

The above photo shows the start of the bridge, from the Bangor side, but looking across at the town of Menai Bridge. This stretch of water is said to be the most dangerous in the world, as tides sort of hit each other from both sides of the island at once. I am told you feel steps as you sit in a boat down there. They call this the Swellies.

I have included some photos of the bridge itself, as it is such an amzing strcture and a real part of history, but others do the historical talk better than me, so please click on some of the links. And remember that Menai is just the first and oldest of the 2 bridges, the second one is called the Britannia Bridge which has its own story.... maybe another blog for that one.
Anglesey History



A lot of research has been done and is being done on the waters of the Menai Straits.
outline research
tidal heights






The above photo shows the Britannia bridge in the distance, but also some of those swellies...
You may need to click on the picture below and spot a house for sale, with a small building plot next door, just along the water's edge, in Menai. Then go back to those tidal heights graphs and think about global warming...

Below is a view to the other side of the bridge, to a road in the distance. I have more photos of this on my Flickr site.

Below is another image of the Menai Bridge...