Alan Cole, Author at A Simple Life of Luxury https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/author/justal123/ Tales from a down-shifted family - Making the most of modest means in West Wales Sun, 02 Aug 2026 08:51:31 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.3 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/cropped-favicon-160x160.jpg Alan Cole, Author at A Simple Life of Luxury https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/author/justal123/ 32 32 2696646 Yr Wyddfa South Ridge: A Quieter Way to the Roof of Wales https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/08/yr-wyddfa-south-ridge-a-quieter-way-to-the-roof-of-wales/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/08/yr-wyddfa-south-ridge-a-quieter-way-to-the-roof-of-wales/#respond Sun, 02 Aug 2026 08:50:13 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=49072 I had another great day in the hills on Friday with Clélia and Mel. Several plans were floated, but with Mel heading back to France soon, we thought we should at least summit Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) before she left Wales. It is the highest mountain in Wales after all, even if it isn’t my favourite....

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/08/yr-wyddfa-south-ridge-a-quieter-way-to-the-roof-of-wales/feed/ 0 49072 A Weekend in Bristol: Michelin Stars, Tapas and Miss Saigon https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/a-weekend-in-bristol-michelin-stars-tapas-and-miss-saigon/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/a-weekend-in-bristol-michelin-stars-tapas-and-miss-saigon/#respond Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:21:04 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=49016 We’ve just got back from a culinary tour of my old stomping grounds in Bristol. First stop was the Michelin-starred restaurant Wilson’s, in Redland. We first came across Wilson’s in a TV series following restaurants on their quest to earn Michelin stars. It followed their journey as they worked towards achieving their first star –...

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/a-weekend-in-bristol-michelin-stars-tapas-and-miss-saigon/feed/ 0 49016 Bees, Bikes, Burgers, Beers and Buttocks https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/bees-bikes-burgers-beers-and-buttocks/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/bees-bikes-burgers-beers-and-buttocks/#comments Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:21:31 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48946 The amazing summer weather continues. We haven’t seen a drop of rain for almost three weeks now, and every day has been either hot or very hot. The sea is lovely, the grass is yellow and the trails are dusty. We’re recycling bath water each day to give the struggling garden plants a drink and,...

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/bees-bikes-burgers-beers-and-buttocks/feed/ 1 48946 Cadair Idris with a French Flavour https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/cadair-idris-with-a-french-flavour/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/cadair-idris-with-a-french-flavour/#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:52:21 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48873 After a postponed trip up Cadair Idris last weekend due to a slight back injury for me and a lack of suitable shoes for Mel and Clélia, we tried again on Sunday. The Crowd Gathers My back was mostly better, Mel’s Mum and brother were now visiting and had brought Mel’s boots, and Clélia had...

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/cadair-idris-with-a-french-flavour/feed/ 1 48873 Freebies – Free Bees https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/freebies-free-bees/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/freebies-free-bees/#comments Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:59:42 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48857 We lost a few colonies of bees over the winter. Not only did we lose two small colonies at home, but the bees in our out-apiary at Laura’s house also succumbed. We never had particularly high hopes for them as they were already struggling and then got blown over several times during the autumn and...

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/freebies-free-bees/feed/ 1 48857 Sunsets and Fogs https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/sunsets-and-fogs/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/sunsets-and-fogs/#respond Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:18:45 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48840 After a glorious sunset whilst Anna was playing in the bandstand in Aberystwyth on Tuesday evening, we had some weird misty fog on the golf course last night. I reckon playing golf in that would have added the challenge!

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/sunsets-and-fogs/feed/ 0 48840 A Night at The Checkers, Montgomery https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/a-night-at-the-checkers-montgomery/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/a-night-at-the-checkers-montgomery/#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2026 05:52:31 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48800 Our anniversary has become a good excuse to try somewhere a little special, and this year we’d booked a night at The Checkers in Montgomery. It was somewhere I’d had my eye on for a while and, with a ten-course tasting menu waiting for us on Friday evening, it wasn’t exactly a difficult date to...

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/07/a-night-at-the-checkers-montgomery/feed/ 1 48800 Prepped and Ready to Go – Bring on the summer! https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/prepped-and-ready-to-go-bring-on-the-summer/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/prepped-and-ready-to-go-bring-on-the-summer/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:43:08 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48766 The last few weeks have largely been about getting things in order for the summer ahead. That has meant a mix of early starts, time outside in the sun and wind, and a steady run of practical jobs: washing kit down, moving gear around, clearing shelves, and trying to get everything back into a sensible...

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/prepped-and-ready-to-go-bring-on-the-summer/feed/ 1 48766 Garden Colours https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/garden-colours-3/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/garden-colours-3/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:08:29 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48730 The garden has suddenly sprung into colour.

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]]> https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/garden-colours-3/feed/ 1 48730 The Surf Skis Live to Paddle Another Day https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/the-surf-skis-live-to-paddle-another-day/ https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/2026/06/the-surf-skis-live-to-paddle-another-day/#respond Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:06:40 +0000 https://www.alananna.co.uk/blog/?p=48727 It’s been a case of ‘so far, so good’ with the surf skis. I’ve had them both on the water for a few short paddles, as well as a paddle to Aberdyfi and back last night. They both seem to be watertight, and the repairs have held up well. Time will tell how long they’ll...

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