WALES! Completion of the four home nations

Ever since I was little, I'd always wanted to visit the four home nations. Getting up to watch the All Blacks in the early hours of the morning to watch them complete the grand slam in 1978, was the inspiration.
This is another thing ticked off the list.

On my way to Wales (You must pay to enter Wales, but it's free to leave...) I first stopped of in Bristol to visit another member of Mustard/Senning group. Chloe, and her wonderful family.

 It was so fantastic to meet Chloe, Joss and Isaac, and although the visit was short and sweet, it was just great to put a real time link to the online life we have shared. Chloe's first statement when I arrived. "You are really tall"!! To be fair, Chloe is really short... ;-)

Cardiff!

Cardiff was all about meeting Elizabeth Connelly, who is one of our groups foundation members and we have known each other online for almost 10 years.

Two minutes after arriving. Selfie mode, outside Elizabeths house.

 Elizabeth had organised to take me out to her parents place in Llantwit Major, a historic Welsh town. I didn't know why we were staying with Elizabeths parents, but as soon as I arrived I knew!! Their house was approx 300 years old, and it was stunning!! Full of history and stories. and so warm and comfortable. Elizabeth's parents were wonderful hosts (as is Elizabeth). Their house was just the perfect place to stay! Bonus was the massive Shower!!

Right down one the sideline at Cardiff Arms park.
There was a game that day, so security was at a high
but I managed to talk my way in. Didn't get to stand on the "turf"

In the morning, Elizabeth and I travelled by train into Cardiff city, and had a look around before meeting with another bunch of wonderful chd'rs. Keen to help me fulfill another goal, Elizabeth took me to the Millennium stadium and the very famous Cardiff Arms park.

Outside millennium stadium! All made of tiles. Very cool.
Imagine if we had changed our flag...

Interesting thing about Cardiff Arms Park, is they have just laid a brand new special type of artificial turf. Was very interesting.

The Cardiff get together! Another wonderful group member Debbie Statham-Britton had organised a get together of Mustard and Senning members and Somerville foundation members.

What and awesome lunch, we covered all kinds of topics, from our health, to Rugby. I've never eaten in a Portuguese restaurant before, and it was really yummy!! 

These kind of get-togethers are so incredibly empowering., If you are reading this, knowing you have never meet another CHD'r then now is time to change that. Spending time with people that truly understand the in's and out of congenital heart disease is both important and can be life changing.

John and Margaret's (Elizabeths parents) wonderful home.
The dining room, older than James Cook!

Loved the door furniture!

As my time in Wales drew to a close, and it was time to travel to via Stonehenge!

It was dissapointing to see something like this so overly commercialised. Upon arrival there was at least 4000 people just waiting to get in to the facility and catch a shuttle bus to see the actual henge.

I decided to go around the back in the car, and I was not disappointed. Trying to describe how I felt when standing near these is hard to describe. Very young comes to mind.

What an incredible couple of days. I absolutely loved Wales, and can't wait to go back and explore it better! Onto the last couple of days of My Journey. LONDON!!