Adieu Cardiff...but one last stop on the way out of the Welsh capital would mean that I’d completed all the “must do’s” on my list – St Fagan’s Natural History Museum. For £3.50 this could be Cardiff’s best kept secret. Approximately 10 minutes outside of Cardiff and attached to the cute little village of St Fagan’s the Natural History Museum is a replica village of transplanted house types from throughout Wales. Painstakingly reconstructed ancient stone houses, old timber barns and the 16th century castle and manor house make this is a credible and interesting snapshot of Wales’ yesteryear. Unfortunately for us it was school holidays and as the Museum has no entry fee (just the £3.50 for parking and 30 pence for the map) the site was inundated with families escaping Cardiff and wanting a picnic in the beautiful spring sun. Undeterred by the throngs of families we set off across the fields and our first stop was the castle. St Fagan’s Castle was everything we wanted Cardiff Castle to be – room after room of life as is was back in the 16th and 17th centuries with fully furnished bedrooms laden with lush tapestries to the fascinating kitchen with its massive ovens. The other big highlight was a stunning reconstruction of an ancient Celtic village. This was a definite highlight of the trip so far. 
With St Fagan’s behind us it was my mission to a) get Mum and Dad ambling across some fields and b) to investigate the less visited ancient burial chambers of Tinkinswood and St Lythan’s (both of which are reportedly over 6000 years old). Winding down a single lane road bordered by massive green hedges (hello Midsummer territory) we stumbled across St Lythan’s. A quick stroll across the open field, which we later discovered was known as the Accursed Field, we were presented with the burial chamber sitting centrally on the field like a kind of ancient outhouse. St Lythan’s is the smaller of the two chambers but thought to be an ancient Druid altar where all sorts of dark mischief occurred. A short jaunt down the road and we were on another field and ambling toward the Tinkinswood burial chamber. This is the more impressive site with a massive 36 tonne capstone roofing the chamber. The chambers were buried for thousands of years before excavations in the early 1900’s uncovered these massive tombs from the early Bronze Age. Being the only visitors to the site that afternoon it was eerie and intimate experience – although it appears there’s a lot of night-time activity at the site (with the used tea candles sprinkled throughout the chamber evidence of the locals trying to resurrect Robert Pattinson).
Leaving the Accursed Fields behind us it was onto the small seaside town of Tenby in Wales’ west – a cute walled city and a popular destination for holidaying locals. Staying at the Giltar Hotel (www.giltar.co.uk), currently undergoing a major upgrade, we were housed in two of the refurbished rooms with Mum and Dad’s suite having incredible views of the bay. Tenby’s seascape is dominating by St Catherine’s Island (which can only be reached for exploration at low tide from the sands of Castle Beach) and my inner Famous Fiver was immediately alerted to its mysterious potential. Time and tide did not allow us a Julian, Dick and Anne moment but as a kid this would be a place that would have exploded my imagination with the ideas of pirate treasure, sea monsters and ghosts trapped in the sea mist.
After a good night’s sleep in our cute rooms and with another good B&B breakfast consumed (Dad’s loving the 3 course breakfast...Mum’s not loving Dad’s love of the 3 course breakfast) and we were farewelling Tenby all too early and making our way to Fishguard and the ferry to Ireland...Next Stop: Waterford and Cork, Ireland.
Another stunning brekkie in our bellies (courtesy of the friendly staff at Oldfields B&B) we left picturesque Bath behind us ensuring that Wendy was kept dormant in her Sat Nav cradle and weaved through the gorgeous sun-dappled English countryside on route to Cardiff, Wales. 
From the incredible grandeur of the tracery which contained the incredible west windows to the soaring Gothic arches that hint at the spectacle that this abbey was when fully functioning this is a haunting, sombre and incredibly powerful place. One of the best stops we’ve had so far. 
Scaling the heights of the Great Tower you get an excellent view of the castle ruins and the surrounding fields blossoming in swathes of yellow canola flowers. Another great stop and an excellent companion site to Tintern Abbey. 
All of a sudden it was 2pm and lunch beckoned and here was where we made our first mistake... 
This is the home of Torchwood...the Hub, Captain Jack, Weavils, Gwen and Rhys, Ianto (sniff), Toshiko (sniff) and Owen (whateva) and it’s fanboy inducing fun. 
Desperate for a bit of Torchwood re-enactments I found the perception filter stone but this appeared to be malfunctioning as most could see me...even photograph me (weird). And then there’ the tribute...down on the wharf of Mermaid Quay is the tribute to our favourite coffee boy Ianto Jones. A wall of the wharf is dedicated to the memory of Captain Jack’s favourite barrista with tribute messages from all over the world haphazardly pinned to the wall. Bless the whoniverse. BTW – he’s not coming back. RIP Ianto. A great dinner at the Bayside Brasserie later we were back at the hotel and playing cards in the bar. The next morning we hit Cardiff in earnest with a morning of serious shopping in the fabulous St David’s Mall. After a shaky start the day before (courtesy of a dodgy route, some bad directions and copious amounts of roadworks) Cardiff was beginning to appeal to us. Unfortunately we were a little disappointed by the much hyped Cardiff Castle, positioned at the heart of Cardiff, as we’d been spoilt the day before by the spectacular ruins we’d visited. 
With the Dr Who Exhibition at the Red Dragon Centre closed, the Norwegian Church at Cardiff Bay closed for renovation and Custom House also at Cardiff Bay again closed until May 2011 we realised Cardiff would re-open in May 2011 (pity we were a month early). And to top that off even though I kept feigning alien suffocation Captain Jack did not miraculously appear to provide prolonged resuscitation services. Well can’t blame Cardiff for that one I suppose... Next update: Tenby, Wales
Mum and Dad have the larger double room whilst I have the ever so cute small single room directly opposite. Each of the rooms is equipped with an en-suite bathroom, flat screen tvs and tea & coffee equipment...but it’s the minor touches that make it really nice (Molton Brown shower product, pre-heated/pre cooled room). The morning’s breakfast service also proved to be more than ample with full cooked breakfasts as well as my preferred option the continental breakfast (fresh pastry stat!). Once gorged on food we rolled down the hill into the heart of Bath...and more specifically to the Roman Baths. Everything you read on Bath puts the Roman Bath exhibition at the top of the to-do list which always makes you wonder whether people are just plagiarising one another because they’re too lazy to have their own opinion or if it’s actually that good. And I was pleasantly surprised...it’s that good. 
From the gilded bust of the Goddess Minerva to the hissing streams of water from the full flowing spring to the exterior backdrop of the stunning Bath Abbey the Roman Baths have plenty to offer and is well worth the admission fee. Around every corner you’re ushered into either another exhibit or another excavated section of the Aquae Sulis where your handy audio-tour will be sure to tell you all the fascinating (and not so) facts about this unique place. Be sure to avoid the dinky costumed human “Romans” who lurk around the Baths waiting to be asked a crappy question – they’re twee and unnecessary. A further wander around the heart of Bath took us past the stunning architecture and houses of The Circle, Royal Cresent and Pulteney Bridge. 
Again, being off the tourist route, this attraction was almost devoid of visitors and it felt like we had the entire ruin to ourselves. This sites audio tour (theme appearing here) was a little peppier than the others and ran for only half an hour but was crammed with juicy stories (Lady Agnes killing her husband with a neckerchief and having his body flung into one of the baking ovens) and grotesque tales (18th Century folk taking the embalmed fluid from the bodies laying in the castles crypt and drinking it...um sorry?). 
Another 10 minutes down the road and we were in Bradford on Avon where we sat having tea in the kitchen gardens of a local Tea House whilst watching the canal boats passing through the local lock. What better way to finish the day than with a Mexican dinner at La Iguana accompanied by “Happy Hour” cocktails (make mine a Long Island Tea please). 
Saying so-long to London Mum, Dad and I packed ourselves into our hired Volvo XC90 and started off on the trip to Bath, via Stonehenge and Avebury. Today’s mission...see as many stone circles as possible. It was not long before we were on our first Motorway and encountering our first (and what will be our last) “Service Stop”. Minor hissy fit later and a quick exit from the service stop we were on our way to Bassingstoke for a proper stop and some real food. Fortunately we found “Giraffe” a nice little brunch place attached to the slightly overwhelming Bassingstoke Shopping Centre where the food was great and the crazy motorway crowd were a distant memory of twats falling over one another to get their dirt tasting Starbucks triple shot latte. Much refreshed and with time on our side we were back in the Volvo with Wendy, our Sat Nav, guiding us toward Stonehenge. What Wendy did not tell us was that we were about to hit the mother of all traffic jams due to a ridiculous amount of Roadworks outside of Amesbury. Cue detour...an army barracks (beware Tanks Crossing), some crazy small town backroads and back to the same army barracks Wendy the Sat Nav was switched off and we reverted back to the beautiful book of road maps. 15 minutes later...hello Stonehenge. The lovely monoliths also known as the Hanging Stones are an extraordinary site. Due to the traffic chaos below the stone circle the crowds were significantly down so parking and entry was swift and easy. Within 15 minutes you quickly find-out, via a little bit too perky audio tour, all about the monoliths and what is known about them. 
With one stone circle down it was now onto the sleepy town of Avebury, the setting of creepy 70’s kids show The Children of the Stones, a town sitting inside an actual stone circle. The difference between the two UNESCO listed sites is that Avebury being that little bit harder to find is devoid of the crowds – making the experience much more intimate and real. 
Avebury’s walking tour allows you to wander right up to and amongst the stones (with the grazing sheep) as you follow a cute trail around the perimeter of one of the circles. Inside the village you’ll also find the stunning St James Avebury Church, which was initially erected in the 11th Century, and its surrounding cemetery both of which sit nestled amongst a series of thatch roofed cottages. 
A dinner at the local Avebury pub felt mandatory after this experience. Once we’d downed our food from The Red Lion we were on our way to our next pitstop...Bath. 
Sounds like an episode of 70’s Tom Baker Who but no...it’s the recreation of the Bards Globe Theatre. Nicknamed the Nest of the Devil by the residents of the time the re-created Globe is a beautiful and open working theatre. Although the opening run for their Spring/Summer series won’t be on my must see list – a word by word reading of The King James Bible. The tour takes you through a thorough exhibition of the who, how, what, why’s of the recreation and ushers you into the body of this working theatre. The 40 minute + tour was worth the small admission fee. With the Tate Modern next door and St Paul's Cathedral opposite this is a precious little pocket of London. 
Onto Oxford...via the train... Quick Tip – get your ticket at the ticket office rather than using the ticket machines. Although the machines are convenient we saved ourselves 30 pounds on the tickets by getting various discounts via actually ticketing office. ...after passing through Slough and Reading we disembarked at Oxford station and toddled off into the city to do the obligatory self-guided walking tour (and pub lunch). 
Highlights included the stunning Radcliffe Camera, the view from the St Mary of the Virgin Church (even Dad managed to get up all the internal spiral steps) and the picturesque grounds of Christ Church Cathedral famously known as the place where Lewis Carroll penned Alice in Wonderland and housing the Great Hall which acted as a setting for the Dining Hall scenes for Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. 
Tomorrow things start in earnest as we hit the road and Stonehenge, Avebury and Bath beckon. 
For a meagre 7 pounds our guide (who was full of extra stories when prompted) took us on an amble through the forest of the dead as she sprouted her best tour monologue. I particularly liked the stories of the graves of Mr Cruft (he of the dog show fame) who we were told actually hated dogs and was a cat person and his namesake dog show was created as a sponsorship and marketing wagon for his pet food business. Not to mention the story of the family tomb where some clever individual inscribed ENTRANCE on the front. Mmm – no exit then? 
Other facts that I learnt from our guide... 
..and all this for less than 10 quid! Bargain. 
Well, London has turned on some of the best weather for April in 30 years...apparently Thursday was the hottest day on record for the month of April (a whopping 23 degrees) – so just like the entirety of Melbourne’s summer this year then? No complaints – I love the crisp mornings and evenings and the beautiful cloudless skies during the day have persuaded Londoners to strip off, embrace the flip flops and adopt the most pleasant demeanours. Let the sunshine in indeed! 
