OLYMPIC TORCH and QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE LUNCHEON, Wales

29 May 2012: Where is the camera when you need one? Getting recharged for the afternoon Olympic Torch event. Meanwhile, at The Elms, we witnessed a swarm of bees. A queen went into a tree and half the hive went with her. It was like a dark fluffy ball hanging from the limb. Luckily we were able to call Stu and Daniel and they brought Allister with them and went to the rescue. First, Daniel climbed the tree and started sawing the limb off. As it started to fall, Stuart and Allister caught it in a plastic bin and covered what was left of the "ball" with a cloth. Then they partially uncovered it and allowed the bees to settle back in with the queen. Once they were all in the bin, they were placed by the new hive and they walked up a piece of wood into the front door at the bottom on the hive. What an experience to see it happening!

In the afternoon, we cycled through Meliden to Rhuddlan to see the Olympic Torch parade. The relay torch bearers are people from the community who have been nominated and chosen for their community service.

Thom, Janet, Stuart and Daniel wait for the Olympic Torch parade.
Weather is lovely again!

The Olympic Torch bearer, Rhuddlan, Wales, 28 May 2012

Our three bicyclists, Daniel, Stuart and Thom, who will be doing the Olympian task of riding from San Diego, California, to Key West, Florida, in the fall. As they ride they will raise funds and awareness for Help for Heroes/Wounded Warriors.

Other charity fundraisers are our friends at whist night. Every Tuesday night when they meet at Gronant Institute they each throw in a couple of pounds that goes to support a local village church. It has added up over the years and they should be very proud of their contributions! Join them at 6:30 pm on Tuesday nights!

Stuart, Arthur, Sylvia, Sheila, Bernard, Thom, Pam, Pat (Stuart's mother), Lilly and Margaret
at whist night, 29 May 2012.

30 May 2012: Today we went with Janet to see our good friends Joyce and Ray Pamment. We treasure them for their many kindnesses in the past to our parents, Ethel and Vic King. We were delighted to get reaquainted with their friends Jim and Ann, who had visited us in Florida along with Joyce and Ray in about 1992. As always, Joyce spoiled us, but this time it really was a "royal spread."

Thom, Jim, Ray and Joyce Pamment, Sheila, Jan, and Ann

That night, we had a meal with Jan, Stuart and Daniel at "The Crown" in Llanasa. A lovely ending to a wonderful month in Wales. We flew back to Atlanta the next day, 31 May 2012. But before we leave Wales entirely, here is a word of caution about the roads there - well, as they say, a picture tells a thousand words:

This is a two-way road in Bodfari, Wales

And there are plenty of twists and turns in all the country roads.

Top road from Gronant to Prestatyn, two lanes.