Ynys Môn

Why not just call it Anglesey?

Because Ynys Môn looks so much nicer to my eyes, and I might as well enjoy the romance of the Welsh language, despite having got no further than 'diolch.'

The Fringe was done for us. BM and his son had joined us for part of it, as had Mallory's_Camera and all had been magnificent; saying goodbye, we made our way south-west through Wales to meet old friends who had invited us to their home on the enchanted isle.



There would have been enough to do even if the place was ordinary; we ate, talked, drank, talked, played board games, stared at Snowdonia over the water, sat in the sun...



But of course, nothing was ordinary. The house alone is an old Georgian beauty with Victorian touches and tall trees nearby. And I was taken out and away by my hosts, to see the old training school for druids so troublesome that Caeser had to invade Britannia to stop them. So when we look back to berate those devils who brought us bathing, wine, and straight roads, we must remember to blame the Welsh for starting the whole thing.

My host took me to Llanbadrig, the oldest church in Wales supposedly founded by St Patrick around 440 A.D, complete with standing stone in the vestibule. The stone was interesting, carved with early Christian symbols, a fish and a palm tree.



Legend says that St Patrick brought the stone back from Rome, but I suspect it has been here longer than that. The palm tree is, I think, a symbol of Jerusalem, the blue tiles in the church unusual, and yet all of it combining in a sense of peace and sanctity. This is a church where I could pray.

Climbing away from it, we found ourselves facing the beauties of Cemaes bay as well as Wylfa nuclear power station, distinctly lacking in glamour but compelling nonetheless.
I want to paint it, and can't explain why.

In fact I can't explain anything that captured me, so I will resort to photos that say less than I do, and yet, hopefully, evoke more.


This way to BeyondWorld


This way to UnderWorld


This way to OtherWorld


This way to BeyondOtherUnderWorld.

And yes, these should be thumbnails, I am aware that the post is an eyeball puzzler. But I can't yet bear to shrink a single memory of Ynys Môn.