Author’s Note: I stopped blogging regularly in 2020, but now in 2024, I am using Google Photos, Google Maps timeline, and my old planners to recreate a post about what we were up to each month!
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At the start of February, it was time for another holiday - this time we headed up into the Brecon Beacons for a little mini-getaway with Steve. My main goal was to rent an AirBnB with a hot tub and Joel found us the perfect one! We only spent two nights away but it was enough time to fit in a walk on the beach…
…time cosied up by the wood-burning fireplace…
…and many hours hanging out in the hot tub!
Lest it sound like too much of a romantic getaway that Steve crashed, rest assured that the boys went hiking for a good chunk of one day while I stayed back in the AirBnB to read my book. Bliss!
On the way back to Steve’s we stopped for a hike near a waterfall and took our now traditional selfie!
On Saturday the 5th, Joel and I went out to eat at a pub in Hereford, and we splurged on this giant Sundae that was practically the size of his head!
I spent my first Sunday off making Detroit-style pizza which is so delicious.
On Monday the 7th, Joel and I took a day trip up to Brecon, the main town in the Brecon Beacons. We ate lunch at a cute little cafe, wandered through town while the weather was nice, and of course, I couldn’t resist stopping in for a tour of the local Cathedral.
On the way home we had to pull over to enjoy the stunning views!
During our trip away Joel and I were reminiscing about our favorite restaurant back in the States, which was a Brazilian Grill. We decided to look up if there were any nearby, and lo and behold, there was one in Cardiff! So on Thursday the 10th, we met up with Steve at Viva Brazil in Cardiff. We were very excited, as you can see, and the food was absolutely delicious. [Author’s note: We have now eaten at this restaurant many times, it has become our special occasion place!]
After stuffing ourselves, we went to play mini-golf at the Treetop Golf Adventure in the nearby mall. They have two indoor courses that are both jungle-themed and so much fun! They even have lighting and sound effects throughout the place (it kind of reminded me of the Rainforest Cafe!) We had a blast and I actually beat Joel for once!
We spent the rest of the weekend seeing movies in the cinema, binge-watching a Netflix show, and preparing to host the Super Bowl on Sunday! Rachel and Steve came over to watch, and Rachel brought her “dirt” dessert, this time with football-themed decorations. It was festive and delicious!
After spending Monday recovering from staying up way too late to watch the game (and apparently doing nothing for Valentine’s Day, ha!), on Tuesday it was back to work. I jumped in with several meetings, two sound of music rehearsals and then on Thursday the 17th…we tested positive for Covid! We managed to avoid it for almost two years, but now it had come for us.
At this time the UK was still requiring that you isolate for 10 days, so we immediately cancelled all plans, found cover for me for the coming Sunday, and hunkered down at home. I don’t really remember much about this time except for feeling incredibly exhausted and just sleeping all of the time. I do have a picture of some lovely daffodils a church member brought by along with an emergency delivery of some Lemsip. (He left it all on the doorstep!)
Sunday the 27th was my last day of isolation, and though I was now testing negative, we didn’t take any chances. I was only supposed to be at Monmouth that day, so I recorded my sermon in advance and joined them on Zoom. Thank goodness for pandemic technology and creativity. On Monday, the last day of the month, I tasted freedom once again and went to a coffee shop where I took this cute photo of my nails all ready for the start of Lent on Wednesday.
That is the recap of a very exciting and then suddenly very boring February! I felt bad about having almost 2 weeks off for vacation, then immediately taking 10 days off for being ill, but no one here batted an eye at it. That is just one more reason I enjoy living and working in the UK!
XOXO, Bethany