REPORT
ON THE WRINKLY TRIP TO TENBY
Friday
4th August to Monday 7th August 2006
The
Wrinklys, (some were only Wrinklys by association Pam, Anne and George F. - better make that clear or I’ll upset them), were off again on the 4th August, with their respective
partners, to the Pembrokeshire town
of Tenby in Wales. Arrangements had been discussed beforehand at a BBQ hosted by our leader, Boss Wrinkly and Pam, the previous weekend. Peter and I arrived late at this BBQ as
we had been attending a family Christening. However, I don’t think we missed much of the
discussion as this had not been started due to all the lovely food and drink
provided by our hosts. It was eventually decided that we would all travel down
to Tenby separately and take a
packed lunch. Peter and I were to take Brian and Janet in our
car and this proved to be both a pleasant and very useful decision. It was also decided that we would meet up at Builth Wells, a half way point. Towards
the end of this BBQ the evening was
drawing in and John lit his newly
acquired Chimineara! Then the fun
started!! First the smoke, then the flames and then the sparks! You will see
from the accompanying photo that Val
took precautions against getting caught by the latter by putting a stool over
her legs!!!
Friday morning, 4th
August, arrived, Peter and I were up
early and, right on 8 am, Brian and Janet arrived at our house. We transferred their luggage to our car and
packed in our own. Then we were off!
The
weather was glorious and it was an extremely pleasant and trouble free run
through to Builth Wells. The journey for me was so
much more relaxed not having to map read as Brian and Janet were
doing an excellent job of that. If it
had been left up to me we’d have been on our way to 
early it wasn’t open and, to be quite honest, looking through the door, I
wasn’t too thrilled with it. We walked a few yards further on and found a
charming little tea shop and we all had hot drinks and some cake. The
proprietor of this establishment was a fountain of knowledge about the town. We
had been pronouncing it, ‘Booilth’
when in fact it should have been ‘Bilth’.
This, he explained was not a Welsh name but an Anglicised version. He explained the pronunciation by asking us how
we pronounced the word ‘build’, (a
silent ‘U’), – the rest was
commonsense.
Eventually the whole party arrived in the town but we
decided that we would travel further on to find the nearest lay-by to
accommodate six cars. Tony and Elizabeth set off first and when we
caught them up they were parked in a Bus
Stop lay-by – not appropriate!!! We travelled a little further and found
the ideal spot. Car boots opened, chairs and picnics came out and we settled
down for a relaxing lunch. The sun was
still streaming down and we all felt in the holiday mood.
Our next leg of the journey was interrupted by a couple of
accidents. The first of these had to have the poor victim air lifted, by
helicopter, to the nearest hospital. We 
still
made good time though and arrived, in convoy, at the Imperial
Hotel, Tenby – our home for the next few days. We unloaded the luggage
at the front of the hotel and the lads went to park the cars in the official
car park further down the promenade.
As is usually the case, the ladies checked in and acquired
the room keys and any information regarding the stay. Then it was time to find
the rooms!!! This was a real puzzle!!
The hotel was a real ‘mix mash’ of corridors and little staircases. We
went up in the lift and then down a flight of stairs or along a corridor and up
a flight of stairs – there were all sorts of combinations pertinent to each
couple’s room number. I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever find our way out
again! Eventually we found ours and settled into a very pleasant and
comfortable room with en suite facilities, tea and coffee making services, a
hairdryer and plenty of storage for our clothes.
The evening meal, and all those that followed, were extremely enjoyable
and, what’s more, were served by a lovely waitress by the name of Kim. Kim was always smiling, very
pleasant and helpful throughout the whole stay. I think this was the case with
the whole restaurant staff though as everyone spoke very highly of the pleasant
and efficient service. Peter missed
the boat with his first two breakfasts as he found out that he could have, by
asking for extra sausage or kipper, increased is plate load. He rectified this
on the last morning though by adding a kipper to his full English!
As per usual every couple ‘did their own thing’
during the day, meeting up occasionally with others along the way. The nearest,
and to me, the best pub was The Crown
Inn which really was within crawling
distance of the hotel front door. We tried others but not many could
accommodate 20 Wrinklys!!!
On
Saturday, Peter suggested a casual
walk along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Walk
to Saundersfoot as Tony had mentioned at breakfast that he
and Elizabeth had done it both ways
a few years ago and that it was a little over 3.5 miles one way. I felt ‘up
for it’ and set off with enthusiasm. Little did I know what lay
ahead! Up and down we walked/climbed and
it went on and on and on!! Where had civilisation gone I asked myself? Yes, the views 
were fantastic but I did not feel that fantastic! I was watching where my
feet were going so didn’t see much anyway! Especially after the first ¾ of the
way as the climbs were getting steeper and so were the drops! Up to this point
we didn’t even meet anyone – evidently other people had more sense! Eventually
we bumped into a couple walking a dog and I asked them how far we were off
reaching Saundersfoot. The lady
replied, “Let me put it this way. You are nearer to Saundersfoot than Tenby.”
This didn’t sound too positive. I was
not convinced!!!! I was right too. God, this was getting really hard. Peter offered a hand but, with all the
heat it just slipped out of his grasp so I was left to my own devices. I
scrambled, puffed and blowed, told myself I was going to take at least ten
steps up in the next burst, and then fifteen but they slowly reduced to eight
then five. I mean, I’m not really built for all this kind of extra strenuous
exercise now am I? (Don’t answer that!!) Peter
kept trying to reassure me that it couldn’t be much further; just one more
climb – my, was he ever so wrong!!!! Eventually though, and to my great relief,
I saw a building and then a road! Wow – I’d made it!! I don’t know
whether it was the sheer relief or the culmination of a hard slog but I
couldn’t get my breath. This ‘so
called stroll’ had taken us 3 plus hours!!!!! Peter told me to stop making that silly noise but I told him it was
completely involuntary and I really could
not breathe. He then took me seriously and tried to calm me down by telling me
to try and take deep breaths. Slowly, 
but surely, I regained my composure. By now I was really, really thirsty.
Peter then told me we had to walk
across the beach to get to the promenade. Ugh!!! I hate, really, really hate,
sand between my toes!!! Still, I saw a
large tea room sign at the other side which spurred me on. However, on reaching
this, to my dismay it was closed!!! We then walked on and found a lovely little
pub, The Captain’s Table, and had
the most glorious, long drink of bitter shandy. I shall remember that drink
forever!!!! There was no way I was doing
the return trip – it was bus or nothing!!! After an ice cream and a sandwich
for Peter the decision had to be
made. It was the bus – thank goodness. On returning to the hotel we both
collapsed into a deep sleep.
As per usual on these holidays, the lads, plus Anne, meet up each morning at 8am
prompt, (or you’re left behind), to do a run of 3 to 4 miles. It’s as far as
they can get before breakfast at 9am!! This happened both Saturday and Sunday morning.
The first morning they went north up the beach and the second south down the
promenade and onto part of the walk we had done on Saturday. On the second day though, poor Boss Wrinkly took a terrible fall on the pavement. His face and
hands were scratched; his ribs ached as he had fallen with his right fist under
his ribs. This right hand swelled up horrifically and became very bruised. Poor
man struggled back though, (after handing/mugged his Garmin to Peter), and
tried to make light of it at dinner that evening. We were all concerned though
as he had a long drive in front of him the next day. He may be a Wrinkly but he’s still a fighter! It
was his birthday on the Tuesday
after our return too – what a present!!! Still, hope you had a good one John.
On the Sunday,
and after my long walk on the Saturday,
Peter and I decided to explore the town of 
full of happy families enjoying the beach and the hot weather. Taking
place on the Sunday, some way out in
the bay, there was a yatch race but we couldn’t see much of what was going on.
However, as we sat looking over the harbour at the monument, we did see them
all return to shore.
Tenby is a
very clean, pleasant town with plenty going on. The houses along the harbour
remind me of the children’s programme Balamoray
as they are all different colours. These
colours are all very delicate and tastefully done though and just add to the
attraction of the place. We walked round the harbour and up the hill to look
out over St. Catherine’s Island. No
one could tell us what exactly its fortifications had been built for, (Napoleon’s possible invasion?), but it
looked very impressive. I looked it up
and found the following description:
‘The fortress on the headland that marked Tenby's
foundation more than 10 centuries ago also is a symbol of Tenby's marriage to
the sea. Many place names in the area, Caldey, Goscar Rock, come from the
tongue of those great sea-goers the Vikings. The
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So I was correct in my assumption that it had connections to
Napoleon. Actually opposite the pub
we had eaten lunch there was a house with a plaque stating that Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton had stayed there. At the end of our tour we met up
with Keith and Norma and returned to the hotel for a rest and to get ready for our
last evening in Tenby.
It was a unanimous decision to go back to the Crown Inn for the last evening as it
had offered the most comfortable atmosphere i.e. no loud musical background so
you could hear yourself talk. We managed to squeeze in and, after several early
diners had left, we managed to get almost together as a group. Time was called
at 10.30 pm and, believe it or not, I think Peter and I were one of
the last to stay up with Pam and John but this was no record time – 11pm
in fact. I’m afraid we would not, by any means, qualify for the Whiteman Cup. I don’t think Pam was very happy either that it was
early closing but, our battered and bruised, John was probably glad of an early night.
Norman and Anne had
gone home the evening before as they had prior commitments back home. Reg and Pam set off early Monday as they were going to sail over to
Another perfect holiday, albeit a short one, and again with
excellent company. I really needed this break as I have been up to my eyes in ‘muck
and bullets’ with the decorating.
Still, I’ve got to get Peter back
on the job of finishing it now but, as I write this, he is still making
excuses!!! I have my grandchildren in a fortnight so he’d better get a move on.
Thing is, when he does do it, he does a terrific job, he really does. He just
doesn’t like decorating and that’s that. I bet he’s already getting himself
geared up for the next holiday in
That’s it for now folks –
Written by: Brenda
J Earnshaw
WRR
Website/Magazine Editor
Submitted: 10th
August 2006
PS. Not too long this time John is it? Also, I have been
very nice and sympathetic towards you - as you know I can be.