Bangor

For a little while Freyja has been considering the possibility of a move to Bangor.  None of us knew very much about Bangor, other than that it is in North Wales and that it is pretty much the gateway to Angelsey.  Tony tells me that I went there when we went on holiday in Prestatyn - but I would only have been 5 or 6 and have no clear memories of Bangor at all (though I do remember Lindsey and me having a great time in the holiday camp playing with pedal cars).  I have been there since, when I was staying with a friend in Llandudno, but only passing through on our way to a visit to Angelsey.  Neither of these really armed us with sufficient information for Freyja to make a decision.

So yesterday we all piled in the car, Freyja, Simon, Ross, The Builder, a picnic and me - and off we went for a look see.

We decided to go across country, rather than along the motorways, partly because you get to see more of the countryside, but also so that the Builder and I could investigate the "how we get there to visit" options should Freyja actually decide to run away to the country.   It was a very pretty drive and I really enjoyed it.  Alas - it didn't do much for the comfort of those sat in the back of the car.  The roads were very winding and twisty and the stomachs in the back found it all a bit of a struggle.  fortunately, the last bit of the trip was along a straight road with magnificent views of the sea.

We had a lovely time in Bangor.  We had our picnic in the grounds of the rather cute cathedral.  Ross went for a look at the church and then for a stroll through town.  Freyja and Simon went up to inspect the very imposing University buildings high above the city.  The Builder and I went to look at the High Street and its surrounds.  Then we all met in the tea room at the end of the pier for a nice cuppa and an assessment.

The Builder and I thought that the High Street was looking very pretty and festive and summery.  It was decked out in summer and Royal Wedding bunting and the sun was shining and there were people milling about obviously having a good time.  But off the High Street there were lots of empty shops and a general down-at-heel feel to the place. It looked like the kind of place that is lovely in the sunshine but deeply grim in the winter! And we felt that if Freyja was going to move there she would need to give up her interests in film and roller derby and take up shooting, kick boxing and drinking (there were LOTS of pubs, many fish and chip shops, plus a couple of kick boxing places and a gun shop!).


Freyja could see the romance of becoming a recluse by the sea in a remote-ish part of Wales for a couple of years, taking tea on the pier, reading and studying, not doing a very great deal.  But Bangor is difficult to escape from if you don't have a car. And it would be unfortunate if, having got there, the romance of it all palled very quickly (which I think it might very well do) and you found yourself stuck there with no practical means of escape.  Nice place for a day trip, a weekend, even a holiday.  And perhaps even as a place to live for lazy middle aged people who are happy just to veg along.  But maybe not for someone in her mid-20s.

Freyja has decided not to move there.  And The Builder and I have decided that we might go for a weekend visit to Angelsey one day when time allows.  We didn't get around to collecting either the Menai or the Britannia bridges and I really would rather like to.

We came home along the motorways.  No twisty roads on them.  Well - not until we got to the Snake Pass to get us from Manchester to Sheffield.  But you have to drive that quite slowly and gently and the views are such that no stomach would object!