A couple of weeks ago....
I asked the question..
"Where do you go
when you need to unwind?"
So many of you
shared your special ways and places.
Thank you!
I wanted to share with you
another of my 'winding down' places
The deep water estuary
of Milford Haven
has been used over the centuries
for many enterprises
The 3 o'clock ferry
to Ireland
goes all steam ahead
The deep dry docks
where boats come in for overhaul and repairs
are behind me as I look across
the estuary.
Doesn't that yacht look small against the ferry?
Behind me too is
the Marina and a lot of
shops under the colonnade
and also
a few cafes!
Now, shall we have a hot chocolate
like this lady?
Oh, it does look scrummy...
with its whipped cream..
and marshmallows..
No...
I suppose a cup of tea
will be less fattening and..
more refreshing!
Young people are in the marina
practicing rowing
It was time
for a little walk around the marina
before going home
An old winch
In the dry dock!
Working boats
Below is the Fishery Patrol boat
Milford Haven
is a very special place
for me.
When I am there I just relax
and let go....
I feel so 'held' there.
Why?
Well my mother was born there....
and I spent many happy hours
on holiday
and spending time
with my grandparents
and my aunt and uncle.
When I was young,
my parents lived in the Midlands
and I suffered terribly with asthma.
It was felt that the sea air might help
so off I went
to stay in Milford
and go to school there for a while!
In those days
this area was all docks....
and to many fishing boats...
this was their home.
What a busy place it was then
with the fishmarket,
the ice factory,
and all the rest of the things necessary
for a thriving Fishing port!
I spent so much time here with my grandfather
who was an electrician on the docks.
In fact it was always said by the locals that he..
'lit up the docks'!!
as he installed the electric lighting!
I remember one day
my younger brother was fishing off the end of the pier for tiddlers
and caught nothing.
Grandad took him into the fishmarket
and bought a couple of fish.
My brother took them home...
and told granny that he had caught them!
I don't know whether....
or not...
she believed him
as they were plaice
(which can only be caught a long way from here)
anyway she was very convincing in her praise!!
In the records in this museum
it mentions about Grandad
and the lighting
My mother was a wren in the war
and the building she worked in
as a communications officer
still stands on the docks.
It's used by the fisheries now.
When Mum comes to stay
this is one of the places we visit
so many memories..
memories of drilling,
with the other wrens from the wrennery,
along the Rath...
memories of walking home in the pitch black after a duty and feeling rather frightened...
So many memories!!
This is Mum
outside her office
with her immediate superior.
Mum met my father when his ship
came into Milford with a big hole in the side!
He was on destroyers
and then submarines....
They were married here in Milford....
and Mum stayed with her parents
until Dad
came home from the war
So Milford settles and comforts me
when I feel rather
out of kilter.
Somehow I feel held and embraced!
