PLAS Y NANT

PLAS Y NANT

6/7/49
“This is just to say that I am not spending all my holiday in a coach.  Yesterday I climbed 3576 ‘ to the summit of Snowden where I bought this card.  I am coming back tomorrow and will phone about 9pm in the evening (Thursday).
All my love Andrew.”

Looking out photos of Wales I saw one of the mountain Snowden stuck in an old album.  After I unglued it I found it was a post-card from Andrew with the above message.  I must have received it just before leaving for the fatal holiday with Jamie.  It was quite a shock to see his hand-writing – so very different to Jamie’s.

When Kate first showed me a snap of Plas y Nant I knew it was going to be a special place.  Betws Garmon is five miles SE of Carnarvan – an area of mountains, llyns, (lakes) waterfalls and glens.  Plas itself was a rambling old building in grounds that begged to be explored and with a fantastic view of the Elephant and Llyn Quellyn.  In February the Elephant – you can guess its shape - was diamond encrusted as a result of all the minute slivers of ice scattered over it.

Because of the time of year Kate and I were the only guests, with an influx of walkers at the week-end.  This didn’t trouble us as we both needed respite and Lena, the manager made sure we got it.  It was a Christian Fellowship Home and Kate was a bit worried about my finger nails.  Off duty I wore Peggy Sage nail varnish and Kate thought Lena might be shocked.  However since my break up with Jamie a bit of steel had entered my soul and I no longer felt obliged to try desperately to please everybody.

Lena was a gentle looking lady –slight, with fuzzy hair and large owlish glasses.  She had complete control over all guests at all times, even the rowdy ones in the larger parties.  We were privileged to have her undivided attention and I certainly found peace and tranquillity.  One of the charming customs of the house – when it was occupied by men and women - was the evening ritual when the men would gather outside the conservatory and serenade the women with ‘Good Night Ladies.’  I can’t remember what we sang to them and neither can Kate.

Our memories are slightly conflicting because I believed we had wandered over the Pyg track – just the two of us – in fog, but Kate said we climbed Snowden in a party.  Maybe it was Crib Goch I remember.  We certainly climbed at least two mountains, read poetry and enjoyed Knickerbocker Glories in Carnarvan.  Lena said we ought to return in the summer when there would be team leaders and graded walks and climbs.  This was our final year of training, with more responsibility and lots of studying so we decided to repeat the experiment in the summer and booked then and there.

There were to be a lot of changes in the next few months – some I was aware of and some came as a surprise.  One thing was certain, the remaining members of our set would take their finals in October and then leave.  I would have to stick it out for another six months when I would be old enough to take State Finals.  And then what…?