Day 3 Cosmeston Lake

Climbing around at the lake

 I remember, as a high school student, going to Cosmeston Lake. We walked around the lake, we had lunch at the lakeside and we followed the nature trail. But there are no French exchange students to be seen. I don’t get to play on the adventure playground this time.

Instead I’m walking around the lake with my son, its 25 years later and we’re making a bivouac out of sticks in the woods.  

The lake opened in 1978 and has developed into one of the finest country parks in South Wales. Excavation of the park area all those years ago uncovered the remains of the community over 600 years old.

There now stands within the grounds of the park, Cosmeston Medieval Village which hopes to reconstruct what life would’ve been like all that time ago.

But for us, time is short, we need to head to the international pool in Cardiff for a quick swim before we meet up with friends….

Alas, the pool is a refit. The tiles on the base of the pool have risen up, the pool is leaking due to construction work just next door. Doh!

Fear not Barry pool is open, but not for much longer. “Let’s try Cogan, its closer, we’ll be able to have longer in the pool.” Says Nan.

Alas, there wasa fire at the pool and it’ll be closed for refurbishments. “You could come back in October” we’re told.  Double Doh!

I have come to the conclusion that I need to take a long look at the map. Where we are staying is nowhere near where I thought we were.  And for a geography major that can be a little embarrassing.

For those of you who are reading this online here is the link to the google map of the trip.

Vicki married Vianne a few years ago , they have a three year old son . Vicki is a local girl, and when I say local its all rather relative because Vianne is from Uganda.  He’s applied for citizenship and has to attend a special ceremony to receive his British passport. It’s all very exciting. No more applications for visas whenever they decide to go on holiday, visit family or he has to attend the occasional work conference.

But before all this can happen he has to sit “the test”. He studied the manual, learned the history, but it turns out most of the questions concerned everyday life stuff, like “What two types of card do British banks issue?” The test seems undifferentiated and clearly is designed with the recent migrant with minimal grasp of England, her language or culture rather than someone who studied for 3 years at Leister University and has been working he for the a further 6 years after that.