Glandwr Sacred Vacations, Pontsian, Llandyssul, Wales, SA44 4UA
If you’ve ever been to Wales in January, you know what the weather can be like, If you haven’t take lots of warm clothing, hot water bottles and a kettle. We travelled down from Pontefract in West Yorkshire, leaving at 1:30pm. We expected to be there for about 6-6:30pm how wrong we were. An electric car doesn’t bode well for a long jopurney, we knew we’d have to stop on the way, carful planning using the electroverese App, proved us right, every town on the way down a charger was available. Oswestry next to McDonalds seem to be the best option. A costa Coffee next to the car park was great.
What we didn’t account for was that every village in Wales now has a 20MPH speed limit. Actually, it was a pleasure to drive at that speed, no hurry, no worries, but after being caught speeding in North wales when I was much younger has taught me to be wary of the Welsh Police, they hide round corners. Driving slow also gives you chance to admire the surroundings, not everyones tast I agree.
Directions are relatively straight forward if you follow them and turn off when you’re supposed to. When you are on the B4459 heading to Pontsian, you need to put the full address into whatever maps App that you use. If you end up in Pontsian you’ve gone too far. We arrived in the dark which made it almost impossible to find, due to the lack of signage. When you arrive at S44 4UA and it says turn left, you need to turn left. Initially we did but thought we were lost. 1/2 hour later and retracing our steps and a few frantic phone calls later (Signal in the valley is non existent). we found the dirt track drive way up to Glandwr. Keep to the Left Hand Side, the ruts will bottom your car out.
Friday 23rd – Evening
8:45pm and we arrived. The smaller room in “The Barn” next door was adequate, lovely and warm, next to a shared bathroom. Room was warm but lacked tea and coffee making facilities. There is a small kitchen in the larger Barn room, but it’s not our thing to knock on another person’s door to use the kitchen. Danielle who had that room found it cold and did have problems starting the wood burner. I little persuasion from myself and it didn’t take long to get the room warm. the next day. We were greeted by our hosts Bear and Shion. Wonderful people and very knowledgeable. Vegan food was waiting for us, prepared by Amanda Clifford the vegan cook and nutritionist. Curry with Rice followed by Crumble and Custard. The curry – out of this world, wonderful, tasty and very filling. I could have eaten this all weekend.
Saturday 24th January
Started at 8:30am, not too early. Shion led us in Gong Qi Gong, to get the body flowing for the first 1/2 hour up until breakfast at 9am. Bear then showed us all the individual techniques up until lunch time, from playing straight down, From left to right “The plank”, to crossing our wrists.
I always thought that my gong would only play on a single sized flumie. Bear showed us the intricacies of playing anything from 10cm through a range of all sizes up to the super highs at 1.2cm. Nothing was unachievable. A few of us had experienced the flumie balls dropping off whilst playing in the past, “Once the technique is mastered” then you shouldn’t have any problems in the future. How right he is.
Lunch again was Vegan: Soup, Gluten free bread, Humus, Coleslaw, Leaves, very tasty, but too much food slows me down during the day.
Afternoon
The afternoon was all about honing the technique playing individually then playing together. One candidate on either side of the gong. Playing and listening at the same time, judging where to interject to add to the music. Two of the three sessions seemed to go well, the second session seemed a bit hurried and confusing.
The crowning glory of Saturday evening, A sound experience performed by Bear and Shion. Out of all the gongs played, it has to be said that the Vietnamese
Sunday 25th January
Sunday we had a late start 9am, Today was all about playing together, with each other on either side of a gong but really attempting to get it right, to make amazing music. Three sessions again with each of the three ladies Danielle, Arlene and Lara. We started with a short meditation before breakfast then straight into it. finishing at lunchtime. Lunch was White bean and greens stew, again absolutely wonderful. Amada Clifford you did us proud.
