Post - Rhian Evans Harpist

It's the second full day of my break in North Wales and I'm having a fabulous time. The weather was fairly poor yesterday but it didn't dampen my spirits. My day started with a long stroll on the beach which was quite brisk to combat the cool August morning chill. I spotted some fine specimens.

Tranquillity

Spot the heron, oystercatchers too

I got back to base camp where we did a group Qigong session which helped me feel calm, stretchy and centred. As with all the best breaks, my trip revolved around food and I could get used to not having to think about what meal to prepare next (well, maybe not that one), washing dishes and where to eat out. Yes, I ate out and it was a real feast in terms of flavour, quality and service.

A snooze became a 2.5 hour deep sleep and after a slightly grumpy reawakening, my mood lifted as we hit the sights of Conwy where I succumbed to all sorts of holiday temptations. Chocolatier Baravelli's was like walking into a miniature chocolate wonderland. A shrine to the magnificent cocoa bean, I had to limit myself to the most intriguing sounding flavour combinations with their mind boggling array of truffles, amongst them mango and black onion, and black olive and rosemary, both of which won my vote. I got away with some 100% chocolate which I can't wait to try, and the roughly textured shards of dark chocolate bark with ground coffee was earthy with just a hint of caffeine so my deep slumber was undisturbed last night.

Baravelli Truffles

Works of art - mango and black onion, violet cream, lavender cream, geranium cream, black olive and rosemary

Next up was Isaac Simeon, artisan patissier extraordinaire. Disappointed that I wanted to photograph him at the end of the day, his shelves depleted and eyelids heavy, I might have to return again this morning to buy a loaf or three just to keep us both happy. He'd been up since 4 and, running his business single handed while his wife and business partner lovingly fulfils her maternal calling, he is clearly a man with a lot on his plate.

Isaac Simeon

with a small selection of his edible masterpieces. If I worked here, I would have eaten the profits

I limited myself to three small exquisite concoctions to be shared and sampled with decaf coffee later and I felt relieved his bread had sold out, probably quite some time earlier. Shutting shop at 5pm, his final ports of call were a couple of restaurants to deposit some of his fine wares. Originally from Spain, his eyes ablaze with passion, I think he's going to be very busy again after his annual leave. His patisserie beautifully boasts flavour profiles that are defined with expert clarity and it's so very moreish. I've never seen or tasted meringues like his - not overly sweet, the amalgam of light-as-you -like buttery melting pastry, airy peaks of floaty foamy meringue, and mouth tingling zingy curd that almost made me pull my citrus face had me in raptures.

Having seen the delightful name displayed throughout Conwy, my next visit was to Parisella's ice cream parlour. My friend was heavily engrossed in books at the library and I was getting a bit peckish. I had resisted temptation, walking past the busy shop with ease first time so as not to be late for our meeting. Even my ploy to find a cashpoint was foiled in my attempts to miss last orders. I was glad I could only fit two of their umpteen varieties, both imaginative and familiar, into my dark brown wafer cone and gladder still that my friend had the decency not to take my photo as we walked along the harbour past the crab and lobster pots. In my haste to escape the crowded parlour, I forgot to pick up the handful of serviettes I needed to preserve my dignity. I couldn't have cared less with my chocolate and pistachio moustache and beard and sticky chocolate smeared right hand. I even managed to dribble some on the bottom of my jeans. The pistachio was outstanding, dotted with precious small green nuggets, and it wasn't in the same ballpark as even the most prestigious supermarket brands. Cone envy soon had passers by asking where I'd sourced my cool comforting bounty.

Scene from the Middle Ages

A bevy of swans

A brief brew at base camp before we finally decided on our dinner destination on a Friday night in peak season led to a new discovery, East in Llandudno. Tucked away near the station opposite a tattoo parlour, it was a real find. All our food needs were catered for with grace and ease and our myriad questions answered with gentle authority. I'm clueless when it comes to ordering oriental food so I was delighted that my companions were well schooled. The only thing I had to decide was whether to have soup and which one to have. A Cantonese restaurant with a twist of Japanese, the menu was varied and intriguing. It was packed before 7pm, a good litmus test for the quality of what we experienced. The bold flavours were put together with an expert lightness of touch, and the freshness of their produce made for a very satisfying evening. My personal favourites were the beef sizzler with black bean sauce and the sea bass.

Captive audience

Noh Japanese theatre masks at East restaurant

Back at HQ again, after a brief and slightly ridiculous dressing up session, my heart continued to sink as it was decided that we would watch telly. More a fan of conversation and board games, I was swiftly drawn in with utter fascination as I watched what must be one of the most loving touching tributes from a daughter to her parents I've witnessed. The fruit of ten years' loving labour, the short film she made is a painstakingly heart wrought reenactment of my friend's parents' days of youth, including their wedding day. Every tiny prop and minuscule personage had been hand crafted from an imaginative selection of materials, then photographed, and assembled with stop animation before being edited and embellished by the addition of a soundtrack. Most of this labour of love took place in the kitchen of a flat in Manchester. I've known my friend since we were so high and I marvelled with nostalgia as I remembered people and places from what almost feels like a past life. I felt a bit embarrassed as I recognised my own playing as part of the track. Honoured to be included in such a personal dedication, I feel privileged to be gifted some seriously talented creative people in my life.

Gorgeous gorse

and so many heather hues

This evening I head off to see my Mum before normal service resumes next week. Have I missed my harps and music? I've hardly had time to think about them and the more I think about them, the more I look forward to my binge next week. It's going to be a very busy, challenging, interesting few months and I'm feeling focused and ready - bring it on.

Polar opposite

blooming beautiful dahlia

Holiday Snaps 2

Rhian Evans

Playing with passion