Friday - My walk to work

I often complain about my journey to work.  It should only take around twenty minutes but in rush hour when it can take an hour it makes me tired before I've even got there.  After moving out of the city last year going from a five minute train ride into Cardiff centre to sometimes an hour on the bus can seem like a lifetime!  For the first leg of my commute I usually try to read a bit and make some use of the bus journey, but I usually end up reading blogs or writing a post!  Once we pass the villages though this is when the views can take over. 

 I am incredibly lucky to live in a place where we have so  many lovely views and castles to look at.  The one below is called Castell Coch which in English means 'Red Castle'.  It is a Victorian Gothic castle, built on the site of a 13th Century castle for the 3rd Marquess of Bute, as a rural retreat when he got bored of his main residence, Cardiff Castle (coming below!).  As children, my sister and I were told that it is where the tooth fairies lived as it is on a hill looking across Cardiff and its neigbouring towns.  To read more and for stunning pictures of the castle look here.

My bus gets in to probably my favourite part of Cardiff, the civic centre where I pass the City Hall.  I absolutely love this building.  My Great, Great Grandfather built the clock tower of the building, which is one of the most iconic landmarks in Cardiff.  My sister also got married here and part of my university graduation memories are also from here.  I love walking through this beautiful city every morning.

Just across the road is Cardiff Castle.  I love that we have a castle that has been here since the Romans came to Cardiff 2000 years ago, and that it is in the city centre.  The Roman fort was the first of four forts that were here and evidence of each stage of the castle's evolvement can be seen within the walls (see here for more details).

St. John's City Parish Church is next to where I work.  Apart from Cardiff Castle, it is the oldest remaining medieval building in the city and it dates from the 12th century.  It is a beautiful church and I love hearing the bells ring out whilst I'm working or when leaving work in the evening. A wedding at the church creates quite a scene, with shoppers and tourists stopping to watch and clogging up the streets around. At Christmas time, the Christmas markets are around both the church and our building and the atmosphere is particularly festive.  You may also recognise it if you are a Doctor Who or Torchwood fan.

Here I am at work, a beautiful Victorian Grade II listed building...

...and the view of the church from the office window isn't too shabby either!  

If you're very lucky (like today!), you may also catch a glimpse of Benedict Cumberbatch filming the new series of Sherlock :)  One of the many benefits of having the BBC Production Studios here in Cardiff.  Did I mention how much I love this city???

Not the best IPhone pic but it's the Batch people! :)

In other news, it is Friday and as this has been a very long post I will keep things short!

Dear Cardiff, I love you - I think this has been very well documented above!  Dear Sophie & Scott, I'm so excited to see my beautiful cousin Sophie back on our screens soon presenting the SpeedwayGP on Eurosport! See the press release here! Scott, well done on your 2nd place at the British Championships next year.  It was a great performance after your mechanical problems and you are still 7 x Champ!  Dear Kent Kings Speedway, you suck big time and you know why.  I have nothing else to say.  Dear Kelsey,  I really enjoyed our catch up this week.  It was long overdue and I'm so pleased for you on your new career path as a nurse, you will be perfect :)  

I hope everyone has had a good week and has a great weekend.  I'm ready to relax!

Amy-Louise

xx

linking up with Rosalilium, Lauren Elizabeth, The Sweet Season