Trying to place myself on your Venn diagram. British, software engineer, writer, hiker, introvert. Last time I was in Wales I was crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in a narrow boat. https://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk
Never read LOTR, nor saw the movie, so no idea what you were going on about.
I'm a city boy through and through, but some of my wife and my favorite vacations have centered around hiking. This was so much fun to read. Vicarious hiking and nerdery through your eyes. And some beautiful writing––your description of the vastness of Wales like a carpet rucked. And it wasn't me complaining about the LOTR references.
I am definitely not a geek. Too old to be a dork. I am a bit nerdy about a few things - old films (I mean 30s and 40s, maybe 50s, not 90s and 00s), old books, vintage knitting patterns. To be fair, I'm probably just an old person.
Wordsmoke. I love that word, Jill. I'm going to light me a wordsmoke and peace out. Our belligerent leaders (wannabe and be) of the nation have been igniting a wordinferno in the meantime as India goes into its monumental general election exercise.
If Wales were to be Eriador, would London be Mordor? 🤔 One of the nerdiest parts of Tolkien's world, I think, is the genealogy of races/families. I remember one guy at one of the many offices that I've worked in ask me, "This all happened, right? It's history, yeah?". Insane amount of detail! Reading about the two of you going up and down and all around, I realised I'm a hobbit, fat and lazy. I do grow vegetables and plants; maybe I'll become one too. It'll be my turn to go up in smoke perhaps (and the Lord of the Bantering passed into history). Oooh! I'd like that.
Saw the Goo Goo Dolls play live a few months back in my city; India is Rivendell for severely wrinkled musicians. I think "Iris" is the only song of theirs most people at that festival were familiar with but oh! were they familiar! The crowd sang all of it.
I spent an ungodly amount of time studying the Venn diagram, which probably places me in the nerd category. But I’m a true dork. And in fact, I’m in awe of your dorky self being able to coherently talk to all these strangers. Settling bets? Offering help to lost boys? I think that makes you a cool and confident dork? That waitress would say I ordered too much and I’d respond, “you’re right, what am I even saying? I’m sorry. Just the two curries.” Followed by a sheepish grin and zero eye contact. Where the sub-category for this group of humans?
Like John up there, also no idea what you’re yammering on about with all this LOTR business, but golly day it sure sounds nice.
Once upon a time when I thought the Red Book of Westmarch was real, and that hobbits were just leprechauns and so they must be from Ireland, though perhaps the East Farthing could have been in Wales give or take, the Alps were the Misty Mountains and Mordor was in Transylvania-ish, naturally, life seemed much more enchanting. Based on your travelog, I'm now hot to visit Wales - if I squint my eyes, maybe I can get a little of that old magic back.
"He was annoyed not to appear well-informed at all times. He was annoyed—most of all—to be advised in the out-of-doors by a girl." I laughed at this.
A lovely dispatch from Middle Earth.
I loved the quote about the law: "Law is just reading and writing. If you can do that, you can do law." I started a law degree and found this to be true (with a bit of logical thinking thrown in). When I realised that, I gave it up and decided to do something more useful with my time and with my reading. I changed my degree to English literature. A solid career move.
‘Dweeb’ popped into my head while reading this … remember it? No one says it anymore, probably. I feel like it was closer in meaning to dork, maybe, than any of the others. I’m mostly just a big nerd, myself. Have read and watched LOTR several times, doing the Holbrooks thing too … silently cheered each new reference you hit us with as the post proceeded. High marks.
Oh Jill! I’ve just dropped my soft-boiled egg while reading this - held in my hand because using an egg cup in a campervan is for dorks - every word was a delight. I’ve been behind on my reading for a while now but OMG I’m so thrilled it was THIS post I woke up to this morning. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got some very drippy dippy egg to wipe up before heading out into the wilds….!
Trying to place myself on your Venn diagram. British, software engineer, writer, hiker, introvert. Last time I was in Wales I was crossing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in a narrow boat. https://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk
Never read LOTR, nor saw the movie, so no idea what you were going on about.
A lovely read anyway!
I'm a city boy through and through, but some of my wife and my favorite vacations have centered around hiking. This was so much fun to read. Vicarious hiking and nerdery through your eyes. And some beautiful writing––your description of the vastness of Wales like a carpet rucked. And it wasn't me complaining about the LOTR references.
I loved every single beautiful word of this.
I am definitely not a geek. Too old to be a dork. I am a bit nerdy about a few things - old films (I mean 30s and 40s, maybe 50s, not 90s and 00s), old books, vintage knitting patterns. To be fair, I'm probably just an old person.
Oh, oh! Dorks aren't diminished orcs, are they? 😳
I'm losing it; I need my wordsmoke.
Wordsmoke. I love that word, Jill. I'm going to light me a wordsmoke and peace out. Our belligerent leaders (wannabe and be) of the nation have been igniting a wordinferno in the meantime as India goes into its monumental general election exercise.
If Wales were to be Eriador, would London be Mordor? 🤔 One of the nerdiest parts of Tolkien's world, I think, is the genealogy of races/families. I remember one guy at one of the many offices that I've worked in ask me, "This all happened, right? It's history, yeah?". Insane amount of detail! Reading about the two of you going up and down and all around, I realised I'm a hobbit, fat and lazy. I do grow vegetables and plants; maybe I'll become one too. It'll be my turn to go up in smoke perhaps (and the Lord of the Bantering passed into history). Oooh! I'd like that.
Saw the Goo Goo Dolls play live a few months back in my city; India is Rivendell for severely wrinkled musicians. I think "Iris" is the only song of theirs most people at that festival were familiar with but oh! were they familiar! The crowd sang all of it.
I spent an ungodly amount of time studying the Venn diagram, which probably places me in the nerd category. But I’m a true dork. And in fact, I’m in awe of your dorky self being able to coherently talk to all these strangers. Settling bets? Offering help to lost boys? I think that makes you a cool and confident dork? That waitress would say I ordered too much and I’d respond, “you’re right, what am I even saying? I’m sorry. Just the two curries.” Followed by a sheepish grin and zero eye contact. Where the sub-category for this group of humans?
Like John up there, also no idea what you’re yammering on about with all this LOTR business, but golly day it sure sounds nice.
Once upon a time when I thought the Red Book of Westmarch was real, and that hobbits were just leprechauns and so they must be from Ireland, though perhaps the East Farthing could have been in Wales give or take, the Alps were the Misty Mountains and Mordor was in Transylvania-ish, naturally, life seemed much more enchanting. Based on your travelog, I'm now hot to visit Wales - if I squint my eyes, maybe I can get a little of that old magic back.
"He was annoyed not to appear well-informed at all times. He was annoyed—most of all—to be advised in the out-of-doors by a girl." I laughed at this.
A lovely dispatch from Middle Earth.
I loved the quote about the law: "Law is just reading and writing. If you can do that, you can do law." I started a law degree and found this to be true (with a bit of logical thinking thrown in). When I realised that, I gave it up and decided to do something more useful with my time and with my reading. I changed my degree to English literature. A solid career move.
‘Dweeb’ popped into my head while reading this … remember it? No one says it anymore, probably. I feel like it was closer in meaning to dork, maybe, than any of the others. I’m mostly just a big nerd, myself. Have read and watched LOTR several times, doing the Holbrooks thing too … silently cheered each new reference you hit us with as the post proceeded. High marks.
Love hearing about your hiking adventures! And I lol when you asked a passerby to settle a bet!!!
I have never read LOTR or seen the movie - glad I’m not the ONLY one.
Would you recommend for 13 year old nerdy geek grandson ?
So fun to watch the pair of you trip-blossoming in beautiful Wales...
Fuuuuuck this is good! Refreshing for the soul, thank you so much.
Also, I'm 98% convinced by your theory that LOTR is Wales.
Oh Jill! I’ve just dropped my soft-boiled egg while reading this - held in my hand because using an egg cup in a campervan is for dorks - every word was a delight. I’ve been behind on my reading for a while now but OMG I’m so thrilled it was THIS post I woke up to this morning. Now if you’ll excuse me I’ve got some very drippy dippy egg to wipe up before heading out into the wilds….!
Please take a picture of the other side of your diagram. I’m having trouble locating a “friend.”