As parents they were strict but fun loving. Life was hard and they were always busy but as children we never went without. In our eyes, Dad was an inventive engineering genius. He made us the best box-carts out of old prams and sledges with ‘go faster’ runners that were used in the summer almost as much as the winter. He made us slides, swings and the biggest, highest flying kites anywhere in the area. He made us working farm implements to go behind our Dinky tractors and as we grew older he patched together old motor bikes for us to ride around the field. He made us a veritable ‘theme park’ on the side of the river at Onny Lodge with slides and a mini ferris wheel that revolved through the water. Tractor inner tubes and rafts would appear overnight. He bought an ex-army bell tent and we would live outside for weeks in the summer. Mum loved a picnic and she could appear from nowhere at a moments notice with a basket full of goodies and a rug under arm, ready to go! We often walked from Cwbalt to the Rounton on a Sunday and there was always a bowl of jelly in the bag with the sandwiches and cake. How did she do it? Another favourite trip would be to the dams at Rhayader or the Elan Valley or a walk up onto the Long Mynd. Magic days!