Latest posts by Martin Moodie (see all)
I remember every night
Your ocean eyes of blue
How I miss you in the morning light
Like roses miss the dew
– I Remember Everything, John Prine
This Blog comes to you from Ystradgynlais (vale of the river Cynlais), the oh so pretty South Wales town which served for several years as The Moodie Davitt Report’s administrative and financial headquarters.
It was also the home of my late daughter – and our Chief Operating Officer – Sinead Moodie, who passed away on 1 February at 41, some seven months after being diagnosed with NUT Carcinoma lung cancer.
I hadn’t been able to return to Ystradgynlais since Sinead’s funeral in February due to my own subsequent health challenges but a month’s break in treatment has allowed me the joy of spending time with my Welsh family, including her husband Adrian and their two little bairns, Carys (now 6) and Iwan (3), pictured with me below.
While there, I opted to visit Penderyn Distillery in the southern foothills of the majestic Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons National Park) in South Wales, just a short, picturesque drive from Ystradgynlais.
I have long been an avid fan of Penderyrn’s outstanding Welsh whiskies and I was determined to mark the end of my visit by buying apposite farewell gifts for Adrian and his Dad Terry while deepening my understanding of the brand.
The Penderyn Distillery (one of three the company operates in Wales) offers a compelling insight into the DNA of the company’s whisky-making craft and heritage.
Here you can discover the unique Faraday still, a single copper-pot (most Scottish and Irish distilleries use a conventional two or three-pot ‘lantern’ still system), which produces the signature Penderyn spirit of strength, balance and purity
The tours were booked out by the time of my arrival but I had plenty of opportunity to learn about Penderyn from Helen (below), a wonderfully knowledgeable and engaging member of the team. Penderyn has been a notable success in travel retail over recent years and I was delighted to discover the back story behind it.
As noted in my last Blog, the break in my treatment also allowed me to attend and help run our 15th anniversary edition of The Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards, a particularly notable success given the parlous nature of the global travel and tourism sectors in the face of the Middle East conflict.
Next stop is London to see other family members before flying to Manila to meet my brother and then home to Hong Kong.
After my frenzied work travel schedule of the past 24 years – next year we celebrate The Moodie Davitt Report’s 25th anniversary – it has been nice to journey at a much more leisurely, family-oriented pace.
Ah, but what a terrible shame that one of that family is no longer with us. How indeed, as the incomparable John Prine (Rest in Peace) would have it, I miss her in the morning light. Like roses miss the dew.
Hong Kong may serve as my physical home for the rest of my days but, for the reasons above, Wales (along with my native New Zealand) will be where my heart always resides. What better way then to close this Blog than with the words of the lovely Welsh classic song ‘We’ll keep a welcome’?
Far away a voice is calling
Bells of memory chime
Come home again, come home again
They call through the oceans of time
We’ll keep a welcome in the hillsides
We’ll keep a welcome in the Vales
This land you knew will still be singing
When you come home again to Wales
Sinead will always be home in Wales. At rest and in peace. ✈
