The winter nights draw in and memories of houses past

 4.25 p.m. here and it's virtually dark.  I have helped Keith and Tam clearing the main shed today (I hardly dare call it Fahly's stable these days, though it was), cut back the spent and sagging stems of the Sedums, and cut back the big Hydrangea down in the little plot that was mum's.  I also cut back the other sprawling summer flowering plants, and then it came on to rain steadily and I had to retire indoors.

  Dyffryn Camp, dating to the Iron Age.

      There was another trip to the Charity Shop this morning, this time to the Green Shop in Llandeilo, who were pleased to be bequeathed yet more balls of  wool, a lap quilt made for my late m-in-l, a hand-quilted pre-printed quilt top that never got made up into a quilt, one of those Indian or Chinese-sewn patchwork quilts which once graced mum's bed, some books, some wide scarves/shawls (how did I come to have over 15?!), handbags, and some clothing and Victorian jugs from jug and basin sets where they were the only thing to survive.  I am glad they will be able to earn the charity some money from them.

    This afternoon Tam and I had to collect some medication for me from the Pharmacy and we stopped off at Abergwili for more banana boxes to pack books in, as well as salad stuff and some apples.  Whilst I have enough apples to keep an army going, none of them are eaters.

    The living room is strewn with detritis from yesterday's foray into the back of the Junk Room of Doom.  Lots of old paperwork of Keith's, plus family photographs over a century old - Great Uncle George when out in India around 1910, pictured sat with his fellow team-mates from the Hockey team, and lots of trophies and awards in front of them.  Great Uncle George sat in his Masonic regalia, with his Indian Lodge.  Not photos to necessarily display, but certainly ones to keep for family history's sake.

    Wedding photos too of Uncle George and Aunty Ethel, long pushing up daisies.  She had a stunning bouquet of orchids and flowers and a long lace veil embroidered with flowers.  Family members to each side for bride and groom, looking quite solemn considering it was a wedding.  

    Flat and house purchase details from half a lifetime ago, and more recently, details of houses we viewed in hope.  We could recall them all, and in most cases they didn't suit at all when you got there and had a proper look.  One place had 5 doors/staircases coming and going from the main central room which rendered it into a large hallway, and the chap's sons' rooms reeked of smelly socks and trainers and in both cases the lads had clearly just been hauled out of bed but stayed defiantly in their rooms whilst we peeked in the door and thought, this is not the house for us!

    Another house had a spectacular view across a valley strewn with apple orchards, but was approached by a steep flight of steps downwards - that was no good to us with all our boxes of stock which we took to Fairs, plus the kitchen was of a 1970s ilk (and not the best look from that time) and a later addition to extend the property in one direction made the rooms it was extended from very dark and gloomy and to no end as it just provided a corridor and a storage room to the side which had the lovely view.

    Another was one Keith really fell in love with, as it had an Arts & Crafts look and a fabulous staircase, but it was all about the staircase and all the other rooms (bar the living room) suffered for it.  I could see it, but he couldn't see further than the staircase, unfortunately, and anyway, it was just a field away from a very busy road.

    We still regret not being able to buy a fabulous historic old hall in Shropshire, with a garden full of David Austin roses (70 of them), soft fruit, orchards - oh it was so US, but then it would have begun to be a burden by now - if I find 4 apple trees a problem in a bumper harvest year like this, imagine how I would have felt when  terrorized and held to ransom by an orchard of them! I have picked up a wheelbarrow full of spent fruit from the path today - hate to not be able to rehome it or use it but when you have hundredweights of fruit on a tree, you are bound to lose the fight!

    Now I need to go and check on my bread dough and put a meal on for Keith.