I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them . . .

The energy company that is.  We had our meeting at the local village hall and it was good to see our Community so strongly supported, despite the fact that it was a last-minute thing.  We had been trying to arrange a meeting since May, but emails appeared to have "been lost".  Finally, a week before the meeting, they could fit it in but of course, farmers are busy people and can't just drop everything. In the event, by the time we got there they announced that initial plans had been passed and so of course, we no longer had any say in the matter.  Various members of our community took them to task and to say that the overall feeling in the room was hostile was an understatement.  People really spoke their piece and downright told them how we all felt.  They seemed to think that although delays on roads whilst the infrastructure was moved into place were "inevitable", they had not really looked at the viability of those very roads, with overhanging trees, volume of traffic on the more major roads and use of single track roads in this area.  

Now I am able to look at the Project Documentation, it looks like a wrecking bar will be taken to our stunningly beautiful landscape, and they clearly have no respect for nature or beauty, in the name of "progress".  Under "Assessing Significance" of landscape and visual effects, we come under "skylines that are highly visible over large areas or exert a large influence over landscape character."  The proposed area IS "visible from nationally designated landscapes" - e.g. the Brecon Beacons, and is "particularly tranquil, wild; spiritual; attractive; peaceful" with "low levels of light pollution/experiences dark skies".    This is an area where Curlews and many other wild birds nest and considering a local farmer said he had been told he could not plant trees because they would affect Curlews nesting in the area, what the hell do they think a 200 metre high forest of wind turbines are going to do?  

Needless to say, the documentation is split into so many parts and hedged about with so many points and words that it is difficult to boil it down to an erudite conclusion.  I will quote from an expression used to describe its impact on the landscape from any of the higher points here about (road use as well as from a farming or tourism point of view): Major (significant).  They reluctantly agreed to considering to read an e-mail about what the community feels about this industrialisation of our beautiful landscape, but I feel it's a waste of time as they aren't going to alter anything that is going to benefit them financially.  It was interesting to see the speed at least one of them departed the room at the end of the meeting - greyhound out of a trap just about summed up his departure.

But on to happier things.  All my girls were here yesterday, though Rosie is just starting a cold (with a nasty sore throat by the sound of things) so hoping we don't get THAT particular bug.  Gabby is off on holiday to Mexico in a fortnight and I am off to Malvern Flea on the Bank Holiday weekend . . .  Rosie is learning to swim at the moment - the very earliest stages - and seems to love it.  Other granny takes her in, and Tam went along to watch yesterday.  The teacher said she thought Rosie had been coming ever since she was a baby, not just starting!  I am about to get her a Montessori Busy Board, which has all sorts of learning challenges to help with hand-eye co-ordination and cognative skills.  It should keep her quiet for ages (Tam would be glad of that!)  She was even singing bits of Nursery Rhymes with us yesterday, bless her :)

It was lovely to see them, and we sorted out my plan of action for the middle week in New Zealand.  As I looked up each place on the computer, it was SO beautiful that tears came to my eyes.  I can't believe that I am going to experience this all first hand, and not just via a photo.  Holidays for me were non-existent when I was growing up, as money was tight.  We just went for days out, often in the New Forest, but with one pay-to-get-in type outing to the Zoo (twice) and Longleat (once) etc.  When married to my first husband, my holidays were a week spent instructing at Pony Club Camp each summer.  We never went away.  With Keith, we were doing up Ynyswen and money even tighter, and when we did have some money, we always camped or stayed with friends or family, and it was in the UK, not abroad.  I did suggest to Keith that we went abroad, but he wasn't interested (but then he had done lots of travelling when in the Army).  

Now, finally, I have some money I am going to dip into to travel whilst I still can, and NZ truly will be the holiday of a lifetime.  I worry about leaving the cats, but they will be fed and visited twice a day and I'll see if Tam can come across at weekends.  

I am still feeling tired after a busy week with my friend here, but will potter around today and it is finally cool enough to do some tidying up in the garden - 12 deg. right now, though it will warm up later.