Today I was good, and started looking out a few books I no longer needed, even former 💖books. Books on Dartmoor. Now, at my age I am too far away and not sufficiently fit to start pounding the Dartmoor peat bogs any more. I hardened my heart, and took a pile, and some novels I had picked up off the charity table in Co-op etc, and took them to the charity shop (Bracken Trust, which I like to support) in Llandod. Added to this pile were various sewing bits and bobs I will not be likely to use, and old x-stitch booklets which I no longer need/am never going to get around to stitching.
Before shopping, I took myself for a brisk walk around the lake in Llandod, which was enjoyable, although the three Great Crested Grebes I was trying to take a photo of, didn't want to play ball, and dived out of sight, swimming 100 yards or so beneath the waters and popping up as dots in the distance.
A Cormorant sitting on a post in the lake, drying his wings.
Bullrushes and spent Purple Loosestrife.
Water Mint still flowering happily.
The Lidl shop came to £15, but that did include nappies for Rosie, and a chicken to roast tomorrow as Tam is staying overnight. My Hampshire cousin Sally and her husband are coming here and we're going out to lunch when Tam and Rosie arrive. It will be lovely to see them again.
These are what I was taught were Interlocking Spurs, back in Geography. We are looking up towards Rhayader here.
Tesco's was dearer of course, as I bought fuel, vegetables, cheese, Kefir, yoghurt, some Cider for Tam, and cat food.
When I got back, I had a sudden thought. There was a book I have wanted - and been searching for - these past two or three years. I have Volumes I and II, but III has only been offered for sale in America, where the cost of postage ran into three figures as it is a very heavy book. Anyway, idly I ran a search on it and blimey, found Volume III. In the UK. It is NOT a cheap book, but I will treasure it and use it. Keith bought me the first two volumes when they were first published some 15 years ago (I had been browsing them in Cardiff Museum, went to put them back and he said, I'll buy them for you. My jaw hit the floor! He was always so generous and loving). So perhaps he has led me to Volume III - I'd not even thought about it for months. A bookseller in the Cotswolds has just made me very happy. If you are not a book person, you would think me quite mad if you knew the cost, but the kids are going to club together to buy it for me for Christmas.
Right, more baking done - some Lemon Biscuits and a batch of Banana and Apple Muffins. That should see guests and family through the week and I will give the Chocolate Apple cake to Sally, so they have something to nibble on whilst they're here in Wales.
Dartmoor, I have been there. When I was 19 I did an outward bound course there in Nov/Dec. We did a hike from Linton & Linmouth back to Ashburton crossing Exmoor and Dartmoor. We made Oakhampton the First night the spent the next day visiting lizards of tors like Yes Tor and Higher Yes Tor, it was brilliant even if we caped in the freezing cold. I even showed the guys I was with how to tickle a trout though I did put it back after catching it. Dad showed me how it was done
ReplyDeleteIt's where my roots are on Dad's side - going back to the year dot. I feel very hefted there. SOunds like you walked the Two Moors Way (there is one called that these days). Okehampton can be a little bit inhospitable in inclement weather . . . We used to camp (now called "wild camping") on the W. Dart near Postbridge, up on the moor, but used rods to "hunt" the trout. My goodness, they tasted SO good cooked over the camp fire. Ten minutes from swimming about to being eaten, and SO sweet and fresh. I've never eaten farmed trout since. I miss Dartmoor very much - used to walk there, and holiday there with the kids, and before that go Letterboxing, back in the early 1980s. Now I long for a week down there where I can walk and visit my favourite places, and go bother some of the truly AMAZING churches down there.
DeleteLovely pictures.The cake is a great idea for your cousin. My dear sister in law gave me a victoria sandwich the night we arrived in the UK last time and feeling jet lagged we lived on it for the first day. I hope she has made me another one, we arrive in two weeks. I think the giving of cakes is a British thing and I miss it.
ReplyDeleteHaha - I need saving from myself! It's too moreish by half! Have 10 Muffins to nibble on with my girls, and lemon biscuits, and my painter is here Thurs/Fri so something to give him too. I hope that you are in receipt of another Victoria Sandwich cake when you get to the UK this time too. Have a LOVELY time.
DeleteMy memories of Dartmoor are from a school cadet corps week camp in the summer of 1969. Camping out amongst the Tors, visiting Yes Tor and High Willhays, and our lieutenant leader - a not very good map reader - managed to get us onto the wrong part of the moor, a live tank firing range, fortunately not in use that day. I've always wanted to go back sometime, but never had the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteGosh, that sounds a bit too adventurous by half! Map reading is the most essential skill, surely, when leading an expedition . . . I hope you will get to revisit Dartmoor. It really is such a beautiful area.
DeleteThat particular teachers' lack of map reading skills was a running joke amongst the cadets, we'd had a similar experience a previous year at a camp at Warcop in the Lake District!
DeleteIt's a wonder you survived!
DeleteIf you are mad then we are mad together! I can spend way too much on a book, but they are worth it. I hope you enjoy volume III.
ReplyDeleteI was immersed in Vol. II last night and went to bed with my head far too buzzy for sleep . . .
DeleteWe visited Dartmoor on our trip through the UK. I need to go through my books once again and see what I can declutter.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Ah, you will know why I love it so much then. Wild and beautiful, and with my roots in the very tors.
DeleteLovely nature photos. You’d have no problem filling a wonderful nature journal. And it sounds like a successful good day plus Rosie and tam are coming!
ReplyDeleteBtw I put some summer quilt finishes on my blog I know you sometimes enjoy the quilt y posts
Love
Lizzy. Gone to the beach
Yes, I must try and put pencil to paper again . . . Off to your blog shortly - just have to mop the kitchen floor first.
DeleteHow good to suddenly look for the book and find it here.
ReplyDeleteYour baking sounds delicious - you are more enthusiastic than I am at baking nowadays.
It thrilled me no end. It seemed to be impossible to get a copy here. I love baking - it cheers me up - and is very satisfying.
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