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.
