Just call me Busy . . .

Today's photos are from a long walk I took yesterday.  My Fitbit steps for the week were down and because we had been to auction twice in Gloucestershire that meant a long time sitting in the car especially as we got held up in a 2 mile traffic queue to join the M5 on Tuesday, arriving at the auction with just 3 minutes to view it!  We just bought one thing at the auction (prices are higher there) and left bids on others which would be sold after we left - it was a slow day bidding-wise and went on till 7 p.m.  Having properly viewed the furniture - the stuff we were interested in was in the schoolhouse building - we bid on line the following day and drove down again on Thursday to pick it up.  This time we took the motorway route as we weren't driving down in rushour traffic, and got there in 1 hr 55 mins, compared with FOUR hours on the Tuesday!

Now all we need is for people to start buying things at our Units, but trade in both places has been extremely slow.  I just hope that the Fleamarket next weekend is better than it has been - last time it was a complete waste of time as we took just £65 - and it costs £55 just to stand for the day!

I managed to get some more Chutney made on Monday, Indian Chutney, an old favourite of mine which really does improve with keeping and what's more, uses up some of the apple mountain.  It came in handy yesterday, as one of the chaps from the Shoot next door, came over with a bag of venison for us, so we rewarded him with three big jars of chutney and a gigantic box of apples . . .

Now I am fitter, I put myself to the test with this walk which is unrelentingly uphill for the first half hour, then a slightly flatter bit and then climbing again.  As you can see, the weather was wonderful although the views were all a bit milky.

On the bank below a hedge, this Primrose decided to let itself be encouraged by the sunshine and put out a tentative flower.

Wishy-washy fields beyond the hedgerow.

Looking across to a neighbour's farm at "top o'bank".

Looking back across the Towy Valley here.

Now there's a challenge - clambering up that hill would certainly test my fitness!

The higher fields suffer with bracken, and given half a chance would soon revert to scrubby woodland.  They have never forgotten being reclaimed from the wildwood.

That steep hill again with a barely discernible Black Mountain scarp behind it to the right.

I carried on climbing, and shedding layers!  I was down to a t-shirt by this time and fed up with carrying a jumper and a jacket.

Looking across the Cothi Valley to fields bisected by sheep tracks.

This farm trackway was tempting . . .

On the way home.  Single track lanes are the order of the day round here, and passing places few and far between.  The overhanging trees framed this view perfectly, and it is about to become a new header photo.

Downhill all the way back (the reward for effort).  On the right is a wilding apple tree with small red-striped apples.  I brought two back with me to plant along our hedgerow.  This walk was about 11,000 steps and all in all I did over 17,000 yesterday and walked 9 1/2 miles.

I shall be away from my computer Monday - Friday next week as I am down in Southampton with my best friend Trisha.

"Two elephants and a pestle and mortar" . . . a day at the auction

I spent much of yesterday at an auction, firstly viewing it with my OH, and then he had to dash back to Carmarthen and I was left to bid on a couple of lots we had noted down.

It was the sort of auction we remember from when we first moved to Wales - an eclectic lot of house clearance stuff, much of it only worthy of £1 a job lot box bid - with some nicer pieces in the mix, and by the look of it at this auction, some stuff put in by individuals in the surrounding area, having a clear out and hoping to make a few bob.  Mostly tat, but some things stand out - those of course, stand out to anyone in the trade who is there to support their livelihood, but that said, there were private individuals yesterday, buying stuff just because they liked it - a pretty Victorian rose-sprigged cheese dish springs to mind.  The buyer was delighted to have got it.

We arrived early to view, and so bagged front row seats by leaving a bidding number and my fleece on them.  It helps to be close to the front as you can see stuff better when it is being held aloft, and if you need to get up and stretch your legs, you aren't hemmed in by lots of people on seats around you.  I had a while to wait before the auction started, so walked up the village to get a little puzzle book and a drink.  Once the auction started though, the microphone was turned up so much, and the auctioneer bellowing out the lots - selling at an incredible speed of 200 an hour - I just had to sit and watch what was being sold, and within 10 minutes had an agonizing headache.  I watched countless boxes of china being sold for a song (with good reason, most folk DON'T want china and it doesn't normally sell at the car boot sales either).  There were pieces which used to be SO desirable - Cottage Ware china, Royal Doulton, Crown Devon, big willow pattern meat plates - all selling for a pittance.  How fashions change.

I had noted a copper and brass Art Nouveau wine jug, and another beaten copper pail, and noted a price for them.  They attracted a LOT of bids and made over £100.  I had put "£35" beside them in my notes!  Must go and do some homework . . .  That said, there were bids way beyond what some things were worth and I think auction mania must have got to one or two folk.  The mere mention of the name "Clarice Cliff" brought on a flurry of bids on a small jam pot, which made a good price.

There was an old and interesting antiquarian book I wanted for my collection.  It needed rebinding and was in a state.  I was the underbidder, and that was fortunate for when I got home I found it was actually available in a reprinted version, and the first editions (1811 as this was) in good condition  sold for less than the winning bidder paid, and so I was fortunate to have missed it.

This beautiful bed throw came cheaply enough though, and came home with me, as did the GORGEOUS Welsh blanket below.  The light from the flash has bleached all the sherbet colours from it but it is LOVELY.

The title, by the way, is a lot description from the auction, if you haven't already guessed!

I have to be out the door any minute, so I will do the looooooong picture-heavy coastal path walk later.