Tomorrow's new post will be Berkeley Castle

Today after going to Wotton briefly, and having lunch there, we drove on to nearby Berkeley Castle.  Keith has been wanting to visit it for several years now, but normally when we go to the auction, although we are in the area, we are away too late in the afternoon to go.  We went into the Butterfly House first, and there were lots of different types, including this huge one called The Owl.  Lots of these.  They seemed to be concentrating on eating the fruit at the feeding station, but literally I walked through the curtain and this one made a beeline for me and landed on my hand.  He stayed quite a while too.  More photos tomorrow, along with the first of the castle ones.

Unremarkable photos of a rainy walk on the beach

Yesterday I picked Danny up so we could get some fresh air down at the beach - our nearest one is Llansteffan, about 8 miles from Carmarthen.  It came on to rain on the way, so not much in the way of views were to be had!  This is Ferryside in the distance.

Looking out to sea, or rather where the estuary pours into Carmarthen Bay.  I don't know where the treestump came from, but it had fetched up on the shore and someone had "planted" it . . . 

In with the last tide, a dead Sea Potato.  Normally they turn up as just the fragile "skeleton" - e.g. a white "shell" which is very brittle.  This one had just snuffed it and hadn't lost the covering of hairs.

Around the point, a few other hardy souls (there were plenty of dog-walkers about) were ahead of us.

It looked desolate, out towards the Cockle Beds, scenes of Cockle Wars in the past.  All the time we were on the beach we were aware of the sound of waves in the distance, the low roar sounding like an approaching tidal wave hidden by the mist.  A bit spooky even though we knew what it was.

More folk once we rounded the point and began to walk along by the rock pools at the bottom of the cliffs.

The second headland.  Had it been clearer, and we were sure of whether the tide was coming in or going out, we might have walked around it, but since we didn't know, and because you couldn't have seen across to Laugharne anyway, we turned back once we got to Scotts' Bay.

The retreating tide had left curious patterns on the sand.

Scotts House apparently belonged to a distant relative of THE Captain Scott, hence the name.  Here's a link to information about Llansteffan beach.  It would appear that the dog-walkers were a little premature . . .

As we walked back to the car park, Ferryside began to appear out of the mist as it stopped raining.  We decided ice-creams were in order - you can't go to the beach without an ice-cream.

Today Danny and I went to the cinema to see Dunkirk, whilst it was in its final week of showing in Carmarthen.  We enjoyed it but unfortunately in the last ten minutes, I blew my nose and got a stonker of a nose bleed and had to head for the toilets to get handfuls of toilet paper to staunch the flow, as my hankies were soon rendered useless.  I have been blowing my nose probably 25 + times a day these past few weeks, following a sinus type cold.  I had a bit of a nosebleed at the weekend but this one really went to town.  I did get the final few minutes of the film, but then as we walked back to the car, had to send Danny in search of a big pack of tissues as I was fast running out.  Many thanks to the lady who kindly saw my predicament and passed me the two clean ones she had in her handbag.  Danny saw me sat safely in the car and then went off to get me a drink and "something sweet" as that's what they did after you'd given blood!  Two white chocolate chip cookies went down very well.  So, the tables were turned - after a few days of looking after Danny, today it was his turn to look after me!  Good lad.

Some mountain scenery - and some more . . .

In order now.  These first photos show the scenery along the lane from Myddfai towards Llandeusant.  The photo above shows the view across to the Western edge of the Carmarthen Fans.

Some random photos taken on a little drive out today after we had been to the Unit to change stuff around.  These are now rearranged more or less in order and the photo above was the final photo as we headed home.  These were taken near Llandeusant and looking towards "our" Black Mountain, the last one in the Brecon Beacon range (Carmarthen Fans).  The photo above shows the neighbouring hills in the distance.  Keith was glad we were heading towards home at this point!

These two taken of the Carmarthen Fans with cloud topping!

[Back tomorrow, doubtless bleary-eyed as it's the bi-ennial car rally going past our house tonight (zig-zag bends, so lots of throttling down and vrrrrrm-vrrrrrrm noises between 1.30 and 4.30 a.m. )  The cats have been barricaded in the kitchen, needless to say . . .]

It was a hard job to wake up this morning. We swiftly abandoned all ideas of visiting the car boot sale as we were both SO tired.  The cars were late coming through - 3.15 a.m. was the first one, and the very very last at 7.15 a.m., going slowly and probably looking for car-shaped holes in hedges . . .  They were SO noisy.  I'm glad it's only every couple of years.

Anyway, I got the ironing up to date whilst listening to the Archers omnibus (poor Roy) and then put up the winter kitchen curtains and got the summer ones in the wash.

Then I spoke to Danny and went into town and picked him up and we did a quick shop in Tescopolis and then went down for a beach walk at Llansteffan.  It came on to rain as we were nearing the beach, so we just decided we would get wet.  Actually, once on the beach it didn't really seem like it was raining much but we got a bit soggy all the same.   I have taken some misty photos which I will share with you tomorrow.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the mountain photos.  The best ones are when you are up at Llyn-y-Fan-Fach itself, but not the weather for that at the moment.

Oh, and the cats keeping safe overnight?  Well, when I pulled my office curtains back this morning I was puzzled to see Alfie sat outside, waiting for his breakfast.  When I reached the kitchen, it was completely EMPTY.  They had managed to get behind my barricade (which included a hefty SHIELD!) and escape.  Both cat flats had been blocked, but they just shouldered their way behind.  Why do I bother?!

Yesterday's river walk

As you can see, we had a lot of rain overnight on Wednesday into Thursday.  The river rose significantly and if you fell in, you would be in Carmarthen Bay in double-quick time!

This is my favourite photo-spot along  the river and you can see how high up the river sides it is.

The remains of the tiny cottage where a widow-woman once lived in the 1840s.  She earned her living by charring (rough cleaning) in neighbouring farmsteads.  I always imagine her falling asleep to the sound of the river. 

You can just about see the tiny fireplace in the back wall.

One of my best close-up shots - taken on Scenes (Action setting!!)  Well, it was a bit windy . . .

What a weird beastie - well, it's the hopeful stem of the Himalayan Balsam, hopeful in that when the stem falls over, it will be able to root itself in soil.  A bonus to chucking out loads of explosive seeds everywhere!

Sunshine on the lane going home.

Danny has gone home to his digs today.  He is in the process of changing Dr's surgeries, and is going to have some mates round tonight to cheer him up - I sent him home with a tray bake of Chocolate Raspberry Brownies. 

Off to try and sort out my lace as I screwed-up about an inch back and left out a pin, which is fairly dire to the results!

Tah-Dah!

I'm glad to report that Danny got checked out at A&E today and was told he was OK, but to go and get his eyes given the once-over by a good Opthalmologist, and he needs to have a blood test at the GPs for good measure.  He just needs to catch up with his sleep as much as anything. 

Finally finished.  I was past caring that some of the angles on the hexis weren't right - it depended on the stiffness of the cotton, although it was all 100% cotton.  I don't care, as I enjoyed making it, especially the embroidery.

Close up of the finished pocket, with a Measles House as Keith calls it!  I unpicked one of the flowers close to the chicken.  Below, a rather blurry picture of the instructions and finished article, using the 1/2" hexis.

I managed to get out for a 3 mile walk today and enjoyed that, down along by the river, which was racing through as we had a lot of rain overnight.  Photos of that tomorrow.

Gardening and worrying

Just a line to say our son is coming home early from his holiday as he is quite unwell and needs to see a Dr.  Needless to say, I have been worried sick and spent yesterday gardening like a maniac, doing what I threatened to do and removing everything that has lots of leaves and a short flowering period.  This includes inmates which moved here with us from Dorset (I said I'd be brutal).  Yesterday it was the turn of the scented-leaf Geraniums.  They spread and sprawl terribly.  Also gone are the variegated leaf Iris from the side of the pond, although they are also IN the ponds, and I will allow them to stay there, and I have removed all the roots of interlopers I could find along that stretch too and put down a couple of buckets of spent compost and planted it up with spring bulbs - Allium and tulip.

I can't eat when I am worried either, so this is good for the waistline if nothing else.

A little sewing and a little unpicking on the pocket happened last night and I'm nearing completion.  I just need to sew it on the bag, sew the handles firmly in place and finally sew the sides together.  There should be a "ta dah" moment very soon.

Monday roundup

All finished - the embroidered pocket.  I'm not happy that the little house looks so stark and very yellow, so I may embroider some extra windows and/or some roses up the wall. With the benefit of hindsight, a tiny-printed pale fabric would have been better than the yellow, but hey-ho, I only have to please myself at the end of the day . . .

Yesterday was a Malvern Fleamarket day, and of course we were up in the middle of the night to drive up there, and came back more or less 12 hours after we had gotten up.  It makes for a very long (but enjoyable) day.  We clocked up 22,000 + steps according to my Fitbit.  About 15 Km.  We walked up and down the rows, and round and round, 2 1/2 times at Malvern, then went on to the car boot sale at Ledbury, and did the same again - it was very busy there, but very little to buy (we didn't get there until it was half way through).

The spotty jug is one I bought at Malvern, for me, as is the beautiful big scarf below.  I loved the vibrant colours.

Above and below: bargains of a different kind, from Aldi.  The cutting mat was only £2.99 (I needed a smaller one) and the craft storage box only £3.99.  I just put the bits and bobs I had in a smaller ceramic drawer which is on the table beside me, waiting for a cat to come and knock it off!

Above: this beautiful glass perfume bottle, French and 1930s (according to the French dealer selling it yesterday), came home with me and will be going to the big Antiques Fair at the Botanic Gardens next month.  It is signed on the bottom (M Lupi) but it is not a well known name in glass making . . .

Below: this more modern piece of glass came from the same dealer (and neither were cheap!) but I think it's beautiful and hope it too will attract a buyer soon.

Finally, my little helper Little Whale.  He is either curled up on our bed, or keeping an eye on me when I am in my office, or best of all for him, as it is WARM in there, accompanying me when I have a bath, to make sure I wash properly!