Running out of road!

 

Last week, this tree had had a noticable lean on it, and following some more heavy rain, the roots had nothing to hold firm to and it ended up across the river.  With heavy rain forecast for this weekend, this situation couldn't be allowed to continue as the tree would snag any passing branches or trees and cause a real log jam in the river.  Various people phoned up to report it (and the collapsing road too) and today a local firm (Extreme Tree Services) turned up to remove the tree, and others lining the river bank and looking set to follow it.

However, this is the amount of undercutting below the lane and there has been a crease down the middle of the lane for quite some while - not sorted out by recent roadworks which simply tarmacced over the top!  It soon came back, and with attitude.

The lane is now reduced to about 3/4 of its width and is too dangerous to use.  I imagine it will probably be a couple of years before it is shored up and usable again - jobs like this never seem to be done quickly hereabouts.

Today was another Trip to the Tip day, and Tam and I got the better of an unwieldy mattress, and a very recalcitrant bicycle (why is the scrap metal container the highest one there by a long way?!)  More bits of plastic tubing and old drain pipes went to be melted down, and the Council will be richer for some more metal bits too.  

    This afternoon we went to the British Heart Foundation and the YMCA Charity shops and got rid of various things - dvd player, tv stand, dvd rack, small bookcase etc and some clothing and yet another box of books.  Progress.

    Tomorrow, bright and very early, an electrician is coming to check our electrics for our buyer (who wants a certificate) and then Keith and I have a dental check - our first for about a year.  Keith has been during this time, when a molar broke in half, but that meant an extraction.  Hoping nothing needs doing now as only temporary fillings are being done - or extractions.

    Off to catch up with another episode of Mountain Men.  We're trying to watch everything we have recorded from Sky before we move and possibly lose the lot.

Aberporth beach

 Today has been the usual getting things sorted out sort of day, though irritatingly one of the things was to be sorted as the Courier collection from home of a parcel by Myhermes was a complete waste of time.  It was booked for Saturday, and was still here today, so after failing to get through to them through any medium, I drove into town in high dudgeon and took it to their parcel shop.  I shall NOT be using them again.  

Yesterday Tam and I did another Tip Trip in the morning (we have another tomorrow, what fun!) and then later we all went out to celebrate Keith's recent birthday.  We took in a couple of antique shops - the 2nd one run by friends, so it was good to see them again.  Then finally down to the beach at Aberporth for some sea air.  We didn't stay long - it was late afternoon by then - but it made a nice change to be right over on the Cardiganshire coast.

Above and below.  We found this in the first antique shop.  It was just what I had been looking for to go in our new house.  Here there are old nails in the beams in the kitchen that I hang my colanders, wok, sieves, jam thermometer, and various pans from, but no beams where we are going.  I like the style (and usefulness) of this wrought iron rack and we managed to get the price down a bit, so it came home with us.  Temporarily houses in our kitchen so we don't fall over it.  Just needs a bit of blacking to tidy it up.

    It was a gloomy end to the day, but very peaceful there.

    Today we loaded the car for the next Tip Trip tomorrow.  A mattress, an old bike, some old jam jars (I had too many to ever use), and various other odds and ends are in the car ready to be disposed of.  Next week it will be paint.

    Tam and I used the afternoon to sort through the bags of stuff for the charity shops and have it in two heaps - one for the Salvation Army and the other for the Green shop in Llandeilo.  There are some small bits of furniture to take to the British Heart Foundation shop too.

    We had a quote to replace the gate post today- we didn't want to move out and have the present one keel over the minute the gate was opened or shut (it is currently tied to a tree to keep it upright).  The price was a bit ouchy, but needs must.

Just another Manic Sunday

 

I noticed the setting sun lighting up the trees across the valley with a soft red glow and ran upstairs for my camera, opening the window to half fall out to capture it.  The end of another busy day here.

    I began it by doing all the ironing which had piled up.  I wanted to catch up on some more episodes of Mountain Men, so watched that as I pressed the creases out of king sized duvets (2) and sheets.  I used to absolutely loathe ironing, but now I don't have so much of it I actually enjoy it and it helps to keep me warm too!  

    As I wanted to keep watching the recordings, I then set about going through the books and magazines in Keith's Militaria bookcase, and that took longer than I expected.  Magazines are going to a friend, and old antiques magazines and many auction catalogues are destined for the next bonfire.

    I was getting very involved with one of the Mountain Men story lines by this time, so carried on with clearing out the Craft Cupboard, which has to be totally emptied as it is staying behind here with the incoming folk. They were interested in buying a lot of our excess furniture, which was a relief as most of it was big and heavy and we didn't have room for it due to downsizing considerably.

    It was lovely to find again the x-stitch works in progress - some started and overlooked for many years.  I had so nearly finished the big Devon Village design, but then it got complicated with half stitches and 1/4 stitches and it was before I had a magnifying light, so hopefully now I can get it completed and framed (when we move).  Another one is Grandmas's Quilt, which I didn't get so far with, and another which is a gift for a friend WHEN I get back to it!

    At lunchtime, Tam and I had a pleasant walk up the valley to the next junction and back.  Lots of berries on the Holly trees, and we found what looked like Otter slides onto the lane near the stream.  Claw marks had been smoothed out by a wet tummy anyway.  We paused to check a lovely bright yellow leaved tree, pondering as to its type and took two leaves home for an ID.  Going through our tree books, it was a White Poplar.  One of the neighbours had a grant a few years back to plant native trees on one of his fields, and this was one of them, well-grown now.

    This afternoon I liberated the last of the Gooseberries from the freezer and Tam and I made a lovely crumble.  I can see me having a serving of that for breakfast as it is SO good!  I also cut back the Autumn fruiting raspberries - they are still offering fruit, but it's not at all sweet, and I wanted to tidy up that bit of the garden.

     Then I made 3 Shepherd's Pies, one for Keith's tea and two for the freezer when he needs a quick meal.  Then Tam made the Winter Squash galette we made a couple of weeks back for our meal.

    The Removal company will only move our freezers empty, so we will have to go through and eat the contents.  I hate getting close to Christmas with a big freezer to restock, but needs must.  We will have to go to Lidl in Llandrindod Wells to stock up once we've moved. I can't think of a way around it unless I ask a friend if I can plug the little spare freezer in at their house and then come back and collect it and contents once we are moved.  Tam has been very organized and booked us two close-to-Christmas grocery deliveries with just a few items on (to be added to later) for both addresses, so we are covered for Christmas food anyway.

    So, things are gradually being packed and there is more in the pile to go to a Charity shop next week, when we can book an appointment.  I've got two Tip runs to be done next week too and there is a list of things to do once we have a date to move.

    Enjoy your week.      

Struggling to stay awake

 

It was a long night.  I was still awake at gone 1 a.m. and then woke at 6.10 a.m. for the day.  In between I woke for the loo twice.  I think I should sleep tonight.

    Quite apart from the lack of sleep last night, I have worked hard all day (well, we all have).  I started the day by stripping, vacuuming and remaking our bed.  Then I made a tentative start on cleaning the oven.  I have done the floor of it with Bicarb. of Soda and vinegar.  Then soaked and scrubbed the drip tray and the shelving.  Whilst that was soaking I scrubbed the glass door, and left that damp for a while too.

    Upstairs next, where I went through some more drawers and various bits have been burned, put in the charity box or kept.  I stripped the single bed in the blue bedroom and put all the bedding to wash.  Then back down to carry on with the oven, then the drainer got a scrub, then the sink.

    

    In my office I then filled 3 big Banana boxes with archaeology books.  I will take most of my collection with me and sort them out at my leisure once we have moved.  Next week I will contact my old University and see if they want any good archaeology books for their Library - I am sure that the PSAS year books would be welcome.  (PSAS = Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - I am a lapsed Fellow.) 

    A dry day called me outside to help Tam and Keith to carry on taking wood and rubbish to yet another bonfire.  A sobering thought that we have - of necessity as our buyer wants it gone before he arrives - burned a winter's worth of wood.  I think he would be the sort of buy logs ready to use, unlike us, who cut our own home-grown wood.  

Whilst T & K moved wood, I got out all the cans of paint to go to the Tip next week.  Which reminds me, I must book a 2nd visit for the end of the week as there is still a lot of junk to go.  Heaven knows why we hung onto it so long.  I wish I didn't have to get rid of useful quantities of paint but I am sure they will want to change colour schemes when they get here, so no point in keeping cans of what we have used.

    I had a bung-it moment with some strawberry runner babies on the principle that I can't take everything I have in a pot and small things have to go.

    Then we had a nerve-wracking time getting the wood down from the mezzanine floor in the Cart Shed.  Tam has no head for heights and from the rung she was happy to stand on, couldn't reach to pull down the old floorboards that used to be in the attic.  I offered to go up, but no-one seems to trust me on a ladder (!) and despite our pleading to him NOT to go up there because his shin injury is still healing and just the wrong part of his leg for leaning against ladder rungs - Keith went up and then climbed ONTO the mezzanine.  I was NOT a happy bunny as his balance has been affected by the medication he's on.  Anyway, he coped perfectly well, although my nerves were shredded.

    I came indoors before them and Tam came in and said, "Dad's leg is running with blood".  Of course, I had an instant moment of panic, then saw her grin and Keith walked in grinning even more! Ragbags the pair of them!!

    Tam and I, after a long deliberation, decided to keep the dusty and unrestored top of a writing desk.  It must be mid-Victorian, ebonized solid mahogany, with inlaid brass boule work filigree (SO pretty) and little hand-made handles with terminals like ivy leaves.  Two handles are missing but I hope we can find something to suit.  I'll give it a wipe down tomorrow and take a photo.  Though it needs a bit of imagination in its current state!

    I have clocked up over 15,000 steps again - without even going out the front gate (except in the car to get the Saturday paper).  

    There is wine but I have the feeling I will have one glass and be out for the count . . .

Up in Smoke

 

This is our third bonfire in the past few days.  Lots of Keith's "useful bits of wood" going up in smoke, along with some collapsing chests of drawers which used to have other previously-considered-useful workshop contents.  About 8 of my big (empty) planters are now full of detritis to go to the Tip next week and I have booked our appt. already.

    I have just watched as partial rolls of left-over carpet from the house have been added to the fire, as well as a big bag of rags which had once been destined to make a rag rug.  If I decide to do that, I can always find more fabric at car boot sales, presuming we WILL safely be able to go to them again.  A bonfire is so satisfying, I have to say.  All this stuff should have gone years ago but we have been brought up to keep useful things - if you want 200 year old bits of oakto mend an antique, they just can't be bought at Jewson's!

    Now Fahly's stable which became Keith's main workshop is gradually being emptied and the collection of "stuff to go" (by man and van) is getting smaller, which is a big relief. 

     

    

Sam and Squeaker, who are great buddies, will not be coming with us to the new house.  Nor will Miffy, our mama cat.  She is feral and totally hefted to the farm and being fed here and is still nervy at times - then all over you the minute you have started stroking her.  Sam is a sweetheart BUT he is a problem here as he a bully towards our two tabby boys, and when I went into the kitchen the other evening, he was threatening Theo, having jumped up onto the white dresser, where Theo was snuggled into one corner (I had removed the china on there as he obviously felt safe there).  Sam also has it in for Ghengis, and so we are relieved that our buyers were happy to take them all on.  Our cats will be VERY happy not to have to contend with Sam at our new home.

    Today I am feeling a lot more relaxed than I was yesterday.  All sorts of things had gotten on top of me - one I can't share at the moment, but believe me it is the worst kind of worry at the present time.  By 5 p.m. my nerves were in shreds and I had to get Tam pour me a helpful Gin and Lemonade (Aldi's Spiced Plum and Clementine Gin is amazing).  I am not a spirits drinker but in recent weeks, having gotten so stressed, the occasional Gin has helped to calm me down again.  P.S.  One of the worries was Ghengis, who had become ill again and had to go back to the vet.  They took him inside and gave him a long-lasting antibiotic injection.  He's also back on the Loxicom.   Well, he had been using the litter tray, but still looked uncomfortable, and in the afternoon he was very sick (he is rarely sick).  He was sleeping a bit more but still not right.  This evening he did the most ENORMOUS wee in the hall - which is fortunately quarry tiles.  It took a whole newspaper to mop it up.  I think the waterworks are working again  now! 

    I am not in a cooking mood AT ALL at the moment, so tea will be sausages and mash.  Easy peasy.  I am starting to try and eat our way through the contents of the freezers as the Removal company we are using say that freezers must be empty . . .  NOT what I want in the run-up to Christmas and with Brexit looming on the horizon.

    Time to peel some spuds I reckon.  Have a good weekend all.

A Walk to Lift the Spirits

 

After a week of storms, the gales and rain left us with some sunshine and Tam and I took advantage and did my favourite walk (for the views).  

We are still going through our belongings, shedding more clothing to the charity shops when they open again, and sorting through fabrics (more to go for community patchwork), and yes, still a few more books.

Looking into the distance, the river Towy has burst its banks along the floodplain of the valley.

The mountains were looking beautiful as always.  We will miss that view when we leave but hey, there are ones nearly as good where we are going.

The lane ahead, and many trees stripped of their leaves already (Ash are the last to get them and the first to lose them).

    A different view of our "Canter Field" walk, which enters along the lane heading past the white house in the centre.  That is built on what used to be the Canter Field, and the one we had our hay bales from each summer when we had the horses.  Neighbours of ours used to live in the farm you can see, but after he died, his wife moved into a bungalow and I believe their son took over the farm.

    There is still more paperwork to be dealt with from the Vendor's Solicitors, and the Agent for the house we are buying has been in touch to see what we might want left with the house, so we have inherited a garden bench, plant pots, a big Buddha head and a roomy bookcase in the house.  

    I am feeling very tired and just want to sit and read.  Tea is going to be very straightforward - home made fish and chips.  Spuds are peeled already.  Whilst Tam does the meal I will quickly mix a Manderin Orange cake so that can go in the oven when the meal has come out.

    I've nearly finished Ted Baker's Blood Water and can recommend it, moreso if you know the Purbecks in Dorset, which are very familiar to me.  When we first moved here, we hadn't intended to stay longer than to do the house up, and head back to the West Country, but then our plans went completely awry, and now it seems we are destined to see out our days in Wales.  The West Country has always been pulled beyond our grasp, one way or another.  Wales is so beautiful, so we won't complain.

    

Monday

 Not a very exciting title, but my brain just wants to hibernate.  I had a blip with my asthma medications on Saturday night and it made my heart go at 3 times its normal (slow) rhythm, which was really quite scary at the time and I still don't feel relaxed.  One of my medications has the side-effect of heart arythmia - and the last time I had this effect, I was in hospital for 24 hours having it checked out . . .  

Anyway, after Storm Aiden and other Wet and Windy Events, our river has been up and stayed up.  It's like this again this morning, but the photos were taken last Thursday: