Thursday, 14 November 2024

Afternoon

 I have got this far with the kitchen 




Still cluttered...but getting there. Oh for a proper larder!

And a dishwasher!!

Next step is to review the contents again.  Not to hide things....well yes, to hide things that aren't regularly used and it makes sense to have them not crowding out the bench!  Things that are heavy will have to stay though.

Time to get brave and actually learn to use the bread maker ....and if that doesn't suit I can sell it! 


It didn't stay nice and clear....so no gardening. 

I found a print of an old photo of Nantlle in Eryri where we used to live..eldest was born in hospital but the other three were born there...you can just see the roof, farthest away on the right. 1, Tai Baladeulyn.

Tai means houses...it is a row of six.  Bala is where the water leaves a lake...Llyn....Deulyn, two lakes. One lake is a field's distance behind our house...the road leaves the village on its way to the sea and used to go straight on, past Chwarel Dorothea...a 600 foot deep slate quarry, now with over 400 foot deep water in it. Not just rain, the river broke through from where it runs beside the quarry...there are still the remains of a Cornish beam engine used to pump the water back into the river. People practice diving there..and every so often lose their lives.  It is very deep, dark and cold.. dangerous even for skilled divers.

When we had our earthquake in the mid 80s the quarry was between us and the epicentre out to sea...we heard the tremors in the 600' deep loudspeaker before feeling them.

They made a new road with a bridge over the Bala...pont y Bala....and the second lake was drained and the river diverted further from the quarry.


On the left, opposite the Chapel on the right were footbridges over a stream and as far as I know a communal drying garden for washing.

You can see the road going into the trees, and a quarter mile further on was another part of the village and the school.

It took fifteen years fighting to get a path up on one side of the road which was slate walls on both sides...long after we moved...we used to walk the children to school in groups for safety. 

Go up that road and you get to Rhyd Ddu at the foot of Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak...the peak is 8 miles away....and the seaside at Dinas Dinlle is 8 miles the other way.   We didn't often go to either...never been up the mountain even on the railway....that was for tourists.


My daughter wants the print...good...one less thing here!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your kitchen is so small, and small places do 'clutter up' more quickly...and that is EXACTLY why I wanted a pantry!

Catalyst said...

Oh I'd love to be there to help you with that kitchen! We keep our bread machine in the garage and only bring it in to put on the counter for projects, then back out again.

Tom said...

...most of us have too much stuff!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Kitchen's looking pretty good!

Susan said...

Your kitchen looks good. Finding a place for everything is key. Cabinets with doors and drawers are my only savior.
The print carries lots of memories for you. Living near the quarry, lake and seaside seems like a lovely landscape.

Susan Heather said...

Good to have a de-clutter. I tend to have clutter as I like things handy when cooking. I wonder what you have growing up the teepee at the end of your garden bed.

JayCee said...

It may seem cluttered but I bet you know where everything is.

gz said...

I don't have a garage, but once the shed by the greenhouse is sorted that could be a good idea

gz said...

Don't we all !!

gz said...

Thanks... incentive to really do the tidying job properly!

gz said...

I would love more drawers like my friends in NZ..and shallower wall cupboards/cabinets...and ones that aren't falling apart!!

gz said...

Alderman peas...a Victorian variety that grows to a good six feet, two pods together and 9-12 peas per pod

northsider said...

400 foot deep water filled quarry! That is deep.

gz said...

Just about!!

gz said...

And sheer sides apart from one access road...

jeanie said...

That quarry sounds just a little bit scary for me!! I love to swim but I also love to touch bottom on occasion. Good work on the declutter - I have used a breadmaker, but found the oven and by hand is more satisfying. When doing the "by hand" bit, however, I do wish for a kneading machine. Sometimes V suffices, sometimes I set the timer and gird myself.

Steve Reed said...

The kitchen is looking quite tidy considering all you do in it! Your description of the quarry lake gives me the creeps. I could never swim in something that deep, and I'm a pretty good swimmer -- it would freak me out knowing that much water is beneath me. Glad your daughter wants that great old photo!

Fresca said...

Fascinating history! And good job with the kitchen! I still haven't properly organized mine, more than two years after moving in.

gz said...

We moved here in January 2016....

Granny Sue said...

I think we were very close to your village in Wales when we were there in 2016. We drove from Aberystwyth to Merther y Tudfil across through the hills. What a trip that was.