mountain ponies

I had felt that things were not as they were last week.

Only about ten ponies are left on the mountain, and unfortunately they aren't the best of Col's stock either.

I knew that something had to be sorted about them. Unfortunately it has been assumed that I was "not interested" and possibly that as I had no part in owning them, it was none of my business.

How could that be, when they have been such a part of my life for three years? Animals that came to me unbidden, even without food in the offing!

What is wrong, is misleading me, telling me that "the more you walk up there, the more you'll see"... and being told not to worry, that they are being looked after.


What was so difficult about telling me what had been done, when they know full well I am concerned for them?

talking and walking

Today I went for a natter with the vicar! She is very nice, we get on well-and talk about everything except religion!
This is the derelict church in Abercarn, as you begin to walk up through Llanfach to the mountain
You can see how the last heavy rain washed leafmould and gravel down the road
Looking down to a new estate- a big new village in itself but only houses and flats, on the site of a coal mine. Newbridge (Trecelyn) in the middle distance
still going up!
Good sturdy new posts, old gates...and new binder twine holding it all together!

Around the corner, and we have a working quarry. On the right at the top you see a good field of grass...at its lefthand corner, is Hafod Fach...and the quarry is nibbling its way nearer and nearer...



Needless to say no-one lives there now.
What I call "liquorice cows"....Allsorts!!
The cattle grid and boundary of the Common...Comin Mynydd Maen
I turned right at the end of the trees on the right hand side of the road and followed an old road. Near the far end of that forest block is Ysgubor Wen (White Barn)..or what is left of it



Here is our whinberry picking site, looking down the Gwyddon valley which meets the Ebbw valley at Abercarn. About a fifth in from the right on the skyline are Rhyswg Fawr Farm fields. Just to one side of the middle is Rhyswg Ganol Farm
In the picture above, in the centre of the skyline is Colin's Tree. Then the picture below shows Whinberry bushes...two hours for lunch and picking still only yielded almost a litre boxfull. It was heaven to sit in peace on "our" corner, out of the breeze as the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and kept me warm.

The site of one of last year's fires, whinberry bushes only two inches high and bracken taking over- but at least it will consolidate the ground and save it from being washed away.
Ponies!!


You called?!!
Now here is one I don't recognise...looks more like a Shetland pony stallion to me...and no-one else of the Commoners has ponies on the Common...
Looking back over to "our" corner...now you see why I went round instead of straight down and up again!!
Col's Tree again....Twmbarlwm on the left in the distance and Mynydd Machen on the right in the far distance
back on the old road

Colin's Tree..at last, a close up!. His ashes were to be scattered here... I hope they've kept their word to him and brought him back up his mountain where he always wanted to be.
An old road between Rhyswg Ganol and Rhyswg Fawr
Everything is still there...Penhwnllys Max grazing peacefully...everything except Col.
The old road down to Cwmcarn
I walked back down with Col's spirit around me, keeping me safe.

loose ends

I have felt like a loose end today! I knew that I did intend to do a list.....

It was supposed to be a list of loose ends to finish and tie up.......

Eventually I have finished stamping fettling and handling, just need the pots to dry. Easier said than done at present, it being cold and damp.

Mountain Man is into the lambing season now, the first were two weeks ago and they are arriving quicker now. None in January this year, thankfully-the ones that played *that* game were sold last year!! We are praying for dry weather- cold and rain is the last thing they need.

He has found Penhwnllys Max's passport - hiding where it should have been all along, just about!!
Now I know his dam (Penhwnllys Magic) and sire (Blaenau Prosper) I have been researching his family tree!! Much of this will have been "word of mouth" recorded history, but the furthest back so far is 1601!!
I must draw out a family tree on a HUGE piece of paper!!

This evening I must list, price and label pots for The Court Cupboard Gallery near Abergavenny.
I've sorted a fair number, better than taking too few-if I've taken too many that will be extra for the Showcase in the foyer shop at Newport gallery/museum/library in John Frost Square.

So now to get on with it.....

bleeurgh!

Not feeling good- I think I overdid things yesterday!

Still, good news, the thing for the spinner is what is needed- she still hasn't told me what to call it!!
Could be a spindle rest. Everything is just sitting there drying VERY slowly, so nothing I can do today.

I planted shallots today! The ground was just dry enough as I'm near the top end of the allotments.
Also bought onion sets, and seed potatoes to chit ready to plant in April. The onion sets will go in pots in the greenhouse (note to self, tidy greenhouse!)

The sacks of potatoes and onions and shallots arrived yesterday, and it was a relief to get out of the wind into the Allotment Shed to clean and tidy it with Mountain Man and Big Paul. Now it looks three times as big inside!!

Over a cheese and onion butty for lunch I did more pony and stud research on the computer with Mountain Man. He needs to get one stallion registered as such (Penhwnllys Max) so that the foals he sires can be registered as Section A Welsh Mountain Ponies.

The workshop is looking a little more cluttered, but at least the good news is that I have a "new" engine for my car, thanks to the Oily One. Next step is to do as much work on it *before* putting it in my car!! That way there will be fewer bashed knuckles and cursing!!
Then I can book it into the local Citroen and Peugeot Specialist ("Bijou"-named after a Citroen2CV!) for its annual MoT test. There are some shops and galleries that I can't get to by bus or train, so I need the car going again!!

I'm feeling better for having an easier day, but I need proper Spring Weather!!