Round the village walk

 This is the old road, this side that few see..near enough to "civilization" but far enough away.

I would love to live in that house..I don't think that the family farming there live in it, but in a newer one over the road! Still, the roof is being kept sound.

Back home tomorrow...just when we have really relaxed here!

Pirate has a load of tests next week...looks like his problem is back....but at least he knows what all the tests will be and what the probable treatment too. So here's hoping it won't be too serious.

Wood!

 We have been helping a fellow villager clear some derelict land between the river and one lane out of our village..he doesn't have a chainsaw...Pirate does!

So to go with the small woodstove that I might be in line for as someone else upgrades....

Fuel!!

We were lucky to finish before the rain shower came through..this is it as it left us...

Sadly I didn't have a camera with me to capture the most perfect rainbow that we have ever seen....

After the shower, the sky was clear for the sunset.

Patterns

 Everything seems to have slipped out of kilter...so we are trying our best to get back to the life pattern we had as a start...

We were always early risers...and this Winter being our first here in three years has been difficult to cope with, let alone any other restrictions.

So earlier bed....after usually turning off TV and computer by 9pm.  We can make exceptions.....we are now watching a programme about Stonehenge....

We walk nearly every day....

This was Wednesday's walk...two and a half hours passing seven farms! 

One of these runs a feed store in a small barn and they are changing their small woodburner next summer as it can't cope... hopefully I can buy it when they get the new one, for my workshop.

Yesterday the cloud was high and the air dry.

Our walk took us along field and old track to see a local farmer. He has visited NZ, and his daughter lives there..Pirate lent him two copies of "Footprint Flats" cartoon books...and he gave us a dozen eggs! His farmworker has been there too...and wants to go again as soon as...

She decided that this was her better side!

Ice by Millmannoch...today we have been helping with the village tidy up...one man started mowing the verge and picking litter on the stretch of road by his cottage. Being outside the 30 mph village limit the council cannot litter pick without a road closure..so a few people decided that they had enough! The council workers have provided litter pickers and bags and pick up full bags when they are around in the village.

This man has been clearing a derelict patch between the river and road with permission of the farmer..but he has no chainsaw..and we do...

Noone else wanted the wood...so we are getting it....we have build a woodshed with four pallets by a fence...and the fuel for my workshop heater is building up!!

So small tweaks at a time, accepting cosmic chuckles, trying to stress less...and the knowledge that new patterns take a fortnight to come easier..

we did our civic duty

We voted..and its a beautiful day, so hopefully it will be a good turnout...whoever gets voted for

 he has his eye on you....

no rain expected until Sunday...when we'll be helping at a bike race...and then heavy showers on Monday...I thinkit will be day out on saturday to Spring Fling!

evening walk on Hannahston

The geraniums are coming along well in the front garden.  i don't usually plant doubles ,they being no good for bees...but these are an interesting shape.

 The May is out! The flowers that is....

 local alpacas

 and sheeps

 everything is dry....

 and we can see home..the green roof in the middle

 the wildlife pool is getting shallower and overgrown..no swans this year

 and just outside the nature reserve/woodland of Hannahston, fields are being cut, I think for haylage ..or could be silage...

 back on the path to home

late and early

The Pirate wanted to go to the village church for Christmas Night service, so I kept him company. The religion isn't my thing, but the sense of community in the two villages that share our village's vicar is good.

We walked down for 11.30 pm under the stars and after tea and sweeties, walked back under straggling snow clouds with the stars peeking around them.
Then we sat in front of the woodburner with the doors open (and the spark guard up!) opening a few presents.

I used the tablet to show The Pirate a little of the Welsh tradition of Plygain...have a look (sorry no link, but the search engines find it easily) . It sent shivers up his spine!!

Season's Greetings to you all xx

RIP Blacksmith

I heard today that a good friend died yesterday.

We had never met in real life, but he introduced me to the downsizer forum for sustainable living ....not a dry as dust place, more an online village with all the events, squabbles, friends, births, marriages...and deaths.

He chatted with me on facebook as The Pirate went through his course of radiotherapy and was a great help.  Within a month his chemotherapy started, so he must have known when we were talking.

Despite knowing that his condition was terminal lung cancer he was positive and encouraging.

A good craftsman, marvellous photographer and all round decent bloke.

You'll be missed, Dave Goddard.

You loved barbecues and fireworks, so what better day to go!!

village event

 We walked down the hill to the village as the fireworks started...I'm glad we were late as I'm sure we had the best view!

 There was soup and hot dogs,fizzy drinks and glowsticks

It looked like most of the village came out to see and share,plus many from the surrounding area.

Then a walk home in the light of the nearly full moon, to a warm house, thanks to the woodburning stove.

doing too much...and not enough...

Today a friend came to see us, and he hauled Stuff out from the sheds and overhauled the little generator in readiness for Winter and power cuts.  They looked at a lot of bits and bobs, discussed over many a cuppa...
but when I came back from my two hour's voluntary shopwork in the village The Pirate was obviously too tired.....  learning what is too much is difficult.

At least he is willing to learn!!

He is worried that I'm not riding my bike on the road or the turbo trainer..the answer? When I've got more energy.  

I'm doing more, to stop him doing too much....so I've got to be careful too.

Some things will just have to stay not done for a while.

At least I did do a little more on my quilt that I designed in 1997.....and have been making since then....

Now for a little polo shirt designing...more of which at a later date!

still no pictures

verdict= dead monitor :-( So still no photos and I'm sharing the laptop with The Carpenter!
I've put out a "wanted" post on Freegle....fingers crossed!!!

On the other hand I have got two large loads of washing done AND dried, including jeans!

Weeded the main onion and shallot bed and started weeding the red onion/garlic/other shallots bed!
The Carpenter came to help, put in two posts and supports and wires ready for bean row#2, the beans for which are busy germinating and starting to put up shoots.
Tomorrow is therefore, weather permitting, Elderflower picking and Digging day.

We had an evening out, saying hello to the Cardiff Hardcourt Bike Polo friends, then spending all my "divi" vouchers in the Co-op!!!

Walked up to close the greenhouse, as the nights are still chilly-not as bad as Scotland still having frost .
Yet another villager I didn't know previously to speak to, came to say "hello, how are you" and sharing happy memories of Col. It eases the ache and makes remembering happier.