4th July 2025 - Pumps and Peacocks

Thought for the day :"Is hard to lose weight when you have an overactive Knife and Fork"

Dry

Chester the new Cockerel has established himself well today and is looking after his 6 girlies well. They brought him up to the Patio for treats, and went to bed with no issues.

Cut the lawns, stripped the immersable pump with  Will but failed to find why it was shorting out, but refurbished another deep water pump for use in the rain water tank.

Susie was cooking all day and I ordered the hire van and completed the eurotunnel tickets.

Contacted Octopus regarding the change of meter and they were not aware !!  So have to send them a picture of the new meter while they wait for the sub-contractor SMS to update them.

Spent some time down in the paddock so manage a few pictures of Fabio, Sophia and Gina  

And so another day ...

Getting ready for another weekend next week ..

Cheers !

3rd July 2025 - Radiators to Narberth

Thought for the day :"I think my gardener is losing it. He keeps hearing voices in his shed."

Dry

Trip down to Nancy's today to deliver the radiators from Mark and Wendy.

Back and did a little clearing of the undergrowth - but in reality did very little today.

Parsleys came and took charge of one of our Cockerels - so pleased we did not cull now, and the other one is in with the Girlies tonight to take charge of what is left of our flock ..
Need to think of a name for this one - hoping it will be of good nature like Cholmodley (Chumley)

Didn't even take any photos ..

So a look back at the weekend 

Cheers !

2nd July 2025 - Clearing the Balsam

Thought for the day :"When Boy George was asked if he wanted to go glamping he asked 'Do you really want to yurt me?' "

Dry and Sunny 

Did not let the girlies out this morning until we were ready to work, it being Wednesday and Chris was with me for my weekly day of pain....

So we decided to attack the himalayan balsam in the paddock, and then round the back of the chicken coops. Toby stayed with us on guard all day but no sign of the fox..

Start of the day.. Balsam over the whole area, brambles and the fence is up in the air over the fallen tree. 

View from the top

Toby stands on top of the fallen tree 

Back of the chicken coop before..

and after...

View from the patio 
If closely looked, the tree above the greenhouse is festooned with wild roses and to the left is a gigantic growth of honeysuckle.. 

Popped to Wendy and Mark to pick up some radiators for Nancy - and boy are they heavy 

Put them into the trailer ready to take to Narberth.

Will and Joy popped in this evening returning the spare barrel they had for their weekend with the Canadians - hosting 56 people at their Farm - out does us !! But they had fun.

Put the girls away early - Ducks at 5pm but the chicks did not want to go to bed with no cockerel to show them when to go to bed...  But got them all in the end without loss..

Fingers crossed for tomorrow 

Cheers !

1st July 2025 - Sadly Cholmondley Warner and Snowy are taken by Fox

Thought for the day :" 'Do not Touch' ...That must be one of the Scariest things to read in Braille."

Wet (again while hottest day in London)

Mixed day dodging light rain, walked Toby this morning just before the rain came in 

Found a wasp nest in the porch roof when we were taking the heads off the roses and had a fruitless search around Newcastle Emlyn for Wasp Nest Spray - must be a spate of wasp nests in the area.. 

and a sale for amazon again - should arrive in the next few days...

Sadly this evening Susie surprised a fox, probably vixen by the shape, in the paddock - Cholmondley Warner was a victim , two more hens on the roof and later we did a revisit and Flecked was waiting outside.     So we know what happened to Daphne the Duck in the last couple of days. Found a lair under one of our fallen trees ....

Looks as though our last two Cockerels will find homes now - one to us and one to the Parsleys who have lost their cockerel.  At least it will keep one more run free.

Not sure what to do to the remaining girlies now - we want to let them roam free but don't want to feed any more foxes!!

No Photos today ...

Cheers !

30th June 2025 - And Canolfan y Don will receive a £250 Cheque

Thought for the day :"I got a new pair of gloves today but they're both 'lefts', which on one hand is great, but on the other, it just isn't right.."

Dry

So we have a final total for the Canolfan y Don 

WE have added £150 to the £77 in the Charity Pot and made it up to a total of £250 with Gift aid to add..

Left a message with Emily Welch the head of the unit who nominated and hope to meet up when we have the Large Cheque available  

So our current total is as follows

Was hot today so we ended up with a Toby in the water - making a splash !!

Cut lawn next door and got bitten to pieces and got stuck once but have all the winches available these days ...   

Susie went to pick the gooseberries as we had so many and found that the birds or squirrels have taken the lot !!

Cheers !

29th June 2025 - Sunday, may have lost a duck!

Thought for the day :"Bought a wig today for 50p. It was a small price to pay."

Wet - and heat stroke

So, today our big x hundred litre rainwater tank stopped working. Just failed and then started to short circuit the trip and so I decided to remove it from the water tank and see what can be done ..

Seems to be mainly a sealed unity - Damn 

Not sure what to do next .. 

 

Susie decided to attack the dead heads on the roses today ...

 

And for posterity - thought I would list the plans for a viking chair plank seat 

Most of the Country is suffering a heat stroke but we had rain for much of the day and then blazing sun later ....  
Played with my new strimmer - it is far less powerful than the Bosch Strimmer but maybe the blades will make up for that - we shall see - in either case it was £35 rather than £160

Failed to get to the Romany Caravan Fields to cut them ...  maybe tomorrow 

And as we put the girls to bed this evening I could only find 5 boys among the runner ducks , searched the gardens but could not find our only female - also thought afterwards that there was no egg this morning so she may have disappeared yesterday without me realising..

 

Sad to say - she may be gone - but we have three more arriving with Sarah in the next couple of days ...

Chicks now up to 6  - maybe more - did not check with Susie tonight ..  

In other news - a flashback to the weekend and Vollsanger Sings

Susie took up Archery again today with Sarah and Re Kites Archery - down to a 20lb pull now but Dave seems to like her old bow so we are happy that he gets use out of it.. 

Cheers 

28th June 2025 - Mark Provincial Grand Lodge - And Chicks

Thought for the day :"I always wanted to be a Professional Wrestler like my Uncle. He always wanted to be a Professional Wrestler too."

Wet (Only light rain but classifies - rest of country in a heat wave!)

Latest brood of chicks - 6 so far in this brood

Meanwhile Sophia and Gina seem to be getting on slightly better with a little less bullying

Fabio is unphased - but beautiful plumage !

Mark Provincial Grand Lodge today and was presented with a new necklet as Vice Patrol on the MBF.

(Mark Benevolent Fund)

No Photos 

Cheers 

27th June 2025 - Decisions re Van Hiring

Thought for the day :"Do plasterers get paid for surfaces rendered?"

Wet - a little

Going to be a good year for the Sloes this year - they are everywhere - and the Bullace is also full of fruit.

Looking at Enterprise for van hire to go to Germany for trouble free travel rather than risk an old second hand van ..

Looks like Hire - £345,  Europe insurance £345

Then additional insurance cover for damage waiver - £10 a day , £25 a day , or £35 a day 

Euro tunnel looks to be £380, less £150 on Tesco 

decisions !!

But took Toby with me to Carmarthen and left him in the car for the first time on his own for 5 minutes and then took him to see Greg (Branch ager) at Enterprise, and then waited at the entrance of Tesco with him on the lead - he was very good .

Sarah coming around this evening with the electric Hen as the chicks are hatching out..
Rebuilt the brooding box and made it rat proof (I hope) and cleared teh duck house and hen ghouse - it was very hot !

   

But ready for tomorrow to take the chicks...

Cheers 

26th June 2025 - Concert with Torren

Thought for the day :"You can say what you like about waiters...
...but I think they bring a lot to the table."

wet 

Went down to Whitland to see Torren in his Concert, playing Cello, on stage with the Shrek musical.

Was surprisingly well put together and the players were impressive with a great understanding of musical theatre - something that the Welsh seem to do so well  

But while walking Toby I took the hedge trimmer with me on my walk and opened up the pathway up to Halwen Hall - it really needed it as I was tearing myself to bits on the brambles so everyone else would be having trouble as well.

Got bitten to bits from Clegs! 

Photos the wrong way around - but is was an improvement

cheers 

25th June 2025 - Working with Chris again

Thought for the day :"Do plumbers merchants have an overflow car park?"

Wet   (well dry really with a little bit of spray )

I can get to love and hate Wednesday's 

I have to et up a little earlier and know that I will have a full day of hard work because Chris is coming and I have to work as I am paying him for his time ...

Used Sarah's big hedgecutter to clear the laurel on the back path to the Greenhouse, the Laurel behind the Chickens, a couple of large hedges that had been defeating me, burned some rubbish, cleared a little more from behind the spring logs and generally got very hot...   

But each day makes a difference - just wish that I had more time to recover from the Tavern Weekend..

Ho Hum

Have another post Box

Cheers 

24th June 2025 - And Openreach connect the phone and Broadband

Thought for the day :"“I used to eat all sorts of vitamins and supplements. Stopped after I nearly choked on part of The Sunday Times.”

Dry

Openreach finally arrived today and decided that they could do a fix and get us s telephone - though it was completely unofficial -thanks to out local Openreach guy - we are back on line, though officially nothing has been done - we can't take cable through water !! 

Have been looking at post boxes lately and the recent phase of adding crochet tops..

I intend to share some of these

Also for the record - here are a couple of local charities that I found on a shop window 

In other news..

Patrick Troughton, born in 1920 in Mill Hill, London, was a character actor whose versatility and expressive face made him a natural on stage and screen. He trained at the Embassy School of Acting and further honed his craft at the Leighton Rallius Studios and the John Drew Memorial Theater in New York. Troughton’s early career was shaped by Shakespearean roles and television dramas in the 1940s and '50s, including portrayals in Robin Hood, Hamlet, and The Scarlet Pimpernel. His brooding presence, subtle delivery, and commanding intensity allowed him to shift between heroic and villainous roles with remarkable fluidity.

Troughton’s most iconic role came in 1966 when he became the second actor to portray the Doctor in Doctor Who. Replacing William Hartnell, Troughton brought an eccentric, clownish energy to the character that became a template for future incarnations. His portrayal marked the transition of the Doctor into a more humorous and unpredictable figure, a significant moment in the series' evolution. Episodes like The Tomb of the Cybermen and The War Games remain classics, with Troughton’s performance central to their lasting appeal. Despite the limitations of special effects and budgets, his deep commitment to the role added gravitas and humanity to the time-traveling alien.

After leaving Doctor Who, Troughton remained a staple in British film and TV, taking on supporting roles in productions like The Omen, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, and The Box of Delights. He worked continuously until his death in 1987, beloved by fans and admired by peers. His legacy lives on not just through his own work, but through the influence he had on how Doctor Who evolved over decades. Known for his humility and dedication, Patrick Troughton was a master of transformation who left a quiet but indelible mark on British popular culture.

(Of course, his grandson is well known as Dudley Dursley, Harry Potter's cousin.)

I was asked to fact check this and the answer is as follows
Yes, Harry Melling, the actor who played Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films, is indeed the grandson of Patrick Troughton, who was the second Doctor Who. Harry Melling is the son of Patrick Troughton's daughter, Joanna. 

Cheers

23rd June 2025 - And breathe - after a weekend of Crimson Moon

Thought for the day :"The best time to add insult to injury is when you’re signing somebody’s cast.” 

Wet

Always a time to catch up  - not as young as we used to be 

Charity pot £77.33 for Canolfan y Don

And some staged photos from Robert Davies

Cheers !