6th September 2020 - a good days work !!

Thought for the day :"Last year my wife and went to San Andreas but we wound up going to the wrong hotel. I guess I was at fault.."

LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Office of National Statistics 

Sunday - and the rain stopped and later we had some sun.. but I decided not to try to get to Llanelli today - instead I decided to tackle the back lean-to.

I managed to rig up one of my Halogen lights so I could see what was happening, and the place was just full of leaves, wood, various items of plumbing, guttering, wood burners and constructions !!

Flashback to August 

Doesn't really do it justice 
but one day I will do before and after pictures...

So - all this came out from the lean-to !!

Yup - all of it 

And this is how the space looks now 

Shelving unit will have to be dismantled I think 
can't get it out!

Oh - and a  new flag-pole

2nd Stage - empty the Trailer!

But, all done and the trailer is ready for a Llanelli trip tomorrow 

In other news, Baby chicks started hatching yesterday and all 12 eaters are out and 4 out of Cedric's 6 seem viable. Bluebell seems to be happy raising the chicks so she is in her broody area at the moment. Rest are in the Pink run...

In other news - Susie planted the Clematis at the front - not sure what we are doing with the second one ... 

And in the back - she has started on the alpine rockery...

apparently this is a weed - but a pretty weed!

Cleaned the ducks and put down a slab on the mud - must have walked up and down the garden a couple of dozen times. I ought to be fit !!

 

Didn't try to rescue the drone today - ran out of time and inclination to live - very tired...

Glass of Chateau 41 and a sit down I think 
Cheers !

5th September 2020 - A Bad day for Drones

Thought for the day :" 'author' without 'GOLD' is the god of thunder!! Just Saying"

LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Office of National Statistics 

So, today was a bad day for drones!   Like the infamous Kite-eating Tree in Peanuts - I have my own nemesis... 

I have been working hard to develop the skills necessary to run a drone in the sort of garden that is surrounded by trees, subject to sudden changes in wind and working with a very light drone..

Until there days ago I did nothing other than work the drone to get better control over what I was doing. The telephone app with the video was something for the future. But yesterday I was confident enough to get my first pictures - though in fairness - I switched the phone app on and left it on the ground so it took the video and just managed the flying... 

 All going well so far ..

Today was a different problem. Took the drone into the sky and as it got high as the house a sudden gust took it and struck the very top of a hawthorn tree. (that is a prickly one for those who do not know) 

Sad to say - that is where it is - still!!

Two hours of various attempts to construct a long enough pole to strike it out of the tree resulted in failure. The final version managed to reach the machine against the wind - on a construct of angle iron, metal rods, and a fishing rod..  but of all things the angle iron collapsed under the weight and the drone was lost into the morass that is the hawthorn bush... 

Gave up for today - last effort caused some propellers to float down to be lost !!!

Thinking I may be able to get a ladder into the tree tomorrow - is worth a try - otherwise the drone is a write-off....

In other news - I found a gargoyle which is a Green One

Went to Llandyssil today to the Large Garden Centre and as they say - it is best to take a packed lunch...

Seems to go on for ever.. 

Bought some Clematis for the front and some rockery plants for behind the kitchen in the rockery ...

Should have got the mower out when I had a chance - it is now late at night and raining again..

Chicks are hatching out - two of Cedric's Clan have been put under "bluebell" the broody hen to see if she will be able to bring them forward. The "eaters" are int he brooding pen in the shed.
Started on the lean-to shed behind the tavern today and disassembled the large table / bench area..  so should have more room for storing wood for projects, Found a sack full of gutter and drainpipe connectors. 

Every day remains a day of discovery!!
Most of the 41 Girls managed to find their way into the paddock today - and get back - only one failing to fly back and had to be be let through the gate ..

Was going to do a trip to Llanelli tomorrow but failed to empty the trailer in time - so will take another day at home tomorrow and head off on Monday...

So - about enough for one day ..

Cheers !

 

4th September 2020 - Just a short one - run out of time

Thought for the day :"Me “What is a IV for?” Roman “yes” "

LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Office of National Statistics 

In general news..

Trip to Llanelli today to sort out the warehouse and the problems of the builders, and to get a trailer load - and to get the brooder pen as the eggs are about to hatch.. 

Been playing with first Drone Video tonight but run out of time ...

Will catch up with a full blog report tomorrow ..   

in the meantime ..

Cheers !

 

3rd September 2020 -

Thought for the day :"2050 is as far away as 1990"

LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Office of National Statistics 

Saw this drawing and was fascinated - Baby to Old Age... enjoy..

So - another visitor heads back to the real world and away from Ffynnon Wen...

Had a lovely couple of days with Andy and Calliope - and caught up 10 years as though we have met regularly through the time...

Calling at the Crimson Moon

And Beer on the Veranda - Home Brew by the keg - and excellent taste...

"Who is calling at the Crimson Moon?"

Last check on the Peacocks ..

And a few photos of the visit....

Breakfast with Edward Bear

A vegan Wolf who only eats Broccoli and Rhubarb Jelly,
a Tubby Unicorn and
Idris the Dragon - only at Ffynnon Wen

Fabio, Zsa Zsa, and Marlene

In other news - after three days trying and some huge blisters I managed to the the Timber Pro strimmer/ chain saw/ hedge trimmer working - heavy old thing !!  But managed to finish the vicious Climbing Roses and start on a hedge... Not very neat but the Timber Pro is very heavy and quite unwieldy for this sort of hedge - will try again at the weekend (Llanelli Trip Tomorrow) 

And Susie has been attacking the Willow and has found gooseberry beds which look as though they will survive now that they have some light - oh and a few more paths !!

and a willow cut back !!

Steps to the Rose Garden and the Pear Circle
'Thena on Guard.. 

In other news...

Seems that 60 years ago Haberdasher's had a bit of a problem in the move from Hampstead to Elstree.

Posted copy of this letter from 60 years ago...

Hadn't realised that they had only been there for a short time when I went in 1965/6

Well - Glass of Chateau 41 to celebrate a quiet evening ..

Cheers !

2nd September 2020 - And back to Rain...

Thought for the day :"I’m not totally useless – you can use me as a bad example "

LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Office of National Statistics 

So the rain has started today again and the temperature is lower again. 
Don't think I shall do much in the garden today...

Moxi may have got two more patches for her shorts..

And so to the subject of beer..

Just a thought today ...

Cheers !

1st September 2020 - White Rabbits... Another month goes by ...

Thought for the day :"I called in to the local shop for some oxo... Apparently they are right out of stock!"

LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Office of National Statistics 

Second day of sun today and the chance to get out to finish the lawns - they were getting very long and beginning to worry me that we would not be able to clear the longer stuff. Electric Fly-mo for the slopes and managed to get the Timber Pro multi tool working for a while to strim the veranda and then it overheated and stopped. I have a large blister on my forefinger from pulling the starter. Will have to research the Youtube to see what I need to do  - good old Youtube - source of most knowledge these days.

Andy and his daughter Calliope arrived late afternoon and brought a keg of beer with him... 

About 5 1/2 % and very tasty - and a few pints later and a few glasses of scotch and we managed to put the world to rights -

Didn't get a round to adding a White Rabbits to the Facebook pages this month - and it is too late to worry about it now - will have to try to do better next month..

Cheers!