26th December 2023 - A brief Boxing Day Walk

Thought for the day :"What’s green, covered in tinsel and goes, “Ribbet, ribbet”? A mistle-toad."

Weather lifted enough for a stroll along the land and Susie joined me up to the steep path before returning.

Another quiet day - not feeling like doing much at all this year ..

Cheers !

25th December 2023 - A quiet Christmas

Thought for the day: "Do sheep say "Fleece Navidad" rather than Merry Christmas?"

Scene of not much happening here 

Wobblies arrived from the USA - Thanks Chrissie and Paul - the postage charges are ridiculous - but a big thank you to you ..

Cheers !

24th December 2023 - Christmas Eve and the Christmas Elves are out.

Thought for the day :"Do reindeer decorate their antlers with horn-aments?"

Christmas Eve - and as we are not open we decided to do a Santa run ...

So we managed to get Mead to OC Davies, and Mulled wine to the house that allowed Susie to go to the toilet when the Landie broke down,  Will and Joy, who helped when we had a flat tyre, Sally, Sarah Dave and Zephyr, Trevor and Carrie, Jim and Jo, Charlie and Spot,  and Kaye and Johnny ..

Was nice to see everyone and have a chat ..

Changed some profile pictures

 

And so we have some decorations up this evening and the small tree in the corner, some mulled wine and Christmas Cake (un-iced but very rich)

Going to be  quiet Christmas I think

Cheers and Nadolig Llawen

23rd December 2023 - Llamau Cheque Presentation

Thought for the day :"There's no gift like the present."

A bit of a drizzly day but not cold !

Emily Murphy from Llamau popped in on her way to Llangrannog to pick up a cheque for £350, which with the 25% Gift aid supplement means a value of £437.50  to the Homelessness Charity - am pleased with that .. 

Cheers !

22nd December 2023 - Event Cancelled

Thought for the day :"I know what you are getting for Christmas – I felt your presents"

So, we didn't open to the public today and all in all it was a good decision. Neither of us had a lot of energy and Susie was still riddled with sore throat and headache...

Took the dogs for a walk and got the decorations down form the store so Susie could put the Christmas wreath on the back gate and I could hang the bells ...

Sold a few bottles of Spiced wine to a favourite customer - who wanted some stock since we were not opening ..

But brought the Vectra back up to the driveway and set a cancelled sign on the Crimson Moon Sign at the end of the road ... Didn't want anyone walking all the way up to find that we were not open..

In other news...

On 22nd December 1844, John Jones (Shoni Sguborfawr) and David Davies (Dai'r Cantwr) were convicted for their part in the Rebecca Riots, both men were sentenced to be transported to Van Diemen's Land (modern-day Tasmania).

The Rebecca Riots were a series of protests that took place between 1839 and 1843 in South and Mid Wales, undertaken by local farmers and agricultural workers, who took direct action against toll gates in response to perceived unfair taxes and tolls. The general public supported the riots and very few rioters were arrested and convicted. However, some of those taking part used the guise of 'Rebecca' for their own gain, to exact revenge and extort money. Two such men were Shoni Sguborfawr (Johnny Big Barn) and Dai'r Cantwr (David the singer)

Shoni (John Jones) was described as ‘a half-witted and inebriate ruffian’ from Penderyn, near Merthyr. He had made a name for himself as a hard man in the toughest area of Merthyr. He had shot a man in Pontyberem and had a police record for being drunk and disorderly, and brawling in the streets.

Dai'r Cantwr (David Davies) was a farm labourer from Llancarfan, near Cowbridge who was also well known to the police.

During the riots, both men were paid to take a prominent role in attacking the toll-gates, but after the riots ended they began using extortion to gain money from several farmers, threatening to reveal them as Rebecca Rioters. Eventually, people turned against them and they were reported to the police, warrants were issued for their arrest and they were placed in custody in Carmarthen Goal.

On 22 December 1843, they were sentenced to transportation to Van Dieman's Land. Dai Cantwr was sentenced to 20 years and 'Shoni' for life. In Van Dieman's Land they were unable to stay out of trouble and continued to be anti-social and aggressive. Both men were convicted for stealing and being drunk and disorderly. However, both men were eventually awarded tickets of leave and returned to Wales.

Cheers !

21st December 2023 - Yule

Thought for the day :"I didn’t think orthopedic shoes would help, but I stand corrected."

Obligatory walk with the dogs - sunny today - though rain later 

Still a lovely place to live ..

Cardigan in the Volvo with the clattering  bumps to get the Christmas shopping

Not  an extravaganza - we really are not doing much for Christmas, but it still adds up 
and that is without any booze on the list !!

Slowing down a bit I think - should get the decorations out tomorrow so Susie can put her wreath out - far later than normal years  - but still before the festive season 

Not really feeling the festive bit this year ...  nothing missing , just not much Christmassy 

Can't say that we are missing it ..

In other news - it is Yule 

Celtic Festivals.

Yule - Winter Solstice..

The Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere occurs on either December the 21st or 22nd. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year when the sun's daily maximum elevation in the sky is the lowest.

The midwinter festival of Yule appears first in the 4th century Gothic language of the Germanic peoples and was later absorbed into the Christian festival of Christmas. The term 'Yule log' is one of a number of terms used to refer to a Christmas custom, and in Welsh it is called a boncyff Nadolig.

It is speculated that the Celtic Druids observed the winter solstice, as it marks the shortest day and the rebirth of the Sun, when the hours of daylight increase, until the Summer Solstice. It is thought that the Druids would gather by the oldest mistletoe-clad oak, from which the Chief Druid would remove the mistletoe with his golden sickle, to be caught by the other Druids standing below with an open sheet, making sure none of it touched the ground. The early Christian church, in fact, banned the use of mistletoe because of its association with Druids.

In the recent Welsh Druidic tradition the Winter solstice festival is known as Alban Arthan. The name derives from the writings of Iolo Morganwg, the 19th-century radical poet and is observed in a manner that commemorates the death of the Holly King, identified with the wren bird (symbolizing the old year and the shortened sun). At the hands of his son and successor, the Oak King (the new year and the new sun begins to grow).

Cheers

 

20th December 2023 - Trials and Tribulations in a Pear Tree

Thought for the day: “Saw a Christmas tip – wrap empty boxes and every time your child misbehaves throw one in the fire. I just wonder what happens when you run out of Children?”

Day started pretty well - decided to go and get the beer for the weekend and do the Christmas shopping that we failed to get by not having a Christmas ASDA slot..

And so we went on the Landie as that was a far better idea to put the keg in ..

But as we are about to leave - Owen transport phone to say that they tried to get a 30 ton truck up our lane and decided that it would not be a good idea and that they had our Mulled Wine and Mead delivery on board...

So I popped down to the layby to get the bottles and a pallet - always have a use for small pallets 

After storing that all away, we set off in the "rattle and shake bus" to Cardigan - but get to Tremain and a clunk and the engine stops...

I actually opened the bonnet to see if I could see anything obvious - guess what - I failed!

Susie says "sounds like the timing chain snapped" - I am sure that means something in some language.

But I put a call into Tom who always has his phone on silent and never looks at it 
which did not help a lot at all

So I called Sarah and asked her if she could pop up to tom's and ask him if he could bring his trailer down and rescue us - 
and star of all she does exactly that

And in fairness she then comes up to us in the layby and picks up Susie to take her home as she is popping paracetamol like sweeties and not feeling at all well...

As I sit in the layby - I make a decision that it is really not the time to be opening the Crimson Moon  this weekend - too many things just adding to each other and we really would not enjoy 
and Storm Pia is on the way ..
And though we have the mulled wine and spiced mead delivered - well we do not have the beer yet so we could just decide not to open..

And so I cancel the order with Mantle brewery..  

And that is that - we can have a quiet weekend instead...

And Tom comes and we put the landie on the trailer and take it back to him place...

Serious applause - he rolls the landie off the back of the trailer and with the momentum reverses down into his ground and into a parking spot to the right that he can only just squeeze into - Well done!

Before I leave - he is starting to take the rocker off to see if he is right and that the timing chain has broken and whether any damage has been done to the valves...  Ho Hum ...

We are so lucky to have guys like him on our doorstep and willing to help ...

So What do I think of Christmas ?

But I have posted that we will not be open this weekend 

In other news..

Partridge in a Pear Tree..

The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.  

Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments.  

Three French hens stand for faith, hope, and love.  

The four calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.  

The six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.  

Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.  

The eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.  

Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. 

The ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.  

The eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.  

The twelve drummers drumming symbolise the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

  

Cheers !: