21st February 2026 - Royal Order Southern Counties

Thought for the day :"Definitions: Coffee (n): the person upon whom one coughs."

Wet

Early start for the day!

Up at 5am to get to Bridgend to meet up with Carl and friends to head up by car to Reading for the Provincial Meeting of Royal Order of Scotland of the Southern Counties.

Roy Leavers gave his final ceremony as PGM and the Deputy Grand Master and Governor came down from Edinburgh to install his successor.

Was a long day - with dining not starting until 2pm!! Return home by 8.30pm

Not pictures

Just a long and successful day

Cheers

20th February 2026 - Herbie and Castell Penfro

Thought for the day :"Currently on the the new Adam Ant diet. Don't chew ever, don't chew ever."

Wet

Out walking along the Donkey Trail,  and a lot of gorse has been laid along the pathway. Not sure if it can seed itself or grow - will be interesting to see..

Daffs and Snowbells on the bank by the bridge 

But met up with Naomi and James holidaying in the village with Herbert the Dog (Herbie for short) and he was an immediate hit with tilly and Toby and they had a great time.

Then evening down to Narberth for Castell Penfro Court for Athelstan.

Good work by the Master Nick Parker, and a surprise visit from Graham Gubb as Provincial Senior Warden who agreed to act as Junior Warden for us.  Candidate David Tiddy, son of an old friend Patrick, who has sadly passed but well remembered.

Small in numbers but a lovely ceremony. Master did most of the work, but I added the Junior Warden Walking Charge, and the Senior Warden Hour Glass and the congratulations at the end.

Was well pleased with the quality of the ceremony.

19th February 2026 - Daffs, Tulips, and Fairy Lights

Thought for the day :"I Don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but isn't it suspicious that these storms, keep happening in alphabetical order?"

Wet

Took the opportunity of sowing some of the daffs and tulips today. Hoping that the squirrels don't did then up again as they did last time .

It is a bit late but we will see whether anything comes up.

Meanwhile - completed the fairy light replacement for the patio. The oldest lights were the ones we inherited from the previous keepers, then I have been adding on to them over the last few years. Latest additions were the old street light fairy chain that started to fail every other bulb so wrapped them along the patio. Even these started to die so I have now strippped all the old ones away completely and replaced with two sets of 20 meter lighting. Looks fairly good and I am happy with it. 

Susie to dentist today in Llanelli, Toby went for a walk again. Had to keep him on the lead this evening.

Tilly is being good - just Rat Bag.

Cheers 

 

18th February 2026 - Susie starts another Project

Thought for the day :"My friends have told me I should not join Slimming World, but I have to go with my gut."

Wet - possible snow later 

Someone may think that there will be some food on the table ..

Some signs of spring..

Susie starts another project - the Garden Room

Cheers 

17th February 2026 - Lighting and Duck Cleaning

Thought for the day :"Happy Pancake Day - Instead of using Sugar and Lemon I like to put wine on my pancakes. Also I use wine instead of pancakes."

Dry

Out and about in the Garden 

Spring is beginning to gather.

My pet hate - cleaning the duck house - and it was about 6" thick so too a long time to get done - but it is clearer now - and the duck is laying again so will be able to find the egg.

Also took the opportunity to clear all the current fairy lights on the patio. They have been getting worse and worse and some were the ones before we moved in. Striped the existing lights and put the garden section in place - got the rest tangled so spent an hour untangling, but will require another hour tomorrow.  But another step forward.

This evening was in Aberaeron for Henfynyw Royal and Select Masters for a Select Master ceremony and two Royal ceremonies. In the Chair at the moment so taking main part.

Good evening had by all and Fish and Chips for Dinner

Cheers 

16th February 2026 - Happy Birthday Me

Though for the day :"I have a friend who sings in the car, but only when I'm reversing. He's my backup singer!"

Wet 

Pinned Post. 16th February 2026.

Happy birthday me.

6 years ago we popped in to have a look at a house that in no way fitted. Our wishes on paper. The weather was terrible. Rain bucketing down.

But we still put an offer in for the house. Ffynnon Wen.

Today spent some time clearing the front hedge so we can see the fields. Also cleared the daffs and the snow bells. Digs enjoyed exploring the hedgerow.

May have cut my arms up a bit.

Oh and a broken dog!

Cheers

15th February 2026 - Sunday Sunday

Thought for the day :"With all this wind I'm worried about the caravan in our garden! We didn't have one yesterday…"

Wet

TillyVision 

Slow day again 

Cheers