30th April 2026 - Getting the Tavern ready

Thought for the day :"Vehicles today have so many cool features. I put my car in reverse and it showed me a video of someone getting run over."

Dry 

a day of preparation for the Tavern Opening 

The stand for the kegs collapsed last event so some extra work was required to get it sturdy enough to hold the kegs 

Our lovely sign painted by our Belgian Friends is now on its own stand and support 

And the Beer garden is ready 

And late this evening the Lyme Bay delivery came in 

and the Temple of Doris is amazing

Doesn't really show but the contrast of the flame tree and laburnum is amazing

and blossom everywhere 

And ready for Saturday 

Cheers 

29th April 2026 - Starting the Aviary and Athelstan

Thought for the day :"Pyromaniacs need love too. Find your match here."

Dry

Seems I didn't take many photos today though we managed five hours of pretty hard work.

The parking area is now clear of firewood - the last in the new lean to where the BBQ used to sit

Pictures show the cleared area. 

After that Chris and I set the bonfire in the lower quarter and cleared a lot of old wood from by the Gents toilet, and cleared a lot of bramble while we waited for the chicken carcasses to burn - didn't want the dogs trying Kentucky Fried Chicken if we left them untended.

Also cleared the hose for Doris and set up the water feature. Still can't get the controller to register correctly. Read the youtube and the manuals and can't find the errors that I am getting and beginning to think that I may have damaged the controller itself . It is very clear that you have to connect in the right order - battery, panels, output.. or it can damage the controller.  I am pretty sure that I connected the panels first when we first put them on. Of course it has worked before so this may not be the problem.  Controller costs over £35 so want to be sure before trying a new on.

Then to finish the day - we started putting the metal poles into the ground for the aviary. Today was more a proof of concept to see whether the poles will be strong enough without postcrete and I think they will be suitable. Photos to follow tomorrow.

And finally a trip to Narberth for Castell Penfro Athelstan meeting where we had a candidate and an excellent meeting with 22 attending and 16 dining.  A good meeting. Photos tomorrow I think.

Cheers 

  

28th April 2026 - Workshop Completed and Cheque Given

Thought for the day :"Asked the girl in the supermarket for a date. She said "Aisle 8, next to the bananas".

Dry 

A full day of work today and not even Chris here to force me !!

Early start to Pets and Ponies to get wheat chaff for bedding in the Duck compound - they are getting messy again, and also fat balls for the birds - these wild birds are costing us a fortune as well as the ducks and chickens and Peafowl.

Then back to the task in hand - clearing the workshop and getting it loaded again - in some form of reasonable usable workspaces. And so we get this result. 

And the beer garden is finally clear as well 

In other news, called in on the Cwtsch meeting for Angor to deliver a cheque for £300, Made up of the £124.14 in the Charity Jar and proceeds of the weekend to the full amount. Also a Gift Aid certificate to make the total £375.

Ann from the Charity was not expecting the visit as I had been speaking with Kerri from the village hall - though  I did not know that - so it was a double surprise for her ..

Anther one for the annals  

Susie sorting out the feeding of the German Friends arriving next week  - went to Tesco while I was in the village hall and has been batch cooking ....

Zoom meeting this evening then with Sarn Helen Rose Croix members and discussed the Sarn Helen Social and Barbecue on May 16th  - fingers crossed 

In other news - The King and Queen are in the USA being hosted by Trump at his favourite restaurant 

Cheers 

27th April 2026 - And back to the shed

Thought for the day :"I became a book-keeper about 5 years ago. Just found out that the library calls it stealing."

Dry 

Started the day taking the signs out and putting them around the village and area ow that the Landie is working again. Still have a few to do and (note to self) take a screw driver as the panels on the new signs are screwed in after the laminated sheets are attached. Have to go to get some bedding for the ducks tomorrow so can  adjust things tomorrow .

Sad news on the chicks front - seems a rat got in and took all four babies in the night. They were fine last night when I gave them chick crumb and as far as I was concerned they were safely protected by chicken wire. Not sure how they got in but that makes the whole egg scenario this time a wipe-out . £50 badly wasted as the egg man has not been forthcoming with any replacements. Won't be going there again.  

But back and took the dogs for a walk up the lane and along the Donkey Trail. Not only are the bluebells completely over the top this year I passed the trees by the kissing gate and saw that beneath there is a complete bed of saplings !!   

But back to the main task in had - clearing the shed - we are making progress - you have to go backwards to go forwards I think.

This is looking better - but everything is just in the beer garden - though getting sorted !

But Susie has finished her first chair - taken far longer than expected. Very fiddly, both to rub down and to paint . But looking good - only two more chairs and the table - not sure that it will be done by the weekend.

And another put off task- the Barbecue by the patio. The bottom has fallen out about four years ago - indeed we have only used it once and that was at the very beginning when we first moved here,

First though was the dump and burn the wood - but then I saw there was a possibility of re-purposing the stand as a mobile hostess trolley ..

The clear space

The new trolley, wipe down top and food and plate store below.

An finally, the Laburnum tree is flowering giving us the yellow to contrast with the red of the Chilean Fire Tree, and with the Green Grass - we have out traffic lights !!

And so another day ..

Did some admin - ordered Beer, Cider, Meads and Wines. Invited to go to London to take part in a ceremony for Athelstan for the new PGM of Brazil - quite an honour to be picked for one of 10 speaking parts out of the whole country.  Have to work out the logistics of the travel etc but have accepted.

Head in book for meeting on Wednesday in Narberth.

Ho Hum 

Cheers 

26th April 2026 - Landie Fixed again

Thought for the day :"My cows won’t give milk, they just laze in the field and write in little books - turns out they were a diary herd"

Dry 

Had another attack at the workshed  - and am making progress - but not enough for a photograh!

Susie hit Meerkat Mountain and has cleared all the weeds - and will be planting  antirrhinums and other stuff tomorrow 

 

Meanwhile the Landie was on stop again - turns out that the negative connection on the battery was corroded inside and giving bad connection - turned out to be an easier fix than expected . Tom and Jay enjoyed a bottle of wine each on the patio this evening as Mika and the dogs ran riot. Can't thank these guys enough...  I will be able to get the signs out tomorrow for the opening of the Tavern - they were stuck in the back of the Landie - and then get back to the clearing of the Work shed 

Good rehearsal at Narberth for  the meeting of Athelstan on Wednesday, and a sneaky pint in the Eagle!

Cheers 

25th April 2026 - Thomas of Accon and Garden Colour

Thought for the day :" Great news, my Taxi Business is picking up..."

Dry 

A day in Carmarthen for St Thomas of Accon so most of the day was taken up with that.

Back this evening to put the girls to bed and the colours in the garden are now getting to their zenith.

Flame Tree out at last and the azalea and rhododendrons.

 

Susie stripping down one of the metal chairs - ready for painting. More progress tomorrow ..

Cheers