29th March 2026 - Lazy Sunday ...

Thought for the day :"Each Time you light your lighter, your lighter gets a little lighter, until your lighter gets so light, it won't light…"

Wet 

Sunday morning and the clocks changed yesterday. In all circumstances, that should mean that we got up an hour early this morning ..  Can't say it worked exactly like that. Of course the bedroom clock had not been changed but as you looked at it saying 8.30am you knew it was really 9.30am!

But the ducks didn't know it, the peacocks didn't know that, the chickens were unaware, and more importantly the dogs went back to sleep - so maybe we got up at our usual time regardless of the clock !

But letting the girlies out I took the opportunity to clear the duck house - a job I hate so one that was good to be done before I woke up properly. It does look a lot better for them!

Walked the dogs in the drizzling rain - and the ground is really muddy again after a couple of days of dry - hardly affected!

But a quick stroll down the garden shows that spring is creeping up on us 

Cheers 

28th March 2026 - Susie takes the strain

Thought for the day :"The Royal Arachnaphobia Society apparently has a Website. Follow this thread"

Dry 

I was out and about early this morning to get to Gwili Conclave of the Order of  the Secret Monitor at Carmarthen. Checked the honours board and se that I was in the Chair in Carmarthen in Gwili 30 years ago. Yes it seems I am the most Senior Past Master as well as Past Grand Visitor (Very Worthy!) 

Seems I have been missed as the ceremonial was very laboured and needed nudging in a number of areas.

Played the Organ and tried to keep a low profile - tried - failed !

Meanwhile, back at the homestead Susie was working hard on her fruit beds and clearing the brambles and getting ready for spring.

Walked the dogs and that was good enough for me - so time for  short nap

Meanwhile, a photo I forgot to take yesterday, the new Scandinavian wood store outside the bedroom.  

Sowing grass seed in the bare patches - hoping that the chickens do not just treat it as an extar feed.

Some flowering blossoms

Susie's Monkey Puzzle tree is growing though slowly

And Susie's Mulberry Tree has a new location 

Ducks !

And so we get to that time of the year where the clocks need to be reset

Cheers 

27th March 2026 - Reducing Trees with Chris

Thought for the day :"The hour we lose this weekend was the one when I was planning to go for a jog."

Wet

Another long day working with Chris and we chose to clear more of the wood form the Car Port hard standing - which involves me with the Chain Saw and Chris with the axe - he is amazing with the felling axe chopping the blocks.

Changed the chain on the saw and suddenly realised how blunt the previous one had been as the first logs were taking ten minutes to cut and the last ones half that time.

Filled the wood store and stacked wood Scandinavian style along under the bedroom window in the clear area. then started on the wood store by the Gents Loo at the Tavern.

Only took a before picture 

Will get more tomorrow ...

Evening was meeting at Carmarthen of Maurice Conclave red Cross of Constantine.

Didn't dine - but went to Tesco to get some firelighters and bread for Susie.

Saw the 25% off the wine and decided to get some wine for the Easter weekend while it was reduced.

All wines are £7 and £7.25  with 25% off 

thought I would put that here so I can check costs after we have further trouble caused by US actions in the Middle East.

May have to re-assess all my prices for the Easter Weekend 

Cheers 

 

  

26th March 2026 - Cutting Lawns

Thought for the day :"I tried using a Tarot Pack, but couldn't see any future in it"

Wet

(later)

Lawns cut today - was still quite wet but enough to get the second cut in.

Also popped down to the Romany Caravan and cut 75% of the grounds there before starting to sink into the ground. Managed to get out  before getting stuck

Meanwhile - Susie attacked the patio bank and cleared all the bramble from the area.

It is Thursday and we are at the end of week four of the Iran War with the costs of fuel rocketing.

Fuel at Brynhoffnant was £1.49.9 for petrol and £1.82.9 for diesel.

As it is Tesco day I though I would list the shopping for this week and will be able to compare some of our essentials and non essentials in a few months time .

SHOPPING - CHECK

Tesco Water Chestnuts & Bamboo Shoots Stir Fry 320g  Unit price £1.75

Tesco Rice Noodles 300G     Unit price £1.10

Tesco Baby Corn 130G         Unit price £1.45

Tesco British Soured Cream 150Ml Unit price £0.85

Calon Wen Semi Skimmed Organic Milk 2 Litres Unit price £2.65

Tesco British Cooked Ham Slices 120g  Unit price £2.25

Tesco Perfectly Ripe Avocados Twin Pack   £1.30 Clubcard Price (Unit price£1.50)

Tesco Smoked Back Bacon Rashers 300G  Unit price £1.49

Tesco Large Chicken Fillet Pack 1.6Kg  Unit price £10.50

Tesco Iceberg Lettuce Each  Unit price £0.89

Tesco British Double Cream 600Ml  Unit price £3.00

Tesco Closed Cup Mushrooms 400G  Unit price £1.29

Tesco German Smoked Selection 120g

Any 2 for £5 Clubcard Price - Selected Tesco Deli Sharing 88g - 500g

Gressingham Duck Breast Fillets 397G  Unit price £9.00

Tesco Finest 6 Pork Sausages 400G  Unit price £3.30

Tesco Sweet & Sour Stir Fry Sauce 165g  Unit price £1.10

Cathedral City Mature Cheddar Cheese 550 G  £4.50 Clubcard Price  (Unit price£5.30)

Tesco 100% Pure Orange Juice Smooth 1 Litre

Any 2 for £3.50 Clubcard Price (Unit price£2.10)

Tesco Tomato & Herb Pizza Topper 200G  Unit price £2.40

Tesco Desiccated Coconut 200G  Unit price £2.10

Tesco Multigrain Cracker 170G  Unit price £1.30

Del Monte Peach Slices In Juice 415G  Unit price £1.25

Regina Blitz Kitchen Roll 140 Supersized Sheets 2 Roll  Unit price £4.75

Tesco Red Peppers Each  Unit price £0.70

Tesco Tawny Port 75Cl  Unit price £9.50

Warburtons Gluten Free Artisan Tiger Loaf 400G  Unit price £3.50

Tesco Finest Nemo Potatoes 2kg  Unit price £2.40

Schar Every Day Gluten-free Soft Rolls - White Ciabatta 200g  £2.00 Clubcard Price

Harveys Special Edition Bristol Cream Sherry 1L  £13.25 Clubcard Price (Unit price£15.50)

Dole Tropical Pineapple Slices In Juice 227G  Unit price £1.00

Allinson's Strong White Bread Flour 1Kg  Unit price £1.75

Cadbury Bournville Classic Dark Chocolate 180g  £2.00 Clubcard Price

Tesco White Cooking Chocolate 150G  Unit price £1.80

Hovis Malted Brown Granary Flour 1Kg  Unit price £1.80

Diet Coke 2L  Any 2 for £3 Clubcard Price - Selected Coke 2 Litre  (Unit price£2.15)

Tesco Parsnips Loose 0.51KG  Unit price £1.48

Allinson's Easy Bake Yeast 100g   Unit price £1.50

Buckwud Organic Maple Syrup 250G  Unit price £6.20

Could be interesting 

Cheers 

25th March 2026 - And Horses ! (Really Big Dogs)

Thought for the day :"My doctor enjoys hitting my knee with a hammer to check my reflexes. He get's a real kick out of it."

Dry

All the work was worth it - the Tavern was looking good and the weather broke after such a terrible day yesterday .

Running a little late Nikki and Tasha came with the new Crimson Moon Boards - by car as it was too difficult to take by horse !!

But we soon had others hacking to the site - for Tea Coffee Beer and Cider and a goblet of Summer Fruit Wine !!

Tilly had her first experience of open Tavern and also her first experience of VERY BIG DOGS (!!) 

Also a group of four more dogs to chase around the garden.

Here are a few pictures of the day ..

And here we have a plant that we have not identified growing in the hedge 

All in all a good day though rather cold - but bright 

 

Cheers

 

 

24th March 2026 - And clearing the Tavern

Thought for the day:"I don't think my optician is very good. He said he couldn't see me today."

Back to wet 

A long day sweeping and cleaning and sorting, and trying to get things ready for Easter - though we have a dress rehearsal tomorrow with the Parsler's coming over with their horses for a visit to the Tavern.  All is finally ready ..

And of course it then decided to rain - heavily and the wind got up as well.

But here are the pictures

 

Another tiring day - seem to ache in most of my bones 

Cheers