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 

23rd March 2026 - LAWNS !

Thought for the day :"I stole a kitchen utensil from my neighbour. It was a whisk I was willing to take."

Dry

Time to attack the lawns 

BUT !

Tyres on the tractor were flat

so got the adaptor and the tyre inflator - but nothing form the inflator

No power seems to be coming into the adaptor

Inflator works from the car cigarette lighter 

Fuses checked and all working - power tester says that power is present - but nothing happening.

Engine doesn't start - needs the battery booster - but then it starts 

Cleared the tunnel and drove the tractor with a flat tyre to the Volvo and then pumped the tyres up! 

So - off to get the lawns done - only at 3" though as the ground is very wet 

Ran out of petrol for the Tractor

Hear tell that the Crimson Moon Signs are finished ...   will see them on Wednesday 

 

Trip to Newcastle Emlyn for Gray and Cathy - he wanted a stone lion that was in the antique shop

Found it and bought it for him.

Popped up to Brynhoffnant for Petrol for the JohnDeere

Spring for the Volvo still not arrived - apparently with EVRI !!!

Back to walking the dogs. Bluebells at Johny's path are out - not very clear n this picture

Sloes are going to be strong again this year 

Susie clearing the Brambles from the Patio 

And Lawns cu - but only the top taken off

Bluebells in the Lower Quarter

Susie has been working hard in the Greenhouse

and figs

And quince

And azalea is peeping out 

Ollie and Hannah popped over to discuss more about the wedding in July 

Had a good walk around the grounds

Cheers