Tuesday, 3 November 2026

3rd November 2026 - More Fabio fencing

Thought for the day :" I wanted to find out more about my ancestors, so I did a little digging and got thrown out of the cemetery."

Dry 

Had a great Low Carb Breakfast of part of our November health Kick - cucumber base with Cheese, Chicken and Mayonaise. Walked the dogs and the sunshine was good.
Working on the Appendant Orders for the Red Cross of Constantine so the dogs had to hear it again!

Next stage of the Fabio Enclosure - Finished the gate and the fixings.


Had to cover the sloping pole but worked okay 
(it is a feature !!)



Managed to use the last of the Green wire between the Chickens and Fabio, and he seems rather unworried by it. 

Will have to build something for the last section - as have run out of the high fencing now 


In other news, Susie starts cooking on the wood burner. All part of her "Prepping" to ensure that we can eat oif the power goes off.
 

And delicious it was - the original slow cooker..


Tomatoes for the green chutney are going in the freezer for the moment..
 


And Susie's new cook books arrived 
Tolkein is fun 

Like this page 

Slowly catching up on the blogs - getting some older blogs re started - not for reading now but for future research - I see to be using the blog for checking dates and history a lot more these days .  

Cheers 


Dry November - DAY 3 completed 
Starting Weight - 16st 0lbs    101.6 Kg
Current Weight - 15st 11lbs    100.2 Kg

Monday, 2 November 2026

2nd November 2026 - Back to Fabio

Thought for the day :"It takes a person of a certain calibre to become a human cannonball..."

Dry

Monday today - so decided I had to get off my backside and do a little more work in the garden.
The weather was stunning and not so cold - in fact it was warm enough to be in summer top 


But the Peacock enclosure needed more work so I decided to try to organise my tools a little better - rather than continuously walking back and forward to the sheds..



So one job was as a result of pulling the fence so tightly - one of the poles has moved and it will be impossible to correct that and keep the existing fencing in place. So I decided to build a wooden frame structure to hold the gate. 
The gate had to be wired with fencing and then a base set and a plinth on top to hold the prongs acting as hinges.
 

Will finish tomorrow - managed to lose two hexagonal drill bits in the long grass which brought the work to a stop as I need self tapping screws to ensure the wooden sections were securely fixed to the metal poles.

At the rear of the enclosure - I fixed the fencing to the back shed - we decided to cut the woodshed out of the enclosure - not my first choice, but was concerned that foxes would make their way through the logs and I would not be able to keep them out - so we fenced around the store.
  

Toby was interested !!


Susie  was also busy though her back was giving her problems today....
The polytunnel needed clearing of the tomatoes and making room for a planting of potatoes as part of her prepping for the bad times ahead. 

Green Tomatoes - ready to make some green tomato chutney I think


In other news,  For some reason the rhododendron on the waterfall has decided to flower again !!!


The azalea is still flowering and the Chrysanthemums are just on the turn - but still colour in the garden



In other news - have a TillyVision - Master gave Dobby a Glove




Cheers 


Dry November - DAY 2 completed 
Starting Weight - 16st 0lbs    101.6 Kg
Current Weight - 15st 12lbs    100.7 Kg

Sunday, 1 November 2026

1st November 2026 - King David is Dead

Thought for the day :"It’s true that exercise helps with decision making. This morning I went for a jog and I’ve now decided to never do that again"


Dry 

So, yesterday was a trip to Llanelli to die as King David - and we had five candidates.



Seems it went down well again - got another clap on my return ...

Update : Edit:

Received a copy of this email today form pone of the candidates and was rather chuffed 

"Dear District Grand Master, Deputy District Grand Master, and Past Deputy District Grand Master,

I felt compelled to write and express my sincere appreciation for the Silver Trowel Ceremony on Saturday.

Quite simply, I was genuinely overwhelmed by the experience. Having enjoyed many years in Freemasonry and witnessed ceremonies across several Orders, I can honestly say it was unlike anything I had expected and unlike anything I have previously experienced. It was a remarkable and memorable occasion that left a lasting impression.

As someone who strongly believes that our ritual is at its most powerful when delivered from knowledge, understanding, and genuine conviction, without reliance upon books, I was particularly impressed by the outstanding standard of the ceremony. The work presented was both inspiring and uplifting.

Iain's performance was, in my opinion, amongst the finest I have ever seen him deliver. Having had the privilege of witnessing his ritual on numerous occasions over the years and across several Orders, I consider Saturday's presentation to be one of his most accomplished achievements. It combined dignity, drama, conviction, and excellent delivery, creating an atmosphere that was both captivating and deeply meaningful.

My own progression within Craft Masonry this year has unfortunately prevented me from attending as many Installations and meetings as I would have wished. However, as those commitments begin to ease in the New Year, I look forward to supporting as many meetings as possible and renewing my enjoyment of the wider work of the District.

I shall certainly be encouraging any Companion or Brother who has the opportunity to participate in this ceremony to accept without hesitation, embrace the occasion fully, and savour every moment of the experience. It is a ceremony that deserves to be witnessed and enjoyed.

Please convey my congratulations and grateful thanks to everyone involved in its preparation and delivery. The time, effort, dedication, and commitment invested were abundantly evident, and the result was an outstanding piece of Masonic work of which all concerned should be immensely proud.

With sincere thanks and warm fraternal regards,

Adrian"


Meanwhile today has been steady, but also took time to do some more work on the Peacock enclosure.












In other thoughts...

Cantre Gwaelod



Welsh legend says there was once a whole lowland kingdom out in Cardigan Bay. Cantre'r Gwaelod, the Lowland Hundred, protected from the sea by a dyke with sluice gates that were opened at low tide.

In the best-known version, the man in charge of the gates, Seithenyn, was too busy drinking to shut them. The sea came in and never left, and people say the church bells still ring under the waves.

Then the beach at Borth gives you a reason to wonder 


At low tide, the stumps of an ancient forest stick up out of the sand. Oak, pine, birch, willow and hazel, drowned some four to five thousand years back and preserved in the peat. The storms of 2014 and Storm Hannah in 2019 uncovered even more, along with a timber walkway, hearth stones and human footprints.

The kingdom may be a story. The drowned land is real.

The original plans for Ceredigion Council of allied Masonic Degrees was to name it Cantre Gwaelod.




Cheers 


Dry November - DAY 1 completed 
Starting Weight  16st 0lbs    101.6 Kg

Saturday, 31 October 2026

31st October 2026 - And Halloween - Sarah Housewarming

Thought for the day :"Just bought a bottle of Fred Flintstone aftershave. It is very powerful and you don't need much. A little dab'll do."


wet

Fine Day today 
Head in the books - gonna die as King David tomorrow 
Walked the dogs - sorted the ducks, avoided doing anything else ...
Easy day ...     
Susie not feeling too well today -  a few paracetamol and by evening not too bad ...

Chickens up for their peanuts 


Plants looking good 


Sarah - Housewarming 




Mini (mouse) Bar

Cereal Killer

Teach your Dragon

Cheers 



Friday, 30 October 2026

30th October 2026 - Happy Birthday Chrissie

Thought for the day :"Now I am older I have to take a few tablets every day - the security staff at Currys are not happy"


Wet

Not much happening today - head in the book for the ritual on Saturday 

Gratuitous garden picture


Meanwhile over the pond, Chrissie is celebrating her birthday by smashing pumpkins.


Happy Birthday Chrissie 



and a TillyVision 




Cheers