9th March 2026 - Raised Beds

Thought for the day :"My mate suddenly quit his job at BMW. Gave absolutely no indication he was leaving"

Wet (though mainly dry)

A miserable day though it stayed dry for much of it ...

Managed to get some 4" hexagonal screws so fixed one of Susie's raised beds

Took the opportunity to fix the wall to the Gents Urinal at the Tavern

And stacked the willow kindling and small logs from the Pontoon area.

Had time to get a TillyVision down - Push Him off the Cliff!

In other news

Had a look at what CoPilot thinks of Vollsanger 

(Prompt: What do you know about Vollsanger the Bard?)

Vollsanger (Iain Sewell) is a renowned UK-based LARP (Live Action Role Play) bard and musician, recognized as the winner of the 2018 LARP Awards Bard of the Year. Known for his persona from "Northern Norsca" and the Crimson Moon Tavern, he writes and performs songs about lore, heroes, and taverns, often asking for a "copper" for a song.

This video provides a shout-out to Vollsanger and a brief interview with him:

Vollsanger the Bard is a well-known figure in the Live Action Role Play (LARP) and medieval re-enactment community

Iain Sewell portrays him.

He is known for his music at European LARP events, including Conquest of Mythodea and Curious Pastimes.

Character Details

Vollsanger's character is a Skald from Northern Norsca and the Skadi Mountains.

He is linked to the Crimson Moon Tavern, where he works and sells songs.

He performs as a traditional minstrel with instruments like a lute. He has over 200 original songs.

Accomplishments

In 2018, he was named LARP Awards Bard of the Year.

His music is available on Bandcamp [https://vollsanger.bandcamp.com/].

He is active on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/AndaGreenOne/] and Twitch [https://www.twitch.tv/vollsanger]. He shares updates and hosts digital performances.

An online songbook with his lyrics and music is available [http://www.songs.crimson-moon.co.uk/intro.htm].

It is a resource for the LARP community.

Thank you CoPilot - Try it yourself !!

Cheers

8th March 2026 - sowing and shelf clearing

Thought for the day " Does anyone else find the tinnitus helpline useless? It just keeps ringing...."

Dry

Susie spent time in the Greenhouse. Sowing seeds from last year. Illisium, butternut squash. Mangetou parsley aubergines.

I managed to clear the booze shelf to make way for some nook books!

Meanwhile - with a dry day - a few more pictures from around the garden 

Walked the dog with a TillyVision. Walking the lane.

Managed to get the TENS done for the Easter opening and ordered new batteries for the Bosch tools. None of mine seem to be taking a charge.

Also bought some light up USB rechargeable collars for the dogs to use at night.

Very useful - did not allow me to call Toby home but meant that I could watch him running over the neighbourhood farm and not going towards the road.  Amazing how far the green light showed 

Some 4" hexagonal screws to complete the mending of the raised beds.

But Sunday it is and spending rest of the day with my feet up. 

Cheers

7th March 2026 - Dry day and Ducks !

Thought for the day :" Definitions: Frisbeetarianism (n): the belief, that when you die, your Soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck."

Dry

Okay!  I have been putting the job off for a long time but today I finally got around to clearing the compost bins behind the chicken sheds with a view to finding enough room to clean the ducks and chickens out and have sufficient place to store the muck.

Two pallets had been brought up from the lower quarter. They were very heavy as they have been in the wet for a long time and have absorbed a lot of the water into the wood, but they are still sound.

Had to dig the old compost bin back to a line where I could place new pallets - while setting up a new compost bin alongside.

Tilly was interested 

Not surprised - it was very smelly !

In other news, Susie has cleared her Polytunnel and it seems that most of the Geraniums have survived this year .

Amazing how we can achieve more when the weather is fairly bright 

Cheers 

6th March 2026 - A Day with Chris

Thought for the day :"Definitions: Oyster (n): a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms."

Dry

Yes ! I am tired ! Very !

Thought I had taken more photographs but obviously not !

So we tackled the willow by the Pontoon, and decided to Pollard them all. Cut the greenhouse tree right back to allow light to the gooseberries this year and so Susie can plant tomatoes as we did a couple of years ago. Willow grows so fast !

Then we tackled the trees in the wild garden and took them back to a base line and spent a long time reducing the branches into sections small enough to send down the river - the dogs loved chasing the pieces.

Planted a new willow hedge along the fencing.

Got the branches down to large pieces ready to chop for kindling

We then looked at some of the raised beds where the walls have come apart. Had to dig the earth out to make room for the walls to be put back in place.  Sadly did not have screws long enough to complete the job - Amazon here we come.

In other news - Tasha has her specimen for the Opening times Board.

A good day all in all

Cheers

5th March 2026 - And so the rain came back

Thought for the day :"Definitions: Pokemon (n): a Rastafarian proctologist."

Wet

Not a day to enjoy outside - but walking the dogs the snowbells and daffs by the bridge are getting very prolific,

And the daffs and Snowbells are out opposite the kitchen window 

Not much else to report 

And some video from the bikes yesterday 

Cheers 

4th March 2026 - Sunny Days and Motor Bikes

Thought for the day :"Definitions: Rectitude (n): a formal dignified bearing adopted by proctologists."

Dry (And Sunny)

And today we had a visitation form the Widow's Sons - the Grand Chapter of Masonic Bikers.

They came with a view to possible making use of the grounds for a weekend camp and "branding" the naming of new members. Some lovely bikes !!

Meanwhile - we had the first sunny day in ages!!.

Indeed we had our first hot water from the solar in a long time !

The Back door was able to stay open as it was warmer outside 

 

Snowbells around the Mermaid

And Susie's Camelia is out - no sign of any buds on mine !!

The first flowering of the Temple of Doris

 

Tilly in the sun

It is very wet here -but still looks good 

The Willow Fedge is in leaf 

But the pond needed the greenery removed - did half of it 

(before)

and Flowers sprouting along the banks

 

A good day - a sunny day makes all the difference

Cheers