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 



Thursday, 29 October 2026

29th October 2026 - Head in the Books again

Thought for the day: "Looking for the Colgate toothpaste factory yesterday but couldn’t find it as there was no plaque on the wall."


Wet


Susie has a new toy!!

She has wanted a new pot for a long time and now has worked out that we can cook on the kitchen wood burner - a cast iron La Creuset  Casserole Dish






All good for prepping for bad times ahead  - or for doing some cooking on the hob.

In other news she decided to buy a cast iron trivet to use with it.
I asked - "do you mean one of these?"  and brought in two trivets that have been on the patio since we arrived here 

Maybe the fire has been used for cooking in the past...

Well at least the new one will be a green one to match the green creuset rather than the plain ones outside  

Cheers 



Wednesday, 28 October 2026

28th October 2026 - Chris is goiing to kill me !

Thought for the day :"Just been watching a Film about Tea. It was rated PG."


Wet 

A day with Chris setting the fencing up for Fabio..   Hard work and all tensioned well.
Need to get another couple of metal drill bits to finish and then we are getting to the stage where we can raise the central Pole and think about the netting ... 
A big step forward!!
A little bit tired!



While we were waiting we tossed a lot of wood up to the new wood store  ( that is the royal we - Chris did the work while I was doing the drilling)







Another good day of work.

In other words - we had a visitor at the window



Cheers