30th June 2012 - Last Day of June...

Well, we see the last day of June - and again the storm clouds are gathering to see the month out.
Up early - washed and turned out for the Provincial Meeting of the Mark Degree in Carmarthen.
All the big boys form London heading down for the meeting, a new Provincial Grand Master and Deputy and my appointment as Provincial Senior Grand Warden.
Regalia all set, clean shirt and speech/toast written....

Better get on my way....

Well - that all went pretty well - excellent ceremonial and a lovely dinner. Didn't even have to do the toast as the Pro Grand Master did it for me - that is delegation for you !!

Started the paperwork - well that is the stage I go through which means sorting it all into different piles .. which gives me an immense sense of satisfaction and a feeling that I have actually achieved something.
Which may be more in my mind than actuality!!  but that is another matter !!

Also need to start looking at the TAB book and sending out invoices...
so... sorting the piles....
Better have a glass of wine - that will help ....

that would be a green one !!!

End of the night - and all the TABS are recorded and posted to customers, also the invoice for the Jude Ant Fest and the Birthday. Just need to watch the money come in now .....

Another late night task - realised that the last Skype meeting for the Germany LARP trip will be tomorrow and I will be away from home - so transferred Skype to the lap top so I have access to the meeting....

Reminder for tomorrow - have to send invoice for beer and coke to Odyssey...

29th June 2012 - Friday.....

Up quite early and emptied the Van of the Stock - left the tens inside as they should not matter too much for weight. Van sounding a little throaty so booked in to have the exhaust checked through and fixed.
Van taken round to the garage and a little admin for the morning.
Midday - down to Swansea to look at a Nissan Terrano that we quite liked the look of - though priced quite high at £2,795 - though found the same vehicle on EBay for £2695 -he said it was a mistake !!!

Couple of little niggly things not quite right, loose wing mirror, washer pipe detached etc with it but seems in good condition. Priced dropped to £2,200 so we took it - collecting next Tuesday as off to London on Sunday / Monday....  So we bought a car ....

Not to be outdone of course - popped into Tesco and bought a TV for the in-laws.. will deliver later this afternoon.. Off to Carmarthen again for a rehearsal so will drop the TV off on the way - take the Menu for the Chinese Restaurant and get a Chinese for later ...

Sounds like a plan.....

Finished off this evening discussing plans for our Hadrian's Wall walk to raise money for Cieran Kelso ...
Facebook this evening presented me with a wonderful new picture of Cieran - with his new swimiing legs

 Looking forward to more planning in the next few weeks ....
Link for Cieran's Site

Right - need to write a toast and speech for tomorrow ....
Night !!

28th June 2012 - Back to a suit  .... and sensible shoes...

It is strange but it isa long time since I wore a suit and in fact a long time since I wore long trousers - shorts being my normal wear other then costume !!
But up this morning for a tip to Carmarthen for the Consecration of a new Conclave of Past Rulers of the Order of the Secret Monitor.....   I am a founder and organist - so have my books - but have not played for months !!  Did not expect to be back so they are not expecting me...
Will not be staying for lunch as I have another meeting this evening in Llanelli...
Ho Hum...
Gosh all these clothes are warm - and it is very humid outside...

9am .... off we go

2pm - back for the afternoon - successful morning - played the Organ a little and became founder of the  Deheubarth Conclave of Commissioned Rulers - No 605...

Deheubarth was founded circa 920 by Hywel Dda ("Hywel the Good") out of the territories of Seisyllwg and Dyfed, both of which had come into his possession. Later on, the Kingdom of Brycheiniog would also be added to its territory. The chief seat of the rulers of Deheubarth and its traditional capital was at Dinefwr (although Carmarthen and Cardigan also served as the kingdom's capital for certain periods).
Deheubarth, like several other Welsh Petty kingdoms, continued to exist until the Norman Conquest of Wales, but constant power struggles meant that only for part of the time was it a separate entity with an independent ruler. It was annexed by Llywelyn ap Seisyll of Gwynedd in 1018, then by Rhydderch ab Iestyn of Morgannwg in 1023. Llywelyn ap Sisyll's son, Gruffydd ap Llywelyn again annexed Deheubarth and became ruler of most of Wales, but after his death the old Dinefwr dynasty regained power.


6pm - all set for an evening at St Teilo Lodge.. Director of Ceremonies (Acting)  lovely ceremony and good evening had by all...

Late night now - and watching Red Dragon - Hannibal Lecter Prequel....
nice..

27th June 2012 - Home is where the heart is... and the rain!!

Woke this morning to the sound of raindrops - not on canvass - but on a window pane. Did not have to let the dogs out of the tent as the dog-flap in the kitchen works just fine!!
Managed to get a cup of tea without getting the feet wet.
This lifestyle is really over-rated I think...

Photos up on the FB pages....

staring to upload onto FLICKR now...
Time for a shave and a visit to the family before taking the car in for its MOT.

So .. the car is not quite as roadworthy as it pretended to be!!
Not a lot really - other than the brakes all round, most of the exhaust, some rough edges on the bodywork, and a seat belt adjustment .. The Good news is that Susie want a new car anyway and this is a good reason to let her have her way ...    The garage are happy to give me £300 for the car as is - and we have George at Tesco's who has been after it for the last year to put his boat in and out of Burry Port Harbour ..
Managed to find George's house and leave a note through the door as he is on holiday at the moment ...
He is interested and will get back to us ...

Will have to take the car to Carmarthen tomorrow - but the MOT does not expire until Sunday ....

Quiet evening in with Chris and Vicky ....   bottle or two of wine .....    Bonzo Dog Doodah Band on telly - can't ask for more !!

night ...

26th June 2012 - Home again Home again Jiggedy Jig.....

Well it is just over three weeks since we left home - and as we came back over the Severn Bridge - we were welcomed with  good old Welsh "Mizzy" rain - - a Rhondda Grey outlook and a wet road.
Had a quick lurch just after Leigh Delamere on the M4 as the VOSA wagon pulled out immediately behind us from its observation point - just before the weigh bridge at Bath  - we probably would have been under - but I wasn't really wanting to test it !!!  So as Tom Paxton says - "there is occasionally value in obscurity" - and they drove straight on by...

So to recap - up this morning about 8am to walk the dogs - (Susie that is ) Delft was already in the front seat watching everything going on and was ready for some water. Rusty seemed a little less impressed.
Decided not to breakfast straight away but to head off to Tesco to find somewhere to recycle all the bottles from the weekend. Black bags of rubbish went into the skip behind the Little Chef - well the lady in the Travelodge suggested it !!!

Phone call to the garage to postpone the MOT of the car - which was going to be done today - suggested tomorrow instead and when we said that we were still in Oxford - she suggested a midday booking in so we could have a lie in !!
Phone call to Sam McGee who supplies ales and lagers etc - and who was delivering to the site at Silverstone for Profound Decisions, and he agreed to take two empty lager kegs with him - so that is a little less weight again. Only the local Kite Brewery to take back now !!!

Sunny and bright at the Tournament Stud site and the set up crew are getting on well - huge infrastructure going in !!   Say farewell to Bill and Sean and we start on our way - trailer tows well and no problems.

Take the Oxford Road and the 420 down to Swindon - where we find a Sainsbury's with a cafe and since they stop breakfasts at 11.30am and it was 11.29am - we had a big breakfast each and a cuppa.....
On again and the weather starts deteriorating the nearer we get to Wales.... Stop off in Tesco at Llanelli - seems pointless to go back out again for a bit of shopping.

A quarter to 4 and we are home and it is chucking it down!!  But it only takes a few minutes to unload the main items from the Van and the trailer will wait until tomorrow ...  Suzuki reverses the trailer in with no problems - getting the hang of it now!!

So House seems a little unlived in and damp - put the heating on for an hour to warm it up ... It is June for goodness sake !! but apparently the wettest June since eighteen sixty  something - I can believe it - though I was not around then - only feels that way !!!

Cup of tea !! Catching up the blog - may have a quick look at FB. Emails are pouring in even though I tried to clear them while away ....

Have to check on the photos as well later - see if any came out ....

25th June 2012 - Take Down and Travelodge......

A dry night, and a sunny morning.. temperature rising and the mud starts to congeal..
Early breakfast of bacon and egg..  so we can take the kitchen down and start to complete the loading.
Gets quite warm as we start the takedown - and around us Odyssey the LARP games starts coming to life.

I have never seen so much infrastructure for a weekend game. The arena is being built - dragged out on the low loader, toilets, offices, an artic turns up and it is full of Scaffold Planks for unloading.
Meanwhile I plod on..  Susie has back troubles and finds it difficult to bend over - but with care is still managing her part.

Early decision to leave the trailer with Sean, and Bill and the team, safer than trying to leave at the Travelodge. Put all the methanol accessible at the back of the trailer in case of fire - highly inflammable!!.
Bill agrees to take the Coke and the Diet coke at cost so we don't have to take back, and I sell the spare keg for £50 - taking a £30 loss - but still better than taking it all the way to Wales and having to find a way of bringing the empty back......

Manage to get off site at a quarter to four - an hour ahead of my estimate and get to the the travelodge - shower and a nap...   Up to feed the dogs at 6pm and a quick walk.
Seems to be the local parking point for the local Chavs - so have a room overlooking the van......
Dinner, burger and chicken dinner and chips in the Little Chef and a bottle of Blossom Hill Blush....

Quiet evening in watching the TV ....    better walk the dogs again before sleep...
Morning we will look forward to a breakfast at the Little Chef - diesel in the van, find a recycle place to get rid of the bottles - ( managed to get rid of the black bags in the Little Chef Skip) pick up the trailer and get home......

24th June 2012 - Midsummer's Day

Well a good party and an excellent evening with old friends. Not the most lucrative event - but everyone did their best to get rid of our stock - particularly in the spirits field.
an evening of heavy rain brought most except the most hardened smokers into the tent where the fire was welcoming and all the candles were lit - there being no electricity at all at this event.

Rain continued all night and mud splattered and hungover people went on their way through the standing water - as bad as it had been on Friday - but all seemed to enjoy..
Once again we are drying everything out. I seem to remember events where we were not muddy, and damp.
The wind is up again - but we are sleeping in the van so not causing so much worries.

Now 4pm an most of the tavern is back in boxes and crates - probably won't do much more now this evening. Still trying to dry stuff out - but we are getting there.

Looking forward to a week off......

Susie walking the dogs around the main field.... I am taking a short break.

8.45pm...   been a pleasant evening with the sun shining through most of the day.. the ground beginning to dry out though still deceptively cool - currently wearing body warmer and fleece and still a little chilly...

Pleasant surprise about 4pm - Sean MacGuire (Skian Mor Trader) turns up closely followed by Bill Pennington of Odyssey and Maelstrom to set up for next weekend - so we will have company for the evening. They are currently doing the manic work that we are used to - while we sit back with a G & T and watch them - a very nice change!!

Have a nice chat with Bill regarding the types of bars used at LARP events and the way he is running his bar.
Now got the fire alight in the tent (can't call it a Tavern now as it is only a shell!!)  and getting ready for a quiet sit around the fire and an early night.

Decided that we would not want to drive home tomorrow after packing the trailer and van - so have booked a Travelodge up the road - so shower and bed tomorrow night and then drive back in a leisurely fashion Tuesday.

Beginning to warm up now...   so will check the Facebook and sign off....

23rd June 2012 Birthday Parties...

Good weather for the start of the day .. still cool so the water not disappearing and the ground is very wet and the dogs are very damp...
Set for a 1pm start and the tents are up and the compound is built. The bar is ready and the beer tastes excellent...
Weather still fairly dry by lunchg and the ground is beginning to dry out.
All dressed in clean clothes - all we need now are the customers..
Here they come so better switch off.....

22nd June 2012 - Tournament Stud

So up early and the weather is holding back . Forecast is for rain and heavy winds but an hour

to Biddleston and the weather is threatening but dry and quite warm.
Trailer needs the Tractor to get it out to the road and we manage to get onto the field - but well and truly stuck in the slimy London Clay.

Trip back to the farm and John comes out with the tractor again and puts the trailer in place
and so another bottle of tournament mead goes to a good home.

Tent goes up and and then the wind and th rain starts - and the wether forecast in fairnes was pretty well correct.
3 inches of standing water flow past the tent - but we are inside so not having too much of a problem. Back of the tent is well strapped down and cross braced and we have chosen a fairly 
high piece of ground so most of the water passes us....

Tent secure - sleeping in the van tonight so the bed goes in and the canopy is set and in bed by 10pm....   (Steak Dinner and a bottle of red wine by the way)

21st June 2012 - Another Quiet Day.

Lay in a little this morning - well with the Kiddies being very quiet as they had their breakfast in the living room - and little Torrin bouncing in his green frog... and playing his music.

Decided to have an early start to get to Bookers the Wholesalers for the extra bits and pieces for the weekend. Decided to get pints of Lager, some more Crabbies, and some Pear Cider.
Came out and noticed that the front tyre of the van was going flat - a closer look showed that a nail had gone into the tyre... but it still had some air in it - enough to get around the corner to the Tyre Repair place  that luckily was quite close.

Had to wait a while for the repair to the tyre - but all sorted - and took the opportunity to get the shredded Trailer Tyre replaced as well - so we have two spare tyres for the Trailer now..

Back home via Tesco's for the additional food for the weekend - and couldn't remember whether we had enough Red Bull - so bought some extra there. Also bought a new Iron to de-wax the tablecloths - £4.96..   "Win"

Found that the iPod was crashed, and all the work last night did not seem to be working. So decided to start from scratch - reset the iPod and reformatted it again.  Loaded up some music and brought in the Angry Bird and it all seems to work well.

Photos all posted onto Flickr and Facebook.

Girls just home from School. Susie de-waxed the table cloths and they are in the washing machine.

Quick update on the Blog - not sure if we will be able to update over the weekend - we are without power at Tournament Stud.

Weather forecast:  Weather at Silverstone

20th June 2012 - Aylesbury ... Sunshine and Showers..

Actually only sunshine - the bliss will be to have the showers - in a real house !!
Woke up to blazing sunshine coming through the window - though it is amazing how used you get to staying out in the open air - as the house seems very hot ...    slept with the French windows open all night and that helped - but slept the sleep of the dead !!...
Breakfast with the Grand-daughters Freja and Erin on the patio and throwing balls for the dogs.
Walked the girls to school and met the teachers -
Plans for the day ?? Not many !!

See how it pans out .....
Quiet day really - popped off to get a little bit of shopping... and then had to rush off to Vitis Wines and pick up some Spiced Mead and also a selection of country wines for the party and beyond.


Took a little longer than expected to get back but ordered a Chinese meal which Stuart picked up on the way home and had a glass of wine and a Gin and Tonic with the family....
Started trying to transfer music to the iPod that Gary gave me as a gift for the Tavern... had to look up the help files on line and reformat the iPod but started getting the hang of transferring the music.
Late evening - or rather early morning to get to a stage where it seemed to be working. Will get the angry Bird out tomorrow to see if it worked.


Goodnight.

19th June 2012 - Barnswood - Leek

There are times when the life style can be a bit trying, and there are times when you can remember why you like doing this crazy business.

9am - in a sunny glade. Dogs been for a walk and found a badger set in the woods.
Cup of tea in the sunshine.
Sound of tractors spreading muck - but that is another story - and another smell as it happens!!!.

Another tent to take down and pack up - and a trip to Silverstone and the Tournament Stud.
Forecast is sunshine until mid afternoon - which will be nice.

Later should see the Grandchildren....
Oops - dogs knocked the tea over....
Pictures from yesterdays take down and drying session..

The Washing Lines

time for a break

drying the sides...

Takes a little longer than expected to clear down - mainly due to the extra distance everything has to be carried, and the disinfecting of all the tent pegs and posts ..however the weather Gods remain kind and everything goes into the van and trailer dry ... a real bonus...
4.37pm and we are ready to leave the site....  Quick jaunt across land to get the M1 down to Silverstone and meet up with John from Destrier - the Tournament Stud..
Lovely fellow - uses the tractor to push the trailer into its place so I don't have to strain the old Merc with the reverse up hill.... Bottle of Tournament Mead seems to please him !!
That's 7.30pm - and off along the back roads through Buckingham and onto the A413 to Ayklesbury...
9.30pm by the time we arrive with Fish and Chips and two bottles of Blossom Hill ( for 7.99 at the local offie) One Red for yours truly and one to share between Nancy and Susie... Rose, or Blush of course...
Too late to see the Grandchildren - so tomorrow now ... Short blast expected in the morning before school and then look to the next tasks...

Beautiful Sunsets on the way over the hills this evening - wished the camera was a little more accessible...
but really too tired to do anything other than drive...

Now 11.30pm and the benefits of Broadband again to update the Blog....  Susie asleep in the front room - my air-bed ready for me when I finish - which I think is about now ....   Goodnight!!..

18th June 2012 - and now it gets sunny !!!

Don't get me wrong, it is not a complaint - just seems such a pity that a whole weekend of LARP and running around had to be in the cold and the wet with the natural affect upon sales and general fun...

Well everyone got off site nicely last night - with the additional tasks of washing wheels and disinfecting the tent pegs against the nasty little spore that is riddling the plant life here and is causing all the Rhododendrons to be chopped up. 


Was quiet and after another fine Cornbeef Hash and a glass of red - found myself happily asleep by 9.30pm with a good 12 hours of sleep to follow...  Woke a couple of times in the night to hear the rain pour down - but it seems Susie has perfected the waterproofing of the corner of the bedroom and we slept without disturbance... Rain before 7 - fine before eleven seems to be true here - the glade looks like a Gypsy Camp or Chinese Laundry - with all the hangings stretched out across the glade on washing lines...


Susie has gone to get a replacement spare tyre for the trailer and get some shopping so we can eat tonight.. but the plan remains to take as much down as possible and have a quiet camp in the glade tonight and head off tomorrow.


Trade - wise - very low turn out this event - enough to make it worthwhile - but there is clearly far less money around at the moment and the numbers were once more down. Generally - even the pre-paid were about 10% down - so the weather had a bad affect upon people.....
Excellent local brewery - Wincle Brewery have turned out to be stars..   Looked at the next event which is not far away at Stone - and decided to see if they would deliver that far - having agreed they would - they will also look after our 2 extra Lager and 1 extra Strongbow until the event and deliver for us ... Put them in the cool room and get them to us ...  That means 600 miles of carrying them around is avoided...


Means I do not have to worry about trying to persuade Bookers to take them back - and I will use for next event - even if it remains small.


Well - back to the packing....


7.30pm - and the main tent is down, most of the kit is stowed away with a few exceptions... sitting with a Gin and Tonic outside the tent - the dogs are fed and are chasing their ball up and down the field.. Have to grab the gin every so often as Rusty tends to charge under the table with little concern for consequence...
Once again the Weather Gods have been kind and the take-down has been dry all day - with sun for most of the day. 


9.30pm - sitting in our tent - it is light outside.. but in the tent it makes it feel later - and I do not think it will be long before I go to bed..
But - sitting in my tent - I am sure I dine better than many in a fancy hotel..
Dinner this evening was Pan fried Loin Pork, caramelised apple in red wine.. fine green beans and mashed potato...   yum - followed by strawberries and cream.. A nice Bottle of Red wine to wash it down..
Yes .. I remember why I love this life...    

15th june 2012 - first day of event..

now 4am - after the first day of event.
Started with a little trauma!!
Front of the main tent had all fallen down in the night
The whole front wall had collapsed.. either the pegs had been drawn out, or the guy ropes broken - part of the problem when it rains you have to slacken off the guy ropes!!.

The rest of the day was playing catchup on the things we should have done the day before
But by evening, Pippa and Tigger have arrived and are helping the final set ups  and by 5pm we are in a position to get off site and leave everything in their capable hands..

Rusty has a bad bite from a flea or similar ...  we need to get him to  vet to see to him .. So we get off site and I am able to pop down to Morrissons for a replacement gas, some dog food, and the pastas ....

The evening turns out to be very mild and the bar has.has been fairly busy...
so - another night in the Crimson Moon, good friends, a few songs, and another late night - or early morning..

....

14th June 2012 - Marquees up at Leek - though a little damp...

Now 9pm and the end of a long day..
Started with sunshine which was nice and unexpected  - though we lost a few hours in the day - which is another story.... which will have to be told  at another time.

Tents now up and with the gallant assistance of Benjii Gary and Bex  and others  - and also the assistance in carrying all the stuff into the tents.. Sadly the rain started this evening and the wind is up again ..
Corn beef hash for dinner and a nice bottle of red...

11pm - and the friends of the Crimson Moon have enjoyed a sit by the fire and imbibed in a drink or two and have made their way to their respective beds...
Just walked the dogs - though they were singularly unimpressed by the wind and rain as we did a quick hike around the tavern....  so all quiet .. the rain is falling and the wind sounds louder than it should, The site here has had all the Rhododendron bushes removed due to a fungus infection - spores which attack other trees ,, so instead of the usual purple splendour - we have a denuded site and the wind is whipping through with nothing to stop it... Tornado warnings for the weekend!!.

So back to the day and the reason for some minor delays!!

Late evening last night - we had a numb er of people come in to join us at the fire and we enjoyed a very good social evening.
Late night, Susie went out the back and tripped on the corner guy rope and fell ...   seen by a friend I went out to assist and as we tried to get the portable loo into the back of the tent, a stumble and trying to catch each other as  we hit the sudden incline behind the tent, Susie tripped and I fell and we managed to hit our heads as we went down!!!

Well - o- off to bed 'cos it was late and we thought we would find out the result in the morning... and I suppose it is fair to say we did...
Susie woke with terrible pain in the shoulder - not sure if she had dislocated, broken a collar bone..   but in either case - was in serious trouble. I had a large bruise on an eyebrow = and a small cut on the nose!!!
Well as I said at the beginning - the sun was shining and the day was glorious...   so a cup of tea and off we went to Macclesfield Hospital A & E ...  Well I dropped Susie off as we knew it would take a while and returned to start doing the tent on my own...

In fairness Curious Pastimes were great and 4 friends said they were there to help.  Took me a bit aback as I am used to working at the speed of two and suddenly I had 4 helping. We managed to get the 4 master tent laid out in record time... and then pulled it up ...  Of course - as we were not working to my normal schedule - I had totally neglected to tie the side ropes - the ones that stop the tent sliding to the left or right!!
The tent came up beautifully - stayed there as we admired it for about 2 minutes and then glided to its side - bending the pins at the top of the poles!!
Luckily I carry spares and we soon had it reset and lifted ...
Found myself doing all the pin placing and side managing that susie normally does - and that took me through to 2pm when she called back from the hospital..

Good news - nothing broken - only  soft tissue damage but will be very painful for a while .
Of course we are in England and the prescription for the pain killers is charged !!! Too far to head back to Wales to fill the prescription!!!.

So - back to the site and Susie is getting on with what she can - in a lot of pain but no real major injuries thank goodness..   I am about 4 hours behind schedule as I am doing all the set up that she normally does without mention..   I have help from good friends to help bring everything into the tent and we shut up for the night..

So back to the dinner and a bottle of wine.. The fire is now dwindling. Everyone has gone . Susie is in bed with two hot water bottles - one for her feet and one for her shoulder. Delft is tucked up in her basket ..  Rusty is chasing worms under the soil - being Mr Snuffalopolus and biting the grass.
 The rain is throwing it down now... The wind is high and the tent is shaking but I have double strapped the back and hope it will hold.

Found that the Warden's office has broadband and am linking from that thought it is the other end of the field

So as I sign off tonight - I will record that I am a little tired !!!
Susie is safe and well with some aches and bruises...
The weather is foul and the wind is high ...
We have everything in the tavern that we need - so we have a day of building the magic tomorrow
We will open about 5pm - I hope....

Goodnight from the Crimson Moon Tavern...

13th June 2012 - Macclesfield - Leek

Leisurely rise and walk the dogs around the closed Little Chef Restaurant at Adlington before heading off  to find Tesco for shopping and  a hearty breakfast. Well, shopping anyway - there is a massive Tesco at Macclesfield but for some reason a month ago they decided that they did not need to have a Tesco Cafe doing breakfasts and lunches and lovely stuff for small prices - but put the franchise out to Costa instead.
Well - it is only a personal view but over-priced coffee has never been a desire of mine, and they have no real food, and the pastries that they do serve are not Susie safe - as they need to be Wheat Free.

So we did the shopping - delight of having plastic bags available for free - (Wales enforced a charge of plastic bags of 5p by law last October - to reduce the use of re-usable bags - and in fairness it changed the lives of most people in wales overnight - everyone carries their re-usable bags nowadays..)

So off to Sainsbury's - not my favourite place - but they did a fine breakfast for £4.95 and we made it at 11.25am - they stopped breakfast at 11.30am...

On to Leek and the first tent is up
Then the heavens opened and the rain started..
about enough for one day we think.....

12th June 2012 - Off to Leek ... Curious Pastimes Event 2

Important note to self
Remember Methanol Containers...!!   Done!!
Up and out - getting room sorted for my sister - staying over in the UK for a couple of weeks from USA.
Susie off to Inner Wheel meeting - got to be a pillar of society and a gypsy at the same time !!  
Bookers confirmed order - and found out how to print off the order - which was a bonus.
Gwent Police Licensing have a query regarding the TEN for Caerphilly Castle  - Susie can deal with that wehn she comes back and before we leave.
Finishing touches on the loading and we should be able to get off.
Typical - sunny today - woudl be lovely weather to dry the marquees - but they will be in the van for another day ....


1pm - on the back foot now...
Trailer and Van complete - just need to get it out from the back and sort the clothes boxes - kitchen - bedding and ancillaries - Susie should be back by 2pm - better get on ...!!

Oh well - 3.30pm - starting off
maybe catch up later at the other end of the journey ..


Arrived safe in Macclesfield - a little later than expected. Managed an uneventful journey until junction 14 on the M6... when a slight judder and a look into the wing mirror showed the offside rear tyre shredding and putting rubber onto the carriageway - also the mudguard disintegrating!!  Somehow the tyre decided to peel away - but did not burst - only the tread disappearing leaving the tyre still inflated... Seeing it straight away meant that we could slow to a crawl - but the hard shoulder was not wide enough to stop.. so we moved off the motorway and Susie's excellent memory said that there would be a lay bye a 1/4 mile up the A34 - and there was....
Did not try to jack the trailer up - I knew it was too heavy for my jack - so called the RAC - who said they could be there in 45 minutes... and hour and a quarter later we got the call saying that they were coming to us next - 40 minutes!!...  Have a spare tyre so no problems - only the logistics of jacking the heavy trailer.
Luckily - there are still samaritans around. A lorry driver - who started the conversation by ranting that cars were parking in the Lorry Lay bye (!!)  but changed his mind when I pointed out the tyre - called his mother who lived locally and brought a decent jack - and I changed the tyre with no problems...  Restores your faith in Human Nature..


As a result - arrived at the hotel too late for food - so a gin and tonic and bed !!
Looking forward to popping into Tesco for a slap up breakfast tomorrow...


Dogs Walked and watered - will feed them in the morning as well ...


It is now tomorrow so good night.... 

11th June 2012 - Another Monday ....

Early start as Van around at the garage for checking the front wheel for a clicking noise that seems to have disappeared!! and to get another fuel filter to take with us. Susie finished 50 litres of bio-diesel so we have some fuel for the journey to leek.
Marquee repaired - just needs to be dragged across to the car park to link together so it is ready to go.
Trailer mainly loaded so Van and away.
Sister arrives from USA on Wednesday so have arranged a taxi from the airport - but will have to get her room ready in Burry Port tomorrow morning.
Wedding pictures up on facebook - loading onto FLICKR overnight.

Link here  Gallery

List for the day :

• Car insurance for Chrissie on mother's car - done
• Check bookers for lager and charcoal and bread - done
• cash from bank  - done
• cash to bank  - done
• Check items for Chrissie's spare room 
• Put Wedding Gallery onto Website - after completing upload to FLICKR - done

So - looking at Leek last year, we used 4 lager and one strongbow, and 6 kegs
I am taking 4 kegs - so am looking to buy another two form the local wincle brewery.
I have 3/4 Lager on board  so require another 4 from Bookers.
Called and had a very good response form Richard the delivery manager/bod who is extremely helpful -  
Checked again and found that the Bookers is actually within 12 miles - so if I have to go back for a delivery it is possible - if a little more inconvenient .
Now to Find Wincle Brewery
Only 4 miles away so not too bad either - think I will take a Wincle Warmer at 3.8% and a Sir Phillip at 4.2%  that will take me to 6 and they are open 10am to 4pm every day - so some back yup there as well.
Ordered both for delivery on Thursday or Friday with some hard spiles.
Found a break in the rain - and pt the marquees back together. Sides still damp but they will be out again in a day or so.
Loaded the van with the canvass, the meads and wines, the orange and apple juices, the freezer and the kitchen cabinet ( set of drawers that hold everything that we need for cooking while away). Took more stuff down the back to load in the morning - hopefully in the dry - mainly into the trailer but the back of the van also looks pretty empty now it is tightly packed. Should manage everything ....
Nice man in Bookers will delver but wants to come on Wednesday as Fridays are very busy now - will have to go on line this evening and work out what we need and order .....   at least they will send us the lager and the cider.

Will have to look out another tap for the cider and check whether carlsberg is a bayonet connector or the other type - and make sure I take both sorts ....

10th June 2012 - Summer Over - back to normal ...

Sunday morning and the sun has gone again - Aberystwyth is under water, but found more music from Professor Elemental and Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer - so starting the day with Chap-Hop.

Trailer and Van sorting today - want to get as much done as possible before tomorrow. Van has to have a front wheel checked in the morning as it is squeaking and making a clicking noise - so can't put too much into the van before then - but I still have the extra poles from the Judeant Fest - we only require a 4 master and a 2 master for the next two weekends - Leek and then Silverstone.

Need to check the cash requirements for the two events as well - will not have much chance between events.
If I get time then I can upload the Photos from the wedding - which I have kept as  a separate gallery. Still no sign of any pictures of Susie and me in our Steam Punk costumes - must be out there somewhere.
If I get the chance I can also upload to Flickr and get the main website galleries running.
Perhaps some toast before anything else ....

Managed a couple of hours before the rain set back in - pity as all the marquee sides were drying nicely - hanging around the garden like a chinese laundry - but managed to get them under cover again before getting wetter than they started. Trailer re-stacking and loading going well - hot business so will not really mind a little light rain if it continues - time for a cuppa first though ...

Posted a couple of spare pictures from the weekend and found the Susie Patented Mobile Shower - so added them to her "Things I Make and Grow" gallery.

 It worked too - before the weather got too cold to contemplate a shower in the wild ...

9th June 2012 - and the sun peeped out from behind the clouds...

What a change in the weather! Still cold but the sun is shining. Must be because it is my mother's birthday - 85 years young today but we are not allowed to tell anyone!!  I have a voucher for Frankie & Bennie's for 20% off so we will have to go out to lunch. Nothing too good for my mother !!

Susie has the Bio-diesel cooking. I need to clear a space in the living room to get to the canvass so she can look at the repairs. I have to get the extra Tables and Benches out of the trailer - find the wall hangings and get them into the air before they start smelling! At least it is not tipping down with rain today ...

Wall hangings out... canvas laid out for repair... trailer sorted a little more.
Frankie & Benny's for lunch - bottle of wine and a pint of Carling...  Updated two more videos ... seems like time for a nap!

Oops - rest of the day seems to have gone somewhere !!
While out in the world - Aberystwyth is under water, I always said that it was a silly place to build the police station in the flood plain and rain all over the place - other than here of course where it has been very sunny and warm. Wall hangings allsorted - Susie drying out the marquee so that it can be repaired tomorrow.

Videos added to the Video Channel, and Jude & Ant made me admin of the Fest site so I can post direct to that.

Better go and find a bottle of wine methinks - and maybe watch some telly - haven't done that for a while !!

Meanwhile - watch the blocks falling down with La Mort Subite ...





  

8th June 2012 - Mid Winter and 12 days to the longest day ....

Central Heating on last night !! Buckets under the windows to catch the rain dripping in through the double glazing - always happens when the wind blows too hard and the rain comes down in stair rods - or rather flies horizontally !!

Queries this morning with CADW - who still have not come back to me about the BIG CHEESE, international market at Caerphilly Castle. Just had confirmation phone call so we can apply for the TEN.
Details of BIG CHEESE here

Tasks for the day - cash up the event and send invoice for the setup fee.  Get the wall hangings and other cloths out of the trailer before they start smelling. (Will have to dodge the storms for that one).
Videos are uploading at the moment - so will have to  look at them and see if they need any adjustment. Carry on with the photo galleries ... first one starts here. Only another 550 pictures to look through ..

Facebook Galleries here

Will probably add a separate gallery for the wedding... makes more sense to split them up - though some will probably appear in both.

9pm : Added another 90 pictures to the gallery - separated the wedding shots so will have to work on that gallery tomorrow.
Managed to find 40 litres of oil for biodiesel - wo with the oil here - enough for one batch - go searching again tomorrow. Videos all uploaded to Youtube. Broadband played up again - always n the largest file !! but in a position to do some editing and playing with the results.
Got to Glamorgan ales and sorted out a return of the lager not used - that will be a little less weight to carry to Lee!!  Between the credit note and the bills and another 2 boxes of Cider for Leek - ended up getting back £5.32  - Win!!.
Susie cashed up - seems that despite the weather the total for the weekend make it a worthwhile event as well as enjoyable.
We have now got the weekend and Monday to load - Hotel booked for Tuesday Night so we can visit Bookers on the way to event on Wednesday - can't arrive before midday anyway.
Still need to repair the canvass, sort out the requirements for stock - and get everything ready for two weeks away .
We will be traveling directly from Leek to Silverstone - via my daughter and not coming home - so we have to be prepared for everything.

Spent an hour this afternoon with Ron Savory - excellent guitarist and all round nice guy. Took some video for two songs inspired by the Fest - both excellent. Seems the Fest touched people's hearts as well as minds - so not just me being sentimental. If we are there next year - we should be there as campers!!

Have to work on an introduction and credits for the video if it uploads clean ...

Worked on the videos and they seem to be going well.. In the meantime - I will take the opportunity of being a grandfather and including my grandson onto the blog...   meet Torrin ..
 

End of the evening - and my work is complete  - persuaded Ron to let his wonderful song go public as a tribute to Jude and Ant for the festival ...
here it is...

7th June 2012 - Back in the Blogisphere..

So .. Back from the enforced silence that is Llanthony and the Jude Ant Festival. Such a glorious location - somewhere up above Abergavenny, in the Brecon Beacons, just below Llanthony Priory.... No mobile Signal, no Broadband, no water other than that which we brought, and the greatest crowd of festival attendees..

It is now evening of the third day of take-down after the event - it is pouring with rain and I have put the central heating on for the evening as it is so cold... we are only two weeks off the longest day and mid summer !!
Enjoyed a cretan dinner - greek stew, tattas and zadziki which seemed to fit the weather - which sometimes is a little like Crete...

So.. I say day three of take down - so let's break that down a little before recapping about the festival itself...

Festival arrival - Tuesday - set up 2 four master tents (60ft x 20ft) in a sort of "L" shape. One for  the bar and tavern and one for the Crimson Moon Acoustic Tent. Separated by three feet and only partly covered with sides so that it could be a smoking tent and one where people would be able to take their own drinks.
Tuesday gets the shells up and the bedroom sorted so that we can sleep in comfort. Weather hot and humid

Wednesday - finish construction - unloading and start decorations.
First had to go back to Llanelli to lick up all the stock while Susie built the Tavern. Back to Llanelli for the mead and wines and then via Brecon to Roger & Maxine to pick up the lemonade and coca cola and orange juices that were left over from PACCAR. Takes longer than expected - don't get back until 3pm..

Thursday - deliveries of Beer - 3 Lager - 6 real ale. Finish decorations and set up ready for the influx of the wedding guests. Well - we were ready - but very few turn up on the Thursday. Open in the evening and sell a few pints but weather has been glorious.
   
Friday - Wedding  - dressing up in Steampunk and attending the chapel in the Farmyard. Rushed back a little eraly to try to get the tavern ready - but of course the non-attendees are now waiting to be served int he Tavern - so we are on the back foot for the first three hours - trying to keep up with the steady flow of trade. No chance of getting to the wedding feast itself and we have to wait until about 11pm before we get a bite to eat - some of the hog roast brought across by a friend.. Weather - mainly dry for the wedding - with a little mizzy rain later ..

Friday Evening - Fest starts for proper with bands

Saturday : Day 2 Fest - weather fairly reasonable  - rain later ...

Sunday : Rain - Late evening - tail end of Florida hurricane and lose the Acoustic Tent back wall - break 5 poles and lose all the cross bracing - lucky it was there or we might have lost the whole tent ... Out in the thrashing rain - and the temperature was by now almost freezing again as I re-fixed all the pegs and cross bracing...  by the time I finished an declared the tent suitable for carrying on - all the kit had been taken out and the tent abandoned... Very Cold - so glad the fire was there !!!. Susie gets stressed by the wind and wants to close...  try to send her to bed and find that the bedroom has been leaking and the bed is wet ..
Set up a bed in the Van and put the dogs in to keep her warm.
Manage to get back to the Tavern and decide that a bottle of Monks is the best solution, and a rendition of "Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia" with Jools - then after the bottle of Priory - I think the evenignof singing ended about 5am - I know it was light !!!

Monday : Many have left after the bad weather - but a chill day of playing KUBB and a fine evening of singing with some great musicians -

Tuesday : Start the pack down and load up the Van and Trailer. Tipping it down so early decision to leave the tents up in case of dryer weather for Wednesday, and manage to pack all by 7pm - home by 9pm and a shower - bliss - and a night in our own bed!!! [that is leaving out all the trouble with getting out of the field and having to get the tractor to pull us out !!   Lovely fellow alan the farmer - nothing phases him - and Susie got bit  by their dog !!]


Wednesday : up early - Van and Trailer are on the single yellow line outside the house so have to be moved by 8am, trailer round the back and put into the hard-standing by the 4 x 4 and the Van put in and unloaded by 9.30am. Breakfast and drive back to Llanthony - getting there about midday ..   Break in the weather in the afternoon and the tents get taken down damp - rather than wet...
Have to take one 4 master apart completely - end section torn along the seam and requires repair. Other sections - 5 ropes need repair.   Won't need full set up again this year...  but want to change the end pieces so they match so take the end off the other 4 master as well.  We have 4 days at home for repair before going to Leek - so best to get it done straight away. All home in time for a Chinese Meal and a bottle of Susie's home made berry wine ....

Thursday :  Slept in till 10 am !!   must need it !! Visit to the family and then check on the photos from the weekend on Facebook . Rain hissing down!!  2pm and it is dry enough to find the crates with the Food / Kitchen / wallhangings... and get the canvass into the house ... Took the two bins full of bottles to the local recycle center.

And that about brings the day to an end  - night !!!