31st October 2103 - Halloweens, House Hunting, and Hiding...

I don't mnd Halloween, as it was in my earlier days. An opportunity for the occasional party with dunking or apples, a witch hanging on a tree maybe - but not a supermarket full of american tat.. and the fear of trick or treaters stumbling up the road.....

So I am out and do not really have to worry too much. 30 years ago on this very evening I first stumbled into the Masonic Lodge at Llanelli, with no idea of what it would entail, a young police constable still with a career ahead and young children of our own - who were not crying out for halloween treats!!!

No, as I leave the building in a few minutes I will be shutting the doors and extinguishing the lights and making it quite clear that nobody is home - so Susie can sit up here comfortably and watch the gogglebox or do her jig-saws in peace....

 Of course if they did call they may get a little bit of a shock.

As Susie prepares for the evening   .......

House hunting earlier and a lovely place up near Bethania at the top of the world - where I think that it could get a little bleak in mid winter. Liked the duck pond and the land - house very small but a few outbuildings there ... Not bad - but I think that we will keep looking...

So - getting near the witching hour and time to troll across to Harries Avenue as Junior Warden. Have a bit of recitation to do - so bext get there early.....

I may be gone some time.......

30th October 2013 - On the Eve of All Hallows -

Okay, I succumbed. Socks on and sitting at the computer, but my feet are frozen...  Bright start to the day - but chilly and feeling a little wintry, and as the day has continued the rain has started coming in and I am very tempted to cry out the Game of Thrones cry "Winter is Coming!!!"  The central Heating has been switched on !!!!

Another day playing with the video editor, and now we have the Welsh Green One song to add to the Latin, and the Youtube hits is creeping quite quickly up to the 41,000 mark....

Probably need one more before tackling the Version 4 of the Global - need to look at available languages that I may be able to promote....

So the night before Halloween, and the shops are starting to look like a poor version of America. Also had a weekend with fireworks - which is also a little early for Guy Fawkes night.. I do believe that there is a place for a house that I saw yesterday - called the Zombie House...

Here is the building at rest - completely secure

another view form the front 

does not seem to be a way in at all  

ahh - maybe a garage door ?

what is that opening on the side?

opening the gates and those are big shutters!!

more views - oh and they have a cat !!!

Now we begin to see what it looks like

quite comfortable really

yup - I could live there !!

nice and open plan

Well - maybe a lottery win ??

29th October 2013 - Birthdays, Bothy's and Llanfihangel Troddi's

So, Happy birthday to my sister out in the USA. Well sunning herself on the beaches of Mexico to be exact.  No, I won't be telling the world how old you are!!  For my formative years I was always her younger brother, but somewhere during the last few decades I became her Big Brother, fair enough I am taller than her, but then Big brother as in Older ( though I doubt wiser!!). So how ever many years I have - I will keep her secret and allow her to be much younger. Certainly has the better weather - though the sun is still trying to peek out through the clouds over here and we are managing another last few days before the heating will have to come on...

So, a trip to Glastonbury was on the cards... Not the real Glastonbury, with a Tor and a medieval festival each Easter and the music festival. This was a Glastonbury at Bancffossfelin, a small holding not too far away. A very small house, rather too small even for our grandest downsizing plans, but a nice set of land, a few fields, some lovely woodland, a stream and a wood burning stove. I think a little too much to do and a little too expensive for the accommodation - but we are still looking. Sadly, no enquiries for our house yet!!

But the weekend had included a trip down to the Tollgate at Mitchel Troy. And having found that the real name for Mitchel Troy ( as in the welsh version) was Llanfihangel Troddi, ( the Church of all angels and on the river Troddi) - it had caused me to pen a new song for them. Well they had intimated that they would like a short anthem to warm them through the winter months. And so their party seemed like a good opportunity to give them the first rendition of the song, and of course, it was a party, so it had to be sung in the kitchen....

"I'm gonna take the Bothy down to Llanfihangel Troddi - It's never too late to visit Toll Gate!!"

A day of celebration ....    cheers...

28th October 2013 - Blowing and Bellringing...

So, the Storm of all Storms, the "biggest since 1987 when the Sevenoaks were uprooted", the calamities and the riders of the Apocalypse... urr - seems to have missed us!

Some of the south coast apparently had a little bit of a blow, but most of it seems to have gone right up the channel and headed off into Scandinavia. The wonders of Facebook did allow me to follow two friends who were on sea crossings on Ferries waiting to try to get into Dover, but other than that we have had a quiet day.

Another blast form the past also appeared on Facebook with the Bellringer's Song recorded at one of my previous trips to the Toll Gate..  Edited a bit and using some software to steady the hand held, but still comes out fairly reasonably..

Only a few more in the pipeline at the moment - but time to work on them ....

27th October 2013 - was the Roman Empire Green ?

On the subject of Green things and the Roman empire, a trip to Monmouth yesterday has provided me with another two language versions of the "Green One " song - Latin and Welsh...

Okay, I had to have the translations with me - but finally got a party where people were willing to take the jump and start singing, or otherwise, the magic of the song just happens again...

Video quality pretty poor, so a little editing and the addition of the Roman Empire and a B rated documentary of the fall adds a little zest to the offering.....

Well - another one down ...

Journey back from Mitchel Troy this morning, and the clocks have gone back and hour so an extra hour in bed ...   video done - and a new video for the Toll Gate to be done tomorrow .....

But in the meantime  - glass of scotch and bed....

26th October 2013 - Barkeeping and Bothy wending...

Morning across in the Hall. Installation of Knight's Templar, but no-one to play the organ or run the bar. I looked at the notice for the meeting and saw that the normal organist was up in Leicester, so seemed like a good idea to pop across and offer my services.

Then, as often happens, there was no-one to run the bar - so it would have been rude to depart....

Playing around with the final sets of videos from Mythodea - up to No 8 ..  and getting the Bothy ready for a trip down to the Tollgate.

Good old Batchelor's lament for a new audience ...   Always a winner...  and then the old favourite "Chastity Belt" to finish the set...

Weather for the trip down to Monmouth was horrible - with very little visibility and trees threatening to fall at the drop of a hat - so bad at one point that we turned back for a roundabout before getting to the motorway before Susie persuaded me that we could get there.....

So ...  ♪♫  on the road again......

I Gonna take the Bothy down to Llanfihangel Troddi...  its never too late to Visit Toll Gate !!!!

25th October 2013 - Wet and Windy - More to come..

Llanelli did not really suffer much today. In fact, as I went down the garden it was again fairly warm and unseasonably bright. No reason to overdo it of course. The cough is still an irritating presence in the throat, and energy levels are pretty low, but all in all not too bad a day..

Another video put onto the lists : This time an old favourite "Agna's Lament" from the old days in Curious Pastimes. Of course, not an original song, but one that has had the Vollsanger treatment over the years.

This led to getting out the old Songbook, and a decision is bubbling in the background that it really needs to get a bit of a sorting. It has been added to willy-nilly without much organisation (for much read none) and the list is quite large really. So much so that somehow the hours between 1pm and 3pm drifted away without notice - leaving me with only a few minutes to get ready for a trip up to Aberaeron.

Last minute decision to cancel food, as it was a long way to drive after being housebound for the week, and a good decision it turned out to be.

Outside of Llanelli, the weather was in a different range and standard. Winds, Storms, flooding on the roads, an angry Cardiganshire farmer at the foot of Temple Bar with a broom in the driving rain was trying to stave off  half a mile of downhill river from the front of his premises. He wasn't very impressed with my driving a 4x4 through the stream - I tried to go slowly, but did not see him until the last minute...  Sorry Mr Farmer!!!

Road closed and diversion in place at Llanllwnnen to Llanybydder so a detour required. Late start, detour and diversion - but managed to get to Aberaeron in time for tea and sandwich before getting the organ wound up.

Return journey was again wrought with storm until the threshold of Llanelli - where once again the roads seemed dry and  clear, the wind but a gentle breeze and the sky clear...   Llanelli once again seems to be holding its own climate zone - and for once I am glad..

The news for the next few days though is not so good - massive storms on the way, trees ready to be uprooted and flooding expected.

We will see what happens ...

Oh - got a new pair of slippers today - and not even my birthday   :)

24th October 2013 - getting back to normalcy...

Woke this morning feeling considerably better.

 Of course the 6am text from Sky saying that their engineer would arrive between 10am and 12 midday was slightly more notice than I needed, and another reason that I begin to hate this mobile phone world that I live in these days.

Yesterday I had a friend spend about an hour trying to persuade me that QR codes are the way forward and that I could not live without them. Though I understand their value, the fact that I do not have a phone that can effectively take a photograph and certainly could not translate the QR code into anything realistic - let alone not get onto the internet to resolve the code and find the location of the website, seemed to leave him slightly flummoxed.  We agreed to disagree in the end on the basis that I was a luddite (accepted) and that I would find my way to a smart phone in the future.  He may be right - but it is not a future that I look forward to. Me trying to access a smart phone will be like me watching my mother trying to use a standard mobile phone. I know the value of it. I know it is useful. But I really don't like the way it works...

So as I sit here with BBC News on the laptop - broadcast onto the big TV ( see - I can work the technology when it is a sensible size and not too small for m. y stubby fingers) waiting or the Sky man to come, next door's builders have started the work. They are stripping all the cladding of the back of the house to prevent the damp. Seems as though it may be a long job. Hopeful that the Sky Man can work a wonder but not very confident.

And while I am sitting here, the words of a famous tune come to my mind .... in latin..

ERAT VIRIDIS

ET VIRIDIS

ET VIRIDIS

ET VIRIDIS

ET OMNIA FECIT CUM TICKY TACKY

ET OMNIA IDEM SUNT

May have to put it to music later....  Put the first line onto Facebook - wonder what reaction it may get from the Geeky out there.....

Cup of tea needed I think while I wait...Sunny day but a chill in the air. Still no need for heating which is a bonus while the world discusses the increase in energy prices....

SKY arrived and to my astonishment not only looked at the problem and did not say "sorry guv.. can't do that!!" but decided that an extension to the dish - a new pole and another dish attached to the wall down the garden, as a temporary  measure - with a phone number to call the engineer back when the work was completed so that it can be put back together. "Don't call sky as they will class it as a new call and have to charge you £65 - call me and I will mark it as a follow up call to this one and we will put it back - though I think you need a new dish and the receiver is a little old.."

Can't fault the service at all....

Stood outside for a while when they were working and it is clearly true - it is warmer outside than inside. Need to consider this global warming thingie after all ???

So now I have TV back - don't think I want to watch anything.....

23rd October 2013 - Wednesday - keeping willfully warm

Improving a little today ....
Cold still with me and a mild headache - but Susie suggests that is probably Caffeine being too mean to pay £1.75 for 2 litres of Diet Coke - and drinking Ribena instead.

Have to stick with the video mastering and maybe write a song. And & Jude have asked for a ditty to keep them warm over Christmas.  Researching Mitchel Troy and the Toll Gate - I find that the real name of Mitchel Troy is Llanfihangel Troddi - The Chirch of Angels and the River Troddi.

Rather leads me to "Gonna take the Bothi down to Llanfihangel Troddi"

Work in Progress....

Meanwhile - Back to Germany :

The Grand Expedition Song - pity I could not remember the words and had to wear the glasses and keep looking down - so edited it with lots of other stuff....

Still quite happy with the results......

Glad to have many boxes of tissues - seem to be running nose all the time - but it gets rid of the Catarrh ( yes I had to look up the spelling on Google).  The boxes I am talking of are the ones on funny cardboard round centers - often used in the loo!!   Far to mean to use something specific. I am using the cheapy rolls that we got with the toilets at the 60-40 Party that Susie does not like cos they are not soft enough.  But they work very well for me ....Will put the trap down again  but hopefully we are clear....

Found a can of coke in the fridge ...  Shhhhh.. Don't tell anyone !!.

22nd October 2013 - hybernating and hiding

Not doing a lot - and enjoying it really..
Had an opportunity to add a couple of videos..

These are a series of Mythodea shots filmed by Will Conroy across in Ireland  - thanks to him..

This is a song about a character int he Curious Pastimes game, who was rather over the top. He was a sort of Conquistador style character - I think Rick thought he would last half an event!!  If that...

But he was one of my first successes in writing a song as Vollsanger for a "couple of Gold" and started the tradition that a song from Vollsanger normally means that your character is about to die !!!

Which is sort of explained in this version of "Here all Week"  the Vollsanger Story...

 
and of course .. the main anthem of Vollsanger  - "you bring the Mead !!!"

Early night I think ....    enough for one day ...

21st October 2013 - Staying in bed ....

Seem to be getting worse overnight - lots of shivers and cold!!
Nurse says probably viral - so keep warm and plenty of fluid... paracetamol - and stay in bed...

Sounds about right to me!!

Should have visited houses today, and trip to Newport in the evening - nope - staying in bed...
 

20th October 2013 - Lie in Lazarus and Laugharne

Not feeling so good today. A cough that would sound good in a TB ward and a sore throat warrants a lie in for the morning..  But there is an opportunity to go and see a friend playing in the Brown's Hotel at Laugharne in the afternoon - that famous hostelry of Dylan Thomas..

So with mother and wife in tow - we made our way to the public bar and managed to enjoy the set of Lazarus Carpenter.....

However, not feeling so good so will leave you with some video from Germany...

night - lemsip I think

19th October 2013 - Rats and Royal Scotland

And early start today to get ready to head off for Cardiff for a meeting of the Royal Order of Scotland - a meeting which celebrates the Hereditary Ruler of Scotland and which has a throne set aside, Banquo style, with Scarlet Robe and Crown awaiting the return of the True King..

And I chose, of course, to wear my kilt and full Bonnie Prince Charlie for the occasion. So early start with bacon and egg in the belly and a few pounds for drinkies set aside in the sporran.. and a drive up to Hendy where the M4 crosses the local lands and a convenient parking place appears under the bridge...

So 9.30am and there I was in my full Scottish regalia waiting in the damp and the slight drizzle for a lift at the junction of the slip road...  As luck would have it my lift arrived before I could be accosted by a strange driver and off to Cardiff for the festivities.  Once there I found myself as the only one properly dressed. Normally a few turn up ion trews and some form of decent clothing, but  sadly not today..  So I sported my kilt and regalia in style...   Luckily - no speaking parts - just the carrying of the ceremonial cushions as new members were invested, but got the opportunity to dispense the Gin and Tonic and Scotch with full Vollsanger aplomb....

And a lift back as well .. Decided that too many meals had been partaken on this week so a working lunch pouring the wines worked quite well - though the smell of roast beef does get the saliva running .....

Somehow managed to lose Cardiff to Swansea and roused in time to come off the motorway at Hendy and find the car...  Of course, walking the last 100 yards down the motorway slipway is a scary thing to do in a kilt in the middle of October...

And back home, for a lovely chicken and lemon dinner with home grown Butternut Squash - yum....

So, yesterday the neighbours decided to erect scaffolding to sort their roof out.. I understand their need, and also understand that in times gone by it would not be an issue as satellite dishes would not be in place.... Strangely, on these more recent days of technology, the fact that we have no ordinary ariel at all, and therefore without a satellite dish we are cut off from the world - no free view, no terrestrial, no radio,
We have the broadband as that comes in on the telephone - though to be honest we have a very iffy reliability in the telephone line...

So the scaffolding placed on the back wall is a lot more impactive than we would normally expect. And we don't really watch much TV - but when it is not there it suddenly becomes more important. Having complained about the repetitive  nature of the news over the last 3 months - not having access to it at all is something else!!!

So calls to Sky actually seem to be quite useful ( shame on me for speaking good of an organisation like sky - but actually I am quite impressed   - only quite as you will see)
So they agree that the fact that we have no service means that I can claim back the cost of the service... yay
- I will wait to see if my negotiation after the fact actually gives me money back 

So they can get a n engineer out to re-site the dish.. ( not sure they can I say but they are sure )
Only cost me £65 - the standard fee....
No as a customer over 3 years - then we can have it at £40
No as a new HD receiver we are under warranty - so we can have it free....
And we can have our costs returned if they don't manage to move the dish !!!  zero cost  - urr it wasn't going to cost anyway ???

Of course there is a down side - we can't get it done until Thursday !!
So we are without main services until Thursday..

But now we start to examine the options available through the internet - online and broadband ...
watching a film this evening - how cool is that ?? Can't pause it or stop - but I seem to remember that was how it used to be...

And the rats ???
Oh yes - down in the basement they/ It  has ignored the traps and no real sign of existence - except that we looked into the corner and found all the rat droppings.. Oh dear....
New traps out - seems this one is cautious ... need to clear the cellar again ....

But for tonight ... seems Grouse is £16 in Tesco for a litre  - cheers..

18th October 2013 - Another week goes by

Friday, wet and warm. Early trips to doctors and shops and post offices and petrol stations...
No need for Central Heating again , which is just as well as the next traunch of energy companies take the opportunity to state their own 10% hike in costs.. The Government say "Just Switch" - but of course the reality is that all the companies are working to the same rates - just with different names and tariffs - so each will cost about the same in the long run...

Maybe one will turn around and do the obvious "here is £100 off if you come to us !!"

However, if I waited for the obvious I would be a very patient man - which I may not be - that much !!

So, instead, today was a day for ceremonial and ritual. Don't often mention on this medium, but today I had the privilege of being installed into the Chair of Thrice Illustrious Master in the Order of Royal and Select Masters of England and Wales and its Districts and Councils overseas, (for the second time !!!)

There is a rumour that I may get it right this time.

Whichever way it may go - the high point of the evening was Susie providing a tea and coffee, but more important her very special home-made Welsh Cakes - which are beginning to get a reputation of their own among Masonic Circles ...   Was interesting to see how they disappeared while the Tesco own-brand economy biscuits seemed to pale into insignificance  on the adjoining plate.....

So another busy day - Installation and ceremony completed - and a wait until April for the next meeting - but time enough to work upon the requirements....

So, the end of a day, and an early start tomorrow again .. But Kilt garbed tomorrow... An opportunity to wear the Highland dress should never be missed - and I will be getting a lift from friends by the Hendy interchange on the M4 tomorrow - so there will be the sight of  a strangely garbed, kilted hitch-hiker on the roadside waiting for his lift...   Ho Hum !!!!

So - decided to change my profile picture today....

Better have a scotch methinks !!!

17th October 2013 - Catchup on Pennine and Photos...

A day in the house today, with a number of galleries stacking up on the machine, and the Royal and Select Masters installation and degree looming for Friday. Weather a mixed bag. Some rain and cold and then sun and blue sky - a real mix up. No need for the central heating today - and just as well as today two more companies decided to add 10 percent to their bills for the forthcoming winter.

Susie has been busy, another 5 gallon of red Chateau 41 on the brew, a load of white bottled and stored down in the rat cellar. The Ratskeller is of course the correct German expression for a bar or restaurant in the basement of the Rathaus - the council buildings...

Ratskeller (German: "council's cellar", historically Rathskeller) is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar or restaurant located in the basement of a city hall (Rathaus) or nearby. Many taverns, nightclubs and similar establishments throughout the world take the nameRatskeller.^[1]

In our case the Rat is proving to be devious and hidden. It is possible that while the house was empty it found a little more bravery - enough to come forward, but for the last few days it has not shown at all - and is avoiding the new rat traps ( those are not council traps - that would be too germanic!!)

So instead I worked on Susie's pictures from the epic walk that is raising a great amount for little Cieran Kelso..

Of course Dor was in a pole position for the trip and made his presence felt throughout...
But it was clear that there were some stupendous views and tracks over the tops of the hills - while the Bothy managed almost 1500 miles to cover the 268 that the walkers managed..

of course the walkers themselves may have suffered a little - however mentally it must be said that they were probably a little tecthed before they started or they never would have done the trip...

County Marker - and Susie's favourite sheep in one sign...  Only a few more miles for this day ...

Susie found this as a possible smallholding - but I think it may be a little isolated - even for me !!

and then there is the end of the road - Edale itself - though she does tell me that the bell started ringing at 9am and went on for hours - I think the vicar decided to keep ringing until someone arrived for early service....

So, her record is finally up and available ....

I understand that some video of the singing in Germany will be available over the next few days - so I look forward to seeing that..

Early call tomorrow for the Doctor  - arrangements for my installation in the Chair of Thrice Illustrious Master in Royal & Select Masters the afternoon...   busy day... but still no callers for the house...

Well, not unless you include the guy who phoned to say he would come and view the house if we would accept an offer of £140,000 .  Needless to say - I thought about it  - but not a lot.. and said no thank you !!
I have more Cheese on the brew today, more wine on  - and we don't even have a smallholding yet ...

Maybe a glass of famous Grouse while it is still cheap...while Donovan is playing on the TV, Sunshine Superman and Hurdy Gurdy Man... can't fault it....
G'night..

16th October 2013 - Wednesday

Central heating has been on for two days - and seems to be holding up against 7 months idleness...
Main radiators working fine and the house seems to be getting warmer against the odds of the autumnal weather.

Meanwhile down in the cellar - we seem to have a visitor. The Cheese that I so carefully turned every day that Susie was away on her travels in the Pennines has been nibbled !!  Nay chewed on !!!  Sadly, as it was turning into a great cheese, the bites are not what we wanted to see.....

A Rat trap set sadly did not work as the cheese in the trap was chewed and eaten but the trap did not set off.. Must be an old trap . Bought a new one today so we will see if we can improve on our results...

Updated the photographs from the wedding.. Managed to post the whole set...

 Wedding Images

So - new trap in the cellar - warmer today so no heating on this evening  - still no callers for the house ...  skipped the hoovering today - maybe tomorrow - looking at another small holding on Monday now - Bethania - nearr Aberaeron, a little more expensive but looks nice......

Smell of fresh bread permeating through the house. Managed to clear all the Chateau 41 Red yesterday - well most of the bottles - but the White has been bottled today so life is looking up.  I note that Famous Grouse is selling at £16 a litre in Tesco - so the installation on Friday may be slightly less expensive if I can find some Gin at similar prices...

another day another dollar spent  - maybe a glass of scotch for a night cap...

13th October 2013 - No Internet - No update

No Internet - No update

12th October 2013 - Weddings and Offline

So - we are in the middle of Sussex - a place called Uckfield and the wedding of Sophie and Sam....
No Internet today - so getting dressed in our finest and going to the festivities - funnily enough - this is 11 years to the day since Nancy's Wedding to Stu.....
Looks like they will have the same weather as well - rain yesterday - but fine sun today ...

Good luck to them ......

11th October 2013 - Bothy Days are here again

It may be half way through October - but having the bothy means that a trip into Sussex becomes a weekend away and the devil take the weather...

So a lunchtime set off onto the M4 and out into the darkest points of England...  Rain and wind make the journey more of a strain but the Bothy is  warm and Daphne  knows the way....

And just as well as we start to approach the M25, and the traffic builds and builds. So we spin off at Wokingham and head off in the direction of Guildford - ignoring the directions of Daphne and striking off into the wilds of England.....

Finally we get to Uckfield and a camp site for the night. Electric hookup and a local restaurant for dinner..

Can't be too bad....

Meanwhile - in the sun and warmth of Crete, Bunnie has moved to her new house and posted her first pictures of the view... Not too far form her old place and no longer with a sea view - but Garden included and spare bedro
oms possibly for guests ( no - I have looked - no cheap flights at the moment - it is the wrong time of the year!!)

So. good night with the smell of damp dog and a glass of travelling scotch...

Good luck in your new house Bunnie !!!

10th October 2013 - Chills and Close-downs...

As the United States of America enters yet another day of shut down, and the memes are full of pictures of people breaking the American Law and enjoying walking around the closed memorial parks and gardens, the weather in the UK starts to turn towards the colder and the Autumn is with us.. Yet, today, as the weatherman says that everywhere is feeling the temperature drop, the back garden of 41 was deceptively warm. In the sun trap that is the garden, there was an opportunity today to get the power hose out and clear the patio of dog doo-doo and paths of chicken muck....    

And the result was that the shorts had to be on and the T shirt off - as the sun shone down upon us all.

And Susie found that she was able to harvest more from the garden...

And this shot shows the size of the Squashes - by comparison to the size of the large kettle.

So, America is shut, and though the garden was warm - the temperature in the house has been going down. It is clear that were we not going away for the weekend for a wedding, then we would probably be foreced to put the central heating back on .

And today was the day that the first of the power companies announced that it would increase its prices by 8%, and all the news pundits say that this is just the first of them all.

Would be a great time to be buying a wood burning stove and having a little bit of woodland to gather logs - but as we enter the third week of sale, still no nibble at all. Not an enquiry at all. So we will keep on fiddling at the edges and trying to continue the de-clutter in case someone pops their head around the door.

But tomorrow we will get the Bothy out again and head up into the wilds of Essex. The wedding will be on Saturday but due to the distance it makes sense to travel up tomorrow and spend a night in the bothy and then make use of the Hotel booking for Saturday night.

I understand that Alexander the Merekat has arrived at Plas y Mor - having made the great journey... Dor is still with us - so he will come with us to Essex, and try to keep the chill away. Forecast for the weekend is for storms and rain which would be sad for the wedding - but it is in a main building and not a tent so that will minimise the affects...  So the Chill will continue, America remains closed but we will ignore both...

Maybe a glass of scotch to finish the day....  

9th October 2013 - Happy Birthday's and House Keeping...

"Thursday - Clean Morning Room Windows !!!!"  A line from an Am Dram play from many years ago - so many years ago that Susie was still acting in those days rather than costume and set design. The simple handyman mutters as he goes about his daily tasks with aspergis commitments....  

Sadly, google searches on this line, "Good Morning Pussy" - the line I seem to remember as the opening line around the breakfast table, and "who wrote the Play Goers" simply give me a googlewhack - my own blog - being written at the moment...

But it is not even Thursday, it is in fact Wednesday, and I forgot to put the rubbish out this morning - I think it was Black bags - but not sure - too late to worry about now...
But Wednesday is my day for the housecleaning - well at least over the last couple of weeks of Home Alone....  Susie being in recovery mode, I sent her back to bed - while I worked on the bleaching of the kitchen floor and the front porch - those two areas where the smell of clean has a great impact over and above the reek of Dog !!  Especially dogs that tend to wee ( cos they are too old !! ) and because they want to pee on an area where another dog has peed. You get a rather geometric progression of escalation - Dog pees - cos it doesn't know any better, so other dog pees to mark the pee, so first marks over the other - so ... and so it goes on !!.   So bleach and kitchen cleaner works well to give a different feeling to the house as you come through the front door...

But that does not help the carpets!!.. And so the first stage of VAX 101  - and managed to get the soap and the water and the buttons to set the brushes and the soap on as the hoover goes around the room. Slow and steady and the carpets of the main room  were well soaped - I think - it doesn't show the soap or any real difference in the colour - but you can feel the pile is wet - so it must be doing something....  Run over again with the brushes and soap off and apparently it will suck all the dirty water back into the machine..  Actually - It still seems wet to me ....   but smells a little better.   Quick run around with the Morrisons special Carpet de-odorising shaky stuff at 85p rather than Shake n VAC at £2.75  and the house smells a little less "Doggy"..


Haven't stopped sneezing yet !!!

So, sitting at the old computator - been working on some Birthday Cards today .... Found a few that will be quite funny and work as part of the marketting...

Thought this was fun....    A touch of Poe...

And my favourite - written especially for Kel on the last day of the Pennine Walk ...

so - a clean smelling house - but still no takers or enquiries for the sale...   Ho Hum ...

Better have a glass of Scotch ....

8th October 2013 - Late Summer ?

So the day started fairly simply - it was raining - surprise surprise!!!. But as I went out to clear the Bothy, the sun broke through and by the time I had brought it to the front of the house to empty, I regretted wearing more than a pair of shorts and T shirt. Could not believe how warm it was for the end of the first week of October.

But that was the start of a day errands and runaround.

And on the subject of videos - finally uploaded the Green One - The Whole Story...

 
Trip up to Aberaeron this evening completes a full day .....

Maybe a glass of scotch to see the night out.....

7th October 2013 - Spouse Retrieval...

After a few days of sickness, the long drive down form the North following the successful Pennine Walk was a lot to ask of anyone who is fit and well, let alone exhausted and suffering from a lack of a sense of responsibility at both ends!!!

For Susie, the day started from Edal, but a six to seven hour journey was ahead of her. Still suffering from stomach and sickness. Sadly, stuck with another dog and chickens and no real opportunity to get up North by train or bus or other means there seemed little opportunity to assist.

The best final solution was to borrow my mother's car and drive up the last two hours of her journey, up to Abergavenny / Hereford, near to our party fields and wait for her to arrive. Having completed most of her journey, I was then able to drive the final section, leave the car at a friend's stable where it would be safe, and make arrangements to return for the car in the future.

Better than nothing - that plan was followed, and at 4.20 pm we got home to Llanelli, ready for her 5pm Doctor's appointment.

Doctor's diagnosis??  Food Poisoning. So tests to check the infection / poisoning and a restful few days methinks...

So - little to report other than the safe retrieval of wife and dog - all quietly in their beds - after all they have been used to 12 hour nights out in the Bothy....

In the meantime - my change of profile picture seems to be a success...

Had the copy of the Green One Story recorded in Germany so working upon the edit and hoping to post later.....   Chateau 41 it is then :)

6th October 2013 - Furnace, Foibles and a little frustration...

So the last Home Alone Sunday for a while, as the walkers head for the last several miles and the final goal - the finish line... Of course - choosing to go from North to South meant that their final resting place is in some pub with no signal for mobile phones, no contact and a particularly unhelpful barmaid who would not call out for the walkers when they ran out of money on the pay phone.. As a result - I knew that they had arrived - but no way to contact Susie or any of the others, or call back to say what was happening...

However- half an hour later, and another expensive pay phone call ( bet that upset all the Iphone users  :) ) I am assured that everyone had met up and they were ready to celebrate the end of the journey.

So well done to the walkers - 280 odd miles in 12 days - an excellent effort....

 And as it turns out on the anniversary of the Hadrian's Wall effort last year ....

So, being at more or less a loose end, and having had an invite to go and join some friends at the local Rugby Club, I ventured up to Furnace RFC for the lunchtime sessions. Interestingly, as I passed the "snugg" I heard my voice called out and looked through to see some of my ex police colleagues and witnessed a discussion as to whether I was "really" me or not....  Not sure what the general consensus was - but I was fairly happy in my own opinion.  I am unconvinced that I have changes so mush int he last 10 years - but I may be a little biassed!!!...

And so, after a brief sojourn at the rugby club and a surprisingly low set of prices for drinks - more reminiscent of the Crimson Moon than any pub I have been in lately, it was back to 41, to check the tomatoes ( another bag in the freezer) water the peppers in both green houses - only had remembered one up till now, turned the cheese, gathered the three eggs - our sporadic layer seems to be going for the pointy ones again with the weak shells...checked food levels and water levels for the Chickens, looked at some boxes and decided that Monday would be a better day to start the next phase, looked at the path and decided that it was not really warm enough to hose down the paths...  and came back to the sanctuary of the computer room -  played with some photo galleries, Flicks, and found a video of Germany - and a Green One!! Will need some editing I think!

But no calls from the estate agent. Damn - that is a full week and no calls !!!

Ho Hum... Susie and Rusty Home tomorrow .....

5th October 2013 - Listless in Llanelli...

So, there is Sleepless in Seattle. but back home the above title seems to fit the bill a little more closely - Listless in Llanelli.

A rather nice Port (actually Tesco Ruby £6.50 but nice enough for me !) some mature cheddar cheese and a little Danish blue, bread - cos silly me forgot to buy any more crackers !, Box Car Willie playing on the speakers, nothing on telly - surprise surprise it being Saturday night and a prime viewing time ...

Broadband playing up this evening and dropping out left and right. No excuse today - it is not raining. Not Windy. Not freezing. No Weather conditions to speak of unless it is that it is uncharacteristically mild today !!!  No ??  Okay - the connection is just rubbish !

But as I sit here this evening I have been brought to a point of revelation - yes one worthy of a blazing light on the road to Damascus... for my daughters have identified to me the impact that I may have had on their childhood and subsequent development..

In my defence, I have always enjoyed music and done my best to promote the enjoyment of my music through my children. In my over zealous manner, during the late seventies and early eighties, at a time when there were no music videos as compilations, no DVD's - when video disks were a very expensive experiment - destined to follow the Betamax, I used to spend time  gathering video of music from all its sources. This meant long periods watching the Multi-colour Swap Shop on a Saturday Morning, Top of the Pops, Ready Steady Go and any other music fest available.

The Rules....  no live performances - they were boring - but the new media of the  "pop Video"  was worth watching. In those days, without remote control - it was all about getting the VHS machine in the right place and putting it onto "pause" and "record".. and then waiting - lying on the floor by the machine waiting for the next "music video" to come on screen- and anxiously pressing the pause button to release and start the recording. Of course the standby would kick in every ten minutes - so, a rewind and reset would happen....   As I recall a programme like Swap shop would have two - maybe three videos in the course of a three hour programme...    Kenny Everett would have an excellent new Video every week - but you could never tell when it would appear in the show !!

But over the years - I managed to compile several 3 hour tapes of non stop music that would be played in our house whenever we were in a room with a television. A visual alternative to the record player. We were never a household where there was silence. Always some form of music would play .....

So it was today that my eldest posted a video that was well represented in my compilations. I well remember the calls of " I am her !!" as Toyah wielded her whip and drove her Grey ( I am told you can't call horses white ) Horse and her chariot formed from a half toyota into the castle grounds..... It seemed innocent. Good music, lovely setting, great concept, nice photo angles...    Until watched with the benefit of hind sight....

Yes - they are right. The Evil Baddie in the Music Video IS my son in law!!  You cannot see if he has long hair ( as at the time of the early romance ) or follicly challenged ( as appears more recently )  as the "baddie" wears a hood which could be worn by any LARPer with pride, and could well have been sewn by my wife as part of a costume concept..  but it is still him !!!

I went back to look to see if I appear somewhere in the background - but though there are drunken bodies around the fire I cannot see any direct resemblance!!

And then I look to Toyah....   Driving the Chariot forward, Red ( almost Orange  but I will be generous ) hair in an awesome bouffant - and I recall the penchant of my eldest daughter for changing her hair colour to russet, crimson , ginger, or is it to Toyah Tint!!!...

And my youngest???  perhaps she simply escaped the "Baddie" by travelling further from those LARP style firepits.. and followed the arrow messages?? Far from these lands and into her own land of warm seas, hot climate and rugged landscape.....

So, somewhere among the famous Boxes of 41 - in amongst the Videos that killed the Removal Man will be the compilation tapes of videos from our history - tapes that one day can now be transferred up onto You Tube to be once again enjoyed in the order that they appeared on those old tapes and compilations..

Meanwhile .. the Baddie is still out there!!!   And the Toyah Warrior-ess... And her Sister in the Sun

And I am content .....

Listless in Llanelli - but better than any alternative I can currently think of....

4th October 2013 - Friday - that's all !!!

Friday - that's all !!!

3rd October 2013 - National Poetry Day

It seems that today  has a meaning
And though it may seem demeaning
I thought I'd make use of my time
by writing the blog all in Rhyme.
It will be quite simple and and trite
And the rhymes may not always be right
But its raining outside and its cold
So I will write 'fore I get too old.

The weather I say is quite damp
And I' glad that I don't have top camp,
Though the walkers for Cieran are struggling on
Across the Pennines over half has now gone,
Though I am sure that they're getting wet
They'll reach their destination yet
And though I'm sure they're footsore
It might get a donation more.

But today I'll not venture out
I'll stay here and without a doubt
I'll keep warm and sit with my dog
Who's sleeping just like a log,
And I'll wait by my telephone
And sit here on my own
In case an Estate agent rings
With a buyer or some other things

"Why in rhyme?" I hear you say
'Cos its National Poetry Day..

Well it may not be the best Poetry but it qualifies in my view....

Almost as much as the Emperor Fu !!!

2nd October 2013 - Damp on the Tramp..

A damp day and occasional heavy downfalls here in Wales and the weather forecast is for storms and floods. Looks like it is getting worse for the next few days as well !!!
The weather up North seems to be as bad as ours looking at the pictures of the walk. They are well over half way and still managing to keep their spirits up. I understand that they are having a curry evening tonight though it was too inclement to put up the kitchen awning for outside cooking.

They seem to be camping most days and Susie is trying to dry their boots in the Bothy loo using the oil heater so they have a chance to get through another day. The donations seem to be coming in thick and fast as well - which is great news.

Meanwhile, Home Alone, managed to fix the dishwasher ( I don't use is as often as we do when we are all here). Switched it on this evening and only a dead machine!!!  Of course I had done some cleaning and managed to knock the plug out of place under the sink - so all sorted in the end ...

So, as it is October., I decided to invest in a couple more Morrisons boxes and have a look at a couple more rooms to de-clutter. Looking from a distance, sadly, it seems that most people would start from where I am now - rather than pride themselves in clearing 75% already.. Ho Hum !!!!

Needing to think about doing some decorating. Wondering if I have enough zest to start while Home Alone. Or is that why I have suddenly gone down with minor man flu - cold and sore throat ?? Seems likely that the old body is making excuses already !!

So - the opportunity to do some more video editing for the Browns Hotel in Laugharne - the Sunday Sessions with the Empty Shed experience....

This one has been treated with the ageing facilities available to me - rather like the result..

Meanwhile, with the Chickens we seem to have four eggs a day again for two days - one of them very pointed so the fourth lass is still having her egg laying problems.

But while the rain looks set to stay in - they were put away at half past six and not sure how early I will be up in the morning. But a small piece of pate and cheese with a glass of port seemed only reasonable this evening ...

1st October 2013 - New Month - New Opportunities

Well, the house has been listed for a couple of days and no takers. But the rest of the photographs are now available on  the house link : 41 New Road - On Zoopla..

The Music / Living Room 

Rusty gets into the act 

Stairs to the Basement 

Bathroom 

Bedroom 2

Master Bedroom currently used as extra living room 

Kitchen from the Work tops..

Bedroom 4

More Main Living Room / Music Room 

Outside the house..

Oh well - we will see what happens. Had a busy morning scrubbing the kitchen and hoovering the main floors. Doing a little de-clutter later and added a few scented candles. Seem to have used up my stock of diet Coca Cola purchased back in July at 2 for £2.. It has lasted well but a trip to ASDA yesterday shows they are currently on offer at 2 for £3.50 so a little investigation is now required. I also see 24 cans which  thought were expensive at £6.75 are now over £9. And they say that the cost of living is not rising !!!

Managed a couple more videos form the Browns Hotel on Sunday.  This is "Coping" - a love song (apparently!!) for Paula....  

So - waiting by the phone - could be a long wait !!!