31st May 2014 - Burning Questions....

Thought for the day: "My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right."

Saturday. Fair weather and a day without boxes, pallets or storage....
Provincial meeting of the Order of the Secret Monitor, or order of the Brotherhood of David and Jonathan at Carmarthen though, and I am playing Organ as Provincial Grand Organist.. Not a difficult task, only a couple of hymns and the two national anthems and some twiddly bits in between...   But as a guitarist, the role of official organist has its own irony..

Today, after "Jesu joy of man's desiring" and similar scriptural pieces, I had the delight of playing a slow version of Bach's rendition of "Hotel California" or rather my latest version the "Coast of Caledonia". It was later at the dinner that one senior member sidled up to me to admit that it took him a long time to realise what the tune was!!!
 
So a good meeting, a lovely dinner in the Ivy Bush Hotel, and an evening of TV ..
All in all a simple yet good day...

But back to the pallets ...
A short film I saw sums up a great tradition..

and as the smoke rises ...
A new Batch of Chateau 41 is bottled - but far more important - Grape Juice once again appeared in the stores of Lidl and ASDA after three months of  none....   New fermentation started..

Glass of Scotch and Prince of Persia ...
seems legit...

30th May 2014 - Pallets and Houses

Thought for the day: "In filling out an application, where it says, 'In case of emergency, notify:'. I put 'DOCTOR'...   Seems Legit !"

A strangely sunny morning today, and leafing through the bits and pieces that I garner as I wander through the intertweb, I found a reference to some pallet houses that were designed for those who were returning home to Kosova after the troubles there. The plans were designed to make suitable housing from easily available items - such as pallets, and could be constructed with minimum fuss, less than a day to build and with easily accessible tools...

Every picture paints a story so here are the houses...

Such a simple idea and so effective...  
They now sell the plans - so for posterity I will list the address - but the concept seemed so simpolistic as to be brilliant..

http://www.i-beamdesign.com/products/pallethouse/orderplanswlicence.html

So - back to the construction on the music stand on wheels then...   still only in the planning stage   ...

29th May 2014 - More Songs .. Coast of Caledonia

Thought for the day: " We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public."

Well, been playing with the Autoharp a little more and beginning to get some decent sounds out of it.
Decided to work on an old classic and see if I could get a viking tune out of it...

It was meant to be an easy raid on an unsuspecting coastline. The Dragon ship came through the night, oars and sails speeding her towards the sound of surf... but this was to be no easy venture.. No, the inhabitants were ready, they had seen the sails in the distance and readied beacons to draw the ship towards the vicious rocks below...  Fire arrows were primed and the boat flamed to its end, water breaching through the torn planks as the sea rushed in...
No glorious battle here. No Valkyrie to take away the fallen. Only an ignominious death.. and the rest of time in Nifelheim...   with no escape...

They regretted visiting the Coast of Caledonia....

Quite pleased with that ...
Cheers

28th May 2014 - Boxes ? Bring it on!!!

Thought for the day: " A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it."

Once more the weather turns a little cloudy and miserable. Of course the weekend was horrendous for most people, but it was the MAy Bank Holiday, and as I recall this would have been the weekend that the NSPCC Knockout would have been running in Llanelli, often a wash out.... And of course it is the weekend for Empire LARP game, at Tournament Stud, and that system seems to be dogged with bad weather every time. The site does not lend itself to bad weather either ..

Personally, my weekend was in the comfort of the Bothy. The sound of rain hammering on the roof int he middle of the night, knowing you do not have to get up and adjust the guy ropes is a delightful feeling.

No, a day for looking at some more boxes - though not as clever as these boxes found on my travels ...

This seems to be a standard box, not too large and not too small - but it makes you wander what may be contained inside..

It seems that it can extend as well as open ...  That is interesting...

Curiouser and curiouser as Alice would say..  There seems to be more to this box than first appears

They say every picture tells a story...  and that is the case here..

Boxes within boxes... makes sense

Wasn't expecting the table ... and seems to be more boxes now

Beginning to get the idea...

Hmm !

I think the pictures tell the story now ...

Not sure where the shelves came from !!... Oh.. they were on the bed thing..

Yes, I said bed !!

Sneaky mattress there ...

Almost there ..

Look, even books for the bookshelf... and bedding..

And the complete room in a box... What a design !!

Enough to drive you to drink I think...  Best be some diet coke for the moment - and think about that Guitar Wagon again ...

Cheers..


Ahh - Google plus has seen fit to animate it for me
Here you go

27th May 2014 - Of Songs and Songwriting...

Thought for the day : "If I Agreed with you, we'd Both be wrong!"

Well, after a day gallivanting around the country- Caerphily Castle and Cosmeston Medieval village, I suppose it was only fair that I got back to work today ..

Managed a morning of some paperwork, but this was rather interrupted by inspirations for new songs.. "Welcome to the Coast of Caledonia" is working quite well with the new Autoharp,  and finally started my 2014 Mythodea Song Collection Collection with "The West Awakes!" ... Waiting for upload now to check before sending to youtube. Incidentally nearing 51,000 hits now - only a few hundred to do ...

Managed an hour or so in container, still rescuing books and so far none destroyed though the smell of damp permeates.  A good cloth wiping each box has slowed the transfer of boxes, with a need for another few from Morrisons tomorrow .....

Final version of the song uploaded and now shared here...

The West Awakes !!!

Happy with that - and so to bed ... maybe a glass Scotch before I trundle off....

26th May 2014 - Of Mantles and Music

Thought for the day: "Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back."

After a rotten weekend, I really did not hold out much hope for a good day today - and it started pretty bleak ! But as the day has unfolded I think I may have got myself some sunburn - certainly overheated in my Monk's garb - but I am ahead of myself ...

An early start (for me anything before 10 am classes as early and this was at least an hour and a half before that !) and chickens released, dogs exercised (let out the dog door) and tea poured for comatose wife.. and self !!, emails sorted, birthday cards posted and ready for the off!!

It is a Bank Holiday Monday meaning that I am spoiled for choices... Go back to bed was high on the lists if I am to be completely honest, but the Bothy called!!!

So, armed only with the autoharp (as the latest acquisition) and traveling guitar being the most suitable for a full reenactment where they may be critical of "stuff" that is not based in 1414, I headed off down the motorway again ..

Called in on Caerphilly castle to see friends with Pig in the Bun  and the Companye of Chivalrye - but as I had parked on the moat approach I thought I should not stay too long....

And on to Cosmeston Medieval village - a place I had heard of for many years but never actually managed to attend.... Parking the Bothy proved a problem - the car park was full and it was quite busy by the time I got there, but twice around the car park and bloody mindedness found me a space... I think it was the Coach turning circle but I couldn't see any coaches and I had no complaints at the end of the day !!

Based upon the leaving temperature - I had taken the Grey fleece - double warm cassock and surplice for my Monk attire - this would proved to be a bad idea - for it was now Hot !! But I found the Stagger Inn - or its equivalent... In the mud from the previous day !

It seems that the main paths had been closed off so the bar could not operate in its proper form .... but I found the ale in the Bakers, which would have been its traditional place of operations as they used the same yeast ...  and managed a few songs there - but did not scare too many customers aware .. Seems I was designated as the early English juke box ....

But they have done a lovely job on the medieval buildings and they are each set up with a vignette inside to display their original use, the baker, the bar, the scriptorium. Most are thatched and I understand that they have been recently re-thatched . Talking with one of the custodians, he tells me that when the thatcher came in to do the last pieces of restoration, he strolled in and made the random comment, "So you have had a close relation with Canada then?? "  to which the response was pretty blank. "The thatch" the thatcher insisted... "Is local " says the custodian ...   To which the thatcher says "Oh really ?  " Strolls up to the rooking and examines the reeds carefully - " Nope - Canadian Reed !"

The Custodian then states that after looking up the previous accounts and invoices.. he discovers that in the 80's, when the village was last upgraded, it was cheaper to import reed from canada by ship than to buy locally ..... the guy was correct and had discerned the source from yards away ....

But a good time was had by all.. Well maybe except those who volunteered to face the arrows in the archer demonstration ...

A nice action shot I was quite pleased with !!

So as I watched the Falconry display, in this case one which claims to be more historically authentic than current more specialised training methods.. after the falcon was brought down - and enticed by the lure, she sat on the ground over the lure and raised her wings in a protective manner. It was explained by the young lady doing the demonstration that this was known as "Mantling". The bird - having brought down her prey was aware that others above might see her dinner and swoop down and steal it..  Therefore she raises her wings to hide her kill.. And that is where we get the term Mantle - for a bolero top for a costume, or Mantlepiece - which will cover the fireplace...

So a new term learned today...

But I was also traveling and when I travel I start to think of lyrics to well known songs!!

And so this evening I have written down the words to that famous and incomprehensible  song "Welcome to the Coast of Caledonia"... I am sure that I shall post it into Youtube and share it here in due course...
And then, coming home , I have the germ of an idea for the Hero Song for the expedition this year - The West Awakes!!

Well with a little bit of knowledge and two songs to develop...
Glass of Scotch I think ....and so to bed...
Oh - just to recap - this young lady came into my life - I have no idea who she is - but had to take a photo..

Cheers!

25th May 2014 - More rain - but never mind....

Thought for the day: "Some people hear voices. Some see invisible people. Others have no imagination whatsoever."


A weekend wedding, and spent with good friends...  Somewhere near Cheltenham, actually quite a distance away really, but a nice field for a lolloping dog and two others to run around and get themselves tired enough to sleep well in the back of the Bothy.

Yes, it was 'Thena's first proper opportunity to stay in the Bothy with her new family and she managed very well..

A Lovely wedding for Milky Bar (Matt) and Kate Bradford..

The rain did not stay away. We started in plenty of time, with the intention of heading around the motorway. though boring, it would be the fastest and most economic route to travel - until we got to the junction for the heads of the valleys.. where unfortunately the Motorway was closed.  An inconvenience for us - but today found that there had been a fatal accident on the eastbound carriageway - one life lost, three others in a car injured.... A tragedy for at least one other family ..

Meanwhile, over the heads of the valleys and a small indecision as to whether it was better to go through the forest or up to the A40 and across , meant that we were really close to our final time for arrival at the wedding....   But we got there and wit enough time to get changed and appear ready !!

Muddy grounds meant that walking the dogs left me rather the worse for wear - but luckily in my "pre- wedding Kit"..

Met many old friends and probably drank a little too much gin. That happens when your host leaves a bottle of Sloe Gin under every table and lots of shot glasses - it certainly goes down smoothly as a short !!

The ceremony was in the pump rooms at Cheltenham - a nice but typical wedding venue, but afterwards we drove some 20 miles to the hall at Barrington - a lovely hall which had been beautifully set out by the family for the reception and party in the evening.....

A fairly high percentage of Gin was consumed - as well as many other beverages....

There is something lovely about lying in bed - hearing the driving rain on the roof of the Bothy and knowing that you do not have to go out to adjust the guy ropes....

We were the only ones staying there - everyone else was on the coach that came to drop and pick up ....
But the early morning sun was good for the dogs and they enjoyed their lollop around the field...

And 'Thena is clearly settling into her new environment. Rusty is still not sure about this "playing " thing that she wants - because it does not involve bullying Delft and making her life miserable.. but today he was happy to have a roll on his back and invite her to prance around a little..

She looks almost mean here - but it was just play...

"You playing?? or What ??"

Back home through the rain and uploaded the photographs .. May think about a short nap - but it might be a little late .... Better feed the dogs and get Susie a cup of tea... She went back for a sleep - I was busy !!!

24th May 2014 - On the road again - Wedding Bound

Thought for the day : "Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars but check when you say the paint is wet?"

Yes, early start today and on the road down to Cheltenham for the wedding of Kate and Matt aka Mily Bar aka Sir Cadwyr of the famous song.. "Oh Sir Cadawyr do not touch me !!"

So, an adventure for us all - First time away with three dogs - that will be interesting.. Especially as we will have to change into our glad rags in the bothy as well !!

Hoping to have good weather, though the forecast is not bright.. Better get the camera charged...

Soon be Gin O'Clock

23rd May 2014 - Of wires and runs...

Thought for the day : "It is best to sleep eight hours a day and at least ten at night." 

Well, actually I don't. I have commented on the values of a good nap in the afternoon and tend to survive nicely on about 6 hours at night, though 'Thena, our new Labrador fosterling does seem to think that anything after 8am is far too late to stay in bed and a large wet tongue is the best alarm clock.... I manage to ignore this most days, but today was another day to complain to the management. My cup of tea that arrived (I am sure!) at a quarter past eight was stone cold!!

Somehow failed to get to the store yesterday. Had a minor crisis in the main living room when a fuse blew taking out the television, sky, broadband, two computers, several lights, telephone chargers and some other plugs that I have not completely identified...  Maybe I put too much into a single 13amp plug - I am not sure...

Up earlier today - done my birthday wishes and checked the mail. Rain has just stopped so might be able to motivate myself...

Meanwhile, Susie has been making sterling progress in the back with the Chicken Run,. The chicks are all now housed in the new Green Room, and powered up, though that means that the fridge is not charging in the Bothy - may have to put an extension in. The Run is all wired up and a small run has been prepared for them as they grow a little older. The smell in the basement has improved greatly now that they are outside..

The run at the back has been laid out with compost on weed lining material to make a turf layer in due course, with new grass seed being spread over the surface.

The small run will be fine in the short term and hopefully the grass will have established before they use the main run ...

Inside, we were finding that they were growing so fast that the small water feeder was insufficient - but a piece of engineering brilliance converted this waste food hopper into a very effective water dispenser using the same nipple tap, but holding enough water to allow us to travel this weekend for a wedding...

Yup - definitely growing...

Better get on or I will never get started...

22nd May 2014 - Blood, Sweat and More Boxes

Thought for the day : "I'm Supposed To respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now."

Rain again.. Oh well ...  Will at least be cool. Had a text this morning from the Welsh Blood service. They area bleeding people again today. Last time I went out they were shut. Never happened to me before, but went at 2pm - seemed a good time, to find that they take an hour and a half off for lunch now - at what seems to me to be the one time that many would be able to attend - the lunchtime break and immediately afterwards...

Need some boxes from Morrisons - was completely the wrong time yesterday - and need some more compost for the chicken run. Susie had a good idea. Put some compost down and grass seed and the chickens will have some grass to walk on when they are a little bigger ( thought they are growing so fast already!) And when they go for the chop, the grass will have matted into the compost and we can take it away as turf and re-lay the area that the laying chickens have killed all the grass over the winter.... Seems like a plan...

Well yesterday was a day down at the container. The trusty box trailer is working overtime - but it was a day for the sun and it was quite hot all things considered.

The task was quite daunting as the container had been full for quite a long time and sadly was not as dry as I had hoped. Every book needed to be taken out and wipes as it was transferred, though only one was so far gone that it needed to be thrown ... Meanwhile, Pooh and Tigger sat and watched...

 They say that moral support is as good as any other support...

It may not look tidy, but this is one trailer full heading for the Shoreline. It really needs better boxes. These ones are falling apart and should be replaced. However I think it is more important to get through the container first and then sort it out afterwards.....

Full trailer at the store - will be emptying it today....

Glass of diet coke to keep me going I think ... have to wait for this evening for the real stuff...

21st May 2014 - Leaving Pwll & Scouting out new Locations

Thought for the day: "Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak."

Well the Pwll site is officially closed ..   

With the assistance of Roger and Maxine and their Box Trailer, the store for the last few months is now emptied and the contents. The subject of boxes has dominated much of what I have written about the last year or so and this may show the reason for that ... This was a section of the old store showing, guess?? Boxes !

This was of course after clearing most of the boxes from the stores - so this shows the furniture and the bulky stuff..  

But at the end of the day - I finally manged to get to this point..

Which allows me to hand the keys back - and move to the next stage..
Meanwhile.....  At the shoreline...

A large and empty room, except for the freezer that has already moved in....Luckily, we can stay here for a few months and hopefully until October....  so well packed ...

Yes - I said I had boxes !!!   This was the first load....

And this was the second load...  beginning to fill up the space quite well -

A few additional items on the other side - nearly there ..

Add some furniture - the large stuff - the wardrobes and the shelving units - but still quite tight...

Oh yes - I mentioned the last stack of boxes to come from the Pwll Store.. They needed to go in as well, add the settee and the armchair - and Bingo !!!

Not a bad day !!!
But one of the interesting things for me as I leave the Pwll Church Hall for the last time and hand in the keys that the last time I was in here before for storage was back in the late 70's, early 80's when I was a warranted Scout and Cub Pack leader and the 1st Pwll Scouts and Cubs met here every Wednesday evening..   I well remember playing the games and teaching knots and checking badges in the very room ..
It has been sold now so it is unlikely will be used as a community hall again. In fact I believe that one of the reasons it was closed is that it now fails to meet the required regulations for a public building - a pity - it still has a good little stage area .. Another small bit of my history passes.

But as I was closing the door and leaving I met the fellow who owns/rents the garage next door and a conversation ensued. I can forgive him for not recognising me.. but as he stated that he had been in the village all his life and knew everyone, I had to admit that I used to be the local bobby living in the police house next to the school...  It took him a few minutes and a check of my name - at which point he says "your wife was Sue !!!  And she was something with the playschool - my kids went there" I remember you...
Another era - another memory
 
I think I may deserve a glass of Chateau 41 - before it all goes ...