31st July 2021 - And a Tavern takes Shape

Thought for the day :"I think I am having amnesia and Déjà vu at the same time – I am sure that I have forgotten this before"

A mixed weather day - remarkably cool for the end of July - start of August with smidgens of rain,  but he trailer tent seems to be holding out and the lads are running riot around the garden in the best way ..

But the main part of the day was completing the first stage of the Tavern remake...

Really pleased with the day and thought there is a lot of "Ilkley" in the under seat storage - I have the rest of the Tavern to clear yet so just getting everything into a situation where you can see the bar and the seating was great. Of course I have run out of panel wood - but that means I will just have to buy more - after all it will be required for the front end of the Tavern as well so none will go to waste - especially as I am using the pallets as battens - though may need to get some more 2 x 1 for the seating - I think that they should be sound and secure...  But tomorrow is another day - well Sunday actually so may not be a work day after all .. 
But for today - I am happy with the progress..

In other news - there is speculation at the moment that the vaccinations and the onset of Shingles are associated - and since I had both in February it was worth checking .. But form my Blog it is clear that I have Shingles on the 10th February 2021 and received my first jab on the 19th Feb - in fact I remember questioning the staff at the centre if there was a problem with me having shingles at the time - so no cause and effect 

Tired so will call it a day ..

Cheers !

30th July 2021 - Taverns and Fairy Town

Thought for the day :"My "occasional" table is completely incompatible with my frequent beers - just saying"

Nothing like having family at the Homestead ...  Nancy, Freja, Erin and Torren are with us with Freja's boyfriend, and following a trip to St Clears by Nancy Jasper has joined us to sleep over in the trailer tent with Torren.

Not the quietest of days it must be said but good fun had by all  - a day in the tavern for me finishing one wall, rain stopped play for Susie in the Garden but she had some cooking to complete for the extended family, and an evening with a firepit and listening to songs of the Tinterweb - no guitars today - maybe tomorrow. 

So the photo collection from today ...

The main wall of the Tavern - seating and paneling completed

Closer view

a bit of shelving

and the view back 

This lot still to be sorted and a home found
but everything out of boxes now except for storage  

Maybe tomorrow we will see the bar properly 

High storage as well

Meanwhile in Fairy Town ...

A new resident has moved in - thank you Stu

Relaxing ..

Jasper and Marshmallows

Jasper and Torren - in their happy place 

And so another evening at Ffynnon Wen - and time to call it a day ..

Cheers !

 

29th July 2021 - Susie's Birthday and a new Annexe

Thought for the day :"Many people think that T-Rex cannot clap their hands as their arms are too small. They can’t ! but that is because they are dead!"

Susie's Birthday today so was up early to let the Chickens and Ducks out and let her sleep in. Actually I was up for a quick bathroom break and decided that I may as well pop down and do it then and go back to bed and we could both have a lie in - which was what we did though she did get her breakfast in bed...

Newcastle Emlyn for a Doctor's appointment for Susie which took almost an hour - but we managed to get into the Nursery to buy up more Roses and some nice red flowers which I can't remember the name of to replaced the Dahlias opposite Meerkat Mountain. Quick trip up to Brynhoffant shop as well and then managed to get the trailer tent leveled up with a borrowed jack...

All looking good I think so we now have the official Annexe - the Barden Heim ... (Bard's Home aand not as I accidentally painted one time Baden Heim - which is a bath house !)

And the view form the annexe is also good  - straight into the Temple of Doris !!

Incidentally one of the roses bought today was called Doris  - and so the wheel of life turns!!

Expecting a visitation of Keens this evening - though as usual they are leaving late and will not be here until some time before midnight - good timing with the annexe I think ...

Very smelly dog by my side - her rear end is firing on all cylinders - so bad that she has had to move three times to get away from her own odour - oh well - I suppose I could move ... 

Cheers !

 
 

28th July 2021 - Tavern Working

Thought for the day ;" I wish to complain about my wine box – it says once opened it would last 6 weeks – it only lasted 3 hours"

 Productive day in the Tavern today ..  moving a lot of boxes and getting the settle seating sorted ...

Susie also clearing large areas of the estate from weeds - they are prolific at this time of year - seems as thought it will be non-stop. Still trying to find out where the chickens escape into the main land - tried a few more areas in the fencing today to try to stop them  - have some ideas for tomorrow.

So after a long day - Susie is down on the fishing hole - note the heritage sweet peas on the patio..

A look down the garden this evening ..

And after clearing all the boxes in the top tavern

And later in the Tavern - the new settle seating is all in place  along the main wall 

And a look back towards the door ..

Still a lot of "tat" to find a home for - but there are two halves to this tavern so it does not all have to be in here - the important part is that we are now clear of boxes in the top Tavern  - this is a stage that is almost as important as the clearing of the warehouse and emptying No 41.

And another day is done ...

Cheers !

27th July 2021 - Jamming

Thought for the day :"I tell jokes in sign language – no-one has ever heard them"

 A lot cooler today - indeed we had quite a bit of rain - though it stopped long enough to walk the dog up to the field and back.

Afterwards spent the afternoon in the Tavern - we are making progress.
No more build yet - just emptying boxes but I can get to the rear wall now so that is progress, and the firepit has been on most of the day burning empty cardboard boxes.

Did some work on labels as Susie had potted her Blackcurrant Jam, so I though it best to have them properly marked..

  

And so another day moves on 

Susie took this photo of her 3 sisters bed..

Cheers !

26th July 2021 - Moussaka and Messing about in the Tavern

Thought for the day :"Putting posts in for a fence , I told my wife that when I nod my head, you hit it .. I don’t remember anything after that"

Saw Steve and Lynne off today and wished them well on their journey. A real pleasure to have guests again ...  

And so today was Susie;s home made moussaka day - with her own aubergine and makings - only the tomatoes were not quite ripe enough.

All from the Garden - and very tasty it was 

Meanwhile, Susie gets her gun out as Ratty comes to the bird feeder again 

And Steve (the Flasher) takes a lovely picture of Ffynnon Wen in the Sun as his "office of the day"

Spent most of the day in the Tavern today and clearing the boxes slowly - we are gaining - but not there yet.. Seems a bit like being int he Warehouse again - but this time I can build the shleves and start storing the "Ilkley" (we have more Bar Tat than anyone else!) 

Cheers !

25th July 2021 - Visitors ...

Thought for the day :"Get a loan from a bank and you will be paying it back over 30 years – rob a bank and you will be out in 10 years – follow me for more financial advice"

Had the "Flasher" Steve and Lynne with us for an overnight visit and enjoyed showing them around.

However that means that I did not take any photos.

However - took my weekly video of the Peacock chicks - now four weeks old ... 

And more...

And so to bed ...

Cheers !

24th July 2021 - Garden Photos and fresh food - Yum !

Thought for the day :"Diet Tip. If you feel hungry you may be thirsty. Have a glass of wine and see how you feel."

I spent most of the day in the Tavern - working in the paneling - no pictures today as the boxes are still blocking most of the view - but I managed to clear about 8 boxes so we are working in the right direction..

However started the day trying out the new electric drill driven pump to empty the small duck pond which worked very well. It was a little over worked for the big pond so decided to buy a proper submersible pump as I have electrics down to the paddock and lower quarter now.

So filled the ponds and all the water for the "Girlies" and Fabio and Cedric of course...

Took a walk around the garden - as you do - still too hot for a walk with the dog so 'Thena chased some sticks into the river to cool off....

And while I was there I took some photos of the dog roses by the river - they are glorious at the moment .. 

And the Memorial Rose bed is looking good too 

Patio in the cool of the evening 

Meanwhile Susie has been busy with the Black Currants - making Blackcurrant Jam 

 

And salad this evening is entirely form the garden 

And to go with it home made barbecue sauce to go with the ribs ...  I think I may explode !

In other news - saw some updated jokes today

Cheers !

23rd July 2021 - Driving Bits and Tavern Progress

Thought for the day :"My favourite drummer came out of retirement, there will be repercussions."

Still warm and sultry - threatening storms, which hit Pembrokeshire but left us untouched.

Trip to Newcastle Emlyn in search of a fan for Vic, and found a shop with a good stock, so drove up to Llanybydder to deliver it in the box so they should not need to quarantine it.

Also found somewhere selling Citric acid for food preservation (Susie is making Jam and more cordials), and found some Pineapple and Coconut milk for Pina Coladas.

Had a Greek style Lefko lamb dinner this evening and we ate outside as the temperature started to drop to reasonable levels.

After my Drivey Bits - it seemed best to stay in the Tavern in the cool, though I will admit that the sweat was pouring off me!! Progress..

My workshop area

Arched mirror walls

Seating and storage area

Meanwhile Susie has dispatched our last "eating" chicken, and collected 2kg of Blackcurrant

And so another day and another step forward... 

It may take a while !

Cheers !

22nd July 2021 - Pizza Thursday and a visit to Vic

Thought for the day :"Apparently it is rude to poke someone in the forehead and say “skip intro” when they start speaking.. Who knew ?"

Another hot day... with sounds of thunder in the distance in the evening but we had no rain ...

But up early and cut the lawns - though needed to go up the road to get more petrol to finish the job on the go-kart - did not get the hand - held out as it was too hot ...

Trip to see Vic, and they are using the "Pod" which is fine for many - but sadly the system of a glass panel and speakers with microphone helps not a jot when he is as deaf as he is - so no hugs, no conversation as he could not understand, and no opportunity to show photos which we normally do. But he seemed pleased to see us and that was the main ting - but we think we will restrict to every two weeks if we have to use this method. He is clearly happy where he is and they are looking after him well. I cannot criticise their wish to protect their residents and we would not have it any other way ..

A big smile ..

And a couple more videos of the garden

Steve popped around to visit celebrating one year from sale of the property so we gave him the grand tour which he seemed to enjoy - Later we had Johnny visit s we gave him the tour as well.

Spent a couple of hours in the tavern fixing mirrors and some seating /storage - getting better at this ..

But it is Pizza Thursday so it was up to me to cook this evening - and it was cool enough to eat outside tonight   

So, candled the latest peacock eggs - appears that we have 3 viable and one non - so may have some more peacocks if we get the humidity right this time ...

Poor old eating chickens have got too large to get out from the coop but luckily we are starving the last one ready for cull - but they are all coming in at about 7lbs - they are huge !!

And so - to bed 

Cheers !