20th December 2021 - Trip to Vic for Christmas..

Thought for the day :"Aldi is selling Humpty Dumpty toys for Christmas. They have eggs but are also doing Aldi kings horses and Aldi kings men." (a variation on Bob Williams' post)

Unusually low key day for me today - couldn't find the umpph to get anything done. But visited with Vic and took him his Christmas presents, they are going to have a party om Christmas Day and give out all the presents then so that will be fine.

Toby came with us and took his normal position at Vic's feet...

Took a trip to Shadog - Toby's puppy home and one of Susie's hand painted Cristmas Cards - this one with a picture of Toby..  Seemed to go down well as we have a lovely text once they had opened the card.

It is a huge farm !!  More than I would like to have to look after... Though in fairness Ffynnon Wen tires me out some days !

And with that - we start our festive birthday cards....

Cheers 

 

19th December 2021 - Let me introduce the Barbecue Terrace

Thought for the day :"Take things in perspective – I have a friend who has sex two or three times a day, exercises twice a day, reads two books a week yet every day he complains about how much he hates prison "

Sunday - a day of rest ? Maybe not!

The
start of the day was a startling display of mist and fog dispersing into ta really hard frost on the ground and the sun came out and everything glittered. Not the sort of thing that shows on the camera - but well worth a mention..

Susie had an early start in her boots and with her air rifle down with the chickens. No rats this morning but the last few days she has been successful. She thinks they were too cold to come out this morning.

Walked the dogs over the field and then took them on the lead into the village to deliver some of her hand painted Christmas Cards - not allowed to post until Christmas but they are wonderful, chosen for each recipient ...    

I had started on the wood shed before taking the dogs out so had to go back and do a few more barrow loads before finishing for the day.. 

Taking pictures but not much to show but it is one stage at a time - not as young as I used to be ...

For the uninitiated - the top shelf of wood has gone !!!

Yup - lots to go yet - but it is a start 

For reference - the view of the stage and barbecue area..  Nay Barbecue Terrace!!

Seems only yesterday that I started referring to the "stage and Performance Area" when it was a pile of wood !!

Will have to loo at all the pictures and put them into a video / Gif

In the meantime - Sausage Casserole for Sunday Dinner - For the Win !!!

Cheers !

   

18th December 2021 - Clearing the rubbish..

Thought for the day :"Scientists have created a car that runs on Parsley – they are now working on a train that runs on Thyme"

Started the day by walking down to Felin Ganol to see Johnny and Kaye to give them a Christmas Card that Susie painted of their house. I will wait until all cards are delivered before putting a gallery up - but to be brief she has done a wonderful job. delivered to Spot and Scott and Jackie later int he day on her own.

Meanwhile - I decided to tackle the mess by the tavern door. This is an area that the tree surgeon will need to access to take the tree down - so it has to be done so it seemed appropriate to start today. A messy job taking all the pipework and old pagoda frames around the back of the Tavern.

Not must to see - but thought I would document anyway as it will be a striking difference when the wood store is also removed. For reference - this will be the area that we will put a pizza oven, barbecue and pig roast!!

So, we start with a shot of the  start...

Clearing the rubbish and finding that there is a good structure underneath with supports in cement drainpipes..  

Cleared the floor area 

Not much of a progress - but every bit counts..

In other news, Mayor of London declares Major Incident due to Omicron..
Anti shut down protesters in London cause violence.

Friend Roger Morgan posts pictures of Newport at lunchtime on the Saturday before Christmas and it is deserted.

Interest rates have gone up (not by a lot but by some) - good for those without loans ...  Not good for everyone.

If I were a pundit I would be expecting shut downs for Christmas.

Personally, it will make little difference to us - not expecting much for Christmas.

Managed finally to get a regular slot on ASDA - for our Thursday 7-9 pm after trying for 5 months. 
Every time in the past there has been an "technical" error and would have to book the next Thursday again and try again..  But now - we have that slot for the New Year...  Small victories.

Cheers !

   

17th December 2021 - Stage is very Palletable - and done !!

Thought for the day :"Sometimes I think I'm a marquee, other times I think I'm a wigwam. Maybe I should relax, I'm too tense!"

Today we reached another stage in the progress towards a Tavern ..

Finished the Tavern Stage as far as I can go at present - other than some specialist lighting and wiring.

Curtains put back and system to hold the Wedding Tapestries when we decide to use them ...

Mirrors put on the back wall and some pallet wood used to make some feature structure...

All in all - am pleased by this progress..

May have to create some proper steps to get up to the stage as the logs will not last for ever.

So, the next stage is to get the eyesore that is the Wood Pile away from the Beer Garden and to create the platform for the Pizza Oven, pig roast and barbecue... 

One more step in the progress ....    plenty more to come ...

So - here is the wood shed project at the start ...

Before Picture - this is the wood store today 

This is the new wood store 

Starting the flooring for the woodshed

the start ...   

In other news Covid hit over 90,000 and Wales is heading for shutdown as far as I can see. Tories lost a by election in massive proportions. 

But the driver from Jewson's who got his lorry stuck in the lane came to the house today and dropped some mice pies and biscuits as a thank you for the assistance I gave -   totally unexpected and appreciated. Apparently from the driver and the company as they did not have to get a support vehicle out to get him extricated..  Felt a little feeling of warmth today ...

In other news, decided to create a Christmas Card for my friend Jens in Brokeloh (Mythodea)

Enjoyed creating this one ...

And so it is Friday again ...  

Cheers !

 

 

 

16th December 2021 - Take the Stage

Thought for the day :"Don't want to depress you but 2022 is just 2020 too"

A deceptively mild day today, which allowed me to get on with the stage / performance area,much to the chagrin of the dogs who felt that it was a waste of an opportunity to go to the fields..

But the work was worthwhile as I manged to finish the technical area and provide a waterproof  doorway and I think that it will be effective and allow for wiring - also thinking that I can probably use the rear walls to string the wiring for the speakers and microphones..

Proscenium Arch Right Side with shelving for ornaments

Wolves of Course

The Technical area - table for mixing desk and area for plugs 

Difficult to see the corrugated roofing - but it is there

Technical area with the curtains closed for privacy 

Curtains tied back for access

Proscenium arch - final with Logo 

Stage / Performance Area from Right 

Need to move the wood store now to make room 
for the Pizza Oven and Barbecue 

Stage Area from the Beer Garden 

Christmas Lights as it gets dusk 

Toby the Tavern Dog on Stage 

And gives a paw...

Susie has been painting Christmas Cards again and has attacked the Willows and has  two buckets of  willow withies ready to plant into the Dinosaur area - Giraffic Park. It is relatively clear at the moment and so a good time to be thinking of introducing the "Withies" to take some of the water level out of the land..

Garden remains very very wet and the mole is out in force...  it is a quagmire...

But two chicks have survived from Sooty's clutch and they are in the coop and thriving. Eaters are fattening and one is in isolation tonight - we have 8 days to get them all culled before Christmas.

Beau seems to be eating again - so hopefully we have avoided the mystery Peacock ailment. 

In other news - Covid peaks 89,000. Hospitals almost 8,000. France has closed borders to UK.

Banks worry about 5% inflation and raise interest rates for the first time in 3 years - to 0.25%

Wales schools got to remote teaching for the last week and staggered opening after Christmas.

Glad that we decided to put friends off for the weekend as it just does not seem to be worth the risks.

And so we get to the 16th of the month again - an anniversary of our move to Ffynnon Wen - so I will pen a few words for the Glamping with the Moon Pages..  Probably will repeat them tomorrow 

But for now - 

Cheers !

 

 

15th December 2021 - Staging and Puppy Zoomies

Thought for the day :"Apparently the first two people on Earth were actually Cockneys. Would you Adam 'n Eve it?

Had a bit of a lie in today - but I am still tired !!

Must be all the fresh air and the physical activity.

Walked the dogs up the field and Toby got completely soaked - he loves the water. Came back via the scramble and he promptly visited each of the spring s and bounded through them !!

But back to the Beer Garden and broke another pallet and did some more work on the technical desk - looking quite good thought I say it myself.

Susie has been painting Christmas Cards again - will photo them and put a display up afterwards, but she wants them kept under wraps for the moment.

More puppy zoomies at the field ...

Covid Omichron hit over 70,000 cases today - watch this space!

Don't think that we will be doing our Charity Mulled Wine that we were thinking about 

Cheers !

14th December 2021 - More staging

Thought for the day :"I don't know about you, but I can't stand sitting."

A day working on the stage area again - breaking pallets and building 

Tiring but satisfying ...

But first some piggies on the kitchen window sill 

And today's pallets ready to go ...

and the front proscenium arch completed on the right side (stage Left)

Had to build in sections with shelving to take in to meet the slanted roofing that will keep the area water proof (I hope) 

And fitted to the new framework 

and inside - not very clear but this will be the technical area to hold the mixing table and the main wiring sections - possibly to control the lighting if we get around to doing that properly

And so to bed...

Cheers