Stuck!

That was me last night. Even though I use a heavy duty hand cream the manual work I do means that I tend to get splits in my fingers by the nails. So far the best way to keep the splits closed to encourage them to close up and to stop the pain, is with a drop of superglue and a tiny square of tissue. (Vytas told me about that one.) I was regluing my current split last night and didn't notice that the glue had run down between my fingers. My poor fingers were firmly stuck together from the knuckles onwards. It took warm soapy water and a teaspoon to ease my fingers apart - eventually. Better be more careful in future.

Today started grey and brightened up later in the afternoon.

 

In the morning I had to walk down to the pharmacy to ask about my prescription. I had only a day's worth of one sort and there had been no text message telling me my repeat prescription was ready for collection. When I got there it turned out my prescription had been ready over two weeks ago. They claimed to have sent a text but this has happened before. (Peter had got his notification last week and mine goes to his phone as well.) I shall have to make a note of the date and go down and ask rather than wait for a text. Still at least we don't have to go to town to the pharmacy. That would be annoying.

I had a stroll along the beach on my way home.

I spent the rest of the day gardening. More weeding in the front garden which for the moment is weed-free, and one of the large clumps of pheasant grass dug out. It was too big for its spot so I've replanted another two feet away.

Then I carried on with the weeding, this time everything growing between the slabs of the paved path that runs up the side of the house. And of course I carried on weeding in the back garden. Got to keep on top of those pesky weeds.

It was lovely when the sun eventually shone. I took the opportunity to take some more 'after' photos indoors for the photobook I plan to make.

Sun shining through the prism film on the hall window.

New Curtain.

Much as I enjoy chatting and walking with my Sunday group it was too wet and gloomy today and I opted for a dry day at home. 

Instead of walking in the rain I spent the afternoon making a new curtain for the wardrobe in our bedroom. Being very aware of my lack of skill when it comes to sewing I worked carefully. Lots of pinning and checking to avoid major re-dos. 

Mindful also of my ancient sewing machine's vagaries with tension and the plate that moves I took the precaution of doing some trial runs using offcuts of the muslin and cotton fabrics. There was also the fact that the sheeting I was using for the lining was wider than the muslin fabric. I suppose I could have simply trimmed the sheeting but instead I made some folds to save having to sew yet another seam. 

It all turned out okay though I am aware of a slight difference in colour with the wardrobe doors. Which are themselves slightly different to the woodwork around the old shower that I painted. The doors remain unpainted since we moved in. I guess the builder thought they were close enough to the wall colour I'd chosen. I'll get round to giving them a fresh coat of paint one day.

This was the curtain I took down. Although it matches the curtains at the windows (and I have fabric to lengthen it) I much prefer having a plain curtain there.

After sewing with all that kneeling and then twisting to hook up the curtain my knees and back were aching more than if I'd been riding. And I know which activity I prefer

A Work In Progress.

From what I hear half the country had warm sun while the other half shivered under overcast skies. In the morning we seemed to be right on the divide. Out to sea all was blue but look inland and it was the usual unremitting grey. 

I got some washing out on the line but by the afternoon the clouds had spread over the bay and it turned cold and miserable.

 

My job of the day was to make a start on my 'Paddington' scarecrow. The first thing was to strip down an old breakfast stool stand and then screw on wood to make a support for the head. That done I taped on plastic ball and added bubble wrap. I used the fabric I'd dyed to make the outer layer and added details. The hat is a bit small but will have to do unless I find something better or make a wider brim. 

By the time I made some arms and added the coat I realised that my first attempt was a bit short. I suppose I could have turned up the coat but instead I remade the wooden support to make him taller. 

I'm regretting not buying a pair of red child's wellies that I saw in a charity shop the other week. I'll buy them next week if they're still there. If not the old chainsaw boots will have to do. I can't make the legs or fill out the body until I know what size the boots will be.

Eventually I got fed up and had a coffee break before heading back out into the garden. It was much nicer outside than it had seemed from indoors. I spent the rest of the afternoon picking leaves and stalks and the occasional weed seedling off the shingle. The downside of being aware of very small details is ...... being aware of very small details. Hence the need to remove leaves and stalks from the shingle. But I do like to leave flowering stems on plants and to have clumps of swaying grasses, nothing regimented in my garden.

It won't be long before we get to watch the sun going down from the terrace.

A Little Snow.

The day began with blue skies and a dusting of snow on the mountain tops.

As I sat outside pondering the world the air was filled with the sound of garden birds singing. Not so melodious are the seagulls stomping around on the roof of my study. 

After loading the car with bags of garden waste for the dump I set off bright and early for the stables. The ponies were only just being brought in and I was asked to tack up Tex (of course). I had hoped to have an indulgent time bushing his thick mane but when I ran a brush over his body prior to putting his saddle on I noticed a number of muddy lumps on his belly right where the girth goes. Getting those out was my priority as I spent time leaning on Tex's side whilst gently teasing the mud from his thick coat. Tex's comfort was more important than looking pretty.

Katie was teaching us today and she had already laid out an arrangement of poles to encourage better shaped 20m circles (are we that bad?) which we did in walk and then in trot. (Sitting trot for some of us.) We also practised changing direction by doing half of one circle and then half of the other in a kind of S-bend. Tex did a lot better at getting onto the bit and I'm working on straightening my shoulders which is not so easy with my bent spine. 

The bonus for today was that there is a 4 hour ride at the beginning of April which naturally I have booked myself onto.

After the dump I called in at Hahav. There I found myself a pair of extending loppers, rather sturdier than the ones I've already got, for £5 and a couple of other little bits.

Next stop was Morrisons. I didn't have much on my list but found some nice things in the reduced cabinet. As well as salmon fish cakes and smoked salmon I got a couple of racks of spare ribs (£2 each) to go in the freezer. 

Town today was teeming with children which was unusual for a Friday. Small ones with their parents and gaggles of teenagers on their own. It turns out the schools were having an inset day as many roads were closed for time trials for a cycling festival.

I went up to Boots to tip a bag of empty blister packs into their recycling box. Then I struck lucky in the Oxfam shop where I found a new chip basket for £3. Just what I need for blanching vegetables to put in the freezer.

At home I got a Bara Brith into the oven before my shower and afterwards ironed the duvet cover I washed yesterday. Now all the outstanding jobs are done and I have the whole of tomorrow free to get on with my projects.

Wet Again.

There was a promising start to the day with a hint of blue in the sky and a definite feeling of warmth. But it didn't last. It turned grey in the afternoon and I had to make a mad dash to bring in the washing in the middle of our Welsh class. And from then on we have had some very heavy showers.

After our busy day yesterday I felt quite tired in the morning and didn't do much before class. The class itself was intense, more work on the verbs that take a following preposition where we don't have them in English and of course each preposition conjugates, but differently. 

My brain felt totally fried afterwards. Peter has gone off to practise some Spanish conversation with friends while I had no energy to do anything. I blame that partly on the change in weather. When the sun shines I can do lots but when the sky is grey I feel cold and tired.

I better not be too tired as I'm off in a while for disco aerobics. Here is a video of us from last week. I'm a creature of habit which is why I'm always in the middle of the front row. Mind you quite a few people choses the same spot each week. I may have to take it easier tonight as my knee is tender after I over enthusiastically demonstrated some our kettlebell moves to Pete.

A Walk By The Afon Gamlan.

It has been sunny all day. The perfect day for us to head to Snowdonia for a riverside walk.

Peter had suggested a walk around Borth (not that exciting) but tempted by the prospect of being able to stop in Mach and stock up on same tasty treats from the Royal House Café he agreed to head to the wilds of Snowdonia. 

It was an easy drive to Ganllwyd, just three roads to follow to get us to the other side of Dolgellau. There we found the free NT car park, with clean loos, just off the main road.

We planned to follow the trail which led first to Rhaeadr Ddu (Black waterfall) and then on to a circular 2 mile walk through the oak woods. But things did not go quite to plan.

We crossed the road by the newly refurbished village hall and followed a lane that ran steeply uphill alongside the river.

Compared to our local Cambrian mountains everything- the mountains, rivers, trees and waterfalls, is bigger and grander in Snowdonia. 

Eventually we followed a path to a bridge across the river.

From there we turned uphill until we came to the two main waterfalls which have a combined drop of 60ft. At that point the way underfoot became very rocky  and uneven which is not good for Peter's ankles. We stopped at a viewpoint above the waterfalls and I went on to see what the path ahead was like. It went from the left centre of the photo below winding its way over the rocks and upwards. For me it was a do-able scramble but definitely not for Peter.

Instead we went back down the path (as did two other couples out walking) and instead of crossing back over the bridge walked along the other side of the river.

There was a nice level track leading us on through the woods though at the end we had to follow a more rocky and uneven path down to the river and the main road.

On the other side of the car park was a woodland corner where the Afon Gamlam flows into the Afon Mawddach. There were three picnic tables by the water so that is where we stopped to eat our lunch.

When we got home the fine weather tempted me to finish off the bit of paving I'd been doing in the back garden. I had both sand and cement so first I brushed a dry mix between the slabs and then made a wet mix to fill in the spaces around the edges and across the front of the step to give a neater and hopefully more secure finish.

******

I've just come home from a good session with the choir. It's all chaos on the roads at the moment. Earlier on our trip out we'd come across a plethora of roadworks and temporary traffic lights, I guess the councils are using up their budgets before the end of the financial year. This evening there were more temporary traffic lights right in front of the hall where we sing. 

Also the main road to Mach is being closed from 7pm every night for the next two weeks. Anyone wanting to go further north than Tal Y Bont will have to take a massive detour down to Borth then out to Ynyslas, up to the main road at Cletwr and finally head south or north from there. Luckily this does not affect me. 

On my way home I was still on the main road when two police vans went past, blue lights and sirens on, in the direction of Tal Y Bont (and the closed road). Then when I was almost at Borth another police car again with blue lights, went racing past me. I wonder if he was going to the same incident?

Some Sun.

Woke this morning to blue skies and sunshine. By the afternoon we were back to grey clouds but at least it didn't rain.

It was a good day for going to the zoo. As I'm the only person who does any gardening it's very much up to me what I do when I get there. I should cut back the buddleias soon but today I decided to make some more paths in the old woodchip area. It was very much a matter of digging the grass out of the paths and replanting it in the barer patches. 

I meant to take some photos of the paths but got distracted when chatting to another volunteer and ended up going to the secondary site up the lane where the exotic animals are kept. (The zoo's licence only permits them to open this area six days a year.) However we came up with a plan to use a large dumpy bag and my car to bring down woodchips from a pile even further up the lane. The woodchip has got wet and is not suitable to use for the animals so I can use as much as I want. That's what I'll be doing next time.

 

Hermes the the hand-raised owl (remember him as a fluffy chick on the picnic table?) greeted us with lots of hooting.

Steve the emu is very friendly and loves being fed grapes.

I put halters on the ponies and let them out for a quick graze on the long grass. (I did sort Pablo's rope out afterwards.) 

When I got home I did a bit of weeding in the front garden and cleared up after a visiting cat had used a plant as a toilet. To prevent this happening again I protected the plant by draping old brambles over it. The cat had also slept in the middle of an ornamental grass in a planter flattening the once gracefully arching stems. I fluffed the stems upright and put plenty of upright sticks into the planter which hopefully will keep the cat off.

Just returned home from kettlebells. I must say, that even though I worked up a good sweat it does seem to be getting easier. I know it would be good for my bones to do some work with kettlebells at home but it's hard to find the time to do everything as it is.