Wet.

Raining all day today.

It's the last day of September and the summer season is officially over. This morning the buoys that mark the bay were collected, (got it right this time.) and it is the last day of the dog ban on the main part of the beach. That should mean fewer dog walkers trudging past on the cliff top. Not that they bother me.

I was determined to get on with my latest garden project so during a lessening of the rain I donned my gardening coat and was able to cement on the final row of blocks. I have enough blocks to do another course but I think it's fine as it is. Now I have to think of something to do with those last few blocks.

The only other thing of note today was that I baked a Bara Brith. I've been thinking that my recipe comes out quite sweet so this time I cut the sugar by a third. Haven't had a chance to taste it yet and it might be a little overdone as I was out in the garden while it was baking. My kitchen timer only runs for an hour and the baking time for Bara Brith is an hour and a quarter. I don't wear a watch at home so these things happen.

 

Warm.

The warm southerly wind blew in some lovely weather especially in the afternoon.

After yesterday's exertions at aerobics I slept well and woke this morning fairly refreshed. As is often the case I found it better for my back to get up and move around rather than to stay in in bed. After the usual breakfast preparations I headed out to the terrace with a large mug of tea. It was already getting light but it was only the birds that were up. Above I could see the silhouettes of groups of gulls, usually 10-20 of them but sometimes nearly a hundred flying by heading south along the coast. Apart from the occasional squawk they were silent as they went on their way. At first I thought they had come from the beach but as more and more appeared I realised they must have been coming from somewhere behind the village. The house next door blocked my view so I couldn't tell from where. And not only gulls, sometimes there were groups of corvids amongst the gulls. They were a bit more vocal and I was able to hear both rooks and jackdaws. (There is a very large colony of jackdaws that hangs around the village.) I wondered where they were all going, maybe down to the dump on the edge of Aber?

Having an early start meant that I was able to get everything done without rushing and could leave a little earlier for my riding lesson.

I was glad I had a little time in hand because as I crossed the River Rheidol I was able to photograph some cows crossing the river.

I often see this herd of Welsh black cattle, an ancient breed that goes back to pre Roman times, in the meadow as I drive along the track (above) to the stables. They live in a natural herd of cows, calves and a bull, but I hadn't realised they crossed the river onto an island and presumably to another meadow. They did make me smile as the stragglers began running towards the river.

There were six of us in the lesson and instead of lovely Seren I was 'promoted' to Cadno (fox) a larger quite chunky chestnut.  The first difference with Cadno is that he reacts unfavourably (I didn't ask for details) to a long schooling whip so I exchanged mine for a short crop. But apart from that he is an excellent schoolmaster. Ridden correctly he responds perfectly but I had to work hard to bring him onto the bit (imagine going from lolloping along with his neck stretched out changing to an arched neck and and a more active and responsive horse). It's a matter of asking gently with the reins not just hauling the horse's head down. Cadno is a lot bouncier than Seren and I was finding it harder to keep my bum in the saddle in canter but on the plus side he responded much better and would go into canter anytime I asked him. I just need to improve my seat.

After the lesson I drove into town stopping first at Morrisons for  some shopping. Then to Charlies for a mooch around where I came away with three more sheep's bit scabious, one of the first lot has been chomped by slugs, three very pale pink sea thrift and some thyme all half price in the 'sad' corner. I also stopped in town for a quick spin around the charity shops. Despite all the not so subtle hints I'd dropped to Peter that the large (about the size of a grapefruit) glass sphere would be the ideal anniversary present even telling him exactly where in the shop it was, I saw the sphere still sitting in the shop. And then he complains that he never knows what to get me. So I bought it for myself. At £12 it was a bit of an extravagance but at least the money goes towards helping local families.

When I got home I threw some washing in the machine as it was such a good drying day. My machine must be on its way out as it doesn't seem to rinse properly and I have to run an extra rinse programme. I've checked the filter and that's clear so I guess it's just its age. And then I mixed up some mortar and stuck down another row of blocks on the raised bed walls. One more day and it should be done.

Back to Class.

Grey and windy in the morning, wet and windy in the afternoon.

I was able to fit in a couple of quick sessions of garden work in around the Welsh class and have laid the first row of blocks on the wall and filled in everything ready for the next two rows.

In between we had our first Zoom class of the year. Our teacher gave us an easy start going back to some basics, talking about the weather and simple questions and answers about ourselves. Then we touched on using the future tense which I have covered in Duo though I had to remember for 'it will be' not to use Bydda - (Southern) but to use Mi fydda (Northern). It wasn't too bad though I did have a couple of rabbit in the headlights moments.

I may drive to aerobics if this rain doesn't stop.

Wipeout.

 

Storm Agnes.

It was a matter of battening down the hatches this morning as we awaited the arrival of Storm Agnes. So far it hasn't been that dramatic here as once again the worst of the storm has been to the north us of.

We had frequent showers in the morning with the warm southerly wind flattening out the waves. (Top photo.) So not a morning for going to the zoo. Peter opened up the Lifeboat shop, had a few customers during the first half an hour and then nobody.

Then came several hours when it was dry enough to get out into the garden again. I took the wood off the footings and then relocated the hydrangea  to the bottom of the garden. It was one I'd successfully moved in the spring, a fairly uninspiring red one so I'm not too fussed about it. Now I've got the fun of planning what to grow in the new bed. Maybe a grey shrub of some sort, artemisia or santolina and campanula or aubretia to go over the sides.

Since 4.00 the time of the satellite photo, we've had sudden squalls with heavy rain and strong winds.

The change to 20mph is not proving very popular here in Wales. Fine for cities and towns but not so good in rural areas where houses are strung out along main roads. To put it in context 20mph is the usual speed for a funeral cortege and it is hard to keep the speed that low. I've also noticed that the coast road, which avoids the longest stretches of 20mph is a lot busier. Like most roads outside built up areas the speed limit is 60mph though with the narrow and twisting road you would be a fool to drive at anything like that speed. But there are fools around.

 

A Rainbow.

As I lay in bed trying to wake up after a bad night with my knee (when will I remember never to try digging with a spade?) I was informed by my lovely tea bearer that it was sunny and breezy outside. I threw some washing in the machine only for it to be pouring with rain by 9.00. 

It stayed wet until the afternoon when after an uplifting rainbow the sun returned and we had that sunny and windy day I had been expecting. So good was the weather that I got a second load of washing out on the line and most of the washing is now dry and put away. A good thing too as one of the items in the first wash was my sports bra which I needed for Pilates tonight.

As it was too wet to go to the zoo I busied myself cleaning and polishing all my everyday earrings and their holders. (My nicest earrings live in their own boxes.) I also made covers from plastic lemonade bottles. Those will stop the dust from the bare floorboards in our bedroom.

Once the rain cleared up I was straight back out in the garden. I made the concrete footings for the last raised bed and also took off one layer of blocks from the adjoining bed. The coping stones still need cementing on but I think the proportions look so much better.

Off soon to Pilates.

 

Warm and Windy.

Very warm again today. Sunny in Mach but less so here with a strong wind blowing.

We drove early to Mach as I was supposed to be getting a phone call from the consultant re the cyst on my toe. At least that is what I thought seeing as that was what the letter I had received said. But no phone call ever came. Peter had had a text last week pinpointing the time to 10.00 rather than the 9-12.30 slot I had initially been given. When no phone call came I got Peter to check the message and lo and behold the phone call had been changed to a face to face appointment which I had now missed. I rang the hospital explaining what had happened and thankfully they have booked me in for an appointment next Monday. I had been expecting to have to wait considerably longer so that is good.

We had arrived early at the library and it is a sign that I am making some improvement  in that I was able to say that 'I have a phone appointment with a doctor from the hospital at 10.00.' all in Welsh to the friendly librarian. She was also able to clear up something that had puzzled us at choir last week. We're leaning Ar Lan Y Mor, a love song that had a strange phrase about an egg has a white and a yolk. We'd wondered if this was an old saying but she told me it was comparing a heart full of love with an egg full of white and yolk. Mystery solved.

It was warm enough when we got home for me to venture out into the garden and begin work on the last small raised bed. I began by digging out a trench for the footing into which I laid a base of large unattractive beach stones that were in the garden. A layer of concrete over those should be enough for the few rows of blocks that will be going on top. That was enough work for one afternoon.

I had a quick walk down to the shop for some potatoes and oat bran which shock horror they didn't have and won't be getting any for a while ( the oat bran not the potatoes). In general the shop's shelves are looking quite bare now that the holiday season is over.

 

Windy.

It hasn't been quite the stormy weather I was expecting which has only just hit us. (Much rain pounding on the roof.) Instead it was a grey, warm and windy day.

As it wasn't actually raining after our usual leisurely Sunday breakfast, I went out to do a little work in the garden. The wind had blown the Palantir down to the ground so it has been relegated to just being a silver ball in the flowerbed. I gave the concrete bird bath a scrub and 'walked' it to a new spot in the garden. After that I turned my attention to the back garden. One thing I like about the back garden is that it is made up of small separate areas and it is very satisfying to see each area tidied up. I began with the herb garden. Now that the fennel and lovage have been taken out it was just a matter of pulling up the many tiny seedlings. I worked my way round the tubs and raised beds and did my best to remove all the vinca that was entangled in the trellis. There was also some bindweed coming through from my neighbour's garden. She had a chap come and prune all her shrubs and mow the lawn but I don't think he's going to do anything else. Maybe I should offer to pull up the bindweed from her side.

Eventually I came back inside and began on the latest batch of produce. Tomatoes from our garden have now been made into sauce for the freezer and the apples stewed. They and the crystal apple cucumbers came from my fellow walkers. There were only six of us yesterday, one couple couldn't come because of covid and the change of day didn't suit the rest.

And now for a few more sunny photos from yesterday.

Plenty of acorns, at times we crunched our way over a carpet of acorns beneath the oak trees.

A dragonfly.

Big, fat sloes. They looked good enough to eat but I wouldn't advise it, they are so sour. Must remember to go and give my bottles of sloe gin their weekly shake.

How could I not include these two rescue donkeys even though they have made an appearance before?

 

The Great Bog.

We've had a nice sunny day. Clouds began appearing later in the afternoon and there was a noticeable drop in temperature.

I've been to Tal-Y-Bont twice today. The first time was with Peter to drop the camper off at the garage to get a seal in the engine changed and the second time was to meet up with the walking group. We usually walk on Sundays but we are due for wet and windy weather as the remnants of hurricane Nigel, now downgraded to a tropical storm, hit the UK and it was thought more sensible to walk today.

Although we met in Tal-Y-Bont the actual walk began on the far side of the hill overlooking Cors Fochno -The Bog of the Pigs or as it is also known , Y Gors Fawr - The Great Bog. (Some good examples of mutations there. Cors becomes Gors I think because it is after Y (the) and Mochno and Mawr have their Ms changed to Fs because they are describing a feminine noun )

From our starting point on the hill we had a good view across the Dyfi to Snowdonia.

Our route began on the hill right in the centre of the photo below. From there we headed out to the left (northwards) and down onto the bog and then swung right around to head south again.

There are not many paths through the bog and the grassy track we followed was hemmed in reeds. It was however very peaceful. We stopped for lunch on the track and perched on the slight rise at the side. Afterwards I was glad I had decided against wearing shorts today because when I picked up the small foam mat I was sitting on there were red ants running around on it.

We came across a boardwalk that led to a viewing area with an information board. (Top of post.)

There were some small ditches running between the bog and the farmland. There was a terrible smell by one of the ditches which we traced to the rotting remains of a cow that must have fallen in and drowned. I guess none of the farmers wanted to take the responsibility and bother of removing it.

Finally back to the trees and fields with a gentle walk back up the hill to the cars.

 

Riding Memories.

The weather is getting wild again with another storm due in on Sunday. It rained during the morning then the wind blew away all the showers.

I had to be up and about promptly this morning as I had a riding lesson booked at 10.00. This time it was the owner teaching us. I didn't know what to expect but it was a good lesson. There were five of us riding and unlike lessons I've had at other riding school instead of riding one behind the other and then being sent off one at a time to do exercises eg 'canter to the rear of the ride' we worked individually. We were given an exercise to do eg ' turn and canter across the arena' which we did in our our time avoiding the other riders. That way we were able to work at our own pace and get the most out of the time. For fun I had a look on line to see if the stables (Lee Valley Riding Centre) I used to have lessons at when I was looking after other people's horses,40 years ago, was still there and blow me down it is. My surprise was for two reasons, firstly the stables are not privately owned but are run by the local council something I have never come across before or since. Secondly when the Olympics was held in London the ice rink venue was built on the marshes right next to the stables and I wondered if the stables might have been turned into something else. But no, they are still there with the addition of livery facilities. I couldn't see their prices for group lessons but the private lessons were nearly double the cost at the local stable here.

After my lesson on Seren I went to the dump and got rid of more bags of garden waste before going on to Morrisons. There I picked up a couple of clematis to fill some gaps in the back garden. They are so cheap and I especially can't resist the ones with bell shaped flowers.

I then went on into town which is full of students about to start the new academic year. Some were with their parents, first years I expect while others were happily wandering around in groups enjoying the start of their new adult lives. Such a shame for those students who began their studies during the lockdown years. Sitting at home watching lectures on your PC is hardly the way to become independent and forge new friendships. Coming home I was caught in a queue of cars waiting to turn into the halls of residence but I didn't mind. Better to go that way and then be able to drive along the coast road at a sensible speed than to take the inland main road and crawl at 20mph for several miles through a strung out village. 

Back home I planted out the clematis and then did some more crocheting.

Autumn Equinox.

Blue skies today and lots of sun for our 12 hours of daylight. Now the nights will be drawing in and it is getting a bit cooler though there are rumours that we'll be getting some hot weather again next week.

Look closely and you might spot the end of a rainbow over Tywyn.

We were due to start our third year of Welsh classes today but it was cancelled as our tutor isn't well. (She has school age children and their term started a fortnight ago. Teachers would often get ill at this time of year.) Instead I cycled down to the community gardens where I did some bramble chopping and partook of a very nice apple cake. I brought home yet more cooking apples which are already simmering on the hob as we do enjoy stewed apple on our porridge.

My home gardening jobs were to dig up the roots of the fennel, a hard task, and to clear all the Welsh poppies and linaria that had been growing in the bed under the red hydrangeas. The bees have been coming to the linaria (purple toadflax) so I waited until the flowers were over before pulling them up. The bed is planted with bluebells at the back and crocuses in the middle for some spring colour while at the front is the black 'grass' which should spread nicely.

A pair of comma butterflies catching the sun. One was on the buddleia that I've just brought down from the back garden and the other was feeding on the verbena bonariensis which was a chance seedling that came with a hardy geranium that was given to me. 

Disco aerobics was back this week and we had our usual fun leaping about to loud music. D. who had been in my riding lesson was there and we had a bit of a chat before the class began.