DID IT FREEZE OVER? - Jan 2016

So . . . Yes it froze over!

Did I notice? No - not until I was on my bum, sliding at a rate of knots down the log flume, with a bewildered looking dog on the other end of the lead!

Having notice no drop in temperature when I set out, I took the dog for her usual morning walk. We turned the corner at the top of the log flume onto what looked like the usual wet tarmac . . . And . . . Whoosh!  Suddenly there we were - Bambi & Thumper.

It wasn't until I unsuccessfully tried to stand up that I realised why I'd fallen over. It was sheet black ice.

My only way back onto my feet was to crawl back onto dry tarmac at the top. I was somewhat relieved that there were only sheep around, to watch my antics!

As I write, Storm Jonas which plunged the East coast of America into Arctic conditions, has just arrived - in the form of Storm Gertrude  ... and more torrential rain.




Next blog - Deliveries

WILL THE RAIN EVER STOP? - Jan 2016

Happy New Year to you all!


Well the rain has continued to pour every day. I have given up trying to get out along our lane in one direction in my little car, due to the flood which gets deeper and longer by the day.

The lane

Fortunately we can go the other way along the lane. However, it is very steep and resembles a log flume!

Looking up the log flume

Two days ago we had an amazing 18 hours without rain and the flood disappeared, only to return again with the rain.


Then the temperatures dropped and the rain turned to sleet. with a fair amount of sunshine at last, giving us spectacular views across to Snowdonia.

The flood has gone, but the log flume continues to flow. Meanwhile sub-zero temperatures are forecast.

It's going to be pretty scary if the log flume freezes over!



Next blog - Did it freeze over?

ANOTHER UNEXPECTED GUEST - Dec 2015

Well, apart from ripping two gates off their hinges, Storm Frank was relatively uneventful.

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Looking back through my blog, I notice that back in 2013 we received several unexpected visitors. This year has produced a new influx of guests ...

To begin with, a wren visited and was found stranded in the bathroom.

Then we noticed evidence of mice when I went to find a roll of food recycling bags from under the sink.

Two of our cats sadly died earlier in the year, and the 3rd is clearly doing a poor job of keeping away vermin.

The mouse has climbed kitchen shelves, bypassing boxes of cereal,

 bags of flour and biscuits,

to get its paws on and into a packet of Bombay Mix from the very top shelf!

Our mouse is clearly very choosy!

Very recently, a young wild goat had become separated from the herd and found itself in our garden confronted by the dog.

They had a very very long face-off,

before the dog chased it away, and into the lounge.

The goat took up residency on Will's chair where another face-off continued. If the dog came too close, the goat stamped a foot, causing the dog to pirouette, before returning to repeat the performance over and over again until we took charge and chased it out.



Next blog - Will the rain ever stop?