THE GOATS & SHEEP . . . AGAIN! - Feb 2014

We have suffered the consequences of becoming complacent. 

Over the best part of the summer & autumn we have had few, if any encounters with the goats and sheep. We had made the assumption that Will had repaired the surrounding fences so well that the sheep could no longer get onto our land . . . WRONG!!

We had also assumed that when the goats came down the mountain for winter, presumably because vegetation up there becomes sparse while the lower land is still lush, that they were no longer interested in travelling in mass through land where people now belonged for fear they would be chased away . . . WRONG AGAIN!! 


 So, who came trip-trapping into MY field?

When I was young I loved listening to the story about the Three Billy Goats Gruff, but how I hated That Troll. Each time I heard the story, an image of That Troll appeared in my mind. The most frightening, hideous monster I could conjure up. How I loved it when the goats won! How things have changed. I am now on the side of That Troll. 

In fact . . . I AM that Troll!

Now, meet Gladys the sheep . . . 

We know she is called Gladys because she has a (somewhat faded now) 'G' tattooed on her back!!

A few weeks ago Gladys started to appear in our field, until she was there on a daily basis from before we awoke each morning. This increased to twice a day when she returned for an afternoon nibble having been chased out during the morning.

This increased yet again when she took to returning to the field as soon as our backs were turned.

We have searched the fence for holes, low bits, climbable bits, but we can find nothing. We have no idea at all how she gets in. We know how she gets out. The same route every time over an old ruined wall and into her field. She cannot return this way as it is too high on her side.

Then . . . I discovered a whole herd of goats right outside the conservatory nibbling what looked like very unappetising twigs, bark and my scrappy looking plants.

Now this may not look appetising to us, but this is the attempt at a bog which is fast becoming a compost pit. Scattered around it are some juicy vegetable peelings. 

I was of the opinion that goats ate anything. Not true! they choose to skirt around the juicy vegetable peelings and eat the bark from trees which I am trying desperately hard to grow

At least they have left the budding daffodils alone

I gave chase. I chased them up the bank and along the path . . .

where they decided to separate,

two into the farmer's field, the rest into our field . . .

where they divided again, some to my left and some onto the drive . . .

Let me tell you Julie Andrews - I do not believe there is such a thing as a 'Lonely Goatherd' in existence. Trying to herd a load of goats in one mass is near impossible. They don't all follow the leader in the way sheep do. Oh no . . . they are far more cunning. They keep dividing into smaller groups so one lone person herding has NO chance. 
So Mr Lonely Goatherd, I reckon you weren't so lonely and had a pal of some sort, or a dog up on those mountains to help you out.

Having decided that herding goats is not a job for one person, I yodelled for Will's support. 

The goats in the field ran back up to the top of our field

and down our field

and into a scrum where they discussed the best annoying option 

They led us a merry dance until eventually they climbed over a wall into the neighbouring field

And if you have never heard a wild goat, they don't bleat like sheep. No, they have a very mocking type of laugh "heh heh heh". They jeer at us, as if to say "Heh heh heh, I'm up here - can't catch me. heh heh heh!" "Heh heh heh - Now you're up there, I'm down here, Heh heh heh!"

We were pleased to see that when the remainder ran into a newly fenced off area, they wouldn't/couldn't jump over the fence! (Could we be winning???). So they squeezed past us as at great speed . . .

up the side of the house . . .

and out of the gate at last . . .

leaving an extremely pungent aroma behind them!


If I haven't lost weight on my scales tomorrow morning I'll be sorely miffed!




Next blog - The storms

SPRING - Jan 2014

My plan was to write about the goats again, but we have been interrupted by something far more important . . . 

I am excited! Why? because the sun returned today and we weren't expecting it until February!

No, this is not the same photo as shown previously, showing the last day of sun. 

As I have mentioned before, it disappears behind the mountain from the middle of November and I wait longingly for its return as an indication that Spring isn't far away. As it has appeared well above the mountain ridge, we guess it has been up there for quite a few days/week, but due to the continuous cloud cover and rain we have had since the beginning of December, we hadn't noticed.

Other indications that spring is on its way ...

And as I write this, we have our first hint of snow of the season. This time last year we were just recovering after having spent 8 days cut off from the rest of the world due to the snow. Any precipitation this winter has chosen to fall as rain. Fortunately we have come off very lightly compared with much of Wales.



Next blog - Goats & Sheep AGAIN

THE HOBBIT - Jan 2014

Films generally come to our local town about 3 months after they have been released. The Hobbit, however arrived quite quickly and we went to see it at the beginning of January. This coincided with us taking a walk up the nearby mountains on probably the only decent day we have had over the festive season. 

When walking in this area, it's easy to feel like little hobbits in a vast relentless landscape, and difficult not to make comparisons with the treks which Bilbo & his friends took. (My apologies to those of you who haven't seen the films/read the book)

Spot the hobbits!

There are views over Mirkwood

and possible sightings of Gimli?

A solitary raven circling overhead resembles a screeching Nazgul

We even have our very own Weathertop

The real Weathertop

We have located Gandalf's white horse along with those belonging to the rest of the crowd . . .

. . . including Bilbo's

Bird tracks in the mud resemble Elvish writings

In November we have our own Durin's Day - our last sun until February!

And as for Smaug living under the mountains ... well who knows where the Welsh dragon lies!!!

Red blurry dot indicates roughly where we live

Next blog - Goats, and sheep . . . AGAIN!

ONE YEAR ON - Dec 2013

So - just before Christmas we celebrated having lived here for one year.

Although progress seems slow and at times we even appear to be heading in the wrong direction, photos of 'then and now' prove that in most cases that we are in fact moving forwards.


Last December, this was lurking on our kitchen wall . . . 

 I'm pleased to say it and its colleagues are now a well and truly a distant memory!



A mixture of builders, diggers and a very soggy 2012 had transformed the drive into a mud bath

It still needs a lot of work, but is no longer a soggy mess

This was the view from the front door . . .

At the time, I had difficulty envisaging where we are now . . .

Only one year ago, this was the kitchen. At this point we wondered just what we had taken on

Fortunately a roof, a floor and windows which open and close, make a lot of difference

The sun room was virtually non-existent

It has transformed to this . . .

This was the guest bedroom . . .

It was important that our guests had somewhere reasonable to sleep, so we decorated it as soon as we could

and this was the conservatory . . .

One year on . . . 

Where would we be without photographs? It's surprising how easily we forget how things were - maybe some things are best forgotten, but in our case, a reminder of where we were a year ago, gives us motivation to carry on.

 We look forward to the next 12 months.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda (Happy New Year) to you all.

Next blog - The Hobbit

DRIFTWOOD - Nov 2013

So, towards the end of November, we saw the last of the summer sun disappear from our garden. This is its last appearance now until probably mid February...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Despite living near an abundance and variety of beaches, very little interesting driftwood can be found. Judging by the vast the amount seen in shop windows, I guess that most decent pieces find their way very quickly to budding artists' workshops. 

The pieces we have collected are now displayed in the garden.

One day towards the end of summer we did find a seaweed-covered pallet floating about in the sea. We rescued it, cleared it of seaweed and then attempted to carry it back to the pick-up. We made a great discovery - that water-laden pallets are VERY heavy and that pick-ups are VERY useful!

Once  back at home, we waited several weeks for it to dry out as I had plans to use it in the utility room.

When we bought our house, our utility room was an outside barn with a tin roof.

  
Virtually the whole thing had to be taken down

Since being turned into a room, we haven't really done much to it, although it is put to good use. When we eventually finish the pathway up to the new back door it will become our dirty welly-boot entrance. 

The dried-out pallet is now put to good use as a coat rack

We have further plans for more pallets or driftwood which we may come across. Watch this space!



Next blog - One Year on