Friday May 31st 2019

In the great scheme of things size doesn't matter. It does however when replacing a shower caddy. Honestly I am sometimes not suitable for being allowed out. The caddy in question was the one on the right. In situ in the shower for years, finally rust began to set in. It was time for a change, could I find a direct replacement, thus saving the drilling of extra holes in the shower tiles.  

I hunted high and low for a replacement but could I find one? No. Then in a last desperate search I found what I thought fitted the bill, the same shape and size - though obviously a three tier, not a two tier. But at £6.95 a bargain. It arrived swiftly. However - as can be seen is remarkably larger than the original. And a completely different shape! That said, it fits the shower so that's another DIY job for the weekend. 

Thursday May 30th 2019

For years I've got up early and either sat in the garden communing with nature, or gone birdwatching. For years that is until recently when I've somehow gotten myself out of the habit. This morning my muse rose as I awakened, and within minutes this took me outside for a 7am rendesvous with a rather strong coffee, an old edition of Country Life and an hour spent watching the blackbird knobbling an apple on the lawn.  Life can be as enjoyable at home as elsewhere if we just take time to stop and stare. Lovely.

Wednesday May 29th 2019

Rain!! Rain!!!!!

We've had so little rain in the last few months that I had begun think we'll be in drought situations soon. The garden is parched. Even keeping plants in containers going has begun to resemble a military exercise. Every night gallons of water are being sloshed about the estate with precision. We're exhausted. We ache, and no doubt the water bill will be extortionate. It was therefore wonderful to have a day of rain at last. And not those mad dash downpours lasting half an hour which  promise so much but in reality the water just heads off into rivers. No, today we had nice slow steady rain for most of the day. A sort of heavy drizzle I'd call it. Cool too so no evaporation. The water butts are full again. I'd forgotten where my windscreen wipers were too.

What was most interesting is that when the rain ended, the house martins came out in force. Winged beasties were lifting after the rain ceased. Nature knows best. 

Tuesday May 28th 2019

10.30 PM. Not a bad sunset over the Brecon Beacons National Park in the far distance.  Imagery never captures what the eyes see, which tonight as we gazed out the bedroom window was of an oddly split vision of dark clouds on the left and an eruption of firelight on the right. We get some absolute stunning sunsets here, as the brown muddy waters of the Bristol Channel less than 2 miles across the fields add some red spectrum reflective colouration. There are times when the crimson sun sets over the hills of Wales and sort of squashes itself against the land, before dropping almost within the blink of the eye behind the mountains. Sadly the orange glow in the front emanates from sodium streetlights.  

Monday 27th May 2019

It is a Bank Holiday today - what better then than to hurl the aged frame up a very steep hill and hassle a butterfly or two. Which is what we did. I've written more of this adventure on my wildlife blog, for this, my daily diary, it is sufficient to say, a very nice day was had indeed. And there were oodles of butterflies on the Mendip Hills, worth then the puffing and panting of this Northern lad. 

Julie sprinted up like a mountain goat. Much fitter than me even with her bad back from sustaining an injury while on a horse recently. It's not fair.

Sunday May 26th 2019

I was given my get out of jail card today. It's been a while since I'd completed a shift at Tyntesfield and it was good to be back. The Sunday of the Spring Bank Holiday is usually a really busy day. However rain was forecast, a light drizzle did appear, but it wasn't that great a day weather wise, cold, dark and damp so only 1500 visitors. Low for a Sunday and as we had an over filling of keen Ticket Office operatives, after my light luncheon of National Trust egg and cress sandwich, Chris the supervisor asked me if I'd like to go and see the Madrid to Tyntesfield story in the house. This 18 month experience brings out some of the artifacts which connect the Gibbs family to Spain. Long lost treasures in their family vaults have been dusted off and I have to say the experience was well worth the wander down to the house. A chance encounter with the horse rides from the front of the house added to the joy. All too soon it was back up to the Ticket Office where I toiled in emerging sunshine until after 5pm. Even had to pump up the wheelchair tyres. My work is never done!

Saturday May 25th 2019

After a good day out in the Bank holiday sunshine this leaflet was on the hallway mat. Housing plans are being submitted to two fields near us. This was land which 20 years ago was removed from the housing needs of the area, as most of it is in a high risk from sea flooding area. The land is only 6 m above median water mark and criss crossed with drainage ditches. 25,085 houses need to be built in North Somerset from 2016-2032 so I guess all of the orange areas below (identified as having potential) are at risk. I was told by a friends father years ago, never buy a house with a countryside view, it can always be taken away. It will be a sad day when our lovely view out the back goes.