Evening Walk at Carew Castle ...

Hallowe'en turned into such a beautiful evening as the sun was going down we went for our favourite short walk around Carew Castle and Pool. Quite a few others had decided to do the same and we even met a friend and her dog.

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Carew Mill reflected on Carew Pool in the tranquil evening light.

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A peaceful evening view.

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A tern or gull waiting for a tasty morsel in the overflow from the Mill Pond.

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Mill Reflections.

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Evening light at Carew Castle.

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Photocall ...

As they lined up specially on the wall, they presumably were wanting some attention!

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Bluebell, Margot, Sussex, Speckledy, Henny Penny, Rosalind

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They had been out in the garden on their 'free-range' time and I think they thought it was about time they had their daily mixed corn 'treat' before going into their pen for the night.
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We have now had our girls since the end of July, but still Sussex and Speckledy are not yet laying (as far as we can make out by watching them and checking who is in the nest box). We are beginning to wonder if they really are 'girls' or just very slow coming in to lay. They were 18 weeks old apparently when we got them, so that makes them about 30 weeks old now. Their combs and wattles are less formed than the others and their faces are not so red, which I have read are marks of a pullet's maturity. If anyone has any ideas whether they should come in to lay soon or perhaps to find out if they may never lay it would be very helpful. Thanks.

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Channel Swim

Just to let you know that I have swum another 60 lengths this morning, just under a mile. This now means that I am 6.6 miles across the Channel and have 15.4 miles left to swim!

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Sometimes it seems rather daunting, but at least I am now under 1,000 lengths left - there being only 986 left.

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As you know I am swimming to raise money for Aspire at www.aspirechannelswim.co.uk to support people with spinal injury. You can make a donation on my page at www.justgiving.com/Ann-Newman .

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Thank you

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Autumn in Colby Woodland Gardens

It was very busy in these lovely gardens today. One, it was half-term and there was a Hallow'een Trail going on for children. Two, the leaves were changing colour and there were photographers everywhere (me included of course) and Three the gardens will be closing for the winter at the end of the week. So everyone was fitting in their last seasonal visit.

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A peaceful sitting place.

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Road down to the ford.
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Shapely gate latch.

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Cwms Lane. The lane from Colby to Amroth.

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The stream was running very fast and there were several small waterfalls after a couple of nights of heavy rain.

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I would love to have him in our garden. He would frighten away anything!

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Wouldn't mind this urn either, but the pedestal was rather large.

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I think this withy shelter must have been made much earlier in the year. It was quite well weathered and was probably made by one of the many school groups that go to the gardens.

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Mushroom magic! I didn't really realise just how many groups of fungi there were until I got the photo on to the computer. It was in an awkward place and I was concentrating on keeping the camera still and not falling over while taking it. A lovely end to our garden trip
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Channel Swim !

UPDATE - After no swimming for a couple of weeks due to a very nasty cold and cough, I finally got back in the water and swam 60 lengths this morning. Accordingly I am now 5.7 miles across the Channel. That means I only have 16.3 miles to go or 1,016 lengths!

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Thank you to all who have sponsored me so far. It is a very worthy cause. You can read all about it on the Aspire web site www.aspire.org.uk/channelswim .

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Yesterday's Sunshine !

Half term and the sun is out! Everyone was enjoying it, in town, in the harbour, on the beach, building sandcastles or just sitting in the sun.

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You can just see that the alterations are going on to the old lifeboat house which is now privately owned. It is being turned into a residential property. What a view and what will the owners make of the high tides and rough weather in the winter months. I should think it will be a spectacular place to live.

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Castle Watch Tower with the Statue of Prince Albert in the foreground. The first stone of the Prince Consort Memorial was laid in 1864 by the Mayor of the Town, George White. The Philips family of Picton Castle lent their support to the funding of the project. We always visit Albert when we go to Tenby. He sits atop his plinth gazing out forever, for once without a seagull on his head.
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On the summit of Castle Hill, there once stood a round watch tower which has long since been demolished, making way for the square tower housing a circular staircase, the remains of which can be seen today. Also prominent on the summit, is the old Coastguard House, together with cannon used in the defense of the Town during the Napoleonic Wars, they have since been renovated by The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers based at the Royal Artillary range at Manorbier. An excellent climbing frame, but don't tell health and safety!

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A view through to the harbour past the Tudor Merchant's House, owned by The National Trust.

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Short Mat Bowling ...

Our team from Llanteg Short Mat Bowls Club were Runners Up today in the South Pembrokeshire Short Mat Bowls Association Handicap Fours Competition at Lamphey. Well done Ron, Ann (another Ann not me), Rod and Allen.

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The winners were the team from Kilgetty Short Mat Bowls Club, comprising 'Dad', Margaret and Dad's sons, David and Gareth. Well done Kilgetty. It was a VERY close final - 11 pts to 10.5 pts!
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Finished At Last! ...

There will probably be a few adjustments as we get used to where everything now is, but we love our new kitchen!

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I know it looks more or less the same as it was before, but everything is clean, smart and new! Two weeks of mess and disruption, but fortunately the weather was good, so only dust tramped into the house and not mud and the electrician may have sorted out the underfloor heating in the bathroom which had given up the ghost and which we sorely miss - so that will be a bonus. We keep looking out new recipes to cook in the new oven and new stir fries to make on the wok burner!

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Autumnal Tenby

It was rather chilly the other day in Tenby. No frost, but that is because of being on the coast. Although the tide was out, the houses around the harbour looked very cheerful in the early morning light.

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I was in town attending my weekly family history 'evening' class which has just begun its autumn term. There had been some rain over night and everything looked clean and 'just washed'.

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Castell Henllys, North Pembrokeshire

Other Half has joined a local historial group and I was invited along, together with other 'Other Halves' on a trip to Castell Henllys Iron Age Fort in North Pembrokeshire. This fort is one of the largest to be discovered in the UK and the present buildings have been constructed over the site of the original buildings that had been there over 2000 years ago.

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One of the half dozen buildings on the site.

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An example of the probable foot covering worn by iron age women.
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An inside reproduction of probable living facilities for a wealthy family during the iron age.

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A cooking pot over a central fire in one of the smaller buildings.

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A typical means of grinding corn. Very heavy stones.

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I think this, the largest building, was lived in by the chief of the group that lived on this or any other site. It was quite luxurious, with seating made of elaborately carved tree trunks and rather ornate fire irons over the central fire. This thatched hut was much larger than any of the others.

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An example of probable utensils used by iron age man.

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This bit of wall was all that remained of the dry stone walling constructed over 2000 years ago.

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I wonder what they would have made of the new facilities that we have just had fitted in our new kitchen!!

Meline Church, St Dogmaels

This lovely little church is very near to Castell Henllys and is well worth a visit.

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Lots of very interesting headstones and nearly all written in the Welsh language.
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I think you will find this easy to read and it explains the Star of David window which is shown below.

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A most interesting day out, especially Castell Henllys which is a well-known tourist attraction. They also have many, many visits from the local schools to learn about the iron age.

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Getting there!

Things are still a bit chaotic but we are getting there. The fitters have finished and taken most of the old kitchen away in a trailer to the tip. The electrician has to come again to complete his 'tests' and make sure the system doesn't keep 'tripping' as it has been doing during all the rewiring.

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We have even started putting some things back in the cupboards, but as we now have one less cupboard available and a couple of different drawer arrangements it will probably take a while for everything to find its place. However, we fortuitously have put the old sink and its cupboards out in the utility room. This was a brainwave from Other Half and is ideal, because although we may have lost a bit of space from the old kitchen there is now more cupboard space out in the utility. Some tidy pictures when we have cleaned up all the dust!!!

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Out with the old .....

Whose idea was it to have a new kitchen? It seemed a good idea at the time!

Well it is of course, but the upheaval I had forgotten about. Just where is the garlic paste and the cornflakes - at the bottom of a storage dustbin of course!

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A lot of the electrics had to be altered as well, so the place is full of workmen making cups of tea and leaving toolboxes all over the place.

It will be great to use something that isn't over 40 years old! (That doesn't include me of course, I am still in working order!)

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In with some of the new - all looking pristine and shiny. More later.

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Margot Does It Again !

I think Margot surpassed herself this time. It must be at least an XL egg! Just two lovely yolks though!

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Trip to Cornwall

Just been away on a trip to Cornwall to visit family and friends. Had the most glorious weather, but nevertheless arrived home with a cold. Managed to get 40 lengths of swimming in for my 'Channel Swim' so now have completed 4.8 miles! Will get back to it as soon as possible.

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The family's cat, Cali, (short for Calico Cat) finds this her favourite place, where the sun shines nearly all day!
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Windsurfers having an excellent time opposite St Michael's Mount on the only dull, but very windy day of the holiday.

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A busy Penzance Harbour, with the Scillonian in the background, ready to take visitors across to the Isles of Scilly. She only goes across two or three times a week now that it is the end of the summer season.

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St Michael's Mount is always very photogenic. Not least when there is a clear blue sky and a clear blue sea!

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Porthgwidden Beach, St Ives. Not very many folk about as although the sun was hot in sheltered spots, the wind was too strong to sit on the terrace of the Porthgwidden Beach Cafe.

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