Really Wild .....

We love going to the Really Wild Food & Countryside Festival that is held in the city of St David's, Pembrokeshire every year.

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They hold pig races and ferret races. There is wood turning to watch as well as weaving, felting, cooking, foraging walks for wild food, crafting galore, alpacas and their wonderful soft wool.

There are birds of prey, hog roasts, venison roasts, local lamb burgers, Moroccan food, wild food. Local wines, local beers, local ice cream - by local I mean Pembrokeshire.

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A local woodcarver who runs courses for anyone who wishes to have a go - one day, three day, weekend or follow-on/next stage courses.

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You can even hire a yurt or go for a sight-seeing trip on a mechanised rickshaw!

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All finished off with a light afternoon tea!

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Another of our favourite Pembrokeshire happenings.

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Ann x

Nuthatch

We have just had three of these beautiful birds hopping around in our weeping willow tree.

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I was lying underneath the tree in dappled sunlight, having a lazy cold drink and reading 'Remarkable Creatures' by Tracy Chevalier - it is the chosen book for my reading group.

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I was suddenly aware of tapping noises and thought it must be our occasional woodpecker, but I could see that the birds making the noise were far too small for that. Then I could see the classic curved silhouette of the nuthatch tapping up the tree.

Unfortunately I did not have binoculars to get a really close look, but it was magical, as we have only seen one once before and I saw three!!

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There have been masses of birds in our garden recently:- families of blue tits, great tits, coal tits, a couple of collar-doves, a wood pigeon, several young, brown speckled blackbirds, magpies as usual, and a couple of sightings of a jay, which again is superb as we had only seen one a couple of times in all the ten years we have been here.

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A magical time, summer - I love it. Have only been in the sea once this summer so far, but am hoping for many more dips very soon, now that the sea is a bit warmer.

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Hope you are all having a good summer so far.

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Ann x

Blogger Problems!!

Still having Blogger problems!!!

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The link to Dyffryn Fernant Garden is www.genuslocus.net .

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Hope you can log on to it! Ann x

Dyffryn Fernant

Dyffryn Fernant garden is in the yellow NGS book and has its own web site here.

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It is a glorious place to visit if you get the chance.

My photos don't do it justice at all, so do have a look at the link above.

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Ann x

When words are not enough .....

What can you say to friends who have just had the awful news that their beautiful daughter has collapsed and died suddenly.

She was only 30 years old.

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She had her life before her.

They were looking forward to sharing that life with her - perhaps her marriage and grandchildren and all the happiness and fulfilment that brings to all the family.

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To have that life so brutally taken from them is appalling and we are all in shock.

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How do you deal with it? Your child should not die before you!!

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We and all their friends are thinking of them and sending out our love.

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Ann x

Have You Tried it Yet? ...

The Garra Rufa fish.

(Sometimes called 'doctor' or 'nibble' fish.)

You put your feet in to the water and they rush to nibble at all the nasty bits on your feet.

Excruciating at first, if, like me, you have very ticklish feet.

But after a while you get used to it and just let them feast!

After 15 or 30 mins you feet are baby soft.

Just massage them with some sweet smelling emollient and you are done.

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("The Garra Rufa fish exfoliation is said to stimulate blood flow and improve circulation, remove bacteria and reduce foot odour and help prevent athlete's foot. Feet will be smoother and softer after treatment. It's also said the fish can stimulate acupuncture points, helping to regulate the nervous system, relax the body and release fatigue." - How can you not have a go!)

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My treat to myself today after having my hair cut.

Well worth it.

Give it a try.

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Ann x

The Trouble with Blogger .....

..... is that for ages I have (1) had trouble logging on - it wouldn't let me!

(2) if I did get logged on it wouldn't let me upload any photos!

(3) if I managed to upload any photos it wouldn't let me publish the post!

(4) it would let me publish the post if I ...

(a) autosaved the draft!

(b) opened the saved draft to edit!

(c) published the post from there!

(5) I wasn't able to post any comments in my own blogger name!

(6) became 'anonymous' for ages!

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It looks as though blogger may have sorted himself (it can't possibly be 'herself') out now so that I can publish things properly, as I am logged in and have a photograph - hooray! Will press 'Publish Post'.

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Ann x

(NO - it would publish, so I had to do it through the Edit Post method!!!!!)

Are you having the same problems??

Recently We Have Been To .....

Tenby Harbour, showing friends around. They loved it and all the surrounding area.

All the boats now in the harbour, ready for the sailing season.

A superb visit to Lydstep Head in fabulous weather, but a very strong wind.

Then it was off to Abergavenny. Through the market and shopping mall.

Trying to get a bit of architectural culture.

We then went off for a few days to Gloucester. More about that later.

Just thought I would let you know that I am still about.

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Ann x