Llansteffan and St Anthony's Well etc ...

Today we went to Llansteffan a quaint village overlooking Carmarthen Bay.

~

We walked along part of the Wales Coast Path, by the estuary.

~

It was a beautiful day, plenty of sun, but cold winds and a couple of showers.

~

We turned inland and immediately came across this fascinating sculpture alongside a pretty waterfall.

I have not been able to find out anything about it and guess it had been put there by the owners of the house which was nearby.

~

Further up along the path we came to St Anthony's Well.

A very tranquil place.

~

If you click on the above photo you can read all about St Anthony.

~

There is only a small trickle of water in to the well, but we should have brought

up a shell from the beach to leave.

~

I love this most attractive Celtic-looking gate.

~

We passed a couple of friends along the way!

~

We thought they were Shetland ponies, but weren't sure.

~

At home, the Coriander is sprouting

~

Tomatoes are sprouting, Gardener's Delight and Tigerella.

~

The Sunflowers are going mad! They seem to double in size every day!

~

Its all go!

~

Ann x

I've Not Been Idle .....

Recently at Foreveryoung Towers, we have been quite industrious.

~

Sprouting alfalfa and tomato seeds planted (Moneymaker, Gardener's Delight and Tigerella - as recommended by Monty Don. I have grown Tigerella before, but could not remember what they were called. I do remember that they were very tasty though!

~

Planted out the 21 giant sunflower seeds from a children's pack of seeds. As you can see they have all germinated very well, so we will have a sunflower forest - I hope!

~

Set the potatoes to chit in the garage.

~

Planted some Mixed Leaves, salad in the greenhouse. Some will go directly to the garden too!

~

Uncovered the rhubarb after having two pickings of forced rhubarb, which was fabulous!

~

Checked out the garlic, which is growing furiously and looking good.

~

Given one coat of wood stain to the garden seats. They are already looking good, but need a couple more coats, according to the paint tin!

~

Other Half has been repainting the fencing and enlarging our sunbathing area.

He is going to tidy it all up with some more slates and plants too.

~

With the recent fantastic weather and our garden gauge showing over 100 degrees (in the sun) we have already had two days sunbathing and topped up the tans from our winter holiday.

We are now ready for the snow and rain forecast to be arriving next!

I just hope they are wrong!

~

Ann x

Viv ...

This was Viv a year ago.

Last night we went for a meal with her and her husband.

An hour after we left she had a seizure and died.

She had motor neurone disease.

She dealt with it with such fortitude that put us all to shame.

She never complained.

She was always laughing and happy and putting us and her friends in our place.

Her husband looked after her and cared for her selflessly and alone.

Neither of them wished to have any other help unless absolutely necessary.

She will be sorely missed by us all.

~

Ann x

What can I do with those?

'Those' were 8 old clementines and 1 old apple (been on the sideboard for ages)

then OH made a request for "mince pies" - doesn't he know Christmas has finished!

~

Got the brain in gear and made Clementine and Lemon jam and a mincemeat tart.

~

Problem solved.

~

The jam/marmalade is gorgeous on toast for breakfast.

The mincemeat tart was yummy with custard.

~

Ann x

~

Gratefuls:

1. Fresh lemons

2. Bag of Sugar for Jam in the cupboard

3. Remembering to keep my old jam jars!

Unblocked - Update ...

They came, they saw, they unblocked!

~

However, not before they had found another manhole right down near to the road.

It was covered by earth, leaves, branches and brambles.

The main blockage was caused by the roots of trees nearby.

~

It was a very horrible sight, so I did not take any photos!

~

Its ironic really, because we have just arranged to have that portion of the front garden given a makeover and plan to take out the trees that had caused the trouble. They are very old and overgrown and not easy to prune and tidy up any more.

~

It will be a few days before it smells sweet though!

~

Ann x

Waiting to be unblocked!!

Each one of these manhole covers hides a nasty problem full to the brim!

~

We had been noticing something not quite right for a few days and had gone about the place with bleach, hot water, brushes etc, etc.

~

This morning OH went about things with a crowbar and a hosepipe. No good.

Went to local merchants and bought some drain rods. No good.

Went next door and borrowed their drain rods. They were having the same problem. No good.

~

Rang the Council who put us on to Welsh Water/Sewerage.

The nice man said he would get someone to attend within 4 hours.

I hope he does!

~

Ann x

Never been tagged before! .....

Saphy has tagged me and sent all the instructions, so here goes :

The Rules..
1. Post these rules
2. Post 11 things about yourself
3. Answer the questions provided by the one who tagged you
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag
5. Go to their blog and tell them they've been tagged

Things about myself :

1. I'm a Londoner, brought up in Hackney and Clapton.

2. Met my Other Half on the internet.

3. Love photography. Did the old-fashioned black & white in the past in my own dark room. Some of my large prints still astound me.

4. Do lots of Family History research and find it fascinating.

5. Not very good at gardening.

6. Discovered I like naturist holidays now that my OH has introduced me to them. That all over tan is great.

7. Watch far too much TV - a lot of which is rubbish.

8. "Swam the Channel" in 2010 to raise funds for Aspire (22.7 miles & 1464 lengths of the pool!)

9. Used to go scuba diving.

10. Lived in Penzance for over 30 years.

11. Ran two half marathons in my 50s - Glasgow and Exeter.

My questions from Saphy are:

1. your favourite place

The sunny patio in our garden

2. your most extravagant purchase.

Our sauna in the spare room.

3. chips or jacket potato

Jacket potato.

4. your best holiday

Visit to my son in New Zealand when he was living there.

5. have you broken a bone? if yes how?

Broke my left ankle bone by tripping up a ½ inch kerb!

6. town or country

Town actually, although I live in the country (love that too of course). Must be because I'm a Londoner!

7. the last time you laughed and why

On and off every day. OH and I are always laughing.

8. the last time you cried and why

Earlier this evening watching the 'Musicals' programme. Something would have set me off. It doesn't take much. Anything remotely sentimental, funny or touching, music, etc, etc, etc!!

9. paint or wallpaper

Paint. I am dreading taking the wallpaper off when we next decorate. It's everywhere.

10. Cats or dogs

Cats

11. when you are older will you have cosmetic surgery?

NO - I am already older (past my three score years and ten) and have never had anything done - except my nails!

Who to tag :

Sue @ perranuthnoe

Sue @ in the country

Kathy @ Hillside

Loo @ Jumbles

What I would like to know :

1. Slippers/Shoes or bare feet.

2. Where did you go for your last walk?

3. Favourite colour and why.

4. Which is your favourite West End (or elsewhere) show.

5. Are you practical or academic?

6. What is/or was your favourite Nursery Rhyme?

7. Are you a Leader or a Follower?

8. High heels or flatties?

9. Swimming or the gym

10. Where was your best UK holiday

11. Most daring thing you have ever done.

~

Ann x

Market Bargains! ...

We miss our 'girls' that gave us such lovely eggs each day, so I was pleased to find these really large fresh ones for £1 this morning.

These cakes are M & S 'seconds' if you can call them that! Absolutely delicious and at £2 just the thing with a cup of coffee after a hard morning trailing round the stalls!

Isn't he lovely!! That moustache! They don't have them like that any more. Although my grandad did - his was for straining tea through!!!

Anything that will help with arthritis is a good thing.

It all seems so simple. Just follow the illustrations.

In the 1980s I had a course of acupressure from a lady called Pola Rest (unusual name and she went off to drive lorries across America I think!). However, it was a life-changing thing for me. Don't ask me how, but I became a fitter, brighter, more confident person after my sessions with her, so I have always felt drawn towards acupressure and reflexology type things. Acupuncture seemed to do nothing at all for me when I tried it.

I realised, when I got the book home (another £1), that I already had a copy, albeit an older one, so I think something/ somebody is trying to tell me that I need another session or some self-treating.

If I end up looking like the lady on the front cover I shall be well pleased.

Seriously though, have you tried it or practised acupressure and have you found it helpful?

The author has quite a comprehensive web site if you want to find out any more about him.

~

Hope you have all had a fruitful weekend. Just off for a cup of tea and a piece of cake!

~

Ann x

Rain, rain, rain ...

Because the weather was so bad we were glad to be going to see The Iron Lady.

I loved the film. Thought the filming, photography, makeup were fantastic and Meryl Streep's portrayal of Margaret Thatcher absolutely astounding. I know a lot of folk will disagree with me entirely and think it is a disgrace to make a film about the dementia of someone as important as Mrs Thatcher and the fact that she is still living makes it even worse. However, anyone can get this dreadful illness and no-one knows how they, or anyone else will be affected and it is important to learn something about it and how it may be dealt with. It surely affects everyone around the sufferer, as was well shown in the film.

~

It rained at the front of the house

~

It rained all over the front door!

~

It poured down the kitchen window!

It had done the same thing yesterday - when the friend to whom we gave a lift to the cinema said that it was so bad she was just glad to get out of the house to go to the doctors'!!

~

Hope your day hasn't been too wet.

~

Ann x

~

Gratefuls:

1. Coffee and cake at the theatre

2. Warm woollen coat, scarf and hat!

3. Finally finishing the apple and elderberry crumble!

That was Then ...

Lammas Street Carmarthen

Royal Welch Fusiliers monument, Lammas Street erected in 1858 to commemorate the men of 23rd RWF who died in the Crimean War, 1854-56. (Photo taken in 1893)

~

A Parade of circus elephants in Lammas Street in c1900. Photo by J F Lloyd 1900-1905. That must have been a wonderful sight to see for the little boy in the foreground .

~

This is now ...

Towards the Fusiliers Monument, 2012.

English Baptist Church. Could not find out anything of its history unfortunately.

~

This is Lammas Street in Carmarthen this morning. Not nearly so interesting.

Rather foggy and wet and drizzly and not an elephant in sight!

Rather busy, hot shops fully of damp irritable people (me!).

We were glad to get home.

What happened in your nearby towns in bygone days?

~

Ann x

~

Gratefuls:

1. Packs of ready-made sandwiches

2. Ever ready compact camera

3. Pancakes with sugar and lemon.

~

I got the idea of doing the above comparisons from this lovely blog by Nilly. I hope you don't mind Nilly.