Running away to Wales.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 20 Dec 2008, 09:24

We got both sets of pigs as weaners from the local open farm.

This worked really well as they were already used to being handled and indeed loved attention.

My sister got a pair that had never been petted and they were much more wild from the start and more difficult to manage when moving from place to place.

So for a first attempt with pigs I think we accidently struck lucky!

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 12 Jan 2009, 13:51

I've been down in Ferryside about 50% of the time over the last two or three weeks, and now have a huge list of tasks to address with various levels of urgency.

Everything was frozen for two weeks and now it's rainy and windy again. This appears to be the two default weather options for south west Wales ...

The immediate problem is the guttering is full of leaves (which were frozen until last night) so now it's raining the water is going everywhere it shouldn't. Then there's a list as long as my arm of other improvements to make - double glazing, repairing holes in woodwork, and new stuff like carpets, woodstove, solar water heating, improved insulation etc.

Outside, I've cut down most of a strange willow-like ornamental tree in the front garden that was blocking out all the light to what is going to become my herb garden. Also there are a bunch of self-seeded ash saplings in the back garden I've been taking out. Our next door neighbour is a dab-hand with tree-felling so he graciously brought down four large sycamore and hazel trees on our border.

Dave the bf only managed to get part way through putting new felt on the shed roof so that blew off last night in all the wind - ah well.

We've also dug a couple of plots for sowing next year - more to do there. And have started looking for materials to build a polytunnel. Need some freebie scaffolding poles and lengths of mains water pipe for the framework...

I now have more wood lying around than I know what to do with - at least until we get a woodstove.

And today I got internet installed - yay! All the websites had told me that I was so far from the exchange my internet would be incredibly slow - but it's actually pretty good so far - better than on my boat anyway - so that's a huge relief.

So now I can live and work here - just need to get Dave's boat painted and on sale so he can come and join me.

Anyone watch that 'The Horse Whisperer' movie with Robert Redford that was on tv yesterday? I feel kinda like that New York woman walking around in awe at my new surroundings ...

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 12 Jan 2009, 13:53

Tess, enjoy those moments - and your new life.

biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 12 Jan 2009, 14:03

Tess wrote:Everything was frozen for two weeks and now it's rainy and windy again. This appears to be the two default weather options for south west Wales ...

I did warn you.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 12 Jan 2009, 16:09

biffvernon wrote:I did warn you.

Don't be so smug. You're only 3ft above sea level. You'll pay for your words in time

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 12 Jan 2009, 16:12

Have you found any friendly neighbours where I can park my van Tess? If there's a few days weather than isn't ice or rain, Charlie and I may wander over and give you a hand

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 12 Jan 2009, 16:38

JohnB wrote:Have you found any friendly neighbours where I can park my van Tess? If there's a few days weather than isn't ice or rain, Charlie and I may wander over and give you a hand

I've not found anywhere I'd be comfortable parking for more than one night without raising eyebrows. The owner of the garage 50 yds down the road from us is very pleasant and has parking space but I don't know him well enough to ask for any favours or even offer to pay just yet. I only just discovered yesterday that technically I've been parking on his land myself without realising. So I'm probably not in his good books.

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 12 Jan 2009, 16:40

My new shiny internet has gone kaput already. Two hours after plugging it in and enjoying glorious broadband, the whole phone line went dead. No dialtone, nothing.

Sigh. Too good to be true, it was.

Post by **mikepepler** » 12 Jan 2009, 20:43

Tess wrote:Also there are a bunch of self-seeded ash saplings in the back garden I've been taking out.

What about trying replanting some of them in a more suitable place? An Ash coppice could be a good source of firewood. Then again, maybe you already have enough woodland near you, from what you said earlier.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 12 Jan 2009, 21:18

mikepepler wrote:
Tess wrote:Also there are a bunch of self-seeded ash saplings in the back garden I've been taking out.
What about trying replanting some of them in a more suitable place? An Ash coppice could be a good source of firewood. Then again, maybe you already have enough woodland near you, from what you said earlier.

That's a point, someone might want them: is there a lace where you could put an advert (local shop noticeboard or something?)

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 12 Jan 2009, 21:20

mikepepler wrote:
Tess wrote:Also there are a bunch of self-seeded ash saplings in the back garden I've been taking out.
What about trying replanting some of them in a more suitable place? An Ash coppice could be a good source of firewood. Then again, maybe you already have enough woodland near you, from what you said earlier.

Good idea. Might be worth sticking a couple at the north (top) end of the garden by the sheep pasture. I will probably have plenty of wood available from the adjacent woodland, but always worth having your own. Especially ash, so smooth and grey

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 12 Jan 2009, 23:42

I have a lot of ash trees round my perimeter and it makes great firewood - so dry even when you have just cut it.

You cut down hazel trees (shrubs) - how could you?

Loads of insulation in the roofspace don't forget.

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 25 Jan 2009, 19:55

If anyone uses twitter and would like to keep up with my escapades, my username is soulsong : http://twitter.com/soulsong

See also updates at http://12seconds.tv/channel/Soulsong

Anyone else on twitter or other social media? About time some of these forum relationships were a bit more personal I think.

Vortex · Post by **Vortex** » 25 Jan 2009, 20:28

Tess, is your place a 1-bed wooden abode?

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 25 Jan 2009, 21:58

Vortex wrote:Tess, is your place a 1-bed wooden abode?

A two-bed wooden abode. The neighbouring one-bed wooden abode is still for sale as far as I know.