the saga continues.....

what was supposed to be a quick replacement of vile dusky pink sanitary ware in the upstairs bathroom for plain classy white has turned into a full length saga of epic proportions. The thought of the final cost leaves me slighty hysterical. I feel for the plumber - this was supposed to be a quick two evening job - so far it has been two Saturdays, four evenings and we haven't even hit the half way mark yet! I think the point of no return was when he decided he had no option but to replasterboard the ceiling - yes - the ceiling!!! As the tiles went cascading down the walls huge cracks appeared in the ceiling- down it came. It went out in bucketfuls - its still going out in bucketfuls.........my bucket is simply overflowing.

Meanwhile down in Steptoe's yard .... and no that gorgeous pic is of the veggie garden at Harlow Carr - it's not mine - I wish - this is mine below - a quirky area of weird containers due to living on a toxic lead mine site of the past .

Potatoes from a tractor tyre - in fact HUGE potatoes from a tractor tyre!

We have had meal upon meal of runner beans from the other tractor tyre.

Garlic, onions and beetroot have grown fabulously in discarded waste paper bins.

Leeks are still happily growing in yet another tractor tyre whilst carrots in an old style dustbin are still stretching their way down the bin.

There were failures - peas in a bath for a start - there's an old joke in there somewhere - they will have to go in a tyre next year the soil dried out too quickly in the bath, the radishes in a car tyre were a flop as well.

So the tyres have been topped up and finised off with a good thick layer of grass cuttings to keep them all snug for next year. Wallflowers and bulbs are in the old bath, all the strawberry runners are in feed buckets gathered around in the shelter of the south facing wall and very tidy it is too!

Meanwhile back in the bathroom - Oh I give up...I'm going to bed.

When the cat's away......

...the blasted mice had a field day!!

There I was in lovely Harrogate blissfully unaware what was going on back at home! Whilst I was happily wearing a purple felted braclet and wandering around tea shops gardens and restaurants the bathroom was being demolished in no uncertain fashion. As I walked up the path on Sunday afternoon I looked at all these heavy duty green plastic bags bulging in the borders and wondered - I unlocked the back door and an odour of damp plaster met me full on and I could see a layer of brick dust had settled on the tiled floor. Ye Gods what on earth had been going on? For goodness sake, I only went away on Friday and I left the place spotless and tidy - you would never have known! I negotiated the stairs trying to ignore the boot marks on the RED carpet - grrrrrr! I opened the door to the bathroom and lo and behold the plumber had been to put the new shower tray in that had been ordered ages ago - except that when he took the lowest line of tiles off to release the vile pink shower tray - dozens of tiles followed - the plaster was disentegrating faster than you could shout Polyfilla. Said plumber crept in last night - 'Plaster's knackered!' Fine - now what? They've all got to come off - so the shepherd started last night and finished tonight and we now have a naked shower room and hopefully the plumber will return tomorrow with some scheme to reinstate said bathroom - I hope he's coming tomorow - I have made him his fave - lemon dribble cake.

Meanwhile junior shepherd was back at the weekend to earn some money - he has changed! After just two weeks of independence at uni he now never shuts up! He ws always the quiet one - he can now talk the hind leg off any unsuspecting donkey - it was lovely to see him so happy, animated and joking, regaling us with tales from his flat, his course mates, the field trips and of course the hectic social whirl. He went back on the train on Monday lugging bags full of clean washing, frozen pies and lasagne - s'pose we can relax now and concentrate on the bathroom.....

its gone very quiet in Shropshire ..........

Well - if this is empty nest syndrome I can't honestly say I'm enjoying it. Yes I know, I know - set 'em free. cut the apron strings and all that jazz - done it, don't like it! Strangely enough the junior shepherd was by far the quietest of the three boys, a reader - happy in his own company. He never made much noise at the best of times but now he is not here it is dire.

I'm sure the little grub had been breeding mice in his bedroom. I decided to give it a good turn out today and the fattest mouse ever ran over my foot. I shoved the killer cat in there and shut the door. Later I peeped in to find killer cat fast asleep in the middle of the bed, hopefully full of mouse. No such luck - when I moved the chair out he rushed again - the cat carried on zzzzzzzz - bah!

I couldnt believe the grot that has been collected in little tins and boxes - tiny little characters, aeroplanes, train tickets - you name it - he has saved it. He has always had an interest in geology and has had a rock box since he could walk - I thought it would be better on the shelf and went to lift it - groan - it weighs a ton. All this detritus of childhood filed away carefully....its OK I wouldn't dream of interfering - have just dusted and returned it.

We left the student last Saturday getting to know his flat mates - a drop dead gorgeous, oozing confidence young lady and a couple of likely lads with wonderful welsh accents. They went to a meeting at 6pm - they just sort of went ....no good bye, not even a backward glance as they disappeared towards the student guild leaving a redundant pair of parents. That was it our baby had gone...............

We went down into the town sat on the sea front, ate fish and chips and drove home - that was that. One week has passed, two e mails and one phone call - he's having a whale of a time - we are pleased, very pleased that he is quite happy to face anything and make a go of it, but gosh its quiet here - when we aren't falling out like cat and dog that is............

count down to empty nest........

Thank god for Tesco shop and drop - shhhhhhhhhhh - the boxes are brilliant for moving house - saw 20 in action down in the valley just over a month ago. Cogs in brain whirred into action - real light bulb moment. Aha - we could do with some of those to pack all the 'stuff' in for uni. We borrowed six - they are all packed and stacked and ready for off tomorrow lunch time ....poor lad - he's out partying tonight, he WILL be going to work tomorrow morning at 7am and then its off to Aberystwth after a quick lunch. Then we will be coming back to the midst of a street party - wont have time to think for 24 hours anyway! Must remember to feed the cats ...must remember to feed the cats ...that has been jnr shepherd's job ever since he started school - bless.

The new sheep settled down well - I dont think! Every time we thought all was safely gathered in the phone would ring ....'have just seen two of your sheep legging it down the road...' so oft we went again up and down the road, at one stage there were 14 legging it down the road like a bull run in Pamplona except this was a sheep race in Snailbeach. These sheep are known to be flighty but the shepherd has been trying a spot of sheep whispering and it seems to be working because now they recognise the pick up and rush to the gate instead of away from it (absolutely nothing to do with 'whispering' the greedy girls know what's in the bucket.)

Have just had the week's holiday from hell - shopping, shopping and more shopping, the ironing mountain has been conquered- I stuck a flag in the top and ran away >>>>>>

Thursday afternoon I decided was 'MINE' all mine and with not one little glimmer of guilt I ran away to Clun. I have been known to run away to Clun on previous occasions and could be found either weeping or cursing, or both in the car park - I just love Clun it is my very favourite place where I have to retreat to when the jagged edges need soothing. The peace just falls down like an fluffy blanket with the only sounds being the conversation of the birds and a far off tractor working away on the hill. However I didn't run away on my own this time - there were two of us and then lo and behold there were THREE as Mountainear and I met Friko.

We wandered around the little lanes, stopping to look at the view, the cottages, we mused about the past in the sanctuary of the almshouses, we tactfully stood back as locals virtually fell on each other with news and views and before we realised it we were locals as well. It was a moment caught up in a crystal of time when three people who have collided through the medium of the written word flying through cyberspace met in real life and reverted to real conversation and much laughing over steaming tea. It just had to happen in Clun. Time simply flew by and with promises to do it all again soon we left Clun and travelled back to normality. I suppose it was a bit like going through the wardrobe to Narnia - a completely different world.

Big sigh - back to the ironing board and the packing..............

the Long and Winding Road

I'm not a regular at our local WI meetings - I think the tea bag folding some years ago sort of left me behind but if they are having a really top notch speaker somebody will give me a shout and off I go.

It was such a night last night and the hall had enticed quite a few extra members in to listen to Mr Idris Evans from Llangollen telling the story of the old drovers roads. His musical Welsh accent rose and fell, we were a totally captivated audience sitting forward on the edge of our seats to catch every word...... shhhhh just listen to the pin dropping...

As the spring appeared on the heavily wooded landscape the droves of cattle began from all points of the compass driving down the old roads towards London. Only three drovers per group had the luxury of horses, the rest walked using ear splitting whistling as a method of communication across the backs of the steaming stamping cattle. Their journey would take three weeks or so, never ever moving forward on a Sunday.

To protect the feet on the cattle they all had to be shod, a huge undertaking - special shoes for the cloven hooves having been made in batches all through the winter months. The men of Bala had been knitting their trademark heavy woollen socks all winter for the walking drover's well greased feet in their hand made wooden clogs. They greased their feet well with pig fat saved just for the purpose.

It wasnt just cattle that were on the move - pigs were on the move from North Wales to Whitchurch - they had to wear little laced leather bootees to protect their feet. Geese were driven into a shallow pool of hot liquid pitch and then out onto a sandy surface of crushed shell and grit which would protect their feet on their long walk to the North Shropshire goose fairs.

The North Wales drovers used large cattle dogs whilst the South Wales drovers favoured the small Pembrokeshire Corgi breed to snap at the heels of the animals and nimbly escape the flying hooves. The large cattle dog breed died out over time, it was so much like a fox many were shot in error. When the droves reached London and the drovers had time to relax and make merry waiting for the sales to begin they simply ordered the dogs to go home - they did just that stopping at the watering places they had stopped at on the way down to be fed and rest. They would be back home well in advance of the drovers allowing the lonely drovers wives plenty of time to get rid of any 'lodger' they may have taken in to help bide the time.

When the cattle reached the outskirts of London they had particular grazing areas, those from Anglesy and North Wales were around Chelmsford and there they rested and grazed for three weeks putting back the weight they had lost on the long walk South before being sold at the huge Smithfield market.

We listened avidly to the history of banking that started through the droving trade, the connections to Everest, Al Capone and the Romans, the signs in the countryside that are still there to interpret. It was a way of life for so many people, a sometimes dangerous occupation, a thousand head of stampeding cattle generating clouds of dust along unmade tracks doesn't really include any reference to good old Health & Safety.

By the time Idris Evans finished his allotted time of ninety minutes a hall of women sat open mouthed and transfixed, The sound of hooves became but a whisper in the curtains and the steam rising from a thousand resting animals drifted up into the rafters and away.................

The Hard Road to London by Idris Evans was on sale over tea and biscuits - he sold a case full.

Brilliant evening and if anyone gets the chance to see this man in action - just get there!

time rushes on.....

...and I think it may have started to dawn on the shepherd that very soon we will be suffering from the empty nest syndrome. He looked at me totally aghast on Saturday 'What are we going to DO?' he asked.

Now just rewind back to April when due to the precarious status of farming in the economy he decided and 'we' agreed that it may be time to call it a day with our little sheep enterprise. What was once a nice little sideline has now become a rather expensive hobby. University expenses had started to appear on the horizon and a mild sense of 'Oh sh*t where is the money coming from?' was starting to accumulate. So it was with a heavy heart a couple of weeks ago that we saw the old ladies off on a trailer, never having been off the holding before, I didn't dare catch the look in their bewildered eyes, especially as they were leaving their lambs behind - ( they go next week!) The shepherdess was on the verge of hanging up her crook, no lambing to look forward to, no early mornings or late nights - gosh!

Hang on a minute though, dont get too excited at the thought of all that relaxation- the shepherd was rapidly going into a decline - loosing the baby of the family to Aberystwyth university and all the sheep was in fact too much to cope with. Last Saturday we went to Wales and yes - he bought more sheep! I just give up!

Meanwhile the next generation in the family are starting to get interesting, our grandson T at all of two and a half is the eldest for both families. He has been quickly followed by two little cousins on his mother's side and they are growing up together spending a lot of time with Nana and Gramps and their collection of horses and dogs. They have started talking in their own little language which requires expert translation. Grandad is 'Lum' - dont ask. Anyway Nana was happily busy in the kitchen when in rushed two little people 'Nana Nana quick quick Lum Guffed!'

'GUFFED' thought bewildered Nana, wondering whether to call the paramedics or the police 'What the hell is 'Guffed'?? Of she went at speed down to the paddock with two little helpers leading the way shrieking all the way 'Lum GUFFED', Lum Guffed!'

When she found Grandad he was indeed 'Guffed' he had been trying to repair the climbing frame and was STUCK underneath it. His predicament was to last a few minutes longer as Nana just went into complete hysterics and was totally incapable of releasing him......

Nana however doesnt esccape scot free, since T gave birth 7 weeks ago she has had a craving for lemon drizzle cake. No problem - I dont mind making lemon drizzle cakes for a new mum so she can get up in the middle of the night and under the pretext of feeding the baby attack the cake tin. Anyway confessing her sins to her mother she promised to take her a slice and duly did only for Nana to say.'I dont think I've had lemon dribble cake before!'

It's stuck! After the little family moved house my mobile twittered with a text message ' A house isn't a home until there is a lemon dribble cake in it!!!!'

Barking - all of us - lemon dribble cake anyone?

my old man said follow the van.....

as the song goes...

we have been on full duty since Friday morning helping the family from the little house on the prairie to move to a bigger house on the prairie! They have gone from one part of the village to another -from 2 beds to 4 on three floors - lots of STAIRS! Sometimes only moving a short distance can be worse than if you were moving hundreds of miles because you think it will be easy enough - but it isn't! The horsebox came in useful as did every four wheel drive pick up or transporter we could muster between us - then add two sets of parents, three brothers, and a brother in law, a sister and sister in law, a whole raft of mates with skills in plumbing, electrics and essential celebrating! Chips from the village chippy fed us when exhaustion threatened. 48 hours later - all done including a complete garden makeover, power washed slabs and decking and all rubbish disposed of ( sorry it was a big bonfire at the bottom of our garden up here).

But before the exercise began, on Wednesday I had to go on a course - offered by the police as an alternative to 3 points for passing a speed camera a tad too quickly - same camera actually- twice! Hope I have learnt my lesson now -( course I have - just find a different way to Oswestry that leaves out nasty camera at Shotatton X roads - grrrr) I have to say it was a very interesting and informative morning - strange the other folk on the course were not youngsters, mainly women of a certain age!!! Perhaps we have more sense to think it may be beneficial to do the course ?- dont know! Anyway after undertaking it and completing it I think EVERYBODY who has been driving over 10 years or so should do it - because it certainly pointed things out that perhaps have been forgotten, familiarity, speed limits, it was all down to C.O.A.S.T. concentration, observation, anticipation, speed, time. A very worthwhle morning.

Thursday dawnwd beautiful and found me at the mercy of a man with a long needle as I had the dental procedures from hell that I have been waiting to have for months. All done and dusted at last. Not pleasant- in fact pretty vile, tremendously uncomfortable and that's 48 hours later. Still can't eat solid food, or speak properly but hell what a smile! Comestic dentistry rules OK! I shall be the grinning inane woman in Harrogate but as thin as a stick at this rate....glad I had the scampi and swede last Saturday night becuse I would have had to suck them to death tonight! Mushroom soup and ice cream it is then......AGAIN!!!