August
We are now deep in to August.
The final month of summer.
The Welsh Government has finally allowed to us to have guests, if they are separated from the owners. Good news in that we are able to have an income, not so goods news, we are not able to provide the personal service we pride ourselves in performing to each and every one of our guests.
Although the nights are drawing in, we still are able to be outside until at least 9pm. We have had some seasonal warm weather which means the cafes/restaurants in Aberystwyth are able to serve food outside. This has been helped considerably by the local council limiting access to cars through out the town. For two weeks we were now in the South of France.
The fuchsia bush in my garden is awash with bees which means my courgette plants have all mated and have all sprouted their fruits. The bean seeds I planted are now the purple and green beans, which do look a bit odd but tasted fine. My other plants adjacent are the usual runner beans and regular runner beans.
July
July has been a very quiet month.
With the Welsh restriction slowly easing, some sense of normality is finally happening.
July has been wet. Our garden plants have responded by exploding into life - tomato plants, runner beans, courgettes etc, Am hoping for a bumper crop.
A Wych Elm I planted some years ago has shot up at least a metre this year. Have just planted 2 Rowen trees in my side garden; these were kindly given to me by a neighbour. Ideal for rocky ground, we will see.
I have had a close friend stay for 2 whole weeks so I have the luxury on taking her on all my favourite walks. Always lovely to share.
June
June has been a mixed blessings.
The weather broke with torrential rain. This was a welcome relief to parched , rustic fields but a blow to plants in my vegetable plot.
The wind is not uncommon in West Wales but tall bean and tomato plants need a careful watch.
Just before the rains came I took the opportunity to swim, paddle & walk down part of the Ystwyth. There seems to be an old mill/weir /dam set into a gorge upstream from the village. Aside it is an abandoned leat , the walls still intact, heavily laden with moss and ferns. I followed this downstream until it drops to the river. From there one can swim back upstream into the gorge or swim & paddle down stream. The gorge can be quite forbidding, the water dark and deep; perhaps another time with a friend for safety. So a gentle swim and paddle all the way down to the footbridge above the timber yard.
We are coming very slowly out of lockdown. Our infection rates in Ceredigion are some of the lowest in the UK. It's a frustrating time for many. But we feel safe here which is important. On a business note this is normally the busiest time of the year what with the bike, music festival and the Eisteddfod, all cancelled.
May 2020
We have had almost 6 weeks of dry weather.
The hedgerows are now full of wild flowers and the fields full of buttercups. On the northern slopes deep coloured blue bells carpet the slopes.
In my newish mini green house , lettuces are in abundance but, my new herb plot is struggling.
Tomato plants can now be set outside.
The farmer, Alwen, has had some success with 5-6 calves bred for this year. Although he seems to have adopted a small motherless lamb which he now calls George.
Guilty pleasure here in lock down. We can roam the hills by foot, by bike and, for others, by horse.
The streams and rivers are very low so no kayaking .
Midst of self isolation so opportunities to decorate and to garden most days.
Sun goes down about 9-30pm so have a day and a half.
Deep joys.
MARCH 2020
We had a first taste of Spring.
2 days of it.
We were the warmest place in the UK and reached the national news.
So, shorts and sandcastle time.
Of course March 1st is St David's Day.
David being the Patron Saint of Wales. We always celebrate it with and evening of cawl and music organised effortlessly by the Merched Y Wawr.
Cawl, a lamb and root veg dish served in large bowls in the village hall. Apple pie and tea for afters.
This year the music was a bit special. 3 generation of harpists , Grandma, Mum and daughter. All three entertained us with lyrical , and at times, the most hypnotic of sounds. beautiful.
A real treat for the packed throng of villagers.
