Some Bloody bright spark..........!!!!!

BEFORE
AFTER

Not meaning to winge on about DIY disasters, but I do occasionally get right royally pi**ed off when I see bodge jobs that are dangerous. The point in question was when I started working on finishing off the conservatory on our house. On reaching around the back of the paneling, I received what electricians call, a "tickle", i.e an electric shock !! For some time I had wondered why the lights flickered a bit when you turned them on. The reason is self explanatory, when you look at the photos !!!! This could have caused a fire !! The bottom photo is after I rewired and shows how ALL the earth wires should be connected, and sheathed. In addition I have used the correct connector as well. Sorry about the wingeing, but it's off my chest......and down my arm and out through my fingers. (There is a faint singed smell in the air)

The old ones are good ones !

I should start by saying that the title does not refer to San's age in any way, but rather, it refers to old jokes and gags. A gags hilarity is increased the longer the person doesn't realise they are the focus and a good ten minutes went by before San did. Takes you straight back to being seven years old again. Bizarrely, on the same walk we encountered long horn cattle and Lamas and finished up being chased across a field by a huge wild pig !!

Wales....again !

Tree and I have definately decided to move to Wales. Tree has already been invited to apply for two jobs !! We could be moving sooner than we thought. Hoorah !!! I have got to focus on getting the house finished now, as well as doing three festies !! I might even stop using so many exclamation marks !!!!!!!!!! Anyway, in the meantime, here's some more photos of Wales.

P.S Check out The Prof's Wyrde World to see how the Welsh tackle environmental issues.

Wales II, can you keep a secret ?

Well we have just got back from, sunny, Wales and it met with all of our requirements. We stayed at a place near Cardigan, called Mwnt (pronounced Munt). It had a gorgeous beach, one that could easily rival Mother Ivys bay in Cornwall. Apart from the fact that you get to see migrating wild Dolphins swimming in the bay ! Apparently, every year they come to the West coast. Some people pay a fortune to swim with Dolphins in places like Florida, here you get to do it for free !!Anyway, the weather was good and we loved the surrounding countryside. It was quiet, even during what we know as "rush hour" back home. I shall post photos, periodically, to give you the idea ! We have decided to look further into moving here and Wales is definitely the well kept secret I thought it was.

Wales....The forgotten country.

After Tree and I had our small sojourn to the South West counties, and realised that moving there will not meet with our requirements, our sights turned back to Wales. To be honest, I was not sure why we discarded the place on our last visit. I mean, we want to live somewhere quiet, with not too many tourists, near the sea, open countryside, nearer to our pagan roots and with our own woodland, preferably. This doesn't sound like Cornwall really. I think the problem with Wales has been it's negative image. Think of Wales and most people think of rain, burning holiday cottages, sheep and chapel. In fact, after nerdy boy here did some research, I found out that the mainstay of industry isn't sheep farming, but willow withy growing. There has been a massive resurgence in the craft and lots of farms are restoring their coppiced willows. Also, and not to be boring, the rainfall in mid Wales is less, yearly, than in Worcester and the average number of hours of sunshine are greater and hotter !!
Tree and I are off soon to investigate, so I will keep you posted !!!

Old age relics

In the same way that we hold ancient buildings and monuments in great reverence, one day I can imagine we shall do the same with everyday objects that, at present, are considered blots on the landscape. Take the pylon for example. Thousands of them around us all the time, and yet how often does anyone really look at one. Engineering wise they are a brilliant piece of design, I mean, how often do you see one fall over. Not very often ! Like windmills, one day we shall marvel at pylons that have been moved to museum sites, like Avoncroft, and explain to children, " Yes Son, we used to transport electricity with those before solar panels ! "

The light at the end of the tunnel.

I was brought up to believe that, "the light at the end of the tunnel" was,"a train coming the other way", as my grandfather would, always, say. Yet, the other day, I was walking in an avenue of trees and I saw the whole concept in a completely different way. No longer do I think as I used to, but rather, that there is no light at the end. I am already in the light and the trees are kindly providing some shade. And, what lies in the distance ? Maybe someone looking from the other end, wondering what's going on where I am. And just beyond, round the bend a little, is a wonderful future. But I'm in no hurry to get there. I'm enjoying the shade !!

WDYSOYTAGADSMI

No...not a cryptic code but more of a revelation. Sometimes I realise that I have been pondering some concept or idea without knowing it. In this case it all started when I changed a few sounds on the computer. When I switch it off a voice now says ,"It's about time. Why don't you go outside...nerd". On it's own, it means very little, but then this morning I was talking with Tree in the shower about how Television has become bland, predictable, crap that doesn't reflect real life. Again, this in itself is not much to think about. But it was at breakfast that I suddenly remembered a 70's programme called Why don't you switch of your TV and go and do something more interesting instead. Revelation !!! The feeling of losing where it is I am going is all because of the fact I have bought into all of this bland, predictable crap. This has made my resolve even stronger to cut out the crap and go and do something more interesting. Tree heartily agrees and we are going to look at alternative ways to live, with even more determination. People of the world unite, get off your ass, the REAL world is out there !!!