Bandstand Ups and Downs

Despite showing its mettle by surviving the 'great storm' of 2014, plans for a new Bandstand at Aberystwyth have remained on the cards (the initial design didn't go down very well).

Work finally started in January this year, and by February its demolition was all but complete - just cutting through that pesky ironwork . . .


It does seem to have been a very long build - although at least there are signs of progress, unlike Tesco, which still hasn't made it above ground yet for various reasons (drainage / buried fuel tanks / etc.)!

It appears to be more or less there now (and the new design is looking good) - but I'm not holding my breath for the promised completion by Christmas!

Bunny on Film

More from Wildlife Cam . . .

Explore Your Archive 2015

Time for the annual call to 'Explore Your Archive' - with a launch event in Wales at Ceredigion Archives, and some colourful goodies (including more pink napkins).

So remember your local archive if you are looking for information on your local area - archives are full of fascinating things - go explore!

Last of the Tomatoes

Finally cleared out the last of the tomatoes from the greenhouses today - thought we better had since November is creeping on, and we might actually have some properly cold weather soon!

We were a a bit late getting the tomatoes started this year, but all in all it's been a good harvest, and the freezer is already well stocked with pots of tomato sauce.

A few here to keep us going as well - some already ripe, some for the ripening 'box'.

Cat and Mouse

Here's the latest from Wildlife Cam, this time from pretty much outside the front door - nothing very exotic though, a cat . . .

. . . and a  mouse (you'll have to look carefully!).

Keeping the Kettle Cosy

Way back in 2010 I had the bright idea of creating a 'kettle cosy' for the rayburn kettle, to improve boiling times, and help keep the water hot.  And a 'cosy' was duly created by sandwiching some foil insulation between a couple of old bar towels, with velcro to fasten the ends round the spout.


It did the job, and served us well for five winters, but as you can see it's also been getting a bit tatty and singed round the edges.



So . . . time for a new model.

No bar towels this time, but a recycling of an old set of oven gloves - again fastened in place with velcro, but this time at the back, with a hole for the spout.

Looks a bit smarter than the old one - we'll see if it manages to last for another five years!

York Weekend

Took advantage of a work trip to York for a long weekend away - with Martin joining me on the Thursday evening by train.

Met at the station and went for a couple of pints in The Maltings a real ale pub which we'd always found too busy to get in before that night.

Good cider as well as beer, and interesting decor - not entirely sure it's the best of plans to have a toilet ornamenting the bar mind you!


An enjoyable weekend followed 'doing' the sights of York - although we tended to stick to the indoor sights given the weather (which definitely wasn't living up to the heights of last Sunday.)



Revisited the Treasurer's House, which was hosting an exhibition on Vivien Leigh (documents, costume, film, etc.).  Interesting house, good ghost talk, but we didn't get to visit the cellars where the Roman soldiers are seen this time.



We probably spent the majority of our time in the National Railway Museum - plenty to see here, trains, the 'warehouse' area, model railways, demonstrations, and exhibitions.

I always enjoy poking round the warehouse area, but found some interesting signs in the exhibition this time:

Of course we did fit in a wander round York's medieval streets, and a circuit of the walls (when it wasn't raining that is!).  Indulged in curry, and even fitted in a little shopping before catching our train on Sunday.

All in all a nice break - but a long journey home.

Summer in November?

A beautiful day out today, and we ended up in Aberaeron making the most of it.  The day had started out warm, but the sun kept shining, and it got to the point where it could have been mid-summer.

So there we were - Aberaeron harbour, eating chips, and indulging in ice-cream, while basking in glorious sunshine - had to keep checking it was the 1 November!

As it turned out this was apparently a November record - and mid-Wales was the UK hot-spot.