Posts that Didn't Happen: March 2026

The month didn't start well, after the Idiot Abroad (aka Trump) started a war in the Middle East, and sent oil prices rocketing - unfortunately our oil tank was by then rather low, so the rayburn promptly went off!  

Then we managed to break the oil monitor when changing its battery (needing to keep an eye on how low the tank actually was) which had to be replaced too :(

In the garden, we decided to have a go ourselves at reining in the yew tree, which had bushed out quite a lot on the side near the house.  It wasn't an entirely successful exercise, as we couldn't get to one top branch, and another branch nearly took out Martin and wooden arch!

Still - it's better than it was - although we now have a huge pile of yew tree branches to deal with.

Early in the month I also headed across country to visit the folks for a couple of days, help out with medical appointments, and take Mum to visit an old friend.  

Stayed with my sister and brother-in-law (who's very into his Lego), and amused myself by hiding a small Lego knight mini-figure in his Home Alone display piece - will he ever notice??

Home to 'fluttering' noises in the rayburn flue.  We assumed there was a bird in there, and ended up partially deconstructing as much of it as we could in the hope that it would find its way 'down'.

Eventually all went quiet, so it either found its way 'up' or expired in the flue - hopefully the former!

In other news . . .  continued with a consultancy project; bought new smartwatches (mine now tracks my swimming lengths, so no excuse for losing count!); indulged in more Lego (adding the Viking Village to last month's Medieval Town Square); and Martin fitted a new inverter to the campervan (replacing a very noisy model we returned for a refund).

The end of the month saw us back across country for a 63rd Wedding Anniversary family party.

Had a lovely celebration weekend with extended family - also took Mum a Wade 'Treasure Trail' set I found online (like the one she remembers her Mum having).

The last day of the month saw us back home, where a shopping trip to town saw our newly MOT'd (if rather old) car, bashed up while parked in a local car park - starting a whole new saga . . .

Posts that Didn't Happen: June 2025

And so to June - unfortunately the first half of the month was not so great in the end - I had some back pain for a few days (to the point where I invested in a heated gilet thing), then I got a cold, and then Martin caught it too.

We eventually concluded that I'd probably picked up Covid from somewhere, as we were both completely wiped out - kept having to go back to bed we were so tired - and it certainly lingered for a good few weeks after. 

On a positive note, we had some lovely weather, and inbetween naps managed a bit of garden pruning, and some slow walks on the prom.

And - drum roll please - the water lily in our garden pond, finally decided to flower, after nearly four years of leaves.

By the middle of the month we just about had enough energy for a trip to Aberaeron / Llanerchaeron - had a wander in the sun, a spot of lunch, and checked on progress with the sea defences (still not finished!).

There was another 'birthday' celebration and catch up with old colleagues - this time a 60th for the Department of Information Studies at the University.  

Then towards the end of the month, we took the Van across country again to see family - helping out with shopping and appointments etc., although we wilted a bit in the English heat.

Did enjoy a very pleasant visit to the Elgood's Brewery Gardens, where Martin found enough energy to steer Mum's wheelchair at speed round the maze, before we had a cooling drink in their rather swish on-site bar.

With all this going on not that much of any note happened with the Van, Martin tinkered with the electrics, I made some cloth covers for one set of overhead cabinets, and we pondered next steps . . .

Posts that Didn't Happen: March 2025

And on to the merry month of March . . .  starting with a solo visit to family across country for a few days, helping out with various things, while Martin continued to work on Project Van.

He made some useful progress in my absence, starting on the 'bookshelf' design (between one of the overhead cabinets, and one 'side' of the bed, sitting above the electric control cupboard) - and continuing work on electric things I don't understand.

Construction of a storage 'step', raising the floor level between the front and rear seating, is also underway.

On my return (complete with cold, which Martin duly caught quite badly) I continued with 'carpeting stuff, including the over-bed areas - this time in a nice deep wine colour.

I also devised part of the solution for our sliding bed element - this is formed of four Ikea bed struts, which sit on wooden beams at either side of the van (as shown on the right).

By attaching the bed slats to the struts with velcro, the two 'halves' of the bed can now be slid together, with the slats interlocking, making more room at the back or front of the bed as required.  

The whole structure can also be easily removed if even more space is required for transporting large items.

Alongside 'decor' (carpeting and cork tiling), more serious considerations such as security were tackled - with the fitting of locks to the exterior of the sliding and barn doors.

Towards the end of the month we finally purchased some vinyl flooring for the van, and marked that up for fitting in due course.

It does feel like there is some momentum to it all now, but there's still a long way to go . . .

In other news, we enjoyed some lovely sunny Spring days, and made a little more room in the garage by selling a greenhouse we bought way back in 2009 and which had been sitting in its boxes ever since!  Also started learning / playing a bit of chess - although Martin is taking it a bit more seriously than I am.
 

We ended the month with another visit across country to meet up with some extended family, and celebrate Mother's Day and what is now a 62nd Wedding Anniversary (where are the years going?).

Diamond Celebrations

This weekend saw a very special family celebration . . .

Doesn't seem that long since the Golden Wedding . . .

We had a lovely weekend with family, cake, cards (including one from the King!), flowers and lots of food! 

And great memories were made and revisited.

Happy Diamond 

Wedding

Mum and Dad!

Emerald Celebrations

And five year's on . . .

Further East

From Stratford we moved on to visit family in East Anglia, and celebrate a 'significant' birthday.

Lovely family Sunday dinner out - nice country pub - a fine selection of fowl (chickens and peacocks) in the garden (assume they are there for decorative rather than culinary purposes!).







Next day took the folks on a trip out to Burghley House - another extremely impressive Tudor property.

The interior - which has been remodelled signifcantly over the centuries - features expanses of elaborately painted walls and ceilings depicting mythological scenes - including the so-called 'Hell Staircase'.

The parkland, landscaped by Capability Brown, survives and has been augmented with the addition of a sculpture garden and garden of 'surprises' - was interested to spot the 'bunny' in the sculpture bit!


All in all made for a fascinating day out - the house is magnificent, and there is plenty to see in the gardens too - not least Alan Titchmarsh recording a tv programme on the Lion Bridge!

Golden Day!

HAPPY GOLDEN WEDDING

MUM & DAD