All That Glitters . . .

A bit of an update on Project GOLD . . .

Unfortunately all that glitters (or should I say gives the strongest 'signal') is definitely not gold (in fact it's almost certain to be a bottle top or ring pull!).

The finds table continues to be dominated by what can mostly be described as rubbish - plus a little loose change (including what to date counts as our 'star find', a £2 coin 😁).

All that beach walking has also turned up an almost complete set of plastic sand toys - all found at different locations - which has been donated to next door's grandchildren.

It does look as though we may have a field or two in the offing now though - so hoping for better things to come . . .

Project GOLD!

Not really a 'project', but something to do in the time when we're not busy round the house and garden - and who knows what we may find?

We both enjoyed the Detectorists tv series, and it turns out we'd both quite fancied giving metal detecting a go.  

So we decided to invest in an entry level detector and see what we thought - and what turns up!

To date we've just been trying it out on the local beaches - where it does feel more like we're performing a beach cleaning service than anything else 😞

So far the monetary return has been a solitary 2 pence piece (see below for the haul from the first three outings) . . . and I at least need to get in training and build up my arm strength!

On the plus side we've had some lovely peaceful evening walks - Ynyslas Beach may not have given up much in the way of 'treasure' but the views alone are worth it.

Hopefully we'll also get permissions to detect on some local fields, and see what they yield in the way of local history (Martin would really like to find a hammered coin from the old Aberystwyth Royal Mint).

And who knows, we may yet get to do the detectorist's 'gold dance' . . .

Project Bench

April has seen us looking at various jobs around the garden, and this is the first (hopefully of many) 'retirement projects' to get finished 😀

Back in 2010 we invested in a hardwood garden bench, which has done sterling service ever since, providing seating every summer in the suntrap out the back of the house.

Of late it has however been looking a little the worse for wear - while the 'greying' of the wood is attractive enough, it has gotten very patchy (especially where the wasps help themselves every year), with lots of splits and splinters.

In order to get another 10+ years out of it, we decided we'd better do some refurbishment - starting with a thorough sanding - which took it back to something close to how it looked when it first arrived with us.

It wasn't the easiest of jobs, but between the belt sander, Dremmel, and multi-tool sanding attachments, we got there in the end.

It was tempting to leave it as it was, but we decided that an oil treatment might help its long term survival.  So here we are, after a couple of good coats of teak oil.

Fingers crossed for many more happy years sitting on the bench in the sunshine!

Retirement # 2

So, after eight months with 'Epic' it's all change again, and I'm (or should I say We're, as Martin is joining me this time) finishing work again, ready for the summer (if it ever arrives - still feeling pretty cold out).

It's been an enjoyable enough few months, and I now know more about military uniform than I thought I ever would.

There have also been some really funny moments, with enquiries such as 'Will your miniature display helmets fit my stuffed marmot?' (the answer to which proved to be yes!).

Anyway, my final enquiry 'tickets' have been dealt with, and with flowers, card and cake (thanks to uber-cake decorator Fi), goodbyes said.

On to the next chapter . . . 

Posts that Didn't Happen - April 2022

Spring has sprung and we're into April - and it's all change . . .

Did some serious thinking last year, and decided enough was enough and it was time for something new, so handed in my notice (well in advance) to finish work at the end of this month.

8 April was my last 'working day' although I carried on with filing off and on before finally logging off for good on 19 April, with accrued holiday then taking me through to the end of the month.  

I had some lovely farewell messages, gifts and flowers . . .

. . . in particular, this reproduction estate map from the Welsh archivists, showing the local area and with our property actually marked on it!

So it's 'retirement' - for the time being anyway - a few months to enjoy the summer, furnish my Folly, keep on top of the garden, and read a few books.  Unfortunately that didn't seem to equate to time for blogging! 

Otherwise it was a month of work on the house and garden; including the acquisition of a new sail awning for outside the back of the house.

Martin also made a new garden table, and started work to repurpose the storm damaged greenhouse as a fruit cage.

Got some bargains in a local recycling store, and also had some furniture gifted from family for use in the Folly.

Stuff got moved in, with consequent reorganisation in the house as well, and a lot of time was spent on flat-pack furniture assembly for storage and workspace.

Nearly there!