General – Page 3 – The BeenThere-DoneThat Blog

Rocks and Red

5 October 2018 Barry Comments 3 Comments

A short while back, before Amanda had her foot operation, we had to go to Llandrindod Wells and I stopped to take this photograph on the way.

It shows a hill called Llandegley Rocks but known locally as the Dragon’s Back and perhaps you can see why. We keep promising ourselves that we will climb it one day but we haven’t managed to do it yet (we are afraid of disturbing the dragon).

As travelling, especially walking, is out of bounds at present I did a little travelling in our garden today and photographed our Japanese Acer. I must say I have never seen it quite so red as it is now. I thought you may like to see it.

Amanda’s foot is progressing slowly but it’s going to be a long time before she can do any serious walking.

Chop, Chop – Hop, Hop

30 September 2018 Barry Comments 1 Comment

Some time back (years) Amanda had an operation to correct a bunion problem on her right foot (Original post). Well now she’s had the left foot done (4 days ago) so we shall be unable to travel for some weeks, possibly months, as she is having to move around on crutches.

We had some fun on the first night as, when getting ready for bed, she discovered that the bandage was soaked in blood and she was leaving red footprints on the bathroom floor. A telephone call to the doctor suggested that it would be safe to leave until the morning, which we did, and to then contact the hospital.

Next morning the hospital asked her to return, which we did, and they discovered that three stitches had come undone. They have corrected it by using sticky strips across the incision to hold it together but she must have it looked at again by our local doctor on Monday.

So we’ll have nothing to keep us out of mischief for the next few weeks.

They are taking over the world!

20 August 2018 Barry Comments 2 Comments

This is just a part of a larger area of these fungi in our garden by the brook. I think that they are planning to take over the world. Look out for a patch near you. Their colloqial name is Fairies Bonnets and they belong to the Inkcap group of fungi but, unlike most Inkcaps, they are not deliquescent.

If you submit a correct count you’ll win a free fungus.

ADDENDUM:

Two days later we were walking by the river at home when we spotted these.

If our identification is correct (it wasn’t) these are edible and known as ‘Chicken of the Woods’.

UPDATE: After a second look Amanda has decided that they are not ‘Chicken of the Woods’ but are Giant Polypores. ‘Chicken of the Woods’ are polypores and unlike those these are unpleasant to eat but not poisonous.

Spring? Who’s kidding who?

1 March 2018 Barry Comments 5 Comments

If you are a meteorologist then you will regard today as the first day of Spring. Last night was the coldest it's been here this winter at 19F, the temperature is forecast to stay lower than freezing point today, it's snowing here and it's supposed to be worse tomorrow. Spring? Ha!

I don't know when we'll make our next trip but perhaps we should consider buying some reindeer and a sleigh.

3rd March 2018 update:

We now have about a foot of snow here and the temperature has been below freezing for the last 3 days. Spring? Not a chance!

An earth-shattering experience.

18 February 2018 Barry Comments 1 Comment

We felt an earthquake here yesterday afternoon but, luckily, the earth-shattering bit was 50 miles south of us and about 5 miles down. I was sitting at my desk in my study creating some new pages for the web site when I heard a quiet, low rumble and I could feel the house vibrating. I wouldn't go so far as to say the house shook, it lasted for about 15 seconds and measured 4.4 on the Richter Scale. Rather minor really.

Living as we do in a quiet Welsh market town one doesn't expect earthquakes although they do occur very, very occasionally. I suppose if I had been Elvis Presley I might have said "I'm all shook up".

A nice little surprise!

31 January 2018 Barry Comments 2 Comments

I have noticed just recently that there are a good number of Crocuses around us that are beginning to bloom so surely Spring cannot be far away. We could easily get a lot of snow between now and Spring but it's lovely to see some flowers appearing already.

More, more smilies

UPDATE: 5th Feb. Not such a nice little surprise – the temperature last night went down to 29F.

Carnival Capers

27 August 2017 Barry Comments 1 Comment

The last Saturday in August every year sees the Knighton Carnival. I realise that you will all be disappointed not to have been able to attend so we were there for you.

The various groups and floats assemble in or near the old Market Place so we went there first.

There were many colourful groups together with a lot of people milling about including the rather suspicious characters below.

This is Derek Price the official Knighton Town Crier, resplendant in all his finery, who also happens to be a neighbour of ours. Oyez, Oyez.

We then went down to the clocktower to wait for the procession. Whist we were waitng a mounted policeman appeared; something we've not seen in Knighton before. Probably there to keep the local troublemakers (Me and Amanda) in order.

Finally the procession appeared with a great variety of groups representing many different themes such as the Trojan Horse below and that's a pretty good cardboard horse. I think that most of them are self-explanatory.