Cows

I took this photo yesterday. Part of our route took us through a farmyard and these were some of the farmer's cows. I was intrigued by their facial markings - something akin to pandas wearing sunglasses! The farmer was very friendly and waved to us as he rounded up his sheep with the aid of 2 sheepdogs. I had never seen that before except on television (One man and his dog) years ago. You see what a townie I am!
I might add that, as always, my job was opening and closing the gates we needed to pass through, and, recent weather having been on the wet side, I made sure to wear my wellies - green ones, no less! Upmarket or wot!! (And boy, did they get muddy!)
Great fun was had by all! :)

Off road driving

Today Keith decided to put the Range Rover through its paces off road. He had the route all planned, downloaded from the internet. It began at our local Little Chef for breakfast (most important!) and from there we made our way through Oswestry and off into the wilds of Glen Ceiriog, pasing numerous cows, sheep, pheasants and even a rabbit en route.
We also discovered a lovely waterfall at Rhaeadr. Apparently, it's the highest in Wales, 240 feet.
In the carpark, we met a very friendly goat, who seemed keen on nibbling the open car door and a lovely St Bernard who lives there too. Pictures below. To see more, or if you suffer from terminal insomnia, go here

A pheasant

A pheasant One which decided not to throw himself under our wheels, unusually!

A friendly St Bernard

A friendly St Bernard . He lives in the Bed and Breakfast/cafe just by Rhaeadr Waterfall

Raeadr Waterfall

Rhaeadr waterfall

Ideal Homes

Today I had my counselling course in the morning and this afternoon has been taken over by shopping/dusting/hoovering/washing/ ironing activities. Well, actually, I am having a short break before attacking the ironing. I even became inspired to go out and mow the lawn but one look at the waterlogged state of the ground after heavy rain last night dictated otherwise, so instead, I went on a box hunt, rounded them up and dispatched them upstairs to the 'box' room - logical, don't you think?
It now remains to be seen whether Keith even notices when he comes in.

Throughout my adult life, I have strived to achieve the minimalist look in my home. I gaze with envy at those lovely photos of room layouts in the IKEA catalogue - light, simple furniture with smooth, clean lines. The reality is that real life has always intervened to prevent me from attaining this simplistic ideal and it doesn't look as if it's going to change! :) Still, I am surreptitiously winning the battle of the boxes - I think....................?

OK so, in the grand scheme of things, I have done everything except the ironing. A huge decision must now be made:
Ironing or stay on the computer......................no contest really but I suppose it had better be the ironing. See ya later!

Boxes again!

Faithful, longstanding readers will know of the longstanding battle I wage with Keith on an almost daily basis about boxes. At the shop, it's no problem. I am getting a real whizz at slicing up boxes that the orders have come in and dispatching them to the bin outside, before Keith has had time to open his mouth to say,
What are you doing with that box?"

At home, however, it's a very different story.
I am forbidden on pain of death (well, maybe not!) not to dispose of any of the boxes which are around the house having, in their previous life, been home to various bits of computer or I.T. related items. Thus we have boxes strategically placed on top of my music centre, on the scanner, hidden away in cupboards, waiting to fall out as soon as the door is opened, and in the box room - how aptly named!
As the house is small to say the least, this is quickly becoming a bit of a problem, a problem which was compounded last week when Keith became the proud recipient of a LARGE box containing a DVD and surround system - 5 speakers and a sub-woofer!
Mad schemes were hatched which involved draping wires across the ceiling and round the lights, drilling holes in walls and maybe through the ceiling as well - who knows???
"And what about the box?" I enquired.
"Oh, that can go by the dining table," was the airy reply. "We might need it. Can't throw it away."
Still, look on the bright side - now that we're not getting the suite, maybe it will come in useful for sitting on!