Peniarth Isaf

Family News April 2008

Happy April 1st........ Go on, click that button, you know you want to....

April 2008 and "Bwlch-y-Cibau. Com" is now 7 years old... I wonder what Mr and Mrs Jones would have made of it all. Here they are in the 1920's. Mr Edward Thomas Jones was the village butcher when he lived in Peniarth Isaf. The Victoria plum growing up the front of the house has made way for the porch, but amazingly, all the original windows in this old photo are still going strong.

April is the cruelest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding A little life with dried tubers.

.........and here of course, T.S.Eliot is clearly telling us that it is time to pot up your Dahlias but to watch out for those sneaky night time frosts.

Spring has been a long time coming but the month started with a run of three or four fantastic days to be outside in the garden.

Our first G&T on the back patio here:



Andy was away for a few days at his parasitology conference at Newcastle University, another fine excuse for us to spend time with Sarah and to babysit Eddie. Here he is trying to keep a straight face!

Reading time with Sarah and Eddie. This one must be a real page turner. Check out the scary skellibones T-shirt. Can't you just tell Mum and Dad are biologists.

So we got back from Manchester to find winter hadn't quite given up on us:



This was a truly beautiful morning to be up early and taking pics of the garden. Shame the snow disappears so quickly but Joey here doesn't seem to mind.



Another big birthday celebration...Thanks to Jane, Annie and Kay for being there, and Sue for another memorable meal together. Didn't we have a great night.



General consensus is that retirement so far, has been fantastic... more to come soon... here with John and Mary, Jenny and Stuart.







Eddie gives his first concert, a complex and deeply brooding opus using the same 12 tone technique as the second viennese school.

Family News May 2008

Guess who is celebrating their first birthday this month.



Whatever happens with the weather this year we are not going short of water. The month began with a few spectacular thunderstorms and raining stair rods!



Celebrating Chris's birthday with a meal at the Ship Inn, Red Wharf Bay. If you love fish you would naturally choose the 'Catch of the Day' from the menu? Too late I remembered catching a red grouper myself once. It was years ago so I'd forgotten it had a head, eyestalks, teeth, and gills that took up three quarters of its length and a body with as much meat on it as an emaciated tadpole.



So at long last the sun did shine, and the big stuff got moved from the greenhouse to the back patio. Here is our Red Banana enjoying the fresh air.



Friday and for Sue.. School's out for EVER

How excited is she now... We are all so looking forward to everyone joining us in Garda.

Check out the local forecast

You should see the mountain of clobber I've somehow got to get in the car. Tessellating skills essential.