The Hut goes green
25/06/2021 | No Comments

This year we replaced the rather temperamental Calor gas boiler with a brand new hot water system with a hot water tank and power shower. From June, the water in the tank (and the rest of the hut supply) is heated by green energy as we have just completed the solar panels installation on the Barn roof. We can still produce enough power to heat the water for the Ty Bach – even on a cloudy day! The hob in the hut is still gas powered but the natural gas bottle lasts a long time. And the rest of the
Read More

Slow ways
20/05/2021 | No Comments

It’s painted on every road in Wales. “ARAF” means “SLOW” in English. In Wales it applies to not just cars. It also applies to so much of life in general. I am not sure how we acquired the local code ourselves, but there is an obvious answer as soon as you drive a car round the narrow lanes. You soon get to know the passing points once you are off the main roads and you can see the thoughts going through each driver’s head as you get to an impasse in the road. “He should have pulled in 50 yards
Read More

A diversion on Welsh names
20/05/2021 | No Comments

It is a law in Wales that everyone must have their names shortened if they possibly can be shortened. My father-in-law Basil could not be Basil. He was always known as Baz. Carol’s mum, Margaret was never known as Margaret but Mags. Her brother Gareth was Gags. Alun (pronounced “Alin”) had to be Al of course. Her sister Susan naturally became Sue. Carol hovered between being called Car (by her Mum) or Caz but never Carole-with-an-e if you ever wanted to stay in her good books. There is a family story that her Bampa (grandfather) got so bored with trying
Read More

The Grey Box in the road
19/05/2021 | No Comments

Before we moved, friends often asked how I was going to work? “Ha!” I would reply with nonchalance, “as long as I have the internet, I can work anywhere!” I hadn’t yet encountered what passes for the internet in rural Wales. It is the proud lie of politicians, BT and Openreach that 95% of the British population has access (my italics) to fast broadband. Access is one thing, being connected is another. Seven years down the badly maintained and snail like line, memories of moaning at Virgin Media that my download speeds were less than perfect at a mere 30Mbs
Read More