Rural life
Fibre WiFi has arrived at the hut
Well it had to happen eventually. After years of false promises, trying to get an answer out of Openreach, and generally thinking this was never going to happen, it did! In May 2022 we finally went from the pathetic BT copper line with a download speed of 1.5Mb on a good day (backed up for…
Read MoreThe Hut goes green
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…
Read MoreSlow ways
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…
Read MoreA diversion on Welsh names
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…
Read MoreThe Grey Box in the road
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…
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