The Community Spirit

It is always interesting to recognise the catalyst for a particular train of events.

Two or three years ago, the two boxes below the Horseman’s Green signs as one enters the village were falling into disrepair. Wrexham County Borough Council had originally organised the construction of the boxes and for a while maintained them with a variety of plants and bulbs, but sadly with the financial restrictions this service could not continue.

On to the scene comes one local young lady,  offering to regenerate the village boxes as part of her Girl Guide community badge. Her programme was to seek help from the council to supply new oak sleepers and the soil. This done and the items delivered and put into position, further help was requested from the villagers to supply plants to fill the boxes.

Job done, tremendous!! Not quite. She then organised a year round rota, calling on all local families to maintain the two boxes. Mowing the surrounding verge, replenishing plants and dead heading when and where necessary.   Naturally the residents now have a far greater pride in the entrances to the village.  That’s what I call community spirit and long may it continue.

The British Weather

Living in these isles off the mainland of Europe really does entail us in experiencing a wide variety of weather conditions in a short period of time. Someone, who had been living in Germany for a number of years and used to continental block weather patterns, could not believe on his return to UK, how frequently the weather changed. Stating that it felt as though one encounters all four seasons in a week. It has been known to have all four in the day.

Over the past couple of years the weather has been even more erratic with severe temperatures during the past two winters, but this year Murefield has not seen any snow until last night.  Hardly anything to get excited about and I know that  my little friend next door will be somewhat disappointed, not yet being able to build a snowman this season.

The plant and bird life must be all at sixes and sevens with the oscilating temperatures of the past couple of months.

Shrubs in the garden that normally produce flowers in April and May, such as kerria, camelia and even the judas tree have been showing their colour. One hopes that the early spring temperatures will be kind to them.  At least one can get out into the garden to tidy up what was not completed in the autumn, especially as the spring bulbs do give encourage to venture outdoors.

The Wonderful Seasons.

I can never understand the preferences of people who state that they only like spring or summer or autumn or winter.  It is the anticipation and marvel of the changes in the seasons upon their arrival. Thank goodness they are not controlled by the politicians.  It is the wonder of nature that creates such transformations. These are highlighted no more vividly than in the countryside.  Seeing  the colour changes of life, being reborn in spring, continuing through the fulness of life of summer, with autumn encapsulting the twighlight years of the cycle and winter signifying the end of the old.  Each season has its own beauty and meaning to the individual. Perhaps this is why countryside people appear to be less stressful. I consider that I am very fortunate to be able to live in the rural location of the Maelor.

Last week-end brought it into focus when with friends staying for a few days, we walked around the Ellesmere canal and meres.  Such stunning beauty and colour on ones own door step and with the added attraction of the water and wild fowl, helps with the realisation that this country has a lot to offer.

We stopped for a spot of lunch at the mereside Boathouse restaurant and had delicious bowls of haddock chowder and tomato and basil soup. Combined with the local tourist information centre in the adjoining building, they project a great image for the area, with well presented dishes and friendly service in the restaurant and professional advice from the tourist office staff.

Putting the Garden to Bed

Yesterday, I ventured out into the garden for the first time in three months. It seemed so long since the beginning of August when it all came to an abrupt halt. Massive catch up time and in fact the immediate programme is putting everything to bed as well as pruning and tidying the prolific growth of the past 12 weeks.  Fortunately Graeme has been keeping the lawn to a manageable level and Sue has been busy attempting to stop the weeds from completely taking over.  This idea of passive gardening is just not on – very frustrating.

The sense that one is assisting the very core of nature and life is the ultimate de-stressing agent and its free.  Cuts down on the gym fees and far more fresh air into the bargain.

The ultimate has to be eating what you have produced in the season and this year has been exceptional, especially the fruit harvests. Even the amateurs at Murefield managed to increase production to a new level. Perhaps next season we will attain even higher levels of productivity, barring accidents.

The Trossachs again after many years

Sue and I decided that this autumn we would make a return visit to the Trossachs, as it is decades  since we were last in that area.  One can understand why it is so highly rated in the must see destinations of Scotland, tucked in between Callander and Loch Lomond, the natural beauty is stunning.

We shouldn’t have it left so long, although I think that we must have been put off from returning  sooner, as on the last occasion,  camping and rain do not go together.

This visit was in much more luxurious accommodation. Our base was at  Tigh Mor,  part of the H.P.B.  group. What a fantastic facility and its location is breathtaking, overlooking Loch Achray.

The immediate views of tree covered hillsides and majestic bracken carpeted mountains is a wonderfully calming environment with miles of forest walks and cycle tracks. Unfortunately with yours truly still on crutches, we could not make full use of them.  Just a short taster of what is available.

The food and the hospitality of the region was of such high quality that it could be used as a standard for the rest of the country.  The smiles and kindness offered to us by staff in tourist attractions, shops, transport, pubs and restaurants never faltered. We ate  some of the finest food that we have experienced in some time – matching anything we came across in the Dordogne earlier in the year.  Only the weather was different.

It will not be long before we return.

3 Peaks Success

Well the team did complete the 3 peaks challenge within the 24 hours, despite a couple of hiccups along the way. Glad to say not on the mountains, but on the roads.

First hold up was on the way from Peebles to Fort William, with brake disc failure on one of the three vehicles. The second was a one and a half  hour diversion after their descent from Ben Nevis, due to a R.T.A. and  road closure.

After the ascent of  Scafell, both climber and driver fatigue started to set in, which made the final peak Snowdon, normally an easy climb, a  real killer especially in driving wind and rain.

They managed a time of 23 hours and 50 minutes – very commendable.

The purpose of the challenge was to raise money for the local Hanmer school and on this it was highly successful.

Over £2,000.00 sponsorship – well done guys !!

A Church Full of Music

There is nothing quite like hearing  a church being filled by the sound of  the voices of seventy male singers to lift the heart.

Last Saturday in Hanmer church,  250 people enjoyed listening to the Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir. Their representation of songs was as varied as  gospel, American musical, traditional and the Lord’s Prayer.  The program,  sung in both English and Welsh was much appreciated by the audience.

In addition to the choir there were two soloists, Alf Gladman a well-known tenor and Seren  Devismes, an 11-year-old soprano, who had only recently moved from Hanmer Primary School to secondary education.  Both of  their performances were a match for the other seventy voices.

It is always a bonus when such a historic building is utilised for  such a diverse range of uses.