Mid April – surviving

Difficult to know where to start. Friends have suggested that this is really a diary; an account of the times in which we live and also a personal reminder of how things were in 2020. We’re both very angry as well as sad at how the UK looks likely to be the worst hit in Europe. But the people did vote for this . . .10 years of austerity, blue passports and a 50p commemorative coin. Cut the police, cut the NHS, cut our ties with the biggest trading bloc in the world, cut everything . . . . and here we are. People, well, common people are expendable, it seems. Could things have been done better – of course. I’m no scientist – oh, wait, yes I am – still a Chartered Physicist but what do I know? The bleedin’ obvious? Look at how other countries behaved – what did they do? Lock down, test, test, test and trace all infected. Seems simple but we didn’t and are still not doing it.100’s still arriving by air and just walking in, no checks . . .I thought we were taking back control? Just like the Formula 1 in Oz – cancelled only hours before the start – Lewis Hamilton spoke out. .. “It’s cash first!” and so it’s the same here – economy first, sod the people, plenty more where they came from . . .only there aren’t, are there . . .

There’ll be a reckoning and we’ll be there with our pitchforks . . .

Meanwhile, back at our idyll. A cautious drive into St David’s felt like a scene from Mad Max – empty roads -both ways. Oh, I did see a tractor – the farmers are still working away, day & night and all thru Easter. The local Nisa was empty – just me and a nervous shopper plus 6 or so staff stacking shelves – shelves that were heaving. Little shortage here. OK so no bread flour and little pasta but plenty of everything else. Stacks of bread – sliced and fresh and in many shapes & forms; so why are so many buying bread flour? A bit of a puzzle. Just come in and buy the bread and leave us breadmakers our flour!! The butchers too was all stacked and smiling faces – glad to see a face.

Nice to see a bit of humour in town . . turn around . . .
Slowly getting through the frozen meat order from the Perennial Cafe and their meat from Rhosgadw farm – 1.2 kg of lamb – should last us the week.
We have the old fridge from our lock up – it still works, we have the homebrew in bottles as well as the Bluestone, Stone Cold . . .
The homebrew is a bit disappointing, not clearing and not a great taste, although it seems to improve by the second half . . . nearly 8%!!
At first, an unwelcome and strange visitor but on doing some research, it turns out to be a rare-ish, black oil beetle – strange life cycle but huge!
Two photos taken with the new phone camera – bottom one on the wide angle setting
Viv opens all the gates – as the glove wearing one. We look forward to the day when the gloves are off!
Gorse and boulders . . .
Always look a bit fractal . . . .
We usually walk round to almost the end and then sit for a bit before bimbling back. We like a rest and so does Toby nowadays.
It was cold but otherwise, a gorgeous day. The sky has been so clear, so blue.
Signs of some pretty big slippage . . .
Looking towards Abercastle and the coastal path . . . deserted . . .
On the way back, the horse throws a shoe! Viv’s boots come apart and the front sole flaps all the way home . . .new boots please!
Our City . . . St David’s – deserted . . .
Another of our permitted walks – down to Appletree cottage, along the wooden lane and into the sheep field. Odd this as we used to hire Hafan (seen top left) every year for our holidays, watching the sheep move around in mysterious ways, from the house. Now it’s our back yard. And very nice it is too. As I’ve said, we are very lucky.