I love New Year – especially when it’s perfect winter weather – and it certainly is perfect. Deep frosts (-4 for days now), stunning pink skies at sunset and amazing stars and a bright yellow, lying on it’s back, crescent moon. We’ve had the longest break since we’ve been here and we’ve really enjoyed it. My Christmas present was having the Rayburn fitted in my office – actually Tilly thinks it was her Christmas present – Spot is toughing it out on the sheepskin rug under my desk but Tilly lies with her nose and feet resting against the Rayburn with an expression of pure bliss. It’s a wood burning model (of course) so has the added bonus of being free to run.
In 1995, 20 acres of Prysg wood were replanted with native broadleaf – 14 years of undergrowth had formed an impenetrable thicket so our only views were from the surrounding paths or from the other side of the valley. We knew the trees were desperately overdue for thinning and removing the spiral tree guards – but where to start? Looking at a
2000 aerial photograph we could clearly
see the markings of the paths cut in to get the larch out but 14 years of growth had
completely hidden them. Even the 2004 Google Earth photograph shows nothing but dense cover. But knowing they were there and with an easily identifiable start point, we set forth with chain saw and scythe. It proved more straightforward than we expected. Peter felled the trees which had self seeded and I moved logs (Rayburn food!), cleared the brash and pulled up the brambles – a wide path, banked on one side, was quickly revealed – it’s compulsive stuff – and highly satisfying - I can’t think of a better way to burn off those excess Christmas pounds.
I love New Year – especially when it’s perfect winter weather – and it certainly is perfect. Deep frosts (-4 for days now), stunning pink skies at sunset and amazing stars and a bright yellow, lying on it’s back, crescent moon. We’ve had the longest break since we’ve been here and we’ve really enjoyed it. My Christmas present was having the Rayburn fitted in my office – actually Tilly thinks it was her Christmas present – Spot is toughing it out on the sheepskin rug under my desk but Tilly lies with her nose and feet resting against the Rayburn with an expression of pure bliss. It’s a wood burning model (of course) so has the added bonus of being free to run.
In 1995, 20 acres of Prysg wood were replanted with native broadleaf – 14 years of undergrowth had formed an impenetrable thicket so our only views were from the surrounding paths or from the other side of the valley. We knew the trees were desperately overdue for thinning and removing the spiral tree guards – but where to start? Looking at a
2000 aerial photograph we could clearly see the markings of the paths cut in to get the larch out but 14 years of growth had completely hidden them. Even the 2004 Google Earth photograph shows nothing but dense cover. But knowing they were there and with an easily identifiable start point, we set forth with chain saw and scythe. It proved more straightforward than we expected. Peter felled the trees which had self seeded and I moved logs (Rayburn food!), cleared the brash and pulled up the brambles – a wide path, banked on one side, was quickly revealed – it’s compulsive stuff – and highly satisfying - I can’t think of a better way to burn off those excess Christmas pounds. 
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