The Mound from Above.

 More planting to be done but getting established. 

Normandy House

 So, after lord knows how many decades in a right state,  will '25 be the year of restoration? Don't, whatever you do, hold your breath!

Let there be Light

Dawn.

 

The Mould

 

Started the planting. 25 in the collection so for the beds, a ways to go yet me thinks.

On the left side, a branchery for the 20 alpines.

Well, ok, 12 fitted better. Now the wait to see how things developed.

Cosmeston Park Stroll

 

Returning via a new path through the park, we came across this grumpy old man. Been here quite a while me thinks.

What am I Like?

 

The rising sun in the east reflected from a neighbours window to the west,

giving the couple a lovely dawn to enjoy. Oh dear.

Winter Sunset

 

A very unusual one this one.

Garden Patch Development

 

Membrane laid and rockery with logs sort of designed awaiting alpine plant delivery. 

Bark on the rest of the membrane, wondering what to plant 🤔 .

Fill in Exhibition

 

Australian  flowers done in marquetry veneers.  

Turner House

 

A couple of examples of the prints from the work of the year 8 students from the Penarth Stanwell School.

Framing

 

For Margaret's elephant,  a gift from a young artist.

Chinese New Year Gathering

 

With the Girls and

the Boys. 

Chinese New Year is Coming

 

It is, you might have already guessed,  the year of the Snake.

Burn's Night

 

A night together with haggis and tatties and poetry,  of course.

New Windows

All new windows being installed, 

meant an escape to Gek's playroom to read Agatha Christie. 

 

A Bamboo Shoot

 Let's see how it develops.

First Outing

 

After the 12 days of Christmas being lock in after catching the dreaded flu, a dawn stroll, 

for breakfast at Coffi Co.

Miniature Painter

 

Spotted from our window.  T'was rather cold.

Chinese New Year Show

 

Mock up of the landscape garden for template cutting. 

A Windy Day

 

Yesterday there were 40+ mph gusts of wind from the west heading down the Dingle valley, causing our neighbour to have a bit of a dance.

CNY Prep

 

Bridge done, decorations on the pavilion to do. Now to decide on the layout. 

Pruning, Repotting

 

Pruned, 

Repotted. The longest root was 18 inches long, all coiled up.

Room Boxes at Night

 

Mackintosh bedroom.

Hengoed conservatory. 

Chinese Garden Bridge

To accompany a pagoda you have to have a bridge to get to it.  Back to the drawing board  

Under construction. 

Geks Entrance Fabric Art

 

The latest piece, the pink one.

Almost There

 

Roof done, pillars decs next.

 The Gek Contemporary set up for Christmas. 

Chinese Pavilion

 

Now for the tiles and decorations on the pillars.

Chinese New Year Prep.

 

2025 is the year of the snake, Geks year. But a wood, not a water one. So, a Contemporary Gallery display being prepared.

Fablas Visit

 

We went for a celebratory ice cream on the 1st anniversary of our move to Penarth,

but going upstairs to escape the cold, we discovered this lovely wall art.

 

A drawing of the cafe is featured this video.

New Idea.

 Blackwork bookmark. A reason to do. 

First Sleet of Winter

 

Bit colder too, not surprisingly. But shopping had to be done. Also surprising what a couple of days can make in the weather in Penarth. 

Hudson River Valley Chair

 

Finally cracked the weaving lark. Takes 4mts ish of thread per chair not to mention total concentration. 

Beaver Super Moon Tonight

 With flat high tide.

Walking up the Cliff Top Road. 

"Hot coffee anyone?"

The Iron Road

The Mallard on the front cover is the engine me and my friends used to travel to Doncaster to spot back in 1960. The  book explains the history, social and economic effects together with explanations of how the engineering developed and works. And across the world, not just in the UK. Quite an achievement,  I think you have to agree. Steam power, first trialed in Merthyr Tydfil in 1803, eventually replaced horses on the Iron Roads and effectively changed our world for ever. 

Autumn Moon

 

Reflected on a rising tide,

with tiny waves reflecting the pier lights. 

The walk home. "Wait for me."

Visit to Pontypridd

On a return visit after 5 years, crossed the River Taff

 

to visit the park.