This morning was a late one rising just after 09:00. Plan for the day ; Rubbish, gas, solar panels. Had a bit of a tiff with Emma as I felt her helping the build, then requiring me to help her around the home was diluting our roles and priorities. I am also mindful that if a helpful task such as washing up is done too regularly, it becomes the norm and expected.
I want to remain entirely focussed on what I am here to do.
Loaded up the wagon with empty gas canisters with Ayres, who incidentally was also in the middle of a tiff with his wife...women! Then got the rubbish and recycling on board. Issued with shopping lists, we were ready, just needed next door neighbour, Jude. This meant rejigging the back seat which resulted in a box of dead and decaying slugs falling out of a bag, then sliding down my arm. I brushed off the slime, disposed of the culprits, then joined Ayres at Judes. It was then it hit me. A waft of my arm. The vile stench of dead slug slime... Needless to say a quick scrub up was required. A thorough one too.
Dropped Ayres and Jude off at a farmers/agricultural shop then did my shopping. You can't rush in Wales. Not when there's a wedding on and the cashier is scurrying out of the shop between customers to try and catch a glimpse of the bride exiting the church.
Next stop, Nick the Gas. An Englishman who claimed to be nearly self sufficient bar items such as tea, sugar etc. Amazing bloke, off the cuff i asked if he could knock us up a gas bottle wood burner. His reply "tenner, will have it done by the end of the week". Cheers. We'll see a) if it does get done b) if it costs a tenner. To be fair i'm happy to pay way more than that.
Had a wander with the rifle at sunset. Nothing worth shooting. Did succeed in scaring the crap out of the neighbours who i called on to let them know their rear car window was wide open. In all honesty, to have a camo'd up stranger with a mahoosive rifle rock up to your caravan after sundown in Wales could be unnerving i suppose.
M Jones
GunBidder.co.uk
The UK's Premier Gun Auction Site
Jammin and Shooting Stars - Friday 06/08/10
Today was spent idling somewhat as rain stopped play. Decided to use the down time constructively and set about digitising my diary through a blog. On site is an agricultural building known as 'the clamp'. Here, residents pay for square footage for storage, but also a broadband connection. The electricity hook up is also used to charge depleted leisure batteries. In here I sat and typed until I felt hungry about 12:30/13:00 . After a quick refuel I then resumed my typing until 17:00 by which time my eyes were squiffy and i'd had enough.
At 20:30 i'd been told there would be a jamming session in the farmhouse so with an armful of firewood I set off. Things didn't really get going until 21:00 and by 22:00 I was ready to hit the hay. I find the rhythms that the group settle into put me into a deeply meditative state.
On my way back I saw Ayres was up and ended up smoking and chatting for an hour on the step outside the caravan. Witnessed a pretty damn impressive shooting star, if that's what it was, but you had to be there...
M Jones
At 20:30 i'd been told there would be a jamming session in the farmhouse so with an armful of firewood I set off. Things didn't really get going until 21:00 and by 22:00 I was ready to hit the hay. I find the rhythms that the group settle into put me into a deeply meditative state.
On my way back I saw Ayres was up and ended up smoking and chatting for an hour on the step outside the caravan. Witnessed a pretty damn impressive shooting star, if that's what it was, but you had to be there...
M Jones
French Drain - Thursday 05/08/10
Continued yesterdays building tasks in good weather. More tamping of foundations, digging the drainage trenches and pole stripping. Ayres was back to full strength after an early night. Hopefully will be laying the perforated pipe and covering with gravel to form the french drain, but am not sure as we're forecast rain until Sunday...
M Jones
M Jones
Americans - Wednesday 04/08/10
Todays building involved various aspects. Drainage, footings and the poles. Our two American volunteers, Dan and Bree, worked really hard and were most impressive. I finished off the extension of the perimeter drainage ditch and then worked with Bree and Emma digging the footings. Dan broke up the soil with the digging bar, Bree and myself scooped it out onto a sieve where Emma sorted out the rocks from the top soil.
Around 12 Em & I went off to Crymach for some lunch supplies, which we ate in the polytunnel. When the sun comes out that thing gets unbearably hot!
After lunch work resumed however Emma stripped the bark off one of the supports, I tamped slate into the footing for foundation, whilst Dan and Bree worked some more on the drainage ditch. Ayres busied himself with various tasks but wasn't at 100% on account of suffering from man flu.
M Jones
Around 12 Em & I went off to Crymach for some lunch supplies, which we ate in the polytunnel. When the sun comes out that thing gets unbearably hot!
After lunch work resumed however Emma stripped the bark off one of the supports, I tamped slate into the footing for foundation, whilst Dan and Bree worked some more on the drainage ditch. Ayres busied himself with various tasks but wasn't at 100% on account of suffering from man flu.
M Jones
The Bench - Tuesday 03/08/10
Made a bench today. Similar to the washing up table in its design and construction.
Started the build!
Began by making a 'bunyip' essentially just a tube filled with water secured to two posts. This instrument acts as a spirit level between two points. Ayres cut out squares for the post footings whilst i dug part of the drainage trench.
Have two more volunteers starting work tomorrow, so looking forward to meeting and greeting.
Have set my alarm to start work nice and early. Am eager to keep the momentum going.
M Jones
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| The Bench |
Began by making a 'bunyip' essentially just a tube filled with water secured to two posts. This instrument acts as a spirit level between two points. Ayres cut out squares for the post footings whilst i dug part of the drainage trench.
 |
| The building site |
Have two more volunteers starting work tomorrow, so looking forward to meeting and greeting.
Have set my alarm to start work nice and early. Am eager to keep the momentum going.
M Jones
Laundry Day - Monday 02/08/10
Laundry Day.. Took a trip to the 'local' town 20 odd miles away. Seemed hardly worth it for just one bag of dirty washing, but the cafe bought coffee helped.
M Jones
M Jones
A Glorious Day For A Wedding - Sunday 01/08/10
A glorious day for a wedding! Was amazing to see everyone dressed up and not in wellies!
A fantastic service under the oak tree by the mill pond followed by a buffet meal in the marquee. With food out of the way the traditional dancing got under way which i thoroughly enjoyed. Eventually the drumming began and I drank myself to sleep, Fantastic.
M Jones
A fantastic service under the oak tree by the mill pond followed by a buffet meal in the marquee. With food out of the way the traditional dancing got under way which i thoroughly enjoyed. Eventually the drumming began and I drank myself to sleep, Fantastic.
M Jones
Manly - Friday 30/07/10
Replaced a leg of the shower as one was too long and bent meaning it was nigh on impossible to wrap a tarp around. Hit upon a small idea. Remove the hose of the solar shower. Its about half a metre long and if you bend it, it forms a kink and stops the flow. It also means that to have the nozzle above your head, is to no longer be able to reach the tap...
Went to Kits plot to grab my machete as it was piddling down for most of the day and got sidetracked helping with his wedding preparations. Started off hammering in pegs for the walls of the marquee, and eventually ended up riding the dumper truck truck to collect the LPG converted generator.
Have been invited, along with other men folk, to Kits this evening for a manly evening. Basically drinking my homebrew beer selection and various whiskeys. Was good to meet and chat, but didn't get to bed until 09:30 might not seem too late to some but in this physical lifestyle, it takes its toll.
M Jones
Projects - Thursday 29/07/10
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Stainless Steel Pump Pot 1.9 Ltr |
...
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| My Triumph. |
Next item and project. Shower. Used three lengths of hazel lashed together. Tested it out as well, passed, but needs tweaking. Height. Solar Shower needs to be raised. Covering. Tarp is ok but will probably need another.
Plus positioning is a factor. Am not concerned about nudity, but others exposure it... :-)
M Jones
Mulching - Wednesday 28/07/10
Drove an hour to the nearest Maplin shop to replace the duff controller. Also took the opportunity to do a top up shop at the supermarket. Already pretty settled. Busied myself 'mulching' the willow beds. Basically this involves putting down recycled cardboard to keep the grass down then shovelling cow poo onto it. Good fun, with some music going...
Ayres, the guy we're helping, spent the day creating pathways and building bridges over drainage ditches.
Over the coming days alot of time will be spent preparing the site of the first build ensuring all materials are on hand.
Finally got round to shoring up our caravan door. The wood had come away from the hinge. A couple of nails, hammer, bit of flashing, tin snips and wayhey! Well, for the time being. May very well need to replace a large portion of the door with fresh wood, but time will tell.
Am eager to try out the solar shower, however... no sun... guess a boring old wash will have to do.
Tomorrow I have decided to construct a washing up table out of some pallets, and maybe a bench.
Anything we can do in the awning rather than in the caravan, will help keep people from having to dance around each other.
M Jones
Ayres, the guy we're helping, spent the day creating pathways and building bridges over drainage ditches.
Over the coming days alot of time will be spent preparing the site of the first build ensuring all materials are on hand.
Finally got round to shoring up our caravan door. The wood had come away from the hinge. A couple of nails, hammer, bit of flashing, tin snips and wayhey! Well, for the time being. May very well need to replace a large portion of the door with fresh wood, but time will tell.
Am eager to try out the solar shower, however... no sun... guess a boring old wash will have to do.
Tomorrow I have decided to construct a washing up table out of some pallets, and maybe a bench.
Anything we can do in the awning rather than in the caravan, will help keep people from having to dance around each other.
M Jones
MOVING DAY! - Tuesday 27/07/10
Alarm was set for 04:30. Optimistic I Know. Eventually stirred at 05:00. As predicted we overran my departure time of 06:00, instead leaving at 07:30. Inevitable when there are females in tow... and she still forgot the porridge :-(
The journey down was slow but passed quickly. Punctuated by only one stop at the services for breakfast and a well deserved coffee. I hammered on and on to Emma about weight in the caravan when we moved in and the tyres told me how much she'd listened when I slackened of the struts and hitched the van up...women...
Arrived around 11:45 and pretty much hit the ground running. First off was the positioning of the van. Then i got it stable. But stable just is not good enough. IT MUST BE LEVEL!... on a f***ing wonky diagonal hill. Cheers.
Much strained jacking eventually led onto erecting the awning where i amused myself with innuendos aplenty. Poles, rods, shafts, holes, positions, tightness etc etc :-)
Next was the solar array. Built the frame and wrestled with fitting the panels. Bloody charge controller was shot. So much so the battery cable overheated and became squidgy, the fuse melted and the crocodile clip started smoking...
I'm knackered...
M Jones
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| I was so happy to see my excitement was shared by all with me... |
Arrived around 11:45 and pretty much hit the ground running. First off was the positioning of the van. Then i got it stable. But stable just is not good enough. IT MUST BE LEVEL!... on a f***ing wonky diagonal hill. Cheers.
Much strained jacking eventually led onto erecting the awning where i amused myself with innuendos aplenty. Poles, rods, shafts, holes, positions, tightness etc etc :-)
Next was the solar array. Built the frame and wrestled with fitting the panels. Bloody charge controller was shot. So much so the battery cable overheated and became squidgy, the fuse melted and the crocodile clip started smoking...
I'm knackered...
M Jones
Dirty Stop Out - Monday 26/07/10
Still suffering...At deaths door I think... Still like the hero I am I soldier on. Albeit with a little three hour nap at midday.
Another run to town and a quick trip to our friends to say goodbye. Last night Fran and I stayed up late watching the Simpsons online. Em was out drinking, the dirty stop out. To take the mick, she came home around 10:30pm, drummed me out of Frans bed and then watched me make and assemble ours. (Have to pack away each morning to enable us to have a sit down area. A big downside to living in a caravan!)
Moving day tomorrow! yey!
M Jones
Another run to town and a quick trip to our friends to say goodbye. Last night Fran and I stayed up late watching the Simpsons online. Em was out drinking, the dirty stop out. To take the mick, she came home around 10:30pm, drummed me out of Frans bed and then watched me make and assemble ours. (Have to pack away each morning to enable us to have a sit down area. A big downside to living in a caravan!)
Moving day tomorrow! yey!
M Jones
All But The Hardiest - Sunday 25/07/10
After a lazy morning, went to Emma's mums for Sunday lunch. Stuffed myself and promptly curled up on the sofa for a snooze. Didn't last long...ended up watching Oliver Twist with Fran. Feeling pretty crap after catching one of those deadly strains of cold. The type that would fell all but the hardiest of individuals. Lucky I'm such a hero!
I maintain its Emma's fault. I'm a hot sleeper that wears the minimum in bed and normally starts the night with the bedding half on and half off. Now SHE insists I sleep to her right and because of the end of the bed she's chosen, for our heads this means i must sleep by the window.1) This is most incredibly inconvenient. It means i have to clamber over her in the morning as i am normally the first up and 2) it means the cold air from the window is funnelled onto me through out the night. Due to my state of undress, this has resulted in a fatal cold.
Things are gunna change around here...!
M.Jones
I maintain its Emma's fault. I'm a hot sleeper that wears the minimum in bed and normally starts the night with the bedding half on and half off. Now SHE insists I sleep to her right and because of the end of the bed she's chosen, for our heads this means i must sleep by the window.1) This is most incredibly inconvenient. It means i have to clamber over her in the morning as i am normally the first up and 2) it means the cold air from the window is funnelled onto me through out the night. Due to my state of undress, this has resulted in a fatal cold.
Things are gunna change around here...!
M.Jones
Couldn't Bag A Pigeon - Saturday 24/07/10
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| My new Edgar brothers MOD 60 .177 Air rifle vs my old Beeman |
We've been cramming in the modern conveniences recently such as McDonalds, KFC, and loads of TV and computer! 8:30pm went out with the air rifle to see if i couldn't bag a pigeon in the church yard over the road. Turns out i couldn't. Wasn't disappointed though. I love wandering the fields as quietly as possible. In hunter mode, your eyes are everywhere, so for once, you notice all thats around you. You hear the different bird calls, notice the bats darting over your head. Am very eager to do more of that and am very excited to think of all the countryside that will be at my disposal in this new life of ours.
M.Jones
It Started With The Washing Up... Friday 23/07/10
Made the decision to try and spend the day in a constructive fashion. So it started with the washing up and ended with a trip to Attwoolls...
Bought £160 of mostly useful and essential stuff i.e new 110ah leisure battery, wellies, compass, rain suit for Fran. Plus some eccentric things like an Aussie leather bush hat - sexy!
The latter part of the day was filled with a visit from my buddy Luke and piss arsing about with my air rifle which lead to discovering the culprit behind its recent inaccuracy - a wobbly barrel. Unfortunately being a cheapy £50 job a fair few years ago. The offending part was sealed and unable to be adjusted. Guess what i'm doing tomorrow...
M.Jones
Bought £160 of mostly useful and essential stuff i.e new 110ah leisure battery, wellies, compass, rain suit for Fran. Plus some eccentric things like an Aussie leather bush hat - sexy!
The latter part of the day was filled with a visit from my buddy Luke and piss arsing about with my air rifle which lead to discovering the culprit behind its recent inaccuracy - a wobbly barrel. Unfortunately being a cheapy £50 job a fair few years ago. The offending part was sealed and unable to be adjusted. Guess what i'm doing tomorrow...
M.Jones
Packing In The TV - Thursday 22/07/10
Had a pretty relaxed day, bar the afternoon.
Morning was spent in blissful distraction finding little unimportant things to do in order to avoid the washing up.
Took Emma along with Fran to her friend Jaynes in South Cerney. Watched ALOT of TV...Packing it in while i still can!
On the way back i dropped off Em and Fran in town to nip back and collect the money for the Land Rover. After handing pretty much all of it over to Emma for my share of the Monterey, I paid the rest into my heavily overdrawn account.
Luckily we ate cheaply that night having been invited for a meal down at my parents neighbours.
Whilst down there Fran, and subsequently Anne, Em and David ended up playing all sorts of instruments ranging from the recorder, piccolo, clarinet, tenor and some rather wonderful stringed instrument whose name escapes me.
Looks rather like a foot.....
All in all a good day.
M Jones
Morning was spent in blissful distraction finding little unimportant things to do in order to avoid the washing up.
Took Emma along with Fran to her friend Jaynes in South Cerney. Watched ALOT of TV...Packing it in while i still can!
On the way back i dropped off Em and Fran in town to nip back and collect the money for the Land Rover. After handing pretty much all of it over to Emma for my share of the Monterey, I paid the rest into my heavily overdrawn account.
Luckily we ate cheaply that night having been invited for a meal down at my parents neighbours.
Whilst down there Fran, and subsequently Anne, Em and David ended up playing all sorts of instruments ranging from the recorder, piccolo, clarinet, tenor and some rather wonderful stringed instrument whose name escapes me.
Looks rather like a foot.....
All in all a good day.
M Jones
Shedding Of Worthless Junk - Wednesday 21/07/10
Am pretty annoyed with myself for not being more disciplined and writing more often. My excuse should be i've been really busy, but this just isn't true. The busyness has been more sporadic.
There was the whole moving and ruthless shedding of worthless junk, including some important stuff, like my land rovers v5 registration document :-(
Have now sold that damn discovery for £800 so lost £200. Buyer insisted on having it MOT'd. Cheeky bastard did his best to get me to pay for it too!
Today was snugglemunches last at her current school, which now frees her up, finally.
There was the whole moving and ruthless shedding of worthless junk, including some important stuff, like my land rovers v5 registration document :-(
Have now sold that damn discovery for £800 so lost £200. Buyer insisted on having it MOT'd. Cheeky bastard did his best to get me to pay for it too!
Today was snugglemunches last at her current school, which now frees her up, finally.
E-Coli - Wednesday 30/06/10
Stayed Monday and headed home :-(
Stopped off at the services for a burger and coffee, a good slap of what we want to leave!
Forced back into the services a of junctions later, as the food left me battling my eyelids. Not only did i have a snooze, but so did Em and Fran. Sadly all we've done thats positive is head over to the caravan on Tuesday to stock it with dried stuff. Em & Fran were off until the doctor could rule out this e-coli. Emma's Mum managed to pick it up on holiday with Fran . Means our forced march to Farnborough could be cancelled due to Emma's sister Nicola being paranoid of infection.
Hope her paranoia lasts as I can't be arsed.
Otherwise it's back to the drudgery of mainstream life...BORING. Am tired but I think not from exercise but just wanting the day to end. Would probably feel better if i were sleeping in the garden. Going to read my Primitive Living book as bedtime research.
M Jones
Stopped off at the services for a burger and coffee, a good slap of what we want to leave!
Forced back into the services a of junctions later, as the food left me battling my eyelids. Not only did i have a snooze, but so did Em and Fran. Sadly all we've done thats positive is head over to the caravan on Tuesday to stock it with dried stuff. Em & Fran were off until the doctor could rule out this e-coli. Emma's Mum managed to pick it up on holiday with Fran . Means our forced march to Farnborough could be cancelled due to Emma's sister Nicola being paranoid of infection.
Hope her paranoia lasts as I can't be arsed.
Otherwise it's back to the drudgery of mainstream life...BORING. Am tired but I think not from exercise but just wanting the day to end. Would probably feel better if i were sleeping in the garden. Going to read my Primitive Living book as bedtime research.
M Jones
The Fabled Tipi Valley - Sunday 27/06/10
Friday was busy-ish, got the tracking and wheel alignment done on the new 4x4. Just as well too as we decided that we would go ahead and venture off to Wales in search of Tipi Valley.
We packed the necessary equipment in case we didn't find it as it is notoriously off the beaten track.
We got most of the way there before my phone battery died and I just drove on navigating with a combination of instinct and memory.
We found a spot that felt bloody close to Tipi Valley and at around 10 o'clock pitched a tent and bedded down.
I awoke around 5am Saturday morning and had a scout around. All the signs were there. A row of vans and converted campers, cars with maps chargers etc, evidence of traditional crafts and woodworking.
Found some wood and got a fire going, for breakfast we had rice...quite a good porridge equivalent!
Filled our water bottles at an eerily deserted farmhouse save for the cat who had met us the previous night and guided us to our camping spot. Transpired the occupants were at Glastonbury!
By following the track we then knocked on the last farmhouse on the track where the owner informed us we were in the right place, here was the fabled Tipi valley!
Back to the car to gather our stuff and off to the 'Big Lodge'.
We were greeted by Henry, a young chap with dreadlocks who put on a brew and answered our endless stream of questions and listened to our story. He introduced us to Lola and her three children. She in turn invited us to join the whole (or rather the remainder) of the community who were off to the village fair. On the walk down we picked a 12 foot bramble for the competition of who could find the longest bramble...
I joined the Valley men in a football tournament and seriously paid the price. Ouch! Cramp set in quickly due to the heat.
After Carol the Drunk was evicted we had the Big Lodge to ourselves for the duration of our stay.
Another 5am start for me on the Sunday. For me, in this lifestyle, it seems right to start the day when the sunrises, and turn in when it sets.
Frances got to ride two of the three horses with Jaz, I'll probably be heading down to the yurt of my team mate and fellow brewing enthusiast, Dan, to sample some of his much lauded Elderflower wine.
Another hot day so should be most refreshing, undecided as to whether we'll go back home this evening...
M Jones
We packed the necessary equipment in case we didn't find it as it is notoriously off the beaten track.
We got most of the way there before my phone battery died and I just drove on navigating with a combination of instinct and memory.
We found a spot that felt bloody close to Tipi Valley and at around 10 o'clock pitched a tent and bedded down.
I awoke around 5am Saturday morning and had a scout around. All the signs were there. A row of vans and converted campers, cars with maps chargers etc, evidence of traditional crafts and woodworking.
Found some wood and got a fire going, for breakfast we had rice...quite a good porridge equivalent!
Filled our water bottles at an eerily deserted farmhouse save for the cat who had met us the previous night and guided us to our camping spot. Transpired the occupants were at Glastonbury!
By following the track we then knocked on the last farmhouse on the track where the owner informed us we were in the right place, here was the fabled Tipi valley!
Back to the car to gather our stuff and off to the 'Big Lodge'.
We were greeted by Henry, a young chap with dreadlocks who put on a brew and answered our endless stream of questions and listened to our story. He introduced us to Lola and her three children. She in turn invited us to join the whole (or rather the remainder) of the community who were off to the village fair. On the walk down we picked a 12 foot bramble for the competition of who could find the longest bramble...
I joined the Valley men in a football tournament and seriously paid the price. Ouch! Cramp set in quickly due to the heat.
After Carol the Drunk was evicted we had the Big Lodge to ourselves for the duration of our stay.
Another 5am start for me on the Sunday. For me, in this lifestyle, it seems right to start the day when the sunrises, and turn in when it sets.
Frances got to ride two of the three horses with Jaz, I'll probably be heading down to the yurt of my team mate and fellow brewing enthusiast, Dan, to sample some of his much lauded Elderflower wine.
Another hot day so should be most refreshing, undecided as to whether we'll go back home this evening...
M Jones
Sunglasses And A Balaclava - Thursday 24/06/10
Feels as though the dream is fading. Feel bogged down by the grinding routine of this 'modern' living. Alot of my thinking time today has been devoted to how i can also disappear from the radar. To the extent of wearing sunglasses and a balaclava in and around towns and cities. Bit of a paradox considering that by hiding your identity you then become more visible. Granted, no one knows who you are, but conversely, i doubt it would take long before Big Brother would want to find out... Muslim women get away with it, hmmm theres and idea...naaahh....
Our man in Wales called to cancel this weekends visit. Pretty huge blow as i was relying on it to regain focus and perspective. A reminder of what is waiting at the other end... Just have to try and find a way to use the weekend to do something constructive. Something to bring the dream that one step closer. The trouble is, with the way my tired mind and body is, all i want to do is wallow in this misery.
Nice weather today though....
M Jones
Our man in Wales called to cancel this weekends visit. Pretty huge blow as i was relying on it to regain focus and perspective. A reminder of what is waiting at the other end... Just have to try and find a way to use the weekend to do something constructive. Something to bring the dream that one step closer. The trouble is, with the way my tired mind and body is, all i want to do is wallow in this misery.
Nice weather today though....
M Jones
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