Fab week. Magic weather + We went to Wales (Twice) + Staycation = Lovely Lockdown Birthday No. 2.
Briefnotes this week as the weather is still amazing and I don’t want to be inside any longer than necessary. One of those days (weeks) where I wonder why I’m still working.
Last Tuesday seems a long, long time ago now. Weeknotes are good for reminding me how much we actually do here. Dale and Marley (Morgan & Cuss) were here until early afternoon putting finishing touches to the bathrooms, which are now both looking LOVELY.

Usual routine for the rest of Tuesday – Thursday, aka work plus VWW on Weds although I didn’t make it to Family Zoom on Thursday due to a last minute go live, which left me a bit frazzled.
Still, from Friday onwards it was a lovely, lovely long weekend.
We drove ACROSS THE BORDER INTO WALES on Friday morning, heading for Abergavenny for a spot of shopping plus takeaway coffees from Bean & Bread – drunk out in the park as in Wales outdoor hospitality, ie cafes etc, doesn’t reopen until 26 April. We rounded off a good morning with a visit to their giant WAITROSE, to purchase a few tasty treats for my birthday weekend.
Back at base, gave the grass another mow – making up to the Solarium for the first time – and planted out lettuce and radish seedlings, including some lettuce in the old herb bed (where the chives still live), with one of the old double glazed windows resting on top as a cold frame.
Tacos for tea!
Dad and Jean came over on Saturday and we had a lovely lunch sat outside on the patio. They brought an array of presents including a gooseberry bush, which Jean mentioned was an excellent Albutt suggestion. And her last jar of 2020 Blackcurrant Jam….

Dad brought us a mealy worm bird feeder too, and that’s now on the pear tree. The robins have yet to discover it…. We are still receiving daily visits from a pair of pheasants (possibly two pairs…) and a pair of partridges. Greenfinches appear to be regular visitors, but I realised this week that we’ve not seen those feisty long-tailed tits for ages….
Sunday was lovely – leisurely breakfast, card and presents then spent the rest of the morning planting things in the garden including a conifer and lilac from the bungalow plus the gooseberry bush which is now planted next to the blackcurrant.
Phil has bought me a Japanese Quince, which I admire every time we walk past Wellfield. I’m still deciding where to plant it… You would have thought that with all the space here it would be an easy decision!
Lunch then time for the Bacton Square before we headed down to Abbey Dore for a bit of a joint birthday staycation. We’d booked a night at Abbey Dore Pod which we’ve watched being built on the farm next to the Abbey, where there used to be a tumbledown garage.
The Pod is FAB – perfect snug space for two inside….

… and a sunny patio perfect for a glass of wine while watching the sheep and lambs in the field on its doorstep.

Did I mention how cute the neighbours are?

Another lovely day on Monday: breakfast on the patio at the pod with the lambs looking on, then back into Wales and up Skirrid for lunch looking out across the Brecon Beacons.

Back home for an afternoon pottering in the garden and greenhouse. I’ve repotted my tomato seedlings – turns out I’ve got 11! – and had a go at putting bean poles up as my broad beans are on a real growth spurt. Peas are lagging a little, and squirrels seem to have discovered them – lots of digging holes along the row of unsurfaced seeds. Used last year’s apple tree prunings as poles, and could have done with a few more.

A sociable week ahead – it is so good to be able to meet people again. We’ve drinks with some of the neighbours on Saturday and are meeting up for a stroll with others after work this evening, making the most of this amazing weather!
TV: Loving Better Call Saul. Adult Life Skills film night on Saturday plus Line of Duty down at the pod. Started The People vs OJ Simpson on Monday. Think I enjoyed the BBC Four Storyville documentary more.
Podcasts: Mainly History Extra and on Monday The Essay proved a perfect accompaniment to pottering in the Orchard.
Photos: Herefordshire week 68 on Flickr.
Phil: w/e 2021-04-18.