Herefordshire Week 040: Tuesday 29 September – Monday 05 October 2020

Unpacking and sorting, plus a wet and windy weekend in Pembrokeshire with walking worked around Storm Alex.

Sunset, from the caravan
Sunset, from the caravan

Tuesday morning was taken up with weeknotes, a walk in the sunshine down to Riverdale and back and a speedy mow as rain features heavily in the forecast for the next week or so. Unfortunately heavy dew made the mowing somewhat superficial in places. Better than nothing.

Weds = work with a lunchtime dash to the Hospice Warehouse in Ross. Thursday = work plus Elaine’s first day back which means my stint as caretaker team manager is coming to a close.


With Pembs still pencilled in for the weekend, albeit without Dave and Charles, Hazel arrived on the train from Paddington just after 10pm. I’d squeezed in a speedy ASDA shop en route, and we managed a bit of cheese and wine back at Forty Acres.

Friday was decidedly dark and rainy when we got up, but we managed to cram everything for Steffi into the car without needing to put Hazel on the roof rack. And to absorb the news that Trump has COVID 19. How fortuitous for a timely taking back of complete control of the press narrative in the run up to the election.

A good drive West, taking the A roads skirting the north of the Brecon Beacons again, and dry for most of the way. The rain caught up with us shortly after we’d arrived (but after we’d unloaded) and we spent the rest of the day inside. Val and Nicola materialised during the afternoon, and we feasted on the customary array of splendid curries before heading off to the van.

Sat was surprisingly dry, albeit windy, which allowed for a lovely walk along the coastal path from at Martin’s Haven to Dale and back. Seals and pups in lots of the more sheltered stony coves and even down at the beach where the boats leave for Skomer in normal times.

Seal, Mouse's Haven / Deadman's Bay
Seal, from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Boozy evening back in the van and the rain arrived together with a superb sunset.

Storm Alex settled in overnight so Sunday was spent chilling out in the van. Leisurely breakfast, then chatting, reading, looking at Steffi’s photobook of last year’s trip to Nepal, Ten Thousand. Hazel headed off just before midday making the journey back to London with Mikes.

Getting Blown Away, Steffi's Van, Newgale
Getting Blown Away, Steffi’s Van, Newgale

An early night and another early start on Monday – Nicola and Val driving north, and I headed east getting home in time for lunch, finding Phil hard at work cutting the bookshelves down to size.

A good weekend – if only everyone could have come.


Spent Monday afternoon catching up on admin and watching the birds on the bird feeders. The woodpecker is back – just one, perhaps the juvenile, and there are flocks of fieldfares feasting on the berries in the yew trees. And contemplating sorting out of more removals stuff – clothes or office boxes??

Neither, as it turned out – we assembled the bookshelves instead.


TV:  The Tunnel, season 2 (excellent). The Tunnel, season 3 (ep1 – so far, so good!!!)

Podcasts: More of the History of England.


Photos: Herefordshire week 40 on Flickr.

Phil: Phil’s weeknotes for w/e 2020-10-04.