My birthday

First the good news, if you can call it that. Below are the photos I took from my trip to the National Botanical Gardens of Wales today. You can read more about it on their website here - www.gardenofwales.org.uk

I woke up this morning with the most awful crippling indigestion type pains in my abdomen. I've had this before, many times, having had two stomach ulcers in the past. I have pills to take "as required" Well I've not required them for months. Why today of all days? Normally the burning pain goes off within half an hour of taking a pill. Not so today. Also if I am a bit "burpy" first thing, a glass of water normally gets rid. Also not today.

Undeterred, I thought I would still go to the Gardens and walk it off. Big mistake. When I got there, I was crippled with pain, I was walking around snapping photos as best I could, then went and got a drink inside the glass dome so I could sit down for a while. It eased a little so I managed to see a bit more, take some more photos, but it was so crowded, and to be honest I felt like a freak, the only person out of hundreds that I saw who was alone. Everyone else was in family groups with kids, or couples, or even women in twos and threes. I felt uncomfortable, as well as feeling ill, so I came home after about an hour and half, and another sit down with a coffee.

Got home and took another pill, and some indigestion pills, and some Indian tonic water which normally does the trick. Still not good, the pain moved down into my lower stomach, and its been like the worst kind of stitch. I went to bed to try and sleep it off. Didn't work, felt worse lying down. Also felt very shivery. So I got up again, got a hot water bottle for my stomach, and it helped a bit but not much.

I left it as late as possible, hoping upon hope that it would ease off, but unfortunately not to be. I had to phone Kate up at 5.30, didn't dare leave it any later, and apologise. She said she will ring me tomorrow to see if I'm alright, and if I need anything which was nice. I feel so pissed off you wouldn't believe. The first time, the very first time, I've been invited out for a meal in the evening for over five years, and I've had to cancel. Why on my birthday though? Why? When I've been feeling pretty good for bloody ages now. Kate said we can do it when I feel better. It is slightly more comfortable now, so I don't think I'm going to die, but I kid you not, I was in such pain about 4 hours ago now, I was crying and thinking of getting myself to casualty.

Of course, poor Emma hasn't had a walk again, first time ever that she's not been out two days running (we couldn't get out yesterday because of the weather)

Oh well, sorry folks, can't be more honest, I was going to post all cheerful about my trip, and not mention any of this. I shall definitely go back to the Gardens when there's more flowers out, at present it was just daffs and crocuses really, and all the shrubs. They've done loads there in the five years since I last went.

Thanks for the birthday wishes and cards too everyone. Sorry I can be more enthusiastic about it!

Plenty of ducks



















































Little tame Robin, sadly I had no food for him.

Just had a surprise phone call...

Cheered me up no end. My friend Kate from the farm just rang to invite me up for a meal on Saturday night for my birthday. How lovely was that, she said she would cook me anything I want, my favourite meal! So I said Spaghetti Bolognaise. She's going to do garlic bread, and for pudding Steamed syrup sponge! The diet will be on hold for the night! Talking of which, I am so thrilled today, I have lost another three pounds this week since Sunday, and am now only 6lbs away from my original target. I expect I'll put on a pound from Saturday though, I always do. If I can continue to lose a pound or two a week now though with my new found dietary secret (drinking loads of water!) and the exercise, I may go for broke and just see how much I can actually lose, it would have to stop sometime wouldn't it, else I would just disappear! If I continue to eat the same amount as I have been doing though, it will be interesting to see when I came to a stop.

I've been taking more trouble with my appearance now I look half-reasonable again, wearing make-up all the time, and I am getting looks from guys again, and I quite like it. A guy today said hello to me, and I thought, I don't know you do I? Then I realised he was just amazed at my beauty! Haha. Oh well, I can dream. I do a lot of that lately about things (my online mates know what/who ;) )

Llanybydder Horse Mart

For want of something better to do, and before I give up doing this blog completely, I went to the above today. I've done nothing but go shopping or walk Emma in the usual places for days, so had nothing to blog about.

Okay so the Horse Mart is held on the last Thursday of every month, I've been there lots of times before, mainly to look at the market stalls. Rarely buy anything though, because obviously it's mainly horse tack. There's a guy always there that has chickens for sale, but I daren't look. I bought my last two hens from him, Light and Dark, who were Diddy Boy's last two ladies.

We park in the field, and I walk round to the stalls with Emma, then let her have a long run in the grass when we get back to the car. I took a picnic today, Tuna light lunch and an apple. I then left Emma in the car and went back for a look at the horses for once and the auction, as you're not allowed to take dogs inside the mart. I don't know why I look at the horses, I always feel very sorry for them. A lot are white-eyed and scared out of their lives. I find it sad that people exploit animals for monetary gains, as a lot of these are. And how people can have a pony as a pet, then when they outgrow it, just get rid of it, is beyond me. There was a donkey who was very distressed. I heard another one being auctioned, it was in foal apparently and it fetched over a thousand guineas! I had no idea Donkeys were so valuable. Hope it doesn't end up with some kid kicking it in the guts on the sands. I wanted to bring them all home.

You can read more about it on the BBC page here if you are interested. The mart has been running since the 19th Century and is famous all over the world. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/lampeter/pages/llanybydder_market_photos.shtml?1













Beautiful pony with blue eyes

Cilgerran/Cenarth

Took a trip to the pet food warehouse today, I've discovered that now I have less Jackdaws and Collared Doves coming to the garden, the Bucktons wild bird seed mix is preferred to the one I can get nearer to home, it has smaller seeds in it, whereas the other makes have a lot more corn, which is getting left and wasted on the garden (I will be able to grown my own crop of corn soon...)

On the way over the bridge I spotted a small flock of Canada geese on the bank and a pair of swans, so thought I'd take a different walk to the one I normally do, on the way back. Big mistake! Despite the lack of rain, the footpath was really boggy and messy, so I only walked a short way, then cut back into the grounds of the Castle hotel as I noticed other people walking their dogs through the driveway, I'd always thought it was private but apparently not. There were some amazing trees, years old, so it made a nice change. I also read on the board at the gateway they do all sorts of meals, and afternoon teas. Hmmmm. Maybe next time.

So anyway, as it was such a short walk, I decided to stop at Cenarth Falls on the way home.....

(Oh and by the way, Cilgerran and Cenarth are pronounced as if spelt with a K as in Kil and Ken...the Welsh C is a hard sound)













and so on to Cenarth Falls. This is a huge tourist attraction, although being February a lot of the places are still shut up for the winter, but nevertheless, still plenty to see and do. In October, lots of people come to see the Salmon leaping up the falls heading upstream to spawn. They also still use the traditional Coracles for fishing, which are tiny boats.

Never tire of seeing the falls, although because of the distinct lack of rain lately (thankfully, no complaints of course...) the water was very low and the falls were quite subdued. Couple of Mallard Drakes were the only bird life visible, although could hear Robins singing up in the trees. Everywhere is smothered with snowdrops, primroses and daffodils at present, very pretty.

You can read more about the area on their website - http://www.visitcenarth.co.uk/cenarthfalls.htm