Monica seems not too affected by jet-lag. Since she arrived, at 5-ish on Friday afternoon, we have been into Manchester, shopping, yesterday and visited the Calderdale towns today. The farmers’ shop and I persuaded her to buy some English-made wellies and a wooly hat.
The dance-floor is going well in the shippen: most of the joists and stumps are in place, leaving the noggins and sheet for Monday. Over a brew, we were discussing power options for Tony’s shed. The chippy said the usual solution, used at roadside cafés etc, is to mount a generator as far away as possible in a well-insulated box with the far side open to send the noise and fumes away.
We’re off to the Hebden Bridge cinema tonight to see the new version of Wuthering Hieights. As if we’re not sufficiently wuthered already. We’ve had some good rain and a drop in temperatures since Monica arrived, unfortunately. Need to get those emergency supplies in soon, though the Land Rover has now passed its MOT and only awaits re-registration before it can rescue us from snow-drifts and other inclemencies.
There’s a car, upside-down, on the road below. It must have crashed, speeding on that fast bend, while we were in the kitchen. We heard nothing but it’s a sobering view. I had earlier explained to Monica that, to turn right into Warland Gate End, one must be sure that there’s no oncoming traffic, around the bend, overtaking in the middle of the road. Lesson underlined, I think.
I’m jealous of the range of plants Tony is getting into his hedgerow. It isn’t yet clear what species will survive here. I had a 100 yards of post-and-rail fence installed, from the green bridge up the boundary, because the cows and horses that are being let to graze here are doing some damage and to keep them out will need a substantial deterrent. Ralph has found the details of the guy to whom he let the grazing, so I can inform him that his animals’ days on Warland Farm are numbered. The fence is six feet in from the derelict stone wall to avoid having to dig out buried stone; this gives me scope to plant a reasonably protected hedgerow between. We’re waiting for further visits from the community groups who can help and advise with this. On Thursday we have the meadows expert here for an initial look-around.
Anyway, I have to settle the fire to keep the dog warm while we’re out, so I’ll finish there. More instalments soon.