News from 2026 - my sister's family visit
l really wanted to show you pictures of my sister and her family visiting me in the spring, but after they came, l got busy with stock making and then l went on holiday to Cornwall with Barry so l didn't get it posted. When l came back, we had this very hot summer with arson fires all over the place (all over Europe as they need the land for their eco-friendly solar panels and windmills) so l had to do other things, like water the young and the mature apple trees so they wouldn't die in this odd non-chemtrail blue sky we had. It was a strange summer. We even had the government's fire warning on the mobile telephones, this loud ringing (which caused a few accidents) which came after most of the fires had been going for several days, telling us not to go about the countryside with matches, magnifying glasses or raw pork chops. And that we shouldn't leave any glass bottles behind either. My sister and her partner had not visited me in England for 13 years - she lives in South-West France and has one daughter. They visited in April, after Easter had gone. I had a very nice time and they said they did also. Brunissen, my niece, bonded straight away with the turkey-gander who was brought up by the mother turkey (see previous blog post) and who follows her everywhere. This gander-turkey has a habbit of nibbling at people's shoes with great persistency, and if he catches some toe he is very happy, then makes some funny noise when he has finished. There are many geese here, but most of them are ganders so they are ferocious with each other, and this turkey-gander isn't very welcome with them as he does't usually fancy a fight. He has to find his own geese, which he seems to think are people's shoes. My niece also enjoyed the other poultry, telling the hens who peck each other off and separating them so some wouldn't be bullied. This would be a full-time job as they show their social ladder all the time. l have stopped trying to get them to get on. She, however, spent a while educating them, which didn't really work this time.
Of course, we had to do a few things, like get out and about, so we visited a couple of churches (Monmouth has a curious red carpetted church which l enjoyed as it didn't feel sinister) we had an afternoon tea at the Sidings in Whitecross where we ate way too much (despite not having eaten any lunch) and we also had to cook an English breakfast, with the best ingredients l could find and our chickens eggs.
Barry joined us but he didn't come for the cream tea as he had the gout just as my sister arrived. l was counting on him to do the washing up but couldn't, fortunately Philippe and Claire always , kindly, like the very good guests they are, insisted on doing it.
His gout cleared by they went back home.
We also went to visit the waterfalls at Water-break-its-neck, a special location on the road from Kington to Penybont. This hill is a very curious hill. It has a very large eyebrow made out of pine trees, and no hair on its round head. l used to find it very annoying looking, when l lived in Penybont, until l stopped, one day, and went to speak with the hill. It was actually a touching connection. It felt like it talked back and since, l feel it is like an old friend. l wave to it when l go past and wish it much balance and peace.
This taught me it is important not to judge by appearances, but get to know a being, before harbouring some negative feelings towards it. After all, l do like large eyebrows, so l shouldn't really have had a go at it for not plucking its own into the usual fashion-magazine L or hat shaped.
They enjoyed walking there, Brunissen enjoying talking with the sheep and lamb on the way. We also looked at the river in Pembridge, well, they did because l was very tired by then, not being used to so much exercise and l had to have a nap in the car.
They enjoyedthe property very much and my landlords who are always welcoming, the dogs who are a bit overly friendly (Toby always wanting to sit under the table when we eat and getting told off by Rosie, my landlady) and that was it, their holiday was finished and they had to go back to France.
l enjoyed their stay very much and l can't thank them enough for all the help they gave me.
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