I woke up warm and toasty for once. I finally got the pleasure of not wanting it to be warmer. The long johns may have helped my issue but I expect that what really helped was the couch which kept great thermal mass... as the minute I got out of my toasty microclimate... I was freezing cold... Damn you Wales... you drive me to seek warmth... XD
I did the routine morning preparations and packed everything down to 1 plastic bag which was gifts and a spare coat I found ineffective for its weight but possibly useful for my work environment where getting mud of my fleece sweater would be undesirable.
After a bit of waiting in some light drizzle my host arrived along with the other WWOOFer Quinton (Cont-toh is how it is pronounced I believe... I have been working on it all day and still cant get his name right.)
So the lovely Mr. Willot gave us a tour of the town including the bay and the Cardiff castle (all by car btw,) before we left to head out to his farm.
On arrival I was greeted by wind and mud. Not that I minded much, it was a short walk to the house... and OMG it has the large wooden doors that look and feel like I am in the shire hobbit holes... XD
It's a refurbished house dating back a few hundred years of which I was delightfully told of its history while enjoying the visual charms of hanging dryed herbs and beams holding up the ceiling. My WWOOFmate is also an interesting guy. Having just arrived in the UK from France a few days ago he speaks great English and has been WWOOFing for a year or so and it was delightful to talk with him and learn a few tips and advice for equipment and general expectations.
I will be visiting the local goodwill equivilent soon for a better pair of shoes and pants... my pair of puritans and my lovely legendary gold khakis are a bit weak and fragile compared to a pair of jeans and wellies for the mud. (Which were both supplied to me by great kindness of my fellow and my hosts respectively.)
After this I got to meet Mrs. Willot and she was also a delight to talk to as we had a cold lunch of meat, cheese and bread. I got to try ham from the next farm over and 4 different kinds of cheeses.. all of which were delicious with some hearty bread. ^_^;
After this we went to the small local garden to fetch some sprouts and leeks for tonight's dinner. I got to see the lovely walled off garden where we fetched these from. I learned a bit about the tasks ahead (clearing a few of the plots for fresh planting mostly.)
My hosts went off to church and I got acquainted with the house and Quinton in this time. I learned where the light switches are.. which doors make the most awesome creaking noise... >> I'm not kidding these doors are just so much fun for me. ^_^ I also got a bit of reading and writing this blog in.
Then we got to the dinner.. and man was I spoiled by dinner... I was still halfway full from lunch a few hours ago and not more than 2 hours ago we pulled the leeks and sprouts from the garden...
Mushroom Pheasent Cassarole (the Phesant was shot yesterday I am told,) roasted squash from the fall harvest, plus the sprouts and leeks from today.. it was amazing... I ate something I pulled from the ground 2 hours ago... >> really... That is ****ing awesome... I lack a better vocabulary to describe how awesome it all tasted.
After dinner we talked for another hour or so mostly about politics in our respective countries and varying philosophies on how it all could be improved and I was then given a tour of the house at some point in the evening.
I saw the conservatory, the library... this house actually has a library with 8+ bookshelves filled with detective novels... great scootaloo of the nords... XD then there is another floor filled with other fiction and a wall of non-fiction... ^_^
There was also a music room with some pianos and great acoustics in it. God I need to get a picture of the kitchen for you guys... Ill be doing it soon I promise.
They also have 3 cats which are all lovely things to be around and willow reminds me of china in many ways.. may she rest in peace and I do miss her... and cyber too...
In less depressing topics a lot of this house is refurbished but some of its parts (namely paneling) dates back to the 1600s and up. A lot of it used to be a church so there are panelings and the side rail on the second floor has a hole for the placing of the crucifix. Its amazing to see all this.. there is floor tiling stones from the 1800s and a stained glass window too. I'm so glad I bought a camera. ^_^
Well that is enough of the gift of gab for tonight I need to head to sleep to wake up in the morning. So have a wonderful evening all and I will keep you updated on the situation as it develops.
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