Helen in Wales

Dw i'n byw yng Nghymru efo fy ngŵr a dw i'n siarad Cymraeg. Dw i'n licio tynnu lluniau ac mae gen i sianel ar #YouTube hefyd. Diddordebau eraill: gweu, crosio, cerdded, darllen ac, weithiau, sgwennu ffuglen. / I live in Wales with my husband and I speak Welsh. I like taking photos and I also have a channel on YouTube. Other interests include knitting, crocheting, walking, reading and, sometimes, writing fiction.

Public Key

npub1l6765wyq2l9la5zcgz3yxvc582t0gw03e04vk4f2n72t5h0l4f6sdyp8ws

NIP-05 Address

dewines_at_toot.wales@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs0a0d28zq90jl76pvypgjrxv2r49h588cuh6kt254fl996thl65agpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dscnmjyk

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1l6765wyq2l9la5zcgz3yxvc582t0gw03e04vk4f2n72t5h0l4f6sdyp8ws

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Last Notes

2026-09-23 11:45:10 UTC

#WordWeavers 23. Have your characters’ journeys affected your own life? If so, how?
I can't think of a time when my characters' journey directly affected my life, but their adventures have kept me entertained through many a boring period.

2026-09-23 11:17:12 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 23 Choose a noun that is representative of you as a creative person.
I'm going with 'persistence'. I've written on and off throughout my life. There have been times when, due to pressure of work or family commitments, I didn't have the time or energy to write fiction. But I've always come back to it.

2026-09-22 14:44:09 UTC

#WordWeavers 22. 1f you wrote a memoir on your writing journey so far, what would it be called?
I might consider "Never give up, never surrender" as a title.
I wrote fiction for fun when I was a child. As an adult I aimed for professional publication, but though I sold a few short stories to magazines, I never made it as a novelist.
Now, however, I'm aiming to self-publish the novels that I have been working on throughout those years. I'm determined to become a published author in the end.

2026-09-21 15:09:36 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 21 What character from one of your own books would you want to spend a day with?
I would opt to spend a day with Elen, Lady Brynglas, some time in Book 3, after the end of the war.
We would start the day with a gentle ride round the beautiful park that lies in the centre of the city. Then Elen could show me the sights and we'd visit the shops before returning to her house for a delicious lunch. We would then discuss books and the projects she's involved in to help the poor.

2026-09-21 14:43:35 UTC

#WordWeavers 21. In your current WIP, which character do you relate to the least and why?
The two characters in the WIP I relate to least are Kynedyr and Owain, two brothers who become king one after the other and who both reign for a very short period of time.
Why? It's because they allow themselves to be manipulated by flattery and mild coercion into doing things that they know are not good for the country. They're both wealthy man, but they're weak and won't stand up for themselves.

2026-09-21 12:08:13 UTC

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Arthur the Cubist Horse sounds like an interesting character. I love your account of spending some time with him.

2026-09-20 16:43:15 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 20 Repossess?
In Book 1 of the trilogy, Owain, who (for reasons) had been made to stand down as king, decides he wants his throne back and raises an army to take it.
In Book 3, Huw risks his life to get his horse back. He had to surrender the horse as part payment of a fine, but later he finds a way to retrieve it.

2026-09-20 16:31:22 UTC

#WordWeavers 20. How do your characters access water or whatever they need to drink?
Tiradel is alt-Wales. The climate is identical. Therefore there is no shortage of water.
Cities, towns and large villages have water piped in from natural lakes or reservoirs, or taken form the many rivers and streams. Richer homes have running water, poor areas have a local tap or pump.
The army provide drinks, usually a choice of tea or beer. Water is carried in canteens when the troops are on the move.

2026-09-20 13:18:56 UTC

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They keep saying that El Nino means we'll have a wetter than normal winter. As our Welsh winters are usually very wet, my husband and I have agreed that, come what may, we will keep up our weekly walks, even if we have to walk in the rain.
At least we already have waterproof coats. I even have waterproof over trousers, but that might be going too far.

2026-09-19 15:20:26 UTC

#WordWeavers 19. What are three personality strengths your antagonist has?
Kararl the sorcerer: He is cautious (some would say cowardly). He has great pride in his ability to wield magic. He's resilient and if his plan fails, will try something even more ambitious.
Lord Becara: He has the ability to flatter and influence people. He's proud of his lineage. He doesn't give up when his initial plans don't succeed.

2026-09-19 13:25:30 UTC

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Cats are experts at disappearing. They can squeeze into the unlikeliest places. I hope she reappears soon.

2026-09-18 14:52:52 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 18 Change one word in the title of a famous book, a movie, a song, and a play to create four new titles.
Book: A Tale of Two Kitties
Film: Indiana Jones and the Last Croissant
Song: Washing blowin' in the wind
Play: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Creeper

2026-09-18 13:44:44 UTC

#WordWeavers 18. What are three personality strengths your MC has?
Mark is intelligent, courageous and loyal.
Huw is kind, brave and determined.
That's not to say that Mark isn't kind or that Huw isn't loyal, but I was limited by the prompt to three strengths each.

2026-09-18 13:24:24 UTC

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I know the word "enjambment" from the creative writing degree I did a few years ago. Having checked, it is pronounced how I thought it was, but English is notorious for strange and inconsistent pronunciations. I say this as someone whose maiden name was Gough*. If you don't know, unless you make a lucky guess, you can't pronounce it correctly.
*It rhymes with cough.

2026-09-17 15:08:55 UTC

#WordWeavers 17. By the end of your story, how many injuries has your MC had?
Mark is bitten by a creature with a magically poisoned bite and nearly dies. He gets a bloody nose and bruises in a fight with the company bully, and sustains a deep sword slash during the big battle. After that he survives Book 2 & 3 unscathed.
Huw gets bruised ribs in the same fist fight and a slight injury in battle. In Book 2 he receives a shallow sword cut followed by bruises while being chased across country.

2026-09-17 14:50:52 UTC

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#ScribesAndMakers 17 Link to or summarize yesterday's poll and reveal the answer.
I see that 45% of you went for what appeared to be the obvious answer. Sadly you were all wrong. Here are the answers to yesterday's poll:
When Mark staggers up onto the beach and finds himself in a different world, his mobile phone is soaked and no longer working.
Soon he's snatching a sword from a dangerous place.
Near the end, he gets his back pay, a bag of gold coins.
There are no harps in Book 1.

2026-09-16 14:33:23 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 16 Create a poll listing 3 objects that have featured in your work and one that hasn't. Ask people to pick the one that hasn't.
I'm limiting this to the current WIP, Book 1 of a fantasy trilogy.

2026-09-15 15:17:18 UTC

#WordWeavers 15. Your characters get one completely ordinary day. How do they spend it?
In Chapter 11, the King's Own Light Infantry are given a day's leave. Huw takes Mark on a sightseeing tour of the city.
They admire the Beccian temple and its gardens, visit the Christian cathedral, the livestock market, and the city park. They also treat themselves to a substantial midday meal and a couple of pints of beer in one of the better taverns.

2026-09-14 15:42:02 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 14 What's your favourite type of story setting?
I write fantasy, so all my stories include magic in some way. Regarding setting, it's usually not entirely unlike Wales. The trilogy is a portal fantasy set in an alt-Wales. The cosy fantasy landscape is similar to Wales and the stories in the ideas file will be set in actual Wales, but with magic.
I read quite widely, usually but not always fantasy, and all I ask is that the setting is believable and internally consistent.

2026-09-14 15:30:18 UTC

#writersCoffeeClub 14. Have you ever read a work of fiction you felt was advertising something?
It took a while to think of something, but then I remembered Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series. It's full of adverts for the Toast Marketing Board, which sadly doesn't really exist, but I feel it should.
https://www.jasperfforde.com/thursdaynext/toast.html

2026-09-14 15:18:27 UTC

#WordWeavers 14. Your MC is offered exactly what they've always wanted—but accepting it will cost them something they love. What do they choose?
I've been trying to think of something that either of the two POV characters have always wanted and come up with a blank.
Mark always wanted to compete in the Olympics as part of the British three day event team, but lost his place in the squad before the novel starts. He's now moved on and wants other things, but not at the cost of losing something.

2026-09-13 16:57:31 UTC

13. Share a line of dialogue that sounds innocent without context but absolutely isn't.
From Book 1 of the fantasy trilogy:
All trace of Becara's irritation had now vanished and the smirk broadened into a smile as he went down on one knee. "I almost forgot, sire," he said, "It's only a trinket, but I would like to present you with a copy of the new regiment's cap badge. I had this one specially made for you. You'll see it's rather finer than the ones the men themselves will wear."

2026-09-12 13:34:58 UTC

#wordweavers12 If you removed one supporting character from your story, whose absence would change the plot the most?
Removing Prince Gavran -- the young man who is the true heir to the throne -- would leave gaping holes in a story which plays out over three books.
Gavran only appears in a few scenes near the beginning of Book 1, is totally absent from Book 2, and doesn't actually have all that much to do in Book 3, but he is vital to the plot of all three novels.

2026-09-11 14:00:56 UTC

#WordWeavers 11. What does your MC believe about themselves at the beginning of the story that turns out to be completely wrong?
Mark believes that everything has gone wrong in his life, that he's lost everything he worked for and cared about.
Initially, things seem to have become even worse, but gradually Mark builds a new life, even more exciting and interesting than his old one.

2026-09-10 14:33:33 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 10 Our next featured creator is an acronym. Do you use acronyms in your work?
It's not really an acronym, yet it is in effect one. In the WIP (a fantasty trilogy) most of the people worship a triple goddess called Bec. Her three aspects are: Bran, Esiren and Ceinwen.
Bran is the bird spirit, Esiren the mother, and Ceinwen the maiden.

2026-09-10 12:30:42 UTC

#WordWeavers 10. Share a description from your WIP that establishes atmosphere without explicitly naming the emotion.
Here's a paragraph from earlier in the WIP. The Light Cavalry have just entered the city:
The city was silent. There was no rumble of carriage and cart wheels, no clatter of hooves or buzz of conversation. There were no shouts from street vendors. Only the twittering of sparrows on the rooftops and the steady clopping of their own horses hooves broke the unnatural quiet.

2026-09-09 15:04:33 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 9 Share something you've been working on this month.
From Book 1 of the fantasy trilogy.
Kynedyr was looking at Mark as he spoke, but it had been agreed that Turstan would be the spokesman for the Light Cavalry. Mark's Welsh was now fluent and he rarely stumbled or groped for a word, but that was when speaking colloquial Welsh.
Addressing the king required something more formal. The last thing they wanted was to offend Kynedyr by what he might perceive as over-familiarity.

2026-09-09 13:37:45 UTC

#WordWeavers 9. What secret would cause the most damage if it were revealed in your story right now?
At this point in the story, and in fact at any point between the middle of Book 1 and the end of Book 2, revealing the location of the prince (true heir to the throne) would prove fatal for him.
Several people want the prince dead. He narrowly escaped death when his party was attacked on the road but he managed to find a hiding place where no one would ever think to look for him.

2026-09-08 15:20:24 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 8 Gauge?
Standard gauge (4ft 8.5in) for relaxing long distance travel on mainline trains.
Narrow gauge for the fun and excitement of real steam trains running through beautiful scenery. Examples: the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland railway (1ft 11.5in), Talyllyn Railway and Corris railways (an idiosyncratic 2ft 3in) and the Vale of Rheidol Railway (1ft 11.75in).
Finally, there's the miniature Fairbourne railway for a jolly jaunt beside the sea whose gauge is a mere 12.25in.

2026-09-08 14:50:08 UTC

#WordWeavers 8. Worst person to get trapped in an elevator with?
My first thought was the main bad guy, a sorcerer who uses his power to attack and plunder a peaceful world. However, he could use magic to get us out, assuming he deigned to take me with him.
So the actual worst would be the nobleman who has appointed himself chief advisor to the king. He is pompous and would talk endlessly about himself, his noble lineage, his wealth, his race horses, the last house party he attended etc etc.

2026-09-07 15:31:43 UTC

#WordWeavers 7. Describe a moment when a character realizes they've made a terrible mistake.
At the beginning of the WIP, Mark is on the beach. He sees a grey horse running loose. He is a good rider, so decides to ride it back the way it came, in the hope of finding its owner.
The horse seems biddable at first, but unexpectedly begins to gallop, turning towards the sea and plunging into the waves. This is when Mark realises he's made a bad mistake and it's also how he ends up somewhere else.

2026-09-07 15:00:08 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 7 What 'character' (letter, number, symbol, punctuation, space) would make a great main character?
I'm going with Ampersand (&).
Jill Ampersand is a private investigator with her own small agency, Ampersand & Co.
Ms Ampersand is known for her quirky interrogation technique where, after someone makes a statement, she merely says, "And?" She then leaves a pregnant pause in the hope it will prompt the suspect to blurt out more. Occasionally it even works.

2026-09-06 16:24:00 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 6 Have you ever listened to an audiobook where the reader had a good voice, but not the 'right' voice?
I listened to the first Falco novel by Lindsey Davis on audiobook and really enjoyed it. The narrator's voice suited the character. Falco is a former soldier, now an "informer" (i.e. private investigator) for the emperor. He's quite a rough and ready character. But the narrator changed for later books and he sounded too posh. It was a good voice, but not right for the book.

2026-09-06 15:50:51 UTC

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#WordWeavers 6.
Having said that, a mildly humorous moment. Huw isn't good at magic.
Huw laid the papers down on the desk so that he had his hands free. "Just don't be alarmed, m'lord."
Huw closed his eyes, willing his tired, fuzzy brain to focus. He tried to sink into the trance that often helped when he had to work magic. But the light would not come.
After several long moments had passed, Lord Corwen said, "Why might I be alarmed?"
"I'll have it in a minute," Huw said. "I'm tired..."

2026-09-06 15:43:34 UTC

#WordWeavers 6. What is your MC hilariously bad at?
I'm sorry, but I don't like the word hilariously. That implies that if someone does something badly, it's OK to laugh at them. It's not.
Until I retired I taught adults. A large proportion of my job was restoring the confidence of people who'd been made to feel ashamed at school because they hadn't been good at things.
1/2

2026-09-05 15:33:38 UTC

#WordWeavers 5. If your antagonist could justify their actions in one sentence, what would they say?
There are two antagonists who are in league with one another. One would say:
"My own world is very poor with few resources, so it's only fair that I should invade your world and take what I can."
The other would say:
"My family is as ancient and noble as his, so why can't I be king instead of him?"

2026-09-05 15:20:18 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 5 From a purely aesthetic standpoint, what is your favourite colour of ice cream?
I think I'd have to say mint. The pale green is very pleasing and I also like the flavour.

2026-09-04 14:57:45 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 4 Reverse of last month's question: if e-books stopped being produced, how much would you miss them?
I'd miss ebooks a lot. I started reading digitally a long time ago. Initially it was because I'd run out of room for physical books. Also, because I live in a rural area with no bookshops within easy reach, it made buying new novels so much easier.
Now I like them because I can read in bed without putting on the light and disturbing my husband. And I can enlarge the font.

2026-09-04 14:50:36 UTC

#WordWeavers 4. What seemingly insignificant object in your story carries a lot of weight?
In the WIP the king is presented with a regimental badge in a little box. It's not until Book 3 of the trilogy that its significance becomes apparent.

2026-09-04 10:16:57 UTC

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Same here. Also I like being able to adjust the font size. So many of my old paperbacks are impossible for me to read comfortably nowadays because the print is so small. One of the problems of growing old.

2026-09-03 13:16:45 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 3 Which ebook reader do you use?
I just use the Kindle app on an Android tablet. I've done that for years. I used to have another ebook reader app on one of my previous tablets, but at the moment it's just Kindle for books I've bought.
Also on the tablet I have the BorrowBox app for reading ebooks and listening to audiobooks borrowed from the library.

2026-09-02 16:19:40 UTC

#WordWeavers 2. What would your MC notice first upon entering a crowded room?
It would depend on the crowd and what point in the story we've reached.
Early in the novel, Mark (MC of Books 1 & 3 of the fantasy trilogy) would be noticing the way the people were dressed because it's very different to our current fashions.
Later in the novel he'd be assessing the crowd for potential enemies and looking for the bad guy's cronies.

2026-09-02 13:19:20 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 2 How do you think where you live affects your creative work?
I live in rural North Wales and I'm currently writing a fantasy trilogy set in an alternate version of Wales. The landscape in the story is very much what I see around me, and like the places where I walk. The climate is also very Welsh.
More recent story ideas have come from the local folklore and legends, so I'd say living here has a big influence on my writing.

2026-09-01 14:09:12 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 1 It's September. List 7 things about your creativity
1. I can write fiction to a publishable level.
2. I've sold a few short stories, but that was a long time ago now.
3. At least some people enjoy reading my stories.
4. I have worked on the WIP on 240 days this year. (My goal is 300/365)
5. I intend to self-publish the fantasy trilogy next year.
6. I have a few other ideas for novels I want to write.
7. I really should finish my knitting and crochet projects.

2026-09-01 13:57:14 UTC

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Poor Gavin. I want to say to him that you're never too old to learn, but he may have a point re the eyesight and cost of books.

2026-08-31 13:10:41 UTC

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My dictionary says the word "spy" comes from Old French. Shakespeare uses the word, but that's still later than your period.
Unfortunately, to me, "explorator" sound more like someone who is an explorer rather than a spy. Intelligencer would work, but if it's 16th century, it's no older than "spy".
I think "The Informant" sounds fine, but I sympathise. I find titles really hard to come up with.

2026-08-29 13:12:35 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 29 Do you know what you wanted to be at 11?
I had a few different ambitions, some more realistic than others. I definitely wanted to be an author. I tend to only use "author" for those who have published books, but I've been a writer for most of my adult life.
I may have still wanted to be a farmer, or possibly a vet (both very unrealistic ambitions). I knew I didn't want to be a teacher, though that's what I did for many years. I enjoyed it, though I taught adults, not kids.

2026-08-27 15:59:44 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 27 Tell a story, real or fictional, about an object on your desk/work area.
Many years ago I was a member of a Usenet SF and fantasy writers group. One day we were discussing what our muses looked like. I said mine was like a little dragon who looked thoughtful and determined.
To my utter astonishment, another group member made me a little model of my muse! And she sent it to me. I still have it on my desk.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/117/168/292/188/398/686/original/aec4297bf0feac22.jpg

2026-08-26 13:26:58 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 26 Describe how it feels to be "locked in" to your work.
I don't get "locked in" as much these days. I used to totally immerse myself in the writing and then emerge blearily into the real world a couple of hours later.
For whatever reason, I don't do that so much now. Possibly because I'm older, possibly because writing is a more conscious act these days? I don't know the answer.

2026-08-26 13:22:11 UTC

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There are stories for adults from a non-human POV. A recent example is "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells.
Another is "The Goblin Emperor" by Katherine Addison. The elves and goblins are pretty humanlike, but I do like the way their ears are important for signalling emotions.
And an animal POV story that is NOT for children is "Watership Down", told through the POV of rabbits. It includes rabbit vocabulary with words such as "silflay", to graze in the early morning or late evening.
2/2

2026-08-26 13:16:00 UTC

#writersCoffeeClub 26. What are good examples of texts written from a non-human point of view?
When I was a child I remember reading a story told from the POV of a fox and also another story from the POV of a hound. I had no idea whether adult me would think they were any good or not, but there are probably more non-human POV stories for kids than for adults.
1/2

2026-08-25 10:04:29 UTC

My husband and I went for a walk on Sunday. We started out up a track we've walked many times, but for some reason I'd never really noticed this splendid tree before.
#ThickTrunkTuesday
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/117/155/564/705/995/140/original/3f291924b1f4248e.jpg

2026-08-04 13:19:19 UTC

#ScribesAndMakers 4 What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word troll?
"Trip, trap, trip, trap, the Billy Goats Gruff go over the bridge."
When our daughter was small, she loved the Billy Goats Gruff story. I knew the version we had in a picture book off by heart and can still remember quotes almost 50 years later.
Then there's the honesty t(r)oll on the bridge crossing the Mawddach Estuary to Barmouth. The money collected goes towards maintenance of the foot bridge.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/117/037/421/165/393/104/original/db1b417318f5ee77.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/117/037/423/007/582/419/original/d6a3947a2dfec339.jpg

2026-07-25 13:13:41 UTC

It's raining!!!
That's it. That's the toot. It's very light rain and I don't know how long it will last, but it is so welcome.

2026-05-03 16:04:29 UTC

#SilentSunday
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/511/482/527/294/894/original/4fa5b180be253eaa.jpg

2026-03-29 13:34:29 UTC

#SilentSunday
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/312/714/092/204/798/original/1e2ef26ecda6a6d7.jpg

2026-03-22 13:53:55 UTC

Taking advantage of the sunny weather, my husband and I did a walk near the coast, ending up at Fairbourne.
This is the view looking towards Barmouth.
#MarshMadness
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/273/142/884/496/169/original/cf30ab9facca4fa8.jpg

2026-03-08 15:05:21 UTC

We had a very spring-like day last week and I thought the weather was finally improving. We managed a walk in the forest yesterday and it was dry and even a bit sunny, but today we're back to deep gloom and drizzle.
But here are a couple of photos from the walk in the forest. The route we took went through some very mossy parts.
We also passed one of the wood ant nests. There wasn't much activity, but there were a few ants wandering around, but only on the nest itself.
#Mosstodon #moss
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/194/140/600/932/614/original/5452637e7cec8dc0.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/194/140/719/778/680/original/d29a58bb265d68fb.jpg

2026-02-28 14:31:33 UTC

Mae hi'n heulog heddiw. Ro'n i'n meddwl am fynd am dro, ond mae gen i lawer o bethau i wneud yn y tŷ. Dw i'n dymuno fasai mwy na un diwrnod sych bob pythefnos.
Ond mae gen i gennin Pedr bach yn fy ngardd. Wnes i brynu rhai cennin Pedr llynedd mewn potiau. Ar ôl iddyn nhw orffen blodeuo, wnes i blannu nhw yn yr ardd. Ro'n i’n synnu pan maen nhw'n tyfu eleni. Fel arfer dw i'n Farwolaeth i Blanhigion.
#TootWales #Cymraeg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/148/712/381/128/450/original/d7c0bfcc2e34b517.jpg

2026-02-20 14:17:18 UTC

It's another cold wet day here. I do the big food shop on Fridays and I also pop up to see my elderly friend. I take her the newspaper and we do the crossword while having a cup of tea and a chat.
I got a bit wet walking round town but the rain had eased when I got home and was unloading the groceries from the car. Since then it's been mostly drizzle, but every now and again it does this -- see video!
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/103/357/717/164/027/original/b2c4ec0829fabdd5.mp4

2026-02-13 15:08:48 UTC

Aethon ni i'r goedwig dydd Sul diwetha'. Roedd hi'r unig ddiwrnod sych am wythnosau. Doedd y tywydd ddim yn addas i dynnu ffotograffau da, ond mi wnaeth y mwsogl yma'n dal fy llygaid.
O leia’ mae'r coed a'r mwsoglau'n mwynhau'r tywydd gwlyb.
#Mosstodon
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/116/063/941/248/564/642/original/5e6ed49c2eb2776b.jpg

2026-02-09 10:47:04 UTC

I am not good at self-promotion, but I finally finished a video I've been working on for some time. The clips were shot in April last year but I procrastinated badly on the editing because my original idea of describing the walk in detail was ending up very boring.
Eventually I thought of a way to make it work, so here it is, a walk around Dolgellau in NW Wales visiting some of the local places that are associated with the Quakers in the 17th and 18th centuries.
https://youtu.be/wVL7g3e4_gw?si=VsqlR_J1bCDvSXCU

2026-01-30 17:57:38 UTC

A friend shared a link to a post entitled, "Old-fashioned dishes your grandparents ate as kids" So far so good, but who (or what?) wrote the article? Surely it can't have been written by a human being?
The friend warned about reading it while drinking anything and I appreciated the warning. I snorted with laughter and I'd only got as far as: "foods that stretched constituents, fed large families, and were cooked sluggishly with care."
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/foodanddrink/other/from-the-past-to-the-plate-old-fashioned-dishes-your-grandparents-ate-as-kids/ss-AA1V4amq?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=697bdfac35174a13b15a4fc30eed5020&cvpid=0eb3d41e75b941f8f2237d0e69bfc9cf&ei=52#image=1

2026-01-11 10:32:38 UTC

Doedd hi ddim yn bwrw glaw ddoe, felly aethon ni am dro yn y goedwig. Roedd hi'n eitha' prysur am ganol y gaeaf. Falle' roedd y bobl eraill yn gwneud yr un peth fel ni, cymryd y cyfle tra roedd y tywydd yn sych?
Roedd ychydig o haul, hyd yn oed. Ac ar y ffordd i lawr i'r maes parcio, roedd defaid yn y coed. A mwsogl. Llawer o fwsogl.
#Defaidodon #Mosstodon
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/875/998/385/156/714/original/99833178a26a1006.jpg

2026-01-06 12:09:01 UTC

We had another fall of snow overnight. That makes it three nights in a row and I can't remember the last time that happened. However, I decided that fresh snow might make walking into town easier so I ventured to the Co-op for a few things.
I know that there had been more snow because the footprints from yesterday were covered up and just a single line of cat prints was visible as I left the house.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/848/068/119/588/912/original/c31c9e16fdaef641.jpg

2026-01-05 10:53:18 UTC

Good morning from a cold and snowy Wales. We had more snow overnight but according to the forecast, things will warm up today and it will pour with rain tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to the icy, slushy conditions. But I'm fortunate because I don't have to go anywhere and have plenty of things to do while keeping warm indoors.
If you have to go to work today, travel safely.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/842/104/481/705/544/original/2015c9e0db04fc87.jpg

2025-12-31 18:05:47 UTC

We woke to frost on the grass and the car and the air felt really cold and raw. We therefore postponed our planned walk until the afternoon and then just did a short walk to Penmaenpool and back.
The Mawddach trail was quiet on the way out, but much busier as we were heading back. Lots of people with dogs and/or small children either walking or on little bikes.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/815/488/581/441/009/original/eff9a10712c6db92.jpg
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/815/488/660/538/286/original/6fcc5ed21da762a3.jpg

2025-12-13 17:48:08 UTC

A photo from yesterday morning.
There was mist down where we live, but after doing the Co-op shop and driving up to see an elderly friend and take her the newspaper, I discovered that up where she lived was clear.
If I'd had time and a better camera with me I could probably have got some really interesting photos, but I was already a few minutes late so could only trot quickly back down the hill a little way and grab a quick phone shot.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/713/503/951/968/473/original/8edd10e200711a32.jpg

2025-11-07 16:45:31 UTC

A final photo for Defaidodon day. Here's where you can go if you want to buy some sheep. I took the photo from a supermarket car park, shooting through a fence, so apologies for the fuzzy corner.
#Defaidodon #DefaidodonDay #SheepOfMastodon
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/509/413/580/703/228/original/5f6490cf189e3e23.jpg

2025-11-07 14:06:44 UTC

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And here are two ewes of the same Welsh breed.
Normally sheep run away if you point a camera at them, but these two posed beautifully for quite a while so I got a couple of nice shots of them.
#DefaidodonDay #Defaidodon #SheepOfMastodon
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/508/794/108/845/776/original/fe988f19d5caa925.jpg

2025-11-07 14:02:19 UTC

Happy Defaidon Day! Here are a couple of rather splendid Welsh rams I photographed back in the spring.
#DefaidodonDay #Defaidodon #SheepOfMastodon
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/508/774/837/328/200/original/8575025767de5762.jpg

2025-10-31 17:27:07 UTC

Wnes i jam ddoe. Roedd gen i lawer o fwyar duon yn y rhewgell ers Mis Gorffennaf. Wnaeth y mwyar duon yn ein gardd aeddfedu yn gynnar, ond roedd hi'n rhy boeth i wneud jam yn yr haf, felly wnes i rewi nhw.
O'r diwedd, ro'n i'n barod i wneud y jam. Wnes i jam heb hadau y tro 'ma. Mwyar duon ac afal. Daeth yr afalau o'r goeden afal ein cymdogion.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/469/946/870/824/715/original/97d29ce552d34f81.jpg

2025-10-09 15:49:55 UTC

Aethon ni allan bore 'ma am daith cerdded o gwmpas rhai o'r llwybrau yng Nghoed y Brenin. Roedd y tywydd yn iawn a hanner ffordd rownd, mi wnes i dynnu fy nghot achos ro'n i'n rhy gynnes.
Roedd defaid yn agos at ddechrau'r daith cerdded.
We went out this morning for a walk around some of the paths in Coed y Brenin. The weather was fine and half way round, I took off my coat because I was too warm.
There were sheep near the start of the walk.
#Defaidodon #SheepOfMastodon
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/344/989/079/163/396/original/d6e648bdcb63e4fd.jpg

2025-08-31 12:25:25 UTC

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Since we retired my husband and I have become fair weather walkers. Back when we didn't have a choice of days, we'd go out and get wet and still say it was a good walk.

2025-08-29 15:53:08 UTC

Every Friday I visit my elderly friend. I take her newspaper and we do the crossword. Her kitchen windows look out into a wood with all sorts of wild life, including the occasional deer.
While waiting for the kettle to boil to make a cup of tea for us both, I saw that a squirrel was happily swinging in one of the bird feeders. Of course when I got my phone to shoot a video, the feeder had stopped swinging, but here's a little clip. No sound because I was filming from indoors.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/115/112/806/568/630/406/original/1876eff1b4304a02.mp4

2025-08-24 09:34:20 UTC

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My husband and I listened to the audio books whilst eating meals. (Borrowed from the library using Borrowbox.) We've started doing that in preference to listening to the radio. We thought the series was fine as light entertainment, which is all we want from our shared listening.
It is frustrating when known names get published and other writers are passed over. Sadly publishers know that it's much easier to sell a book by someone already well known and easy sales mean profits.

2025-08-12 14:56:03 UTC

Pan gyrhaeddes i adre ar ôl gwneud y siopa, roedd llawer o sŵn yn y gelynnen yn ein gardd ffrynt. Roedd nifer o adar yn trydar yn uchel. Roedd hi'n swnio fel dadl angerddol sy'n digwydd tu mewn y goeden.
Dyma fideo bach. Trowch y sain i fyny!
https://youtu.be/vDBpzOGNI5s?si=pppQ9Im03R2vH5VF

2025-08-07 15:47:52 UTC

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There's a chap who posts videos from a localish wildlife camera. There are pine martins, which are quite rare and other random creatures. Here's a recent one with 53 views. Cute pine martin kits playing on a mossy tree trunk. I just find the videos very calming.
https://youtu.be/qscnnhpS7bU?si=ePg70Ar22XUNwzkM

2025-08-07 09:22:49 UTC

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Dach chi wir yn gwybod sut i fwynhau eich hunain! Pob lwc efo'r hel i ddarganfod y clawr draen. 🙂
You really know how to enjoy yourselves! 🙂 Good luck with the hunt to find the drain cover.

2025-08-05 15:21:48 UTC

Dw i'n dechrau gwneud Wordle eto, a hefyd dw i'n trio'r fersiwn Cymraeg, Dyfalair. Roedd arfer bod fersiwn Cymraeg arall oedd yn defnyddio'r wyddor Cymraeg go iawn, ond yn anffodus mae o wedi diflannu. Ond mae Dyfalair yn hwyl.
Dyfalair 773 - 4/6
⬜🟩⬜⬜⬜
⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩
🟩🟩🟨🟨🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
www.rhwyd.org/dyfalair/

2025-08-05 15:12:04 UTC

Heddiw gyrrais i i'r Co-op i brynu bwyd. Cyn siopa, mi wnes i gerdded i'r canol y dre i dalu siec i mewn yn y Swyddfa Bost. Does dim banc Co-op yn ein tre ond mae'r Crynwyr yn bancio efo Co-op. (Trysorydd y cyfarfod lleol ydw i.)
Ar ôl cael gwared â'r siec, es i i'r siop hen fasiwn i edrych am got newydd. Dw i'n licio siopa'n lleol os posib ond fel arfer does dim ddigon o ddewis. Gan lwc roedd un ar gael yn y maint cywir. Ac roedd y pris gostyngol! Dw i wedi arbed £15.
#Cymraeg #dyddiadur

2025-07-31 16:10:50 UTC

We were going to go for a walk in the Coed y Brenin this morning, but the warning light appeared on the car's dashboard. The fault was supposed to have been fixed and it was fine when I drove it on Tuesday, but now the warning has reappeared.
The irony is, if it weren't for the light, I wouldn't suspect anything was wrong. The car drives just like it normally does.
The garage have cancelled the light and I'll use the car over the weekend, then I'll consult with the garage on Monday.

2025-07-22 15:22:26 UTC

Penderfynais i wneud ychydig o dacluso yn yr ardd gefn pnawn 'ma. Ro'n i wedi gadael y bin olwynion llawn a thomen o frigau yng nghanol yr ardd, felly es i allan i symud nhw i'r bentwr compost.
Ond, pan o'n i allan yn yr ardd, wnes i sylwi bod llawer o'r mwyar duon yn y gwrych yn aeddfed. Mi ges i ddau gynhwysydd plastig hufen iâ llawn o fwyar duon.
Dw i wedi golchi nhw a rhoi nhw yn y rhewgell tra dw i'n penderfynu be i'w wneud efo nhw. Jam, falle.

2025-07-18 16:06:12 UTC

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The quote was quite reasonable. It's a small local family business. The only problem is I'll need to manage without the car next week as well because they're busy.

2025-07-18 12:57:22 UTC

Dw i heb gar yr wythnos 'ma achos wnaeth golau rhybudd ymddangos sawl wythnos yn ôl. Wnes i fynd â fo i'r garej a dudodd y peiriannydd bod problem efo'r sbardun. Sut bynnag, wnaeth y car deimlo'n iawn, felly wnaeth o ganslo'r golau rhybudd. Yn anffodus, ymddangosodd y golau eto wythnos ddiwetha' felly rhaid i'r car cael sbardun newydd.
Dw i ddim isio gyrru fo rhag ofn mae'r car yn torri i lawr. Yn ffodus dw i'n medru ymdopi heb gar am sbel, ond dw i wedi blino ar ôl yr holl gerdded wythnos 'ma.

2025-07-14 13:04:58 UTC

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I'm sitting in a pleasant breeze caused by having windows open on both sides of the house. Thankfully the bedroom should be much cooler tonight.

2025-07-14 12:39:36 UTC

Dw i wedi agor yr holl ffenestri yn yr ystafelloedd i fyny’r grisiau. Mae'r tywydd yn oerach heddiw a rŵan mae'r tymheredd yn fy 'stafell lle dw i'n gweithio yn llawer gwell. 22C yn lle 27C.
Mae'n ddiddorol bod dim ond pum gradd yn gwneud cymaint o wahaniaeth.

2025-07-03 17:04:02 UTC

Ddoe, fel ro'n i'n cerdded i'r dre, clywes i sawl ferch sy'n canu. Roedden nhw'n canu, "Clap, clap, un, dau, tri..."
Yn gynfaf, do'n i ddim yn gallu gweld unrhyw un, ond mewn cwpl o munedau, gweles i grwp o blant bach, tua pedwar oed, efo tair dynes. Roedd y plant yn giwt iawn ac roedd y merched yn cadw trefn arnyn nhw efo strapiau o gwmpas eu harddyrnau.
Dw i'n meddwl roedden nhw'n mynd i'r cartref henoed. Gobeithio' mi wnaeth yr hen bobl fwynhau'r ymweliad gan y plant bach.

2025-06-30 13:30:31 UTC

30/30 for my photo-a-day in June
The gas engineer came this morning to service the gas combi-boiler and even though he arrived well before lunch, I don't feel like going out this afternoon. I find having tradespeople in the house mentally tiring, not to mention the physical effort of having to move stuff around so he could access everything safely.
Therefore the final photo for the month is of my little desk friends. Owl has a microfibre tummy to clean the screen. I crocheted Bee myself.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/772/548/763/702/903/original/b446279ddfc01fcf.jpg

2025-06-27 13:52:51 UTC

27/30 for my photo-a-day in June
The weather was dull and overcast so I ended up taking another photo of these pretty daisies that grow so profusely at my elderly friend's house. They just grow in the cracks in the stone at the base of the steps and flower from spring right through until autumn. Having searched online, I now know they're Erigeron karvinskianus aka Fleabane.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/755/650/925/432/304/original/9ea9e29f83443093.jpg

2025-06-25 16:03:45 UTC

25/30 for my photo-a-day in June
Rosebay willowherb (aka fireweed). In the 18th century in Britain the plant was considered rare. However, it spread widely with the expansion of the railway network. The soil disturbance due to laying new track and burnt embankments where fires were started by sparks and cinders from steam trains favoured the plant.
The area where these plants are growing was once near a railway line, though the line was closed by a certain Dr Beeching in the 1960s.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/744/834/659/406/053/original/313e0a80322db2e9.jpg

2025-06-21 13:21:44 UTC

25/52 for the group 2025 Weekly Alphabet Challenge
This week's theme was: Y is for Year
For recurring things, like birthdays, MOTs and subscription renewals, I use Google calendar. However, I still like to use a physical diary for everyday stuff like meetings and appointments. It's instant, portable and easy to see the whole week at a time.
This was a cheap diary I bought at a local market.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/721/538/058/865/809/original/8a23d0a66e444731.jpg

2025-06-21 09:49:52 UTC

21/30 for my photo-a-day in June: One of the nasturtiums I bought from the plant stall is flowering well. The other is a bit slower, but it does have flower buds on it.
In other news... It's a bit cooler here this morning and there is a breeze. The sky started out overcast and it's now only 24 deg C in my study instead of 27 degrees. Even so I think I'll get the stuff I need to do on the computer done this morning. I can then spend the afternoon doing not much at all.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/720/722/802/484/673/original/9428f4cf26ce4a76.jpg

2025-06-13 15:06:40 UTC

13/30 for my photo-a-day in June
I'm not good at plant identification, so I have no idea what these are but they caught my eye as I was walking from the Co-op to the centre of town to collect my medication from the pharmacy. They are very pretty and look good against the plain painted wall.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/676/664/175/584/080/original/659e3ba08304fbac.jpg

2025-06-09 16:38:52 UTC

9/30 for my photo-a-day in June
I was out in the back garden strimming the grass this afternoon. Before I began I noticed that the bramble flowers were attracting bees and hover flies. I managed to get a quick shot of this bee before it moved on to another flower. They were darting around really quickly so this was the best photo with a bee. The other shots was blurred, though the flowers were pretty.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/654/374/797/410/251/original/2e769227dd915c60.jpg

2025-06-07 15:50:34 UTC

7/30 for my photo-a-day in June
Today I was helping out on a plant stall organised by the branch of Merched y Wawr* I'm a member of. All proceeds were for charity. Fortunately the plants were labelled and there were several people who actually knew about plants, so I didn't need to answer any questions.
I think we raised a decent amount of money and the heavy rain which was forecast didn't materialise, but it was cold for June.
*Merched y Wawr is like the WI but everything is done in Welsh.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/642/862/948/151/285/original/e9a77fe14b41c436.jpg

2025-06-02 14:41:46 UTC

2/30 for my self-imposed photo-a-day in June challenge
Today has been mostly spent trying to make the house look clean and presentable before an electrician arrives at or just after 4 p.m. to assess some jobs we need doing. So I just nipped out into the garden first thing to photograph the young plants that were just new seedlings when I was doing this challenge in April.
I think they're doing OK. I am a total novice at raising plants from seed but I haven't killed them yet!
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/614/283/188/028/614/original/7c9f67853822206f.jpg

2025-05-29 14:13:13 UTC

Ro'n ni isio strimio'r glaswellt yn yr ardd gefn pnawn 'ma, ond dydy'r tywydd ddim yn dda. Dydy hi ddim yn bwrw glaw, ond mae hi'n trio. Dw i ddim yn meddwl bod defnyddio strimmer trydanol pan mae'r awyr yn wlyb yn syniad da. Bydda i'n aros tan y penwythnos neu hyd yn oed wythnos nesaf.

2025-05-06 10:37:35 UTC

#WritersCoffeeClub 6 May: What does your usual workspace look like? Share a picture.
I use a desktop PC and large monitor because I need to be able to edit photos and video as well as using the computer for writing fiction. It also ensures that my sitting position is good and helps avoid backache and stiff necks.
The sewing items also live on the desk if/when I'm in the middle of making or mending something.
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/460/432/841/912/076/original/b5923f5db6dc2ac1.jpg

2025-04-27 16:44:43 UTC

27/30 for my photo-a-day in April
I took a friend round the local Quaker Trail and we visited the various historic Quaker sites. It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too hot. The trees are all coming into leaf and there is blossom and wild flowers everywhere.
We also saw these splendid rams. Total distance was 7.5 miles. I am now tired and a bit achy. Getting old means slower recovery time so I'll have a restful day tomorrow.
#SheepOfMastodon #Defaidodon
https://toot.wales/system/media_attachments/files/114/410/919/986/726/977/original/56eb108d39c9d993.jpg