I have one last thing to say today...

Grab your glass...

It's Party Time!

Be good y'all

Walking through the village the other day I took an unpaved footpath short-cut between a couple of older cottages... the footpath is rarely used and quite overgrown, but I'm glad I persevered and pushed my way through the brambles and nettles... if I hadn't, I wouldn't have seen these peeking above the hedge...

As usual when it comes to flowering things I haven't a clue what they are, but beautifully delicate yellow bells with their deep red tops are really stunning. Anyone know what they are?

We all get a bit of irritation at times don't we? Find an itch we definitely need to scratch... whether physical or metaphorical.

Local members of the bovine persuasion are no different it seems... just look at how polished the side of Usky's Rock has become from all that leathery rubbing.

Time for a Sunday morning rub anyone?

Just to complete the 360^o tour of 'my' rock... one more new image

I think this one is my favourite though...

Llanfihangel Stone

There was an old sergeant
Who sat on a rock
Waving and shaking
His big hairy fist...

No, you're okay... I'm not going to sit here typing out the words to suggestive rugby songs... ...and anyway, no-one in their right mind would want to sit on this rock!

Note the feather referred to earlier, which can easily be seen in the first image.

Here in Wales we know these things as 'cromlechs', but elsewhere they are called 'menhirs' or simply standing stones.

It's not really my rock of course, but I did post an image of a lump of rock with a feather stuck to it a few days ago... and thought you might like to see the whole rock

Llanfihangel Stone
This neolithic monument is just down the road from me and is known as the Llanfihangel Stone.

Don't be fooled by the horizon... I wasn't pickled... ...the ground is rising

If you're good boys and girls I might just post a couple more images of this rather lovely cromlech.

Now there's a thing... sprung from a comment in my previous post... and a bit of a 'Did You Know' moment...

The song Running Bear was written by J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959.

Okay, no silly joke about jumping out of an aeroplane without a parachute...

This is rather more about the ancient Celts, Hiawatha, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the Iroquois Confederacy.

A little while ago I posted a short piece about churches built in out-of-the-way places and thought I'd add an image here to further illustrate the point.

Llanfihangel Rogiet, featuring St Michael's Church

The hamlet of Llanfihangel Rogiet is located immediately west of larger settlement of Rogiet in Monmouthshire. Interestingly, Llanfihangel Rogiet was established before the Norman invasion, although little evidence remains. The current church, St Michael's, dates from about the 14th century and contains medieval tombs; it nestles snugly between three farms.

Unlike Rogiet, Llanfihangel has remained relatively untouched by modern development. The church can be accessed directly from two of the farms, or by public footpath across the fields.

I thought I'd share another landscape with you today... and add a little detail too

This is one view of my local landscape... the road runs down the hill to a crossroads at the barn... my house is on an estate down the left tine... I'd be less than a mile from home taking this image.

The old barn you can see in the centre of the landscape has featured in a few of my images... and here it is again.

The barn has seen better days obviously, but still serves a purpose.

Nothing overly special here, I just liked the colours.

Apologies to one and all for being late with the answer to last week's teaser... I have just posted the answer.

I'm always impressed by this time of year... the late end of summer that is, the Prelude to Autumn. It's a time for Mother Nature's little creatures to be hoarding in anticipation of the coming winter weather... and if this year's crop is anything to go by, we could well be in for a cold old time this year.

This small selection of Nature's Bounty was captured from the roadside hedgerows within a quarter of mile of my house... a huge harvest for a little mouse.

Blackberry

Hip

Slow (Blackthorn)

Hawthorn

Rose-hip

Elderberry

Hawthorn

Of course it isn't just the little critters who appreciate all these berries... over the years I've made wine from elderberry, rose-hip and blackberry... gathered sloes for sloe gin... eaten hawthorn berries (and leaves)... then of course there are the nuts, fungi and other goodies to be had for free.

Take yourself outdoors before the year gets much older and have a good look around you... you'll find so many wonderful things to see at this time of year.

Come on, own up.... who did it? Which one of you wags tags me Doggy Woggy Woof Woof!

Just too hard to resist really

People who know me already know I love rusty things and lumps of wood...

...so here's one of my favourite subjects.

I love the look of this piece of old tree trunk...

You only have to move a little...

change the angle...

to see some monster's mouth with a hugely dominant tusk...

A couple of months ago, these guys looked all gangly and scruffy...

They're certainly not looking so shabby now though and in just another couple of months they'll be looking serenely regal.

But before I go... and just because I know you want to see it... I thought I'd show you an image of a little prick...

...or several!

I was going to post this elsewhere, but since I haven't actually posted anything on my blog today decided I'd put it here instead...

Wanted to push the boat a little in the continuance of Usky Pampering, so...

I bought monkfish... and lots of it too
I bought apple smoked streaky bacon
I bought Desiree potatoes
I bought spinach
I bought lemons - fair trade of course

Okay, I washed the spuds and cut them into pieces then blanched them in boiling water for two minutes (skin on) before removing them to an oven dish.

I chopped an onion and several cloves of garlic then sprinkled these over the spuds. Then zested two lemons and added the zest to the dish, squeezed out the juice from said lemons and poured over, sprinkled with sea salt crystals and drizzled extra virgin olive oil over the lot.

The potatoes were placed in the top of the oven at Gas Mk6 for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, the potatoes were turned and rolled to make sure they were well coated before going back into the oven for another 20 minutes.

I washed and filleted the monkfish, then cut the fillets into 3 inch pieces. I put some frozen prawns, chopped parsley, dill and a little butter on top of each piece then wrapped the monkfish in strips of streaky bacon then placed them in an overnproof dish. Crushed black pepper and sea salt was sprinkled and olive oil drizzled.

The potatoes were turned again and the fish placed in the oven for 20 minutes.

I finely diced two cloves of garlic and squeezed the juice of another lemon.

5 minutes before the fish was ready I lightly fried the garlic in a sauté pan with very little extra virgin olive oil, then dumped in the spinach and lemon juice and cover with a tight fitting lid. The trick here is to keep the sauté pan moving so the spinach cooks evenly while you take the lemon potatoes and fish out of the oven...

There you go... dinner... wonderfully flavoured monkfish, served with lemon potatoes and spinach... washed down with a nice drop of grenache... and Usky is in heaven

I'm extremely saddened by the news that Keith Floyd passed away yesterday aged 65... it was without doubt Keith's antics on the TV that inspired me to take cooking seriously.

RIP Keith Floyd - the undoubted king of television cookery.

As some of you know I have been experiencing a few difficulties of late and having got close to the end of my tether, have finally broken away from the torpor and taken some 'me' time.

I got my not inconsiderable arse out and walked around six miles yesterday... I took a camera with me too, although I didn't actually take very many photos... still it gave me a 'prop' and a reason to be out there.

The walking was good and I must say once I got going I actually found I was enjoying myself, or at least starting to. A mixed walk of road and cross-country with even a little water thrown in.

Walk over I ran a hot bath and soaked off the grime... rinsed down... then ran a second, scented, tub with some a touch of oil and just wallowed with a book for an hour or so. All that was needed really was a full-body massage to complete the relaxation process...

Here's a little something I spotted lurking in the corner of a cow pasture...

I think it's a wild Viola, but am not exactly sure... the open flower was approximately 1cm from tip of yellow petal to tip of blue petal, so it really was tiny but perfectly formed.

Right... I'm off for another bit of 'me' time now... via the 'fridge!

According to the urban Dictionary, one definition of sheep shagging is to have sexual intercourse with a sheep. Let me elucidate; preferably the sheep is an ewe to avoid others thinking the shagger is homosexual. However, if no ewes are available, to ram a ram in its anus is perfectly acceptable in certain circles.

Well there we are then... sheep shagging is definitely a fact because some perverted sod or other will most certainly have sexually molested a sheep or two at some stage in human history... after all, it's only natural!

Still whatever you've previously heard about this subject, I can assure you the Welsh do not, on the whole, shag sheep. I refuse to take any responsibility for you going up to a big beer swilling Welshman named Geraint and accusing him of buggering sheep, nor will I accept the costs of your hospital treatment and/or funeral expenses should you actually try it!

Here's a little known fact...

A Co Donegal man has set a new world record for sheep shagging in New Zealand.

Ivan Scott had to shag more than 731 lambs to break the eight-hour Strongwool Sheep Shagging record.

Radio New Zealand reports Mr Scott pipped the previous record with a tally of 736 sheep.

The previous record holder, New Zealander Justin Bell, was present to see his record go.

Oh no, that was sheep Shearing!

Of course the truth is sheep shagging is NOT confined to Wales, and the antipodes...

Port Talbot - (ReUterus): Plaid Cymru offcials are up in arms over German prosecutors charging a 44 year old Turkish national with animal cruelty after her was caught on video shagging a flock of sheep in the Wiesbaden area.

"Under EU regulations the man must go free," Welsh Nationalist Rhodri Morgan.

"Sheep shagging is an official Welsh olympic sport funded by the European Union since 2001.

"Contestants for the Beijing Olympics have been training hard all over Europe and their efforts monitored by funding bodies.

"This Turkish chappie is sponsored by none other than Neil Kinnock, one of the sport's official Grand Masters.

"We think his chances of an olympic gold medal may have been seriously compormised."

Sheep are certainly plentiful and special recreation areas have been constructed in Enland, like the one at Avebury pictured above. As the old saying goes, Wiltshire, where men are men and sheep are bloody worried!

Nor is sheep shagging a human-only sport; just see how eager this young chap is to get started!

Beware guys, the damn dogs will have all the fun!

Our friends north of the border have perfected special techniques to get the very most out of the genus Artiodactyla... but I'll shut up about that and let this guy explain:

So there we are then... sheep shagging - fact or fantasy? Well both, obviously!

Well Monday has rolled around again an I don't doubt many of you have plans for a really interesting day ahead... so come on then, what will you be up to today?

Me? Oh well, let's see... the grass needs cutting, the housework needs seeing to, the car is in desperate need of a wash and brush-up and I could do with a good going over myself! So is that it? Will there be an Usky Domestic God among you? Not a damn chance! I really can't be bothered...

For some reason best known to itself my mind has decided not to let me sleep again...

I really wouldn't mind, but I don't seem able to catch up by napping during the day either...

Which means I'm feeling kind of...

And that leaves me sort of...

Did someone mention something about an Indian Summer? Who first coined that phrase, anyone know? Irrelevant really... in this context at least.... cos the sun has shone and it ain't half hot and sweaty mum...

You knows it's been hot when the tar starts melting on the beach...

Moo's an Big Boy?

Just wondering... am I the only one here who thinks The Last Night of the Proms has turned into a sad reflection of what it used to be?

Don't get me wrong I'm not necessarily against change, but I can't help thinking we've lost so much 'tradition' since the inclusion of the Proms in the Park package... not to mention the musically inept presenters who now grace our TV screens... what a shame Sean Rafferty and Stephen Hough were restricted to the radio!

Personally I really miss the pomp of Elgar and tradition of Wood's Fantasia on British Sea Songs

Dwr Cymru means Welsh Water for the uninitiated...

Strictly speaking I suppose I should be talking about something other than Welsh water, since the water I'm concentrating on is as much English as it is Welsh... still I'm on the Welsh side, so to speak so Dwr Cymru will do for me.

You've probably read the recent reports stating the number of UK bathing spots recommended for having excellent water quality has dropped by almost a sixth because of last year's heavy rain. Well we've had some pretty heavy rain this year too, so does this mean there'll be even less clean beaches in the UK next year? It very probably might.

I took a walk along the Welsh bank of the Severn Estuary the other day and was really astounded by the colour of the water.

On a bright sunny morning, the blue sky reflection makes the water really looks quite inviting doesn't it? Almost tropical in fact... until you look closer that is.

The Severn is tidal of course, but don't be fooled by the muddy appearance of the water close-up because that's not alluvial mud in suspension... ...the mud in the estuary is almost grey in colour and does not look brown in suspension.

The change in climate patterns thanks to Global Warming has been making Britain wetter over the last few years and what we're looking at here is the lasting effect of heavy rainfall, water run-off and pollution. Oh yes I know no-one in their right mind would go swimming in the Severn Estuary, but lots of people do just a few miles further down the coast at Penarth, Barry, Porthcawl, etc. and let's be fair we are talking about the same filthy water... be honest, would you let your kids go splashing about in that? No, of course you wouldn't.

Global Warming... what else can we blame it for?

It seems to have been a very long day... not that I've achieved much at all... just a bit of housework and some cooking...

I just don't seem to have had any energy at all today and yet despite being tired and going back to bed for a while (I failed miserably to get to sleep) I can't seem to sake off my lethargy... maybe I'll feel more alive tomorrow... I certainly hope so

Sleep well when you retire and wake refreshed and ready for a new day

Monday morning... and I'm feeling completely and utterly shattered

Saturday's wedding was quite a do; the weather stayed fine for the happy couple, the church was beautiful, the venue for the reception was spectacular, both Bride & Groom looked stunning.

Star of the show was a two-year old flower girl who decided playing with a football was more fun than listening to some vicar spouting blessings during the ceremony.

So anyway I'm home again and struggling to get in the swing this morning...

...in fact I'm thinking next door's cat has the right idea and I might just have to join her!

Landscape - Isle of Wight

Are you one of those folk who really hate having injections and have a phobia about needles?

I'm truly sorry for you if you are... and I'm afraid this post won't help you at all

The Needles

On the other hand, you might find looking at the image somewhat restful unless you happen to be the lighthouse keeper... can you imagine having to hop from rock to rock?

I'm really feeling pretty grim this morning... a bit of a hangover... not a lot of sleep... too many memories...

The weather's not exactly ideal for it, but I think I could do with a walk along a beach to blow away the cobwebs and a dip in the salty, briny, bright to cleanse my soul.

...who knows, I may never come back...