Welsh Classic Pinball Open

Last Sunday Ochran Mill played host to the First Annual Welsh Classic Pinball Open. As anyone who has visited the garden will know we house a collection of early solid state pinbal machines from the 70s and 80s, for the competition other collectors brought along several machines of this era as the competition was specifically for older machines. The Classic was approved by the International Flipper Pinball Association and therefore qualified for World Pinball Player Ranking Points. The chance to increase their standing in the world rankings drew players from all over the country, several people travelling over 200 miles others staying overnight, in order to take part. Read the full write-up on the Pinball News website.

Not enough time for the garden.

Life is so busy at present I have spent very little time in the garden. I hope this weekend to make a big effort to start clearing the herbaceous borders, I have 20tons of manure dumped at the bottom of the lane to spread. We have already had people asking if we are open yet, apparently we were last Easter!!
Failing starting this weekend the Easter holidays are booked for work in the garden, so I hope the weather will be kind. I haven't designed anything new this winter, I've been working on some other gardens, so hopefully the big tidy up will be swift...
Our attempt to get the barn/garage converted into a tearooms is still on the drawing board, although a lot of thought has gone into getting the work done, its just a matter of digging up the existing brick floor, laying concrete and tiles. Removing the floorboards from the roof space, plaster boarding the roof and fitting a kitchen and water. Then installing doors and windows.....should only take a couple of hours.
The woodland gardens are looking good, the hellebores and small daffodils have been joined by pulmonaria's and other small bulbs that give wonderful bursts of colour, I'm really pleased.