Stripe and Spot looked out of the window this morning and there was a heron looking into the carp pool. We awoke to a lot of barking and let them out so they could chase him away. He could easily clear a pool in a few days and the carp are so tame that they come right into the shallows when we feed them. They then set off around the Estate to check everything out and have a good look around all the pathways and meadows. Stripe is now sitting at the edge of the courtyard gazing down across the hills and surveying the valley below. He sometimes sits for hours in the sunshine just looking out across to the Brecon Beacons, watching the red kite soaring, the swallows flying low over the meadow pond and the ducks pottering up to the chicken shed a few times a day to share some rolled barley. In the big greenhouse, sweetcorn husks are ripening and we are eating them every day, liberally rolled in fresh butter with a sprinkling of ground black pepper. A second crop of strawberries is ripening outside the lean-to hardwood greenhouse and inside the bosky perfume of ripe tomatos meets you as you stroll through. Guests come over to the main house to ask directions to The Dolaucothi Gold mine; they are off to pan for gold and explore some of the old mine tunnels that are just a few miles away. They tell me they had some Welsh lamb cutlets for supper last night over at the Neuadd Fawr arms followed by some of Bunty's delicious Chocolate Junkyard. How she turns out such copious amount of amazingly delicious food from that tiny kitchen of hers is beyond me. Everything is home made, locally sourced and exceptionally good value.

We got up very early this morning at Bwlch Tre Banau and wandered down around the walkway to the bottom meadow by the river. Swallows were swooping over the duckpond and the family of ducks rootled about through the duckweed. Stripe went after a rabbit but it was much too fast for him. It hared off into the woods so he gave up the chase and went back to ambling in the undergrowth and investigating other interesting sights and smells along the pathway. Back at the house we sat outside for breakfast looking out over the over the soft green Carmarthenshire hills and watching the families of house martins that have nested under the eaves. The pink climbing rose planted a few months ago has blossomed and the faint drift of perfume is quite heady in the morning sunlight. I walked over to the little chicken house under the trees to see to the chicks. We could not let them out until they were part grown because the birds of prey would come down and carry them off for their lunch. night, we decided they were grown enough to go out and opened their door to the paddock. Now they don't want to go back in the chicken house and if you go over in the moonlight you can see them asleep outside on the top of the hedge all pressed together to keep warm. Later today I am going into Llandovery to the delicatessen to pick up some of their tasty local Welsh cheeses to go with tomatoes grown in the greenhouse and home grown beetroot salad.

Our first renters

Peter and his family stayed at Wheatsheaf Cottage and loved it so much that they want to come back to spend New Year at The Bwlch Tre Banau Estate. The same weekend, Max and family arrived having booked in for 3 nights. They said it was actually even better than it looked on the website www.walesholidaycottages.com and that they would like to stay for an extra day.

Gary, our insurance agent from Ammanford came by the make sure all our insurances were up to date and rushed home to tell his wife that they would be coming over to stay at Wheatsheaf Cottage for a few days R & R (rest & relaxation) in October. He loves the views, the peace and the fact that he and his wife can have a log fire crackling in the woodburner, enjoy long leisurely strolls in the surrounding countryside and then visit The Angel restaurant over at nearby Salem to enjoy a sumptuous meal prepared by one of Wales foremost award winning chefs (Best Chef in Wales award)

Stripe & Spot have been staying with John & Julia in Meadow cottage and getting up at 7am for a walk up over the Banc behind the house with John. The chicks and ducklings are losing their fluffy down and feathering up, so will soon be able to go out in the meadow with their bigger relations very soon.

Wales Holiday Cottages

3 brand new gorgeous 5 star holiday properties in lovely Carmarthenshire now available for rental please see www.walesholidaycottages.com