The weather forecast is for a blanket of snow over the country in the next couple of days. We have plenty of firewood and food and intend to hunker down for a couple of days and really enjoy it. Hot chocolate by the fire, walks through the snow with the dogs along the many paths around the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate. We aim to take some photos for the web site - Carmarthenshire is divine at this time of year, with the backdrop of the really high ground of the Brecon Beans dusted with snow in the distance the landscape cannot be beaten. http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/

Received a postcard from Al on Anna Maria Island, Florida - he says the weather is warm and he has been sailing in Anna Maria Sound. http://www.amisland.com/

The forecast says that we are in for some bright sunny spells today. The orangery is looking wonderful, we have lightly pruned the citrus trees and so they do not grow too large and all the plants are thriving. Last night we had a feast of oranges by the fireside - freshly picked oranges have a far more delicate texture than those in the shops. The guests in Barley Cottage arrived yesterday afternoon and said that they think it is beautiful - it's really rewarding to hear that others love the place as much as we do. http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/

Yesterday morning we went round to the log shed with the RTV an stocked up on logs for the cottages. We stacked them under the stairs in each cottage with a liberal supply of lighting wood and firelights. Our guests love their fires. http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/ In the countryside, one of our real pleasures is going out for a walk in all weathers and then getting back by the fireside for a warm up and a cup of our favourite hot chocolate, coffee or tea. Talking of coffee, we roast our own coffee beans and have an ancient coffee grinder that perfectly prepares the beans for expresso or cappuccino. Another indulgence, but a simple one that to us makes life here at Bwlch Tre Banau such a great experience. This morning we are off out to Orangery for a quick polish up (hopefully the Robin that resides in there has been not too messy. If you are lucky he will fly down and perch on a handrail and give you a stirring song - he is quite fascinating, not in the least shy.

Having put on a few pounds (or kilos) over the festive season, yesterday we set off to walk down through the orchard, into the woodland that lines the River Mynnidd. I have not been down on the tree lined riverbank walk for a while and had forgotten just how beautiful it is in Winter with its series of little waterfalls, soft bright green mosses, evergreen holly and multi-coloured fungi. Definitely a job for wellingtons as it is a little boggy in places. That is a job for the 2009 calendar - improving the access. We scampered up the bank half a mile further upstream where the so called "wicked witch" lives in a log cabin on the other side of the riverbank. Actually Stripe and Spot scampered and we lagged behind a little. Walking back through the meadows, chatting and revelling in the views out to the Brecon Beacons we decided that there is no place on this earth more beautiful than the 104 acres that make up the Bwlch Tre Banau Estate http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/. We have more guests arriving this week in Barley Cottage and Wheatsheaf Cottage. Amanda has cleaned and polished them from top to bottom, made up the beds with fresh linens; Bob and I have stocked them up with firewood & lighting wood for the woodburners. I will just nip in to them today for a final check to make sure they are absolutely perfect.

Travelling down to Swansea for a meeting this morning so we will be going to Patrick's for lunch, a divine little restaurant on the seafront in The Mumbles. The food is delicious, innovative and a real treat for the senses, the views out over the bay divine and the service friendly and efficient. I never really want to leave the estate, so it takes something special to entice me away gracefully. We don't use the main roads, but turn off at Llangadog, through some beautiful countrysde and drive right over the top of the hills - great fun and a real change of scene. On the way back, we whizz home on the motorway via Crosshands, through Llandeilo and then Porthyrhyd and the much beloved Bwlch Tre Banau Estate. http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/

I was in the courtyard tidying after the wind blew some dead leaves around and the robin who has taken up residence perched on the end of the wheelbarrow and watched me for a while. He sings beautifully. I left him out some food as a reward, a little rolled barley from the hen house.

It is nearly 10am, the sun is shining, Spot and Stripe want to go for a walk over the Banc and I am on my computer catching up on my blog. Therefore this is going to be short - fresh air, plenty of walks and after the excesses of Christmas and New Year, simple good foods - Welsh lamb, free range poultry, eggs from chickens that roam in the meadow, loads of fresh fruit and vegetables. I will try not to bake fresh bread every day, although it is so good to come down the stairs in the morning to the aroma of a fresh baked loaf. Scenery over calories! http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/

today I have been browsing through the internet, getting an update on all the things to do in the South Wales area, particularly Carmarthenshire. Here on the Bwlch Tre Banau estate http://www.walesholidaycottages.com/, we are so happy to be here that we rarely venture out on trips - so when we do it has to be pretty special. We did enjoy a day trip to Tenby recently and another to Dylan Thomas' boat house down on the coast.