Helen Clayton

Walker, nature lover, homebaker, bookworm, currently ‘between cats’, francophile, Remainer/Rejoiner, proud member of the wokerati.

Case officer for the Open Spaces Society, protecting public access to paths & open spaces.  
Views very much my own.
She/her.

Profile pic: Head shot of me - a middle-aged white woman wearing a green tweed hat, grey scarf and a dark winter jacket, standing in front of a green and brown moorland hillside.
Banner: Landscape photo of wild, wide open moorland under blue skies, a few puffs of white cloud. A path, bounded by granite marker stones, leading off into the distance.
Currently reading: A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter
Just My Toots: Helen Clayton (npub1cvs…wdd0)">https://justmytoots.com/Helen Clayton (npub1cvs…wdd0)

Last Notes

2026-05-04 10:07:39 UTC

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yes I’m thinking hot needle (my smallest drill bit too big and I don’t want to use the husband’s expensive, tiny modelmaking tools) to make holes in the bumps on the base of the bottle as per one suggestion. Leave the lid closed.

2026-05-04 07:23:20 UTC

Advice needed. I plan to use 2l water bottles to slowly water my tomato plants. There are various methods inc. tubing and aquarium stuff but I’m going for the simple one of planting the bottle upside down with tiny holes in the lid (base cut off). First I made 4 tiny holes as per instructions but I’ve had slower showers tbh. Way too fast. 2nd go had 1 tiny hole (1.5mm), tights fabric over lid. Slower but emptied overnight. Is that about right, any ideas? Thanks 🙏
#gardening #SolarPunk

2026-04-11 19:55:30 UTC

I just had to go out to the greenhouse to see if the solar powered fairy lights work. I’m pleased to see that they do ☺️ (especially as I was up a ladder in 40-odd mph winds to affix the solar panel). I can now potter out there after dark!
https://media.mas.to/media_attachments/files/116/387/812/628/989/263/original/f7492326a2722ae0.jpeg

2026-03-22 10:04:19 UTC

Does anyone have any tips for how to cycle in a skirt/dress? I normally wear leggings anyway so modesty isn’t the issue, it’s more what to do to stop fabric flapping.
I also haven’t ridden a bike in ages so this could be interesting 🫣

2026-03-16 19:44:23 UTC

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and also asked ‘weak’ NATO allies to help him…with the war be started for reasons he can’t actually explain. If he cared so much about the Iranian people, so badly treated by the regime, bombing the hell out of them is a funny way of showing it.
It’s always about oil.

2025-08-17 20:27:08 UTC

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I loved it from page 1 (I got an ebook).

2025-08-17 18:18:41 UTC

I’ve never lived on my own. I was either with my parents, housemates or ‘now husband’ (for nearly 30 years). I generally do the cooking and Sundays I do ‘big cooking’. But whenever I’m home alone I just cannot be arsed. Which is why I’m eating a cheese sandwich this evening. Not even any salad. Just cheese. That cannot be right. I’m also drinking rosé though, in the sunshine, so something’s right I guess 😂.
#food #alcohol

2025-07-30 20:03:38 UTC

Judge says ban on direct action group could have ‘chilling effect’ on legitimate political speech.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jul/30/palestine-action-co-founder-wins-permission-to-challenge-ban

2025-07-17 19:11:19 UTC

Never a dull moment here. I went to check on things in the greenhouse…the greenhouse that’s fortified with chicken wire to stop squirrels and blackbirds. There’s only a baby chiffchaff got themselves stuck in there. They’re small enough to have got through the chicken wire. I’ve opened the door and gone round the back in the hope that they would fly out but they’ve got themselves in the corner behind the door and are now perched on my nice pink fishing net (for the pond). Any ideas?
#birds
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2025-05-23 07:35:03 UTC

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I might have to find a soft mossy cushion.
Take in the scenery for me. Sounds spectacular up there. 😘

2024-12-19 14:16:04 UTC

This wind is getting really fucking tiresome. It’s not even special, alert-worthy wind but my new tool store (to replace the one trashed by Darragh) has just taken off. Admittedly it was still empty, but even so. Grump grump.

2024-12-04 18:42:43 UTC

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it’s a good job he was there to tell us about it.

2024-09-12 17:06:04 UTC

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he was a bit vague but I think we’ve deduced possibly a quern stone…maybe.

2024-09-12 17:03:11 UTC

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we have lots of rocks and stones but nothing obviously like that he described. Maybe when the foliage dies back…or it’s staring me in the face. It’s like some sort of treasure hunt.

2024-08-31 20:30:24 UTC

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oh that all sounds wonderful! Not sure I’d pace myself 😂. I’m terrible for buying plants when I don’t know where I’m even putting them!

2024-08-24 12:21:10 UTC

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I love asters - as do pollinators - they just keep going and going!

2024-08-20 20:07:27 UTC

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I’ve struggled with reading focus for a while tbh but I’m hoping for a better selection of books from my new library 😉. Once we’ve had a bill 🙄 I can register.
The unpacking is taking ages and some things will have to stay in boxes for a while but it’s already feeling like home.
Aberaeron is a very friendly place. I’ve not ventured much further yet as so much to do at home. The amount is a little overwhelming but it has only been a week…I must remember that.

2024-08-20 18:26:14 UTC

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we got started on psygodyn wibli wobli as the unofficial term, cont y môr which is a bit coarse (obviously an ancient Welsh person got stung) and the academic term sglefren fôr…apparently (I know nothing).