tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249185702024-03-14T00:53:50.874+00:00Jottings from TattonlandViews from the REAL Cranford - the "Southeast in the Northwest"Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-50603458387979509992013-01-28T20:37:00.002+00:002013-01-28T20:46:59.141+00:00HS2 – the Cosmological Cost?<br />
[Is it really almost a year since my last post? Whoops!]<br />
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So, we now know the UK government’s preferred route for Phase-2 of the proposed “High-Speed” railway. (Given it’s unlikely to be actually up and running by 2032 - even with a favourable tail-wind - one might question the choice of moniker, but that’s another story!)<br />
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We also have an estimate of how much the entire project will cost: approximately £32.7bn.<br />
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This prompted me to do some thinking about what that means. It can be difficult to get your head around super-huge numbers, but maybe these two pieces of information will help to put it into perspective:<br />
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• current (2013) world population = 7bn (approx.);<br />
• age of Universe (time since the Big Bang) ~ 13.7bn years.<br />
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We could therefore think of the project as costing about <b>£4.60 for every man, woman and child on the planet.</b><br />
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Alternatively, the government proposes to spend - on a railway, for goodness sake - about <b>£2.39 for every year the universe has so far been in existence.</b> Of course, that’s ignoring inflation. (Economic, rather than cosmological!)<br />
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And this when we are apparently entering a “triple-dip recession”.<br />
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As far as the “benefits” are concerned, I would have to admit I’m no expert, but it seems to me that shaving off a little more from an already respectable journey time from London to Manchester (for example), is a poor return for the investment. The UK is not exactly a vast country (though it is crowded, of course).<br />
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Moreover, who is likely to benefit? If I were cynical I might say “the small number of Fat Cats who will be able to afford the (no doubt) astronomical fare”. But I’m not, so I won’t.<br />
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And, being naïve on such matters, I would have thought that seriously upgrading our local public transport infrastructure would have provided more tangible benefit to a far greater proportion of the population. (The rolling stock on my local line, for instance, is embarrassingly out-dated compared with its counterpart in most EU countries I have visited.)<br />
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There will of course be a “public consultation” exercise. In conclusion, I would simply ask this question: approximately how many times, since the birth of the Universe, has a public consultation process resulted in the plans of a determined (if misguided) government being thwarted?<br />
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I suspect you know the answer!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-31511507148200454552012-02-16T10:36:00.000+00:002012-02-16T10:36:50.891+00:00Allotment Thief? Poltergeist? ... Or joker?I hadn't been to the plot for a week or two, owing to bad weather and other commitments. When I arrived there this morning, at first all seemed normal ... until I entered the shed. Then I noticed that a cane was lying at an angle from floor to ceiling. I couldn't remember it being like that the last time I was there. On further inspection I realised it was a cane that is normally suspended horizontally from cup-hooks, just below the ceiling. I use it for hanging odd bits and pieces from. (In fact, you can see it in the photo below, which was taken after I'd put it back in place.) So had I accidentally knocked it down on my previous visit? I didn't think it likely. Nor had there been any significant wind since then, that might conceivably have rocked the shed so hard as to bring it down. In any case, that never happened during the numerous strong gales we've had over the last few years! A bit of a puzzle.<br />
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I thought I should make a closer inspection of the inside of the shed. To begin with, I didn't spot anything amiss. But then, on glancing up at the tool rack, I noticed a couple of empty slots at the back, near the corner of the shed. It then dawned on me that there should be a yard brush hanging there: an old, fairly decrepit - and certainly not valuable - broom. How odd! Had I used it somewhere on the plot last time I was there, and forgotten to put it away? The only part of my plot for which a broom is useful is the shed's "decking" (which consists of two old pallets), and it certainly wasn't there. The only conclusion I could draw is that it had been stolen. Very strange indeed. What a peculiar item to nick! And from the back of the shed - not immediately to hand.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqms6Gx45QllbpTf-6rqQCqL3Ev0OuUnHbF_uLWgivRSVDs2DNE8mhNzQNmdGq-2Ku7kNErmcEhDVfHm6nbIZG18FZaz8pdDiFoK3SWqDZ7fwp9H5Avy9McRlRNxJoXbEf3Rn/s1600/BrushGone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqms6Gx45QllbpTf-6rqQCqL3Ev0OuUnHbF_uLWgivRSVDs2DNE8mhNzQNmdGq-2Ku7kNErmcEhDVfHm6nbIZG18FZaz8pdDiFoK3SWqDZ7fwp9H5Avy9McRlRNxJoXbEf3Rn/s400/BrushGone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was at this stage I became aware of a couple of other weird things:<br />
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<ul>
<li>When I was last at the shed there had been (I <i>think</i>, though to be fair, I may be wrong in this<i>) </i>a plastic tub containing a very small amount of Growmore fertiliser, and this had been standing just inside the door, against the left-wall ... well not any longer!</li>
<li><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">My maple-syrup jar had gone!!!!</span></i></b> This was a "souvenir" of our 2001 trip to Massachusetts - only a plastic flagon - and filled with water rather than the sweet stuff. I'd placed it as a sort of decoration on the decking, where it had stood, untouched, for at least a year. You can see, in the next photo, where it <i>should</i> be ...</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf7vYHziOkyZzaUPKrSvOqfuWkE7BxfCKunTdorGFzK1IRGrDXtdryfPhJoY0ItBaaKRjO93DBy21uGA_ugQ2kT9N4YGJrgjYfHvTuCbPkM9nJ_BeeSP7yZ9s2GAWBtH3repC/s1600/MapleSyrupGone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf7vYHziOkyZzaUPKrSvOqfuWkE7BxfCKunTdorGFzK1IRGrDXtdryfPhJoY0ItBaaKRjO93DBy21uGA_ugQ2kT9N4YGJrgjYfHvTuCbPkM9nJ_BeeSP7yZ9s2GAWBtH3repC/s400/MapleSyrupGone.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I am now in no doubt whatsoever that something untoward has taken place. But ...</div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">Who was the culprit? </span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">When did it happen?</span></b></div>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">Most puzzling of all: why?</span></b></div>
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It's not as though the items taken had any intrinsic value. Nor was there any obvious damage. That could have been due, in part, to the fact I've never locked the shed - just fastened the door to with a bolt: I was originally advised that if the door is locked it indicates there may be something of value inside, and vandals will simply break it down. Well I've now fitted a padlock. (The door really needs replacing anyway!)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Update: the "plot" (<i>get it?</i>) thickens</b></span></div>
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Later the same day I encountered one of my allotment neighbours, and told him about what had happened. Intriguingly, it immediately rang a bell with him, and he recounted a tale concerning a series of seemingly similar (and equally inexplicable) occurrences - about 10 years ago! In one case, it appears, late one July night during a torrential rainstorm, several shed doors had been carefully removed. No damage had been inflicted, and nothing was apparently stolen. In another instance, a neighbour discovered a very subtle alteration to the arrangement of items inside the shed. Again, nothing of value was actually taken. My friend didn't go into much more detail, but hinted there'd been suspicions at the time that the culprit was one of the other allotment-holders "having a laugh". </div>
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<br /></div>
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If that is the case it leaves a rather unpleasant taste in the mouth: as anyone familiar with allotmenteering will know, there is usually a remarkably generous community spirit, where everyone supports everyone else on the sight - very often lending a hand with jobs or donating surplus seeds, crops, etc. True, as in any organisation there will no doubt be political issues and underlying grievances; but these odd events appear not to be specifically targeted - ie are random - and so seem to make no sense.</div>
<div>
<br />
I'm therefore left with three possibilities:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>1. A genuine thief/vandal from the local area or beyond - unlikely, in view of the minimal impact;</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>2. A poltergeist - not <i>very</i> likely!</b></div>
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<b>3. An on-sight jester - either the original, a "descendant" or a copy-cat!</b></div>
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Sadly, I fear the last of the three has the highest probability of being correct. Whatever, I felt I had to do something in response, so now there is this sign in the shed window:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpgSzYvzq3YwCw7x6ZXIOscDhus6ZCUrBpwtqRz5StGQvGQs9OZldfu5c9q-mMwjbVUReO1gIu4qL8FYj4d5r92GQNOhWxp7NwsTJHXwGkxGK1hIJBygNypUAwvdUjY4h9FwO/s1600/IMG_6568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpgSzYvzq3YwCw7x6ZXIOscDhus6ZCUrBpwtqRz5StGQvGQs9OZldfu5c9q-mMwjbVUReO1gIu4qL8FYj4d5r92GQNOhWxp7NwsTJHXwGkxGK1hIJBygNypUAwvdUjY4h9FwO/s400/IMG_6568.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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We'll wait and see. I'll keep you posted!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-58520628729064077822012-01-10T21:08:00.001+00:002012-01-10T21:08:10.799+00:00A New Look for a New YearWell, sort of!<br />
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Happy 2012.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-25503511053677172282012-01-07T16:39:00.008+00:002012-01-07T17:11:55.439+00:00Just Checking InToday I noticed, with some embarrassment, that my most recent post - with the exception of this one - was April, 2009. Methinks much has happened since then. Not least the fact that I retired at the end of December, 2010. And since approximately Feb 2010 I've been the proud keeper of an allotment plot.<div><br /></div><div>A further major endeavour has been to have solar PV installed on the house roof: 14 panels, for a nominal capacity of a little over 3.2kW. That was last February, and so far, the signs are very promising indeed. Less than one year of operation, and we've already clocked up in excess of £1250 worth of electricity. It has to be said, though, that this is largely due to the rather generous Feed-in Tariff of 43.3p per kWh. If the current proposal to half this for new adopters is allowed to go ahead then I fear, as do many, that it could deal a fatal blow to this important, but still fledgling, industry.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, to return to my original purpose: having made lots of rather scruffy notes of a diary nature relating to my various horticultural activities, I'm looking to find a convenient way of recording them on-line. I'm toying with the idea of using my blog site for this. The problem is, it would have to be retrospective. That is, I would need to be able to post up entries from the past. I would also want it to be searchable. For instance, I might want to know when I sowed leeks in previous years, so I'd put "leeks" in as a search term. I suppose the obvious way would be to use tags.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, ideas always welcome.</div><div> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-11575476225245239792009-04-24T15:50:00.008+00:002009-04-24T19:26:20.948+00:00The Carbon-Capture Carbonundrum?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFjp4Hov2NsnNT-dVUDMiJv2JPuX2w6QHkDVgZDtlqMikFtKArNfHxMA5wou8LQOsTZUZayUV3yj9WEouvoYfxTayc0OFuTENRbYA2ftLcaMQg3XIaVSkDMnHuSz1m5utaQ0RZw/s1600/NASA-hurricane-pic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFjp4Hov2NsnNT-dVUDMiJv2JPuX2w6QHkDVgZDtlqMikFtKArNfHxMA5wou8LQOsTZUZayUV3yj9WEouvoYfxTayc0OFuTENRbYA2ftLcaMQg3XIaVSkDMnHuSz1m5utaQ0RZw/s1600/NASA-hurricane-pic.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Photo Credit: NASA</span><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Home/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I posed this question in a <a href="http://keysmike.blogspot.com/2007/12/climate-change-some-nagging-questions.html">posting way back in December 2007</a>. It appears to remain largely unanswered (or possibly ignored?); but, in the light of the recent announcement by our government regarding proposals for a new generation of coal-fuelled power stations, I feel it could stand another airing. The unease I feel is this: quite apart from the whole raft of concerns raised by others in various places, there is the fact that for every 12 tonnes of carbon burned in fossil (or any other carboniferous ) fuel, approximately 32 tonnes of oxygen is extracted from the atmosphere. The scale of this </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"oxygen depletion"</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> may, admittedly, be exaggerated somewhat because many fuels actually have a bound-in oxygen content to begin with, but still it is probably a good order-of-magnitude figure.<br /><br />Now if the fuel is from a renewable source, then I suppose we can generally assume that the usual biological processes such as photosynthesis will eventually return the consumed oxygen to the atmosphere and, on balance, there is no adverse effect; if the fuel was from a fossil source, then although there will be an excess carbon dioxide input to the atmosphere, it is still conceivable that a proportion of it will also be "metabolised" by the ecosystem: for example, there <span style="font-style: italic;">may</span> be accelerated/enhanced growth of vegetation, algae, etc in some land/sea areas, which could partially off-set it ...for a while.<br /><br />Some of the excess carbon dioxide will surely not be recycled, though, and it is that fraction that we get concerned about with regard to global warming, of course. But as well as this hazard, there is the associated potential problem that a portion of the oxygen removed from the atmosphere by combustion is lost permanently. That would be bad enough in any case, but if <span style="font-style: italic;">all </span>the carbon dioxide from a power-station were to be sequestered below ground then <span style="font-style: italic;">all </span>of the oxygen consumed in its combustion process would go with it - for good; or at least for "... five thousand years at least ..." (which of course begs its own questions as regards the <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> long-term future of the planet).<br /><br />So on this basis, it seems to me that what we should be aiming at, if anything, is true <span style="font-style: italic;">carbon</span>-capture, and not capture of carbon <span style="font-style: italic;">dioxide</span>. We should in other words be separating out the oxygen first and returning it to the environment.<br /><br />And here we encounter a further little niggling problem: splitting carbon dioxide into its elemental components takes ... yes, you guessed it - <span style="font-style: italic;">energy</span>! Logically (one assumes) this should not come from the burning of yet more coal, but maybe it could be provided by truly renewable sources such as wind, solar etc, or - if we really must - nuclear fuel.<br />So, why not just invest in them properly in the first place?<br /><br />To be fair, there is now apparently an experimental plant in Germany that "cooks" sewage anaerobically to drive off the volatiles, which then become "new" fuel without comsuming oxygen. The only true waste is basically carbon black (charcoal) which actually has a commercial value in its own right, but does not present a global-warming risk. Of course, this approach is a rather different proposition from the coal-fired argument discussed above.<br /><br />Now don't get me wrong - I am a firm believer that we face a lethal threat from human-generated global warming, and that all proposed solutions need to be examined properly and fairly. But that means identifying potential drawbacks too.<br /><br />Perhaps I am being overly naive in my arguments relating to oxygen depletion, and maybe the effect will never be great enough to cause us concern. I just don't know. But I'd be really glad to hear other views. What do you think?<br /><br />[Of course there are plenty of other arguments against this carbon-capture approach. For one thing, it doesn't avoid continued plundering of the earth's resources; and the supposed (by some) unsightliness of wind-turbines is surely as nought compared to the huge and visciously ugly scars left behind by open-cast mining operations? Then there is the matter of security of the energy supply. We would continue to be at the mercy of off-shore providers. Or am I very much mistaken?]<br /><br />Mike<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-1521900094665477642009-02-10T18:58:00.015+00:002009-02-11T11:59:36.707+00:00"M'aidez" call - already answered? A correction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1219/2568/320/DSCF2769.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1219/2568/320/DSCF2769.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /><br />One of <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Knutsford Royal Mayday's</span> most respected and long-standing organisers has pointed out to me an inaccuracy in the following item I posted back in March 2008, and for which I must put the record straight ...<br /><br /><a name="1273384397893782878"></a> <h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://www.thisischeshire.co.uk/news/knutsfordnews/display.var.2125691.0.may_day_festival_organisers_criticise_towns_support.php">Knutsford "Royal" Mayday under threat? Whatever next?</a></h3><br /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In it, referring to letters appearing in the local newspaper around that time, I wrote this:</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><ul>"But the event itself does not raise money for its own survival. On the other hand, it is very expensive to put on. Much of this cost goes into policing, especially owing to the fact that routes through the town have to be temporarily closed.<br /><br />The thought of Knutsford without its Mayday is a bit like the thought of Cheshire without Jodrell Bank (don't forget to sign the petition, by the way).<br /><br />I read a good suggestion today that those taking part could be asked to pay a small fee - say £2. This seems to me to be a reasonable and modest amount, yet it could really make a big difference. Actually, I think it should be made optional, and the amount left to people's discretion: if we value the tradition that much then we will be willing to pay for it. Knutsford is famous for being pretty well-heeled, after all. On the other hand (and perhaps not so well-recognised by the outside world) it is also home to many much less well-off families for whom it would be totally wrong to impose any financial hurdle to their participation.<br /><br />Surely, those of us who can afford it would be prepared to dig into our pockets to save this gem of ours?"<br /></ul></span><span>I'm most grateful to</span><span> my contact for letting me know that there is in fact a voluntary donation scheme for families taking part in the event: indeed it was devised by her, and already existed at the time I wrote the article. Moreover, she assures me that it has been very successful in raising additional funds each year. This is excellent news. In absolute terms I daresay it is still a drop in the ocean, and cannot hope by itself to guarantee the long-term future of the Mayday. But at the very least it does one exceedingly valuable thing: it demonstrates the considerable affection and high regard in which this unique festival is held by our townsfolk.<br /><br />Long may it continue.<br /><br />I do apologise for having got it wrong last March.<br /><br />Mike</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-13288181729429990312009-01-26T08:25:00.002+00:002009-01-26T08:26:34.592+00:00Happy Year of the Ox to All<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuhStSMPn8q3jFsLGmwQyvA1KQ_bDkoRmG_sYIb9462SK5X6IrWIRXZeocGBoy4roiNfCi2L3r4v6oiJi7ylOLPARvP2CJjrIJx-q4ok-DPElxV0QFQYJZpsXB0BdjzJSA45GgQ/s1600-h/HappyYearOx.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuhStSMPn8q3jFsLGmwQyvA1KQ_bDkoRmG_sYIb9462SK5X6IrWIRXZeocGBoy4roiNfCi2L3r4v6oiJi7ylOLPARvP2CJjrIJx-q4ok-DPElxV0QFQYJZpsXB0BdjzJSA45GgQ/s400/HappyYearOx.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295515843937268690" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-13751890279845426652008-12-26T17:12:00.007+00:002008-12-26T21:26:46.614+00:00Boxing Day - vine-pruning completedFriday 26th December: another brilliantly sunny day. Ideal for completing the pruning, which this time (ie for the wall-grown grapes) entails climbing a ladder. First, a re-cap of what they looked like before pruning:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa3V4LN0QaTLpwZRp_9tbsK0mgBNKq7fT042aN9LT30R7YSu7kzqA-4nd4Io5ANPadvMzeJPjaxNTYyHWmTgx_SwwQgwFkUO9RuyObhzbZFFePzkgbBTs8kF4PEv3eYiBvvT6vw/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCa3V4LN0QaTLpwZRp_9tbsK0mgBNKq7fT042aN9LT30R7YSu7kzqA-4nd4Io5ANPadvMzeJPjaxNTYyHWmTgx_SwwQgwFkUO9RuyObhzbZFFePzkgbBTs8kF4PEv3eYiBvvT6vw/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284149152811334658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD-08M3inSGoHw04gSNxVTCu6tru8yTQgAKfDL0ZWbSdn659nHlFvmCWN7Bclq7wg53e3kmg_fpd01z1vnOXBvaawgAvIo-ebvXt5ji4FbnQxwqoJhZV1SF1IK2cA2X2HIQeOEw/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJD-08M3inSGoHw04gSNxVTCu6tru8yTQgAKfDL0ZWbSdn659nHlFvmCWN7Bclq7wg53e3kmg_fpd01z1vnOXBvaawgAvIo-ebvXt5ji4FbnQxwqoJhZV1SF1IK2cA2X2HIQeOEw/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284149160995992050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ok. To work. For each "spur" you start by removing any old, dead wood:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-LBxsmNVIChvgmkVtEGpr70k_cmbX5jWr_xH8TRcRCnwMTrTxYwcW078uKTt-HiOlqm4EnGyyOpcsV-C2lu2yf01a4INdJsWbIyYVp2aEcQSrKgUilH4VQR5I5-f64VUKRfXBA/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-LBxsmNVIChvgmkVtEGpr70k_cmbX5jWr_xH8TRcRCnwMTrTxYwcW078uKTt-HiOlqm4EnGyyOpcsV-C2lu2yf01a4INdJsWbIyYVp2aEcQSrKgUilH4VQR5I5-f64VUKRfXBA/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148281616589954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjXs81b3hgQounXidpyHBs4FPLpt_g03zETUWZGIff92ftWKjwrPy5NXX-QZL1RBCyU5NCKq7EtzjUNOhW3XsxTqYivdMopFMZncZtCaJjreJz8fvIjvIopzFu2NKXsd0rzfdiw/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+002+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjXs81b3hgQounXidpyHBs4FPLpt_g03zETUWZGIff92ftWKjwrPy5NXX-QZL1RBCyU5NCKq7EtzjUNOhW3XsxTqYivdMopFMZncZtCaJjreJz8fvIjvIopzFu2NKXsd0rzfdiw/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+002+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148308314537346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the example shown, that left two rods - last season's fruiting laterals. I pruned each of these to about two good buds ("eyes"):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViEW5RU4l0OQS6qYS81IzPWtkxh6hLR0N-NpkZrJmMtoF4hv9r9yu4t1h3D46f1omaGQMPH8FgjyTQbflrbcDr9chp6urTysCEaIWuz8h0FZrpHIuCSFWoKvnc2jfp0HucNJO8A/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViEW5RU4l0OQS6qYS81IzPWtkxh6hLR0N-NpkZrJmMtoF4hv9r9yu4t1h3D46f1omaGQMPH8FgjyTQbflrbcDr9chp6urTysCEaIWuz8h0FZrpHIuCSFWoKvnc2jfp0HucNJO8A/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148320162499234" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJNnWgiVJvX1buzwETViZAj8GZk-RitqJwwegBasQ2wkeCG6aaiUBkpcbGE1UjLQU4fkJkTkCBEHeiwvX7S796Yt-8S1eFrRObp6OYiEhyphenhypheniZvsgjw01kBE1trBT4XRJ1tyb7zJA/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJNnWgiVJvX1buzwETViZAj8GZk-RitqJwwegBasQ2wkeCG6aaiUBkpcbGE1UjLQU4fkJkTkCBEHeiwvX7S796Yt-8S1eFrRObp6OYiEhyphenhypheniZvsgjw01kBE1trBT4XRJ1tyb7zJA/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148322680984258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The finished job:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4UwGt_QQCdSrHAYr9a-0c9_2rPXT21PHy1M2OeC4ROroogb_MI3MdkaZHeQHRTwXCMvGQ6UkJoUT3zUy4AZplwPB0o38VOGFueH9NJ4fwqKfHKLRahPClOue3pqD3Fk3qRWjUg/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4UwGt_QQCdSrHAYr9a-0c9_2rPXT21PHy1M2OeC4ROroogb_MI3MdkaZHeQHRTwXCMvGQ6UkJoUT3zUy4AZplwPB0o38VOGFueH9NJ4fwqKfHKLRahPClOue3pqD3Fk3qRWjUg/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148324648336162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I then repeated the process for all the spurs on all the vines. A certain amount of judgement is needed. If a rod is very thin and weedy-looking, for example, it is worth cutting it out all together to give the remaining one a better chance.<br /><br />This is what the vines look like now:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg9RQYRmm_r-nu2H1vKMl0DFD07g5DIHAfKp2D6_ojKia5RvepA8GM-nfmhwrzbzLadS8pAW9ZacVATyBRKQ0CYBec6VrNQt-lVkzBHikx94tNJi7UEP09sLHobx9_TiyaY3mZQ/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+009+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg9RQYRmm_r-nu2H1vKMl0DFD07g5DIHAfKp2D6_ojKia5RvepA8GM-nfmhwrzbzLadS8pAW9ZacVATyBRKQ0CYBec6VrNQt-lVkzBHikx94tNJi7UEP09sLHobx9_TiyaY3mZQ/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+009+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148738696483490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVGJL7iChMdaK-hpfZppvKzYlpT-r7gf0qX6rR5mRUAefeJRrhw5nqjbebgpB89w3fWxf6vkQgXVSe3q5mHhIs2I0aUWdFETH1wk1MlCoDcICKkgE904YTxLECY2GAM6RwnrP8Q/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+008+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVGJL7iChMdaK-hpfZppvKzYlpT-r7gf0qX6rR5mRUAefeJRrhw5nqjbebgpB89w3fWxf6vkQgXVSe3q5mHhIs2I0aUWdFETH1wk1MlCoDcICKkgE904YTxLECY2GAM6RwnrP8Q/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+008+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148730340506674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lFm6d8CR8uxIe_70LxqZ4pp2j6R5cLeWxdwBfgJPubvzrXbOV3SW3aqBhkvmRCZfaovxQYGxEpvPEwNkP8cIV7TSY8JVsvDZ9lzPx7qpHrlcLUaoAAvR_skps2K38ZqIF9T_uA/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lFm6d8CR8uxIe_70LxqZ4pp2j6R5cLeWxdwBfgJPubvzrXbOV3SW3aqBhkvmRCZfaovxQYGxEpvPEwNkP8cIV7TSY8JVsvDZ9lzPx7qpHrlcLUaoAAvR_skps2K38ZqIF9T_uA/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148727092386210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldzNLcMMo3Cz1R8D5V6MKBstF7-cgRhW-wvtNjpqbL7WXg1qSOIEIwkg6wiGlhyfTIOHjDiFSdBfdP7jcvKSrXKFUROG05NUFat0KbEUokTN5_fLXMCUxxD1WSp0SyK-tXzYGSw/s1600-h/Vines-26Dec2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldzNLcMMo3Cz1R8D5V6MKBstF7-cgRhW-wvtNjpqbL7WXg1qSOIEIwkg6wiGlhyfTIOHjDiFSdBfdP7jcvKSrXKFUROG05NUFat0KbEUokTN5_fLXMCUxxD1WSp0SyK-tXzYGSw/s400/Vines-26Dec2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284148729270709234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Much neater, I feel.<br /><br />So that's it for now. Next tasks will be in February, when I'll feed and mulch the vines. It's also a good time to plant the cuttings I prepared from the prunings.<br /><br />Finally, if you're interested, take a look at this <a href="http://keysmike.googlepages.com/viticulture">web page I set up with some FAQs</a> on vine-growing and winemaking.<br /><br />Cheers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-89869043097032583822008-12-24T16:39:00.008+00:002008-12-24T17:07:38.844+00:00Christmas Eve - update on vine pruning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mikespanto.googlepages.com/mysnowman.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 377px; height: 429px;" src="http://mikespanto.googlepages.com/mysnowman.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last night's weather forecast said we'd have to "<span style="font-style: italic;">wait until Boxing Day to see any sun</span>".<br />Funnily enough, today was gorgeous. Hm.<br /><br />So I thought I'd continue on with the vine pruning. Remember on Sunday I was starting to prune the ones in the "open ground"? Well I finished them. Not too difficult as there are only five plants.<br /><br />This is what they look like now:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8mqVHzHgVNh_kBiv_7qfNesSlvSFQvu1f7fUUZE-oVmHqPvjB4zUWZN5t-_LmKNBmZe7ZFKdZVwa899IKCcOcXq-er4Vc5xSGS6j__mX0_FKjCltk5r-NECiFllFTZo4CwEdNA/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8mqVHzHgVNh_kBiv_7qfNesSlvSFQvu1f7fUUZE-oVmHqPvjB4zUWZN5t-_LmKNBmZe7ZFKdZVwa899IKCcOcXq-er4Vc5xSGS6j__mX0_FKjCltk5r-NECiFllFTZo4CwEdNA/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398091779138962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXaRpNX6MZNcuqbY_GKzmGmnjWbU4ca8jzJ1d_mokqssIX_RDZrLMeSBLuLbW6IQelFrPO5FSNDhWhfaOVWlms80xrmgaL_rNvfbLoiwYI1oiu0pDm0D6yL2xeM3cdDBNd6__zg/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+002+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXaRpNX6MZNcuqbY_GKzmGmnjWbU4ca8jzJ1d_mokqssIX_RDZrLMeSBLuLbW6IQelFrPO5FSNDhWhfaOVWlms80xrmgaL_rNvfbLoiwYI1oiu0pDm0D6yL2xeM3cdDBNd6__zg/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+002+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398083337044738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s0QNF69n9Utk2TTfHavOJjF3Pqk7KDj-9r32ThiQeX7_Sf0hdgeqZRUU3VTni-g0rX9BITU37aqzMti1J6v5N3mCwvpR7w2G3y5CDRu9Evj4sMRKEk_5TlnIP4AUAIycguZIfQ/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_s0QNF69n9Utk2TTfHavOJjF3Pqk7KDj-9r32ThiQeX7_Sf0hdgeqZRUU3VTni-g0rX9BITU37aqzMti1J6v5N3mCwvpR7w2G3y5CDRu9Evj4sMRKEk_5TlnIP4AUAIycguZIfQ/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398074896380306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Again, the contrast isn't too good because of all the shades of brown.<br /><br />The next task will be to prune the vines growing against the house wall. Here are a few more shots of them as they are now:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAMX4qHVOnqpY6-R_rC4J7husYk_g2JZ8-jX8n8anshKoXJEjM8_s3VDBYalh1LSfTKOf9dTERcqeZGXpmAwQUrxAPkIBXLc9DnCrg1vkPSvq2t11PoMCEXUiRgpoE-DWpiQVxQ/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+008+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAMX4qHVOnqpY6-R_rC4J7husYk_g2JZ8-jX8n8anshKoXJEjM8_s3VDBYalh1LSfTKOf9dTERcqeZGXpmAwQUrxAPkIBXLc9DnCrg1vkPSvq2t11PoMCEXUiRgpoE-DWpiQVxQ/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+008+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398329164354802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREwB353l_fnuJx3JOmqNnDso61GU714UHQsx3dUfhGibUxyeAiJY9tYyxej-k36ohLN-rSl0msDWXBqqiIgA0ONVTqsHK2vCvP9Q7VD2xdZr3OZX18V_R7Rn2jr1Ui19YTFRbNg/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREwB353l_fnuJx3JOmqNnDso61GU714UHQsx3dUfhGibUxyeAiJY9tYyxej-k36ohLN-rSl0msDWXBqqiIgA0ONVTqsHK2vCvP9Q7VD2xdZr3OZX18V_R7Rn2jr1Ui19YTFRbNg/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398328619345730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5pW7OZP9Wq2Oe74XLsK5E7zmQ7aqs8oLfSTn4dvCLAIdFO2uBsmGHqsupnHMsZnPE8Gbf8FbAuFJoBAN-r_35X6LKpU2lYwuzwNwpH8hU4iShxIpnCV5_w2Dc3Z-GL-GhD4bUA/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5pW7OZP9Wq2Oe74XLsK5E7zmQ7aqs8oLfSTn4dvCLAIdFO2uBsmGHqsupnHMsZnPE8Gbf8FbAuFJoBAN-r_35X6LKpU2lYwuzwNwpH8hU4iShxIpnCV5_w2Dc3Z-GL-GhD4bUA/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398321936204258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTJxXNtKqeSOq7cPt74MVuDQNmQW38m01tZUf7zZuwsbPBUJkBdE28ez7vN5HP031OvycW9n5QFY5N0oPf4iZDfgLm2B7QwVitCF22c7XNLADf5lW70SKxmHVTx05wx3MtpUbtw/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTJxXNtKqeSOq7cPt74MVuDQNmQW38m01tZUf7zZuwsbPBUJkBdE28ez7vN5HP031OvycW9n5QFY5N0oPf4iZDfgLm2B7QwVitCF22c7XNLADf5lW70SKxmHVTx05wx3MtpUbtw/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398099382229762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0Sx2-tkZlJN9m1P9dY1H9MuUzBwme1Uxb1D6vD5aoDhz5dMLr2Cqv6O_dFAX50_uXRXqqfnpFyJafugNVj4787DXch2IWAsMnJ1Frb9Ll0WbDPd02diVaar3LvcZqVyk7yexQA/s1600-h/Vines-24Dec2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0Sx2-tkZlJN9m1P9dY1H9MuUzBwme1Uxb1D6vD5aoDhz5dMLr2Cqv6O_dFAX50_uXRXqqfnpFyJafugNVj4787DXch2IWAsMnJ1Frb9Ll0WbDPd02diVaar3LvcZqVyk7yexQA/s400/Vines-24Dec2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283398097610944098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You can tell how sunny it was by the sharp shadows, <span style="font-style: italic;">n'est-ce-pas</span>?<br /><br />These vines are pruned according to the "rod-and-spur" system, which is more straightforward than the <span style="font-style: italic;">Guyot</span> method employed in many open vineyards<br /><br />For the wall-grown vines all that is needed is to take back the current year's shoots to a couple of strong eyes. One of these will be allowed to develop into a fruiting lateral, and the other will be rubbed out. Because this procedure is repeated annually, a knobbly spur gradually forms, from which the method derives its name (<span style="font-style: italic;">natch</span>). "Rod" refers to the permanent framework of old wood.<br /><br />I'll post some more pics when I've pruned them.<br /><br />Meanwhile, have a great Christmas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-14160605329157420312008-12-21T10:59:00.014+00:002008-12-21T16:19:59.983+00:00A Solstice job: pruning vinesSunday 21st December - the shortest day ... <span style="font-style: italic;">at last. </span>I can't be doing with all this doom and gloom (and not just the economic/financial variety either!)<br /><br />Anyway, it's been some time since I posted anything on my blog so I thought I'd do a bit of an update on the state of the vines. December is the ideal time for pruning them (in the Northern Hemisphere, that is!) and that's what I started doing this morning.<br /><br />These shots should give an idea of what the vines look like before pruning. Note that vines are deciduous, and all the leaves have fallen by now:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0ReUTIEzdZDfhmz1z7uUohOgxPDTzguMnzdtWG0OSwJubFOb7HVvj47a6BJu3QYMEm7aoE3AmCoIu5-eoACyfw1lrcI8S-s84rA1Coc5xK3sPvYZt6tpRjtHiJUX1OEob1y8yw/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+011+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0ReUTIEzdZDfhmz1z7uUohOgxPDTzguMnzdtWG0OSwJubFOb7HVvj47a6BJu3QYMEm7aoE3AmCoIu5-eoACyfw1lrcI8S-s84rA1Coc5xK3sPvYZt6tpRjtHiJUX1OEob1y8yw/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+011+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282198355438407330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WlJJ6W_wVpykvKuUy3RcGC17UycFFyj73cxJkpXoFnT010MOD4n2K6FKXMwFXbtM80VU79Y1JMJ2I3S7wVDW0gtvyF8Vb0Vph5Q2Us1l4LvUS-2swJl_7sboQi8PPntsAw3y1Q/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+010+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WlJJ6W_wVpykvKuUy3RcGC17UycFFyj73cxJkpXoFnT010MOD4n2K6FKXMwFXbtM80VU79Y1JMJ2I3S7wVDW0gtvyF8Vb0Vph5Q2Us1l4LvUS-2swJl_7sboQi8PPntsAw3y1Q/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+010+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197499875619522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo6xemuUD9CFdx_kzaZcbnxNauL_YhFfrsVHGl_hFkzyOWyf2gBqFT2JIS3uxIt414YgyofSGwFU0rIi1OcDdxXnLJBKyuIQIpYFf7iWS9sfuldb9XktEuWjGQrcOYpqzGhqOqA/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+009+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo6xemuUD9CFdx_kzaZcbnxNauL_YhFfrsVHGl_hFkzyOWyf2gBqFT2JIS3uxIt414YgyofSGwFU0rIi1OcDdxXnLJBKyuIQIpYFf7iWS9sfuldb9XktEuWjGQrcOYpqzGhqOqA/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+009+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197499589237266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9avN-fAAdwRpzqPBUEy5TwYFxg-bSQqYAj36sbkS2NlR6gvsPANfoqbJeWWf2d0r1Jdip1ibJWndysIoYDSGJ0rtOQzTzeowNVNMiVDO6L4FJDNrveRoo8x0_yHUxVgxatjmuvw/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9avN-fAAdwRpzqPBUEy5TwYFxg-bSQqYAj36sbkS2NlR6gvsPANfoqbJeWWf2d0r1Jdip1ibJWndysIoYDSGJ0rtOQzTzeowNVNMiVDO6L4FJDNrveRoo8x0_yHUxVgxatjmuvw/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197024488040130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq16SqkHjfv9Q9wdT6yCyJr5kQ_MhgoO4nAtQ_R5n7k8JBggr_qnRw_ZTxqJ0qLPcZB4RAsWuNHY6rNxicXWpxElZpivNwZgHOUM0rnLbRtXTWP7s6PUwuWQ_H0XLrFVNJMUPx5A/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+002+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq16SqkHjfv9Q9wdT6yCyJr5kQ_MhgoO4nAtQ_R5n7k8JBggr_qnRw_ZTxqJ0qLPcZB4RAsWuNHY6rNxicXWpxElZpivNwZgHOUM0rnLbRtXTWP7s6PUwuWQ_H0XLrFVNJMUPx5A/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+002+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197023303031890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizCIKkMJeyDI7_qVa0k9PmxXy5aeKCzpYXUsitv2QZ2i5jS-IUt2r1LkYHihLygum6unV4vg2qjraVwrmFm2OgjEqca5hRkUcCnrUYe44j3_KatV6h3hAKAlIP9klrNb3ykz0bg/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizCIKkMJeyDI7_qVa0k9PmxXy5aeKCzpYXUsitv2QZ2i5jS-IUt2r1LkYHihLygum6unV4vg2qjraVwrmFm2OgjEqca5hRkUcCnrUYe44j3_KatV6h3hAKAlIP9klrNb3ykz0bg/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197016498862706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In the case of the vines in the open ground (as opposed to against the wall) I've adopted the <span style="font-style: italic;">Guyot</span> system. The idea is to remove all but two or three good strong shoots of the previous season's growth. One (for <span style="font-style: italic;">Single Guyot</span>) or two (for <span style="font-style: italic;">Double Guyot</span>) of these shoots - technically known as "rods" - are tied to the bottom wire. If two rods are used, then one will be taken to the right of the main stem, the other to the left. The pic below shows a plant that has been partially pruned, with only one rod tied in:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjObOKscqBpxXXHVQMb9oRkWyMe-8e7OFIrhSXy5shK_OjHDxQV3nkcEgQemt70E8ptB3_KZV3Qmh4PgVd0zem4qm42c_DU81TxST38UDgZXCWGbbVmLrJVJ8rf3e_D05GC_p_9g/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjObOKscqBpxXXHVQMb9oRkWyMe-8e7OFIrhSXy5shK_OjHDxQV3nkcEgQemt70E8ptB3_KZV3Qmh4PgVd0zem4qm42c_DU81TxST38UDgZXCWGbbVmLrJVJ8rf3e_D05GC_p_9g/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197033761750114" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm afraid at this time of year everything tends to be the same colour, so the contrast wasn't too good. However, I had a brain-wave: why not put a white sheet behind the subject? That certainly helped:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCS08QMn6WRNGWYRhJ63BrViBJxYqo0Ze9YvFj5fN_LTxCjUqWgaNseyeiCJ8SjbY8dQ7p7VWnXxaR8OPjgV9bFO_sJoqjYTOEN7ixqyf_dXYtZoFVJXeXBGe1CG6j7Gq13qCrw/s1600-h/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+001+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCS08QMn6WRNGWYRhJ63BrViBJxYqo0Ze9YvFj5fN_LTxCjUqWgaNseyeiCJ8SjbY8dQ7p7VWnXxaR8OPjgV9bFO_sJoqjYTOEN7ixqyf_dXYtZoFVJXeXBGe1CG6j7Gq13qCrw/s400/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+001+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282262764699436322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CEWyn20WnrtXktf0apwSBxCMLrpqkuyl7LLtxUhJ2pNLkGaKP9c9S-R8428JPqAFBlLFMubaWTZczetUW9jRzwop3yB-paKjKZiAfwaDn4cXqF4YJXot_0LCwKcKMXdZsBFyOw/s1600-h/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+004+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CEWyn20WnrtXktf0apwSBxCMLrpqkuyl7LLtxUhJ2pNLkGaKP9c9S-R8428JPqAFBlLFMubaWTZczetUW9jRzwop3yB-paKjKZiAfwaDn4cXqF4YJXot_0LCwKcKMXdZsBFyOw/s400/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+004+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282262777317020514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXOe4oc4414eaWQ_kJSe10lRVJsXzoD5R5M2s3SiQCgfRTM7cbApDs78PabXb7Hvu3R4kmAefhhUIMfHwppKp6EAB1CQOAdZjYFBNphp5oglfUyXGFwCekxljP_AknLJM-uBmuQ/s1600-h/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+003+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijXOe4oc4414eaWQ_kJSe10lRVJsXzoD5R5M2s3SiQCgfRTM7cbApDs78PabXb7Hvu3R4kmAefhhUIMfHwppKp6EAB1CQOAdZjYFBNphp5oglfUyXGFwCekxljP_AknLJM-uBmuQ/s400/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+003+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282262772919163938" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next stage was to tie a rod to the other side of the stem, and completely remove the surplus one (as it is not needed).<br /><br />Here's the finished job:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBla1F5KffFRsF7aPTH78p1Xm1uKKAbn2nFyHKdWvhoOHYo8s0tJCOY9SLRogMoZwiJlo6rDjDEscQQBeD3bIblOMGlEzFctkfn3C_hP3bBgyLfll7LC1IVm9ITI32txDBOMoqOQ/s1600-h/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBla1F5KffFRsF7aPTH78p1Xm1uKKAbn2nFyHKdWvhoOHYo8s0tJCOY9SLRogMoZwiJlo6rDjDEscQQBeD3bIblOMGlEzFctkfn3C_hP3bBgyLfll7LC1IVm9ITI32txDBOMoqOQ/s400/Vines-new-car-21Dec2008-xtra+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282262778418863346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once growth starts again in spring, the rods that have been tied into the bottom wire will produce "laterals" (<span style="font-style: italic;">rather a daft name in this instance because they will actually be growing more-or-less vertically upwards!</span>). The laterals will - hopefully - bear fruit.<br /><br />You maybe noticed there's another rod, much shorter than the others, sticking up at the rear of the main stem. It is important to keep one rod pruned in this way, so as to leave at least three good buds ("eyes"). These should develop into three new rods which will form the basis of the following season's crop - and they will be treated in the same way at the end of <span style="font-style: italic;">next</span> growing season. (During the coming season these rods will not be allowed to bear fruit, but will simply be tied into the vertical cane).<br /><br />I reckon it's also a good idea to think about extending your stock of plants at this time, and the prunings make ideal cuttings. I just bundle them up with a label (VERY IMPORTANT if you grow more than one grape variety) and "heel" them into the boarder in the greenhouse like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8e9SKSs2QmJLirJjXchMqLhyphenhyphenWpWIIj0zQWhqDKD5PptHceg4ffqywfy-m0SCsXTYXF3lPbKZdvbFsVu8qAYUblxSnqMZSop7Ui9EqIdgs37E0O85NB4yy2wnzmCS5yItc0ev-w/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8e9SKSs2QmJLirJjXchMqLhyphenhyphenWpWIIj0zQWhqDKD5PptHceg4ffqywfy-m0SCsXTYXF3lPbKZdvbFsVu8qAYUblxSnqMZSop7Ui9EqIdgs37E0O85NB4yy2wnzmCS5yItc0ev-w/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197494716021202" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14WEQ-7U0TLLi7szDy78lq1lhy2XyvvM-vUIWaBXW-wThU7hyphenhyphen_MCdO4zBliaH2xj8CtwQvtsL_1bSL4w50hWKkefyNO8AE0NAJIHynkEVEO2I7Ek7CNqyyz1Hr9yMIqPVj7fXQg/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14WEQ-7U0TLLi7szDy78lq1lhy2XyvvM-vUIWaBXW-wThU7hyphenhyphen_MCdO4zBliaH2xj8CtwQvtsL_1bSL4w50hWKkefyNO8AE0NAJIHynkEVEO2I7Ek7CNqyyz1Hr9yMIqPVj7fXQg/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197494744462482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then, around February they can be prepared as for any other type of hardwood cutting, and simply pushed into a convenient bit of spare ground. The base of each cutting should preferably be in a sandy or gritty medium, but in my experience it's almost impossible to prevent them from rooting, no matter what kind of soil they're in, provided it doesn't get water-logged.<br /><br />A couple of years ago I did just that with some Madeleine Angevine prunings, and today I dug them up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLNH65eOraBIsV1M9VPRj3r56RS86U3PSlpcLsimMbYxRlBzrbQcEWHZ-yt-8sjaNvhcQFudq_XK90NeWemu3rjCLEnSlVDHc_1EGoRjvr6YFYe4ZkV_KD09YT7cwH4ovcS3tew/s1600-h/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLNH65eOraBIsV1M9VPRj3r56RS86U3PSlpcLsimMbYxRlBzrbQcEWHZ-yt-8sjaNvhcQFudq_XK90NeWemu3rjCLEnSlVDHc_1EGoRjvr6YFYe4ZkV_KD09YT7cwH4ovcS3tew/s400/Vines-new-ca3-20Dec2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282197037625648802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As you can see, they're all nicely rooted. Again, I heeled them into the greenhouse boarder, and when I get a spare hour or two I'll pot them up into something like John Innes No.2. From then on they can be potted on progressively, until big enough to plant out in a "vineyard". Of course I don't actually possess such a thing, but I do have my name down for an allotment!<br /><br />I realise I haven't mentioned how the wall-vines are pruned. If anything they are even easier to deal with, but as I ran out of time they will have to wait for another day. I'll post some more information then.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Happy Solstice. Oh yes, and <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />M<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">e</span>r<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">r</span>y</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">C</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">h</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">r</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-weight: bold;">i<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">s</span>t<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">m</span>a<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">s</span></span>!</span><br /><br />MikeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-34952048404714531902008-10-26T08:12:00.002+00:002008-10-26T08:16:28.429+00:00Cider MkII - update MkII!Sunday 26th October, and the ferment has been transferred to demijohns.<br />Slightly less unappetising than before, methinks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqY-RGjLOEm4U_y9yJXuLkC9UGTBRnM-O-xxWUciyGamr7SMijQoxVBnwfpYUsjiNmWK_A2rC8K5wB5HgfI9qYq7ZxUEY6lxeQdw_h0MJm3UXS2WhF94kIydZWLPshw4SlJ3HTbA/s1600-h/DSCF4204+%28Small%29.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqY-RGjLOEm4U_y9yJXuLkC9UGTBRnM-O-xxWUciyGamr7SMijQoxVBnwfpYUsjiNmWK_A2rC8K5wB5HgfI9qYq7ZxUEY6lxeQdw_h0MJm3UXS2WhF94kIydZWLPshw4SlJ3HTbA/s400/DSCF4204+%28Small%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261372753167071698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9G3DLpRZDTkm7FVTyZesPH0gxNs4olDdAKj7giSJkZ5cEaKauYWt1syigDopaTMCOXGe6LP2__Ldr7gJpwRDrAEd9Lmic6R76I2kphFJVHcaRQqe4KluuP6bFJMmWMUrp5kq5A/s1600-h/DSCF4203+%28Small%29.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9G3DLpRZDTkm7FVTyZesPH0gxNs4olDdAKj7giSJkZ5cEaKauYWt1syigDopaTMCOXGe6LP2__Ldr7gJpwRDrAEd9Lmic6R76I2kphFJVHcaRQqe4KluuP6bFJMmWMUrp5kq5A/s400/DSCF4203+%28Small%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261372742429865490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGtANj0aJMr0LrRo_AiebCmYYlas0j3unZgPUqBSuLZpZd3AU3FmXWfRF4-HtBTjvCjnlj_mfEc5KjGQeB_WtpzHwq5fzxCX4TTBDG8s_d5acnleCzlGF0t-GpPpODoGovNxQ9w/s1600-h/DSCF4202+%28Small%29.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmGtANj0aJMr0LrRo_AiebCmYYlas0j3unZgPUqBSuLZpZd3AU3FmXWfRF4-HtBTjvCjnlj_mfEc5KjGQeB_WtpzHwq5fzxCX4TTBDG8s_d5acnleCzlGF0t-GpPpODoGovNxQ9w/s400/DSCF4202+%28Small%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261372740019147170" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-31197829465848636842008-10-23T18:05:00.002+00:002008-10-23T18:08:12.892+00:00Cider MkII - updateJust thought you might like to know the second batch is fermenting away nicely ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2Xt15fQ3sdmxW_kYp9DtxnVD3m-uWS-5rWJ6hiLGX6Tol9NLGwC-d5lqWuzB7p4paaPZW_iiDLJkHpcuatDesXqN2mYtdBoow1JAW23F5uFPns6wQ2BYuvi4LT36iILDuSnZwA/s1600-h/23-Oct-2008-Cider2-ferment+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2Xt15fQ3sdmxW_kYp9DtxnVD3m-uWS-5rWJ6hiLGX6Tol9NLGwC-d5lqWuzB7p4paaPZW_iiDLJkHpcuatDesXqN2mYtdBoow1JAW23F5uFPns6wQ2BYuvi4LT36iILDuSnZwA/s400/23-Oct-2008-Cider2-ferment+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260412516230796706" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, I know it looks disgusting, but just think of the story of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ugly Duckling</span>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-30576620889250075812008-10-21T17:31:00.008+00:002008-10-21T17:58:42.055+00:00Cider-making Round 2Wow! Thanks to Karen we now have about 3.5 gallons of the amber fluid on the go!<br />Caroline, Karen and I spent a happy hour or two on Karen's allotment last saturday, completely filling a brew tub and a toy box with an assortment of wind-falls, conventionally-picked and "shake-fall" apples. (Hmm. Remind me we need to take cycle crash helmets next time!)<br /><br />Here we are hard at work:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWfuK3yMu4GClS-W7qMXQPa8TelUZ2701vWiyU_odQmtNyD9MTPbkhYctHtfQ0XgheC0EEKq0oZ3UvIgvKyRO64gSA2M765vbZnlC31VQ0VYakGhFP6ZycJlLKHiCizzYK0qQpA/s1600-h/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+002+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWfuK3yMu4GClS-W7qMXQPa8TelUZ2701vWiyU_odQmtNyD9MTPbkhYctHtfQ0XgheC0EEKq0oZ3UvIgvKyRO64gSA2M765vbZnlC31VQ0VYakGhFP6ZycJlLKHiCizzYK0qQpA/s400/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+002+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259662442256473602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMJgsIv12cHE5sh1kVHiY9QKZ0vkNIX1OP767gTbOWpeH9VK2zY3FbNsBH39R0gauS1WykuoqaHcFu9br2dyZ1QuWty1SqWsLBm8dhHLpbOedQwA3QEsKmKQTY1kODFnJTxPSsw/s1600-h/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+003+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMJgsIv12cHE5sh1kVHiY9QKZ0vkNIX1OP767gTbOWpeH9VK2zY3FbNsBH39R0gauS1WykuoqaHcFu9br2dyZ1QuWty1SqWsLBm8dhHLpbOedQwA3QEsKmKQTY1kODFnJTxPSsw/s400/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+003+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259662446235916210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tqANnNulf7EuhfyQdrqyQ0EgVosnt2PWz7p-C6ChaLn2fjWmJsYy1ikW_5eJL3p2031mim2T1sw4t_x3P2iR2-PCVOtl7alavLtGPXG5WFwehmCTWyJpjC771QRBX6_YbQIgTA/s1600-h/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+004+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tqANnNulf7EuhfyQdrqyQ0EgVosnt2PWz7p-C6ChaLn2fjWmJsYy1ikW_5eJL3p2031mim2T1sw4t_x3P2iR2-PCVOtl7alavLtGPXG5WFwehmCTWyJpjC771QRBX6_YbQIgTA/s400/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+004+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259662456342973698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DEFa67yYS0KvqAPZDPUY2HYsDTnq_wzfUGDvexly7SOqgIlMb4kSp_qa5vhorz_GMWFKWScN9bCajeJsLRjgkLhdAHnAKnKqh5TZL1ix1kF3ey1rCa8uZMPrF1AgBgMNqqK0rQ/s1600-h/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DEFa67yYS0KvqAPZDPUY2HYsDTnq_wzfUGDvexly7SOqgIlMb4kSp_qa5vhorz_GMWFKWScN9bCajeJsLRjgkLhdAHnAKnKqh5TZL1ix1kF3ey1rCa8uZMPrF1AgBgMNqqK0rQ/s400/Sat-18_Oct-2008-Apples-etc+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259662467442364162" border="0" /></a><br />Karen.<br /><br />The following day (Sunday), Caroline and I set to slicing pummelling and pressing.<br />I even made a specialist piece of equipment for the pummelling (officially known as "milling"). It's an ultra-modern hi-tech length of 3-by-2 with a length of broom handle through it. A kind of artificial foot - which I intend to use next year for "treading" the grapes!<br /><br />The previous week's gallon I transferred to a demijohn, and I added a small sample of this fermenting "must" to the new batch, so as hopefully to preserve the generation of yeast. I'm still waiting for it to really get going, but it looks promising.<br /><br />Here we are:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2WClyOf7HU7oL4Xtp8KxwUdmTaBb8r7PtfpWP2y1db2FGHOG-fQ_H657svdP9s6zw01GYxSldGCRe_LsIDsdBusD38ImKiPeF4aLONkhVz2AlnXEvgd2h1wbTi6bwhWW71DubA/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2WClyOf7HU7oL4Xtp8KxwUdmTaBb8r7PtfpWP2y1db2FGHOG-fQ_H657svdP9s6zw01GYxSldGCRe_LsIDsdBusD38ImKiPeF4aLONkhVz2AlnXEvgd2h1wbTi6bwhWW71DubA/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259664962324439698" border="0" /></a><br />Caroline ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsPRKtfKLHG5HCaaFJRcq0e3I-KPvYAK5NlLgo3YFZAeUZkb71kiwhDJrxZQaGJLLmH4xecdF7v4OJugF6S6Ap_JNzngGTRW2I8h-E8xGBOzmz7bZBHTe8jIhIzuZfXt68EOixQ/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSsPRKtfKLHG5HCaaFJRcq0e3I-KPvYAK5NlLgo3YFZAeUZkb71kiwhDJrxZQaGJLLmH4xecdF7v4OJugF6S6Ap_JNzngGTRW2I8h-E8xGBOzmz7bZBHTe8jIhIzuZfXt68EOixQ/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259664966967441954" border="0" /></a><br />... in somewhat more mirthful mode!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUi40B29Sh_3idyyH3YPogj6V-ITtrHIoPhzDpfnmU4g9dEfpSVOOMFjtUQ2hbxHM4utBGzqtgZVde9bde9lM7DNJjxQvFp1pQE4xJcSKFbe6uBDlrk4PJMpWvUUqzhEewGOsZg/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUi40B29Sh_3idyyH3YPogj6V-ITtrHIoPhzDpfnmU4g9dEfpSVOOMFjtUQ2hbxHM4utBGzqtgZVde9bde9lM7DNJjxQvFp1pQE4xJcSKFbe6uBDlrk4PJMpWvUUqzhEewGOsZg/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+004+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259664971858903010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcEzsnG4WYFxYms6CPPhjGChXnNBiBgwMd54ArnVJlIMIMpR-zWXwPlGbnF-nuKdhflzYlODxJGKj-qx4hEe_RwsqSOOjh2IjIdIMkoAbk1AARDpM8n-4_GSep09mqQLiWr18pw/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcEzsnG4WYFxYms6CPPhjGChXnNBiBgwMd54ArnVJlIMIMpR-zWXwPlGbnF-nuKdhflzYlODxJGKj-qx4hEe_RwsqSOOjh2IjIdIMkoAbk1AARDpM8n-4_GSep09mqQLiWr18pw/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259664973769774258" border="0" /></a><br />Me (well you know that!) with the amazing pummeller.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT40acAJD7uN0-YoNfU7z9JrxfZqmlLWJBL_Ld14dZZYSVFdmrBO7p2BUluZ9o4COKOsKKKtDqf1St_GqfTmFErpK2PyJLCp1vyqqc_kRXG3W2q-0wShlRTld1Dxr02Ip9E_wsRg/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT40acAJD7uN0-YoNfU7z9JrxfZqmlLWJBL_Ld14dZZYSVFdmrBO7p2BUluZ9o4COKOsKKKtDqf1St_GqfTmFErpK2PyJLCp1vyqqc_kRXG3W2q-0wShlRTld1Dxr02Ip9E_wsRg/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259664980916285186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzD_AeoGO1gSy_54CwTYlhmE4PkJoj330VTxx_-W4lOod2pO9LJnNGuzKcxJX9S4MSFGYGGLiDQZfcVENZlJsUBEDp-7tNhQcZu8CmFtvfE06RwUQ_c_6eMaJqktJNHffbyJNfQ/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzD_AeoGO1gSy_54CwTYlhmE4PkJoj330VTxx_-W4lOod2pO9LJnNGuzKcxJX9S4MSFGYGGLiDQZfcVENZlJsUBEDp-7tNhQcZu8CmFtvfE06RwUQ_c_6eMaJqktJNHffbyJNfQ/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259665449631547954" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScOlPugcf5iVmhOTa4OJnmcKyKbV1boWX5GWUZk-l2aaPc8mNsdPPYXFQDyOhrmsGyl_Ttxi6magYwbgWDu9qBp6pHm9QBpFHqjgCCb4PfPrmGzQMs8DeUT_PmuCh3DdvyRGH-g/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+008+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScOlPugcf5iVmhOTa4OJnmcKyKbV1boWX5GWUZk-l2aaPc8mNsdPPYXFQDyOhrmsGyl_Ttxi6magYwbgWDu9qBp6pHm9QBpFHqjgCCb4PfPrmGzQMs8DeUT_PmuCh3DdvyRGH-g/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+008+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259665451768869762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuUwDOOfC9zBKi57MsQuoAZqJ0zV4uESs3RtQSNhT8cXzqLKE3S-Ke9XnDsrT-PnppKbfszm7OIgwPK44CYxN9j1q7sHHEBoPT_9E0TniFduMspokGpbSN8SukEq9NP6lCj77lA/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+009+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuUwDOOfC9zBKi57MsQuoAZqJ0zV4uESs3RtQSNhT8cXzqLKE3S-Ke9XnDsrT-PnppKbfszm7OIgwPK44CYxN9j1q7sHHEBoPT_9E0TniFduMspokGpbSN8SukEq9NP6lCj77lA/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+009+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259665454689271442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fB7IrBCu5_lqC8WAWJj_TCEKp9MYJ-XMj_J7LBsW_hsS3XteYnYrsAo3FnwLy8Ji-n3X9zMeFveKZm-c_2kZ3_vlBLlj6SYbjSErampDdjRZNuT9Ycdxs8UYeMXE58HPLNRSPQ/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+010+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fB7IrBCu5_lqC8WAWJj_TCEKp9MYJ-XMj_J7LBsW_hsS3XteYnYrsAo3FnwLy8Ji-n3X9zMeFveKZm-c_2kZ3_vlBLlj6SYbjSErampDdjRZNuT9Ycdxs8UYeMXE58HPLNRSPQ/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+010+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259665465295979026" border="0" /></a><br />Assorted debris after pressing finished.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m3xHj0tHii0xOo8Nkx4rUsL2u3VmWkYdcK0lUYUDc6DPGYHWV23szjZAR3ukYH-688qznG4NDjezpRBUI4C50WQ5KUwpw1oxirIGdXxrIsFyvIiI01-InTuBBZjy7ZYpDliWCQ/s1600-h/Sun-19-Oct-2008+011+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m3xHj0tHii0xOo8Nkx4rUsL2u3VmWkYdcK0lUYUDc6DPGYHWV23szjZAR3ukYH-688qznG4NDjezpRBUI4C50WQ5KUwpw1oxirIGdXxrIsFyvIiI01-InTuBBZjy7ZYpDliWCQ/s400/Sun-19-Oct-2008+011+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259665467094573618" border="0" /></a><br />Beneath that piece of bubble-wrap (designed to keep the air out) is 2.5 gallons of apple juice.<br /><br />Roll-on tasting time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-58754252056287561742008-10-13T18:01:00.008+00:002008-10-13T18:57:08.038+00:00Please support the Ghurka Justice CampaignMy father, Harry (1913-2005), served in Burma in WW2. He was a notoriously shy man, not given to hyperbolae, but he left us in no doubt of his immense respect for the Ghurka soldiers who fought so loyally alongside him. He never spoke much about their experiences either, and we lucky ones here at home can only imagine what they must have gone through together on our behalf; what it must have been like surviving and fighting in the jungle, sometimes hand-to-hand, for so many years.<br /><br />To the best of my knowledge the Ghurkas' total support for our small nation, so many thousand miles away, has never once wavered. I hope you will agree with me (and Joanna Lumley) that full recognition of the incredible part played by these good people in safeguarding our freedom and way of life is long, long overdue. It would not, in my view, be an overstatement to say the fact it has not happened thus far is a matter of national disgrace. It certainly does not make me proud to call myself "British".<br /><br />I do hope you will sign the petition, and ask as many of your family and friends as possible to do the same. Let's end this injustice. Please go to <a href="http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/">http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/</a> and register your support now.<br /><br />Thank you so much.<br /><br />MikeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-65832132523946588482008-10-12T20:28:00.005+00:002008-10-12T20:34:14.006+00:00... and Caroline's recipesYet another post-script: several folks were asking about recipes for the snacks that Caroline dished up during the harvesting session. She says if anyone would like them please to email her. If you don't have her email address you can always send me a message and I'll pass it on.<br />Cheers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-73908558975141125152008-10-12T20:05:00.007+00:002008-10-12T20:39:30.822+00:00First wine .... then cider!I forgot to mention this in yesteday's post, but many thanks to Richard & Linda for a grand supply of Worcester Pearmain apples. We'll be eating our way through them for the next month ... or two.<br /><br />And special thanks to Karen who arrived (unfortunately too late to join in the wine-making festivities) also bearing a huge quantity of the rosy reds. So much so, it got us thinking: we probably wouldn't have much luck storing them, and it would be such a pity to let them rot, and since we have a press anyway, why not try cider? Ooo-aaggh!<br /><br />So today (Sunday) morning, Caroline, Liz & I got to work slicing, pounding and pressing apples. Note to self: rolling pin not good enough - need 4x4 (not the SUV type, the timber type). "Milling" is best accomplished by bashing the sliced apples with such an implement.<br /><br />Well much to my surprise we ended up with a good gallon-and-a-glassful of - it has to be said - distinctly suspect, muddy liquid. After much hmm-ing and haa-ing we all sampled said juice ... including Pete. Now Pete is definitely the expert when it comes to apple juice, and would you Adam 'n' Eve it? He gave it a hearty thumbs-up. So looks clearly aren't everything, as is often said.<br /><br />The remaining gallon is sitting in a demijohn awaiting the addition of yeast. I'll do that tomorrow. It should be interesting. And with all these "free" apples that seem to be around, maybe we'll be able to do another batch or two before the season's over.<br /><br />Karen: we owe you a few bottles. Cheers!<br /><br />Can't wait to try it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-29415013858118987212008-10-11T19:55:00.007+00:002008-10-12T20:05:36.964+00:00Grape Harvest 2008Another year, another harvest. I'm beginning to lose count!<br /><br />Thanks to all who came and helped to make another highly successful afternoon of wine (and music) making.<br /><br />And special thanks to Miles, Tina and Oli for loan of the very handsome gazebo!<br /><br />We got about 11 kg of black grapes this time. These were added to previously-harvested-and-frozen green grapes (that would otherwise have been heartily consumed by my old pals the wasps), to make something around 9 litres of red-white (rose?) juice after pressing. Pressing, I might add, skillfully carried out by the youngest members.<br /><br />Overall, the quantity was definitely down on last year, but no more so than I had anticipated, as I am re-organising several of the vines at present.<br /><br /><a href="http://keysmike.googlepages.com/viticulture">My viticulture FAQs.</a><br /><br />And some pics from the "do" ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8i_Lm7c4xYn9-UXEVqfcM8cHB88__hxtz1DLd14VxpUj5MwxKjrUWy66TpU_RN4ZcGNodqRQKGe6kx8QX4wVCVpa9XUnkq9XCUWwielC7WQYJMrKf9DXy7_wlXTztt80zVQSZw/s1600-h/Harvest-11Oct-2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8i_Lm7c4xYn9-UXEVqfcM8cHB88__hxtz1DLd14VxpUj5MwxKjrUWy66TpU_RN4ZcGNodqRQKGe6kx8QX4wVCVpa9XUnkq9XCUWwielC7WQYJMrKf9DXy7_wlXTztt80zVQSZw/s400/Harvest-11Oct-2008+001+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255990554003946818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKfInEUwLIKJcGfvBkl57dHJS_Sa_jm-jypTG2uXqv9lhZsIcPUd8qZWiy8ZXEftXHf1gbImAV9vTSRpJRhOTOAz8ZS7i7sOCodqmx62mBWKXHhMMHV8sr4sYjuGAHehY6DeIEg/s1600-h/Harvest-11Oct-2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKfInEUwLIKJcGfvBkl57dHJS_Sa_jm-jypTG2uXqv9lhZsIcPUd8qZWiy8ZXEftXHf1gbImAV9vTSRpJRhOTOAz8ZS7i7sOCodqmx62mBWKXHhMMHV8sr4sYjuGAHehY6DeIEg/s400/Harvest-11Oct-2008+005+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255990556238271762" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TVfHbRQhKfUKC5yDUHu8xa0cmi3xN1dxPoH5Y2oGu4n-wvNvu_UrHRH6ixe_7TcigXgfUmuwO-kPl4b2BWl6KsLcuLHs0-QOcfLxa_TQosEiVY4e1dMLPkcl1jP7-Lw1AM9dxg/s1600-h/Harvest-11Oct-2008+010+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TVfHbRQhKfUKC5yDUHu8xa0cmi3xN1dxPoH5Y2oGu4n-wvNvu_UrHRH6ixe_7TcigXgfUmuwO-kPl4b2BWl6KsLcuLHs0-QOcfLxa_TQosEiVY4e1dMLPkcl1jP7-Lw1AM9dxg/s400/Harvest-11Oct-2008+010+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255988155195376770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh1AUqYHb6RaGrSDzek7MxK0FNmh7ndFUunmKYNPd95SLRk63a05wPwFIhMMwCuoAUw1ZhxBzqIdxfZq3on154QvQjpwxoo94dvS72Vl3KxhyqAb5n_Kqxj7u-ndbxOJYUbRNLg/s1600-h/Harvest-11Oct-2008+002+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" 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style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfaO_NEKIv_ubGvosmBW0Wwu9Av-s2KQ5iAMPSMXvvBHc0LL-KKVk4rRunWE3RpnEnYufEVBIknqzGXAPdAuqlBeOVAVW0lYoCpzn8ZSPKNCSSfNYLxtyatIHY3mdJkcXgRldYA/s400/Harvest-11Oct-2008+047+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255992043855202482" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-51677309901148612422008-09-19T20:08:00.009+00:002008-09-19T20:39:25.054+00:00Two gigs not to miss in KnutsfordJust thought I'd mention a couple of gigs my friends and I are involved in next week-end. First, on Saturday 27th September at <a href="http://www.knutsfordlittletheatre.com/">Knutsford Little Theatre</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.knutsfordlittletheatre.com/"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3BNkVFmIoJWS3h0Has44p2v9twJKgenwFJZ2EzmUIBb7XGOcwtl3ZUTjKTcmIwEegG-jye03xKLKzKYe3dLwEwLgENtDMAM50kaU4EkeI-WkOzltRFVTs4SYR5lLW2CP70mHKw/s400/Musical+Shorts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247827179199555378" border="0" /></a><br />We've got several superb musical acts lined up, including the brilliant duo, Jon Kerr & Ame Norwood and the extremely talented folk trio, <span style="font-style: italic;">Nelson-Peach</span>, as well as the theatre's very own (and my) band, <span style="font-style: italic;">Green Rumours</span>. Thanks to Bob Jennings for designing the most excellent flyer.<br /><br />Then, on Sunday 28th there's the long-anticipated <a href="http://www.noted.org.uk/">"Big Noted Concert" at the Legh Arms</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.noted.org.uk/"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnspj3Nq5oh65Ao5RXmozwPXA7rcvv2s4SACBvz8SJQecF8psSLZrdZSptXPtxE7h-iKRJRnyU_6ob6wKtfax4lsJeBWoqdMKT7q6lue24rxyFEeHmFHSudbBy2hgpaSXqX4CqmQ/s400/Noted-Concert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247832849001317378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />... featuring a veritable cornucopia of astral - nay, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">galactic</span> - local talent!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Be there or be squa</span>... (well, maybe not). Hope to see you anyway.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-17258026323961653162008-08-02T03:41:00.007+00:002008-08-14T19:30:13.669+00:00The Jotter et al Go West!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6ZShbHIAClhzFFceDDr-HtmSpre5B3wUOj5TAHGE1ZIcymOGV-B9RgNYRqNLmVFRfm2MDDk7N7P95I5oZKxlBvi1gRhOLdRgKIl1kejXMrH1EtqOuwdbp1hGSrhQflaAoGBHoA/s1600-h/Colorado-1-Aug-Gnd-Jctn-Fruita-Nat-Mon't+066+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif6ZShbHIAClhzFFceDDr-HtmSpre5B3wUOj5TAHGE1ZIcymOGV-B9RgNYRqNLmVFRfm2MDDk7N7P95I5oZKxlBvi1gRhOLdRgKIl1kejXMrH1EtqOuwdbp1hGSrhQflaAoGBHoA/s400/Colorado-1-Aug-Gnd-Jctn-Fruita-Nat-Mon't+066+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229760692852278674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's one to make you jealous - taken in the fabulous Colorado National Monument, near Grand Junction, CO.<br /> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2006606&l=86590&id=1183183262">You can find more of our Colorado pics here</a></span><br /><span></span><br />Mike and CarolineUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-54941742406902014142008-07-02T20:21:00.003+00:002008-07-02T20:25:23.744+00:00The "Family Firm" - 1992<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrOxNCui6YDI-W_VQ9GAFQCQq5JZmHunF-jP8YLVFzGaTJp3-BvtL1b12X8SJcjsD-RHp0qoZbLJneEiS_e13ZyuUAwExGXOcFGWaHpQY0SnA8iGajY-BGoP3NybsGuRTnlr_RQ/s1600-h/September-1992+013+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrOxNCui6YDI-W_VQ9GAFQCQq5JZmHunF-jP8YLVFzGaTJp3-BvtL1b12X8SJcjsD-RHp0qoZbLJneEiS_e13ZyuUAwExGXOcFGWaHpQY0SnA8iGajY-BGoP3NybsGuRTnlr_RQ/s400/September-1992+013+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218514860790421346" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Start 'em early, that's my motto! This was taken in September 1992, when my son Pete was celebrating his second birthday. That's Dave in the middle. He was a ripe-old four-and-a-half. I'm not saying what age I was!<a href="javascript:void(0)" tabindex="10" onclick="return false;"><span></span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-73150511871186306132008-06-30T18:32:00.004+00:002008-06-30T18:45:31.415+00:00My 2007 Vintage - Cheers!First - if you're looking for the "Stonewell" post, its next down the page!<br /><br />Now, for those who follow my grape-growing-wine-making escapades, here's the product of Autumn 2007's vintage; bottled yesterday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5nllx7nOiCDA7DXDBuH5XVPuC4_smZ5oZ1tVw2r3UjpKp6DykdtmNs64_xj6TL5TZNmrZnSPVb_cMGFHHFm1yJCO6MHd_cHL79U7zl5k8G03yqYy89_Ag_86__qbsgWpQvT9qQ/s1600-h/Ashworth-2007-vintage+002-cropped+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5nllx7nOiCDA7DXDBuH5XVPuC4_smZ5oZ1tVw2r3UjpKp6DykdtmNs64_xj6TL5TZNmrZnSPVb_cMGFHHFm1yJCO6MHd_cHL79U7zl5k8G03yqYy89_Ag_86__qbsgWpQvT9qQ/s400/Ashworth-2007-vintage+002-cropped+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217744570234804386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXE7w0jLIPjfFHPmxVkaULGDzNF-Jeq2718V6F7QReSv8TMzREcTxOePm-GfgljaxHIFO9Redoo4obVCRtJj_1rN-s1zivYuSi8L9u31V9gWVC2X0SPZ99vr-IF0ETu46o9TO2g/s1600-h/Ashworth-2007-vintage+006+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXE7w0jLIPjfFHPmxVkaULGDzNF-Jeq2718V6F7QReSv8TMzREcTxOePm-GfgljaxHIFO9Redoo4obVCRtJj_1rN-s1zivYuSi8L9u31V9gWVC2X0SPZ99vr-IF0ETu46o9TO2g/s400/Ashworth-2007-vintage+006+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217744574739517602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Many thanks to Bethany E for designing such a handsome label.<br /><br />I made no white wine this time around, but there were three gallons of red, blended from "Boskoop Glory", "Brant", "Black Hamburgh" and a couple of bunches of "Siegerebbe".<br />I sampled a glass yesterday. Not bad, even if I say so myself.<br /><br /><a href="http://keysmike.googlepages.com/viticulture">Click here for more detailed information about my viticultural activities.</a><br /><br />Cheers!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-66779563357887102772008-06-21T18:34:00.018+00:002008-06-23T21:45:02.552+00:00My Big Brother Bill at Stonewell Tavern Lancaster<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntR7EODsFjSep-R2URCHPdk8XTuWbHni5hPF8JEJRbRNR1RlkAl-kMFdT56osEZCDXPu1Y0ZjHG1Fxlif3-TvCbSW7BERPbdZn9x7M5l_i0s7KAnadyONr90dvrfGRwgUZ2BZGg/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntR7EODsFjSep-R2URCHPdk8XTuWbHni5hPF8JEJRbRNR1RlkAl-kMFdT56osEZCDXPu1Y0ZjHG1Fxlif3-TvCbSW7BERPbdZn9x7M5l_i0s7KAnadyONr90dvrfGRwgUZ2BZGg/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+006+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407061356555922" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I should have reported on this before now. Very remiss of me. Well, beter late than never.<br /><br />On Sunday 8th June, Pete (Number-2 son) & I made an epic trip north up the M6 to Lancaster; a staggering 66 miles. This was to meet my <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Brother Bill</span></span>, whom I don't get to see very often. Bill plays piano. BILL PLAYS PIANO. Where d'you <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span> I get my "grand" ideas from, eh? Well, enough of the puns. Suffice it to say that Bill - 10 years my senior - was my inspiration to learn to play "proper" piano - ie jazz - from about the age of 8.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_HycAbyljTUoPby8bHHu-GGPNK6r2B4VM3KuN6L0PrzJyEAhBC6ESOW2MV8KfmRTcoH-TWaNo9WYhqwKxizH6QkDGVHgihGNIIjY-gh_5Sz4q8bmJ0-0WrNpUmiweTsUEDyZpA/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_HycAbyljTUoPby8bHHu-GGPNK6r2B4VM3KuN6L0PrzJyEAhBC6ESOW2MV8KfmRTcoH-TWaNo9WYhqwKxizH6QkDGVHgihGNIIjY-gh_5Sz4q8bmJ0-0WrNpUmiweTsUEDyZpA/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+007+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214421000284455858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Bill has a regular Sunday lunchtime slot at the <a href="http://stonewelltavern.co.uk/">Stonewell Tavern</a> in Lancaster, playing background piano for the punters. All the old standards are in there, and after approximately two hours solid he's still barely halfway through his repertoire. (Phew!)<br /><br />That's him at the top of this column, at the Broadbent.<br /><br />The Stonewell is run by an absolutely charming and talented couple, Rohi and Jerry who, among other things, serve up delicious home-made Italian dishes. Here's Rohi (centre - obviously), with Bill (right) and Pete:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpuCzZmKTsN3ljem_qY9b5zNf6m488slTveTAjovdwHeqz2I-rdn4M7YGv4keK030Ofp2HPVtWhF7WSv_ojrPofQEHD3MipCYtQqy7bye_9gYlkWYK5RSL2wMPhtyhMpD2xR4pQ/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+026+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibpuCzZmKTsN3ljem_qY9b5zNf6m488slTveTAjovdwHeqz2I-rdn4M7YGv4keK030Ofp2HPVtWhF7WSv_ojrPofQEHD3MipCYtQqy7bye_9gYlkWYK5RSL2wMPhtyhMpD2xR4pQ/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+026+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407589857530802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And (below) Jerry (right), with Bill (left) and Pete (centre - obviously):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_3IoZZPkZudtp5jFe3_ahRXLnf91EB_GiEROvlT_zTZaUvaHoLUrT2FjfdgLzoDm2lkppISF_IjQnjYYJ2MW1otlHyS0ZkBNWQS8gvCxqsO7RKKyhlZXS4UREtLNWlxc-kt2PQ/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_3IoZZPkZudtp5jFe3_ahRXLnf91EB_GiEROvlT_zTZaUvaHoLUrT2FjfdgLzoDm2lkppISF_IjQnjYYJ2MW1otlHyS0ZkBNWQS8gvCxqsO7RKKyhlZXS4UREtLNWlxc-kt2PQ/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+003+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407056463167970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When I say "talented": Jerry is a formidable vocalist, pianist, guitarist, bongoist(?) ... etc etc. Not that I actually heard him on this occasion, as he was far too busy looking after his customers. But I have it on VERY good authority that he is one <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">serious</span> musician.<br /><br />But back to Bill for a moment: I took a short video clip with my digital camera. Unfortunately that meant the sound quality left a lot to be desired, but at least it gives an idea of Bill's playing:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw-5WXN6X0196cfg9-W3RBDDHqOFtxbdKNT88Y6PWF2L8T3zCDPe549WRfO4inzII7fK34VTWnynXQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Pete and I were fortunate enough to be allowed to grace the stage after Bill's slot, and we did about four numbers. From memory, I think they were "Song for Margaret" (my composition), "Wish You Were Here" (Pink Floyd's), "Country" (Keith Jarrett composition) and another one. Can't remember what that was. We had a great time. The pub was still only just beginning to fill up, but those who were there seemed to appreciate it, and we weren't booed off. A few shots of us in action:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-o0ENMBdVd4vIxJ5f2gSUS6PchhOtZWx6WCrw_dLIMhL43uu8viLRUu1HHIDZkorb5h_4w4mfVjnOJnSRqMCgE2Vu_-QhqxKK9Nro4ByclQA1_XdQLA7uuP1H9Qe9y_VVkjr3A/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+012+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-o0ENMBdVd4vIxJ5f2gSUS6PchhOtZWx6WCrw_dLIMhL43uu8viLRUu1HHIDZkorb5h_4w4mfVjnOJnSRqMCgE2Vu_-QhqxKK9Nro4ByclQA1_XdQLA7uuP1H9Qe9y_VVkjr3A/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+012+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407590611594578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBVvqB5cGERAoBu9AFDQDFL8lW04O5L5rN1kOiptIIggdPQ6XFjFEX1nDTP9IjjiuuBIQ2qJpAnwG_2Gr7TJXDzd4CwVw_eMi0bIbISdLXfp0d6OqufO9YdxAbKE79n3DrJY4/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+014+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDBVvqB5cGERAoBu9AFDQDFL8lW04O5L5rN1kOiptIIggdPQ6XFjFEX1nDTP9IjjiuuBIQ2qJpAnwG_2Gr7TJXDzd4CwVw_eMi0bIbISdLXfp0d6OqufO9YdxAbKE79n3DrJY4/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+014+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407591087016658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLw1d6gC280Vf_xrJCWRWaN8Mk7scRTUmuQr5dU8PtP7IeIFmIpzoD0ESZ35XSXLhUyhEr_9HctRGcPQrDpveExeJu6oFuYKKHQ3EkvdIPe-8RifjWDsv1YRS7q3VC4hNGjHV/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+016+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLw1d6gC280Vf_xrJCWRWaN8Mk7scRTUmuQr5dU8PtP7IeIFmIpzoD0ESZ35XSXLhUyhEr_9HctRGcPQrDpveExeJu6oFuYKKHQ3EkvdIPe-8RifjWDsv1YRS7q3VC4hNGjHV/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+016+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407589377569666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ON4k4aTURUi6-hOdhCKEUygDGqvjRz4an5OAqkBb7bTDDBu3nOmYtzkzKje9iNJzK5OLCSyGvyG-spq9yynCOxzRtPMBhNuBJLHGZgctkwJ_4TTeGrChMi39mryJzVJpk6iTRg/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+011+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ON4k4aTURUi6-hOdhCKEUygDGqvjRz4an5OAqkBb7bTDDBu3nOmYtzkzKje9iNJzK5OLCSyGvyG-spq9yynCOxzRtPMBhNuBJLHGZgctkwJ_4TTeGrChMi39mryJzVJpk6iTRg/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+011+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214407581182380226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It appears Lancaster is a haven for musicians of all kinds, and many of the pubs put on live music each week. The Stonewell is no exception, hosting bands most evenings; and on Sunday afternoons there is a real treat - a jam session. It started soon after we and Bill had done our "turns". The jam was led by an extremely accomplished jazz guitarist named Sam. At one point there were some eight musicians on the tiny stage, including Sam on guitar, three saxes, a trombone, bass, drums/percussion and keyboards (not me, I hasten to add!).<br /><br />Their ages ranged from "mature" (shall we say) to around 16, and their musical ability was, in my humble opinion, outstanding. Here they are ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pXTIyr4AMPX8h8XrLT-R5Qt1tvSFOy1o2QfZqgSAfAo-3VqGeSCn9XZACvLB50oPh_yoF-CWx1FgOBhgLfn6V8v6d-ith1wvZKA2fSS7B39VPet9R7MyDyfNgkOPJryJHGVXzA/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+021+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pXTIyr4AMPX8h8XrLT-R5Qt1tvSFOy1o2QfZqgSAfAo-3VqGeSCn9XZACvLB50oPh_yoF-CWx1FgOBhgLfn6V8v6d-ith1wvZKA2fSS7B39VPet9R7MyDyfNgkOPJryJHGVXzA/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+021+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215171408036469778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCYKEwCdOUl6pYqK0QILDTcMEOfquKM5_M6l7jU21AzieoBS03QSNskCU7A5RCpsieSO0LcEkJMzGpeQV8QTWR8W0VLIWn-yGmS2Q8dSXTldmu3nP5dMwhOiu9UU-YpJh61kong/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+022+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCYKEwCdOUl6pYqK0QILDTcMEOfquKM5_M6l7jU21AzieoBS03QSNskCU7A5RCpsieSO0LcEkJMzGpeQV8QTWR8W0VLIWn-yGmS2Q8dSXTldmu3nP5dMwhOiu9UU-YpJh61kong/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+022+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215171410607383730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7sCQwOrn61SdIJ9zL0z7fxVp_el9Dub5bpyEjv_OTY0FQAmvYTpw6T_x2H_cO9LKHD0BkfA_HYi8llSbNwm8yJ4HpJAbUNBnM2rK-lAjbj4aMuRv-xLKqCmltZqgRK54g8aQtw/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+023+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7sCQwOrn61SdIJ9zL0z7fxVp_el9Dub5bpyEjv_OTY0FQAmvYTpw6T_x2H_cO9LKHD0BkfA_HYi8llSbNwm8yJ4HpJAbUNBnM2rK-lAjbj4aMuRv-xLKqCmltZqgRK54g8aQtw/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+023+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215171412638909698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3US2chCybZujw_Qkt4nUQEp4Pn129WELtk4KH_FGLjBHu0KfkzUKcF22Mz1N2Qkzk0kBJUKNYp6kvHPB0RrwvXL9bds6bBFv-T4i0n7B11-EQrUnbau2WSG1b9o67BHylsp6OQ/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+024+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3US2chCybZujw_Qkt4nUQEp4Pn129WELtk4KH_FGLjBHu0KfkzUKcF22Mz1N2Qkzk0kBJUKNYp6kvHPB0RrwvXL9bds6bBFv-T4i0n7B11-EQrUnbau2WSG1b9o67BHylsp6OQ/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+024+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215171409710104962" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd-CKH7LyKI4f7VX51-zEHQ3jrM4Acx1NW8BiDXWBoDcepG-70XUtcfUHuDC1-b-PjRjY0BZkecq5UvPm1G1VkCrx7AzNLPtvwDEwOjUmtCLqzuRHs-wsJb9NOYRDoH6EjpzEiA/s1600-h/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+025+%28Small%29.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmd-CKH7LyKI4f7VX51-zEHQ3jrM4Acx1NW8BiDXWBoDcepG-70XUtcfUHuDC1-b-PjRjY0BZkecq5UvPm1G1VkCrx7AzNLPtvwDEwOjUmtCLqzuRHs-wsJb9NOYRDoH6EjpzEiA/s400/Stonewell-Tavern-8-Jun-2008+025+%28Small%29.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215171416959832258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And a couple of video clips, for good measure ...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyAYwxwMFjFNvfLKFecLbA8cIWdve8_g01m1UPlQbfp7C4pjjYceiIhtbu2_XPjr-_VS0S871IiMIo' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzHLLagAapLcz1og8_l1vn7pfFk_suVi-JNevzSJytl4I9ziMA5mKK3AbPC8e65qbsvr_7MjZxLlQY' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />Not bad eh? And to cap it off, the atmosphere in the Stonewell is superb. If you get chance, do pop up (or down, across, whatever) and see/hear for yourself. Oh, and of course, tuck into a plate of delicious pasta!<br /><br />In case you missed the URL above, it's <a href="http://stonewelltavern.co.uk/">The Stonewell Tavern</a>.<br /><br />Cheers<br />MikeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-68193541874415689322008-05-27T15:31:00.009+00:002008-05-27T16:23:47.404+00:00BAN CLUSTER BOMBS NOWIt's a sad indictment of our "civilised world" that such frequent <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/ban_cluster_munitions/12.php?cl=91432393">campaigns as this</a> should even need to be contemplated.<br /><br />I hope you will consider signing the above petition.<br /><br />If you're in doubt as to its likely effectiveness, you can take it from me that Avaaz.com does carry considerable weight. You might like to <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/about.php">read about them here</a>.<br /><br />Better yet, see the co-founder of Avaaz.org, Ricken Patel, being interviewed on the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/7070878.stm">BBC programme <span style="font-style: italic;">Hard Talk</span></a><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/7070878.stm">.</a><br /><br />Mike.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-90937344782865702562008-05-25T07:17:00.003+00:002008-05-25T07:21:41.010+00:00Burma Cyclone: an update from Avaaz.comYou might be interested to read this <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_aid_report/5.php?cl=89910275">report from Avaaz</a>. It seems they have been able to get very significant amounts of aid into Burma - and successfully ditributed - via the monks.<br /><br />Very welcome positive news in the midst of so much sorrow.<br /><br />MikeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24918570.post-39843509318422253022008-05-16T08:30:00.003+00:002008-05-20T08:15:32.845+00:00China Earthquake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb-di_HLZAy-uLvB8eMsCyKuLN-Jib0gOY5Oryy2bf-OoBBEQY5NjVEPucK9AIDpHSL-GKX40we7cSGP9JXMzxyKLgKyyc1ncFRHZvqpG6TF-Q0-yY2TapB6UIxkT8VDdpZlLEQ/s1600-h/China+quakex190.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQb-di_HLZAy-uLvB8eMsCyKuLN-Jib0gOY5Oryy2bf-OoBBEQY5NjVEPucK9AIDpHSL-GKX40we7cSGP9JXMzxyKLgKyyc1ncFRHZvqpG6TF-Q0-yY2TapB6UIxkT8VDdpZlLEQ/s400/China+quakex190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200890743623904002" border="0" /></a><br />Photograph courtesy of <a href="http://www.redcross.org.uk/news.asp?id=81083">The British Red Cross.</a><br /><br />The disasters seem to be never-ending, and on such a monumental scale, but having made very good friends in various parts of China, I was especially affected by this heart-rending tragedy. It was also vividly brought home to me by <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7399463.stm">a video clip, on the BBC News website</a>, of the moment the quake struck. (When I visited China last year I changed flights at Chengdu, and I believe I may have stood at the exact spot where the cameraman was.)<br /><br />Please be as generous as you can. <a href="http://www.redcross.org.uk/news.asp?id=81083">Click here to donate via the British Red cross</a>.<br /><br />Many thanks<br /><br />MikeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0