Search results

Far easier to collect notches on one's clipboard by chasing the smaller guys who can't afford to pick a fight than the large ones who can pay far more expensive lawyers than you can... James

I've run out of boxes to make bait hives now -- I've been using standard national boxes that are repairable but still not really that great that I'd want to use them for a permanent hive and some (probably home-made) I've been given over the years that aren't actually quite the right dimensions...

Likely I'm getting a bit previous, but at present I'm making a couple of swarm collection boxes, mostly from 5.5mm ply, so I don't have the usual mad rush to find a suitable cardboard box should I need one next year. I was only going to make one, but I looked at the pile of wood I'd pulled...

With dinner tonight we ate the last of our fresh cherry tomatoes. I'm genuinely amazed that they've lasted this long. I harvested them some weeks back when they were green and we've just been picking the ripe ones out to eat ever since. James

I discovered this afternoon that since Monday morning, when the wind actually started dying down, a single pane of glass in Frankenstein's greenhouse has been smashed. A touch irritating given that it had made it through the worst of the weekend's weather. There's no sign of what caused the...

To be honest, I'm beyond the point where I believe Trading Standards will do anything about it whatsoever. Possibly the only reason I'd be inclined to report it is to use the fact in evidence to demonstrate that they are not fit for purpose. James

Damn. I didn't realise that climate change had progressed so far already... (Aldi again). James

A quick search on the Soil Association website for honey producers with organic certification only seems to turn up "processors". My money is on it being packed in the UK, but not originating in the UK. It would be interesting to see the back label, assuming there is one. If I could produce...

There are a few places around here that are still without power (since 2:30am on Saturday) and the quoted repair time is 8pm tomorrow, so I gather. Perhaps I should buy shares in generator manufacturers... It would be sad to lose that tree though. No chance of giving it a hefty prune and...

I took a bit of a round trip into work today and visited all my hives to check they were ok. Everything was still upright, so I'm happy enough about that. Nor did there appear to be any further damage to nearby trees other than what I saw on Friday which did surprise me a little given that...

He has. I was saving myself for that steak :D James

Honestly, I think we did all realise that :D James

Damn! If you fell down there you'd not stop until you hit the bottom. James

It gets worse... On Friday whilst trying to park his car my father-in-law put the front (driving) wheels on the grass at the entrance to the orchard. The ground was absolutely sodden everywhere, so he wasn't getting out. That's no big deal as it's not always easy to tell how far is too far...

It's really not tidy here either :D Lots of small stuff blown about and plenty of small branches ideal for tripping over. At least the drive is now clear so we can leave the property if necessary. The next job involves a rant at my father-in-law, so I'm going to "take a moment" :D James

National Grid are now quoting 8pm tomorrow as the target time for restoration of power to some of the villages around us! James

I think "6pm tomorrow" may well just be a placeholder for "when we can get to it". Looking at the wider map of outages for the area I'd not be surprised at all if they were just running out of engineers and equipment to attend the incidents (and the engineers will need to get some sleep at some...

Indeed. Which for us is National Grid. James

National Grid as far as I'm aware. They're the ones who have the power cut maps and suchlike. Used to be Western Power, but as of a couple of years ago they're part of National Grid to the best of my knowledge. James

You could discuss it with an estate agent to see how much owning the extra land would increase the value of your property (or decrease the value of theirs) and consider how much you would value the additional amenity it offers you and the cost to them of actually selling it. That might a...