Today’s BP readings

Posted on June 25, 2026 by james

Interesting one, this. No idea why, but the mid-afternoon reading was quite high compared with other recent ones. And for once, I didn’t feel dreadful. I think that tells a story all of its own.

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No dig diary, 24th June 2026

Posted on June 25, 2026 by james

Bit of a change today, again working in short bursts between coming indoors to cool down and top up with fluids. I planted out kale and sprouts. Hoops and insect mesh over the top.

Then whilst I was wandering about the plot I found this.

Well, you know… What better way is there to celebrate the harvest from one’s veggie plot? Pop!

God, I love that taste! Is there anything better?

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What madness is this?

Posted on June 24, 2026 by james

37°C forecast for tomorrow. Then a 10° drop for the following day, and a further 7° over the next three days. Not that I’m unhappy that temperatures should return to something rather more bearable, but that is an enormous change in less than a week.

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So, Mrs Blackbird…

Posted on June 24, 2026 by james

do you know anything about my plant labels being pulled up and compost chucked over them? Don’t give me that rubbish that a big bird did it and flew away! That’s what you said when I asked where all the cherries went. And who was scraping all the compost off the top of my potatoes, come to think of it.

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No dig diary, 23rd June 2026

Posted on June 24, 2026 by james

Progress is slow. It is so hot and humid. I had to get on with netting the next section of brassicas though. I took most of the day over it. Even going out and hammering in the stakes for one side of the netting left me drenched in sweat. Got there in the end. Still need to weed and

I also noticed in the row of brassicas that I netted yesterday there is a cabbage that is all but ready. I’m sure it’s a Greyhound. Very much looking forward to eating that.

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Yesterday’s BP readings

Posted on June 24, 2026 by james

Forgot to do the evening one, but I think at this point we can probably guess where it would have been. Crazy resting heart rate for the early afternoon reading 🙁

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It’s aircon, Jim, but not as we know it

Posted on June 23, 2026 by james

It’s so hot today that I’ve taken to removing something from the fridge every half hour or so, just for the waft of cold air that comes out 😀

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I think we’re establishing a pattern now

Posted on June 22, 2026 by james

Took the drugs a bit late today, but the readings are still following the same pattern. Morning, early afternoon, evening…

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Sometimes I do wonder what the Met Office are thinking

Posted on June 22, 2026 by james

From today’s forecast:

So, at midday they’re showing a less than 5% chance of precipitation, but showing a “showers” icon. Then from 1pm there’s a 20% chance of precipitation, but no “showers” icon.

Errr, what?

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Speidel apple press bleed valve replacement

Posted on June 22, 2026 by james

Some time back I posted a photo of one of these presses where the top of the (brass) bleed valve had snapped off flush with the top of the central stainless steel support for the bladder.

In an attempt to escape the heat (successful) and humidity (not successful) today, I repaired to the workshop to see what could be done.

I tried to drive the remainder of the valve anti-clockwise with a drift to undo it, but it wasn’t really working that well. At that point I was contemplating sawing off the top of the valve “plunger” to try to get access to more of the threaded section of the valve. Then it occurred to me to try driving something into the gap between the plunger and valve body to the point where it was stuck fast, and then just turn the entire thing out with a pair of pliers.

Having cast aside a number of possible “wedges”, I found a self-drilling Tek screw. It filled the gap and drove in until it was nicely stuck in the gap. Pliers weren’t up to the job, but a set of Mole grips (a tool no self-respecting workshop should be without 😀 ) did the job in a few seconds. Easy peasy.

It took a few more seconds to fish out the old spring (beneath the plunger) with a bit of wire, then drop the new spring and plunger into place and screw the new valve body down.

I still need to give the press a quick test to make sure the valve vents properly, but thus far it looks like a job well done. And just as well given that a replacement press is now over £900!

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