Monthly Archives: June 2020

So it’s not summer any more then?

After the blazing heat, June has turned into a month of weather misery so far. Yesterday and today we have had thunderstorms which I don’t mind at all, though it does mean I have to unplug the phone and internet … Continue reading

Posted in Environment | Tagged | Leave a comment

Veg plot 2021: The compost arrives

I ordered this last week because I wasn’t 100% sure what I’d get and I wanted time to think things over depending on what turned up. As it happens I’m quite pleased. I didn’t get my full order of six … Continue reading

Posted in Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Veg plot 2021: Going “no dig”

It’s very early to be thinking about next year’s veg plot now perhaps, but I think I might need to. I’d heard about “no dig” gardening a few times and a couple of local farmers seem to be doing well … Continue reading

Posted in Smallholding, Veg plot | Tagged | Leave a comment

Veg plot 2020, #6

Not sure this is an entirely welcome visitor. I suspect it may be nibbling on our pea shoots as they’re looking a bit sorry for themselves below a height of about 20cm. Unless I’m much mistaken it’s a Red Legged … Continue reading

Posted in Smallholding, Veg plot | Leave a comment

Veg plot 2020, #5

When strolling around checking on things a few evenings back I noticed a few positive changes… We have courgettes on the way: and some strawberries, though we won’t get many this year because they’re new plants. And some tiny chiles … Continue reading

Posted in Smallholding, Veg plot | Leave a comment

Veg plot 2020, #4

A few photos from late May. I’d spent a fair bit of time over the previous few days getting bits and pieces done in the veg plot, though hadn’t entirely finished. In this corner I have some butternut squashes with … Continue reading

Posted in Smallholding, Veg plot | Leave a comment

One of the more unusual bee swarms I have collected

I received a phone call from a local chap who said he had a swam of bees that had just settled in a rusty 45 gallon drum in his yard and could I take them away because they were actually … Continue reading

Posted in Bee-keeping, Smallholding | Tagged | Leave a comment

NEQ6 belt mod, part #8

Prompted by someone else’s success at improving his RA axis backlash, this evening I returned to mine and ended up disassembling the entire axis once again just to make sure I’d put everything back together as well as I could. … Continue reading

Posted in Astro Equipment, Astronomy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

NEQ6 belt mod, part #7

The first step with the motors is to remove the mounting plate and idler gear. And then the gear comes off the end of the motor drive shaft. The new pulleys go on, together with the mounting plates. Orientation is … Continue reading

Posted in Astro Equipment, Astronomy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

NEQ6 belt mod, part #6

Now it’s time to return to the DEC axis. The process is pretty much the same as for the RA axis, starting with the removal of the clutch lever (having remembered to release the clutch first). The worm housing should … Continue reading

Posted in Astro Equipment, Astronomy | Tagged , | Leave a comment