Author Archives: james

I hope this breaks down before Spring

Posted on January 15, 2026 by james

I’ve pressed so many apples this season that I was running out of space to compost the pulp. I estimate that I’ve done seven tonnes of apples and I’m not finished yet, so I just had to start spreading it … Continue reading →

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A culinary masterpiece!

Posted on January 15, 2026 by james

I found some left-over bacon in the fridge, so decided to have bacon sandwiches for lunch. Whilst I was frying the bacon in a pan (the grill is too much effort for a few slices of bacon :D), I happened … Continue reading →

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West Midlands Police

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

Are loads of them going through their computers (surely they must use PCs?), erasing all instances of “ChatGPT: Write a confession for…” from their history right now?

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First cider pressing of 2025

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

After being so dry for so long, I think this (mid-October) was when the weather in 2025 really started to change, so I was pressing apples whilst dodging rain showers and still having to cope with gusting winds. First up … Continue reading →

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There’s a new pencil shop in town…

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

Well, not in town, exactly Prior to going all-electronic, in our household Screwfix was always known as “the pencil shop” because whenever I went there to buy something I’d invariably end up bringing home one of their pencils for filling … Continue reading →

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Cider apple picking

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

Towards the end of last year I had the good fortune to be allowed to pick cider apples at a local orchard where there are many different varieties of tree. As well as collection quite large batches for a single-variety … Continue reading →

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Lord of the fruit flies?

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

I have no idea what’s going on here, but for a week or more these flies were congregating on this corner of the house in their thousands. Possibly tens of thousands. There were so many that it was possible to … Continue reading →

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Room for a small one?

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

I don’t think so. The batch pasteuriser I’ve been using for bottles of apple and pear juice, absolutely rammed full. Capacity does vary however and it’s very dependent on the bottles. We’ve had batches of 750ml bottles from the same … Continue reading →

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You’ve been pressing apples too long, mate!

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

Perhaps I have 😀

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Spot the odd one out

Posted on January 14, 2026 by james

We moved my son into his accommodation at Oxford, where he’s starting a DPhil (PhD for anywhere else). There was a “mobile” already in the kitchen made of origami birds.

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