Author Archives: james

A dangerous-looking chile?

Posted on June 29, 2026 by james

I was sent seeds for this chile (Khang Starr Lingria) as a freebie with an order of other chile seeds from Chillichump. It’s not a well-known variety and I was somewhat worried that if someone bothered to breed a chile … Continue reading →

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I think venison needs to go on the menu

Posted on June 29, 2026 by james

For the second time this year, deer have been in, munching on the tops of my beetroot and my sugar snap peas 🙁 So frustrating. Between the blackbirds, deer, rabbits, squirrels, butterflies, pigeons and pheasants it feels like you can’t … Continue reading →

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Did I forget to take the drugs this morning?

Posted on June 29, 2026 by james

Not sure why these are so similar. Morning, mid-afternoon and evening.

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I have goosebumps

Posted on June 27, 2026 by james

Yes, really! And it’s 25°C today, which is about the limit of what I can normally comfortably stand heatwise. My initial guess is that my BP has dropped sufficiently far at the moment that my muscles aren’t getting enough energy … Continue reading →

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“International rescue teams arrive in Venezuela”

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

Am I the only one thinking “F.A.B. Virgil” ?

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When I see an elephant fly

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

Ok, so perhaps not, but there were plenty of horseflies in the polytunnel this evening, all waiting for a victim (me) to provide them with a nice juicy blood meal. Though given the problems I’m having with blood pressure of … Continue reading →

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Too hot to be chile?

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

I’m getting fruit on some of my pepper plants already! This one is “Zitava”, which I believe is often used to make paprika. I’m going to have to have a go at that if I get enough fruit. And this … Continue reading →

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Unexpected item in the lunch area

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

We’re close, but don’t quite have tomatoes ready in the polytunnel yet, so we’re still unhappily having to buy them. Whilst assembling my lunch I came across this pair of Siamese tomatoes. Or are we supposed to call them “conjoined … Continue reading →

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Break out the welder!

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

Yes, I’ve been putting this off for a few days. Not entirely sure why, really. Possibly because I’ve not actually done any welding for a few years now and I’m a bit out of practice. So, I wheeled out the … Continue reading →

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Heatwave headlines #3

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

“Two-hour delays as M5 closes due to risk of falling electricity cables” This is in Somerset, where it seems the weekly, or even bi-weekly, closure of the M5 has achieved the status of a traditional event over the last two … Continue reading →

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