Author Archives: james

A disappointing weather forecast

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

This is what the Met Office promised us for tonight. I was sooo looking forward to it; a decent size thunderstorm and rain to water the garden too. But no. I saw a couple of lightning strikes, one of which … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged | Leave a comment

Horsefly World Cup update

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

They came at me mob-handed when I went to water the polytunnel this evening. All told I killed fourteen of them. I perhaps shouldn’t have slapped the one that landed in the middle of the front of my shorts quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding | Leave a comment

Shocking to see on the news

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

Two large earthquakes in Venezuela within minutes of each other last night. Amazing to see however that despite running from a building that was collapsing literally right next to them, some people still managed to switch on their phone cameras … Continue reading →

Posted in Random | Leave a comment

Ryanair removes charges

Posted on June 26, 2026 by james

For people who want to sit with their children. You’d think not charging for allowing parents to sit with their children would as a minimum be considered desirable and ideally just be the decent human thing to do. Perhaps there’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Random | Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Health | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

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

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Polytunnel, Smallholding | Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading →

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

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 🙁

Posted in Health | Tagged | Leave a comment