Summer of '15

The second half of the summer (July/August) will probably be remembered for a while around here. We have a vine planted perhaps four years ago which has produced the odd bunch of grapes but they are usually stolen by the birds before we get to taste them. This year it has been excellent. Not enough to make a few litres of wine but a nice snack with a bit of cheddar and Carrs Water Biscuits (will have to order some on the internet).

The main reason the vine is not usually so productive lies mainly at my door - I have never bothered to find out what one should do and I think that includes cutting them back just when they are in full flow - I just like the trailing, wall covering shoots and leaves. Maybe next winter.

In yesterdays mullein weather forecast I got something wrong. The video sound quality is poor, good old Sepp talking away from the camera and in a good Bavarian accent. Today I heard it on the mobile phone and could strangely hear it better than on the PC. He also predicts a covering of snow at the beginning of December. Forgot to mention he offers to bet with anyone/everyone that it will be a hard winter for "a half-dead sow". That means one half of a dead pig and not that it's half living!

The weather has improved but still a touch cool but getting better day by day. Spent much of the day trying to prepare the back half of the chicken coup for the glass panels and hope with luck to heave them in to place tomorrow if we can get helpers and the suction holders, without which it is near on impossible.