Veg out

The harvest has begun. Due to the combination of sun and rain, the veg plot is becoming extremely productive.

Trowbridge Village Pump Festival 2008

Yes, it's that time of year again.... Time for our annual pilgrimage to Trowbridge for the festival (now no longer a folk festival.... now billed as a roots and world music festival, and most excellent it was too)

Despite quite a lot of work, Steve working with Stage 1 crew and me running the crew catering with the help of the fantastic Mary (and Eleanor and Angie capably making hundreds of teas and coffees for all and sundry) we still managed to see quite a lot of performances including the fantastic Vin Garbutt, Devon Sproule (she wears a lampshade on her head) and the inimitable Ben Waters (even if Eleanor did point out when we met him backstage after the show that his bum-crack was showing)

Eleanor had lots of fun with her friend from last year's festival, Lizzie....

I think they kept the Lucky Dip stall afloat between them. See a lovely picture of them together HERE

Enthusiasts can check out David's other photos of the festival here.

Nearly missed our flight home due to the unbelievable amount of traffic lights on Bristol Ring Road (grrrr).... we WERE the mad family running through the airport.

It's nice to be home. Our chickens were well looked after by our next door neighbours, and the veg plot has gone crackers - courgettes and runner beans on the menu for the next 3 months by the looks of things !!!

Jam tomorrow...?

Due to our bumper crop of blackcurrants and redcurrants, I thought I'd have a stab at some jam-making. Never done proper jam before (the cooked stuff), only freezer jam.... link here.

Et voilá...

I'm unbelievably proud


Chutney is next on the list... Delia Smith has a recipe which should take care of some of our excess runner beans here.

Peapod wine

OK - I admit it, after watching repeats of BBC's "The Good Life" where peapod burgundy is alluded to in several episodes, I decided to have a go. Found a recipe on the internet seeing as we had tons of peapods which would otherwise have gone on the compost heap.

It did smell peculiar when I boiled the peapods for 45 minutes with orange and lemon peel, AND had a greenish tinge when filtered into the demijohn, but after fermentation, racking and clearing, looked and smelled quite pleasant.

I filtered it today back into the cask and put it under the stairs to age for at least 6 months, but couldn't resist a sneaky swig from the filter and I'm pleased to report that it's a very pleasant dry white wine - slight bouquet of fresh peas, but very smooth and a lovely golden colour.

Will report again at Christmas when we bottle (and drink) it.

Cheers

JanieP

My lovely lovely friend who I met due to our shared support for Sunderland Association Football Club came to stay for a few days.

We did lots of things - some weeding, lots of garden talk, hacking through wild forests to find the secret hidden lough (lake to UK residents)

Had a day trip to the Burren, Fanore beach and Doolin (photos to follow shortly) and even a boat trip round the Cliffs of Moher where the sea was a bit choppy and I was quite seasick (you'll be pelased to hear I don't have any photos of that bit !!

And we went to Father Ted's house and took mysterious photos !!
(more explanation here)