Warm kness

I made the right decision to deal with the bees yesterday. Today started with a bright cold morning but led into the grey cold day. I did the trailer run first thing. Whilst at the lottie I harvested some second crop Broccoli but I H and I had other fish to fry. We went into Ashby for 11am to see the tractor parade. We stood about in the biting wind on Market Street waiting for the tractors to chug by. After about ten minutes the first of the tractors chugged down the street. The Sunday car drivers must have been kicking themselves for being about Ashby this morning. The tractors had been for a spin, at 20mph, round the district, Twenty odd of them. They came down Market Street the castle end then up Kilwardby street. They went out to Blackfordby, Willesley then back to Bath grounds in Ashby.

Amongst the tractors and modern cars were quite a number of vintage cars. The vintage cars turned off for Bath grounds. Once the "parade" was over we walked round to Bath grounds. It was quite a surprise. All the cars we saw on the street plus a number of other were parked up for viewing. There were Alvis, Jensen Interceptor, Austins, Ford Poplar, Jaguars MKII and some marques I did not recognise. There were stalls and kiddies rides. There were just two bikes in the parade. An late 1930s Indian and a Panther of about the same vintage. Both looked very lived in. After 20 or 30 minutes the tractors arrived in triumph and parked up in review order. We, along with everyone else went for a walk round the tractors. I was drawn to a very nice 1940's Austin recovery truck. There were loads of people there to support the parade. We meet the Lord Mayor of Ashby and had a chat. His Missus, the Lady Mayoress, was the leader of Leicestershire County Council and was the person Miss L spent the evening with when she attended the Green footprints award last year. Miss L had designed the award that was presented. There was no brew van and the we had pretty much seen everything there was so we came away.

H had heard there was an open day at the lake at Albert Villages. We drove over to Albert Village treked through the side was rain to find bunch of people in the marquee, on add 18 Newfoundland dogs. These folks turn out each year and take the dogs swimming. we watched one dog swim out to a dingy with four people in it, grab the painter and tow the boat back to shore against the wind. That was the highlight so back to the car. Since we were less than 30 minutes and I was not yet hungry I decide I would like to see the the Castle at Gresley. At the village of Castle Gresley is the remains of a motte and bailey castle. It is a subtle item in the landscape. It was built about 1190. H and I had a good look round and pondered the landscape in 1200AD. It was very interesting. Sir Nigel Gresley, designer of the Mallard an A4 Pacific steam train which holds the land speed record, is descended from the knight who founded the castle. Sir Nigel is buried in the churchyard at Netherseal, just a few miles from the castle. We took a walk down the nearby lane to find a hamlet by the stream. Very ethereal. History done we went home.

I decided to extract the Honey harvest. I got everything ready, brought in the first super and started the de-cap the comb only to find the honey had granulated or solidified. One cannot extract solidified honey but there is a trick. Granulated honey can be returned to a liquid state. Heat is all that is required to change the state. The trouble is that bees wax melts at about 63 degrees Celsius so the heat has to be gentle. A light bulb is the answer. I got my inspection lamp [60 watt] and put it under two empty supers then stacked the supers of granulated honey on top. I put a lid on the top super and sat back. The gentle heat should loosen the honey but it might take a week or more. I had to clear up without extracting a single frame.

I still had a couple of hours before tea. So what to do? I went over to see my neighbour and harvested his Apple trees. He has some very nice eaters but he does not like Apples. What next? I decided to try out my recent cycling clothing purchases. They are a very nice fit. I pumped up the tyres on teh bike and went for a spin. It was very blustery but the soft shell material kept the cold out. The fit was so good and the clothing did restrict movement. For once my knees were nice and warm which is a comfort and bodes well for the winter. By the time I got home I was sweating freely so I was too warm and I did not even have a hat on. I parked the bike up and got changed in time for tea of locally sourced hogget and vegetables from the lottie. We even got a call from Miss L. We arranged to go and see her next Saturday.

Getting back to normal

Today was the first weekend for a couple of months when I had no calls on my time. Time was my own. That is not to say I did not have lots to do. It was very clear last night and I thought we might have a frost. I woke up to a breezy morning and a bright blue sky. You can tell the year is turning. Although the sun was up it lacked the power of a month ago. I decided that I would see the bees today to harvest the honey crop. I have been tussling with how to feed the bees. It is an exchange. The bees make lots of honey, more than enough to see themselves through the winter. I take some of it and in return I feed back sugar. The question is what form is the sugar to take. There essentially two forms to feed bees with, syrup or fondant. Syrup is liquid but it stimulates the bees to start the Queen laying. Not a good thing leading into the winter. The other form is fondant. The trouble is that I have never made fondant. I had a go at making it this morning. One part water to four parts sugar plus a quarter teaspoon of vinegar. Boiled up to 230 degrees and allowed to cool. Whilst it is cooling it has to whisked until it turns white. Boiling hot sugar does not cool down quickly. I put half the mixture in the food processor and set it running. The remainder stayed in the jam pan. That cooled down quicker especially since I had put it outside. I whisked it by hand and as it cooled it turned white. I poured the cooling mixture into greaseproof paper lined trays. Eventually the mixture in the mixer began to cool and solidify. I put the trays outside. When the trays were completely cold the mixture was firm like cheese, in fact it was fondant.

Whilst the fondant was cooling I loaded up the car with my bee fettling gear. I took a run over to Swad to pick up some items from the bike shop. By the time I got back the fondant was ready to go. I had a brew and went to see the bees. The heavy rain of the week had not made the tracks to the apiary impassable. The clearer boards I put in last week had done there job. I snaffled the supers and put them in the car. The then put the ekes [ekes are spacers], I had made during the week, on the hive then placed the fondant on the top bars of the frames, replaced the crown board and tidied up. Before I put the roofs on a I had a peek under the crown boards. The fondant was covered with bees. I put the roofs and came away content.

A had another brew when I came home, took the bee gear out of the car and replaced it with the lottie gear. I had the lottie to myself. It was quite warm. I raked off the bed I had prepared in Bed 2 last week. I planted 50 Radar, white onion sets, and a dozen Shallots [Jermor]. Next I dug up the Caulis that had gone over and weeded the area. I tipped three barrow loads of manure on the area and dug it in. I have some chicken pellets I am trying the use up so I threw a couple handfuls of the pellets about before raking the area flat. The soil is in smashing condition. In to the area I planted 30 Garlic [Marco] cloves. These will form a divider in the bed. The area of the bed below the Garlic will be Onions related crops and above it root crops.

I checked the grapes and they looked great. The weather is due to turn cold this week so I expect I will have to harvest the grapes next week.

I had a little time left so I dug up a row of the main crop spuds, Cara. They are fantastic, large and blight free. The soil dug nicely if a little damp. The row filled one of my storage trays. I got a bucket of water from the trough and washed the spuds before putting them back in the tray and loading the car. I cut the last of Gladioli for H and came home. I pulled a few cobs of Sweet Corn for tea.

H and I went of to Coalville to get the makings for Sloe Gin and Lemoncello. Aldi have cheap spirits. Whilst H made tea [The northern meal] I zested 20 lemons. After tea I finished the first part of lemoncello which involves soaking lemon zest and lemon juice in Vodka. That finished I cleaned up the Sloes Steve had given me. I put the Sloes with equal amount of sugar in a demi-john and topped it up with Gin. That is Christmas sorted.

Aldi has an odd selection of products. It's like going to the super-market on holiday. Kind of the same but different. In the clearance bins was cycling gear. Smart performance long legged, fitted trousers. Merino wool, yes Merino wool jersey and long fingered gloves with gel palms. All these items plus a lights set came to bearly £20. I tried the stuff on when we got home. It fits really well. I hoping to have a spin out to try the stuff out.

Walking

The weekend was the big walk weekend. I had a quick run out to collect the trailer and do a few errands. H and I were to walk 26 miles from Avebury, click HERE for the website, to Stonehenge in aid the Alzheimer's Society. We had a very early start and the B&B owner was not going to get up at 4.30 to make us a breakfast so we had a cold breakfast. We got to the start point with the 300 other walkers, registered, picked up our packed lunch and was given a pep talk. We were then send on our way. The first leg was over the White Horse way which was not designed for lots of people. Too many stiles and narrow paths. The land rose in long undulating hills. Once clear of the farm land the hills were given over to grazing and the paths were wider. We were in good order at he first check point at seven miles. At the half way point we found a spot for lunch. we had been told there was a pub on the route. We walked past it not five minutes after the lunch stop. From pub there was a stiff climb up to one of the many downs we were walk up. Here's a question - why are the hills in the south of England called "downs" when they are definitely up.

The third check point at 20 miles. We were very pleased to see it. The walking between the second and third check points was over Ministry of Defence land. Open rolling countryside, featureless, under a blue sky with the sun beating down. It was tough. Things were starting to hurt. The last six miles were a slog. Our packs were getting heavier even though we had eaten our food. We replenished our water bottles at each check point so the weight of water never really reduced. In the end we came upon the finish banner. The organisers cheered and clapped everyone in. We were given our medals and had a well earned sit down.

We had a celebratory dinner in Salisbury a the New Inn. I recommend it very highly. Then back to the the B&B for a well deserved rest. And that was that. Another epic.

Summer bash

Saturday was the allotment society summer bash. I nipped down to the lottie early in the morning to collect some onions. In the end I harvested all the Onions, Red, White and Shallots. Whilst harvesting the Onions I weeded the patch. It was really nice tilling the soil. It seems ages since I was able to spend even a little time at the lottie. I bagged a couple of Beetroot as well. I dropped the onions off with H. H was to make a quiche for the bash. I then went off to Coalville to Harlow's to get some wood that Miss L needed for Uni. Back at home H finished off the quiche, Miss L got herself ready and I got out of my smegy clothes.

We had a lovely time at the summer bash. A very low key affair with Steve running the BBQ and all the other lottie holders bring along various treats. The weather held for us, both sunny and with a little wind. The kids went off on adventures bring back treasure of Blackberries, mostly smeared across their faces. Us adults ate, drank and chatted. We had tours of each others plots and discussed what went well, what did not and what we might do next year. I dug up one of the Cara main crop potato plants. The soil was perfect and the recent rain had bulked up the spuds. I wrapped two of the biggest in foil and had Steve drop them into the ashes of the BBQ. I found a couple of Sweet Corn ready so they on the BBQ too. The Sweet Corn was fabulous. Twenty minutes from plant to belly. I due course the event wound up. Miss L went off to a birthday party, me and H just sat in.

I had a few things to do on Sunday. H and I went to a car boot sale to try to get a tool box for Miss L. We found just the right thing. It was made from steel with hinged leaf lid. It is a little over a foot long and has an internal tray as well. I might have it myself yet. I went to another car boot because I did not get the golf balls I was after. The second car boot had what I wanted. Next up was the muck trailer run. Not much to say there except I had the lottie to myself. The grape vines are looking great. The bunches of grapes won't make dessert size but they do look good. Whilst we were out the grey skies finally opened up, slow and deliberate rain. We got home before getting too wet. The rain put off the walk we had planned. H went to collect Miss L and set about turning the spare plums into wine. After the plums I made up some Pears into start of some wine. A few of the Bramley apples I had picked were starting to turn so I had a go at making them into apple sauce. It tastes ok so I shall put it in jars.

I put the the onions I had harvested [Red Baron, Sturon and Shallots] into separate trays. The idea is that they dry out a little more before going into store. I took the trays up to the greenhouse only to find a hundred or more honey bees buzzing about the greenhouse. They were after the honey in the super that I had put in the greenhouse earlier in the week. The bees were not unhappy so it was no trouble to shoo them out of the super and stack the supers so they were bee tight. I plonked the onion trays in the greenhouse and that was pretty much it for the day.