It's nearly six months now since I started telling you about our efforts with our first batch of damson gin, but now that I'm seeing this year's blossom on the damson trees in our garden it's got me thinking about how we can use this year's harvest and I'm already hoping it's a good one. Back to the gin though... We made two batches in the end and thought that we'd bottle up the first one in time for Christmas - both for us to sample some and also to make some homemade Christmas presents. This bathc must have had about four months in the kilner jar, so not as mature as it could have ... read more
Set our children free!
You frequently hear people talking about how children of today don't play outside enough. Older generations often use the "in my day" phrases when telling of children only bothering to come home when they knew a meal would be on the table and then spending the rest of their time climbing trees and exploring for miles around where they lived. The reality is that a lot has changed since "those days". Neary every home now has a TV set and many childrens have one in the bedroom too. There are also games consoles and handheld games which children like to spend time on too. ... read more
Is it really October?
I mean really? Is my calendar wrong? Is it not July, or maybe August? Both today and yesterday we've eaten lunch in the garden, worn summer clothes and had to apply sun cream to Little Miss C. But, to top it all, this is what I found when I looked at our strawberry patch yesterday! A red strawberry, nearly ready to pick, in October! Seasonal madness! ... read more
Kiddiwalks
Mr C and I have lived in St Albans for nearly seven years now so I thought it fair to say that I know the place and surrounding area reasonably well. However, over the last few months I've realised that I actually don't at all! My knowledge is lacking somewhat when it comes to places to go with kids. I can do all the very obvious ones like the zoo and local children's farm, but when we just want to go out for a walk somewhere I kept coming back to the same places and I was soon getting quite bored with them. A friend then told me about Kiddiwalks in Hertfordshire which ... read more
Reason for not blogging #649
Lightening strke taking out wifi. With things being so busy at home I'd been saving up posts that I wanted to write until a planned trip up north to stay with my parents. Sadly it was not to be though as on this visit there was a distinct lack of wifi internet access. The cause: a lightening strike two weeks ago which hit this tree in their garden (details from a nature viewpoint here on Mr C's UK Nature Blog) and also took out their phone line, wireless router, TV aerial amplifier and DECT phone. It just goes to show how powerful nature can be! ... read more
Bing Your Britain Photography Day
I was fortunate enough to recently be invited along to a photography day in London organised as part of Bing's Your Britain photography competition. The day kicked off with coffee, cupcakes and a workshop with the wonderful Jackie KIng. I've always wanted to be a better photographer and Mr C has been trying to teach me things for a while, but it's rare that I get the chance to concentrate on it for a whole day, but luckily that's exactly what I was able to do on Saturday. Jackie's tips at the start of the day helped me to focus on what I should be ... read more
Sunny Sunday
Yesterday was one of those days that was just perfect for being outside. Lucky really as that's what I did pretty much all day. Down at our local nature reserve we had a day's hedge laying tuition where a group of volunteers were learning how to lay a hedge, and practicing on one of our ones on the site. Meanwhile a regular monthly working party was also taking place, along with a willow weaving workshop. Workers always need feeding though - so that was my role. Tea and cake breaks for the workers, plus a BBQ lunch for everyone involved. It was all hard work, and boy did I ache ... read more
November snow
Snow in November in the South East of England is rare, but it's what we woke up to this morning. No where near as much as what they have further north, but still. There's at least a cm out there and it's the sort of snow which sticks to tree branches giving things a wonderful wintery look. Little Miss C is fascinated by it all. Her breakfast was significantly slowed down today as she was far more interested in looking out of the window than eating her porridge. ... read more
Autumn colours
Another blogging break, but this time due to a family holiday to Northumberland and Little Miss C's first holiday. A lovely trip where we were fortunate enough to have amazing weather for this time of year. The thing that stunned us most though was the autumn colours that we were delighted to see wherever we went. Even the trees along the sides of the A1 were beautiful! Nature's autumn show may not last long, but whilst it did it was stunning. The trip itself provided a lovely opportunity to catch up with my whole family and to spend some precious moments with them. LMC also had her ... read more
RSPB Dungeness
Another of the visits that Mr C and I made whilst away was to the RSPB reserve at Dungeness. This shingle filled reserve almost looks lunar as you approach in the car, but I'm pleased to say that it gave us one of the best days of birdwatching that we've ever had. Mr C's been keeping some good records of what we saw, especially photographic ones, and if you pop over to UK Nature Blog he's included a complete list as well as a couple of posts on specific sightings of the meadow pipet, Great crested grebe and the rarer Slavonian grebe.A quick stop-off at the Rye Harbour ... read more