The garden is strangely under control(-ish)so was able to spend the afternoon sitting in the sun tying all the pruned fruit tree wood into little bundles of kindling with string, ready for the cold weather, if it ever comes. Blackcurrant and apple wood, even in small amounts, smells delicious when you burn it in an open fire. The last of the blackcurrants are in: apples, pears, plums and raspberries, rhubarb and salad stuff is growing well.

Just watched a news item about illegal immigrants growing food for the New York markets on their own land - they can't get a job legally but they are allowed to buy land so bob's your aunty. They had 16 acres and were growing all kinds of vegetables.

cactus flower wrote:

The garden is strangely under control(-ish)so was able to spend the afternoon sitting in the sun tying all the pruned fruit tree wood into little bundles of kindling with string, ready for the cold weather, if it ever comes. Blackcurrant and apple wood, even in small amounts, smells delicious when you burn it in an open fire. The last of the blackcurrants are in: apples, pears, plums and raspberries, rhubarb and salad stuff is growing well.

Just watched a news item about illegal immigrants growing food for the New York markets on their own land - they can't get a job legally but they are allowed to buy land so bob's your aunty. They had 16 acres and were growing all kinds of vegetables.

Do you, like Kate P, have a farm attached to those delicious holdings described above? I'm thinking that if you do keep livestock and/or have a large tillage operation, Machine National food security would be more than 100%.

Quote :

I'll hoover, polish, unstack/restack the dishwasher, set the table and make everyone cups and pots of tea in return for that rather delectable cooking you have so evocatively described here in our fiefdom.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

The garden is strangely under control(-ish)so was able to spend the afternoon sitting in the sun tying all the pruned fruit tree wood into little bundles of kindling with string, ready for the cold weather, if it ever comes. Blackcurrant and apple wood, even in small amounts, smells delicious when you burn it in an open fire. The last of the blackcurrants are in: apples, pears, plums and raspberries, rhubarb and salad stuff is growing well.

Just watched a news item about illegal immigrants growing food for the New York markets on their own land - they can't get a job legally but they are allowed to buy land so bob's your aunty. They had 16 acres and were growing all kinds of vegetables.

Do you, like Kate P, have a farm attached to those delicious holdings described above? I'm thinking that if you do keep livestock and/or have a large tillage operation, Machine National food security would be more than 100%.

Not a farm, but an orchard and vegetable plot and flower garden. Space is not a deterrent if you like growing food. When I lived in a flat in london I grew enough green beans, herbs, tomatoes and courgettes to feed the whole house, in grow-bags on the balcony.

We are getting chickens soon and to be honest with you, Ard Taoiseach, I'm a bit nervous of the responbibility. It is one thing to lose a cabbage to the snails but quite another to find all ones little chickens in bits after a fox raid. But I like birds and the way they are not afraid of eye contact. I expect we'll get along fine.

Kate P wrote:

Quote :

I'll hoover, polish, unstack/restack the dishwasher, set the table and make everyone cups and pots of tea in return for that rather delectable cooking you have so evocatively described here in our fiefdom.

And cookiemonster can do that so exhausting ironing he claims to enjoy. I'm telling you, if we all do as Uncle Adam tells us, and specialise our labour in this respect, we'd be model housemates. It's such a perfect deal it's beautiful.

cactus flower wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

The garden is strangely under control(-ish)so was able to spend the afternoon sitting in the sun tying all the pruned fruit tree wood into little bundles of kindling with string, ready for the cold weather, if it ever comes. Blackcurrant and apple wood, even in small amounts, smells delicious when you burn it in an open fire. The last of the blackcurrants are in: apples, pears, plums and raspberries, rhubarb and salad stuff is growing well.

Just watched a news item about illegal immigrants growing food for the New York markets on their own land - they can't get a job legally but they are allowed to buy land so bob's your aunty. They had 16 acres and were growing all kinds of vegetables.

Do you, like Kate P, have a farm attached to those delicious holdings described above? I'm thinking that if you do keep livestock and/or have a large tillage operation, Machine National food security would be more than 100%.

Not a farm, but an orchard and vegetable plot and flower garden. Space is not a deterrent if you like growing food. When I lived in a flat in london I grew enough green beans, herbs, tomatoes and courgettes to feed the whole house, in grow-bags on the balcony.

I see. We've got things sorted here on the Machine Nation. We have Kate P to supply lamb and mutton for the carnivores in MN, and we have yourself to provide the vegetables for us herbivores. I can't see our society collapsing, we have more than enough food to be getting on with and we're very good at getting along.

Quote :

We are getting chickens soon and to be honest with you, Ard Taoiseach, I'm a bit nervous of the responbibility. It is one thing to lose a cabbage to the snails but quite another to find all ones little chickens in bits after a fox raid. But I like birds and the way they are not afraid of eye contact. I expect we'll get along fine.

My country cousins have had chickens for, effectively, ever, and they seem to have it good on the foxfront. They've had very few casualties and it happens very infrequently. If you want to ensure no incursions, I recommend laying waste to all terrain in a 1 kilometre radius. It'll wipe out the existing vulpine population and expose the positions of those who wish to traverse the No Man's Land to steal your chickens.

Something along these lines Ard-Taoiseach?

cactus flower wrote:

Something along these lines Ard-Taoiseach?

Precisely. As cunning as foxes are reputed to be, I cannot see them surmounting such obstacles to take your chickens.

Kate P wrote:

Any chance of some pics, Squire - sounds magical...

Don't know if magical is the right word, atmospheric maybe.

I only have my laptop here, most of my belongings are in London. Everything here is about 100 years old min. with the exception of a few (very few) kitchen appliances. It has a certain charm in summer but on a stormy winters night it closely resembles the set in a horror film. I am not exaggerating when I say that the rugs lift in the wind, everything creaks, doors slam and open of their own accord and outside the branches of the trees sway and the lights flicker as the rain rattles against the windows. I go to bed carrying a crucifix and a collection of holy books.

Tales of kitchen maids wronged coming back to haunt the place are all very well over diner, but put you right off late night snacks. The place even has its own pet cemetery with headstones for cats and dogs. I winter in London, or anywhere but not here.

Another glorious day in Dublin's Fair City. I had a Frappacino in St Stephen's Green. Whilst I do not normally like to support the likes of Starbucks, which are destroying indigenous Irish enterprise, I gave into peer pressure today and it was most refreshing.

Yes. Glorious indeed. Stuck in office today though, must be 35 degrees in here, even with the air conditioner up my backside.

Squire wrote:

Kate P wrote:

Any chance of some pics, Squire - sounds magical...

Don't know if magical is the right word, atmospheric maybe.

I only have my laptop here, most of my belongings are in London. Everything here is about 100 years old min. with the exception of a few (very few) kitchen appliances. It has a certain charm in summer but on a stormy winters night it closely resembles the set in a horror film. I am not exaggerating when I say that the rugs lift in the wind, everything creaks, doors slam and open of their own accord and outside the branches of the trees sway and the lights flicker as the rain rattles against the windows. I go to bed carrying a crucifix and a collection of holy books.

Tales of kitchen maids wronged coming back to haunt the place are all very well over diner, but put you right off late night snacks. The place even has its own pet cemetery with headstones for cats and dogs. I winter in London, or anywhere but not here.

It all sounds very gothic novel - I assume you're writing one under the covers at night on said laptop by flickering candle-light? Have you demented kitchen-maid Cathy scraping her wrists on the window frames to get in? Are you a Heathcliff or are you really an Edgar Linton who overwinters in the city? Hmmm.

And on the subject of weather, it's kind of drizzly here; a sea mist, is what my father-in-law would call it though we're miles from the sea. Sun is shining, breezy.I'd planned to take the day off to work in the garden but I've been writing up stuff from the swing for the last couple of hours. If I have to work, I might as well do it in comfort...

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

As cunning as foxes are reputed to be, I cannot see them surmounting such obstacles to take your chickens.

Unless it's a kitsune, i.e. a Japanese demon-fox appearing in houses in the appearance of a lady, and endowed with very strong appetites.

And I wish to remember Squire that there are also werecats, i.e. gigantic almost human cats, appearing at night especially in English desolate homes, especially on dark and stormy nights.

ha ha ha ha - laughs in the dark - ha ha ha ha......

Beautiful day just in with a large glass of juice. fragrant evening.

Lightning storms here now. About 12 seconds away.

Now started raining heavily as I post....

Bit of a storm brewing here as well. No lightning yet but I have my bedroom curtains wide open to enjoy the spectacle if it does occur!

johnfás wrote:

Bit of a storm brewing here as well. No lightning yet but I have my bedroom curtains wide open to enjoy the spectacle if it does occur!

No theatrics here either, but I'm on alert for any now!

The heaven's have just pulled the plug out of the clouds over Terenure this minute.

johnfás wrote:

The heaven's have just pulled the plug out of the clouds over Terenure this minute.

Based on the Met website, the stormfront's just over Dublin now.

I'm in Portmarnock, and it seems to be about 3-4Km northish of me.

EvotingMachine0197 wrote:

I'm in Portmarnock, and it seems to be about 3-4Km northish of me.

Hmm. That's interesting.

I can confidently proclaim that the rain has reached West Dublin.

I've also heard a melodic rumble of thunder come from outside the kitchen window. It's lashing at the moment.

The view from my window. Just waiting for some lightning!