Busy weekend. Selina was home to see Graham, and the KC&RC were hosting a League Shoot leg.
Saturday afternoon, (sun shining) was used to set up the shoot. Five stands with automatic traps were placed in the field and loaded with clays for a Sporting layout.
Sunday was a wet and miserable day. We did not expect many to turn out for the shoot, but they did and I was told that was more than the average for a league shoot attended. By the time we had cleared up it was 1 o’clock.
Friday night, Saturday morning there was a hard frost. So with ladder and bags we crossed the field and collected Sloes for the Sloe Gin. Last years Sloe Gin was a bit bitter, so this years mix was changed slightly.
o Fill 1 litre bottle with Sloes
o Fill with Gin (will be about 500 ml)
o Add 4 ounces of sugar.
o Keep for a year and decant.
The difference this year is we are using a little more sugar, and the Sloes were collected after a frost.
We collected far too many Sloes. There was a very good crop. We did not have to venture on to any and, other than our own to collect the Sloes. The extra Sloes we gave to next door, and John Curd.
Yesterday and today I have spent several hours working in the graveyard cutting down many dead Elm trees which have succumbed to Dutch Elm dieses. I thing we will have to replace some of these trees with other English woodland trees.
England had a 4.8 earthquake centred on Dudley in the West Midlands at 12.55 am Tuesday. It woke both Rosemary and I. At first we thought it was a heavy lorry (or military tank, we were woken years ago by a convoy of tanks going down the road, they really shook the house), but as there was no other sound, I said earthquake. It just gently shook the house for a few seconds.
On Saturday we had a lunch time meal at my home to celebrate the exportation of my brother (Peter), wife (Nic), children (Bethany and Katie) to New Zealand. A good time was had by all.
No rest at all, up early to do the final touches the chicken dish for the Saturday picnic. At Pitstone by 9.00 a.m for the canal trip kindly arranged by Carol and John Curd. There were twelve of us on board.
The boat was on the Grand Union canal. We took it South going through 6 locks stopped for the picnic and then took it back to its berth.
The day was excellent, the sun shone, a breeze kept the temperature down to a comfortable temperature. The company was good, the different foods provided on the picnic were excellent, as was the wine. The entertainment of opening and closing the locks kept us amused and fit.
Only bad point was I seemed to miss a hand rail on the boat and fell into the canal. Oh well, can’t be helped, it did seem to provide amusement to all those around.
This weekend started with rain on Saturday, and sunshine on Sunday. The wind was too strong for paragliding, so we stayed home.
On the Saturday we went out in the evening with the neighbours to the Seven Stars pub for an evening meal. Good pub grub.
On Sunday I worked in the garden, cut the grass, staked the trees and generally did a tidy up.
The next meeting was held at the P&A. At this it was decided we would do just one day (Tuesday). There would be shooting in the morning, Tug of War over the brooke. A BBQ lunch with games of Aunt Sally and Welly Wanging, then evening at the P&A with dinner and Boules, or Darts if wet.
I have to produce a flyer which will be taken around to all the local residents. Must get that done in the next few days.
Lovely day. Did some work around the garden, and took the Spitfire for a short drive.
After the stong winds in the UK a couple of days ago, I can report we have had no damage. The only thing which happened was the cover on the hot tub was blown open by the wind during the night. A few bricks weighing it down was enough to sort this out for the rest of the day.
All the rain we have been getting has made the fields totally water logged. I dare not venture out onto them.