Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.  – My car was back in the garage on Monday, for a couple of items picked up on the service to be worked on. It was back on Friday after the repair started leaking oil, it was fixed while I waited, and I spent a nice extended lunch break sitting by the seashore and walking along the sea wall. I dropped a few stories to Instagram, and they’re in the video below if you’re interested. I also spent a bit of time on things related to my Dad’s and Grandma’s estates, these wheels seem to grind slowly onward. As the end of the month arrives, it’s been a fairly expensive one!

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Work – Some work on a proposal for a meeting in a few weeks, and also a presentation for that same meeting. Thursday I was in Winchester for a really productive business development session, and I’ve got a couple more of these planned over the next few weeks. Looking forward to those, as well as getting the results from the work that the Solent University students have been doing in another couple of weeks time.

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Allotment. – My leeks are in.

We’ve also had a series of cold nights this week and some frosts. The temperatures have ranged between -1°C and 18°C, which is quite a difference. The frost doesn’t appear to have done too much damage, the potatoes have a few scorched leaves but they should recover if there aren’t anymore frosty nights. The low temperatures also did for one of my hoselines (see below), when I picked it up it literally cracked open in my hand. Unfortunately it was live at the time so I also got an unexpected shower!

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Currently Reading

I’ve been dipping in and out of a few different things this week, including:

The World-Ending Fire: The Essential Wendell Berry by Wendell Berry [GoodReads], which also pointed me towards:

Confessions of a Recovering Environmentalist and Other Essays by Paul Kingsnorth [GoodReads], who edited the Wendell Berry collection. In amongst these two books are some fairly profound and important statements and observations on environmentalism. They’ve both been quite heavily highlighted on my kindle so far.

Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King [GoodReads] – which I am reading for an online group.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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Kingsman: The Golden Circle – I quite enjoyed watching the first Kingsman movie, but I didn’t realise that they were working on a sequel.

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Smaug Theresa May

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Bug Season – Short piece on The Last Word on Nothing Blog about getting bitten by an Assassin Bug [LINK]

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Air Pollution – I’m pleased to see that the government lost their case to delay the publication of their plans to tackle air pollution  [LINK]. I suspect it won’t end there because I suspect the proposals still won’t be up to much, and the court cases may well rumble on.

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The Circle – Not sure whether this is one to watch in the cinema or wait for the DVD.

Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.  – Easter came and went, and on Tuesday my car had it’s annual MOT and service. It passed the test okay, but is going back again on Monday to have a repair completed, one of those things that wasn’t bad enough to fail the MOT, but needs to be attended to. I also had my annual dental checkup and also passed without needing any work done. I’m not a fan of the dentist, so I’m quite pleased that I don’t have to go back for any treatment.

In other news, the rather depressing thought of having to go through a general election, so between that, the revived threat of nuclear conflict, and the ongoing pantomime that is Donald Trump, it’s probably going to be a depressing news cycle for a while.

The election is opportunistic and despite the issues with brexit, the NHS, and education to name a few it seems as though the current administration will tighten it’s grip, as there is no meaningful opposition.

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Work. – A meeting with a potential client in Southampton, that might lead to some work, a couple of things to do in the week ahead to progress that, but otherwise a quiet week on the work front.

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Allotment. – We’ve had a long period of dry weather now and keeping things watered has been the order of the day. Things are doing well though. The potatoes are through and have been earthed up, and I’ve prepared the ground for my leeks.

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Currently Reading

 Not much time for reading this week, and I haven’t started anything new so just making progress with Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King [GoodReads] – which I am reading for an online group.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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A nice piece on The Last Word On Nothing Blog [LINK] regarding good neighbours.

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Looking forward to this:

Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.  – So this last week has been a little all over the place with different family things, we’ve had the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, with my Mum coming for an Easter Sunday Roast dinner. Although my diary has been a little light on appointments, it has been fairly busy with ad-hoc arrangements.

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Work. – Got my tax return finished this last week (nearly a few year before it’s due)! and now just need to make my payment. I also had a call, which has resulted in a meeting with a potential client next week (someone I’ve worked with before), I’m hoping that might lead to something. I’ve also been working on revising another proposal.

I had an email at the end of the week from one of the teams at Solent University who are working on one of the two development projects. They seem to be making good progress and I’ve got a date with both groups for mid-May to hear their recommendations. Something I’m looking forward to.

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Allotment. – I started moving the compost bins last weekend and finished the project on Monday (apart from a couple of minor things). There’s a video, scroll down on the blog homepage if you want to see it.

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Currently Reading

I’ve not had a lot of time for reading this week, but I’ve been continuing to read, Bee Quest by David Goulson [LINK] and am really enjoying it.

Also continuing with Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King [GoodReads] – which I am reading for an online group.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.  – It really feels like spring has properly arrived, and I’ve been trying to enjoy the sun each day. We took a walk alongside the Titchfield Canal on one afternoon, I was hoping to catch sight of my first swift or swallow of the year, which didn’t happen but we were lucky enough to see a Barn Owl snoozing in a crevice inside a tree. We’d have completely missed it, if someone hadn’t pointed it out to us, and shown us where to look, as it wasn’t obvious.

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Work. – I’ve been working on a proposal this week, and also sorting out all the paperwork and details for my tax return. I like to get this done as soon as I can each year (technically it isn’t due for nearly 12 months), so that I can budget for the year ahead, it means I know where I am financially. I put money aside from each invoice I raise to cover the tax and national insurance that will be due, so I shouldn’t have any surprises.

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Allotment. – The night time temperatures are still pretty low, so I’m holding off on some things for a few more days at least. I want to sow some cucumbers, courgettes and pumpkins in the potting shed but the temperatures need to come up a little more even though they won’t technically be outside.

I managed to get my compost bin moved. Well almost, there’s still a bit more to do, but the bulk of the work is done. I’m thinking of growing pumpkins on the old site, should be good and fertile ground. 

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Currently Reading

I read, Guests of Summer by Theunis Peirsma [LINK] this week, it’s only a 100 pages or so, about the House Martins that the author observes in his home village of Gaast in The Netherlands. It was one of those short books that you wish was a lot longer. It also got me thinking that I haven’t seen any swallows, swifts or house martins myself yet this year. I normally start seeing them about now, so I’m keeping my eyes peeled!

I also started reading, Bee Quest by David Goulson [LINK], I love David’s other bee related books and so far this one is just as good. He has a very readable style, as well as some great stories to tell.

Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King [GoodReads] – reading for an online group.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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This [LINK] is one serious fish!

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Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.  – Nothing much to report this week, it’s just been day to day routine. Ruby’s foot seems to be fine and there’s been no recurrence of the limping. It was Wilson’s 7th birthday, it seems that it wasn’t that long ago that he was just a pup.

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Work. – I’ve had a relatively quiet week, and have been looking at all my end of year things e.g. accounts, and have been setting up my systems for next financial year. I had an email enquiry regarding a job, but it’s not something I can do so had to turn it down, although I did pass some recommendations on, so hopefully I’ve maintain the goodwill if there’s another job that I might be interested in from that organisation in the future.

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Allotment. – I’m getting ready for the season ahead, picking out seeds and trying to sow as the weather allows. I managed to get some lettuce, mizzuna, rocket, mustard, chard & carrot sown. I’m hoping for another good season.

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Currently Reading

I’m finished reading The Cthulhu Casebooks – Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows by James Lovegrove [GoodReads] – it was pretty good overall, if you’re a pure Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes reader you probably won’t enjoy it, but as stories go it’s okay.

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King [GoodReads] and just starting Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King [GoodReads] the next book in the series, I’m reading for an online group.

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The Last Word On Nothing Blog – The Sock Barometer – [LINK] I seem to loose a sock or two every now and again, in recent weeks it seems to be happening more frequently. I’ve actually got a pile of the things on top of my dresser all waiting for their partner to return. I’ve actually taken in some instances (mostly wellington boot socks) to matching odd pairs when one of them develops a hole too large to effectively darn.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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IT Movie

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 War of the Planet of the Apes Movie

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Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.  – It’s been a bit of a crazy week with family stuff, I’ve been taking my Mum to a few routine medical appointments which all happened within a day or two of one another, and in between I’ve had a few work meetings and other things to do. We have also now moved onto BST from GMT, with the clocks going forward on Sunday. An hours less sleep is always harder than when they go the other way, and although I like the longer evenings it means it’s a bit darker in the mornings again for a bit when I’m walking the dogs.

There was terrible news from London, which I’m not going to regurgitate here as that has been done to nth degree everywhere in the main stream media.

On Friday Ruby started to limp. This was after her afternoon dog walk, so it’s possible she’s sprained / torn a muscle or bruised her foot. We don’t tend to panic with these things, there was no blood and no obvious sign of something sticking out of her paw e.g. a thorn, so we monitored it. She wasn’t very happy all through Friday evening, but on Saturday morning she was up and about and the limp seemed to have vanished. If there’s a recurrence then she might be on her way to the vet Monday but it doesn’t seem likely at the moment.

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Work. – A meeting that I was supposed to be having on Wednesday was cancelled at the last minute, but this meant that there was more time for another meeting, which was very productive. I found out that the last of the proposals that I’d been working on a few weeks ago was unsuccessful which was disappointing, but the client did give some good feedback which was helpful. At the end of the week I also had a query regarding some potential short term work, which I’ve responded positively to, but at the moment the brief is a little vague so I don’t know whether this is something that I’ll be involved in or not (or that the potential client will think I’m the right person for the job).

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Allotment. – I’m looking much more now at what seeds I can start sowing, now that the weather is warming up (although we have had a couple of really cold days with windchill, so we might not be quite there yet). I managed to get my early potatoes in on Sunday, and also sowed some more broad beans. Some of these are to fill up gaps where the seed planted at the end of last year failed to germinate, and another patch where some of the over-wintering brassicas were which won’t be used for the time being. It was a gloriously sunny spring morning and life felt good to be on the plot.

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Currently Reading

I finished Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman [GoodReads], I was surprised by how much norse mythology was already familiar to me. Other than comics and films I’m not sure where I would have picked this up from.

I’m now reading The Cthulhu Casebooks – Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows by James Lovegrove [GoodReads] – there are so many “modern” Sherlock Holmes stories out there, but this one is reading okay so far, although I think there are a few factual errors in terms of some of the details that got missed by the fact checkers or editors.

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King [GoodReads] I’m reading for an online group.

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This story [LINK] about a dog and a drone made me smile a bit and that the owner of the drone got a suitable dose of karma. This isn’t a particular problem around here at the moment, although the number of drones that I see has gone up recently and we get the occasional one being flown around the playing fields near us. I have to say though that most pilots seem to go out of their way to avoid being too near people or dogs being walked.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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I’ve reviewed the academic papers on both sides of the argument about whether or not certain pesticides have an impact on bee populations and my view is that the evidence strongly supports that they have a significant adverse effect [disclosure: I am a biologist / ecologist by training]. So I am pleased to see this news [LINK] that the EU might be about to go for a total ban. I’m not holding my breath, because it may not happen, or our own UK government might decide it doesn’t need to do anything because of Brexit (we are still members of the EU and haven’t left yet, even if the PM signs the letter triggering article 50).

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Finally a quick favour if you’ve read this far. Quick Links goes out every Monday (it used to be a Tuesday but I changed it because Monday seemed better). It is though a review of the week just gone, so sending it out at the start of the next week seems a bit odd. What do you think? Do you have a preferred day? Can you click a single answer in the poll below and let me know. Thank you.

Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General. A bit of an odd week this last week. It would have been my Dad’s 80th birthday, so we marked it privately, seems strange that it’s still only four months that he’s been gone. At times it feels much longer, others like it was just yesterday.

I also spent a day helping to clear my Grandma’s garden shed and garage, it’s amazing how much “stuff” we all seem to accumulate over time, and she was no exception.

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Work. A meeting and a few phone calls probably sums up my work output this week. It’s been a quiet week, and there’s still be no further feedback on any of the proposals that were submitted recently. My reading of that is they have been unsuccessful, so back to the drawing board. This coming week is similarly light at this moment in time.

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Allotment. (I’m going to add a regular allotment section to Quick Links from now on, as things are picking up). The plot is starting to move forward again, as the weather improves. This last week has mostly been dry, and the plot is starting to dry out sufficiently to get on it without fear of compacting the soil too much. I’m about to put out spring broccoli plants, as well as my early potatoes. For some reason I was feeling like I had gotten behind with my planting, however on checking last years journal I find that I’m in exactly the same week for these two things as I was last year (assuming that they are in the soil by next weekend. Lime is down for the brassicas (to help combat club root, amongst other things), and I need to dig my potato trenches, although I’m considering a slightly different method this year, so I need to decide exactly what I am going to do.

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Into The Woods: how one man survived in the wilderness for 27 years [LINK] I’ve mentioned before about a hermit lifestyle, this guy actually did it, although I don’t agree with some of his ultimate methods for getting by day to day.

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Flying High: Why Peregrines are kings of the urban jungle [LINK] I saw my first buzzard from the garden this last week (bringing this years tally up to 20 species), they are a common sight and we’ve have had a kestrel in the garden as well this year. Birds of prey seem to still be very much persecuted in some areas of the Country, despite being illegal it is not uncommon to see reports of them being shot, trapped or poisoned. It’s good to see that some species are able to adapt to us.

It does however seem that we don’t learn the lessons of the past with respect to some other birds of prey. [LINK]

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Currently Reading

The Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter [GoodReads] a birthday present and the “official” sequel to The War of the Worlds. I finished reading this last week and although I enjoyed it, I did think the second half of the book was a little disappointing. I can’t say why without spoiling the story line but I’d still say it’s worth a read either if you’ve read War of the Worlds or you like Stephen Baxter’s other books. I’m not on to:

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman [GoodReads], after only one evening of reading I feel like I am going to get through this one fairly quickly.

A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk’s True Life (Journals Vol. 3) by Thomas Merton [GoodReads]

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King [GoodReads] I’m reading for an online group.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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Here’s Looking At You Kid [LINK] Bush Stone Curlew that likes to admire it’s own reflection.

Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.

My birthday this week, and also a quiet week work wise (see below), not that I planned it that way, but it worked out well for me. Next week is looking a little different, busier and some family things to do.

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Work.

A quiet week this week. No news on any proposals, and I am assuming that no news isn’t necessarily good news. I’ll be doing some chasing next week to see where things stand. A few meetings lined up next week, although at the moment I think it’s likely that it won’t generate any paid work – we’ll see.

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Wonky Veg – I find the results of the surveys reported here to be a little concerning. I think the public is a little bit out of touch when it comes to what’s involved in growing veg at a commercial scale, and just how little the growers actually receive, particularly from large supermarkets. A 50% discount just wouldn’t be viable, but it is better than this just going to waste. I’d be interested to see some more work done on the economics of this, and perhaps a little more education of the public too.

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Australian Urban Wildlife – [LINK] As you probably know, urban wildlife is an important thing to me, so this was a nice read for me, although on the other side of the planet!

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Champion Of The Unofficial Countryside – [LINK] In a way this links to the one above, but it’s important to recognise why these sites are so important.

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Not So Smart Meters – [LINK] I can’t say this surprised me when I read it. Although smart meters are great when they work, I still feel they are too vulnerable to being hacked or other glitches, particularly software problems.

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Q. Why Did The Elephant Cross The Rail Tracks?

A. Because He Wanted To!

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Currently Reading

The Massacre of Mankind by Stephen Baxter [GoodReads] a birthday present and the “official” sequel to The War of the Worlds.

A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk’s True Life (Journals Vol. 3) by Thomas Merton [GoodReads]

The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King [GoodReads] I’m reading for an online group.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.

It’s March already – can’t believe this year seems to be going so fast, I’ve got so much going on that time is flying by. Consequently this edition of Quick Links is likely to be quite light on content.

Next week it’s my birthday and I have a rule that I never work on my birthday. In the past when I have, it’s never a good day at work (something goes wrong or something bad always happens) and consequently I have a bad birthday. This means in the past I’ve taken leave (normally the whole week), now that I work for myself I’ll just take the day off – I don’t book meetings for that day and I tend to screen my calls and email a little more.

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Work.

More work on proposals this week, some are longer term and some with quite quick turn-a-rounds. Still waiting to hear on those already submitted. So far the success rate is zero. That happens sometimes, but paid work is obviously better!

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Currently Reading

Scorched Noir by Garnett Elliott [GoodReads]

A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk’s True Life (Journals Vol. 3) by Thomas Merton [GoodReads]

Wizard and Glass by Stephen King [GoodReads]. The next book in the Dark Tower series,  a book I’m reading for an online group.

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 Shark!

What’s the saying? “You don’t see one of those everyday”? In this case it’s true, bit surprising to see an previously unseen species. It happens occasionally with birds and butterflies but sharks don’t seem to get the same coverage.

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

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Life In General.

It’s been a busy week, mostly with work related stuff (see below) but I’m still working through things on my Grandma’s and my Dad’s estates. It’s difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel on either of these at the moment, but it does make me realise that there are things in my own life that need to be more in order in case anything were ever to happen to me, particularly if it was unexpected. I also attended the scattering of my Grandma’s ashes.

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Work.

A few work related meetings this week, and also another bid to prepare which was due on Friday. I did my bit at the start of the week, so assume that it got submitted, but I haven’t had it confirmed as yet.

I also had a meeting with a second group of students from Solent University. This group are helping me look at ways to grow my existing business. A lot of my work is with repeat customers, so that’s fine, until something happens. Hopefully they will help me to find new customers too.

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Currently Reading

Armada by Ernest Cline [GoodReads] – I also wrote about this earlier last week

A Search for Solitude: Pursuing the Monk’s True Life (Journals Vol. 3) by Thomas Merton [GoodReads]

Wizard and Glass by Stephen King [GoodReads]. The next book in the Dark Tower series,  a book I’m reading for an online group.

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Jaguar Vs. Giant Anteater – It sounds a bit like some 70’s b-movie title, but the camera trap video shows just how little we see of what is actually going on out in the wild [LINK]

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The Week In Wildlife – In Pictures

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New Life In The Solar System – I’m always interested when these sorts of stories are published, but it looks like we’re a long way from knowing what if anything is out there [LINK]

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