February 25th, 2010

Pruning all day. The good news is that I hope to finish tomorrow as I have 5 rows more to do.

We have the Canada Geese back on the pond, for the last 4 years a pair have nested on our island and reared 5-6 chicks. I would love to know if it is the same pair and if so, where they go for the rest of the year. I will keep you updated on their progress.

February 24th, 2010

Oh I am very, very sore. Stomach, Shoulders, Leg, Arms, all aching. Coughing and sneezing is a No No. More so than with my return to football. Anyway lots of pruning to do so can't complain, and perhaps it will help.

February 23rd, 2010

Oh I am sore, the muscles you use for cricket are different than for Football, Pruning and skiing.
At a meeting all day in Kent.

February 22nd, 2010

Football XLD due to the snow so I played cricket for the first time in ~20 years. A 1 Hr net session with Finemere CC. I can honestly say that it was one of the best hrs that I have spent for a long time. As a "young adult" I lived for cricket, never thought that I would get back into it. Could not face committing myself to another team after I left home and Outcasts CC. The bowling action soon came back and I found a bit of line and length with a little swing. Batting was OK, need more time at the crease to get my eye in. Can't wait to play again.

February 20th, 2010

Took these pictures on the way to Super Collette. A fantastic Ice wall and a snap of the road up through the sat nav

February 19th, 2010

So, I ask it every time.

Why do you never see anyone working in a French Vineyard? This photo was taken near Nuits St Georges. Not that clear, but I can assure you that there is no one in the picture. I ask because I need to spend all hours possible just to keep on top of things. Perhaps they work during the night???!!!

February 18th, 2010

Could not resist visiting a vineyard supplier. Took this picture from outside. You can see the vineyards covered in snow literally at the foot of the Alps.

February 17th, 2010

We are on a skiing holiday in the savoie. Fab week, loads of snow and good skiing.

Got a text from the team to say that we were narrowly beaten 3-2 on Monday night.

February 10th, 2010

At a meeting all day today near Aylesbury.



The news reported this morning that Spring is now on average 11 days earlier than in the '70s. Lets hope that means that we will not have a frost problem!

February 9th, 2010

Had an enlightening meeting with a rural business consultant today. More news to follow if it unfolds.

February 8th, 2010

What a day! - Pruning in the snow. It snowed nearly all day without settling. Still I managed to do 6 rows. I have only 15 to more left to do.



oh What a night! - Steph in a 3 Hr Traffic Jam on M4, 8pm Kick off against Buckingham Blues - probably the best team in the league, Arrive home at 8:15, I'm on the pitch at 8:20 at 4-4, We were all over them for the last 8mins, Stuart with a 15yd free kick sealed the victory 5-4. We were (and are still) euphoric. Later in the pub we renamed the team "the (old) crown Jewels ". The other football news is that our founder, manager and captain, Craig resigned last week due to other commitments. We have elected Stuart as the new boss.

February 7th, 2010

I was shocked yesterday when I went to Focus to buy some cutting disks for my angle grinder. Nearly £5.00 for one disk! Screwfix do them at £4.27 for a pack of 5. Enough said!

Long day cutting, burnt out my machine but good old Clive a neighbour came to the rescue with his more industrial 9" Bosch. With it in pieces with the help of my father-in-law Dave we were able to lift it off the trailer. Now I have to figure out how to put it back together without a crane??

February 6th, 2010

On our way to Sussex to buy a second hand John Deere Subsoiler and Mole plough.
I have my little helper Andrew for company.

What a big beast, decided to buy it and cut it down as it looks a quality item.

February 5th, 2010

10DegC Today, first time it has made it since boxing day. The sun makes for light work! However, despite the snow I noticed today that the weeds are coming back. Only in patches at the moment and probably growing very slowly, but they are there. I must remember to record what grows and when. I have had to prune most of the Pinot Meunier vines back to 3 buds as they have not made enough wood in the first year. Another note to self is that next year I should lift the grow tubes on a windy Autumn day to allow the dead leaves to blow away. I have noticed that in some of the tubes there is a wet mess that I am sure would not be beneficial and would probably harbour all manner of maladies. Further to that for the first time I have noticed Slugs, I hope they will not be a problem later in the year. I also heared racing from Silverstone today or I am hearing things.

February 4th, 2010

I am now past the mid way mark - in terms of number of rows completed, but as the plot is not square I know that I am not mid way in terms of actual number of vines pruned. So I did a quick calculation and worked out that the actual mid way point is 4 rows to the east of the middle row. This has lifted my spirit as I was expecting it to be a lot more than 4 rows. The up shot of this news is that 5 days into the job I am more than 1/2 way!

February 3rd, 2010

I enjoyed today very much as I had a helper. Yes, James came to help me do some pruning. We chatted extensively about all manner of things and especially wine, terrior, viticulture, geology and holidays. With the company what is normally a long day seemed to fly by. Not only did we achieve a great deal but in some way it has rejuvenated my enthusiasm for what is after all a very monotonous job.

One of the things we discussed was the lifetime of wire used in trellising. I am not exactly sure of the life expectancy of wire but later in the evening after James had gone home I noticed one of our trees that had grown around a barb wire fence. As you can see it must be very old as the wire is ~1/2 way through a very old tree.

February 2nd, 2010

More pruning, I have done ~20 rows. The Bacchus did not make as much wood as as the chardonnay so I am cutting a lot back to 3 buds. Miserable day cold and wet.

Took a photo of soil formation by weathering today. As you can see the ice has shattered the limestone.

lost 3-2 last night. We were 2-1 up and blew it again. I missed an open goal so take a lot of responsibility. However, we only had 6 so no subs.