March 19th, 2010

As we haven't had any rain now for a couple of weeks the ground is very dry and hard. I am using the subsoiler today.

Bit nervous as the subsoiler is a mighty beast. I do not want to damage any vines. I have decided to every other row now and the other half in the Autumn. Got on well and was impressed with the tractor. I could pull it without too much problem. I think that I went down to a maximum of 24" at the deepest points.

Soil compaction is caused by going up and down the rows in the same lines this will result in poor drainage and weak root growth. Subsoiling cuts vine roots, removes the compaction and aerates the soil which stimulates the vine to develop deeper and denser roots and as always this should increase the quality of the grapes and therefore the wine.

www.chafor.co.uk

info@chafor.co.uk

March 18th, 2010

Knocked a few posts in to make a storage area for the remaining posts. Spent ~2hrs taking the post basher off the tractor, it is so heavy that one false move and it would be over, hopefully without me under it! I have tied it to a post with wires so I trust that it will be safe. Spent the next few hrs rebuilding the subsoiler, several trips to Browns later and I am in business. It only just clears the ground when the linkage if fully raised. Managed to drive to Gawcott without ripping up the road.

www.chafor.co.uk

info@chafor.co.uk

March 17th, 2010

at 2pm I can declare that I have finished the bashing. I am so relieved and exhausted.

1,000 Intermediate posts
280 End posts

Done!

Now I have the box sections to make
~6000 nails to knock in
39,000m or 24 miles of wire to pull and tension

www.chafor.co.uk
info@chafor.co.uk

March 16th, 2010

Keep getting "twangers" ie the post goes in apparently straight and as I lift the weight at the end the tension is released and the post "twangs" Not sure why, perhaps stones? You can see from the photo that the basher was absolutely straight, but the post is at a slight angle.

Should finish tomorrow as I down to the last 5 rows.

http://www.chafor.co.uk/

info@chafor.co.uk

March 15th, 2010

Weather still nice and the ground is getting hard. I am planning to put the summer tyres on the Landrover this weekend. Finished the driving the posts for the box sections at the top of the vineyard today. Getting there....

4:2 victory against Buckingham Blues. One for me and a hat-trick for Ricky. great result.


www.chafor.co.uk
info@chafor.co.uk

March 12th, 2010

More post bashing, the forecast was for showers. Took this photo at 11:30. still only resulted in a light shower.

March 11th, 2010

Guess where my hand was - near miss! I thought it was weak as it did bow as I bashed it.

Met Darren this morning at Cox and Robbinson. He has kindly given me a small bale of straw for the chickens.

Still cold at nigh with a -2DegC frost this morning at 6:30. The day has been good and dry.

http://www.chafor.co.uk/

info@chafor.co.uk

March 10th, 2010

Guess what? yes more post bashing. Just got to keep going. I think that the end is in sight!

The electric board changed the telegraph pole outside our house today. I now have 3 new gate posts and a source!

Quick count up and I have ~318 more to go. I should be finished by the end of next week and then at last I will be able to start som of the other jobs.

The Canada Geese are back again.

http://www.chafor.co.uk/

info@chafor.co.uk

March 9th, 2010

Post bashing, using some 9' intermediates - lot more difficult than the 8' ones. They also need a lot more hits with the weight therefore much a longer job.

Still no rain and the ground is drying up well.

http://www.chafor.co.uk/

info@chafor.co.uk

March 8th, 2010

-5DegC this morning, still very cold under the clear sky's during the night. The day was glorious with lots of sunshine.

Spent the day on our test site of 50 vines planted in 2008. We have 25 Chardonnay and 25 Pinot Noir. They were planted to test the ground and be a test bed for all aspects of the vineyard. Today I pruned them back and bent them down for the first time. Picture is not that clear. I also completely finished the trellising.

You would think that the field behind our house is on fire from this photo, but no it is just a red sunset!

Lost 5:2 to Buckingham Badgers. Dissapointing as they are a team that we can beat. No subs and all tired out with 10 to go. Lost shape chasing the game. I scored a tap-in on the line.

March 5th, 2010

Not had rain now for several days and the ground is drying out. From the pictures you can see how the soil is changing to a much lighter colour and cracks are appearing and in the last picture you can see that the texture of the soil has become much more crumbly. Perhaps this is the start of summer soil conditions?

http://www.chafor.co.uk/

info@chafor.co.uk

March 3rd, 2010

Managed to rip off the rear mudflap yet again today. Decided to mend it properly so went to Quick Sharp, bought a mending strip and a riveter. Good job! Still getting on with the box sections. My Old McCulloch chainsaw has finally given up. Not only will it not start, but the chain break drum has snapped so several hundred pounds lighter I am now the proud owner of a new Sthil. I knew that I was going to have to get one sooner or later, but I would have preferred later.

More box sections.


www.chafor.co.uk
info@chafor.co.uk

March 2nd, 2010

Warm days and cold nights. I think that I got a touch of sunburn today. Perhaps you can see in the photo how frost can kill fragile shoots soon after bud burst. This was taken in our garden recently. As you can see the shoots are black and shriveled up. I am just praying that the vines do not burst until after our last frost day. Early May...

Put the trailer on the landrover today and got stuck in the mud - nearly!

www.chafor.co.uk

info@chafor.co.uk

March 1st, 2010

Spring is in the air. This morning I watched a hen Blackbird gather up some moss for a nest liner. Won't be long now to bud burst and the hedgerows back in full green. The news is talking again about how we get spring earlier than decades previous. The snow drops are out and the daff's have started to grow have not diarised this before so ??? The news also reported that it was the coldest winter in England for 31 years.

Today turned out fine and dry, back on the trellising. ~80 box sections to make




Went to the Cricket nets at Bicester, had a 45 min bowling session. Dashed to Buckingham and played football. We had a 2:2 draw against iChat. Disappointing as we were 2:0 up, very positive as we are now at least matching these skillfull, quicker and much younger teams.


My big issue is that now I am back into sport my Mind, Enthusiasm and Hunger is that of a 20year old, My skill, speed and most importantly my body is that of a 40something!




I am going to hurt tomorrow - Just keep pushing

February 26th, 2010

Finished the pruning. 5000, average 15 snips = 75,000 snips in total. Can't wait until the vines are in full foliage and it will be 10x the work.