The Retirement Thread

[Drago]

Me water butts are full again.

 

[Dave7]

This is the 1st year since we planted the orchard that we have successfully managed to produce fruit. Cherries, pears, cooking apples, eating apples. It's noticeable that this year is also the 1st year that we haven't had any squirels. They seem to have disappeared, just like the rabbits.

I seem to have all your bloody squirrels

 

[Mo1959]

This is the 1st year since we planted the orchard that we have successfully managed to produce fruit. Cherries, pears, cooking apples, eating apples. It's noticeable that this year is also the 1st year that we haven't had any squirels. They seem to have disappeared, just like the rabbits.

Dad had a lot of apple trees. A mix of eating and cooking. He experimented grafting on species from other trees too so some trees actually had more than one variety on them.

I bought him a nice eating apple a while ago. The variety was Katy if I remember correctly. A nice crunchy red eating apple. He had a little pear tree which was never successful for some reason. There were a few little fruits formed but they never came to anything.

 

[Paulus]

Me water butts are full again.

So are mine.

 

[PaulSB]

The waterproof breathable jacket thing is tricky. I know @Mo1959 was talking about walking and cycling is a different ball game.

For the bike I have found the solution. I feel the cold and for years I wrapped in layer after layer, would sweat profusely and still get cold as the sweat clung to my body. Putting on a fresh base layer at the halfway mark helped but wasn't ideal.

Last winter I decided to take a punt, an expensive punt. I now wish I had done this years ago. I spent £210 on a Lusso Deep Winter jacket, their Deep Winter base layer and the Spring base layer. Those added another £100, so £310 in total.

A game changer, absolute game changer. I now get out on winter rides wearing only a base layer and the jacket. No more Michelin Man for Paul. I also have a Galibier quilted gilet I can throw in to the mix. That's another fabulous piece of kit.

 

[PaulSB]

This is the 1st year since we planted the orchard that we have successfully managed to produce fruit. Cherries, pears, cooking apples, eating apples. It's noticeable that this year is also the 1st year that we haven't had any squirels. They seem to have disappeared, just like the rabbits.

How long have the trees been planted?

 

[PaulSB]

Early on I had my cuppa plus KitKat then went back to bed for an hour.
Just had a warm croissant with runny honey (which is now not so runny).

A food/veg/salad question for you.
When I have eg a roast I enjoy my veg/salad (not sprouts ).
Must be a new thing but both my daughter and son have taken to adding fresh fruit to it eg yesterday's offering was mixed green salad WITH SLICED STRAWBERRYS.
Definitely not to my liking, I left the strawbobs to one side and ate them later.

I'd say this was a thing decades ago and must be doing the rounds again. I don't think it works but I guess that depends on what one expects from salad.

For me green salad is either lettuce alone or lettuce plus a mixture of other leaves. Dress with a little salt, oil and vinegar. I enjoy lots of other salads but those are meals on their own.

Then there is Salade Niçoise. ❤️ Oh joy. To die for. Tuna, anchovies, boiled eggs, tomato, artichokes, black olives, never ever potatoes. Add a fresh baguette on the side. Hmmmm. Only one place to eat this. Nice! With a cold, sharp rosé

 

[welsh dragon]

How long have the trees been planted?

20 years. We do get fruit on them but the squirrels go for the fruit weeks before the fruit is rope. This year is different

 

[welsh dragon]

And the rain has arrived. Its quite oppressive here and has been all day, then the sky went dark and the heavens have opened