Apologies if anyone had access issues this morning, we have moved to a bigger server as we had neared the hosting limit on the old one. All should be OK now

The new one has 10x more space, that should keep us happy for a few years!

Purchased a Nissan Vanette camper van yesterday for Kato and I to have some days out together with an overnight stopover if we wanted.

Has MOT but needs a bit of interior work to get it the way I want it so may be stuck on the drive for a while. It has most of the mod cons including television, hook up cable, washbasin etc but is not in the configuration I would like it.

Would like to add a swivelling passenger seat and remodel the interior. It has an elevating roof so at least I won't have to crouch down inside.
I just hope it doesn't finish up as a half-finished project like some of my other follies!

As the title suggests, I have an absolute glut of pears, some have been bottled in port as well as some in brandy.

Any other suggestions for preserving/using pears?

The garden is starting to go into autumn /winter mode as leaves start to fall and annuals die back. Its a good time to wander around and appraise your plot. 
What worked, what didn't. What needs removing or cutting back. Where there are unwanted gaps that need filling. Plants that need to be moved to a better position. The list goes on.

Have a mooch round and see what strikes you - and share your thoughts with us.

My list is growing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/science-en...t-58587691

Worth a watch!

Must be honest I’ve only looked at the picture in this book. Of which there are some absolute stunners. 
We have a pre release copy because Bob has one of his photos in it. 



https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/wild-mull

This post by Sarah Backmo  https://www.sarabackmo.com/growing-carro...y3-eYD2hbY about Growing carrots (and eating carrots) all year round looks useful and challenging!
I don't have much luck growing carrots, not really thought about  summer or winter carrot seeds so I'm thinking of trying Sarah's planning schedule:- 

Instructions:

1. Late fall/winter: Winter sow summer carrots outdoors, in a sheltered spot
   
   
2. Winter: Winter sow summer carrots in a polytunnel
   
   
3. Early spring: Sow summer carrots outside or in a planter box
   
   
4. Early spring: Sow winter carrots outside (in one or two beds)
   
   
5. Late spring: Sow summer carrots outside/in a planter box
   
   
6. Early summer: Sow summer carrots outside/in a planter box
   
   
7. Summer: Sow summer carrots outside/in a planter box
   

I've come to the conclusion, after at least 40 years,  that I need to begin to be a little more organised.  In the spring I get all excited and sow anything and everything, fill up the patch at planting out and even if I wanted to successional sow, I haven't got the space.  So I thought a sowing calendar might be a reminder to be less enthusiastic in spring, leaving room for later sowing.  I run a desultory spreadsheet but the novelty wanes as the season progresses, I forget to look at my written garden book, so I thought I could run a second 'garden' calendar on my tablet completely separate from the existing humdrum daily household one, but I've yet to figure out how to have two distinct calendars.  The one I have syncs all together into one  display.  Next thought was an app with a reminder feature.  I'm still investigating than but I was after something simple.

I've heard PP talk about her sowing reminder, so my question is:  Does anyone have any bright ideas? What do you do to remind you about sowing at times other than spring?

We have been feeding this lost/abandoned dog for three months now in the hope of bringing him in from the forest. Despite posting pictures on all the local lost pet pages nobody has claimed him or reported a similar animal missing.

He's is so timid that we canot get within 50 metres of him before he bolts, which is hearbreaking. The closest I've got is about 15m when he turned in at the bottom of the drive as I was walking down  - he fled so fast he fell down in the road   You have to wonder what has happened in his life to leave him like this.

We're working with a local charity and have decided the only way forward is to trap him as the weather is starting to get worse. Poor guy.
We've called him Didi and I still hope I might find him waiting at the feeding spot one evening. He rarely comes before dusk  - this picture was taken by the trail cam.
   

I've been leaving bits of clothing out that smell of me - tatty gloves and socks - all of which have been taken away, and he once brought us a ball!

So not exactly a pet, but an animal I worry greatly about.

Treated myself to a mandoline yesterday because I have been wanting one for ages.
Trouble is I can’t remember WHY I wanted it in the first place.
Any suggestions, please, for what I can start doing with it. 
Or is it going to be stuffed in the pantry along with the kitchen blow torch that has never come out of its packaging.