We are now in the hungry gap, that time of year when traditionally there’s not been much to harvest. I’ve gradually been working to make the hungry gap a bit more abundant for us and that’s important because we are self-sufficient in veg. I’ve a series of videos that cover...
I’m a huge fan of the iPhone (and Android) app Moves, that I’ve been running silently in the background on my iPhone for the last couple of years. It provides a fairly accurate record of where I’ve been each day and how many calories I’ve burned walking and cycling. It...
I’ve suffered from Adult Onset Still’s disease and secondary Fibromyalgia for close to 15 years, that means daily pain and fatigue and lots of pain killers to help me through the day. When I retired 6 months ago I decided that one of my first challenges would be to find...
Debbie and I are in Nottingham today, one of the four places that we’ve lived for more than a year and as a result it feels like home. We lived here for our three university years, which were amazing, so it’s always a joy to come back, and I often...
This post documents a superb circular walk around London, following mostly waterways, that I did with my eldest daughter, Steph, during August. The weather was fantastic, London was heaving with people, but we experienced a different tranquil, fascinating side to London that was new to me. I highly recommend this...
Windermere is my favourite lake, not just because of it’s scenic beauty, surrounding fell views and vibrant atmosphere, but because of it’s practicality. It’s quick and easy to get to, there’s lots of parking, fantastic cafes to top and tail the walk and endless walking variety. This post chronicles one...
Now that I’m retired I need to watch what I spend and an important part of that is not travelling too far from home for great days out walking. The ‘Lytham Loop’ is an important part of that strategy, I can cycle to Lytham and do ‘the loop’ and it...
We discovered Arnside as a family when we stayed there in a holiday home a few years ago and fell in love with it. The holiday was curtailed when I collapsed on the bedroom floor and inexplicably went into hypothermic shock and had to be wrapped in sleeping bags for...
One of my first retirement challenges is to complete 100 of the best walks in the UK, as a way to increase my fitness, but also as a way to introduce myself to many areas of the UK that I’ve not visited before. As my fitness builds I’m going to...
The Rivington Reservoir system provides me with a perfect local walking location. It’s only a 40 minute drive from my breakfast cafe of choice and yet is a fair substitute for the Lake District that’s twice the distance and twice as busy. It doesn’t provide the variety of the Lakes...
A couple of recent harvests as we achieve spring abundance, we buy the tomatoes in March! #Digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
Back harvesting again after a few days off #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
Cycling and walking today in between the showers #notjustgardening
Golden hour on the beach this morning, before harvesting #sunrise #loveukweather #beachlife #beach #gooutside #scenery #views #thegoodlife
Autumn harvest #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
I was suffering over the weekend, so I just did a little family harvest to keep us going. Normal service will resume next weekend #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
Yesterday’s allotment haul #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
It’s our allotments open day on Saturday, Debbie and I will be on our plots if you want to come along and say hello #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
First post COVID harvest and the first time it’s felt like we have an abundance of summer fruits #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
We’ve had a great first half of the year, grown way more than last year from the same land. The bumper harvests are over now as I turn my focus towards autumn, winter and spring abundance. While harvesting ‘just enough’ over summer #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
Broke another harvest record this week, brining our total for the year to £4,000 close to a 20% increase on last year from the same land with more increases to come, especially in autumn and spring. I’ve increased close to 20% every year so far #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife
Weekly harvests are just as we like them now, not too big, not too small, just right. We let the table be our guide #digforvictory #selfsufficient #backyardgarden #kitchengarden #allotment #allotmentlife