Alan Williams's Blog, page 46

The Snow Guardian

Nest Boxes

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I wrote a few weeks ago about cleaning the bird boxes ahead of this years nesting season, well it looks like I wasn’t a moment too soon as blue tits are checking out the sparrow box (above).

This particular box has been the most successful one in our garden since we’ve had it. As you can probably see it is actually three boxes together, the individual holes lead to separate nest boxes. It’s designed to attract house sparrows, who are communal nesters, but it’s never had a sparrow nest in it....

Breadmaker

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I think I’ve killed our breadmaker.

There’s nothing quite like a loaf of homemade fresh bread. I know a bread making machine is still cheating somewhat to say that all our bread is home made, but it still tastes better than shop bought loaves. When I’m on the road, and the sandwiches I’ve got in my backpack, are made from bread, made in the bread maker, it brings a piece of home with me at lunchtime.

On Sunday, I was running the breadmaker for a fresh loaf (we normally get through a couple o...

The Magnificent Seven

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There’s a Hollywood habit of rebooting classic movies, and The Magnificent Seven is no different (twice if you count Seven Samauri). I’ve wanted to watch this for a while and had a chance yesterday.

It’s not a bad remake. It pays sufficient homage to the original film and it’s three sequels in the storyline and is sufficiently different to stand in its own right. The characters are different to the original, although having those characteristics that make them all misfits and gunslingers wit...

Foggy Day

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It was a very foggy day yesterday. I’m used to taking my dogs for a walk in the dark, and I have a good head torch, so it’s no big deal, but fog is a little different. It was so thick yesterday, I could stand on the centre spot of the football field, and I couldn’t see either end or either side of the pitch. I could hear other people walking their dogs (mostly calling for them, because they’d wandered off into the fog), but I didn’t see another sole.

It always reminds me of the Stephen King...

Quick Links 23rd January 2017

Each week I’ll try and post quick links to things that I’ve seen, read, inspired me or just sparked my interest in the previous week, with a little background and my thoughts and other things that I’ve been up to in the previous week. Mostly gardening, cooking and environmental stuff but not always.

Life In General.

This last week has been pretty similar to the last with more arrangements around funerals and alike, also quite a heavy work week (see below).

Work.

I’ve also been spending quit...

Some Movies I’d Like To See

I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the car this past week. I’ve had the radio on during my travels and have caught a couple of interviews about a couple of different films. They’ve also been playing a lot of music from one of those films. Although I’ll probably wait for DVD release I might go and see on or both, if I have the time.

Some Thoughts On Instagram Live

I did my first Instagram Live post yesterday. It was of course from the allotment.

Two of my followers saw that I was lived and watched part of the broadcast.

I’ve got a couple of observations. First it takes a while for your followers to get and respond to the notification that you’re Live, so probably best to start the broadcast and then at least wait until someone shows up. Otherwise you are talking to yourself.

Secondly there is no record of your broadcast, when you finish it, the video’s...

Need Another(!) Pair of Wellingtons

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Earlier this week we went for an afternoon walk to Portchester Castle, which isn’t very far from us, and I’ve mentioned it here before I think.

One of the reasons we like walking here, is because it’s on the edge of Portsmouth Harbour, and the dogs can play in the water if they choose to.

This occasion was now exception. This time however Ruby lost her ball in the surf, and couldn’t see where it was. Having the advantage of height I could see where it was, and was trying to point it out to h...

Cauliflower Cheese

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Cauliflower cheese is one of my favourite dishes for a cold winter’s evening. Here’s a recipe for how I make it – there are of course plenty of others out there.

You’ll need:

1 largish cauliflower (will make enough for 3 to 4 people, depending on appetite) 1 and 1/2 pints of milk (semi-skimmed is fine) 100g butter 100g flour 200 – 300g of grated cheddar cheese (or similar) 4 to 6 eggs (hard boiled) 2 teaspoons of English mustard Salt & pepper to taste Nutmeg If your eggs aren’t already ha...