Where I am today

[Elecrafter]

This is my problem also, a freezer packed with sloes, and no Gin!
I should manage a neutral run this weekend, then some gin, then some steeping.
For a truly home made sloe gin, you need home produced sugar.
I don't yet grow sugarbeet.

Holy fick shut!
I wonder what it would be like with honey from 'my' bees?
This has to be tried.

Although, really, the neutral needs to be made with my honey, and not store bought sugar.
This may have to be done in stages, over time, as the bees produce more honey.
Just the thought has brought a smile to my face.

Robert.

I made my neutral with Aldi Branflakes, and it came out really nice.

Ele.

[gaza the instructor]

Gentlemen , and Ladies, I have been busy with a little project.
I have a friend, no It's true honest, who runs an alcohol class
dragster. The fuel they buy, at £10 per litre is E85 or 85%.
I said I could do better, so I did.
I made 250 ltrs of best Kale wash with 60 kg of sugar.
Cost was £46 approx plus leccy so £200000002.45.
I did run twice on the reflux to get max strength, did not need
cuts and ended up with 37.5 ltrs at 91%.
It worked, car ran low times, he was happy and I was knackered.
It will never happen again.

[Jennysgin]

So do they run it on alcohol because it is more renewable etc? £10 a litre for their usual fuel sounds a bit steep!

[gaza the instructor]

Drag Racing is not a green sport. Alcohol makes more power. Nitromethane
even more power. normal C16 or 116 octane race fuel is now £40 per Gallon
thanks to these green dicks! All we want is to run our cars over the quarter
mile as fast as possible and safely so others can watch and enjoy as well.
This pursuit is called FUN ! and its great to have fun.

[Easydrinker]

Wait until inflation means it costs that much to take your Nissan Miccra to the supermarket!

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

So, yesterday, to help out a friend, I did my first Pub quiz.
I should not have drunk a couple of bottles of my own before leaving the house, because apart from the awful beer, it was better than expected.
One more of lifes experiences under my belt.

There being no Pub within walking distance of my home and no public transport, this was probably a once in a lifetime thing, as it needs copious amounts of alcohol to enter into the spirit and not become a quiz nerd.

Robert.

[Jennysgin]

Drag Racing is not a green sport. Alcohol makes more power. Nitromethane
even more power. normal C16 or 116 octane race fuel is now £40 per Gallon
thanks to these green dicks! All we want is to run our cars over the quarter
mile as fast as possible and safely so others can watch and enjoy as well.
This pursuit is called FUN ! and its great to have fun.

My mistake!

[Easydrinker]

Ask Elon Musk how much CO2 he produces pushing rich folk into space?...
Captain Kirk has played his part in destroying Planet Earth...
Bitter sweet irony.

Robert.

[Mash]

I said years ago there would be the rich and famous "running" the earth from a control module in space. Hmmm.

[DorsetScott]

Just catching up, and going back to the sloe gin conversation, I ran an experiment last year, 2 batches with the same recipe. 1 the sloes were removed after 3 months, the second they were removed after 6. The flavour is definitely better in the 6 month batch, a little fuller.
I believe the longer it is left, the more almond flavour you will get come through as the stones contain something (I want to say cyanide) which creates the flavour.

Also, re-using the sloes I'd recommend slider personally. Top the jar up with some still cider after you've strained out the gin and leave it for a few days. Nice rosy colour, hnt of sloe and gin flavour and the cider becomes a little stronger.

Alas, I have struck out with sloes this year so I won't be making any

[Mash]

Struck out... Have they all been "scrumpped" already?

[DorsetScott]

I'm guessing so, or just a bad year for my usual spots. Normaly not a problem.

[Easydrinker]

I said years ago there would be the rich and famous "running" the earth from a control module in space. Hmmm.

Isaac Asimov, was writing in a similar vein over 40 years ago.
It has taken until current times for the super rich to get to this point.
Alibaba lost 340 Billion last week, but are still a player.
Do the super rich give a F*** about climate change?
No, they are planning to go live on Fhloston.

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

So, I am into day two of this winters first round of "man flu".
I feel like shit.
Ironic.
This time next week I will have had the winter flu jab, and the covid booster.

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

Happier note,
After six days of no show, my pine marten has been back for his two eggs left out each night, for the last two nights.
They "magically" appear underneath the same upturned plant pot every night.
Who can guess what he makes of this process?

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

I had a rhubarb wine that went a bit 'foosty' during ferment a while back, mainly due to me lacking the tools to measure Ph, and guessing wrong, at every intervention.
Gave up on it being wine, distilled it, not bad as a flavoured neutral.
Steeped some Damsons in some 74% spirit.
It is not, but I am calling it Plum Brandy.
Currently on my third glass of the evening.

Does anyone else remember that in the 1970's there was always a bottle of Plum Brandy sitting at the back of the drinks cupboard,and no-one knew how it got there?
Or wanted to drink it!

Robert.

[Mash]

Plum Brandy sitting at the back of the drinks cupboard

My gran sure had one. Very sweet and very "mature"

[Easydrinker]

Your Gran, the brandy or both?

Robert.

[Mash]

Good observation. Both

[Boozoid]

Oh bobbins ...
Charged the boiler with 20L low wines, set the needle valve to one drip a second to remove the heads. Came back 40 mins later to it pissing out and the pint collection vessel overflowing , the shed floorboards soaked. I think I just emptied ALL the alc onto the floor.

[Icefever]

Oh bobbins ...
Charged the boiler with 20L low wines, set the needle valve to one drip a second to remove the heads. Came back 40 mins later to it pissing out and the pint collection vessel overflowing , the shed floorboards soaked. I think I just emptied ALL the alc onto the floor.

My wife has just said "ah bless" after I read this to her.... what were you thinking dude??? never leave a still running. We all have to learn from our mistakes...sorry for your loss...

Ice.

[Mash]

Bugger.
Occasionally I too forget the heads and come back to a puddle. I have my stills in stainless trays. So it goes back in.

[Easydrinker]

It is usually the tails that collect in my overflow vessel.
Usually because I crashed out and fell asleep mid- movie!
The only significant, useful, alchohol losses that I have suffered have been due to breakage of glass vessels.
All due to clumsiness,
Only some due to alcholic clumsiness.

Robert.

[Easydrinker]

So today I managed to get my winter flu and Covid booster shots.
An hour in the queue, but what the, it happened.
I hope to still be here come the spring.
But, after a week of proper MAN flu, I reserve the right to stay in bed for the whole of tomorrow!
Sadly, my employer, me, does not accept sick notes.
We will have a chat when I wake up

Robert.

[Elecrafter]

ED,
Several of my friends had 24 / 48 hours of sweats or chills after having the booster.
Wife and I had booster on Monday, and so far, apart from a very slight ache in the arm where they attacked me with a thin needle, we are both OK.

Chin up lad, it shouldn't last very long.

Ele.