Where I am today

[gaza the instructor]

Yep think we may agree on that one Mash, makes a nice drop.

[WelshGin]

I too only make nuetral currently. I state it as that, because if there is a Mash that would then progress to a really nice dark rum, I would treat that as a separate project, different 25 litre buckets what ever required

Otherwise, on with the Gin.!

[buffalobob]

Hey Mash, how's your mate getting on with his new setup, has he fired it up yet?

[Mash]

It's on its fourth or fifth run now.
I genuinely think he is enjoying it. Obviously more involved that the AS.
It now has an uprated electric supply. 16 amp commando and that I think That is right on the limit.

I might send him your pick about insulation

[buffalobob]

Wow, he really has taken to it

[Mash]

I do fear he will need a boat soon though. To get out of the house.

[WelshGin]

Today, I have once again been so pleased with the NHS in their attitude and reaction to the care required to keep my daughter alive.

My daughter called us 1.30am Saturday morning, my wife established she most likely had a bowel blockage, which is very quickly terminal. My wife called Christies Hospital in Manchester (a NHS cancer hospital), they arranged that my daughter be received by the QE hospital in Birmingham immediately.

After reception, my wife present, every (I believe every thing) was and is being done. At one point a surgeon in Manchester stated he had a driver and car, if he could not establish the problem and resolution from the scans and data he was receiving he would be on his way south.

My wife home now. My daughter feeling much better, the wheels remain on this family's wagon.

Thank you NHS.

And I wish to add. All NHS. When you are really knocking on that door, forget private Medical Care. If it's close to terminal but in any way rectifiable, the NHS. A posh bereavement suite is not an option.

[gaza the instructor]

I think the saying is "Stranger things happen at sea".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfh0dZdqMgk

Well it could only happen in America!!

[Jennysgin]

WG - glad your daughter is doing better. We do indeed owe the NHS so much!

[Mash]

Welsh.

Blimey you certaintly have a lot going on.
Marvellous work done by the NHS. They do indeed do a great job.

[Mash]

I think the saying is "Stranger things happen at sea".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfh0dZdqMgk

Well it could only happen in America!!

"Fell from the sky" is all that is wrong with the news (world wide).

"Bird dropped snake & went to retrieve it. Woman's arm got in the way" I don't suppose goes viral.

[buffalobob]

Got set up for mashing and realised I was down on wheat bran. By chance our lass was in town shopping so asked her to call in Holland and barrett. She texted out of stock. After a bit of searching on their site I found a last chance to buy option ...which guess what, out of stock . Went on the helpline to ask when it would be back in stock to be told it's been discontinued ffs. What a blow. No flour mills near me so back on line again looking for alternative suppliers

[gaza the instructor]

What about this lot BB.
https://www.buywholefoodsonline.co.uk/s ... eat%20bran

[buffalobob]

Found this on Amazon last night Gazza

20230821_204928.jpg

It was £4.96 for 2kg. Nowhere near as good a price as H&B. I used to pay £1.29 for 1.5kg ( 2 x 750g bags). I had to lay down in a darkened room after that purchase, no one saw me weep though, I had the good sense to pull the blinds down.
Mashing now, it better be a fecking good brew at that price. Did a bit of delving last night ( not a euphemism Gazza ) and found H&B are part owned by a Russian oligarch so they can feck right off in future

[buffalobob]

PS forgot to mention it had a very good expiry date not that I take much notice of em, 19/07/24.

[gaza the instructor]

As long as you are happy BB

[buffalobob]

I wouldn't go that far Gazza, I'm still in shock. 2kg will make 200l of wash for a fiver which isn't alot in the scheme of things. I'll just have to get used to it,

[gaza the instructor]

I am still using lentils I bought in lock=down its the sugar that has gone up for me.

[buffalobob]

you must have the prepper mentality Gazza. I wish I had the foresight to stash a shed load of sugar before it virtually doubled in price

[gaza the instructor]

Its not really that BB I only use 150g per 25l wash along with a dash of tommy paste
and a half tsp citric. So they go a long way and don't go off.
Special offer on that site in lockdown was 5kg £2.50, so am still able to set a quality
wash for less than £3.50.

[Mash]

I have a darkened room on standby. I fear fresh wine grapes are going to be astronomical this year. 60% of the Italian harvest lost to hail and mildew. With that & fuel & & &. Just panicking.

[gaza the instructor]

And that means wine goes up. My fav red atm is Black Stump,
which comes from the land down under. Two years ago bought
buy the case, £5.99 a go. Now £8.99 and that is not a ten percent
rise.

[phantom]

And that means wine goes up. My fav red atm is Black Stump,
which comes from the land down under. Two years ago bought
buy the case, £5.99 a go. Now £8.99 and that is not a ten percent
rise.

See, I've always preferred the heavier, more "chewy" Bordeaux and Burgundies, but Black Stump is one of the New World wines that's a goody too - there was a Jacobs Creek one that was similar a few years back, but I can't remember the actual name as it seemed to disappear 2 or 3 years later and I've not seen it for sale since.

I'm not a fan of many New World ones, generally because I find them a bit too "light and fruity" - I don't follow why they don't make more like the ones above, but hey ho!............

[gaza the instructor]

A lot of Bordeaux's are a bit spicy for my taste, but I was given two bottles of Pomerol
for services provided and very nice they were too, but at £60 a pop won't be buying
any replacements soon.
Tried some Cabalie and although not as heavy as Black Stump a very nice drop and as
Laithwaites no one red a case of twelve dropped the price to £7.99 and is a wine light
enough to quaff without food. This is a southern French almost Spanish wine and all
seem to like it.

[buffalobob]

Crop failures seem to be a sign of the times due to abnormal weather