Saturday 12 to Wednesday 16 September 2026

Our wild grapes that cover the laundry have deep purple berries and a plan is hatched to pick them, despite the wasps, hornets, bees and yellow jackets that buzz about. Four huge stock pots are filled to overflowing and the plan is to make grape and pear chutney and some grape juice that can be mixed with something alcoholic to make cocktails. Never a dull moment here at LPR.

We collect pears from our pear tree, bay leaf from our bay tree and with a mix of spices, onion, garlic and ginger, the boiling, mashing, straining and reducing produces 700 mls of sticky sweet juice that make three jars of delicious black grape chutney.

There is also about 1.5 litres of grape juice, ready for a slight reduction to cordial consistency and then it can be bottled and grace our little bar.

The hot weather has returned to mid-30s and Flashy is back in the pool. It’s a refreshing 23c. I think he is well insulated.

Just so he won’t become bored and sit in the shade drinking beer, Lady P convinced him to cut down four trees at the rear of the property. So, on Tuesday, out came the chainsaw and down came the trees. Bloody dangerous, hot and thirsty work.

Trees down.

Flashy in amongst it.

No snakes.

Small saw. Big trees.

Enjoying a coldie after the work. A non woke stubby holder from Oz.

The last of the brioche loaf. Plus healthy fruit and yoghurt.

Grapes=chutney and cordial