I was surprised this morning when I heard BBC Radio 4 proclaim a warm end to 2011. In fact, I was so surprised I picked up the camera, put on multiple layers of clothes, slipped into my overtrousers and jacket, wrapped a scarf around my neck, popped my woolly hat on, went outside and crunched [...]
Read moreAnd now a hard frost
We’ve gone from wet and cool to hard frozen this morning. The temperature fell to -5C overnight, leaving a good skin of ice on all the standing water around the steading, nipping the broad bean seedlings, killing some of the herbs that had been moved out of the sunporch and turned the muddy ground into [...]
Read moreWinter’s last blast?
We’ve now had three days of hail, sleet and snow, often combined with strong winds, so feeding the animals can be a little interesting as the Other Half found when she fed Daisy this morning. It’s not proper winter weather as the snow is neither deep nor lasting, but it is cold and wet.
Read moreFood is as important as energy
Energy security has made it back into the mainstream media in recent times, but I’m still waiting for reports on an issue that is likely to have much more signifance. It’s an issue that’s hinted at in the agricultural trade press, skimmed over by most politicians, the mainstream media and many environmental groups, and is [...]
Read moreAnother cold day
When the BBC weather observations for Insch tell us it’s -5C at 0800, then we know it’s definitely a cold day. Not because it’s actually -5C here, but because those observations are from Aberdeen Airport on the coast where it’s often a good 5C warmer than it is here in the inland hills. In fact, [...]
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30 December, 2011


