We have always described our vineyard as experimental and no year has been more experimental than 2026, so far at least. True much of the ‘experiment’ has been forced upon us through no choice of ours. A combination of events such as the partial retirement of our 83 year old ‘handyman’ who lives next to … Continue reading Vineyard 102 Another year experimenting
Category: Vineyard
Vineyard 102: The Harvest
I think a degree of predictability, routine even, in retirement, is a good thing. Demands on a person, even self-imposed ones, within reasonable limits, give a retired person a feeling of self-worth. And self-worth, as we age, which I’m definitely doing, can be hard to hang on to and should be highly valued. It’s one… Continue reading Vineyard 102: The Harvest
Vineyard 101: The Learning Goes On
Isn’t there a title of a workshop something like Psychology 101 or whatever where the number is meant to indicate that the learning experience is a basic one, even easy? Something like that anyway. And here we are in our vineyard blogs, after 13 years, at vineyard blog 101. But let me tell you there… Continue reading Vineyard 101: The Learning Goes On
Vineyard 100: Are we winning?
Some kind of achievement to get to 100 vineyard blogs. They’ve been slow coming these last two years for reasons ranging from the weather – snow and storm damage, to retirement (our man who does a lot of the work) and my health – all have undermined our efforts to keep the vineyard afloat. Certainly… Continue reading Vineyard 100: Are we winning?
It’s a struggle : Vineyard 98
I’m struggling towards 100 blogs about the vineyard which, some of you will remember, forms an important aspect of my retirement. It’s that part to do with being outside in the fresh air, communing with nature, creating something, physical labour. So quite an important part of the retirement plan, my retirement plan that is. Or… Continue reading It’s a struggle : Vineyard 98
Vineyard 97 : Unexpected happening
As I write this blog there are men on our roof. It’s OK because I want them there. They are repointing the ridge tiles and replacing a number of perished tiles. For this they are charging me about £1300. Oh for the days when I would have thought nothing of shimmying (is that… Continue reading Vineyard 97 : Unexpected happening
Vineyard 96: Irish wines ‘revisited’
I had the idea for this blog when I came across an article in last weekend’s Guardian. Looking for ideas for a new life-style, as you ask. As in the picture above. I would have to say that the title was at least misleading and probably darn right inaccurate. It gave the impression that they… Continue reading Vineyard 96: Irish wines ‘revisited’
Vineyard 95 : It’s been a while
Would you believe that this is the first vineyard blog since December, 2022. That’s nearly a year since the last one for a blog that I used to post every month. In fact I had, until that point, written 94 of them. The vineyard years, as I entitled it, had been a part of my… Continue reading Vineyard 95 : It’s been a while
Vineyard 94 :The challenge continues
Vineyard 94. It’s about 7 weeks since I wrote my last vineyard blog which is quite a long time in the context of this story of grape growing and wine making in the Yorkshire Dales – Nidderdale in case you’ve forgotten. And it’s not as if nothing much has happened in the meantime as might… Continue reading Vineyard 94 :The challenge continues
Vineyard 93: Now it gets really interesting
Vineyard 93. I’ve been a bit slow with this vineyard blog (since vineyard 92) but there is a reason for that. Namely that we’ve been waiting for the grapes to ripen sufficiently to pick them and make the wine. This simple sentence covers a multitude of happenings. Mainly the netting (and still we have rabbits… Continue reading Vineyard 93: Now it gets really interesting