Time for a food forest?

My back was playing up over the weekend – it’s been “out” for a few weeks – so decided not to go for a ride, but take a drive to a local nursery. The guy that runs it is pretty friendly – bought a few bit from him last time including some peppers, that got nailed by birds – they eventually where little dried twigs – but have since recovered and at the moment have a few lovely looking peppers almost ready to harvest.

Anyway, they have started a food forest which I thoroughly enjoyed walking through. I mentioned they I would like to do this to our garden to the wife and I was very surprised that she would be on board with it. I am sure I have mentioned it to her before but she has never been interested. I think being able to walk through one and also the success I am having in my new veg garden might have swayed her mind.

At the moment our garden is not only pretty pointless but not that nice to look at ether. I am just not interested in non edible plants – and I am not a fan of wasting precious water on them ether TBO. That pretty much goes for grass too. A small batch is nice – the dogs need a bit – But that’s about all.

So will be looking into it and slowly formulating a plan – heading into summer so will not be doing anything yet. The rough idea is having it filled with perennials – most annuals will still be kept in the traditional beds. Will use edible plants for shade.

Cooking and Baking!

Spent the afternoon in the kitchen yesterday and had a go at my first Christmas cake – turned out well! The fruit mix is pricey and the cake cost between R40 – R50 to make, but it’s a decent size – would around R100 in the shops so a good deal.

Then made my spinach bake again – using a whole shopping bag of spinach from the garden – 3rd time and turned out brilliantly again. have made it with ham, boerwors and now with bacon! Might make it as one of the dishes for Christmas – already doing malva pudding but might do this as well.

A few weeks a go had my first go at bottling beetroot as my wife was flying through the stuff. Basically can make 4 jars on the price it cost to buy one. Open the first one yesterday, firstly it popped when opening, a good sign. Then is tasted really nice – well, pretty much the same as store bought – is that a good sign? Might have to do a blind test.

Actually, did make some sauerkraut – so have sort of bottled.

Will try some pickled carrots next.

Update :: 17 November 2015

Have finished painting the lounge, kitchen and dinning room – so just have main bedroom, on suite and one spare room to go. Must put an extractor fan in the bathroom as well.

Money wise I am on track – did sell MTN a week or so ago as they got hit with a massive fine in Nigeria and they will probably have to cut their dividends – pathetic management. I never really like them as a company – but had done well in the past. Why didn’t I listen to my gut?? Anyway took a 30% hit, and it was one of my larger holdings. Split the proceeds between MMI and TWR – both of which I wanted more of – will get a better divi yield than on MTN.

Veg garden is great – and eating produce from it daily – lettuce, rocket, brassicas and spinach. Looking forward to beans and peppers in the next couple of weeks – maybe tomatoes in a month.

Still buying shares every month – so haven’t felt the need to make any extra income. Not really using my time wisely, but not really sitting around doing nothing ether. Ah well.

Money is the root of all evil ::

Had this thought yesterday – after ISIS attacked in Paris. How true is the statement? Surely money is just an instrument to store wealth and make barter easier? In which case possession are the root of all evil might be close to the truth. But it’s not really the possessions fault is it – it’s the fact that someone wants something they do not own? Could greed be the root of all evil?

Update :: 08 November

Mens tennis is over – compared to the last few years where I did get a bit frustrated playing number three – playing doubles with a weaker partner – this year played 1 0r 2, a singles and a doubles – the doubles usually with a stronger partner.  Anyway, got 3/6 in singles and 4/6 in the doubles – also play one game for our second team – but was totally out classed so won’t include that!

Have not kept up with my time sheet for the last few weeks so have started to drift a bit – will get back into it on Monday. Might exclude tennis in the mix – just the morning gym. It can really distort the numbers – this week I played 5 times!

Shares have started to recover and net worth was an all time high at the beginning of the month. Will be going on a ride to Wellington now – have not had the bike out for a couple of weeks due to the weather – looking forward to it.

The Veg garden :: November 2015

The enclosed garden is doing very well. Brassicas were attacked by the cabbage moth but a mix of garlic and chilli is keep them away – surprised at how well it works. Have had lots of kale, cauliflower leaves and spinach – plus rocket that has gone into salads. But will start picking lettuce leaves in the next day or so. Other items growing are peppers, beans, corn and tomatoes.

The big 42 :: The year of woodturning

Thought I was 42 for most of the year, so rather happy that I am “only” 42 today. Went to the Baxter last night after grabbing supper at Ocean Basket – nice night out. I was thinking, most people retire at 65 and start working at 20, so with 22 working years behind me, I should still have 23 in front of me!

But it did make me think that if I wanted a career – it’s never to late. Unfortunately,  every time I think that something might be interesting to study, the thought of doing it as a career put’s me of it straight away. I think I might find economics interesting.

But really, becoming proficient at a hobby would probably be more important to me. I think 42 should be about wood turning – become really decent at it. I have everything I need to really give it a good go. I think if I can spend and hour or two a day – I should be pretty decent at the end of the year.

Will make a new “color” block and start.

Monday 12 October :: The week ahead

Right, holiday done – time to get back on the wagon. I really want to see variety in my days – so a bit of studying every day and cut down on the TV.  Need to get a diet going – back has been a bit sore lately, I am sure getting the weight down to sub 100KGs would help. Have tried a few diets – want to now try 5 meals a day, but small portions – see if that helps. I am around 113kgs at the moment – would like to see 105kgs by Christmas.

Main job this week is finishing the veg garden – need to get the poles and netting up, beds filled and planted. Have some seedlings ready to go. Get back on the lathe and play with sketchup.

Durban Holiday ::

Just came back from a break in Durban – had a great time. We met up with my wife’s cousin and family from JHB. So they had a car as they had driven down plus we shared a two bedroomed flat.

We used money from the holiday account (basically most of the money we get from website hosting – basically some passive cash) for the flights – was around R2200 each, then R600 for accommodation each. All the rest cost around R1400 – lot’s of meals and a trip to uShaka marine world.

uShaka cost R200 for the day, that ticket also includes the aquarium -well worth it. We arrived just before opening time and had a good 2 hours of no queues – so got in a ton of rides – enough that my bum was a bit sore. I did the highest water slide in Africa – I would say but clenching, but if you didn’t water would be coming out your ears – if you know what I mean.

Went to a resturant for a curry. Was looking forward to some nice fresh nan bread done in a tandoori oven. No such luck, Durban currys, it seems, are traditionally served with sliced white bread. Seriously. I understand the bunny chow – but no nan? On the bright side the butter chicken was great.

After my wife’s sister decided she could not take us the 10km to the airport from their place  – just two months after my wife did the 140km round trip twice taking and fetching her from the airport – we had to decide what to do. Weirdly long stay parking works out as follows – up to 5 days, R625 – 6days and over, R50 per day. Yup. Infuriating. Got the wife to put Uber on he phone – mine phone is so dumb I am smarter than it – parked at my wife’s mom’s house, and gave it a go.

Very impressed – quick and easy to use and relatively cheap. Bugs me that the estimated costs are not the real costs odd, we might not be doing it right though.  So going in R72 became R85 and coming out R72 became R120! Just looked and it seems all sorts of things change the price – including speed. The second guy did drive a bit on the slow side… Oh well, for both rides waited about 5 minutes after hailing, cars where new and clean. Overall, well worth it and will do the same if we need to go to the airport again. Looked at private long stay around the airport R100 per day, seriously I am parking my car, not housing my dog!

The flat we stayed in was nice and quite and had a decent view of the sea – this was Amamzintoti – looking at the local newspaper and that sort of flat could be had for around R600K. Now I have been thinking about selling the house and living at a flat by the sea – so did find it interesting having just that. Couple of things – once the place was painted there is very little DIY jobs needed, so no nagging need to do things which would be nice in a way. Think I would miss having a small outside patch to grow things though – maybe a plan could be made. I would like a garage – to store  a motorbike and fishing and watersports gear. And I think I would want a 2 bedroomed – one for a study/spare room. Would really want a sea view and would want to be near a tennis club. Cabin fever could be an issue in winter.

All in, a great 5 day break that didn’t break the bank – thanks to the “free” airfare.

Monday 28th September ::

Will be leaving for a a short break to Durban on Friday – when we come back 5 days later my father is visiting. So a bit of organising and general tiding is probably due. Quite far with the veg garden – will try have all the beds and frame up so when I get back it’s just a case of hanging the netting. I did get all my gear up on Bob last week, so that was good.