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underling

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  1. It's been quite some time since I posted here, since which I've fallen 'out of love' with working an allotment. I found the 'rules' (no bonfires, no hose watering from mains) far too prohibitive to ensuring a successful season and neighbouring allotment holders' practices ('no digging' philosophy or 'blown over' contamination of my/our plot) made maintenance very hard work, and eventually demoralising to the extent I gave up the investment. I also became tired of one of my shared plot managers constantly disappearing 'on holiday' at times when major works were scheduled (rotorvating, planting, compost management and watering by hand during dry months) then reaping the benefits at harvest time ......... needless to say we 'fell out'. I had a major life change about 4 years ago but now share a large good sized garden with my partner of the past 4 years, who also had a share in the previous shared allotment. Initially the garden was overgrown with bindweed and brush which for her alone was too much to maintain. It's been an enlightening few years since which I've learned the tricks and laziness of former works on the property and land ........ I've dug up buried solid bags of concrete, lumps of hardcore from an extension to the property and butchered telegraph poles from the previous owner over the past 3 - 4 years and had many a bonfire to get rid of waste whilst drinking beer, and looking for shooting stars. We've concentrated on the lower tier of the garden, eradicating the bind weed, adding compost and top soil whilst introducing shrubs such as bay, rose, camelea, azalea, dahlia, lupin, echinachia, rhododendron, hydrangea, wisteria, clematis and added tree fern, magnolia, olive, banana and acers some of which I've grown from seed very successfully. I've grown bedding plants using my experience from growing fruit and veg from seed to create a summer of both scent and colour ........ it certainly made the UK Spring/Summer lockdown a relaxing outdoor space to relax and consider 'life' and as such was a very valuable and a worthy investment both financially and physically. An added bonus, it's helped hone my growing from seed skills and reminded me often that a little bit of work often is so much easier than a lot of work infrequently. During the Autumn/Winter/Spring we need to do a lot of work on the upper tier. There's a large pond which is poorly positioned and often suffers from excess algae growth during periods of hot sunny weather. I've already introduced a pump/filtration system, oxygenating plants etc but have found it really tricky to maintain a healthy long-lived balance ...... something I will re-start again in early spring. The fish must like it though ....... thems a breeding like mutha fuckas!!!! I've a plot of land in the upper tier I've dug over and had covered in sheeting for the past 9 months which in spring I hope to build a pagoda and seating area, lawned underneath then planting climbers (grape?/hop?) to create summer cover close to the pond for an area of quiet contemplation. Then I'll get to work on my veg patch ......... This year I've grown strawberries, dwarf/french bean, leek, cabbage, corn and tomato, and considering they've played very much a 'also-ran' role, have done really quite ok. There's a Bramley apple tree which I pruned back heavily late last year, though which produced many small fruit which were thinned etc, produced nothing of value this year. Any advice?
  2. I don't want to get into a debate into the whole is there global warming/is it manmade and all the various permutations but, regardless of your opinion on such issues .......... It must be recognised that there is a promoted shift (often financially assisted) from creating heat/hot water supplies away from traditional methods of combustion creating heat then transferred through an exchanger into heating to the compression of refrigerants to create the initial heat source. A movement away from old and gas (carbon emitting) to refrigerants. It must be recognised that it is less polluting (when contained and controlled) to use a refrigerant than the combustion of volatile fuels. The same could be argued regarding nuclear energy sources however they are often frown upon and can't see anytime soon where we all have or accept a small compact nuclear reactor pumping away every time it feels a bit niipy It must be recognised that in a claimed warming climate society will rely more on not JUST heating but also cooling in the form of air con etc for our comfort. We're are not conditioned anymore to just put an extra 'pully' on when we're cold or sit in our boxers with a cold beer when it's hot and humid. Business itself accepts that production is reduced once temperature creates an excessive +\- climate. So in my mind we are seeing an increasing market in using refrigerants as an energy source with regards to heating/cooling and the market will only be getting bigger and more competitive. In all systems there are components which will see an increase in demand. From the pumps to circulate, the compressors to generate heat or cooling or indeed (and probably more interestingly a less competitive marketplace) the refrigerants. Pumps. Traditional systems require a single, maybe two circulation pump generally where as systems converting solar/air source and ground source require two maybe three meaning an increase in demand per application. I have however found that the major players like Grundfos or Wilo are not performing greatly. Too early maybe? Worth continued exploration. Compressors. Used to compress a gas into fluid state thus generating heat. This is a new component in heating systems and as such demand will grow. I don’t, however, have enough experience of manufacturers of such a component to weigh up their continued longevity and as such have left it alone for now. it’s early days. Refridgerant. This to me is the biggie. Possibly THE replacement for OIL or GAS in the conventional heating cooling system …… I’ve been looking at Daikin who have performed very well over the past 5 years since ‘Green Energy’ lost it’s impetus. Not only do they manufacture the technological equipment, they also develop and manufacture the chemical and remember 10 year or so ago in a marketing meeting with them in the UK them claiming that their competition were actually stifled by the fact they have to buy refrigerant from Daikin. Mitsibushi is the market leader in air source product but other division of the Mitsubishi mean, to the best of my understanding, investing relies on all their interests including their automotive etc. concerns. The elephant in the room with refrigerants I know is that one day, someone somewhere will centre in on the GWP potential of regrigerants. When they’re common place, when they leak gases into the atmosphere, when they’re fly tipped on a layby in the countryside because it’s cheaper than recycling (think 80’s fridge freezers) then the backlash will come. Your thoughts?
  3. Still awaiting an explanation Dr Bubb. I personally found this quite offensive and have taken this as you saying 'please fuck off' (to paraphrase the language used in your post) Perhaps I've misunderstood, I hope so ........... or perhaps we're operating on a different frequency, but until I get some explanation ......... I'm outta here except to check back for your response.
  4. Not really sure what place this post has on a 'music' thread Dr Bubb. I don't understand your post. Please explain.
  5. I meant the bottle. It appears just to be a fancy bottle of Grolsh but I can remember listening to a radio show where that particular sound is created by a 'named' instrument rather than a bottle. Burial tune is one I like.
  6. A blatant ask of course but .............. Oh calling on the music thread members ......... what 's the instrument that kicks in about 3:38 ????????????????????????? Man that makes me wanna wobble. Kudos to blessed of you who can enlighten me 'cos I gotta get me one of those. [bBvideo 580,360]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Aqie4DEcHw&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLE364C94D1C9DECFC[/bBvideo]
  7. Nice few tunes Conrad. The first two I've not heard of but compositions by Ulrich Schnauss occasionally appear on various mixes by one or two DJ's I listen to (Mixmaster Morris, Tom Middleton). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDoDz-ijrpA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8juPLAhUoWk
  8. Found Vandal on the Meat Katie mix link provided (from the now defunct 'Gough Street Sessions' Podcast) along with loads of other good stuff but never been able to find a playlist unfortunately. Played an absolute blinder if you ask me.
  9. Another 'Vandal' tune ......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv_2QMCmud0 This is worth listening too ............ http://soundcloud.com/djzachmoore/meat-katie-opel-8-year-anniversary
  10. Yep 180bpm isn't my usual thing but enjoyed this with the mix up of LL Cool J's ' I'm Bad' which is where the sample was also used. I did have to check to confirm I was right but the sample is from 'Theme from Swat' .......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oThp3B11kQ0
  11. A couple more .............. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouw97qVZZTE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tsfJn8YdwQ
  12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7dbdhIH9OE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDpJgnvOgIs
  13. I always get Gap Band and Fatback band mixed up. Some more on a similar vein ............... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH7g6u4ASjk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYzeNBu7wSc
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