Thanks for the replies. I think I made the mistake of trying both the temperature and saucer in fridge method. Rhubarb and ginger next- after I've done a hen rescue and had a couple of days away. Fingers crossed. By the way, my thermometer fastens on to the side of the pan and is adjustable to take ...

I wish I'd never bought the thing! Possibly I have misunderstood its use. The first batch of jam of the year was blackberry. Being a novice jam maker I bought a thermometer that was supposed to take the guesswork out of identifying the setting point. Just to be on the safe side, I put my saucer and ...

We still have our original wooden coop, but because of a nasty bout of chickenitis my 4 or 5 hens has turned into 18 (most rescued ex commercial) and 5 bantams found living rough in a local beauty spot. Our girls live in a shed with a number of grocery delivery boxes, old shelving units and a broken...

My only memory of enjoying a pantomime was going to either York or Leeds to see LD as buttons. I was old enough to realise the chemistry that existed between LD and the woman playing Cinders. Some months later it was reported that he had left his partner and was going to marry Cinderella. He was ama...

Well done for rescuing ex-commercial hens. I've never regretted it. I'm not sure about perches. Some of mine took to them, others didn't. It rather depends what sort of set up they are used to. Just cautionary note about decking. if it's wood it could become a home to red mite. you will need to take...

I didn't think it was one of the better adaptations. I love all the books and so stuck with the programme - but the casting was pretty dire I thought. It wasn't even particularly pretty to look at. The properties were lovely but the frocks were mostly hideous. Ah well.

I enjoyed it very much. Interestingly she's on Fb today talking about her battle with depression. Who'd have thought it? As she said, people are very good at hiding depression but it must be helpful when high-profile people talk about it.

I'm not quite so far north so I'll go and have a peer into our pond later.

Real Aid's local base is in Tickton but they have a huge shop in Bridlington almost opposite the road upon which sits the Police Station. I think they have another little place that does mainly clothes in the Old Town.

When I cleared Mum's place out I contacted Real Aid. They waited until we had taken anything we wanted and did all the rest. I took clothes to the Samaritans charity shop but the rest of her stuff either went into their shop, into their rehoming system for those escaping abuse or homelessness or a v...

OH dug our veggie plots over as they emptied before Christmas and we covered them with the contents of the chicken shed's weekly clear out. At the end of last week he did a bit of a "fork over" but we're a long way from planting anything. I do have a spare bedroom which contains all the us...

Is she young? Old? Just coming back into lay?????

That's a gorgeous dog. Tomorrow I meet my BiL's new rescue dog. I advised him not to get a dog that needed huge amounts of exercise because he is older than me and has a few health problems. Also, when he goes away we have his dog at our house so it needed to be light enough for me to get into our c...

400g flour is what I normally use for a loaf so I'm thinking that might be about right. My bread machine is on about 3 times a week so let's see if I can use it more. I also make something that tastes like cinnamon and raisin bagels but I seem to have misplaced the recipe.

He comes across as such a nice chap, doesn't he? I said that to a friend of mine once and she had met him at some do or other (can't remember what) and she said he was just the same off screen as on. Lucky woman has also met Jules from Escape to the Country. I think she was quite smitten with him.