Anybody in the Stevenage area have available an accessible room or studio flat to rent? My daughter is starting a PhD next week and the flat that we hoped she be in by now looks like it is going to fall through. Thanks

Pickled green chillis. Three weeks til ready but last a years apparently. Not sure what I’m expecting - the version without chillis is a sauce or marinade.

"Equal amounts" is such an annoying recipe. Is it by weight or by volume? It's a Japanese recipe so not obvious, but I imagine it's volume. I've picked (in the dark) about 350g of chillies but not used them all. I have 200g koji rice and I hope, enough good soy sauce to cover.

It's cold. Marham weather station said it got down to 3C last night and I'm rather afraid for the polytunnel contents. I'm going to try a koji-soy sauce based pickle for some jalapenos, but I need the others to go red, and they're not going. What to do, what to do.

Mickey Mouse economics.

📣We're Hiring! ✅We've got a couple of great roles recruiting at the moment. Find our more and how to apply on our website 👉 www.wildlifebcn.org/jobs #conservationjobs #conservationwork #naturejobs

I am very sad to report that Harold "Dickie" Bird has died. Probably the greatest cricket umpire ever. A memorable performance at every match.

Here's that talk from last night, about humane insect collection. It's worth a watch I think - especially the bit about freezing specimens. Thanks to the @tanyptera.bsky.social for organising this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=12at...

I'm on a talk about humane insect collecting - about reducing pain and stress when killing insects. The talk - recorded - was really good, but the Q&A - not recorded - has gone beyond excellent. Insect neuroscience is a fascinating subject.

First cooked porridge of the season. Just simple stuff, oats, water and milk 50/50, salt and a little sweetener. Oh and a large blob of honey. And a big slosh of double cream. You know, simple stuff.

Imagine all cars were electric, and then one Volkswagen engineer comes up with another idea … #EMobility

Used the OS Locate app to get an eight figure map reference for yesterdays Ostearius. Entered in to iRecord and it's not very close at all! The dangers of indoors GPS I suppose.

Ostearius melanopygius - a very pleasing name to say. Found by @tim-hodge.bsky.social in the education shed during todays excellent Sawfly workshop - id'ed by @andymus.bsky.social but I bought it home as it wasn't something I'd seen before. @britishspiders.bsky.social

Four nice Araneus'. Two forms of Araneus marmoreus, a quadratus, and a nice dark brown diadematus. @britishspiders.bsky.social

I'm not sure anyone can see this. Oktoberfest started today in Munich, and here's the Augustinerbrau procession with the heavy horses. I don't remember seeing this, although I did see the Fruhlingsfest spring procession in March '89.

It’s green. Ish. Tastes ok.

In other news, the BAS field weekend is in two weeks, at Wicken Fen. The NT have asked for equipment to be clean, so I've put the bag of my sweep net through the washing machine. It has never smelt so good, although it still isn't spotless. It'll have to do. I'll disinfect the vacuum net bag.

They've roasted down and now smell a bit of slightly savoury gooseberries. I'm not sure if that's right - but it's quite pleasant. Peppers broiling now, to remove skin.

Picked some tomatillos to make Chilli Verde tonight. I’m not convinced any of them are ripe but I tried to pick ones with the least green in the husks. Along with poblano, beaver dam and jalapeño peppers, all home grown.

A last reminder that there is an NNNS Sawfly workshop running on Sunday 21st Sept 2025 at Sheringham Park - see details below and get in touch with Mark Welch if you are interested in booking a place.

*NEW EVENT ADDED* 🐞 What we know, and don't know, about humane insect collection - Webinar 🐝 Book your free place: www.tickettailor.com/events/tanyp...

If only the flag shaggers had bought British-made flags, instead of, patriotically, Chinese...then the flags might not all be sloughing like the brain cells of the hard-of-thinking

Jalapeño poppers. Bit over cooked, not that hot but ok for me. Very tasty.

Have a listen :)

We have been described as "THE BEST NGO THAT NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT" Please help by following us & reposting!!!

It’s Negroni week. So I’m having a Martini.

Enjoyed @josscarr.bsky.social's talk about UK @inaturalist.bsky.social records of invertebrates, much in talk that's relevant for iN use elsewhere (e.g. see this slide). Be sure to catch the recording of Joss's talk on @inaturalist.bsky.social's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@biologicalr...

I've bought a cheap dehydrator. The point of growing Poblano and Jalapeno peppers was to make dried Ancho and Chipotle peppers for winter chillis. Anyway, to test it, I bought three boxes of raspberries. The smell is amazing but very sickly. It's also due to finish at about 4am. (10 hrs at 60C.)

Ugh. The sugar beet campaign started today and I am not ready for it. Six months of hell starts today.

Well done! More pixels here www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GON...

Busy morning - a good two hours at Roydon but no sign of Atypus, or much else. I did see a spider in the heather and thought I found a bit of tubing but I lost it when I went to get my camera. Stopped at Mountain Warehouse sale on way back for a pair of "short" (30 inches!) trousers. Elastic waist.

Guided walk at RSPB Lakenheath Fen this Sunday 14 September, 9.30 am start for 3 hours, suitable for all abilities. See Lakenheath fen website for more details and to book. #Birds! #Nature!

Last car update for now - it's back home and running well. There are more things to be done I think. Are gear box services a thing? Also a tyre. But alright for now.

Pen and ink drawing of Atypus affinis. The purseweb was one of several seen at Roydon amongst Heather roots while the actual spider was one we chanced upon in France several years ago. @andydouglas1967.bsky.social I've emailed you grid refs for Roydon.

On a different not, I want a new pair of outdoor trousers, but being both short and fat, finding something that doesn't appear all baggy once shortened is hard. Instagram is now showing 'tactical trousers' adverts every other post! Google them and find they're mostly scams.

Car update - all done, will collect tomorrow. Too late for a walk I'd like to go on, but might get some spidering done tomorrow perhaps? Probably not, but it's a possibility.

I finally finished the first draft of the illustrated plate series for Widow Spiders of the World! This book is going to be so good, y'all. Expect its release in early 2026. 🕷️🕸️

Car update for the uninterested. Rang at lunch time - would be done today for sure. Not done today. Hoping for Friday. Their ramp is blocked by a car that needs special parts/tools. There's even a car behind that's blocked in. Sainsburys coming tomorrow.

I haven't seen as many Castianeira this year as I usually do, but this magnificent lass showed up at the end of my walk today and made me happy. Red lightning in the sand. ♥️ (still unclear which species this is, 4+ years after my first sighting)

Garage just called. Didn't have time to do the timing belt, can we re-schedule? I think I've convinced them to keep the car and do it tomorrow, but we'll see what happens. First time they've let me down - rather disappointed.

Car in garage, home via a pootle along the Wissey and Cut Off Channel. Two Ceti's, two Gadwall, a million gazillion presumed Collete hederae on the ground. Lots of grasshoppers near the end, but just wanted tea and a sit down by then. Very very warm.

Stabbed myself with the sharp forceps. Wondering which DNA is about to enter my body and turn me into a super hero. Spider? Bee? or Fly?

I'm rubbish at bees. About 150 in the polytunnel - assumed they were honey bees. Texted a norfolk bee keeper from website, not convinced they're honey (either way will die out when it's cold so...) I've taken one to key out - eyes aren't hairy so not Apis? They're very docile, will key out if I can.

For tonight’s Moussaka.

That time of year again. First batch of Créme de Mûre - 600g mashed blackberries macerating in a bottle of Romanian Pinot Noir.

If you have people who might be alarmed by today's alert test at 3 pm, you might want to check they know it's happening today at 3 pm. Just rang mum and she didn't.

Made the custard for vanilla ice cream. Just about the churn it, and find idiot-boy (me) forgot to put the churn in the freezer. So that's that. Anyone for cold custard?

Trying the key in the Grasshoppers book, Sardet, Roesti and Braud. I like the key. Roesels keyed out ok and found a Groundhopper. I had Common last year, but I think this is Robust/Slender, T.subulata as the pronotum is flat, the keel bit not that high. But photos aren't that great and I let it go.