I guess there’s some football match going on.

Trying to find a suitable beer for this weather and this caught my eye in the back of the fridge. A lovely perry from Kertelreiter @barmas.bsky.social @ciderreview.bsky.social

Good morning. A different view today.

Late doing socials today as in a different time zone 😜 was pleased to see all the makers listed are here on Bluesky, though maybe not all active. @rosscider.bsky.social , @millsbrewing.bsky.social , @littlepomona.bsky.social , @tomoliverscider.bsky.social, @artistrawcider.bsky.social.

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Good morning. A different walk today, without the dog, but seem to be building up my step count!

Making a relaxed journey to Frankfurt, to stay before an early flight tomorrow. Trains not running from the village at the moment, so wife driving me 20km to nearest running station. Then got flagged down by a young women who found an old man collapsed on the sidewalk. Overheated, ambulance called😮‍💨

Corporate needs you to find the differences between this picture and this picture.

Good morning. This morning was my last walk with Anu for a week as I’ll be away. Forgot to bring my phone for a fresh shot for @drleonj.bsky.social, but here’s Anu after she had a dip in the village fountain, again, and me trying to “dry” her 🤦‍♂️😆

I like doing podcasts quite a bit, even if it takes me days to recover. Ross and I had a great chat about a really interesting book, getting into things like whether enigmatic endings in weird fiction are brilliant or annoying, and whether Richard Willoughby is a dickhead.

After work activities, checking through the phase 2 perry pear orchard. The local council is responsible for watering this new orchard, but they need to do it more often. Have spoken with the boss. But even so, some of the very useful watering sacks are not emptying, so we’ve had some casualties.

Have an insurance guy coming by to review all our policies to see if we can get a better deal. Was set a couple months ago but just not in the mood for insurance sales people right now. 😴

How my cider tasting notes look half way through a festival…

Good morning. Pleasantly warm with some clouds, making for a comfy morning walk. We’ve decided to follow the Kertel to its source, which at this time of year is basically a dry ditch between fields. But there should be a pear tree here too 🤔

Still on the NA beers (well, less than 0.5%), and quite enjoying them.

Been feeling a bit run down the past couple of days, to the extent that last night I was drinking no-alcohol IPAs, much to the distress of one neighbour. I just didn’t want alcohol. But some updates from today, the perry pear orchard was mown, and I dragged myself out to mow some other areas.

What is Heritage to Cider? Claire chats with makers in regions perhaps not always considered “cider heartlands”, asking them what heritage means to them. Featuring @vagrantcider.bsky.social , @nightingalecider.bsky.social , Caledonian Cider and Blue Barrel Cider.

Hola! The taproom's open tomorrow here in #Lindley #Huddersfield Real cider made here and all the other usual gubbins such as pies, witty badinage, rude staff, awful decor, and my new 50th birthday celebration playlist! What more could you want from weekend!

Awww, so cute. But on the wrong side of the fence and no cows on the meadow. Have called the farmer and we’ll wait here till she comes.

Was a busy couple days in Münster. But now I’m having Déjà vu.

It feels like a long time since I’ve seen the big Dortmunder Union-Brauerei U.

After an hour and 20 on a full, sweaty train, arrive in Mannheim to find my next train is delayed an hour. Yay! Breaking my fast with a fast food burger so. Means I can simply crash whenever I arrive in Münster. Could do with a long sleep after last night’s lack thereof.

Yesterday morning a big hedgehog crossed the road right in front of us. This morning it was a Weinbergschnecke.

It has turned into a day of alcohol. From midday next door, sitting in the barn for shade, and now at the local swimming pool for Kristalweizen. It’s brutally hot and this is not clever. 🥴

Just realised this time two weeks I’ll be in San Diego for the first time since before Corona. Work took me there once a year for near 20 years. Don’t really want to go, but it’s a familiar place and wondering what’s changed.

Good morning. Having slept badly, waking just as some weird-ass horror nightmare began, we were late out of the gates this morning. So a shorter walk, as was already getting too warm for the poor Anu.

The Mostviertel region in Austria is named after the perry for which it was famous for centuries. Haselberger continues that tradition, but a modern very wine-like style that developed there in response to the less than stellar reputation perry & cider (most in the local language) the region had.

I had a feeling it would breach 40 today, though the forecast said 39. My wife says I’m doing all the wrong things on a hot day: 5K walk then working outside for a couple hours this morning, then coming in to do some exercise (need to keep my core strong). 😁 Showered & thinking sofa & cold melon now

Four Perries & Two Ciders from Haselberger. @barmas.bsky.social tastes through six offerings from Austria’s Haselberger. #Austria #Mostviertel #Perry #Cider

Good morning. I’ve just walked through so many strings of spider silk, slung between these two verges, that it’s a wonder I’m not bound by them.

And the new flashing done. He was fast. Now I need a plasterer, which normally takes fucking ages here. But phoned my guy and he’s coming by in a few mins to take a look. Hoping he can do this quick too.

Good morning. We were a little late out the gates this morning, or felt like it. Shade welcome! The guy doing the flashing on the side of the house arrived at 7 to get his work done before it gets too roasty. I plan to do very little today. Relatively speaking.

This little bit of scaffolding took four men and fourteen beers. 🤷‍♂️ A community effort.

I knew something didn’t feel right. Turns out oil was low on the small tractor. A thicker oil added for this hot weather, air filters and fans cleaned, ready to give the main orchard a second cut. My wife says I’m a workaholic.

I’d planned to rip through a backlog of review bottles while on holiday, but was too busy somehow. Caught up on one batch for an article this evening.

I have to put a small stretch of scaffolding up this evening. I think I will wait a bit… 🥵 Might go back to the cellar even though my work there is finished. Maybe just open bottles and listen to music down there. The house has held out well so far, but 37 outside is starting to seep through.

Been keeping cool in the cellar today, filling 250 bottles of Perry and cider. Three new releases coming as soon as the labels are finished. Descriptions in the alt text.

The weeds seem to be doing well with the hot dry weather, bindweed of course, it hauling water from the stream to water the nursery

Making wormholes at right angles to reality.

Before it gets too hot again.

Good morning. This morning’s walk took us along field tracks. This used to by my favourite route, but Anu gets plagued by grass mites, making her paws and belly itch, so of late we’ve followed paved roads. Which is a shame as she loves a roll in the grass. But then we had a little adventure…

Thinking ahead to the perry pear harvest. Fulfilling my part of various agreements to mow under certain trees in return for the harvest rights.

Anu had the right idea this morning. On our return leg we stopped at the nursery and she made a beeline for the Kertel.

My nine year old asked for a Rosetta Stone cake for his birthday

Incredibly sad news. Gotta be some of the finest #cider I've ever consumed.

You know, I’ve never had a Pilton cider, and not sure I ever will now 😕

It even feels too warm to enjoy a cold beer, but I’m trying my best. I’d planned on lighting a solstice fire this evening, but doubt we will 🥵

Nice, and needed. I was thinking I should water the nursery, glad nature took that job over.

Good morning, and happy summer solstice. We’re out a little earlier today, and there’s some cloud cover so we are not baking. A leisurely 5K walk before breakfast so.

Jack speaks with Martin Berkley and a host of fans of his Pilton Cider, as this highly influencial cidery winds down.