I know I shouldn’t get sentimental about my chickens but it would be completely heartless, or even cruel, to insist that mad George our rooster be confined to his barracks right now. He has a south facing view from his perch which means a full frontal attack... 
Whether it’s kids selling chocolate bars or buckets being jangled at me in town, I’m a sucker for charity appeals. At a recent trip to the Hill Street Farmers Market in Wellington I succumbed to the charms of a young girl who had foraged for crab apples... 
I’ve always felt very lucky in life. No doubt there have been some bad things that have happened to me but I feel otherwise very fortunate, pretty lucky. I heard a podcast the other day that defined luck as “what happens when preparation meets... Our latest garden development has been a drama of epic proportions with the trials and tribulations tweeted over recent weeks. Thankfully though I can report on a happy ending. The greenhouse is almost ready for its official opening, just a little more compost to be... It’s not just the Irish roots in our household that make potatoes a staple food for us. Since I invested in a potato ricer it’s elevated the humble potato to an every day luxury food. I finally dug up the remaining main crop potatoes before the rain... 
