Selfsufficientish.com

Good on you. It can be hugely rewarding - not necessarily financially but as long as you can pay your bills that's fine - you've got all your design skills. And don't forget your Ish skills too.

It's distinctly possible, Zoe, that his parents didn't cook either. My gal, now in her 30s, had friends queuing up to come for tea at our house. They were stunned that the food didn't come out of packets/freezer/microwave etc and as for peeling an onion or chopping carrots! As most of them wanted to...

Yes, it's probably only for the well-practiced.

Well done, Flo. I've heard they're quite good for tripping up those who can't do social distancing too.

It does make you wonder how many of these things will re-open afterwards. We're off to do our click and collect today (140 mile round trip). I've thought of packing a picnic, as it feels like we're having a day out. There are plenty of places to stop, admire the view, stretch our legs and have a bit...

I'm going nowhere! Not deep snow, although that's a covering on the already frozen loch, but mighty cold out there. I've got woolly socks on (over my thick tights) and that's in the house.

None where I live, but the hills are white. I had to take a cat to the vets yesterday. This was on the way back - half the loch was free flowing and the other was covered in thick ice.

I remember, many, many moons ago, working with a nurse who was going home to Ireland to see her family. She was planning on taking her sister some condoms (illegal in Ireland at the time) and we had a long chat about how many she thought she could sneak through in her luggage. Who'd have thought, 40...

We grew all our spuds in tubs last year - not a mammoth crop but enough for our, limited needs, and some currently chitting for this years crop.

I'm very pleased to announce our first chilli seedling of the season is through, very quick - we only sowed them last Sunday. A Serrano - good all rounder.

I really thought I would have had no problem growing lettuces, last summer. They were in the shade and in the North Scottish Highlands we don't get that much heat! They obviously thought differently as, along with the radishes, which put on very little root, they bolted quite quickly. However, I dis...

We've even managed a little snow up here. A fairly rare event, thankfully.

The gal's gone, starts her placement next week. We've just discovered we've got Covid in our village, so won't be venturing out for any reason.

Testing times, folks, try and stay safe.

We've not got round to the tomatoes yet. Helping the gal pack and move have taken over for the moment. So next weekend it'll be then.

What I consider an Ish Christmas and what we're doing are very different this year I'm afraid. Even though we're not big on Christmas, generally, it all seems a bit flat this year. Under more normal circumstances I would have grown more and made more. I've knitted the gal a blanket (she's moving in ...

It's probably scuppered many peoples' plans, Viper. Sounds like you're thinking things through and erring on the side of caution until all becomes clearer - whenever that is. Never a bad idea.

I hope all goes well for you. Indeed, for us all!

It is, indeed, very nice compost - and at least we've got enough to last a while, as well continuing to make our own. As for best of a bad bunch, I think it was the only option - even then the courier mucked us about (pun intended) as he'd misread the order as 5 bags (probably cheaper to refund than...