Another hybrid, and a big one at that. I’m not sure what chickens were bred to produce the Goldilocks, but they must be friendly, confident birds. She’s a great layer, too – loads of cream-coloured eggs. Fancy breeds are great, and I’m always happy to have a few in the flock, but they are never…
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In my quest to become more self-sufficient and rely a bit less on the outside world, I’ve begun to look into options for fresh produce. It’s abundant at the moment, but winter is coming, and with Brexit on the horizon, I can’t be sure the supermarket shelves will be stocked. What can I grow in…
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In case you’re wondering, she’s the black hen with the impressive earrings in the middle of the photo. Minorcas come from Spain, and can be fairly difficult to find. They were on the verge of extinction, but have made a comeback in recent years. They lay small white eggs. I’m sad to say this isn’t…
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I’m one of the unfortunate few who can’t use an effective dose of retinol. I’ve tried many times, and my skin always reacts badly. While I understand some sensitivity and peeling is to be expected, having my eyelids become swollen and inflamed (I don’t put strong actives on my eyelids – ever) was an irritation…
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I have no idea what breed of chicken this is, but I can say that they are the sweetest, friendliest hens. We adopt them from Homes4Hens once a year and have enjoyed each and every one. They’re great layers, but sadly don’t have a very long life after a year at the egg factory. But…
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I try my best to live as a person liberated from fear. I view fear as a method of control, and try hard not to be affected by it, but the last couple of weeks have been brutal. Lots of big-talk about a no deal Brexit, leaked government documents in The Times predicting a dire…
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Living in the country has its benefits. The air is clean and fresh, there is loads of space between houses, and life tends to move at a slower pace. I lived in Glasgow for a few years and really loved it, but I have to say that country life suits me better. But living out…
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I suspected our move to the Real Living Wage and cutting hours with no loss of income for employees hadn’t had a negative effect on productivity. Two weeks ago I met with my account and received the proof that I was correct. In fact, productivity has increased to the point that staff wages are a…
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I’m sorry I don’t have a better photo of this lovely lady. There are only so many hours in the day and my energy is finite – and she will not stay still, not even for a moment. She’s a hybrid hen and super friendly. She lays a really pretty light brown egg. She’s quite…
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I’ve been thinking a lot about the poisoned dialogue directly after and since the EU referendum. ‘You lost. Get over it.’ springs to mind and does nothing to reach out to the 48% who voted against this silly catastrophe. In fact, it pushes us further into the margins of resentment and rage. Not the best…
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This recipe is guaranteed to make you popular. I’ve never met anyone who wasn’t smitten with these after the first bite. They’re the perfect item to take to parties (make lots) and they’re also wonderful as gifts. I give away many kraft tin-tie bags full of these beauties every Christmas. This is a super-simple dish,…
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I’m off sugar at the moment. I say ‘at the moment’ because I’ve done this several times over the years but I’ve never managed to make it stick. I’m an addict. And as someone who successfully quit smoking cold turkey after two tries, that’s saying something. Sugar is impossible. I can’t stay away. Part of…
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This beautiful lady is a Dutch Barnevelder. She’s a big, sturdy bird who lays beautiful dark brown eggs. She isn’t our friendliest bird, but she’s super entertaining. She occasionally upsets herself with hiccups! If you’ve never heard a chicken hiccupping, I’d dare say you haven’t lived.
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I flung this together when it was too hot to think about cooking. It’s vegetarian, but using vegan mayo will make it suitable for vegans. This recipe makes enough for 3-4 wraps, so feel free to scale up or down. Also, be as generous as you want with the various ingredients. Just remember to leave…
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