Yvan @ #EMFCamp ☎️ YVAN/9826

https://toot.ale.gd/@yvan

Allotmenter, cooker, fermenter, tinkerer ("maker"?), hacker of things and code. Posts will ebb and flow between all these and more.

Generalist sorta Computer Scientist / "Software Engineer" to pay the rent (spanning from C/C++ systems/networking to Python/PHP web malarkey.) Linux user since ~1998.

Grew up in South West Australia, on Wadandi Noongar land, but currently lives in England's West Norfolk Fenlands… due to the oddness of life 🤷🏻‍♂️ … now somewhat anchored by an #allotment 🌱🍅🍆🌽🥔🥕🧄🫑

This is /var/log/yvan — I am here mainly for myself, for my own record.

CW: Yvan can be bit sweary (he speaks En.Au), he is haphazard with CWs, and does his best with ALTs as time & energy permit. He has a strong tendancy towards pessimistic nihilism.

Ally 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦

#noindex #nobot

Geolocation: Norfolk Fens, England — vaguely like USDA 8b
Website: https://yvan.seth.id.au
Allotment: https://www.youtube.com/@AllotmentPostcards
Pronouns: he/him they/them whatever, don't mind

Public Key

npub13t8xasqr2n9ke0py3dj6gcxxmt9gcd0p85392z38lhahgd2nh5kqw72ksn

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsg4nnwcqp4fjmvhsjgkedyvrrd4j5vxhsn6gj4pgnlm7m5x4fm6tqprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0d4hhxarj9ecxjmntqyqqrhfv80

Publishing to

relay.momostr.pink

Author Public Key

npub13t8xasqr2n9ke0py3dj6gcxxmt9gcd0p85392z38lhahgd2nh5kqw72ksn

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Published at

2026-07-14T14:33:32Z

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Event JSON

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Last Notes

2026-07-05 18:55:26 UTC

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The negative is that the three way watering timer I bought to control this whilst we are away is too restrictive to flow. Despite the IBC delivering a pretty strong flow of water out of this tap, through the timer it is but a dribble. It seems to limit pressure as well as flow as the closer soaker hose connected via this didn't bead any moisture at all.
So... not sure how to tackle this. Buy a different brand and hope it works better?
Part of me is thinking: take this one apart, and wire full bore solenoids in to replace whatever shitty tiny solenoids it has inside it. May need to go via a relay for higher voltage. This is the better solution simply becuase I plan to buy those parts to control the system via a microcontroller anyway.
But ... time? I was hoping to have this working before EMF week. This time next week we will be on-site already, so... not really sure how to tackle this.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/868/883/189/616/365/original/225e9f607c61bca2.jpg

2026-07-05 18:49:29 UTC

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On the plus side, got all the #allotment greenhouse and polytunnel beds looped with the soaker hose. And with even a thin crappy hose all the way from the IBC to the greenhouse proved this delivers plenty of pressure to work the hose.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/868/864/458/318/384/original/c3251568949b03cc.jpg
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/868/864/532/403/234/original/6106c2c477946ebf.jpg
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/868/864/595/616/343/original/1511cd89a6caaf3b.jpg

2026-07-05 18:38:38 UTC

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Allotment trip did happen and went about as well as you might expect.
Meaning I spent too long there, didn't get home until past 7pm, and am now rushing to make yesterday's delayed dinner, with probably no hope of the planned 21.30 bed time. 🙄

2026-07-05 13:01:18 UTC

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I'd say I have all my cocks in a row now, but actually its several rows... which is an apt metaphor for my life really. Many threads... opposing... akimbo... all over the place.
It is also bleedingly obvious to me that all this has happened as a procrastination exercise versus higher priority things I actually need to do. Hummmm... hey ho.
Cake will be done in 30-45 mins, guess I will tidy some more, get changed for the allotment, and go lay some soaker hose, but try to be back in time to cook dinner, do weekly prep, and get to bed before 10pm.

2026-07-05 12:54:15 UTC

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And, well, since the oven was on... and I had 800g of ricotta sat in front of me... well, why not a baked ricotta cake, infused with orange/citrus? Duh...
That is now in the oven.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/867/466/126/825/397/original/77055d7ab42a7f65.jpg

2026-07-05 12:46:38 UTC

Phew! What happend to Sunday morning?
I got started on one thing (making ricotta) and... since the oven was on... have ended up with a pile of gingerbread dicks, and a cake in the oven. Now it is mearly 2pm, and somehow the kitchen is slightly tidier than it was before I started (mainly because the kitchen was fucking atrocious to start with.)
Time for a sit-down.
Might eat a dick.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/867/433/530/525/116/original/c642db8977c72521.jpg

2026-07-02 09:00:29 UTC

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"life coaching" — a totally unregulated area which is mainly a scam feeding off of vulnerably stressed out and anxious people... IDK, maybe some folks get something out of it. Mostly it's just confidence scam trickery IMO.
Stupid headline, stupid "news", generally ridiculous all round.
Paying for Tesco value meals is why other millenials don't own homes. Obviously. (And avodados, lattes, etc of course.)

2026-06-30 10:06:54 UTC

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I think the problem with the longitudinally split pole is even with gorilla tape the force to slide apart rather than bend is likely to be strong enough to cause slippage, further split propagation, and possible eventual complete failure, plus higher bend radius at the fix. In our case too much tape would also cause us a problem as the bit of pole has to fit through a sleeve of material.
However I reckon it would surely hold for a while at least. We've used this split one at least a couple of times without any mending, it just kinda changes the shape of the tent a bit. (And gradually gets worse.)
Also going to depend on the pole thickness and the radius it needs to bend through, what amount of force is involved. For our poles on a fairly big tent the force is relatively high.

2026-06-29 18:36:25 UTC

A bit last minute ahead of #EMFCamp — any thoughts on how best to repair a tent pole split like this? Will a glue hold? What glue?
This is for our Coleman Rocky Mountain 5 XL... it kinda sorta works with the split pole in a very misshapen way, as the pole bends more severely at the split section.
#repair #tent maybe adjacent to #makershour types!
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/834/836/699/496/847/original/d25ef303fcfc1a36.jpg

2026-06-28 09:54:18 UTC

To think... 🤔 ...back in the days of Captain Planet we knew things were fucked up already, I mean, that's kinda the whole vibe of that cartoon. And not just Captain Planet, but I recall a 90s redolent with environmental messaging... back growing up in Western Australia at any rate, I cannot speak for the rest of the world. Songs like Rip Rip Woodchip are burnt into my subconscious.
Yet... my generation grew up and... just continued to fuck things up. 🤷🏻‍♂️
The harvest we reap from sowing the planet with poison is not going to be a pretty one.
@npub16mu…nkly https://mastodon.world/@ombialik/116826202120969246

2026-06-20 14:19:44 UTC

Rodent activity is making such a mess of some of our beds I am not sure what to do, but even been researching poisoning.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/782/865/034/271/071/original/1223925f47adb819.jpg
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/782/865/683/715/286/original/9099c0677aab8101.jpg

2026-06-18 19:12:07 UTC

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the EcoFlow sorta kit is generally only useful for small-scale tinkering IMO... which suits my home-office-solar sort of setup. If I was in a place to be more serious about it I'd probably buy a bunch of Victron kit or similar.

2026-06-18 19:07:56 UTC

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> Q1: Introduce yourself tell us what you have made this week, and if you haven’t made anything what have you been thinking about making? > [> #> MakersHour](https://toot.ale.gd/tags/MakersHour )>
I've "made" the beginnings of a solar setup at home, so I guess that counts for something. Even it all it was was a bit of wiring to connect some 20 year old ex-rooftop solar panels to a EcoFlow box. This is hand-in-hand with my more "IT" makerish pasttimes, as it is peripheral to reconfiguring the home network. All the computers and some other kit like the 3D printer will be on the EcoFlow system - which is basically a UPS on steroids with added solar. This means the small APC UPS has been moved to support the Virgin router and the front WiFI. And things are in place for setting up my new FreeBSD gateway once the box arrives from China and I've paid an arm and a leg for an 8GB SODIMM.
I am thinking about making: 3d printed pattress box extenders, still hoping to do that welded bean frame, and... the list goes on.
@npub1q3r…v6fy

2026-06-14 14:01:07 UTC

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that about sums up how I feel ever weekday 5AM when the alarm goes off. "Oh no, not again."

2026-06-14 10:59:44 UTC

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it is not fantastic!
I'm not great at the old sleep, so getting even less right now. There is little traffic between about 1AM and 5AM at least (and my weekday alarm is 5AM anyway so maybe it won't be so bad, but there may be more earlier traffic on weekdays I guess.)
It'll still be louder for a while after they sweep it, but I am hoping not so loud ... or might have to start closing the window (there is also a window on the other side, but we tend not to open that one as the AirBnB out that side often has smokers in it.)

2026-06-14 10:37:05 UTC

They've "resurfaced" the road outside our place. So it is covered in loose bluemetal. Now the traffic noise is about an order of magnitude louder. 😑
It has been a couple of nights like this, hopefully they'll be sending a sweeper in tomorrow.
(Our bedroom window faces the road, road noise is normally no issue here though.)

2026-06-13 14:53:37 UTC

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yeah, I read it all over twice, and even tried the QR code... the word "peat" doesn't occur anywhere. So yeah, I assumed peat, and didn't buy it. I think this is pure dishonesty by omission.

2026-06-13 12:42:49 UTC

Cannot see anything on this as to whether or not it is "peat free"
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/742/852/002/280/950/original/19bcbd22609d95fd.jpg

2026-06-11 18:24:18 UTC

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I've not really needed to think about it for over 2 years... all my machines are pretty maxxed on RAM, so far I've found 64GB is plenty...
But here I am looking for simple tiny 8GB SODIMM for a NUC and, well, yeah... fuckballs.
Pondering a "used: like new" Samsung SODIMM listing on Amazon for £80 right now, because anything new from a decent tier-1 is £120+

2026-06-11 17:59:13 UTC

'OW MUCH?!?!
Does a mere 8GB DDR5 SODIMM cost these days... FFS...

2026-06-11 15:45:50 UTC

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I partook of the "retail therapy". 🙄
Current status: looking forward to rewiring the home-office on the weekend in a sensible and organised fashion (which will probably last a week lol.)
I have ordered cables, connectors, and crimpers for wiring the EcoFlow up to solar and will that will be centralised in the office running all office power.
We have four separate small gigabit switches in the office... so I have ordered a used HP Aruba managed switch with 48 ports inc PoE (I run a few PoE things.) [Prob won't arrive before weekend mind, but I can prep for it, gonna get my spool of Cat6 and crimpers out and do everything with custom perfect-length cables.]
That frees up the office UPS to be moved to the "lounge" as backup power for the Virgin fibre "modem" and the WiFi AP for that side of the house. (Which I have just ordered new batteries for, coz dey knackered.)
On the way from china I have a 6-eth N100 box to be a new FreeBSD gateway. Gunnz DMZ all the shite.
Time? Spare? LOL

2026-06-11 15:03:51 UTC

The weather is pants (thankful for rain, but... c'mon, this could be better organised), I have a head-cold and now I have anxiety about skipping gym (it has become essential routine, if I get a routine working then I am psychologically adrift when it breaks, this is why I hate long weekends so much lol) because I don't want to share the lurgy with colleagues (nor do I wan to drive for 2 hours with a head full of wool), why is it so cold, so dark... argh.

2026-06-10 18:14:07 UTC

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had to web search "West Coast Pils" ... sounds a bit like what I'd have called an "India Pale Lager", Siren here in the UK seem to basically say it's a less bitter lower ABV IPL: https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/blogs/news/lets-talk-about-west-coast-pilsner
Anyway - what I love is a Motueka lager/IPL/whatever, so Motueka would be my vote if you can get the stuff.

2026-06-09 17:37:22 UTC

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nothing "special"... it has just always been the case, any normal code/text editor wouldn't create a file missing this? In my >25 years experience that's just been as expected.
I hadn't seen code files missing this until the grad submitted one generated by ChatGPT. Linting chokes on that.
I guess it's quite possible that in "this day and age" there are non-sane code editors that don't do this.

2026-06-09 15:52:09 UTC

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why is it something you need to remember?
A text/code editor simply should never create such a file.

2026-06-09 15:03:19 UTC

Are loads of code files without a final newline a GenAI telltale?
Or is there some broken code editor out there that people use?

2026-06-05 18:31:05 UTC

Ah... a weekend? Even after some time I'm still not really used to them, and it is weird being at a beer event and not working. (Only my third beer fest visit in two years.)
I have a Kernel "London Porter". It is in fine condition. Hitchin beer festival has a legacy of great cellaring, and I like to think I played a role in that evolution.
I don't actually drink beer all that much any more, but I still enjoy the stuff. (I don't drink much in general any more, seems sensible after 10 years in the industry, despite my supposed tip top "liver function" 😅)
Also amused to stand here and watch people form a queue at the bar. Why do people do this? 🤔 The smart ones walk straight to the bar and get served quicker.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/698/889/288/558/292/original/c3c22c9a0153fa8d.jpg

2026-06-03 18:32:15 UTC

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had similar a while back, also got to the "so, you want me to share this code with you that says in the message nobody will ever ask me to share it with you?"
Led the guy on for a bit but he got shirty at me, started to call me names, and hung up. 😂

2026-06-03 13:26:56 UTC

A rare #work post from me, in the theme of #GetFediHired — with the caveat it is #Cambridge (UK) based, just outta town, in a beautiful spot in Comberton (4 days in office, Wednesday WfH and an annual allocation of ad-hoc WfH days.)
Our core work is #Python (#django) with #Typescript (#solidjs) at the front end, there's some #Rust floating about too (but it's not a big part of things).
#Job roles in software, physiotherapy, regulator, and more : [Flok Health Jobs](https://www.flok.health/careers#open-positions )
News: [$12.5m Series A funding round](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/finn-stevenson_startup-ai-healthcare-share-7467893200339288064-zw9V/ )
And for the Fedi audience: It says *AI* a lot, which has its uses... our core tech is not *GenAI* and isn't burning the planet down any more than tech in general. Our stuff just runs on a normal server, no GPUs!
As devs here we are under no pressure to use GenAI tools... though the option is there, with very careful safeguarding. (At core we have a regulated medical device, we do not play dumb "vibe coding" games with this stuff.)
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/686/363/392/275/021/original/1a1c24f8f88a370d.jpg
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/686/363/541/976/412/original/c08903e5156351d5.jpg

2026-06-01 07:36:27 UTC

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2.4 litre petrol, 234 g/km...

2026-06-01 06:38:55 UTC

£445 to tax the old V70 for a year!! FFS... I could buy one for that. 😅
Fix a fucking pothole maybe! (I inow that isnt how it works!)
(Annual pointless rant.)

2026-05-31 11:03:10 UTC

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what glow filament are you using, you'd recommend it? I've not got a glow filament in my collection... yet, but your cheese is inspiring me... 😅

2026-05-30 21:15:38 UTC

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On more plant related #allotment matters we also got some somewhat overdue sweetcorn, tomatillos, and zucchinis planted. So that's a bit more progress at least. I started this year thinking I was going to be on top of things, ahead of things even... reality laughed in my face on that it seems. What happened. Where did the time go? *I seem to be having tremendous difficulty with my lifestyle.*
Grow little plants... grow... we'll plant some of your stressed out little buddies tomorrow.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/665/594/600/982/607/original/c2269139d0fb55e4.jpg

2026-05-30 21:06:58 UTC

Well, looks like I have not one but TWO long-planned #solar projects progressed today.
As well as fiddling with panels for the home-office solar & ordering an EcoFlow unit to connect them so, I've also deployed a solar panel inside the #allotment polytunnel to connect to a couple of car batteries. The cheap solar charger unit I had lying around for this might be a bit knackered though, it was behaving a bit weirdly, but maybe that's because I didn't have a battery connected. (I have ordered battery clamps to get those connected too.)
This panel is kinda facing mostly the wrong way at the moment, and is inside the polytunnel... I'll probably prop it up to face a better angle, but it only has to maintain the batteries which are only going to have some basic microcontroller electronics on them, a few solenoids, and maybe a 12V pump (though I only intend to run the pump daytime when there is sufficient solar supply.)
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/665/544/845/665/386/original/3cab62f2f2d4addb.jpg

2026-05-30 16:19:09 UTC

UK #gardening #allotment #gyo folks - I am looking for a decent sized waterbutt with a wide and easy to remove lid, good for dipping watering cans into.
Where should I buy this from?
I want one a bit like the one shown here (which is so badly cracked I am just not going to bother trying to repair it). The brand on this is "Blackwall", which I haven't been able to find online so far.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/664/428/821/522/024/original/c08eb46484d3beac.jpg

2026-05-30 13:26:58 UTC

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the angle of the sun at this time of year means that the small shrub doesn't actually cast much shadow on the panel. (And the thyme in the pot can of course be moved.)
But hell, if this lot delivers 400W total in good conditions I'll be happy enough, and I expect it'll do better than that... and I have more panels I could lean up elsewhere if I need more.

2026-05-30 12:52:37 UTC

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I present: The Bogalow Solar Array ... made up of 4x ~210W rated Sanyo panels manufactured in 2008.
Managed to find a way to make 4 panels fit.
Finger hovering over buying an EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Plus right now. (Mainly because it has the option to add more battery, the non-Plus doesn't... though also the Max Plus can take up to 1000W panels and there is scope in this space for me to add a few more which might be a good thing in winter.)
Anyone about to buy anything from EcoFlow, have a referral ink with 10% off lol... I want a referral link for 10% off though! Referral link: https://www.ecoflow.com/uk/referral-rewards?inviteCode=ASRTIUPI35
#solar #ecoflow
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/663/569/578/451/408/original/d1db753493fa75ae.jpg

2026-05-30 12:37:09 UTC

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OK!
A small Saturday side-quest occurred! https://toot.ale.gd/@yvan/116663396033830183
Then I got to cosplay as a Space Marine for a short moment.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/663/548/918/934/464/original/0a2713929708e20f.jpg

2026-05-30 10:30:42 UTC

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TBF that 2kWh "Delta 3 Max Plus" unit for £1.4k is tempting me.
I think for me for now 2kWh is enough, and I really don't need to deliver more than 3kW ... the use case here is "power the home office", not "power the house" (though if I can route it to handle the fridge that would be cool... lol, unintentionally intentional).
I think I could just about cobble together 4kW worth of vaguel approximately equivalent functionality for a similar price via a reputable UK seller like Midsummer Energy, maybe? But ... when? How much faff? Etc.
The 2kW can be expanded upon if needed, currently £800 for another 2kW.
With this option I could have some solar next week, probabyas opposed to some solar $FUCKKNOWSWHEN ... 🤷🏻‍♂️
I should grab some of those panels and test them first. (Good day for it at least.)

2026-05-30 09:38:01 UTC

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I am somewhat attracted to the "just drop [£2799](https://www.amazon.co.uk/ECOFLOW-DELTA-Pro-Accessories-Emergencies/dp/B0DDKP47PY) on something that *just works* off-the-shelf" idea.
OTOH that is more money than I have even spent on buying a car before, and if I am going to just spend £3k it would probably be more sensible to spend it on a less janky car.

2026-05-30 09:29:26 UTC

I must get around to looking at doing something with those 24 old rooftop solar panels I got got for £102 (total) last year. Got a bit wedged researching batteries, chargers, inverters, etc...

2026-05-27 19:01:04 UTC

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Filth...
It may look like it is just a big tray if brown, but I guarantee it is absolute filth.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/648/080/902/956/241/original/233bdfb306203abe.jpg

2026-05-27 17:14:42 UTC

I have BBQ beef ribs in the oven* and the smell is driving me insane.
All I've eaten today is 4 boiled eggs and a couple of slices of toast. 😂
* Because I haven't had time to do the low-n-slow beef rib smoke I was intending to do. Basically just grabbed this quick and easy recipe from a trusted source: https://www.recipetineats.com/bbq-beef-ribs-slow-cooked/

2026-05-26 09:27:20 UTC

Darling, I don't forget to pick up the fresh Lamb's Fry the market for lunch today! Is there enough cold mutton and cheese in the larder for dinner? That Calf's Head for breakfast was spot-on by the way!
Your menu for May 26th, late 1800s styple:<li>Breakfast:<ul><li>Calf's Hea Mould.</li><li>Ham Toast.</li><li>Dry Toast.</li><li>Brown and White Bread and Butter.</li><li>Mustard and Cress.</li><li>Bread and Milk.</li></ul></li><li>Luncheon:<ul><li>Lamb's Fry.</li><li>Tapioca and Apples</li></ul></li><li>Dinner:<ul><li>Lentil Soup</li><li>Curried Mutton (made of cold Boiled Mutton)</li><li>Boiled Rice.</li><li>Treacle Pudding.</li><li>Cheese.</li></ul></li>
FROM "A Year's Cookery" by Phillis Browne: https://archive.org/details/b21533349/page/198/mode/2up
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/640/160/217/878/640/original/da6c1985936e6dfb.png

2026-05-25 10:45:54 UTC

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14 varieties here, um, not sure how many are new without digging out my spreadsheet, but maybe half of them. After seeing your NR Tomato Seeds post (I think it was you!) I couldn't help but add 4 more varieties to the 10 Ibhad planned! 😅
This is the first year we will have all of both greenhouses in play plus also the polytunnel. (Last year we didn't have the time/organisation to use the small home greenhouse.)
May well even have the porch in the mix too!

2026-05-24 16:22:49 UTC

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Whittled my tomato list down to the usual 22 plants, several things knocked down to singles with an overflow of three cherry varieties to go in the little greenhouse at home instead. And I may pot a couple of extras for the porch at home too, we grew some good tomatoes in there one year.
Lots of chillies are going to be in pots this year. I have 10x "key" varieties going in the greenhouse where I had 12x last year, which was too crowded. Plus the corners behind the chillies will be for a pair of "kimchi pepper" chillies. Lots of chillies going in pots instead this year, to do in various locations including the benches in both the home and allotment greenhouses.
The sides of the polytunnel are now where the most conflict is as we have capsicums and eggplants to go on there, but also accounting for 5x melon plants, and then also there are some "overflow" things that are maybe best put in there including cape gooseberries and rocoto chillies (which need a lot of space.)

2026-05-24 16:11:48 UTC

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Hm, yeah, actually... sweating buckets. I thought we'd be on the allotment by now today, but to be sensible it feels like short bouts of work out there kinda weather still. I think I just dripped half a litre onto the tomatoes.

2026-05-24 15:28:56 UTC

My "shortlist" of the 32 tomato plants I want to grow in polytunnel space where I grow 22 tomatoes normally 🤪
Tempted to squeeze them in a little closer. Then I reckon I can maybe do 26.
My stamdard is that I grow two of each plant, plus extra for the "core sauce" toms. I can slim things down somewhat I reckon. Just one for a couple of more experiential/new varieties. It's a slight pity as I like to give new varieties the better chance of judging them i
on two plants.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/630/247/622/845/363/original/c738698aa430518f.jpg

2026-05-24 11:20:20 UTC

Kat just mentioned the humble chocolate eclair, a bog-standard bakery item back in Australia.
Are they a thing in the UK?
I refer to them as: a long skinny poof pumped full of custard. Back home profiteroles were always "poofs", I don't *think* this was in any sort of gay reference... but 80s/90s and all, it may well have been and just went over my head. It definitely isn't terminology I'd use directly in public these days, far too iffy.
We often had profiteroles on the menu and my mum is famous, locally back home, for her quokenbouch, must made made many many thousands of profiteroles... I used to enjoy eating the gooey bit sometimes gutted out of them... that is the sort of reason I am more profiterole shaped than an eclaire. 😂

2026-05-24 10:22:47 UTC

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oh yeah, things are definitely right outta whack. Average May high here if 17°C. Our technical last frost date is around 1st week May. And here we are with a forecast 34°C on the 25th May!
It *was* kinda cold 2 weeks ago, we were in France but folks here tell us it hailed *twice*... and now this. I was worried to plant things out before then due to potential cold, and seems I was right to worry and defer planting out to the long weekend. But now I am worried it is too hot!
I think this has to be hitting some sorta record temperature for a late May bank hol!

2026-05-23 12:59:07 UTC

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Met Office app has bumped today's max to 26C and Monday's to 32C. I am not convinced by that 26 right now lol.
I might dig the portable air-con out of the summer-house (current storage location)... I may still be relatively robust to the heat, but I have always preferred a cool bedroom. (I grew up without air-con, virtually nobody had air-con back home when I was a kid, I think it's a bit different now days though...)

2026-05-23 12:48:29 UTC

RE: https://vis.social/@infobeautiful/116623756727676190
It's amusing how "The Fens" - where live - is basically the lowest rainfall area in the UK.
#note18ql…gzdp

2026-05-23 12:44:14 UTC

As an Australian ex-pat in the UK it pains me to say this: it's kinda too hot 😂
The home-office right now is 28.7C - which is actually OK, I'm good with this. But the kitchen must be in the 30s, and I'm not sure what outside ambient is but in the sun it feels toasty.
I've lived in the UK for 20 years now so, TBH, I have probably somewhat acclimatised... not so easily just shrugging-off 30C as I did when I first moved here.

2026-05-19 14:22:07 UTC

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congratulations on your thing!

2026-05-19 13:49:52 UTC

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imagined implies imagination, made up kinda implies the same sort of agency as "lied". And neither is sufficiently scathing.
I pondered "bullshitted", but that just has the same problem as "lied" and "made up".
What really happend here is: the software is flawed, it generates garbage sometimes (and you can never really be sure when it'll generate garbage). It didn't have some cutesey little "hallucination" because it cannot "hallucinate".
Maybe: garbaged?
Claude garbaged, again... damn garbage generator.

2026-05-19 13:22:30 UTC

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I don't like the word "hallucinated" for this really, it feels too lighhearted... but "lied" might be worse as it kinda implies more agency... IDK.

2026-05-19 13:08:21 UTC

Yeah, thanks for that claude...
> You're right to flag that — I was hallucinating a specific URL there. Sorry about that.
Kinda like Google Search was in the 2000s, except it simply lies sometimes.

2026-05-17 15:30:33 UTC

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Next up was the usual security checks, except they are super picky here and our three bags ended up being about 8 trays. They even put my drone in a separate tray to my laptop 🤷🏻‍♂️ it left us in a bit of a state of chaos (but that wasn't certainly not just us!)
Then there is outgoing French/EU border control. Which also seemed to cause some confusion and the calling over of a supervisor. I didn't really follow the French but they seemed to be surprised about something to do with *Ostraliens*, IDK, I got waved through without having to do fingerprints for some reason, they made Kat do fingerprints but that seemed to fail three times and we got waved through. (I mean, what were they gonna do... not let us *out* of the country?)
I am sad there is no longer stamps in passports. 😢

2026-05-17 15:23:58 UTC

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Well that was an amusing faff!
At the desk the folks were very confused that we didn't have an ETA (we are residents, not visitors), but someone recognised the share code thing... so then they got a tablet to check the share codes manually against the Home Office website. Except the first tablet was giving them an error. They got a second tablet and this kinda worked, though it took several goes because the Home Office site itself kept giving a "Service Unavailable" error mid workflow (its like a 4 step workflow). They asked me to verify it was for residency, just verbally like.
They then updated something on their system which clearly included a manual description in French of the process and the resuult... and said the app would refresh and give us a boarding pass... except that also took a few minutes.
This all took about 15 minutes I reckon. Which is not terrible as an individual, but is terrible as a process.

2026-05-17 14:04:50 UTC

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Of course the plane is delayed... by a good half hour, (it hasn't even landed at Stansted from its previous route yet), and we are at the airport safely early for the correct time... so probably an hour or more before the RyanAir desk opens.

2026-05-17 11:22:06 UTC

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(That's from the RyanAir boarding pass app.)

2026-05-17 11:13:37 UTC

Well... that's not at all anxiety inducing 😬
(Have checked with Home Office website and both our visa statuses there are "settled" with all the rights, so hell knows what this is all about... 🤞🏻)
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/589/619/778/916/246/original/304e578cc6e6a1e4.jpg

2026-05-17 06:58:13 UTC

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Walking back to the chateaux
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2026-05-17 06:39:18 UTC

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Looking back up the valley towards the chateaux where we have been staying, via terrible phone camera zoom. Interesting highlight: notice the prickly pears in the near ridgeline.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/588/540/437/466/148/original/f29fa70d40e95ee3.jpg

2026-05-17 06:36:15 UTC

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A river deep below, tall trees.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/588/528/541/138/165/original/9657fd7616cdb3e5.jpg

2026-05-17 06:33:02 UTC

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Mainly walked down the valley here to look more closely at this interesting geology the colour of dried blood.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/588/514/162/015/077/original/23312ba74082d93d.jpg
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/588/514/237/562/839/original/49ee42f6068108c6.jpg
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2026-05-17 06:29:09 UTC

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Poppies!
And a daft Kat.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/588/500/900/296/846/original/ecaa98093d996241.jpg

2026-05-17 06:11:55 UTC

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Righr next to it, some thyme.
Who needs a herb shop!
There is also loads of an oregano like herb here and we have seen mint around, just growing all over.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/588/427/494/453/758/original/2d780727fe345f10.jpg

2026-05-17 06:09:06 UTC

Rosemary just growing all over a hillside here...
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/588/421/126/676/788/original/8ff8c370f95e1669.jpg

2026-05-16 10:00:37 UTC

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The Saturday market here is amazeballs. Good everything at generally good prices. I'd be doing my weekly shop here if I lived here.
Property prices are also a bit mad compared to the UK. You can get a pretty good "doer upper" for under 100k.
I think I could pick up enough French to get by pretty quickly.
'tis a pity about Brexit and all really.
They have excellent herbs and plants at stalls here too. Vietnamese Mint/Coriander! (One of my favourites.) Some fantastic looking tomato plants here, huge eggplants too... I'm not sure I'd bother starting my own with this available. Though these are a bit pricey, my friends bought some smaller but also very healthy ones at another stall for 1€ each, including some Green Zebra on my recommendation.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/583/596/830/248/051/original/6c66a61fad5ed74d.jpg
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/583/604/019/184/952/original/24cb96d14c2f26e1.jpg

2026-05-16 09:29:57 UTC

Shutters in Lodève
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/583/544/176/276/895/original/efd4fdbab80a4995.jpg

2026-05-14 06:03:43 UTC

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To be more fair... it's a case of swings and roundabouts... the South East Asian range in this place was pretty poor compared to a bog standard Tesco.

2026-05-13 21:02:46 UTC

Enough to make a resident of England weep. Well, this resident in particular, who likes his seafood.
This is the fish range in the everyday bog standard shop in a small town in inland southern France. It makes Cambridge, a much bigger town, look so sad, so garbage.
If the UK hasn't have left the EU I could have got UK citizenship amd just moved here. Admittedly that is probably not what the point of UK citizenship is supposed to be 😂 but all the same, it was once a very powerful citizenship... worthy of having... now... pfft... dirt, dust, dried dog poop.
Yes, these are exactly the thoughts that go through my head when I look at this fish range. (And this is not the whole of it. Not the fish, nor the thoughts.)
I don't hate the UK, nor England specifically. I live there, have done for 20 years now... it has is upsides. But it sure does like to punch itself in the face. The seafood is an analogy for a range of things really...
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/569/269/739/599/969/original/9e4bff9ae4984d8c.jpg

2026-05-12 15:02:33 UTC

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This is actually the other way in to our current southern French digs with the amazing view (you can see the tall windows through the window!).
Though, clearly, this way in is not often used!
Bonus pallet... "for scale"?
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/562/184/596/646/446/original/fc1f1d0422a5e76a.jpg

2026-05-12 14:55:16 UTC

Staircase or moss garden?
#mosstodon
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2026-05-12 13:43:11 UTC

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although I imagine at this point Wales probably probably has more faith in the Monarchy than it has left in the Labour Party.

2026-05-12 13:41:46 UTC

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then they can retitle Willy to Prince of GTFO

2026-05-12 13:07:47 UTC

Labour, Tories, it's all very "same dog, different leg action" innit...
Right. That's enough looking at the news for one day. (I opened it up on someone telling me the not hugely surprising news that Jess Phillips has resigned. There's isn't really a whole lot more I needed to know TBH.)
I shudder to think what could come next.

2026-05-12 06:47:11 UTC

I love it how the Mastodon media removal command crashes inelegantly when run with a full disc. LIke, probably a key use-case for running the comment... 🤦🏻‍♂️

2026-05-11 18:52:58 UTC

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lol, yeah, I'm not sure there are any tips that would have helped me today 😂

2026-05-10 16:46:33 UTC

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Kat replies: "it needed eating"
(Or it would have been compost, the leaves anyway, the capsicum we could have frozen... and TBH the leaves are worth nothing as just cleared from the polytunnel... so yeah 🤷🏻‍♂️)

2026-05-10 16:18:28 UTC

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Nice French polytunnels!
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/551/182/404/549/766/original/b00e543fd7401f0c.jpg

2026-05-10 13:52:25 UTC

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Plane og roowwrrrr...
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/550/598/492/973/921/original/6b5e13053df84240.jpg

2026-05-10 13:49:22 UTC

Downwind
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/550/596/039/646/371/original/328c297e95453ff5.jpg

2026-05-10 13:16:44 UTC

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shuffled indoors as like terrible plant parents we are running off and leaving them to fend for themselves for week! 😂
They have had a big water and a feed and been popped in the coolest bright place we have for the week. 🤞🏻

2026-05-10 13:14:02 UTC

Kat has discovered that it's totally OK to take a couple of takeaway containers of home made salad through Stanstead security. It was a risk, but was well worth taking. 😅
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/550/369/714/656/239/original/1ed6d4a34d229c16.jpg

2026-05-10 11:41:48 UTC

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Leaving the house like totally normal people.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/550/085/902/371/347/original/9ce48e14ec7ff451.jpg

2026-05-10 09:50:32 UTC

Should b in ca rin way to airport, yet here i am planting my melon seeds.

2026-05-09 22:48:05 UTC

Did get down the allotment earlier. The key mission was to deeply water all the things... especially the smaller things we planted out last weekend, but also ensuring we get plenty of water into the soil in the polytunnel and greenhouse. Late May bank holiday is gunna be a massive planting out weekend in the covered spaces.
As a bit of a side project I weeded the dill, rocket, and marigolds I had let overgrow amongst the garlic rows on the left of the polytunnel. As shown in the before and after PolyCam photos.
This was the source of tonight's burger salad leaves, though the vast bulk of what came out went into the compost of course.
Then, just as we were about to leave... glitterkitten showed up! Who we have not seen for some weeks. Looking a little rough TBH, IMO.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/546/988/736/360/179/original/88b37df86b7844b0.jpg
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https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/547/010/902/628/878/original/6e15572bdee89d73.jpg

2026-05-09 21:17:32 UTC

Have realised that a week is the longest we have been out of the house in the >6 years we have been here. That probably explains some of this anxiety. 🫤
As well as our first time out if the UK in 13 years it is actually also the longest holiday away we've had in over 10 years. (Got three weeks in Australia coming up in November... so this is the warm-up for that I guess. First time home in over a decade.)
Have moved all the seedlings from the greenhouse to the kitchen and "grow shelf", all chillies on the grow shelf, everything else in the kitchen. It isn't the best in terms of light, but hopefully means everything won't be dessicated.
Not been doing a great job looking after the seedlings really, but they're hanging in there.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/546/552/785/476/543/original/5c9367d3bb1879b5.jpg
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/546/552/917/068/831/original/8dd6ccabbd21a308.jpg

2026-05-09 20:23:12 UTC

Double salad burger! You don't see that advertised on a Maccas menu!
With a mix of polytunnel rocket, minutina, and dill. A big layer on the bottom and also on the top.
Both do have a beef burger in, one has double Portobello mushroom, the other has half a halloumi.
Pickled chillies, mayo, chutney, horseradish.
Crusty bun.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/546/477/532/659/228/original/f1a7d53a23109656.jpg

2026-05-09 15:44:28 UTC

I'm more fucking "Korean Style" than this sandwich.
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/545/365/316/812/169/original/902d8c73e1d8e71f.jpg

2026-05-09 14:25:52 UTC

Fucksake. It's 2026 and I still cannot take a "liquid" larger than 100ml on a plane? 🙄 The world is bonkers, and all those years ago the "terrorists" actually won and are still winning to this day. Every daft little bit of authoritarian oppression is a win.
Also, it turns out chutney is a liquid. (Gel, paste, whatever.)

2026-05-09 10:52:40 UTC

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not so many years ago they were nearly impossible to find, I am glad there are now quite a few options out there... I also have fully metric Stanley "fat" ones. The Gosforth Handyman ones are the only ones I have that are double sided, but I've seen them now in mainstream brands too, I think a guy I used to work with had a Milwaukee one.
I grew up pretty much fully metric in Australia, so it is very much my baked in default. Though I can "do" inches if I need to, and will actually refer to "an inch" as useful shorthand for "about 2.5 centimetres" sometimes. (Multiple "inches" are also fine, but fractions of an inch are silly... just stick to millimetres thanks!)
When I was a kid in school in 80s Australia it was still normal for a ruler to be inches one side and centimeters in the other.

2026-05-09 10:46:18 UTC

As is a common theme for a Saturday: kinda slow start... not really lethargy, just chillin'... But always an overlay of mild guilt.
There are *Jobs To Do For The Weekend!* Mostly revolving around the fact I am driving to Stansted Airport at noon tomorrow.<li>Pack luggage for ~7 days (2x carry-on)</li><li>Move seedlings from the greenhouse to the kitchen table (non-ideal, but cooler, safer.... when back it'll be very much safe to plant all the things out, that'll be the theme of the late May bank hol weekend).</li><li>Set up two new CCTV cams </li><li>Thorough watering in polytunnel and greenhouses (mainly to maintain soil moisture).</li><li>...? All the other things failing to come to mind right now.</li>

2026-05-09 10:19:10 UTC

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I do kinda see myself moving either back to Australia, or to New Zealand. If finances and the scenario ever make that more plausible. (At least there is family in WA and NSW.)
I still harbour a fading dream of living some time in a Mediterranean country... Italy was always top of my list, though I'd settle for others.

2026-05-09 10:05:16 UTC

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<li>I'm a lifelong renter with little prospect of home ownership, which I am generally fairly at peace with. I don't really believe in the concept of property ownership and I value my mobility, even if I make relatively limited use of it. (I moved to the UK 20 years ago, for maybe a couple of years... so buying never really was part of the thought processes anyway. I'v3 lived in 5 different homes in that timeframe.)</li>*IF* I ever was to "own" a place then most likely I would buy some total dump and renovate the absolute fuck outta it.
It would be either that or building something from the ground up.
Neither are particularly likely in any foreseeable future. That's OK.

2026-05-09 10:00:07 UTC

My old "1. Drink Coffee, 2. Make Stuff" t-shirt from "Gosforth Handyman" Andy Mac is full of holes (some idiot wore it whilst angle grinding)... so I ordered a new one.
I noticed he had a revised design for his all-metric double-sided tape measures, so I got them too. Can never have too many tape measures? (I have both lengths in the former design, and all up must be well into the double digits on the things. Yet can still never find one when I want it. 🤪)
AND he's doing a deep-hole marker pencil too. I have wanted one for years, never needed to get one back in the day as I worked with a guy who had several. Never got around to get my own (but I kept my guy stocked with pencil leads of course!) Serendipitous.
I don't watch his content so much any more, but I watched a load of it when doing old British building renovations a few years ago and it was really super helpful content for that. I learnt a lot, maybe it'll even be of use some future day.*
https://gosforthhandyman.com/about-me/
https://toot.ale.gd/system/media_attachments/files/116/544/012/233/136/826/original/5f0fcca93ee63f67.jpg

2026-05-08 22:33:00 UTC

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2026-05-08 18:59:42 UTC

Yay. My second long weekend of May commences.
Flying to France on Sunday, first trip out of the UK since 2013. 😬
Three days remote working.
Then... another long weekend!
And flying back the next Sunday.
After all that... a final long weekend to cap off the month.
I have basically made May a whole month of long weekends. 😅