South East & East Anglia Regional Discussion - August 30th 2012>

[gottolovethisweather]

When does the NW long range winter forecast get released, anyone know?

Not sure QS, around last week of October if not later I believe.

[Eskimo]

Got to love the swear filter.. I think I got the general gist of what you meant though

Grrrr!!

[Jason T]

Not sure QS, around last week of October if not later I believe.

Last week of October......We would of already had a true taste of Winter.?

[NO LONGER POSTING]

OFF TO TUNISIA ON TUESDAY :D

[john pike]

hi all

tomorrow looks dry and warm

cloudy again im afraid

tuesday looks like sunshine and showers temps around 20 degrees

wednesday looks better for sunshine and still around 20 degrees

thursday looks dry and warm

looks cloudy again

looks dry and warm

cloud possible south of london

better chance of sun to the north

raw fax for saturday looks dry for the south east

looks to me like low pressure to our north is on its way

south

gfs shows this for sunday

so the rest of the week looks good except for tuesday which may see some showers

sunday could be a breakdown but gfs shows storms from the south

fax chart shows low pressure coming towards us from the north

be interesting to see what the charts show for sunday later tomorrow

[john pike]

OFF TO TUNISIA ON TUESDAY

http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Tunis/forecasts/latest

nice

dont forget your suncream

[john pike]

just a quick idea on the week after this

welcome to autumn

shows mainly dry to 10th

and fairly warm

after that shows rain spikes but still fairly warm

cooloing off right at the end of the run

[Coast]

The only crack of light in an otherwise dismal dark start to the day, is that there may be some sunshine later and possibly a slightly sunnier week.

Also a very small chance of some convection building in a weeks time, but again nothing to get excited about:

[Snowangel-MK]

Tis luverly ere ! Just packing a picnic and heading for the beach :-)

[Keraunic]

Mornin each. A bit misty here this morning and a tad chilly. Have a good day all.

[Coast]

Mornin each.

Morning K,

I'm afraid there's none of your favourite weather around for a while, in fact not much in Northern Europe at all this week. Currently the closest anything comes in the foreseeable (not necessarily confirmed) future is:

[Steve C]

A very nice morning here, with just a few wisps of cirrus. It's a pity the weekend here was so dull.

[Kent Snow]

Slate grey and dull in Canterbury. Fingers crossed the sun gets to work on the low stratus. 17C.

[Coast]

It's a pity the weekend here was so dull.

Pants doesn't even come close, of a possible 50 shades of grey I had just this monotone, blurghhhhhh one all weekend.

I even tried driving away from it on Saturday and it seems to have followed me like the fog.

[abruzzi spur]

left home in Reigate early this morning and all was grey, damp and still. Half way through my drive to the office near Harefield the low cloud lifted and it is now, using the offical scale, "bloomin' lovely"

Out walking the dog and one of the children yesterday I took a look at some Blackthorn bushes to see the current state of the sloe crop. A fair few in evidence but still far too small and hard to be of any use. If we get a couple of weeks of warmish weather then the first lot could be ready to pick mid month or so, though traditional country lore says to pick them after the first frost. I need to get some sloe gin on the go for Christmas presents (and just a small amount 'for personal consumption, officer....')

AS

Edited September 3, 2012 by abruzzi spur

[Coast]

Out walking the dog and one of the children yesterday I took a look at some Blackthorn bushes to see the current state of the sloe crop. A fair few in evidence but still far too small and hard to be of any use. If we get a couple of weeks of warmish weather then the first lot could be ready to pick mid month or so, though traditional country lore says to pick them after the first frost. I need to get some sloe gin on the go for Christmas presents (and just a small amount 'for personal consumption, officer....')

I've been scouting some of my usual places for evidence of this years crop and even with a while to go yet, it looks like it's going to be a bad year for the sloe harvest around here. Luckily I still have 3 litres of last years vintage in store as there could be a lot less available in 2012. Last years was very nice though, I might have to tuck into some now as you've started me thinking about it!

[Steve C]

left home in Reigate early this morning and all was grey, damp and still. Half way through my drive to the office near Harefield the low cloud lifted and it is now, using the offical scale, "bloomin' lovely"

Out walking the dog and one of the children yesterday I took a look at some Blackthorn bushes to see the current state of the sloe crop. A fair few in evidence but still far too small and hard to be of any use. If we get a couple of weeks of warmish weather then the first lot could be ready to pick mid month or so, though traditional country lore says to pick them after the first frost. I need to get some sloe gin on the go for Christmas presents (and just a small amount 'for personal consumption, officer....')

AS

Excellent! I'll send you my address. Always like sloe gin at Christmas!

Edited September 3, 2012 by Steve C

[Coast]

So one of gin to one of sugar to one of fruit then all?

[Coast]

I was told that some people freeze the berries first then unfreeze them to release the enzymes and put the mush into the bottle, but I'm a traditionalist and just put a pin through them.

Although some say put the fruit in without piercing it? Mind you I have also been told that local legend says the best sloe gin comes from fruit that is pierced by a sterling sliver pin? (old wives tale no doubt).

[abruzzi spur]

If you like it sweet, yes. If you like it a little more 'tart' (for want of a better word) then use less sugar. I shake mine up once a week to agitate the fruit.

last year I smashed up about 10 of the stones in a mortar and pestle and added them to each bottle with the fruit. When you mash them there is this wonderful sweet aroma of almonds, which gives some extra depth to the finished product.

I've got some 'brewing' now with some sloes that I froze last Autumn - freezing them is quite good as when they defrost they often split so you don't necessarily have to prick them.

I've never made Slider though - apparently you put proper cider over the gin-soaked sloes once you have bottled the gin, then leave for a while, strain, and I imagine your whole world goes a bit funny. The one recipe I saw for this said use plastic bottles beacuse of the risk of explosion! I am therefore issuing my full disclaimer of liability.

AS

[Snowangel-MK]

Really hot and sunny here on the beach, I can't be thinking about sloe gin or Christmas on a day like this but I will be brewing some for next year as I've still got a few bottles of the 2011 stuff for this year, right now I could just drink a nice piña colada but I made do with a milkshake from the beach cafe !

[Coast]

Sorry, I guess we should slide this particular conversation over to a more relevant thread as Autumn is upon us:

http://forum.netweat...autumn-foraging

[Mesoscale]

Its really nice out there today, Igot the hose out for the dogs to play around in but as soon as I got it out they had both passed out on the living room floor. haha

[95 Degrees]

Not bad here at 21C, Sun took ages to come out but it's out now and feels nice.

[Coast]

Not bad here at 21C, Sun took ages to come out but it's out now and feels nice.

It's slowly crept across the county and we are sharing the brighter skies now too. Shame it has to be when I'm stuck in these four walls, but better than the dull drudge of the last few days. Roll on the weekend which is a long one for me - lets hope this continues.