The totally off-topic thread

[Quickstatus]

Oroton in liquidation

Noooooo!!. There goes retirement start date!!

 

[GarrettM]

When we bought our place earlier in the year there was a pretty mature grape vine wired up along the fence. I wasn't that fussed about it, and figured I would see how it went over winter/spring before making any decisions.

I think we'll keep it.



Still a while until they are ready. Pulled one off the other day and it was sour as all hell. Also seedless sadly. Grape seeds are one of nature's abominations.

But they should still provide a little juicy treat over summer.

 

[love_the_life]

When we bought our place earlier in the year there was a pretty mature grape vine wired up along the fence. I wasn't that fussed about it, and figured I would see how it went over winter/spring before making any decisions.

I think we'll keep it.

View attachment 111598 View attachment 111599

Still a while until they are ready. Pulled one off the other day and it was sour as all hell. Also seedless sadly. Grape seeds are one of nature's abominations.

But they should still provide a little juicy treat over summer.

The grapes look like they are coming on well. Hopefully they will sweeten up. Did you mean that they have seeds?

 

[Pushka]

Noooooo!!. There goes retirement start date!!

Did you invest? My accountant suggested Oroton a couple of years ago. We didn’t.

 

[TheRealTMA]

View attachment 111599

Still a while until they are ready. Pulled one off the other day and it was sour as all hell. Also seedless sadly. Grape seeds are one of nature's abominations.

But they should still provide a little juicy treat over summer.

Riesling?

 

[RooFlyer]

Its stories like this that gladden your heart (well, mine, anyway):

China launches world’s first fully electric cargo ship

China has launched the world’s first all-electric ship, which can travel up to 80km with 2000-tonnes cargo after a two-hour charge, state media reports said.

The 70.5-metre-long ship, which weighs about 600 tonnes, was launched in Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province, the People’s Daily reported.

The vessel, manufactured by the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Ltd, is powered by a 26-tonne lithium battery. It can cruise at the top speed of 12.8 km per hour.

As the ship do not use fossil fuels, it has zero emission, including carbon, sulphur and PM2.5 and it could be used as a passenger liner or a working ship, state-run Global Times reported.

Beautiful ... including the next bit:

On its inaugural run, the vessel was loaded with thermal coal mainly for areas around the Pearl River in Guangdong Province, the report added.

Presumably those lovely environmentally friendly batteries get charged via one of those new 'clean coal' fired power stations.

Reminds me of when Joan Kirner proudly unveiled an electric car in Melbourne, blissfully unaware that if charged locally, it was actually running mostly on brown coal, one of the dirtiest energy sources on Earth

 

[GarrettM]

The grapes look like they are coming on well. Hopefully they will sweeten up. Did you mean that they have seeds?

Yes I did mean non seedless.

 

[GarrettM]

Riesling?

Isn't it illegal to make your own wine?

 

[Denali]

Not if you call it Jesus juice.

 

[Pushka]

Isn't it illegal to make your own wine?

Spirits maybe as that requires a distillery. ie still.

 

[Cossie]

Thanks l_t_l, I saw your post re Canberra weather and got up on the roof and cleaned the gutters, wonders will never cease, I even managed to safely utililize my ladder without falling off!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Isn't it illegal to make your own wine?

Nope! Just to distill it AFAIK.

 

[Pushka]

Thanks l_t_l, I saw your post re Canberra weather and got up on the roof and cleaned the gutters, wonders will never cease, I even managed to safely utililize my ladder without falling off!

Not sure of your age but ladder related injuries and even death are sky high for us oldies.

 

[love_the_life]

Thanks l_t_l, I saw your post re Canberra weather and got up on the roof and cleaned the gutters, wonders will never cease, I even managed to safely utililize my ladder without falling off!

Glad to hear there were no accidents.

Looks like Adelaide is in for nasty weather.

 

[Cossie]

I joked to a doctor recently about no one over the age of 50 should climb a ladder, his response was that no one over the age of 30 should be up a ladder!

Not only due to falling from ladders, but also due to extra pressure put onto ones vital organs from added exertion...

 

[AisleSeat]

Isn't it illegal to make your own wine?

You're allowed to make your own wine. There are even kits you can buy. You can also legally own a still; making alcohol with one is illegal though.

 

[GarrettM]

You're allowed to make your own wine. There are even kits you can buy. You can also legally own a still; making alcohol with one is illegal though.

Semi-tempted by the idea although thw wife thinks I'm crazy. You need about 15kg of fruit though and we won't get that much.

I may plan longterm though and plant a second vine though in autumn.

 

[Pushka]

Glad to hear there were no accidents.

Looks like Adelaide is in for nasty weather.

Been raining for a couple of hours but now pelting down.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Semi-tempted by the idea although thw wife thinks I'm crazy. You need about 15kg of fruit though and we won't get that much.

I may plan longterm though and plant a second vine though in autumn.

Go for it! I had a reputation at Sussex uni as a great Australian wine maker (LOL - 2 attempts in small barrels). Many loved it, however I though it was cough.: ) Academics are not good judges of wine usually ( in those days at least) and the cheaper the better. Since then I just buy it!

 

[Hvr]

I fought for principle and won. I recently paid for street meter parking and the ticket failed to print. I rang the number on the meter and they took my details and then said I had to get another ticket from another machine or I would be booked.

I didn't have time to faff about so parked elsewhere and paid again. When I spoke to council about it they didn't care. So I initiated a charge back. My bank advised me today that I was successful and the money has been refunded.

The joys of an unlimited mobile phone plan means I can call with no charge and fight this unfairness.

The amount disputed was $1.82, not much but the principle was important to me.