During the week, it occurred to me that most of my time and headspace is taken up by painting, selling, reading and writing about miniatures in one form or another. I love what I do, it’s amazing fun and hasn’t felt like work at all. However I feel I want to do some thing that isn’t miniature related. Before I started teaching, way back in the dark ages, I brewed wine from fruit, I remember this being a lot of fun to do and the result was interesting. Previously, I made banana wine, and apple and raisin.

In the back garden, there are several large bramble briars. These have produced a good number of fruit. Seeing these, and finding most of the gear in the shed, sparked me into trying it all over again. I know that there will not be enough to fulfil the recipe requirements, but I knew where some other bushes were, so off I went to pilfer a load. I now have more than enough to make a gallon of wine.

My next task will be to clean them all and sterilise all the gear so it’s ready to turn the fruit and sugar into glorious booze. The books I am using were own by my nan and grandad, and I have fond memories of helping my grandad pick fruit and prepare it with him as a child, specifically elderberries. Maybe I will find some of those to do as well. It’s good to have a variety of things to do, and this will be good.