Friday, 19 September 2025

spotty

"You want to look at the sun!" my other half yelled.  I went out with the solar binoculars, and saw many large spots.  Wow.  "Can we take photos of it with the SeeStar?"

About an hour later, after installing the solar filter, levelling the system, uploading new firmware, levelling it again, rebooting telescope and tablet a few time, and lots of muttering: a SeeStar picture!

click to embiggen

Wow!  Multiple spots. Pairs of spots. A cluster of spots.  A row of spots. A ring of spots!

Through the binoculars I could see the five big spots plus a splodge where the ring is.  But this picture is something else.


Monday, 15 September 2025

100 MWh

We've had solar panels on the house roof since early 2014.  Earlier this month, while reading the meter, we realised we had generated over 100 MWh in that time.



And actually, it's a bit more than that, since we have had more solar panels on the garage roof since April last year (to offset charging the electric car), which has increased our capacity by ~50%.

So, we can have a smug green glow of satisfaction.  As long as we don't count my air miles!





Saturday, 13 September 2025

sunflower sizes

We have sunflowers scattered around the garden.  Same seeds, different results.

all of 3 inches "high"

about 5 foot, but rather "weedy"


close on 7 foot, with a Little Shop of Horrors vibe




Thursday, 11 September 2025

all weather

Today's weather: fierce wind, heavy rain, thunder, lightning, bright sunshine -- all at the same time!




it had to happen one day

 


Monday, 8 September 2025

micro veg

The onion harvest is ... disappointing.

(acorns for scale!)

The carrot harvest is no better.  I'm told these are supposed to be small carrots, but I don't think they are supposed to be that small?  And that few?




Wednesday, 3 September 2025

horse hair

We've walked past this statue of Apollo several times already, as it's on the route between the hotel and the restaurants.  Tonight we loitered, as this was the place to gather before walking down to the conference dinner venue.

It was only then we properly noticed Apollo's hair.

Medusa had snakes, so...?