Bring Out The BBQ: Summer 2018 Chat

[Channel Hopper]

Blistering hot at Beziers Airport.

But one is consoled by a wonderful lunch of Moules Mariniere and Frites at Le Grau de Agde an hour ago.

(Donkey and Chips, according to my less well travelled neighbour back home!)

I thought that was mortedella.

 

[2cvbloke]

Sat outside in the sun (well, in the shade but outdoors at least!!) cooking up some chicken wings on the Weber, cos I can...

 

[sonnetpete]

cooking up some chicken wings on the Weber, cos I can...

Downdraught or sidedraught?

 

[Lazarus]

Twin Webers for a Barnsley Chop?

 

[2cvbloke]

Downdraught or sidedraught?

Compact 47, indirect...

 

[2cvbloke]

Yesterday's fodder:



Not sure what today's will be though...

 

[Channel Hopper]

Those out west might need to barbecue earlier in the day.

Lightning Strike website and Equipment detail.

 

[2cvbloke]

Meanwhile, up here in't north, where it's always dark, grim and miserable, sunny skies and 24 Celsius...

 

[2cvbloke]

Made me some roast potatoes on the Weber BBQ today, accompanied by a cheap ribeye steak, a satisfying meal if I do say so myself, only thing missing, beer, but oh well...

 

[jeallen01]

Too much to today with the final parts of the rewiring of the garage - now I have power and lots of light everywhere - so no time, or energy, for a BBQ, especially in this heat (it was well over 30C in the garage ). OTOH, nice neighbour gave me a (cold!) BBQ'd sausage which was actually quite nice.

 

[2cvbloke]

When I cook on my 'Q, I rarely expend any energy on it, just drag it out, sweep out the ashes, throw fresh charcoal in it, light it, leave it to do it's thing & prep some fodder, come back, shove the charcoal over to one side, put the grill back in, throw food in there to cook, have a snooze in my chair, wake up, it's all cooked...

 

[Channel Hopper]

BBQ aside, we had the first rains today, in time for the cycling. Not a great amount and to be honest it passed us by without interest.
The amount of rain, though consistent through the day really wasn't enough to cover the month of high temperatures , and the gardens either side of ours (as far as the eye can see) were, up to this morning parched to the point of catching fire.

The modern (rear) garden in this area is almost always laid to lawn, as if it is somehow fashionable, the house owners however rarely bother to maintain them, either through lack of time, or more likely a complete ignorance on the hours and irrigation necessary to weed, cut and tend to the borders.

I found out earlier that the origin of the word means 'barren land' , (from llan/launda/laundra ). Perhaps that is what our neighbour's actually want, what is certain is the dedicated gardening and larger diy stores will be rubbing their hands at providing seed and turf beyond the call of duty until winter hits, and the cycle will repeat itself.

 

[jeallen01]

@CH
You make some very good points: most of the neighbouring gardens are "pretty basic" and few can be described as "attractive" - OTOH, apart from the parched state of our lawn (I haven't watered it as it will eventually recover - as it did last/this year after being comprehensively "de-mossed") but our borders look relatively reasonable and colourful because of SWMBO's comprehensive watering regime (every evening - apart from today!). She does the flower beds, and I do the "veg (etc.)" - so we have good looking flowers, and a lot of tomatoes and cucumbers, and, hopefully, several sorts of beans to come later, and then sprouts and brocolli early next Spring.
PS: you've seen how relatively small the garden is - so we don't do too badly

 

[Lazarus]

Today, I are mostly been teachin' the hens to swim.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Today, I are mostly been teachin' the hens to swim.

Breast stroke.

 

[Channel Hopper]

@CH
You make some very good points: most of the neighbouring gardens are "pretty basic" and few can be described as "attractive" - OTOH, apart from the parched state of our lawn (I haven't watered it as it will eventually recover - as it did last/this year after being comprehensively "de-mossed") but our borders look relatively reasonable and colourful because of SWMBO's comprehensive watering regime (every evening - apart from today!). She does the flower beds, and I do the "veg (etc.)" - so we have good looking flowers, and a lot of tomatoes and cucumbers, and, hopefully, several sorts of beans to come later, and then sprouts and brocolli early next Spring.
PS: you've seen how relatively small the garden is - so we don't do too badly

If a lawn is long established it should recover after a couple of weeks of excessive temperature, but the vast majority nearby have been laid within around four to five years, they are effectively ex-lawns, what with the daisies having issues pushing up.

 

[jeallen01]

And thus the "ugly duckings" shall eventually become "swans" - but still can't actually swim

 

[Lazarus]

Breast stroke.

Very kind, but I'm alright for now.

 

[2cvbloke]

Today, I are mostly been teachin' the hens to swim.

Meanwhile, the roosters can go drown for being so noisy...

 

[jeallen01]

If a lawn is long established it should recover after a couple of weeks of excessive temperature, but the vast majority nearby have been laid within around four to five years, they are effectively ex-lawns, what with the daisies having issues pushing up.

I laid our lawn 20+ years ago - it's been through bad times and good times, but so should soon recover, providing the rest of the Summer isn't too dry. OTOH, my stepson's lawn was laid earlier this Summer, and so who knows what will happen to that