Monday saw Diogo and myself have our first session with the dog trainer.
It was an hour long session at home where we worked on Diogos barking in excitement at going on a walk.
This session saw us getting through a pack of dog treats. It wasn’t only Diogo getting the treat as part of his training. Every time Diogo got something Dolly was also there expecting, nay demanding she had one to. Once he cottoned on to what was happening Loki also wanted in on the action.
Diogo did really well. Although it did tire him.
Our next session is in just over a couple of weeks and will be in a local paddock where we will work on Diogo’s reaction to other dogs while on the lead.
Obviously in the meantime Diogo has homework of about 15 minutes a day going over what we practiced in the session. Plus I’m using the stuff getting ready for our walks.
On this overcast, damp morning it was the turn of the Speedster Stoves 30ml Spill Proof Meths/Alcohol Burner to be used with the Fire Maple Lotus Titanium Solid Fuel Stove to make the mornings brew. It’s a great combo that works well. I should point out in the UK that we cannot use the intended fuel with this stove. The Fire Dragon fuel is not a good combo with this stove with the slots in the base. So this makes a great light, compact base for something like this speedster stove. The pot is a Trangia small mess tin, which not only holds the stove setup above but also the Trangia small mess tin insert cover, the Trangia multi disc for the small mess tin, a third party chopping board (not decided which I like the most yet), a small Nalgene bottle for fuel. All this is stored in the Trangia roll top cover for the small mess tin. I like this as a grab and go brew kit. Mind you it’s not the only one I have. I like options so I can choose on the day. I’m weird like that. I let my mood on the day choose what stove set up I use. Along with my intended use. Some setups are better for just boiling water, while others are more flexible on what they allow you to do.
I have to say I am enjoying this weeks morning projects of playing with the stoves. It’s good to keep the skills up to date.
It’s bin day so before I even contemplated having my first coffee I had to put out the bin bags for two houses. You’d be surprised how much rubbish an old lady with a cat generates. However once that chore was over my thoughts turned to making the first caffeine hit of the day. It was only going to be made one way this morning, using the new Fire Maple pour over kettle that arrived yesterday. The stove I used was also by Fire Maple, their Greenpeak 1. The pour over was the pajak flat v60 pour over. Even with the Greenpeak not at full blast boiled the water very quickly thanks to those heat fins on the base.
The pour over kettle fits inside a G3 but you aren’t going to get the rice cooker in as well. If I recall the marketing material correctly the G3 should fit this and the cup/pot. Not sure about a stove fitting either. I can see possibly something like the BRS3000 fitting. But the Greenpeak 1? It’s going to be tight if it fits at all.
Obviously with the design being a detachable handle so it can be stored in the G3, the handle does have a bit of wobble or looseness. I’d also be concerned about the seals used and the wear and tear on them.
I have to say size wise this is perfect for the solo camper. The 350ml capacity also perfect for a single mug of java.
A nice addition to the options available for that caffeine fix outdoors.
It’s not hot or sunny, but it’s not freezing either. Just cold.
With my first coffee in me, and needing to pass the time as I delay Diogo nagging for his walk, I decided to make a brew with a stove.
Then I have the decision which?
Definitely my preference these days is the Firebox titanium Nano G2. I really do like this stove. It’s not only my go to wood stove, I like it as a multi fuel stove too.
This morning I decided to use it with the Trangia gel burner and Fire Dragon solid fuel blocks. Obviously esbit hexamine style fuel tabs are out of the question in the UK. The gel burner is perfect for using with the Fire Dragon fuel because that goes everywhere once on fire. I’m not convinced that the Firebox solid fuel plate for the Nano will entirely work with this fuel.
Luckily the gel burner fits the Nano perfectly using the nano sticks, just like the Trangia burner.
I also used the Firebox titanium box pot which is fastly becoming a favourite too.
The Kupilka 21 Classic Cup has become my favourite cup for the outdoors. I was always sceptical about them when I saw them in YouTube videos. But then I bought one. It’s hard to believe that a cup can change the whole brew experience. The cup just seems more tactile and just enhances things that is hard to put into words. But I love drinking from the cup.
Trangia gel burner in the Firebox titanium nano G2Firebox titanium box potDolly and Diogo try out the picnic rug
I also tried out the small “waterproof” picnic rug I bought for the backyard for the little monsters to lie on. I just wanted to give them something to make it not so cold when they were outside. Diogo especially likes to spend time outside. As you can see it was used and appreciated by them.
With the shed going next month, giving us more space. Depending what’s under the shed determining how the space is used. I’m hoping just soil so I can seed it with grass. But with more space, spending more time outside to allow the little monsters to enjoy being out I have room for them to chill and me to chill and enjoy a brew.
There is no escaping it March was a poor month for playing games.
The impact of the collapse of Tuesday evening gaming is obvious. Although it has been cool that one or two longer to play games have made it to the table.
“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” — Charles Dickens (via my friend Jim)
I’m so grateful my friend Jim shared this quote from Dickens about the month of March this morning. It really does sum up the March we have just experienced beautifully.
This mornings brew was made using a Goshawk Swirling flame – OP-100. So called because in none windy conditions the flames swirl out of the jet holes.
The Keith titanium cup was millimetres from being wide enough to be supported by the HUIOP Portable Outdoor Ultralight Titanium Stove Stand /Windscreen. Or the stove stand was millimetres too wide to support the cup. Either way I ended up having to use an Alcohol Stove Cross Stand.
The stand didn’t offer great protection from the wind. But I think that was more to with the shape of the cup being kidney shaped and leaving gaps.
Goshawk Swirling flame – OP-100, Alcohol Stove Cross Stand, HUIOP Portable Outdoor Ultralight Titanium Stove Stand /Windscreen, Keith titanium canteen & cup, Kupilka 21 Classic Cup, BCB ferro rod, High Temperature Soldering Mat, bit of carbon feltGoshawk Swirling flame – OP-100, ended up having to use a Alcohol Stove Cross StandHUIOP Portable Outdoor Ultralight Titanium Stove Stand /Windscreen
Obviously once the water was boiled I made a coffee in my Kupilka cup.
I will say I am fastly becoming a big fan of starting my meths burner, whether a Trangia or Goshawk with a ferro rod.
This month has been really bad for gaming. It seems March is the new February. Is this the new normal as well?
Anyway this is what hit the table in the later half of the month.
Heat: Peddle to the Metal: we had a seven player game! Weather tiles were used along with the British map. For time we stuck with the default upgrades. Seven players doing three rounds of drafting would have just taken up too much time. Great fun. The weather made some interesting choices going round and was very inconvenient in one or two sections of the track.
Havana: a four player game that turned into a three player game when Anthony had to go home part way through. Some confusion over the rules for a couple of cards. One due to a YouTuber giving an incorrect rule on their video for the architect. Why Marcin took their version over the actual words in the rulebook I don’t know. But we eventually played it the correct way (as intended by the rulebook).
Anno 1800: An interesting but enjoyable game. A bit of an engine builder where you are completing “contracts” from your hand of cards. End of game is triggered when a player has no cards left. Fiddly to setup with lots of tiles to put out in sorted piles. I liked it and would definitely play again.
Hooky: alphabet based deduction game. Work out what the three letters in the middle and what letters your opponents have by asking players how many letters they have in a five letter word you give them. By the end of the second round you know nine letters. Because at the end of round one and two one of the two spare letters (not the middle three) gets revealed. At the end of the last three rounds (four, five, and six) you write down your guess of the middle three letters. You’ll score points for these guesses at the end scoring. I actually liked this game a lot. In away it reminded me a lot of the old Mastermind game. Don’t be surprised if this ends up in the collection.
Fliptoons: kinda want to call this a deck builder. It’s fun and quick.
Wyrmspan: played with the expansion. For me I prefer the theme and that it’s more gamer oriented than Wingspan. Don’t get me wrong I like Wingspan just I prefer the theme and extra mechanics. Ok I did not so great this game. But that’s the nature of the cards.
Pili Pili: a new arrival and yet another trick taker. Quick to play, and lots of variety with 40 rule cards. The rule cards do give the game a Rebel Princess vibe. Very good fun.
New Arrivals
Marvel Champions Hercules Hero pack
Marvel Champions Wonder Man Hero pack
Star Wars: Unlimited – A Lawless Time Spotlight Deck (Leia Organa)
Star Wars: Unlimited – A Lawless Time Spotlight Deck (Jabba the Hut)
Netrunner Ashes: Downfall – Remastered Edition
Netrunner Ashes: Uprising – Remastered Edition
Netrunner System Gateway: Remastered
Android Netrunner 2017 Core Set (second hand without box)
Tannhauser plus a lot of expansions/character packs
I was planning this as a post for the near future. But after a Facebook question on a Kelly Kettle page I am a member of about what people did for water while out and about, and my long reply. I thought I’d expand on that reply here.
We all know that filtering requirements change not only depending on country in, but also location within that country.
This post is UK centric. That’s where I’m based. How I filter is what makes me feel safe to drink the water I source. This works for me! It may not work for you or you prefer some different filter, etc. That’s fine. I repeat This works for me!
I’m not an expert.
In the UK in the decades since a Tory government privatised the water industry, and especially since leaving the European Union. Our water quality of rivers and beaches has gone downhill drastically. The amount of sewage dumped by the water companies into our water ways is criminal. And I won’t even go into the lack of investment, repairs, no new reservoirs, increasing water bills and shareholder profits taking out billions.
The bottom line is our water ways are not the idylic pure sources we picture of old, where you could dip your cup and drink straight from the source. Before we drink the water from whatever source we will need to treat it somehow.
How you treat your water depends on your assessment of the source and the surrounding area. Is it fast flowing? Any dead animals up stream? Is the surrounding land farmland? You get the idea.
Based on my assessment of the source I will adjust my filtering process.
So what makes up my water filtration kit?
I’m going to start with the Forest Fundamentals Millbank bag.
If the water source I’m going to use has debris in it like twigs, dirt particles, bits of leaves. Then this is my way of removing them. It’s not going to remove bacteria, parasites, viruses, or chemicals.
Removing the debris also means that the sawyer squeeze will last longer between back flushes.
Next up is the Cnoc Vecto. I use either a 1 litre or 2 litre capacity. They work for me.
I don’t take both. I select the one based on what I think my needs will be on the trip.
Both are the 28mm thread so they can be used with the Sawyer squeeze.
The Cnoc is only ever used with contaminated water that I collect with it or from the Millbank bag.
I use the Sawyer squeeze filter.
I have modified mine!
The modification is to replace the washer going into the filter with a plumbers washer that has a micro metal filter on it (see the photo below). This stops any debris getting into the filter. Once again prolonging the time between back washes.
The squeeze uses these hollow micro tubes that are “Rated to 0.1 micron absolute filtration, it removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, such as salmonella, leptospirosis, cholera and E.coli, , removes 99.9999% of all protozoa (such as giardia and cryptosporidium), and it also removes 100% of microplastics.” (Taken off the sawyer website)
Now what about viruses? That’s interesting because in an interview with Dan Becker on YouTube the owner discussed this, and in paraphrasing now. Apparently they can’t get approved for viruses because the test uses dead viruses which they can’t stop. However live viruses attach to stuff that they do stop! Now I do not know how true this is. I have neither the time or the expertise to judge how accurate that statement is. I also don’t know an expert to ask.
So why bring it up? Well you may have seen the interview and being saying “but Darren…”
For me the assumption should be it doesn’t stop them. Best to be on the safe side.
The final step part to my “system” is a Katadyn Active Carbon Water Filter Bottle Adaptor.
The Katadyn reduces chemicals, heavy metals, and improves odour and taste of the water.
Unlike the squeeze this only does about 200 litres before the active carbon needs replacing.
Forest Fundamentals Millbank bag1 & 2 litre Cnoc Vecto water bags (28mm)A plumbing washerSawyer squeeze adapters and tubeSawyer squeeze, Katadyn Active Carbon Water Filter Bottle Adaptor
And then you have some adapters and tubing that allow me to jury rig the Katadyn into the process, or attach the squeeze to a water bottle.
Why I like this system is because it allows me to adjust depending on the water source what is used. If I’m high up using streams, I’d probably just use the squeeze. On the other hand if I’m in an area with lots of farmland next to the source I’d use the squeeze and Katadyn.
Yes, as far as I’m concerned this setup doesn’t remove viruses. If that was a major concern for me I have options. The easiest, even cheapest for me is to use a purification tablet. However I could get a filter that uses reverse osmosis or ultraviolet light.
Backup
Naturally things fail for whatever reason. They can even get lost.
So it’s handy to have a backup. Luckily for making water safe to drink the options are not heavy or bulky.
I normally have water purification tablets on me (with my water canteen and lid of my rucksack). I use the ones from the British Army ration packs.
I like them because they come in handy little packets of four. Which makes them easy to carry and put with other stuff, not taking up much room.
And a major bonus is they can be picked up relatively cheaply. And I do mean cheap. Often from these Army Surplus retailers you can pick up British Army ration pack accessory packets for less than 50p (I think I’ve picked them up for 20p each in the past).
These accessory packs come with plastic sporks, wipes, tissue, tea, coffee, water purification tablets, etc. You get a lot of useful stuff on top of them water purification tablets that you want.
I did the maths and it works out much cheaper than buying just the tablets for similar quantities. Plus you are getting other stuff you can use.
The final backup for getting drinking water is boiling it.
Obviously the major drawback with this method is if you want a cold drink you have to wait for the water to cool down.
Both of the above will not remove debris from the water so having a shemagh, also known as a keffiyeh or ghutra, or even a bandana is handy for doing that. Before treating your water with the water purification tablet or boiling it, using something like a bandana or shemagh to filter out the debris is a must.
Boiling and using the water purification tablets will kill bacteria or parasites, even viruses. They do not remove dissolved chemicals or remove micro plastics.
Yesterday we got some photos of Ace being non too fussed about a care package for him.
To be fair from his point of view it’s not the most exciting thing to receive. I think we all know the sort of things that would make Ace happy. There will be plenty of time once he gets over here for him to enjoy that sort of stuff.
The photos also came with the following update.
“Hello Kate. Yesterday we picked up the things that was sent for Ace. I’m happy to see Aces progress in his recovery. Friday he was in therapy and the doctor said he looks better as well. And he must return to therapy in 15days.”
I’m going to finish the post with a photo of Loki on my lap.
