Author Archives: rpg

About rpg

Scientist, poet, gadfly

Paperback Writer

Posted on 21 May 2024 by rpg

I made a list. I’m doing quite well with it—ticked off more than half, and others are ‘in progress’. I’m not going to finish it before I start work again, but I’ve given myself permission not to get through everything, … Continue reading →

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We need medicine

Posted on 13 May 2024 by rpg

I caught up with Wanda on Friday. She’d managed to inspect the captured swarm the day before, and all seemed hunky-dory. No eggs yet, but you can expect to wait a couple of weeks before a newly mated queen will … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Science | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Learning to fly

Posted on 5 May 2024 by rpg

I’ve written at length about our hens. What I may not have mentioned is that last year we got a hive, and some bees to go in it.  The bees did what bees do, and we had a few jars … Continue reading →

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Higher

Posted on 29 April 2024 by rpg

This is a cross-post of something I wrote on LinkedIn. One of the most fun projects I’ve been involved in was the series of global Annual Brand Meetings we ran for a client. In partnership with the client we would … Continue reading →

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I’m still standing

Posted on 21 April 2024 by rpg

Big Vet doesn’t want you to read this post. Chickens, famously, do not have teeth. Instead they have gizzards, A gizzard is a kind of bag betwixt beak and stomach in which foodstuff is ground by little bits of stone … Continue reading →

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Sweet home Alabama

Posted on 14 April 2024 by rpg

It never ends. There’s always something to do, whether it’s laying turf, repairing hoses, or pulling up the wild onions. I’m taking advantage of the unexpected time off to fix things around the house and garden. In the best traditions … Continue reading →

Posted in Me, Offspring, Personal, Science-less Sunday | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Times They Are A-Changin’

Posted on 7 April 2024 by rpg

Hard to believe, but 4 years ago we were in lockdown. Bit of a shit time, really, with scary NHS bears yelling at us to STAY HOME, schools shut, people being shouted at for being (gasp) outside, and all that … Continue reading →

Posted in Don't try this at home, Offspring, Science-less Sunday | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

This is what we find

Posted on 31 March 2024 by rpg

While making Richard’s Famous Margaritas(tm) (note to self: post this on Magirism at some point) this afternoon, I had to clear the Triple Sec optic from the sugary gunge build-up. After cleaning, I picked up the wrong receptacle and dropped … Continue reading →

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The Country Life

Posted on 24 March 2024 by rpg

I set up a WhatsApp group for the locals, so I can let them know when I have eggs available. “Hello Richard!” they’ll message, “Any eggs available today?” At this time of year, with an average of 4 eggs daily, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Nature | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

My Generation

Posted on 15 March 2024 by rpg

Back in January I predicted that we would hit our 14 kWh daily average sometime around the end of April. I was a little off, as we first passed that marker on 1 March—surprisingly for such a rainy day, I … Continue reading →

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