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I kicked alcohol years ago to give every last chance of resolving ongoing health troubles which are still preventing me from getting me out and about much. I never regularly drank a great deal, but thoroughly enjoyed the taste of an occasional good dark ale after a hard day's work in winter, or...

Only on account of the thick mist, torrential rain or impenetrable clouds of midgies.

Not a 3000W inverter, it's a poor quality item possibly capable of delivering its stated 600W continuous output until it goes pop. Sorry to be brutally honest!

Crossover from the other thread where you mentioned a 1600W electric chainsaw. I'd personally save and buy a Victron 2000VA inverter which delivers 1600W max continually but can happily do so all day year in year out. Best part of £500 though. But bear in mind at 1600W it would be pulling 140A...

I've been there a couple of times to collect things in person... timed with bonfire night, which is like nothing else!

Bimble Solar just south of Lewes is a good start, their stock changes fairly regularly and there is often a lot more choice than currently. It's also worth looking on ebay for any localish businesses which may be selling on leftovers or oddments.

I'm heavily biased but wouldn't mess about with anything other than Victron from my experience. There are models which are simply inverters, and some with built in chargers so you can charge lithium or lead acid batteries from a generator or mains. They are well built, heavy inverters which...

Solar 'prepping' thoughts I doubt many prepping content creators consider- The cheapest way of doing solar is usually buying an all in one inverter/solar charge controller/mains and generator charger. When it fails you have nothing. Having a separate inverter and solar charge controller(s)...

Don't forget that although lithium leisure batteries are better than lead acid at supplying high currents, a single 100Ah lithium battery may not be enough to run a big inverter with a high load- the voltage drop on startup may cause the inverter to shut down.

Not sure if it's been mentioned on here before, but if it has here's a reminder. There's a simple way to get plenty of Vit D in naturally. Buy mushrooms with open cups. Twist off stem, leave gills expose to direct sunlight for 20 mins to an hour. This boosts Vitamin D content of the gills, and...

Bizarrely more than a couple of smaller ground mount panels need planning permission. Not an issue if you stick them on the roof of a battery/generator shed... And of course no planning needed if they are mounted on an old trailer... It's frightening however just how little direct sunlight...

It's almost as if people aren't aware just how cheap good quality solar and lithium have become recently. A 16kWh lithium battery is now £2K from Fogstar, with A grade LiFePO4 cells (as opposed to Li-ion, inferno waiting to happen) and a good quality BMS. Twenty year life expectency. 410W solar...

Thank you , I might well give that a whirl.

Interesting @Chris, it obviously works for you? I wonder if it might help me nod off sooner around full moon.

It's well known that blue light affects melatonin in the body and can disrupt sleep. While the 'daylight bulbs' recommended for SAD with a high colour temperature work for some to brighten up the day, in the evenings I need 'vintage' LED bulbs with a cosy orangey glow, 1700K colour...

Thank you Toddy, my neighbour has a quince tree and making use of the fruit is one wonderful activity too many for her at the moment, and I avoid sugar so they are just rotting. Well, apart from those now providing me a wonderful scent! Never occurred to me before.

I enjoy all the seasons but I do suffer from moons. Sounds mad and might not add much to the thread but bear with me. It begins a week before every full moon and ends on the day of the full moon. A little before moonrise I will be hit with a wave of depression and often exhaustion which will...

Good for you @Toddy, looking out for the pollinators. I'm always amazed this time of year how much action there still is on the white dead nettle and ivy in my garden... and of course while they're at it they swing by the last of my French bean flowers. Yes fragrent probably isn't the best...

I have mugwort drying inside, still smells good nearby. Tansy is another good one.

LED torches. Hideous things, with their blue or white light. Maglites were fine, a pleasant light the colour of a candle flame. How often do you really need 3 billion lumens?