Author Archives: Zephyr

Installing phpmyadmin on Ubuntu 22.04 running PHP 7.4

phpMyAdmin web interface for MySQL administration, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

Intended Audience

Anyone who wants to phpMyAdmin for administrating MySQL databases via a web browser. This guide is for a development environment running on localhost and communication being done over http: . Security by this method of installation bypasses security patches put out by Canonical/Ubuntu developers for phpMYAdmin. If you plan to use this method over the internet you will have to set up https: on Apache and read the phpMyAdmin documentation on how to harden phpMyAdmin.

The purpose of this method of installing phpMyAdmin is that Ubuntu developers have put out a secured implementation which requires PHP 8.1.2 . This does not work if you have installed PHP 7.4 environment. This guide assumes you have Ubuntu 22.4, Apache web server, PHP 7.4 and MySQL installed and running.

Download

1) Downloaded from https://www.phpmyadmin.net/ .

Verified the file has not been tampered with by running, from command line,

$ sha256sum /path to file/phpMyAdmin/phpMyAdmin-5.2.1-all-languages.zip

and checked the hashsum matched that supplied by the developers of https://www.phpmyadmin.net/ e.g 31c95fe5c00e0f899b5d31ac6fff506cf8061f2f746e9d7084c395f47451946e

Unzipped phpMyAdmin-5.2.1-all-languages.zip

Configuration of the Apache hosting folder.

This is /var/www/html

2) Gave my user account (joe_bloggs) and the www-data group access to var/www/html which is used by the Apache web server

I did this using the command

$ sudo chown -hR joe_bloggs:www-data /var/www/html

Added my user account as a member of the www-data group.

* www-data is also member of my user group joe_bloggs which I should change back

3) Copied the directory phpMyAdmin-5.2.1-all-languages to /var/www/html

Database configuration

Log into mysql command line with root permissions and create the database and user.

Running Server version: 8.0.40-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 (Ubuntu)

Copyright (c) 2000, 2024, Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Create database “phpmyadminâ€

mysql> CREATE database phpmyadmin;

CREATE USER 'pma' IDENTIFIED BY 'some_password';

GRANT ALL ON phpmyadmin.* TO 'pma'@'%' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Run the script to create the tables

Log into mysql command line and run the following.

mysql> use phpmyadmin

Database changed

mysql> source /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin-5.2.1-all-languages/sql/create_tables.sql;

Query OK, 1 row affected, 3 warnings (0.00 sec)

mysql> show tables;

+------------------------+

| Tables_in_phpmyadmin |

+------------------------+

| pma__bookmark |

| pma__central_columns |

| pma__column_info |

| pma__designer_settings |

| pma__export_templates |

| pma__favorite |

| pma__history |

| pma__navigationhiding |

| pma__pdf_pages |

| pma__recent |

| pma__relation |

| pma__savedsearches |

| pma__table_coords |

| pma__table_info |

| pma__table_uiprefs |

| pma__tracking |

| pma__userconfig |

| pma__usergroups |

| pma__users |

+------------------------+

19 rows in set (0.00 sec)

I then ran the upgrade script:

mysql> source /var/www/html/phpMyAdmin-5.2.1-all-languages/sql/upgrade_tables_4_7_0+.sql

Database changed

Query OK, 0 rows affected, 1 warning (1.39 sec)

Records: 0 Duplicates: 0 Warnings: 1

The number of columns and names remained the same so it would appear to be unnecessary for a fresh install.

Edit the config.inc.php file.

Firstly rename the directory in var/www/html from phpMyAdmin-5.2.1-all-languages to phpmyadmin. This will make it easier to refernce the weblink http://localhost/phpmyadmin in the web browser.

With a text editor make a copy of the config.sample.inc.php and save it as config.inc.php in the root of the phpmyadmin directory.

Generate the blowfish_secret key for use in the cookie.

This is outlined in an extract from the phpMyAdmin documentation below. If you haven’t generated one do not worry as you can still log into phpMyAdmin. The system generates one on the fly but for security reasons you are advised to generate your own random key. This should be 64 alphanumeric character long (32 bytes). You can type it manually – it has to be 64 alphanumeric characters long, or use the method below from the documentation extract.

Extract from the phpMyAdmin documentation on how to generate the blowfish_secret key.

2.10 How to generate a string of random bytes

One way to generate a string of random bytes suitable for cryptographic use is using the random_bytes PHP function. Since this function returns a binary string, the returned value should be converted to printable format before being able to copy it.

For example, the $cfg['blowfish_secret'] configuration directive requires a 32-bytes long string. The following command can be used to generate a hexadecimal representation of this string.

php -r 'echo bin2hex(random_bytes(32)) . PHP_EOL;'

The above example will output something similar to: f16ce59f45714194371b48fe362072dc3b019da7861558cd4ad29e4d6fb13851

And then this hexadecimal value can be used in the configuration file $cfg['blowfish_secret'] = sodium_hex2bin('f16ce59f45714194371b48fe362072dc3b019da7861558cd4ad29e4d6fb13851');

The sodium_hex2bin is used here to convert the hexadecimal value back to the binary format.

End of Extract.

Config.inc.php settings that I used.

Below are the config.inc.php settings I changed from the default config.sample.inc.php

$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'my 32 byte long random key'; /* YOU MUST FILL IN THIS FOR COOKIE AUTH! */

/* Authentication type */

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type'] = 'cookie';

/* Server parameters */

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['host'] = 'localhost';

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['compress'] = false;

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['AllowNoPassword'] = false;

/**

* phpMyAdmin configuration storage settings.

*/

/* User used to manipulate with storage */

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlhost'] = 'localhost';

// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlport'] = '';

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controluser'] = 'pma';

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlpass'] = 'password for phpmyadmin database';

You can check that the correct database is being selected in the config line below.

/* Storage database and tables */

$cfg['Servers'][$i]['pmadb'] = 'phpmyadmin';

Testing

You should be able to connect via a web browser using

http://localhost/phpmyadmin/

login page

After you login access some database you have and bookmark a query. Then access the pma__bookmark table in the phpmyadmin table and see if the qwery has been recorded. This will tell you if the pma user is authenticating correctly with the database. Please see the scrrenshot below. Here the bookmarked query run on the 'northwind' database - yes! from the days of MS Access and MS-SQL :), has been recorded.

This end the guide. Thank you for reading and thank you all at phpMyAdmin for creating and supporting this app.

Evil Bastards

It has been busy of late. A good part of what has been keeping me busy is dealing with the effects of harassment. The most recent was on the night of 1st November and early 2nd November morning. My electricity supply connection column containing my meter was violently pushed over. It was actually lifted out of the ground. The dig marks where the tool went in can be clearly seen. What is even more evident is that they misjudged the level initially and went through the wall breaking the bricks which can be seen in the next photo. My guess is that is was a two man job and they used a tractor with an attachment on the rear. My column is right next to the tarmac road so no tyre marks were left.

There was some heavy rain that night but nothing special. They wanted to make it look like that the post fell down by itself due to erosion. There is no erosion around the post and it has withstood far worse weather for over a decade. It was forcefully uprooted from the ground. Those who did this are evil bastards and are trying to either get rid of us or bring us under their influence. They probably don't like me complaining about the stench of their "special meat" which has become something almost permanent.

Posto de elétrcidade deitado. Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Hole of shattered due to impact at and dig marks in the ground

I maybe disabled but I am capable. Thankfully the cables did not severe and the meter is undamaged. Someone came and had a look. They cleaned the glass. I am grateful. I am guessing Proteção Civil. I have to re-enforce the column before attempting to raise it or it will break up. The malvados who did that were fully expecting me to do that in a knee jerk reaction. To put me under further pressure they blocked my phone at the time as well. I did not bother reporting this incident to the GNR (police). They wouldn't find anything and it would tie up their resources. I did report the phone being blocked.

Moving on. I didn’t pick my olives for to be pressed for oil so they are lost this year. I managed to pick some almonds. Bad weather and harassment kept interrupting the process. I am picking by hand as I find it works best for me. It is slow of’course. We have a lot of wet weather now so I will sell what I have and pick the remainder to keep when the weather improves.

Fruits end of October /Frutas fim do Octubro, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Fruits end of October /Frutas fim do Octubro

These are the fruits I had at the end of October. Just the one mango :). But it was very good.

I had a decent amount of cherry tomatoes. I grew most along with the young orange and olive trees.

They did very well this way. My other tomatoes were disappointing.

The sun dried tomatoes turned out very well. I made two small bottles. I also made some tomatoes ketchup as I had a lot of cherry tomatoes. sun dried tomatoes , Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, PortugalUnfortunately one bottle went of due to an improper seal. There was a problem sourcing vacuum seal jars from Spain at the ABC Stores this year.

I had a very good harvest of black plums this year. Just from the one tree I have.

The grapes were also good. Especially the white Donna Maria Branca. They were very sweet for the first time.

I grew some corn along with the young olive trees, mainly. They grew so so. My sweet corn failed. They did not germinate or grow well. I was a bit late. The potatoes failed. I neglected to cover the new growth with soil. And the soil was hard.

The Nashi pears grew well. And looked nice ad ripe. Unfortunately the were almost all infected. I did spray thrice.

Chubbs under the carob tree. So this ls where we are all. Until next time. Thank you for reading! 🙂

Apricots 2024

Apricots / Damascos, Zephyrinus do Campozinho, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Apricots / Damascos

Apricots kept us in fruit for three quarters of May. They are all but gone. I did have over 50% loss due to the small black fly. At least I can claim that they are 100% organic even if the conserve in not 100% vegetarian. I really couldn't be bothered to try and scoop out every tiny white maggot. I think there are some who want us to move our dietary intake to insects. This should please them 🙂 . I have also managed to make some juice out of them.

Damascos consevada / Apricot conserve, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Damascos consevado / Apricot conserve

My favas (broadbeans) were planted late but came through. The damp weather in April helped.

Struggling a bit to grow my vegetables, especially the tomatoes and peppers. Trying a few different things which I hope will show better results in a month. The lettuce is growing well in pots.

Zephyrinus do campozinho, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
the meadow / o campozinho

Finally managed to clear my land with my small machines. "the meadow" was the last area to be done. Bosch rocks! Not to be confused with Wrox who also make decent tools 🙂 I went completely electric.

My middle plums have come early, just a few while my early plums are delayed. One of the two early has almost no fruit this year. It's probably due to the unsettled winter conditions that were had.

Ameixa, plum , Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Ameixa - penso rosa. / plum

Bonji at the Ria Formosa, Arroteia Baixa

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

Update 03/06/2024

Primeira batata plantazinha levanta hoje! Sortinho! ** My first potato plant popped up today. I have planted very late but looks like we will have some potatoes. ** Restante de blog aqui https://www.bright-work.co.uk/apricots-2024/

Measly Peas and Steaming Rice

ervilhas, peas, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Peas /ervilhas

I managed to grow some measly peas, but they are helping to keep us in the veg. The dog sleeping on them did not help. They go well mixed with rice. This variety looks like the UK “Sugar Snap†but they are not sweet. They are of the “Carouby de Maussane†variety. I got them from Madeira e Madeira Lda., Alfandanga. I will try potting a few under some shade.

evening walk, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
caminho / evening walk

This is our usual walk. This was one was taken one late evening towards the end of April. I found the view at picturesque. It varies with the atmospheric conditions.

Managed some favas (broadbeans). I have discovered it is best to eat them young before they fully develop and the testa (skin) hardens. That way they simply melt in your mouth.

Lost my cove galega (Portuguese cabbage) which forms part of our staple diet. I managed to get by on wild fennel (funcho selvagem) for greens. It’s better now. We have a bit of cabbage, leeks, lettuce, portuguese basil and the previous mentioned measly peas.

I got a decent amounts of loquats this year from my trees. The two I grew from seed turned out to have grown true. They are the “Americana†variety and produce large tasty easy to peel fruit. I have kept some in the freezer to make jam.

terrano limpo, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
terreno limpo / clear for the summer

In order to comply with the local fire hazard regulations I have been keeping my grass and weeds short. I am doing a second pass which I hope to finish in May. It is looking decent. It just requires a lot of man hours as I am working with only a strimmer and a lawnmower. Outstanding Bosch!

Leaving “The meadow†for last. It looks amazing when the miniature dandelions bloom during the day. The bees seem a bit thin on the ground. I haven’t seen the bee keepers on the property across the road for awhile.

It looks like a very good year for almonds. The spring rain whilst not heavy really helped with growth and fruit development.

My olives are growing , albeit slowly. I am trying to hurry some of them along with better irrigation.

Cultivo as laranjeiras enquanto espero por meu girrasol Jéssica -  Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal. Do it like a Bosch.
young orange trees / laranjeiras jovens / espero por meu girrasol

I am growing a few orange trees this year. Hopefully I will grow them better than my failed attempt in 2015. I am more experienced now.

The grass I collect with the Bosch “rota-tek speedy cut†lawnmover makes very good compost. It is ready in about three weeks. I just add some ash, urine and vegetable kitchen waste into the mix. And of'course some water now.

That’s hope it went in April. 🙂 Thank you for reading.

Political Thoughts Easter 2024

War in Ukraine, illegal migrants loaded in a boat, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

I haven’t written about anything political for ages. Mainly due to being busy with other things and health issues. I feel now is the time I should state my position on various issues.

Privatization

Some privatization of national/government run institutions is a good thing. As it can increase efficiency and reduce costs to the public / o povo. However, privatization of all national assets for the sake of privatization is not a good thing.

There is a difference between the privatization of a national Airline company like TAP and a essential utility like water as in the case of Thames Water in the UK. What we have to remember is this. A privatized company is driven by it’s very nature to return the maximum amount of the profit a company makes to their shareholders - in form of dividends. The citizens of the country and the national interest being of secondary importance.

This is clearly seen in the case of Thames Water in the UK. After the government allowed the privatization of the water company, the water bills immediately doubled and I have no doubt have continued to increase. The company paid out dividends to it’s shareholders while failing to invest the profit made into maintenance and development of the water processing infrastructure. Thames Valley Water now require 18 billion pounds to fix the problems. The company is owned by non UK entities based in China and Abu Dhabi.

It is my belief that companies that provide such basic and essential services in a country should never be privatized , let alone sold to foreign entities.

Ukraine

Putin. You cannot write about Ukraine without doing some sort analysis on Putin. The BBC have a program on Putin which is quite good. I was sceptical at first but now see they were correct this time round. Putin is an able state administrator, a gambler and a splinter in a wound.

His gambit in Ukraine went wrong. Without consultation with the Russian Parliament he diverted troops on a training exercise in Belarus to invade Ukraine. The reason the tank column took so long on the road to Kiev is because Putin had gambled the Ukrainians would be intimidated and throw the gates of Kiev open to him. When that failed, to save face he decided to press on with the war with badly prepared and ill equipped troops. The Ukrainians had been heavily armed by foreign states especially the United Kingdom and the Americans with the latest anti tank weaponry. We know how that went.

This is what happens when you become a dictator the sense of one’s own power and invulnerability becomes detached from reality. Putin should have stopped with Crimea and normalised international relationships. Everyone with the exception of a few, would have accepted that because it felt correct for Crimea to be a part of Russia.

He went about trying to win Ukraine in the completely wrong way. If he was clever he would have used businesses and Russia’s vast energy reserves to bribe and win over the Ukrainians. The Americans do it successfully this way with their companies. Amazon is a good example. Anything, anyone earns on Amazon is taxable first by the Americans. Secondly Amazon have been building the backbone of the internet quietly with secret datacenters all over the world. Amazon now control more than 30% of the global infrastructure that is the internet. A win for American global power.

Putin instead decided to use force like a thug to grab Ukraine. After Putin and the clique that govern Russia, failed to get all of Ukraine they decided to settle for the mineral rich eastern Ukraine. The cost of this will be high for the Russians. Financially and culturally. How can you bomb people and except then to like you let alone love you? Russian businesses will banned from operating in the west and clever Russians will be barred from employment in many countries. War is an evil business and should only be invoked as the very last resort.

Were there / are there, some reasons for Russia launching a war with Ukrane? I would argue , no. The NATO expansion into Ukraine could have been staved off by threats and red lines. As it stands Putin's war has certainly speeded up NATO expansion with Finland and Sweden opting in.

As for Russian speaking Ukrainians being ethnically cleansed by Ukrainian ultranationalists. This while being true, has not been helped by the war except for perhaps those in the annexed regions. How can bombs destroying one’s home and a destroyed economy be of help to a Russian speaking Ukrainian?

Putin has put Russia and Russians in danger. There are many foreign corporations which work in the interest of their political classes of nation states. These include the United Kingdom and the USA. They are jealous that they were not able to benefit from Russia’s energy and mineral wealth as Putin handed it out to his oligarchs and demanded 50% of the profit – (according to the BBC’s Putin program). These organisations can now fight a proxy war against Russia from their armchairs to try and break the Russian Federation. Yevgeny Prighozin was right. Ukraine was not the enemy to go to war with.

Going forward, I would like to see us all working towards a cease-fire and a negotiated peace. Sending armaments to Ukraine only benefits arms manufacturers and people traffickers as Ukraine will remain unstable, with a seriously damaged economy. It will also destabilize the rest of the world. I heard on BBC news (a few weeks ago), some British General being quoted as saying that we should be prepared to go to war with Russia in 10 years time. I am sorry, but that is just barking mad! The Russians will not back down now from the annexed territories. What I suggest is that the Russians be asked to pay war reparations for the death and destruction they unleashed on the Ukrainians. In addition rather than sanctions, all goods imported by Russia should have a heavy war tax for a long period say 20 -25 years. The proceeds of which should go towards rebuilding Ukraine. This would benefits industries in the EU and elsewhere. We should stop pretending that Vlodymyr Zelensky and his cronies represent the definition of democracy.

If Zelenky was half good as a politician he would have been respectful to the Russians and promoted both, the Russian language and culture instead of doing the opposite. He was also in a perfect position to negotiate favourable trade deals with both the EU/UK and Russia without having to join NATO. I have never understood why NATO membership is a prerequisite for joining the EU.

Gaza netanhayu benjamin

Now this is a proper war. The Israelis had no choice but to respond. It is what the Palestinians wanted. Bejamin Netanhayu is weak as a general. Instead of reacting in the Jewish manner of an eye for an eye, he should have waited for a week or more and done nothing. He then should have completely blockaded Gaza and starved them until those in control there released every hostage they had taken. He then could then have taken his time in dealing with Hamas as an entity.

As a politician,I don’t regard Benjamin Netanhayu in high esteem. I think he should have given away something to the Palestinians to maintain the peace. Instead he locked them behind a wall which he not secure adequately. He had undermined Fatah which allowed Hamas to take control of Gaza. He carried on with his hard talk and pandered to Jewish religious extremists. His wall did not protect the Israelis from the ‘martyrs’ that were bred within the Gaza strip for the last two decades.

I don’t see any easy solution going forward. Maybe a corridor to connect Gaza with the other Palestinian territories even if it means moving Jewish settlers. Israel would have to remain in charge of overall security to safeguard it’s existence.

Modern Slavery Theresa May, MP, United KIngdom

The Right Honourable MP Theresa May is to stand down as the Conservative MP for Windsor and Maidenhead. I have every respect for Theresa May as an MP and her efforts at combating modern slavery. It is very difficult. Even in the UK because people want to, for example, eat out at nice restaurants at very reasonable prices. For this you need indentured workers slaving away behind in the kitchens. No one really wants to dig deeply into the work contracts and rock the boat and so affect their good times. The same applies to today's sex industry where vulnerable girls and boys are put under pressure to work for these organisations. They can be for example employed legally as waiters or waitresses but have to provide extra services to clients to keep their jobs. These organizations are multi-national and involve some form of people trafficking or use people in the business of trafficking people. No one cares if they are having a good time. It is very difficult for a single nation state to combat it whilst other nation states turn a blind eye to it to supplement their economies. In such places it is the done thing by fact if not on paper.

One of the reasons that modern slavery is alive and well is that there are too many desperate people who become migrants in search of a better life and will accept any work conditions they are offered. This of’course is linked to illegal migration.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s idea of having more robotics to help with farm work is a very good idea. It will reduce the need of the UK having to rely on migrant labourers who can be exploited and make the UK less attract to illegal migrants. I have seen a 30 hectare vineyard in Alentejo, Portugal where just two guys using intelligent mechanisation brought in the grape harvest for wine. The program did not show who does the pruning and the clearing of the cuttings of the row upon row of vines. 🙂

I end my political rant here.

Sources:

Putin - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0015nfd

Faça chuva, faça sol – RTP 2, 2023

Thames Water, BBC News Headlines, 2024

2024 Ticking away

Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Em casa / At home

2024 Ticking away rapidly. January flew by rapidly. I was busy but I can’t say exactly with what. I didn’t have a single siesta in January but there still wasn’t enough time. The dogs and land management take up a lot of my time. I have to better organise things.

cutting board / tábua de cortar de madeira de olivera, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
cutting board / tábua de cortar de oliveira

The small cutting board I made from an olive tree I pruned has turned out quite nicely. I made a hanging hoop for it out a a bit of plum branch. It was tricky bending it into shape without breaking it. It remains in place by the pressure it exerts at it’s ends where it is inserted into two small holes I drilled. The Roman Arch is very useful.

tangerines /tangerinas, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
tangerines /tangerinas

I have two small tangerine trees that are now fruiting well. The flatter and smaller variety are easier to peel and a little sweeter than the tennis ball sized ones. I will try grafting this one.

attempt a grafting / tento enxertar uma ameixeira, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
attempt a grafting / tento enxertar uma ameixeira

Speaking about grafting, I have never succeeded but it hasn’t stopped me trying. I have recently grafted a couple of plum trees and plan to to graft some carobs as well. Fingers crossed.

louquat seedling / pequina nespira, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
louquat seedling / pequina nespira

I planted my fourth and probably final louquat tree grown from seed. The two in the background are two and three years old respectively and are already fruiting well. These trees are very suitable for the Algarve as they are drought resistant and fruit in spring when there is water available from rainfall. They have thick waxy leaves which prevent loss of moisture. I water them just once a week with a hose in summer and they are fine. I am also trying to graft one of these seedlings to the “Americana†variety whose fruit are larger and easier to peel for jam.

Bosch Rotek 750 and Bosch AFS 23-37 at work, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Bosch Rotek 750 and Bosch AFS 23-37 at work

I decided to invest in an electric powered lawnmower to help with keeping the growth under control. I got a Bosch Rotek 750. It is capable will all it’s 1700 Watts going into the cutting blade which is 45 cm long. There is the overhead of having to drag a very long cable around but I can cope. Together with the Bosch AFS 23-37 electric stimmer we are all Bosched up 🙂 .

On the energy front, I haven’t upgraded my existing solar P.V system but what I have helps. This together with the small LE 300 Watt wind turbine. My solar thermal is still out of action so I have to boil pre heated water for bath on the electric induction plate and kettle. I ran out of wood and have to use a electric fan heater in the mornings. Seems I need more than 600 kg of wood. I am managing to get by on what I can extract from pruning. Fortunately it’s not been properly cold.

almonds in bloom / amendoiera em flor , Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
almonds in bloom / amendoiera em flor

All the almond trees are in full bloom this year. If we have some more rain in March I should get a good crop. Boazinha is correct the floral bloom is one type of snow here. The other type which Miguel Albuquerque of Madeira, didn't like journalists mentioning is rampant in the Algarve too. I am sure he is a close descendant of Afonso Albuquerque. An unfortunate business there.

bolo de laranga 7 orange cake

Been making some orange cakes. I have been buying a few winter oranges. They are of a small variety and very sweet. ** Estou fazer alguns bolos de laranja. Tenho comprar algumas laranjas este inverno. São de pequena variedade e muito doces. **

Sowed my favas very late. Only this week together with some peas.

semeei algumas favas e ervilhas / Sowed favas and peas, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

That’s all more now. I will be writing a political blog soon. I haven’t for a long time. It’s general elections time in the UK this year and we are having elections in Portugal too.

Let me leave you with Ricardo Vignini. I also like the viola instrumentals from his Terra Livre collection.

Crimbo 2023

Walking In The Air

Put up my sister’s stylish crib this year. It is really out of character with the rest of the furniture but the incandescent bulbs within it make for a very pleasant ambience.

Had a quiet and pleasant Christmas. December and 2023 draw to an end. Walking in the wonder of the land with the dogs. The mornings are bright and you warm up in the sun. A pair of mittens are useful early in morning. A fire too as my cottage is poorly insulated. No sleigh bells ringing as it is well above freezing in the Algarve, Portugal. I think the lowest we have had is about 6ºC .

Tangerines. Tangerinas,
Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Tangerines / Tangerinas

Got a two small tangerine trees in fruit but they are not yet ripe. We planted one of these with my bro. Still no ornages. Eating my last diospiro / persimmon today. 🙂

It’s been more pruning. I have also been felling some decent sized wild olive trunks for fire wood. The Wesco 8303 chainsaw has been upto to job and works very well.

After extracting value from the cuttings in the form of twigs, which burn well even when green it was bonfire time.

cuttings boards -olive wood, tábuas de corte de oliveira, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
cuttings boards -olive wood, tábuas de corte de oliveira

Let’s Grunkel! My ‘Justin’ Beper resistive hot plate died. Amazon were good enough to give me a full refund as it was under warranty. After doing a bit of research, I decided to spend a bit more and get an induction hot plate. They generate heat by electro-magnetism. I settled on the Grunkel as the price and reviews were very good. All of these type of induction hot plates have cooling fans. The cooling fan of the Grunkel PIN-2000 is audible but does not scream like a sorrel mare. 🙂 . I am really impressed! It heats up liquids and food rapidly. The only issue I have is cookware. It requires simple steel or iron pots. The high quality cooking utensils with the heavy ‘Thema’ bases do not work on the induction plate. This, even though the utensil it’s is made of steel.

Grunkel PIN-2000 induction hot plate from Amazon.es, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Grunkel PIN-2000 ,induction hot plate from Amazon.es

Happy New Year Everyone!

Persimmon

Diospiro / persimmon, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Diospiro / persimmon

I really love this fruit. They are easy and delicious to eat and resist attacks by pests. I first saw it in England when my father who liked to try new fruit, showed it to me. It was hard and unripe then. I was absorbed in my own things and completely disinterested. I regret that now. I could have used the internet to find out more and helped him learn about it.

I have several trees and have planted half a dozen more I have grown from seed. If it goes well they should bear fruit in about 4 years, of the Roxo Briliante variety. I think the Fufu variety is a hardier variety. This year all the Fufu persimmon trees fruited even thought it was hot and dry. True, the fruit are smaller and thicker skinned. I have only 1 Roxo Brilliante and it did not produce anything.

Picked all my remaining persimmon last week. They are the only fresh fruit of my own I have until spring. They suffer from a quite a bird of damage by birds, who just peck them to sort of reserve them.

Propped up Cypress tree / cipreste com suporte, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Propped up Cypress tree / cipreste com suporte

Another thing that remininded me about my father was propping up a blown down cyprus tree. He saved a guava tree this way back in Kenya. He used to take upon himself to look able the communal trees and distribute the fruit to the neighbours. He was a socialist at heart. I should have caught on much earlier by the Paul Robson ‘Canoe Song’ that he used to sing. 🙂 .

Wesco 8303 doing some fine work /Wesco 8303 feito bom trabalho, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Wesco 8303 doing some fine work /Wesco 8303 feito bom trabalho
Wesco 8303 doing some fine work /Wesco 8303 feito bom trabalho Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Wesco 8303 doing some fine work /Wesco 8303 feito bom trabalho

I am making a small cutting board from a decent sized olive trunk.

Making a samll cutting board / Fazendo uma tábua de cortar, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Making a samll cutting board / Fazendo uma tábua de cortar
Making a samll cutting board / Fazendo uma tábua de cortar, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Like so / Isso
mango tree protected from frost,  Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

I have put a bit of polythene sheeting around the mango tree to help protect it from frosts. It as yet has to drop below 6ºC.

I have a decent amount of tangerines growing and the nespira (louquats) have had a heavy blossom which promises a good amount of fruit.

 tangerines /tangerina , Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
louquat tree and wind turbine / turbina eólica e nespira em flor,  Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
louquat tree and wind turbine / turbina eólica e nespira em flor

The LE 300 wind turbine helps keep the lights on during winter. I really need a small solar P.V array that tracks on the azimuth. During winter my fixed array on the roof becomes ineffective after about three o’clock in winter.

Pine and lime for a good time.

I heat pine needles and some biys of lime in a pot for aroma therapy . It gives of a lovely fragrance as the steam disperses the essential oils. The down side is you have to use energy to heat the pot. Cypress cuttings and lime work well too.

Ria Formosa,  Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

That’s about all for now. Managed to take Bonji a couple of times to the Ria Formosa this month on the electric bicycle thing.

A Short Autumn

Persimmon in autumn foilage /Diospiro em outuno, Belmonte, 
Luz de Tavira
Algarve, Portugal
Persimmon in autumn foilage /Diospiro em outuno

Not much of an autumn this year. We had an extended summer and are now slipping rapidly into winter. It is damp but not cold with night time temperatures well above 10ºC. The persimmon (diospiros) trees are sporting a bright orange plumage to match their orange coloured fruit. No one told the others trees that the seasons had changed. The plum and other trees are just only beginning to realise summer is finally over.

Quality olives / alta qualidade azeitonas , Belmonte, 
Luz de Tavira
Algarve, Portugal
Quality olives / alta qualidade azeitonas

October is time for harvesting olives. I didn’t have a lot this year but the outcome was better than how it looked initially when the olives were drying up in summer. I picked most by hand. It is much slower but the olives are undamaged and so can be stored for longer.

harvesting olives by hand / apanhei azeitonas com mão, Belmonte, 
Luz de Tavira
Algarve, Portugal
harvesting olives by hand / apanhei azeitonas com mão

I am still reliant on the four old large olives trees for the main crop. They are a green variety. I had to use the tall ladder to reach them. I am pruning two of my large trees to shorter heights, to make it easier next time round.

large olive tree /oliveira mais grande, Belmonte, 
Luz de Tavira
Algarve, Portugal
large olive tree /oliveira mais grande
Lagar Rocha - Santa Catarina, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira
Algarve, Portugal
Lagar Rocha - Santa Catarina

I took the olives in small batches on the scooter to the Lagar Rocha at Santa Catarina. You get about 1.8 litres of olive oil for every 20 kg. I think I will get about 8 litres this year.

Self seeded variety of olive, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira
, Algarve, Portugal I have some self seeded olives whose produce help. My young olive trees that were grown from cuttings are still not producing anything of note. But they are growing well so I am hopeful :).

Custard apple / anona, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
Custard apple / anona

The anonas (custard apples) I grew from seed came good this year. Four years on. I was beginning to wonder if they would ever fruit :). Two of them flowered and one set a couple of fruit. I am very happy 🙂 .

The last of the tomatoes were had this month. They are a good size. última tomates 2023, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

wachoro, dogs, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
wachoro

Lots of pruning to be done. I call it a form of medium rotation coppice as the trees I have provide me with my winter heating fuel year on year. Stay warm and cosy everyone!

Sun ripened tomatoes

Sun ripened tomatoes, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira,Algarve, Portugal
Sun ripened tomatoes / Tomates maduros

Some sun ripened tomatoes this week. There are still some green ones on a couple of the plants which will hopefully ripen. Of the two dozen seedlings of the green peppers I sowed, I have managed to grow a just single plant on. I have got about half a dozen sweet chilli grown from seed. I will move then into the greenhouse. Our night time temeperatures are dropping. About 16-17 ºC on average.

Azeitonas, olives, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira,Algarve, Portugal
Olives for pickeling / azeitonas para conserva

The olives are ready for harvesting. I picked a few for preserving. They are less this year like most of the other crop but I hope to get some oil pressed. I am waiting for the lagar at Santa Catarina to commence pressing before I harvest them.

last of the plums /ultima ameixas, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira,Algarve, Portugal
last of the plums /ultima ameixas

The last of the plums were had this year. They are medium in size and yellow inside. Not a bad variety. They will help keep us in fruit.

guavas / goiabas, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira,Algarve, Portugal
guavas / goiabas

The gauvas, like the peaches and apples, did not flower well this year. Probably due to the eratic climatic conditions. I have a few guavas ripening now. Definitely won’t be enough to make jam let alone perad (guava cheese). I am growing two more guava trees from seed. I hope they are the yellow variety. The red are nice but I like the yellow ones more.

lemon tree / lemoeiro, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira,Algarve, Portugal
lemon tree / lemoeiro

Managed to grow my two lemon trees better this year. Here is one I have spread cypress cuttings around to help build the soil acidity.

orange tree / laranjeira, Belmonte, Luz de Tavira,Algarve, Portugal
orange tree / laranjeira

I have done the same for the orange tree at the bottom. Still hoping for oranges one day. I got a couple of tangerines in fruit. The permissions are also in fruit. Less and smaller fruit due to the very hot and dry conditions we have had. The birds tend to destroy them before they ripen on the tree which is a pain. I have taken to ripening them indoors.

On the green energy front, still limping on with my small P. array and small wind turbine. I hope to put a couple more panels up to boost the electrical output. The rats destroyed the silicon tubing that tops up the battery bank. The even ate a plastic container! The LE 300 wind turbine still works reliably. Thank you Leading Edge.

Started cutting wood for winter. I am lucky to have my own wood resource which comes mainly from large wild olive and almond trees growing on on land. The wood burner is our main source of heating during the winter. Let's go Wesco! 🙂

Thankfully the almost daily unheavenly stench that used come from the neighbouring territories for months has died down. Smelt like rotting guts and carcasses of rabbits and such - that were even brought to boil.. . I now get the occasional whiff of freshly spread entrails. It’s more tolerable. Changing demographics.

Anyhow, I am plodding on. I am pleased that I managed to grow my young olives this summer a bit more. A lot of work with the hose pipe. The calderas are proving effective.

calderas working / caldeiras são eficaz, 
Belmonte, Luz de Tavira,Algarve, Portugal
calderas working / caldeiras são eficaz