It's a wonderful misty autumn morning under a cloudless blue sky with a bit of a chilly nip after the rather muggy temperatures of the past few days.  The river looks in fine form this morning, with a good strong flow and just a light peaty tinge reminiscent of a good scotch malt. 

The news brings one of those items that sets the mind churning.  On the one hand there might be a grain of sense in it but on the other it seems bonkers.  Scientists are now increasingly concerned about the impact on the atmosphere of all these farm animals busily munching, belching and passing wind.  Methane is the problem here with each cow producing 500ltr of the stuff every day.  Our friends at DEFRA are apparently working on the problem so we will clearly be inundated soon with another rain forest of patronising advice about the correct diet for your ruminant written by some cretin in London with a Janet and John guide to animals on the farm.  I have given my goats a stern warning and half a packet of Rennies each .  What intrigues me though is what about all those ruminants wandering the plains of Africa and the sea of caribou in Canada?  Surely there is an almost limitless supply of free energy going begging out there.  All we need is some means to bottle it.

It will be good to see so many members and friends again at the supper tonight.  It looks as though there will be over 40 of us present so it should be cosy in the dining room at the Crown.

Still no news on the grant application so I will try ringing the YDMT later today.  Time is running out if we are to start work in early November and there is still a lot to organise once the money is available.

See some of you later.

Ian