UPDATE 23/11/17

Well, my last update was a little optimistic… I finally got my planning permission a couple of weeks ago (yay!) but that only just followed putting in for building warrant. I can’t start any work on the building until that comes back in the affirmative, which could be January (or later :( ).

But planning permission is great news. It means I’m definitely doing this!

So Ninefold Distillery will be producing sometime next spring/summer! Shiny logo to accompany it, based on our family crest:

And also got myself online at:

http://www.ninefolddistillery.com (holding page at the mo)

…and the usual social media places, if you do a search for Ninefold Distillery. Don’t want to upset the mods with advertising ;)

I can pop round if you like..

Sure. You can tell him to his face that he’s a “self important twonk” who cares less about saving anything than looking good in an expensive car.

Why, you unsure who he is and what his personality is?

Oh, come over all shy now, have you?

bikebouy, my dad bought himself a 2nd hand Tesla Model S a couple of weeks ago. Can you accurately a) describe his personality to me; and b) describe his reason(s) for buying it? Thanks.

As for 0-60 times:

What negative effects will there be?

Well, if the (pessimistic) predictions are correct that all booze prices will step up, then this will have a negative effect on independent producers. Already at the top end for most people’s ‘casual’ drink purchase budget, either maintaining their current prices will put them in direct competition with the big producers putting their prices up; or they will be forced to increase their prices, potentially leaving them uncompetitive. I don’t believe that either scenario will necessarily come to pass (he says hopefully) but Will probably depend on whether Joe Public changes their expectations of what a bottle of booze is going to cost them.

I’m still awaiting a decision on an application I made in June. Massively understaffed here in Dumfriesshire.

…and her massive achievements

My dad’s just bought a Tesla Model S (2nd hand). I’ll update you in a year, if you can hang on? :D

The new Navara has coils, which should be a plus – however, every one I’ve seen with anything like half a load in, sags and wallows on the rear end.

Good example of that in this vid (skip to 2:14):

The Ranger is a 3.2l 5cyl

Right you are. Wasn’t paying attention as I was only after the 2.2L manual.

Surely the high seating position is a plus – I can’t stand the car-like seating in L200’s and Hilux’s (not sat in the new Hilux though)?

I don’t think it’s much different to the old Hiluxes I’ve driven in the past. If I were off-roading lots, the higher position might be better, but otherwise it wasn’t a concern for me.

The new Hilux is streets ahead of the last one I drove (in 2009). That was bloody awful, would never have considered one then!

I was first shown how to use a chainsaw by a guy who’d been a forester for 30+ years. He was a useless teacher! Did a two day course on chainsaw maintenance and cross cutting that was far far better, came out much more confident.

I wouldn’t recommend trying to learn from YouTube until you’ve done a course. There are many examples of ‘how to’ vids that are garbage, and dangerous.

As above, get chainsaw boots and trousers (you’re most likely to cut yourself here), ear and eye protection; learn how to maintain your saw, particularly sharpening the chain (a dull chain is more dangerous than a sharp one); learn about kickback; and learn about tension and compression so that you’re not pinching your saw and having to rescue it (best case), or getting killed by an unexpected sudden release of tension (worst case).

BTW, blown trees might look the easiest to deal with, but they’re probably the most dangerous. The accredited course(s) sequence in order of skill/experience is: corss cutting > small trees > medium/large trees > windblow.

Good luck!

We run a hydraulic 9 tonner off the tractor. Very efficient bit of kit, but obviously not for everyone (it’s also £2.5k).

A great back saver, though, is a sappie. Well worth the £35!

would you?

I am! Just put down a deposit on a new Hilux (Icon with rear canoopy).

Test drove a Ranger and a Hilux. Ranger felt gigantic, high seating position, and the model I was in had all the bells and whistles including lane assist. Didn’t feel like I was really in control of the thing, the 3l V6 auto wasn’t that impressive and felt heavy and cumbersome.

The Hilux didn’t feel as refined, but a nicer driving position for me, more car like. Long throw on the gear shift, but since I won’t be racing it, akes no difference to me. Didn’t feel as heavy as the Ranger,and with careful driving, even got close to 40mpg out of it ;)

Anyway, I’ll be using it for work duties and neither a van or 4×4 car were going to cut it.

Right, thanks. I was expecting a lot of comments telling me to stick to road tyres!

I’ll probably do as jimjam says and see how I get on with the stock tyres. If I’m struggling, I’ll check out some of the suggestions above.

And I’m sure it would definitely look better with a chunkier tyre :)

What if it showed up I was, well, English?

Could be worse; you could be from Nigg…

The Dark Matter spiced rum is a love/hate thing, so a risky option.

The bottle of Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva goes down very well with all my guests, as does the Don Papa I have. Both definitely worth a punt.

No one play Necromunda? Much preferred it to 40k at the time. You could play it in a smaller space, in less time, and your squad picked up experience points to boost skills.

I think the last rule change to 40k I bothered to pick up a rule book for was in 1998(?) when it moved to smaller armies/faster playing. Played one game with those rules in GW in Edinburgh and never since. Got a 10,000pt Ultramarine army gathering dust in our attic!

About £6k + installation: https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/powerwall

Thanks footflaps.

UPDATE 14/9/17

Got some good news today! Two grant applications came good, worth £55k, on top of a previous grant award. Still only a fraction of the cost of the whole thing, but it all massively helps.

The building is now clear and ready for the joiner and builder to come in and remove the roof, demolish the gable wall, and grub out the floor. Still haven’t got my planning permission, but should be forthcoming by the end of the month. Work should start beginning of October, all being well!

Some photos below of the current state of the place. The lower, older building will be the distillery, and is due the major works. The larger, newer building will be my bonded warehouse, and have only minor repairs (mainly to make it secure!).

sas78 I was 18 years in Edinburgh. Still adjusting to being back down here! And glad you’ve committed before even tasting the stuff ;)

yourguitarhero I was speaking to Annie Hill yesterday and she said that the MSc course had started. There’s 100 of you, is that right? Mad! Happy to accommodate you next year, if I can. Pester me around March time, if I forget to drop you a line.

Trekster, you mentioned Ae rides. I must try and come along one evening, before it gets dark (no lights).

Big byre, little byre by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Main entrance by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Small byre inside by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

That’s mad. What if they say no?

They give you feedback at that point for you to implement, and work with you to ensure your compliance. Seem very rare, though. When you’re chucking 6 figures at a project, you’re likely to do plenty of research into what will satisfy them, and make sure you get it done. So, risky in terms of possible delays, but probably not in ultimately getting something going.

hodgynd, if you’re meaning a sloe rum, then Beach Craft Spirits[/url] already make one. If you’re talking about a sloe whisky, I won’t be making whisky, sorry!

I thought I should post up in here, you might all be interested!

I’m setting up my own rum distillery :)

I've just set up my own distillery company!

UPDATE 8/9/17

Still waiting on planning permission. Apparently I needed a bat and barn owl survey, which my architect neglected to tell me about. That delayed things by a month, but all that info is in now. Not heard anything else from the Council, but they’re apparently hugely understaffed, so God knows when I’ll hear.

Have been awarded my first bit of grant money. Well, I got an email 3 weeks ago to that effect. No paperwork as yet! That will cover 50% of my branding and online presence work. Quite positive about another small grant from Scottish Enterprise to help with the bottle design for my first product.

The big pot of cash is from a fund called LEADER. That’s £50k’s worth, decision due next Thursday. Positive noises throughout the feedback process, so hoping that’ll come good.

Been round a few distilleries: Arbikie, Glasgow Distillery and Annandale Distillery. I actually got a whole day with the Annandale guys. Mark and Daz, who run the distillery operations, are top guys and I learned LOADS in a day with them. Great experience, and has got my pumped for my own project.

My distilling licenses were rejected, on account of me not having a distillery for HMRC to inspect. Naively, I thought they’d be able to give feedback through the establishment process, but apparently not. You’ve got to commit, build, and then apply just before you begin trading.

Yesterday, met with my design agency (Contagious in Edinburgh) and started off the process of designing the brand, product name, bottle design, etc. Really exciting stuff!

By the way, did I say that I’ll be making……… rum? :)

It should now stand or fall on it’s merits not through subsidies from other consumers.

Indeed…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/aug/07/fossil-fuel-subsidies-are-a-staggering-5-tn-per-year

rocketdog, a long time ago we were a 7 cat family. Lost all of them (and more) over the years to old age, illness, being run over and disappearing. All of them heartbreaking, but it’s their lives that really last in the memory.

Been 6 or 7 years since we last had a cat, and this pair are wonderful.

Dunno if this will work, but it’s a vid of one Watson watching a well known BMX video :)

https://goo.gl/photos/cHCgNujRm5VhQjRr7

Sounds a good price to me. The quotes I’ve had for a brand creation and website are around double your quote. One place wants £8k just for the website :lol:

Reigning in The Hermitage by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Bridge by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

Bridge Over River Kwai by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

UPDATE 7/7/17:

Planning permission in and registered, so let’s see what the local authority have to say.

Three licence applications off to HMRC (distiller’s, warehouse keeper, excise warehouse).

Been on a short course with Brewlab in Sunderland to learn more about distilling and the industry. Was very interesting, although ho much of it was relevant, I’m not sure!

My students are Heriot-Watt seem to be doing well with their projects. Was up a couple of times to see them do desktop distillations and do a few tastings.

Business plan finished and the financials pretty much figured out. This leads me to be neck-deep in paperwork for funding applications as I try and secure £100k of public grants and a business loan (about 1/3 of the total project cost)!

Cheers,
Kit

Vintage Leith by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

What the **** are the Police going to do?

Happy to lend some chainsaw skillz if you’re anywhere near Lockerbie?! I’m certified and everything :D

Thanks for the replies so far! I’ve been looking at Xerom already as it’s not too expensive, and there’s an add-on called Unleashed which takes care of manufacturing stock and ‘recipes’. It’s pretty expensive though for a small startup!

Having done more digging about software that looks after duty paid/suspended stock, none of the advertising providers give a clue on prices. I think that probably says a lot (i.e. ££££’s).

To be fair…

To be fair, I said ‘preferably’, not ‘required’, but thanks for your input nonetheless.

Looking around it seems there’s some decent accounting stuff online, but much of it doesn’t take into account stock, or it’s very basic, or you need an expensive tie-in app.

Might stick with Excel for a bit until I see how the business is going :D

Er… no one?

I have a Synology NAS. While it’s fine accessing mapped drives through a file manager, the software it uses for syncing between your computer and the NAS is a complete pile of ****, in my experience. You can plug USB devices into the back of it to directly transfer stuff over, but half the time it won’t recognise what you’ve plugged in (necessitating deleting some temp files off the connected device and an overly long reboot).

Interesting that Fever Tree should be mentioned. They’re the real winners in this at the moment. They’re the mixer du jour, and while there’s about 10 gazillion gins, Fever Tree mixers are the only ‘mainstream’ alternative to Schwepps etc. I expect they’re doing very, very well at the moment.

I’m trying to work out if that’s a single light, or two. Anyway, much more diffuse than what you were trying but I can see the similarities.

Dammit, thought I’d typed out a reply. Was going to say something along the lines of MrSmith, like maybe a strip softbox with a grid?

Anyway, I was going to put up an example of a recent shot using just a speedlight, no modifier. Not really your style, Greg, but I think it works with this style. Otherwise, I tend to use a shoot through brolly with a speedlight. Can’t be arsed carrying around anything larger, if I’m honest.

Ance and Ann retro shoot by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

(this was a brolly shot)
Hollie by Kit Carruthers[/url], on Flickr

They don’t look quite right to me, Greg, possibly for two reasons: harsh strobe (unmodified? or with a snoot or reflector?) and underexposed background. If that’s the aesthetic you were going for, then you’ve achieved it, but I’m not sure it works for these types of shots/your style, IMO.

edit: easy to criticise though, eh? :lol:

Indeed teacake, and it’s a major issue for me. Being in a rural location with poor energy infrastructure and shallow pockets, it’s going to be a compromise whichever route I go down.

yourguitarhero, ace, well done! I have no idea how to distil either, but I’ll figure it out ;)

Saw that article in today’s Standard, Trekster. Although good luck to him. Setting up in the centre of Lockerbie in a terrace of houses, without planning permission or staff, he’s about the level of preparedness that I’m at!

Don’t ride much these days, but I should try and get myself out. Drop me an email with details and I’ll get along sometime!

I looked at Cochran’s for boilers. Their ‘small’ boilers are about double the capacity I’d need, unfortunately.

There’s a rather unfortunate gap between the ‘K’ and ‘T’ on the side of that handcraftedcart.