Sh*t creek - is now in my rear view mirror...!

MovingForwards

Pensions - any public service pension will increase each year as they add inflation to it.
- any company pensions will go up / down as normal due to being stocks and shares based.
Don't think what you currently have is what the final figure(s) will be on retirement.

Home made flavoured gin sounds good, definitely do it next year. All this talk of gin is making me look at mine!

You've definitely got planning and budgeting under control for Christmas 🤗

Irenadler

Thanks Babs, I never thought of pensions like that before. It's mostly public pension I have....
Gintastic! I would love to do an elderberry one next time....  

MovingForwards

The public ones will reg revalued every year in line with inflation, goes up a few quid so you don't need to stress about that. 

Elderberry sounds good. I've sloe gin and orange gin recipes if you need them. A mate did a mix of prosecco and rhubarb and ginger gin, it was wonderful, but may have hit the tipsy button quick!

Irenadler

Ta, Babs! 

Yum, I used to make my own wine, a long time ago, vividly remember the explosions and the place reeking of alcohol. And, talk about strong, made my own saki once. I could've stripped paint with it! Not doing that one again... but, I could give you the recipe for that one if you are interested! I have an old book with those recipes in - sloe, brambles, lemon, orange. Er, sorry, changing the subject now..... ha!

MovingForwards

Sibling used to make wine, very odd for a non-drinker but my goodness I'm surprised I never went blind. Thankfully that was in the days before I had my licence as that was something only suitable for a Friday!

Talking of brambles, the place we went yesterday had them, so I'm going back next year at the right time 😁 quite fancy a bramble and ginger jam.

We are so going to be swapping ideas and recipes next year 🤗

Skint_yet_Again

My DF used to make wine years ago. I remember him sending me and my sister to the local farm to get hay for our rabbit and a mangel wurzel to make wine 😆

Irenadler

Hey Babs

~Um, bramble and ginger, that's unusual, sounds good to me.

Irenadler

Hey Skinty

Mangel wurzel wine sounds lovely, just the name sounds good, bet that could curl your toes too!  

Skint_yet_Again

I have no idea what it tastes like we were too young to be allowed to try any 😆. It’s some sort of sugar beet. 

My ex-oh used to make wine. Seem to remember making parsnip, elderberry & elderflower. 🤪

When clearing some of the loft last year I gave all the kit to a friend who was starting to make home-brew. There were about 20 Demi-John’s, heat mat, barrels, air locks, hydrometer etc. I got some rhubarb wine & raspberry wine in return ☺️

Irenadler

Perhaps just as well, given the extra-strength stuff that is home-made!

I am hoping these were separate flavours and not a mixture, ha!