Fine, rather cold. Beech nuts are now ripe. Yesterday saw good number of young pheasants, fairly well grown.
Selected two cockerels for market tomorrow, about 10 lb. the two.
Continued clearing out beds & got as far as the shed. Can finish tomorrow, then shall spread manure & leave it for a few days before turning in.
4 eggs.
Made a pound or two of blackberry jam, but it has come rather thick.
Orwell Diaries 1938-1942 
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The last time I was in England we took the steam train to Whitby, and saw several pheasants running through fields. A first for me.
“then shall spread manure & leave it for a few days before turning in” – my first thought was ‘why does he have to stay awake??’
I suppose rationing is on his mind. They won’t run out of jam for a year or so, unless they give some to others or sell it to make a living.
Today, he’d be making a ton of money on his writing alone. I wonder how much of this smallholder effort is for sustenance, how much for enjoying the life itself.
I think his life sounds heavenly. I’d love to be doing this, but perhaps they are doing this more from necessity, so it’s not such a pleasure. I wish he had given a recipe for his apple wine mentioned yesterday