I used to post regularly onhere until about 3 years ago but I have stll
popped in to have a look how things are going.
It would seem to be no longer the active group where lots of information was
available from others.

It is a sad fact but is happening allover the newsgroups as more and more we
turn to browser based information.

I ham doing the same myself and visit newsgroups ess and less. It is just
easier to research onl line using browsers -- sad but true

Anyway for the odd ones that might remember of me, I am still wine making
although I confess to making more wine by the vastly improving wine kits
available these days which produce good generic true to type wines.

I still do make a few country wines too as the summer/autumn glutt of fruits
ripen .
I am presently picking and freezing fruits from my garden -- goosegogs
galore ( gooseberries!) and I have just stripped my 2 redcurrant bushes --
not weighed them yet but a bumper crop now in the freezer. black currant
should be pickable within a week and then the blackberries and Loganberries
will not be far behind now
I have not made any elderberry wine for several years now but I do have a 5
gallon carboy of fortified elderberry sitting quietly in a corner which I
put to rest and mature in 2005.

I think I might venture into a gosseberry champagne this year -- not done a
sparkling wine for about10 years now but I have a dozen suitable bottle and
the necessary closures for them so I shall probably have a go again.
That's enough now. Years are galloping by too fast and I am now 76 and this
is the first year that I haven't gone off around Europe on my bike +
trailer, cycle camping and I suspect that with increasing medica problems I
may never do such solo unsupport cycle camping again that's more than a bit
sad butmedical condions seem forever to get in the way of everything!

I think I have a glass of my 2011 "summer Fruits wine" to drown my sorrows!

Cheers .