From today's Drinks Business

The UK government has been forced into a climbdown over plans to increase cider duty by 10% as it tries to rush through key legislation before the dissolution of parliament ahead of the General Election.

The Labour government has been forced to make the concession as it attempts to get its Finance Bill passed through parliament before this Thursday’s deadline

_________________
mel

Hurrah! Kingston Black rules - OK?

The other casualty was the 50p a landine bill + VAT, to pay for national broadband for those who have never bothered to pay the wretched price in the 1st place.

Millions of us have been paying the price for crap broadband for years. Then some bright spark says we have to pay again in dribs and drabs - it stinks

Six points to Ba
Kingston black is back. We 'ave a 120 year old Newton Wonder in the garden. Great acidity and good keeper, large and stays quite white when cut. Imports and some commercial growers will grub up and kill off the orchards of England

_________________
Duncan

I make around ten litres of cider every year from various trees around the lanes. I dont drink it, most of it gets glugged by friends during the bbq season, the rest gets poured over the gammon when cooking.

I just hate seeing free food go to waste, and I enjoy the process of making the stuff. Im going to have a bash at Elderflower Champagne* this year.

My spring cabbages are delicious, peas and broad beans are beginning to show, onion sets are growing on, turnips are through, so are early carrots under fleece. The greenhouse is bursting into life. I love this time of year




*That's right you sheep burning surrender monkeys, I said Champagne.

My Hellebores are the best they've ever been and the latest. Might be the 4 tonnes of crap I killed myself smothering them in last winter. Also, paeonies are bursting through, all red and plump. An exciting time.

_________________
mel

I understand "hell", and "Ebor" is the Archbish of York, but I can't see the connection.