Pressing the figs.

Fig squeezing time today,  while John was doing things out on the side garden / vegetable patch,  I took the fruit press,  9 buckets of figs,  and assorted paraphernalia outside to do the pressing in the sunshine.  First I did the black figs,  17.5 kilos which has produced 12 litres of wine,  then 33 kilos of white which didn't do quite as much as I'd hoped, but still has given us about 18 litres.  I was hoping for nearer 20 or even 25, but no matter how much the press pressed,  even when John came to do the final squeeze, we couldn't get any more out.

It was hot in the sunshine but I did notice big gleaming thunder clouds coming down from the north,  just got everything washed down and laid out to dry on the seat outside the dining room window,  when thunder started rumbling.  It was lunchtime anyway and there was a loaf of fresh bread waiting for us - thick slices, butter,  cheese and pickle - simple quick and tasty. 

Then the heavens opened,  I rushed out to get in the now dry brewing paraphernalia (have to write it again as it took me 3 goes to get the spelling right!)  then we finished eating our lunch.  Pip disappeared upstairs and hid down the side of the bed,  but has come out now it's all over.  I've tested the wine and now need to add some sugar/water as there isn't much left to ferment with.  (that doesn't sound right but I'm sure you know what I mean)  Extra liquid  will boost the number of litres we get too.

The sun is back out now,  hopefully it'll stay out as September is usually a lovely month.  Not too hot,  not too wet,  around 25 or so every day.  Actually it is 25 today,  just not as sunny as it should be.  Some friends of ours arrived in Spain today,  travelling down from Madrid and getting here next Monday - welcome to sunny Spain!   The weather maps only have the rain down here,  with thunder and localised heavy rain in the provinces of Málaga, Almería, Granada, Murcia and Alicante.  The rest of Spain is clear with temperatures of 27 to 30.