A little bit of gaming, and a little bit of DIY.

The dry stone walling workshop at Quince Honey Farm was fun, and though the stones were heavy, the detail was light. The most important messages I took away were to just give it a try. And backfill. Lots of backfill. In this context it’s soil with stones and broken up building material. Whatever you’ve got laying around (being mindful of any chemical content if it is going to be used where you will plant fruits or vegetables).

Now I’ve got my rocks (local slate), and a rudimentary grasp of the concept. Time to get cracking.

First thing was to build a low level wall around the fruit bushes. I used the gaps in the wall to plant a few strawberries as well as the root system helps tie everything together. Low walls are a bit of a challenge without mortar as the isn’t the same amount of weight to hold it down. I’ve been strategic with heavier ones stones stabilising the ones underneath, but time will tell how well it holds. Worst thing it needs rebuilt.

The approach I have taken is light on hammering. You can shape stone to have a perfect face if you’re going for perfection, but perfect is the enemy of…not good, but acceptable? We’ll shoot for acceptable and see how it goes. This bed used to be bounded by thin oak sleepers (the same type as the raised beds seen to the left) but they didn’t fare as well in the slightly damp conditions. This is an important lesson if you are going for a raised bed over patio; think about drainage first. If you can, lift a few stones and dig a trench, line it with membrane, then fill it with small stones. This provides a well drained base for the sleepers which will reduce the chance of the wood becoming saturated and rotting.

If I were to start over again, I would buy thicker sleepers and make a lower level raised bed, but the original wood was purchased during the “Great DIY Rush of 2020” (lockdown) when materials became suddenly expensive and hard to get hold of. Considering the limitations I have just mentioned, the beds have held up pretty well over the last six years. Untreated green oak means no toxic chemicals, and happier humans/vegetables.

It won’t win any awards but it’s not bad for a first attempt. I’ve almost finished the low level bed now and getting the ground prepped for the big wall. Soon the biggest challenge will be moving the big stones I haven’t managed to shift.

Split Fiction

Do you want to play a game where you complete Captchas on a phone, run on walls, wallow in filth as a pig, and become a tree? Then I’ve got the game for you!

Split Fiction is a 2025 co-op third person (mostly) action-adventure game from Hazelight Studios, the makers of It Takes Two. I am thoroughly enjoying the return of couch co-op games after many years of internet multiplayer. Just choose your partner carefully – some relationship strain may follow…

This isn’t a hard game, but there are a few stressful sections (including an excellent bomb throwing bit nested in a gameshow). If it sounds like I am describing almost every other genre in a haphazard fashion, it’s because this is love letter to gaming in general. A bit like Astrobot but without the brand loyalty.

The story revolves around two aspiring writers who have been invited to a publishing house ostensibly to score a publishing deal, but instead are strapped into a futuristic simulation device bringing their stories to life. With a twist. The usual chaos ensues and the rest will have to be experienced for yourself.

And some food. What’s a post here without some food. Firecracker chicken curry in Wagamama’s in Plymouth.