It had all looked so easy.  The recipe for the scrumpy said chop up some ginger,  squeeze four lemons (I had two and a half, but hey, who’s counting?).  Then add a kilo of sugar.  Then add the strained apple juice to the mixture.  I had carefully sterilised a fruit strainer (for making jam) and this was the mixture, ready to go and looking good.  I had carefully sterilised two jugs and another tub to move things in to as well.  I looked very organised when I got to the filtering stage, but as you can see, it all went a little pear shaped.  Thankfully my wife ran to the rescue and I mopped the floor afterwards with a slightly embarrassed expression on my face.

(It was my intention to taste the blummin’ stuff at some point before putting it away to ferment, but I was in such high dudgeon that I forgot.  I’ll just be patient…)