It's sometime since I added a log entry and during this period I have given some thought as to how to approach the next stage of the contest 'Automation'. I didn't consider the previous stage 'Citizen Scientist'. The month gap have me time to consider the way ahead and to fit in major surgery (heart valve replacement) and some recuperation time. As a result of having a period of reflection I have decided to :

• Enlarge the scope of the Project by expanding the original basic system to cater for all my Raised Beds
• Change the software architecture to utilise Node-Red
• Adopt a different housing, still a modified Garden Lamp but one in which the PCB mounting will be more easily accomplished
• Bury the Irrigation Pipe to reduce the risk of tripping over external tubing (trenches were dug for me by friend, I couldn't have managed it).
• Ensure that the Solenoid Assemblies (Valve, Solar Panel, Junction Box) are easily removed for over-wintering whilst remaining waterproof whilst in position.

So now I have to press ahead with the new PCB layout and continue work on the firmware that will be built around the excellent work from Peter Scargill (www.tech.scargill.net) and his colleagues.