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Archive for March, 2008

Following on from our fantastic experiments at CLAS, I have been wondering if there was any mountains in britain which were currently volcanic, or which could in theory erupt?

In answer to this quest I came across this:

The variation in Ordovician volcanic rocks of Wales and the Lake District imply convergent plate boundary with subduction occurring to the north of these areas, southwards under the Lake District and Wales. There was a lot of volcanic activity in Wales. Many of the lavas erupted were erupted under the sea and mixed with the sediments on the sea floor, as did the large flows of volcanic subaerial ash, known today as nuées ardentes.

The convergent plates, subduction and volcanic activity resulted in the formation of the Caledonian mountain chain that runs from Wales up through Scotland and into Scandinavia. What we see now is the eroded core of these mountains.

The main centres of volcanic activity were Snowdonia, the Arenigs, (just south of Snowdonia) Cader Idris (just south of the Arenigs) and Prescelly (near the southern bit of Cardigan bay).

Other evidence for associated volcanic activity comes form the southern uplands of Scotland and Ireland.

link Accessed March 08
The Ordovician period is the second of the six periods of the Paleozoic era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago (ICS, 2004)[1].

It follows the Cambrian period and is followed by the Silurian period. The Ordovician, named after the Welsh tribe of the Ordovices, was defined by Charles Lapworth in 1879, to resolve a dispute between followers of Adam Sedgwick and Roderick Murchison, who were placing the same rock beds in northern Wales into the Cambrian and Silurian periods respectively. Lapworth, recognizing that the fossil fauna in the disputed strata were different from those of either the Cambrian or the Silurian periods, realized that they should be placed in a period of their own.

While recognition of the distinct Ordovician period was slow in the United Kingdom, other areas of the world accepted it quickly. It received international sanction in 1906, when it was adopted as an official period of the Paleozoic era by the International Geological Congress.

wikedpedia

Lava is molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption. When first expelled from a volcanic vent, it is a liquid at temperatures from 700 °C to 1,200 °C (1,300 °F to 2,200 °F). Although lava is quite viscous, with about 100,000 times the viscosity of water, it can flow great distances before cooling and solidifying, because of its thixotropic and shear thinning properties

Interesting!!

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Its odd isnt it, how kids never cease to surprise me!We sat and talked for a while about Hatter having died, and about things dieing, and about newborn lambs – luckily there are a lot of these around here right now !

This morning, Asha said to me. I wont ask granny how Hatter is today, because Granny will be sad mummy wont she! – I replied yes, because Hatter has died hasnt he, and she misses him a lot.

Asha gave me a hug, and asked if I miss Hatter, and I replied, that yes I miss knowing I wont see Him again. Asha’s reply… I wont miss him barking and him jumping at me mummy, but I will miss Grandad shouting at him!

Well what can you say :d – I think she understands now

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Well she has done it. She came to Bangor by train, and has now gone home. Asha and I met her, and we had a lovely day, visiting some of the shops, and spending some time at Penryn Castle. A national trust property with class, large gardens, a outdoor play area, and loads of interesting things for even an Asha to look at!

The history behind it is slightly more worrying however – cotton, slavery, death….

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Help me to focus.

Please teach me through my sense of “touch”.
I need “hands on” and “body movement”.
I need to know what comes next.

Please give me a structured environment where there is a dependable routine.
Give me advanced warning if there will be changes.
Wait for me, I’m still thinking.
Please allow me to go at my own pace.
If I rush, I get confused and upset.
I’m stuck! I can’t do it!
Please offer me options for problem solving.
I need to know the detours when the road is blocked.
Is it right? I need to know NOW!

Please give me rich and immediate feedback on how I’m doing.

I didn’t forget, I didn’t “hear” it in the first place!

Please give me directions one step at a time and ask me to say back what I think you said.
I didn’t know I wasn’t in my seat!

Please remind me to STOP, THINK and ACT.
Am I almost done now?

Please give me short periods with short-term goals.
What?

Please don’t say, “I’ve already told you that”.
Tell me again in different words.
Give me a signal.  Draw me a symbol.
I know, it’s ALL-wrong, isn’t it?

Please give me praise for partial success.
Reward me for self-improvement, not just for perfection.
But why do I always get yelled at?

Please catch me doing something right and praise me for my specific positive behaviour.
Remind me (and yourself) about my good points, when I’m having a bad day.

I may be hard to live with, and have ADHD, but I still have
Feelings and would have never chosen to behave like I do sometimes.

[source:  Newsletter of The Delaware Association For The Education of Young Children, Winter 1993/94) Copyright 1991 Ruth Harris, Northwest Reading Clinic]

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Selection of Mr Men and Little Miss Books.

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Burglary Hot Spots:

1. Nottingham
2. London
3. Bristol
4. Stockport
5. Leeds
6. Manchester
7. Hull
8. Cambridge
9. Sheffield
10. Reading
Source: Endsleigh Insurance Services

Now have you seen how high up the list that city of culture is? Yes, I know.. terrible!

Dont you love some of the Policing Priorities for this area:

Y Felinheli

To reduce the number of speeding vehicles in Y Felinheli area
This will be done by effective use of the Arrive Alive van, and use of the Hand-held Speed Gun

Clynnog

An Environmental Audit will be carried out in the Clynnog Area
The local CBM/PCSO and Councillor will carry out a thorough patrol of the village, highlighting damage/graffiti, and areas to be improved within the village

The Policing Priorities are regularly added and updated.

Llanwnda

To reduce the number of complaints relating to anti-social behaviour in the Llanwnda area
This will be done by specific high-visibility policing

Oh and finally a Home Office Objective, which finally applies to us

Penygroes.

!OPERATION MAGNOLIA targeting ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR in the Caernarfon District
To reduce the number of complaints relating to anti-social behaviour in PENYGROES . HOME OFFICE Objective

The Policing Priorities are regularly added and updated.

http://www.north-wales.police.uk/nwpv2/en/nptSearch/yourDistrict.asp?ID=02

Accessed the 26th March 08

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7313316.stm

Martin Jeffries from Deganwy, Conwy, says the last straw was a four-fold increase in the rent for the Black Cat cafe at Glynllifon.

now whilst I agree such a substancial increase in rents is unacceptable, so is a cafe this day and age not being able to provide anything which is gluten, wheat and milk free suitable for a child!

I have taken Asha here three times, on one occasion I was told  all our products are bread based. On another occasion I was asked not to give her our own food, after being told that they dont sell anything she could have.  The third time I was offered ploughmans lunch for her, yes cheese, pickled onions and bread :d

Its a pity as we would use the whole area a lot more if we could get something there for Asha, instead we tend to drive past it now days, after all, we have tried!

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The Air Ambulance are currently in the general charity shop in Pwllheli, the one which used to be the rock shop, on the first roundabout, opposite the market.

Anyway, they had some bits and bobs in there which we brought, including a next jacket for Asha and a couple more books for Steve – As if we dont have enough of them!

One of the things we got Asha was a box of “pick up sticks” an age old game, which we used to play as little ones. I am going to try and play it with her tonight. I used to love it!

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I am going to be doing some freecycling over the next few weeks.

But i am planning on listing the items here first. If anyone is interested, and can pick up /pay up front for delivery, we can arrange to sort something, via the forums

So lot one :

Bag of assorted girls clothes, age around 18 months to two years.

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He was a really cool dog. One of his favourite tricks was I’d throw a ball or something for him and he would run after it, catch it then run away with it. Very often the challenge was to catch him before he run away. All he really wanted was to be loved, fed and walked and spoiled once in a while by Reg.

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Last Monday, Grandad had to have grannys dog put down.

Granny was still in oxford. Hatter had come to my parents via a friend of my brother. He was a beautifully natured – though some what doppy and deaf (only when it suited him best) We will never know how old he was, we were his third family.

He was a large soft thing, with one of those faces, which just showed love, compassion and everything a true doggy shows. I dont really like dogs, but once you got past hatter’s bark and jumpy ness he was always a soft dog.

He will be missed, I will try and get Steve to upload some pics later of him.

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Easter – Pagan Festival?Easter was originally a pagan festival of the ancient Anglo-Saxons who celebrated the return of spring with a festival commemorating their goddess of springtime, Eastre.
The second-century Christian missionaries met with the pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity and in the process, “Christianised” the existing pagan festivals.
As it happened, the pagan festival of Eastre happend at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ, which was originally at the time of the Jewish Passover.

Therefor the Eastre festival was altered, to make it a Christian celebration as converts were won over.
The early name, Eastre, was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter.

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After a late start

which included Asha doing a fantastic drawing of a baby inside a mummy tummy, on a etcha sketch thingy.

I also read to her in bed again for a while.

and a trip to Tesco’s (which included passing a sheep lying down next to the road, and Asha said the sheep is sad mummy. It didnt look it) and the market at Glasfryn, we had a tidy up session in Asha’s play room.

She was great about putting toys up in the loft, untill September – when the weather changes. She has also enjoyed playing with her train set and having space to play in her play room today!

We moved some games up to her play room out of the lounge as well the plan being the lounge becomes a lounge by the end of the summer – what do you reckon

After her big tidy up and her big play she then wanted the quiet ness of “make and do” so I got the paint out, and she got the boxes. Another successful day at home.

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After a few hectic weeks, it was great today to just have a real stop day. Asha and I read books for most of the morning in Bed. We re-visited the read 20 stories in a morning days from last year, it was lovely.

Including
Pandi the Brave by Nathene Arnaoutis ISBN: 1841215945

What has really impressed me is how many of the words she recognises and the letters. But I have no intention of “teaching her to read” but I know it wont be that long!

This afternoon, we shared a bath together, something Asha loves doing, and we dont do often enough. We then sat in the lounge and had a cuddle and a play on the sofa, feeding dolly!

After a while next doors kids came in and we did some puppets and golden easter egg pictures. They were bored A slightly late night for Asha, as she wasnt really ready for bed at 7, but by 8 she was happy to go up, after some “lovely pudding” – sainsburys gluten free hot cross buns!

lovely day at home. I am sure I would get bored if every day was like this, but it felt wonderful!

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On the way home last night, I called into Tesco’s in Caernarfon to try to get Asha’s easter egg.

They had all sold out.

The lovely woman at customer services, kindly telephoned Bangor for me, and they kept me one untill today – 1 pm.

I got there, and it was still there. Tescos’ was heaving though! I am glad i didnt have any shopping to do!

We had mentioned to one of the Home Edders, we would be in Bangor probably over Easter, and she had invited us around to her’s so I made a quick phone call and Asha went for a play date. We got home far later than planned, but my did Asha have a wonderfull afternoon, and I think Steve and I did too!

We also went to morrisons and found Dimensions an alternative health food shop in bangor. Very good!

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Slightly worse start than normal, as I couldnt get out of bed!

I eventually got up, only for Steve to then collapse in a heap, and need to sleep for an hour. to recover from having dealt with Asha from 7 am – snotty and not really very happy!

After re-planning the day, we sat down to some hot lunch, and a coffee then left for C.L.A.S. with Asha wrapped up very warm.

The group as normal was excellent, although I did feel a bit naughty about turning up very late, but I think this is more to do with me never being late for anything, than an actually expectation for everyone to spend 5 hours there!

Asha had a lovely time, and died a real egg in some vinegar, which everyone seems to have been really pleased Asha could do too.. Thanks people! and I think as we wernt there as long, possibly enjoyed it more.

Woodfolk (Gwerin Y Coed) was lovely, we did some cress eggs, and some paper chick things. Asha loves Woodfolk, and thinks phil is great. She is also finally coming round to Jan again. At least these days she dosnt seem to fall asleep half way through the group, and is bouncing all the way through!.

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Since before Asha was born, we have regully brought there custard creams and bourbons, as they dont make anyone ill.

Quite simple really, no wheat no milk = buscuits and happy tummys!

Now I really dont know what to do as they have decided to add milk to Asha’s staple buscuit. We are in for big tears, as she even goes and looks for them when we go shopping these days, as she knows she can have them! Last time she chucked 4 packets of both in her basket

Link to there page

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Asha and I were watching something on discovery channel this morning about space travel. The narrator said that bones stopped growing in zero gravity. Asha looked shocked and said “Oh no! My legs have stopped growing!” I picked up a convenient stick from the wood pile and told her that if it falls to the floor then gravity is still working and her legs will keep growing. I dropped the stick and it reassuringly fell to the floor. I then explained that if the stick doesn’t fall to the floor then gravity would be broken. Naturally, Asha wanted to try with a different stick – I don’t think she always trusts me, you know. It fell to the floor.

Reality now secured for a while, I will go and make some coffee.

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I always find it hard picking the right books for Asha’s bedtime stories. At the moment I’m reading her Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It’s got long words in it and quite complex sentences, so it doesn’t take long for her to fall asleep.

I always try to pick something with a good story that I have read or would like to read, that way we can both enjoy it. She will tell me if she doesn’t like it. That has happened a few times and I’ve just had to find something else.

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