familytreehouse.co.uk

Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category

We have moved house. We have space to play and privacy to do what we want.

Asha is 100 times happier than we have seen her for a long time.

We have painted, played bump, fed the birds, made magic gardens, cleaned the cat tray, done the vacume cleaning, had friends around to play and basically had a ball of a time so far.

I hope to get some pictures up soon. However we have fantastic views to the front, and a mountain garden to the back.

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removed for now

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welsh translation sign

When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.

Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: “I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated”.

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Now why do I find it ironic that this peice of work is being removed by the council....

Westminster City Council said it would paint over the 22ft-high (7m) mural on Newman Street, off Oxford Street, which is a criticism of CCTV in the UK.

There political excuse being this

Mr Davis, who is also chairman of the council’s planning sub committee, said: “I take the view that this is graffiti and if you condone this then what is the difference between this and all the other graffiti you see scrawled across the city?

“If you condone this then you condone graffiti all over London.”

The mural is painted on a wall of a building shared by Royal Mail and another business.

The council said once it was established who owned the painted wall the artwork would be erased.

Now considering the amount of work which councils have sold… I just hope the wall owner says NO!

Just because the truth is out and the council don’t like it!
bbc web site

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When it is 609.6 meters above sea level.

A Welsh hill has been upgraded to a mountain after three walkers found its official measurement was just too low.

Mynydd Graig Goch in Snowdonia was originally put at 1,998ft (609m), just short of the magic 2,000ft (609.6m) that qualifies as a mountain.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7623904.stm

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O.k. not really that interested in this. Because out here we battle for any rubbish collection, and I can never get to the local recycling center.

But I want to make some changes. We only spend about £7 a week on electricity. We dont have mains gas, but our bottle for the cooker lasts 6 months Oil.. corr thats expensive! Well we go through a tank a year, so hardly wastefull in this area. But wood! Yes wood. we burn it. It comes from a forest less than 3 miles away. The guy drops it off on his way home, so no extra mileage, but i need to find a way of useing less.

Heavier curtains in certain rooms would be good.. I am going to cut up a shower curtain for the bathroom as soon as  i can get one cheap.  I need some kind of heating for the kitchen, and I need to get onto the council for storm guards for both doors.. or do I just buy some?

What do you need to do, to keep your bills down.. Is there anywhere you can make savings?

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Well we all enjoy the effects of a newly painted house, but do you fancy the challenge of painting a light house?

BBC Penmon lighthouse on Anglesey

The Penmon Lighthouse on Anglesey seems a fair challenge, but what about Roman Rock in Simonstown, where great grandad used to work?

Roman Rock lighthouse is the only lighthouse in South Africa to stand on a rock. On account of high tides and gale-force winds, work could only be carried out 7 days a month and consequently it took 4 years to build – from 1857 to 1861.

Roman Rock lighthouse in 1910 with the lighthouse keeper and his assistant. The lighthouse keepers in 1910 were Charles H and Jeremias  B.

Great Grandad at work

pdf article on Roman Rock Light House

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After a week, nearly of incessent pain on mummys front. Very little sleep for Daddy, and Asha waking up most nights either crying due to cramp, or nightmares, we called it a day today.

Camp has been wonderfull, but we are all suffering too much. Mummy can hardly walk again. Asha now has a snotty nose. and daddy is rather bad tempered. The kids and other parents have been great. The hosts have been truly angels, in what they have done for us. And I am greatfull for all the help and support. But I am suffereing.

So what did we do today?

got up. Steve and Asha had breakfast, I cant face it at the moment. I had cake later!
Slowly packed up, sorting out the washing, and things on the way. Asha fell asleep on Daddy for a while. She also couldnt stand up on the trampoline, her poor legs are that tired.

We sat and talked a lot, as none of us have a rush in us!. Steve played with the kids, and I pottered a bit. Eventually we got everything in the car, and went and dropped off some clothes someone had left by mistake, on the way home. We also opted for tea at petes eats, as we realised we had nothing in, and I couldnt face a shop!

Exhausted we got home. Asha had first bath, then spent two hours fighting sleep.. The silly girl.

Night all!

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Is fair of face..

Well yesterday Asha was a little Angel for most of the day. We had arranged to meet granny, grandad and meg and andrew and Bruce in Llanfairfechan..

Well after playing on the swings, feeding the ducks, and enjoying the open space we went and played on the beach. Well actually Asha and Meg played on the beach, Steve and I collapsed in a heap :d

Oh the joys!

It was great catching up with bruce again though!

Vicki xx

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When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn’t a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.

Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestieren konnte.

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Asha was outside playing tonight on her new roller boots, and I did a quick count of how many children she was playing with… 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 plus her and two adults.

I guess she dosnt have a problem with socialising does she.

Back to dream about sleep now.

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At the camp practically everyone of us were attacked by Midges. Patchouli was the most used and seemed pretty effective at keeping them from biting. I just did a search for essential oils as insect repellent and indeed Patchouli is considered effective against Gnats (are they the same as Midges?)

Further reading of the website informs me that peppermint water is effective at killing houseflies. Flies have been bugging me for ages. We have fly spray, but I am reluctant to start spraying it around. You can regularly see me running about the house with a tea towel or similar trying to knock the buggers out of the air. This is often accompanied by swearing.

Anyway, the website: http://www.raindroptraining.com

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We all tried to get our eyes tested on Friday, but no where had a free slot so we went to visit some friends in llanferfechain.

We had a lovely afternoon sitting in the garden, or at least I sat (other than when I fell over and hurt my wrist again) whilst the “men” plus R burnt wood, and made a barbecue.

The two girls played, all afternoon, and we came home with 3 ash siblings, on holly sibling, and a Bay Plant. All of which Steve has now planted in our new garden We have also been given pepper and tomatoe plants to put in.

The two girls also did some re-potting and wildlife exploration, which was great fun, and took some fantastic clippings which steve then wore behind his ears. …. I must try and get a camera working again :/

R is bring us a big plant around this afternoon which I couldn’t fit in my car, and right now I cant remember the name off.

It had gone past 8 pm when we got home, luckily I did have our normal packed lunch on the car for A, which she ate on the way home. Once home she went straight to bed, and to sleep… Bliss…..

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The first group of workers will be laid off on Friday as a brick works in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, is closed.

It brings to an end a history of brick making in the town dating back around 200 years to the early 1800s.

The works, currently owned by Hanson, has been producing bricks on the banks of the Seiont river since 1966.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/7359055.stm

Brick Works and caernarfon???

Seiont Brick Pit

Just outside Caernarfon, was the brickworks. It used the local geology to manufacture bricks. The quarry from which clay is extracted is situated within a river valley, the Seiont river valley.

http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/sciences/geography/staff/harrist/quatuk/quaternaryofwalesday1.htm

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Mummy has been suffering this week. Last weekend she was shivering in a room which was recording a temperature of over 25degrees C and under a duvet.

Glad to say Mummy is now a lot better, and only complaining that the kitchen floor still needs mopping;)

So what have we done then?

Last Saturday, was the normal rush to ballet, and then home to collapse on the sofa..
Sunday, I didnt do anything, I can remember and I am sure Steve played with Asha loads, and played football outside with her.
Monday. I went to the drs and got yet another course of antibiotics. I think we also went somewhere else but I cant remeber where/ what?
Tuesday, We went to Aberdesach Beach, and had a lovely day – mummy sleeping on the beach wrapped in blankets, Steve and Asha playing in the stream and just enjoying the sun, and sea air.
Wednesday- Oh the joys of wednesdays;) Shopping, followed by a short visit to C.L.A.S followed by a trip to the Spinneys – Nature / Bird reserve thing, at Bangor.

We also fitted in a trip to Penrhyn Castle, ……and Asha and I did a detour to the cafe for some Asha friendly cake… to meet a friend, for a lift as the Van wont get into the car park at the spinneys!

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Well we were out first thing this morning, enjoing the sun and rain, and sleet. Yes I know its April.. Its what happens in April!

Anyway, after our trip to see the MP, in Caernarfon.. isnt it funny how holiday towns never seem to have to deal with real life, untill you live in them. Anyway.. we called in to pick Asha’s tickets up for CLAYDAY tomorrow.

‘Claytime’ is a play with clay, where the audience are invited to participate. Presented by Indefinitearticles, you are invited to a place where the earth’s natural material meets with children’s imaginations: a world of fabulous forms, amazing animals and morphing monsters.

Each Claytime is totally unique – creating its own world, its own characters and its own stories drawn directly from its young audience. Truly, interactive theatre at its most engaging. This show is made with and for 3 to 6 year olds. Parent / guardian will need to stay throughout the performance.

http://www.galericaernarfon.com

I am so looking forwards to this, I think it will be great for Asha. She has ballet in the morning and then a small period of time out. Then a great afternoon doing make and do and theater, what else can a three year old want!!!

Anyway, after getting her tickets, and me collapsing in a heap, which I woke up from four hours later. We went for a drive down to Trefor Beach. Asha had a lovely walk and play, on the beach, Steve took some photos, and I enjoyed watching them both.

We piled some wood into the back of the van, and came home, prepared and ate tea, did some reading and sewing and then Asha went to bed, tired.

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Spider Spider on the wall

Come down here before you fall

Dont you know the walls been plastered

Come down here you little spider.

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Asha was taken to Trefor Beach she had a lovely time, and walked all along the beach, on the stones, and over the rocks with Daddy and co.

One of the things she told me, when she got back was the rocks were slippy, the seaweed was shiny and the stones were funny to walk on. Last time she was on a stony beach, she hadn’t been very happy about it, so I was glad she was happy to walk on the stony beach.

She was exhausted when she got back, and enjoyed a long bath, before ballet tomorrow.

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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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