tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20389110310595011362024-03-13T04:26:19.340+00:00Helen at HomeHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-91014072620329561532010-05-03T10:39:00.026+01:002010-05-03T16:21:00.110+01:00YorkWe spent a brief, but fantastic weekend in York. Though we left only 24 hours after we arrived we managed to fit so much in. Our plan was to begin by visiting my favourite nature reserve <a href="http://dragonflies-and-damselflies.blogspot.com/2010/01/uk-sites-for-spotting-odonata-askham.html">Askham Bog</a>, but upon our arrival in the car park it began to rain heavily. After sitting in the car for 10 minutes hoping that it would ease (it didn't) we decided to have a drive around town instead.<br /><br />We visited all the houses that we used to live in during our university days.<br /><br />Halifax Court - student halls where I lived in my first year:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iaohWfiI/AAAAAAAABhY/brSFUEfJkPg/s1600/Wood_house.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iaohWfiI/AAAAAAAABhY/brSFUEfJkPg/s400/Wood_house.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055944856141346" /></a><br />Alcuin College E block - student halls where Ian lived in his first year:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h9D5KNnI/AAAAAAAABgg/JcMMYqAdKpQ/s1600/Alcuin_college_E_block.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h9D5KNnI/AAAAAAAABgg/JcMMYqAdKpQ/s400/Alcuin_college_E_block.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055436807681650" /></a><br />Bishopthorpe Road - a house I shared with 4 friends in second year:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h9d3WL2I/AAAAAAAABgo/-Zpg-Uw-IEY/s1600/Bishophorpe_road.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h9d3WL2I/AAAAAAAABgo/-Zpg-Uw-IEY/s400/Bishophorpe_road.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055443779399522" /></a><br />Siward Street - Ian lived here in his second year with some friends from Alcuin college:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iaeNS2aI/AAAAAAAABhQ/SAp89_0WNxo/s1600/Siward_street.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iaeNS2aI/AAAAAAAABhQ/SAp89_0WNxo/s400/Siward_street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055942087661986" /></a><br />Dove Street - I lived here with my friend Liz (see below) during the summer of 2000 and then with 3 of my flatmates from Bishopthorpe Road for the academic year 2000/2001:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iZ6L4OLI/AAAAAAAABhI/l8rmNLxTwng/s1600/Dove_street.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iZ6L4OLI/AAAAAAAABhI/l8rmNLxTwng/s400/Dove_street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055932418046130" /></a><br />Back then the house was the ugliest in the street - painted white and fading with a blue door. It now has a brick front like the other houses in the row and there is not only a new front door, but a new door on the cellar, suggesting that someone has converted it into rooms - I was always dismayed that the cellar contained three rooms that were not in use.<br /><br />Carlton Avenue - where Ian lived in his third year: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h-OMbcVI/AAAAAAAABg4/Kl54bKf1-6U/s1600/Carlton_avenue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h-OMbcVI/AAAAAAAABg4/Kl54bKf1-6U/s400/Carlton_avenue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055456752726354" /></a><br />Brunswick Street - this was a home and not just a house to me. I lived there during my Masters and my PhD and have many happy memories. It's also the only house in York that all my family and most of my friends have visited. The milkman 'milky Dave' lived next door and his milk truck is obscuring the view of the door:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h91XtHlI/AAAAAAAABgw/xiaaUAedv20/s1600/Brunswick_Street.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h91XtHlI/AAAAAAAABgw/xiaaUAedv20/s400/Brunswick_Street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055450089135698" /></a><br />Wentworth College A block - where Ian lived during our Masters course:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iwce4XsI/AAAAAAAABhg/3bt6ChYWt_M/s1600/Wentworth_college_A2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97iwce4XsI/AAAAAAAABhg/3bt6ChYWt_M/s400/Wentworth_college_A2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467056319581675202" /></a><br />This is the computer science building at the University where Ian spent most of his undergraduate days:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97jWNI96vI/AAAAAAAABhw/CZMzRYbEOnQ/s1600/Computer_science.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97jWNI96vI/AAAAAAAABhw/CZMzRYbEOnQ/s400/Computer_science.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467056968298261234" /></a><br />and this is the biology department where I did my PhD:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97i_dqdIOI/AAAAAAAABho/FJ6qee4N-Qo/s1600/Biology.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97i_dqdIOI/AAAAAAAABho/FJ6qee4N-Qo/s400/Biology.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467056577596694754" /></a><br />My office was in the older grey building to the right.<br /><br />By the time we had visited all these old haunts the rain had slowed to a drizzle so we returned to Askham Bog. As usual we had a walk around the boardwalk to the smaller of the two main ponds. Afterwards, rather than following my usual route of heading to Near Wood and the other pond we decided to explore Far Wood. <br /><br />The bridge over the dyke and into Far Wood was in disrepair:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97m2ELX0ZI/AAAAAAAABh4/-vX_eA36OOo/s1600/Askham_Bog_bridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97m2ELX0ZI/AAAAAAAABh4/-vX_eA36OOo/s400/Askham_Bog_bridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467060814183125394" /></a><br />Far wood:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97nB3fsVWI/AAAAAAAABiQ/3JF8k0Rtn1o/s1600/Far_wood.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97nB3fsVWI/AAAAAAAABiQ/3JF8k0Rtn1o/s400/Far_wood.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467061016937125218" /></a><br />Far Wood is not THAT large, but still I have always managed to lose my sense of direction there. On the far side of the wood is Gilson's Bog that I had not previously managed to find (for some reason when trying to head west, one always veers north, but when returning and trying to head east one always veers south - and no my left leg is not longer than my right!). Luckily, Ian is a better navigator than I and he managed to get us to the Bog. Unfortunately the dyke between the two was more than "welly deep" so I had to admire the bog from the wood. I shall have to purchase some waders if I'm to reach it in the future. <br /><br />Gilson's Bog:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97m3FqNLXI/AAAAAAAABiI/-y7o7B5fPxU/s1600/Gilsons_bog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97m3FqNLXI/AAAAAAAABiI/-y7o7B5fPxU/s400/Gilsons_bog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467060831760756082" /></a><br />The dyke to the North of far wood:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97m2xOV5uI/AAAAAAAABiA/6ATi0IMT8b0/s1600/Askham_Bog_north_dyke.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97m2xOV5uI/AAAAAAAABiA/6ATi0IMT8b0/s400/Askham_Bog_north_dyke.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467060826275178210" /></a><br /><br />We saw a total of nine roe deer and a fox that we probably wouldn't have seen if we'd come earlier in the day as planned. Ian also saw a little mammal scurry and jump into a wood pile. We suspect that it was a weasel, but will never know.<br /><br />We completed the evening with a walk around town and dinner at Oscars. Oscars was our favourite eatery during our time in York and again most of my friends and family have eaten with me there at one point. Unfortunately the lovely building and courtyard they used to occupy was only rented and they were unable to renew their lease. However, they moved to a building only just around the corner and the food was as fantastic as ever.<br /><br />On Sunday, after checking out of our B&B we popped into town and had a stroll through museum gardens followed by a look in my favourite picture shop on Petergate. We then drove North to Easingwold and had a little wander before heading to St Johns the Evangelist Church for a christening.<br /><br />Isaac William and his parents, my friends Andrew and Liz (Liz and I studied maths together at university and lived together at Dove Street) in the centre, with his godparents (I believe also Andrew and Lizzie) on the outside:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h-TnCC7I/AAAAAAAABhA/WFuxpl7DtEY/s1600/Christening.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S97h-TnCC7I/AAAAAAAABhA/WFuxpl7DtEY/s400/Christening.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467055458206485426" /></a><br />After the christening we went to Liz and Andrews house in Shipton by Beningborough for a lovely buffet and a brief catch up on news before we headed back home to Devon.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-57277080577147216862010-04-04T12:30:00.004+01:002010-04-04T19:43:49.237+01:00Random things I've learntI decided a few weeks ago to make this blog a bit more general, thus the change of name. Until now I've not had a chance to post anything other than the usual blogs about the house and visits to family. I've decided to post a few things that I've learnt this week and to do so on a regular, though not necessarily weekly, basis. Nor will I restrict myself to a fixed number of things as it will depend entirely on what has caught my eye.<br /><br />So here goes...<br /><ol><li>Before I could even write the title I had to look up the difference between learnt and learned - something I've not managed to remember in the past. Learnt is common British English, whereas learned is US English.</li><li>Aeshna, the genus of the hawker dragonflies is pronounced <span style="font-weight: bold;">eesh</span>-na. Source: a <a href="http://www.makeham.org/latin.shtml">wonderful website</a> (even if they did use the word 'Latin' instead of 'scientific' to describe the words) containing information on the pronunciation of dragonfly-related things.</li><li>Drinking chocolate was discovered by Hans Sloane while on a trip to Jamaica. Sloane was a physician and botanist who succeeded Sir Isaac Newton as president of the Royal Society. In addition to being a great collector of plants, he acquired a number of natural history collections and an extensive library on natural history. He bequeathed his collection to the British public and this went on to become the foundation for the British Museum. Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Sloane#Further_reading">wikipedia</a>.</li><li>Adult newts may eat frogspawn. Source: <a href="http://thegardenpondblog.org.uk/">the garden pond blog</a>.</li><li>The name of the control centre for the Goldeneye in the James Bond film of the same name - <span style="font-style: italic;">Severnaya</span> means northern in Russian.<br /></li><li>In addition to fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meat can also prevent scurvy. Source: Rayner Unwin - A winter away from home: William Barents and the North-east Passage.</li><li>Polar bears livers should not be eaten. They contain such a high concentration of vitamin A that this can cause terrible stomach pains, eyesight to dim and skin to blister and peel off. Source: Rayner Unwin - A winter away from home: William Barents and the North-east Passage.</li><li>If the top or sides of a loaf of bread cave in during baking then this is probably a result of there being too much liquid compared with dry ingredients. Source: our new breadmaker's manual.<br /></li></ol>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-64059667062921057322010-04-02T15:30:00.009+01:002010-04-02T16:00:23.292+01:00In the greenhouseLast weekend we spent some time in the new greenhouse assembling some new shelving. Despite being rather awkward to assemble and the fact that the manufacturers didn't take into account the existence of the sliding doors in the centre of the greenhouse (which meant that Ian had to cut two of the shelves) we're both really pleased. It's doubled the amount of space we have to store our collection of little trees and they're now organised in alphabetical order along the length of the cooler half of the greenhouse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YAYfUQEbI/AAAAAAAABfQ/_jFXr_FqOIo/s1600/Greenhouse_shelf01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YAYfUQEbI/AAAAAAAABfQ/_jFXr_FqOIo/s400/Greenhouse_shelf01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455548419329233330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YAYOisn2I/AAAAAAAABfI/85yGDc8aBuU/s1600/greenhouse_inside01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YAYOisn2I/AAAAAAAABfI/85yGDc8aBuU/s400/greenhouse_inside01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455548414826422114" /></a><br />Opposite the trees is a raised bed in which I intend to grow our herbs (except for mint which I'm only growing in pots because it likes to take over)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YF3w9w6WI/AAAAAAAABfg/WFoNTlzrDvA/s1600/Raised_bed.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YF3w9w6WI/AAAAAAAABfg/WFoNTlzrDvA/s400/Raised_bed.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455554454200838498" /></a><br />The warmer half of the greenhouse has four currant bushes, a grape vine and a blueberry in, which will be joined by more exotic fruit and vegetables such as marrows, aubergines and melons in the summer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YF3WsEDJI/AAAAAAAABfY/cHz7IyGzXxs/s1600/greenhouse_inside02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YF3WsEDJI/AAAAAAAABfY/cHz7IyGzXxs/s400/greenhouse_inside02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455554447147273362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YF4ZQiiUI/AAAAAAAABfo/ZVhfejFlyhE/s1600/Redcurrant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S7YF4ZQiiUI/AAAAAAAABfo/ZVhfejFlyhE/s400/Redcurrant.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455554465017006402" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-26425089491039278962010-03-07T20:02:00.010+00:002010-03-07T23:43:48.405+00:00Quite a day!Today is my fiancee Ian's 30th birthday. Due to work commitments we've decided to celebrate fully with a holiday next month, but we still managed to take the day off work today and have a wonderful time.<br /><br />One of Ian's presents was an adoption of the European otter Imogen at the Buckfast otters and owls center so we decided to go see her and the other otters this morning. Imogen is naturally nocturnal and was asleep in the 'otter cottage', but the other otters were all out and about.<br /><br />This is their oldest otter: Ontario, a 22 year-old female:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q4RFa466I/AAAAAAAABcg/KQAXiHmJ-vI/s1600-h/Ontario.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 361px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q4RFa466I/AAAAAAAABcg/KQAXiHmJ-vI/s400/Ontario.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446039715561663394" /></a><br /><br />These are Toronto and his sons Winni and Peg:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q4znr7foI/AAAAAAAABco/45Cuwqitmyg/s1600-h/Toronto_winni_peg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q4znr7foI/AAAAAAAABco/45Cuwqitmyg/s400/Toronto_winni_peg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446040308875492994" /></a><br /><br />Winni, Peg and Rocky - one of Ontario's sons are due to be released in a wildlife refuge in Canada later this year.<br /><br />We decided to stop at Trago Mills leisure park for lunch - a place we've passed a hundred times on the A38, but had never been to. It wasn't really what either of us expected. We thought that it would be a shopping center with leisure facilities such as a swimming pool and possibly a cinema. Instead it turned out to be one massive store - I can't describe how big it was. This discouraged us from actually buying anything because there were only a few exits with checkouts and very long queues. Nor could we find where everyone ate until we'd been the length and breadth of the store. All the food outlets turned out to be outside the main shop next to a small lake. Luckily we managed to find a table at one of the only two indoor eateries as it was a very cold day today. The 'leisure' facilities were also located outside and consisted of a small model railway and some rides for very young children. What did impress us was the scale of the place and the buildings themselves. The shopping area is one large structure that looks like a fairy-tale castle from the outside. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q4Qwp_DfI/AAAAAAAABcY/5WYS43HAvbI/s1600-h/Trago_mills.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q4Qwp_DfI/AAAAAAAABcY/5WYS43HAvbI/s400/Trago_mills.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446039709987835378" /></a><br /><br />This year Ian and I are trying to alter our diets to be more healthy and so for once we skipped the birthday cake. It has been a tradition for Ian to have a caterpillar-shaped cake so instead we made a caterpillar shaped main course for dinner. We bought 4 different coloured peppers and stuffed them with rice, cheese and vegetables. Yummy!<br /><br />Ian making the face:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q5w5Q7-PI/AAAAAAAABdA/_NapeU0S2zU/s1600-h/Ian_pillar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q5w5Q7-PI/AAAAAAAABdA/_NapeU0S2zU/s400/Ian_pillar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446041361566136562" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q5wukBbEI/AAAAAAAABc4/Ufu0BKBi10Q/s1600-h/Pillar02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q5wukBbEI/AAAAAAAABc4/Ufu0BKBi10Q/s400/Pillar02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446041358693395522" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q5wVa2QyI/AAAAAAAABcw/E67yigJGzv4/s1600-h/Pillar01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 394px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S5Q5wVa2QyI/AAAAAAAABcw/E67yigJGzv4/s400/Pillar01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446041351944028962" /></a><br /><br />This evening we went to the cinema to watch the film Invictus with Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela. I had no idea that the film was partly about sport (rugby), but I would highly recommend it to even those like myself who normally avoid films containing a lot of sport.<br /><br />All in all, a brilliant day!Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-46015238584586207732010-02-14T19:14:00.010+00:002010-02-14T23:14:24.656+00:00A green greenhouse!Last week we said goodbye to our old greenhouse:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3hNByuMDWI/AAAAAAAABbM/GZ90p1VmM7U/s1600-h/Greenhouse_old.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3hNByuMDWI/AAAAAAAABbM/GZ90p1VmM7U/s400/Greenhouse_old.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438181243240582498" /></a><br />It has served us well, but has been missing several panes of glass since we moved in. Although we've had very warm springs and autumns in 2008 and 2009 the summers have been spectacularly dull and our attempts to grow vegetables out of the greenhouse have been disappointing. Admittedly the baby butternut squashes and baby sweetcorn looked cute, but in reality they were inedible :-(<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3iCLEnJG0I/AAAAAAAABbs/4QDskQfhbLA/s1600-h/Butternut_squash.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3iCLEnJG0I/AAAAAAAABbs/4QDskQfhbLA/s400/Butternut_squash.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438239676777962306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3iC-KVEX_I/AAAAAAAABb0/9kB54Ep0JPY/s1600-h/Sweetcorn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 167px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3iC-KVEX_I/AAAAAAAABb0/9kB54Ep0JPY/s400/Sweetcorn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438240554486095858" /></a><br />We have therefore invested in a rather extravagent 20 by 6 foot greenhouse. This will also satisfy our growing needs while we take a pause in our search for some land when Ian moves to Australia to finish his PhD.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3iBkbeWRXI/AAAAAAAABbk/8ajBMXYx35U/s1600-h/greenhouse_new01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3iBkbeWRXI/AAAAAAAABbk/8ajBMXYx35U/s400/greenhouse_new01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438239012900193650" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-5739119989522615532010-02-08T19:02:00.018+00:002010-02-09T10:26:17.241+00:00BlackpoolLast weekend we took a day trip to Blackpool with Gary and Dewi. Before going for lunch we drove down the promenade, home to the famous <a href="http://www.blackpool-illuminations.net/">Blackpool illuminations</a>. Some of the displays were lovely:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3BhfHLV1WI/AAAAAAAABX8/BgHMf7TjxaM/s1600-h/Blackpool_lights_fish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 216px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3BhfHLV1WI/AAAAAAAABX8/BgHMf7TjxaM/s400/Blackpool_lights_fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435951937366644066" border="0"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3BhewLbIJI/AAAAAAAABX0/YCtqfZvTe5E/s1600-h/Blackpool_lights_dragonflies.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3BhewLbIJI/AAAAAAAABX0/YCtqfZvTe5E/s400/Blackpool_lights_dragonflies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435951931192975506" border="0"></a><br /><br />After lunch Ian and I went to the zoo where we saw<br /><br />capybaras:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bi1pX06dI/AAAAAAAABYc/Br2QtkdQR2c/s1600-h/Capybara.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bi1pX06dI/AAAAAAAABYc/Br2QtkdQR2c/s400/Capybara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435953424014567890" border="0"></a><br />giraffes:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bi1fswqiI/AAAAAAAABYU/SshywhUKsiE/s1600-h/Giraffe01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bi1fswqiI/AAAAAAAABYU/SshywhUKsiE/s400/Giraffe01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435953421418015266" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bi0bGgJgI/AAAAAAAABYM/Af8Po9wwF7Q/s1600-h/Giraffe02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bi0bGgJgI/AAAAAAAABYM/Af8Po9wwF7Q/s400/Giraffe02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435953403003938306" border="0"></a><br />lemurs:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Biz7Vrl_I/AAAAAAAABYE/8Lav1vsEJLI/s1600-h/Lemur.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 399px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Biz7Vrl_I/AAAAAAAABYE/8Lav1vsEJLI/s400/Lemur.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435953394477668338" border="0"></a><br />penguins:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3BjsahiV5I/AAAAAAAABYk/PiZ-pB0pSng/s1600-h/Penguins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3BjsahiV5I/AAAAAAAABYk/PiZ-pB0pSng/s400/Penguins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435954364921567122" border="0"></a><br />and of course otters (Barry & Jasmine):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bjsr4cR9I/AAAAAAAABYs/XU276Dd9MoI/s1600-h/Otters.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 370px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/S3Bjsr4cR9I/AAAAAAAABYs/XU276Dd9MoI/s400/Otters.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435954369581041618" border="0"></a><br /><br />The penguin pool was remarkably clean and I couldn't resist taking lots of videos:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzOg5ufu6hSp84GGCDLgIXrOa5HOfmS2laF6sxHuY64FkdoEDEHBnu6EpjK0Jkshjzl2_3GE1yIUvptHKdRwQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxTdeNKbzqjh0hfkL6JXv_18uF-QcOy7mjlJfUm3iHCfiGrpP2UMtL3fqfOOFW9UluYAjew1W8n2IfrZTEs' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />I also filmed the world's messiest eater (a cotton top tamarin):<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwKe-iS86lqQG9ROoztSTY-QXGg0JZTq-Y3QEdqgy3CONEI6Bvd4asNmsOZ15mqSctnraBkpjLxYM0NmrzHnQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-32604096476401523642009-12-21T10:37:00.009+00:002009-12-21T20:11:55.599+00:00Incorporating ontogenetic dispersal, ecological processes and conservation zoning into reserve designOur article in Biological Conservation has become available <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V5X-4XY4B6N-3&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2060094715acdbde3cc77cb0212e6edb">online</a> today. As promised I shall attempt to write a readable summary.<br /><br />The aim of our paper is to extend existing methods for placing marine reserves to protect habitats by making the methods more realistic and thus hopefully more likely to protect species of importance and be acceptable to fishermen. <br /><br />Marine reserves are basically areas of the ocean that are closed to extractive activities like fishing and the removal of stone or pharmaceutical products. Selecting locations for reserves is a tricky business as it's difficult to predict how species and habitats will respond to reserves and even more difficult to convince local stakeholders that going another few miles every day to a potentially less-stocked fishing area is a good thing. For example, closing areas to fishing groupers can benefit parrotfish - an ecologically-important family of fish because parrotfish are stupid enough to go and sit in the grouper fish traps (even though they're not targeted by the fishermen). However, closing areas to fishing groupers allows groupers to grow to a larger size before they die and since groupers eat parrotfish that means that they're able to eat the larger parrotfish (the ones more likely to reproduce). <br /><br />Rather than choosing sites arbitrarily, computer algorithms (lists of instructions followed by the computer) exist to help select locations. These are required because once you start selecting locations from hundreds or thousands of sites it becomes impossible to do it by hand. Basically you divide the seascape up into lots and lots of potential reserve sites - ours were square and made by overlaying a 1km by 1km grid over an aerial map of Belize, and specify roughly what proportion of sites you want to be in your final network of marine reserves (say 20% of the total area of the seascape). The computer selects a random group of sites as your first reserve network and then repeatedly tries making changes to the reserve network by adding or removing a site and seeing if the resulting reserves are 'better'. Better is usually defined as being more likely to protect the species or habitats of interest with minimal cost to fishermen and reserve managers. <br /><br />Ian and I wrote a new computer algorithm to make this process more realistic by <br /><br />1) taking into account that some species migrate between habitats (that's the ontogenetic dispersal part), <br />2) evaluating how important each fish species is ecologically and economically and then using predicted numbers of each species in each habitat to determine how much of each habitat you aim to have in reserves (that's the ecological processes part) and<br />3) taking into account that areas outside reserves are also important - previous algorithms assessed if a reserve network was 'better' only by looking at what was in the reserve network. We also evaluate what is outside the reserves at the same time (that's the conservation zoning part).<br /><br />So now you know!!Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-80851545318616827262009-12-18T15:41:00.005+00:002009-12-18T16:00:45.685+00:00Bye bye builderWe had quite a stressful day. The builder we've had in to knock down some walls and put in some new doors and windows seems to think that our house is his and that he has the right to make all the decisions. He decided that he and his electrician would be doing our electrics in the new kitchen (not something we asked for) and despite our protestations the electrician arrived today. The builder talked him through the job as he wants it done without consulting us. Needless to say when the quote arrives we shall not be saying yes.<br /><br />The good news is that the builder is packing up as I write. We had to tell him that we were leaving for Christmas this weekend (which we're not) to get him to speed up and finish the doors and windows. The bad news is that he's convinced that he's coming back in January to finish various jobs. We shall allow him to put in a new window upstairs, but if we have our way he will not be setting foot in the kitchen ever again.<br /><br />On the other hand, William had a blissfully relaxing day...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SyumxrGsGuI/AAAAAAAABFs/HAY2V3EvksY/s1600-h/William_radiator.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SyumxrGsGuI/AAAAAAAABFs/HAY2V3EvksY/s400/William_radiator.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416606349157735138" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-59656341922530033302009-12-08T09:55:00.005+00:002009-12-08T10:06:26.723+00:00Batty bat!Last night we went for a meal at a friends. The friend has a beautiful ferret - incredibly lively and it didn't stay still for a minute (so I didn't take a photo). She has also recently inherited some Pipistrelle bats that were born too late to survive the winter uncared for. They live in a huge material labrador kennel suspended from the utility room roof which contains all sorts of things for them to dangle from. <br /><br />After being passed around for a cuddle, this bat was weighed last night (in a sock!!!) and having put on quite a bit of weight became known as 'fat bat'!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Sx4lEVVnrAI/AAAAAAAABE8/l7LsRg1qxNY/s1600-h/Bat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Sx4lEVVnrAI/AAAAAAAABE8/l7LsRg1qxNY/s400/Bat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412804558523444226" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-55437428929476964662009-11-27T15:30:00.002+00:002009-11-27T15:38:32.570+00:00and another!It's been a great couple of weeks for work. First our reserve design paper <a href="http://blogeverysunday.blogspot.com/2009/11/closure.html">got accepted</a> to the journal Biological Conservation and now a paper I coauthored with a phd student has been accepted to the Marine Ecology Progress Series. As soon as they are actually in print I shall endeavour to blog a (hopefully understandable) summary of each.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-74010180729014163932009-11-26T22:30:00.002+00:002009-11-26T22:48:34.562+00:00Allergy TestingPretty much everyone I know is allergic to something. Both my mother and brother-in-law are allergic to nuts, my father and brother get migraines if they eat certain foods, my stepmother has problems eating scampi, my partner thinks he's allergic to gluten or wheat... I myself have suffered from hayfever since my mid-teens and am allergic to touching at least one species of plant. <br /><br />A few weeks ago I had a rather uncomfortable itching reaction to something (possibly edible, possibly chemical) whilst staying at a friends and it made me wonder if it might be an idea to undergo allergy testing. We own several books on nutritional health and most come with some sort of suggestion for a diet plan for eliminating and reintroducing foods, but given the variety of things that can cause an allergic reaction I'm unsure that I would ever put my finger on it even if I tried that technique. The NHS make it quite clear on their website that most methods of allergy testing aren't 100% effective, but then there are also dozens of testimonials from people whose lives have been turned around after finding they were allergic to something they'd been eating regularly for years. An example of someone who found out they were allergic to cos lettuce (not any other kind) and sunflower seeds demonstrates just how difficult it would be to find that out using an elimination and reintroduction diet.<br /><br />So I'm considering undergoing allergy testing. Probably a waste of money, but then it only takes an hour and I wouldn't need to do it more than once unless I developed other allergies later in life (which does happen). I'm not going to be conned by one of those sites on the internet asking you to send off a hair, so I've found a local clinic run by an NHS nurse, but thought I would consult my fellow bloggers before booking an appointment. As I said pretty much everyone I know thinks they know what they are allergic to, but has anyone actually undergone testing and if so would they recommend a particular method?Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-21571206528589989712009-11-16T22:56:00.005+00:002009-11-16T23:04:09.987+00:00HoggeryLast weekend Ian and I travelled up North to see Gary, Dewi and Ian's grandad. The trip to Preston consists of 5 hours on the M5 and M6 and then a couple of minutes in Exeter and Preston. On the way up I was surprised to see the phrase "Don't hog the middle lane" in lights on signs above the road. Although I'm quite familiar with this meaning of the word hog (as opposed to pig) I was surprised to see it on the sign and can imagine that it would quite confuse any foreign drivers in the UK. Upon arriving home I've checked the Oxford English Dictionary and it is defined there as "take greedily; hoard selfishly". I particularly like the additional words hoggery and hoggishness.<br /><br />Interestingly on the journey south the sign read "Keep left unless overtaking" instead.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-33723965399021177702009-11-07T17:35:00.010+00:002009-11-07T18:13:27.500+00:00Seaton MarshesToday we visited a nature reserve near <a href="http://www.seatontic.com/">Seaton</a> for the first time. <a href="http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/cs-seatonmarshesleaflet.pdf">Seaton marshes</a> is an area of marshland, much of which floods at high tide, located next to the river Axe. There's a lovely little hide looking out on to the river<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvWy7KmOBpI/AAAAAAAABD0/72-JXcH6WVI/s1600-h/Seaton_marshes01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvWy7KmOBpI/AAAAAAAABD0/72-JXcH6WVI/s400/Seaton_marshes01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401420057627461266" /></a><br /><br />The nature reserve is visited by many different species of birds and kingfishers are regular visitors<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30jn16FI/AAAAAAAABEM/OHpPFBBBDTo/s1600-h/Kingfisher.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 185px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30jn16FI/AAAAAAAABEM/OHpPFBBBDTo/s400/Kingfisher.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401425441644210258" /></a><br /><br />Unfortunately my camera isn't good enough to get much of a shot at that distance, but one of the other birdwatchers was kind enough to let us view it through his telescope.<br /><br />We also saw some little egrets<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30v0qguI/AAAAAAAABEU/BLnEnpLFhWM/s1600-h/Little_egret.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30v0qguI/AAAAAAAABEU/BLnEnpLFhWM/s400/Little_egret.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401425444919214818" /></a><br /><br />many gulls, ducks and some waders that I couldn't identify at a distance. Two female pheasants were feeding under the bird feeders next to the hide<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30IfJfjI/AAAAAAAABD8/6BfebsmyNUA/s1600-h/Pheasant_female01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30IfJfjI/AAAAAAAABD8/6BfebsmyNUA/s400/Pheasant_female01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401425434359987762" /></a><br /><br />and a male came along the tramway for a stroll<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30XgB0MI/AAAAAAAABEE/vWJdFtQVt-s/s1600-h/Pheasant_male.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 219px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SvW30XgB0MI/AAAAAAAABEE/vWJdFtQVt-s/s400/Pheasant_male.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401425438390210754" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-54195473492101892572009-10-31T21:48:00.004+00:002009-10-31T21:58:37.204+00:00HalloweenThis evening Ian and I each carved a pumpkin for halloween. Ian also decided to carve a watermelon and it definitely adds a spooky green colour to the mantlepiece.<br /><br />This year I departed from carving the usual pumpkin face and went for something a bit more tricky. I copied this from a picture on the internet. It began by looking like a deer, progressed to a rabbit: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Suyy2BNnXRI/AAAAAAAABCs/YQnezcZDbt8/s1600-h/Pumpkin06.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 357px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Suyy2BNnXRI/AAAAAAAABCs/YQnezcZDbt8/s400/Pumpkin06.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398886694418603282" /></a><br /><br />and hopefully now looks like a cat:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Suyy2DVvwxI/AAAAAAAABC0/__zKQSztUoY/s1600-h/Pumpkin05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 364px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Suyy2DVvwxI/AAAAAAAABC0/__zKQSztUoY/s400/Pumpkin05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398886694989579026" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-81902833230053697612009-10-21T13:56:00.010+01:002009-10-22T11:48:43.759+01:00Happy 60th Birthday Dad!My father John, aka <a href="http://scriptorsenex.blogspot.com/">scriptor senex</a>, for those of you who only know of him in blogland, is 60 years old today. We're having a family get together this weekend, but for now I shall post a few photos.<br /><br />My Dad has a love of natural history<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA3xr3UC2I/AAAAAAAABBw/diCQqgoaozg/s1600-h/Dad_Manoki.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 290px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA3xr3UC2I/AAAAAAAABBw/diCQqgoaozg/s400/Dad_Manoki.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395373680317696866" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA3xWaX0cI/AAAAAAAABBo/BQL5jsraajM/s1600-h/Dad_butterfly.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA3xWaX0cI/AAAAAAAABBo/BQL5jsraajM/s400/Dad_butterfly.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395373674559164866" /></a><br /><br />and is rarely to be seen without his camera and an animal or two<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2waN6gdI/AAAAAAAABBg/YDFcUg67DhQ/s1600-h/Dad_zoo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 358px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2waN6gdI/AAAAAAAABBg/YDFcUg67DhQ/s400/Dad_zoo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395372558889157074" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2wCyWG9I/AAAAAAAABBQ/AXoOQFQ0GIc/s1600-h/Dad_wales.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2wCyWG9I/AAAAAAAABBQ/AXoOQFQ0GIc/s400/Dad_wales.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395372552599509970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2v-VvxkI/AAAAAAAABBI/_8gCyttUq-I/s1600-h/Dad_Stover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 359px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2v-VvxkI/AAAAAAAABBI/_8gCyttUq-I/s400/Dad_Stover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395372551405815362" /></a><br /><br />Happy Birthday from Ian, William and I!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2wHVJvqI/AAAAAAAABBY/T8R36BPcAS4/s1600-h/Dad_wedding.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 393px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SuA2wHVJvqI/AAAAAAAABBY/T8R36BPcAS4/s400/Dad_wedding.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395372553819242146" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-82092510216505060092009-10-17T18:55:00.009+01:002009-10-18T09:36:44.297+01:00Happy Birthday William!Today is the two year anniversary of our having rescued William the tabby cat from his cage in the cats protection league shelter. Not that the cage was particularly small and the people at the shelter are very loving, but William, having been "in care" twice before wasn't having a very enjoyable time.<br /><br />When we first met William he was the least friendly of the over 13's that we were restricted to because of our proximity to a major road. He sat at the back of his cage (as far away from us as possible without going down a ramp to another level) and miaowed a silent miaow. We had several cuddles of the other more friendly cats, but it was William that stood out because he seemed so sad. <br /><br />We nearly ended up with a different cat when the cats protection people fetched us a tabby called Tigger instead whilst we were signing some forms. Luckily the mistake was noticed and Tigger returned to his cage (most put out having been freshly flea-sprayed) and William was brought out.<br /><br />After bringing him home we were slightly concerned that he was going to remain sad and unfriendly as he promptly hid behind the fridge and refused to come out for 48 hours. Luckily we discovered William's second passion (after IAMs cat biscuit) - heat. Only a couple of minutes after putting the dining room fire on he came out, sat in the middle of the floor and got fussed for 3 hours.<br /><br />Since then he has settled in very well (see <a href="http://hje-at-home.blogspot.com/2009/01/day-in-life-of-william.html">here</a>) and apart from being a little on the nervous side he is a most welcoming and loving cat. Not knowing his actual date of birth we are celebrating his 15th birthday today. Happy Birthday Puss!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StrTg5TX7wI/AAAAAAAABAQ/ghU1m_zeWyA/s1600-h/William.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StrTg5TX7wI/AAAAAAAABAQ/ghU1m_zeWyA/s400/William.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393856065820946178" /></a><br /><br />William, in a rather uncomfortable looking position.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-77720692076944513332009-10-11T12:18:00.008+01:002009-10-11T12:31:52.214+01:00A firstYesterday we went for a walk in <a href="http://www.forestry.gov.uk/haldonforestpark">Haldon Forest</a>. One of the paths offers wonderful views of the Exe Valley <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StG_qJaPK1I/AAAAAAAAA_o/gM7aX7Q0Tg4/s1600-h/Exe_Valley.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StG_qJaPK1I/AAAAAAAAA_o/gM7aX7Q0Tg4/s400/Exe_Valley.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391300959740570450" /></a><br /><br />The forest contains a number of sculptures, most of which are of a musical nature. This crocodile was off the path and I would have missed it if Ian hadn't spotted it<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StHBrUmvOVI/AAAAAAAAA_w/2xYZIGzt8JM/s1600-h/Crocodile.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 148px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StHBrUmvOVI/AAAAAAAAA_w/2xYZIGzt8JM/s400/Crocodile.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391303178948917586" /></a><br /><br />The forest is very popular with cyclists and horseriders. Unfortunately this baby grass snake that Ian found in the middle of the path appeared to have been run over by a cyclist <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StHBrshBVLI/AAAAAAAAA_4/NYsnsA7vJ8Q/s1600-h/Grass_snake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/StHBrshBVLI/AAAAAAAAA_4/NYsnsA7vJ8Q/s400/Grass_snake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391303185367389362" /></a><br /><br />It was upside down and I was convinced that it was just one of those little rubber toy snakes until Ian moved it off the path. This is the first snake I've ever seen in the wild and it's a shame that it was dead. Hopefully we shall find a live one someday.Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-72910564376004957252009-09-11T16:03:00.005+01:002009-09-11T16:18:48.367+01:00abcGISAs Ian mentioned on his blog <a href="http://blogeverysunday.blogspot.com/2009/09/coming-to-fruition.html">last Sunday</a> we have now completed our first contract under our new company abcGIS. The deadline for the entire project was today, but as usual a certain person was out of the country for the last few weeks and so the written outputs of the project are going to be delayed until at least Monday. Thankfully we have finished our role - making a <a href="http://msel.ex.ac.uk/gis/belize/">website</a> to display the maps that were the outcomes of the study in addition to providing a quick summary of the aims and methods. <br /><br />It's been a hectic few weeks and we've been programming in what are entirely new languages for me. Some big things worked surprisingly quickly and some little things took hours and hours. <br /><br />As always there were a few things I wanted to do, but gave up on in the end. For example the banner of images on the left hand side will only fit the text when viewed on certain sized monitors. Otherwise either the text goes beyond the images or vice versa. I could of course repeat the images to fit the space (as with the banners at the top and bottom), but then that would result in only part of a photo at the bottom and in my opinion that would look even worse. Suggestions anyone on how to deal with this in the future?<br /><br />Unfortunately the end of this project means that I have to spend some time revising one of my papers that I've submitted for publication. This will be the 4th time I've revised it since I first submitted it. Fingers crossed that it is 4th time lucky...Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-55656216811445062372009-08-22T08:42:00.000+01:002009-08-22T08:50:24.800+01:00KingfishersHaving driven all the way to the Forest of Dean we decided to return via the <a href="http://www.wwt.org.uk/centre/122/slimbridge.html">wildfowl and wetlands center</a> at Slimbridge. I've been to WWT Martin Mere more times than I can count, but had never visited any of their other sites before. <br /><br />The day was very hot and I confess I didn't really pay enough attention to the birds - preferring to dash from one patch of shade to the next. Something that did stand out were these scultures of a family of kingfishers outside (and inside) the kingfisher hide...<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-i7y3g53I/AAAAAAAAA8E/XK78F2HyjBs/s1600-h/Kingfisher_Slimbridge01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-i7y3g53I/AAAAAAAAA8E/XK78F2HyjBs/s400/Kingfisher_Slimbridge01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372692028626888562" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-i7pWl6dI/AAAAAAAAA78/cupD7uH2n38/s1600-h/Kingfisher_Slimbridge02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 377px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-i7pWl6dI/AAAAAAAAA78/cupD7uH2n38/s400/Kingfisher_Slimbridge02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372692026072885714" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-i7G3W6iI/AAAAAAAAA70/sfOHjtro4Oo/s1600-h/Kingfisher_Slimbridge03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-i7G3W6iI/AAAAAAAAA70/sfOHjtro4Oo/s400/Kingfisher_Slimbridge03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372692016815073826" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-65575762923278093492009-08-22T08:15:00.000+01:002009-08-22T08:41:28.255+01:00Soudley PondsUpon moving to Devon in 2005 (having lived in the North of England my entire life until then) I made a list of places I wanted to explore. Most of them we visited in the first couple of years - Dartmoor, Exmoor, Dorset and we've made it across the south of England to Hampshire and even Sussex a couple of times. What we hadn't managed until this week was to visit the Forest of Dean. The Forest of Dean is in Gloucestershire, about 2 hours drive from Exeter, and is somewhere I remember very well from holidays during my childhood. <br /><br />Despite there being no signpost to the carpark we managed to park at the south end of Soudley Ponds - a series of 4? large interconnected ponds. <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-gUQGLKdI/AAAAAAAAA7s/7RHBSBFlQUI/s1600-h/Soudley_ponds02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-gUQGLKdI/AAAAAAAAA7s/7RHBSBFlQUI/s400/Soudley_ponds02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372689150254983634" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-gUFeDAwI/AAAAAAAAA7k/tOrP_ZEDWOY/s1600-h/Soudley_ponds01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-gUFeDAwI/AAAAAAAAA7k/tOrP_ZEDWOY/s400/Soudley_ponds01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372689147402322690" /></a><br /><br />We were lucky enough to see several fish<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-fQ85y3zI/AAAAAAAAA7U/ernblvvcoMM/s1600-h/Fish_Soudley01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-fQ85y3zI/AAAAAAAAA7U/ernblvvcoMM/s400/Fish_Soudley01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372687994051551026" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-fQWgoNiI/AAAAAAAAA7M/d0h5vjCU74Y/s1600-h/Fish_Soudley02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 326px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-fQWgoNiI/AAAAAAAAA7M/d0h5vjCU74Y/s400/Fish_Soudley02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372687983745447458" /></a><br /><br />both hawker and darter dragonflies (though as usual only the darters settled for a photograph)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-fmTEo7GI/AAAAAAAAA7c/0sVByT5Ysrs/s1600-h/Common_darter_Soudley.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/So-fmTEo7GI/AAAAAAAAA7c/0sVByT5Ysrs/s400/Common_darter_Soudley.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372688360779869282" /></a><br /><br />and a little lizard.<br /><br />Now all I have to do is to make it over to Cornwall sometime. Cornwall still seems so far away, even when you live in Devon!Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-33236206489472851072009-08-18T13:42:00.000+01:002009-08-18T19:48:17.509+01:00The Lucombe OakYesterday we visited <a href="http://www.bictongardens.co.uk/">Bicton Park</a>, just a few miles from Exeter. Bicton is famous for its beautiful gardens and in particular for its arboretum. At Bicton there are several semi-evergreen Lucombe oaks (<em>Quercus x hispanica</em> 'Lucombeana'). These were discovered by William Lucombe, who ran a nursery in Exeter, when he found that one of his evergreen cork oaks (<em>Quercus suber</em>) had crossed with a deciduous Turkey oak (<em>Q. cerris</em>) in 1762. The Lucombe oak is unusual in that it keeps its leaves over winter.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Sor2VUDPxgI/AAAAAAAAA7E/7M3zkh40wf4/s1600-h/Lucombe_oak01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Sor2VUDPxgI/AAAAAAAAA7E/7M3zkh40wf4/s400/Lucombe_oak01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371376351612749314" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Sor2U5XSkcI/AAAAAAAAA68/XRA11b2DvsM/s1600-h/Lucombe_oak02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Sor2U5XSkcI/AAAAAAAAA68/XRA11b2DvsM/s400/Lucombe_oak02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371376344449061314" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-62225593939914084972009-08-12T20:13:00.000+01:002009-08-12T20:26:16.522+01:00- ? -<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SoMXEFO7p2I/AAAAAAAAA5s/o49jNzENAcQ/s1600-h/Almond_thin.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SoMXEFO7p2I/AAAAAAAAA5s/o49jNzENAcQ/s400/Almond_thin.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369160539647485794" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SoMXEta538I/AAAAAAAAA50/XSgxlxetBN0/s1600-h/Raising_agent.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 92px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SoMXEta538I/AAAAAAAAA50/XSgxlxetBN0/s400/Raising_agent.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369160550435119042" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SoMXFJa_GyI/AAAAAAAAA58/d5PE0NWWsvw/s1600-h/CD_microwave.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SoMXFJa_GyI/AAAAAAAAA58/d5PE0NWWsvw/s400/CD_microwave.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369160557951654690" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-27099367320658367932009-08-02T21:34:00.000+01:002009-08-02T21:43:51.313+01:00All in a rowThese asian otters at the New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park were very comical waiting to be fed<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SnX6Es-2cpI/AAAAAAAAA5U/Od7JsQ-rkwA/s1600-h/Asian_otter_03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SnX6Es-2cpI/AAAAAAAAA5U/Od7JsQ-rkwA/s400/Asian_otter_03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365469489783009938" /></a><br /><br />This little guy was particularly keen to see where the keeper was<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SnX6ExGmdpI/AAAAAAAAA5c/qTG8cy0A-6Q/s1600-h/Asian_otter_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SnX6ExGmdpI/AAAAAAAAA5c/qTG8cy0A-6Q/s400/Asian_otter_01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365469490889258642" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SnX6FlWUXoI/AAAAAAAAA5k/8HkdF0vCa5w/s1600-h/Asian_otter_02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 188px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SnX6FlWUXoI/AAAAAAAAA5k/8HkdF0vCa5w/s400/Asian_otter_02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365469504913825410" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-32678298089929277372009-07-26T17:30:00.000+01:002009-08-02T22:15:10.902+01:00Baby melonsAs you may have read <a href="http://hje-at-home.blogspot.com/2008/10/melon.html">last year </a>Ian has a recently-discovered passion for growing melons.<br /><br />He's currently growing this 'sweetheart' melon that he grew so successfully last year:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SmyFnUr1UjI/AAAAAAAAA5E/yekk2BRobsY/s1600-h/Melon_baby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SmyFnUr1UjI/AAAAAAAAA5E/yekk2BRobsY/s400/Melon_baby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362808166905369138" /></a><br /><br />and for the first time a watermelon. It's about the size of a grape in this photograph: <br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SmyFnnjVjGI/AAAAAAAAA5M/ZRK7oNDfoGw/s1600-h/Watermelon_baby.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 358px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/SmyFnnjVjGI/AAAAAAAAA5M/ZRK7oNDfoGw/s400/Watermelon_baby.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362808171970006114" /></a>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2038911031059501136.post-56046330592062944262009-07-26T09:49:00.000+01:002009-07-26T10:56:05.426+01:00A Mulberry TreeYesterday we took a day trip to the New Forest to visit the <a href="http://www.ottersandowls.co.uk/">New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park</a> (owned by the same family as the Chestnut Centre). Ian was particularly keen to take his new camcorder and video the otters.<br /><br />There were three highlights for me - watching an asian short clawed otter climbing a fence, the recent addition of a tropical butterfly house and a beautiful black mulberry (<em>Morus nigra</em>) tree outside the first otter enclosure. I've walked past the tree a number of times in the Spring without paying it any attention, but being summer it was fruiting profusely. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Smwn61ihSLI/AAAAAAAAA4s/ZsqrBbEsDUw/s1600-h/Morus_nigra03.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Smwn61ihSLI/AAAAAAAAA4s/ZsqrBbEsDUw/s400/Morus_nigra03.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362705148049180850" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Smwn7EiKR9I/AAAAAAAAA40/Ms6NeeU7SEs/s1600-h/Morus_nigra02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Smwn7EiKR9I/AAAAAAAAA40/Ms6NeeU7SEs/s400/Morus_nigra02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362705152074205138" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Smwn7gzt_6I/AAAAAAAAA48/evw2DAS6l-c/s1600-h/Morus_nigra01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hYTkVdy3mY4/Smwn7gzt_6I/AAAAAAAAA48/evw2DAS6l-c/s400/Morus_nigra01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362705159664041890" /></a><br /><br />The ground was stained with fallen fruits and there were still thousands on the tree itself. I didn't feel cheeky enough to pick some and taste them (and I couldn't remember if you could eat them raw), but we did collect lots of the fallen fruit with the hope of planting one of our own. <br /><br />I have to say that it was one of the most beautiful and unusual trees I've ever seen. I have to have one!<br /><br />Many people know only of the mulberry from the fact that the leaves provide the only source of food for the silkworm and from the nursery rhyme "here we go round the mulberry bush". No species of mulberry actually forms a bush and it may be that it was adapted from an earlier version "here we go round the bramble bush".Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13624194722106155800noreply@blogger.com2