The Blue Rigi

Tate Britain has to raise £4.95million to prevent the Blue Rigi leaving the country. Painted as one of a series by JMWTurner, the light in this water colour is fantastic - he really is an outstanding painter of light - the Tate want to acquire this masterpiece. So, you can help. Buy a brush stroke or two, and help the Tate save the Rigi for the enjoyment of everyone in Britain. You can choose which 'brush stroke' you want to 'buy' by clicking on the link below

Time is running out!

An interesting race for the White House

I mentioned earlier that Hillary had announced her intention to run for the 2008 election - but it is going to be harder than she thinks, as she will be competing for the same votes as Barack Obama [women, blacks], and for the monetary donations. Lets hope that we either get the first black or the first women president, and that the people of the USA get rid of that dire idiot they currently have.

Clinton Enters ’08 Field, Fueling Race for Money

Feeling cold? Put a jumper on!

Global warming, carbon footprints, planting trees to offset the CO2 used when you fly - all very good, but simple things will also help us all reduce the impact we have on the planet. Yes, it is winter, but do we really need to be able to walk around in the office or at home wearing a thin tshirt? No - so instead of turning up the heating, we should be turning it DOWN a few degrees, and wearing a jumper instead. It will be better for the environment, and also better for us, as it is unhealthy to be in a hothouse all the time [and yes, the heating here at home is set to 18C, and I AM wearing a big thick wooly jumper...].

Carbon plans that make you cut down

Ruth Kelly is wrong

Under the Equality Act, discrimination is not allowed on the basis of sexual orientation. Ruth Kelly is reported to want to allow Catholic adoption agencies to be able to turn away same-sex couples who want to adopt. I am pleased to read that the Lord chancellor has very firmly said that there will be no opt out for religious bodies - these children need families who love and care for them - it makes no difference if they are same-sex or not. It is as bad as the B&B people who wanted to be able to ban same sex couples from their B&B because they thought it was sinful. When will these religious people realise that gay people are not monsters, it is not catching and they are normal members of society like everyone else. So, although things ARE getting better, there is still a way to go before equality is a reality.

No exemption from gay rights laws

Hillary joins the race for the White House

Good news that Hillary Clinton has finally announced she is gong to run for the 2008 presidential election. It is about time a woman was in charge there...

Hillary Clinton joins 2008 race

Walling her out...

One New York couple have been arguing over WHO should live in the marital home for over 2 years [they own 2 houses]. The husband has finally cracked and built a wall partitioning the house. Only in the States!

NY couple build wall through home

Eco-clean

I am not the most house proud of people - if my house is not gleaming - it doesn't really bother me, I still welcome people while moving the newspapers off the couch for them to sit down... So, reading an article about not using chemicals in your house made me go and look at what I DO use [when I get round to do the cleaning...]. A mixed bag was the result. I do already use eco washing up, laundry and kitchen surface cleaners - but there was still floor wax, bleach, window cleaner, floor cleaner and I am ashamed to say oven cleaner. I also use throw away cloths in the main - although I do wash my yellow dusters every now and again - which is obviously not the done thing! Luckily, I don't have to worry about the carpets, as I don't have any - but the sheer thought of brushing carpets clean made me feel quite panicky, as with two hairy muck magnets aka Ferret and Silk, it would be an impossible task. So, I have thrown away all the 'bad' chemicals and will try to be more environmentally friendly when buying products in future - but I can't see the house being a total product free place, as I don't enjoy cleaning enough to be mixing my own pastes or spending even more time on it!

The green cleaning guide

Stormy weather

Lots of wind today - and sadly, people have been killed in the storms, both in the UK and in Europe. Even though I am not back at work yet, whilst talking to my colleagues, they told me that the tiles on the roof of one the main university buildings at Stafford were being blown off and clattering down onto the surrounding walkways and carparks - so the campus has been shut until Monday, to give roofers a chance to replace the tiles. A fallen tree on the local Cross City line caused havoc for commuters as well. New St station was shut, and the line may reopen later this evening. Other lines have also been affected - at present there are NO trains running between Bham and London due to overhead power lines being down, and some train companies are just not running trains at all.

Unbelievable

I really did think that a pre-requisite for driving was being able to see. Obviously, in Spain, it is different...

Blind speeder is cleared by judge

Raising the school leaving age

The government want all young people to stay in education until they are 18. This is going to be a hard task. Not everybody WANTS to be in education until they are 16, and I am not sure that this one will go through to affect the year group starting secondary school in 2008 - as it took an awfully long time to persuade people that it should go up to 16! The government say that no young person should be in work without adequate training. Ummm. Perhaps employers should take note of that one. Too many employers already avoid training staff, they won't change their spots in time for 2013!!

School leaving age may be raised to 18

Torn meniscus

After 10 days of pain and still on crutches, a sports injury specialist has told me that I have torn the meniscus in my knee, and may have a slight tear in one of the collateral ligaments as well [but I can't remember from my biology lessons which was the medial and which was the lateral - but its the one on the inside...]. Its been strapped up - which has helped a lot already, and I have to go to be sized up for a made to measure knee brace next week. In the meantime, the good old NHS has told me to go back to A&E at a district hospital, so they can assess my knee, and then refer me IF they think it necessary to the soft tissue clinic. In the meantime, just don't walk on it. So perhaps between the sports injury specialist [who does triathlon with Steve] being proactive and the NHS faffing about and making me wait ages before they decide about anything, it might get better... I just hope it mends without the need for surgery, as just the thought of someone poking around inside my knee makes me feel quite sick.
In the meantime, I am stuck at home with just my crutches for company.

Houses should be innovative

I thought this was a great way to utilise a building plot. We need to be more creative in our designs for urban living. We shouldn't all live in little boxes.

Built with wild abandon

2007

Long time since last post. Its been a busy, eventful time. Christmas was quiet and uneventful, but it was good to be on our own and not bite each others heads off. Saw P for a few hours as he came back for the holidays, and before he went skiing/back to uni. He looked good, and it hit me how much I have missed seeing him last term. But hopefully, I will get to see him for a few days in the semester break and take him to Paris with me. New Year was spent in Paris with Ceri and Helen. Drove the car over using Eurotunnel, and managed to park under the tower ok. Paris was good, but a bit wet and grey until New Years Day when the sun came out. Took some great photos from the top of Tour Montparnasse - seeing as you could see for miles and the sun was out! The morning we left, I fell down 3 stairs in the apartment and hurt my knee. I then drove for nearly 9 hours to get home, and ended up in casualty as I couldn't walk or straighten my leg. X-Rays the following day revealed no break or tears, but am STILL on crutches and getting very fed up with being stuck at home. Not a good start to the year.