A fishy story (or two)
We have been spending a few days in the Cevennes, but with only my little netbook, so no photographs yet.
One stop was in the little town of Florac where a gushing spring called the Source du Pecher throws itself into the Tarnon river which flows through Florac to join the Tarn just north of the town. This spring is one of those which has never run dry according to local history and has given rise to this legend. Please do not read any farther, OZ, as it could upset you. Read more…
Wow…
This is a picture of a SINGLE , relatively simple, molecule containing just five aromatic carbon rings. It may not mean much to you, but this molecule is called olympicene for fairly obvious reasons and it is just one billionth of a metre across.
Once, when Michael Faraday was asked by a politician, “But of what use is your electricity?”, he replied , “Why, sir, one day you will be able to tax it!”. I think the same might apply here.
You can read more about it here.
Open Gardens
The Yellow Book Scheme is a very British thing it seems to me. The premise being to
open your garden and invite folk in, sell tea, cake and cuttings, then give the takings to charity.
The charities they support are close to my heart and I love going around gardens, especially those gardens which are on a scale that I can relate to my own small patch. I’m always on the look out for ideas that I may be able to translate for my own use.
Yesterday afternoon we walked around a collection of gardens which had opened together, in one little community. It was a true ‘village affair’ – with the village hall open for tea and cakes, and 7 gardens open. It was warm and there was a breeze – a quintessential English afternoon, just like you may see in ‘Midsomer Murders.’
The village topology is very different from ours, even though it is only a few miles away. Our village is flat: not a contour in sight. The village we explored yesterday is steep and has a river running through it.
To my mind it was a bargain – £5 a head, plus a little for the tea later on.
Early summer border
Why on earth not?
The GCSE exam concerned was Religious Studies. One question was: “Why are some people prejudiced against Jews?” But the Education Secretary, challenged by the Jewish Chronicle, said, “To suggest that anti-Semitism can ever be explained, rather than condemned, is insensitive and, frankly, bizarre.”
Backlit
Yesterday a day in the garden, admiring the contrasting leaf textures, light effects and …. well relaxing and then working! Today’s work entailed, amongst other things the deconstruction of an over grown shrub – how very satisfying – the contrast between before and after. Space for a new tree perhaps?
Geranium, back-lit Read more…
The Cattle are lowing
Just returned from a welcome break in Yorkshire, we stayed at Beningbrough Hall in the flat above the old laundry, 8 miles from York centre..
The weather was brilliant and not at all expected, sunny and hot every day; and there was me with winter clothing. Still one stop at the retail park and all was well.
What can one say about Yorkshire, the people are always friendly, and the food is good as is the ale. The countryside is beautiful and the sites magnificent and all fairly close together so not too much driving about.
Castle Howard is really opulent and worth a visit, the staff really enjoyed their work and loved to tell us everything, a whole day spent there and in the gardens.
Other places to see Nostell priory, East Riddlesden Hall (really homely), Nunnington Hall (I could move in tomorrow) plus countless castles and Abbeys. Read more…
Photo Winner
Congratulations to Araminta for
Honeysuckle
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