Category: General Musings

First major snow in 18 years

As you know on Monday Steve and I took off to Kew Gardens as it had snowed down there. When we got back to Bristol there was a bit of snow around but not much. About 4am Tuesday morning I got up and looked out the window and what a sight. It had snowed. Not tons but enough to make the place look so pristine. I took a photo from our bedroom window. Normally this view is pretty grotty so the snow made a dramatic change to the view.

By mid morning on Tuesday the snow was starting to melt so we were quite blue. But, low and behold late Wednesday and Thursday night we got more snow. Bring it on!

Bristol and many other parts of the UK are at a stand still at the moment. With buses canceled, salt supplies nearly depleted, only major roads being salted/gritted leaving many “stranded”, schools closed, you would think that this is chaos. In all honesty, yes I am sure it has been highly inconvenient for a large number of people but it has been 2 days out of the last 18 YEARS. Get over it!

What amazes me is that you have people with these lovely, large, gas guzzling, 4×4 vehicles, traveling at 10 miles per hour as they have never actually used the 4×4 option since they purchased it. Over here they are called Chelsea Tractor drivers. Darn fine vehicles owned and used for appearance sakes.

About 3/4 of the team I work with didn’t show up today due to bus cancellations etc. My train line was running perfectly and I really enjoyed the walk for the last 2 days in snow. People have been smiling, talking to each other for no reason other than to comment on how beautiful the snow is. They have been really enjoyable snow filled days.

View from our bedroom early 4am Thursday morning
View from our bedroom early 4am Thursday morning
Sunrise on platform near my house
Sunrise on platform near my house
Station at the other end of my journey
Station at the other end of my journey
Rugged up and ready to walk
Rugged up and ready to walk
Our poor Roger the Rover in snow
Our poor Roger the Rover in snow
Great for bikes what about the walkers?
Great for bikes what about the walkers?

Winter laying

On the last post I made a comment about eggs not being available anywhere on the River Cottage shop menu for brekkie. After some research brought about by a good point made from a work colleague it would seem that egg laying is seasonal? Who the heck would have known. I thought I was (or I try to be) reasonably up to date on where my food comes from, how it was handled/treated and making choices appropriate to season. So it surprised me when in my naivety I have assumed that as I can always buy eggs year round in the supermarket that hens lay at the same capacity all year round.

Apparently egg production decreases over the winter months. Due to shorter daylight hours production drops off. So they don’t stop altogether but you wouldn’t expect the number of eggs as during the lighter months. How about that. I wonder though if this doesn’t affect us as much downunder as we don’t get the same type of incredibly short days as what we get here in the UK? Anyway, that is your bit of possibly insightful news for today.

If I’m incorrect, blame it on Wikipedia 😉

Chalk, blood and sweat

After a long number of years I finally decided to give climbing a go. Granted this was bouldering so it was a lot closer to the ground for my liking. I really enjoyed it however my muscles are currently still aching (hurts to type). My teacher (Steve) was fabulous. I think he was more impressed that I actually listened to him and took on board all that he suggested.

Usually I would be rather argumentative and try to impose my own take on the situation but I figure he has been doing this for a very long time so maybe it would be wise of me to pay attention and listen. It worked! I’m not dead and he managed to coach me to the top of some of the climbs. OK so they were the easiest routes in the centre but I’m a chicken what can I say 🙂

I am quite keen to try it again once the swelling in my fingers go down and I can successfully left my arms above my head without debilitating pain. Other than this, it rocked!

Still using my arms and not my legs
Still using my arms and not my legs
Where to now?
Where to now?
Painful hands
Painful hands

Inauguration ceremony

I got home today in time to catch the inauguration ceremony for the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama.

I thought it was a great speech and am not looking forward to all the papers now pulling it apart to find the political intricacies and forecasts for the future.

Already BBC, Fox etc have started posting their takes on the speech. It would seem the main consensus is that it was a very sombre speech, telling of the struggles ahead and almost using it to notify people that it is going to be a hard, slow process.

Well, duh. 8 years to get to this point, it ain’t gonna be fixed by Friday now is it?

All told I thought yet again he spoke eloquently, purposefully setting out his main targets yet again and not sugar coating the fact that its going to be a hard slog. Let’s hope his actions are as effective as his speeches.

For a transcript of the speech and video from BBC go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/obama_inauguration/7840646.stm

Happy Birthday Lynn!

HB for the 20th gorgeous! Have a great one.

We haven’t been doing too much traveling lately which has been a shame. Mainly because Steve works on Saturday’s and gets days off during the week. Great if you want things done in the city etc but not really too conducive to weekend travels.

The weather was nice today so we went out for breakfast. After 18 months we STILL haven’t found anywhere decent in Bristol for breakfast. I miss our haunt in Petersham where I got my favourite order which was called Nim’s eggs along with the necessary morning coffee. Yum.

This week was a busy one at work meeting with a bunch of potential suppliers so I was glad for a day of down time. I spent it listening to music (really into Kate Miller-Heidke at the moment), watching movies and snoozing. Bliss!

Anyway, have a great week all, a special happy birthday to Lynn and catch you all again real soon.

Cheers – C

A bit of snow

Going to work the other day and when we got into Filton this is the view that greeted me. The lake around the MOD is also still currently frozen over. We have had consistently cold days where it hasn’t gotten above 1 or 2 degrees and dropping to -3 to -7 at night. Brrrrrrrrrr.

Photoshop magic

Lately I have been trying to work out how to use Photoshop a bit more creatively. As you may know we enjoy our photography especially the journalistic form. It is amazing how much you can remember from a holiday by looking at a photo of a particular meal you had or a photo of your feet on certain surfaces. Try it sometime. Hey, I did hear of a guy who takes photos of rubbish bins all around the world so in my book shoes on pavements are a far more sane idea?

Thought I would share a couple of first attempts at making some of our shots a bit more punchy. This is complex stuff especially when trying to do it without paying for a darn course or a book. I am not sure my impatient nature is conducive to this type of art. Here goes!

Here comes 2009

In two weeks it will be my 1 year anniversary working for the government in the UK and nearing the 2 year mark of being in Bristol. In the immortal words of Steve Irwin – CRIKEY!

As 2009 draws closer (2.15 hours from now) what lessons do I take away from this year?
*I can get used to the cold (especially when in a comfy, heated car – good choice Steve to buy this)
*If I don’t have a clear goal to focus on I throw away my time too easily
*I prefer working on projects or in environments that are far more intense and high pressure
*I CAN say no without feeling too crap about it (sort of)
*Many opportunities are NOT “once in a lifetime” they just come packaged differently
*Wisdom is easier to apply with two heads instead of one

As I sit here writing this, outside it is -3 degrees. Any wonder that we are inside and not going into town? We wish you a happy, WARM and safe new years eve and will see you again in 2009.