Our Week in Wales

Our annual week in Wales seemed to come and go in a flash.  As a pre-winter restorative, it works very well, although after just one day back in the office, a week wasn’t nearly long enough!  Almost inevitably, and despite my best intentions, I have eaten far too much (although I did avoid hot toast at breakfast in an untypical burst of puritanical self-righteousness) and now feel that I should embark on a healthier eating programme that, sadly, doesn’t involve daily rations of home-made cake with a cup of tea.  Somehow, carrot juice just doesn’t match up to carrot cake

Halloween

We may no longer have a small person living in our house but we can still participate in some Halloween fun as several  children on the street will be “trick or treating”  tonight with their parents.  The recent, over commercialism of Halloween is something that still sits uncomfortably with us but when it’s limited to small children dressing up as witches or ghosts  coming in search of sweeties, we actually quite enjoy it.  There’s a sparkly spider’s web on the front door, a small, carved gourd glowing in the dining room window and packets of sugary treats ready for distribution!

Park in the Past

A friend of ours is involved in an exciting new venture called Park in the Past.  It’s a Community Interest initiative that hopes to transform a disused quarry in Flintshire, North Wales into a unique window into the past so that visitors can step back in time and see how our ancestors lived. The ambitious plans include building a fully functional Roman fort and Iron Age farmstead which will be sustainably managed, using locally produced materials.  The site will encourage experimental archaeology in addition to creating and supporting the sustainable management of wildlife habitats. It’s a superb, local community initiative

But is it art or abuse?

Despite recently abusing a paperback book to make a 3D tree, as a book lover and hoarder, I'm still not entirely sure what to think about cannibalising books for crafty, artistic purposes.  Even though I used a battered, thrift-store,crime thriller that I’d read in the tent on our summer trip without worrying about damaging it, I felt guilty. I simply hadn’t been able to throw the book away and because it was too tatty to donate, I decided to turn it into a folded, paper Christmas tree.  Although it’s unfinished, it looks effective and yet I remain feeling discomforted!

A disgusting habit

When in London I enjoy the opportunity to walk along the famous (or even not so famous) streets admiring the buildings or looking at the architecture while making my way to a destination. But being a non-smoker and asthmatic, since the smoking ban, I have become increasingly aware of the large number of people who now smoke on the street.  It’s extremely unpleasant to walk through a wall of disgusting, choking pollution.  Having been to both Washington State and British Columbia, I think we should adopt their approach of not allowing smoking outside within several meters of doors and windows.

Earth Caching in the City

When I left my meeting last week, I didn’t seek out the company of those fellow attendees who were going out for a drink but instead, disappeared off in search of several Earthcaches.  That may appear unsociable but contrary to outward appearances,  I’m actually quite happy with my own company after a day of meetings with strangers.  London is full of hidden geological secrets  and Earthcaches are a splendid way of discovering them. After discovering street stalactites, ancient Egyptian granite and fossils, I headed off to the river beach to find flints in the dark. I enjoyed a perfect evening!

A sense of history makes my day

The weather in London was glorious when I arrived last Thursday morning. I thoroughly enjoyed my brisk (as rush hour was over) walk from the station to the office and entered the hallowed portals with a degree of reluctance. But happily, it wasn't all shade and shadows as the meeting room was at the top of the building, with a double aspect. With barely a turn of my head, I could see both Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, the Post Office Tower and the top of the Palace of Westminster. My craving for a sense of history had been satisfied temporarily!