Labour seems to be all talk and no action on green issues. Not that any of the others are likely to be much of an improvement. I think Labour lost its soul when Tony Blair cosied up to big business, but that's hardly news.
See what they haven't done here . No wonder we're all so damned cynical.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Walk - Goadby-Rolleston-Tugby-Goadby
From Goadby to the Tugby-Noseley Road, then up the path to Rolleston
Ah, yes, that's it.
Rolleston Lake
Rolleston church inside the grounds of the hall.
up towards Tugby.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Words and changing usage
Words are my tools ( was - My tools are words, )
and love them as I may,
the common herd makes use of them,
misuses, I might say,
were I inclined to pedantry.
‘You are’ I hear the call.
These tools you hone and store
are not locked up from pilferers
but lie in sight of all.
They die without the light
unpolished, lacking shine.
The trains of thought must run and run,
or rails, long since disused,
will dull and fade to history,
like Concorde, paper aeroplane
that’s banished from the skies
mere symbol of our past delights
profligate supersonic flights.
But words, just words is all they are,
these tools inside my kit
and if abused and then refused
they’ll wither on the line.
This came from two things. I saw the word 'illusive'. I thought it was made up, a mis-spelling of 'elusive'. But no, it exists, meaning 'illusory'. Though it was used as though it meant 'elusive'. The shifting sands of semantics caught at the moment when meaning slipped through my fingers.
Then there was a 'prompt' - paper aeroplane.
and love them as I may,
the common herd makes use of them,
misuses, I might say,
were I inclined to pedantry.
‘You are’ I hear the call.
These tools you hone and store
are not locked up from pilferers
but lie in sight of all.
They die without the light
unpolished, lacking shine.
The trains of thought must run and run,
or rails, long since disused,
will dull and fade to history,
like Concorde, paper aeroplane
that’s banished from the skies
mere symbol of our past delights
profligate supersonic flights.
But words, just words is all they are,
these tools inside my kit
and if abused and then refused
they’ll wither on the line.
This came from two things. I saw the word 'illusive'. I thought it was made up, a mis-spelling of 'elusive'. But no, it exists, meaning 'illusory'. Though it was used as though it meant 'elusive'. The shifting sands of semantics caught at the moment when meaning slipped through my fingers.
Then there was a 'prompt' - paper aeroplane.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Friday, April 03, 2009
Seeds an 'at
I have seeds - beans broad and dwarf, spring onion, radish, lettuce, carrot, beetroot, courgette, rocket and parsley. I bought some and Elisabeth has given me some which came free with a gardening mag.
Amaryllis
Two flowers out today - I'm rather impressed by this plant. Last year it sat and did nothing except produce a few leaves from time to time. I'd almost given up on it. Then, this year - kapow!
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Yesterday.
Above the Water on foot
On Monday 30 March
The merry band of walkers hit the 'summit' of Mill Hill (not as I thought earlier Ranksborough Hill). In the background are clouds, not, alas, distant mountains.
The merry band of walkers hit the 'summit' of Mill Hill (not as I thought earlier Ranksborough Hill). In the background are clouds, not, alas, distant mountains.
with a distant view of Rutland Water.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The veg plot
I spent about 45 minutes digging this morning - no problem, the soil has grown veg for a long time and can only have been unused for a couple of years, if that.
When I left to come back home the blackbirds were already on the ground looking for worms - nice and juicy they looked too - the worms, not the birds.
When I left to come back home the blackbirds were already on the ground looking for worms - nice and juicy they looked too - the worms, not the birds.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Daff-a-down-dillys
what are words?
where are they born?
whence daffodil?
the tranquil jonquil,
asphodel,
or lilly dill of Daffy St Dafydd.
who knows for sure?
not narcissus
contemplating
his own image.
nor I
weaving paths
of made up etymology
and nonsense rhyme
like quills upon
a fretful celandine.
alternative ending
like frills upon
the sun-filled celandine
where are they born?
whence daffodil?
the tranquil jonquil,
asphodel,
or lilly dill of Daffy St Dafydd.
who knows for sure?
not narcissus
contemplating
his own image.
nor I
weaving paths
of made up etymology
and nonsense rhyme
like quills upon
a fretful celandine.
alternative ending
like frills upon
the sun-filled celandine
France - electricity consumption down 1%
An article in Le Point claims that electricity consumption was down 1% on normal usage, i.e. about 800 megawatts.
Click on title for details.
Click on title for details.
And in America North and South
The New York Times reports on Earth Hour's success.
Now we wait to see what the consequences are. The meetings below are ones to watch, not caused by Earth Hour, but maybe influenced by it.
Obama has announced a meeting in Washington on April 27-28 where representatives of the 16 major economies will meet to discuss action on climate change. This will lead up to various meetings, culminating in one in Italy in July.
And of course it should have some influence on both the G20 in the UK, and the Copenhagen meeting in December 2009.
Now we wait to see what the consequences are. The meetings below are ones to watch, not caused by Earth Hour, but maybe influenced by it.
Obama has announced a meeting in Washington on April 27-28 where representatives of the 16 major economies will meet to discuss action on climate change. This will lead up to various meetings, culminating in one in Italy in July.
And of course it should have some influence on both the G20 in the UK, and the Copenhagen meeting in December 2009.
Earth Hour in the UK
This had more publicity on the BBC at any rate than last year. Updates were posted throughout the day as 8.30 pm reached each part of the world. Late last night this article about the Uk was posted online.
Colin Butfield, campaign director for WWF, said a number of "iconic landmarks" such as Buckingham Palace, the Gherkin, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and the London Eye were plunged into darkness for an hour to mark the event.
On Facebook's page, and on the Earth Hour website there were a lot of facetious comments, as well as the positive. Some people feel morally obliged to represent the negative and anti-communal side of human nature. Oh well. It just shows how different we are, and how variable the nature of the human beast.
Colin Butfield, campaign director for WWF, said a number of "iconic landmarks" such as Buckingham Palace, the Gherkin, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and the London Eye were plunged into darkness for an hour to mark the event.
On Facebook's page, and on the Earth Hour website there were a lot of facetious comments, as well as the positive. Some people feel morally obliged to represent the negative and anti-communal side of human nature. Oh well. It just shows how different we are, and how variable the nature of the human beast.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
See the lights switched off
BBC video of some of the cities from Sydney to Paris as the lights go off.
From Sydney - to the world
Report in the Sydney Morning Herald
This year, exceeding the wildest dreams of its organisers, participation (in Earth Hour) has swollen to an estimated 1 billion people in 83 countries. Of them, 47 were developing economies, up from nine last year.
This year, exceeding the wildest dreams of its organisers, participation (in Earth Hour) has swollen to an estimated 1 billion people in 83 countries. Of them, 47 were developing economies, up from nine last year.
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