Posts Tagged ‘blog’

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Life Begins at 40!

Sunday, June 15th, 2008

I was actually 40 last November, Lindsey booked me a surprise Balloon Flight for my 40th Birthday, but unfortunately, it was cancelled due to bad weather. But we successfully had our Balloon Flight today. More on that later. But it remind me to upload these photographs taken when we visited The Yorkshire Sculpture Park on my 40th Birthday to view the artists Andy Goldsworthy Exibition. I really like his sculptures. Have a look at some of the secret photographs I took of his work! Note not all the photographs are of his work, I’m sure you be able to work out which ones!

Andy Goldsworthy

Yorkshire Sculpture Park November 2007

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No Clothes!

Friday, June 13th, 2008

Our washing machine has broken, it’s the end of an era, our Ariston AF883 has lasted us 12 years, without breaking down. We originally paid £200 for it. As the Ariston advert said, they go on and on and on!

It’s taken me over two weeks to find somewhere to deliver a new washing machine on the day I want, and remove the old unit.

Our local Euronics store Eric Lee (Electrical) Ltd had stock, guaranteed a delivery date and time, and would remove the old unit for free.

When I arrived home from work today, early at 4.10pm, the new washing machine had been delivered, the old unit, was already in the back of the van, and the delivery men were waiting for me to check over the washing machine, they did offer to install for free, but have a look at the picture and you’ll see the complication!

Washing Machine 1
A new Zanussi-Electrolux ZWF12070 washing machine in box! It has a 6kg drum, Delay start, cold fill, and is rated AAB. I hope it lasts 12 years with no breakdowns!

Washing Machine 2
Umm, it’s bigger than the old one! Spot the bread knife to cut a larger hole!

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Front Garden Border in early June 2008

Thursday, June 12th, 2008

A little warmth, and lots of rain, and the border comes to life.

Front Garden Border in Early June No.1
We’ve planted a few more plants to fill the border.

Front Garden Border in Early June No.2

Front Garden Border in Early June No.3

Front Garden Border in Early June No.4
There are three different Heuchera Plants, that have grown very well in our alkaline soil.

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Kune Kune Pigs

Friday, May 9th, 2008

These belong to a colleague at work, who lives a mile from my house! Don’t worry, we are not creating a Pet-ing Zoo!

Kune Kune Pigs

Click Here for more Kune Kune photographs

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Arcadia ArcTank

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

This is my Arcadia ArcTank, it’s the first aquarium I’ve ever purchased that has arrived in a box! But I think that most modern aquariums arrive in boxes these days.

Arcadia Arc Tank 3
ArcTank 20L Boxed Aquarium

Arcadia Arc Tank 1
The Arcadia ArcTank includes an ArcPod 9w lighting unit, which contains a built-in reflector which a 9w tube fits into. It also includes an internal filter not shown. I’ve decided to purchase another ArcPod 9w lighting unit because of the plant selection for my aquascape Nano tank, and these plants require lots of light.

Arcadia Arc Tank 2
Only one ArcPod 9w lighting unit is included, I’ve purchased the second to double the lighting for plants.

To help the plants, I’ve also order a simple CO2 plant fertilisation set from Sera, called Sera Plant Care Kit, it includes

  • Sera CO2-Start – ideal CO2 fertilization for aquariums from 60 l up to 200 l.
  • Sera CO2 diffusion reactor and the Sera CO2-Tabs plus (20 tabl.).
  • Sera florena, 100 ml – plant fertilizer with iron, minerals and trace elements.
  • Sera florenette A, 24 tabs – growth promotor tablets with macro nutrients
  • Sera guide “Feeding aquatic plants according to nature”

It works by filling a vessel with CO2 from a tablet, which then diffuses slowly into the water. I may have to cut the tablet in half, as this tank is only has a volume of 20L.

I’ve also purchased a Dennerle Boden-Fluter 4 watts substrate heating element and sera floredepot, which is a long-term gravel substrate with growth promoter for freshwater aquariums. I’ve also purchased some aquarium substrate called AquaClay.

These are the plants I have selected for my Nano tank.

  • Wood with Anubias barteri, Vesicularia dubyana (Java moss) and Microsorum pteropus (Java fern)
  • Cyperus helferi
  • Echinodorus tennellus
  • Rotala wallichii
  • Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
  • Cladophora aegagrophila (moss balls)

I haven’t decided where to obtain these Tropica plants from yet. But I have several local stockists. I maybe able to do a deal with!

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Front Garden at the beginning of April 2008

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

Front Garden in Early Spring No.1
The daffs have come up earlier this year.

Front Garden in Early Spring No.2
this is the daffs second year in bloom. They were freshly planted when we moved in in 2006.

Front Garden in Early Spring No.3
Magnolia just in flower.

Front Garden in Early Spring No.4

Front Garden Border in Early Spring
this was the new border created last year in 2007. It looks empty!

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Garlic Bread?

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

Garlic Bread? Garlic… bread? Garlic? And bread? Am I hearing you right? Garlic bread? – Peter Kay

A friend visited the Isle of Wight last year, and brought me back some Garlic for planting from the The Garlic Farm. Many Thanks – Paul.

I love garlic, and it should do well, in our heavy clay soil, dug from the garden, I didn’t think it was growing, but since these frosty snaps, it’s come on very well.

I think I’ve planted Solent Wight and Purple Heritage. I’m sure I’ll be corrected, if this is wrong!

Keeps the vampires at bay!

Garlic
Solent Wight and Purple Heritage Garlic in 18″ pots = heavy!

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Fresh Vegetables, Fresh Vegetables!

Sunday, February 17th, 2008

Time for a quick blog. Tomatos from 2007 were a disaster, all of them made Green Tomato chutney, very few ripened, because we didn’t have the hot weather, it was very late, when the sun arrived, in September/October 2007. In preparation for this Summer, I’ve been planting my seeds earlier, Chilli Plants are in courtesy of Kew Gardens and today I planted the first of the Tomato seeds, I’ve stuck with some successful seeds and plants, I’ve had good results in the past Gardener’s Delight and Money Maker Tomato. Moneymaker is a very heavy cropper, and Gardener’s delight is a cherry variety (not many of these make it to the table, I eat them off the vine in the greenhouse!). All the others selected are an experiment. I planted the first 120 seeds, but my compost was frozen solid, so I’ll have to wait until it defrosts in the greenhouse, for use next weekend.

Here are the variety’s I’m planting this year….if you want to trade just let me know….send me your trades…!

costoluto fiorentino tomatoe
Costoluto Fiorentino Tomato

gardener's delight
Gardener’s Delight Tomato

golden sunrise
Golden Sunrise Tomato

red pear
Red Pear Tomato

san marzano 2
San Marzano 2 Tomato

tigerella
Tigerella Tomato

Chilli Seeds
Chilli Fruits, I don’t know what these chilli plants they came off, other than there were at Kew Gardens! At the Chilli Festival 2007!

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You shut your mouth!

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008

I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular

You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way?
I am Human and I need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

We have just returned from Doncaster, where Lindsey and I went to the Morrissey Gig at Doncaster Dome! Now I am not really a Smiths or Morrissey fan, I was listening to Marillion in the eighties, Lindseys the Morrissey fan!

All I can say it was Absolutely Fantastic, I cannot describe the buzz, I am feeling, I am on a high! I know they are some children that read this blog, so I will try and not write any expletives, but if you know me, you know the normal phrase that comes before Fantastic, I would normally use!

Doncaster Dome is a strange venue, picture a sports hall, or school gym! It is very small, but upfront and personal it was! After all these years Morrissey can still rock, his band was excellent as well, good sounds, good band, Fantastic. I think everybody coming away from that gig felt something very special, a strange eclectic mix of people, from all generations. I spoke to one young lad who was born in 1989, he did not remember The Smiths! They split before he was born!

God Bless you Morrissey, it was a pleasure, I am looking forward to the next time!

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Let me introduce you to our new car…

Saturday, January 26th, 2008

This is the first time I’ve seen the car in the daylight, I collected the car on Monday 21st January, and it was raining and getting dark, by the time, I arrived home it was dark. We’ve been driving and returning home from work, all week in the dark. So this is the first time, I’ve had a good look at the car and take her photo! On-board computer states we’ve averaged 36.9mpg, and we’ve only done 127 miles!

Suzuki Swift Picture No 1
Suzuki Swift VVTS 1.5GLX 5 Door Petrol in Galatic Grey Metallic.

Suzuki Swift Picture No 2
If you were wondering it’s just been newly registered on 21st January 2008, so it’s on a ’57 plate!
Suzuki Swift Picture No 3

Suzuki Swift Picture No 4

Suzuki Swift Picture No 5

Suzuki Swift Picture No 6

Suzuki Swift Engine Picture No 1
New 1490cc Petrol Engine. Checking where I top up the wash bottle!

Suzuki Swift Engine Picture No 2
Checking where I check the oil! All seems very new!

The Peugeot 205 nearly didn’t start today! Must do something with it!

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