RSS is a very convenient way for getting news headlines. Unfortunately all you get is the headlines and these have to be kept short. So you do get some intriguing titles leaving you none the wiser. These are from BBC Gloucestershire.
"Number of young shoplifters fall."
I blame the fashion of not tying shoelaces.
Two unrelated stories that happened to be next to each other.
"Work starts to stop city floods"
"Night shelters 'will be swamped'".
"Ferry bail application refused"
This is not a story about getting water out of a boat.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Cold Sunday
New Scientist thinks that the most depressing day of the year will be Monday January 19 when the post holiday blues really set in. This is my antidote to the blues.
I joined the Wheelers bicycle ride from Stroud. The temperature was cool but climbing Wick Street and later up Stamages Road in Painswick warmed us up nicely. The heavy rain and winds last night had left the roads covered in windswept debris. But now the weather was mostly sunny and blue skies and the views were splendid. Coming past the entrance to the Rococo Gardens we noticed that the first snowdrops were starting to flower. This will be worth visiting in a couple of weeks. Then we trundled down the Holcombe valley glimpsing a thatched barn and a grand house. We also saw a woman jogging along in leggings so sheer and tight they looked like they had been sprayed on. Then we continued across to Edge and descended the worryingly steep road down to Harescombe and stopped at the black painted tin chapel. This time the door was open and we peered in to find some ladies preparing the room for Burns Night. We admired the stained glass millenium window with inset crystals. On chatting with the ladies it turned out that they would be happy to host teas for thirsty cyclists so come the summer I hope that a big group will make it there.
With time getting short Rob missed out the planned Whitminster loop and we went straight to the Spa Inn at Stonehouse, once the railway level crossing gates let us across. The staff at the Spa Inn could not be friendlier and more accomodating and we had a splendid meal. It was excellent value too. SWMBO turned up just as I was about to send her a text message asking her where she was. The portions were enormous and some of the group were seen to be wrapping up slabs of cheese from the ploughmans lunch to take home.
So a nice hilly ride on a bright crisp January morning, a pint of Wadworths IPA and a pub lunch with the lovely wife AND treacle sponge pudding with ice cream. Who could want anything more?
I joined the Wheelers bicycle ride from Stroud. The temperature was cool but climbing Wick Street and later up Stamages Road in Painswick warmed us up nicely. The heavy rain and winds last night had left the roads covered in windswept debris. But now the weather was mostly sunny and blue skies and the views were splendid. Coming past the entrance to the Rococo Gardens we noticed that the first snowdrops were starting to flower. This will be worth visiting in a couple of weeks. Then we trundled down the Holcombe valley glimpsing a thatched barn and a grand house. We also saw a woman jogging along in leggings so sheer and tight they looked like they had been sprayed on. Then we continued across to Edge and descended the worryingly steep road down to Harescombe and stopped at the black painted tin chapel. This time the door was open and we peered in to find some ladies preparing the room for Burns Night. We admired the stained glass millenium window with inset crystals. On chatting with the ladies it turned out that they would be happy to host teas for thirsty cyclists so come the summer I hope that a big group will make it there.
With time getting short Rob missed out the planned Whitminster loop and we went straight to the Spa Inn at Stonehouse, once the railway level crossing gates let us across. The staff at the Spa Inn could not be friendlier and more accomodating and we had a splendid meal. It was excellent value too. SWMBO turned up just as I was about to send her a text message asking her where she was. The portions were enormous and some of the group were seen to be wrapping up slabs of cheese from the ploughmans lunch to take home.
So a nice hilly ride on a bright crisp January morning, a pint of Wadworths IPA and a pub lunch with the lovely wife AND treacle sponge pudding with ice cream. Who could want anything more?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Daytime TV
I watch daytime TV. I watch it from morning and all through the afternoon. Fortunately I watch it with the sound off because I am developing TV equipment. The morning seems to revolve around money.
Buying, renovating and selling property. Turning bric-a-brac into antiques. Buying and selling tat. Sometimes it is in Welsh as the only digital channels that we can get in this Cotswold valley come from Cardiff.
The afternoon is more predictable than TV was in my day. You get Dick Van Dyke wanedering about in a doctor's white coat. Then you get Lazy Town and the girl with pink hair. The Owl gets torn to bits in ingenious and unexpected ways. Then there is Scoop which has the same plot every day. But I miss Carol Vorderman who was always worth watching even with the sound off.
But the most annoying thing is the blatant rip-off quizzes which go along these lines: "If you are a dab hand in the garden, are you said to have red, blue or green fingers?". The answer is always really obvious. Are the people who enter really that gullible? Or are they stupid enough to think that this is a genuine test of their knowledge? And why would they want to pay a pound to prove that they are fools?
Now it has been revealed that the winners are chosen long before the phone lines have closed and this apparently is a scandal. The actual scandal is that these mind numbingly insulting quizzes are allowed to continue to part stupid people from their money.
--//--
On a lighter note, Alyssa got a letter promoting a magazine subscription and on the envelope it said "Time. Do not bend.". I take this to mean that if there is any time bending to be done then somebody qualified should do it such as Einstein or Doctor Who.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Shopping by bicycle
When shopping by bicycle there is the problem that you can't carry very much. Some people carry their shopping draped on the handlebars but this is hazardous. In China they seem to be able to carry much more on their bikes. But here you won't be able to carry a flat pack back from Ikea. A well equipped UK bike has limited carrying capacity and if the panniers are full it makes the bike heavy and difficult to handle. But now Waitrose is helping out with the loan of bicycle trailers. Waitrose Press Release . The nearest shop with trailers is 12 miles away across the hilly Cotswolds which is a bit too far but if they ever come to this area I will switch from Tesco to Waitrose assuming that I can still climb the 1 in 8 hill back home.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Energy nonsense
There are lots of roads around so wouldn't it be great if they could generate electricity? One brilliant idea is to use thermoelectric junctions that generate electricity when the tar gets hot with the sun. Apart from the poor efficiency and lack of sufficient sun except for a couple of months the delicate junctions would soon get torn up.
Then there is the idea of using piezo electricity so that the compression of the road by cars will generate electricity. The power is stated to be 400kW per kilometre of dual carriageway. Very impressive. However the road would have to be made slightly spongy in order to absorb energy from the cars. So the net effect would be to make cars roll less efficiently. It is effectively the same as if the tyres had been under inflated. The Environmental Transport Association says that if all the UK's motorways were installed with this system then it could power 34,500 small cars.
So lets look at the claim a bit closer:
400kW?
Take 4 lanes
at 60mph
over 1km of dial carriageway.
Makes 4km of lanes.
Assuming a fully packed road, at 70mph the car spacing is about 80m.
So the total cars on this road are 4000/80 which is 50 cars.
So they say they can recover 400kW/50 or 8kW per car. Huh????
Shame on the Stroud News and Journal and other places that just published this nonsense without checking.
Then there is the idea of using piezo electricity so that the compression of the road by cars will generate electricity. The power is stated to be 400kW per kilometre of dual carriageway. Very impressive. However the road would have to be made slightly spongy in order to absorb energy from the cars. So the net effect would be to make cars roll less efficiently. It is effectively the same as if the tyres had been under inflated. The Environmental Transport Association says that if all the UK's motorways were installed with this system then it could power 34,500 small cars.
So lets look at the claim a bit closer:
400kW?
Take 4 lanes
at 60mph
over 1km of dial carriageway.
Makes 4km of lanes.
Assuming a fully packed road, at 70mph the car spacing is about 80m.
So the total cars on this road are 4000/80 which is 50 cars.
So they say they can recover 400kW/50 or 8kW per car. Huh????
Shame on the Stroud News and Journal and other places that just published this nonsense without checking.
Energy Nimbys
Now that the holiday blog is done what else is there? My favourite topic at the moment is alternative energy. We see energy prices going up and down like a yo-yo. When they are going down it isn't because energy supply is improving, it is consumption falling. The overall trend must be more expensive as oil and gas supplies become more scarce. Now I don't want to see electricity supplies become very expensive or I'd have to switch off my PC now and again. Also generating capacity has come perilously close to being exceeded and the lights going out would be a nightmare. The HVDC cross channel power connection from France is usually operating at its highest capacity bringing power to the UK.
So what is the solution? My local MP David Drew has to be applauded for advocating new nuclear power. Nobody likes nuclear power in their back yard but it does give us an independent and reliable source of energy. The real dangers of nuclear are usually exaggerated and compared with coal mining it is very much safer. Windmills are great too but huge areas of the most scenic countryside need to be dotted with windmills and there is great opposition to this. For example, the people of Bath don't want any turbines visible from the city although the surrounding hills are ideal.
Other countries like Germany positively encourage solar energy schemes with grants and guaranteed tariffs for buying back electricity thus kick starting the market. Such a scheme has enabled 3,000MV of photo voltaic capacity to be installed so far.
Without alternative energy sources we could be held ransom by Russia. They already do this to the Ukraine so they could it do to us too. If the nimbys could be held in check then it would be possible to add a new generation of nuclear power. It might even be of benefit to run some hybrid reactors to burn plutonium to reduce the stockpile of weapons grade material. And more wind farms would certainly help but there is some very noisy opposition to most applications. If it could be turned into a financial argument then it might help win people over. Maybe a "green" electricity discount for people living within view of a windmill?
Other grand schemes have been put forward that could have impressive power capacity but maybe nimbys sometimes have a point. The Severn Barrage appears to be a very impressive scheme and the capacity would be 330MW. However the environmental cost in terms of things like birdlife could be too great.
So in summary, we need less obstacles to energy generating, but just don't take it too far.
So what is the solution? My local MP David Drew has to be applauded for advocating new nuclear power. Nobody likes nuclear power in their back yard but it does give us an independent and reliable source of energy. The real dangers of nuclear are usually exaggerated and compared with coal mining it is very much safer. Windmills are great too but huge areas of the most scenic countryside need to be dotted with windmills and there is great opposition to this. For example, the people of Bath don't want any turbines visible from the city although the surrounding hills are ideal.
Other countries like Germany positively encourage solar energy schemes with grants and guaranteed tariffs for buying back electricity thus kick starting the market. Such a scheme has enabled 3,000MV of photo voltaic capacity to be installed so far.
Without alternative energy sources we could be held ransom by Russia. They already do this to the Ukraine so they could it do to us too. If the nimbys could be held in check then it would be possible to add a new generation of nuclear power. It might even be of benefit to run some hybrid reactors to burn plutonium to reduce the stockpile of weapons grade material. And more wind farms would certainly help but there is some very noisy opposition to most applications. If it could be turned into a financial argument then it might help win people over. Maybe a "green" electricity discount for people living within view of a windmill?
Other grand schemes have been put forward that could have impressive power capacity but maybe nimbys sometimes have a point. The Severn Barrage appears to be a very impressive scheme and the capacity would be 330MW. However the environmental cost in terms of things like birdlife could be too great.
So in summary, we need less obstacles to energy generating, but just don't take it too far.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Luxembourg to Wembley - Day 14
31 August 2008
Back to Blighty
Breakfast at the Simmer Hotel, Ehnen was accompanied by waltzes on their CD player. The room looked like a converted basement with walls of coarse rugged natural stone. There were domed skylights instead of windows. Smart waiters delivered us our coffee. For some curious reason the only spread available to put on the bread was Nutella.
We packed up our bags and loaded them into the car and we went on a short walking tour. Sunday cyclists were zooming along the road in matching lycra packs.
More gentle cycle tourists were pottering along the track on the German side of the river. We went through the village noting the many old wine presses and bottling equipment turned into flower planters and garden furniture. Of course, many places sported their own decorative vines.
There was also a big wine museum with a couple of massive oak presses in the grounds.
A walled garden, sadly neglected, used to supply the Simmer with fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. Venturing inland a little we got to a trail along a brook that tumbled down to the Mosel.
This led us around the backs of houses and allotments.
Soon it was time to depart and we followed the river for a while. It was too early for the pleasure boats and water skiers. Then we turned away and climbed steeply out of the valley and made our way back to the centre of Luxembourg. We filled up at a petrol station that curiously also advertises wine at the pumps. Finally we got back onto the autobahn and we made steady progress and we stopped in Namur and we stopped in a likely looking street the followed alongside the big river. It was a baking hot midday. The Bambou Chinese restaurant looked a bit gloomy but the Champs Elysee café with outdoor seating looked popular. http://www.champselysees.be/index.cfm?langue=FR It was also popular with the Harley riders judging by the number of hogs out there. There were empty tables outside but apparently the only ones with shading from the merciless sun were reserved. Inside it was a pleasant enough air-conditioned café bar.
Again the portions were enormous and we left well fortified for the last part of the trip. Maybe time for a hypermarket or an evening meal when we hit the coast?
But unfortunately made a wrong turn near Dunkirk. While turning around there was a big crunch as the engine got embedded on a big rock in the car park. Oops! More alarmingly the engine was dripping when I looked under it. Dad soon established that this was water and we hurried on to the terminal as the car still ran OK. We waited in an attempt to get on an early sailing and soon Tammy realised that it was probably just condensation from the air conditioning. Fortunately we did get onto the ferry and this saved us many hours, but scuppered any hypermarket ambitions.
The ship sailed away in fine conditions but half way across the rain started to pour.
Welcome back to England was the general murmer on the boat. We grabbed a corner of the cafe and had some snacks. Because of the location of the car we were pretty much the last vehicle off. A long train of trucks headed off to London. All the available laybys had trucks in them. The luckier drivers had already grabbed a slot. The others had to continue in their quest for a resting place for the night.
I thought that Sunday night would be a quiet time on the roads. In fact London seems to get crazier and it was a bit manic especially around Earl's Court but before long we parked up the Mondeo for the last time back in Wembley.
Back to Blighty
Breakfast at the Simmer Hotel, Ehnen was accompanied by waltzes on their CD player. The room looked like a converted basement with walls of coarse rugged natural stone. There were domed skylights instead of windows. Smart waiters delivered us our coffee. For some curious reason the only spread available to put on the bread was Nutella.
We packed up our bags and loaded them into the car and we went on a short walking tour. Sunday cyclists were zooming along the road in matching lycra packs.
 |
| From holiday blog |
 |
| From holiday blog |
 |
| From holiday blog |
 |
| From holiday blog |
Soon it was time to depart and we followed the river for a while. It was too early for the pleasure boats and water skiers. Then we turned away and climbed steeply out of the valley and made our way back to the centre of Luxembourg. We filled up at a petrol station that curiously also advertises wine at the pumps. Finally we got back onto the autobahn and we made steady progress and we stopped in Namur and we stopped in a likely looking street the followed alongside the big river. It was a baking hot midday. The Bambou Chinese restaurant looked a bit gloomy but the Champs Elysee café with outdoor seating looked popular. http://www.champselysees.be/index.cfm?langue=FR It was also popular with the Harley riders judging by the number of hogs out there. There were empty tables outside but apparently the only ones with shading from the merciless sun were reserved. Inside it was a pleasant enough air-conditioned café bar.
Again the portions were enormous and we left well fortified for the last part of the trip. Maybe time for a hypermarket or an evening meal when we hit the coast?
But unfortunately made a wrong turn near Dunkirk. While turning around there was a big crunch as the engine got embedded on a big rock in the car park. Oops! More alarmingly the engine was dripping when I looked under it. Dad soon established that this was water and we hurried on to the terminal as the car still ran OK. We waited in an attempt to get on an early sailing and soon Tammy realised that it was probably just condensation from the air conditioning. Fortunately we did get onto the ferry and this saved us many hours, but scuppered any hypermarket ambitions.
The ship sailed away in fine conditions but half way across the rain started to pour.
 |
| From holiday blog |
I thought that Sunday night would be a quiet time on the roads. In fact London seems to get crazier and it was a bit manic especially around Earl's Court but before long we parked up the Mondeo for the last time back in Wembley.
Backnang to Luxembourg - Day 13
30 August 2008
Zimmer in Simmer
Time to leave Allmersbach and it seemed like we would never manage to clear everything. We were busy sorting glass, card, paper, plastics and washing up. The clothes were being stuffed away and toys stowed. Again the landlord was a bit miffed as we were hanging around for a long time. Sylvia was the first away with Dad ferrying her and the kids to Backnang station. It took so long for Dad to return that Richard's plan to catch an earlier train was scuppered and a neighbour had offered to do the transporting. Fortunately this was not required. It was a hot day which was a pity because we were going to spend it in the car. We went through endless vineyards and some wonderfully scenic countryside stopping only briefly for a picnic of Anita's cakes in a motorway rest area and at Zweibrücken for a Macdonalds. An old motor rail car had been converted into a play room. Note the topless fat guy.
The road got more scenic through passes and tunnels. Soon we were crossing the Mosel and it was full of pleasure boats. We followed the twists of the river until we got to Ehnen where we pulled off the road to locate our hotel. We didn't have to search long because across the road was a big building with a sign that said "Simmer".
Not a cooking instruction but the local name for "Sept Fontaines", the village which our hotel was named after. This was clearly where the rich liked to hang out judging by the fancy cars parked in front. A quick tour of Ehnen revealed a very pretty village with flower boxes and grapevines growing everywhere.
It was dominated by the steep hillsides covered in vineyards and on the other side the wide Mosel river. The whole village seemed to have a wine theme and there were many examples of old wine making equipment turned into street ornaments.
One building showed that the Mosel is a force that has not been tamed. It had markings and dates showing the high water marks over the last 50 years.
Only giraffes could have kept their feet on the ground and their head above water, assuming that they wouldn't have been swept away. Fortunately Google has no mention of giraffes having been swept away. Looking for food showed that the choice was limited. There was a Chinese restaurant, a fancy posh restaurant in Simmer, and an upmarket bistro. So the opinions of a house painter were sought. He directed us a couple of villages downstream and we found ourselves away from the touristy restaurants and along cobbled streets to find a cosy place called Beim Wuum rubbing shoulders with the locals. The food was very splendid and rather plentiful. Their recommendation for local wine turned out to be a truly sublime white. Even though the portions were generous, Tammy and I were still able to share a dessert.
Zimmer in Simmer
Time to leave Allmersbach and it seemed like we would never manage to clear everything. We were busy sorting glass, card, paper, plastics and washing up. The clothes were being stuffed away and toys stowed. Again the landlord was a bit miffed as we were hanging around for a long time. Sylvia was the first away with Dad ferrying her and the kids to Backnang station. It took so long for Dad to return that Richard's plan to catch an earlier train was scuppered and a neighbour had offered to do the transporting. Fortunately this was not required. It was a hot day which was a pity because we were going to spend it in the car. We went through endless vineyards and some wonderfully scenic countryside stopping only briefly for a picnic of Anita's cakes in a motorway rest area and at Zweibrücken for a Macdonalds. An old motor rail car had been converted into a play room. Note the topless fat guy.
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| From Backnang 2008 |
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| From holiday blog |
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| From holiday blog |
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| From Backnang 2008 |
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| From Backnang 2008 |
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