tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85214611151965305992024-02-07T05:16:08.757+00:00Low Carbon LifestyleA daily diary by John Cossham, who tries to live a 'green' and ethical life......
Daily blog entries for several years but now just occasional diary updates. The 'pages' section is being expanded and updated. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comBlogger1825125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-33086926150842549772018-07-26T02:39:00.002+01:002018-07-26T02:39:22.895+01:00Wednesday 25th July 18An early start as I had a gig at the Minster School Summer Playscheme, but we needed bread so I popped into Thomas The Baker on Tang Hall Lane for Yesterbake. Cycled along to the Route 66 Sustrans cycle track and popped out of that at Heworth Green, and by 9.50 was at the Minster, and I had an audience of between 30 and 40 children, who saw my Professor Fiddlesticks Circus Skills Show and Workshop - followed by a free-play workshop. I finished at about 12.15 and had a chat with the team leader about next week's visit where I'm taking in a range of compost-related things, including 'minibeasts'. Then I cycled home, had a bit of a rest and had lunch.<br /><br />I rang Alligator to see if they wanted me to come and do the tree work they'd asked me to do, they were happy with that so I told them I'd be with them for 3.30. They have a Laurel which needs to be trimmed now and again, so I loaded my huge ladder onto the trailer, my battery chainsaw, Fiskars loppers and heavy-duty secateurs. The work wasn't that difficult; just cutting off some of the branches which were poking up higher than wanted. However this produced 2 trailer-loads of vegetation - I took one back at half five and left the rest to be picked up tomorrow. It was hot work, but I was glad to get it done today rather than leaving it as the weather is due to get hotter over the next few days.<br /><br />Cycled home and unloaded trailer, went with Gill to the Co-op, and I carried the shopping back. Then I shredded the Laurel, enjoying the almond smell, which is in fact cyanide. Not a great idea to breath too much of that in. It has no effect on the ability of the material to compost down. <br /><br />I then dealt with another enquiry, someone asking if anyone wanted to pick up a pallet, and I chopped this up to get it in the trailer.<br /><br />So, an extremely busy day working and volunteering.Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-84004476967162032982018-04-02T05:48:00.000+01:002018-04-02T05:48:20.733+01:00Saturday 31st March 18, Richard Clare Memorial. Another busy day, up at 9 and was working by 10 to put all the logs in one place, all the twigs in another, and to redistribute the compost heap and to reinstate the compost bin, this time on top of the pear stump, so it will have no chance at all of regrowing. There is now ample space for the plum to be put in, and I think Daddy will help with that.<br />
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I wanted to get down to the Ponderosa by midday, so at quarter to, I packed everything into the panniers and rucksack and cycled down to the memorial for Richard Clare. He died 5 years ago, and is still fondly remembered for all his tree planting, seed swapping and assorted green activism and teaching. His aunt and uncle came down from Aberdeen, Marion and Keith, I think, and Ed Smith was there with his girlfriend, and three other of Richard's friends. We talked together for about half an hour, didn't have any ceremony, but did have a seed swap, of sorts. I learned that Richard planted all the trees around this edge of the Ponderosa, getting funding and organising planting crews. Brilliant, what a thing to leave!<br />
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I got a train back to York and cycled round to see Kiri to arrange what she was going to do this weekend whilst Joy is in Manchester. We booked a bike ride on Sunday.<br />
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I was glad to get home and was pretty tired.Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-73794006387939862192018-04-02T05:32:00.000+01:002018-04-02T05:32:04.612+01:00Friday 30th March 18Going over to Sheffield today, to see if I can give blood and resume my platelet donations, and then do some work in Anna's garden.<br />
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So I got to the station and bought my ticket to Sheffield and got an earlier train than I'd expected an arrived in Sheffield at about 11.30, and slowly made my way to the blood donor centre near the Cathedral, which I knew opened for the afternoon session at 12.30. I sat next to the Cathedral for 40 minutes watching the world go by and then walked my bike up to the Blood Donation place and waited there for a few minutes. A member of staff came along at 12.15 and I asked if she knew if they had any spaces for the afternoon session, and she said she'd ask. A minute later she came back and said they were completely full, so I thanked her and cycled up towards the University and Walkley.<br />
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Daddy had delivered the long ladder the previous day, using a sack barrow he'd tied it to as a convenient sort of trolley. I untied this and leaned it up against the pear tree and started using my big Fiskars loppers to remove branches.<br />
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The pear tree was a variety called Jargonelle. We have one in the garden more than twice as tall as Anna's. The pears are quite small, between 4 and 10cm long, and ripen in the 3rd week of August, approx. They almost immediately go bad from the centre. They are an intense 'pear drop' flavour, and, traditionally, were used to provide the flavour for pear drops. If you search 'jargonelle', you will probably find a boiled sweet, named after the pear. Our tree is very straggly and chaotic in character. Because there are many other pear trees nearby, we get excellent fruit set, but Anna's (last year) had a very poor fruit loading. It could have been a bad year, or it may be missing the two other varieties of pear nearby which it needs to pollinate with.<br />
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I am sad to take this 100 year old tree down (that's a guess) but, it's not nice or useful to the current custodians of the land, and they have bought a replacement tree, although it will never grow nearly as big.<br />
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The wood will be dried out and Daddy will use the logs in his woodburner, somewhat replacing fossil-fuel use as he doesn't need his heating on when the burner is going. I was sad to take this tree down but if I didn't do it, someone else would have done. <br />
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I took the tree down slowly and carefully, using a rope to tie some branches to the tree so they didn't fall dangerously. Daddy turned up and helped me a little bit, using a long rope to pull some branches onto the lawn, away from the ladder and fence. I used my Oregon battery chainsaw for the up-ladder cuts and then the Worx plug-in for the trunk. I was able to get some little discs for Anne who wants to have them for some kind of place mat, and left the trunk in two large chunks for turning or carving.<br /><br />Anna fed us well and I had a bath to get the sawdust out of my hair, and was in bed by 2am, early for me!Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-58584353977099726532017-09-19T03:46:00.003+01:002017-09-19T03:46:57.443+01:00Monday 18th September 17, Launch of Two Rivers RadioQuite an exciting day as York's new online radio station, <a href="http://tworiversradio.stream/" target="_blank">Two Rivers Radio</a> was launched, broadcasting from The Corner Pin pub on Tanner Row, in the centre of York. I was keen to listen as I'm starting my monthly show in a fortnight, and I wanted to get a feel for the thing. So I listened on-and-off for the first three hours from just after midday, before I had to do some work outside.<br />
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I did quite a big pick from the back garden.... hazelnuts, the last of the walnuts, pears from the 'Family Tree', James Grieve apples, nasturtium seeds for salting and pickling.<br />
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I composted a vast pile of bread.<br />
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Then I had to take the hot water urns back to Red Tower and pick up the Edible York gazebos and cycled them up to the Dormouse where the apple pick was just beginning. I had my long extendable picker and was able to get a couple of trays of nice eaters, and went with some others to try to find a pear tree, which we did eventually find. The difficulty was, the tree was so big the pears were too high up to be able to get, although I did reach a dozen or so.<br />
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At 8pm it was the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EdibleYrk/" target="_blank">Edible York</a> AGM and I sensibly didn't get myself put forward to become a trustee. I was glad to be there but sad I was missing Kate Lock's first Two Rivers show. I cycled back into town and popped into see Joy who's come back from a weekend with Alan, ad then onto the Corner Pin for the last hour of the show, which finished when the pub shut at 11pm.<br />
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I got home and spent quite a bit of time sorting out some of the fruit which needs drying immediately, rather than storing it which I hope I can do with some of the trays.Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-51114021663516437242017-08-21T11:56:00.000+01:002017-08-21T11:56:15.124+01:00Sunday 20th August 17Old Goole Gala today, quite a hike, literally, so an early start. Got up before 7 to get to the station for the 8am train to Doncaster where there was a half-hour wait before the Goole train. I'd already worked out the route from Goole station to South Park, Google maps had it at 1.4 miles, so a 35 to 40 minute walk with all my equipment, which is further than I generally like to walk before a gig to get to the venue. I usually have a rucksack with my costume and the 2-wheel and 4-wheel unicycles, the one-wheel kids uni over my shoulder and pushing the adult uni, plus my tennis racquet bag with devilsticks, juggling balls, diabolos and more; this is the heaviest bag. I usually have a bag for my sandwiches and other stuff, so this time I had taken some pumpkin seeds to shell for my muesli, whilst waiting on station platforms. But at least the route was easy, south from the station and straight through the docks, over 3 swing-bridges and rail crossings. just following the main road. So I arrived at the field, which had a funfair on it, soon after 10, so that I could be ready for an 11am start for the parade.<br />
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After I got changed in the inaccessible disabled toilet (door wouldn't open due to an obstruction, no light meaning the door had to be left ajar) I was directed to join a marching band who were going to be picked up by a lorry and taken half way back towards town for the start of the parade. The marching band I was with all had big yellow plumes on their hats, and had a good range of drums, xylophones and little girls carrying batons or pompoms. They were from the Goole and Humberside area. Another band had come over from Nottingham. We all got onto the lorry and sat on straw bales for the slow journey along to the start point. I just took my favourite devilstick, with the intention of going behind a nice funky band and dancing round with my sticks, spinning them and twirling round, throwing it up high, in my usual flowing fashion. I kept away from the bagpipe band as that doesn't work for devilsticking to!<br />
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So the hour-long procession started, and wound its way through Old Goole, watched by people from their front gardens and pavements. On a couple of occasions I spotted someone with a walking stick watching, and I went and grabbed it, offering my devilstick in swap, and did an impromptu 30 seconds of spinning the walking stick before giving it back and continuing on my route behind the marching band.<br />
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I was glad to arrive back at the field and as I was setting up my area, I had my sandwiches as I knew I'd not get time to take a break once I got started. So then the full-on workshops and shows started, mainly focusing on devilsticks, unicycle and 3-ball juggling. This went on til 5pm, although towards the end it tailed off a bit and I got a group of more challenging participants. <br />
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One was a gobby teenager who was a bit of a show-off and demanded a go on the 4-wheel unicycle, and was fairly average, not being steady enough for me to allow her to try the 2-wheel pedal go unicycle, as this is much much more difficult. She was verbally aggressive and very offended that I'd told her she wasn't good enough to do the more difficult skill. She told me I was wrong to tell her, or anybody, this, although I do this because of safety concerns, as several people have come off the 2-wheeler and got hurt, one even breaking a bone in her foot. She was very persistent and I said that if she waited her turn she could do the 4-wheeler again and show me how competent she was, and this time she was much more careful and focused, and did the 4-wheeler perfectly. I said she could now go on the 2-wheeler and again, she was actually reasonably competent on this and I apologised, saying I'd misjudged her. She was surprised to receive an apology, as I expect most adults don't easily apologise to children. So I surprised her further by telling her that if she worked with a couple of her friends she could have a go on the children's one-wheel unicycle, whilst I supervised younger children on the other equipment.<br />
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But fortunately my finish time was coming up and I was able to gently get them to leave me alone to pack up. I got changed and went to see the organiser, to check she was happy with my work, which she was, and she was apologetic that she couldn't get me a lift back into Goole, which she had told me I'd get when we chatted on the phone. So I walked back into Goole, getting to the station shortly before 6 which is when my train was due. I fell asleep on the train and was woken at Doncaster as someone asked me to move so she could get out.<br /><br />There was a 40 minute wait before the York train, but on that train I chatted to a rail weld checker, who'd come to York to oversee someone who'd had some complaints by colleagues. A fascinating conversation.<br /><br />I popped into a supermarket on the way home to buy some brandy which Gill needs to soak some fruit for a cake she's making. And home soon after 8pm, absolutely exhausted, but Gill had home-made pizza and chips for me so that was lovely to come back to!Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-57791677872151750002017-04-01T04:09:00.002+01:002017-04-01T04:09:15.306+01:00Thursday 30th March 17Another home-based day spent inside, on the computer or preparing food, and out in the garden, where I had a productive day.<br />
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So, in the garden I weeded the long raised bed and put some compost on as a top dressing, and did some log stacking, emptied a tumbler and started refilling, added piles of veg to another two compost systems and put sticks in trays for drying.<br />
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I did some sleuthing work to find out if Sally was a Jehovah's Witness, as was suggested by the woman who'd found her body, and reported that to the police officer. I rang someone at the JWs and they confirmed that Sally had been in their congregation, so I hope they will take care of the funeral. I've asked to be notified. <br /><br />I took the NOx tube down from the tree in the front garden and put it in the post back to the FoE who will analyse it and get a result back to me. It's been passively sampling for a fortnight, and will give an average reading. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-46689377497299860172017-03-27T02:23:00.001+01:002017-03-27T02:23:37.027+01:00Saturday 25th March 17Another full day........... with the Edible York Spring into 2017 event, and then a gig in Alne.<br />
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So, I got up early so as I could get to Tang Hall Community Centre for 10am, with some planks which Ruth had asked me to bring so they could be made into signs or plant labels. I cut them into 30cm lengths. Sadly, the event was poorly attended. Very disappointing, and difficult to understand why. However, Jonathan and Melissa came, and there were quite a few other people I was glad to see. I came home with some seedlings and seeds, and a possible compost order or two.<br />
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The event finished with lunch, and we wound up at about 2pm. I collected some compostables on the way home including 10kg of very green potatoes. I spent some time chopping these into the tumbler, and soon it was time to get the trailer loaded for my gig this evening.<br />
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I needed to be in Alne for a 6pm start, so after checking the route, I reckoned that if I left at 4, I should be there by 5.15 which would give me time to cool down and get ready for the show.<br />
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I left at 4.08 and got there at 5.20. Good estimation! So there was no rush to get ready and I had a sandwich that Gill packed for me, before getting changed and doing the two shows, the audience were disabled adults, so quite a difficult gig, but there were several who definitely had a great time so I was happy with that.<br />
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I took my time getting home, going via Overton which is a narrow and unlit road, which I'd hoped would be safer than the main road with cars zipping past at 60mph. However there was a surprising amount of traffic on this little road, including meeting several on corners, meaning they didn't know I was there until the last moment. I did use the cycle track through the woods but then rejoined the main road just before the junction with the outer ring road. This cycle home took over an hour and a half and left me very cold. Cycling in shorts and sandals in warm spring sunshine is different to when it is a starry windless night. <br /><br />Very happy to get in, and Gill had some pasta and veg ready. I lit the stove though as she'd been too creaky to do it. It took me over an hour to warm up. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-50502869770610647742017-03-25T02:55:00.000+00:002017-03-25T02:55:43.841+00:00Friday 24th March 17An excellent day. I'd arranged to meet Michelle at El Piano at midday, but I woke up at 11.17 so I quickly chucked some muesli down, got my bike out and loaded what I needed for after Michelle, and arrived at El P at a minute to midday, just before they opened. Michelle appeared 3 minutes later and we had a tea and a mocha - and the usual excellent chats. She really is one of the most sensible and sorted people I know, although she might not see this about herself. <br />
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This wound up at about half one and I cycled over to Bishy Road to see Ben, who'd asked me to come and do his compost bin, a Komp 250 which was nearly full. I removed the top half of material and put it into bin bags.... probably about 80 litres, and then dug out the rest using a Compost Mate and a trowel, and filled 6 bin bags, so maybe 120kg, and popped those in my trailer. The fresher stuff then got thrown back, along with some dry autumn leaves. The job took just under 2 hours and Ben paid me £30 which we were both happy with. I'll be able to mature the material he didn't want (although I did put about 10kg on his garden) and it should make good compost. It was one of the cleanest batches of compost I'd seen, with very few plastic 'contraries' compared to many bins I deal with. I did find a tea spoon though!<br />
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So I cycled home with that and decanted it into a barrel I use to mature nearly-finished compost in, and then topped it with some really nice material from a dalek which had rotted down to 25% of what it was 2 years ago. <br />
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I then chopped up some sticks from a pruning job I was doing yesterday to reduce tree/hedge height near my raised beds, as they were too shaded last year. I put those in wooden fruit boxes to dry for a few months.... they should be ready to use for kindling by next winter.<br />
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I came in at 7pm as it was getting too dark to work, and had some salad and a vegan pastie Gill had made. I got the stove going and by midnight had got enough hot water for a bath and hair wash. Bed before 3am, as have the Edible York event tomorrow, and a Fiddlesticks gig. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-66278396420159516332017-03-17T02:40:00.002+00:002017-03-17T02:40:38.708+00:00Wednesday 15th March 17A fairly early start as I was due down at the 'Shambles Market' (which I knew as Newgate Market) in the middle of town for 10.30 with a medium sized load of compost, 5 sacks of about 20kg each. Bill from Edible York had asked me to deliver as he was setting up two planters there.<br />
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There were already several Edible York volunteers there and I worked with them to mix up my compost with mushroom compost and some sandy loam. In the planters we put two fan-trained cherry trees, up against a trellis, and some mint, bright lights chard, and a few strawberries. Joy turned up and offered to buy some fixing ties from Barnitts, as a gift for Edible York, so I put those on, to help train and support the trees. <br />
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I then had to go to West Offices to the Treemendous meeting. After which I was happy to come home!<br />
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When I got home I was pleased to find that the nitrogen oxides measuring kit had been delivered. It consists of a tube which has a NOx absorber in, and over 2 weeks will tell what the average air pollution levels are in your area. Friends of the Earth are compiling a pollution map, so I'm happy to take part. Maybe some of my friends will be too <a href="https://www.foe.co.uk/go/clean-air-kit">https://www.foe.co.uk/go/clean-air-kit </a><br />
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I attended a Green Party meeting in the evening, which had a presentation from Richard from York Community Energy, and that was really interesting too!Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-27994449687234071452017-02-23T02:51:00.000+00:002017-02-23T02:51:58.916+00:00Tuesday 21st February 17An early start as I wanted to get going on the lottie and get a good day's work in, but I'd agreed to see Daddy, so after a bowl of cereal at Anna's I went for a coffee with Daddy for 45 minutes. Then the lovely fast cycle down to the bottom of the valley and up the other side, arriving at the allotment in record time.<br /><br />I had a great day, finishing the long border, apart from one end covered in logs and wood, and cut back a huge thicket of brambles. Cookie called me and said to come for lunch at 2pm, so I stopped then and zoomed down to hers, and chatted with Danny and Ava, sorted some paperwork and had some ginger and black pepper soup which was just a bit too hot for me, despite being seasoned with beetroot.<br />
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I got the 4.19 train back and was home before 6pm, and then went to the Hull Road Ward Meeting with the Councillors and a small number of local citizens. Good meeting though.Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-26156712317189418312017-02-22T01:25:00.003+00:002017-02-22T01:25:32.344+00:00Monday 20th February 17A fairly early start, 8.30 on the alarm, left Anna's house soon after 9, and enjoyed zooming down to the valley the railway line and station sits in... takes about 10 minutes as it's all downhill, and then about another 20 minutes to get to the venue in Darnall, I arrived at 9.40, before Ava did. I was made welcome by the staff member and I got myself ready for an unusual mix of balloon show and composting workshop.<br />
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It was a tough gig. I prefer a bigger audience as that gives a certain ambience which is lacking if there's under 10 people watching. All four children were under 5, and there were 3 mums and two people connected with the project. The venue wasn't really set up for me to demonstrate my circus stuff, but I did what I could.<br />
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The balloon show went well, but the compost info session was made difficult by the children who weren't interested in compost, and were making a lot of noise. However, I was reasonably happy with how it went and I had a delicious lunch at the centre.I also popped round to one of the participants' house to see her compost bin. She's just moved in, never had a garden before. The bin was full of grass mowings, hay-like, dry and not composting. I gave her some advice!<br />
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Then I cycled up to the allotment and started on the border which still has one end not de-nettled. I did 3 and 3/4 hours there. and stopped because it started to drizzle. It took 53 minutes to get back to Anna's.<br /><br />Anna said 'would I like a bath?' and I was really glad to be able to have one as I was achy and mucky. And after a good soak, she fed me, pie, potato and peas, with gravy. The pie was goats cheese, spinach and sweet potato. Lovely. What a pampered evening.... Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-27505702624710183352017-02-21T01:33:00.001+00:002017-02-21T01:33:33.608+00:00Sunday 19th February 17As I've got work in Sheffield tomorrow I'm going to go through this afternoon and stay with Anna, my sister, for a couple of nights. I was getting a few things together when Ben and his fiancée Karen turned up. This was the first time I'd met her and it was so good to see them together. We chatted about the wedding and a few other things, but they didn't stay long. <br />
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I left before 4 to get the 4.25 train which got into Sheffield at 5.15, and it only took me 25 minutes to cycle up to Walkley, despite having a large shrub hanging from the handlebars, my laptop, day-bag and a rucksack with circus stuff in. Anna cooked up a wholesome pasta dish and we watched a bit of telly and chatted before she got to bed. <br />
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I did the washing up and got to bed before 2am. Early for me... but I've a relatively early start tomorrow. I have to be over in Darnall before 10, and I've memorised the map so I know my route. I'll go to the station and up behind it near to where Thomas lives, and the route from there is easy. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-52972490906561965382017-02-20T01:39:00.001+00:002017-02-20T01:39:45.046+00:00Saturday 18th February 17I had a relaxing but hard working day, trying to get the front garden tidied up, ready for the removal of the pointless 'Spirea' shrubs which have grotty pink flowers on them but don't serve any purpose, so that I can put in some fruit trees.<br />
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I took advantage of a Radio Times offer and bought two Victoria Plum trees, a single one was £15 but the offer was to throw in a free one, so including the postage, two trees for under £22. I'm happy with that, and spent some time looking up how to train them along wires.<br />
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I also did some composting and log stacking, and had two facebook video conversations in the evening, one planned and the other a surprise. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-17284948728735416302017-02-18T02:20:00.000+00:002017-02-18T02:20:10.970+00:00Friday 17th February 17 Woken early by low flying jet planes which made me think back to my
childhood when there was a lot of fear about conflict, with the 'Iron
Curtain' between the Communist Bloc countries and the West, and a
nuclear arsenal which seemed ready to be used at a moments notice. Over
the intervening decades things have become a bit more peaceful, with the
fall of the Berlin Wall and a relatively peaceful European situation,
despite conflicts in the Balkans. But with Trump with his finger on the
trigger in the US, I'm not feeling as safe as I used to, and the UK
'leaving Europe' doesn't help either. <br />
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But they were just planes, not warheads or bombers..........<br />
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The rest of the day was peaceful. I went to buy Yesterbake bread and
get something from the chemist, did some log stacking and then took
Howard's bike to Cycle Heaven to see if I could get a new back wheel or
have the axle replaced, then visited Pauline who was pleased to see me
and gave me her compostables to deal with. I picked up more compostables
on the way home and did assorted outdoors work. <br />
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In the evening I re-arranged this blog a bit and started putting together a new segment for <a href="https://extinctionradio.net/" target="_blank">Extinction Radio</a>.
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-33265321524735083722017-02-18T02:16:00.000+00:002017-02-18T02:16:16.603+00:00Thursday 16th February 17Today I only had one appointment, up in Huntington to meet with Jon in the Flag and Whistle, to check out the room they have for hire there. We spoke to Nathan, one of the staff, and he took down details to discuss with his colleague who does the event nights.<br />
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I picked up some wood on the way back. I did a lot of chainsawing during the day, of the bits I brought home over the past couple of days. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-113821985859194432015-05-21T01:55:00.002+01:002015-05-21T01:55:39.734+01:00Tuesday 19th May 15I had a reasonably good day, did a lot in the garden, preparing the raised bed for the rhubarb, and sorting compost.<br />
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I cycled into town via St Nicks, and gave Ivana a cheque for £1000 which was the remaining funds from York Green Festival. <br />
<br />
I also paid in a cheque from DAD last summer, which somehow hadn't been sent to me, and paid the water bill... and the best thing was that Michelle saw my bike and trailer and came to see me, and we went and sat and chatted, and she's very happy with an exciting relationship, and this made me very happy. Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-87091722046988532932015-01-28T02:05:00.001+00:002015-01-28T02:05:38.504+00:00Tuesday 31st January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A thoughtful day, not feeling 100% positive about myself... it's not a feeling I'm that used to, and recognise it from when I've done something silly or reprehensible.<br />
<br />
However, I kept busy, and went to buy bread before lunch. I cycled back through Hull Road Park to look at the plot which Marie Birbeck from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust told us about last night. The plot had been 'done' with a chainsaw gang and there were a few smallish logs on the ground from an elm tree which had been trimmed. I spoke to a gardener who said that he'd be really happy if I took the logs, as he thought that they were going to be taken away by the chainsaw people.<br />
<br />
So I loaded up the trailer and took a load home, and went back with an empty trailer twice. Later in the day I chopped all this up and split it... elm does not split easily, especially when dry, so doing it whilst green is the best option. I also split a few more bits of the giant logs delivered last week, and did some stacking too.<br />
<br />
I unwrapped the 'hotbin' composter which was delivered yesterday morning. I now see how it keeps the materials so warm; it is made of an expanded plastic, looking a bit like expanded polystyrene but the much tougher expanded polypropylene. So the claim that the walls are 96% air I now understand. I'll start using it later this week.<br />
<br />
I cycled up to see Carolyn, who wanted to offload some sacks of leaves my way, and to ask my opinion about a tree which one of her neighbours might want trimming or removing. I persuaded her to leave the tree for a bit, but offered to do a bit of pruning work. Also I learned about her electric trip-switch in case she calls on me to rescue her from her lift which she occasionally gets stuck in. <br />
<br />
I also visited Debbie over the road and heard about her short trip up to see her folks and I'm glad she's still getting on with Philip, who's back from seeing his parents in the West Country.<br />
<br />
I heard a chainsaw down the road and it was a chap trying to chop up the big Beech trunk in the garden just over Milson Grove. I spoke to him and he suggested I speak to the householder, who's name is Paula, and she said, yes, I could have some of the wood. The chap attempting to do the log seemed really happy for me to take the job on, so later I contacted Ian, my chainsawing friend, and asked him if he'd help me, or if I could pay him to make the trunk into rounds.... There's a lot of wood there, way over a tonne I'd say. I do hope he can help.<br />
<br />
I finished the day feeling a lot more positive.</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-76335830720015196242015-01-28T02:01:00.000+00:002015-01-28T02:01:12.776+00:00Monday 30th January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Quite a mixed day... some of it was taken up with dealing with the aftermath of a post I put on facebook without thinking of the consequences. It was a photo of what is colloquially known as a 'ladyboy'; a person, usually from a far-eastern country such as Thailand, who was born male and has chosen to live as a woman, a situation known as 'transgender'. I have several transgender friends and therefore I should have known better to share a picture which used an image to get some cheap humour. I got several comments from friends and people I know who were horrified by what I'd done. There were other comments from people who thought it was hilarious. This only enraged the offended group more. Others chimed in and said that the Politically Correct crew were over-reacting. The response to this was a claim that trans people suffered more bullying and attacks than any other identifiable group in society, and many trans people commit suicide. I apologised for any offence given and hoped that some good might have come of the discussion, that people might have learned some facts about transgender people. I have certainly learned to think before sharing things, and to stop and think if it might be offensive. I don't mind discussing controversial subjects, but I don't set out to upset people... unless I want to deliberately upset people, of course. The picture was later removed by facebook from everyone's walls who had shared it, probably because of complaints. <br />
<br />
More of the day was taken up with organising the York in Transition Energy Event on March 10th, inviting renewable energy installers to come and have a stall. I rang at least 8 different organisations.<br />
<br />
I also got a welcome phone call from The Phone Co-op who said they thought I was spending too much on my phone bill, and that they thought I could, should, change my tariff. How nice of them!</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-10644767704091210822015-01-28T01:55:00.000+00:002015-01-28T01:55:00.264+00:00Sunday 29th January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A nondescript morning but had been asked to provide balloon entertainment at a social event in Leeds, at A Nation of Shopkeepers from about 1pm. So I went over on the train and arrived on the dot of 1. My friend from Manchester, Simon, had come over and we chatted, before Alexa, the main organiser, turned up, and we managed to commandeer a couple of sofas and several chairs, moving a table to enable us all to sit together.<br />
<br />
I had some good chats with a chap called Ben, who had a shared interest in compost toilets and green funerals, and his wife Lea who was very nice too. There was Edafe and Mercedes, Bluebell and Riley, plus about another 10 people who I didn't get to know names of. The balloon models were appreciated, I think most people had a go and it added to the fun.<br />
<br />
I left at 5pm and was home by 6.30, having stopped off at a logpile with my trailer, and I had rice for tea, did an enormous pile of washing up and prepared two racks of apples for drying.</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-88419659765201126022015-01-28T01:50:00.001+00:002015-01-28T01:50:31.516+00:00Saturday 28th January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Another good day. A good lie-in after the ridiculously late night. But up in plenty of time to be ready for my Fiddlesticks gig at 3, at the Clifton Methodist Church, a new venue for me.</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-26784389834229710562015-01-28T01:49:00.001+00:002015-01-28T01:49:14.344+00:00Friday 27th January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I woke early, at about 7.30, and got up then as I had a fair bit to do if I was going to go out later.<br />
<br />
I lit the back room stove and Gill took the kids to school and did her stint at the shop. I washed up and tried to work out what I am doing over the weekend. I have a booking for tomorrow afternoon, but I was fairly sure that I had something booked for Sunday, as I'd been invited to a social in Leeds and had then taken a Fiddlesticks booking which I thought had meant that I couldn't go to that. However, thinking about it today, I realise that I'd taken the Saturday booking and somehow my disorganised brain had transposed it to Sunday. The paperwork says Saturday. I have no paperwork for anything on Sunday, so I may be able to go to Leeds, as hoped.<br />
<br />
I am on a Facebook group called Kingston Orchard Project and one of the prime-movers, Anna Kwilecka, asked me f I had any apple trees she could have grafting material from. I told her about the Bramleys and she asked if I could send some scion material.. basically twigs which she'll graft onto the root stock she's got. So I went and trimmed a few twigs and put them in a padded envelope, with a few pea beans, yam tubercles and pear leather, and took them to the post office and put an overnight postage on them. I have no idea if they'll be OK or not... but I can send some more if she wants.<br />
<br />
I then went to do a Green Party leaflet delivery on Heslington Road. This took an hour, and I got back just after Gill got in and I had lunch after her, at about 1.30. Then I got ready to go to town to sort out the LETS bank account signatories and pay the Good Energy bills for the year ahead, which I do by electronic transfer. I couldn't do the LETS account stuff as I hadn't got all the details, so it's just as well I went to check it at the bank first, rather than send it off and have it sent back to me to complete. I got to the station just a bit too late for the 3.26 so I got the 3.41. I changed at Manchester Piccadilly and got a Stockport train, and Janie met me there.<br />
<br />
We'd debated whether to go by train to Liverpool or whether she would drive. The negatives about the train were that the gallery was some way from the nearest station and although the connections were good getting there, on the way back, the hourly train at 10ish would get into Manchester with only 3 minutes to spare before the last Train to Marple, and if we got the 9ish train,we'd have to walk 20 minutes to the further station as there wasn't a service from the one 10 minutes away. There were more frequent and later trains back to Stockport, but there was no free parking there, and that would set Janie back £10 just to leave the car there. So, all in all, we decided to drive to Liverpool, 40 miles, and park next to the gallery and then we'd be able to leave when we wanted.<br />
<br />
However, the trip from Stockport to the M62 turn off the M60 Manchester Ring Road took nearly an hour, as it was really jammed with too much traffic. Something I'm not used to. The motorway into Liverpool was a lot less crowded and I'd memorised the route using Googlemaps, and this impressed Janie who doesn't have a good sense of direction and doesn't read maps. I got us there without a hitch, no problem. In fact, I was quite impressed too!<br />
<br />
So, we went to The Gallery for the Private Viewing (opening night) of the annual Erotic Art Exhibition by the Association of Erotic Artists. It is no secret amongst those who know me that I have a deep appreciation of erotica and a healthy interest in sexuality, orientation, kink and the like, despite my being a 'boring vanilla hetero' compared to some of the people I've met. One person I really admire from this world is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuppy_Owens">Tuppy Owens</a>, an advocate for sex workers and access to a sex life for disabled people (see <a href="http://www.outsiders.org.uk/">Outsiders</a>) . I was really thrilled (no, wrong word) really happy to eventually meet her here. This was probably the highlight of my evening. <br />
<br />
Janie and I first looked round all the paintings, photographs and sculptures, and one 'installation' which was an extremely still woman lying down with assorted objects placed on or next to her. I liked a few very colourful pieces but nothing really got me very excited, in any sense of the word.<br />
<br />
There were several live performances, Len Gifford doing a body cast of a woman's buttocks, using a blue algae-based substance which dries to a rubbery texture (used to take casts of mouths apparently) and plaster of Paris which almost defeated him as he couldn't open the tub! Then there was a very athletic and eventually naked pole-dancer called Edie, and a bondage demonstration by the transgender <a href="http://boykitten.co.uk/Boykitten.co.uk/Welcome.html">'Boykitten'</a> and their 'dom'. The most exotic act was Mouse who did some amazing things which I can't describe here. Anyone with a nervous disposition or blinkered approach to life should not click on <a href="http://www.carryonmouse.co.uk/">her website.</a><br />
<br />
One other nice memory was meeting a couple called Kate and Tony, who were both somewhat taken aback by the proceedings but great to talk to. They'd come to support their friend Fiona who owns the gallery. Janie and I couldn't stay for the after-party as I needed to get back home on the train, and I didn't fancy the one which left Stockport after midnight. The journey back was very quick, motorway all the way and she dropped me off at the station at 10.40 and I was in Manchester by 11. I waited in the lounge area above Platform 13 for the York train. There was a woman sleeping on the seats, and I woke her up as there was a train leaving in 5 minutes, and I asked her which train she was waiting for. Her name was Jenny and she had a lovely voice... and was very pleased she was able to get the last train home to Liverpool, rather than sleep in the station overnight. She would have missed it otherwise.<br />
<br />
On the 11.21 train to York I chatted to a young lass called Anna who dozed most of the way, and she left her expensive-looking mobile phone on the train when she tumbled out at Leeds, so I went to the door and yelled at her to come and get it off me. Another good deed! <br />
<br />
The train got in at 1.20 as it had been sent on a diversion due to overnight working on the line. Gill was awake and watching a film, I was really pleased to see her. </div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-16296414621736507882015-01-28T01:42:00.001+00:002015-01-28T01:42:08.408+00:00Thursday 26th January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Up early as had been invited to go to Malton for lunch with my friend Antonella. However, I had a bit to do first at home, and set off at 11, got back home about 4 in time to get the front room warm for the boys to use this evening.<br />
<br />
During the evening I was trying to sort out whether to go to Liverpool tomorrow, and if so, how. But, I had a dreadful attack of the sneezes and felt really snotty and grotty, so whether I'm able to go to the exhibition tomorrow remains to be seen.</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-42085820940412830752015-01-28T01:39:00.001+00:002015-01-28T01:39:37.774+00:00Wednesday 25th January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A really good day, seemed to get a lot done, despite a late start, with Gill waking me up when she got in from delivering the kids to school. She'd also popped into a city centre shop and returned some clothes she bought in October but they didn't fit, and they, amazingly took them back. She was very pleased.<br />
<br />
I had my breakfast and read my emails. I got one from a representative of <a href="http://www.hotbincomposting.com/">HotBin Composting</a>, whom I responded to yesterday via a facebook advert. I asked a few questions on their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hotbin-composting/302571423086215">facebook page</a> and told them I was interested in their product for York Rotters. I like the look of the bin as it's insulated (the plastic walls are full of air bubbles), has integral thermometers and is made in Northampton, UK. They agreed to send a trial bin to me.... I asked whether they'd like to have it seen by loads of people (at St Nicks) or be used a lot (by me in my garden). I was very happy to hear that they wanted to send me one AND one to St Nicks. I look forward to trialling mine. They seem like nice people.<br />
<br />
Then I had lunch and sorted out a bit more stuff about the forthcoming weekend's activities, and then cycled to Fulford to see a friend, an old lady called Margaret, who frequently has squirrels bury walnuts in her garden, and they germinate... but she doesn't want walnut trees in her garden. She'd asked me to come and dig up one sapling, about 70cm high, and an oak tree seedling... maybe 2 years old, and 20cm high, and I'd checked with St Nicks whether they wanted them, which they did.<br />
<br />
On the way I met Valerie, the really lovely lollipop lady at Lord Deramore's, and she said she was moving as she and her husband had bought a place near Ripon, I think, and she'd be leaving her job at half term. I am happy for her but will miss her as she's such a nice person. I hope we can keep in touch.<br />
<br />
So I dug up the unwanted tree seedlings and put them in a plastic bag and cycled over towards St Nicks, going via Heslington Road. I saw lights on at Country Fresh, and so I popped my head in and said hello. There were 4 Asian gents there, and I asked if they were taking the shop on... and great news, they are re-opening it as a greengrocers!!!! Excellent! I told them about my previous relationship with Country Fresh and suggested that I'd be interested in continuing the situation. They seemed happy to see me and invited me to pop in on Monday.<br />
<br />
I called into Hazel Court to dispose of a load of plastic bottles in their recycling banks and some ferrous scrap into their metal skip. No hassle taking the stuff up to the top by bike. Glad they're being sensible these days.<br />
<br />
And on to St Nicks where Jonathan the Education chappie took the trees off my hands, and said he'd heel them in and plant them tomorrow, on the Mosque side of the nature reserve.<br />
<br />
And so to home, where I had an hour before cycling down to town to work for David, who was keen to go to City Screen for a coffee and a read of The Times, before going back home to have his microwaved meal and prune juice. I left at 7.45 and came home via a logpile.<br />
<br />
A relaxed evening with an avocado sandwich and two veggie sausages, some telly and the computer. Yup, a really good day.</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-32466411519783043932015-01-28T01:35:00.001+00:002015-01-28T01:35:18.061+00:00Tuesday 24th January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A very quiet day, nearly all of it inside. I got up late and did a bit of washing up and emailing, cycled round to the chemist to pick up a prescription, on Gill's bike (haven't been out on mine for 3 days!) and finally got my tax return done.<br />
<br />
I halved, cored, peeled and sliced another load of apples and filled the drying racks yet again... I've been invited to provide a load of jars for a student market in February, so I'm preparing for that.<br />
<br />
But a sedentary day, not the sort of bouncy day I prefer.</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-33035537366897071362015-01-28T01:33:00.002+00:002015-01-28T01:33:57.820+00:00Monday 23rd January 12<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Up early and got busy doing things... breakfast, emails..... and then there was a knock on the front door. It was the head groundsman from St Johns College, with two gardeners, and their flat-bed truck with 3 HUGE slices of tree on.... asking me if I'd like them? I jumped at the chance, and said I'd be out in 30 seconds to help. Each lump was the buttressed base of a big lime tree.... a couple of weeks ago the college took down dozens of them, thinning the row of mature limes on Lord Mayors Walk by removing every other one.<br />
<br />
So, each one took all four of us to lift, and I asked for them to be put in a place where I wouldn't need to try to move them. The other trees had been taken to a field near Dunnington, where someone at the college was a happy recipient, and the amount of wood would probably keep his stoves going for decades!<br />
<br />
A bit later, I tried to split one of the rounds just with my maul... but the wood is slightly spongy and it didn't respond at all. So I chainsawed them into quarters, and then bashed these with the splitting maul, which worked.<br />
<br />
I also did some clearing up in the conservatory, taking several trays of squishy pears out, and ready to take down the garden to the new compost heap. I put another couple of layers on, but have more to take down tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Gill had a hospital appointment to see if her arthritis can be dealt with, so I made a pasta and sauce (on the woodstove of course!) and Gill was pleased with this when she got in.<br />
<br />
I did some 'house admin': sorting out our energy bills. I had read the gas and electricity meters on Saturday and phoned Good Energy and left a lengthy message but I phoned them today because they hadn't got back to me. Based on meter readings on 21st January 2011 and last Saturday, 23rd January 2012, we have used 56 cubic metres of gas - 626 kwh, or 1.71 kwh/day. Based on this consumption for last year, next year's bill is £107.94. We use far more electricity, 1938 kwh, or 5.3 kwh/day, and Good Energy will charge us £362.62 for next year's consumption. So, our annual energy bills are £470, which for a family of 4 is pretty low, although I'd like them to be lower! I will pay these bills by bank transfer soon.<br />
<br />
Oh! I got a postal delivery... of two bike tyres, not wanted anymore by my facebook friend Graeme, who has replaced his bike and had two new tyres spare. One has a kevlar anti-puncture lining. He didn't want anything for them, just the postage of £4.41; I sent him £5 via PayPal.<br />
<br />
So, a good day, plenty of activity outside and plenty of 'work' inside!</div>
Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.com0