He’s home!

I got this screenshot from the online flight tracking – in real time – as his plane passed over the Millennium Dome in London.

Hectors flight passing over London on FlightTracker.

Frank stepped onto the sofa where Rosie has her snuggly rug and got up close to her and went to sleep. We have affinity. Its taken almost six months, but I know wed get there.

The rest of the week has been both busy at home getting stuff done – even cleaning smelly gunk from drains and drainpipes. I enjoyed a couple of such days Back to work on Thursday and very busy. Am very glad that this evening Hector will be setting off home again from India – to get back some time tomorrow afternoon. Can’t wait for him to get back!
Thanks to my old friend Paul Jackson I know that ITV Border Weather used one of my pics for their weather forecast on 19th. I found the forecast on ITV Player and this is a screen shot of it. Always a thrill to have an image used by the media!

So, my few days off while H is away and my planned chores. I painted the back porch – only took 2 hours and by 1pm I had picked up Kate and we were heading up to Talkin Tarn for a walk. Kate hasn’t been well – flu – so we took the level easy path. It was lovely out. Clear, crisp and frosty. Even the drive there and back was lovely.
Rosie met lots of others dogs and only really ran away once… bless her. Kate and I were sitting on a bench at the tarn side and we didn’t see a little dog come along, and when Rosie did she shot up onto the bench and tried to hide behind us. What a wuss – especially as the other dog was even smaller than her. Bless her!!
We came home a different route (wrong turning) and thought the little church at Cumrew was worth a look. And so it was. Up on the Pennines next to us, that rise steeply from the village, they were buying the heather stubble The flames must have been huge if way in down in the valley they seemed large.

Hectors taxi ride to his office in India is a bit different to at home isn’t it!

Indian transport - Hectors ride to the office from his Hotel

Indian roadside - Hectors journey to work

Whipping chill wind and freezing clear weather were perfect for a twilight trip to Castlerigg Stone Circle – just me and Rosie Posie. Hector working in India is baking in 30 degree heat! Its his birthday today so I am having a Cobra beer for him this evening.

Rosie was so cold and shivering – even in her fleece jacket – that I took her back to the car and stayed a little longer taking photos at the circle alone.

In such perfect weather and light conditions it was a joy to spend the twilight hour at Castlerigg Stone Circle.

It was very cold though and the freezing wind chill was biting.

The conditions were perfect for taking pictures. I hope they are worthy of some others I see of Castlertigg that are really stunning.

When I loaded up the photographs I felt I had caught the colour and detail in the these stones ok. The setting sun gave them a warmth that you don’t see at any other time of day. Not one image has had a single bit of manipulation – which is unlike me as I often adjust exposure or curves or saturation.

It was difficult seeing Hector head off to India for a work trip. I did get upset. Silly eh? He got there ok. A couple of mishaps – like his taxi not being there at the airport and later losing his room key, but he says his room is really nice – more a suite really. Its also very hot there. 30 degrees or so. I know he’s working there but I hope he gets to enjoy the perks! Its his birthday today and I hid his card in the lining of his case.

Hectors room is VERY nice….

The night he was flying I went down to Windermere to spend a great evening with Chris and Fiona – always a pleasure. Rosie Posie stole the limelight of course. I didn’t sleep much waiting for H to call to say he was there ok.

The next morning was clear, bright and hard frost – in other words – gorgeous. I spent the morning with Jane (Sis) on Windermere lake shore at Galava, Ambleside. Stunning and emotional views and calm atmosphere. So perfect. PERFECT. The light was amazing and I took literally hundreds of photos.
Afterwards we walked to Mums for chocolate cake and chat.
I got home feeling calm and happy.

A slideshow of my photos on Flickr:

And the ones I like best….

Work has been busy since going back after New Year. For Hector especially. And he is now on his way to India for work. Seems such a long way away. Had tears as I drove away from the station after dropping him off.

Its been mild this winter so far, so much so that there are some daffodils flowering in the village and our snowdrops are poking their heads up in the garden. Lenten Lilies too are flowering under the shrubs. Lovely.

Rosie is a great comforting company poodle! She and I are loving our walks and she is gaining in confidence all the time.

One week old Tootsie’s kittens, originally uploaded by Fi in Eden.

I’ve been revisiting pictures of the lovely time we had with Tootsie’s kittens and how wonderful those 10 weeks were. Frank Cat who we kept has been a delight. A wonderful experience to see them arrive and watch them grow and go to live with wonderful people who I know well.

A super Christmas. Christmas Eve with Mum, Jane, James and Becks and some lovely gifts. Everyone was soppy over Rosie! Later Hector and I visited Sally and family and all her visitors and it was a magic visit. Again, Rosie proved VERY popular in a diva kind of way! She met their dog Roxy and they got on fine… was quite sweet really.

Christmas Day was just us and before Hector got up I went a walk around the village – up out onto the higher road. At lunch time we had a short visit to the pub before beef and lamb for lunch (late). So full up we couldn’t eat pudding and saved it up!

On Boxing Day we lazed a bit and then went a walk – up to Franks for a drink and chat. Lovely, then back into the village the long way….. Pleasant.

View Larger Map

On Wednesday Chris and Fiona visited and we spent a quick-seeming 10 hours talking and talking and talking with a short break for curry dinner on our laps. As always it was a wonderful evening with them. Strong lively chatter. Even my curry worked out ok. I couldn’t resist capturing this shot of Chris on the topic of…. something or other!

Our lovely new Goose down duvet arrived and after being allowed to plump up for a full day I put it in new covers (sale purchase from Sainsburys) and discovered that it is like sleeping in a cloud! BLISS.

New Years Eve – we dodged the worst of the rain and went out for a walk. Only 2.2 miles but really nice to blow away the cobwebs. Rosie got muddy so needed a half bath when we got home. We decided against going out for the New Year evening and had a nice bottle of wine etc at home and saw in the new year watching Jools Holland on TV as we usually do.

The first day of 2012 and a couple of hours with Helene and Martin and a chance for Monty (their King Charles spaniel) to meet Rosie. It went fine. Frank cat wasn’t so sure though and hissed out in a huff!
Nice nest Rosie…. a little bit of quiet time for her after a busy day!

I can’t believe now that there is only one more day off before going back to work. Ah well – its been a great break.

21 Economic Models Explained With Cows

SOCIALISM You have 2 cows. You give one to your neighbour.

COMMUNISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and sells you some milk.

NAZISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and shoots you.

BUREAUCRATISM (CY) You have 2 cows. The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away…

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

SURREALISM You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead.

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States , leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. The public then buys your bull.

A FRENCH CORPORATION You have two cows. You go on strike, organize a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. You then create a clever cow cartoon image called ‘Cowkimon’ and market it worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows, but you don’t know where they are. You decide to have lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 2 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you. You charge the owners for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You have 300 people milking them. You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity. You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You worship them.

A BRITISH CORPORATION You have two cows. Both are mad.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION Everyone thinks you have lots of cows. You tell them that you have none. No-one believes you, so they bomb the **** out of you and invade your country. You still have no cows, but at least now you are part of Democracy….

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. Business seems pretty good. You close the office and go to the pub for a few beers to celebrate.

A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION You have two cows. The one on the left looks very attractive.

A GREEK CORPORATION You have two cows. You borrow against the cows from the Germans You kill the cows and make souvlaki You can’t pay the interest so the Germans lend you more money You can’t pay the interest so the Germans lend you more money You can’t pay the interest so the Germans lend you more money You can’t pay the interest so the Germans lend you more money

Rosie and Frank were trying to tell me to stoke up the stove while I was working at home!

Great INFOGRAPHIC from the MetOffice

Couldn’t be more thrilled – first EVER visit from Mr Woodpecker (Great Spotted Woodpecker). He has Sparrows, Goldfinches, Red Polls, Blue, Coal and Great tits, Blackbirds, Chaffinches, a Robin and a Wren for company this morning.

I was writing some cards at the desk in front of the window and suddenly there he was. Bold as brass and twice as beautiful. He stayed about five minutes. I hope he comes back – I don’t care how much bird food he takes – its worth it. So, this year we have had a Sparrowhawk – beautiful but not completely welcome and the Woodpecker. I must be doing something right with the food I put out.

Much laughter and cuteness ensured!
And Rosie looked so embarrassed while Frank thought his hat was a colourful mouse to chase.

Rosie Posie Poorly Poodle, originally uploaded by Fi in Eden.

Bless her. She looks so bewildered!

That explains THAT then… NOW I understand…(thank you The Guardian) The Higgs boson is a subatomic particle that was predicted to exist nearly 50 years ago. Scientists have been searching for the particle for decades, but so far have no solid proof that it is real.

Although the Higgs boson grabs headlines – unsurprising, given its nickname, the god particle – it is important only because its discovery would prove there is an invisible energy field that fills the vacuum throughout the observable universe. Without the field, or something like it, we would not be here.

Scientists have no hope of seeing the field itself, so they search instead for its signature particle, the Higgs boson, which is essentially a ripple in the Higgs field.

According to theory, the Higgs field switched on a trillionth of a second after the big bang blasted the universe into existence. Before this moment, all of the particles in the cosmos weighed nothing at all and zipped around chaotically at the speed of light.

When the Higgs field switched on, some particles began to feel a “drag” as they moved around, as though caught in cosmic glue. By clinging to the particles, the field gave them mass, making them move around more slowly. This was a crucial moment in the formation of the universe, because it allowed particles to come together and form all the atoms and molecules around today.

But the Higgs field is selective. Particles of light, or photons, move through the Higgs field as if it wasn’t there. Because the field does not cling top them, they remain weightless and destined to move around at the speed of light forever. Other particles, like quarks and electrons – the smallest constituents of atoms – get caught in the field and gain mass in the process.

Jacobs Lamb and lean beef, locally-reared from a farmer in the village are now in the freezer after we bought direct from the farmer yesterday. Hector says I have to try to forget that I might have known the local animals personally!!! He’s right; I was thinking that and trying to ignore it!