My ideal country was Europe. I am still a citizen but not for that much longer.
When I got cheesed off with the dour Northerners (who have their humourous charms). I could head South to the sun and heat of the Med.
A trip around the Greek islands staying a month or so here and there.
Seville and Lisbon - Portugal's Atlantic coast.
Then a desire to revisit more fertile places would lead me to Burgundy or Provence.
A breath of Alpine air -Austria or Switzerland (not EU but Schengen) would fit the bill.
Unknown Latvia and Estonia - you could meet an interesting person for sure.
A beer in Prague and the delights of all Italy - "Bella Donna !"; I am going to miss being a part of your world.
Being a holidaymaker just won't feel the same.
Search found 481 matches
- 3 Aug 2016, 10:10pm
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: The Ideal Country
- Replies: 26
- Views: 1479
- 31 Mar 2016, 11:02am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Ash Trees
- Replies: 82
- Views: 8341
Re: Ash Trees
Sycamore is also a very good tree for bees.
Exactly that. for all woods are much the same in composition but vary greatly in water content and tightness of cell structure.
Ash is rated highly with good reason but often because it quite burns well poorly seasoned, because it's water content, when live, is relatively low.
However, properly seasoned, the heat output is significantly greater (given an efficient burner).
Pine woods(softwoods appear here low down or not at all on folks "best burning" woods lists.
But actually for dry wieght their heat output compares very favourably with hard woods.
Personally I really love to burn "pine"; it burns hot and clean, provides the best heat source for cooking and is ( in my case) a waste by-product of commercial forestry that would (no pun intended ) otherwise rot..
It also dries relatively quickly because the cell structure is coarse and open (but contains more relative water) than denser hardwoods like Oak.
To fully dry live Oak can take a couple of years. ( I know we've have been here before!) Poorly seasoned Oak is one of the most tarry fuelwoods.
So at risk of repeating myself (again!). the advantages of burning wood dry are simply overwhelming.
Cleaner chimmeys and far less unwanted emmisions, lighter to carry, vastly more heat output, by consequence less fuel is used and less trees cut down.
It's a win/win.
The hard part is getting ahead with one's supply.
pwa wrote:A bit OT, but I've found that any wood burns fine if it is dry.
Exactly that. for all woods are much the same in composition but vary greatly in water content and tightness of cell structure.
Ash is rated highly with good reason but often because it quite burns well poorly seasoned, because it's water content, when live, is relatively low.
However, properly seasoned, the heat output is significantly greater (given an efficient burner).
Pine woods(softwoods appear here low down or not at all on folks "best burning" woods lists.
But actually for dry wieght their heat output compares very favourably with hard woods.
Personally I really love to burn "pine"; it burns hot and clean, provides the best heat source for cooking and is ( in my case) a waste by-product of commercial forestry that would (no pun intended ) otherwise rot..
It also dries relatively quickly because the cell structure is coarse and open (but contains more relative water) than denser hardwoods like Oak.
To fully dry live Oak can take a couple of years. ( I know we've have been here before!) Poorly seasoned Oak is one of the most tarry fuelwoods.
So at risk of repeating myself (again!). the advantages of burning wood dry are simply overwhelming.
Cleaner chimmeys and far less unwanted emmisions, lighter to carry, vastly more heat output, by consequence less fuel is used and less trees cut down.
It's a win/win.
The hard part is getting ahead with one's supply.
- 9 Mar 2016, 11:48am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
- Replies: 1489
- Views: 66096
Re: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
meic wrote:It is my impression that a lot of non-EU immigration is a result of UK nationals marrying non-UK nationals. Anyone know if that is correct. (A bit OT, perhaps).
I can see that there are communities where that is common, on the other hand my community (and family ) is full of EU immigration from UK nationals marrying non-UK nationals.
My village has mixed with German, Dutch, Danish, Italian, Polish that I can think of, off the top of my head.
Against an Ausie and a Finlander.
In a fortnight I am off to visit an English-Polish couple in Belgium, followed by a French-Welsh couple in France.
I do like the Freedom of Movement (and breeding ) within the EU.
I think the ramifications of this go further.
I believe that this intermingling has led to a greater tolerance and understanding of other cultures.
This is particularly the case within the EU and was one of the reasons it was set up in the first place.
Western Europe is politically, culturally and religiously one of the most tolerant places on earth.
Do not underestimate the worth of this on many different levels.
I, for one, see that as massive plus and privilege in having it as a place to live.
It's not perfect, but at least we (the EU parliament) talk to each other, sometimes in a very constuctive way (which is more than can be said of Westminster).
The alternative of isolation I see as a huge retrograde step.
- 8 Mar 2016, 7:40pm
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
- Replies: 1489
- Views: 66096
Re: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
Hey don't forget the Celts!
Actually as agroup they are already sort of Pan-European, with representatives in all Western (and Northern!) Britain (they used to be the sole indigenous folk of the British Ilses of course)but also in Brittany and in Gallicia in N. Spain. And maybe more !?
Certainly left their mark and surely their genes elsewhere. La Tene for example.
Actually as agroup they are already sort of Pan-European, with representatives in all Western (and Northern!) Britain (they used to be the sole indigenous folk of the British Ilses of course)but also in Brittany and in Gallicia in N. Spain. And maybe more !?
Certainly left their mark and surely their genes elsewhere. La Tene for example.
- 8 Mar 2016, 2:00pm
- Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
- Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
- Replies: 598
- Views: 83027
Re: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air polluti
MartinC wrote:Air pollution is a major problem. The demonisation of diesel is a handy smokescreen ( ) for those who want to avoid talking about all the other problems. Let's ban diesels so that I can use my car as much as I want, let's have electric trains 'cos then the pollution will be somewhere else........................................
I imagine you mean coal fired power stations, though you have not made the point very clearly, perhaps I misunderstand.
However in the case of trains that is not necessarily true because there are ways to generate electricity that create virtually no pollution at all.
I didn't say it would be easy, by the way, though it would be easier if we had started in earnest some decades ago.
- 7 Mar 2016, 8:03pm
- Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
- Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
- Replies: 598
- Views: 83027
Re: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air polluti
Mark R wrote:Stand at Cheltenham Spa station and witness the noise and filth coming out of a Cross Country DMU as it accelerates away, the pollution is orwellian, it can hardly be overstated. Don't believe the lies from the operating companies about upgraded engines. The pacer train on my local line has the crankcase breather vented directly to atmosphere which is basically 1960's technolgy regardless of when the engine was manufactured.
It's an outright disgrace that this is the state of our rail system on a busy urban route in 2016.
I blame successive govts plus the bad decision to go diesel in the first place.
Other places went straight from steam to electric.
The technology. albeit in less sophisticated form, has been around that long!
Perhaps others on here are right, its just about short term profit; though personally I think it verges into corruption and vested interest at high level.
- 5 Mar 2016, 12:16pm
- Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
- Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
- Replies: 598
- Views: 83027
Re: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air polluti
I never said it was a small job.
But actually for large streches of track it IS just a question of "stringing a few wires around". More or less.
Plus buying and manufacturing new locos etc!!
And apparantly steel price is at an all time low too.
Never a better moment.
A railway system that is future proof.
There's a rub here with the infrastructure too.
Someone should have had the foresight to put the bridges in high enough in the first place. Did they think?
On the continent I travel on double decker electric trains through tunnels at least a century old! How come??
But actually for large streches of track it IS just a question of "stringing a few wires around". More or less.
Plus buying and manufacturing new locos etc!!
And apparantly steel price is at an all time low too.
Never a better moment.
A railway system that is future proof.
There's a rub here with the infrastructure too.
Someone should have had the foresight to put the bridges in high enough in the first place. Did they think?
On the continent I travel on double decker electric trains through tunnels at least a century old! How come??
- 5 Mar 2016, 10:46am
- Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
- Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
- Replies: 598
- Views: 83027
Re: How much diesel pollution am I breathing in?
reohn2 wrote:The reason we aren't 'all electric'(or very nearly)is the same reason we won't ban or restrict ICE powered vehicles in our cities,especially dirty diesel powered buses* and cabs,and continually fall short of pollution levels.
More dirt more profit,and all the while we store up health problems for the future like a ticking time bomb.
Cancer,COPD,Asthma,etc,etc.....
* a couple of years ago chatting to the MOT examiner I was told by him that buses are only tested for Co2 and NoX levels on tickover as it'd been deemed to expensive to test at higher rev ranges in case the enngine blew,he was unconvinced of the validity of the claim.
Buses HGV's and taxis remain the dirtiest vehicles on the roads.
I've no difficulty believing diesel powered trains are the same.
Yes quite so.
If I might expand on my point.
Above all it is important that we get public transport methods as clean as possible.
I personally don't see why a good return cannot be made using electric trains.
But the will doesn't seem to exist.
Vast figures were quoted recently to electrify one of the major southern routes; it sounded like someone was troughing it to me.
Other countries mangage to do it fine. The price of copper has dropped enormously now(AFAIK); what an opportunity!
The greatest advantage as I see it is the ability to run the rail network on a variety of energy sources, wind, solar, hydro, wave; anything.
Electricity is so fantastic at driving motors. The torque is tremendous. Quiet and fast.
Plus no energy usage or pollution when stationary (clean air in stations) and even the recovery of some energy back to the powerline using regenerative braking. Wow!
- 5 Mar 2016, 12:17am
- Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
- Topic: Every breath we take: the lifelong impact of air pollution
- Replies: 598
- Views: 83027
Re: How much diesel pollution am I breathing in?
I see it as a huge failure of sucessive govts that our railway system remains largely unelectrified.
The benefits are so enormous.
This report really underlines how filthy diesel trains are.
The benefits are so enormous.
This report really underlines how filthy diesel trains are.
- 23 Feb 2016, 10:10pm
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
- Replies: 1489
- Views: 66096
Re: EU Ref...I Am Confused..Aren't You...
RickH wrote:I found this BBC article - EU referendum: Can Switzerland show UK route to Brexit? interesting.
Rick.
I would like to add a couple of points to the above article.
The Swiss are a nation of around 8 million. around a 25% are "foreign" nationals without citizenship.
The foreigner's legal status varies. Some have no right to vote. A lot of them do the hard boring menial stuff; construction, road building and care of the elderly.
The country has a very strategic transport position in the centre of Europe (Vital Passes).
A very large number of firms are based there for tax avoidance reasons. Ditto financial services industry.
Historically it has had a large and rather dubious banking sector.
Around 80% of the worlds gold is traded there and a great deal of other natural resources, oil, coal, metals. again mostly for tax reasons.
All healthcare is very very expensive and funded through compulsory private insurance (Premiums are eyewatering).
The country is a signatory to the Schengen agreement.
It has wisely invested in it's infrastucture for decades.
They are a very hard working people. "Arbeit" is probably the most important word in the language!
Great tracts of beautiful countryside in the central plateau region have been concreted and tarmaced over.
Since the financial crisis of 2008 a great deal of money has flowed into the county because it is seen a a safe haven. That is certainly a large factor in it's economy remaining so buoyant through this period.
The UK is an island. Population 70 odd million.
It has not invested wisely in its infrastucture for decades!
It is not a signatory to the Shengen agreement.
It has fairer industrial relations (IMHO) and a much more social health and welfare system.
We do not have the same work ethic as the Swiss (or the Germans) IMHO. We are more like the French in that respect -laid back, (long may it continue).
The pound is not now seen as a safe currency, mostly because of the (still unpunished) greed of our wildly speculatative banking sector.
Should anyone think that by leaving the EU we will in some way become weathy by the Swiss method, I think they may be disappointed.
- 20 Feb 2016, 10:15pm
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Boris Johnson?
- Replies: 64
- Views: 2678
Re: Boris Johnson?
I find it interesting at the moment as we now know which Conservatives are for staying part of the EU and which are for leaving ... except for Boris. By not saying he is keeping the press attention on him with all the :will he/wont he". Undoubtedly Boris knows where he stands on UK leaving the EU
I think that is a very shrewd observation.
Interesting and speaks volumes about the man.
- 18 Feb 2016, 9:28pm
- Forum: Touring & Expedition
- Topic: LLC - Harlech
- Replies: 20
- Views: 1756
Re: LLC - Harlech
I was going to add to my earlier comments that going South to North on the minor roads (LLC) the gradients are overall less steep than going North to South. It is just the grain of the country.
Going South to North, by turning into the hills at Llanbedr, the highest point can be reached without any brutally steep sections but Harlech is missed out.
Views North to Snowdon massif and over the sea are wonderful though.
I personally would always use the more easterly of the two main road options in any direction (not the pankake flat one) but the relatively gentle climb through the woods. It will bring you directly into the town centre. Going South to North it is a fun blast down a long gentle twisting hill.
Going South to North, by turning into the hills at Llanbedr, the highest point can be reached without any brutally steep sections but Harlech is missed out.
Views North to Snowdon massif and over the sea are wonderful though.
I personally would always use the more easterly of the two main road options in any direction (not the pankake flat one) but the relatively gentle climb through the woods. It will bring you directly into the town centre. Going South to North it is a fun blast down a long gentle twisting hill.
- 7 Dec 2015, 10:16pm
- Forum: Does anyone know … ?
- Topic: What Machine is John on ?
- Replies: 40
- Views: 2404
Re: What Machine is John on ?
Mick F wrote:Thanks Brucey.
Informative as ever.
So ............... motorbikes the (geographic) world over, have their front brakes on the right. This is irrespective of what side of the road they drive on in the country of manufacture.
I was going to make the same point. It's a very good reason to use the British configuration on a bicycle! Avoids dramatic confusion!!
I personally much prefer it that way round, irrespective of where I cycle. Just feels right(no pun intended).
- 25 Nov 2015, 1:49pm
- Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
- Topic: Camping Cookware - Which Materials??
- Replies: 64
- Views: 4887
Re: Camping Cookware - Which Materials??
Stainless steel is my recommendation. I bought a nesting billy set many years ago and they have survived everything.
They still come up almost like new (even after peat fire cooking) when cleaned with sand.
Aluminium has a funny smell when cleaned with abrasives (like bike rims in dirty wet conditions).
My old aluminium set looked as if they had been through a world war after ten years . The steel set, after a longer time, has hardly a dent.
They still come up almost like new (even after peat fire cooking) when cleaned with sand.
Aluminium has a funny smell when cleaned with abrasives (like bike rims in dirty wet conditions).
My old aluminium set looked as if they had been through a world war after ten years . The steel set, after a longer time, has hardly a dent.
- 13 Nov 2015, 9:35am
- Forum: The Tea Shop
- Topic: Debt
- Replies: 90
- Views: 5953
Re: Debt
[/quote]PDQ wrote:But we are talking about Nationwide (no pun intended) banks and intitutions. My take on it is that overall the debt is pretty secure - that secured on property. Even Wales has gone up a bit since then.
I am just making the point that the banks have not lost that much money in that area.
Whereas other speculation they undertook (perhaps but not only foreign real estate) has been much less secure.
But that's their problem and they have dragged us all into the mire with them and got away with it (QE) on the backs of the savers and the more vunerable.
Sorry to quote myself
But it would seem I was right
Northern Rock debt sold.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34806370
"The mortgages are being sold for £280m above their book value".
Can I have my £4 please, I might go for the pint I cannot now otherwise afford!