Thursday 20 December 2012
Monday 10 December 2012
Geminid Meteor Shower
The Geminids generally make for the
biggest and best meteor shower of the year, and this year the absence of moon at the peak of the display on 12/13 December, should help with viewing conditions.
http://www.meteorwatch.org/
http://www.meteorwatch.org/
Thursday 29 November 2012
Festival of Chocolate
How much do you know about
chocolate? Test out your knowledge here:
The Chocolate
Festival will be held at London's Southbank Centre Square, from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 December.
Make your own chocolate creations at a free workshop, try a bowl of Southern
chocolate chili, or find out how cocoa butter is used in beauty products. Free
admission, open from 11am-8pm Friday and Saturday, 11am-6pm Sunday.
Friday 2 November 2012
Bonfire Night
Although he was only one of the conspirators involved, he had the misfortune to become the fall guy, and the anniversary of his arrest is still celebrated on 5 November, known as Bonfire Night, or Guy Fawkes Night, and commemorated in the rhyme:
“Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot:
I see no reason why the Gunpowder Treason should ever be forgot...”
The tradition of burning a straw effigy or "Guy" on top of a bonfire is still going strong.
Firework displays are held on 5 November and the closest weekend to that date, which this year falls on 3-4 November.
Sunday 7 October 2012
Chocolate Week
Chocolate Week runs from 7-14 October
How to spot good chocolate? Some tips:
Ideally chocolate should contain a minimum cocoa content of 60%+ for dark and 30%+ for milk.
It should be evenly coloured with no cracks or air pockets, streaks or sugar bloom.
The chocolate should smell good as you unwrap it with a complex fragrance. It should be sweetly fragrant but not overpowering.
It should feel silky and not sticky and should just begin to yield to the warmth of your finger.
The texture should be smooth and buttery, gently dissolving into a creamy liquid filling the mouth with its complexity of flavours.
Essentially chocolate is going to be bittersweet, fruity and spicy with a good balance of acidity and should be subtle rather than overpowering.
A should have a clean aftertaste and no residue; and certainly not be overpoweringly sweet.
Guidelines from food writer Sara Jayne Stanes author of 'Chocolate – the Definitive Guide' and Chairman of the Academy of Chocolate.
http://www.chocolateweek.co.uk/
How to spot good chocolate? Some tips:
Ideally chocolate should contain a minimum cocoa content of 60%+ for dark and 30%+ for milk.
It should be evenly coloured with no cracks or air pockets, streaks or sugar bloom.
The chocolate should smell good as you unwrap it with a complex fragrance. It should be sweetly fragrant but not overpowering.
It should feel silky and not sticky and should just begin to yield to the warmth of your finger.
The texture should be smooth and buttery, gently dissolving into a creamy liquid filling the mouth with its complexity of flavours.
Essentially chocolate is going to be bittersweet, fruity and spicy with a good balance of acidity and should be subtle rather than overpowering.
A should have a clean aftertaste and no residue; and certainly not be overpoweringly sweet.
Guidelines from food writer Sara Jayne Stanes author of 'Chocolate – the Definitive Guide' and Chairman of the Academy of Chocolate.
http://www.chocolateweek.co.uk/
Monday 30 July 2012
Five Star Crop Circle
Inside view of a crop circle at Stanton St Bernard in Wiltshire, England. The first formation to appear resembles a church or temple with five spires and five teardrops beneath. (It is suggested that these represent five stars, or four stars plus Venus, which is known as the Evening Star) A second formation of concentric circles was added at a later date. For aerial views and further details go to Crop Circle Connector.
Saturday 14 July 2012
St Swithins Day
After heavy rain across the UK over the past month, St Swithin's Day is now upon us.
According to the traditional rhyme, if it rains on this day, (15 July) 40 days of rain will follow. If it is sunny, there should be 40 days of fine weather:
"St Swithin's Day if it dost rain, for forty days it will remain.
"St Swithin's Day if it dost rain, for forty days it will remain.
"St Swithin's Day if it be fair, for forty days 'twill rain no mair."
Swithin (sometimes spelt Swithun) was a Saxon Bishop of Winchester and legend has it that as he lay on his deathbed, he asked to be buried outdoors, at one with nature.
For nine years, his wishes were followed, but then, in 971, the monks of Winchester decided to build the saint a splendid shrine inside the cathedral. There was a heavy rain storm on 15 July which hampered the attempt to remove his remains indoors, and this was taken to be a sign of St Swithin’s protest at the move.
Swithin (sometimes spelt Swithun) was a Saxon Bishop of Winchester and legend has it that as he lay on his deathbed, he asked to be buried outdoors, at one with nature.
For nine years, his wishes were followed, but then, in 971, the monks of Winchester decided to build the saint a splendid shrine inside the cathedral. There was a heavy rain storm on 15 July which hampered the attempt to remove his remains indoors, and this was taken to be a sign of St Swithin’s protest at the move.
Friday 13 July 2012
Fire and Stone
Stonehenge was lit up with lanterns, flaming candles and burning coals to create a Fire Garden. The installation by Compagnie Carabosse was organised by Salisbury Arts Festival as part of the extended programme of events marking the London 2012 Olympic games. The Olympic torch passed through Stonehenge and Salisbury on its way to the games.
Thursday 31 May 2012
Transit of Venus
The transit of Venus takes place when the planet passes in front of the sun. While Venus and the earth roughly line up with the sun every 584 days, their orbits are tilted in relation to each other, meaning that a transit only takes place on the rare occasions when the two planets and the sun are almost exactly in line.
On average, transits of Venus take place around 80 years apart, but when they do so, it is in a pair of events which are eight years apart.
The last transit was on 8 June 2004 and the transit on 5-6 June 2012 is the second of this pair.
The Royal Astronomical Society issues the following guidelines: *Never look directly at the sun, with or without a telescope or pair of binoculars, without using a safe solar filter. To do is very dangerous and could result in permanent blindness.
Sunday 22 April 2012
World Book Night
World Book Night on April 23 is a celebration of reading and books.
Avid readers in the UK, Ireland, Germany and the USA are taking part, and thousands of books will be given away to spread the written word to local groups and communities.
Use the hashtag #worldbooknight to connect on Twitter.
Friday 13 April 2012
Super Moon
On 5 May, the moon will be full at the same time as it passes relatively close the earth, making it appear exceptionally bright as a result. Astronomers call this a perigee or Super Moon, in this case the largest and closest appearance until 2014, probably about a third brighter than average.
Extreme tides are likely around this time as a result of the proximity of the moon to earth.
Extreme tides are likely around this time as a result of the proximity of the moon to earth.
Friday 30 March 2012
Earth Hour 2012
Earth Hour is a world-wide initiative to raise awareness about the environment and climate change by switching off lights for an hour in the evening. This year, Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 31 and starts at 20:30 (8:30pm) local time.
Even astronauts on the Space Station will be doing their part, watching to see if there is any noticeable change in the amount of light from earth visible from space. Astronaut André Kuipers will be taking photos and videos from space.
Earth Hour first started in 2007 as single-city initiative in Sydney, Australia, and has now grown into a global movement to save energy and help the environment. Earth Hour 2011 was the world’s largest event so far with people, businesses and governments in 135 countries joining in, and organisers hope that up to 1.8 billion people will take part this year.
Even astronauts on the Space Station will be doing their part, watching to see if there is any noticeable change in the amount of light from earth visible from space. Astronaut André Kuipers will be taking photos and videos from space.
Earth Hour first started in 2007 as single-city initiative in Sydney, Australia, and has now grown into a global movement to save energy and help the environment. Earth Hour 2011 was the world’s largest event so far with people, businesses and governments in 135 countries joining in, and organisers hope that up to 1.8 billion people will take part this year.
Saturday 17 March 2012
Orchid Show
Sunday 4 March 2012
International Women's Day
International Women's Day 2012 is celebrated with events around the world to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.
Organisations, governments, charities and women's groups choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.
"Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures" is the 2012 theme of the internationalwomensday.com website.
The United Nations declares 2012 theme is “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”.
The European Parliament's 2012 theme is "Equal pay for work of equal value".
internationalwomensday.com
Organisations, governments, charities and women's groups choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.
"Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures" is the 2012 theme of the internationalwomensday.com website.
The United Nations declares 2012 theme is “Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty”.
The European Parliament's 2012 theme is "Equal pay for work of equal value".
internationalwomensday.com
Wednesday 29 February 2012
Leap Year
2012 is a leap year and Wednesday 29th February is a leap day.
Once every four years, an extra day is added to the Gregorian Calendar to bring the solar year of 365 ¼ days into line with the calendar year of 365 days.
Traditionally, this is the one day of the year when a woman can ask a man to marry her.
One quaint old custom has it that if a man refuses a proposal, he must buy the woman a dress. Anyone adding to their wardrobe today?
Once every four years, an extra day is added to the Gregorian Calendar to bring the solar year of 365 ¼ days into line with the calendar year of 365 days.
Traditionally, this is the one day of the year when a woman can ask a man to marry her.
One quaint old custom has it that if a man refuses a proposal, he must buy the woman a dress. Anyone adding to their wardrobe today?
Wednesday 22 February 2012
Friday 17 February 2012
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent, a Christian festival leading up to Easter Sunday.
This is the last chance to use up foods that aren't allowed in Lent, (a period of abstinence) such as butter and eggs, which are among the ingredients of pancakes.
Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year, this year it is Tuesday 21 February.
The word Shrove comes from the old verb "shrive" meaning to confess. In the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins and obtain forgiveness on Shrove Tuesday.
This is the last chance to use up foods that aren't allowed in Lent, (a period of abstinence) such as butter and eggs, which are among the ingredients of pancakes.
Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date varies from year to year, this year it is Tuesday 21 February.
The word Shrove comes from the old verb "shrive" meaning to confess. In the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins and obtain forgiveness on Shrove Tuesday.
Sunday 22 January 2012
Year of the Dragon
The Chinese New Year begins on January 23, when the outgoing rabbit is replaced by the dragon, an auspicious symbol of fortune, confidence and courage.
The last year of the dragon was in 2000, this year is the turn of the water dragon (being the current influence out of the five elements which rule in a cycle - metal, wood, fire, earth and water)
The influence of water should have a softening effect, adding subtlety and diplomacy to the more fierce or extreme qualities sometimes experienced in dragon years.
The last year of the dragon was in 2000, this year is the turn of the water dragon (being the current influence out of the five elements which rule in a cycle - metal, wood, fire, earth and water)
The influence of water should have a softening effect, adding subtlety and diplomacy to the more fierce or extreme qualities sometimes experienced in dragon years.
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