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.
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