Wednesday April 20, 2005

Raymond Chandler's Killer in the rain

I recently bought a book by Raymond Chandler called Killer in the Rain. It is basically the short stories he had published in the 'pulp' magazines before he wrote his books. It is interesting to read these stories as a lot of them are shorter versions of some of his published books.

I found the story "Mandarin's Jade" interesting and another in the book as it is his only stories I know of where he names the chapters instead of just numbering them. I think this might have come from naming the episodes in the pulp magazine instead of just chapter one, two etc.

There is an excellent introduction by Philip Durham who explains why he thinks it is worth reading these stories which could be seen simply as the baby brothers of the novels that appeared later. Philip writes that this practice of reusing material is not unknown by authors - he did however not like doing it hence his desire for these short stories not to be reprinted, after the appearance of the 'final versions'. The introduction also looks at key parts of Chandler's novels and shows how clever he was in " combining and enlarging plots, maintaining a thematic consistancy, blowing up scenes ans adapteing fusing and adding characters". The development of Marlowe in the novels is also charted through these short stories.

If you like his novels go and buy this book you will enjoy it.

Three thousand mile report on the Golf

Well I have now driven three thousands miles in the new car I hastily touch wood to ward off bad luck at the same time. The longest run so far has been to the Wye valley where the car achieved just under fifty miles per gallon not bad I think. On this long run we were both as comfortable as the old (larger) car and the general noise from the road engine etc seemed less. I also found it easier with the Diesel Tdi to keep to set speed without cruise control. On the commute to work it makes just under forty. Everything still works and I am glad I got the black colour despite the day after washing it the car looks dirty again. The final thing to say was while on the Wye valley long weekend my wife's cousins husband spotted a little VW motif inside the headlamps. I had missed it.

Tuesday April 19, 2005

The potatoes are in

Well at last I have put my maincrop potatoes in the ground. They were shooting well in the garage. I plant them about nine inches deep. You want at least twelve inches between the plants in the row. As the plants need 'earthing up' during the season which makes sure the tubers do not go green you need to leave room between the rows to do this. Ideally two feet is enough. Once the potatoes appear this process of earthing up can start to avoid doing it all in one go.

I also ran this tool over the ground around my shallots, onions and garlic to finish off some weed seedlings that have appeared over the last few days. I also set some beetroot in inch deep drills. These seeds are unusual in that each seed is a cluster of seeds. This means you can leave at least a two/three inch gap betwen the seeds to avoid wastful thining out. Beetroot take a lot of cooking but forget the ones you get in jars full of vinegar. Freshly cooked and with a salad they are wonderful.

A long weekend in the Forest of Dean/Wye Valley

Lucky us having two relations in the Civil service. Not only are they nice people but they get to be able to stay at Whitemead Forest Park a CSMA place for free with guests of their choice. It is on a large site with cabins, chalets and places for tents and caravans. It has a pool and loads of other facilities including a bar and restaurant. We had a two bedroom chalet with cooking facilities. We went via Tintern Abbey and wandered around it with an audio guide. The guide was very interesting and brought to light what it would have been like for the monks who lived there before Henry VIII helped it fall into disuse.

We did two walks in the Forest of Dean area on the two full days we had in the area. We started the first at Monmouth along the River Wye. Several people were fishing for Salmon. Before the second part of the walk where you went uphill to then walk along the Offa's dyke path we had lunch in a pub that did not promise much from its appearance but served up some very inspiring sandwiches. This was despite my efforts to clear our table of a coffee cup and a jug of cream. The cream slipped and ended up all over the stone floor. At this point I should have asked if they had a cat but they came with a mop instead. The sandwiches had ham in them and were delicous. A lovely side salad and coriander leaves in the sandwich made it very nice. A good tip to remember.

The walk eventually after a long stretch took us to this Naval memorial. It celebrates sixteen of Britain's naval victories and the admirals responsible for each. Nelson is on the monument and he visited the site in 1802. Just next to it is the "Round House" below.

This is now in the hands of the National Trust and must be one of their smallest properties. It was years ago a place where Monmouth's wealthy gentlemen gathered for dinner and looked over the town below in the distance. In the far distance on a good day you can see the black mountains. We then returned to the town.

In the town was a statue to Charles Rolls (of Rolls Royce fame) and behind it a memorial to Henry V who was born in the town in 1387. These are two of Monmouth's famous sons.

Our second walk was shorter (the first being seven miles). This started at Chepstow where there is a famous castle and racecourse. The walk took us along into a nature reserve where to our right was a massive cliff face. Below was the river very tranquil until a pair of jet skiers ruined the peace. Luckily for us they soon cleared off. We soon passed a ruined church and headed uphill. The views over the river from the cliff edge were magnificant despite the now heavy drizzle. The walk took us pass "Wintour's Leap" named after St John Wintour who is said to have jumped off to avoid the parliamentary forces in 1642. We returned home on the fourth day and felt that this area has much to offer if one returned for a longer visit which we will do.

Monday April 18, 2005

Mirror flat roads..

Binfield the village I drive through every day has some painted marks on one of its roads. It is to indicate where the road is to be repaired by the looks of it. The road surface is a little bumpy but it is where holes have been dug and the soil has compacted leaving slight indentations. Another road I drive on less often is incredibly bumpy. The road is not flat anyway but the combination of various hole digging and wear and tear means the surface is not at its best. But why worry? I remember Steve telling us of British drivers fascination with smooth mirror flat road surfaces. Steve also said it is ok if a road is bumpy as that is what a cars suspension is for ! In both the above cases the surface is not dangerous - even to cyclists I would dare to venture. Both roads have speed limits and in the second case the state of the road means venturing anywhere near the limit results in a bumpy ride.

Now if you want a really bad example of a road go down Freeway 101 from San Francisco airport southbound. Massive holes , cracked surfaces and more. Do the Americans notice? No. Because their jelly like suspension smooths out all these imperfections.

Early school years

The best days of your life people proclaim. I am sure this is not always true. I am not an academic person so I was always going to do average at school. My first school known as an infants school I do not remember much about it except was the other side of town from where I lived. I remember more about the junior school where I suppose more formal teaching left more memories. Key things I can recall are the third of a pint of milk we had during a break in the morning, the 2/6 ( two shillings and six pence - a half crown) I deposited every week in a white envelope in a wooden box. This went into my own TSB bank account. I remember being taught 'times table'. We were put in a large circle and you took your turn clockwise going through the tables. Of course everyone just worked out what they were going to do eg 6x7 and had plenty of time to work it out- as long as you counted it right, if you see what I mean.

I also remember the school, an old building and a modern section where we took our eleven plus exam which determined wether we went to Grammar school or Secondary ( both predecessors of the comprehensive system). I failed of course. We wore short trousers in the summer and long in the winter. Those who changed before the bulk of the boys were ridiculed as being chickens in the winter and having revealed snowy white legs in the summer.

When we joined the secondary school it as a BIG change. I think three hundred boys were in that school. Of course we then had peers from the outside villages. Annoyingly the grammar school was next to where I lived and the secondary school who's motto was "Hold fast to that which is good" was miles away. A nice long walk. I was in the Lincoln house whose colour was green (the school was divided into four houses) . My tutor group was L2. Each house had to get as many credits as they could each term. There was a board displayed at assembly to show the current progress. Annual school games where also 'house based'.

The school was built on a large field. Excepting the canteen there were two identical schools, one school for boys, one for girls ( apart from the few subtle differences..) Each had a gym, library , assembly hall the lot. Boys went into the canteen first , girls afterwards. If there was an errand to visit the girls school the classroom was a mass or hands waving wildly to be picked to go.

In all the excitement of the first day I remember feeling sick. I plucked up the courage to go up to the maths teacher but too late. As I said the words "sir can I go to the toilet I feel sick" I threw up over his desk.

Friday April 15, 2005

Singapore - a race under the Merlion's gaze ?

Only just surfaced on ceefax but the news is old in Singapore . This article reveals more. Of course the money has to be found but as it says the streets on the island are wide and could offer real overtaking chances. The circuit would have to go past Raffles Hotel and the Marina bay area would be a good area as it was 'recently' reclaimed from the sea so could be where the pit/paddock area would be. I do not think they have a tunnel like in Monaco but I am sure the circuit could be challenging in other ways. The heat/humidity would nearly be as bad as Malaysia. The sudden downpours you get on the island could also lend extra interest. Unlike London dare I say, the country has excellent travel systems both above/below ground. The winner's trophy would have to be modelled on the Merlion of course.

Stage lighting

After a few months at my secondary school I decided my career was to be in stage lighting. The assembly hall ( two stories high ) had 'I' cross section girders ( just under the ceiling ) on which hung the stage lighting. When the school was doing a play or some other production the lights would go up. I soon found the school people who were doing the lighting, they were just regular boys. - But in the final year form. I pestered the English teacher once these boys left to let me do the lighting with my friends. The lighting was all made by Strand Electric . We had two Fresnel spots several Floodlights and several baby spots . We also had a dimmer for the lights again made by Strand.

I find it incredible when I think that we as schoolboys were allowed to do this stuff. We went up a long aluminium ladder up to the roof where the "I" beams were, fixed a bracket and then bolted the lights to it. We then ran cables back to the dimmer. It makes me feel queezy thinking about it now. I have thought long and hard about writing the next bit. The rule was the ladder's base had to be placed on a rubber mat to stop it slipping on the floor. We were told to always have one of us standing on the base of the ladder too. One time when we were all busy the school piano was brought into service to do this. Of course it was on wheels so soon started moving. The person on the ladder realised in a very short time the folly of this standin, as the ladder started to slip downwards. They quickly grabbed hold of the I beam and held on tight preventing further slippage. Not surprisingly they also called out; an expletive perhaps. We ran to the rescue and the piano was never called to do that job again.

Shortly before we left I think sense prevailed and the school adopted for a 'fixed' setup that was not altered in any way. During this time I got myself a visit to the Theatre Royal Norwich to see the lighting there. The setup was mind boggling and I wanted to do that job. But luckily for me my parents intervened and after a long path ended up working for Sun.

Thursday April 14, 2005

Spring Colour

The Polyanthus A very worthwhile addition to your spring garden. You can either grow your own from seed or buy plants in the autumn. I do the latter. Plant them in the soil in the autumn, water well if the ground is dry. Perhaps feed the soil with some fertiliser ( preferably dig in some well rotted manure every so many years) and then let them get on with it. They are very hardy and during late March they will start flowering. Deadhead to encourage more flowers. By the summer unless you can leave them in the bed dig them up. Put each in their own pot. Split the plants if they have produced secondary plants. Keep in a cold shaded place but do not overwater. You can then use the plants next autumn and repeat until they are old and tired.

Co2 in the atmosphere

Here is a some questions for the climatologists among you.

1) During winter when the trees have no leaves and vegetation is dormant or dead does the percentage of Co2 in the atmosphere rise ? (as plants convert Co2 to Oxygen as part of Photosynthesis )

2) If so does it balance out globally as when the Northern hemisphere is in summertime the Southern is in winter ?

3) Has anyone worked out the percentage of increase in Co2 in the atmosphere related to the loss of vegetation on the planet?

Finally could we plant our way out of trouble and plant loads of vegetation that has a big appetite for Co2 to combat the amount we pump out into the atmosphere ?

Wednesday April 13, 2005

Wild about gardens

This month in "The Garden", the RHS magazine are a couple of articles regarding peoples gardens and wildlife. As pressures mount on the countryside animals, birds, insects etc are trying to find alternative areas to live and breed. With very little changes home gardens can provide such a refuge. Although this webpage is undergoing some rework very soon it will offer the ability for people to share information and ideas on this subject. It is a pity it is not ready since the magazine has just announced it.

Amazingly there are 15 million gardens in the UK and the idea is even gardens by tower blocks can make a difference in their friendlyness to wildlife.

The stag beetle people a fearsome insect to meet on a dark night is suffering and another part of the magazine talks about an initiative to provide it places to nest with a buried plastic bucket full of wood chips! I am sure the big fellows would appreciate such help. Perhaps we can have a sign outside the bucket indicating a vacant new home.

University Challenged...

Excellent program this . Since returning to our screens on the BBC the show has re-ignited interest in it. Jeremy Paxman is an excellent quizmaster. Monday night saw St Hilda's College Oxford against Manchester University . All went well until Jeremy asked them to spell cemetery. This was a 'starter' question. Neither team got the write answer (sic). Paxman was flabbergasted. I have to say I think the questions have been dummed down over the years. I am sure when Bamber Gascoigne was in charge he would have asked them to spell that Welsh village with the longest name going. To be accurate that village no longer holds the record as another village has been renamed as a protest against a wind farm.

Tuesday April 12, 2005

Product of the week a tool for the garden

This is the best garden implement invented. As can be seen it is a 'snap on' device and you can attach other types of fittings. But the one shown is excellent for weeding or breaking up the surface of soil which is rock hard to allow water to drain into the soil instead of running off the surface. It also works well as a device to break up soil that was dug over.

Keeping bees

When I lived with my parents in Cambridgeshire I decided to keep bees. I have no idea what made me make such a decision but I did. Friends of friends had four hives but were becoming increasingly worried about the wife's strong allergic reaction to a bee sting. So the bees had to go. So one day four hives ended up in the bottom of our garden. I think they arrived during the early spring. The plan was for me to work with the old owner and he would train me. I had all the kit; bee suit, hat, gloves, smoker and other bits.

So we opened up one hive to take a look. My mentor was there. In the spring the bee numbers are much reduced with no drones and a reduced worker count. But I remember being shocked at how many of the little blighters there were. I think we saw the queen. It all seemed easy, pop a little smoke in - which causes the bees to panic, take up honey and become placid which means they are less likely to sting you or go crazy.

The next stage in the bee keeping cycle was to put what is called a 'super' on the hive during the summer months. The main chamber is for storage of food and also larva - the new generation of bees. The super is for honey only and a special trap stops the queen popping 'upstairs' and laying eggs there. All then went well. I remember opening up a hive on my own and panicking when things went slightly wrong. Too much or too little smoke I expect. One day I looked outside and a big ball of bees were buzzing on one of the apple trees. Either one of my hives had swarmed or another swarm had dropped into our garden. My mentor was out so a neighbour who kept bees came to my rescue. To catch a swarm you just need to get the queen into your temporary home. The workers will follow her. As they have raided their old home, they are placid. This swarming repeated itself for each of my hives. If I had been more on the ball I could have prevented it as the old queen (who leaves with the swarm) leaves behind her a few specially tendered lava who will become queens themselves (making an imminent swarm obvious). These can be seen to be developing before the bees swarm.

I managed to struggle on and late summer the trap between the main chamber and super is reversed which ends up with all the bees only being able to leave the super so you can remove it. We used a centrifuge to spin the honey out of the comb. You put the empty super back on the hive and the bees obligingly clean it up and move the remains of their winter food downstairs. You then need to feed them using sugar syrup. This is given to them using a feeder on top of the hive. By now it is autumn. The final stage of setting them up for winter is to put a metal grill over the entrance to stop mice invading the hive. The small colony then lives off the sugar mixture living in a ball and coming out for water when the weather is less cold.

After a busy first year I decided the beekeeping hobby was not for me. Looking back I should have teamed up with my neighbour ( who got four swarms FOC) and learnt off him. We got lots of honey but it was the honey you get from bees who gather a lot of nectar off oil seed rape. The honey is not lovely and runny but rock solid and a very pale colour. I learnt a lot about bees and that training is very important in any aspect of work or home life.

Monday April 11, 2005

Where is the indication ?

For the first time since starting these grumpy old man weblogs I am breaking with tradition. I admit that I used to do the bad thing myself. My wife who has a driving license but does not drive told me one day that at roundabouts my indication was missing or I did it far to late to be of any use. After initial denial by myself I realised my wife's observations were true. So of course I know observe others doing what I used to do. I think the main error is that people do not indicate when the are about to leave the roundabout. On busy roundabouts this makes it difficult to decide if its safe to go. As decribed by me before you cannot rely on a cars position on the roundabout to be confident of its intentions. Worse still is where they indicate and leave at different junction.

I am wondering if the government is missing yet another money making oppertunity by having people take a repeat test every ten years or so. It also has a free safety improvement aspect too. At work we are thinking of having some of the lab team become first aiders trained by St. John Ambulance . For this you do have to go back every 'n' years to be retrained after the initial training. Strikes me with a car you can do as much damage as a misinformed first aider. An exam to ensure you at least can show competance on a anniversary basis might not be a bad idea.