Welcome to Spring?

This may not be the most perfect photograph, but it is the first spring flower for 2005. In this part of the country the weather has been relatively kind this winter and our bulbs are already being tempted out of their slumbers. Just hope that February doesn't make them wish they had stayed inside.

Sunflower

A little while ago I published a sunflower picture to brighten the day. Here is the same picture as van Gogh might have painted it. 

H is for Harold

I am not entirely sure why, but when I considered the letter H, I thought I might get to do Happy, but for some reason I kept having the name Harold come into my head. Then listening to today's news I heard that the final report on Harold Shipman by Dame Janet Smith came to the conclusion that he was probably responsible for around 250 deaths during his career as a doctor. Seems he had a somewhat different interpretation of the Hippocratic Oath (Wikipedia) to most other doctors. What I find amazing about this is that the medical profession are still basically trying to say that this was just a one off situation that couldn't be repeated because of the systems and checks in place to monitor what doctors do. If there are such checks, then they didn't work too well! But then doctors do tend to look after themselves and present an "I know best" attitude.

Another H which was certainly not happy was the Holocaust survivors braving the cold for one last reunion which made me very uneasy that these poor souls might not survive this time.

Looking for something to lighten the day I remembered Harold Wilson. He was good for a few good quotes, though not as good as George Bush, and came up with "I'm an optimist, but an optimist who carries a raincoat" and "He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery." Now wasn't that cheerful! And finally, for a good laugh "A week is a long time in politics." Something our politicians should be well aware of today.

I am trying to update my photo galleries and so have to miss a posting today. Take a look at Bosworth for the latest additions.

G is for Guantanamo Bay

Well, it seems that The Last four Guantanamo Britons are due back today and are expected to be picked up by British police at the airport on their arrival here and will be questioned over any terrorist links they may have. Before we British get too critical of the treatment handed out by the Americans for all their detainees we should examine our own consciences as a C4 News - Detaining suspects article draws our attention to our treatment of such people at Belmarsh. Is it likely that these 4 men will disappear into our own black hole without trace or trial?

If in fact the Americans had some sort of real evidence against them then surely they must indeed go there. If, like the previously returned detainees, they are quickly released, then just maybe we can be a bit critical of our partners.

Another report "Mass suicide bids at Guantanamo Bay dismissed as only a gesture" suggests that the Americans do not really feel that there is any sort of problem, and that they are being fully humanitarian in their approach. Surely, if there is a case then these people should be given a trial. Or am I being naive?

Bosworth Flag

Yesterday was superb weatherwise, although very cold, so we could not resist the opportunity to take another walk around the battlefield. Actually, it was brass monkey weather so I limited the number of photos taken to keep my hands from dropping off. Gloves and cameras don't really go together too well; I thought I had taken some more but the camera buttons were obviously not as sensitive as I thought. This flag is flying close to Shenton Station but I cannot say exactly what it represents.



Ambion Wood

A little further along you walk through Ambion Wood, which although quite dense, on a bright winters day you can see well into it. It's eerie though, and I wouldn't recommend it after dark.




Walking back to Shenton over Ambion Hill, you can see the Boar Standard. This view of Richard III's battle standard, from near the summit of Ambion Hill, shows the sweeping views of the largely flat Leicestershire countryside available from this vantage point. Although Ambion Hill gave Richard the tactical advantages of the high ground, its long narrow shape meant that only a small portion of his troops could engage in battle if the opposing forces mounted their attack at the narrow side. The battle only lasted for about 2 hours but had a considerable effect on the course of English history.

Bosworth Arboretum

Following on from yesterday I am adding a few more photos from Market Bosworth Country Park around which we have spent many happy hours. In the past it was with our children and dog, then just our dog, and now unencumbered at all.


The Lake

Now our grand children go there, particularly to visit The Battlefield Line Railway especially if events include Thomas The Tank Engine.





One of the hazards is Giant Hogweed which is pretty prolific in the area, and is extremely nasty if you happen to touch it. Looks quite impressive though.



Bosworth Arboretum

The landscaped 35 hectare park which was formerly part of Bosworth Hall (now a hotel) deer parkland. There are many fine mature trees, a lake, a planted arboretum with exotic species, and a wildflower meadow.

Battle of Bosworth

The Battle of Bosworth took place in August 1485 quite close to my hometown. The battle site is maintained by Leicestershire County Council and is well worthy of a visit by anyone with an interest in history or simply for an enjoyable walk around the battle trail admiring the views. The following series of pictures were taken from along the trail


Bosworth 1


Bosworth 2


Bosworth




Market Bosworth in the distance

An excellent place for the enthusiast is Richard III Society-Bosworth Field where maps and more photographs can be seen. See also The Battle of Bosworth Field

Close to the market town of Market Bosworth is Bosworth Arboretum also well worth a walk around. Market Bosworth

This tree in the arboretum displays a fairly advanced specimum of "Witches Broom". These brooms arise from infested buds, which then give rise to shoots with more infested buds. Over time, branches appear to show many tight clusters of twigs along the axis. The brooms are easy to spot when there are no leaves on the tree.

Bosworth Aboretum

F is for fish

 

Although the scriptures tell us that Friday was very definitely not the day of the week on which Christ was crucified, nevertheless each Friday, many Catholics will eat fish rather than meat supposedly in remembrance of the Friday crucifixion. Roman Catholics in the United States and the UK are no longer required by their church to abstain from meat on Fridays, except during Lent, but many still follow the custom of fish on Friday.

It seems probable that this idea came from our pagan ancestors, and is just another attempt by Christians to muscle in on a pagan rite. The name Friday comes from the pagan goddess of fertility “Freya”, and fish was regarded as being sacred to her, being a well known fertility symbol. Fish, you may have noticed have a very high fertility rate, and would therefore be an ideal candidate, some fish producing as many as 9,000,000 eggs. The Romans were also in on the act as their fertility goddess was Venus who also happened to believe that Friday was sacred, and guess what, her symbol was the fish. It seems likely that the two goddesses were actually the same originally.

Are Catholics really taught that they should eat fish on Friday for the right reasons!

Looking forward to summer from the cold depths of winter. 

E is for eating

For various reasons it has been a while since I was able to make a posting and I feel it is perhaps time I put this right now. We have not long ago passed through a period of sustained eating for many of the population, and I would like to question just what it is that so many people put inside them in the name of food. I don't particularly want to get too far into a healthy living type of rant because, quite apart from the effects of food on us, what about the creatures we eat. Nor do I wish to make a case for vegetarianism as I like a good bit of animal flesh myself from time to time. What I would like to see however, is more people having a responsible attitude to the conditions under which the animals they eat are reared. If anyone is under any illusions about their eggs or poultry having a happy life strutting about the farmyard should take a look at Free Farm Animals from the Cruelty of Confinement - Poultry, or Free Farm Animals from the Cruelty of Confinement - Veal Crates

Is this what we want? 
The site gives a considerable amount of information about animal welfare, mostly in the U.S.A., but which equally applies to most other "civilised" nations, and I believe that whether we eat meat or not, (but particularly if we do), then it is really our responsibility to seek out the facts.

I am sure that most people do not think over much about the source of their food; you only have to look in the trolleys of other shoppers to become aware of this. Cost is often quoted as the main reason for buying food. Quality may come next, if it is considered at all. Ethical production methods probably come nowhere at all in most circumstances. There are alternatives, and it doesn't necessarily have to be organic. Free range, certainly in the UK, would seem the least we should expect. I find now that I have serious difficulty in having to eat anything that has not been treated with some respect. Where it does become difficult however, is trying to establish how animals are slaughtered. Giving them a good life in the field is not much use if they then have to be transported 100's of miles to an abbatoir which does not deal with them sensitively. Probably you would have to look for a fully accredited organic source to feel confident that all aspects of welfare had been taken into account.

Does organic food really taste any better? Well, from my experience, in a lot of cases it does; but not all. I think the case for organic vegetable and fruit comes down purely to consumer preference. After all, unless you are seriously odd, the welfare of the fruit is probably never going to be top of the agenda. Where we can afford it, and where we feel that the produce would otherwise be liberally covered in all sorts of additives, we would choose organic if available. Rarely is the taste any worse than the alternative, and normally I would rate it better. A good place to read is EUROPA - Agriculture - Organic farming

A summary of some of the perceived benefits are:

1 It tastes great

2. It doesn't routinely use artificial pesticides and fertilisers

3. It shows your commitment to animal welfare

4. It isn't more expensive when you consider the hidden costs of cleaning up agrochemicals in our natural water supply.

5. It's good for you

6. It's good for the environment

7. It doesn't use ingredients that are genetically modified

8. It supports farmers and farm workers because it is more labour intensive

9. The choice of organic produce is better than ever before

10. It takes better care of the soil.


The other thing that we should do is to ensure that food is not wasted. If an animal has effectively sacrificed itself for our benefit, than we should at least not waste its efforts. A UK version of Celebrity Big Brother recently had as one of its "games" about a dozen or so pheasants being plucked for our entertainment. This would not have been so bad if the food had been eaten afterwards, but no, the carcasses were just thrown in a heap and allowed to rot. That to me was sick!

Blickling Hall

Blickling Hall
We visited Blickling Hall in October last year, and this was one of the photos taken whilst there. More of the series can be seen in my photo galleries.

It was a nice day for a walk, and this pair of ducks at Kew Gardens decided to take full advantage of it. 

Coventry Cathedral Precinct Lighting 

Coventry Cathedral

The Statue of Reconciliation, Coventry Cathedral.

We spent part of today revisiting Coventry Cathedral, which I had forgotten was so wonderful. This statue is in the old cathedral which was largely destroyed in the 2nd World War. Josefina de Vasconcellos, who created it, was at the ripe old age of 90, and it was donated to the Cathedral by Richard Branson on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II (1995). A replica of this statue was donated by the people of Coventry to the peace garden of Heroshima.

I have now added the first part of a new gallery at Smugmug - Brodick Photo Galleries which shows the gardens at Cotehele House in Cornwall.