I thought I would post this video of London's New Year's Eve 2011 firework display on the river Thames for all to watch. It's the UK's turn to host the Olympic Games and this certainly is a good start to the proceedings. Enjoy.
About Me
- Dave Winter
- At the moment I am caring full time for a family member and when the time comes I will be selling up and living on a narrowboat.I enjoy reading,especially about those living on narrowboats and their daily lives.The tug Nb Resolute in the above picture is NOT mine but is owned by Dave Moore and is something I would aspire to own one day although I am going to look at many boats before I make a decision on the style and interior.Tugs are looking good at the moment but have yet to look around one. My interest in narrowboats started some 47 years ago. As a lad I cycled from Luton to bridge 111 on the G.U.by the Globe to fish and watch the Morton and Clayton boats go by,full of coal with a family on board and always wondered how they kept their balance on the planks that ran above the coal and why the the dogs didnt jump in the canal.That fascination has stayed with me so when I am able I will be there on my narrowboat joining in the great community of boat owners. Find me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/brassiclint or listen to my music site.Use earphones or earplugs depending on your musical taste :) http://blip.fm/Dave_Winter
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Old Sony Camera Saved From Redundancy
Having cleared out the loft I found another old camera which I used in my previous job and thought it was too good to throw out. It is a Sony Digital Mavica MVC-FD83 which uses floppy disks as storage.
Storing pictures in this way was quick and easy which produced quite acceptable quality results for storage on the computer. Having many floppy disks containing pictures I was loath to get rid of them and came across this invaluable piece of kit to load them onto my separate hard drive via my laptop which has no way of receiving the old floppies.
This is the external USB Floppy Drive unit which I purchased from Amazon for £9.99. I just plugged it in my laptop which recognised it straight away. It works a treat so I now have the job of loading all the pictures.
One good thing is that I have decided to use it as my everyday camera when I eventually live on a narrowboat rather than my Canon which is a bit too expensive to sling around on the cut.
I would just like to wish my followers and anybody else from around the world who happens to visit my blog a very
HAPPY NEW YEAR
May you have Peace, Health,Wealth and Happiness
Sunday, 25 December 2011
HOME BREW MADE EASY
Nothing on TV on xmas day so I thought I would start my home brew which was my xmas present to myself after I found all my old brewing kit after clearing the loft out.
HEATING PLATE
FERMENTING BUCKET WITH TAP
( Showing beer kit consisting of 2 cans of malt extract and 1 packet of yeast)
PRESSURE BARREL
Method: 1. Put the 2 cans into hot water to thin the contents.
2.Wash and sterilise the bucket.
3. Tip the can contents into the bucket and add 6 pints of boiling water.
4. Top up to 40 pints with cold water and mix to ensure contents are fully dissolved.
5. Add the yeast and put on the lid.
6. Leave for 6 days in the warm till bubbles stop rising.
7. Transfer to pressure barrel together with half teaspoon of sugar per pint and stand in the warm for 2 days,then place in the cool for 2 weeks or until beer is cleared.
So easy to do and at 0.60p a pint is a no brainer.
Note! Boots no longer sell brewing equipment, the kit was from Wilkinsons.
Will report later on the results :)
As promised I would update with the result of this brew.
The only mistake I made was letting the yeast work out completely consequently I could not get the pressure barrel to pressurise even after adding a sugar mix to the brew. Not willing to pay £22 for a new Co2 cylinder to attach to the inlet valve I am syphoning the beer into a pint glass with a length of clear tube after removing the screw top of the barrel.
The resulting brew is a flat but very drinkable pint of bitter full of flavour and very much like a real ale which is clear and a lovely colour. Next time I will not let the yeast stop working before decanting from the fermenting bucket to the barrel.
CHEERS and mines a pint !
Hic!
As promised I would update with the result of this brew.
The only mistake I made was letting the yeast work out completely consequently I could not get the pressure barrel to pressurise even after adding a sugar mix to the brew. Not willing to pay £22 for a new Co2 cylinder to attach to the inlet valve I am syphoning the beer into a pint glass with a length of clear tube after removing the screw top of the barrel.
The resulting brew is a flat but very drinkable pint of bitter full of flavour and very much like a real ale which is clear and a lovely colour. Next time I will not let the yeast stop working before decanting from the fermenting bucket to the barrel.
CHEERS and mines a pint !
Hic!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO MY FOLLOWERS
A very Merry Christmas to all my followers.
Remember there is always somebody worse off than yourself.
Take a few minutes to listen to this program.
Breadlines and Tinsel http://bbc.in/ux8R7B
Friday, 16 December 2011
LOFT INSULATION
Today we had our loft insulation topped up to 300mm thickness and a great job the two lads did who work for the Energy Care Group Ltd taking less than 3/4 hr to complete. The insulation used was URSA 10 with two 100mm layers completed. See the link for details of the insulation. http://www.ursa-uk.co.uk/_files/URSA_10_Loft_Roll_1010_V3.pdf
See the before and after pictures. All we need now is to be able to afford to heat the whole house.
See the before and after pictures. All we need now is to be able to afford to heat the whole house.
Insulation before top up thickness added.
Insulation after 200mm thickness added
Thickness shows up around the trap door.
Insulation added on top of the trap door.
To finish the job off I will add an insulated board beneath the trap door to properly seal it off. The tiles have no under felt as it is an old house but many years ago I sealed the gaps between the tiles with under seal which successfully stopped the snow from blowing in.This also ensured that there was plenty of air circulation to prevent condensation.
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Transcript of reply by Richard Benyon MP regarding funding of the new Canal & River Trust
This letter was sent to Kelvin Hopkins my local MP by Richard Benyon MP who passed it onto me, dated 28/11/2011
Dear Kelvin,
Thank you for your letter of 14th November to the secretary of state enclosing a copy of an email from your constituent,Mr D.Winter of (my address), about the transfer of British Waterways into a charitable sector.I am replying as minister responsible for this policy area.
I can assure you that the government remains committed to a sustainable future for our inland waterways. This was demonstrated by our announcement in October 2010 that,subject to parliamentary approval, we would transfer the functions and assets of British Waterways in England and Wales from state into civil society. The transfer to the new Canal & River Trust (CRT) is expected to take place in April 2012.
This transfer will not only give users and communities more responsibility foe governance of the waterways, it will also open up new income streams and material public support at a time when there is considerable pressure on other sources of income. Potential sources of new revenue include fund raising activities, donations, charitable grants and legacies; in addition, the charity will be able to borrow against its property assets, and develop further its commercial activities. Charitable status will also increase volunteering, enhance local partnership working and generate a range of cost efficiencies.
The Government will give the new charity the best start it can afford. Government has already agreed to transfer a property portfolio (valued at about £460 million) and to give the CRT a long term funding agreement. The Government has provided a commitment to £39m per annum from 2012/13 to April 2022. The terms and conditions of the funding agreement are currently subject to negotiation between the Trustees of the charity and the Government. A long-term agreement will enable the Trustees to develop a long-term business plan.
You will appreciate that, until those negotiations are concluded, I am unable to indicate the final terms of Government funding for the charity. We will make further announcements in due course.
Richard Benyon.
Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries
Dear Kelvin,
Thank you for your letter of 14th November to the secretary of state enclosing a copy of an email from your constituent,Mr D.Winter of (my address), about the transfer of British Waterways into a charitable sector.I am replying as minister responsible for this policy area.
I can assure you that the government remains committed to a sustainable future for our inland waterways. This was demonstrated by our announcement in October 2010 that,subject to parliamentary approval, we would transfer the functions and assets of British Waterways in England and Wales from state into civil society. The transfer to the new Canal & River Trust (CRT) is expected to take place in April 2012.
This transfer will not only give users and communities more responsibility foe governance of the waterways, it will also open up new income streams and material public support at a time when there is considerable pressure on other sources of income. Potential sources of new revenue include fund raising activities, donations, charitable grants and legacies; in addition, the charity will be able to borrow against its property assets, and develop further its commercial activities. Charitable status will also increase volunteering, enhance local partnership working and generate a range of cost efficiencies.
The Government will give the new charity the best start it can afford. Government has already agreed to transfer a property portfolio (valued at about £460 million) and to give the CRT a long term funding agreement. The Government has provided a commitment to £39m per annum from 2012/13 to April 2022. The terms and conditions of the funding agreement are currently subject to negotiation between the Trustees of the charity and the Government. A long-term agreement will enable the Trustees to develop a long-term business plan.
You will appreciate that, until those negotiations are concluded, I am unable to indicate the final terms of Government funding for the charity. We will make further announcements in due course.
Richard Benyon.
Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Transcript of letter sent to Secretary of State by my MP regarding funding of the new Canal & River Trust
After writing to my local MP Kelvin Hopkins outlining my concerns for the future funding of the new Canal & River Trust I received this reply from him which is a transcript of the letter he is sending to Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. When he receives a reply he will write to me again.
Dear Secretary of State,
I enclose a copy of a letter from a constituent, Mr David Winter of ( my address ) who is concerned about the transfer of British Waterways to charitable status.
Mr Winter is concerned that the projected funding for the new Canal and River Trust (CRT) will be insufficient over the ten year period of the initial contract. There is no allowance for inflation and according to British Waterway's own projections there will be a funding deficit of £20m which the CRT would inherit.
In addition, BW has a pension deficit of £65 million. Mr Winter maintains that there is a large dredging backlog requiring £8-12 million per year to stabilise as well as ensuring that drainage, navigation and environmental requirements are effectively maintained. In addition the rights of those who live on the canal are under threat of being reduced. I also believe that British Waterways or its successor body should not be exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act as there will continue to be a public interest in much of the work of the successor body.
Issues such as the sale or lease of lock-keepers cottages are also of concern, as there will be no professionals on site at locks to ensure their safe use.
I would be grateful for the points Mr Winter makes which are very worrying for the future of the waterways. I look forward to a reply to my letter in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Kelvin Hopkins MP
Dear Secretary of State,
I enclose a copy of a letter from a constituent, Mr David Winter of ( my address ) who is concerned about the transfer of British Waterways to charitable status.
Mr Winter is concerned that the projected funding for the new Canal and River Trust (CRT) will be insufficient over the ten year period of the initial contract. There is no allowance for inflation and according to British Waterway's own projections there will be a funding deficit of £20m which the CRT would inherit.
In addition, BW has a pension deficit of £65 million. Mr Winter maintains that there is a large dredging backlog requiring £8-12 million per year to stabilise as well as ensuring that drainage, navigation and environmental requirements are effectively maintained. In addition the rights of those who live on the canal are under threat of being reduced. I also believe that British Waterways or its successor body should not be exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act as there will continue to be a public interest in much of the work of the successor body.
Issues such as the sale or lease of lock-keepers cottages are also of concern, as there will be no professionals on site at locks to ensure their safe use.
I would be grateful for the points Mr Winter makes which are very worrying for the future of the waterways. I look forward to a reply to my letter in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Kelvin Hopkins MP
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