Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Last chance to see Cloth & Culture NOW, Sainsbury Centre
World Art Collections Exhibition
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Last chance to see:
Cloth & Culture NOW
at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Last chance to see:
Cloth & Culture NOW
at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
Foreground: Dzintra Vilks, Meeting of the World Torn WindsPhoto: Andy Crouch
Cloth & Culture NOW, a major exhibition of international contemporary textile art, closes at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich, on Sunday 1 June. People have just two more weekends to catch this immensely popular show (closed Bank Holiday Monday).
“We are delighted with the way Cloth & Culture NOW has captured people’s attention. The show focuses on leading contemporary textile art in a global context, offering something new and different to anyone with an interest in art or textiles. The visitor numbers have been excellent, reflecting popular interest in textiles and the ongoing enthusiasm for what the Centre has to offer since we re-opened two years ago this month”
– Kate Carreno, Deputy Director.
The exhibition examines the influence of culture and tradition on contemporary textile practice and features exciting and innovative new large-scale work by 35 artists from Estonia, Finland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania and the UK. The artists in the show use traditional techniques and materials such as tapestry, knitting and embroidery, as well as digital print and photography, optic fibres, moulded plastics, rusted metal and even bin bags.
For more information, including sample images and statements by all the artists visit
Successful launch of Red Square Watches at Harleston Swan
Ken Bacon displaying one of the many examples of Russian WatchesA new shop has successfully opened at the Swan Hotel in Harleston.
Red Square Mechanical Russian Watches are of exclusive design and exquisite quality. They are manufactured to the highest standards and specification.
This is a great opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to see the exquisite workmanship close up, and a chance to purchase as a gift or just as a great investment.
NEW SHOP NOW OPEN
available during Hotel opening hours from 21st May
at
The Swan Hotel
The Thoroughfare, Harleston,
Norfolk IP20 9AS
Tel: 01379 852221
at
The Swan Hotel
The Thoroughfare, Harleston,
Norfolk IP20 9AS
Tel: 01379 852221
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Country Diary - Wheatacre, Norfolk
Country DiaryWheatacre, Norfolk
The sudden flush of heat across East Anglia has set the farm fields racing skywards, and on the southern edge of the Waveney floodplain the world was divided into just two colours, the green spiring up and the blue pressing down. Yet one colour had also bled into its neighbour.
The cow pastures at Wheatacre are made up largely of a flowering grass, rather oddly named Timothy, and there is a faintly bluish tone to each separate inflorescence of this species. When viewed in aggregate across the flats, the fields of Timothy made it seem as if that ozone blue had somehow come to earth, secreting itself among the vegetation.
Over this shining green-blue landscape, which rippled gently in a cold westerly, butterflies struggled against the breeze. They were mainly whites but every now and then a peacock sallied across the grass canopy as a scrap of plush purple velvet. Above the butterflies, concentrated in linear plumes down the dykes, were St Mark's flies - said to emerge first on the feast day for the eponymous saint, April 25.
These bulbous-bodied black insects had drawn in a suite of predators, foremost of which were the hobbies. For that irresistible blend of economy with power, so much a signature of falcon flight, only a peregrine outdoes its smaller relative. The hobbies would swirl down in effortless parabolas and, at the moment of upturn, seize, kill, eat, and retrieve the sweet rhythmicality of their wing beat in one deft manoeuvre.
Even the rooks seemed captivated, and in gauche movements they tried for the same fly-catching technique. Then one hobby spotted something larger, spiralled down and plucked it out of the air. It was so fast I couldn't follow the procedure, but as the bird lifted again, four purple wings tumbled slant-wise with the breeze like petals freshly fallen from a tree.
source: Mark Cocker, Country diary www.guardian.co.uk
The cow pastures at Wheatacre are made up largely of a flowering grass, rather oddly named Timothy, and there is a faintly bluish tone to each separate inflorescence of this species. When viewed in aggregate across the flats, the fields of Timothy made it seem as if that ozone blue had somehow come to earth, secreting itself among the vegetation.
Over this shining green-blue landscape, which rippled gently in a cold westerly, butterflies struggled against the breeze. They were mainly whites but every now and then a peacock sallied across the grass canopy as a scrap of plush purple velvet. Above the butterflies, concentrated in linear plumes down the dykes, were St Mark's flies - said to emerge first on the feast day for the eponymous saint, April 25.
These bulbous-bodied black insects had drawn in a suite of predators, foremost of which were the hobbies. For that irresistible blend of economy with power, so much a signature of falcon flight, only a peregrine outdoes its smaller relative. The hobbies would swirl down in effortless parabolas and, at the moment of upturn, seize, kill, eat, and retrieve the sweet rhythmicality of their wing beat in one deft manoeuvre.
Even the rooks seemed captivated, and in gauche movements they tried for the same fly-catching technique. Then one hobby spotted something larger, spiralled down and plucked it out of the air. It was so fast I couldn't follow the procedure, but as the bird lifted again, four purple wings tumbled slant-wise with the breeze like petals freshly fallen from a tree.
source: Mark Cocker, Country diary www.guardian.co.uk
Driving Alert: Watch Out, MORE Deer About!
Deer AlertMotorists have been warned to be alert as the number of deer straying onto rural roads hits an annual peak.
Across the UK more than 150 people are killed or injured in collisions involving deer every year, the AA said.
May is said to be the time of year when young deer leave breeding areas and road incidents involving deer are 25% higher then at any other time.
The AA said the A134 at Thetford Forest on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, was a deer crash hotspot.
The organisation urged drivers to heed warning signs.
According to the AA's figures 14 crashes a year involving deer occur in Suffolk.
"Something between 40,000 and 75,000 deer are killed on the road every year when hit by cars and those same collisions will kill or injure 150 people," Andrew Howard, of the AA, told the BBC.
"There's a huge band that runs across basically from The Wash to the Isle of Wight where they're most common and when talking about Suffolk, the Thetford Forest area, the area that runs south-east from there is a particularly highly dense area against the rest of Britain."
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Across the UK more than 150 people are killed or injured in collisions involving deer every year, the AA said.
May is said to be the time of year when young deer leave breeding areas and road incidents involving deer are 25% higher then at any other time.
The AA said the A134 at Thetford Forest on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, was a deer crash hotspot.
The organisation urged drivers to heed warning signs.
According to the AA's figures 14 crashes a year involving deer occur in Suffolk.
"Something between 40,000 and 75,000 deer are killed on the road every year when hit by cars and those same collisions will kill or injure 150 people," Andrew Howard, of the AA, told the BBC.
"There's a huge band that runs across basically from The Wash to the Isle of Wight where they're most common and when talking about Suffolk, the Thetford Forest area, the area that runs south-east from there is a particularly highly dense area against the rest of Britain."
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Not A Nice Story!
Not A Nice Story!
Do Not Read if you have a weak stomach.
Just to repeat the above warning, this is an illustration of what a debt collector can encounter, not a "humorous" story . . .
I went to a call in a village outside of Norwich. Easy enough to spot the address, in a street of manicured lawns there was only one that looked like a bomb site. Late evening and getting dark, only one room was lit . . .
Knock on the door was answered by a man leaning out of the lounge window, there was an unpleasant smell wafting out but that's something that can go with the job at times.
I introduced myself and approached the window. The one bulb was only just bright enough to see my work sheet by, unfortunately it was also bright enough to see several piles of faeces (poo) - not just on the lounge floor but also along the window sill.
The stench was amazing. This in itself isn't that unusual, there are a surprising number of people that live like this, not bothering to clear up after the cat or dog.
After a brief discussion over the debt (I wasn't hanging around) he wanted to see the paperwork better, so he came outside to have a better look. I noticed he'd left the front door open and warned him in case his dog ran out.
"It's ok mate" he replied "I haven't got any pets"!
The piles all over the floor were his. More worrying was the fact he must have been carefully balancing on the window sill, (facing towards the road) in order to go to the toilet.
As I said, not a nice story but I've included it just to show that the job isn't always a series of funny tales.
from:
A weekly feature, but for more stories now, please visit:
the-secret-diary-of-a-debt-collector.blogspot.com
Monday, 19 May 2008
Bungay Garden Market 2008 - photos
click images to enlarge
Human fruit machine fruit holders left to right:Deputy Mayor Arthur Fisher, Mrs Fisher, Rotarians: Roger Madgett,
and Mike Daniels in the Red Hat
Shouts are like buses . . . Retained FireFighter in Suffolk
Alerter
All you ever wanted to know about
being a retained FireFighter in Suffolk
being a retained FireFighter in Suffolk
Shouts are like buses...Date: 14th May 2008
Time: 2055
Type: Kitchen
Address: Clapham Road Central, Lowestoft
Initial Attendance: Normanshurst 01 and 02
Time: 2055
Type: Kitchen
Address: Clapham Road Central, Lowestoft
Initial Attendance: Normanshurst 01 and 02
And that's just what happened last night.
I'd just sat down in front of my PC, trying to get myself motivated to do update one of my customers' website. One sip of my tea, fingers poised above the keyboard and my alerter decides it's time for me to go for a jog over to the station.
I think this shout had come through simply as 'house', which can cover a multitude of sins. The address should have been the giveaway - Stanley Street, Lowestoft. And sure enough it turned out to be 'false alarm, good intent' - someone had seen smoke coming out of a building and naturally thought the place was on fire - except that it was actually the smokehouse on the corner of Stanley Street and Raglan Street!
So within 20 minutes I was back home and sipping my luke warm brew, feeling even less inclined to start any work. I don't think it was much over half an hour later and we're off again. This time it's a kitchen fire on Clapham Road Central.
We arrived at the incident a few minutes after White Watch to find that one BA team were in the property having dealt with a developing fire in the kitchen. Both myself and Howard Clark stood by as the Emergency BA Team and got used to clear the kitchen around the area of the fire. This was just emptying cupboards and then removing them from the kitchen. We pulled a small area of the ceiling down just to ensure that the fire hadn't took hold on the joists above.
Left the station just after 2200hrs to get the third and final shout of the evening less than an hour later. This time it was to a confirmed fire at the Birds Eye factory in Lowestoft. Thankfully plenty turned in, so I was surplus to requirements and able to get off home to my bed...
A helmet, a helmet, my kingdom for a helmet...
With apologies to The Bard...
With apologies to The Bard...
Perhaps I'm being a tad old-fashioned but I thought the raison d'etre (that's French for 'reason for existence') of a Fire and Rescue Service was to get those big red lorries out of the doors when an emergency arises. It may be as simple as a cat up a tree or it may be something that threatens human-life - a fire, an RTC, whatever.
To get fire engines rolling you need a crew. And that crew must have all its necessary PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) - fire tunic and leggings, boots, gloves and the all important yellow helmet. If a firefighter doesn't have the correct PPE they don't get on the fire engine - it's as simple as that. But that one firefighter going 'off the run' may, in turn, take the pump 'off the run' because of crew availability. Now the big red lorry doesn't go out of the door to save life and property.
So, it was with complete dismay, that yesterday, I witnessed a firefighter having to take himself off the run because he couldn't get a replacement helmet - his helmet of 14 years had finally gone to meet its maker. And why couldn't he get a replacement helmet? Because there were none in stock in stores...
Surely the one thing you never run out of in stores is PPE. Without it we cease to be able to operate properly.
I realise that very soon (but how soon) we are due to be issued with the new Galle helmets. But until we are there is the need to keep a buffer stock to meet the need for replacements.
We've run out of helmets in stores but I bet the stationery cupboards in Endeavour House never run out of pens!
www.alerter.co.uk
DissLit - Tue 20th May to Sat 24th May 2008
DissLit
Tue 20th May to Sat 24th May 2008
Tue 20th May to Sat 24th May 2008
Discover South Norfolk’s biggest Book Fair on Saturday 24th
May as you explore the medieval streets and yards of Diss. Look
out for authors signing their work along the route. The fine Corn
Hall plays host to Antiquarian book dealers bringing rich volumes
on a variety of subjects.
Open the door to St Mary’s Church to find it festooned
with literary inspired floral arrangements and discover
the ancient arts of papermaking, bookbinding, and marbling.
Meanwhile “Wally the Worm” and his creator will delight children
in the market place with interactive tales in song and verse. The
United Reformed Church - opposite the Mere’s mouth has new
and nearly new books on sale. Wind down at the end of the day
with a poetry reading at the No.13 Wine Bar.
The Book Fair concludes a week of events for bookworms and
booklovers including the chance for children to make their own
pop up book under guidance from novelty book expert Robert
Crowther on the 21st at Diss Publishing Company. Neil Storey
will be on hand with tales of Norfolk Dark Deeds and Hauntings
at St Mary’s Church on the 23rd - with spellbinding musical
entertainment. If you love books - make Diss your destination!
For more information
Visit: www.south-norfolk.gov.uk
Tel: Vivienne Weeks 01379 641187
May as you explore the medieval streets and yards of Diss. Look
out for authors signing their work along the route. The fine Corn
Hall plays host to Antiquarian book dealers bringing rich volumes
on a variety of subjects.
Open the door to St Mary’s Church to find it festooned
with literary inspired floral arrangements and discover
the ancient arts of papermaking, bookbinding, and marbling.
Meanwhile “Wally the Worm” and his creator will delight children
in the market place with interactive tales in song and verse. The
United Reformed Church - opposite the Mere’s mouth has new
and nearly new books on sale. Wind down at the end of the day
with a poetry reading at the No.13 Wine Bar.
The Book Fair concludes a week of events for bookworms and
booklovers including the chance for children to make their own
pop up book under guidance from novelty book expert Robert
Crowther on the 21st at Diss Publishing Company. Neil Storey
will be on hand with tales of Norfolk Dark Deeds and Hauntings
at St Mary’s Church on the 23rd - with spellbinding musical
entertainment. If you love books - make Diss your destination!
For more information
Visit: www.south-norfolk.gov.uk
Tel: Vivienne Weeks 01379 641187
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Crucifix ground Beetle spotted in fenland
Rare Crucifix Ground Beetle is found in fenland
One of the UK's rarest beetles has been rediscovered in a fen on the border of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk - 50 years after it was last seen at the site. The beetle was found by Stuart Warrington of the National Trust.
The crucifix ground beetle, whose markings look like a black cross on a orange background, was rediscovered at Wicken Fen, near Burwell.
It was found by Stuart Warrington, from the National Trust which owns the Fen.
Before the discovery at Wicken Fen the beetle was thought to survive at only three places in the UK.
Mr Warrington said: "This beetle is the rarest species I have ever seen and in the insect world it is perhaps the equivalent of a bittern for ornithologists.
'Fantastic news'
"To say that I was surprised and excited to have found it during one of my regular surveys at Wicken Fen is an under-statement."
Beetle expert, Tony Drane, who has been visiting Wicken Fen for more than 30 years, said: "It is fantastic that this rare species has been re-discovered at Wicken Fen.
"It has probably never been away but has survived undetected in low numbers in the Fen alongside Wicken Lode. "This is one of a number of rare species in decline across the UK which survive at Wicken Fen, which show the importance of this nature reserve."
Wicken Fen was the first nature reserve to be acquired by the National Trust when two acres were purchased in 1901.
source: news.bbc.co.uk
NationalTrust.org.uk
Insurance Quotes! - Driving hints
Insurance Quotes!
Have you ever thought how stressful it might be sorting out insurance claims, one insurance company received the following:
"The accident happened because I had one eye on the lorry in front, one eye on the pedestrian and the other on the car behind."
"I had been driving for 40 years when I suddenly fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident."
"The accident happened because I had one eye on the lorry in front, one eye on the pedestrian and the other on the car behind."
"I had been driving for 40 years when I suddenly fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident."
Mike Daniels AcciDON'T - Making drivers safer world wide.
Retraining Drivers for Insurance Companies,
please don't let us meet you by Accident . . .
Mike Daniels and AcciDON’T
D.S.A. Registered Instructor, Awarded Highest Grade 6
Retraining Drivers for Insurance Companies,
please don't let us meet you by Accident . . .
Mike Daniels and AcciDON’TD.S.A. Registered Instructor, Awarded Highest Grade 6
Saturday, 17 May 2008
Cauliflower Cheese - Susie’s Favourite Recipes
Susie’s Favourite Recipes
Cauliflower Cheese1 Cauliflower
40 g (1 1/2 oz) Butter
45 ml (3 level tbsp) Flour
300 ml (1/2 pint) Milk
100 g (4 oz) English Cheddar Cheese
Freshly Ground Pepper
* Trim and rinse cauliflower.
* Grate cheese.
* Cook cauliflower in fast boiling water until just tender. Drain and place in an oven proof dish.
* Melt the butter in a pan, stir in the flour and cook gently for 1 minute.
* Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the milk.
* Bring to the boil, stirring until the sauce thickens.
* Add 3/4 of the cheese and season to taste.
* Pour sauce over the cauliflower and sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
* Put under the grill to brown.
* Enjoy!
House Sparrow - Waveney Wildlife
House Sparrow
The house sparrow is probably the most familiar of British birds and is largely dependent on the food and nesting places found in gardens.
Characteristics
The male House Sparrow has a grey crown, cheeks and underparts, black on the throat, upper breast and between the bill and eyes. The bill in summer is blue-black, and the legs are brown. In winter the plumage is dulled by pale edgings and the bill is yellowish brown. The female has no black on head or throat, nor a grey crown; her upperparts are streaked with brown. The juveniles are deeper brown, and the white is replaced by buff; the beak is dull yellow.
Habitat
Found from the centre of cities to the farmland of the countryside, it feeds and breeds near to people. Where there are no suitable man-made structures the House Sparrow will build a domed nest in a hedge, bush or tree.
Behaviour
Although the Sparrows' young are fed on the larvae of insects, the House Sparrows eat seeds, including grain where it is available. In spring, flowers, especially those with yellow colours, are often eaten; crocuses, primroses and aconites seem to attract the house sparrow most. The bird will also hunt butterflies.
The Sparrow's most common call is a short and incessant chirp. It also has a double call note ‘phillip’. While the young are in their nests, the older birds utter a long ‘churr’.
B.A.B.
www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife
Charity fundraising show in Bungay 21st May
Charity fundraising show in Bungay in aid of disability charity
A night of music and entertainment is taking place at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay next Wednesday (21 May) in aid of Suffolk based disability charity Optua.
The Fundraising Showcase is being organised by local student Heather Willis who lives in Lowestoft. Heather has pulled together a programme of entertainment from her talented group of friends, including harp and piano performances, singing and comedy.
Tickets for the show will cost £5 with all profits going to Optua’s leisure service which provides activities and events for people with learning, physical and sensory disabilities in Suffolk.
The show starts at 7pm and tickets go on sale from this weekend. The theatre box office is open from 11am to 3pm on 01986 897130.
There will also be a prize raffle on the night with a top prize of a signed England shirt.
Heather Willis says: “I love performing and being involved in entertainment and music. I wanted to put on a show for a local charity and chose Optua because they help people with special needs.”
Sue Clements, Fundraising Manager at Optua, said: “We’re very grateful to Heather for organising this show in aid of Optua and hope it’ll be a great success! It’s also a chance for local people to find out more about what we do and we’ll be there providing information about what Optua and our leisure service does.”
For more information about Optua visit www.optua.org.uk
Friday, 16 May 2008
VACANCY for Schools Project Worker: West Norfolk
JOB VACANCY
Schools Project Worker: West Norfolk
Promoting community cohesion
£21,567 per annum
Full-time (35 hours), 3 year post
New primary schools project based in King’s Lynn.
The successful applicant will be a good communicator; with experience of working in primary schools; and an understanding of cultural diversity and local/ global development issues.
Details from
NEAD T: 01603 610993
Download app. from:
www.nead.org.uk/news#post-29
NEAD
Norfolk Education & Action for Development
Working locally for global justice and equality
www.nead.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1010853
Bungay Spring Garden Fair - May 18th 2008
Next Fair - 18 May 2008
Bungay Spring Garden Fair
Earsham Street
Hot and cold food plus entertainment.
Bungay Street Markets
Every year Bungay holds three street markets, in Earsham Street which is closed to traffic for the day
May - Garden Street Market
July - Antique Street Market
December - Christmas Street Market
For any information regarding any of these or to book a stall then please call
John Pestell on 01986 782464
or
email willowdykes.barn@virgin.net
£2bn Windfarm Off Suffolk Coast
Windfarm's £2bn contract signed
The windfarm will have the potential to supply power to 415,000 homesThe world's largest offshore windfarm is to be built off the Suffolk coast in a contract worth almost £2bn.
The Greater Gabbard scheme, to be sited 23km (12 miles) off the coast, will have the potential to supply power to 415,000 homes, the government said.
Power from the 140 turbines would help cut carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5m tonnes a year - equivalent to taking 350,000 cars off the road.
It is a joint venture between Airtricity and US firm Fluor.
Sub-contracts, which could benefit local companies, are expected to be announced soon.
Climate change
The windfarm will be placed close to two shallow sandbanks - the Inner Gabbard and the Galloper.
It will occupy 150 sq km within the outer Thames Estuary strategic wind farm area.
The government granted approval for the Greater Gabbard scheme in February, last year.
The decision to grant consent was taken after a thorough consideration of the possible impacts of the project on a range of environmental and other issues, a ministerial statement said.
Airtricity is the renewable energy development division of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).
Ian Marchant, chief executive of SSE, said: "The UK wants to respond to climate change and become more self-sufficient in energy, so it makes sense to exploit the excellent resource that UK offshore wind represents."
Mr Marchant said that on completion Greater Gabbard will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world.
source: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk
Business Weekly, digital edition 16 May 2008
The latest edition of Business Weekly's epaper has been uploaded.
Click the front page to accessThursday, 15 May 2008
Bungay Rotary Human Fruit Machine at Bungay Street Fair
Visit the
Bungay Rotary
Human Fruit Machine
at
Bungay Spring Garden Fair
Sunday May 18th 2008
Bungay Rotary
Human Fruit Machine
atBungay Spring Garden Fair
Sunday May 18th 2008
The Comedy Store, at The Forum, Norwich
THE FORUM TRUST PRESENTSThe Comedy Store
WED 21 MAY
Last chance for laughter! Catch some great comedy before this season's Comedy Store at The Forum winds up with a bumper offering on Wednesday 21 May.
Taking to the stage will be one of the country's hottest comedians, MC Rob Rouse (pictured right), rising star of the Scottish comedy circuit, Des Clark, the quickfire humour of Zoe Lyons and highly topical comedian, Alistair Barrie, whose dry wit and incisive intelligent material is backed up by sniper-like punchlines.The Atrium Doors open 8pm, Comedy from 9pm.
Tickets £12 (£10:20 NUS) 01603 727922 or 01603 630000
For further info: Call the Events Line 01603 727905 or visit www.theforumnorwich.co.uk