Green Fingers 11 : Help The more help you have in your garden, the less it belongs to you. William M. Davies So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. Anon When I go into my garden with a spade, and dig a bed, I feel such an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been defrauding myself all this time in letting others do for me what I should have done with my own hands. Ralph Waldo Emerson The labourer is worthy of his hire. Proverb (Posted 06.02.10) Rotary On Postage Stamps 35 : 2005 Rotary's Centennial Another bumper bundle, from top left per line: St Thomas;New Caledonia;Turkey;Solomon Islands. Peru;2 Malta. Portugal;2 Guatemala;Bangladesh. 2 Nigeria;Mayotte. (Posted 06.02.10) St Valentine's Day (14th February) Country folk believed that the birds selected their mates on Valentines Day, and on Valentine's Eve a young maiden would dream of her future husband if before sleeping, she pined five bay leaves to the underside of her pillow. There are records of a similar "husband for tell" ritual in the Surrey village of Crompton where the maiden would prick a candle with pins reciting: "Tis not the wax I mean to stick, my true loves heart I seek to prick. I wish him neither rest nor peace, until he comes to me, and speaks." If the names of all a girl's suitors were written on paper and wrapped in clay and the clay put into water, the piece that rose to the surface first would contain the name of her husband-to-be. If a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine’s Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a rich person. Each year in Britain, we spend around £503m on cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts for Valentine's Day. (Posted 06.01.10) February's Country Ways If Candlemas Day be sunny and bright, winter will have another flight. If Candlemas Day be cloudy with rain, winter is gone, and won't come again. (Candlemas Day 2nd February) On your farm at Candlemas Day, should be half the straw, and two-thirds hay. Sow your beans on St Valentine's Day. (14th February) If in February there be no rain, 'tis neither good for hay nor grain. A deaf husband and a blind wife are always a happy couple. All the months in the year curse a fair February.Every mile is two in winter. Guildford Farmers Market : Tuesday 2nd February (11.30am to 3.30pm). (Posted 30.01.10) Guildford 35 : River Wey The River Wey has two separate sources, in two different counties, uniting near Tilford Oak. The Wey Navigation's flow 87 miles (140 km) yet drop just 98 feet (30 m) on the route to join the Thames at Weybridge. With its reliable all-year-round flow of water, the Wey stimulated the development of mills servicing local industries, producing everything from flour and animal feed, to paper and cloth, and leather and gunpowder. There were more mills per mile along the Wey than anywhere else in Britain, with the mill at Coxes Lock near Addlestone in Surrey being the largest. The main river powered 22 mills at one point. The river downstream from Town Bridge in the centre of Guildford sees the beginning of the Wey Navigation. Opened in 1653, it was the first British river to be successfully canalised for commercial traffic, bringing prosperity not only to the town but also the whole region. Combined with the younger Godalming Navigation upstream, the waterway enabled barges to travel the twenty miles to the Thames. This opened up huge trading opportunities, not just with London, but with the whole country and Europe beyond. Barges transported timber, corn, flour and coal; gunpowder, chalk and bark for tanning; paper; sugar, oil cake and artificial fertilisers; rags for papermaking, barrel-hoops and even surplus fighter aircraft at the close of the First World War. The Wey Navigation survived the coming of the railways, but commercial traffic declined considerably post 1918 and had ceased completely by 1950. The last working barge left the Wey Navigation in 1969. Both canals are now kept by the National Trust, and are maintained as recreational waterways. (Posted 30.01.10) February Facts, Customs and Traditions February and January, were brought onto the Roman calendar by Numa Pompilous when extending the previous calendar from ten to twelve months. Derived from "februa" meaning cleansing or purification, and reflected the rituals undertaken before Spring. Both the Romans and the Celts regarded February as the start of spring. The Anglo Saxons term was "Sol-monath" (cake-month), when cakes were offered to the gods also "sprout-kale" from the sprouting of cabbage or kale. Having only 28 days in non-leap years, February was known in Welsh as "y mis bach" - the little month. Some 400 years ago, in Shakespeare's time, the second month of the year was called "Feverell." One hundred years later, in Isaac Newton's time, it had become "Februeer". The modern term, February, has only been in use for the last hundred years. It was thought if the weather be fine and frosty at the close of January and at the beginning of February, there was more winter ahead than behind. When the cat lies in the sun in February, She will creep behind the stove in March. Of all the months of the year, Curse a fair February. If it thunders in February, it will frost in April. If February give much snow, A fine summer it doth foreshow. (Posted 31.01.09) Countryman's Guide To Weather Forecasting: 2 Rain Imminent Animals can be vulnerable to inclement weather, so have developed an awareness to environmental changes that humans often can't detect. Early farmers and hunters observing the behaviour of insects, mammals and reptiles learned to foretell the weather. When a storm is due, deer and elk come down from the mountains to lower levels. Before a rainstorm: Pigs may wallow about and squeal more. Cows can huddle together, as if seeking comfort from each other. Horses can be seen to 'switch and twitch' and sometimes bolt. Insects fly low and tend to bite more. Birds may chirp with more intent. Spiders may tighten their web. Moles can become more active throwing up the earth more than usual. Ants can become more active or move to higher ground. Frogs and toads tend to croak more. Cats may clean themselves more and meow more. (Increased ion activity in the air causes uncomfortable static electricity in their fur) Rabbits feed more actively before a storm. (When the rain comes, they retire to their warrens to later re-digest droppings.) Reptiles must feed more actively before a storm and then seek cover. (Snakes require sunshine to become active again and as that could be days away, feeding is critical before rain and its oncoming resultant cooling effects.) Fish tend to feed more before a storm. (The flood run off into lakes and rivers, stirs up and carries the mud and silt, making forthcoming visibility to feed impossible.) The wool of sheep uncurls. (Due to increasing moisture content in the advancing weather front.) (Posted 30.01.10) Herschel 1 : The Southern Cross Herschel is the largest astronomical telescope launched into space. It registers far-infrared with the UK-led Spire camera and lowest radio wavelengths with the German-led Pacs camera, to penetrate the vast clouds of dust and gas within the cosmos. The infrared capability enables Herschel to look deep into space and back in time when the Universe was roughly a half to a fifth of its present age and star formation was most prolific. This image of the Southern Cross constellation shows long strands interspersed with small blobs - like beads on a necklace. These beads are 'star embryos' - clumps of dust that will one day become stars. (Posted 23.01.10) On Line Quiz 91 : The Early 1950's Questions to test your memory of the year's 1950 to 1954. Each question contains clues to one of the five years, can you identify which? Click mouse on the red question mark to open a window disclosing the answer. Then click your mouse curser on the OK box to close pop up window. 1. In London The Mousetrap opens and the last tram traverses the capital's streets? 2. Andy Pandy and Come Dancing start on TV and The Archer's begin on Radio? 3. Roger Bannister brakes 4 minute mile and West Germany win World Cup? 4. Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister and first Miss World contest held? 5. Korean war ends and Marilyn Monroe is a Playboy centrefold? (Posted 23.01.10) Chinese New Year : 14th February 2010 The Chinese calendar measures time based on the astronomical observations of the movement of the Sun, Moon and stars, and is highly accurate. Each new year is named in succession after one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. This year (Chinese year 4709) is to be the year of the Tiger. One of the most dynamic signs in the Chinese zodiac, Tigers are by turns fascinating, commanding, and exasperating. They are patient but short-tempered, calm but rebellious, petty but noble, fearsome but affectionate, free spirits but fiercely territorial. With their many & various personality traits, Tigers are also - not surprisingly - noted for a marked reluctance to make up their minds. What makes them magnetic and commanding figures is the absolute loyalty and affection they show for those they love. With a natural air of authority, Tigers easily earn the respect and admiration of those who love them in return. While domesticated Tigers are quite happy among familiar surroundings, they are just as apt to fly off on an adventure at a moment's notice. Unpredictable and emotional, they can become quite fearless when standing up for themselves or others, and often hold definitive views on how to right the wrongs of society. At work, Tigers show natural leadership ability, but prefer to work alone. They usually excel as business managers, social activists, explorers, or travel writers. Tigers are most compatible with : Horse, Dragon, Dog. Click on the new year dragon photo to discover your Chinese astrological sign. Remember, the Chinese New Year fluctuates between late January and early February, therefore if your birthday falls in January your sign is generally that for the year previous to your birth. Direct link for information on the Chinese New Year (Posted 24.01.10) February 2nd Candlemas Day : Festival of Lights This ancient festival marks the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day of the year and the spring equinox. In pre-Christian times also known as the "Feast of Lights" celebrating the increasing strength of the life-giving sun. With the growth of Christiaity in medieval times on this day, the supply of candles to be used in the church during the coming year, were brought into church and a blessing ('mass') said over the Candles. Candles were important for not just for night time lighting but also the belief they protected from illness and famine, bringing the light and comfort of Jesus into church. Candlemas also commemorates the presentation of Jesus Christ in the Temple. Forty days after the birth of a Jewish boy, he was taken to the temple to be presented to God by his thankful parents. Much country folklaw relates to Candlemas day: If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another fight. If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, winter won't come again. A farmer should, on Candlemas Day, have half his corn and half his hay. On Candlemas Day if the thorns hang adrop, you can be sure of a good pea crop. Christmas decorations not taken down by Twelfth Night was left up until Candlemas Day and then taken down. (Posted 24.01.09) Astrology : Aquarians : 21st January - 19th February The timing of the annual appearance of the mythological water bearer image of the constellation Aquarius, led the Egyptians to believe its ascendance over the horizon brought the Nile flood and fertility to the land. Aquarians are ruled by two planets, Uranus associated with invention and revolution and Saturn the epitome of structure. If typical to their sign the Aquarian is highly intelligent and a brilliant thinker with the combined assets of both logic and intuition. They have firm convictions on equality for all mankind and are strong connections with groups working for the common good. They are kindhearted loners, guarding their privacy which gives rise to unjust claims of being unsocial and in later life accusations of being cranky or eccentric. They do not tolerate mischief makers but are known to spark heated conversations for fun by saying or doing outrageous things known to be upsetting to the other party. Typical Aquarians are keen animal lovers, show an unflinching dedication to continual self development, are therefore never stuck in a rut and are acutely single minded in achieving a goal, but once met soon loose interest for another injustice to put right. The Aquarian male is a club man with apparently no taste preferring to purchase items for comfort and efficiency above looks. The Aquarian female is every much the committee woman and good at running the show resorting to famine tricks to get others to follow her predetermined line of action. The Aquarian child is independent and very much the individualist noted for sharing everything including their possessions and yours! (Posted 16.01.10) Links to: Home Page Main Index Page