WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Wendyf]

I've just had a look at the British Newspaper Archive and there are many references to the Girls Friendly Society in the Clitheroe Adveriser and Times between the 1940s and 1960. Run by Clitheroe Parish Church.

[PanBiker]

With our new constituency association with Clitheroe. I know a few from the area, I will mention it next time I see them at a meeting.

[Stanley]

Thanks Wendy and Ian, I have told Margaret. She's mailed back and says thank you....
I think I have this right..... Happy Birthday Bob!

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC account of the latest report from the EU climate change programme.
For the first time, global warming has exceeded 1.5C across an entire year, according to the EU's climate service. World leaders promised in 2015 to try to limit the long-term temperature rise to 1.5C, which is seen as crucial to help avoid the most damaging impacts. This first year-long breach doesn't break that landmark 'Paris agreement', but it does bring the world closer to doing so in the long-term. Urgent action to cut carbon emissions can still slow warming, scientists say. "To go over [1.5C of warming] on an annual average is significant," says Prof Liz Bentley, chief executive of the Royal Meteorological Society. "It's another step in the wrong direction. But we know what we've got to do." Limiting long-term warming to 1.5C above "pre-industrial" levels - before humans started burning large amounts of fossil fuels - has become a key symbol of international efforts to tackle climate change. A landmark UN report in 2018 said that the risks from climate change - such as intense heatwaves, rising sea-levels and loss of wildlife - were much higher at 2C of warming than at 1.5C. But temperatures have kept rising at a concerning pace, data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service from the past year shows, illustrated in the graph below. The period from February 2023 to January 2024 reached 1.52C of warming.
How many more 'final warnings' do we need?

[Stanley]

I have just been listening to Today in Parliament and was pleasantly surprised to hear that one of my favourite scientists had been invited in to educate MPS. It was Merlin Sheldrake, he of the revelations about the complexity and importance of Fungi.
I don't know how many MPs get what he is saying but at least he's getting in there to expose them to knowledge!

[Tizer]

Penguins setting an example for human beings!...
`Farnham penguin finds 'guide bird' in one of her friends' BBC
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The thought of penguins reminds me that last night I read about the history of market gardening in the Tamar Valley on the border between Cornwall and Devon. The valley is very mild and had always produced a lot of food, especially fruit, which was sent to the Plymouth markets and Devonport Dockyard. During the Napoleonic wars lack of labour meant many of the fields went untended or, when kept in production, became depleted in nutrients. After the war and with return of the soldiers there was a boom in demand for food. People recognised that organic material such as seaweed was helpful for plant growth and along the Tamar they started using `dock dung' from Plymouth. This consisted of the sweepings from the streets, the docks, the abattoirs, together with night soil, dead dogs and rats etc. All shovelled into wagons and taken by barge up the Tamar. The residents of Plymouth were used to strong smells but the country folk complained and even geologists surveying the area reported how bad it was. However the dung did the job and, together with the coming of the railway, tons of strawberries started arriving in London overnight. And the rest is history!

In searching for more information about the early days of fertilisers I found this marvellous web page and the site looks like it has much more of interest, not least the lovely colour images of advertisements: The Gardens Trust

[Stanley]

I read about Squid and found that story very moving..... Yes Peter, one we should all emulate!
Your account of Bristol sending night soil etc up the Tamar Valley reminds me of a story in my father's memoir about a Chinese night soil contractor who used his collected waste to fertilise a market garden he ran outside the town. Eventually the townspeople clocked the connection between the two trades and even though his vegetables were excellent, he found that they weren't bought......

[Stanley]

The fact that 88 years ago it was snowing heavily today. I know that because my dad told me he had to walk to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport during the night to get the midwife for my mother. She brought me into the world at 06:00.

[Cathy]

We left England 60yrs ago today.
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HAPPY 88th BIRTHDAY STANLEY

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[Big Kev]

[Big Kev]

Happy birthday Stanley

[Stanley]

[Wendyf]

Happy Birthday Stanley!

[Stanley]

Thanks Wendy....

[Gloria]

Happy Birthday Stanley, enjoy your day,

[PostmanPete]

Happy Birthday Stanley..! Have a great day.

[Tizer]

The fact that 88 years ago it was snowing heavily today. I know that because my dad told me he had to walk to Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport during the night to get the midwife for my mother. She brought me into the world at 06:00.

Have great day Stanley!

When I was born in the Royal Infirmary on the south side of Blackburn my father had to walk all the way across town from the north side in deep snow to see his wife and son. No trams or buses were running, no vehicles could get out, everything had stopped. The only way into the Infirmary was along a deep cutting made in the snow up against the high wall. He said the snow was higher than his head on one side and the wall on the other.

[Stanley]

What year was that Peter.... 1947?

[PanBiker]

Happy Birthday Stanley.

[Steeplejerk]

Happy birthday Stanley

[Stanley]

Thanks to all of you. The next target is to stay alive until Margaret's next visit in May!
(No danger actually. I can't die while I am in the middle of an engine build!)

[Stanley]

The fact that 8 second class stamps cost £6. I am sure I can remember when they were twopence halfpenny each....
Quite evidently a forgotten corner!

[PanBiker]

Sally is round at the Civic Centre taking part in the Craft Fair which is also happening in the Raihall Centre and the tent on the Town Square. There are market stalls as well and various choices of food available. Town centre and Frank Street is closed to traffic during the event.

She is showcasing some of her crafting skills. Quilt making using pierced paper hexagons and for the small kids simple hand stitching of felt rabbits, Easter egg pockets and chickens. She has had a steady flow of small girls and the odd lad learning the basics of hand sewing with something to show for it and take away when they finish. She has had a lot of interest in her quilt making techniques as well.

[Big Kev]

One of my granddaughters has been swimming in Sheffield

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[Stanley]

The fact I slept an hour longer than usual.....
The fact that British Gas changed my appointment for Smart Meter installation from 27 February to 6 March without consulting me. That shows me what my status is. I am only a customer......