We have reached a milestone in our blog history. Over 1000 visitors - that is so brilliant and makes my job worthwhile. Thank you to members, followers and visitors.
Ros
Wednesday, 6 May 2009
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Spring Coffee Morning
Members and friends enjoyed the Club's spring coffee morning today. Plants, cakes and bring and buy stalls were popular with the visitors.
Carol, Mary & Sue take care of the draws
Jean, June, Olive & Doreen take charge of the refreshments
Carol, Mary & Sue take care of the draws
Jean, June, Olive & Doreen take charge of the refreshments
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Member's Plant Competition
It's the Spring Coffee Morning on Tuesday 5th May at The Memorial Hall at 10am. Plants will be on sale for the Autumn Flower Show Plant Competition.
This year it will be a Horizon Geranium called Deep Scarlet. This is a prolific flowering zonal Geranium producing deep scarlet flowers.
At the Coffee Morning there will be two plants stalls, a bring and buy stall and a cake stall too! So come along for a drink, a biccie and a chat too!
Here's what the experts say:
Geranium Horizon Deep Scarlet
With it's unrivalled branching habit and uniform flower growth, Geranium Horizon is one of the best performing upright Geraniums available. Fast growing, this Geranium is ideal for bulking out flower beds and planting up containers. It is also one of our best selling varieties of bedding plant!
This year it will be a Horizon Geranium called Deep Scarlet. This is a prolific flowering zonal Geranium producing deep scarlet flowers.
At the Coffee Morning there will be two plants stalls, a bring and buy stall and a cake stall too! So come along for a drink, a biccie and a chat too!
Here's what the experts say:
Geranium Horizon Deep Scarlet
With it's unrivalled branching habit and uniform flower growth, Geranium Horizon is one of the best performing upright Geraniums available. Fast growing, this Geranium is ideal for bulking out flower beds and planting up containers. It is also one of our best selling varieties of bedding plant!
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Mid Devon Show Planning Meeting
A meeting will be held on Monday 11th May at 7pm at The A Room at the Royal British Legion Club, Angel Hill to plan the Club's exhibit at this year's Mid Devon Show which is due to held on Saturday 25th July.
The theme of this year's show is Sustainable Energy. Any member wishing to help is welcome to come along to the meeting.
The theme of this year's show is Sustainable Energy. Any member wishing to help is welcome to come along to the meeting.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
April Talk
On a warm sunny spring evening, our speaker was Karen Dutton from The Met Office. Karen explained that her talk would cover a short history of The Met Office, how the business works and a discussion on climate change. She began working for the Met Office 22 years ago as a support scientist.
The Met Office was the brain child of Admiral Fitzroy and it was founded originally in 1854. It was in 1919 when Lewis Fry Richardson began forecasting in using mathematical equations. In 1964 it was an agendy under the Air Ministry and then the Ministry of Defence. In 1990 it became a Next Steps agency, a step away from government ties. In 1996 it began trading almost independently and in 2003 it moved to its current location in Exeter. It was the largest IT move in Europe and it came in on time and on budget.
She carefully explained what was need to do a weather forecast. On a daily basis the Met Office processes data of 10 million observations and 100,000 million bits of data. A computer was first used in 1964 and the current one has just been upgraded so it will process in 20 minutes what the capacity of a home computer would take 5 years to process..... This is now what is needed for forecasting and provide more local weather systems.
It is the world's leading centre for predicting climate change. Its customers include the Ministry of Defence; The Cabinet Office for emergency response and the Civil Aviation Authority. It provides reports to local government agencies to help with winter road maintenance; for offshore exploration; the energy industry; the water industry and environment agency.
They are now working closely with a new department of the Environmental Agency to provide data for flood defences to help with the national infrastructure of the country to run efficiently.
It has ties with the Department of Health to detect heat and cold spells to help with patients health.
Energy demands fluctuate depending on the weather so it works closely with the National Grid.
One of our members, Colin Cochrane had emailed The Met Office regarding TV forecasting and the time given to national and local TV weather slots. Karen kindly gave a personal response explaining about the different business models of the various TV stations.
Finally she explained about climate change. The change being a long term change and it was 90% "our" fault. It had been noted that lawns were being cut two weeks earlier than in the 1990's and this is just one of the indicators of change. Globally there had been observed increases in temperatures. Finally she said the temperatures seen in the long hot summer of 2003 would become the norm by 2040.
Her final comment and slide revealed that forecasting the weather was like driving a car backwards being directed by someone looking out the back window.
Several members asked Karen varied questions and included short lessons in chemistry, physics and mathematics.
The Met Office was the brain child of Admiral Fitzroy and it was founded originally in 1854. It was in 1919 when Lewis Fry Richardson began forecasting in using mathematical equations. In 1964 it was an agendy under the Air Ministry and then the Ministry of Defence. In 1990 it became a Next Steps agency, a step away from government ties. In 1996 it began trading almost independently and in 2003 it moved to its current location in Exeter. It was the largest IT move in Europe and it came in on time and on budget.
She carefully explained what was need to do a weather forecast. On a daily basis the Met Office processes data of 10 million observations and 100,000 million bits of data. A computer was first used in 1964 and the current one has just been upgraded so it will process in 20 minutes what the capacity of a home computer would take 5 years to process..... This is now what is needed for forecasting and provide more local weather systems.
It is the world's leading centre for predicting climate change. Its customers include the Ministry of Defence; The Cabinet Office for emergency response and the Civil Aviation Authority. It provides reports to local government agencies to help with winter road maintenance; for offshore exploration; the energy industry; the water industry and environment agency.
They are now working closely with a new department of the Environmental Agency to provide data for flood defences to help with the national infrastructure of the country to run efficiently.
It has ties with the Department of Health to detect heat and cold spells to help with patients health.
Energy demands fluctuate depending on the weather so it works closely with the National Grid.
One of our members, Colin Cochrane had emailed The Met Office regarding TV forecasting and the time given to national and local TV weather slots. Karen kindly gave a personal response explaining about the different business models of the various TV stations.
Finally she explained about climate change. The change being a long term change and it was 90% "our" fault. It had been noted that lawns were being cut two weeks earlier than in the 1990's and this is just one of the indicators of change. Globally there had been observed increases in temperatures. Finally she said the temperatures seen in the long hot summer of 2003 would become the norm by 2040.
Her final comment and slide revealed that forecasting the weather was like driving a car backwards being directed by someone looking out the back window.
Several members asked Karen varied questions and included short lessons in chemistry, physics and mathematics.
Thursday, 16 April 2009
More Lanhydrock Photos
A view from the woodland walk
Beautiful blossom surrounding the church
The tulips in the formal gardens to the side of the house.
Garden Visit to Lanhydrock
The first visit of 2009 was to Lanhydrock House and Gardens, near Bodmin, Cornwall. A full coach took new and exisiting members was a great success. The beautiful spring National Trust gardens were at their best.
Lanhydrock was the home of the Agar-Robartes family until 1969. After a fire in 1881 the Jacobean house was refashioned to create a Victorian home with the latest technology.
Tours leader Monica with members
The gardens were planned by George Truefitt in 1854. They surround the house and provide colour all year round but in spring a magnificent display of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias fill the air with fragrance.
The estate covers 900 acres and is a romantic pastorial backdrop to the house and there are many footpaths to explore in the woodlands.
One of the magnolias in full bloom.
Val Diggle on one of the scooters available for the disabled to use.
Lanhydrock was the home of the Agar-Robartes family until 1969. After a fire in 1881 the Jacobean house was refashioned to create a Victorian home with the latest technology.
Tours leader Monica with members
The gardens were planned by George Truefitt in 1854. They surround the house and provide colour all year round but in spring a magnificent display of rhododendrons, camellias and magnolias fill the air with fragrance.
The estate covers 900 acres and is a romantic pastorial backdrop to the house and there are many footpaths to explore in the woodlands.
One of the magnolias in full bloom.
Val Diggle on one of the scooters available for the disabled to use.
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