iblog » Caroline

Thousands of greyhounds slaughtered each year

Caroline — Mon, 21 May 2007 12:38:03 +0000

A report published recently by a parliamentary group for animal welfare, makes shocking reading. It is estimated that at least 4,700 greyhounds are killed each year because they are too slow to win races. We are not talking about humane euthanasia by a vet either – a Sunday Times inquiry last year found that a builder’s merchant from Co Durham was single-handedly responsible for the deaths of thousands of dogs which he then buried in his garden with a mechanical digger. As a result there have been calls for the racing bodies to do more for animal welfare. Thankfully about 8,000 greyhounds each year are rehomed. They make excellent family pets and contrary to popular belief they do not need huge amounts of exercise.

Whale whisperer helps in rescue of humpback mother and calf

Caroline — Mon, 21 May 2007 12:28:17 +0000

Whale “whisperer” Bernie Krause has become involved in an attempt to save a mother and calf humpback whale after they took a wrong turning on their normal migratory path from Mexico. Both are feared to have been injured by a boat propellor and are now almost a hundred miles inland having gone down the San Joaquin river delta in California. Krause played a succesful part in rescuing another humpback whale in 1985 with the help of whale sounds which he had recorded. Sadly this tactic has so far failed and mother and calf are being given time to recuperate before further rescue attempts are made. In the meantime the waters are being kept clear of commercial shipping and sightseeing vessels. As anyone who has seen these great creatures in the wild will agree, there is something majestic and awe-inspiring about them and we can only hope that this story has a happy outcome.

The joys of a steam-cleaner

Caroline — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:22:31 +0000

Friends and family agree that it is totally out of character but since taking delivery of my new steam-cleaner on Thurs I have been cleaning like a woman possessed. With dodgy wrists and elbows I have not been able to have a good old clean for ages but with my new toy I am catching up on all the spring-cleaning that should have been done years ago. So far it has proved itself great for windows, kitchen floors, wall tiles, shower cubicles, taps, lime scale on baths and spots on carpets. It comes with an impressive array of attachments and is easy and light to use. I even took it to my son’s flat today where it proved equal to the task of some tough cleaning. It cost almost ninety pounds but so far it seems to be worth it, especially considering how much cleaners charge. There is a hand held model in the same make but I have heard that it is not terribly effective. It’s even good for the “green” conscience as you don’t need any chemicals. All I have used so far is some vinegar to get rid of some stubborn limescale. I’m not usually one for gadgets but as you can tell I am feeling positively evangelical about it. I’d better not mention the make in case I am accused of advertising but if you have a look on Amazon you can’t miss it as it is bright yellow!

What do we mean by being shy?

Caroline — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:08:54 +0000

Two TV programmes this week have had me wondering what we mean by being shy or embarrassed. First there was Virgin School, where 26 year old virgin James was sent to Amsterdam to lose his virginity with the aid of three mature Dutch ladies. He attended three days per fortnight for four months and I am pleased to report that by the end of his tutoring, the mission was accomplished. Part of James’ problem was apparently shyness and low self-esteem. It therefore seemed extraordinary that he had the guts (note the careful choice of word) to bare his soul and every other part to provide primetime entertainment. Equally extraordinary was the fact that James wears two pairs of underpants, possibly related to the fact that he shops for his undies with his grandmother. The next programme was on Thurs, Embarrassing Illnesses, and I couldn’t help wondering why these people who had been too shy to approach their GP with their ailments (some thirty odd years in the case of the man with piles) were suddenly willing to air their problems to the TV viewing public. Perhaps it’s all to do with us seeking our five minutes of fame but if these are the shy ones I dread to think what the more confident amongst us might reveal.

Reality show inspired by Lord of the Flies

Caroline — Sat, 19 May 2007 08:45:07 +0000

If you’ve read William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies” you’ll no doubt be wondering at the wisdom of creating a reality TV show inspired by the book. In Golding’s Nobel prize-winning work the group of children abandoned on an island struggle with their primitive instincts and eventually, reverting to savages, hunt and kill one of their number. Kid Nation, as the show is to be called, follows forty children between the ages of eight and fifteen who have been left in a deserted New Mexican town for forty days, to see whether they can set up a well-ordered community or whether chaos will ensue. There will be no Big Brother-type evictions although each week the children will be able to vote to give someone a reward. The children can also leave the show whenever they wish, which, if the fate of poor Piggy in the book is anything to go by, is just as well.

Dolphins develop Welsh accents

Caroline — Sat, 19 May 2007 08:29:22 +0000

A year or two ago, it was cattle with Scottish accents that hit the headlines. Now marine scientists from Bangor University and the Shannon Dolphin Foundation have discovered a decidedly Welsh lilt amongst the dolphins of Cardigan Bay. They have been analysing sounds from the bottlenose dolphins to see whether certain whistles,clicks and groans can be associated with certain behaviour. Academics concur with the scientists’ findings of regional accents and believe it or not (and I’m not sure whether I do!) ornithologists have found that the great tits in the grounds of Buckingham Palace have a much more urban accent nowadays!

Kitesurfer beats the traffic jams

Caroline — Fri, 18 May 2007 15:27:34 +0000

I have a friend who has such a hatred of traffic jams that she will drive miles on the back roads to avoid jams and plan the timing of her journeys meticulously to make sure she is not stuck in traffic. However, even she has never thought of taking to the skies like David Grimes. He “commutes” from his home in Shoreham to his office in Brighton by kitesurfing. It takes him about thirty minutes each morning which is faster than it would be by car. The only problem is that coming home in the evening would take two hours because of the prevailing winds so Mr Grimes packs his wet suit and kite up and gets on the bus. Not only is it far less frustrating than sitting in traffic but it’s good for the environment too!

Head pays private detective to flush out fibbers

Caroline — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:29:00 +0000

We are forever hearing about parents, desperate to get their offspring into a particular school, renting a house in the right area for a short period or suddenly becoming enthusiastic church-goers. One headmaster in Herts is so aware of school place fraud that he often asks for utility bills as proof of address. This, however, has not proved fool-proof and he has on one occasion staked out a property himself to see who was coming and going and on another occasion hired a private detective to flush out a fibbing applicant. Norman Hoare is head of St Georges School in Harpenden, a 100 year old voluntary-aided school for day pupils and boarders. Parents who have succeeded in getting their children in to a school by unfair means should not, however, breathe a sigh of relief once day one of the term has come. In Dec a court ruled that a 12 year old should lose his place at another school in Herts because his parents were unable to prove his address was in the catchment area.

Monet’s eyesight thought to have affected work

Caroline — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:39:17 +0000

Having visited the Orangerie in Paris last month where eight huge paintings of water lilies fill two rooms, I was interested to read yesterday that Monet’s failing eyesight may have affected the work. The year that he began work on the paintings, he learned that he had two cataracts and told a friend that he no longer saw colours with the same intensity. Researchers at Stanford University have attempted to recreate Monet’s vision using historical records, medical knowledge and computer software. If you are a Monet fan I can recommend a trip to the Orangerie and also to the Royal Academy in London where Monet’s little-known pastels and drawings are on display until June 10th. It is not a huge exhibition but well worth a visit.

History students sit exam paper from 2005

Caroline — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:23:46 +0000

Many International Baccalaureate students must have had a sense of deja vue last week when they looked at their History paper. It had been taken by candidates in 2005 and had been used as a practice paper by many of the students this year. The examining board has issued a letter of apology and put the matter down to human error. A leftover paper from 2005 which nobody had sat had been designated for issue to this year’s candidates but the wrong 2005 paper was sent out. Schools who have switched to the IB because of all the controversy regarding incompetent A level examiners must be wondering why they bothered.