all change
I think it might be obvious that I’m not updating Earth Quirks any more!
All interesting blogging now takes place over at The Frumplingtons
Shana
Gritter depots blessed by Bishop
20 November 2006
Road gritting depots in Lincolnshire have been blessed by church leaders in special prayer services in recognition of their importance in road safety.
The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend Dr John Saxbee, led the blessings in a service at the Sturton by Stow depot near Gainsborough.
Ministers took services at the eight other depots across the county.
Dr Saxbee said the service highlighted the role played by the service in making roads safe for everyone.
Lincolnshire County Council grits nearly 2,000 miles (1,200km) of roads each year.
“The gritting lorries are very visible on the county’s roads, but their work is often taken for granted,” said Dr Saxbee, who wrote the prayer for the ceremonies.
“It is very important to remember the hard work of the drivers and those working at the depots through the long winter nights to make the roads safer for everyone.”
Prayers were offered for the safety of all road users, and for accident victims and their families at the services.
It is the fourth time the blessings have been held.
Woman is rescued from flooded car
16 November 2006
A 41-year-old woman has had to be rescued in County Down after her car got trapped in flood water.
Fire and Rescue officers were called to the Old Racecourse Road in Downpatrick on Wednesday night.
The water had reached seat level and fire officers lifted the woman to safety.
Don MacKay of the Fire and Rescue Service said the woman had phoned its control centre in Lisburn at about midnight.
“The Old Racecourse Road is a very lonely country road with no lights and there are a few hollows and dips,” he said.
“It would have been a fairly frightening and traumatic experience for her.
“We went to her rescue and sent two pumps from Downpatrick, a pump from Newry and we sent our specialist rescue team.”
He said the control room remained on the line with the woman to give her reassurance.
“There was a fair amount of water in the car - in fact the water was up to the seat,” said Mr MacKay.
“The electrics were off and she was in complete darkness, except for her hazard lights, which were fortunately on.”
read more…
Wind blamed for big top collapse
16 November 2006
An investigation by health and safety officials has begun at Butlin’s in Minehead, Somerset, after high winds caused a big top to collapse.
The complex is due to host pop star boy band Westlife at the weekend, with 4,500 fans expected.
Butlin’s management said the concerts would go ahead, but inside a smaller part of the complex.
Westlife would now perform two shorter sets, the group said, so that ticket holders would not be disappointed.
I am saying nothing…Shana
Homes Dangle on English Cliffs as Global Warming Erodes Shore
16 November 2006
By Alex Morales
Phyllis Tubby bought her home 20 years ago so she could live near the sea. Now, the cliff is just a few yards from her fence. A nearby house is worth one pound, and three doors away Diana Wrightson has closed her tea shop.
That’s the downside of having an ocean view in Happisburgh, a village of 850 people on England’s Norfolk coast. Tubby, an 85- year-old retired nurse, has watched the cliff edge toward her home. Like the owners of 26 houses destroyed in the past 15 years, she won’t be entitled to government compensation when the North Sea claims her property.
Happisburgh illustrates the decisions U.K. authorities face: where to build defenses to protect the coast and where to let nature take its course. With global warming forecast to hasten the sea’s encroachment, the government estimates that 140 billion pounds ($267 billion) of homes, roads and businesses are at risk.
read more…
Britain braced for winter
16/11/06
By Sarah Seymour
WINTER will grip Britain this weekend with rain, cold winds, frost and snow in some areas.
As strong winds and heavy rain lashed the country this morning, the Highways Agency warned that motorists should also be on their guard for icy weather in the coming days.
And the Met Office warned that the freezing temperatures could come as a shock because of the mild autumn we have enjoyed.
A Met Office spokesman said: “There will be snow on the Welsh hills and the Pennines on Friday night and going into Saturday.
“Temperatures are set to drop – though only down to the low 50sF (10-12C), which is normal for this time of year.
“Some milder weather is possible, especially in the South, but colder conditions and overnight frosts are expected in the North.”
The outlook for the weekend is grim across the country, with wet, windy weather bringing winter chills and a risk of snow across Scotland and northern England.
The Met Office said the colder weather is being dragged in on the tail of the low pressure which lashed the South-west and western coastline of Wales with winds of up to 60mph last night.
There will be a sharp dip in temperatures across all areas as the colder air spreads east towards the end of the week.
Yesterday the Highways Agency urged drivers to check travel information before setting off. It welcomed a survey that said more were listening to weather warnings before deciding to travel.