Laughter makes everyone feel better

My favourite new dissertation distraction, this website makes me cry a little bit its just so funny. Lots upon lots of upside doggies. Laughing relieves stress there is no doubt whatsoever.

Feeling the pressure

Today is officially rubbish, I am really feeling the pressure of getting my dissertation handed in and tidying up all other bits for the handin deadline especially printmaking. Work tonight should take my mind off it but it'll still be there, looming in the morning! At least I have this lovely hibiscus flower that opened this morning to make me smile a bit. Also christmas makes me happy another 3 weeks and it'll all be over with until the final semester.

Cymbidium

Cymbidium orchids just like Phalaenopsis are relatively cool growing. Cymbidium orchids need a minimum temperature of 7-10C (so uk friendly, ish) and 24C maximum temp in summer. They like to be indoors during the winter when kept here in UK but can go outside in summer where they like high levels of sunlight. No direct sunlight however as just like the phalaenopsis otherwise the leaves will burn.
Just like the super popular 'moth orchid' there are now so many hundreds of variations grown for the supermarkets that exact names for these hybrids have been lost. This one came from Huw and apparently the reason this plant is always dripping with irritating sap is because it is trying to attract a pollinator. So no more washing with fairy liquid, whoops.

Wales vs New Zealand Nov 08

This weekend I watched Wales play New Zealand (rugby union) at the Millenium stadium in Cardiff part as the Invesco Perpetual Series. It was brilliant despite the final score Wales 9 - New Zealand 29, this game was the 20th successive defeat to the All Blacks. Currently they are ranked world no. 1 and Wales 6th in the IRB world ranking. Apart from England there is nobody I would rather go to see Wales try and beat.

Penalty conversions were scored first by Steven Jones for Wales and then Conversions from Dan Carter and tries from Ma'a Nonu and then Jerome Kaino for the All Blacks sealed the victory. I'll admit I didnt believe we would really beat them going into the match, I believed it was possible but unlikely because we are so used to New Zealand dominating. Same is widely thought by fans and players and Warren Gatland knows it, hopefully the first half performance this time will go some way towards future self belief.


I loved the build up with pyrotechnics, singing, Joe Calzaghe bringing on the match ball and the ceremonial goat, of course. There were 74,000 people and the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic. Im sure the Haka stand off at the start will be remembered by everyone and will be talked about as much as the great heart shown by Wales in the first half and the All blacks expertise in the second. Watch the stand off in the video above, the history is that at last meeting in Cardiff the All Blacks refused to perform the Haka on the pitch before Land of Our Fathers was sung. Because Wales wouldn't allow the Haka to be the last thing before play began (giving the opposition a psychological advantage on home turf) the All Blacks did the Haka in their dressing room only.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

And the second box contained

Second parcel this one from Malaysia contained a Vanda orchid seedling also from ebay, specifically a hybrid called Robert's Delight. Vanda orchids originate from the Himalayas and the name of the species comes from the Sanskrit name Vanda tessellata. It came in a tiny 1.5 inch basket with coconut hair and thankfully some very healthy looking roots and I don't think I will move it to a basket until next spring. This is my first Vanda so fingers crossed it survives until the weather warms up. I'm expecting both of these exotics to go into some sort of shock as its freezing here and not what they've been used to. Below is the vanda arranged suspended over a a glass so the roots can hang freely in a humid atmosphere, this is my temporary solution until I get a basket with wire suspension.

Excitement through the post

I came home to find 2 parcels waiting on the doorstep. One had a stamp with an elephant from Thailand and the other one had a stamp featuring a green winged pigeon, equally exotic from Malaysia. I had been busy on ebay last week and so knew exactly what awaited me, I couldn't believe they arrived so quick. (combined expenditure under a tenner) I managed to get inside the flat and tidy up a bit before actually getting started on ripping open the parcels. More plants for my windowsills.

Number one parcel picked to open first was the box from Thailand. It contained a hybrid Adenium seedling, lost a few leaves in transit but generally it faired very well for such a long journey. Also popularly known as the Desert Rose this plant is a native of East Africa but is propagated in Thailand in huge quantities. Currently looks like this but will one day look like these stunners. Best site I found for Adenium info http://www.tropicanursery.com

Flor de maio

My Flor de maio or Christmas Cactus is now blooming. These plants originally come from the Organ Mountains which are North of Rio De Janeiro in Brazil. They are epiphytes and forest dwellers, naturally occuring at elevations of 1500 metres above sea level surviving where they can by clinging onto trees. The genus and species of these white or pink or red flowering cactus is Schlumbergera bridgesii. Named for Frederick Schlumbergera who was a Belgian horticulturalist of the 1900s.

In order for flower buds to form the plant must have 12 hours of uninterupted darkness each night after summer has finished. So no artificial light after it naturally gets dark, placing a thick plastic bag over the plant each night can work wonders. Then with a good water supply the cactus can stay in flower until Spring time comes round again. In it's natural Brazilian habitat my little christmas cactus would have been pollinated by hummingbirds.

Phalaenopsis Orchid

House plants early November

I have stopped watering the Cyclamen so it now looks very sad indeed. The Sempervivum seems to be throwing up a flower spike of some kind. Leaves broken off the Echeveria and bits of Crassula that I dried out and then planted are showing signs of having roots of their own. The christmas cactus buds look ready to open I cant wait.

The Brugmansia is bigger still

I will get bored of showing the progress made by my Brugmansia, probably but as it seems to have successfully survived a red spidermite incident it deserves another post.
Below is 'Little Ray' in early September,

One month later in late September,

Taken today on 5th November, with my hand to show the leaf size.

Birthday books

I did very well on my birthday this year and have books to show for it. Good old Boris Johnson is funny in 'Have I got views for you' I havent finished this yet and Im just dipping into it when I have time. It is a collection of pieces written at various times about subjects such as Manners and Morals to Literary Heroes. Ive only read the collection of his fast cars articles for GQ before but this book is good for a laugh.

Brugmansia and Datura is the seminal text or so it seems about my beloved Brugmansia. Previously I have only been able to get info about the plants from american websites but this book covers all aspects of Brug care and is full of beautiful amazing photos.



I can recommend the 12 million dollar shark to anyone interested in modern art. Especially those who know that guy who stuffed a shark and sold it as art. It is a very interesting and completely readable look at the transactions that take place behind the scenes. Lots about auction houses, dealers, commissions and publicity.

Thank you Rich for Nanny Ogg's cookbook. I am not embarrassed to say I have always been a great Terry Pratchett fan and of course since his illness was made public every spin off book from the discworld is greatly appreciated. It is written in the first person in the saucy voice of Gytha the witch as in Masquerade.

Again I haven't finished the Lost Gardens of Heligan book but when I do find the time it is a treat. It is a real life Secret Garden and the story is totally gripping and fantastic. I love the magic of such an epic garden that was abandoned and then rediscovered.
Little People in the City starts with a comedy intro by Will Self, this book has taken the place of the bunny suicides for dip in humour. I like the little people hefting Wotzits around the London pavement.

Seville pt. 6 Cathedral y Plaza de Pilatas

Seville Cathedral is a world heritage site and like the Mesquita in Cordoba was built over an existing mosque. The cathedral covers 11,520 square metres in floor space and the nave rises to 42 metres high. The cathedral houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus since he was moved back to Spain from Cuba.

Casa de Pilatas is a private palace that local legend says is built to the dimensions of Pontius Pilate's house in Jerusalem. The House is built in the Mudejar style and has fantastic courtyards gardens full of my favourite Brugmancias.