The Whale

I am staying with my sister and her family in White Rock when we get the immediate news that there is a humpback whale that has washed up on the local beach.

 We arrive at the beach and there are crowds of people heading down to see the whale.

 There are field trips of kids, families, business people, reporters, First Nations, and the police.

 We get closer and see a huge crowd of people, but can't see the whale over their heads.

 It is a small young whale.

 The police describe how they are waiting for a hover craft to drag it back out to sea to decompose.

 CBC News is there reporting the event.

 Flowers have been laid on the whale. The Semiahmoo First Nations group were there much earlier. These are their traditional lands and they have held a ceremony for the whale earlier in the morning. There is a woman circling around the crowd burning sage.

 The eye of the whale is closed.

 I circle the whale again and learn that this young whale was caught in the nylon cord that was discarded in the ocean.

 I hear people saying it is amazing and all I can think of is how sad it is.

 There are cuts where the rope has dug into the skin of the whale.

 People are saying it got caught in the rope, couldn't swim free and starved to death.

We leave the scene behind.

The Diamond Jubilee

 I managed to get last minute tickets to the riverside Jubilee festivities on Sunday in Battersea Park. This is the only riverside park along the Thames that the procession goes past.

 Two hours before it starts people are lining the banks and staking out their position.

 I head for the Albert Bridge side of the park.

 I wander all the way to a corner and manage to get 2-3 people from the front.

 It quickly fills in around me as I wait.

 There are all sorts of people of all ages. Unlike the royal wedding where it seems that everyone in the crowds surrounding me are foreign, everyone here seems to be British.

 Across the river is docked the royal barge. What a stroke of sheer luck. I had no idea it started here. I knew the young royals would be alighting there, but thought a boat would just stop for them.

 Many royal guests begin to arrive, walking the dock to the barge.

 I use my telephoto lens to capture them, but even blown up I don't know who they are. The Middletons and royal cousins are all on various other boats.

 Then the guests all come off the barge and stand on the dock. I don't pay attention to where they go after that.

 Shortly after a speed boat comes along the river carrying the queen (in white) and Prince Philip. The blurry bits are people's heads and flags bobbing in and out of my vision.

 Her boat pulls up along side the barge and she alights.

 Then comes the royal paddling boat (I am sure there is a proper name for this). This is originally what I thought the queen would be in.

 Several sea cadet or navy boats went by. There was one Canadian one among the all the British ones.

 Then it really begins. All the paddle boats begin to come down the river.

 Pretty soon they are everywhere and it is a fantastic sight to see!

 I am standing to the right of Albert Bridge (which is closed to the public) facing north.

 All the boats in the flotilla bear the maroon flag which you can see here. I suppose if one doesn't they may be suspiciously removed. There are police everywhere on land and on the river.

 I love some of the boats. I even saw a Venice (Venician?) gondola.

 And then there in the distance is the Canada flag.

 Now I notice the Canadian boat, which I was hoping would pass by on our side, managed to maneuver its way really close to the royal barge for passing. Cleverly done! Nigel, watching at home, texted to say there was a Canadian dragon boat in the parade. But this one looks like a traditional canoe to me. I think there are a few Canadian vessels. You can see the royal golden box on the barge with all the royals there.

 Let's zoom in a little closer on the royals and see what the Canadians see.

 A little closer. Not a bad lens for being across river, but a bit blurry at this close range. Sorry Wills, I cut you off!

 The royal guardsmen?

 The royal barge then pulls out and a lot of barges started following with loads of people, followed by wooden boats, followed by yachts. Hmmm. Are these all bankers, I wondered. So anyone wealthy enough to have a nice boat can take part? What I was expecting were the big galleon ships that the papers have been talking about for the past few weeks. I learn that these are all anchored at Tower Bridge where the flotilla ends. They are all too tall to go under the various London bridges.

 Wait a minute, I only just noticed as I was posting this who was on the boat above. Here is a cropped in version. The River Thames is so big and wide that you really can't see much detail other than the boats going by. You certainly can't tell who is on the boats. I had to confirm to all the bystanders around me that Kate was in the red and Camilla was in the grey. They were small blobs across the river. (info was being fed via text from Nigel who was nice and warm at home watching it in much better detail on the telly).

 I get a bit bored at this point and begin to walk behind all the crowds. Here you can see the river and the boats.

The last boat to come through has the London Philharmonic Orchestra on it and then moments later the heavens opened and we are drenched. We are at the beginning of the river route, so those at the end have another 2 hours of rain to endure. I head for the train along with thousands of others to finish watching at home (from a hot bath).
The rest of the weekend is filled with more festivities. The big concert in Hyde Park the following day is broadcast on television. (We are at a Coldplay concert). The Jubilee is a big 4 day long holiday here and each day different streets around us are shut off and big street parties thrown. This is happening all over the country. Unfortunately it poured for a lot of the weekend, but that doesn't seem to stop people coming out in the thousands.
Congratulations on a very popular 60 year reign, our Queen Elizabeth. God save the Queen!

Home Made Heat Pads (or cooling pad)

Instead of using electric heat pads, blankets or hot water bottles for your aches and pains, these microwaveable bags are just the ticket! They’re known by a few different terms such as: bed buddies, stress busters, magic bags, corn cozies, rice bags–but they’re basically all the same thing.
These bags serve a dual purpose as you can also keep them in the freezer to use has a cooling pad or freezer pack when needed. If you’d like to learn how to make them, you’ll find a tutorial below along with tips for different kinds of fillers to try and directions on how to use them.

Microwave Heating Pad Directions

No pattern is necessary, simply cut two pieces of cloth in the size/shape you wish your bag to be. Make sure to leave a seam allowance for yourself (about 1/2″).
Some prefer regular square shape bags, others prefer tubes or more rectangular shapes. Experiment, whip up a few different sizes and shapes to try. These are really easy to make as well as cheap! 


Filler Options

Uncooked rice
Wheat
Feed corn
Buckwheat hulls
Barley
Oatmeal
Beans
Flax seed
Cherry pits

You can also add the following to the above for a soothing fragrant heating pad: Spices, herbs, essential oils.

Ideas: lavender, rose petals, ground cloves, nutmeg, ginger, rosemary, cinnamon, peppermint oil, crushed mint

If using: Mix herbs, spices and essential oil with choice heating pad filler (such as rice) and let sit in a sealed container for a few days (occasionally stirring). This will help set and distribute the fragrance a bit.

Fabric Options

Cotton: (plain, prints, flannels, denims)
Alternate ideas: old socks (sew or knot end closed), washcloths, old towels
You can also choose to make cozy, removable & washable outer pouches. This is especially nice to do when giving as gifts.
Fabric Ideas: use old towels, fleece, velour knits, pretty fabric prints and flannels (don’t microwave anything other than cotton fabrics). The softer & fluffier & better!

Instructions for Making the Heating Pad

Cut and sew the fabric for the heating pads the size and shape you want (usually a large washcloth size works well).
Leave an inch or two open on one side so that you can fill bag with your choice of filler. Fill the bag about 1/2 to 3/4 full, more or less as you prefer. Don’t fill too full though, you want the bag to mold itself around your body when you apply it.
Once bag is filled, sew opening closed either by hand or machine (making sure filler is contained at the opposite side of bag).
If wanting a removable cover, just sew a “pillowcase” idea with your soft, plushy fabric by making it a little larger than your heating pad and leaving an open end (make sure to finish off ends by sewing a hem). Or you can add a strip of velcro to close it. Make sure to never microwave this cover unless it’s content is full cotton. Remove cover to wash as needed.

Filler Suggestion For Headache Soothers

Rice (or other grain listed above) and a mix of:
Dried lavender
Marjoram
Betony
Rose petals
Cloves
Rosemary

Directions For Use

Place in microwave and heat for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on size of bag. Do not leave unattended “just in case” the filler smokes or starts on fire. As a precaution, you can set a cup of water inside the microwave while heating the bag to add moisture or spritzing bag lightly with water before heating. If you add spices and herbs, this is a good idea to do.
If You’re In a Pinch

If you need a heating pad “now” and don’t have time to sew one, try filling a ziploc freezer bag (make sure it’s the microwaveable kind) 3/4 full with uncooked rice, seal shut. Heat for a minute or two then wrap in a hand towel and use as needed.
You can also fill a clean tube sock, tie closed the open end, heat and use as needed.
Caution

These microwaveable heating pads are glorious to use for aches and pains, or just to pamper yourself after a long, hard day–but be careful when removing from microwave and applying to body. Shake bag first, feel around and make sure it’s not too hot and won’t burn, especially when using on a child.

Video: Random act of kindness cyclist says he could not stand by and watch homeless man rummage through bin for food

A random act of kindness captured on a cyclist's head mounted camera has become a viral hit on the internet.

The two-minute video, filmed by telecommunications supervisor Lewis Dediara, 47,  shows him offering to buy a hungry homeless man "anything he wants" to eat from a central London shop.

The YouTube clip has attracted more than 50,000 views since it was posted online four days ago.

Mr Dediara, originally from Nigeria, said today he was "astonished" by the response to his video.

In the clip, Mr Dediara can be seen chaining up his bike after he left a branch of Boots on Regent Street.

He spots the man, dressed in a shabby black t-shirt and jeans, rooting through a bin.

In a rare display of random kindness, the well-wishing cyclist offers to buy him something to eat.

The man walks into the shop and picks up some crisps and a pint of milk, which is paid for by the well-wisher.

Mr Dediara started filming his daily commute in London after he was knocked off his bike for the second time by a motorist two and a half years ago.

He uses a head-mounted camera and further cameras on his handlebars and back seat to snare drivers on his YouTube channel.

He told the Standard: "I was on my way to fly a kite on Parliament Hill and I stopped at Boots.

"I saw this man standing there - he was clearly hungry. When I saw him rooting through the bin I couldn't just leave him there.

"I come from a family where we are raised to help others when we see them suffering.

"I should have bought him more than what he wanted. Next time I see him I'll buy him a burger."

Mr Dediara said that he posted the clip online because "sometimes London is a place where people don't take the time to care for others."

"It is in my nature to help people," he said.

(posted at London Evening Standard)

Recent Book Read

Inside Dickens' London by Michael Paterson.

I have just started this book and it does not disappoint. It accumulates many written descriptions of London in Dickens' time, a time I am fascinated with.








Cannery Row by John Steinbeck.

A classic I just read for my bookclub. Short, sweet and entertaining.

Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman.

This book was nominated for the 2011 Man Booker Prize. The top 5 nominations are always worth a read every year. This one deals with a young immigrant boy who is caught in a harrowing and rough part of London. It is based on a real person.






Mapp & Lucia by E. F. Benson.

This was a book club choice and I found it hard to get into but managed to find it entertaining once in. It is about catty English women in early 20th century. I was astounded to find there is a whole series of books on the characters. I will not be reading them.

Mr. Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt.

It turns out the artist in the studio next to mine spent a year writing this fictional account of Churchhill and his depression which was published by Penguin. It is a great short and sweet read.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes.

This was the Man Booker 2011 winner and well worth the read. Very introspective, philosophical and surprising.








The Hand that First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell.

I thought this book had such a nice flow to it. It was a book club choice and because I didn't manage to finish it in time I learned the surprise ending before I read it. That didn't seem to take away from the book at all though.

I will post books as I read them on the side bar under My Library.