A Frozen River Thames?

<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">For those of you who have not visited London, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the River Thames cuts through London </div><div style="text-align: center;">and is naturally an important part of London's social and economic history</div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R1UyI0RNn54MpWI38wiDnP1LhURQh8eC6qJlT_RLyGxaBVdmPwG5XnbJHcaszp3-spfTZI2AMblkQEvwqBPFAr797oQnwUE54Q6XMu_wnzyVU_myXbJ1TOH5xsdd-IY4LbwI6auNIk4/s1600/RiverThames5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R1UyI0RNn54MpWI38wiDnP1LhURQh8eC6qJlT_RLyGxaBVdmPwG5XnbJHcaszp3-spfTZI2AMblkQEvwqBPFAr797oQnwUE54Q6XMu_wnzyVU_myXbJ1TOH5xsdd-IY4LbwI6auNIk4/s640/RiverThames5-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satellite Image of River Thames through London<br />[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:London_SPOT_1005.jpg">Wikipedia</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">Last month, the headlines read 'UK Experiences The Coldest December On Record' (<a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/uk-experiences-the-coldest-december-on-record/137848-2.html">here</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Could the River Thames actually freeze in London?</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">It probably wouldn't because </div><div style="text-align: center;">it is deeper and faster since the old London Bridge was demolished in 1831<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">However, the river has frozen solid-ish for 24 winters since the 1400s</div><div style="text-align: center;">So it has happened</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYd5C_j9jXGKgVHeg8Nyxhhi8Pujxc7ELTlJqwMlvDwTHJ-4fGqddXo_H3MzHIiyYelzWRrk0i6qZD-TJy5QH1HZmfWQDnL24nQofPvLnCi_4FCXTZ6j4SuavZMq0FuwkhpYRtP8X75WA/s1600/RiverThames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYd5C_j9jXGKgVHeg8Nyxhhi8Pujxc7ELTlJqwMlvDwTHJ-4fGqddXo_H3MzHIiyYelzWRrk0i6qZD-TJy5QH1HZmfWQDnL24nQofPvLnCi_4FCXTZ6j4SuavZMq0FuwkhpYRtP8X75WA/s640/RiverThames.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Thames in 1950s [<a href="http://matthewsbikeblog.blogspot.com/">source</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">Since 1608, </div><div style="text-align: center;">Londoners held 'Frost Fairs' on the Thames ice to make the most of the cold, </div><div style="text-align: center;">which included sport and commercial activity</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although the River Thames still freezes, </div><div style="text-align: center;">it hasn't had a 'proper' deep freeze since 1814</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZIAKyOEif8EOQ20lBV4cmgZ2hVLkbIByt3MhQPVSEG6pgwvz5NgwwBQYsh4ouDGixbG2Da8qjjidIFcXQRALUts4g1Sd1u6RfgodUnAyoQJkneyO7qLOmRM69nF8MqHLqYC871OgGdg/s1600/RiverThames4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZIAKyOEif8EOQ20lBV4cmgZ2hVLkbIByt3MhQPVSEG6pgwvz5NgwwBQYsh4ouDGixbG2Da8qjjidIFcXQRALUts4g1Sd1u6RfgodUnAyoQJkneyO7qLOmRM69nF8MqHLqYC871OgGdg/s400/RiverThames4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last 'Frost Fair' in 1814<br />[<a href="http://www.webhistoryofengland.com/?p=613">Source</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">The period from mid-14th century to the 19th century in Europe </div><div style="text-align: center;">is called the 'Little Ice Age' due to the severity of the climate, </div><div style="text-align: center;">especially the winters</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">So for those of you wondering, </div><div style="text-align: center;">is there a difference between a damp cold and a dry cold? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Nope - cold is cold </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do we still get cracked knuckles and chapped lips even with the humidity? </div><div style="text-align: center;">Yep</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">And I've learned that balaclava is not the same as baklava </div><div style="text-align: center;">I could use a bit of both</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">I went online to buy my husband a snow shovel for Christmas </div><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't resist this two-for-one offer:  </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4gK7tDOooPjvr8unWfAszE1dBZUShbOHv7gVXOljrFuNiBvjY1l-QoXtLMmuRv6BKhHs2FiAM8s7zM6VvMktOchgIY3GV5J28Kod28TvTeuGFl6e94IuRNzTFl3Y2zp_es_0tZWA4RY/s1600/AmazonUK.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4gK7tDOooPjvr8unWfAszE1dBZUShbOHv7gVXOljrFuNiBvjY1l-QoXtLMmuRv6BKhHs2FiAM8s7zM6VvMktOchgIY3GV5J28Kod28TvTeuGFl6e94IuRNzTFl3Y2zp_es_0tZWA4RY/s400/AmazonUK.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/">AmazonUK</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now that's funny :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">Hoping you are staying warm this weekend!</div></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

A Frozen River Thames?

For those of you who have not visited London,  the River Thames cuts through London  and is naturally an important part of London's soci...

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Back in Blogland again

I must apologize for my absence over the past week or so. Personally, I've found it really hard to post about pretty houses when so many Queenslanders have tragically lost theirs. My heart just hasn't been in it, so instead I've tried to focus on ways to help. Last weekend, my sister, daughter and I spent some time out at Old Dog Farm, an animal refuge that specializes in re-homing dogs, particularly those in their twilight years. The farm is on the northern outskirts of Brisbane, and to see the devastation was truly heartbreaking. Fortunately, most of the dogs were still safely in foster care over the Christmas break, but the rebuilding process will take some time, and quite a bit of money. <a href="http://www.bestfriendsrescue.com/">Best Friends Animal Rescue</a> do an amazing job helping animals in need, so if you'd like to learn more about the fantastic work they do, head on over <a href="http://www.bestfriendsrescue.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />As I mentioned in my last post, the profits from my <a href="http://driftwoodinteriors.etsy.com/">Etsy shop</a> for the remainder of January will be donated to charity. So many people will be needing help in the coming months, but my aim is to <i>also</i> help the animals who have suffered so terribly. So, here's my latest painting, which will has just been added to my shop:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxZvvGIZgfP3KYV0JqKpEtiRo6Z0uxMAbee2pnzegHe_XIkCdWSOgpH4_hzxpAzOPrME9YnoW9Th4LLQ8pjfQ0EwS2jqbYplA6r0WHV59nI-qfqqpH-jpr5E2B6-s8FjOHd-6p6DmL3Q/s1600/fuze+sea+coral+III+in+denim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxZvvGIZgfP3KYV0JqKpEtiRo6Z0uxMAbee2pnzegHe_XIkCdWSOgpH4_hzxpAzOPrME9YnoW9Th4LLQ8pjfQ0EwS2jqbYplA6r0WHV59nI-qfqqpH-jpr5E2B6-s8FjOHd-6p6DmL3Q/s640/fuze+sea+coral+III+in+denim.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sea Coral III in Denim</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and some very exciting news - my fabulous new printer arrived yesterday! I'll now be able to produce my fine art, archival-quality prints in-house, which makes life much easier. New works will be added to my <a href="http://driftwoodinteriors.etsy.com/">Etsy shop</a> over the next week, so please check it out - it's for a very good cause. And for those of you who have already purchased artwork - thank you so much. Your generosity will make the world of difference.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ok, that's it from me today. Thanks for bearing with me over the past couple of weeks, and for your wonderful emails and words of support. I know I've said it before, but this community we have here is truly special. Before I go, I can't help but mention some really exciting things that I'll be sharing with you very soon. You know how it is - I just can't resist a good teaser!</div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

Back in Blogland again

I must apologize for my absence over the past week or so. Personally, I've found it really hard to post about pretty houses when so many...

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Everyday Randomness

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe9WSaM-ItnCnLQYsupYLaU6765htP12kCM6xFyXKmsE6n5bLqNXs2jaE6YglLGL7Q5dJYscin4TdoYXL2PGfIAF0Bm-ncdpqHujawtFRzQYuPrZ4I7i0w8HLDXI-E4TTSjFfk_Wcwos/s1600/tumblr_leavadH3Fc1qzipvbo1_500_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe9WSaM-ItnCnLQYsupYLaU6765htP12kCM6xFyXKmsE6n5bLqNXs2jaE6YglLGL7Q5dJYscin4TdoYXL2PGfIAF0Bm-ncdpqHujawtFRzQYuPrZ4I7i0w8HLDXI-E4TTSjFfk_Wcwos/s400/tumblr_leavadH3Fc1qzipvbo1_500_large.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[image: Tumblr]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So I couldn't hold in the truth any longer, so when I saw my kids' teacher after the holidays I blurted this confession...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">''For Christmas, I was bundling up all the little chocolate gifts we bought in Belgium for the kids' teachers. And in a moment of weakness, I ate yours. I am really sorry I didn't give you a gift for Christmas as I had intended to, because I ate it. So I gave you a story instead.''</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">So I have been meaning to share this letter with you. It was taped onto a Christmas package sent from the US, confirming that it did 'not originate or pass through Republic of Yemen or Somalia'. My guess is most of you  have not seen this form letter from the US Post Office before. I found it interesting</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR43xRQU2eIc3c_Z-04_R55owd0Bbr3c9v16dYe7yHDSLLULLGJOYy_4CeLm_wU2c0I8fDYlI1XcnvJq8Pr53bF3bKGIYQFBhxyVr6n2tCnB9coTscgRZ-NB6bhNa9dyOY1Nd0KugphF4/s1600/DSCN2738-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR43xRQU2eIc3c_Z-04_R55owd0Bbr3c9v16dYe7yHDSLLULLGJOYy_4CeLm_wU2c0I8fDYlI1XcnvJq8Pr53bF3bKGIYQFBhxyVr6n2tCnB9coTscgRZ-NB6bhNa9dyOY1Nd0KugphF4/s400/DSCN2738-2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I jump when the phone rings - a local call costs money, so few call. And because we don't have Caller ID, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I continue to be surprised by who is calling.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I just found out today - you can put 4 litres of unleaded petrol in your diesel car. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I wouldn't recommend it, but does seem we are no worse for wear.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Today was another day of saving critters. I saved a partially drowned worm and released another ladybird (ladybug) outside. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There are many ladybugs in the house for some reason.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The electrician came over the other day to replace a faulty switch in the house. When he entered, he took off his shoes and looked inside his tool satchel. He pulled out and put on house slippers like these:  </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwkPSBjVLEbqDk0o78UWX7p1CjlvezJToFbXnnIwBxTdyN-0Z6Tg0LM_YNHHEh-XJGbi0rhZdSZLkvdkGizcj9ww_u6QTVboxXnu2753tNRZ3tFdm74kmK011zLiYMsh3CKaS6DjIS6A/s1600/9732-p-DETAILED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwkPSBjVLEbqDk0o78UWX7p1CjlvezJToFbXnnIwBxTdyN-0Z6Tg0LM_YNHHEh-XJGbi0rhZdSZLkvdkGizcj9ww_u6QTVboxXnu2753tNRZ3tFdm74kmK011zLiYMsh3CKaS6DjIS6A/s1600/9732-p-DETAILED.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[Zappos.com]</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was so adorable and 'proper'! I also think I detected a hint of an Irish accent, and he actually smelled like the soap 'Irish Spring'. Honest!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My doorbell sounds like an old-fashion bicycle bell.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJzXqYuMFkAuzJ3ei-BaiBzLTSR9Iio78hqdbNe6YXoikKBCWrxYQCgleFAiaxs5CZGPO1aoYqq3VNbG6hjZ-G1-twDO9rsW5J4x9pJRE2ZoZ6FLbwqGafJY_k3DlKAfhOKZd0ZgiKTg/s1600/2399045_wnjT3Khg_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJzXqYuMFkAuzJ3ei-BaiBzLTSR9Iio78hqdbNe6YXoikKBCWrxYQCgleFAiaxs5CZGPO1aoYqq3VNbG6hjZ-G1-twDO9rsW5J4x9pJRE2ZoZ6FLbwqGafJY_k3DlKAfhOKZd0ZgiKTg/s400/2399045_wnjT3Khg_c.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">[source: <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/2399045/">pinterest</a>]</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And you can never go wrong ending a post with Audrey.<br />Bet that's her getaway car, as she takes her teacher's Christmas gift back home to eat...<br /><br /></div></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important;" /></a>

Everyday Randomness

Posted by Happy Homemaker UK [image: Tumblr] So I couldn't hold in the truth any longer, so when I saw my kids' teacher after the ho...

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