Tuesday, September 29. 2009
Trident Replacement Referendum
Monday, September 28. 2009
Greens do very well in German Elections
The Greens won 68 seats in the German federal election, a gain of 17 seats. They secured 10.7% of the vote nationally. One commentator said: "the Green party remains strikingly resilient."
Sunday, September 27. 2009
Car Boot Fun
Did a car boot today with the things donated to help Green Party funds. The car boot was in Newbury Racecourse and seems to run every Sunday. Not a bad price either at £7 to get in for traders. We shifted quite a bit of stuff and donated the rest to charity. Darn hot morning's work though and I seem to have a bit of a sun tan
Saturday, September 26. 2009
15 Miles of Sponsored Walk - Great Bedwyn to Newbury
Great fun today had a long walk with the dogs to raise money for the green party. We started at Great Bedwyn and walked down the Kennet and Avon canal to Newbury. It's about 15 miles and is a stunning walk. Most of Great Bedwyn to Hungerford is unspoilt by selfish dog owners and has stunning views. Why does anyone go on holiday abroad when we have such amazing things right here in England? Anyway, for anyone thinking of doing it - Great Bedwyn is on the train line from Reading. Walking back towards Newbury you follow the A4 and the railway line - so if you get stuck you can always ask for a lift or jump on a train.
Sunday, September 20. 2009
£143 pounds raised!
Saturday, September 19. 2009
Jumble Sale fun and antics
Did my first fund raising Jumble Sale ever today. Pam did a great job arranging everything - Thatcham's Catholic Church Hall was packed with stuff and people. There was one big scrum to get at our wares. Not only have we made money for the Green Party but we have recycled a whole bunch of items that are now back into use. Thanks to everyone that turned up with of course special thanks to Pam, Gif and our families who helped out. I hope that we can run another one of these for the Green Party in Newbury, Lambourn, and Hungerford. So we are well on our way to secure funds to allow Adrian Hollister to stand for Parliament at the next election and field a good few candidates in the regional West Berkshire council elections too.
Friday, September 18. 2009
Nowadays We Worship at Saint Tesco
Pam Ayres gave an excellent and, if you think about it, very disturbing poem 'Nowadays We Worship at Saint Tesco'. You may be able to still hear it on BBC iPlayer here or find out more here. It is scary how she seems to have captured our greedy nature and our recent need for stuff to make us happy - still as she says we have Saint Tesco to help us.
Thursday, September 17. 2009
Greener web hosting
If you host a web site or domain, think carefully about your provider. I use 1&1 Internet their press release explains why...
1&1 is proud to be the first large web host who relies solely on renewable energy. At 1&1 we believe in a sustainable society for all and that every business has a role in this responsibility. We have therefore made a strong commitment to fight pollution and preserve our natural resources. 1&1 now uses wind, water and solar power in accordance with the Renewable Energy Certification System (RECS).
The use of renewable energy technologies reduces hazardous greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional power plants.
We Use Energy Efficiently
We do not only strive to use clean energy, we also endeavour to use energy as efficiently as possible. In our European data centres, we currently run some 40,000 servers which consume between 50 and 60 Gigawatts per hour (GWh).
For years, 1&1 has been using energy highly economically, with less than 20 per cent heat loss – one of the best figures in the industry. As soon as the outside temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius, we cool our data centre using open-air coolers that work without energy-consuming compressors.
The choice of software also plays a critical role in saving electrical power. Based on Linux, 1&1 has developed its own operating system uses server resources efficiently, saving valuable energy.
By hosting your site with 1&1, you choose an environmentally sound and sustainable future and directly support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that come from conventional power plants."

You can find their site here.
1&1 is proud to be the first large web host who relies solely on renewable energy. At 1&1 we believe in a sustainable society for all and that every business has a role in this responsibility. We have therefore made a strong commitment to fight pollution and preserve our natural resources. 1&1 now uses wind, water and solar power in accordance with the Renewable Energy Certification System (RECS).
The use of renewable energy technologies reduces hazardous greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional power plants.
We Use Energy Efficiently
We do not only strive to use clean energy, we also endeavour to use energy as efficiently as possible. In our European data centres, we currently run some 40,000 servers which consume between 50 and 60 Gigawatts per hour (GWh).
For years, 1&1 has been using energy highly economically, with less than 20 per cent heat loss – one of the best figures in the industry. As soon as the outside temperature falls below 10 degrees Celsius, we cool our data centre using open-air coolers that work without energy-consuming compressors.
The choice of software also plays a critical role in saving electrical power. Based on Linux, 1&1 has developed its own operating system uses server resources efficiently, saving valuable energy.
By hosting your site with 1&1, you choose an environmentally sound and sustainable future and directly support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that come from conventional power plants."

You can find their site here.
School Run Speeding is just madness
Today I've got to rant - I'm just fed up with school run speeding. If I'm walking, cycling or driving with the kids all I get to see is mad school run parents driving at bonkers speeds. I see kids all the time flung around by panicing swerving and heavily breaking parents who are going too fast for the conditions.
If your late you should accept the fact that you are late.
Why put people, including your and our children in danger because you are attempting to make up a few seconds on your journey time?
Keep yourself at a sensible speed and please don't pose a risk to you, your family, me, my kids and anyone else. Better still, walk your short journey (yes that may mean you have to leave your house earlier), or start cycling it.
Personally, I'm for a 20mph blanket speed around any school and 20mph in all residential areas where the residents vote for it. I can also see the argument for a strong instant one week driving ban for anyone caught breaking that speed limit.
If your late you should accept the fact that you are late.
Why put people, including your and our children in danger because you are attempting to make up a few seconds on your journey time?
Keep yourself at a sensible speed and please don't pose a risk to you, your family, me, my kids and anyone else. Better still, walk your short journey (yes that may mean you have to leave your house earlier), or start cycling it.
Personally, I'm for a 20mph blanket speed around any school and 20mph in all residential areas where the residents vote for it. I can also see the argument for a strong instant one week driving ban for anyone caught breaking that speed limit.
Wednesday, September 16. 2009
Jumble Sale - Thatcham Catholic Church Hall - Saturday 19th 10am
Saturday, September 12. 2009
Great day face painting at Paices Wood for Pang
I don't usually blog about my charity face painting, but today I had a great day out at Paices Wood Country Parkland. The event was arranged by Pang, Kennet and Lambourn Valleys Countryside Project (PKLVCP), which is part of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group - a national charity. Paices Wood is certainly one of those places that unless you lived near Aldermaston you would never know about - it's a hidden little gem for sure. Paices Wood Country Parkland is accessed through Young (Aldermaston) Industrial Estate, which is on the A340 between Aldermaston and Tadley.
It seems a shame that West Berkshire Council have reduced their grant to the Countryside Project by 50% for 2009/10. I need to make up a logo for West Berkshire - NOT cleaner and NOT greener ?
As always if your in West Berkshire and are in need of someone to come along and face paint for your charity event foc then please drop Adrian Hollister an email.
It seems a shame that West Berkshire Council have reduced their grant to the Countryside Project by 50% for 2009/10. I need to make up a logo for West Berkshire - NOT cleaner and NOT greener ?
As always if your in West Berkshire and are in need of someone to come along and face paint for your charity event foc then please drop Adrian Hollister an email.
Tuesday, September 8. 2009
Vaguely Live Train Tracker
I do like this type of technology - without backing from the train operators some very ingenious programmers have come up with a way of showing where trains are on the network in real(ish) time. I don't suppose it's hugely accurate, but it's good to see what innovation can create without the need for competition. Each train operating company is in vague competition, but there is still no incentive to excel. This is where private individuals come along. I wonder when the government of the day will realise that our 'profit' and 'greed' based public service models just don't work.
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