Sue Nethercott

Blog

Hi!

This is page for my blog, which I hope to write more often once this site is up and running.

Sue

2014

March 31 2014

Was awarded my Certificate in Contemporary Science by the Open University

April 22 2014

I passed S173 Plants and people.

2013

October 5 2013

I started S173 Plants and people.

April 25 2013

I passed SK195 Human genetics and health issues

February 18 2013

Started a "Buy, fix and use a computer course" at Bridgwater college

2012

December 18 2012

My first delivery from an organic veg box scheme, Riverford

October 6 2012

I started SK195 Human genetics and health issues

2011

June 20 2011

I passed SK183 Understanding human nutrition

April 1 2011

I started SK183 Understanding human nutrition

2010

2009

December 31 2009

Was awarded my Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Studies and my Diploma in Pollution Control by the Open University

December 14 2009

I passed T308 Environmental monitoring, modelling and control

December 14 2009

I passed S189 Understanding the weather

September 1 2009

I started S189 Understanding the weather

July 14 2009

I sent out my first regular newsletter as Thom Hartmann's newsletter editor.

February 7 2009

I started T308 Environmental monitoring, modelling and control

2008

December 8 2008

I passed T210 Environmental control and public health

February 2 2008

I started T210 Environmental control and public health

2007

December 11 2007

I passed S180 Life in the oceans: exploring our blue planet

October 6 2007

I started S180 Life in the oceans: exploring our blue planet

2006

December 12 2006

I passed T206 Energy for a sustainable future

February 4 2006

I started T206 Energy for a sustainable future

2005

December 14 2005

I passed U316 The environmental web

Nov 17 2005

I have decided that for the time being I will focus on obtaining a degree in Environmental Studies, and supporting Thom Hartmann, who wrote the excellent book, "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Revised and Updated: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It's Too Late", originally published 1999.

Nov 16 2005

Apparently somebody has objected to my posting stories which link to newswires in one of the forums, and I have been told to stop. Since what is wrong in one forum cannot be right in other forums, I have therefore stopped in all three. I did not post any more roundup messages tonight after I was told, even though I had already written them, and I deleted what I had already started posting. Pity, as I still had a long list of topics I wanted to write about. As links to further information is an important part of my writing (at least unless I am writing much longer self-contained articles), encouraging people to find out more for themselves if I have managed to get them interested, I will not be doing the posts without links.
Congratulations whoever you are, you should be very proud of yourself - NOT!
I'm sure I'll still do some stuff for the forums, but with my hands tied behind my back like this, it won't be anywhere near as much as before.
Writing about the environment is very important to me, so watch this space to find out what and where I will be writing instead. It won't be the same as for the forums, as that was specifically tailored for them.
One good thing - having several free hours a day now will give me a chance to do lots of things I haven't had time for lately.

Nov 14 2005

Kashmir Quake stories

Nov 13 2005

Kashmir Quake stories

Nov 12 2005

Kashmir Quake stories

Nov 11 2005

Bird Flu

Nov 10 2005

Nigeria's Ogoni & Ken Saro-Wiwa

Nov 09 2005

Nov 08 2005

Nov 07 2005

Nov 06 2005

Nov 05 2005

Gunpowder, treason and plot

Nov 04 2005

Nov 03 2005

Nov 02 2005

Oct 31 2005

Oct 30 2005

Oct 29 2005

Oct 28 2005

Oct 27 2005

Oct 26 2005

Oct 25 2005

Oct 24 2005

Oct 23 2005

Oct 22 2005

Oct 21 2005

Oct 20 2005

Oct 19 2005

Oct 18 2005

Oct 17 2005

Oct 16 2005

Oct 15 2005

Oct 14 2005

Oct 13 2005

Oct 12 2005

Oct 11 2005

Oct 10 2005

Oct 09 2005

Oct 08 2005

Hurricane Katrina tripled the number of environment-related stories I was processing each day, and each time it looked like it was getting back to normal levels, something came along to bump it up again, like Rita, Wilma, the Kashmir earthquake, and bird flu. With my course project to do on top, I have got very behind with a lot of other things in my life. So, whilst I am continuing the environmental roundups, I'm taking a break from writing a featured topic in more depth each day for a while so that I can catch up a bit.

Pakistan Quake

Oct 07 2005

Phenology (Autumn or Fall)

Oct 06 2005

Methane, Biogas and Natural Gas

Oct 05 2005

Deadline for the final project for my Environmental Web course. Got it in on time.
Superfund

Oct 04 2005

Oil Refining Capacity

Oct 03 2005

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

Oct 02 2005

Tar Sands

Oct 01 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 30 2005

A few changes

Sep 29 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 28 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 27 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 26 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 25 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 24 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 23 2005

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina

Sep 22 2005

Sep 21 2005

Sep 20 2005

Sep 19 2005

Sep 18 2005

Sep 17 2005

Sep 16 2005

Sep 15 2005

Sep 14 2005

Sep 13 2005

Sep 12 2005

Sep 11 2005

Sep 10 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Sep 09 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Sep 08 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Sep 07 2005

Four Disasters? (Katrina)

Sep 06 2005

Looting in the USA! (Katrina)

Sep 05 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Sep 04 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Sep 03 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Sep 02 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Sep 01 2005

Katrina Situation Update

Aug 31 2005

Human Zoo

Aug 30 2005

Coastal Land Loss and Katrina

Aug 29 2005

Ken-Betwa Plan, India

Aug 28 2005

Floods

Aug 27 2005

Deforestation

Aug 26 2005

PBDEs

Aug 25 2005

Garden of Eden? (Iraq Mesopotamian Marshlands)

Aug 24 2005

CAFE New Standards

Aug 23 2005

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Aug 22 2005

Biomass and Biofuels

Aug 21 2005

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Aug 20 2005

Mercury: EPA and FDA advisory

Aug 19 2005

Plague

Aug 18 2005

Avian Flu Pandemic Due

Aug 17 2005

Pig disease 'Streptococcus suis'

Aug 16 2005

Ilulissat climate talks

Aug 15 2005

Aug 14 2005

Aug 13 2005

Aug 12 2005

Aug 11 2005

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Aug 10 2005

Aug 09 2005

Aug 08 2005

Aug 07 2005

Aug 06 2005

Aug 05 2005

Offsite Mitigation for oil or natural gas drilling

Aug 04 2005

Pyramid Lake

Aug 03 2005

Northwest Forest Plan

Aug 02 2005

Hurricane Trends

Aug 01 2005

Uranium

Jul 31 2005

Tsunami aftermath - recipe for disaster?

Jul 30 2005

CAFTA and the Environment

Jul 29 2005

Anthrax

Jul 28 2005

Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development & Climate

Jul 27 2005

Jul 26 2005

Jul 25 2005

Jul 24 2005

Jul 23 2005

Jul 22 2005

Jul 21 2005

Climate Change Testimony, Ralph Cicerone

Jul 20 2005

Starvation in Niger

Jul 19 2005

Pesticides

Jul 18 2005

Phosphorus, Phosphates

Jul 17 2005

Jul 16 2005

Jul 15 2005

Jul 14 2005

Jul 13 2005

Jul 12 2005

Jul 11 2005

Jul 10 2005

Jul 09 2005

Jul 08 2005

G8 Statements (Gleneagles)

Jul 07 2005

Saving The Planet

Jul 06 2005

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), HCFCs, HFCs

Jul 05 2005

Ozone, ozone pollution & the ozone hole

Jul 04 2005

Ocean Conveyor Belt (Britain freezing)

Jul 03 2005

Montreal Protocol, methyl bromide

Jul 02 2005

Nuclear Stockpiles

Jul 01 2005

Sharks

Jun 30 2005

Nuclear or Radioactive Waste - Disposal

Jun 29 2005

Nuclear or Radioactive Waste - Types

Jun 28 2005

Jun 27 2005

Jun 26 2005

Jun 25 2005

Jun 24 2005

International Whaling Commission '05

Jun 23 2005

Jun 22 2005

Jun 21 2005

Jun 20 2005

Jun 19 2005

Environmental Justice

Jun 18 2005

Energy Choices

Jun 17 2005

Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) (USA)

Jun 16 2005

Clean Air Act 1990 (USA)

Jun 15 2005

Jun 14 2005

Jun 13 2005

Jun 12 2005

Jun 11 2005

Jun 10 2005

Jun 09 2005

Wasting to Death (bycatch, extinctions)

Jun 08 2005

Politics

Jun 07 2005

Greenhouse Gases

Jun 06 2005

Antarctic Treaty 1959

Jun 05 2005

World Environment Day

Jun 04 2005

Jun 03 2005

Jun 02 2005

Jun 01 2005

May 31 2005

May 30 2005

May 29 2005

May 28 2005

May 27 2005

May 26 2005

May 25 2005

May 24 2005

May 23 2005

May 22 2005

Biodiversity Hotspots

May 21 2005

May 20 2005

May 19 2005

May 18 2005

May 17 2005

May 16 2005

Gas-to-Liquids (GTL)

May 15 2005

City Wildlife

May 14 2005

Sustainable Development

May 13 2005

Arsenic

May 12 2005

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

May 11 2005

Lead

May 10 2005

Algal Blooms

May 09 2005

Organic Food

May 08 2005

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

May 07 2005

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 2

May 06 2005

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

May 05 2005

May 04 2005

May 03 2005

May 02 2005

May 01 2005

Phenology (Spring)

April 30 2005

April 29 2005

April 28 2005

April 27 2005

April 26 2005

April 25 2005

April 24 2005

April 23 2005

April 22 2005

April 21 2005

April 20 2005

April 19 2005

April 18 2005

Genetically Modified Crops

April 17 2005

Ocean Noise

April 16 2005

Energy Future

April 15 2005

Protecting the Environment

April 14 2005

Avian Flu, Pandemics

April 13 2005

Ecological Footprints

April 12 2005

Whaling, Antarctica

April 11 2005

Invasive Species

April 10 2005

Coral Reefs

April 09 2005

Started what I intend to be a daily series of messages picking up on an environmental issue from the days' news, starting with Carbon Dioxide and Global Warming. Hopefully this is only the start of an expanding series and portfolio.

April 08 2005

Environment Roundup April 08 2005

April 07 2005

Environment Roundup April 07 2005

April 06 2005

Environment Roundup April 06 2005

April 05 2005

Got off my first assignment for U316: The Environmental Web. Several of the environmental stories for the day concerned water, so I added a little piece on the subject. I must consider doing that again, build up a portfolio.

April 04 2005

Environment Roundup April 04 2005

April 03 2005

Environment Roundup April 03 2005

April 02 2005

Environment Roundup April 02 2005

April 01 2005

Environment Roundup April 01 2005

March 31 2005

Environment Roundup March 31 2005

March 30 2005

Started a new series of messages in NewsForum and World Issues forum - a summary of the day's environmental news. Links to all Environmental Roundup stories.

March 18 2005

A beautiful warm sunny spring day, 64°F. Spent much of it in the garden.

March 06 2005

Went for a walk around Shenley Wood, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, guided by local historian Ted Legg.It got off to a bad start for me because my van would not fit under the 6 foot 3 inch barrier of the car park so I had to park outside, and some travellers drew up, but they moved on and all was well when I got back to the van. The tour was more history than nature, and we kept to the surfaced paths because the gound was wet, but the sun shone quite a bit and it was very interesting.

February 05 2005

I started U316 The environmental web

2004

December 31 2004

Spent many hours celebrating New Year online with friends. Started around 11 a.m. in Pacific with Ally in New Zealand, Ian in Australia, and carried on through until past 6 a.m. with PF in OK and others. Didn't stay up for the West Coast or Hawaii this year.

December 24 2004

Thom Hartmann had opened up a new chat room from his own site, so I spent the time of the show in both old and new rooms, helping people to find their way across. Also helped people with the new software, even though I'd not seen it before myself.

December 22 2004

Received a chat flag in Democratic forum so could moderate on the Thom Hartmann show.

December 18 2004

Registered for Open University Course U316: The Environmental Web.

December 16 2004

Learned that I passed the Open University Course: U216: Environment.

December 14 2004

I passed U216 Environment

December 11 2004

Went to close windows after dark in the main bedroom that I've been painting, and there was a squirrel on the windowsill. Never saw it or its companion again.

November 30 2004

Saw a squirrel (later 2) in my garden for the first time.

November 28 2004

Wrote my first post on Thom Hartmann's board: "Dear Dr. Hartmann" humorous Leviticus-style letter re NLP.

November 21 2004

All change at London Forum. :-(

November 21 2004

Fatal crash at junction with main road. :-(

November 18 2004

Snowed after dark; unusually early in season

November 16 2004

Thom Hartmann's NLP classes began. Joined his discussion board.

November 10 2004

Gerard left.

November 08 2004

Frêd left from Heathrow.

November 07 2004

Trip to London with Frêd and Gerard, went on London Eye, too late for Tower. Covent garden in evening. Left Frêd at hotel.

November 06 2004

Back home from Manchester with Frêd and Gerard.

November 05 2004

Chester with Frêd and Gerard. Walked around much of the Roman wall

November 04 2004

Liverpool, Albert Dock with Frêd and Gerard. Went on Duck tour.

November 03 2004

Into Manchester with Gerard, Frêd, went up on Ferris wheel.

November 02 2004

Traveled up to Gerard's in Manchester with Frêd.

November 01 2004

Frêd arrived from Vermont, Met him at Heathrow.

October 29 2004

Watched Thom Hartmann on CSPAN.

October 28 2004

Lunar eclipse. Cloudy, of course. Attended Thom Hartmann show. Fascinating.

October 25 2004

Bobby mentioned Thom Hartmann show.

October 15 2004

First walk around lake after getting blisters in Kingston. Saw first lapwing of season.

October 14 2004

U216 Examination p.m. Went better than expected, I may well have passed. Just put head down and wrote everything relevant that I could think of.

October 01 2004

Interview at iE, Kingston upon Thames (Never did hear back from them). Got blisters.

September 06 2004

Weather has turned grey and windy, but saw a kingfisher for the first time in ages as I walked around the lake.

September 04 2004

Went into town to the Job Fair. Got plenty of good advice, but it was all stuff I had already tried or rejected. No relevant vacancies.

September 03 2004

Spent day in NewsForum as the Russian school siege came to an end.

August 15 2004

Lancaster bomber flew over - an advantage of living near Bletchley Park. I wonder how long planes from WW2 and earlier will continue to fly, and which later planes will take their place in our affections. My favourite is the Harrier, and I also like the Concorde, in spite of its poor environmental credentials. Maybe if it had been allowed to fly elsewhere, there would have been enough money for development of better engines for it, and it would have remained leading edge.

August 07 2004

My raspberries are just about over - not so many this year. Had the first blackberries of the season.

July 29 2004

Took Suemobile in for its annual service and MOT.

July 28 2004

Took Gerard to bus station for bus home.

July 27 2004

Took Gerard into central Milton Keynes for some shopping.

July 26 2004

Up very early to deliver Linda to Luton airport at 5:30 am.

July 25 2004

Drove to Watford Junction (1 hour mostly on A5 to avoid road works on M1) and caught train (20 minutes) into the city. Took an open topped bus tour around the city, plus a boat trip, then walked around Buckingham palace, taking photos all the way. Lunch was in a pub off Oxford Street, where Linda bought a souvenir or 2. Before we set off home Linda just had to get some food from a London Indian takeaway to try (Spicy World). Another late night.

July 24 2004

Visited Milton Keynes's famous concrete cows, and the heritage centre. After lunch at the Proud Perch pub on the Grand Union canal, we went to Castle Ashby, to look at the little shops there. Checked the train times for London on Sunday, and discovered they were being replaced by buses and quoting up to 2.5 hours for the journey. It's only 50 miles away! Stayed up late researching the best way to get around it.

July 23 2004

Linda, a Californian currently taking a course in Berlin, arrived for the weekend. Just as well I knew the alternative routes as there were road works on the M1. Linda's plane was 2 hours late and she was the last passenger out, it seemed, and it was a nightmare trying to get online to see if there was any message from her. We eventually got to bed at 4 am, so decided not go to London the next day.

July 21 2004

Gerard arrived from Manchester. A bad accident just after his turnoff just before he was due meant his bus was long delayed in the motorway queue.

June 15 2004

Ate my first raspberries from my garden. :-)

June 14 2004

Posted 4th TMA for U216. It and the material it covered were awful. OK for social scientist types, I suppose. I'm happy to learn about all the different views that people place on aspects of the environment, but then to waste time trying to squeeze them into ill-defined, useless categories really annoyed me, and I told them so! [I only got 15% - probably my lowest mark ever with the Open University] Too much more of that, and I'll drop the course, which would prevent me from getting an OU qualification involving the environment. Oh well.

June 11 2004

European elections.

June 08 2004

Transit of Venus.

May 11 2004

Attempt at a guitar playing record in central Milton Keynes.

April 30 2004

Long tailed tit in garden. Birds looking harried and looking for insects - presumably they have nestlings. House Martins low over lake.

April 25 2004

Did some decorating, trying to get house in good condition for sale if that becomes necessary. Sat in garden after dark and watched bats flying overhead.

April 24 2004

A beautiful day. A newt has taken to spending the day in my compost bin. I have to gently evict it every time I want to add more material. There's one in the front garden too, unless the same one gets around a lot.

April 23 2004

First flower on my strawberry plants, which have grown well over the winter. Saw a family with 6 ducklings on the lake.

April 22 2004

Planted out a lot of vegetables seeds and seedlings in the garden. I hope the slugs and snails don't get the all this year. I'm surrounded by them!

March 17 2004

I passed S190 Global warming - the science behind the headlines

March 01 2004

Sent off my first TMA (tutor-marked assignment) for U216. Not too bad.

February 14 2004

First U216 tutorial. It was my first day up after flu, so it was a struggle, but it didn't go too badly.

January 31 2004

Start of U216, Environment. Too much social sciences waffle for my taste (you know you're in for it when there's an introduction to the introduction!), but the examples are good.

January 28 2004

Hutton report. Many were as surprised as I about how one-sided it was, and Tony Blair was grinning all over his face. A bad day for political balance.

January ?? 2004

Sent off the final assignment for S190, in good time for cut-off on 30th.

January 01 2004

Uploaded the beginnings of this site version. Celebrated with some baking.

December 31 2003

Went online before 11 a.m. to see new year in with friends in New Zealand and Australia. Went back online in time for European friends' new year at 11 p.m., and stayed online until past 6 a.m. for other friends' celebrations. Didn't stay up for West Coast (8 a.m.) or Hawaii (10 a.m.) this year, but most of them were online at 6 a.m. and said not to stay up.

December 16 2003

I passed T172 Working with our environment: technology for a sustainable future

November 30 2003

More S190, learning what determines the Earth's Global Mean Surface Temperature (GSMT), transfer of energy, the Sun as ultimate source of nearly all our energy. Also solar radiation, the effect of the Earth's atmosphere, reflection, convection, latent heat, infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, atmospheric radiation absorbed by the Earth's surface. The so-called greenhouse effect is good, apparently, as the Earth would be considerably cooler without it. It is changes that we need to worry about.

November 28 2003

Really got down to studying S190: Global warming: the science behind the headlines. Learnt how scientists can tell how the climate has changed in the past: from evidence of glaciation (U- rather than V-shaped valleys), from fossils of animals and trees (where we can deduce what sort of climate they needed to survive - we know their age from carbon dating), and from pollens and small fossils found by drilling cores of sediment. The pollens tell us what kinds of trees were present, and trees vary in the climates they prefer.

November 23 2003

Power cut for one hour in the evening.

November 20 2003

Vouchers for two subsidised compost bins arrived from the council.

November 18 2003

Went cycling to Howe Park Wood and walked around it.

November 15 2003

I started S190 Global warming - the science behind the headlines

November 07 2003

My new washing machine arrived. Hopefully it is more environmentally friendly and efficient than my ancient old one. I don't understand why they made the top standard on the labels is A - it does not leave room for future improvements.

November 05 2003

Attended the Open University Integrated Waste Systems conference, "Making Research Relevant: Using research to inform sustainable waste management".

October 27 2003

Started studying the Open University course "S190: Global Warming: the science behind the headlines".

October 22 2003

Went to see Concorde's last flight into Manchester. It was freezing. I find it sad that there is not a much more environmentally friendly successor to Concorde. Perhaps if it had been an economic success they would have been able to take advantage of improvements in fuel efficiency and noise reduction. Perhaps it would have been an economic success if it had not been so noisy. Catch 22 :-(

October 16 2003

Took an environmentally-unfriendly trip up to my old haunt of Manchester, to see a friend.

October 11 2003

A beautiful day. Spent some of it in the garden, collecting seeds, trimming and tidying - but leaving plenty of seeds and litter for the wildlife.

October 10 2003

Cycled over to a bicycle shop in Rooksleigh for a few minor items. Came back via the concrete cows and up the valley.

October 08 2003

Interesting article in MKNews, about edible packaging, a collaborative venture of Sainsbury's supermarket and Stanelco Plc. Not a lot of information to go on, though.

October 06 2003

Ordered a new washing machine online. The old one is at its last gasp. I'd taken care to make sure that it would have high efficiency, with the benefit of the labeling standards and Which?. I do wonder why they have called the highest efficiency A though - it doesn't leave any room to allow for greater efficiencies in the future.

October 03 2003

I decided it would be particularly fitting if I delivered my environmental course assignment by an environmentally friendly method, so I cycled over to Walton Hall and handed it in. When I was almost there I suffered a puncture, no doubt due to some hedge-trimming activities I passed. Fortunately there was a park bench beside the river where I could sit as I fixed it, with 3 swans for company.

October 02 2003

Completed the end of course assignment of the Open University course I have been doing, "T172 Working with our Environment: Technology for a Sustainable Future". The topic was: "Discuss the role of technology in achieving sustainability". I didn't do it justice, I think I'm getting allergic to assignments. :-(
Being a glutton for punishment (as well as for chocolate), I celebrated by signing up for 2 more courses. I start S190 Global Warming - the science behind the headlines in mid November and U216 Environment in February.

September 29 2003

Cycled to Shenley Wood and had a nice long walk around before going on into town for a spell in the library.

September 27 2003

Cycled to the National Bowl and watched a BHPC (British Human Power Club) Race for a while. I then cycled upriver to Bottledump roundabout right on the edge of town. I then went over to Howe Park Wood and wandered around there for a while before crossing the road to the Safeway supermarket then straight home with my shopping.

September 25 2003

Cycled to the Peartree Bridge marina on the canal, then along the canal/valley to North Willen Lake, where I spent some time in the hide watching the birds. After that I cycled home via the Peace Pagoda and the town centre.

September 23 2003

Today I cycled into town again, to the dentist. One advantage of this was that I did not need to allow extra time for parking. Milton Keynes has lately been increasing the number of parking meters and restrictions. I'm not happy with this as it seems, from my experience, to increase the amount of time people spend driving around looking for a space, which has to add to air pollution. It is also bad for businesses and employees. I've had my dental appointment delayed before now because the dentist could not find a parking space! I often restrict my shopping trips to 2 hours in order to benefit from free parking spaces, and I am sure others do too, thereby spending less money in the centre. The parking scheme does reward car sharers, however, and the meters are solar-powered.
After the dentist, I cycled through town to Campbell Park and down to the Grand Union canal, before cycling home. By cycling home via town, I can stop into Marks and Spencer's or Sainsbury's to buy fresh British fruit and vegetables and any small, lightweight items I may need, which means I don't need to drive into town as often

September 21 2003

Autumn isn't the best time start cycling, as you don't have a halcyon summer of sunny rides to look forward to, but better late than never! Having spent part of the summer unearthing my long-neglected bicycle from the back of the garage and refurbishing it, I set of for my first ride, to the centre of Milton Keynes. Milton Keynes is a new town, designed with a major network of cycle paths called redways which make it ideal for cyclists, and these are connected to the National Cycle Network.
I went into town for a sustainability exhibition (to celebrate European Mobility Week and ITWMC (In Town Without My Car)) being held in the shopping centre. The first exhibition I came to, suitably enough, was an outdoor one by the Company of Cyclists where the public could try out a wide variety of bicycles. The following were either among the exhibitors, or mentioned one way or another:

Aixam (Quadricycles)
CommenTree (Forest of Marston Vale)
Fire Safety in the Home (Fire Kills)
GET Cycling (Company of Cyclists)
LILI: Low-Impact Living Initiative (offers courses)
Milton Keynes Material Recycling Facility
Milton Keynes Parks Trust
Positive News
Sustrans (sustainable transport charity)
The Earth, a User's Guide (ACCR: Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling)

September 14 2003

Watched the model yacht racing by the Two Islands Radio Yacht Club at on the Lake at Furzton, Milton Keynes. That's a challenging sport that has very little impact on the environment, so far as I can see - mostly the costs of making the equipment, and of batteries. I wonder if the sport could benefit from solar or hydrogen cells (or even wind or water power?). Anyone know?

September 06 2003

Heard that I hadn't got a job that I applied for at the National Energy Foundation, which is within cycling distance. Oh well, maybe third time lucky! :-(

February 8 2003

I started T172 Working with our environment: technology for a sustainable future

Simply Sue

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