Posted in May 2009

Driving About In Italy

Source: hazel eyes
Friday 29th May 2009, 5:15pm

Italy, the land of pizza, pasta and Pompei. But how easy is it to hire a car and get out and about?

Italy Car Hire

Hiring a car in Italy is one of the most convenient ways of getting out and about whilst on holiday. However, due to the recent economic climate, car hire firms in Italy are not replenishing their stock of cars, so it is more essential than ever to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Of course, Italy is not the only place where this is occurring, it is an international problem, so wherever you plan to take your hols this year, book early.

Driving Highlights in Italy

The burying of Pompeii in 79AD by Mount Vesuvius is something every schoolkid learns about. Mount Vesuvius is but a 45 minute drive from Naples and is well signposted off the motorway. Once there it is a 20min walk to the top to see the smouldering volcano.

Pompeii itself takes a full day's exploration to do it credit. Plaster mummies have been made from the volcanic remains of the people which died in the eruption, conveying some of the horror the citizens went through.

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Natural Disasters To Increase in Mozambique

Source: hazel eyes
Wednesday 27th May 2009, 4:41pm

With climate change consequences predictions becoming ever more dire, natural disasters will become more common and severe in Africa's most vulnerable country.

It is the most vulnerable which will suffer the most. In Mozambique natural disasters such as floods, droughts, cyclones and epidemics will become more common as global warming affects temperatures.

Mozambique is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters as it has long stretches of low lying coast. As temperatures have risen over the past three decades, natural disasters and epidemic disease have increased - a trend that is likely to worsen in the future, says the National Disaster Management Institute's new "Climate Change Report."

"Mozambique's exposure to the risk of natural disaster will increase significantly over the next 20 years and beyond as a result of climate change," the study found.

The report, funded by the United Nations and Denmark, warns that Mozambique will suffer if the world does "too little, too late" to curb climate change. Mozambiques coast could shift 500m inland, natural disasters could become more severe and malaria more prevelant. Given that the population of the country is concentrated along the coast, a change of coastline could well be catastrophic.

Mozambique is still recovering from Cyclone Jokwe, which last year slammed into the northern coast with winds at 140 kilometres (87 miles) per hour, killing at least 17 people, injuring scores and leaving thousands homeless. It also suffered deadly floods that forced tens of thousands from their homes in 2000 and 2007.

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BikeSafe Exeter September 2009

Source: hazel eyes
Thursday 21st May 2009, 12:29pm

BikeSafe is coming to Exeter on 19th & 20th September. BikeSafe is a national initiative with the objective of reducing the number of motorcyclists injured and killed on our roads.

Motorbikes aren't to everyones taste, but I think they are great. They take up less room on the roads, produce less emissions and you get a lot more smiles per mile than you do driving a car.

Unfortunately there are some down sides. Although motorcyclists make up 1% of road users, they are involved in 14% of serious road accidents and fatalities. This is what the BikeSafe initiative is hoping to change.

Basically it is a days training with the police. The morning is spent watching videos and discussing riding techniques, then in the afternoon you get to put it all into practice with a police motorcyclist. There are a maximum of 2 riders per policeman and he assesses your riding and gives you advice on how to improve.

The cost of the day is £25, I know that if you live in Cornwall you can reclaim the cost from the council, but I don't know of any other exceptions.

I'm quite looking forward to it, but slightly scared. There's something quite formidable about being followed by a police bike and knowing he's taking notice of everything you do.

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Penny Bazaar M&S 125th Anniversary Celebration

Source: hazel eyes
Thursday 14th May 2009, 12:50pm

M&S are going back to their roots to celebrate their birthday.

One hundred and twenty five years ago, Marks and Spencer was a simple penny bazaar. In order to celebrate this milestone, from next Wednesday, for 3 days, 300 stores across the UK will be selling 20 M&S products for 1 penny.

Pants Are Down!

Yes indeed, among the 20 products to be discounted is underwear. The range also includes jewellery sets, scarves, purses, cufflinks, ties and socks as well as leather passport holders and luggage tags, tea towels, mugs, retro sweets and drink, beach toys and beach balls.

There is a limit of 2 million penny products available, but when they're gone, they're gone. The penny price tag is a suggested minimum donation and the money raised will go towards the company's birthday charity, the 125 Charity Challenge.

The advice for bargain hunters is get there early!

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Hate Spiders? This Won't Be Good News

Source: hazel eyes
Monday 11th May 2009, 4:33pm

A recent study in Greenland has shown that global warming could lead to bigger and possibly more spiders.

Global Warming Problems

As well as the more widely known problems associated with climate change and global warming such as drought, flooding, destruction of homes and resulting health issues due to lack of clean water and sanitation, there is now another problem to contend with. BIG SPIDERS!!

Well, maybe I'm exaggerating just a bit, but a team of Dutch scientists have carried out a study on the "hairy meat-eating" wolf spiders (Pardosa glacialis) of northeastern Greenland to see if longer summers meant they grew bigger. At present they can grow up to a length of 1.6 inches and have a life span of at least 2 years.

The study lasted for 10 yearsand founds that in years where spring was early, the spiders' exoskeletons were up to 10% thicker, resulting in a larger body size overall and the opposite was true in in colder years. At the end of the study, average exoskeleton thickness had increased by 2% - a large difference in such a short time.

Its not clear why global warming seems to be making the spiders bigger though there are theories that longer summers increase the prime hunting season and gives them more time to shed old exoskeletons, but nothing is known for certain. Females wolf spiders are now 2% larger than males on average which could give rise to bigger and more plentiful offspring.

On the bright side for arachnophobes however, as many spiders are cannibalistic it should help keep the population down.

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Paignton Bike Festival

Source: hazel eyes
Tuesday 5th May 2009, 4:24pm

Bank holiday Sunday saw myself, my other half and a few friends going to Paignton for the annual BMAD festival.

What's It All About?

BMAD stands for Bikers Make A Difference. They organise the weekend festival and Wednesday bike nights in order to way to raise money for charities such as Sick and disabled children and their families/carers of Torbay and Devon Air Ambulance.Naturally it is also a social gathering where you can look at other people's bikes, wander around the stands and generally have a good time.

Literally thousands of bikes turn up at Paignton and the BMAD volunteers direct the parking along the sea front.

Cheap Bike Gear?

There are some bargains to be had among the trade stands. A particularly tempting offer onsome hard luggage plus special deals on everything from bikes to sunglasses. Also present was one of those things that swing you about in the air and make you vomit, the Wall of Death and some stunt shows too.

Charity Donations

Bikers come from all over the South West and beyond to attend the festival and raise thousands of pounds for charity every year. For me, its one of the best things about being a biker, raising money for charity and helping to improve communities. There are so many good causes to support which are also great days out too.

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