Again interesting. Areas in Tier 3 with pub shut downs have all had significant reductions in cases. Eastern England has seen big rises – due to shopping? So locked own seems to work, but coming out of lockdown as in Wales seems to have made things worse! 2 weeks is obviously not enough. Should Bristol and North Somerset come down a tier – I would say no. Lets get the rate down to below 50 first.
CAKES AND BAKES
I am new to this game. But looking at a variety of recipes am I correct in thinking that butter, flour and sugar should be in approximately equal amounts. Obviously the type of each fat (olive oil), flour and sweetener (honey or alternative). can change. Then 3 eggs to 180g. Teaspoon of baking powder and or bicarb?. Oven at 170C.
Then if that is the base there is a topping which can obviously be anything but ideas are mascarpone or cream cheese for less sweet option. Vanilla extract, rosewater, orange and lemon zest. basically these recipes seem like my cookie recipes without the oats. Being xmas I tend to add nutmeg and cinnamon and ginger.
Baked apricots with lemon verbena.
500g apricots halved and stoned: Handful of lemon verbena leaves Left to infuse in 700ml boiling water for 10minutes. 3 tbs honey, 1 star anise and one vanilla pod (if you can afford one!). Pour over apricots and spice and then bake for 40 mins at 180C. Cool, chill and serve with cream or yogurt.
A Friday Night Quiz
A GEOGRAPHY OF COVID
The graphs below are fascinating. They show the prevalence of covid geographically. To read full article click here
Source: ONS data for England and Wales.
Notes: Age-standardised mortality rates with 95% confidence intervals. Area types: 1: Major conurbation; 2: Minor conurbation; 3: Urban city/town; 4: Rural town/city; 5: Rural town/fringe; 6: Sparse rural town/fringe; 7: Village; 8: Sparse village; 9: Hamlets; 10: Sparse hamlets
There are 4 main reasons for these discrepancies.1. Population density. 2. Transport Networks. 3. Crowded housing. 4. Industry and occupational structure.
As the figures show deaths it is surprising to see just how high major conurbation are as they have a generally younger population. The older population in hamlets might explain area 9, although it could also be due to commuting for shopping, work, etc.?
BREXIT BETRAYAL
WEATHER PHENOMENA
I find the weather fascinating – some interesting phenomena include the following -look for pictures on YouTube.
St.Elmo’s Fire – Elmo’s fire is sometimes observed at night from the tops of ships’ masts when electrified clouds are overhead. The mast appears to be on fire but does not burn. St. Elmo’s‘ fire tends to occur toward the end of a thunderstorm.
Haboob – Giant walls of dust that form in desert areas in front of a thunderstorm cell. They are created by downward thrusts of cold air inside the storm cell, which blows sand and dust outward. These events can be seen in places such as the Sahara Desert and southwestern United States.
Broken Spectre – A Brocken spectre, also called Brocken bow or mountain spectre, is the magnified shadow of an observer cast upon clouds opposite the Sun’s direction.
WHISTLING!
I cannot remember the last time I heard someone whistling! I can’t.
EARTHQUAKES
A while ago I read that earthquakes are more common in the Northern Hemisphere, and in winter due to the transfer of water from oceans to land in the form of snow. In the context of global warming I wonder if there will be any changes?
Will there be less snow with a warming climate, or a different pattern causing isostatic changes (I think this is the correct term). If there is less snow and thus less weight of snow/ice will there be fewer earthquakes? And in the long term will this mean larger stronger earthquakes as smaller readjustments are not made regularly?
It was also interesting reading that Doggerland was flooded due to tsunami caused by collapsing cliffs in Norway.
COVID RESTRICTIONS
I would have some sympathy for people demonstrating against the governments shambolic Tiers and restrictions (which do not seem to be being followed very seriously) if not one of the hundreds shown in photo’s was wearing a mask. Are they Covid deniers? Or just stupid – rates in Manchester (the protest shown which was attended by hundreds) of Covid infection remain high – people are dying (yes some are from other things that are not being treated because of bed occupancy by Covid patients.
the rate here has fallen to 126 just below national average – very positive. I guess other factors will determine whether we move down a tier. Bristol has also fallen markedly. So the restrictions appear to be working – where is the analysis?