The Spaceguard Centre, Knighton

 On a recent visit to Knighton, we paid a visit to The Spaceguard Centre just outside the town. We had booked a tour (£10, 1½ - 2 hours) in the knowledge that the weather forecast was wet and blustery for that day (Sunday 29th September 2024). Fortunately the rain held off but being on a hill, the wind was buffeting (according to Jay Tate, a mere breeze!).

Photo 1: Two of the Three Observatory Domes

Photo 2: Third Observatory Dome

This is not your run-of-the-mill space observatory though it can still do some of that. As the name Space Guard suggests, this is the UK's contribution towards a rather important international endeavour - the detection and monitoring of asteroids and comets that are on a collision course with Earth. This could be rather catastrophic - just ask the dinosaurs!

Jay and Anne Tate, who live onsite, run this enterprise on a shoestring with no funding from the government's science budget (an absolute disgrace). They rely on tour fees and donations from visitors, including schools, revenue from a small but well-stocked gift shop, local businesses and a band of hardy and dedicated volunteers. Even then, the income only covers the running costs for the Centre - Jay & Anne are also volunteers.

The green dome (Photo 1) was built by Jay and the volunteers and will house a telescope from Cambridge University's Observatory that is surplus to their requirements. The new facility will enable The Space Guard Centre to search for Near Earth Objects (NEOs) in addition to their existing capabilities for only tracking known comets & asteroids identified by other observatories.

Please support Jay & Anne in their endeavours. Pay for a tour. Buy something from the gift shop. Make a donation. Volunteer. Your children and grandchildren will thank you for your foresight.

Halloween 2024

Photo 1: Grandchildren's Pumpkin Carving

Halloween has just passed and we didn't really notice. There were no trick or treat callers and we hadn't stocked up on sweets/candy so I've no idea what we could have given them. In the past we offered satsumas but I don't think the children were too impressed with those!

I had to pop into Hereford this morning and on my way back came across this rather splendid effort ...

Photo 2: Celebrating 'Halloween'

... someone had put in a lot of work in for just one night. Mind you, this is the same household that puts a grand display on for  Christmas ...

Photo 3: Christmas 2023

Photo 4: Christmas 2023

Photo 5: Christmas 2022

On a more serious note, how much edible pumpkin ends up as food waste? This UK survey  suggested that about 40% of the 35 million pumpkins bought in 2021 would not be eaten. I suspect this is largely down to the often messy job of extracting the pumpkin flesh and seeds through a small exit hole carved into the top or back of the pumpkin.

The next hurdle is what to do once you have separated the seeds from the flesh. The seeds can be roasted and the flesh turned into soup, bread, pie, cake, curry, hummus, and more. Pumpkin flesh is, in itself, fairly bland so you will need to add plenty of spices and flavourings. Roasted pumpkin has a better flavour but you will still need to add some flavour.

Autumn Colours at Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum

 

Photo 1: Autumn Colour at Queenswood

Once the sun had burnt off the morning mist, Saturday 26th October turned into a beautifully sunny day with crystal-clear blue skies (Photo 2) and that coolness that tells you it is Autumn.

The Ludlow Fine Book Fair was being held at Ludlow Racecourse - some 25 - 30 miles up the A49 - and Mary said she quite fancied going. In another life, she would have loved to be a professional bookbinder! We spent an hour and a half mooching round the stalls either selling fancy papers, leather hides, binding equipment, unusual books, etc and/or advertising book binding and calligraphy services. Mary spent £15 on a couple of books.

On the way back home we decided to visit the Ludlow Farm Shop (only a few minutes away) for another mooch (Photo 2). There is a large food hall, an artists' gallery, cafe/restaurant, gift shop as well as the Ludlow Distillery The Plant Centre is no longer.

Photo 2: Ludlow Farm Shop

We bought two individual pies (vegetarian) for tea and some spelt flour for breadmaking then headed off to Queenswood Country Park and Arboretum to see the autumn colours.

Photo 3: Queenswood Arboretum with the Autumn Garden in the Distance

After a cup of tea and a piece of cake (brownie), we headed off to the Autumn Garden (Photo 3) which is full of colourful acers at this time of the year.

Photo 4: Autumn Garden I

Photo 5: Autumn Garden II

Photo 6: Autumn Garden III

Photo 7: Autumn Garden IV

Photo 8: Autumn Garden V

Photo 9: Autumn Garden VI

The sun was starting to go down and we were losing the heat of the day ...

Photo 10: Autumn Sun Struggles to Light the Forest Floor

... so we headed back to the car and the short journey home. Tomorrow the clocks will be going back an hour at the end of British Summer Time - the extra hour in bed for one night does not compensate for the loss of evening light (Sunset timed for 4.51 pm the following day). Hopefully, the journey through Winter will not be a harsh one.

Photo 11: The Journey Ahead With Light at the End of the Tunnel?