Beautiful Moth

While I was going to a job, as I stepped out of the van I spotted this beautiful moth sheltering on the wall. :-)

Aquaponic's Project @ College

If you’re fortunate to be visiting Carlisle College today check out the Plumbing Dept’s Sustainability Competition entry Aquaponic’s, a combination of aquaculture (fish farming) and hydroponics (soil less plant culture).

The nutrient-rich water from raising fish provides a natural fertiliser for the growing plants. As the plants use the nutrients they help to purify the water for the fish and the cycle continues, a natural microbial process keeping fish and plants healthy creating a sustainable ecosystem where both can thrive.

Aquaponic’s could potentially provide high quality, locally-grown fresh food all year round.

We went along with Paul Cross,our Plumbing Technician and inspiration for our project, to visit MoffatCan, who are currently running Scotland’s 1^st Aquaponic’s Greenhouse successfully.

A big Thank You to Kerry for driving us, as you can see we were all a little windswept but it was a great place to visit and very inspirational.

Thank you Edward & Alice @ Moffat Can for your time and information about setting up the Aquaponic’s system at Moffat Can and the help for our Aquaponic’s project too.

Our visit to Moffat Can

We were also greatly helped by;

Nigel & Paul at Maidenhead Aquatics who donated a pump for our system, along with

Mike at Brampton Koi who also donated a pump.

The wonderful ladies at B&Q Customer services desk who gifted the lush herbs & plants 

Nick the Miller from Little Selkeld Watermill nr Penrith who generously donated the beautiful organic seed

And last but not least

Robbie for bravely donating his pet goldfish, Eenie Meenie Miney & Mo in the name of environmental research 

Collaborative Construction Competition

I've had a great day (28th Feb 2014) over at the Lakes College, West Cumbria taking part in the Collaborative Construction Competition. The competition covered the disciplines of Joinery, Painting & Decorating, Bricklaying, Electrician and of course Plumbing :-) which I competed in.

It was a great day and a brilliant experience, I came 3rd out of 4. I'm proud of what I've done, it was tough and to a high standard and I didn't complete the full task, but I'm glad I took part.

My sore knee's (need Knee Pads) and arms and shoulders though lol, I know welcome to the
real world of Plumbing lol, scrabbling around on the floor, struggling bending pipe,
solder that wont flow, doh! trying not to scorch the wall, Hard Hat and safety spec's that turned up the heat in an already sweltering college, and kept steaming up and sliding off my nose lol phew, thought I was gonna melt & Mega nerves, I'm such a stress head, lol.

All in all a really good day. Great meeting other students both from Carlisle College and other competing colleges too, Good work Guy's, I hope you all enjoyed the day as much as I, Hopefully I'll have some pic's to follow.

Today I'm chilling, nursing my aching bones and bruised knees lol :-)

Collaborative Construction Competition

Collaborative Construction Competition

Goodbye Pip

Pip asleep on the sofa next to Abe my dog :-)

Sadly I had my cat Pip put to sleep today, she had been unwell for a while but it was the right time to say goodbye. It is never an easy decision but it was the right one.

She was a quirky little character and she will be missed.

Pip in her favourite place, looking out the window :-)

Catriona's Dress

Last summer I had the opportunity to make Catriona's beautiful dress and also design the lace bolero that was to be created from the vintage lace of her Grandmother Wedding dress, below is the result.

1950's Style Dress

100% Silk Taffeta for the dress main fabric
100% Silk Habotai for the dress lining fabric
100% Silk Habotai for the underskirt upper fabric
100% Silk Organza for the underskirt lower fabric
 Vintage Ivory Lace for the Bolero
Handmade Freshwater Pearl & Sterling Silver Buttons

All the above materials challenging yet blissful to work with :-) 

1950's Style Wedding Dress

Handmade Buttons

Vintage Lace Balero

Button Detail

1950's Style Under Slip

Catriona looking lovely :-)

 Thank you Catriona for the opportunity to create something beautiful for your very special day you were an Angel to work for :-)

Plumbing Course Going Well :-)

My plumbing course is going really well, my tutors are really helpful and supportive and my fellow students are a great bunch of lads. Being only 5"2' the lads do tower over me lol :-)

That's me nursing my new tools I'd just won as a prize for doing so well and catching up with everyone in theory and workshop.

I started 2 months later than the rest of the students in my group so I feel this is a great achievement. Both Scott (Hubby) & Danielle (Daughter) are very proud of me :-).

I have worked very hard to catch up but my success has also been aided by the acceptance and support of my fellow students,

Thanks Lads :-)