Although Richard has been back a week now I haven’t got round to telling everybody!

He married his fiance Linda in Ronneby, South Sweden on 4th April.  They then honeymooned in Australia; mostly in Sydney but also staying with Richard’s sister who lives on a boat in Brisbane. Although slightly jet-lagged on his return he now looks well rested and relaxed and ready for the onslaught of the busy spring and summer season which is just beginning.

Jane

Today in 2000 the constant rain for a fortnight turned the 200 acres set aside for parking at Silverstone into a quagmire. Also Police had to close the roads leading to the track and fog increased the danger as no helicopters could land. Mikka Hakkinen had to use a passing mototbike to get to the circuit! But, as often the case in April, the sun was shining by the time the race started.

But, possibly worse than that, today in 1981, from the Pennines to Salisbury Plain there was 8 inches of snow!

I am absolutely certain that since around the end of February I have been listening to a Nightingale singing at night in the country lane where I live. The sound is very melodious and strong and continues for minutes at a time, hardly seeming to draw breath!! It is quite a beautiful noise, particularly in the middle of the night when all else is so quiet.

I have heard that some birds (e.g. Robins) can start up singing at night thinking it’s sunrise when the street lights are on all night but this is not the case where I live so it must be a Nightingale.

Jane

Hi guys, last week I went on the Code for Sustainable Homes assessor course in London, hosted by Sustainable Homes Limited. This was a 3-day course, and went through all the aspects of assessment, including the credits in energy, water, surface water, ecology, health and wellbeing, pollution, management, waste and materials. All new homes are required to be assessed under the Code as of May 2008, with mandatory credits to be achieved in energy and water for each Code level. To reach level 3, for example, which is a common standard aspired to by social housing developers, a house has to have a reduction in energy demand 25% over 2006 Building Regs (which will be mandatory for all new housing from next year), a water consumption equal to or less than 105 litres/person/da, reach minimum standards in environmental performance of materials, management of surface water run-off and site and occupational waste management, as well as score a combined total of 53 using extra credits picked up in the other categories. Phew! I got to go back to London at the end of the month to do an exam, and after that (provided I pass) I will be accredited and ready to assess a development near you. No new home will be safe from my clipboard and pencil. Right, back to studying…

Anthony