Linzi's blog

A really, really, REALLY BIG humdinger of a problem. Let me explain the scenario:

Me:- big Jean Michel Jarre fan, loving the idea of toddling off to France for a week concert hopping. Cheapest way of doing this is to hire a car out.
Mum:- "You're not driving over there. I don't care what you say, you're not driving."
See! The easiest way of doing Marseille, Lyon and Paris (with the possibility of Nice) and also the cheapest would be to hire a car out and drive to each of the cities Jarre is doing a concert in. Mum thinks that all drivers abroad are evil, disgusting nasty idiots who will ram you off the road. Not to mention that she's worried about me driving on the "wrong side of the road." Just going to have to try and work her round to it I suppose.
Anyone living in France who is reading this: Are there any other ways of getting from Marseille to Nice To Lyon to Paris that you would consider easier than driving?

Someone, please tell me. What was the whole point of doing a German GCSE, going throught the stress of the exams and so on when, until next July at least, I won't be going to Germany?
It's true, the German love affair is over. Aside from FC Köln, the chocolate and Schumacher, I am currently having nothing to do with Germany. I was planning to go at the end of the year for my annual shop-and-funfest at the Christmas Markets, but that's off because I'm going to Egypt in January for a week. So, you would think that maybe, the gorgeous Jean Michel Jarre is doing some concerts in Germany next March, Motty'll go to one of those. Oh no she won't. Well, maybe not. That's because Motty found out about Jarre's French concerts next March and booked a ticket for Marseille before she found out about the German ones and might not have enough hols left to do a double trip. So, until Aachen, ich bin Deutschelos. The best part? I can't remeber much French after hello!

The cycling is coming along well, I am going to attempt to plan a 100 mile route to trial next Sunday (would be this Sunday, but have a couple of bike rides booked already which will total around 50 miles give or take). Not yet decided where I'm cycling to, but I will try to have fun.

Bruce is a young Staffy taken from his family in Northern Ireland in September 2007, after being deemed to be of "Pitbull type". In spite of all his owner's efforts Bruce is to be destroyed because, earlier this year, despite not contending that Bruce was of type, the judge said that as Bruce was of sound temperament, he would be allowed home and be placed on the exempt register upon his owner fulfilling the following criteria:
Keeping Bruce muzzled and on a lead in public,
Containing him behind 6' fences at home
gaining Public Liability insurance.
His owner had agreed only to find she had been set up to fail as the 1997 ammendment adopted in England and Wales, which would have allowed Bruce home under those conditions, had not been adopted in Northern Ireland - making Bruce an illegal dog which no insurance provider will cover. In his first kennels Bruce was woefully treated, suffering cuts to his muzzle which became infected and an injury to his tail which required a vet to have to amputate part of his tail. Although we are assured that Bruce has been moved to new kennels and is being better treated, his owners have been denied contact with their pet and have not seen Bruce since March 2008. They have not even been sent photos as proof that he is still well.
A rescue in Southern Ireland, where there are no banned breeds, made an offer to home Bruce for the rest of his life. The judge dismissed it as she had "no jurisdiction in that area".
I am calling on everyone who reads this blog to join the fight to save Bruce, have him reunited with his family or given safe passage to the rescue in Southern Ireland.
To sign the petition to Bring Bruce Home:
Petition
For more information see the link below:
Bruce

I am so totally in love with his music. Just got 2 new albums - If you can call them new. Rendezvous was released in 1986 and Chronologie in 1993.

The first Rendez-vous could be used as a track at a Sunday Chillout session it sounds that fresh, while, once Chronologie part 2 gets going, no clubber would realise it was written and released back in the 90's.

Rendez-vous sold 3 million copies world-wide and was in the UK charts for over 30 weeks and the US charts for over 20 weeks. Hardly the work of an obscure artist. Yet to many people today, Jarre is a complete unknown. Mention that the tune often heard at amusement arcades is his Oxygene 4 and they won't entertain the idea of listening to him.

At the Manchester concert in May, a bloke in front of me was over heard on his mobile before the concert started saying he was at the Jarre concert with his freinds who had bought the tickets.

"He's some French DJ apparantly" He said. After the concert he was raving about the music and wanting to know when his next UK concert was. The only Jarre piece I would recommend avoiding (but only if there are children in the vicinity) is Beautiful Agony from the Téo & Téo album. It's very addictive.

So, all change. The horseriding is on hold until September at least as I am training for the 100 mile bike ride and want to be in one piece for it. The fish are having to move to a new home due to a flare-up of eczema which may or may not have been caused by the tank water, but I can't take any chances and I don't want to leave all the maintenence to mum and dad. Plus Mum wants a dog next year and dogs and fish tanks in a small house don't go.

My room is going to be redecorated in green with a creamish carpet.

The only constant is work, and the mental block on the book.

This is the Ride of the Roses from Lancaster to York which takes place on the 5th September this year and I'm taking part. I know, 100 miles is a long way no matter how you look at it, but it's to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, and I'll do (almost) anything for charity. If anyone wishes to sponsor me just click here

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen,

Tod und Verzwieflung flammet um mich her!

Flücht nicht durch dich Sarastro Todesschemrzen,

So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr.

Verstossen sei auf ewig,

Verlossen sei auf ewig,

Zertrümmert sei'n auf ewig

Alle Bande der Natur

Wenn nicht durch dich!

Sarastro wird erblassen!

Hört, Rachgötter,

Hört der Mütter Schwur!

I would have posted the entire transcript of my Spoken exam, but I don't understand it in English, so it doesn't make anymore sense in German, trust me. So, instead I have posted the lyrics to Der Hölle Rache from Mozart's Magic Flute Opera. They make much more sense whether in German or English.

I am currently attempting to translate my book into German. With not much success.

Andre, Novakovic, Brosinski, Vucicevic, Isobel and Ulla (the 6 White Clouds) are now housed in their lovely new tank. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite afford the 60l tank, so got a 48l one.
There is a planting substrate at the bottom, covered with a layer of gravel and sand. I currently have 7 plants in the tank and 1 moss ball. Today I bought a piece of Mopani wood which will be split into 2 pieces and then soaked in a 20l bucket before being placed in the tank.
The reason for the Mopani wood? Around September/October, the 6 WCMMs will be joined by 3 or 4 Otocinclus (Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish). I decided on a breed of catfish, knowing that the WCMMs are surface to mid tank feeders and there wouldn't be any point in putting more of that type of fish into the aquarium. So, I started reading up on the different types of catfish, knowing my requirements:

Size: must be small.

Temperature: Need to be happy at 22 Celcius

Temperament: Peaceful.

From a short list of suitables, I chose the Otocinclus as they fit those categories well. They only grow to around an inch in length, are peaceful fish and the tank temperature is Ok for them. They feed on Algae and vegetables, although may be tempted by Mango. So, although making the aquarium look more natural is hard work and can cost money, in the long term, the fish are happier and the look is really great.

I currently have a 21 litre tank which houses 6 White Cloud Mountain Minnows (Tanichthys albonubes). They are extremely well cared for, with a heater to maintain the water temperature, a filter which is powerful enough to replicate the conditions they would live in in the wild, an air pump on almost full flow to provide the right amount of oxygen, a plant to keep the nitrate levels in check (the filter looks after the ammonia and nitrite levels) and to provide shelter for them, plenty of light for the plant and them, and plenty of variety in their diet.

Very soon they will be re-housed in a tank between 60 and 120 litres with the conditions they are used to replicated, with the addition of some more plants and some new fish added.

You may wonder what I'm getting at with my post title.

Well, when I bought my tank, I was told a few lies which I will now list:

1. 21 litre tanks are suitible for 2 goldfish.

2. The fish will adapt to the tank.

3. You don't need to vary the diet of any fish.

These lies are told by a number of shops which sell these tanks and ones even smaller to unsuspecting people.

21 litre tanks are nowhere near large enough for 1 goldfish, never mind 2. Do not be fooled by this lie. The comet variety of goldfish, given as prizes on funfairs and the cheapest to buy, needs at least 80 litres of water to live in. That's a 160 litre tank for 2 at minimum. The smaller fancy varieties need at least 40 litres of water.

Yes, it may look like the fish you buy only grow to the size tank they are in. However, inside, their internal organs are still growing. That's why most only last a few years. In the wild the comet, which is from the carp family (that's what goldfish are - carps) can live for about 20-30 years. The fancy varieties should live about half that because they are more prone to problems due to the way they have been bred - short, round bodies, which cause swimbladder problems and make it hard to swim.

Variety in diet is important, and doesn't need to be expensive. My White clouds get a small pinch of fish flakes each day, but they also get Daphnia (a small planktonic crustacean which would be found naturally in the natural habitat of most tank fish) and brineshrimp (Artemia) once or twice a week. I am also looking at buying bloodworm for them. Most Goldfish species will eat fruit, crushed frozen peas, and cucumber in addition to their usual diet of flake or pellet food.

There is absolutely no reason to keep goldfish in cramped conditions. If you don't have room for the size tank they need, look at tropical fish instead. A small heater costs around £20 and light can easily be provided by placing a table lamp nearby. Tropical fish aren't even expensive unless you are looking at the larger fish. Most shops will sell you a shoal of 6 neon tetras, which look similar to the White Clouds for around £5-6. My own White Clouds cost £5.

They are lovely fish to watch, much more interesting to look at than goldfish and a lot easier to keep. This is a pic of 3 of mine. The one nearest the plant is called Andre.

Well, if the FEI sorts it's brain out enough to be able to tell it's arse from it's elbow and get the guts to upset the likes of Anky.
OK, time for definition: I normally use Rollkur when referring to slightly behind the verticle work that I do occasionally with Gypsy, although he has really calmed down now and no longer needs nor is worked in this outline.
In this post, Rollkur is defining the position where the horse's head is held a long way behind the verticle, in some cases against the chest. Today, we are referring to this extreme form of flexion.
Dr Uta von Borstel, of the University of Guelph in Ontario has been spending a lot of time researching the effects of Rollkur on horses, physically and mentally.
The findings show that Rollkur actually causes horses distress.
For the investigation, Dr von Borstel and her team took 15 horses and rode them in both the extremely hyperflexed position and the normal poll flexion position, using a seperate arena for each position. The horses learned to associate the differing techniques with the corresponding arenas.
The horses were then allowed to choose which arena to go into and 14 chose the non-rollkur ring.
The investigation also found that when the horses were ridden rollkur they had higher heart rates and reacted more markedly to frightening stimuli.
Last April the FEI issued a statement about rollkur which read:
"There are no known clinical side effects specifically arising from the use of hyperflexion (rollkur). However, there are serious concerns for a horse's wellbeing if the technique is not being practised correctly.
"The FEI condemns hyperflexion in any equestrian sport as an example of mental abuse. The FEI states that it does not support the practise."
Despite this, the FEI are said to be still considering whether or not to discipline riders using rollkur at FEI events. They are not currently, and unless the FEI gets off the fence and decides one way or another, they never will.
I'm sorry, but, I know that I sit a bit on the fence over this subject, leaning more toward the anti- brigade over the extreme form, but the FEI cannot have it both ways. They can not openly condemn rollkur and then say to the riders: "but don't worry, if we catch you using it, we won't do anything."
It just doesn't work.
Of course, the FEI don't want the likes of Anky van Grunsven, Isabelle Werth, and some prominent showjumping riders to up and leave the sport by cracking down on their training methods. But at the same time they can't say one thing and mean another.
If these riders are going to walk out on their sport just because the FEi decides to discipline them for using rollkur at an FEI event then do we really want them in the sport? Are they any better than the footballer who kisses the badge of his club after scoring a goal and then, as soon as a big club show an interest in him, demands a transfer?
As for me? Well, with Gypsy now much calmer in his work and happy to work collected movement, I can work him in the frame I want - uphill, elevated and flowing through from his hindlegs. Something I couldn't do with him without hystronics over the loss of ability to go 100mph last year.
Yes, he still gets a tad excited in canter work, but only to extent where I can get away with just bringing him back to walk on a circle line, and using the excitement to produce a more elevated walk. Last year I wouldn't have been able to get him to that stage and never envisioned it happening.