Bird walk.

Yesterday I joined a bird watching walk on the heath. I had heard about it through a fellow volunteer. I wanted to have that information for when I work on the heath too. Basically, it was a slow walk looking at birds through binoculars. I didn't have my own, but was able to use someone else's. I have learned a number of new birds, which I still need to look up. I just always find any excuse to walk on the heath a good one, so you can imagine how I will be working there. :) The walk was organised by the Marlyebone bird watching society. They do it every tuesday.

I have also been helping out all week at the education centre with painting and papaer mache. Again, any excuse to be on the heath... I do find myself learning stuff everyday too being there. The edcuation officer is very knowledgable, so great to have a conversation with. I hope to be able to chat time to time once I do start working. She is also planning to have a grand opening of the education centre on June 10th, so I hope to be able to attend.

Another job offer.

So get this. Today I recieved a call from Hackney, the second job I interviewed for. Well, they said I was successful and offered me the job. Of course I had to decline it because of already taking the one on the heath, but it really shows me that I am in my element and on the right path that I had 2 job offers. I never thought I would be in this position. I have to say, it feels GREAT!!!

I also got my forms and contract for the heath, which I will turn in tomorrow. It states I officially start on May 3rd and that there will be an induction day, presumably for all the seasonal staff. I am so excited. I am also helping out at the education centre this week with re-painting. It is a long process to re-desgin it, but it is looking real good. I will try to take some pictures and post them. I am also riding my bike a lot more since my course ended and I don't have a bus pass. My legs are feeling it, but give it time they will strengthen.

Hope everyone had a great Easter.

My Space update

So, I finally updated my My Space page. I gave it a pretty new background as well as filling in all sorts of info. Basically, between that, my webpage, and this blog, you should know me very well. I have to give a big thank you for the people who helped me with the layout editing and all and gave me the links. It definatley helped. The link to the page is on the right hand side of my blog under Links. As always, feedback is welcome.

As for other things, I am still waiting for my papers to fill out. Being that it is easter weekend and we have 2 bank holidays, it is taking longer than usual. But, I am so excitied about it all. I can't believe I will get to work on the heath. It really is like a dream come true. Now, all I need is a girlfriend to share it with, and life will be complete.

Hope everyone is well, and a big HAPPY EASTER to y'all!!!!!!!

I GOT A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had 2 interviews today. What are the chances? Both were for seasonal ranger postions. The first was for Hampstead Heath (my preferred one of course,) and the second was for the borough of Hackney, the same borough my course was in. Both went quite well, although to be honest I felt the Heath one went a bit better because of my passion for it. But, I did give it my all. Both interviews basically sat me down and asked me questions off a sheet. The first one had on scenario question, whereas the second had 6. The main difference is that the Heath is an open space whereas the Hackney one are in parks. And it does make a difference to the kind of job you do and people you interact with.

I wore a suit that my sister (thank you) gave me. I made one gaff and that was that I didn't realise that the legs of the trousers needed hemming and were a bit long. Also, underestimated the English weather and got caught out in the rain. Well, I do have to get used to all weather conditions for this kind of job.

So, the best part. I get home and sit down to have a chat with a good friend online. As we are chatting I get a phone call from one of the guys who interviewed me on the Heath and got offered the job!!!!! How freakin' sweet is that. They will send me the paperwork within a couple days and hopefully start real soon. I found out my patch is on the east side of the heath near kenwood house down. I know at least a couple people on that patch already, so that is amazing. I will also promise to keep people updated on how everything goes during the summer on my blog and website. But, for now, I am so going to celebrate. This is what I have worked for. Now all I have to do is get a permenant one later on. CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE, CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!

End of course

Well, my course finally ended today. I am quite sad that it is over. I really got into the work and got on so good with my coursemates and assessors. I will definately go back and visit the site. The next NVQ course starts soon, so they will be busy again. We also got taken out for lunch yesterday at a chinese place just opposite the cemetery. It was quite good. I had a duck and bbq pork with a soya sauce with egg fried rice. Yummy. Also, after we finished yesterday we went out for drinks. Ended up staying till 9:30pm, after downing 5 or 6 pints of Strongbow cider. Suffice it to say, I was quite pissed. But, I can't think of a better way to end the course.

So, now it is on to getting the ranger job, a seasonal one most likely. I will keep everyone posted here on how that goes. For now, I need some food and rest. :)

Norwich

I had a pretty good trip to Norwich. It takes just about 2 hours on the train from london liverpool st. I went up yesterday. My main purpose was for a conference on peak oil. It is a follow up to one I went to in October. Once I got to Norwich, I had a good amount of time to stroll around and check things out. I went to the Norwich Cathedral, which was very beatiful. The city centre is very nice, with a market in the middle. The only slight annoyance is all the high st chain shops around. But, there are still plenty independent shops. After that, I went and checked into a lovely bed and breakfast. Normally I try to stay in hostels, but there are none in Norwich. I had a room to myself, though it had to beds in it. They said I was uprgraded, not sure why. (except that I am special. :) After resting there, I made my way to the university. I was intending to eat at a pub, but had a roast at one of the restaurants on campus, which was very good and inexpensive. Then the conference. Being as eco friendly as I am, I walked everywhere there. So, at nearly 10 at night I made my way back to the b'n'b.

Today, I basically had a fantastic full english breakfast and then strolled around the city centre. I sat in the library for awhile reading to kill some time. I also stopped by the Coleman's mustard shop. I have to say this was quite amusing. I mean, a MUSTARD shop. LOL. Well, if I learned anything, it is that Coleman's mustard is made around here. Funny thing is though, I don't actually like mustard much. Now, if it had only been a ketchup shop...... ;)

After that, it was back to the train station, and home. I did have a good time, with some good weather. I have also posted pictures from my trip in my photo album which can be accessed through my website.

Website is live.

Well, I finally finished my webiste. I have published it and is now viewable. The address is: http://enviroranger.googlepages.com/ It has links to my blog and to pictures as well. It is a very basic site to let people know and see what I am up to. I hope people like it.

I have one week left to go on my course. I will be quite sad to see it end. I really enjoyed working on site there and the people there were great. I have put in a couple applications as well for seasonal positions which would start around easter.

Well, that's it for now. Please give any feedback for the site, it is always appreciated.

Bog and Norwich

Today was my second session in the bog on the heath. It is one that I didn't even know was there until a couple weeks ago. There is quite a big of sphagnum moss as well as grasses and a pond. There is also a sort of spring that comes up at one point with water making its way to the pond. It is a really gorgeous area. Our main task is to rid the main area of bramble, by grubbing it from the roots. The first task I did today, however, was to wade in the pond and get out some logs that had been put in. There was one other person helping me. We put on waders and got in. Unfortunately for both of us, we got our socks soaked. For me it was because the boots seemed to leak from the foot, the other guy the water came over the top. It would have been quite funny to see us there in the water, try to walk through it. The mud at the bottem made it slow going. But, in the end it got clear and look so much better. It is the satisfation I love.

On another note, I am taking a trip up to Norwich on the 3rd of April for a Peak Oil conference. I am going to stay over at a b'n'b which is always great. Gotta love the full english breakfast. I will, of course, go up by train. Hopefully I will get to see some good sites, have to do some more research on it though. I also hope I can remember my camera to show pictures to you all.

Great british roast.

Okay, so I have to confess. One thing I LOVE here is a british roast. One of my former housemates, who I still see from time to time, hooked me on them. He can do a fantastic one. I was at his place last night, with his girlfriend and another friend. He made a roast chicken with potatoes, carrots, cabbage and yorkshire puddings. And gravy poured all over it. I was eating faster than I normally do just because how good it was. They also do roast beef and roast pork sometimes here. Chicken takes ages to cook though, so I was forced to sit through all the good smells until we could eat. He rubbed butter and garlic on the chicken and sprinkled the top with sesame seeds. That was different, but amazing just the same.

I must attempt a roast myself at some point, though I may do a pork to be different. But I won't forget the yorkies, they are the best. And anytime anyone wants to visit, I will prepare a roast just for you!!! :)

Shelves, shelves, and more shelves. And internet.

So I was by myself at my course today, one person doesn't come in on fridays and the other was sick. I was given the task of building loads of shelves in the new stonemasoner's workshop. It amazes me how sometimes you can get a lot more done by yourself then with a group, at least in things like this. I used all sorts of tools, including a jigsaw, drill and the measuring tape (which never seemed to leave my side.) I put together quite a few of different lengths and widths. So, if any one needs some new shelves built, you know who to call.... :) We are going to have a small "taster" day of stonemasonry as well, to use the shelves and tables we have built. I think it will be quite interesting and possibly fun. I will definately report on that when it happens.

I love the internet for being able to find just about anything, whether it be old or new. My love of Hampstead Heath has led me on a search to find all things that were published about it. The local libraries have books that aren't in publication anymore, but lo and behold the internet comes to the rescue. I have found and ordered some books which would otherwise be impossible. And for a cheap price, I was quite amazed. There is alibris.com, abebooks.com (abebooks.co.uk), and allbookstores.com. Also, amazon.com or amazon.co.uk is a good place as individuals sell on there too. I do love to read, hope all of you do too. :)

Planting and Mystic River

Firstly I had a great volunteer session this morning. The corporation has put in a new long planing bed in front of the cafe. It was to be filled with all sorts of plants. I was pleasantly surprised to find out we would be planting them today! We crammed it full of great plants including goarse, daphne and some more I either don't remember the name to or didn't get. But, it was a pleasure to see the final results. I should have taken pictures, but I didn't. I am really bad at that. I definately love the great outdoors.

Secondly was that I saw Mystic River today. It is one I had heard of before. One of my housemates had it on dvd, so I borrowed it. I absolutely loved it. It was directed very well by Clint Eastwood (then agian I bet most of you have seen it and knew that.) The acting and characterisation was amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone. Also, on a bit of a tangent, I saw Monty Pyton and the Holy Grail last week and thought that was hilarious. I am ashamed to admit that I haden't seen a Monty Python before, but hope to see a lot more now.

That's all for now, hope to have more soon.

A Wicked day.

I went to the Natural History Museum today. I have been there before, but not to fully look around. And as seeing as I am into conservation now, I thought it quite appropriate. Firstly, it wasen't as big as I thought, but what it had crammed in there made up for it. Two things stuck out for me. The first was this Tyrannosauras Rex they had. It is the most realistic one I have ever seen. It can actually sense people around and turn it head and roar at them. It also wags it's tail and moves it's tiny little arm. This is technology for you. I stupidly forgot to take my camera for pics to show, but hopefully next time. The next thing, and it probably isn't as impressive to most, was a huge slice from a sequoia redwood tree they had on display. This thing was massive and about 1335 years old. As most know, they grow in the sierras in California, where I am from, so it was like a slice of home. I was surprised in that they didn't have really any plants or trees on display, but it seems as if they are more dedicated to animals and minerals there. The redwood slice was the main thing they had, guess it is why it impressed me so much!! It was a great time out, as most of the museums in this great city are.

The other thing that made my day was that I found out that Wicked, the play of the untold story of the witches of Oz, is definately coming to London. There was an ad for it in today's paper. It opens in September, so I am going to book tickets straight away. Now, if only I had someone to go with.... To read more vist: www.wickedthemusical.co.uk. I think it should be a blast. I will write about it once I see it of course. :)

Working in snow.

Okay, so it wasen't a big snowfall or anything. Quite light in fact. But, it is still a cool experience. When I was on my course today we were doing some general tyding up of an area which includes pulling brambles and nettles from the root and clearing some braken. It was in an area of the cemetery where they used to have a pond, but unfortuately too many people through beer cans and other rubbish as well as urinated in it, so it got infilled. Anyway, at one point while we were working, a light snow started to fall. It was the kind you could catch on your glove and see the small white speck. It didn't stick on the ground or anything, and it was quite brief. Still, it was a perfectly clear sunny day and brought a big smile to my face. I do love working outdoors because you get great experiences like this.

Pub crawl.

So, I did something last night that I haden't done before. A new housemate had moved in this week and she suggested going out for drinks to get to know us. I rarely would find an excuse not to go to a pub. Well, there ended up being 3 of us out of the total 8 that live here, but it was enough. So, we get to the first pub and decide to have a pint. I always get ale, it is my favourite. Although cider comes in second. She then suggested (and I might say she is very outgoing and open minded) going to a different pub. Well, we did that but got a half pint each. Then she decided she wanted to go to yet a different pub. Mind you, in england you are never short of pubs and we have quite a few around. We ended up at 5 different pubs in total. We had half pints and the rest of them as well. Suffice it to say I was pretty well pissed by the end of it. We started at 7:30 and left at 12:45. So, quite a long evening. Luckily none of us worked today so we could rest it off.

I can't say that there is a better way to get to know someone than that. Definately a welcome addition. I do love pubs. One of the great things about england that you just don't get the same of in the states. And, as stated in a previous post, from next summer they will be smoke free which is a major bonus. I don't go out to the pubs that often because not only am I tight for finances, but mostly because I don't seem to have much of anyone to go with and I don't like drinking alone. So, if any one who reads this wants to come and visit me, we will go to the pub and first round is on me!!

Rest of Half Term

I spent Thursday with the kids putting up a bird nature trail and then helping them create birds out of paper. They cut out the body and wings, coloured them in and then we attached them with a paper fastener. I couldn't believe how creative and great some of the birds were. It is always so easy to forget how intelligent children are and how we loose that growing up. They have such a great imagination and creativity. Makes me wish I was a kid again. :) This week has been the first time in a very long time that I have worked with art projects. I did enjoy them when I was a kid, but I guess grew out of it.

On Friday I was back at the education centre on the heath. I was helping put coloured paper on some grass that we had made out of chicken wire and paper in the meadow section, as well as paper over chicken wire for an oak tree that is being made. The kids helped with all this, as well as making insects out of plastic utensils. You wouldn't believe how real these looked. I didn't make one, but was entranced in watching the kids plus this other volunteer, make one. I hope to be able to help with these kinds of things still when I become a ranger.

Lastly, yesterday on my volunteer session we were cutting and grubbing out trees in an ancient ditch. They wanted to keep it clear for the water as well as to help it remain a ditch. We also had to clear the leaves from the ditch to help with flow. All that kind of work is very satisfying, if not tiring. There was also a huge group that day, which is also rewarding because of all the talk you get to do. I have not met one person I don't get along with and love talking with all of them. They often have good stories to tell as well. I do love conservation, just wish it haden't taken so long in life to figure it out!!

Smoking ban!!!!

I am well chuffed. Yesterday it was voted in a majority to ban smoking from all pubs and clubs and all public transport. I have always loved going to the pub, just hated coming away smelling like a cigarette afterward. It won't come into force until next summer, but at least it is coming. And about damn time. I know all the buisnesses are worried that they will lose a significant amount of people, and therefore buisness, but at least people's health will improve. And I hope it can help other people to quit so they can join the rest of us for a pint.

I am continuing with the half term projects. Today, the kids went on another nature trail and then made mobiles in the classroom. Some also made little drums out of ice cream tubs and coloured pastic sheets. It was all quite cute.

Education activites for half term.

This week it is half term where the kids have a week off. That means on both the heath and at abney there are activites for the kids. I have been busy helping with both. On the heath, I have been helping transform the old information centre into an education centre. The kids are helping too!! We are painting the walls, making different habitats out of paper mache and changing the signs. There will be a woodland, meadow, grassland and pond. Well, all painted or paper mached, not real water or other things from outside.

At abney, today we put up a nature trail dealing with stag beetles that the kids had simple multiple choices questions to answer. All the information was up on posters are around the site. The kids also made stag beetle and ladybird puppets in the classroom. I was there to help with the materials and with the puppets. It was all good. I think I am getting better at working with the public and hope to continue that when I am a ranger. I will write more about it at the end of the week.

Pond life.

Yesterday, with my course, we did pond managment at a local primary school. The pond was in a little courtyard in the middle of the school. Because it was surrounded by walls, there was no breeze and it actually got quite warm in there. We were basically thinning out the roots and "muck" in the pond, as they starve it of oxygen and light. It gives more space for the life in the pond to swim around as well. It was quite satisfying. We put the arisings in a compost bin, as they can be used later, and that way any creatures that may have been in there can get back to the pond. The compost bin was positioned a short distance away.

Today, I did some pond edge maintainance on the heath. We were creating a "window" from the path to the pond by coppicing some small trees. We put those, and some other small branches and brambles onto a dead hedge that we created. This will allow for nesting and a good habitat.

On a different note, I am pleased to say I pre-orderd the Harry Potter Goblet of Fire dvd. Although no where as good as the book, I have totally enjoyed these movies, so will keep buying them. I am off tonight to meet up a friend for chinese food, a tradition we uphold every few weeks, so should be yummy.

Gorgeous day.

I felt like writing to say what a beautiful day it was today. It was perfectly clear and sunny, something we haven't had for awhile. It almost felt like spring, even warmed up a bit. We were doing grave clearance all day today. Basically pulling ivy and brambles and cutting any ash (this is because ash was growing up way to much in the area, and they wanted to control it.) It is always a pleasure to be outside on a nice day as today. That and I missed my last few volunteer sessions on the heath due to being ill.

One other cool thing is that one of my housemates got a new laptop and I got to help her set it up. I like doing that kind of thing, would never want to do it as a job though. I have a wireless network in the house, and her computer had a built in wirless adaptor, so hooked it up to that real easy. It is funny how one person simple in setting up is another person's "huh." What I breezed through pretty quickly, she would have taken days to figure out. But, that is what friends are for.

Sick

So, for the second time this year I have a nasty cold. All stuffed up inside. I think it is just too cold here, temperature wise. I even had to miss my voluteer group today cause I just wasen't well, and that truely pisses me off. One nice thing is that I have had a nice IM chat with a friend of mine that always seems to make me feel better. One of those people that seem to always have the right thing to say.

Sorry it is such a sort update, I will have more when I am feeling better.