Having a chemical breakfast

Considering it's January there is a bit of excitement in the air! This morning I am linking up over skype with two friends to have a "chemical breakfast" It is 100 years ago today that Marie Curie won her nobel prize for chemistry. Women all around the world - well in 37 countries to be more precise are getting to gether and linking up to have a chemical moment in time. Australia has already kicked off and Indonesia.

Meetings are happening with networking sessions and discussions. Many people are using twitter to let others know what is happening. Prestatyn High School were linked up and the OU as well as a group in Prague - look up #IYC2011 or #chemhandshake to get an idea!

This is part of the International Year of Chemistry which is officially opened on the 28th January in Paris. I'm hoping to be running some workshops during the year for schools in support of this - I'll keep you posted!

Radio 4's Women's Hour is also doing a feature http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_fourfm

Facing January!

I hate this time of year! I try very hard not to - each year I try to think of good things to do in January but I never succeed in shaking off the "depression" of the long dank dark January.

BUT I am really enjoying having fires again! There is more than just warmth to them, they are cheerful and require a bit of excercise to keep them going!

We have a lovely log burner in the main lounge and a small "Godin" log burner in the fermette living room. We put the heating (oil fired) on in the morning for about an hour and a half. It's so nice to have a warm bathroom for a shower etc, then we light the Godin. For the rest of the day when not outside in workshops we are in the fermette near the Godin which is so lovely. At night we light the log burner in the lounge and sit and relax with books and the TV, the warmth is fantastic.

This has got me thinking - is it healthier to have fires than central heating? I certainly feel better - not snuffly and " heavy headed".! Today John and I were out moving logs and wood around under the skeleton barn so that the wood dries out etc, (I was also clearing up more Walnut leaves, buit that's another matter!) We started discussing the fact that when you have central heating you no longer think about the effort required to get the wood ready to burn, or take in by the fire etc, the excersise has got to be beneficial and being out in the fresh air even if it is cold! The effort is definitely paid off in the pleasure that goes with having a fire giving it's warmth and comfort.

Maybe this January is not going to be so bad...........!