Hannah Louise Swift

Yes Yes, I know – weird blog title! My lovely Mum recently sent me this website to look at – with the promise of a trip there next year. Next year is officially toooooo far away! http://www.vulcania.com/en

So what is Vulcania?

In 1992, the Auvergne Regional Council decided to launch a science park and a museum of volcanism and implement it in the heart of the Puys in the territory of the Regional Park (former military area of 57 ha). (Google translation at it’s best)

Basically it’s a theme park – about VOLCANOES!!! Amazing!

My idols growing up, and to now were a lovely couple called Maurice and Katia Krafft, who perished whilst doing they job they loved. They were vulcanologists who took that extra step in education and started making films about volcanoes. In fact, much of the footage you still see today was filmed by this daring pair. They took science to the developing countries, warning those who lived near volcanoes not only of the dangers, but of the magnificent beauty. They taught them what to do should a volcano erupt and much much more. Dedicated to volcanoes and with a passion for life, they inspired me along with many others to educate.

It’s 20 years since they passed away on the slopes of a volcano, on the June 3rd 1991 at 3:18 pm they died, swept away by a pyroclastic flow on Mount Unzen, on the island of Kyushu, Japan. To celebrate their life and what they did for volcanologists, Vulcania have opened an exhibition in their honour!

Personally I cannot wait to go, and for the rest of you geology geeks out there, you can thank Mother Swift for digging this one out!

Although this blog has pretty much no purpose, other than to keep my Dad occupied at work, just checking if I have done anything new recently… I have found that many of the things I have wanted to blog, many of the thanks I have wanted to give, have somewhat fallen by the way-side. So I’m hopefully going to write a few blog posts to keep all my readers (AKA Papa Swift) happy. So, bear with me as I get this bad boy up to date!
Blogging really can be a pain, although it doesn’t take long to do a post, after spending all day on the computer doing ‘I.T.’ as my friends say, sometimes the last thing you want to do is turn on your computer, log into your blog and think of something humorous to say. It’s a pain in the bottom to be honest, not as painful as piles (NOT speaking from experience) but painful all the same. Anyways, I’m sure you all know what it’s like. It’s old fashioned correspondence upkeep in a more ‘internetty’ form!

If Carlsberg made neighbours, it’d be these two! They were supposed to head off to Lapland this weekend to meet Santa and to give Martyn the opportunity to do the big romantic gesture and pop the question. Due to the pesky snow, their flight was cancelled, re-arranged, then cancelled again.
Martyn still went ahead with the proposal and Terri is now sporting a gorgeous ring on her finger!
I’d like to wish them both the best – as a couple and individuals they are amazing, so in love and happy. They have been together a long time and the spark is definitely still there, which whilst sickening, gives us singletons something to cling onto!
Big congrats you two!
Here is the happy couple (not the one in the middle, he’s just some random!)

I once grew a parsnip, a solitary parsnip, his name was Dave. I ate Dave.

Dave’s old house

Dave’s leaves

Dave

Dave and his mates

A few weeks back now, I went to Leeds to meet with a client, the journey back was some what disastrous, but more on that another time. Before heading home I met with some of the funniest and most awesome people in Affiliate Marketing. Ray and Dom. We headed to the famous German Markets in the centre of Leeds where I was forced ( ) to drink beer. I then repaid the favour with a few shots… Then Ray went off for a wee while and came back clasping 3 mugs with straws in them. What was inside was to be a most pleasant thing – Hot mulled wine, ameretto and lashings of cream on top. It was melt in the mouth, absolutely delicious stuff. In fact I may have drank more than just mine. I HATE mulled wine usually as I’m not a fan of nutmeg or cinnamon – but this was just divine! I would totally recommend drinking this to anyone who reads. I even managed to swipe a cup too – which is my new brew mug! I wanted to just plain steal it, but apparently Ray had put a £2.50 deposit on the cup. Bless him, he let me keep it! Thanks Ray!