Mottisfont Rose Garden 2022

Mottisfont rose garden was looking spectacular on my visit on 8th June, possibly the best it has been, despite the rain at the weekend. 

 

For more photos, click here

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Favourite Gardens - Houghton Lodge

Houghton Lodge with its rose-filled verandah

Houghton Lodge is a splendid C18th fishing lodge high above the banks of the Test, in a most unusual 'cottage ornee' style, which has in recent years has had its extensive gardens hugely improved by the owners, Daniel and Sophie Busk. Sophie in particular has brought the huge walled garden back into perfect condition, and filled it with peonies and old roses (including a very rare 'Pope Pius IX') and trained some of the largest espaliered fruit trees in the country along its walls. New for 2022 is a sloping garden beginning with a cherry orchard and stream that debouches past cloud-pruned trees into an old lake, now cleared and planted and straddled by a beautiful Japanese bridge. 

The rest of the garden is at a similar standard, with sweeping views down the river from its high terraces. 

Of particular note is the lovely 'Peacock Garden' in box and the verandah hung with climbing roses.

 

For more photos of the gardens, click here

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Chelsea Flower Show 2022

 

Morris & Co 

The Chelsea Flower Show this year was notable for naturalistic planting and the strong structures that had been raised in the main show gardens. The top photo shows one of them that was due to be taken down and reassembled at Sculpture by the Lakes in Dorset. 

For a full set of photos, click here

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What is tbe Price of Electricity?

Here are our handy tips for understanding kWh and electricity cost per kWh. This will help you save money, energy and do your bit for the environment. Tick, tick and tick! 

Let’s start with the basics, what is a kW and what is a kWh?

A kilowatt hour (kWh) is a measure of how much energy you’re using per hour, whilst a kW is a measure of power. kW stands for kilowatt, a universal standard for measuring electricity. So, one kilowatt equals 1,000 watts. Your electricity provider charges by how much electricity you use per kilowatt hour (kWh). The kWh is a unit of energy, the number of kilowatts you use over time, on different things.

 

The more kilowatt hours, or kWh you use, the more you pay. So, how much does 1 kWh of electricity cost?

Energy is a measure of how much fuel is contained within something or used by something over a specific time period. Think of it like a Mars bar- the kWh is the like calories (or energy) within the bar, the kW is how you use those calories.

You might go for a fast, high-intensity run and burn off the energy in a matter of hours, or you might loaf on the sofa binging on Netflix, therefore stretching that energy out a bit. So, the electricity cost per kWh price you pay depends on how long you keep everything on. That’s why leaving your TV on standby or your charger plugged in still uses power and will add to the kWh cost on your energy bill (and wastes energy).

 

Now let’s look at lightbulbs.

Say you have ten 100-watt light bulbs, that would equal 1kW of energy usage (10 x bulbs x 100W = 1,000W= 1 kW). To work out the kWh cost, you’d multiply that by the amount of time you need them on and the electricity cost per kWh:

1kW x 10 hours x £0.16 electricity cost per kWh = £1.60 a day

Boom! It’s that simple! Take another look at your energy bill and you’ll see it start to make more sense.

You can apply this rule to your gas too (it will have a different unit cost to your electricity though).

According to the Energy Saving Trust the national average price (as of June 2021) per pence/kWh of electricity is £0.1636. We have rounded it to £0.16 for illustration purposes.

 

What determines my electricity cost per kWh on my energy bill?

We supply the kW power to meet the “demand” of our customers and demand determines the price. The price varies, depending on your supplier, tariff, meter type, region type. According to the Energy Saving Trust, the national average price for kWh in pence is £0.16. There are two main factors you can focus on when choosing your electricity and gas tariff:

• The unit rate - in kilowatt hours (kWh) and is the amount you're charged for the energy you use.
• The standing charge – this is a flat fee charged daily whether you're using any gas or electricity or not. This pays for everything needed to get the energy to your property via the National Grid.

 

When comparing energy deals, check these carefully. Whilst a tariff might have a low kWh unit rate, the price of the standing charge may be high, so check before you sign up.

 

How much energy do you use?

How much did that morning cuppa cost you? Is it important? Yes! Here’s why it’s worth knowing what electricity price you pay per kWh and how to easily convert your electricity cost per kWh into pounds and pence.

• How energy suppliers work out your bills
• Why some appliances use much more energy than others - and how much individual appliances use
• Why you should turn appliances off at the wall to save on costs, and why you shouldn't leave them on standby

 

How to become an energy saving expert in three easy steps

Now you know how much 1 kWh of electricity costs and how to convert kWh into pounds and pence. You can do a quick check of your home to work out your average kWh per day and find out where you can make changes to save on your energy bill.

Here are our three easy steps to help save on your energy bill and reduce your carbon footprint:

 

Step 1 - Put a price on it

Everything with a switch costs you money and has an impact on your carbon footprint size. Say you have a brand-new large screen TV with a 500 W power rating (kW rating of 0.5) – and you want to know how much it costs to run. Multiply 0.5 by the time you spend watching it – say 4 hours a day. Your 0.5 kW TV uses 2 kWh per day.

Now, look at your energy bill. If your electricity price per kWh is £0.16, your TV will cost £0.32 per day to run (.5kW x 4 hours x £0.16). This may not sound a lot but it adds up to £116.80 a year - on top of everything else you’re using.

Here are a few more examples of standard home appliances and how much they cost to run:

• Laptop: 90 watts, .09kW x 10 hours a day @ £0.16 a kWh = £0.14 a day (£52.56 a year)
• Tumble dryer: 750 watts .75kW x 2 hours a day @ £0.16 a kWh= £0.27 a day (£98.55 a year)
• Microwave: 900 watts 0.9 kWx 1 hour a day @ £0.16 a kWh = £0.11 a day (£40.18 a year)
• Fridge: 250 watts 0.25 kW, 24hours a day @ £0.16 a kWh = £1.44 a day (£350.40 a year)
• Kids’ nightlight: 40 watts 0.04kW 14 hours a day @ £0.16 a kWh = £0.60 a day (£32.70 a year)

 

These examples are just a fraction of what you use in your home but highlight how you can add things up to work out your average kWh use per day.

If you've got gas central heating you can work out how much you're spending on heating your home, based on the national average kWh gas price of £0.04p.

 

Step 2 - Get in the habit, today

All good habits start right here, right now. Once you know your kW from your kWh and the amount of time you use things, you can build a profile of the kind of energy user you are and where you can reign things in. Are you a heavyweight or a featherweight energy user? Where are the hotspots in your home? Do you leave laptops plugged in? TV on standby?

You’ve heard of the 5/2 diet - maybe allow yourself that extra spin on the dryer at the weekend, but dry outdoors or overnight the rest of the week. Try to take a break at tea-time so you don’t have to re-boil the kettle ten times. You can also seek out energy efficient appliances like smart lightbulbs or washing machines.

From EDF Energy's website April 2022 

See also How to be a Bore About Almost Anything

Going Solar March 2022

The solar panels installed on the east and west sides of the garage roof

With the drumbeat of climate change underscored by the scherzo of higher energy prices, I took the decision in January to add solar panels to the roof of the garage at Old Swan House. After some research, I contacted Project Solar, who appeared to have a good reputation and a substantial organisation, and was visited by Steve Gibson, an experienced project planner, who spent several hours over two visits to scope the site and provide a detailed quote.

He recommended the maximum capacity available - a 5.8kw capacity system and battery using 15 of the latest monocystalline solar panels on both sides of the garage roof. The garage is over 50 yards from the house (and so isn't subject the listed building regulation) and can only be seen from the garden or the lane, and isn't visible from either of my neighbour's houses, so  it doesn't intrude or alter anyone's view. Having contacted the Parish Council who confirmed informally that they could see no objection on planning grounds, I accordingly ordered the system, which was installed over two days, being completed on 10th March 2022. 

The installation team of Phil, Craig and Chris were experienced and worked quickly, but  there was a delay in the supply of the panel mounts. Nevertheless the team needed most or the two days to dig the trench across the drive and part of the garden and lead the cable though the house to the fuse-board by the front door. Phil, the electrician, said it was one of the most challenging runs he had done, as the result of  the age of the house and the complexity of its construction. Indeed, the panels weren't installed until 3pm on the second day and were completed at night. The system has worked perfectly from that time and is now producing over 20kw energy a day, which feeds the house, the battery and then the grid. As the days get longer, it should produce at least 25kw a day and fill the battery to capacity so that its energy can be used at night.

The Inverter and the battery. The system is connected to wi-fi and can be accessed on my desktop as well as by phone.

   

 

     

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Michael Ignatieff on Consolation - the Book of Job and the Psalms

Michael Ignatieff

Michael Ignatieff, whom I have long admired since reading his superb biography of Isaiah Berlin, has given us some fascinating reflections on the subject of Consolation, illuminating the Book of Job and the Psalms in a most enlightening way. His talk, the first of several on the subject of Consolation, can be found on BBC Sounds here. 

Favourite World Radio - KPCC at 89.3 FM

KPCC

I am a great fan of KPCC, part of the US National Public Radio (NPR) network of non-political radio stations much like the BBC. Indeed some of their output is taken from BBC and World Service programmes. It goes out on 83.9FM and as it comes mainly from Los Angeles, is first heard here at night. However, the programmes can also be listened to at any time by following the link to the schedule.

The particular programmes I listen to regularly are shown below - with their most recent broadcasts to give a flavour of what one hears. They are always instructive, in depth discussions, and call on the expertise of trusted experts to explain difficult subjects rather in the manner of In Our Time or the best of Woman's Hour. They always ready to examine both sides of an issue, which is a tremendous relief. The presenters are extraordinarily fluid and 'fluff-free', which makes them all the easier to listen to.  

1A with Jenn White - What China’s infrastructure investments in Africa mean for the world

'1A is a show for a changing America'.

On Point with Megan Chakrabati - Omicron and Health Care - What's Really Going on in America's hospitals 

'Let's make sense of the world – together. Produced by WBUR in Boston, On Point’s vibrant conversation covers everything from breaking news to ancient poetry, and features writers, politicians, journalists, artists, scientists and ordinary citizens from around the world'.

Fresh Air with Terry Gross - Heartbroken - There's a Scientific Reason Why Breaking-up Feels So Rotten - by Florence Williams 

'Fresh Air with Terry Gross is weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues with intimate conversations and unusual insights'. She is an icon in America and her warm humanity draws out the best in her guests. I have ordered many of the books reviewed with their authors here from The Bookmark. 

Lighting the Garden at Old Swan House

The garden lights now come on automatically based on a movement sensor

I began putting lights in the garden a few years ago, first down the path through the box walk so that people could come and go between the house and the drive without going over the lawn. I was lucky enough to find some beautiful old copper lights at Fickle Pickle and have them 'plumbed in' by the inestimable Brian Gill. They have been completely trouble-free ever since. 

Lighting the garden path 

Later, Brian put in some LED lights down the garden wall and two floods, one at the end in the wildflower garden and the other lighting the end of the orchard, but one had to go out an turn them on in the garage and on the patio, and one rarely took the trouble. 

Now, Rob Allnutt has changed these lights to come on automatically at night with movement sensors, but they will only stay on for about 15 minutes unless one keeps moving.

Solar light on one of the columns in the 'Florentine Garden'

Finally, I have put in some solar lights on the two new columns in the 'Florentine Garden'. The come on automatically as it gets dark and light then columns rather well, but don't last very long in winter as there is so little energy captured by the solar panel.

The lights even light the pond

    

 

Vandana Shiva on Quantum Theory

 "The pandemic has killed many people. And the pandemic is because we killed nature. The UN has admitted we are only treating the symptoms as a medical problem. The real disease is a disease of our separation from nature, our mastery over nature, our sense of disrespect for nature's laws, ecological limits and planetary boundaries. Every turbulent crisis we face today comes from the illusion of separation.

Quantum theory is all about interconnectedness. The world is about vibration. The world is about sound and light. This we know. And yet we constantly deny it. We separate ourselves. We separate our minds from our bodies. We separate the Earth from ourselves. We will not be able to solve either the human crisis or the planetary crisis by maintaining separation and the illusion of separate essential things. We have to realise that vibration is what runs the world and it's only when this vibration expresses itself you get a wave or a particle, health or disease, happiness and well-being or mental trauma and mental problems.

Every part of our body is intelligent. Every cell is self-organised. Every molecule acts in concert, from the molecule to the body, to the ecosystems, to the planet; it is one amazing quantum chorus. It's time to stop denying this.

We are not the masters of the Earth. We have to restore thinking about ourselves with humility and recognise there are other beings on this planet with us, and if you take care of them we create prosperity for all. My work over the last five decades in service to the Earth has shown the more we give to the Earth, the more she gives to us."

~ Vandana Shiva

Scholar, author, philosopher, environmental activist--often referred as the "Gandhi of grain" for her activism associated with the anti-GMO movement.

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Giles Wingate-Saul 1945 - 2021

 

Gules Wingate-Saul (right) with Julian Avery, John Collard and Richard Smith. Anglesea Arms, London 2026 Photo by Herry.

Giles Wingate Wingate-Saul was a friend from my schooldays when we were contemporaries at Winchester. We subsequently attended university together and for our last year at Southampton (where we both read law) we shared a cottage with Julian Avery (3rd from the left) on the edge of the New Forest outside Romsey.  

Julian, John, Richard, Giles and Herry at Blue Hayes in 2011

At university and subsequently we were both members of the 'Gentleman of Wessex' cricket team, and we met at cricket matches and events such as the reunion organised by Julian Avery at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in 1995. We both retired in 2006, but the both attended the reunion organised by tbe Law Faculty in 2007 where Giles was called upon to reply on behalf of the students.

Southampton Law Faculty Reunion 2007 - with Giles, Julian, John, Richard and others including some of tbe professors.

I think it was at that event that we determined to have an annual reunion consisting of Giles, Julian, John  Collard and me, and later Richard Smith. Thereafter we met annually in London or in Hampshire for lunch or dinner, often at one of the London Clubs (Julian was a member of Boodles). I also began to see Giles on other occasions as he came down from Cumbria to visit his daughter Lucinda, who was working as a doctor at Winchester Hospital. He came to stay at Old Swan House on occasion and we enjoyed long discussions, having similar views on life and the world. He also came with me to Litchfield, and amazed the congregation with his beautiful baritone voice. I hope we would always be able to meet, but that was not to be, as Giles fell ill in about 2017 and was unwell until he died in September 2021

At Gile's Thanksgiving Service in his home village of Rusland on a friend, David Allan QC gave a fine eulogy that appears here:

'I met and got to know Giles in the mid 1970s, not through meeting in Court or in chambers but through Giles being the organiser and captain of the Manchester Bar football team. A team that under Giles’s captaincy played regularly and met with much success. Giles was a solid centre back but if the truth be told he was a little susceptible to the high ball. As a high ball came towards him it was not unknown to hear a cry from Giles “over” and as the ball sailed over his head that was the signal for Giles’s fellow centre back to provide some rapid cover. Those who played for that team got enormous enjoyment from doing so and are grateful to Giles for creating and running the team.

Giles’s school was Winchester College, his university was Southampton where he read law . Giles was rather dismissive of his achievements as a student. I have chatted to Herry Lawford who was at school and university with Giles. Herry is here today. What Herry emphasised was not so much Giles’s academic abilities but the value of his friendship which lasted  a lifetime. Giles was a loyal and entertaining friend, he was a great storyteller.

Giles was called to the Bar in 1967 and joined Royal Exchange chambers in Manchester. He rapidly developed a very busy civil practice but was never too busy to help a fellow member of chambers. A few days ago I bumped into Keith Armitage who was also a member of Royal Exchange. Giles was some 2 or 3 years senior to Keith and when Keith was a pupil and in his second six months and so able to appear in Court it happened that late  one day he received instructions to go to Warrington County Court on an undefended divorce. The petitioner was seeking a divorce on the grounds of adultery. This caused Keith some consternation Not because of the adultery but the prospect of the journey to Warrington. There was no M56 or M62 to take you to the wilds of Warrington. So Keith approached Giles and suggested that Giles might like to take over this weighty undefended divorce. Giles’s response was to say no this is your case and you must do it but I will drive you to Warrington County Court and I will drive you back again to Manchester. Giles did just that. Keith got his lift but sadly did not get his divorce. Undefended it may have been but he could not prove adultery. What struck me on hearing this story from some 50 years ago how like Giles and how he never changed. Kindness and doing the right thing were so much a part of his character.

I forgot to ask Keith what car Giles was driving. Was it his splendid and beloved Lotus.

Giles’s abilities as a barrister, his talent and hard work were recognised and he achieved silk in 1983 becoming a Queen’s Counsel just after his 38^th birthday, an unusually young age to achieve . He joined Byrom Street Chambers  in Manchester and London. The head of Chambers was Ben Hytner. Taking silk at the same time as Giles and joining Byrom Street with him was Giles’s friend David Clarke. I’m reminded of David’s description of Giles: intellectually principled, rigorous, focused but also warm in friendship and very good company.

 As a silk Giles was always in demand. He combined meticulous preparation  and fine judgment with an unerring grasp of legal principle. Giles was the master at drilling down into a case  to reveal its key points. His practice covered both claims for catastrophic injury and weighty commercial matters.  When acting for a claimant if the defendant was not prepared to pay the  value of the case as assessed by Giles then he  was always ready to fight the case. In Court  he was a formidable presence. He advanced his arguments cogently and forcefully.  

 

You’ll know that Giles had a strong sense of fairness. In the conduct of his cases at whatever level whatever the eminence of the tribunal Giles would stand up to what he saw as an unfair approach. He felt his nemesis was a particular law lord of brilliant intellect but with a tendency to make up his mind before coming into court. I know you are thinking that couldn’t possibly happen but it did. And then displaying a reluctance to listen to the argument he had already in his own mind rejected. This infuriated Giles.

What gave Giles great satisfaction was to receive instructions in an unpromising case and then having mastered the detail, analysed the issues he would fashion an argument that provided the route to success. This was never better illustrated than in the environmental asbestos case Margereson where the citizens of Armley Leeds were subjected through the 1930s, 40s and 50s to an asbestos factory pumping out asbestos dust into their homes, into the school yard and onto the loading bays where the children played. During 6 weeks of evidence and argument I was privileged to watch  Giles construct  an unanswerable case. His dedication to the case was total. 

I had the good fortune to be led by Giles many times. It was an education. Those of us who shared chambers with Giles benefited enormously from his wise advice.

Giles’s energies were not confined to the conduct of his own cases. Giles was the founding Chairman of the Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association. He was always keen to assist law students and young members of the Bar and he did that through his role as a Bencher of the Inner Temple.

Giles retired from the Bar aged 60. He had been a deputy High Court Judge and a Deputy Judge of the Technology and Construction Court. He could undoubtedly have become a High Court Judge and given the combination of his first class legal mind and his humanity he would have been a fine judge. But he and Katherine had agreed many years ago that he would retire at 60 and he never wavered from that decision.

Despite the demands of work and family Giles found time to assist certain charities whose work he regarded as important. He was a trustee for some 20 years of Spirit, the charity for those sustaining spinal cord injury, and he was also a trustee of the Bendrigg Trust based in Cumbria which provides outside adventure activities for the disabled and disadvantaged. 

 

At the Bar Giles was regarded with huge respect and admiration. This was in part due to his abilities as a barrister but also in part because of the person he was. There was nobody else quite like him. He was no follower of popular fashion. He never owned a television. He was very much his own man- a singular man and he was fortunate to meet a singular woman in Katherine and unsurprisingly they produced two wonderful children in Lucinda and Rupert. He was immensely proud of both of them. I’ll finish with some words written by his lifelong friend Herry Lawford:

“A lovely, kind man and a generous friend; the kind you hope to grow old with”

GILES WINGATE-SAUL  Called to the Bar November 1967 (Inner Temple). Practice as barrister 1967-1983. General Common Law work from chambers in Manchester (mainly civil). Queen’s Counsel (QC) Appointed April 1983. Practice as Queen’s Counsel 1983-2005 from chambers in Manchester and London. Areas of work - catastrophic personal injury (brain damage and spinal injury)\, Mercantile/Commercial/ and Construction. Mediator (trained by CEDR) Arbitrator Retired 31st July 2005 Appointments. Deputy High Court Judge (ceased July 2005) Deputy Judge of Technology and Construction Court (ceased July 2005). Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple. Specialist Bar Associations (until 2005) Personal Injury Bar Association. Northern Circuit Commercial Bar Association (Founding chairman and chairman 1996-2002).  Professional Negligence Bar Association.Technology and Construction Bar Association. Society of Construction Law. Bar European Group. European Circuit.

Divided time between the Lake District and Manchester. Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple. Trustee of SPIRIT (spinal injury charity based on Midland Spinal Injury Centre. Oswestry) Trustee of Bendrigg Trust (residential activities for disabled young people. Founding Trustee/Administrator of Rusland Valley Community Trust. Churchwarden / Treasurer Rusland Church, Cumbria.Vice-chairman Rusland Show. Treasurer Rusland Reading Room Member Carlisle Diocesan Synod. Deputy groundsman Leven Valley Cricket Club. Cricket/tennis

Family: wife Kathrine (died 2015) Daughter Lucinda attended Leeds University and is now a doctor at Royal County Hospital, Winchester, married to Tom with a son. Son Rupert was at Cambridge (Engineering) and is marrying Laura in Rusland. 

Photos from the Thanksgiving Service can be seen here 

For some more photos of Giles though the years, click here