New Pages

Wishing everyone a Happy and successful New Year.
Just worth giving a thought to those who don't have it so good .If we can do that little bit to help and towards stopping climate change.


Whats New.
There are  pages on this blog. By clicking on the pages link on the right hand side (half way down) you will find a variety of articles. Though there is a strong emphasis on growing vegetables I am keen to receive articles on non political subjects.

 The Internal Martial ARTS
Sessions are at my house with Dr Mark Green (Green Tai Chi). In order to know more about Mark see below;
http://www.greentaichi.co.uk/Biography 
To view 
Mark  focuses on Wing Chun and can accommodate students who want to learn other aspects of The Taiji system such as large San sau or The Yang Long Form privately . 

During the intervals between the sessions students meet up to train. for more details please make contact  or for private lessons with Mark directly with him.

                                      

Above

Kun fa training with Mark Green

Update for October/November We do meet on the Heath and sometimes at my house.

Update : . Sessions are commencing at our house this month.

Basic Wing Chun Knives has been learnt . We are focussing on The Taiji Walking Stick Form, revising The Taiji Long Form with applications. The Small San Sau , Kun fa with breakouts and an assortment of other

Tomorrow Sat 6th November our teach, Mark can't make it as it's his birthday but we, students are meeting. The emphasis will be on sansau

I am adding a link to an article by kind permission of our previous teacher, Paul Brecher :'The truth about the Martial Arts

https://www.taiji.net/truth  ' .

I am adding a link .

On page 8 An article by Paul Brecher . The Truth about Wing Chun

               Grow Your Own
U3A members can join me for sessions at Gordon Road Allotments for sessions on 'Grow Your Own'. 

During the winter sessions may revert to zoom . They proved to be very popular. Students will be asked if they are willing to give a presentation for few minutes. It can be a vegetable recipe ,
I would also like to use this page to encourage readers to look at the work of St Mungo's and other such charities in helping the homeless. They are grateful for any donations.

I am seeking  contributions of non political articles for the blog. They can be sent to my email.

We are collecting clothes for asylum seekers but they must be washed folded and marked according to gender. Page 5: Contains articles by the blog author. The latest is: The secrets of Drip irrigation.

Page 6
The paintings of Matan Peles , a resident of a community for adults with learning difficulties on Kibbutz (was a Kibbutz now a 'Community@) Mahanayim, Upper Gailee, Israel.

I recommend looking at these photos which can be purchased online. Every painting purchased is more support for the community. You can see more of his paintings  on their  url: www.Yahadbagalil.org.il   The site is in Hebrew but there is a translate button on the right hand side.
Under this article there is an article explaining The Israeli Kibbutz

Page 8 There is an explanation of the Shaw Trust, a Horticultural Project for Adult with learning difficulties.
A brand new page has been added 'Poems by Mark Shuck' .  Anyone who has been troubled by squirrels in the garden will surely relate to the first in a series.

More articles wanted on a variety of subjects. I hold the right to refuse articles I consider
inappropriate and likely to cause offence.



Go to the following link to watch my neices Tanya and Lauren Seifert performing a beautiful performance of Theatrical Pole Dancing

https://youtu.be/_Bpl2AYTNe0

The Seifert Sisters can be seen on www.theseifertsisters.com 
See an amazing array of skills . Tanya Seifert also offers private English lessons to foreign students.
Tanya is also a singer. 

They are my nieces 

Exciting new addition on Page 7
There is an in depth explanation of how to grow sweet peas by Professor David Young. Having spoken to him has stimulated me to 'Have a Go'.

Photos from the garden and the allotment.

Scenes from Vietnam Taken on our visit

The Scenes in this slide show are a mix of Kua Lalumpur and Vietnam.

We visited Vietnam in 2009 with some friends. That visit left a profound impression and a deep respect for the people. The effects of what they call 'The American War' can still be seen. Ironically the socalled 'greatest power on earth were not able to subdue this 'peasant people' even with the ghastly methods used. Vietnam has never, to my knowledge, been compensated by the US government.

There are some scenes of the presidential palace. Ho Chi Minh went there to receive foriegn guests but chose to live in a simple abode. The pictures of the bird sanctuary were taken in Malaysia.

Scenes from Vietnam

We visited Vietnam in 2009 with some friends. That visit left a profound impression and a deep respect for the people. The effects of what they call 'The American War' can still be seen. Ironically the socalled 'greatest power on earth were not able to subdue this 'peasant people' even with the ghastly methods used. Vietnam has never, to my knowledge, been compensated by the US government.

Thought for the day

Confucius – “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life.”

A few simple tips about bonsai care

I have added the following as I was asked today for some advice about a bonsai. There seems to be a common concensus thaty bonsai trees are difficult to look after. I don't think that is the case and it isn't time consuming.
The most common trees to be found on sale are Fukian Carmona, Serissa Foetida (tree of  a thousand stars), Sageretia Thezans, Chinese Elms,
The first three are best indoors. Chinese Elm can be kept outdoors. If kept outdoors and sometimes indoors it will loose it's leaves. Sageretia Theezans is not a good tree for a beginner they can be temperamental. but they often have wonderful ancient looking trunks.

Watering.
Often labels on bonsai will tell you how often to water. This is incorrect. The tree roots take up water according to a variety of external factors. During the winter there is less need for water and if you followed the instructions you would be 'drowning your tree'. I generally use the finger test. If the upper crust of the soil is dry. Than watering is needed. I prefer submerging the the pot until the bubbles have stopped.. Lift and let the water run out.It is also helpful to spray the leaves daily with water.

Feeding.

Feeding is best carried out from March to Sept.
There are special bonsai feeds though I tend to use regular feeds such as tomato feed, bio feed etc.,

Repotting
Is more of an annual task if needed. I will talk about it on another occasion

Placing the trees.
Indoor trees: An area where there is plenty of light except when it gets really hot. Then move to a shadier spot. Do not place near a radiater. Outdoors : I have found by trial and error that during the summer it is better to keep the trees in semi shade. In both situations it is worth turning the trees around occasionally. Though trees outside need less care they still need checking for watering during dry spells.