New arrival - latest grandchild!

Well, here she is. Arrived exactly on her due date 24th May.

She came into the world at 8.40 am, weighing in at 8lb 13oz - not bad at all. So far she has managed to keep her mother up most of every night but hopefully that will soon change for the better. It's amazing how such a little scrap of humanity can be so disruptive!

Oh well, it's worth it!

Spring has sprung!

What a difference a few weeks make - from the blanket of snow to the cherry tree in blossom. The daffodils have mostly finished now apart from a few late varieties.

Snow at last!

Several times this winter the weather forecasters have threatened us with snow but it never managed to reach us here in the south - until now! Very picturesque and lovely to look at. The children have had great fun but it is melting fast now in the sun and I expect it will be nothing but a memory by evening.

Amazing!

This is s 4D scan picture of my latest grandaughter due to be born in May. Isn't technology amazing? When I first started having children, the best they could do was listen to the heartbeat and we were incredulous at that!

Moonings

* It is thought, by many people, to be unlucky to point at the Moon.
* It is supposedly unlucky to marry when there is a waning Moon.
* If you get your hair cut on a Friday that also happens to be a new Moon is won't look anything like you expected.
* If a woman gives birth when there is a full Moon she is likely to give birth again on a full Moon.
* According to the Lunacy act of 1824 people were more likely to go mad when there was a full moon.
* Your nails will grow healthy and strong if you file them on a Friday night when there is also a full Moon.
* Two new or two full Moons in the same month means there will be bad weather.
* During the full Moon there are more visits to doctors and epileptic fits are more common.

10 Search Engine Optimisation Ideas for your Website

1. Meta Tags
Meta tags are simple lines of code which are inserted at the top of each of your web page’s programming that tell search engines about your pages. Include the title tag, keywords tag, description tag, and robots tag on each page.
2. Ensure that all navigation is in HTML (if possible)
Quite frequently, navigational items are in the form of Javascript. Even though navigation generally still works in this format, it's not optimised or read by the search engines. Create your navigation in HTML to enhance internal links all through your website. If your web editor doesn’t allow this then create a separate HTML set of links.
3. Create and update your sitemap
Developing a site map is an easy way of allowing search engines to find the information they need to crawl your website. You should be able to find free software packages on the web that can help you generate a sitemap. Once you have created your sitemap, submit it to Google and Yahoo.
4. Check that all images include ALT text
The alt text of the images on your website, is spidered by search engines. Including your keywords in your image’s alt text, means you're taking advantage of a huge opportunity for improved search engine result placements. Make sure all of your images are labelled properly.
5. Use Flash content sparingly
Content generated through Javascript or flash might look impressive but is not a good idea. Webmasters sometimes like to use flash because of the presentation it creates. If you have to, use it sparingly, but only after your site has been properly optimised with basic search engine optimisation in mind.
6. Make sure that your website code is clean
Web page crawlers are really only looking at your source code. When programming your web pages, having W3C compliant code might make all the difference. Run your code through a W3C validator as a final check - before promoting.
7. Place keywords in your page content
One of the functions of search engines is to scan your website and individual web pages for keywords. Aim for a keyword density of between two and eight percent. Google likes pages that are at the lower end of this scale and Yahoo at the upper end.
8. Submit your website to search engine directories
They will find you eventually but a helping hand is a good idea to let large search engine directories know that you're out there. Submit your website URL to directories like Google, Yahoo, and DMOZ (although don’t expect overnight success with the latter).
9. Build links to your website
Think about building a link exchange programme or perhaps you could create one-way links to your site using forum posts or articles. It is important to all major search engines to have lots of links leading to your website.
10. Learn the basics
Learning the business of optimising websites for search engines takes time and patience. Start at the beginning by applying basic search engine optimization principles. If you're new to website optimisation, or not so new, begin by working out which pages have the most importance and go from there. Hopefully, you'll soon find yourself moving up the rankings.

Aquamarine

Aquamarine is a beautiful crystal which can vary in colour from light blue to green. It used to be carried by sailors as a talisman against drowning.
It has calming energies which help to reduce stress, calm the mind and remove extraneous thoughts. Aquamarine helps to clear blocked communications and promote self expression. This crystal is useful for sensitive people - helping to understand underlying emotional states and interpreting how one feels.
It emits a gentle and compassionate energy, exhibiting moderation, overcoming judmentalism and invokes tolerance of others. Aquamarine can aid spiritual development by sharpening intuition, opening clairvoyance and awakening spiritual awareness.
Physically, it is useful for sore throats, swollen glands, regulating hormones and growth, aids the eyes and jaws, benefits the stomach and has a general tonic effect.
Aquamarine is linked to the signs of Gemini, Pisces and Aries.

Pluto

On 26th January 2008, Pluto moves into Capricorn - which it hasn't done for 230 years so this is something out of the ordinary. Astrologers are waiting to see what is going to happen in the next 15 years particularly in the world of politics. The last time Pluto was in Capricorn and important event happened - the U.S.A. was born on 4th July 1776, Independence Day. Typical Capricorn characteristics are that of stability and conservatism but also that of patriotism and domination. These factors can produce inspired leaders or on the other hand, dictators.
On a more personal level, this can affect us in terms of how we feel about power. Capricorns and Cancerians (being opposite to each other) are likely to find the next 15 years significant. The important thing to remember about a Pluto transit is not to fight it, embrace any changes and try to understand why they are happening.

Three Square Meals?

Three square meals a day is a norm we are all taught. But what about the quality of the food. What is good and what is poison. The historians, the biologists and the marketing men have all convinced us that eating meat is both normal and good...but is it? Filled with antibiotics to keep the animal healthy, filled with the adrenaline of an animal that knows it's about to be slaughtered, filled with chemicals to keep it looking good at the point of purchase, do we really know what's in it? The 'industrialisation' of animal production is a language which in itself signifies an attitude of disdain towards conscious beings who have their own dignity and their own ways of showing us their affection. But we say that they know no pain, so it is OK to kill and consume them. Stand on your dogs foot, or accidentally put a needle in your cat, and we are reminded that they know pain as acutely as we do. In fact they often have a greater sensitivity and empathy to our moods than we have to our own. Entrusted with the caring of our planet and it's animal kingdoms what do we do... we grow them, kill them and eat them. Perhaps it is no wonder we are reaping the fruits of those actions. So what do you think, to eat or not to eat, to care or not to care, to break out of the lazy mindset that says, "But its always been that way", or perhaps to say, "maybe, just maybe, this is not the right way!"

Moon Phases

Whether you believe it or not, the Moon exerts a powerful influence on our lives. If you follow its phases and plan your life and actions around them, it is possible to achieve great results.
If you want something positive to happen in your life then the waxing Moon is the ideal time to set it in motion. For example, if you and looking for a new job then this is a good time to arrange an interview. This is a great time for success, courage, luck, health and friendship. If you are looking for new friends then make the most of socialising when the Moon is waxing.
As the Moon grows from waxing to full, then so will the positive power that you put into anything. This is the time to start a new job or set up a new business or sign a contract, go travelling or join a club.
When the Moon is waning, it is diminishing so this is the time to banish things from your life. This could include getting rid of a partner, breaking a habit such as smoking, banishing an illness or losing weight. In other words getting rid of anything detrimental in your life.
The new Moon is invisible to us but that doesn't mean it's not there. New beginnings are indicated here, such as looking for a new relationship or a new home or even a whole new life.