Number Fun Interest Badge

Choose and do five of the following. 

* Imagine you have £500 to redesign your bedroom. Find out what kind of things you could buy and make a list to show how you would use the money.

* Help at an event where you have to collect money and give change.

* Keep a record of the money you are given and spend during one month.

* Find out about three types of money not used in your country. Know what the money is called, and which countries it is used in. If possible, have examples of the money to show others.

* Know how to open a savings account at a bank or building society. Find out about one savings account.

* Design a game that involves using money or that helps young children learn how to count.

* Make a birthday or address book. Use it to record at least ten people's details.

* Find out about different postage costs. Show that you can select the right stamps needed for an item.

* Carry out a survey of at least 20 people and share the results with the tester. The survey must include at least five questions.

* Show that you can tell the time using the 24-hour clock.

* Make up a number code. Use it to pass on a secret message.

* Plan a simple meal. Work out how much it would cost to buy the ingredients.

Hunstanton to Holme

We met up with Mum in Old Hunstanton at Smugglers Close, we started off by crossing the Hunstanton Golf Course, and heading along the dunes at Old Hunstanton the sea on the left of us and Hunstanton Golf Course on the right.

It was very misty out to sea.  We picked the last of the blackberries.

We arrived at Holme-next-Sea and sat down to have our packed lunch, getting a hot drink from the kiosk in the car park.

Then we continued on, by now the Mist had burned away and the sun had came through and it turned lovely and hot.

We went along the road till we reached the River Hun, we walked through a caravan site and then were in the wilds with the River on the right and the Golf course now on the left, the water was lovely and clear and we saw quite a few ducks.

It took us about 2 hours, there were loads of has been blackberries along the river need to make a note to come 3 weeks earlier next year.

It was a nice pleasant walk.

Africa Alive

Today Brownies and Guides from Smithdon and Brothercross District head to Africa Alive, at Kessingland, Near Lowestoft, Suffolk.

http://www.africa-alive.co.uk/

We arrived about 11am and headed into the park, it was a lovely sunny day, apart from a flash thunderstorm which lasted about 20mins, but it didn't detract from the day.

We saw the Meercats

We went on the FREE train

We had a go at milking Daisy the Cow

We saw a girl surrounded by Lemurs

We went in the Discovery Centre

We had our lunch

Then we had a play on the play equipment

Then we did the most important thing and spent our pocket money

The Penny Press attracted a lot of attention

While going round we did the Passport Challenge where on the journey around the park we had to collect 8 stamps for a medal.

We then went to the Lion Enclosure this is where the thunderstorm hit, luckily we were undercover at the time.

As it was still raining we spent the last hour in the indoor play area, during this time, at some point the sun came out :)

First we dumped our bags wherever we chose

Then we went into the Play area

Then we waited for the bus

We arrived home about 5.30pm as scheduled, as we arrived home one of the Guides was sick:(

It was a lovely day, weather was OK, girls were well behaved and a credit.

Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009)

A nice pleasant RomCom

Meryl and Paul Morgan have separated since his infidelity. He's a Manhattan lawyer, seeking forgiveness. She's moved on, focusing on real estate sales. As he walks her to an appointment one evening, pleading his case, they witness a murder; the murderer sees them. The FBI wants them in witness protection until the killer is caught. He's already hunting them. The FBI sends them to Ray, Wyoming, a tiny ranch town, where they stay with the aging sheriff and his gun-toting wife (who's his deputy). Meryl and Paul must sort out their relationship while their New York ways bump up against those of the West. Meantime, Meryl knows two things that Paul doesn't.

	Hugh Grant	...	Paul Morgan
	Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Meryl Morgan
	Natalia Klimas	...	Monique Rabelais
	Vincenzo Amato	...	Girard Rabelais
	Jesse Liebman	...	Adam Feller
	Elisabeth Moss	...	Jackie Drake
	Michael Kelly	...	Vincent

 

 

Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7) by Jim Butcher

I found this book rather hard going but i got through it, not one of my favourite authors or series, which is a surprise as i enjoy fantasy and crime, it seemed an ideal combination for me but I just didn't get on with it.

This adventure finds Chicago's preeminent wizard coping with his new roommate--vampire half-brother Thomas. Harry soon has problems bigger than Thomas' clutter to deal with. Marva, one of Harry's vampire foes, summons him with a threat to his police-lieutenant friend, Karrin Murphy. Marva demands Harry get the Word of Kemmler for her, or she'll frame Murphy for murder. Harry doesn't even know what the Word is, but while he's trying to find out, and also what damage Marva will be able to do with it, several necromancers descend on Chicago. When Harry learns that the newcomers are students of Kemmler, an evil wizard who mastered ancient spirits in a way no one has since, he discovers that they are seeking the Word, too, in hopes of seizing the powerful knowledge within it and calling forth a powerful creature known as the Erlking. Butcher's latest maintains the momentum of previous Dresden outings and builds the suspense right up to a rousing conclusion.

Making Friends

Our first meeting of the new term was following the theme Friendship, we welcomed two new Brownies.


We started off playing the Find Someone Who......... game, which is where each Brownie is given a sheet with phrases on like Find someone who has 2 brothers, been to last years pantomine, has blue eyes etc, and they have to find someone who fits the description.

Then we played the  Smartie Game, where each Brownie helps themselves to as many Smarties as they like, and as they eat each smartie have to say something about themselves.

Then we made some name labels to hang on the noticeboard, there was a choice of a Flower, Toadstools, or Owl.

Then Holly and Eve organised a Wool Spider Web game, everyone sat in a circle and Eve started off by throwing the ball of wall across the circle calling out the person she was throwing to's name and then it carried on

After everyone had caught the ball of wool and we had a nice Spiders Web then the Brownies had to try and get across the web, either going over or under, without touching the wool if she touched the wool, the rest of the Brownies made an alarm noise

Autumn Term 2011

Date	Meeting Theme		Notes
14th Sept	Friend ship	Friendship Games Smartie Game – Dawn Find Someone Who Game - Dawn
21st Sept	Number Fun Badge	Birthday Book	Dawn Away
28th Sept		Bedroom Game
5th Oct		Clock – Dawn Number Code - Sue
12th Oct	Promise Celebration	PJ Party
19th Oct	Penny Hike	Hot Chocolate Torches
HALF TERM
2nd Nov	Bonfire Night	Edible Bonfire Singing Game
9th Nov	Remembrance Meeting
16th Nov	Shoebox Meeting
23rd Nov	Newspaper Meeting
30th Nov	Christmas Tree Meeting
7th Dec	Christmas Tree Craft
14th Dec	Carol Singing	Driftwood

Diary Dates
17th Sept	Africa Alive	8.30 – 5.30
12th Oct	Church Parade Meeting	7.30pm
16th Oct	Sponsored Walk at Sandringham	1.30pm
29th Oct	War Graves Ceremony	11am
13th Nov	Remembrance Sunday	10.30am
20th Nov	Church Parade	10.30am
2-4th Dec	Christmas Tree Festival

Ghost Song by Sarah Rayne

Never heard or read anything by this author before, it was a slow start, but ended a most refreshing read, I just couldn't put it down, the story just got into my soul.

It flitted from the 1880's to 1914 to the Present, but it was done remarkably well and tied together very nicely, with a completely unexpected ending. I just loved it, I loved the characters, the writing style and most of all the story.

Quote

From Amazon - The old Tarleton music hall on London's Bankside is the subject of a mysterious restraint order that has kept it closed for over ninety years. When Robert Fallon is asked to survey the building, he finds clues indicating that its long twilight sleep may contain a sinister secret. Joining forces with researcher Hilary Bryant, Robert discovers the legend of the Tarleton's 'ghost' - a mysterious figure who was first glimpsed during the time of the charismatic performer Toby Chance, once the darling of Edwardian audiences until he vanished suddenly and inexplicably in the early 1900s. After almost a century, the Tarleton's dark silence is about to end. But there are those who find its re-opening a threatening prospect and, as Robert and Hilary delve into the macabre history of one of London's oldest music halls, they both become menaced by the secrets of the past.

Kevin Update

On the 29th March, Kevin was badly assaulted by a supposed friend Richard Codman aged 38 from Snettisham, he ended up in hospital badly bruised and battered with a broken nose.

Richard was arrested and charged with causing Actual Bodily Harm, because he pleaded Guilty, Kevin did not need to appear in court.

On the 5th September, Richard appeared in Norwich Crown Court for the final time for sentencing.

The sentence handed out was to pay £600 compensation to Kevin, 12 month jail sentence suspended for 2 years, 18 mth supervision order where he will get help for aggression and drink problems, 100 hours of unpaid work.

Sentancing him Recorder Christopher Morgan said "If you kick a person in the head it becomes a lottery as to what injury you cause them.  On another occasion you could be in the dock facing a far more serious charge"

The above was printed in the EDP on Tuesday 6th September.

Miles Update

Miles was taken into Neonatal Intensive care a few hours after his birth on the 31st August 2011, to assist him with his breathing, he then developed Jaundice and was placed under the ultraviolet lamp to help with that, on Sunday he came off the breathing Tube, and on Monday the Lamp was removed, he was then allowed back on the ward with Jude, he must remain in hospital until he has got his feeding sorted out and he still takes some food through the feeding tube, which will hopefully be sorted in a couple of days.

 

My Facebook Status on Monday 5th September

i have been ungagged (I think, Steven Davies keeps changing his mind) but i just can't wait i am on a high and about to explode, Miles Jack is delighted to be out of Neonatal Ward and to be spending his first night with his mummy Jude Davies, and nanny Dawn Karen Davies has had some awsome cuddles

Trail of Blood by S.J. Rozan

What a surprise, the book had everything against it in my eyes, the cover didn't inspire me, I do not like authors with initials it just seems so impersonal to me, so I nearly changed my mind.

The book was set in New York in Chinatown with PI's Lydia Chin and Bill Smith, it was a new refreshing read, a bit long winded in places but most enjoyable

Quote

Taken from Amazon -

Nobody nails New York like SJ Rozan. Finally, we get to discover American crime writing's best-kept secret. I've loved Lydia Chin and Bill Smith for years and I guarantee you will too. -- Val McDermid

One of my favourite crime writers...S.J. Rozan can write sentences that make my jaw literally drop. She's as good a prose stylist as I've seen in a long, long time...to read S.J. Rozan is to experience the kind of pure pleasure that only a master can deliver --Dennis Lehane

Rozan paints with the full palette of the human heart, using a depth, detail, and nuance of character I haven't seen since Chandler --Robert Crais

Two of my favourite characters in crime fiction --Linda Fairstein

With the Bill Smith and Lydia Chin mysteries, S.J. Rozan has written the most consistently compelling series of detective novels published in this decade... --George Pelecanos

The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising

The film tells the story of Will Stanton, a young man who learns he is the last of a group of warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the Dark. Traveling back and forth through time, Will discovers a series of clues which lead him into a showdown with forces of unimaginable power. With the Dark once again rising, the future of the world rests in Will's hands.

	Alexander Ludwig	...	Will Stanton
	Christopher Eccleston	...	The Rider
	Ian McShane	...	Merriman Lyon
	Frances Conroy	...	Miss Greythorne

Underdeveloped Lungs

What is Lung Hypoplasia?

In general terms lung hypoplasia means under developed lungs. Hypo means small, plasia means formed. The lungs are a vital organ and without them we can not live. The lung is made up of small gas exchange units called alveoli. Alveoli are thin walled structures that are surrounded by small veins and arteries called capillaries. Gas in the alveoli is exchanged with gas in the blood allowing oxygen to be delivered to tissue as a key element for body function and carbon dioxide to be eliminated from the body.

When the lung is hypoplastic the number of alveoli that are available for gas exchange are decreased. If the lungs are very hypoplastic the number of gas exchange units reaches a critically low level and adequate gas exchange can not be maintained.

What Causes Lung Hypoplasia?
The lung begins forming very early in fetal development. Any thing that restricts growth of the chest can cause the lung to be under developed. It is important to distinguish lung hypoplasia from lung immaturity. They are not the same things though, functionally, they have the same effect. Both lead to inadequate gas exchange and lung failure. Babies born prematurely have immature lungs with a developmental normal number of alveoli. The goal in caring for these babies is to support them in a manner that prevents injury to the lung. If injury is avoided these babies can have normal lung development.

In contrast events that impact fetal lung growth may effect future lung growth and may prevent babies with lung hypoplasia from ever developing a normal complement of alveoli.

One of the most common causes of poor fetal lung growth are: inadequate amniotic fluid,  the fetal lung does not grow to its normal size. Inadequate amniotic fluid is most commonly due to early leaking of amniotic fluid due to premature rupture of the membranes that surround the fetus. This is known as oligohydramnios (too little amniotic fluid). If amniotic fluid leaks out from around the baby, the chest wall movement that occurs with fetal breathing may be restricted. Fetal breathing and adequate fluid pressure are both believed vitally important for normal lung development.




Who Gets It?

1. Babies born to mothers with prolong rupture of amniotic membranes and oligohydramnios.
2. Newborns with severe renal anomalies, born to mother with resultant oligohydramnios.
3. Newborns with certain congenital anomalies
   - Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
   - Thanatophoric dwarfism
   - Cystic hydroma
   - Cystic adenomatosis malformation
4. Newborns with hydrops fetalis
5. Newborns with neuromuscular diseases
 

How does it cause disease?  Small lungs fail to accomplish normal gas exchange (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out.)    

Common Findings  The presentation is variable and dependent on the severity of the hypoplasia. Some babies may present with mild tachypnea (fast breathing).   

Diagnosis  The most important factors leading to a diagnosis are: history of fetal anomalies associated with lung hypoplasia, history of mom having too little amniotic fluid, and a chest radiograph showing small lungs.   

Treatment Currently, treatment is primarily supportive. This means that there is currently no available medicine that makes babies grow lungs. So, until lung growth occurs to an extent that the lung can support normal gas exchange, the babies must be supported by artificial means. The main problem is that all modes of artificial respiratory support are associated with lung injury. The trick is to support normal gas exchange without causing injury and to support good nutrition so that the lung can grow. Babies have an incredible capacity to grow and develop.    

Prevention There are no methods for preventing babies with certain anomalies from developing lung hypoplasia.