We got you, good!!

I considered writing about my trip to Spain, but so much happened in a short space of time. That I think I'll do it in picture.

FRIDAY:

My face says it all really!! Somewhere over the channel My friends! Sofia - My newest Friend

SATURDAY:

David and Aran - It's beach day!! Monica and Me, look at the sand, sun and sea. The water was bloody cold!! Bego - looking like she belongs in Spain's 3rd largest city


Katie and Habi - Habi speaks French, English and Spanish!! Maribel and Pedro and Rake and Sofi

SUNDAY:

Monica in her red dress, where did I find her!! Us, looking like we belong in Spain's 3rd largest citySpanish beer - keeps you young!

You could be in Cuba

Monica could of done with a step to help her reach the big candle

Monica's mother and boyfriend

MONDAY:

The smallest Spanish dog - who's poo I stood in twice. Sadly not house trained!! And if you have made it this far: Read on.

''As we left the house, Monica's mother sprayed water onto the front wind-screen. I watched as the last drops raced down the window - it was almost as if the city was crying a final tear for it's absent daughter. We were whisked was towards the air port, away from friends and family and that feeling of belonging that we have when we are in Valencia city. It's funny the mind set people get into - me for instance instead of saying 'goodbye' to my friends. I find myself saying ''see you next time''. It's not intentional ''bye'' would be a far better word to use, but then ''see you later'' is actually, I suppose true. ''bye'' seems so final.''

Last of all I would like to thank, Aran, David, Bego, Rake, the lady with the baby, Katie, Habi, Maribel, Pedro and of course Monica - thanks for a lovely time and see you all soon.

A new game

I have found a new multi player game and it's great!! I cant stop playing it which is driving Monica mad. Basically you create a character in a 'virtual' world and then walk around this virtual world mining cooper and tin to make into weapons and catching fish to feed yourself and selling stuff to earn money.

May not sound like much but it's so addictive. I reckon now I'm doing well I could play all day, but don't tell Monica. I suppose it keeps me off the streets and out of caves, at least till my elbows better.

KEEP PLAYING THATS WHAT I SAY, DON'T LET THEM STOP YOU!!

Grant - Explained

QUESTIONS:

I'm aiming to start taking measurements in July, depending if I can secure the equipment quick enough. I'm hoping to take measurements from July until about April of next year, maybe earlier depending on how much data is created. As for publishing, the dissertation its self is not published however the equipment, data and out come will be published in a caving journal as part of the conditions set out by the grant awarding organisation. I may have to go to a conference and tell them about the experiment, depending on how successful it is. Anymore questions just ask!!

As promised:

At the end of our third year, the student body has to undertake a massive individual project called Dissertation. Caves have always been a love of mine, so obviously that was going to be the main element of my dissertation project. While I was working in Cheddar as a Cave-leader I noticed that on certain days there seemed to be more 'wind' coming out the cave, as time went on I noticed that this some how worked with the weather. So during warm summer days when the outside pressure was high the 'wind' or draught was going past me as I walked into the cave, during the winter when the outside pressure was low the draught was going with me as I walked into the cave. After carrying out some research into this draft effect, it turns out that there a set mechanism which causes this to happen, named cold theory.

So if this pressure change could be measured, both on the outside and inside then in theory the weather could be predicted!! But how do to it. After some further research I found I would need a pressure sensor which could measure atmospheric pressure and a temperature sensors, along with two data-loggers (A data logger is a bit of hardware that just keeps a record of the information that the sensors pick up). And that is where I needed the Grant, the pressure sensors cost £300 pound each, I have managed to find some very cheap data-loggers for £20 and the temp sensors can be borrowed from University. I will put the equipment into a chamber in Goughs Cave, Cheddar and one outside.

In the mean time I'm collecting sources, books and articles on the subject. I hope that explains it. If you have any questions feel free to ask them.

Look who's doing the washing-up now

I went to the hospital today, because I hit my elbow caving on Wednesday night. The whole elbow is covered in a huge bruise!! They took one look at it and sent me to X-Ray.

When the X-ray came back, it turned out that Ive not broken anything, or chipped anything. This amazed the doctor somewhat as she was sure I would of at least chipped the bone. They gave a sling and told me to rest and take lots of painkillers. If its not right in a week I have to go back.

However it does get me out of doing the washing up, should of hit the wall harder!! :)When I'm feeling up to it, Ill give the full story.

To all my friends

When life throws up it's little surprises, we can always rely on our friends to pick us back up again.

As we students rush to finish all our work and begin to look forward to summer, it's easy to forget that real life does go on. People in the real world they achieve, they fail, they hurt, they get sick and better again, they fall out and make up, they get married, they have children. This rose is for all my friends both student and non-student. Just keeping going no matter what. :)

Monica,Beggo,Rake,Bex,Holly,Mike,Aran,Mama,John,Jess,Job,Hayley,Katie and others what would I do without you all!!

X

Meetings

I had a meeting today with my personal tutor, just to catch up and check my progress and such like. I also spoke to him about the grant funding and my worries regarding that. I must really get around to telling you a

bout what the grant is for.

As you can see, I have added a ribbon to support the parents of the little Maddy, we just hope that she gets home safe and send our support to her parents and the rest of her family, to try and remain strong during this nightmare.

She's feeding me fruit!!

I seem to be eating more then ever and most of it is fruit and veg, my stomach is...up-set to say the least.

Anyway, I have a meeting with my personnel tutor tomorrow, and I'm going to bring up the grant subject with him. The grant organisation has asked that I join there organisation, that's gonna cost me £30.00 and I think the reason being is so that they can claim rights to the data and information and any conclusions that the study finds. All I want to do is get my dissertation done, I'm not worried about publishing the results or going to conferences to discuss it. I kinda feel I am in over my head

Is kind of how I feel. My other concern is that dissertations is one of 4 other heavy modules that I will take next year. We went to see a cattery today, of course you have probably not met my little kitten Tusca:

I don't think I 'really' loved an animal until Tusca came along, she's a year old now. Of course getting her meant that if we ever went away one of us would have to stay. In September I'm hoping to go to Spain, mainly to see my friends but also to have a holiday and it's gonna at least be a week and I don't want to put that responsibility on my parents, so we went to cattery it was a nice place. Each cat gets it's own house, they feed them, cuddle them and provide nice warm bedding, I would certainly leave Kitten Tusca there in the future.

Grant Awarded

I'm sure if you have had anything to do with students, you know about the yearly dissertation that occurs. Most students seem to look on this as a horror and try and do everything to get out of actually doing work.

I decided that I would try and do something that has never been done before, at least not at Bath Spa. I decided to use my caving knowledge and weather knowledge and will sent out to forecast the weather by internal cave pressures. I've not really got the time right now to talk about how cave pressure effects weather. The main point of the post is to tell you that today I was awarded a grant to carry out the work, it can be uncommon for undergraduates to secure funding, I applied to the British Cave Research association to obtain the grant, and there are some conditions attached which will come to light later, I'll discuss these at another time.

But for know everything is firing on all cylinders.

Caving Days

I thought I would start my first post talking about a hobby of mine, a hobby that gives me enjoy and at the same time scares the hell outta me. I have been caving for about 3 years now and I love every minute of it. I don't go enough these days, it's finding the time with University. But part of me will always be tied to a love of the Underground.

In this picture for instance which was taken by my long suffering caving partner, I'm standing under an arch way. The white stuff is calcite flow-stone. The next picture is a group of Gour polls which are found in some really wet caves.

I hope to up-date my blog often and not just based around caving but also other areas of my life.

Rocksport1