Once again, a fully subscribed session, under the cheerful control of Ernie Ives. Not really a course and certainly no need to "go-it-alone" but a chance to do ones own thing but in the company of more than a dozen others with the same enthusiasm and willingness to share their skills and knowledge. This brief report doesn't show all the attendees nor mention all their activities so my apologies to those omitted this time. Maybe next year?
On the Friday afternoon a trickle of cars arrived, laden with a huge variety of kit for the weekend's activities. Somehow this all fitted into the classroom and there then followed two days of busy sessions with plenty of opportunity to see what others were up to and ask questions. The usual high standard of catering at Belstead ensured that everybody enjoyed meal breaks.
Because of Foot & Mouth restrictions, access to the brook was barred but there was plenty of life to be found in the long pond and this was enjoyed by several of those present, especially by Ken Jones and Brian Wilkinson, seen below (left) with Barry Ellam, and myself. Although there were no formal talks or presentations, we were fortunate enough to enjoy some of Ken's superb video. Here he is getting his equipment set up to record some more:
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Vaughan Dodge working wonders with wax rings, watched
by Colin Lamb, Joan Tubbs and Victor Diss.
Les
Larkman found a good supply of springtails by using his miniature vaccum cleaner
on the road bank outside the classroom.
Dennis Fullwood looking happy - must be the fumes from heated mountant or was there something else in with those exotic forams?
| Barbara & Colin Lamb with Ernie Ives |  |
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Norah Arnold taking a rest from weight-lifting. (She brought a large sledge microtome!) |
Success
at last as a ribbon of sections comes from my microtome, thanks to much help
from Ernie. That was the high point of my weekend and has enabled me to cut
and mount some botanical sections.
A happy weekend for all, so many thanks to Ernie for setting it up and to the staff at Belstead for catering for us all. We look forward to next year's session, 8-10 March 2002, details of which are available from:
Ernie Ives,
63 Church Lane,
Sproughton,
Ipswich, IP8 3AY,
England
Email: ives@marq.freeserve.co.uk