Articles and Advice on Home Efficiency, Technology, Family History and more (2005)

Zalman ZM80D Cooler Installed

Computing 01 Dec 2005

Here it is. What a beauty! But beware - there were lots of parts and around eight pages of detailed instructions and reminders. It took me ...

PHP Graphing Tools

Computer Programming 30 Nov 2005

PHP can output data as tables any way out want, but how good is it at charting? Well, there's support for drawing with the GD extension, or ...

Broader Picture on Internet Routing

Internet Access: UK Broadband 29 Nov 2005

If you want a bigger idea of what is going on in the Internet, you could do worse than go to InternetTrafficReport.com. Slow page downloads ...

Yet Another Telegraph Wine Offer

Wine 29 Nov 2005

Castaño Hecula 2003: This is a beautifully made wine that punches well above its price tag and heartily rewards its fans with rich but seductively ...

ZM80D ordered

Computing 28 Nov 2005

I finally went ahead and ordered the Zalman silent graphics heatsink. After a bit of research and some help from Froogle, I placed the order ...

Business Packages Compared

Internet Access: UK Broadband 28 Nov 2005

KeConnect To discuss your requirements further please call 08450 506050
Network 2000: Broadband ADSL 2048Kbps (2Mbps) speed internet ...

Telegraph Christmas Specials

Wine 23 Nov 2005

Christmas calls for wines with plenty of flavour and instant appeal and Telegraph Wine Christmas dozen ensures all tastes are catered for - ...

Silent Fan for a Graphics Card?

Computing 20 Nov 2005

I'm looking for a silent (preferably fanless) heatsink for my X600 pro graphics card. The current fan sounds like a wind turbine, so anything ...

An Email Offer from the Telegraph

Wine 18 Nov 2005

Fancy an absolutely cracking, rich red which,
at less than ?5 a bottle, stands out a mile for value? As wine correspondent for the Telegraph ...

Swarm!!

Animals 17 Nov 2005

We had a wasps' nest somewhere in the house wall over the Summer. Filling the entry points certainly made them cross.

Here it is!

Family Car 17 Nov 2005

It's been 24 hours since we bought the Passat, and it hasn't been used once. The weather's been miserable too, but we're determined not to use ...

So much for Protracted Buying Process

Family Car 16 Nov 2005

There we were, getting prepared to investigate every estate car and MPV under the Sun, when all of a sudden (almost) we now own one! It's ...

Symphony - the Holy Grail of Frameworks?

Computer Programming 09 Nov 2005

The Symphony Project claims to be a complete framework for PHP5, apparently combining client-side and server-side techniques into one. You know ...

Another Telegraph Offer

Wine 09 Nov 2005

Enjoy this fabulous Big Reds selection from the Telegraph Wine Service
- plus four large beautiful Sommelier wine glasses, worth ?14 ...

Our latest order from Virgin

Wine 09 Nov 2005

This latest order was handled over the phone by a very friendly and helpful advisor. We specified that we wanted high alcohol content, fruity ...

Call for Cycling Champions

Road Safety and Motoring 09 Nov 2005

With lack of physical exercise among children contributing to the increasing health problems of young people, Sustrans - the UK's leading sustainable ...

Time to take driving seriously?

Road Safety and Motoring 07 Nov 2005

New Chief Constable, new grand vision. This time it's Meredydd Hughes and as chief of road policing he's spoken out against the lack of continual ...

Is this really such a hot potato?

Smoking Ban 01 Nov 2005

It's quite amusing how the Government is managing to be so indecisive about exactly how to legislate smoking in public places. People seem ...

The marketplace

Family Car 28 Oct 2005

A quick scan of Autotrader reveals that ?5K can typically buy you:- A 3-year-old Vauxhall Zafira with 70,000 miles A 4-5-year-old Zafira ...

Telegraph Special Introductory Offer

Wine 27 Oct 2005

Your wine requirements vary on the occasion and company - a Grand Cru bottle is not ideal for every situation. Using all our expertise and experience ...

Telegraph Wines Special Offers

Wine 13 Oct 2005

Chile's Cremaschi Furlotti winery and Jean Louis Saget in Touraine, are both very keen to do a deal for loyal Telegraph Wine ...

New Call for Slower Speeds

Road Safety and Motoring 12 Oct 2005

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has spoken out today in favour of a blanket 30mph speed limit in all villages. Apparently most ...

Response from Phil Harris (Labour Party)

Road Safety and Motoring 11 Oct 2005

Here is what Phil Harris had to say in response to my query: I agree a lot more can be done regarding safe routes to schools. The idea ...

North Norfolk for Slower Speeds

Road Safety and Motoring 11 Oct 2005

The North Norfolk Labour Party has put its weight behind the Slower Speeds initiative, and is looking for local support. I'm not sure if it ...

Rant at Plus.net

Internet Access: UK Broadband 11 Oct 2005

Plusnet customer support has let down a friend that I referred. Here's my rant at them, and their reasonably illegible response: ...

Caveats of Ajax

Ajax 10 Oct 2005

Before you plunge headlong into Ajax, read this article is a string of things to watch out for when coding for Ajax. It mostly centres around ...

Low Budget PC Core

Computing 10 Oct 2005

I need a new motherboard, low-end CPU and power supply. Here's my shopping list at scan: LN9828 Gigabyte GA-K8VT800M uATX, DDR400, Lan ...

Other Camera options, Printing

Photography 09 Oct 2005

My camera of choice is the Kodak LS743. Note that all the cameras reviewed below are video-capable, so there are plenty cheaper options (higher ...

Degradable Ajax

Ajax 07 Oct 2005

For degradable read backward-compatible. It has to work in many different environments, not just the resource-rich world of the developer ...

SUV Dangers

Road Safety and Motoring 07 Oct 2005

BBC Radio 4 has just interviewed Desmond O'Neill from Trinity College Dublin, who is calling for health warnings to be placed on 4x4 cars because ...

They influence us, too!

KidSpeak 07 Oct 2005

Do you find yourself routinely saying a word or phrase that was coined by a child of yours? Children are hugely influenced by their environment ...

Halfords Profits Up

Bike Shelters 07 Oct 2005

Radio 4 reported tonight that Halfords profits are up on a like-for-like basis over last year. The increase is modest, but it bucks the downward ...

RSS List - by keyword

Computing 06 Oct 2005

It's called Kebberfegg, and stands for the Keyword-based RSS Feed Generator. Basically it houses a list of keyword-based RSS feeds; you give ...

A further response from Phil Harris

Road Safety and Motoring 06 Oct 2005

The 20mph speed limit campaign outside schools is based on the work being done by the living streets campaign. I have looked at the Transport ...

Towing the Little Dears

Kids on Bikes 01 Oct 2005

It's not that difficult, but it does help to know what the options are. These options are pretty much age-related: Clearly the choices are varied ...

Shimano Award for 2006

Bike Shelters 30 Sep 2005

The bikeforall.net site has a news item on the Shimano Cycling Concept Award, a pan-European search for the most innovative ideas to stimulate ...

Chateau Puynard 1998 tasted

Wine 29 Sep 2005

Premi?res C?tes de Blaye
Bit of a rough one this; I suppose what you'd call 'full bodied', and is not terribly pleasant. There is no guide ...

2005: High-Interest Accounts

Savings Accounts 29 Sep 2005

Savings accounts are typically hanging around the 4% - 4.5% mark, and a recent Bank of England rate cut (by 0.25%) would suggest that higher ...

How Fed-Ex tried to overcharge us

Child Trailers 27 Sep 2005

Here's an exerpt of our correspondence with Federal Express after they tried to hit us with a £180 bill for Excise and VAT (and Fed-Ex ...

Reccommendations from the Telegraph Wine Service

Wine 27 Sep 2005

Domaines Barons de Rothschild, owners of Château Lafite - Bordeaux's great first-growth estate, have outstanding expertise in the art of ...

National Campaign for 20mph zones

Road Safety and Motoring 27 Sep 2005

Transport 2000 and the Slower Speeds Initiative have formed a campaign to introduce 20mph speed limits on 'community streets', according to an ...

Reccommendations from the Telegraph Wine Service

Wine 14 Sep 2005

Higher quality, lower prices. Welcome to Claret lovers' Paradise Now is the time to stock up on Claret. Quality has never been better or ...

Millers Grove Cabernet Sauvignon tasted

Wine 14 Sep 2005

This is a delicious, pungent red that infuses your senses. Very tasty too! Here's what the label reads. Not very informative, but nice and ...

Sacred Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2002 tasted

Wine 13 Sep 2005

This is a simple but tasty red from South Eastern Australia. The bottle reads:
Soft, spicy Shiraz has been blended with rich, full-bodied ...

Mas dels Ponts barrica 2002 tasted

Wine 10 Sep 2005

A delicious and strong red, and quite coarse. Highly reccommended! From the bottle:
Capcanes is a small village in the mountainous ...

Monte Velho 2002 tasted

Wine 08 Sep 2005

This is a Vinho Regional Alentejano, a Portugese red wine. It is from Esporao Estate Vineyards, using Alentejo grape varieties. The wine shows ...

Scratched CDs

Computing 25 Aug 2005

What to do if your precious disc is damaged? The answer may be...toothpaste! I got the idea from Merge Digital after doing a google search ...

PlusNet's Usage Screens

Internet Access: UK Broadband 20 Aug 2005

If you're on a pay-as-you-go scheme for your broadband, you really want to know how much you're using - and how quickly. The interface that ...

Image Processing Resources

Txt2Image 18 Aug 2005

The MathWorks is a highly experienced simulation and modelling company, that also hosts a technical computing community at MathTools.net. It ...

EBay Shortcuts

Model Railways 13 Aug 2005

Here are a few links into some appropriate pages on E-Bay: All Hornby Stock OO Gauge Search OO Gauge Track OO gauge locos I've found ...

Incompatible TV Card

Upgrading to 64-bit 10 Aug 2005

The TV Tuner card in question is the Compro Videomate DVB-T300, and there are no 64-bit drivers for it. I've emailed Compro USA and the ...

Some recommendations from the Telegraph Wine Service

Wine 09 Aug 2005

When it comes to summertime drinking, there are few red wines that beat a good Aussie Shiraz. Copeland Estate's Private Bin was crafted from ...

On the lookout for a new camera

Photography 01 Aug 2005

We're not highly impressed with the video quality of the Dimage S314. It only captures at 320x240 (giving a pretty grainy picture), the sound ...

Broadband review in the Guardian

Internet Access: UK Broadband 30 Jul 2005

In the Jobs and Money section of the Saturday Guardian, various broadband providers are discussed. Some, like UK Online, are heavily criticised ...

Price Comparison - Signal Box and Gaugemaster

Model Railways 23 Jul 2005

Here's a small basket I created on Signal Box: Product Number Product Title Price Quantity Total Action R910 RAILJOINERS (FISHPLATES ...

Monos Locos Sauvignon Blanc Tasted

Wine 22 Jul 2005

This is a pleasantly sharp wine, directly imported by Virgin, and can make you quite tipsy despite being only 12.5%.
Here's what is on ...

At the Park

North Walsham 10 Jul 2005

The Millfield Preschool Float

North Walsham 10 Jul 2005

The Kingfisher Float

North Walsham 10 Jul 2005

Useful Mozilla Configuration Interface

Computing 09 Jul 2005

Want to be able to configure your Mozilla-based browser from one screen and with much more configuration options than is available in the ...

Wallace and Gromit

Films 09 Jul 2005

There's a new Wallace and Gromit movie on its way! It's The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and appears in US theaters in October 2005.
There ...

Three Gables Sauvignon Blanc Tasted

Wine 09 Jul 2005

This Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa is to be avoided at all costs. It is so sweet it tastes like an underdiluted cordial, and isn't even ...

Movie Editing

Computing 09 Jul 2005

I'm investigating different packages for editing various formats of digital movie file (MPG, AVI and MOV) so that I can crop movies taken on ...

Trojan Horse Warning

Computing 09 Jul 2005

The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) has just issued the following bulletin: Overview The United States Computer Emergency ...

Google Maps API

Computing 09 Jul 2005

You may have seen Google Maps, and will probably find it the easiest one of the lot to use. They've really got it sussed with drag-panning, ...

Budget Laptop

Computing 09 Jul 2005

Here's some advice I gave to my brother recently for which budget laptop to buy. I've checked Dell, and configured two to what you'd need ...

Sunsets

North Walsham 23 Jun 2005

Here are some pictures of lovely sunsets that we get to see over the North Norfolk coastline.

Model Expo 2005

Model Railways 20 Jun 2005

It's on July 16-17 at the nec, Birmingham. See The Model Expo 2005 website for further details.

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Banham Zoo 19 Jun 2005

The zoo has many endangered species

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Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

Ginger's Second Litter
Ginger and babies

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Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

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Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

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Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

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Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

Fluff and babyFluff's Baby
Fluffbaby
Fluffbaby

Pepper's Babies

Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

Pregnant Ladies

Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

The ladies are enjoying their last moments of freedom before the babies arrive.

George the Monster

Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

All three in the hutch
George and Ginger

George, on loan ;-}

In their Hutch

Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

In their Hutch
Ginger
Pepper hiding

On the Lawn

Guinea Pigs 08 May 2005

There's nothing nicer than a fresh stretch of long grass to knaw on. If you're a Guinea Pig, that is

Saracen's Head

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Saracen's Head
Open 7 days a week, it is a humble Free House under private ownership. Ideally located to escape the usual tourist trails ...

The Manor House Hotel

Accommodation 07 May 2005

The Manor House Hotel
Set on the edge of the Mundesley Cliffs offering guests a relaxing holiday in a peaceful setting with a bracing ...

The Manor House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

The Manor House
A beautifully restored period building dating back to the end of the 19th century in a semi-rural setting on the edge ...

Green Farm Hotel & Restaurant

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Green Farm Hotel & Restaurant
Green Farm is a convenient base from which to dip into Norfolk's delights - whether you fancy the glorious ...

Holly Grove

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Holly Grove
(Closed Christmas and New Year)
Relaxed, comfortable Georgian family home within mature secluded grounds.
Delightful ...

offrey The Dyer House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

(Open all year)
17th century building in centre of conservation village. Rooms en-suite.
Pets welcome. Warm, comfortable, friendly ...

The Old Rectory

Accommodation 07 May 2005

(Open all year)
Peaceful Georgien rectory surrounded by open countryside, homemade bread for breakfast. Tennis court. Close to Broads ...

Holmwood House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Holmwood House
(Closed Christmas and New Year)
Home from home accommodation. Own lounge, secluded garden. Ample parking. Full ...

Manorwood

Accommodation 07 May 2005

(Open all year)
Secluded mature garden/woodland, Ideal coast and Broads.Outdoor swimming pool.
1 Family/Double room en-suite ...

Bradfield House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

(Closed Christmas & New Year)
Relaxed, comfortable Victorian family home, within walking distance of town centre, secluded garden. Ample ...

Glaven Lodge

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Glaven Lodge
Closed Christmas & New Year
Situated in quiet close. 2 minutes from town centre facilities and public transport ...

Mill Common House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Mill Common House
(Closed Christmas)
Elegant Georgian Farmhouse, tranquil countryside delicious breakfasts, large conservatory ...

Stable Barn

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Stable Barn
(Closed Christmas and New Year)
Fine Barn conversion. Large tastefully decorated bedroom with en-suite shower room ...

The Red House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

(Open all year)
Elegant Victorian residence opposite the park, two minutes walking distance from the town. Luxury beds.
1 Double ...

Pinetrees

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Pinetrees
Charming house on outskirts of town, with guest bedrooms overlooking lovely landscaped garden
1 Twin room en-suite ...

Dolphin Lodge

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Dolphin Lodge
Quiet setting in rural village. All accommodation is ground floor.
2 Double/including family room en-suite

The Toll Barn

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Self contained lodges in superb rural farmland location, all with en-suite, TV, fridge, private parking.
3 twin rooms / doubles en-suite ...

Chimneys

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Chimneys
Exceptional Edwardian town house, five minutes walking distance to the town centre. Ample parking, friendly service.
1 ...

Green Ridges

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Green Ridges
Well established superior en-suite accommodation in attractive location. Easy walking distance to town centre.
1 Twin ...

White House Farm

Accommodation 07 May 2005

White House Farm
Grade II listed farmhouse.AA Premier collection award. All rooms en-suite. Four-poster bed. Excellent food, evening meals ...

Pheasant Cottage

Accommodation 07 May 2005

17th century cottage, overlooking meadows and church. Quiet and peaceful. Delicious breakfasts, log fires in winter.
1 Double room en ...

The Hollies

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Village location, bedroom accommodation in 200 year old converted dairy adjacent to house. Parking available.
1 Double en-suite

Cliff House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Small friendly guest house and tea shop, close to beach and lighthouse. Home cooking. Home-made bread.
1 Double room
1 Twin

Manor Farmhouse

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Manor Farmhouse
Lovely 16th Century farmhouse and thatched barn, Aga cooking, dinner optional. The perfect rural retreat..
2 Doubles ...

Cornerstone House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Former 18th century farmhouse near to coast. Relax with coffee in courtyard. Warm welcome assured
2 doubles en-suite
1 Twinwith ...

The Old School House

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Open Easter - November
Flint cottage, circa 1830's, in a rural location close to the coast and Norfolk Broads.
Contact Lyn and Clive ...

Larks Rise

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Larks Rise
Off-Road parking. Colour TV. Drinks facilities. Packed lunches.Wheelchair access. Cot and high chair available.
1 Twin ...

Wilds Cottage

Accommodation 07 May 2005

Wilds Cottage
Cromer Road, Antingham, NR28 0NJ
Contact Lynn MacDonald on 01692 500321.
1790's countryside cottage with open fires ...

Working life at Beeston, Nottingham

Marconi 07 May 2005

The Marconi offices at Beeston consisted of a large tower block (offices and labs) and a single-storey system testing building. I liked to ...

Mass-leaving party

Marconi 07 May 2005

Fitz,Ruth,Neil Down the table (Colin,Iain's wife,Ian,Craig,Phil,Alec,Steve,Steve's partner Dennis,Alan,Lesley at The Last Post Julii, Colin ...

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

Fluffbaby
Fluffbaby
Fluff and baby
Fluff and baby

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

whitemale
whitemale
whitemale

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

Pepper and greywhite
whitefemale and whitemale
greywhite and Pepper
greywhite
greywhite

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

Pepper's Second Litter
Preggers Again

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

whitefemale
whitefemale
whitefemale

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

Gingpatch and whitefemale
Gingpatch
Gingpatch
Gingpatch

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

Smokey and Ginger
Smokey
Smokey and Ginger

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

Fluff and family

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Guinea Pigs 07 May 2005

Happy Families
Pepper and Fluff and family
Pepper and Fluff and baby

Keeping Dry on the Bike

Staying Dry 07 May 2005

Date: Thu, 12 Jun 1997 13:01:49 +0100
From: Peter Roberts
Subject: cycle path rage (not really)
Feeling guilty for using the car ...

6 months - 4 years : The Child Seat

Kids on Bikes 07 May 2005

The child seat is the usual starting point, priced from £20 - £40, and drops in to a special bracket fixed to the seat tube. Use it as soon ...

One year to 5 years : The Child Trailer

Kids on Bikes 07 May 2005

This is towed behind the bike, usually by a clamp on the left dropout. It is normally fine for two children with a combined age of 5 or 6, depending ...

4 to 6 years : The Pole

Kids on Bikes 07 May 2005

You can buy a special pivoting pole that joins a regular child's bike to an adult bike. The important question here is whether the child is ...

Volvo-Cannondale Stunt Biker

Bikes 07 May 2005

This stunt rider was showing off his skills at a British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) event, at the Brands Hatch race circuit.

Dawes Galaxy

Bikes 07 May 2005

This is a rather grainy, small picture of the Dawes Galaxy, taken on the foot bridge over the UEA broad.

Calculate your Child's BMI

Child Help 07 May 2005

Taken from a Times online article, May 28, 2004: CALCULATE YOUR CHILD'S BMI* Measure your child in metres and multiply his/her height ...

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

There's a play area, of course

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

Fun in the water!

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

Can't remember what these little rodents are called

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

Llamas can bite!

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

It has a Small Animals section

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

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Banham Zoo 07 May 2005

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Animals 07 May 2005

egyp goose
egyp goose
Egyptian Goose
kew peacock

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Animals 07 May 2005

zebra
Zebra

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Animals 07 May 2005

christine frog
simba frog

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Animals 07 May 2005

kitty

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Animals 07 May 2005

hey-pig-piggy-pig-pig-pig

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Animals 07 May 2005

otter

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Animals 07 May 2005

mollie

Experiences of Speed Limit Campaign

Road Safety and Motoring 26 Mar 2005

When we moved to North Walsham, the road we live on was technically de-restricted (ie, National Speed Limit). The road starts out at 30mph ...

Improving Speed at Plusnet

Internet Access: UK Broadband 17 Feb 2005

Now even Faster! Here's a quote from PlusNet: PlusNet's Broadband PAYG products (formerly known as "Lite") will also be extended to include ...

Major Mozilla Flaw revealed

Computing 05 Feb 2005

Mozilla browsers (essentially Firefox and Netscape) have a serious flaw in them that allows one website url to appear to be the same as another ...

Upgrading on a Budget

Computing 20 Jan 2005

Our family PC is slow and noisy, and can't even run a simple modern game like Rollercoaster Tycoon 3. Consequently I decided to upgrade it, ...

Articles and advice on cycling, technology, home efficiency and more - 2005