Friday 28 June 2013

From the Longest Day to the Longest Week

Well, what a week. It started with the annual Garden Party and wave watching event. We transformed the Solar Shed renewable energy and advice center into a bar, cafe and tea rooms. About 40 brave souls attended the cold and windy afternoon and £200 was raised for Scottys Little Soldiers, a charity that looks after the children and families of the fallen and wounded.





Monday morning Harriet and I had a quick meeting with the web team who are designing the Solar Shed web site, funded after a surprise windfall after a visit to the accountants.

Monday and Tuesday saw a team of scientists based at the shed for the research they are doing Tidal Bores. They placed some monitoring equipment in the river to read the pressure, flow rates and volume of water as the tide changed. We had some great Tidal Waves and they weren't disappointed. I'll use the data from the research to build my hydro plant for the generation of electricity that will allow me to live a totally grid free life.






And if that wasn't busy enough, I then had two days at the Royal Norfolk Show as guests of the Country and Land Owners Association. They had a big marquee and restaurant set up opposite the members entrance on the main avenue, so although I wasn't there to sell anything, i was allowed to put the new roller banners up and advise CLA members on renewable energy and in particular, Solar energy.

The visitors were all land owners wanting to discuss large scale commercial projects ranging from 20 kwp systems (80 panels) right up to the multi million field mounted solar farms. It was very pleasing to have been asked by an organisation such as the CLA to get involved and I am not sure how I can ever thank them, but I will, when I can.

The contacts made over those 2 days are invaluable in business terms and I feel, as I go into the weekend that this is the start of a whole new way of working and another chapter in my life is about to start.

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, tomorrow, our village is holding it's annual Fayre at the Village Hall. So with roller banners packed and cleaned, camping table and lap-top in tow, off i will go to the hall for a few hours and chat to neighbours and other locals about the benefits of solar. Like I have said before, one house at time, one street at a time, one village, one town and then the World.

#SolarLove people, its been the best Solstice ever and I can't wait for the Equinox. The most exciting time of the yr and after 8 yrs since leaving the Police, i finally feel that i have tuned in and making something of life, business and natures natural resources.

Sunday 16 June 2013

Junes Tidal Waves

There will be a series of tidal waves on the river next weekend and through the following week.

To celebrate, we will be holding a charity garden party on the 23rd, which also happens to be a super moon date.  A super Moon is a full moon when the moon is closest to the Earth.  So it appears about 1/4 larger than normal as we pass each other.  The gravitational pull on the planet is greater on a full moon, coupled with the high spring tides, we should see some fantastic late evening Tidal Waves.

Here's the full list of times and dates.

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The stars indicate the strength and force of the Eagre Tide. Graded 1- 5 with 5 being the strongest











23rd 5:15pm *


24th 6:10pm **


25th 6:20am *** 7:00pm ***


26th 7:05am *** 7:45pm **


27th 7:50am ** 8:35pm *



The times above are for ‘best chance’ of seeing a Tidal Wave on the River Great Ouse from the bridge, next to The Cock Inn at


Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen, Norfolk


Best to be 20 mins early than 1 min late


For more info follow @TheSolarShed





Tidal waves are a natural phenomenon and the times above are subject to many factors that could have an effect of the actual arrival of the wave. These are NOT organised events and wave watchers should take care when near fast moving water. Be sensible and respectful to the residents of the Village.






Thank you.