History Re-imagined: The Victorian Conservatory

Both structures may be identical, but a greenhouse is for plants, while a conservatory is for human habitation. Originally designed around the 17th century, this structure was composed of stone columns and thin glass panes. It housed all the delicate plants the English brought back from exotic travels.

Closer to Victorian times the English adopted the word 'conservatory' to mean an external sitting room adjacent to the main house. Generally today a greenhouse is extant from the main house, while a conservatory is connected to the main house or building, such as a hotel, via a narrow or short walkway.

Conservatories gained popularity around the mid-19th century as the glass tax was lifted and wrought iron and steel became cheaper to source. The walls traditionally were composed of glass with metal reinforcements, but modern structures can be made of shatter-resistant plastic and cedar.

Shortly after spring cleaning commenced, the glass windows were polished, the floor scrubbed clean, and the tea service would be set up. A conservatory allowed the Victorian a sanctuary to get away from it all, without ever stepping foot in the street. The conservatory was generally closed up in the winter, the sumptous pillows and wicker furniture being cleaned and stored away until the next warm season arrived.

Queen Victoria's favourite conservatory was located at Chatsworth House, London. It took five years to build and covered over three quarters of an acre. It featured a tent-like shape, and was centrally heated and lit with twelve thousand lamps. The Queen declared, "It's the most stupendous and extraordinary creation imaginable". Queen Victoria wasn't around in 1920 to save it from being demolished. Costs were used for the war efforts, with its costly upkeep no longer justified.

If you don't have the space in your backyard to build a conservatory, the best place to see one is right in Victoria, BC. The Empress Hotel is home to one large connected conservatory, and was built with the hotel from 1904 to 1908. Take a lovely stroll in their English garden and forget about modern contrivances.

The Smart Things That Cats Say

Any cat lover will tell you how they have seamless communication with their cat. The slightest twitch of the ear, the shape of the tail, a quick glance all tell us what our cats want and what they are thinking.

Here are some quotes about our fabulous felines, because if cats really spoke, this is what they would say.

"It doesn't do to be sentimental about cats; the best ones don't respect you for it." - Susan Howatch

Every dog has his day, but the nights are reserved for cats.

"We have a theory that cats are taking over the world... just try to look them straight in the eye... yup, they're hiding something!" - Dog Fancy

Cat Law: If you're not receiving enough attention, try knocking over several expensive antique lamps.

"Cats pride themselves on their ability to do nothing." - John R.F. Breen

"The trouble with sharing one's bed with cats is that they'd rather sleep on you than beside you." - Pam Brown

"Cats come and go without ever leaving." - Martha Curtis

"I pet her, and she pays me back in purrs." - Star Richés

Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

Aren't these quotes catastic? It's no wonder that cats have a special way of commicating with their humans.

HISTORY REIMAGINED: The Victorians Were the First to Invent Hidden Hearing Aids!

The 21st century may have invented a hearing aid the size of a pea, but the concept of an unseen hearing aid is not original to our time.

Hidden hearing aids cleverly disguised as something else, so as not to embarrass the user, were invented during the Victorian age.

Certain objects such as vases, horns, and walking sticks were repurposed as hearing aids. The object would be set in place, while a long flexible hose would be cleverly concealed under a chair or table, leading up to a small horn hidden inside the end of a walking stick or even an item of jewellery. The end of the hearing aid would be casually held up to the ear. The user appeared to be pondering thoughtfully, rather than using a device to hear better.

No more need to be embarrassed by asking over and over again what your cohort has said. You can hear it the first time round! Appear intelligent with great intellect as you engage in fine conversation.

Queen Victorian had her own silver horn version but didn't think to have it concealed, as she was the queen after all.

Free Royal City Walking Tours

A popular treat for avid walkers is taking one of the free walking tours put on by the New Westminster Historical Society.

Due to the success of past years, there are several more walks to choose from this year. One of my favourites is the cross town walk from the Cemetary to Hume Park. Your guide Archie will provide informative information about the park and many notable grave sites.

You will leave the tour ready to research many of the topics that come up.

Here is the link to the New Westminster Historical Society's website.

Meanderings about the 3-Day Novel Contest for Writers

Win a home! Win a car! No, wait, that's the P.N.E., not the 3-Day Novel Writing Contest and Challenge.

About a month ago I was on the Plush blog and one thing led to another, and I found the 3-Day Novel Writing Contest, headquartered in Canada. Last year had about 550 entrants, with three-quarters of that amount actually completing and submitting their novel to the contest. There are 3 top prizes, plus innumerable honourable mentions. The odds sounded good, considering that the average fiction publisher receives 200 submissions a day in email or snail mail. I'd only be competing against 400 others, with a good chance of an honourable mention, plus the first draft of my Young Adult Novel entitled, "Aqua Marine".

We were allowed to outline, research and set up character development in advance. I set up my outline of twenty chapters, with each chapter appromimating 2500 words.

The Labour Day weekend slowly drew nearer. Could I do this? My writing habits are sporadic at best. Could I write for an entire long weekend? I filled in everyone, and I even gave my boyfriend a schedule of the times that I would be able to visit with him. He scarcely bat an eyelash, after all I'd done weirder things in his presence beforehand.

The long weekend loomed nearer. I cleaned my house, bought healthy snacks, and set up a beverage and snack station on my counter. The cat's scratchy post was moved beside my dining room table, so I could pet her and write at the same time.

The contest commenced at Friday, midnight. The cat went to sleep and didn't bother me. I wrote two chapters that night, errr, morning, and called it a day. 

I set my alarm for the next three days at 8 am. I didn't even both bathing, I'd grab the laptop and bring it back to bed with me. I averaged about three chapters each morning. 

While it wasn't too bad to write two chapters in a row with a fiften minute break in-between, by the time of the third chapter I felt exhausted.

I scheduled four-hour breaks with my boyfriend each afternoon. Mostly we hung out at home and watched DVDs or we went out to eat meals, as I certainly wasn't cooking that weekend.

After the break, I was able to get back to writing three more chapters. Unfortunately there was no way I could take two - four-hour breaks each day, so I only had about fifteen minutes before I had to write three more for the evening. 

I wrote each chapter, then read through it and edited once. That's all the editing my book got, was the one editing run-through. 

Over all I'm happy with how I outlined it. I changed the main climax around a bit. I simplified it. After all, if I win the contest, I'll have the chance to do ten more drafts if I choose.

I have a few issues with my book. One is while I did elaborate descriptions of two of my main characters, none of the other characters had any background explained. They need to be rounded out more. My second love interest is two-dimensional and since he becomes a major player, that's not good. After three-quarters of the way through my book I changed the evil character. I decided that I despised one of the male love-interests and the one who was supposed to be evil was just doing his job, and far more likeable. 

The cat character in my book needed a bigger role to play, than just being a distraction for my main female character. There's a few cute scenes. Perhaps the cat gives mental breaks to my reader, as bad things are happening.

I'd like to go back and lengthen the action scenes, particularly the climax. I felt that I really rushed it. This chapter needed more than 2500 words to complete.

The week following the challenge I was back at my real workplace and I was exhausted. After staying up late for four days in a row, getting up early in the morning and sitting at a computer for twenty hour days, I didn't want to be at work at all. Every muscle in my body ached and I had a headache. Fortunately I had a good sleep last weekend, so I am fully recovered now.

At the end of the three-day challenge I decided I didn't ever want to do it again! I think writing one chapter a week is a far manageable chunk of my time, but it was an incredible experience and I wrote an awesome book that should be published in one form or another some time in 2013.

Save the Taiji Dolphins Day!

Friendly protesters in major cities are gathering in front of Japanese consulates in protest of the annual dolphin cull. Can we prevent the slaughter of 13,000 dolphins before tomorrow? Will the message be forwarded to the government? We love Japan but not this horrendous holocaust of these intelligent mammals. This issue was first brought to light with the Academy award-winning documentary The Cove.

A Reintroduction to My Blog In Case You're New!

Hello residents and vistors. Welcome to my new blog about the Royal City of New Westminster, BC.

Some of my meanderings may be focused outside the city, but one thing's for sure, all these activities can be enjoyed by the whole family!

Check out the official website of New Westminster, BC.