Tag Archives: Europe

Slow Worm

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Slow Worm

Do not be fooled! Slow worms are not worms or snakes!

  • Slow worms are lizards, found across Europe and Asia, that do not have legs, and move using body muscles.
  • ‘Slow worms’ are also known as ‘slowworms’, ‘blindworms’ and ‘blind worms’, while the scientific name is Anguis fragilis, from the family Anguidae, a family of lizards.
  • Slow worms are commonly found in urban gardens, as well as grass plains and farming areas, where areas are damp and warm, and they are often hidden under objects.
  • The length of a slow worm typically reaches 20 to 50 centimetres (8 to 20 inches) in length and it can weigh 20 to 100 grams (0.7 to 3.5 ounces).
  • The colour of slow worms is generally a combination of black, grey, brown, tan and yellow, while males are occasionally spotted blue.
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Slow Worm
Image courtesy of Peter O’Conner/Flickr
  • Despite similar appearances, a slow worm can be distinguished from a snake, as the lizard has blinking eyelids; ears that are typical of a lizard; and it discards only portions of its skin at one time.
  • The diet of slow worms consists primarily of insects, worms, spiders, snails and slugs.
  • A slow worm can break off its tail to escape predators like birds, that will regrow to a shorter length, although this escape method is not always effective against other predators such as cats and dogs.
  • Female slow worms produce an average of around 8 young at a time, and the babies form inside eggs in the mother’s body, although they are born live (the process known as ovoviviparity).
  • Slow worms can move at speeds of up to 0.5 kilometres per hour (0.3 miles per hour), and have an average lifespan of 10 to 30 years.
Bibliography:
Angius fragilis, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguis_fragilis
Slow Worm, 2013, A-Z Aniamls, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/slow-worm/
Slow Worm, n.d, RSPB, http://www.rspb.org.uk/makeahomeforwildlife/wildlifegarden/atoz/s/slowworm.aspx

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Lasagne

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Lasagne

Is the lasagne making your mouth water?

  • Lasagne is a type of pasta-based dish typically made using a mixture of layered pasta and sauces, and is generally served hot as the primary component of a main meal.
  • ‘Lasagne’ is technically the plural term for ‘lasagna’, although both terms are not always used grammatically correctly.
  • The ingredients of lasagne commonly include meat, cheese, vegetables, and pasta, and the dish typically includes a tomato based sauce.
  • Lasagne possibly has its origins in Ancient Greece and Rome, as a flat bread, although the Italians in Naples are believed to have first produced the modern style dish in the medieval period.
  • Classic Italian versions of lasagne generally consist of the traditional sauces, béchamel – a white sauce, and ragù – a meat and vegetable sauce, along with Parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano).
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Lasagna
Image courtesy of Elin B/Flickr
  • Large sheets of rectangular shaped pasta, that are generally flat or sometimes corrugated, are most commonly used in the making of lasagne.
  • The term ‘lasagne’ is thought to have originated from either the Latin or Greek languages, most likely from the words ‘lasanum’ or ‘laganon’, the former meaning ‘pot’ in Latin, while the latter meaning ‘cut strips of pasta’ in Greek.
  • Lasagne is typically made by layering sheets of pasta between layers of cooked sauce; topped with grated cheese; and then baked in an oven.
  • The first recipe book to feature a modern lasagna recipe, believed to have been written by an Italian and named the Liber de Coquina, ‘the book of cookery’, was published in the 1300s.
  • The meat sauce used in lasagne often contains minced beef or other ground meat, although vegetarian versions are not uncommon, with layers of vegetables used as a meat sauce substitute.
Bibliography:
A Brief History of Lasagna, n.d, Pagliacci, http://www.pagliacci.com/blog/news/post/a-brief-history-of-lasagna
History of Lasagna, n.d, Jamie Oliver Blogs, http://www.jamieoliver.com/bloggers/viewtopic.php?id=79027#lEs8WDkwD4Uz1Mb2.97
Lasagne, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasagne

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Mole

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Mole

Moles are not deaf or blind.

  • Moles are mammals of small size, that have extremely good smelling capabilities, which make up for their poor eyesight; and they are native to Asia, North America, and Europe, excluding Ireland.
  • Moles have the scientific family name Talpidae, a family of digging mammals, that also includes desmans and shrew moles.
  • Moles generally have long claws and feature a second thumb adjacent to its first, that they use to dig numerous tunnels underground.
  • The diet of moles consists mainly of worms, although they also consume mice and insects; and they are preyed on by cats, foxes and owls.
  • Moles have a tail, and typically grow to be 12 to 15 centimetres (4.5 to 6 inches) in length and weigh between 250 to 550 grams (9 to 19 ounces).
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Mole
Image courtesy of free photos/Flickr
  • The fur of moles is thick and short, and is usually coloured a combination of brown, white, black and grey.
  • Moles generally live alone underground in wooded, farmed or grassed areas, and the males are inclined to protect their territory from other males.
  • Due to the haemoglobin proteins that exist in their blood, moles have the unique ability to reuse oxygen and endure significant quantities of carbon dioxide, which allows the mammals to live efficiently underground.
  • The saliva of a mole can paralyse prey, owing to the natural poison it contains, allowing the mammal to collect food to eat at a later time.
  • Moles are considered a pest in many urban communities and farming areas, as they burrow beneath the soil, which can cause damage to the roots of vegetation and crops; while on the surface, the piles of dirt (molehills) that are created from excess soil can destroy grass and plants, and have an unsightly appearance.
Bibliography:
Mole, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/mole/
Mole, n.d, Young People’s Trust for the Environment, https://ypte.org.uk/factsheets/mole/overview
Mole (Animal), 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(animal)

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Ely Cathedral

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Ely Cathedral

Ely Cathedral is another inspiring work of art.

  • Ely Cathedral is a large Romanesque stone church, that is part of the Anglican Diocese of Ely and the home to its bishop, located in England’s Cambridgeshire, in Europe.
  • ‘Ely Cathedral’ is also known as the ‘Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely’ and ‘the Ship of the Fens’.
  • The highest point of Ely Cathedral is the west tower measuring 66 metres (216.5 feet) and the building spreads over a distance of nearly 164 metres (538 feet) and covers an area of 4273 square metres (46,000 square feet).
  • Ely Cathedral is situated on the spot, that, in 673 AD, a monastery for both genders was established, by the saint, and Queen, Etheldreda, whose shrine existed at the site for many centuries.
  • The original monastery at the location of Ely Cathedral was thought to be destroyed in the 9th century, by Vikings, while a revival in the area caused the re-establishment and rebuilding of the abbey from 970.
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Ely Cathedral
Image courtesy of Steve Cadman/Flickr
  • Normans, who seized control of the monastery at the site of the Ely Cathedral in the 11th century, ordered the rebuilding of most monasteries, including Ely, and a number of additions were made to the cathedral over the centuries, and restoration works have been undertaken at various times.
  • The construction of Ely Cathedral commenced during the 1080s by Abbot Simeon, although it was halted for a number of years after his death in 1093; and the first bishop was appointed in 1109.
  • In 1322, the central tower of Ely Cathedral collapsed, and was reconstructed as an octagonal tower; while some time later, another part of the building gave way and was never repaired.
  • The Ely Cathedral has numerous panels of stained glass artwork, mainly originating in the 1800s, and the building originally housed numerous sculptures, which were mostly destroyed along with other objects, in the reformation in the 1500s.
  • Two main towers exist in the Ely Cathedral, the west tower comprising of almost 290 steps; and the site also has a number of chapels, a cafe, restaurant, shop, and a stained glass museum.
Bibliography:
Ely Cathedral, 2015, Sacred Cathedral, http://www.sacred-destinations.com/england/ely-cathedral
Ely Cathedral, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ely_Cathedral
Ely Cathedral, n.d, Eastern Cathedrals, http://easterncathedrals.org.uk/members/ely-cathedral.php
The Story of the Ely Cathedral, 2015, Ely Cathedral, http://www.elycathedral.org/history-heritage/the-story-of-ely-cathedral

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Chocolate Truffle

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Chocolate Truffle

Is your mouth watering from the thought of a chocolate truffle?

  • Chocolate truffles are confectionery sweets made primarily of a mixture of cream and chocolate, known as ‘ganache’.
  • The term ‘chocolate truffle’ is derived from the edible tuber fungus known as a ‘truffle’, which shares a similar appearance to the confectionery.
  • The internal part of a chocolate truffle is usually a soft ganache, that is generally coated or rolled in a covering of nuts, chocolate, icing sugar, coconut or cocoa powder.
  • While its history is uncertain, one tale of the chocolate truffle invention points towards the inventor as master chef Auguste Escoffier, from France, or one of his young workers, who in the 1920s, accidentally placed heated cream in a bowl of chocolate.
  • While traditionally chocolate truffles contain ganache, a heated and cooled chocolate and cream mixture, they sometimes consist of another filling, such as caramel, fudge, fruit, nuts or chocolate.
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An Assortment of Chocolate Truffles
Image courtesy of David Leggett/Flickr
  • In some areas, the 2nd of May is recognised by some people as National Truffle Day, and it is celebrated by eating chocolate truffles.
  • To make chocolate truffles, hot cream is poured over chocolate pieces; gently stirred; allowed to cool; and shaped into balls that are then coated; although ingredients and methods differ in various countries.
  • Despite its dubious origins, chocolate truffles are said to have originated in France, possibly existing as early as 1895, and created by Louis Dufour, while Antoine Dufour is believed to have popularised the confectionery through his shop in London, England.
  • Chocolate truffles are traditionally roughly spherical in shape, due to the ganache being hand rolled into balls, although they can be purchased as cubes, cones, and in other forms.
  • Chocolate truffles are generally considered a luxurious confectionery item, and they are commonly coloured either brown or white, depending on the chocolate used.
Bibliography:
Chocolate Truffle, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_truffle
The History of Chocolate Truffles, 2015, The Nibble, http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/chocolate/chocolate-truffle-history.asp
History of a Truffle, 2013, Asher’s, http://www.ashers.com/blog/2013/05/history-of-a-truffle/

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Channel Tunnel

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Channel Tunnel

Channel Tunnel is more than a World Wonder – it’s a beneficial construction.

  • Channel Tunnel is an underground and underwater European tunnel connecting Kent’s Folkestone, in England, to the town of Coquelles in Pas-de-Calais, France.
  • The ‘Channel Tunnel’ is also known as ‘Chunnel Tunnel’; in French, ‘Le tunnel sous la Manche’; and ‘Eurotunnel’, although this term generally refers to the company that manages the tunnel, or the shuttle service that travels through it.
  • The Channel Tunnel spans 50.5 kilometres (31.4 miles) in length, and reaches depths of 75 metres (246 feet) below sea level, and it sits underneath the English Channel.
  • The Channel Tunnel is a combination of three tunnels – two railway tunnels and a service tunnel, and passenger trains of high speeds, and freight trains that commonly carry vehicles with their passengers and pets, are able to travel in the tunnel, while the service tunnel is used by vehicles for maintenance, evacuations and other tasks.
  • The idea of constructing a Channel tunnel was evident in 1802, and was first expressed by the Frenchman Albert Mathieu-Favier, an engineer, and while various plans and ideas were put forward during the 19th century, it was not until 1880 that preliminary boring work began, although it was quickly abandoned due to perceived national security hazards.
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Inside the Service Tunnel of Channel Tunnel
Image courtesy of Jaguar MENA/Flickr
  • It was not until more than a century later, after various ideas were put forward, that construction of the Channel Tunnel began, after Britain and France agreed on a treaty, known as the Treaty of Canterbury, that allowed the beginning of the construction of the tunnel in late 1987; and the project was finished in 1994.
  • In the 20th century, the Channel Tunnel had the greatest length of tunnel, 37.9 kilometres (23.5 miles), underwater in the world, however the Japanese Seikan Tunnel was slightly longer in total length, and much deeper.
  • Channel Tunnel was officially opened in 1994, on the 6th May, by Queen Elizabeth II and France’s President François Mitterrand after a cost of then 4.65 billion pounds (worth 12 billion pounds in 2015).
  • A number of train failures have occurred in Channel Tunnel, and fires requiring temporary tunnel closures have also occurred over the years, while the 1996 and the 2008 fires caused extensive damage and partially closed the tunnel for approximately 6 months each.
  • In the late 1990s and the early 2000s, Channel Tunnel was commonly used illegally by those seeking asylum in Britain; and to help rectify the problem, a now closed refugee centre was made available, and later a £5 million fence and other security measures were put in place.
Bibliography:
Channel Tunnel, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel Infrastructure, 2015, Groupe Eurotunnel, http://www.eurotunnelgroup.com/uk/the-channel-tunnel/infrastructure/

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