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Very good friends of mine … Miriam and Jimmy … live just outside of Ballinamore and have been running some very successful build your own wind turbine workshops in Ballinamore.

The workshops attracted people from all over Ireland … for 3 days a week over 3 weeks.

Some people stayed in Hamills Guesthouse … and everyone ate meals at Smyths and Priors.

Money coming in and staying in our local economy … well done.

Well … they are running a week long workshop in Gort in early September.

And … if you can’t get to Gort … they are running a workshop in Ballinamore in October. Places limited to 10 people and there are only 5 places left.

If you’ve ever thought about developing your own energy source then seriously think about doing this workshop … it’s top of the range and very very practical.

Check out their site … there is a video of their interview on a national television programme – Nationwide.

Here’s more detail.

This is a hands-on, week long, workshop which will teach you how to build your own wind turbine right from the very basic materials.

This workshop is unique in Ireland because the wind turbine designer Hugh Piggott will be the main tutor.

Price:
€750 for full accommodation, €650 if camping
Start Time:
Monday, September 7, 2009 at 9:00am
End Time:
Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 6:00pm
Location:
Crann Óg
City/Town:
Gort, Ireland
Phone:
091442021
Email:
Slan

Liz

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Wednesday already?

Not sure where the time is going … did a tender for some work … editing a workbook for an Oz mate … helping an artist friend set up a blog to showcase his work … went with Gabriel to photograph a few new cottages … Mags cut and coloured my hair and did a fab job … playing with Coco … talked to one of my brothers … chatted to my Pa via vidcam … read a few books … had a lovely chat with Trina …

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turf stacked … and you can see the turf wall in the background

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turf is then covered in reeds that grow by the road side

One of the cottages that I photographed for Gabriels Irish Cottages for Sale site is right beside a gorgeous river … big trees overhanging … a little bridge.

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I’d love to live by water and if I had a car I wouldn’t mind being isolated … I love my own company … and Coco’s … as long as I can get broadband … I’m happy.

Tomorrow Mags and I are having a party for all our dogs to celebrate the anniversary of Coco turning up … she was abandoned down a lane here and Mags saved her … and I got to keep her.

baby8

baby6

what you doing mum

liz and coco

I can see all the people who don’t own dogs rolling their eyes … yup … I can hear you saying ‘mad women … they’re only dogs’

Wash your mouth!

My Coco is a big bundle of pretty much unadulterated love and happiness … and I don’t think even a zen monk can be in the moment quite like a dog.

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So tomorrow Mags and I are having a party.

I had my first babysitting job last Sunday and got to play with Zoe Priors Harry … dote child.

Zoe’s sister got married on Saturday and it’s a tradition in this town to party over about 3 days … and they did.

At the same time I also looked after Elaine’s 10 day old son and 4 year old daughter … both wonderful children.

Gee … newborns are … very very small. He just slept and woke a few times so I gave him his bottle and back to sleep he went.

I really enjoyed spending time with the kids (I can still hear Harry’s chuckling as I read them a book where we had to yell ” He’s behind you!!’ … big bad wolf.).

More editing to do tomorrow and of course … Coco’s party.

Hope your week is going well.

slan

Liz

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I was having a wander through all the blogs and sites that I RSS to my iGoogle … yeh yeh … more geek stuff.

I came across this guys post of the 10 top small natural build homes and thought you’d enjoy a gander.

Teen tiny places.

This one is my favourite and very famous in natural and small building circles. I call it the hobbit house.

I’ve had a lovely week talking to family and friends on vidcam Skype:

  • my brother Marc in Singapore
  • my Dad in Perth WA
  • my friend Mary in Oz … I’ve worked out what the vid cam problem was and sorted it Mary
  • my friend Pat in Boston … she and her partner Becky are flying me to Boston in late September so I can help them build their straw bale home with professionals … they may then fly me back in November for the natural plastering work. Great experience … and I’ve volunteered to be the celebration coordinator.

And tomorrow evening I’ll be catching up with Derek and Lynda via video and Skype … all for free.

Weather here really humid and muggy … makes you want to fall asleep … which I do!

I’m getting some responses to my Build Your Own Blogsite workshop on July 11.

BuildABlogWorkshop070109

If you have any ideas on how I can promote it … please leave a comment.

I’ll be doing all the usual emailing and postering and chatting with people … might see if there are any other local blogs or sites that would promote it.

slan

Liz

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