Concordia vs Concord

There has been lots of things going on in the news about Antarctica this week, with boats getting stuck, being rescued, then the rescuers also getting stuck and needing rescued! It's a very tough environment at the bottom of the world, and this cartoon is for the boys and girls for the 2013-2014 season who are mad enough to go down there.

Concordia is a research base right near the middle of the content at Dome C, it's one of the most remote places on Earth.Concordia is run by the French Polar Institute and Italian Antarctic Programme, and each year ESA sponsors a doctor to go South and carry out research on the overwinter crew, as they face many of the conditions that are expected on long term space missions to Mars.

I've been lucky enough to listen to talks from two of these doctors from the UK, which inspired this cartoon- enjoy :)

No-bake Halloween witch's wood cabin cake/ alternative Christmas gingerbread house

What happens if the wicked witch doesn't want to live in a gingerbread house? Well she could live in a Matchmaker log cabin instead!

 Here are some no-bake designs for Halloween or Christmas. I've used all pre-made ingredients, which would make this a brilliant project for kids, or those short of time! To create the log cabin effect I've stuck the Matchmakers onto a cherry maderia cake using butter icing,  alternating Matchmakers the same length as the cake and longer ones (which where cake length+ 2x Matchmakers widths) I found starting and the bottom and working up was more successful than top down.

Then simply decorate with icing, sweets and any yummy thing you like- et volá- instant Wicked Witche's house or Christmas cabin!

Rouge Squadron X-wing Cookies

Continuing this weeks trick or Treacle theme I think I've found the coolest cookies possible- x-wing gingerbreads!

This recipe makes about 16 soft biscuity gingerbread x-wings for films nights or Halloween parties.

Trick or Treacle Halloween Scones

 Ok- it's a little bit early for a Halloween recipe but I found Lyle's Trick or Treacle tin and I couldn't resist.

This is a simple treacle scone recipe  based on my experiences of the WWII scone recipe. It's also a traditional Scottish recipe which I've tweaked because I don't like using raising agents in my baking. It's quick and yummy; so why not cook some home-made treats for visitors All Hallow's Eve this year?

If the Kepler Space Telescope had break down cover

Looks like the Kepler telescope needs road-side wheel change....

The Shard being hit by lightening- what a way to welcome the new Royal Baby!

It seems like heaven itself is having a multi-gun salute for the new Royal Baby this evening- there has been an immense lightening storm over London.

 I think you'll agree it's quite impressive! The building on the right of the frame is the Shard.

My favourite picture- A fan of lightening  behind the Shard.

I'm not sure if the Shard was hit here or not?

Time laspe of a lightening fork near the Shard.
All Photos Copyright to Kirsty so if you want to use them please ask!

Tim Peake UK Space Cartoon

Staying with this weeks space theme, here is a cartoon to celebrate Tim Peake being assigned a mission to the ISS in 2015! 

Despite the futurist nature of the mission I decided to return to my root, and drew it free hand in pencil. Unfortuantly the computer doesn't like this, so it's trying to show a landscape picture in portrait, hence it's a bit squashed. I'll try and upload a better image later in the week. :)

And here is it: