Return to Horse Power

Couple of articles about the return to horse power. Some day it may happen. Oil is finite, and bio fuels are no real answer to the problem. Who's to say that something we've used for thousands of years for transport and work won't be making a come back in the next couple of decades ?

"The jingling of trace chains is a gentle sound, cheerily soft and unobtrusive, like a muffled musical background to thoughtful silence. The chains are attached to traces, which are attached to hames, which are strapped around the horse collar, that device that harnessed the power in grass and grain and changed the history of the world. Thousands of men and women yet living were born into the quiet surroundings where only a jingle of chain, a creaking of leather, and the plodding of hooves marked the flow of that power from beast to burden, from the collar to the wagon, to the plow, to the harvester or the construction implement that sustained their world."
http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/343

"More than 70 French towns have already gone back to the future by introducing horse-drawn carriages to replace petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles for local tasks such as collecting rubbish, street-cleaning and taking children to school. And at least 30 more are set to join the revolution next year."
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/the-horse-is-this-the-secret-weapon-to-beat-global-warming-760408.html

Fireplace Plastering

So the fireplace which Im currently renovating got its hopefully final coat of lime plaster last Friday 7th. And today, its still not quite dry enough to finish sanding off. I could almost lime wash it, but I think I'd prefer to try sanding it a little smoother after its dried a bit more.

Yesterday I started stripping the dry wall from the side of the fireplace where the plumbing is going to be moved for the Rayburn. Tricky business given that the main electrical box for the house is situated just to the left of it.

The plaster is looking good though, and turned out a lot better than I thought it would. Hopefully it will have the appearance Im after once its been lime washed over. The lintel has been painted with one coat of linseed oil, so the dark contrast with the smooth white of lime washing should look particularly nice.