An Age of Magic

How many computers does your house have…?

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It is pretty safe to assume that just about every house these days has at least one computer resident. And when you count into the fact that many people work from home today the number could run into multiples. In our establishment we have four PC’s.

Two for business use and two for private use. Well, I use mine for both business and private use…

That takes the amount of technology making up the average family home into an interesting area. And then there’s the furnishings required to accommodate all these gadgets; i.e computer desks, TV stands, home cinema accessories and mounts.

It is interesting for sure; I had to visit the home of an elderly relative a few months back and noticed the lack of all the modern day stuff. No PC in that home - normal floor-standing TV, small radio on the kitchen table…

Like a trip back through time!

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Replacing bits and pieces

Just before we go away on our own little well-earned break we have been doing a quick inventory of what needs fixin and replacing around the place. Winter is always the best time for us to do any important maintenance work on the place - summer is way too busy and you cannot bring the workmen in when you have guests staying.

What we have noticed is that the bathroom fittings more than anything else have seen some wear and tear over the past couple of years so this time round we are looking to purchase industrial knobs for the taps and basins rather than oin for the nicer looking accessory-type fittings.

They might not be as attractive but we see the need for longer lasting and more economical parts these days.

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Found at last - Solomon’s mine!

It is a discovery straight out of Hollywood - something to really fire the imagination and show us that wonderful things really are still waiting to be discovered on this planet.

According to the Bible, Solomon was the third king of Israel. The son of King David, he was renowned for his wisdom, the size of his harem and the splendour of his kingdom. During his reign, he is said to have accumulated a huge fortune from mining and trading, some of which was spent on building the grand temple and opulent palace of Jerusalem.

Archaeologists and treasure-hunters have searched for the mines for more than a century since the best-selling Victorian novel, King Solomon’s Mines by H Rider Haggard, claimed they could hold a treasure of gold and diamonds. But now, it seems the real version could have been closer to home, supplying the king with copper.

The ancient mine was found in a desolate region south of the Dead Sea in southern Jordan in an area called Khirbat en-Nahas, which means ‘ruins of copper’ in Arabic.

The region was known in the Old Testament as the Kingdom of Edom. By Solomon’s time, it had become a vassal state, paying tribute to Jerusalem.

The ancient site contains around 100 buildings, including a fortress, in the middle of 24 acres of land covered in black slag. The mine works are covered with trials and holes, and are big enough to be seen on Google Earth’s satellite images. The team also found ancient Egyptian artifacts at the site including a scarab and amulet from the 10th century BC.

When Solomon died, his kingdom was thrown into chaos and the Pharaoh Sheshonq is believed to have attempted to crush economic activity. This new find is sure to open up new discussion - and no doubt controversy - about how much myth and truth makes up the Old Testament.

Popularity: 27% [?]