The Last time we had a good weekend chat at the HoBB about snail farming ( heliciculture ) seems ages ago but it was good to compare notes with Val Cornford from South Coast Snails (SnailsRus) who remarked on leaving, “I’m all ‘charged again’ now, which is exactly what I wanted”. What better results could you ever wish for after a visit to ‘HoBB Real’.

When I was still wearing short trousers, I collected sea shells everytime I went onto a beach and even the occassional garden snail. I can’t say I was too keen on the creatures inside so would pick them up slowly to make sure their owners were out at the time – Conchologist tendencies rather than Malacologist I was told. Funnily enough, I have kept my interest in shells but now also like the mussel creatures inside especially when cooked in a little wine, cream and garlic.

I mention this because I am ever curious about the changing state of the UK snail farming industry. I have tried plain home made escargot but my tastebuds needed the garlic recipe. One day I hope to be invited to the South of France and experience escargot how it should be prepared so I’m open to invitations if anyone out there knows the secret.

There’s one UK Snail farm just South of here at Credenhill and I keep up to date by exchanging thoughts and ideas with two UK heliciculture enthusiasts but despite the market demand being over the supply, the whole UK scene is a shadow of what it was. If anyone can throw some light on the main reasons why it’s not more common in this country, please let me know. Maybe, like me, we Brits enjoy shells when their owners are away, especially the gardeners amoungst us!

Waves ~~~~~~~~~ <+))))))))>< ~~~ Grant

Whoops, before I go for a cup of fair trade coffee, did I mention that computer scientists are looking at the information laid down by slugs and snails within their slime tracks? Apparently, they embed a code in the slime to tell others that cross their path a whole load of information about where they have been and what was there. The slime film of data is so thin that it might give clues to how we can create biological computers to overcome the physical size limits of silicon chips.

More waves ~~~~ and I’ll try a graphic snail : _ _ ____(_)@o” instead of a fish.

The conceptual stage of projects can be fun. All ideas ‘surface’ but those who first think about them are not always those who launch them because originators often hesitate when promoting their thoughts for fear of losing their ideas.

Hesitation can lead to very negative results like ‘stagnation’ and if such barriers crop up, you need a method to overcome them – that’s where Goalshare helps.

Simply put, tell a good friend your goal and ask them to keep you focussed on it. They tell you their goal – and ask you to keep them focussed on their goal.

This works because each person acts as the other’s external dynamo. By setting up this joint feedback loop and constantly reminding each other, both of you stay on track and the balance is tipped in favour of both achieving goals.

We do a lot of goalsharing with friends. You are welcome to ‘goalshare’ with us if you wish.

When you share with us, we only look at the positive outcomes you wish to reach. We have no hidden doubts about your ability which can creep in if you work alongside people who are too close to you.

Tell us one of your goals and we’ll tell you one of ours and we will arrange to regularly to ask each other for a status update. This works. Try it out today in one of two ways :

Option 1: You tell us of yours first.
Option 2: We tell you of ours first.

Say hi to us and introduce your goal now.

Waves ~~~~~~~~~ <+))))))))>< ~~~ Grant