Salty Sam’s Fun Blog for Children
Number 472
Battersea Power Station
Hello Everyone
Last week, l was telling you about how trees fight pollution.
There are many ways that people are trying to make the world’s environment better.
One of the ways is to generate power from renewable sources. That means solar power, wind power and also water movement on rivers and tidal power, rather than using fossil fuels like coal and oil.
Do you recognise the strange-shaped building at the top of this blog post?
The building is the Battersea Power Station and for many years it dominated the skyline in the area just east of Chelsea Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames. lt is not quite so visible now; it is surrounded by about 4,000 new apartments, many of which have a good view of the river.
Miss Pringle was telling her class at the Rocky Bay Primary School about it recently.
She saw it once when she was younger. When she saw it from a train, she thought it looked like an upside-down table!
The Battersea Power Station was built in 1933 when London needed lots of electricity for lighting for homes and streets.
lt became one of the largest electric generating power stations in the country.
Giles Gilbert Scott and J Theo Halliday were the architects and Leonard Pearce designed it. lnside, the décor was Art Deco.
lt was the largest brick construction in Europe at the time it was built.
lt used over 1 million tonnes of coal each year. The coal was brought on ships that came up the river.
Coal is not a clean fuel to use.
Many of London’s buildings like the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and the central tower at the Tower of London have been cleaned in recent decades from the grime that covered their walls. lf you see old film of these buildings, you will notice how dark they look.
The power station was closed in 1983. The proper word for this is decommissioned.
After many years, the area was regenerated into what was called a mixed-use neighbourhood. That means as well as lots of living accommodation, there are restaurants and shops too as well as places for cultural events.
There are also green spaces for people to enjoy.
Nearby, there is the famous Battersea Dogs and Cats’ Home where many stray animals are looking for a new home.
Battersea Power Station is now a Grade ll listed building and was renovated a few years ago just before all the flats were built. lt had decayed for years while people decided what to do with it. There were many plans put forward.
Over the years, it has featured as a backdrop in a few films too like the Batman film The Dark Knight and Nineteen Eighty-Four. lt has been in a few Doctor Who episodes too.
But the most famous story relating to Battersea Power Station happened in the 1970s.
lt was famously pictured on a music album cover which gave it world-wide recognition. The best-selling album called Animals was released in 1977 by a rock group called Pink Floyd.
The cover photograph showed a huge, inflatable pig floating above the station. lt was tied to one of the chimneys.
But unfortunately the pig escaped!
lt broke loose from its moorings and drifted into the flight path of Heathrow Airport. The pilots coming in to land were astonished to see a massive pig floating through the sky.
Police helicopters were called to follow the pig which eventually came to land southeast of London in the county of Kent.
Further down the River Thames, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral the Tate Modern Art Gallery is housed in a disused power station called Bankside Power Station.
The building was designed by Giles Gilbert Scott built in the mid 20th century and closed in 1981.
The Turbine Hall is an enormous room where huge art installations can be displayed. An installation is a 3D art exhibit.
A new one is put in every winter.
The gallery is spread over many floors.
lt is a good new way to use a very solidly-built building.
lt was going to be demolished but people protested and saved it.
The conversion of the building into the Tate Modern was completed at the beginning of 2000 and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth ll in May of that year.
There are very good views of London from the balcony.
The gallery has attracted more visitors than were ever expected.
There are old, disused power stations all over the country that are now being used to house shops and restaurants in their large interiors.
You may have one near you.
lf you like my blog, please support it by telling all your friends and followers about it.
Thank you!
And see you again next Fun Friday!
Love and kisses
Salty Sam
www.christina-sinclair.com
Bill and Bob’s Joke of the Week
Bob: Did you know that Sue-Ann comes from a broken home?
Bill: l did not know that!
Bob: Yes, her mother is very clumsy. There is broken crockery and splintered wood all over the place!
Salty Sam © Christina Sinclair 2015
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of material from this blog without express and written permission from this blog’s author and owner is strictly prohibited.
Links may be used to www.christina-sinclair.com
Picture Gallery
Battersea
Battersea Power Station
Tate Modern
Tate Modern
The Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral
London needs lots of electricity
Piccadilly Circus in more modern times
THE SALTY SAM NEWS DESK
Sometimes, the whole family goes to Auntie Alice’s house for Sunday lunch.
In the afternoon, we sometimes just want to sit in front of the television and sometimes we feel more energetic and want to play games.
Last Sunday, Auntie Alice invented a new game for us to play.
She gave a small pile of cards to Bill and an equal number to Bob.
They were to write a word on each one and then hand the cards over to their twin.
Each boy had a team of three people working with them.
They acted out and describe the word on the card without saying the word itself. Their team had to guess what the word was.
The team who guessed the most words would win.
It is very difficult to not say a word when it is in your head and you are working under pressure – each team had a time limit.
Auntie Alice used a cooking timer to time each team.
The boys were very competitive and gave each other very difficult words to guess!
There was a lot of shouting and a lot of laughing and afterwards we settled down to do something that was much quieter – snoring was involved.
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Quick Quiz
What is wrong with these people?
- They are trying to keep up with the Joneses.
- He is at the end of his tether.
- He has lost a bob or two on the gee gees.
- He has had his nose put out of joint.
- He thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
- She is wrecked.
- He has lost a packet.
- She needs a break.
lt’s the Weekend!
HOW TO MAKE BUlLDER CHARACTER DOLLS
To find the pattern for the dolls, look at Blog post 371. You can make as many men and women as you like by just changing the hairstyles. You can use any colour yarn for skin and hair colour.
These builders work well together.
You can make them all hard hats if you would like to.
There is a hessian bag to store tools in.
OVERALLS – LEFT BACK (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 18 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
OVERALLS – RIGHT BACK (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the end of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 18 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
OVERALLS – RIGHT FRONT (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 12 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 1 row
Purl 7, knit 2
Repeat the last 2 rows 2 times
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
OVERALLS – LEFT FRONT (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Increase 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 16 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the end of the next knit row
Purl 1 row
Knit 12 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 1 row
Knit 2, purl 7
Repeat the last 2 rows 2 times
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
OVERALLS – SLEEVES (KNIT TWO)
Using 3¾mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 12 stitches
Knit 2 rows of 1×1 rib
Change to 4mm knitting needles
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up shoulder seams
- Sew the tops of the sleeves to the shoulders
- Sew up the front seams and the under arm and side seams
BOOT SIDE (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and navy dk yarn cast on 6 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 2 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next row of stocking stitch, knit to end
Purl 1 row decreasing 1 stitch at the end of the row
Knit 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
BOOT SIDE (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and navy dk yarn cast on 6 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 2 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the end of the next row of stocking stitch
Purl 1 row decreasing 1 stitch at the beginning of the row, purl to end
Knit 2 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
BOOT CENTRE (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and navy dk yarn cast on 4 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 28 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
HARD HAT (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and yellow dk yarn cast on 18 stitches
Purl 1 row
Purl 1 row
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch
Don’t cast off – leave a length of yarn for sewing up when you cut off your yarn and leave your stitches on this yarn
PEAK (MAKE ONE)
Crochet 8 chains into a double length of yellow yarn
TO MAKE UP
- With right sides together using over-sew stitching to sew up back seam
- Turn right side out
- Attach the brim to the front of the helmet
TROUSERS (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and black yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 18 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 4 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 4 rows stocking stitch
Slip 1 (p1, k1) repeat these 2 stitches to the last stitch purl 1
Repeat the last row once
Cast off rib-wise to give more stretch to the top of the trousers
TO MAKE UP
With right sides together using over-sew stitching
- Sew up the front and back seam of the trousers on the part that will fit onto the body
- Sew along the inside leg seams with right sides together using over-sew stitching
WHITE VEST (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 8 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
Crochet 5 chains into a length of white yarn (twice) to make 2 straps
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up side seams
- Attach the shoulder straps
- Secure all ends and neaten
HIGH-VIS VEST BACK (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and bright orange dk yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 10 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 6 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
HIGH-VIS VEST FRONT RIGHT (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and bright orange dk yarn cast on 9 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 1 row
Purl 12, knit 2
Repeat the last 2 rows 4 times
Knit 6 rows of garter stitch and decrease 1 stitch at the centre front edge at the beginning of the 1st, 3rd and 5th rows
Cast off the remaining 6 stitches
HIGH-VIS VEST FRONT LEFT (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and bright orange dk yarn cast on 9 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 1 row
Knit 2, purl 12
Repeat the last 2 rows 4 times
Knit 6 rows of garter stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the centre front edge at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 5th rows
Cast off the remaining 6 stitches
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up shoulder and side seams
- Sew the top of the centre of the vest together at the bottom of the ‘V’ neck
- Secure all ends and neaten
GREY BEANIE (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and grey dk yarn cast on 16 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 10 rows of stocking stitch
Don’t cast off – leave a length of yarn for sewing up when you cut off your yarn and leave your stitches on this yarn
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up back seam
- Turn hat right way out
STRIPED TOP FRONT AND BACK (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 6 stripes each in 2 rows of stocking stitch (12 rows altogether)
Change to pink
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
SLEEVES (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and white dk yarn cast on 12 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 4 stripes each in 2 rows of stocking stitch (8 rows altogether)
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
With right sides together using over-sew stitching
- Sew up shoulder seams
- Sew the tops of the sleeves in place
- Sew up side seams and under arm seams
DUNGAREES – TROUSERS (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and denim blue yarn cast on 14 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 18 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the beginning of the next 4 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 4 rows stocking stitch
Slip 1 (p1, k1) repeat these 2 stitches to the last stitch purl 1
Repeat the last row once
Cast off rib-wise to give more stretch to the top of the trousers
DUNGAREES – BIB (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and denim blue yarn cast on 8 stitches
Knit 10 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
DUNGAREES – STRAPS (MAKE TWO)
Using denim blue yarn crochet 18 chains
TO MAKE UP
With right sides together using over-sew stitching
- Sew up the front and back seam of the trousers on the part that will fit onto the body
- Sew along the inside leg seams with right sides together using over-sew stitching
- Sew the pocket to the bib and the bib to the front of the trousers
- Attach the straps to the top corners of the bib and the back of the trousers crossing them over at the back as you do so
GREEN VEST (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and green dk yarn cast on 12 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 8 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
STRAPS (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and green dk yarn cast on 3 stitches
Knit 10 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up side seams
- Attach the shoulder straps
- Secure all ends and neaten
SHORTS (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and brown dk yarn cast on 19 stitches
Knit 2 rows of garter stitch
Knit 4 rows of stocking stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the next 4 rows of stocking stitch
Knit 6 rows of stocking stitch
Change to 3¾mm knitting needles
Knit 2 rows of 1×1 rib
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with right sides together sew up top of shorts and inside leg seams
- Thread 30cm/12” of brown yarn through the channel at the top of the shorts
TOOL BAG BASE (KNIT ONE)
Using 4mm knitting needles and brown dk yarn cast on 10 stitches
Knit 30 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
TOOL BAG SIDES (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and brown dk yarn cast on 16 stitches
Knit 22 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
TOOL BAG ENDS (KNIT TWO)
Using 4mm knitting needles and brown dk yarn cast on 10 stitches
Knit 10 rows of garter stitch
Decrease 1 stitch at the next 4 rows of garter stitch
Cast off
TO MAKE UP
- Using over-sew stitching and with wrong sides together sew the bottom of the four sides to the base and then sew up the corners
- Crochet 20 chains into a length of brown yarn twice to make two handles and sew them into place
Please note that the material on this blog is for personal use and for use in classrooms only.
It is a copyright infringement and, therefore, illegal under international law to sell items made with these patterns.
Use of the toys and projects is at your own risk.
©Christina Sinclair Designs 2015
Quick Quiz Answers
- They are trying to keep up with the Joneses. – They are trying to copy their neighbours/friends and be like them or have what they have.
- He is at the end of his tether. – He is so frustrated and upset he does not know what to do anymore.
- He has lost a bob or two on the gee gees. – He has lost some money betting on horse racing results.
- He has had his nose put out of joint. – Someone has said or done something to him to upset him or belittle him.
- He thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. – He thinks he would be better off in another place or doing something different.
- She is wrecked. – She is very tired.
- He has lost a packet. – He has lost a lot of money.
- She needs a break. – She needs a holiday.
