We successfully concluded the installation of a casing (basically, a continuous steel tube in the borehole) to a depth of 245m. We had to be sure and achieve the very best "grouting" (i.e. installation of cement) between the casing and the rock wall of the borehole.

In view of the fractures at 161m, this actually meant filling the borehole back to that level with grout, which we then had to drill out. We completed all of that by Thursday 24th March, so the first drilling rig was then able to leave site.

Then on Monday 28th, we had a red letter day - the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, the Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, came to visit the borehole project. As Minister Huhne's Department are one of the main funders of the project, we were delighted he was able to visit us.

What an irony, though, after all the frantic activity, that his visit happened to fall in the only time in 6 weeks that there hasn't been a drilling rig on site! However, the Minister was very understanding, and indulged in the time-honoured practice of looking at the concrete cover and imagining the rocks and pipework down below.

THE failings of Britain's care system have been many over the years. Meant as a safety net for children, social care has unarguably failed in its duty to look after children and in many cases put them in worse situations than those they were taken out of.

On Monday night these failings were illustrated excellently through the eyes of the actor Neil Morrissey who looked back at his time in a care home in the BBC documentary Neil Morrissey: Care Home Kid.

It was a compelling, human piece of television as Neil uncovered not just his own life but the lives of other children at care homes in the 70s and 80s.

I recently was asked to be a guest speaker at a fab event in Newcastle covering what could be thought of as a very dry subject - Corporate Social Responsibility.

The thing is, if a small company like Daisy Green Magazine can be mindful of adhering to environmental policies, I am sure the big boys can too. I know, I know, multi million pound businesses have all sorts of things to consider.

But indulge me.

Simple actions such as turning the lights and computers off at the end of the day saves money. Using both sides of paper when printing saves money. Not printing at all unless absolutely necessary saves money. (And it goes without saying they are all good for the environment).

And lets face it, multi million pound companies have the resources to make change and want to save money as much as small businesses.

Ethics in a company, in my opinion, need to be demonstrated from the very top. At Daisy Green, corporate social responsibility is at the very heart of our business. And its not a dry subject. We have loads of fun!

Running events that give women the opportunity to recycle clothing whilst getting something back for themselves or supporting small local businesses at our fairs and certainly donating bags of left over clothing to local charities is all a great big part of what we do every week.

Recycling, donating, promoting fair trade & organic and rescuing textiles from landfill is what we do. And it makes us feel great.

Hoorah for CSR!

Labour veteran Ronnie Campbell has been his forceful self in launching a fresh attack on the Government's economic policy - by highlighting the vast sums being spent on cruise missiles pounding the Gaddafi regime.

Speaking in the Commons, he focussed particularly on how coalition ministers have repeatedly claimed there's "no money" left after Labour's years of wasteful spending.

POP diva Lulu will be in Tyneside on Thursday to promote her beauty range.

Still hunting for the perfect Mother's Day gift or feel like treating yourself to something new? Check out this week's hot buys

WHEN you're a teenager you get up to all sorts of daft things, but sometimes it's only when you get older you realise how costly they can be.

Recently I've had to spend hundreds of pounds - not to mention driving to London and back in a day - all because of a bit of messing about when I was 14.

Contained in one of the budget documents is this little gem offering a good idea of the size of enteprise zones:

"It is estimated there will be 200 properties per Enterprise Zone, with an average composition of 20 large industrial properties, 100 medium sized industrial properties and 80 offices. This
reflects that Enterprise Zones will be targeted at promoting industrial activity."

In his budget speech, George Osborne yesterday unveiled the broad locations of10 enterprise zones. He also said the Prime Minister and Depuuty Prime Minister would announce "some of the specific locations" of the zones.

A curious use of language.

Now it could simply be down to David Cameron and Nick Clegg wanting to a bite of the budget cherry, by getting a "day two" story out of it - by unveiling the specific sites.
Interesting, given that they would have anyway.

DOES it matter what class our children are? With new statistics showing 71% of the country regard themselves as middle class it would appear a classless society is moving closer.

The study, conducted by the think tank Britain Thinks, shows a steep rise in the country's aspirations, with almost three quarters of those surveyed considering themselves as middle- class compared with 27% in the 1980s.

The research shows only 24% of people describe themselves as working class.

I'm surprised so many people consider themselves middle class because I know many middle class people who still like to think of themselves as "working class heroes".

What a week. That's all I can say. From the Supreme Novice's right through to the Grand Annual (kind of), every race was a belter, and a few in particular were just unbelievable