From the May 2016 trip to Thailand and Cambodia:

After five days in Thailand (3 in Bangkok, which included the day trip to Ayuthaya, and 2 nights on Koh Chang), it was time to make our way to Cambodia. There were two places in Cambodia I was looking forward to seeing: Angkor Wat (which pretty much everyone who comes to southeast Asia wants to see) and Phnom Penh’s Killing Field memorials.

First, though, was the matter of getting from a semi-remote tropical island in Thailand to the national capital of Cambodia, about 400 kilometers to the east. There isn’t a direct, easy way to do this, so being able to get it done in the time I hoped for was the biggest concern of the whole trip to me. Part of the reason time was such a factor is because I had only planned to spend Friday evening and all day Saturday (until early afternoon) in Phnom Penh before flying out to Siem Reap. With so little time there, I wanted to have as much as possible. With that in mind on waking up, I wasn’t sure how the day would turn out. I’m glad to say, it went very well.

The first thing we needed to do was get from the Arunee Resort to the pier on the opposite side of a small mountain at 6:00 in the morning…on an island with no taxis. (It is a tropical place to relax, after all.) The hotel drove us over in a truck for 300 baht. After another 40 baht/person ferry ride across the gulf, we got back to the mainland sometime around 7:40. From there, another 50 baht/person via tuktuk/van to the main bus terminal in Trat, about 45 minutes away found us in good time to grab a bus. (This is the terminal to come to for buses returning to Bangkok or going on to the Cambodian border.)

The minibus to the Cambodian border was roughly an hour and a half ride, and I was another 120 baht/person lighter. The time flew by, though, as we only passed through one very small town between Trat and Hat Lek (the border town).

The border crossing at Hat Lek is a bit interesting. Lonely Planet advised me ahead of time that this is the most expensive (and only truly expensive) border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia. (Unfortunately for me, it was also the only practical/logical one to use, so I didn’t have an option.) Via airports and at all other border crossings, the Cambodian visa costs about $25-30. Here at Hat Lek, though – and I don’t know why – it’s over $50. The fact that there isn’t uniform regulations at border crossings seemed suspect to me to begin with, but it doesn’t change the fact that you still have to do what they say. (You just get the feeling that you’re being fleeced unnecessarily…and by government officials, at that.)

On arriving at the border, the first thing you do is pass through the Thai exit post, which is quick and painless (and free). Walking a few meters farther, you come to the Cambodian entry office, which has a lot of folding tables set up outside. The first thing you do (as US citizen, anyway) is hand over your passport to someone who does NOT look official – yet, he is. You pay him 1600 baht for the visa, plus another 200 baht if you don’t have a passport picture on hand (which I didn’t). So…that was $60 more out of pocket.

Also, while sitting at these tables having your passport/visa processed, people will come up and ask where you’re going and offer private cars to get there. There are supposedly three buses from Hat Lek to Phnom Penh, the last leaving at 11:30 in the morning (and taking 5 hours to get to the capital), and you would have to take a car to the town/bus stop which is about 10 km away. (Not knowing, precisely, how to do that, I went for the easiest way there and just agreed to pay a guy 1000 baht/person to drive us in his Camry all the way – 300 km – to Phnom Penh. It ended up costing 2000 baht (close to $65) plus another $25US in total. Now, $90 may seem a bit expensive, but this was a personal car, what amounted to be a 4 hour ride, and he dropped us off right at our hotel. (I put this in perspective simply by thinking of the cost of a taxi ride from Newark International Airport to JFK in New York City…and this deal was much, much better.) The only thing that was slightly disconcerting is that we didn’t actually know this guy and could have possibly been taken advantage of. However, my charmed life seems to continue…

We got to our hotel and checked in by 4:00 in the afternoon on Friday, so things – though slightly pricy by local standards – went very, very well. The Number 9 Hotel (on St. 258) is less than a five minute walk from the Royal Palace in downtown Phnom Penh. There are quite a few monuments around the area as well (Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument, Independence Monument, etc.) The hotel itself was also a bit no-frills, and advertised a Jacuzzi/spa on the roof…which they said was under repair after we checked in. No worries, though; the restaurant at the hotel was quite good and I think it’s the only place we ate for the ~24 hours that we were there. The staff and service were top notch.

As I was still getting over the previous day’s bug/virus/whatever, I didn’t go out on Friday night. Saturday, though, was a different story. Just outside the hotel (and there are quite a few boutique guesthouses on the rather short St 258) are a group of tuktuk drivers all happy to get your business.

Now, Phnom Penh isn’t actually much of a tourist destination. In total, there’s the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (within walking distance) and the National Museum (just north of the palace). Additionally, there’s the Russian Market (which we didn’t get to). The main reason I really wanted to come to Phnom Penh, though, was to go to the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. (I won’t give a long history lesson here, though highly encourage anyone reading this to do a quick Wikipedia search for “Choeung Ek Killing Fields” or, for something slightly more in depth, try to find information from the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979.)

The only things I’ll mention about that era is that, in 1975, the population of Cambodia was about 8 million people. In the five years of the Khmer Rouge regime, they saw fit to assassinate close to 3 million of their countrymen. (Think about that for a minute…imagine your country’s population, whatever the number, then imagine the country is taken over by a military regime that commences to slaughter 35% of the populace. The most conservative numbers I’ve seen are 2 million killed, which is still 25%.)

With that as background info, we arranged one of the tuktuks to take us to the Tuol Sleng Museum, then to the Killing Fields, 15 km southwest of downtown Phnom Penh. Our driver, Ron (perhaps Ran, but pronounced like the former) agreed to be our driver for the day. He took us to the museum, then the killing field, then in the early afternoon to the National Museum and picked us up at the Royal Palace around 3:00. At 4:00, he ushered us about 15 km north of town to the airport. We met his wife as we went to the airport. Total cost for the day: $33.

Our first stop was the Tuol Sleng Museum. This is a former high school (a place of optimism, aspiration) that the Khmer Rouge converted into a torture chamber. (Additional psychological trauma, I guess?) I’ll give no details, save to say that I likened it to a Nazi concentration camp minus the gas chamber. To visit here, though, you are spared no detail in the presentation. I’ll commend (perhaps not the best word) the Cambodians for owning up to their atrocities. Other countries in the region could learn a lot from this. (They say it’s important to bare all so that people can see the horror and it will be less likely to happen again.) Anyway, after paying the admission ($6, I think?), you wander through the buildings with your audio guide and the many well-presented exhibits. At the end, about an hour later, there’s a man selling a book for $10. He’s a survivor of this place. I really had no words; just hugged the guy. He and his daughter said he was spared simply because he knew how to fix and use a typewriter.

After leaving Tuol Sleng, in quite a somber mood, Ran took us across town to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields (this is probably the most famous one in the nation, though there are literally hundreds here…and also still many active landmines from the war in the 1970s, so…I wouldn’t wander around too freely).

If the Tuol Sleng Museum was somber, this place is equally, if not more, harrowing. The admission here was also around $6 or so, and comes with another audio guide. There’s also a small room/museum with a 15 minute informative video. After that, you wander from point to point where you learn that this place was the former mass grave for Chinese. You also see mass graves for women, for babies…a tree (still standing) where babies were murdered, and so on. The final stop is a memorial stupa which contains the skulls and other bones of countless victims, classified by gender and method of murder (though all victims are still unidentified). However, the presentation is more than powerful enough to make its point.

The morning touring done, we returned to Number 9, had a leisurely lunch, then had Ran take us up to the National Museum. It’s a rather small museum, though quite good – especially if you like stone Buddhas. The museum admission is around $5, and the building has four small wings, that visitors tend to visit beginning on the left and going in a clockwise manner. No picures are allowed to be taken inside the museum (which I thought rather unfortunate, as it really was quite interesting and tasteful, as far as museums go), but you could take pictures of the museum itself and the internal courtyard. Leisurely seeing the entire museum takes less than an hour.

From there, it was about a 5-10 minute walk along the palace wall (north side, around the east wall that runs parallel to the river). After paying to enter the Royal Palace at the southeast gate, you’re allowed entry to the grounds and have access to view buildings such as the Coronation Hall, the Crown Room, and the Silver Pagoda. This is essentially quite similar to Thailand’s Royal Palace in terms of how much (and what) you can see, though it wasn’t quite as nice as Thailand’s to me. (I don’t mean to imply that it’s not nice, though; it was an enjoyable afternoon, though with temps around 40 degrees, my energy waned rather quickly.)

After an hour or so here at the Royal Palace, we made our way back to Number 9 (at this point, barely a 2 minute ride by tuktuk), where we rested until 4:00 and had Ran take us to the airport for our 7:30 flight to Siem Reap, 45 minutes away.

En route, though – and also from observations riding around on the way back from Choeung Ek – I got the impression that while Phnom Penh may not be the most touristy place in the world, it sure seemed like a great place to live (as much for expats as anyone). There’s still a lot of French influence, so my first abstract impression is that it reminded me of a combination of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Fuxing in Shanghai, and just some trendy/hippie areas in general. There were lots of cool little boutique hotels, restaurants, stores…and the Cambodians are exceptionally friendly and pleasant (as are Thais). I don’t know that I’ll ever come back here, but I certainly wouldn’t feel bad if I did…

At any rate, those were just my impressions on the way out of town. Getting to the airport, I was ready for the final stop: Siem Reap & Angkor Wat. The only thing standing between me and my ultimate destination…a prop jet.

Scrubber car 134s does a demonstration run as W2 249 and R1 1740 look on. STM Loftus

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. A small bird, it has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). Females and young birds are coloured pale brown and grey, and males have brighter black, white, and brown markings. One of about 25 species in the genus Passer, the house sparrow is native to most of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia. Its intentional or accidental introductions to many regions, including parts of Australia, Africa, and the Americas, make it the most widely distributed wild bird.

The house sparrow is strongly associated with human habitation, and can live in urban or rural settings. Though found in widely varied habitats and climates, it typically avoids extensive woodlands, grasslands, and deserts away from human development. It feeds mostly on the seeds of grains and weeds, but it is an opportunistic eater and commonly eats insects and many other foods. Its predators include domestic cats, hawks, owls, and many other predatory birds and mammals.

Because of its numbers, ubiquity, and association with human settlements, the house sparrow is culturally prominent. It is extensively, and usually unsuccessfully, persecuted as an agricultural pest. It has also often been kept as a pet, as well as being a food item and a symbol of lust, sexual potency, commonness, and vulgarity. Though it is widespread and abundant, its numbers have declined in some areas. The animal's conservation status is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.

El Rio de Luz (The River of Light)

•Church, Frederic Edwin

•American, 1826-1900

•1877

•Oil on Canvas

•Dimensions:

oOverall: 138.1 × 213.7 cm (54⅜ × 84⅛ in.)

oFramed: 160.7 × 237.5 × 7.6 cm (63¼ × 93½ × 3 in.)

•Gift of the Avalon Foundation

•1965.14.1

•On View

Overview

Like his teacher, Thomas Cole, Church conveyed a sense of awesome sublimity in his landscapes by celebrating the seemingly infinite wonders of the natural world. The artist devoted a great deal of time to scientific study, believing that a knowledge of optics, meteorology, botany, and ecology would greatly enhance his work. After reading the journalistic accounts of the German naturalist, Alexander von Humboldt, Church explored wilderness regions from the arctic to the equator.

El Rio de Luz (The River of Light) is a fanciful pastiche based on numerous sketches and notations that Church had made during an 1857 trip to South America. Despite the time-lapse of 20 years, the tightly focused realism, the overall tonal harmony and restrained coloration, and the compositional unity all lend a remarkable cohesiveness to the work. Church rendered the verdant foliage with exquisite attention to detail, and his virtuoso treatment of tropical sunlight diffused by morning mist makes the atmosphere seem tangible. Red-breasted hummingbirds, a flock of waterfowl, and a distant canoeist occupy the scene, but they do not disturb the overall mood of tranquility. Confronted with the glowing light and heavy vapors of this raw landscape, the viewer is invited to liken daybreak in the tropical rainforest to the dawn of creation itself.

Inscription

•Lower Right: F. E. CHURCH / 1877

Provenance

William Earl Dodge, Jr. [d. 1903], New York;[1] his wife, Mrs. William Earl Dodge, Jr. [d. 1909], New York; her grandson, William Earl Dodge IV [d. 1927], New York;[2] his wife, Ella Lynch Dodge [d. 1964], New York; her stepdaughter, Diana Dodge Ryan, Newport;[3] given in 1965 to the Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island; purchased 9 December 1965 by NGA.

[1] William Earl Dodge, Jr., was the son of a prominent New York merchant. His brother, David Stuart Dodge, was a missionary and a founder of Syrian Protestant College in Beirut (present-day American University of Beirut), where he was the first professor of modern languages. D. S. Dodge accompanied Church on his travels in Syria and the Holy Land in 1868; see David C. Huntington, The Landscapes of Frederic Edwin Church: Vision of an American Era, New York, 1966: 93, and John Davis, “Frederic Church’s ‘Sacred Geography.’“ Smithsonian Studies in American Art 1 (Spring 1987): 81. Although it is reasonable to assume that D. S. Dodge was instrumental in arranging the commission of Morning in the Tropics, there is no evidence documenting his role.

[2] William Earl Dodge IV was the son of William Earl Dodge III, who died in 1884.

[3] William Earl Dodge IV bequeathed the painting to his daughter, Diana Dodge (later Ryan), but gave his second wife, Ella Lynch Dodge, a life interest. Ryan (letter of 3 March 1966 in NGA curatorial files) saw the painting twice: in 1921, when it was hanging in the dining room of her father’s yacht; and then next “in early 1965,” a few months after her stepmother’s death in October 1964.

Exhibition History

•1877—Century Association, New York, 1877, no. 5, as A Tropical Morning.

•1878—Exposition Universelle Internationale, Palais du Champ de Mars, Paris, 1878, no. 20, as Le matin sous les tropiques.

•1878—Possibly The Union League Club, New York, 1878, no cat.

•1880—Loan Collection of Paintings, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1880, no. 111, as The River of Light.

•1900—Paintings by Frederic E. Church, N.A., The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1900, no. 13, repro.

•1966—Frederic Edwin Church, National Collection of Fine Arts, Washington, D.C.; Albany Institute of History and Art; M. Knoedler and Co., New York, 1966, no. 97 (shown only in Washington).

•1968—The Hudson River School, Fine Arts Center, State University College, Geneseo, New York, 1968, repro. 61.

•1969—In Memoriam, Ailsa Mellon Bruce, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1969, unnumbered checklist.

•1971—The Beckoning Land, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, 1971, no. 51, repro.

•1989—Frederic Edwin Church, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1989-1990, no. 49, color repro.

•2000—In Search of the Promised Land: Paintings by Frederic Edwin Church, Berry-Hill Galleries, New York; Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago; Portland Art Museum, Oregon; Portland Museum of Art, Maine, 2000-2001, pl. 66 (not shown in New York).

Technical Summary

The support is a relatively thin and fine plain-weave fabric mounted on the original stretcher. The panel-back stretcher has eleven members with mortise-and-tenon joins. A white ground layer was applied, over which a thin brown layer may have been laid. The paint was applied very thinly in most areas, with the darks particularly built up with many glazes. The highlights were more thickly painted, with some areas of impasto. The paint layer is generally in very good condition, with only scattered small losses and minor areas of abrasion. In 1988 discolored varnish was removed and the painting was restored. This conservation effort removed significant passages of inpaint from the trees in the middle distance at the center of the painting. The inpainting hid pentimenti formed by brushed underpaint that the artist used in laying out the major characteristics of the composition; the pentimenti were then subsequently inpainted to minimize visual disruption.

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!

Some background:

The G.91Y was an increased-performance version of the Fiat G.91 funded by the Italian government. Based on the G.91T two-seat trainer variant, the single Bristol Orpheus turbojet engine of this aircraft was replaced by two afterburning General Electric J85 turbojets which increased thrust by 60% over the single-engine variant. Structural modifications to reduce airframe weight increased performance further and an additional fuel tank occupying the space of the G.91T's rear seat provided extra range. Combat manoeuvrability was improved with the addition of automatic leading edge slats. The avionics equipment of the G.91Y was considerably upgraded with many of the American, British and Canadian systems being license-manufactured in Italy.

When Poland joined NATO on 12 March 1999, the G.91Ys (18 were still in service, plus all five trainers) received another major overhaul, a new low-visibility paint scheme, and they were updated with avionics that ensured inter-operability with other NATO forces, e .g. a GPS positioning sensor in a small, dorsal hump fairing. In 2006, when deliveries of 48 F-16C/D fighters to Poland started, the G.91Ys were to be retired within 12 months. But problems with the F-16s’ operability kept the G.91Y fleet active until 2011, when all aircraft were grounded and quickly scrapped.

General characteristics:

Crew: one

Length: 11.67 m (38 ft 3.5 in)

Wingspan: 9.01 m (29 ft 6.5 in)

Height: 4.43 m (14 ft 6.3 in)

Wing area: 18.13 m² (195.149 ft²)

Empty weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)

Loaded weight: 7,800 kg (17,196 lb)

Max. takeoff weight: 8,700 kg (19,180 lb)

Powerplant:

2× General Electric J85-GE-13A turbojets, 18.15 kN (4,080 lbf) each

Performance:

Maximum speed: 1,110 km/h (600 kn, 690 mph, Mach 0.95) at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)

Range: 1,150 km (621 nmi, 715 mi)

Max. ferry range with drop tanks: 3,400 km (2,110 mls)

Service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 86.36 m/s (17,000 ft/min)

Wing loading: 480 kg/m² (98.3 lb/ft² (maximum)

Thrust/weight: 0.47 at maximum loading

Armament:

2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA cannons with 120 RPG

4× under-wing pylon stations with a capacity of 1,814 kg (4,000 lb)

The kit and its assembly:

This whiffy Yankee Gina was inspired by a profile that had popped up during WWW picture search a while ago. Tracking it back, I found it to be artwork created and posted at DeviantArt by user “Jeremak-J”, depicting a G.91Y in polish markings and sporting a two-tone grey camouflage with light blue undersides and a medium waterline. I found the idea bizarre, but attractive, and, after some research, I found a small historic slot that might have made this “combo” possible.

When I recently delved through my (growing…) kit pile I came across a Matchbox G.91Y in a squashed box and with a cracked canopy – and decided to use that kit for a personal Polish variant.

The Matchbox G.91Y bears light and shadow galore. While it is IIRC the only IP kit of this aircraft, it comes with some problem areas. The fit of any major kit component is mediocre and the cockpit tub with an integral seat-thing is …unique. But the overall shape is IMHO quite good – a typical, simple Matchbox kit with a mix of (very fine) raised and engraved panel lines.

The OOB canopy could not be saved, but I was lucky to find a replacement part in the spares box – probably left over from the first G.91Y I built in the early Eighties. While the donor part had to be stripped from paint and was quite yellowed from age, it saved the kit.

It was built almost OOB, since major changes would not make sense in the context of my background story of a cheap 2nd hand purchase for an air force on a lean budget. I just added some details to the cockpit and changed the ordnance, using missile pods and iron bombs of Soviet origin (from a Kangnam/Revell Yak-38).

The exhausts were drilled open, because OOB these are just blank covers, only 0.5 mm deep! Inside, some afterburners were simulated (actually main wheels from an Arii 1:100 VF-1).

The flaps were lowered and extended, which is easy to realize on this kit.

The clumsy, molded guns were cut away, to be later replaced with free-standing, hollow steel needles.

In order to add some more exterior detail I also scratched the thin protector frames around the nozzles with thin wire.

Since the replacement canopy looked quite old and brittle, I did not dare cutting the clear part in two, so that the cockpit remained closed, despite the effort put into the interior.

A personal extra is the pair of chaff/flare dispensers on the rear fuselage, reminiscent of Su-22 installations.

Painting and markings:

The inspiring profile was nice, but I found it to be a bit fishy. The depicted tactical code format would IMHO not be plausible for the aircraft’s intended era, and roundels on the fuselage flanks would also long have gone in the Nineties. Therefore, I rather looked at real world benchmarks from the appropriate time frame for my Polish Gina’s livery, even though I wanted to stay true to the artist’s original concept, too.

One direction to add more plausibility was the scheme that Polish Su-22 fighter bombers received during their MLU, changing the typical tactical camouflage in up to four hues of green and brown into a much more subdued two tone grey livery with lighter, bluish-grey undersides, combined with toned-down markings like tactical codes in white outlines only. Some late MiG-21s also received this type of livery, and at least one Polish Fishbed instructional airframe received white low-viz national insignia.

For the paint scheme itself I used the MiG-21 pattern as benchmark (found in the Planes & Pilots MiG-21 book) and adapted it to the G.91Y as good as possible. The tones were a little difficult to define – some painting instructions recommend FS 36118 (US Gunship Grey) for the dark upper grey tone, but this is IMHO much too murky. Esp. on the Su-22s, the two upper greys show only little contrast, and the lower grey does not stand out much against the upper tones, either. On the other side, I found a picture of a real-life MiG-21U trainer in the new grey scheme, and the contrast between the grey on the upper surfaces appeared much stronger, with the light grey even having a brownish hue. Hmpf.

As a compromise I settled for FS 36173 (F-15E Dark Grey) and 36414 (Flint Grey). For the undersides I went for FS 35414 (Blue Green), which comes close to the typical Soviet underside blue, but it is brighter.

After basic painting, the kit received a light black ink wash and subtle post-shading, mostly in order to emphasize single panels, less for a true weathering effect.

The cockpit was painted in Dark Gull Grey (Humbrol 140), with a light blue dashboard and a black ejection seat. The OOB pilot was used and received an olive drab suit with a light grey helmet, modern and toned down like the aircraft itself. The landing gear as well as the air intake interior were painted in different shades of aluminum.

The decals were, as so often, puzzled together from various sources. The interesting, white-only Polish roundels come from a Mistercraft MiG-21. I also added them to the upper wing surfaces – this is AFAIK not correct, but without them I found the model to look rather bleak. Under the wings, full color insignia were used, though. The English language “Navy” markings on the fuselage might appear odd, but late MiG-21s in Polish Navy service actually had this operator designation added to their spines!

The typical, tactical four-digit code consists of markings for Italian Tornados, taken from two different Italeri sheets. The squadron emblem on the fin came from a Mistercraft Su-22, IIRC.

Most stencils were taken from the OOB sheet, some of them were replaced with white alternatives, though, in order to keep a consistent overall low-viz look.

Finally the kit was sealed with matt acrylic varnish.

An interesting result. Even though this Polish Gina is purely fictional, the model looks surprisingly convincing, and the grey low-viz livery actually suits the G.91Y well.

+ 3 in comments

My sister, parents, and I went into NYC today to see some of my photos in the Thoreau Center for Sustainability (i forget if that is the full name of the place) It's located on 55 Exchange Pl. so turns out- it was closed. too bad.

so we ended up walking around and decided on going to the flea market where my mother bought me these totally awesome Aladdin pants. I love them so much. They are my new favorite pants.

So i couldn't choose between this and the first in comments, but since the first in comments is completely showing my camera clicker, i had to choose this one.

I tried a few jump shots and hurt my feet landing on these rocks. ouchhhh

From the May 2016 trip to Thailand and Cambodia:

After five days in Thailand (3 in Bangkok, which included the day trip to Ayuthaya, and 2 nights on Koh Chang), it was time to make our way to Cambodia. There were two places in Cambodia I was looking forward to seeing: Angkor Wat (which pretty much everyone who comes to southeast Asia wants to see) and Phnom Penh’s Killing Field memorials.

First, though, was the matter of getting from a semi-remote tropical island in Thailand to the national capital of Cambodia, about 400 kilometers to the east. There isn’t a direct, easy way to do this, so being able to get it done in the time I hoped for was the biggest concern of the whole trip to me. Part of the reason time was such a factor is because I had only planned to spend Friday evening and all day Saturday (until early afternoon) in Phnom Penh before flying out to Siem Reap. With so little time there, I wanted to have as much as possible. With that in mind on waking up, I wasn’t sure how the day would turn out. I’m glad to say, it went very well.

The first thing we needed to do was get from the Arunee Resort to the pier on the opposite side of a small mountain at 6:00 in the morning…on an island with no taxis. (It is a tropical place to relax, after all.) The hotel drove us over in a truck for 300 baht. After another 40 baht/person ferry ride across the gulf, we got back to the mainland sometime around 7:40. From there, another 50 baht/person via tuktuk/van to the main bus terminal in Trat, about 45 minutes away found us in good time to grab a bus. (This is the terminal to come to for buses returning to Bangkok or going on to the Cambodian border.)

The minibus to the Cambodian border was roughly an hour and a half ride, and I was another 120 baht/person lighter. The time flew by, though, as we only passed through one very small town between Trat and Hat Lek (the border town).

The border crossing at Hat Lek is a bit interesting. Lonely Planet advised me ahead of time that this is the most expensive (and only truly expensive) border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia. (Unfortunately for me, it was also the only practical/logical one to use, so I didn’t have an option.) Via airports and at all other border crossings, the Cambodian visa costs about $25-30. Here at Hat Lek, though – and I don’t know why – it’s over $50. The fact that there isn’t uniform regulations at border crossings seemed suspect to me to begin with, but it doesn’t change the fact that you still have to do what they say. (You just get the feeling that you’re being fleeced unnecessarily…and by government officials, at that.)

On arriving at the border, the first thing you do is pass through the Thai exit post, which is quick and painless (and free). Walking a few meters farther, you come to the Cambodian entry office, which has a lot of folding tables set up outside. The first thing you do (as US citizen, anyway) is hand over your passport to someone who does NOT look official – yet, he is. You pay him 1600 baht for the visa, plus another 200 baht if you don’t have a passport picture on hand (which I didn’t). So…that was $60 more out of pocket.

Also, while sitting at these tables having your passport/visa processed, people will come up and ask where you’re going and offer private cars to get there. There are supposedly three buses from Hat Lek to Phnom Penh, the last leaving at 11:30 in the morning (and taking 5 hours to get to the capital), and you would have to take a car to the town/bus stop which is about 10 km away. (Not knowing, precisely, how to do that, I went for the easiest way there and just agreed to pay a guy 1000 baht/person to drive us in his Camry all the way – 300 km – to Phnom Penh. It ended up costing 2000 baht (close to $65) plus another $25US in total. Now, $90 may seem a bit expensive, but this was a personal car, what amounted to be a 4 hour ride, and he dropped us off right at our hotel. (I put this in perspective simply by thinking of the cost of a taxi ride from Newark International Airport to JFK in New York City…and this deal was much, much better.) The only thing that was slightly disconcerting is that we didn’t actually know this guy and could have possibly been taken advantage of. However, my charmed life seems to continue…

We got to our hotel and checked in by 4:00 in the afternoon on Friday, so things – though slightly pricy by local standards – went very, very well. The Number 9 Hotel (on St. 258) is less than a five minute walk from the Royal Palace in downtown Phnom Penh. There are quite a few monuments around the area as well (Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument, Independence Monument, etc.) The hotel itself was also a bit no-frills, and advertised a Jacuzzi/spa on the roof…which they said was under repair after we checked in. No worries, though; the restaurant at the hotel was quite good and I think it’s the only place we ate for the ~24 hours that we were there. The staff and service were top notch.

As I was still getting over the previous day’s bug/virus/whatever, I didn’t go out on Friday night. Saturday, though, was a different story. Just outside the hotel (and there are quite a few boutique guesthouses on the rather short St 258) are a group of tuktuk drivers all happy to get your business.

Now, Phnom Penh isn’t actually much of a tourist destination. In total, there’s the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (within walking distance) and the National Museum (just north of the palace). Additionally, there’s the Russian Market (which we didn’t get to). The main reason I really wanted to come to Phnom Penh, though, was to go to the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. (I won’t give a long history lesson here, though highly encourage anyone reading this to do a quick Wikipedia search for “Choeung Ek Killing Fields” or, for something slightly more in depth, try to find information from the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979.)

The only things I’ll mention about that era is that, in 1975, the population of Cambodia was about 8 million people. In the five years of the Khmer Rouge regime, they saw fit to assassinate close to 3 million of their countrymen. (Think about that for a minute…imagine your country’s population, whatever the number, then imagine the country is taken over by a military regime that commences to slaughter 35% of the populace. The most conservative numbers I’ve seen are 2 million killed, which is still 25%.)

With that as background info, we arranged one of the tuktuks to take us to the Tuol Sleng Museum, then to the Killing Fields, 15 km southwest of downtown Phnom Penh. Our driver, Ron (perhaps Ran, but pronounced like the former) agreed to be our driver for the day. He took us to the museum, then the killing field, then in the early afternoon to the National Museum and picked us up at the Royal Palace around 3:00. At 4:00, he ushered us about 15 km north of town to the airport. We met his wife as we went to the airport. Total cost for the day: $33.

Our first stop was the Tuol Sleng Museum. This is a former high school (a place of optimism, aspiration) that the Khmer Rouge converted into a torture chamber. (Additional psychological trauma, I guess?) I’ll give no details, save to say that I likened it to a Nazi concentration camp minus the gas chamber. To visit here, though, you are spared no detail in the presentation. I’ll commend (perhaps not the best word) the Cambodians for owning up to their atrocities. Other countries in the region could learn a lot from this. (They say it’s important to bare all so that people can see the horror and it will be less likely to happen again.) Anyway, after paying the admission ($6, I think?), you wander through the buildings with your audio guide and the many well-presented exhibits. At the end, about an hour later, there’s a man selling a book for $10. He’s a survivor of this place. I really had no words; just hugged the guy. He and his daughter said he was spared simply because he knew how to fix and use a typewriter.

After leaving Tuol Sleng, in quite a somber mood, Ran took us across town to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields (this is probably the most famous one in the nation, though there are literally hundreds here…and also still many active landmines from the war in the 1970s, so…I wouldn’t wander around too freely).

If the Tuol Sleng Museum was somber, this place is equally, if not more, harrowing. The admission here was also around $6 or so, and comes with another audio guide. There’s also a small room/museum with a 15 minute informative video. After that, you wander from point to point where you learn that this place was the former mass grave for Chinese. You also see mass graves for women, for babies…a tree (still standing) where babies were murdered, and so on. The final stop is a memorial stupa which contains the skulls and other bones of countless victims, classified by gender and method of murder (though all victims are still unidentified). However, the presentation is more than powerful enough to make its point.

The morning touring done, we returned to Number 9, had a leisurely lunch, then had Ran take us up to the National Museum. It’s a rather small museum, though quite good – especially if you like stone Buddhas. The museum admission is around $5, and the building has four small wings, that visitors tend to visit beginning on the left and going in a clockwise manner. No picures are allowed to be taken inside the museum (which I thought rather unfortunate, as it really was quite interesting and tasteful, as far as museums go), but you could take pictures of the museum itself and the internal courtyard. Leisurely seeing the entire museum takes less than an hour.

From there, it was about a 5-10 minute walk along the palace wall (north side, around the east wall that runs parallel to the river). After paying to enter the Royal Palace at the southeast gate, you’re allowed entry to the grounds and have access to view buildings such as the Coronation Hall, the Crown Room, and the Silver Pagoda. This is essentially quite similar to Thailand’s Royal Palace in terms of how much (and what) you can see, though it wasn’t quite as nice as Thailand’s to me. (I don’t mean to imply that it’s not nice, though; it was an enjoyable afternoon, though with temps around 40 degrees, my energy waned rather quickly.)

After an hour or so here at the Royal Palace, we made our way back to Number 9 (at this point, barely a 2 minute ride by tuktuk), where we rested until 4:00 and had Ran take us to the airport for our 7:30 flight to Siem Reap, 45 minutes away.

En route, though – and also from observations riding around on the way back from Choeung Ek – I got the impression that while Phnom Penh may not be the most touristy place in the world, it sure seemed like a great place to live (as much for expats as anyone). There’s still a lot of French influence, so my first abstract impression is that it reminded me of a combination of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Fuxing in Shanghai, and just some trendy/hippie areas in general. There were lots of cool little boutique hotels, restaurants, stores…and the Cambodians are exceptionally friendly and pleasant (as are Thais). I don’t know that I’ll ever come back here, but I certainly wouldn’t feel bad if I did…

At any rate, those were just my impressions on the way out of town. Getting to the airport, I was ready for the final stop: Siem Reap & Angkor Wat. The only thing standing between me and my ultimate destination…a prop jet.

Lothian Buses Service 3 in Edinburgh

Volunteers help community smile

By Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Troth

jefferey.l.troth.mil@mail.mil

CAMP CASEY, South Korea – For most volunteers in Korea, when they return to the states they will have the satisfaction of knowing they helped others in their community and may have been formally recognized for it.

But, for three Area I volunteers, they will take with them a new-found skill set they can use the rest of their lives.

They have just completed the American Red Cross Dental Assistant Education Program at the Camp Casey Dental Clinic Aug. 3. In January, when the clinic announced that they were offering the program for a second time more than 40 volunteers applied. Six were chosen and only three successfully completed the 100 hours of classroom study and the minimum 500 hours of clinical work.

“During their past six months of volunteering, they have worked hard,” said Dr. (Capt.) Francis Nahm, a dentist at the clinic and the education program director.

“It was a lot of information combined into a few weeks,” said Jessica Medlin, one of the three graduates who had almost 550 volunteer hours in the clinic. “It was kind of nerve racking having to go home and study and try to remember all of this information that they have given you. But it ended up being very easy by how they taught it.”

Their first two weeks in the program are spent immersed in classes on basic anatomy, medical terminology and health care ethics, as well as general dentistry and dentistry instrument layouts.

“In the 100 hours they have to learn, memorize and understand the physiology and bio chemistry of the body,” said Nahm. “Then they move onto dental, the oral facial area, then they go to the teeth and then the gum. There is a lot of terminology, just terminology after terminology for them to learn.”

“When we first started the class I didn’t know how I was going to remember it all, but they showed us diagrams of the teeth and other stuff and eventually it just clicked,” said Cimone Langley-Hopkins, who had been studying criminology at California State University, Fresno, prior to coming to Korea. She thought that this program could help in the forensic field if teeth impressions were needed to identify a criminal.

“It was a good thing having the doctors as our instructors, because this is their job and they know everything,” said Langley-Hopkins, whose husband, Pfc. Alexander Hopkins is in Company C, 3rd Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment, 210th Fires Brigade. “Anytime we didn’t understand something in the book they would take us into the operatory and show us there.”

Once the volunteers passed the classroom final exam they moved to the operatory, for the observation portion of the program. During this time they watched the actions of and assisted an already qualified dental assistant. Once the doctors were satisfied with the volunteers’ work, they became the primary assistant and participated in everything from dental exams to oral surgery.

“Although they are volunteers, they are considered part of our team,” said Nahm. He said that since the volunteers are not pulled from the clinic for other tasks as military dental assistants are, the clinic is able to continue to see patients, which is a benefit for the clinic and Area I.

The benefits for the volunteer students are numerous. One is the cost. The Camp Casey program is free; a similar program taught at a civilian facility would cost $6,000 to $8,000 according to Nahm. Another benefit for them is the certificate they received upon completion of the program.

“When they finish we validate their total hours with the Red Cross,” said Nahm. “That certificate is honored as a dental assistant certificate and is transferable to a civilian certificate.”

Medlin, Langley-Hopkins and Hui Gibbs (who graduated early when her husband who was a contractor left Korea) are looking forward to getting jobs in a dental clinic when they return stateside.

Medlin knows that having the specialized skills of a dental assistant will give her job opportunities when she follows her husband, Pfc. Daniel Medlin, of Company B, 304th Signal Battalion, to Fort Huachuca, Ariz., this fall. While in Arizona she plans on getting an associate degree in health care management so that one day she can be a clinic’s head dental assistant.

“I still want to pursue my degree in the criminal justice field,” said Langley-Hopkins, who finished the program with over 600 volunteer hours. “But for right now the career path that I have decided to take is in the dental field.”

Uni hubcap, Renault Modus hubcap and Renault Clio hubcap.

he Victorious War Museum or Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum is a museum of the Korean War located in Pyongyang, North Korea. Exhibits include a 360-degree diorama of the Battle of Daejon.[3] In addition to the many statues, murals and artifacts contained in the museum is the USS Pueblo, a US Navy ship that was captured by North Korean forces when it allegedly entered North Korean territorial waters in 1968.

Maspalomas beach, Gran Canaria

Hi all after my shit day my mum took this it look really cool I am getting footage when I am on holidays !!

A representation of a classic DC-3 in historic Pan Am colors.

Preparing for a deep dive in Hemmoor, a lake in Lower-Saxony, Germany. If you check the photo exactly, you will see that the dry suit is produced by Nokia... good old times!

geotagged

Nearly 3 in one shot with Reays Van Hool obscuring Clynnog &Trefor coach and Atkinsons close behind...going to the Cup Final on the M1...May 11 2013.

TEN THINGS about me and photography

1 A year ago my profile pic was born on New Year's day on Gran Canaria... as the locals celebrated New Year with fireworks I took a picture which is now my profile picture!

2 When taking a photograph of some iconic object I like to take a photograph which tells the story without having to show of all the image but yet it is still instantly recognisable: for example this www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmcmichael/3945604670/in/set-72...

3 In 1997 I took a year long photography course - every Tuesday evening at Belfast Met College ...it had some theory thrown in but this was just about of a book ...I was really interested in the practical side so I borrowed my brother's manual SLR - we had to cover topics such as 'atmosphere'... my portfolio for that topic included: pictures of sky, balloons and wind turbines! For the topic 'colour' I took pics of my nephews for their red hair! I'd do it all differently if I was doing it now - of course ..but I got my 'City and Guilds' qualification anyway!!

4 My cat Tori - a chocolate Burmese wakes me every morning at 7.30 sharp. I'm sure my neighbours hear her squawking..and yes I do let her in and she tries to get in under the duvet - often with much success! She produced these wonderful paw prints for me to discover a couple of years ago in the snow www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmcmichael/2235860447/in/set-72...

5 My interests in my early working career were scientific in nature - I used several techniques for taking photographs including taking photographs of a cross section of a grass blade mounted on glass slides using a microscope and high resolution details inside plant cells using a camera mounted on a scanning electron microscope. Both of these helped me understand the print media and B&W photography....in those days we all had to develop our own prints. I loved the dark room...in the 1980s and '90s I had to use 'Kodak Blue' for making slides for presentations - this involved printing the text for the presentation on white paper then photographing them one by one with Kodak Blue and then developing the film myself using a sealed black drum with a twisting mechanism to remove the film from its casing....then mounting the processed film into plastic slide frames and then on into the carousel for projecting! Can you image what it was like to make a spelling mistake ...if anyone complains about Microsoft Powerpoint again - hit them!!!

6 I'm facinated by Robert Welch the 19th Century Belfast Photographer. As an antiquarian and naturalist he has taught me a lot about my own local history - through his images we can see what remains of a time gone by - much to my surprise I find I have delivered lectures on Welch to various clubs and societies, including the Belfast Naturalist Field Club of which Welch was president, and I have the Belfast Titanic Society in my diary for September 2010 (Welch was the official photographer for Titanic's Ship Builder, Harland and Wolfe, and recorded all of the world famous pictures of Titanic being built and being fitted out!).

7 One of my earliest memories is the advent of the Polaroid Instant print camera - this used "pack film," which required the photographer to pull the film out of the camera for development, then peel apart the positive from the negative at the end of the developing process! I can remember as a 5 or 6 year old being in my grandmother's back yard where my father used a Polaroid pre SX 70 (cant remember the exact model). There was disbelief as my father www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmcmichael/1268352559/in/set-72... tore back the paper cover after the requisite seconds had elapsed, to see the developed image before our very eyes. Colours didnt seem to be true and it was very flat but it was nevertheless amazing to see. Later, I remember my father taking photographs in the form of slides, ektachrome 35mm - as a child I was always facinated with the intense colour and clarity of the slides which he kept in a bit of a jumble in an old box. I dont remember that we had a light box - a 'to do' for 2010 is to get these digitised!

8 I remember how I heard about Flickr - I was receiving physiotheraphy... so was flat on my back in traction - the physio used to turn on the radio and just as I was falling asleep my session would be over and I would be rudely awakened. Anyway I was lying back one day listening to the radio - must have been BBC Radio 4, I always asked for 'talk' radio as her choice of music stations was awful! As I lay dozing and having my spine pulled apart I heard the word flickr...flickr...flickr...and that was that!

9 I remember my first digital camera which led to my first digital pics going on flickr. I was in New York, Manhattan in December 2004. I had a little camera from a few years earlier, a mini camera, I think it was described as - the first phase of camera size reduction at the turn of the century! Anyhow...it broke while I was in NY! So I browsed all the electronic shops from Times Square to Mid Town and found a good enough deal..a Konica Minolta Dimage Z10. I just loved the shape of it as I knew little about the technical spec...that very evening I disposed of my camera box and strung it round my neck and later as I ascended the lift to the top of the Empire State Building! I was just as awe struck as I was my first time there in '96. This time I was there to digitise! My memory is that I was knocked about all over the place as everyone jostled for relatively limited viewing space - but in the end I got my pics then and I get them now! www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmcmichael/115979526/in/set-721...

10 People rarely comment as I take pictures - last year as I took a picture of a shop front the owner came out and asked if he could have a copy (later I emailed it too him), But it was the first time I had thought about how easy it was to take a digital image but yet there are people out there who either dont know how to do it, or dont have a camera or a camera phone. I found the shop owner amazed by how I wanted to take a picture - maybe he was flattered in some way - anyway I was glad to be of help www.flickr.com/photos/aidanmcmichael/4072861772/in/set-72... I didnt buy any of the Titanic Town Sweets on sale!

Recipe Name: Randy's 3 in one

Cone: Color:

Firing: Oxidation Surface: Glossy

Amount Ingredient

5 Gerstley Borate--1999

2 Whiting

41 Feldspar--Custer

12 Ball Clay--Old Mine #4

10 Red Art

6 Spodumene--Gwalia

11 Dolomite

7 Bone Ash

3 Talc

2 Lithium Carbonate

5 Silica

104 Total

Unity Oxide

.113 Li2O

.064 Na2O

.133 K2O

.229 MgO

.461 CaO

1.000 Total

.368 Al2O3

.049 B2O3

.016 Fe2O3

2.357 SiO2

.008 TiO2

.056 P2O5

6.4 Ratio

7.2 Exp

Comments: a semi gloss silk mat evenly covering glaze. Has a light tan overall color. Smooth surface/

-----------------------------------

Calculations by GlazeMaster™

www.masteringglazes.com

------------------------------------

Fishing trawler 'Euna Boorala' moored at her wharf, Forster NSW. (Circa 1960's.)

Details

Name: Euna Boorala later Sarong

Type: Fishing Vessel

Length: 45 ft 3 in

Beam: 14 ft 3 in

Depth: 4 ft 11 in

Motor: Diesel

Tonnage: (Volumetric measure 1 ton = 100 cubic ft)

- Gross: unknown

- Underdeck: 19.05 tons.

- Net: unknown

Built: Forster NSW

Builder: Alfred (Alf) Jahnsen

Launched: 1959

LFB: 1174

Ports and Owners

- Forster NSW. (1959 - 1969) L. Cauchi -

- Sydney NSW. (Circa 1970) C.U. Peard

- Narooma NSW. (Circa 1976) D. Rose

- Metung Vic. (1978) Starboard Fisheries (R.Bull, E. Bull, R.

Turnbull & G. Turnbull)

Construction

Stem: Raked

Stern: Counter square.

Framing: 2¾"x1¾" laminated @ 9½" spacing.

Planking: Hull 1⅜", hardwood bottom & Oregon topsides, copper fastened.

Bulkheads: ¾" plywood on 3"x2" stiffeners @ 18".

Engine seating: 5½"x5½" F&A on 5"x3½" floors.

Stringers: 2 per side 6"x2".

Shelf: 8"x3". Keel 10"x8".

Keel: 10"x8".

Deck beams: 5"x3" @ 18" centres.

Bulkheads: Three

Decking:1¾" Oregon.

Bulwarks: 1'5¾" high

Rudder: Bronze 3'2¾"x2'x⅜", hand steering via 2" rod.

Mast: Wooden with Derrick

1958

November- under construction at Forster NSW.

1959 Launch

Launched from the old ferry approach at Tuncurry NSW.

1960 -1969 Fishing Boat out of Forster

Survey commenced in February 1960, inspected on slipway & afloat at Tuncurry NSW.

In July of the same year, a fire took hold in the engine room, resulting in charred damage to the cabin end.

Licensed sea going fishing vessel out of Forster Tuncurry.

Put up for sale.

1970 - 1974 Fishing out of Sydney.

April 1970 - Inspected on slipway at Snails Bay, Sydney-afloat at Blackwattle Bay NSW.

1976 Fishing out of Narooma and Bermagui

July - Inspected on slipway at Narooma following extensive refit, new machinery and tanks fitted, seine trawl gear fitted, steering position and rails fitted on house top.

Note

Name changed to Sarong circa 1976 and before 1978.

1977 - 1979

Inspected on slip at Bermagui.

Fate:Unknown

Any further information on this vessel would be greatly appreciated

Image Source - Nicholson Family Collection.

Acknowledgements: The assistance of Mori Flapan (Mori Flapan boatregister) by providing access to his extensive database is greatly appreciated.

All Images in this photostream are Copyright - Great Lakes Manning River Shipping and/or their individual owners as may be stated above and may not be downloaded, reproduced, or used in any way without prior written approval.

GREAT LAKES MANNING RIVER SHIPPING, NSW - Flick Group --> Alphabetical Boat Index --> Boat builders Index --> Tags List

From the May 2016 trip to Thailand and Cambodia:

After five days in Thailand (3 in Bangkok, which included the day trip to Ayuthaya, and 2 nights on Koh Chang), it was time to make our way to Cambodia. There were two places in Cambodia I was looking forward to seeing: Angkor Wat (which pretty much everyone who comes to southeast Asia wants to see) and Phnom Penh’s Killing Field memorials.

First, though, was the matter of getting from a semi-remote tropical island in Thailand to the national capital of Cambodia, about 400 kilometers to the east. There isn’t a direct, easy way to do this, so being able to get it done in the time I hoped for was the biggest concern of the whole trip to me. Part of the reason time was such a factor is because I had only planned to spend Friday evening and all day Saturday (until early afternoon) in Phnom Penh before flying out to Siem Reap. With so little time there, I wanted to have as much as possible. With that in mind on waking up, I wasn’t sure how the day would turn out. I’m glad to say, it went very well.

The first thing we needed to do was get from the Arunee Resort to the pier on the opposite side of a small mountain at 6:00 in the morning…on an island with no taxis. (It is a tropical place to relax, after all.) The hotel drove us over in a truck for 300 baht. After another 40 baht/person ferry ride across the gulf, we got back to the mainland sometime around 7:40. From there, another 50 baht/person via tuktuk/van to the main bus terminal in Trat, about 45 minutes away found us in good time to grab a bus. (This is the terminal to come to for buses returning to Bangkok or going on to the Cambodian border.)

The minibus to the Cambodian border was roughly an hour and a half ride, and I was another 120 baht/person lighter. The time flew by, though, as we only passed through one very small town between Trat and Hat Lek (the border town).

The border crossing at Hat Lek is a bit interesting. Lonely Planet advised me ahead of time that this is the most expensive (and only truly expensive) border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia. (Unfortunately for me, it was also the only practical/logical one to use, so I didn’t have an option.) Via airports and at all other border crossings, the Cambodian visa costs about $25-30. Here at Hat Lek, though – and I don’t know why – it’s over $50. The fact that there isn’t uniform regulations at border crossings seemed suspect to me to begin with, but it doesn’t change the fact that you still have to do what they say. (You just get the feeling that you’re being fleeced unnecessarily…and by government officials, at that.)

On arriving at the border, the first thing you do is pass through the Thai exit post, which is quick and painless (and free). Walking a few meters farther, you come to the Cambodian entry office, which has a lot of folding tables set up outside. The first thing you do (as US citizen, anyway) is hand over your passport to someone who does NOT look official – yet, he is. You pay him 1600 baht for the visa, plus another 200 baht if you don’t have a passport picture on hand (which I didn’t). So…that was $60 more out of pocket.

Also, while sitting at these tables having your passport/visa processed, people will come up and ask where you’re going and offer private cars to get there. There are supposedly three buses from Hat Lek to Phnom Penh, the last leaving at 11:30 in the morning (and taking 5 hours to get to the capital), and you would have to take a car to the town/bus stop which is about 10 km away. (Not knowing, precisely, how to do that, I went for the easiest way there and just agreed to pay a guy 1000 baht/person to drive us in his Camry all the way – 300 km – to Phnom Penh. It ended up costing 2000 baht (close to $65) plus another $25US in total. Now, $90 may seem a bit expensive, but this was a personal car, what amounted to be a 4 hour ride, and he dropped us off right at our hotel. (I put this in perspective simply by thinking of the cost of a taxi ride from Newark International Airport to JFK in New York City…and this deal was much, much better.) The only thing that was slightly disconcerting is that we didn’t actually know this guy and could have possibly been taken advantage of. However, my charmed life seems to continue…

We got to our hotel and checked in by 4:00 in the afternoon on Friday, so things – though slightly pricy by local standards – went very, very well. The Number 9 Hotel (on St. 258) is less than a five minute walk from the Royal Palace in downtown Phnom Penh. There are quite a few monuments around the area as well (Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument, Independence Monument, etc.) The hotel itself was also a bit no-frills, and advertised a Jacuzzi/spa on the roof…which they said was under repair after we checked in. No worries, though; the restaurant at the hotel was quite good and I think it’s the only place we ate for the ~24 hours that we were there. The staff and service were top notch.

As I was still getting over the previous day’s bug/virus/whatever, I didn’t go out on Friday night. Saturday, though, was a different story. Just outside the hotel (and there are quite a few boutique guesthouses on the rather short St 258) are a group of tuktuk drivers all happy to get your business.

Now, Phnom Penh isn’t actually much of a tourist destination. In total, there’s the Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda (within walking distance) and the National Museum (just north of the palace). Additionally, there’s the Russian Market (which we didn’t get to). The main reason I really wanted to come to Phnom Penh, though, was to go to the Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. (I won’t give a long history lesson here, though highly encourage anyone reading this to do a quick Wikipedia search for “Choeung Ek Killing Fields” or, for something slightly more in depth, try to find information from the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979.)

The only things I’ll mention about that era is that, in 1975, the population of Cambodia was about 8 million people. In the five years of the Khmer Rouge regime, they saw fit to assassinate close to 3 million of their countrymen. (Think about that for a minute…imagine your country’s population, whatever the number, then imagine the country is taken over by a military regime that commences to slaughter 35% of the populace. The most conservative numbers I’ve seen are 2 million killed, which is still 25%.)

With that as background info, we arranged one of the tuktuks to take us to the Tuol Sleng Museum, then to the Killing Fields, 15 km southwest of downtown Phnom Penh. Our driver, Ron (perhaps Ran, but pronounced like the former) agreed to be our driver for the day. He took us to the museum, then the killing field, then in the early afternoon to the National Museum and picked us up at the Royal Palace around 3:00. At 4:00, he ushered us about 15 km north of town to the airport. We met his wife as we went to the airport. Total cost for the day: $33.

Our first stop was the Tuol Sleng Museum. This is a former high school (a place of optimism, aspiration) that the Khmer Rouge converted into a torture chamber. (Additional psychological trauma, I guess?) I’ll give no details, save to say that I likened it to a Nazi concentration camp minus the gas chamber. To visit here, though, you are spared no detail in the presentation. I’ll commend (perhaps not the best word) the Cambodians for owning up to their atrocities. Other countries in the region could learn a lot from this. (They say it’s important to bare all so that people can see the horror and it will be less likely to happen again.) Anyway, after paying the admission ($6, I think?), you wander through the buildings with your audio guide and the many well-presented exhibits. At the end, about an hour later, there’s a man selling a book for $10. He’s a survivor of this place. I really had no words; just hugged the guy. He and his daughter said he was spared simply because he knew how to fix and use a typewriter.

After leaving Tuol Sleng, in quite a somber mood, Ran took us across town to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields (this is probably the most famous one in the nation, though there are literally hundreds here…and also still many active landmines from the war in the 1970s, so…I wouldn’t wander around too freely).

If the Tuol Sleng Museum was somber, this place is equally, if not more, harrowing. The admission here was also around $6 or so, and comes with another audio guide. There’s also a small room/museum with a 15 minute informative video. After that, you wander from point to point where you learn that this place was the former mass grave for Chinese. You also see mass graves for women, for babies…a tree (still standing) where babies were murdered, and so on. The final stop is a memorial stupa which contains the skulls and other bones of countless victims, classified by gender and method of murder (though all victims are still unidentified). However, the presentation is more than powerful enough to make its point.

The morning touring done, we returned to Number 9, had a leisurely lunch, then had Ran take us up to the National Museum. It’s a rather small museum, though quite good – especially if you like stone Buddhas. The museum admission is around $5, and the building has four small wings, that visitors tend to visit beginning on the left and going in a clockwise manner. No picures are allowed to be taken inside the museum (which I thought rather unfortunate, as it really was quite interesting and tasteful, as far as museums go), but you could take pictures of the museum itself and the internal courtyard. Leisurely seeing the entire museum takes less than an hour.

From there, it was about a 5-10 minute walk along the palace wall (north side, around the east wall that runs parallel to the river). After paying to enter the Royal Palace at the southeast gate, you’re allowed entry to the grounds and have access to view buildings such as the Coronation Hall, the Crown Room, and the Silver Pagoda. This is essentially quite similar to Thailand’s Royal Palace in terms of how much (and what) you can see, though it wasn’t quite as nice as Thailand’s to me. (I don’t mean to imply that it’s not nice, though; it was an enjoyable afternoon, though with temps around 40 degrees, my energy waned rather quickly.)

After an hour or so here at the Royal Palace, we made our way back to Number 9 (at this point, barely a 2 minute ride by tuktuk), where we rested until 4:00 and had Ran take us to the airport for our 7:30 flight to Siem Reap, 45 minutes away.

En route, though – and also from observations riding around on the way back from Choeung Ek – I got the impression that while Phnom Penh may not be the most touristy place in the world, it sure seemed like a great place to live (as much for expats as anyone). There’s still a lot of French influence, so my first abstract impression is that it reminded me of a combination of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Fuxing in Shanghai, and just some trendy/hippie areas in general. There were lots of cool little boutique hotels, restaurants, stores…and the Cambodians are exceptionally friendly and pleasant (as are Thais). I don’t know that I’ll ever come back here, but I certainly wouldn’t feel bad if I did…

At any rate, those were just my impressions on the way out of town. Getting to the airport, I was ready for the final stop: Siem Reap & Angkor Wat. The only thing standing between me and my ultimate destination…a prop jet.

Gibraltar Cruise Terminal. Thomson Spirit being fuelled by Hercules 100 with Royal Princess looming over them.

980 cc

3 In-line

D'Ieteren Gallery

Brussels - Belgium

October 2024

It was by now the middle of the afternoon, light was fading, but there time for one more church to visit away in West Kent.

Jools is churched out, so stays in the car to play solitaire on the tablet, and I take the tools of my trade, a camera and two lenses, and walk through the lych gate, spotting right away that the sign saying the church is open meaning that it wasn't a wasted trip here, even if it wasn't that far from Newenden.

I could not find the light switches, so my shots are dark and the church seems lacking in warmth. I have realised that one's impressions of a church, any building, is on how the whole of the visit went; whether we were warmly welcomed, did the light pour through the stained glass windows, did I spot something unusual, did I get a really fine shot, rather than just records?

Highlights were the fine lectern, many carved heads and corbel stones and another fine wooden roof.

-----------------------------------------------

An impressive church of mainly fourteenth-century date. The tower, which was still under construction in the early sixteenth century, is one of the most striking features. Externally it is memorable for the composition of the west door and window. The doorway has finely carved spandrels and label-stops, but the window above has two designs incorporated into it - Tudor arches for the bottom four lights, and Perpendicular arches above. It is quite a thing and obviously the result of local designs dying hard! The tower is topped by an excellent weathervane dated 1751. Inside, the tower arch is also memorable, a tall much-moulded feature, almost as impressive as the tower arch at Horsmonden. The north aisle shows evidence of rebuilding - the two octagonal pillars of fourteenth-century form replaced circular pillars, one of which survives. The church is very light, the east window containing only plain glass, which helps us to appreciate the furnishings and memorials of mainly twentieth-century date. In the south aisle is a tablet to Alfred Lyttleton (d. 1913), which was probably carved by Eric Gill. The interesting reredos of the high altar dates from 1967 and depicts St John the Baptist baptising Christ in a local river.

www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Wittersham

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LIES the next parish westward from Stone, being usually called Witsham.

THIS PARISH, which partakes of the gross unhealthy air of the adjoining marshes, is a lonely unsrequented place; it is about two miles and an half acros each way. The village, with the church and parsonage, stand nearly in the middle of it, upon high ground, the ridge of which runs through the centre of it, surrounded, excepting on the east, where it joins Stone, by a large tract of marsh-lands, which reach to the extremity of the island, excepting where they join the parish of Ebeney towards the north-east. At the west end of the high ground is a hamlet, called Pinyon Quarter, in which stands Palstre-court, and there are several other houses interspersed over it. The soil is a kind of loam, which in some places has the quarry or sand stone mixed with it. There are some small pieces of coppice wood in the different parts of the upland of it.

A fair is held here yearly, on the seast of St. Philip and James, May 1, for toys and pedlary.

THE MANOR OF ALDINGTON claims over the greatest part of this parish, as does the manor of Lambin, in Rolvenden, over a small district in it; subordinate to the former is the manor of Wittersham.

WITTERSHAM was given, in the year 1032, to Christ church, in Canterbury, for fosterland, that is, for the food and sustenance of the monks, by Eadsy a priest, with the consent of king Canute and Elfgive his queen, but there is no mention made any where of that church's having ever been in possession of it. But in later times this manor appears to have become a lay fee; for king Henry IV. in his 8th year, granted licence to Richard Lentwardyn and John Hurleigh, clerks, to give and assign to the master and fellows of All Saints college, in Maidstone, founded by archbishop Courtney in king Richard the IId.'s reign, the manor of Wyghtresham, among other premises in this county, which were not held of him. After which, this manor continued part of the possessions of the college till the suppression of it, in the 1st year of king Edward VI. anno 1546, at which time it was let to Sir Thomas Wyatt, at the yearly rent of fourteen pounds, (fn. 1) when the manor-house or court-lodge of it, from its belonging to the above foundation, had acquired the name it still goes by, of Wittersham college. This manor coming thus into the hands of the crown, was afterwards granted to Sir Henry Crispe, of Quekes, who settled it on his son Nicholas Crispe, esq. of Grimgill, in Whitstaple, who had been sheriff at the latter part of the first year of queen Elizabeth. He possessed it only for his life, during which there appears to have been a suit at law concerning the title to it, and on his death in 1564 it came to Thomas Parrot and Thomas Shirley, who were by inquisition found to be the two coheirs of his daughter Dorothy, and they held their separate moieties of the queen in capite, both which were afterwards alienated before the end of that reign to Thomas Bishop, esq. of Sussex, afterwards knighted, and anno 19 James I. created a baronet, who bore for his arms, Argent,on a bend,cotized,three bezants. He lived to a great age, and left surviving one son Sir Edward, his successor in title and estate, and two daughters, on the youngest of whom, Frances, he had settled this manor, anno 18 James I. on her marriage with John Alford, son of Edward, of Offington, in Sussex, esq. whose youngest daughter and coheir Elizabeth, married in the year 1659, Charles Bickerstaffe, esq. afterwards knighted, and of Wilderness, in Seale, whom she survived, and afterwards, with her only daughter and heir Frances, an act having been obtained for the purpose anno 2 queen Anne, alienated it to Mr. William Blackmore, gent. of Tenterden, who in 1707 gave it by will to his nephew John, son of his brother James Blackmore, deceased, and his descendant Thomas Blackmore, esq. of Briggins, in Hertfordshire, is the present owner of this manor.

THE MANOR OF PALSTER, or Palstre, called in antient writings, the denne of Palstre, is situated in the western part of this parish, though it extends into the parish of Ebene. This manor, at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, was part of the possessions of the bishop of Baieux, under the general title of whose lands it is thus entered in it.

In Oxenai hundred, Osbn Paisfor holds of the bishop of Baieux, Palestrei. It was taxed at three yokes. The arable land is two carucates. In demesne there is one, and nine borderers having half a carucate. There is a church, and two servants, and ten acres of meadow, and five fisheries of twelve pence. Wood for the pannage of ten hogs. In the time of king Edwards the Consessor, and afterwards, it was worth forty shillings, now sixty shillings. Eduui the priest held it of king Edward.

On the disgrace of the bishop of Baieux, four years afterwards, the seignory paramount of this manor was granted to the family of Crevequer, of whom it was held by a family who assumed their name from it, one of whom, Philip de Palstre, held it by knight's service in Henry III.'s reign, as did his descendant Thomas de Palstre in the 20th year of king Edward III. Soon after which, it came into the family of Basing, who held it, together with a moiety of the passage of Smallhythe ferry, adjoining to it. From which name it quickly after passed into that of Charles, and Richard Charles, as appears by the inquisition taken after his death, anno 1 Richard II. died possessed of this manor, with the moiety of the above passage annexed to it, held in capite, as did his nephew Richard Charles, who on his death, s.p. became his heir, in the 11th year of that reign. His son Robert dying likewise s.p. his two sisters became his coheirs, of whom Alice entitled her husband William Snaith, esq. of Addington, to it, in whose descendants it continued till the reign of king Edward IV. in the 11th year of which, Robert Wotton, esq. of Addington, died possessed of it, holding it as above-mentioned. (fn. 2) How it passed from his heirs. I have not found; but it went soon afterwards into the possession of the family of Peckham, and in the 7th year of king Henry VII. Katherine, widow of James Peckham, esq. died possessed of it, as did their son Thomas in the 7th year of king Henry VIII. holding it in capite. He left one son, and a daughter, who married Sir George Harpur, who in her right became, by her father's will, possessed of it. He presently afterwards alienated it to Sir Thomas Wyatt, as he did to Robert Rudston, esq. who in the 2d and 3d of king Edward VI. had his lands in this county disgavelled, by the general act then passed, but being attainted for his concern in Sir Thomas Wyatt's rebellion, in the first year of queen Mary this manor became vested in the crown, where it remained till the first year of the reign of queen Elizabeth, when an act having passed for restoring him in blood as well as to his estates, it came again into his possession, and he, anno 18 Elizabeth, levied a fine of it. At length his grandson Robert Rudston, in king Charles I.'s reign, alie nated it to Sir Edward Henden, one of the barons of the exchequer, who by will in 1662 gave it to his nephew Sir John Henden, (fn. 3) in whose descendants it continued till it was at length sold, in king George I.'s reign, to Thomas May, esq. of Godmersham, afterwards Knight, who died possessed of it in 1781, as did his only son and heir Thomas Knight, esq. of Godmersham, in 1794, s.p. and by will devised it to his wife Mrs. Katherine Knight for life, remainder to Edward Austen, esq. of Rolling, and she is now in the possession of it. (fn. 4)

OWLIE, antiently written Oveley, is another manor in this parish, which had once owners of that surname, in which it remained till the beginning of Richard II.'s reign, when the family of Odiarne, who were of good note in this county, became possessed of it, who bore for their arms, Sable, a chevron,between three covered cups,or; as they were formerly painted in the window at the entrance of the north chancel of this church; in whom it remained till the latter end of Henry VIII.'s reign, in the 36th year of which Thomas Odyarne appears by his will to have died possessed of it. He resided at his mansion-house of Acteden, now called Acton, in this parish, which Thomas Rayfield, of Wittersham, brother of Robert Rayfield, abbot of Boxley, had died possessed of anno 1494, and by his will had ordered it to be sold, and which, with the manor of it, as well as this of Owlie, he devised to his two sons Thomas and John Odiarne, and they soon afterwards sold the latter to John Maney, esq. of Biddenden, whose descendant Sir John Maney, bart. of Linton, in king Charles I.'s reign, passed it away by sale to Peter Ricaut, esq. afterwards knighted, who sold it to Mr. Menell, of London. At length after some intermediate owners, it became by purchase the property of Thomas May, esq. afterwards Knight, and he died possessed of it in 1781, as did his only son and heir Thomas Knight, esq. of that place, in 1794, s.p. His widow Mrs. Katherine Knight is now by his will become possessed of it.

Charities.

THOMAS BEWFRERE, by will in 1463, ordered that his feoffees should make over to the churchwardens of Wittrisham, for ever, a parcel of land, called Ruffins land, containing five acres, in that parish, within the manor of Palstre, to be applied to the church when there was most need of it.

THOMAS BEREDG, of Wittersham, by will in 1578, devised to the poor of this parish yearly, out of his lands for ever, 3s. 4d. to be given to the collectors on the Friday before Easter, under the thorne in the church-yard, to the maintaining and keeping up of which, he gave the like yearly sum, to be paid out of his lands.

JOHN TRUELOVE, of Wittersham, by will in 1597, gave to the collectors of the poor, 20l. to be employed to the use of the poor people of it, and he ordered his tenement and garden to be sold, and the money that should arise therefrom to be employed to the use of the poor, so that order should be taken that it might yield a perpetual annuity to the poor man's box.

The poor constantly maintained are about thirty, casually twenty-five.

WITTERSHAM is within the WCCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Limne.

¶The church, which is exempt from the jurisdiction of the archdeacon, is dedicated to St. John Baptist. It is a handsome building, consisting of two isles and two chancels, having a tower steeple at the west end, built in the beginning of king Henry the VIIIth.'s reign, in which hangs a peal of bells. The north chancel, formerly called St. Mary's chapel, is now called Acton chancel, as having belonged to that manor. In the east window of it were formerly the arms of Watton. In the first of the windows on the north side, is a legend, with the name of Pitlisden, which family once owned lands in this parish. And near the entrance were the arms and the name of Odiarne, in the window of it.

The church of Wittersham is parcel of the antient possessions of the see of Canterbury, and continues so at this time, his grace the archbishop being the present patron of it.

The rectory of Wittersham is valued in the king's books at 15l. 8s. 6½d. and the yearly tenths at 1l. 10s. 10¼d. In 1588 it was valued at one hundred and sixty pounds, communicants two hundred and fifteen. There are ten acres of glebe land.

www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol8/pp486-493

Blog : www.totobricks.com/2016/01/lego-31044-lego-creator-3-in-1...

LEGO 31044 LEGO CREATOR 3 in 1 2016 Park Animals Squirrel (3/3) Instructions video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSvHyY_3-jo

We roll into Norwich, just about on time, which is rare on this line I guess. I am in no hurry, so let the others in the carriage get off before me. I can hear the growl of a Type 3 in the platform next to my train, and I plan to get to the concourse to snap it, I had toyed with the idea of climbing back on the train to snap it through the window of the train. I thought better of it, but I am then disappointed and yet thrilled at the noise as the 37 pulled away from the buffers and the engines echoing off the tranished. By the time I get to the concourse, all there is left is a haze of blue smoke. Darn, missed them.

I have my cameras in the rucksack and a small bag with a change of clothing and other bits and pieces. I go to my hotel just down from the station, hoping to drop the small bag off, but there is no one in. So, I would have to take the bag with me. Now, I had decided to go to the festival on the 2nd day rather than the first, so I could make the last two hours of the afternoon session. So I walk up Prince of Wales Road then up through Tombland to St Andrew's Hall. And for a change, there is no queue.

I walk up to the entrance, flash my CAMRA membership card, get in, buy some tokens and a glass, then head for the first stillage to decide on my first drink: Moulton's Mild. It is deep dark brown and has a fine nutty flavour. Perfect. However, with my two bags and the crowds, it is hard to get round easily. So I limit myself to a few visits, a couple of porters, and a couple of over-hopped beers, and then they call time at half two. Not bad, eithet two or two and a half pints, and a fine hand made pork pie to take the edge of my hunger. Lovely.

I walk back up the hill to the market place, and decide I need a pasty. I remember there is a pasty place along Gentleman's Walk, and indeed there is, and they have a fresh batch just out of the oven, along with a gingerbread latte it is splendid, and looking at the people walking by. The well dressed teens and the yokel in cords held up with knotted string. Normal for Norfolk.

I walk back down Prince of Wales Road then along Riverside to the hotel. I check in and am shown to my room. The heating is on full and the window closed. It is like a sauna. Once alone, I turn the radiators off and open the windows wide and lay on the bed to cool down. I fall asleep.

I wake up with my mobile ringing. I struggle to remember how to answer it. I make plans for tomorrow, then get ready for the evening ahead. I think a walk past some of Norwich's finest buildings. Up Riverside is PUll's Ferry: lit up well, an building with a vault over a landing stage, when this was one of the few ways over the river, but now a private house by fine symbol of Norwich. Along is the ancient Bishop's Bridge, also lit up and ripe for snapping.

I cross the bridge heading to the cathedral and the close, which I hope will be open. Indeed the gate at the start of the footpath is open, so I walk through and have the whole close just about to myself. I take shots, hoping they will come out.

Out through the impressive gate then down to the start of Elm Hill, and ancient cobbled streets lines with half timbered houses and shops. It is as glorious as it sounds.

Past the raucous noise coming out of St Andrews Hall where the evening session of the festival was in full swing. But I go past it, walk up across the main road, up more narrow cobbles lanes to Pottergate where the old Inn there, now called The Birdcage was having a beer festival too, and opposite the chippy was doing posh food. However, I have just battered sausage and chips, then go into the pub for a pint of golden ale. I had bought a book at the football club in the afternoon, so I spend half an hour sipping the beer and reading, raising my eyes to people watch as people come and go. Its cheap entertainment.

With the one pint, I decide I have had enough, and if I go back to the hotel I can listen to the football on the radio. So, back along near-deserted streets and back down the hill to the river where the hotel was. City were playing Everton in the League cup, and ended up losing on penalties, shich is always the way. But an improved performance by all accounts. However, Arsenal lost to Sheffield Wednesday, 3-0, which made me chuckle at the faces old whiner would be pulling.

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Norwich Castle is a medieval royal fortification in the city of Norwich, in the English county of Norfolk. It was founded in the aftermath of the Norman conquest of England when William the Conqueror (1066–1087) ordered its construction because he wished to have a fortified place in the important city of Norwich. It proved to be his only castle in East Anglia. It is one of the Norwich 12 heritage sites. The castle now houses the Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, which holds significant objects from the region, especially archaeological finds.

Norwich Castle was founded by William the Conqueror some time between 1066 and 1075. It originally took the form of a motte and bailey.[1] Early in 1067, William the Conqueror embarked on a campaign to subjugate East Anglia, and according to military historian R. Allen Brown it was probably around this time that Norwich Castle was founded.[2] The castle is first mentioned in 1075 when Ralph de Gael, Earl of Norfolk, rebelled against William the Conqueror and Norwich was held by his men. A siege was undertaken, but ended when the garrison secured promises that they would not be harmed.[3]

Norwich is one of 48 castles mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. Building a castle in a pre-existing settlement could require demolishing properties on the site. At Norwich, estimates vary that between 17 and 113 houses occupied the site of the castle.[4] Excavations in the late 1970s discovered that the castle bailey was built over a Saxon cemetery.[5] Historian Robert Liddiard remarks that "to glance at the urban landscape of Norwich, Durham or Lincoln is to be forcibly reminded of the impact of the Norman invasion".[6] Until the construction of Orford Castle in the mid-12th century under Henry II, Norwich was the only major royal castle in East Anglia.

The stone keep, which still stands today, was probably built between 1095 and 1110.[1] In about the year 1100, the motte was made higher and the surrounding ditch deepened.[8] During the Revolt of 1173–1174, in which Henry II's sons rebelled against him and started a civil war, Norwich Castle was put in a state of readiness. Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk was one of the more powerful earls who joined the revolt against Henry.[9] With 318 Flemish soldiers that landed in England in May 1174, and 500 of his own men, Bigod advanced on Norwich Castle. They captured the castle and took fourteen prisoners who were held for ransom. When peace was restored later that year, Norwich was returned to royal control.[10]

The Normans introduced the Jews to Norwich and they lived close to the castle. A cult was founded in Norwich in the wake of the murder of a young boy, William of Norwich, for which the Jews of the town were blamed.[11] In Lent 1190, violence against Jews erupted in East Anglia and on 6 February (Shrove Tuesday) it spread to Norwich. Some fled to the safety of the castle, but those who did not were killed.[12] The Pipe Rolls, records of royal expenditure, note that repairs were carried out at the castle in 1156–1158 and 1204–1205.[13]

The castle was used as a gaol from 1220, with additional buildings constructed on the top of the motte next to the keep. These buildings were demolished and rebuilt between 1789 and 1793 by Sir John Soane, and more alterations were made in 1820. The use of the castle as a gaol ended in 1887, when it was bought by the city of Norwich to be used as a museum. The conversion was undertaken by Edward Boardman, and the museum opened in 1895.[8]

The forebuilding attached to the keep was pulled down in 1825.[14] Although the keep remains, its outer shell has been repaired repeatedly, most recently in 1835–9 by Anthony Salvin, with James Watson as mason using Bath stone. None of the inner or outer bailey buildings survive, and the original Norman bridge over the inner ditch was replaced in about the year 1825.[8] During the renovation, the keep was completely refaced based faithfully on the original ornamentation.

The castle remains a museum and art gallery today and still contains many of its first exhibits, as well as many more recent ones. Two galleries feature the museum's decorative art collections, including costume, textiles, jewellery, glass, ceramics and silverware, and a large display of ceramic teapots. Other gallery themes include Anglo-Saxons (including the Harford Farm Brooch [16]) and Vikings, Queen Boudica and the Iceni tribe, Ancient Egypt, and natural history.

Norwich Castle and cattle market at the end of the 19th century

The fine art galleries include works from the 17th to 20th centuries, and include English watercolour paintings, Dutch landscapes and modern British paintings. The Castle also houses a good collection of the work of the Flemish artist Peter Tillemans.[17] Two galleries feature changing exhibits of modern art, history and culture.

Norwich Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade I listed building.[1] Visitors can tour the castle keep and learn about the castle through interactive displays. Separate tours are also available of the dungeon and the battlements. Although not permanently on display, one of the largest collections it holds is the butterfly collection of Margaret Fountaine. An unusual artefact is the needlework done by Lorina Bulwer at the turn of the twentieth century whilst she was confined in a workhouse. The work has featured on the BBC.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwich_Castle

A colonial species, D. heliopora grows into domes 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) or more across. The corallites are plocoid (with an individual wall), round and closely packed, about 1 cm (0.4 in) in diameter and formed by extratentacular budding. The corallite walls are distinctive, being not solid but formed from the enlarged outer ends of the septa, which are not connected to each other. The coral has a smooth surface and is usually cream or greyish-brown, sometimes tinged with green.

This species is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, including the Red Sea, occurring at depths down to 30 m (100 ft). Its typical habitat is in silty environments without strong wave action such as protected fringing reefs and back reef slopes.

D. heliopora is plentiful in some areas but less common elsewhere. In Indonesia it is collected for the aquarium trade, but apart from this, the threats it faces are those affecting coral reefs in general; climate change, ocean acidification, coral disease and human actions. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being "near threatened".

Lothian Buses Service 3 In Edinburgh

Design 3 in the Preston Bus Station design competition.

To find out more visit: www.lancashire.gov.uk/competition

Three top business women from Galway, Cork and Dublin win Network Ireland Business Women of the Year Awards

Friday, 21 October, 2011: The Galway founder of the successful travel pack for flyers, an internationally renowned hairdresser from Cork and the Head of Prudential Supervision at the Irish Banking Federation were presented with Network Ireland 2011 Business Women of the Year Awards, sponsored by Celebrity Cruises, today at Dublin Castle.

Ms Julia McAndrew, the founder of Compleat Travel Essentials Packs, the new Galway company that sells to over 4,000 retail and hotel customers, a range of specially prepared packs containing essential toiletries for those flying and travelling throughout the world, won the Network Businesswoman (New Business) of the Year. Ms Valerie Cahill, CEO Ikon Hair Design in Cork, the award winning hair styling company in Cork, won the Network Businesswoman (Self Employed) of the Year and Ms Mary Doyle, Head of Prudential Supervision at the Irish Banking Federation, Dublin won the Network Businesswoman (Employee) of the Year.

The âTrish Murphy Honorary Awardâ was presented by Network Ireland to the successful business woman, Ms Norma Smurfit, for her tireless commitment and work for a large number of charities. This is the inaugural year of this award in honour of Trish Murphy, a past Network Dublin President who contributed significantly to the organisation and also for charity. Sadly she passed away last year prematurely at the age of 53 from cancer.

Ms Mary Kershaw, President Network Ireland, an organisation representing over 3,000 women in business, said that the theme for this yearâs awards was âLocal Talent for Global Opportunitiesâ.

âOur members aspire to successfully developing their businesses by providing high quality products and services and raising the profile of their company brands among their target markets. Todayâs awards ceremony recognises their achievements. We also recognised the great charity work of Ms Norma Smurfit. She is an inspiration for business women throughout the country,â Mary said.

Celebrity Cruises (1800 932 619, www.celebritycruises.ie, the multi award-winning* cruise company sponsored the Network Ireland 2011 Business Woman of the Year Awards ceremony. Jo Rzymowska, Associate Vice President and General Manager, UK and Ireland Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises presented the awards and commented: âCelebrity Cruises is known for enjoyable holidays built around innovation, the highest standards of quality of service and enthusiasm. The members of Network Ireland share these same values and so, Celebrity Cruises is delighted to sponsor this important event,â she said.

Network Ireland encourages women to do business, market their skills and expertise with the support of other members throughout the country. It represents over 3,000 women working in a wide range of industry sectors.

Members are recognised as serious contributors to the Irish economy and decision-making bodies. Network Ireland also liaises with national and international organisations as well as key Government and State bodies throughout Europe.

The award winners each received a specially sculpted piece of crystal crafted by the Irish Glass Company, which was founded by glass blowers from the former Waterford Glass company.

*Celebrity cruises recent awards in Ireland include:

âBest Luxury Cruise Companyâ - Irish Travel Trade Awards (ITTA)

âBest Luxury Cruise Lineâ - Irish Travel Agents Association Awards (ITAA)

ENDS

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT:

Network Ireland â David Curtin @086 28 32 123

Celebrity Cruises - Andrew Campbell-Edie (partnership.pr1@gmail.com) +353 (0)857 286711, Louise James (louisejames@rccl.com) and Surinder Manku (smanku@rccl.com) on +44 (0)1932 834 200

Notes on winners

NETWORK BUSINESSWOMAN (New Business) OF THE YEAR

Julia McAndrew â Network Galway

Julia McAndrew is a mother and an established business woman which involves a lot of travel. She saw at first hand the need for Compleat Travel Essentials Packs â specially prepared packs that contain essential toiletries for those flying and travelling a lot.

She spent a lot of time sourcing and trying out products before she found the quality of the products she was looking for, for example the wipes are organic & bio-degradable, the deodorant is natural and endorsed by the cancer treatment centre and the shaving cream is for the most sensitive skin, 3 in 1, pre, post and shave, needing no water for the best shave ever. Due to customer feedback sheâs now launching a unisex pack and a pack for children.

Now over 4,000 customers worldwide choose Compleat Travel Essential packs to feel fresh and clean no matter where they are. Compleat Travel Essentials Packs are now selling in Hotels, Pharmacies, Hospital Shops, WH Smith and Airport shops. She is already in talks with companies in the UK and the European Airports.

NETWORK BUSINESSWOMAN (Self Employed) OF THE YEAR

Valerie Cahill â Ikon Hair Design in Cork

In 1997 Valerie opened Ikon Hair Design in Cork, on the first floor of 10 Princes Street with three team members. Ikon is now a multi awarding winning salon and the team has grown to thirteen.

Valerie and her husband Decky are looking forward to opening their new salon in Cork in November 2011. She has been involved in the Irish Hairdressing Industry for the last 27 years. She started as an apprentice in Victor Franks in 1984 where she qualified and took up the role as trainer and manager till 1997.

Valerie believes that in an industry that is known for its creativity and flair, it is important to get the balance right between the creative and the business side of things. It is something Valerie and the team have been working on over the past few years.

In 2008/ 2009 Ikon embarked on a 2 year program in London with Alan Austin Smith, The Ambassador / Salon Programme focusing on the team and the business and developing both.

In 2011, Valerie took up the position as The Munster Educator for Joico, doing what she loves most and is incredibly passionate about, teaching the JCut and Colour System. In 2011 she became a member of the Irish Hairdressing Executive Committee.

Valerie Finnegan Cahill juggles motherhood (Finn 11years & Jack 6 years) and business every day. Valerie is also involved in The Niall Mellon Township Trust Charity; this year (November) will be her third trip to South Africa where she helps to build houses in the townships of Capetown.

NETWORK BUSINESSWOMAN (Employee) OF THE YEAR

Mary Doyle â Irish Banking Federation, Dublin.

As Head of Prudential Supervision at the Irish Banking Federation, Mary is responsible for liaising with the industry and relevant parties, to determine policies for the evolving range of Risk and Corporate Governance regulations now impacting on banking. She manages the overall technical work programme for Risk and Governance, both key aspects of current bank regulation, and assists in the development of related sector policy positions.

Her career path on the technical side has always involved being ahead of and part of future developments. Initially as an economist, Mary was always looking for examples of future growth sectors for investment. It also included strategic matters; corporate planning and marketing rules.

She regularly attends local and international conferences, seminars, as well as networking events on such matters. Her most recent positions relate to banking regulations, again a rapidly evolving area, where she is now involved in planning such training events for the banking industry with local and overseas speakers. She interacts with the banking industry on evolving regulations, to achieve a practical, workable regulatory framework within the Irish and EU framework.

Mary is an experienced economist with a broad understanding of business and banking as well as being a media commentator on financial markets. Having been a founding member of Network Dublin she has made a long standing contribution to Network Dublin for over 25 years and believes strongly in the networking concept. She has adapted well to new experiences and challenges, working in the UK, EU, Africa, and primarily Ireland. Throughout all this she uses her networking skills in all aspects of her life. She is Economic Consultant to Nigerian Development Bank for World Bank and was nominated by Network to the Minister for Health for the Board of Health Insurance Authority, a position she held for 10 years.

Ten Network Ireland Branches represent 500 firms nationwide in Dublin, Louth, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary North, Kildare, Waterford, Galway, Mayo

and Clare. The businesswomen nominated for the Network Ireland 2011 Business Woman of the Year Awards include:

Candidates for the Employee Award

Ms Lynda Murphy, My Waterford

Ms Eithne Cosgrave, Sales & Marketing Director, Hotel Westport, Mayo

Ms Mairead OâBrien, Accounts Manager, Nash 19, Cork

Ms Lorraine Scully, Sherry FitzGerald Kavanagh, Galway

Ms Maura McMahon, Limerick Chamber of Commerce

Ms Mary Doyle, Irish Banking Federation, Dublin

Candidates for the Existing Business Award

Ms Foinagh Ryan, Ryanâs Jewellers, Limerick

Ms Kathleen Delahan, Patient School of Motoring, Kildare

Dr Eithne Brenner, The Brenner Clinic and Faceworks, Waterford

Ms Caroline Gordon, Accountant & Registered Auditor, Mayo

Ms AnnMarie Walsh, The Tipperary Kitchen, North Tipperary

Ms Valerie Cahill, MD, IKON Hair Design Cork

Ms Jenny Beale, Brigitâs Garden, Galway

Ms Pat Reda, PJ Reda Executive Search & HR Consulting, Dublin

Ms Ann Marie Horgan, Allpets Veterinery Hospital, Louth

Candidates for the New Business Award

Ms Martina Ginty, MD Glitz & Glam Ltd, Kildare

Ms Jennifer Cody Murphy, Beautilicious, Waterford

Ms Jenny Brennan, Virtual Office Worx, Mayo

Ms Louisa Condon, The Ant Team, North Tipperary

Ms Joan Walsh, MD, Partnership Europe, Cork

Ms Julie McAndrew, Compleat Travel Essentials, Galway

Ms Juliet OâConnor, The Zip Yard, Dublin

Ms Dorothy Walsh, Dorothy J Walsh, & Co Solicitors, Co. Louth

Ms Anne Maria Moore, Beech Lodge Care Facility & Retirement Village, Limerick

Notes about Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruisesâ iconic âXâ is the mark of the worldâs top-rated premium cruise line, with spacious, stylish interiors; dining experiences elevated to an art form; personalized service, with a guest-to-staff ratio of nearly 2:1; unexpected, trendsetting onboard activities, all designed to provide an unmatchable experience for vacationersâ precious time.

Celebrity sails to Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Bermuda, California, Canada/New England, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, the Pacific Coast, Panama Canal, South America, and year-round in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity also offers immersive cruisetour experiences in Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Europe and South America. One of the fastest-growing major cruise lines, Celebrityâs fleet currently consists of 10 ships, with one additional Solstice Class ship scheduled to join the fleet: Celebrity Reflection in autumn 2012.

04/23/2015

LAX

Virgin America Airbus A319-115

N527VA - cn 3417 "Tubular Belle"

Delivered to Virgin America as an A319-112 on Feb. 20, 2008. Engines modified to CFM56-5B7/3 in 2012, hence the upgrade to -115. Seen here arriving from Dallas (DFW) as VX874.

Brick Beach 3 in Mantoloking with a seagull in the distance. Shot at f/5.6.

Founded in 1850, the University of Sydney is Australia's first university and is regarded as one of its most prestigious, ranked as the 27th most reputable university in the world. In 2013, it was ranked 38th and in the top 0.3% in the QS World University Rankings. Five Nobel or Crafoord laureates have been affiliated with the university as graduates and faculty. The University is colloquially known as one of Australia's "Sandstones", a status similar to that of the "Ivy League" in the United States and the "Russell Group" in the United Kingdom.

The university's Coat of Arms, granted by the College of Arms are an amalgamation of the arms of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and their important figures, heraldry and other references to the two ancient universities are sprawled throughout the university in its architecture and character. Its motto, "Sidere mens eadem mutato" translated literally gives "Though the stars change, the mind is the same", but has been more liberally translated to give, "Sydney University is really just Oxford or Cambridge laterally displaced approximately 12,000 miles".

The 2013 QS World University Rankings placed Sydney in the top 20 in the world in 11 subjects; more than a third of the 30 measured. The University of Sydney was ranked 8th in the world for Education, 9th in Accounting and Finance and 10th in Law. Additionally, Sydney was placed 12th in English Language and Literature, History and Archaeology, Linguistics and Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering, the highest in Australia of those subjects. Psychology at Sydney was ranked 14th, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Communication and Media were ranked 16th, and the Sydney Medical School was ranked 17th.

Its main campus has been ranked in the top 10 of the world's most beautiful universities by the British Daily Telegraph, The Huffington Post and Disney Pixar, among others such as Oxford and Cambridge and is spread across the inner-city suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington.

The Main Quadrangle's Great Tower houses the largest and oldest of Australia's two carillons, a performance may be viewed here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYq7x5qAtGE

Japan Expo 2025 - Day 3

Various pics of the day 3 in Japan Expo 2025

Diverses photos prisent a la japan Expo (jour : 3)

( Edition 2025 - 24 eme impact )

Madayaw!!!

PARADISE VISITED

White Beach (Boracay)

Barangay Balabag, Boracay Island,

Province of Aklan, Island Visayas, Philippines

October 31 to November 2, 2012

“Traditionally, men woo women, with chocolates and flowers. But if I were a woman, I’d prefer more than a box of sweets and a bouquet of flowers. I would long for a man with a plan – one who goes to the trouble of preparing a perfect beach gateway with all the trappings: the beach, a lovely sunset, good place and delight in food, with the soothing sound of waves on the background.”

I found all these elements for a romantic beach holiday in White Beach popularly identify “Boracay Beach.” Having visited for the first time, I consider this island a “must visit” destinations not just seekers and even local tourists as well. The beach has Boat Station 1 in the north, Boat Station 2 in the center and Boat Station 3 in the south.

After all, how many islands in the world offer 4 kilometers of pure powder white sand with its beautiful crystal clear turquoise waters deepen so progressively, that you may find yourself 50 meters from the shore, but the water will only be up to your waist. Boracay Island is about 7 kilometers long and has several remote beaches around the island.

During my journey, I noticed the majority of visitor arrivals are coming from Korea with Germans, Australian and Dutch National Russian and other European nationalities following suit. The Japanese are of course the most total as what I observed during my stayed in the place. Of course, no place can ever live up to the hyped-up excellent of this island called paradise.

White Beach is where the action begins and the fun never ends. It’s been called the “most cosmopolitan strip of sand in the world” as mentioned to many destinations magazine and it is easy to see why – there is no shortage of places to stay, eat, shop and have a good time. There are many fantastic restaurants in the island with favors from around the world. Boracay is above all else famous for its nightlife, with pubs, bars and dance clubs that are jumping late into the night.

The beach offers activities like scuba diving, para sailing, surf boarding, snorkeling or even kayaking, the action, fun and exciting really is on the white sands of Boracay itself.

The most exclusive resorts like Fridays, Waling-Waling Beach Hotel, Shangrila Boracay Resort and Spa, Zuzuni Botique Hotel and Restaurant are located along Boat Station 1 has held sway over the imagination of all who seek to be by and, sea and sky. There is also Boracay Regency Beach Resort and Convention Center and The Tides..etc., along Boat Station 2. Just across the narrow street of Boat Station 3 is Asya Boracay which was has managed to carry its own private space “tyangihan” in this busy area of the island.

D Mall, the convenient stop of tourists, which has more than a hundred shops and restaurant that you could roaming around, eventually found along Boat Station 2.

Boracay Island is also getting popular not just for its white sands but also for its spa treatment offerings that you could found in all Boat Stations.

AT DAY TIME - Boracay is known to the world for its magnificent beaches. Its pristine white sand, crystal blue waters and its majestic view of sunset are the natural wonders that Boracay is most sought after for. Boracay has a handful of notable beaches worth visiting. From the busiest beach where you can watch people playing volleyball, jogging and building sandcastles to a more idyllic and secluded beach where you can relax and enjoy as you watch the beauty of nature that Boracay offers.

AT NIGHT TIME - For such a small island, White Beach offers a number of nightlife options to its visitors. Listening to classical guitarist or pianist while having romantic candle light dinner to jamming with the local bands while dancing on sandy grounds are just a few options, like showcasing the different salsa style and version of the fire dancing. Fire dancing (also known as "fire performance") is a group of performance arts or disciplines that involve manipulation of objects on fire. Typically these objects have one or more bundles of wicking, which are soaked in fuel and ignited. www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151127772628301

Most of the big resorts and hotels at White Beach offer live entertainment. Starting from the northern end of Beach and going south, you'll see 24-hour spots and entertainment places. Generally, White Beach is the hotspot but you'll find entertainment and music almost every night somewhere on Boracay Island.

Boracay Island is located about 200 miles south of Manila and 2 kilometers off the northwest tip of Panay in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay is under the Municipality of Malayand is comprised of three Barangays (similar to village) called the Manoc-Manoc, the Balabag, and the Barangay of Yapak and is under the administrative control of the Department of Tourism (DOT) in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan.

Thanks to:

Mam Caroline Espejon and Joy Mae

www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151133590528301.43...

Shimada mage festival

She's such a centered and peaceful dog!

Jan 7, 2010 7/365

Today is #3 in my ten things about me list...

3) I am a dog person! I have always had a dog as far as I remember and I really love them! I'm really an animal person in general, but I think it's safe to say I'm mostly about dogs... they are my first preference, but really animals in general are the best!

I have 2 dogs... this is Angel. She is the most amazing dog I've ever had, so gentle, smart, easy going, & devoted! My daughters and I think she's really a human trapped in a dog's body. She just seems to look at you sometimes and "know." She's been like a best friend to me the last few years! I can't even think about losing her w/o tearing up!

Oh, and Mr. Sardonicus is her biggest fan! If I die, I've willed her to him!

My other dog, Marley, will be in my 365 soon. I'll say this about her... I've never had a dog that was such a DAWG! She's a stick-chewing, treat-begging, let me in - let me out, don't leave your shoes on the floor, mutt! Oh Marley! You are such a Marley!!

AND... I chose this rather "pedestrian" photo today to show that I'M BURIED IN SNOW!!!

It's really ridiculous!

That's all I have to say about that!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

History

United States

Name: Brooklyn

Namesake: City of Brooklyn, New York

Ordered: 19 July 1892

Awarded: 11 February 1893

Builder: William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cost: $3,450,420.29 (hull and machinery)

Laid down: 2 August 1893

Launched: 2 October 1895

Sponsored by: Miss Ida May Schieren

Commissioned: 1 December 1896

Decommissioned: 9 March 1921

Reclassified: CA-3, 17 July 1920

Struck: 9 March 1921

Identification:

Hull symbol:ACR-3

Hull symbol:CA-3

Fate: sold for scrap 20 December 1921

General characteristics (as built)

Type: Armored cruiser

Displacement:

9,215 long tons (9,363 t) (standard)

10,068 long tons (10,230 t) (full load)

Length:

402 ft 7 in (122.71 m)oa

400 ft 6 in (122.07 m)pp

Beam: 64 ft 8 in (19.71 m)

Draft: 24 ft (7.3 m) (mean)

Installed power:

5 × double-ended boilers, 2 × single-ended boilers

4 × vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines

16,000 ihp (12,000 kW) (design)

Propulsion: 2 × screws

Speed:

20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) (design)

21.91 knots (40.58 km/h; 25.21 mph) (Speed on Trial)

Complement: 561 officers and enlisted

Armament:

8 × 8 in (203 mm)/35 caliber Mark 3 and/or Mark 4 breech-loading rifles (4 × 2)

12 × 5 in (127 mm)/40 caliber rapid fire (RF) guns

12 × 6-pounder (57 mm (2.2 in)) Driggs-Schroeder RF guns

4 × 1-pounder (37 mm (1.5 in)) Driggs-Schroeder saluting guns

5 × 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes

Armor:

Belt: 3 in (76 mm)

Deck: 6 in (152 mm) sloped sides, 3 in (76 mm) flat middle (amidships)

2 1⁄2 in (64 mm) (forward & aft)

Turrets: 5 1⁄2 in (140 mm)

3 in (76 mm) (hoists)

Barbettes: 8 in (203 mm)-4 in (102 mm)

Secondary sponsons: 4 in (102 mm)

Conning Tower: 8 1⁄2 in (216 mm)

General characteristics (1914)[1]

Armament:

8 × 8 in (203 mm)/35 caliber Mark 3 and/or Mark 4 breech-loading rifles (4 x 2)

12 × 5 in (127 mm)/40 caliber RF breech-loading rifles

4 × 6-pounder (57 mm (2.2 in)) Driggs-Schroeder saluting guns

General characteristics (1917)[2]

Armament:

8 × 8 in (203 mm)/35 caliber Mark 3 and/or Mark 4 breech-loading rifles (4 x 2)

8 × 5 in (127 mm)/40 caliber RF breech-loading rifles

2 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber anti-aircraft guns

4 × 6-pounder (57 mm (2.2 in)) Driggs-Schroeder saluting guns

The second USS Brooklyn (ACR-3/CA-3) was the third United States Navy armored cruiser, the only one to be named at commissioning for a city rather than a state.

Ordered for $3,450,420.29 (hull and machinery),[3] she was launched on 2 October 1895 by William Cramp and Sons Ship and Engine Building Company of Philadelphia; sponsored by Miss Ida May Schieren, daughter of the Honorable Charles A. Schieren, Mayor of Brooklyn, New York; and commissioned on 1 December 1896, Captain Francis Augustus Cook in command.[4]

Design and construction

Brooklyn was said to be an improved New York at the time of her completion. She was also designed by the Navy Department and was about 1,000 tons larger, which allowed for a raised forecastle for better seakeeping.[5] However, Brooklyn sacrificed armor for improved armament.[6] She had eight 8-inch guns compared to New York's six, and all were in twin turrets. The secondary armament was increased in caliber from New York's 4-inch guns to 5-inch guns.[7] Brooklyn had her turrets in a "lozenge" arrangement (one each fore and aft, one on each side) and also had a tumblehome hull, which allowed the side turrets to fire dead ahead and astern. She was the only US Navy ship built with this turret arrangement.[6] The tumblehome hull and "lozenge" arrangement were rare in the US Navy, but at the time were prevalent in the French Navy and in French-designed Russian ships, such as the French Magenta and the Russian Tsesarevich.[8]

Compared with New York, Brooklyn had a 3 in (76 mm) belt versus 4 in (102 mm), 8 in (203 mm) barbettes versus 10 in (254 mm), and the same turret and deck armor.[7]

Armament

Brooklyn as built had a main armament of eight 8 in (203 mm)/35 caliber Mark 3 and/or Mark 4 breech-loading rifles in four twin Mark 8 turrets in a "lozenge" arrangement.[9] The forward and starboard side turrets were electric-powered, while the other two turrets were steam-powered. This was to test which system was better, and as a result the Navy adopted electric power for future turret designs.[7] Secondary armament was twelve 5 in (127 mm)/40 caliber rapid fire (RF) guns in sponsons along the sides, along with twelve 6-pounder (57 mm (2.2 in)) Driggs-Schroeder RF guns, four 1-pounder (37 mm (1.5 in)) Driggs-Schroeder saluting guns, and five 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes.[5][6][7] Some additional weapons on wheeled carriages were carried for use by landing parties; these included two 3-inch (76 mm) field artillery pieces and four Gatling guns.[10]

Armor

Brooklyn had significantly less protection than New York, to allow for increased armament. The belt was 3 in (76 mm) thick and 8 feet 6 inches (2.6 m) deep, of which 5 ft (1.5 m) was below the waterline. It protected only the machinery spaces.[7][6] The armored deck was 6 in (152 mm) thick on its sloped sides and 3 in (76 mm) in the flat middle amidships, but only 2 1⁄2 in (64 mm) at the ends.[7][6] The gun turrets had up to 5 1⁄2 in (140 mm) of armor, on 8 in (203 mm)-4 in (102 mm) barbettes with 3 in (76 mm) protecting the ammunition hoists.[7][6] The secondary gun sponsons had 4 in (102 mm), while the conning tower was 8 1⁄2 in (216 mm) thick.[7][6]

Engineering

Brooklyn was intended to be relatively fast at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), and achieved 21.91 knots (40.58 km/h; 25.21 mph) on trials. Her machinery was generally similar to New York, but achieved 1,300 ihp (970 kW) additional horsepower and an extra knot on trials.[6] Four triple-expansion engines totaling 16,000 ihp (12,000 kW) (designed, 18,769 ihp (13,996 kW) on trials) were clutched in tandem, two on each of two shafts.[6] The forward engines could be disconnected to conserve fuel at an economical cruising speed. In the US Navy, only New York shared this feature, which proved something of a liability in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, when both ships were operating with the forward engines disconnected and did not have time to reconnect them, thus limiting their speed.[10] Seven coal-fired cylindrical boilers, five double-ended and two single-ended, supplied steam to the engines.[7][6]

Refits

Brooklyn's refits were relatively modest. Her torpedo tubes were removed prior to 1914; one source says by 1903.[1][5] By 1917 the 5-inch guns had been reduced to eight while two 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber anti-aircraft guns were added.[2][5]

Service history

Spanish–American War

Brooklyn's first assignment was a special cruise to Britain with representatives of the U.S. for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The cruiser returned to the east coast in July 1897 and cruised there and in the West Indies until becoming flagship of the Flying Squadron under Commodore W. S. Schley on 28 March 1898.[4]

During the Spanish–American War, the Flying Squadron arrived at Cienfuegos, Cuba on 21 May and established the blockade of that port. On 26 May, the Squadron arrived at Santiago de Cuba, where the Spanish fleet was being held behind the protection of the forts. Brooklyn was a key vessel in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on 3 July, in which the Spanish Fleet was destroyed. Although she was struck 20 times by whole shot, Brooklyn suffered only one man wounded (Fireman J. Bevins) and one man killed (Chief Yeoman George Henry Ellis).[4][11][10]

Brooklyn returned to Tompkinsville, New York on 20 August; cruised along the Atlantic coast and in Caribbean waters; participated in the Spanish–American War Victory Celebration at New York on 5 October; and in the Dewey Celebration at New York in September 1899. She left Hampton Roads on 16 October and sailed via the Suez Canal to Manila, Philippine Islands, where she arrived on 16 December. She became flagship of the Asiatic Squadron and participated in the China Relief Expedition (8 July – 11 October 1900. She made a cruise to the Dutch East Indies, Australia and New Zealand from 10 April – 7 August 1901; the last stage was to Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington and Sydney. She remained with the Asiatic Squadron until 1 March 1902, when she sailed for the United States via the Suez Canal and arrived at the New York Navy Yard on 1 May.[4]

Post-war

Brooklyn in 1899

On 20 May 1902, Brooklyn was at Havana, Cuba for the ceremonies to transfer the authority on that island from the United States Government to the Cuban Government. In June–July, she was on special duty in connection with the funeral of the late British Ambassador to the United States, Lord Pauncefote. During the next four years, she cruised with the North Atlantic Fleet and the European Squadron. She was involved in the intervention in Syria from 8 September to 17 October 1903 as well as the intervention in Djibouti from 21 November 1903 to 18 January 1904.[4]

Brooklyn returned to New York on 26 May 1905. On 7 June, as flagship of Rear Admiral Charles Dwight Sigsbee, she sailed for Cherbourg, France, where the remains of the late John Paul Jones were received aboard and brought to America. Upon arrival at Annapolis, Commodore Jones' remains were transferred ashore to a receiving vault at the United States Naval Academy with appropriate ceremonies on 23 July.[4]

Following a naval militia cruise (from 3–23 August 1905) and a tour in the Mediterranean (from 28 December 1905 – 8 May 1906), Brooklyn went into reserve at the League Island Navy Yard in Philadelphia on 16 May 1906. Except for a short period (from 30 June–2 August 1906) in commission for special service at Havana, Cuba, she remained in reserve until the spring of 1907. From 12 April – 4 December 1907, Brooklyn served as part of the permanent display at the Jamestown Exposition in Jamestown, Virginia. Following her return to Philadelphia, Brooklyn went into reserve again on 21 December.[4]

Placed out of commission on 23 June 1908, she was commissioned in ordinary on 2 March 1914. She was assigned to the Atlantic Reserve Fleet and served as receiving ship at Boston Navy Yard from 24 July 1914 – 13 March 1915. She was placed in full commission at Philadelphia on 9 May 1915 and served on Neutrality Patrol around Boston Harbor until November, when she sailed to the Asiatic Station to serve as flagship for the Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet. She attended to regular military and diplomatic duties in China, Japan, and Russia until September 1919, when she became the flagship of Commander, Division 1, Asiatic Fleet. In January 1920, she was assigned to the Pacific Fleet as flagship of Commander, Destroyer Squadrons, and remained there until 15 January 1921. She was redesignated as CA-3 (heavy cruiser) on 17 July 1920 as part of a fleetwide redesignation plan. Brooklyn was placed out of commission for the final time at Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 March 1921 and sold for disposal on 20 December.[4]

Colorized photo of Brooklyn

Workers cutting up a main turret of Brooklyn during the scrapping process c.1922

Awards

Navy Expeditionary Medal (2 awards)

Sampson Medal

Spanish Campaign Medal

Philippine Campaign Medal

China Relief Expedition Medal

Victory Medal with "ASIATIC" clasp

Genesis 1:3

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

in our garden, Frankfurt, Germany

Built in 1896 in the Federation Filigree style by Architect Michael Cavanagh.

Cnr William St & James St's, Northbridge.

In 1897 Thomas Trotter, a respectable looking man was fined 10s for using obscene language in the Great Western Hotel.

In 1898 Hugh Johnson who was riotous and disorderly was charged with assaulting Richard Henner and damaging the Great Western's glass door, he was fined £3.

In Jan 1899 George West ppr. of the Great Western Hotel.

In 1899 Four men accused of stealing a cash box from the Great Western Hotel, they were, George Lyons, John Sullivan, James Purcell and John Matthews.

In Mar 1899 George West ppr. of the Great Western Hotel allegedly obstructed the police.

In Apr 1901 George West ex-ppr. of the Great Western Hotel, now acquired and renovated the Palace Hotel at Yarloop.

In 1903 The Great Western Hotel bought by Mr. Frederick Briggs ppr. who previously was from, the Court Hotel, the Imperial Hotel and the Red Lion Hotel in Adelaide. Mr. Briggs will renovate and refurbish the Great Western.

In 1903 Constable Love in plain clothes was fined for being drunk and using profane language in the Great Western Hotel.

In 1903 A meeting of those interested in the retention of the William Street footbridge was held at the Great Western Hotel, the Mayor of North Perth, Mr. R. S. Haynes K. C. presided over a good attendance. The Govt evidently thought the construction of the circular bridge entitled them to take away the footbridge, which would devalue the property in William Street, and the people of Nth Perth should not tolerate such gross injustice.

In 1904 Lottie Trenoweth, Cook of the Great Western Hotel, proceeded against Mr. Briggs ppr. of the Great Western, for the recovery of £2 in wages.

In 1905 Frederick Cookson fined £1.15s for damaging property of Frederick Briggs ppr. of the Great Western Hotel.

In Dec 1905 Charles Brewer ppr. of the Great Western Hotel.

In 1906 Frank Ernest Randell, Wine and Spirit Merchant and Hotelkeeper, sued Charles Brewer former owner and licensee of the Great Western Hotel, £100 for breach of contract.

In 1906 Helena Farrell and Louisa Frayzer were sent to prison for 2 months for stealing a purse containing £3.10s from Susan Williams at the Great Western Hotel.

In Mar 1907 E. B. Porter ppr. of the Globe Hotel.

In 1907 John Webb, the Great Western Hotel Barman was charged for stealing £7.10s in gold, from Frederick Justel, Webb was gaoled for 2 months hard labour.

In 1907 A policeman, Constable Plant was trying to remove a woman from the Great Western when he was set upon by two men that had a pugnacious look, they were, William Lowrey and Francis McMahon, who freely kicked and pummeled the constable and not one person in the Hotel came to his aid. They were fined £10.

In 1907 Ah Chong, Cook, employed at the Great Western Hotel was arrested with 20 tins of Opium worth £70, the seizure was the biggest in this state.

In 1911 John Quigley ppr. of the Great Western Hotel.

In 1915 Edward Elliott and James O'Connell were fined 20s and 10s for having followed William de Vot a Miner, staying at the Great Western, into an outhouse in the Hotel yard and striking him and knocking him down.

In 1915 The wife of the Licensee, encountered a man in the Laundry Room, he was, Harry Rickards 40 years old, and had stolen items from the Barmaids room and Laundress room, he was gaoled for 2 months then 1 month hard labour.

In 1916 Sarah Jane Matson aged 33 years, created a disturbance at the Great Western Hotel, under the influence of drink, used abusive language, was fighting and threw a glass at another woman, Matson was gaoled for 2 months with hard labour.

In 1916 Anton Krempel was fined £3 for assaulting the Barman at the Great Western Hotel.

In 1916 Thomas J. Earsman was fined £3 for breaking the mirror at the Great Western Hotel.

In 1917 Two women, Elizabeth Varian aged 48 and Catherine Francis aged 44 fined 10s and £1 for fighting in the Great Western Hotel.

In 1917 Great Western Barman, Patrick O'Keefe was fined £5 for having supplied an intoxicated person with liquor.

In 1918 Patrick O'Keefe ppr. of the Great Western Hotel fined £10 for supplying liquor to non-bona-fide travellers on a Sunday.

In Oct 1923 Charles Henry Jackson ppr. of the Great Western Hotel, fined £10 for permitting drunkenness on the licensed premises.

In 1925 James Meldrum ppr. of the Great Western Hotel.

In 1927 Mrs E. Germaine, Dressmaker of 193 William Street, widow and mother of a 12 year old boy of Guildford Grammar School, crossed William Street from her shop to near the Great Western and was killed by a car driven by Taxi driver, Henry Cooper aged 45 years, who was under the influence of liquor, he was charged with manslaughter.

In 1927 Alterations to the Great Western Hotel costing £630, for Mrs M. O'Sullivan.

In 1928 A car driven by Thomas Williams aged 18 years, was coming down William St, approaching the James St, intersection when another car was about to cross the intersection, Williams tried to brake but his foot struck the accelerator and the car jumped forward and hit the Great Western Hotel wall and burst into flames.

In 1928 Phillip Lynch ppr. of the Great Western Hotel was fined £12 for having a number of bottles of Port Wine that were adulterated with aniline dye.

In 1933 Ivan Matocha a Yugoslav aged 22 years, intruded into a boarders room at the Great Western Hotel, he was caught exiting down the fire escape, he was gaoled for 6 months.

In 1941 Bert Bowman ppr. of the Great Western Hotel fined £10 for supplying liquor to be consumed on a Sunday.

In 1945 Two men, Keith Stratton Bain, Labourer, aged 20 years and James Bissaker, Labourer, aged 18 1/2, were gaoled for 2 months, for taking tobacco and cigarettes from a room at the Great Western Hotel.

In 1948 Thomas Coelli ppr. of the Great Western Hotel was fined £10 for selling beer to the East Perth Football Club in a place not authorised by the terms of his license.

In Feb 1952 Thomas Coelli ppr. of the Great Western Hotel collapsed and died at the Hotel.

I don't know if it was the 3-IN-1 or the HEMP + CAFFEINE or the made with dragon's blood that sold me

This is my soft sleeper bed on the train back to Beijing from Shanghai. there are 4 beds in one lounge, luckly on the way home, i had another 3 guys sleeping with me in the same lounge for 12 hours (only sleep, nothing else :PPP). It was clean and comfy soft bed with first class service, but...the guys were snoring all night. :P

see, i'm on top of 2 of them, and another one guy on my side just this close. :P

funny thing was i had to take off and put on my top and jeans under the blanket. and i couldn't drink too much, coz too inconvenient for going to the toilet as i needed to get dressed again. :P and the funnest thing was the guy who sleeping next to me, he is an early 20 young boy, was just too shy to take his pants off, so had his pants on while asleeping for the whole night...hahahaha

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based on historical facts. BEWARE!

Some Background:

The Royal Libyan Air Force (سلاح الجو الملكي الليبي , Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Libiyya) was established in September 1962 by a decision of the minister of defense Abd al-Nabi Yunis. Lt. Col. al-Hadi Salem al-Husomi was assigned to lead the new force. It was originally equipped with a small number of transports and trainers. In May 1967, the Kingdom of Libya reached an agreement with the United States to supply Northrop F-5A and Bs to the Royal Libyan Air Force and more advanced trainers, in the form of six Cessna T-37C trainers.

During the following months, Libya distanced itself from the United Kingdom and the United States and the serviceability of the older American aircraft quickly declined, especially the F-5s were affected. Eight F-5 single-seaters and two two-seaters had been delivered until then, as well as four T-37Cs - the rest of the order was cancelled. Educated service personnel for these aircraft was initially loaned from Greece as an emergency measure, but this did not help much, and most were eventually sold to Turkey (the F-5s) and Greece (the T-37Cs). Instead, close ties were developed with France, and, accordingly, an order for 110 Dassault Mirage 5s fighter bombers, twelve Fouga Magisters, ten Aérospatiale Alouette IIIs and nine Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelons was signed in December 1969, and in 1971 the LARAF still received eight C-130Hs from the United States. Negotiations for the purchase of Soviet military aircraft only started in 1973, in the light of the experiences of the Yom Kippur War, but relations with France were maintained.

General characteristics:

Crew: 2

Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)

Wingspan: 33 ft 99.3 in (12.581 m)

Height: 9 ft 2 in (2.79 m)

Wing area: 201 sq ft (18.7 m²)

Aspect ratio: 6.2:1

Airfoil: NACA 2418 at root, NACA 2412 at tip

Empty weight: 5,484 lb (2.490 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 8,000 lb (3.632 kg)

Powerplant:

2× Continental-Teledyne J69-T-25 turbojets, 1,025 lbf (4.56 kN) thrust each

Performance:

Maximum speed: 595 km/h (370 mph)

Cruise speed: 360 mph (580 km/h, 310 kn) at 35,000 ft (11,000 m)

Stall speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn)

Range: 932 mi (1,500 km, 810 nmi) with internal fuel

Service ceiling: 38,700 ft (11,800 m)

Rate of climb: 3,370 ft/min (17.1 m/s)

Armament:

2 underwing pylons for stores up to 500 lb (227 kg) each

The kit and its assembly:

This small but exotic what-if model was inspired by decals for an RLAF F-5A from a Colorado Decals sheet – and I had stumbled upon these rather hapless aircraft that only served for a few months under this flag in a F-5 book. I found the historic time slot interesting and wondered about other aircraft that could have been introduced in 1968 and found that Libya might have needed some more and more modern jet trainers than the three T-33 it had. My first choice was the British Jet Provost, but since Libya procured the equipment from US sources, a Hasegawa A-37 kit from a lot (and without any plan for it yet) came to the rescue.

At first I wanted to build the Tweet OOB, but found that the A-37 was a little “too much” for Libya’s needs, so I decided to retrograde it to a T-37C – a light trainer, but still armed. Biggest changes were the omission of the refueling probe, the gun port was faired over, and I left away the optional tip tanks and replaced them with scratched wing tips, made from styrene. A small dorsal antenna fairing “hump” was added, a smaller one that the A-37s feature. Even though they were not necessary to represent the real aircraft I added styrene tube dummies to the exhaust ports - the gaping OOB holes did not convince me.

The underwing hardpoints were reduced to just a pair of pylons, and the light armament now consist only of a pair of LAU-7 unguided missile launchers (from the Italeri NATO weapons set). The single-piece canopy was cut into two parts for open display, in the cockpit two gunsights, seat belts and a hydraulic piston for the open canopy were added.

Painting and markings:

The RLAF F-5s were the benchmark, and they carried a rather simple/dry livery: the were painted overall in a dull silver lacquer (not NMF), similar to the USAF prototypes, with a black anti-glare panel. Finding a good paint for this look/finish was not easy, though, and I eventually settled for Humbrol 11 (Silver) with a light black ink washing and post-panel-shading with Humbrol’s Matt Aluminum metallizer (27002).

The cockpit interior became medium grey while landing gear and air intakes became white. The LAU-7 pods became very light grey.

To emphasize the Tweet’s trainer role I pimped the uniform silver livery with dayglo orange markings, procured from an Airfix Jet Provost sheet. National markings were taken from the aforementioned Colorado Decals F-5 sheet, even though its national markings are wrong: they lack green, they were just printed in 2C. To mend this flaw, I just added a thin green decal stripe to the flag on the fin, and the roundels, which are pretty small on the F-5, were completely replaced with bigger alternatives: Albanian air force markings from an Antonov An-2 (Balkan Models sheet), with a small green decal circle added to their center. Simple, but effective, and in combination with the orange stripes the whole aircraft looks quite attractive. The tactical codes were taken from a Myanmar MiG-29 (Caracal Models sheet). Most stencils were taken from the OOB sheet, with some more added from the 1/72 A-37 aftermarket sheet from PrintScale.

After a light treatment with graphite around the jet nozzles the model was sealed overall with matt acrylic varnish (Italeri), and this IMHO comes pretty close to the real world RLAF F-5 finish.

A small project, even though the tank-less wing tips were quite challenging. However, the Libyan Tweet looks very convincing, and with the high-viz trainer markings the whole package even has a stylish touch. The early Libyan roundels are also quite exotic, since they were only used for a couple of months

+++ DISCLAIMER +++

Nothing you see here is real, even though the conversion or the presented background story might be based historical facts. BEWARE!

Some background:

The Fiat G.91Y was an Italian ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft that first flew in 1966. Resembling its predecessor, the Fiat G.91, the aircraft was a complete redesign, a major difference being its twin-turbojet engines for a considerably increased performance.

In this form the G.91YS was kept in operational service until 1994, when it was retired together with the Swiss Hunter fleet. Six aircraft had been lost through accidents during the type’s career. Author Fiona Lombardi stated of the retirement of the Hunter and the G.91YS, the Swiss Air Force "definitively lost the capability to carry out air-to-ground operations". With the retirement of the G.91YS fleet Fliegerstaffel 22 was disbanded, too.

General characteristics:

Crew: 1

Length (incl. pitot): 12.29 m (40 ft 11 in)

Wingspan: 9.01 m (29 ft 6.5 in)

Height: 4.43 m (14 ft 6.3 in)

Wing area: 18.13 m² (195.149 ft²)

Empty weight: 4.000 kg (8.810 lb)

Loaded weight: 8.000 kg (17.621 lb)

Max. take-off weight: 9.000 kg (19.825 lb)

Powerplant:

2× General Electric J85-GE-13A turbojets with afterburners, 18.15 kN (4,080 lbf) each

Performance:

Maximum speed: 1.110 km/h (600 kn, 690 mph,

Mach 0.95 at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)

Range: 3,400 km (ferry range with droptanks) (2,110 mls)

Service ceiling: 12,500 m (41,000 ft)

Rate of climb: 86.36 m/s (17,000 ft/min)

Wing loading: 480 kg/m² (98.3 lb/ft² (maximum)

Thrust/weight: 0.47 at maximum loading

Armament:

2× 30 mm (1.18 in) DEFA cannons

6× under-wing pylon stations holding up to maximum of 2.270 kg (5.000 lb) of payload.

The kit and its assembly:

A classic whif – the G.91YS for the Swiss Air Force actually existed, and I just spun the idea further. The compact fighter would have been a suitable addition to the small nation’s air force, and I interpreted it as an addition to the big Hawker Hunter fleet with a dedicated role and with suitable special equipment.

The basis is the Matchbox G.91Y kit with some minor changes:

• A new nose from a Fujimi Harrier GR.3

• The jet exhausts were opened and some interior added

• Flaps were lowered

• Some added detail to the ejection seat

• The spine extension, a simple piece of sprue

• The radar warning fairing is a square piece of styrene sheet

• Replacement of the cast-on guns with hollow steel needles

• The Sidewinder hardpoints come from a Revell F-16A

• The AGM-65s and their launch rails come from a Hasegawa weapon set

Painting and markings:

The bigger challenge, because I did not want to use the typical “Hunter livery” in Extra Dark Sea Grey/SlateGrey/Aluminum – even if it would have been the natural choice for a Swiss aircraft. Choice for alternative yet authentic schemes is narrow, though – late Mirage III or the F-5Es carry a two-tone grey air superiority scheme, and I found this rather unsuitable for an attack aircraft.

So I developed my own design: a mix of the original Italian grey/green scheme and a two-tone pattern that late Turkish RF-4E/TMs carried - but with different colors and all mashed up into a modern, disruptive scheme. Experimental schemes of the German Luftwaffe in the late 70ies for their Alpha Jets and the F-4F fleet (leading to the complex Norm ’81 patterns) also had an influence.

As basic tones I used RAL 6007 (Grüngrau, Revell 67) and Dark Gull Grey (FS36231, Modelmaster, turned out to be a bit too pale for what I wanted to achieve), with added fields of RAL 7000 (Fehgrau, Revell 57) on the upper surfaces and on the mid-waterline flanks – lighter and softer than the original NATO tones and with disruptive lighter blotches that break up the silhouette.

The underside was simply painted in uniform FS36375 (Humbrol 127), which was also carried onto the fin. After a thin black ink wash panels were lightened through dry-brushing.

Cockpit interior was painted with Humbrol 140, the landing gear with a mix of White and Aluminum, trying to emulate look of real aircraft. In order not to make them stand out too much I painted the AGM-65s in olive drab, even though I think all Swiss missiles of that type were white. Artistic freedom…

Decals were puzzled together, e. g. from a Mirage III Carpena sheet and an Italieri Bae Hawk sheet, most stencils come from the OOB sheet (despite being slightly yellowed...).

A simple whif, done in a week, and based on an obscure real-life project. And the G.91 bears more whiffing potential, at least one more is to come!

Etching

DBS 67 018 sits at the buffers at the end of platform 3 in Birmingham Moor

Street shortly after arriving with 1R55, the 1647 from London Marylebone,

on Tuesday 9th September 2014.