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New Mexico Museum of Space History
Adding the Able second stage, from the Navy's Vanguard space launcher, let the Air Force boost test models of re-entry vehicles - some with mice as passengers - to higher speeds and altitudes. This second stage housed the vehicle's telemetry system, the inertial guidance system, and the autopilot. Adding a small, solid-motor third stage produced America's first deep-space launcher. Thor-Able I vehicles made America's first attempts to reach the Moon with unmanned probes in 1958. Other variants launched a number of historic satellites.
The Thor-Able was an American expendable launch system and sounding rocket used for a series of re-entry vehicle tests and satellite launches between 1958 and 1960.
It was a two-stage rocket, consisting of a Thor IRBM as a first stage, and a Vanguard-derived Able second stage. The Thor-Able II was used to launch the Transit 1A navigation satellite.
Goodbye Mongolia. Unfortunately I doubt I'll be able to make it back there next Summer but I am already thinking of something adventurous to do in Mongolia within the next few years...
I'm a UK photographer currently based in Bangkok, Thailand. Many of my photos are available for sale on stock photography agencies and I'm also available for hire on the weekends for couples/maternity/newborn/corporate photoshoots in Bangkok. You can contact me at samspicerphotography@gmail.com or Line ID - samspicer
Please feel free to check out my stock photography galleries at -
Shutterstock - Sam Spicer
Fotolia - samspicerphoto
Alamy - Stock photography by Samuel Spicer at Alamy
Please contact me if there is a photo you wish to purchase that is unavailable through the stock agencies and I'll be happy to help
IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE COLOR REFLEXION OVER THE DRESS PLEASE SET YOUR VIEWER PREFERENCES:
Avatar-Preferences-Graphics-General- tick on: Avanded Lighting Modet , also Ambient Occlusion and on the Shadows tab open it and choose: Sun/Moon + Projectors
This dress is a composition between Mesh and Flexi Part.
I have try to give to the dress a Lovely Shine into the Sequin and the Skin (Specular) of the Flexi part. The dress have a special Specular Color Circle reflection with all the color of the rainbow circle. (Notice the flexi skirt and flexi glitter over the skirt is not included into the ColorReflex Version of Laura's Dress
Semi-Formal Dress it can be wear at any Formal Place, wedding, Club or Cocktail Party
Included into this Purchase:
Mesh Dress or FitMesh Dress for Classic Avatar or Mesh Avatar. (Copy)
~ Maitreya
~ Legacy
~ Slink, Hourglass & Physique
~ Belleza, Isis, Venus & Freya
~ Ocacin Standard
~ Voluptuous
~ Tonic, Fine & Curvy
~ FitMesh M
~ Classic M
Flexi Part: (Copy Resize)
~ Flexi top back veil
This Dress is offer in 10 Different Color. Also I have created one Different Version : Laura's Sequin Dress ( with out a ColorReflextion into the Specular of the Mesh Dress. (same 10 Color) but the dress come with the flexi skirt and flexi glitter over the skirt ).
Finally I have create the Laura's Glass Heels to suit perfectly the color of each dress as they was created in the same 10 colors. (Not Included on each Laura's Dress purchase)
The Heels are a composition of the last version of Chrystal Heels more defined with a layer of Sparling Glitter!
DEMO of each color is available.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be sure I create all my creation with all my heart and attention, As a DEMO Version Is Offer, No refund will be give if you are not satisfy, But if for some reason for flexi or other pieces need to be fix to fit on your perfectly, I will be glad to do it for you or help you if you need it.
To any Question please Contact Directly Shrantal who will be very please to help you :)).
*ApoTHEOSeS* A World of Dreams!
Shrantal.┊ ┊ ☆
┊ ♥
☆ .·*¨) ♥
(¸.·´ ( .·*¨ ♥
via WordPress bit.ly/2R3ds4y
Frustrated not to be able the blood moon this morning.-
Taken on location Sibton
peasenhall foyersphotography bloodmoon supermoon suffolk frosty cold
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The post Frustrated not to be able the blood moon this morning. – FoyersPhotography appeared first on Foyers.Photography.
All Albertans will soon be able to receive a second dose of vaccine, helping fully protect them and all Albertans from COVID-19.
Alberta’s vaccine rollout continues to reach new milestones, with more than 2.8 million doses administered to date and 63.4 per cent of Albertans aged 12-plus having received at least one dose.
Albertans will be able to schedule second-dose appointments in the order they received their first doses.
Anyone vaccinated in March or earlier can book their second dose starting June 1.
Anyone vaccinated in April can book their second dose starting June 14.
Anyone vaccinated in May can book their second dose starting June 28.
A single dose of COVID-19 vaccine offers at least 80 per cent protection against severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death. However, second doses are needed to get the best and most long-lasting protection against the virus.
Alberta is a national leader in second doses, with 10.4 per cent of eligible Albertans already fully protected with two doses.
“Every Albertan who has received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be able to book their second dose by the end of the month. This will provide Albertans with even more protection as we get ready to be open for summer and get back to normal. Please do your part by booking your second doses so we can beat COVID-19, once and for all.” said Premier Jason Kenney.
“First doses have brought Albertans much-needed relief to our families, our communities and our health system, but two doses are necessary for full protection. We are staggering the second-dose rollout to start with those who received their first dose earliest. Thank you to the AHS workers, pharmacists and physicians who continue to work tirelessly to administer these vaccines and to all Albertans who have chosen to get protected.” Said Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health.
“I strongly urge all Albertans to book their second-dose appointments in the coming weeks and months. It is critical that everyone who has received their first dose shows up for their second. In the meantime, we all need to continue to follow public health measures to keep driving transmission down.” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health.
(photography by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)
GENERATION OF HIGH QUALITY:
(Is a human / generation that is able to do as follows below):
1. OVERCOME VARIOUS problema ACHIEVE ANY DESIRE =
= Healing .......................for self and others; distance / near
= Achieve ...... .................for self and others; distance / near
= Reach ......................... love for self and others; distance / near
= Happiness, etc. ............ for self and others; distance / near
2. CHILDREN UNDER THE NEED = BEFORE / AFTER BIRTH =
= Face......... to conform with the wishes
= Nature ......to conform with the wishes
= Genitals .....to conform with the wishes
= Twin / no.. accordance with the wishes
= Ability ........to comply with the wishes
= IQ..............for liking
= Its future, ..etc. to conform with the wishes
3. SOME LETTERS PASSWORD..... free ( OWN CREATION)
4. COPYRIGHT COMBINED SOME POETRY FROM NAME =
= Name and meaning / purpose of poetry depends request ....(Free)
Please Sorry not to be discussed, discussed in the liver and then get GENERATION HIGH QUALITY send USD; 1,500,000 (to point 1 and point 2) to: Rosida no. rek.654801002820505 BRI branch: 6548 units Sumenep Kalianget East Java Indonesia then send it to us: full address, profiles, and desire through PO.BOX, sms / call, email.atau you can come directly to our hut.
Then you will get:
1. some books to guide science GENERATION HIGH QUALITY good to use before marriage / after, before the birth / thereafterwith this book you will learn and be able to:
a. OVERCOME VARIOUS problema ACHIEVE ANY DESIRE =
= .............. Healing for self and others; distance / near
= Achieve .............. for self and others; distance / near
= Reach ............. love for self and others; distance / near
= Happiness, etc. ............ for self and others; distance / near
b. CHILDREN UNDER THE NEED = BEFORE / AFTER BIRTH =
= Face ...................... to conform with the wishes
= Nature................... to conform with the wishes
= Genitals..................to conform with the wishes
= Twin / no................to accordance with the wishes
= Ability .....................to comply with the wishes
= IQ ..........................for liking
= Its future,............... etc. to conform with the wishes
2. MIXED FOODS, BEVERAGES efficacious for consumption during the 24h X a month, so you will learn and be able to:
a. OVERCOME VARIOUS problema ACHIEVE ANY DESIRE =
= .............. Healing for self and others; distance / near
= Achieve .............. for self and others; distance / near
= Reach ............. love for self and others; distance / near
= Happiness, etc. ............ for self and others; distance / near b. CHILDREN UNDER THE NEED = BEFORE / AFTER BIRTH =
= Face ...................... to conform with the wishes
= Nature................... to conform with the wishes
= Genitals..................to conform with the wishes
= Twin / no................to accordance with the wishes
= Ability .....................to comply with the wishes
= IQ ..........................for liking
= Its future,............... etc. to conform with the wishes
3. manual close / far away forever (if we die our generation will continue; (transfer of energy and other such) so you will learn and be able to:
a. OVERCOME VARIOUS problema ACHIEVE ANY DESIRE =
= .............. Healing for self and others; distance / near
= Achieve .............. for self and others; distance / near
= Reach ............. love for self and others; distance / near
= Happiness, etc. ............ for self and others; distance / near b. CHILDREN UNDER THE NEED = BEFORE / AFTER BIRTH =
= Face ...................... to conform with the wishes
= Nature................... to conform with the wishes
= Genitals..................to conform with the wishes
= Twin / no................to accordance with the wishes
= Ability .....................to comply with the wishes
= IQ ..........................for liking
= Its future,............... etc. to conform with the wishes
alifi30271@hotmail.comalif30271@yahoo.co.idalif30271@ymail.comalifi30271@gmail.comalifi30271@yahoo.comal30271@yahoo.comhttp://alifi30271.blogspot.com/http://generationofhighlyqualified.blogspot.com/http://alif30271.blogspot.com/http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/alif30271http://my.opera.com/alif30271http://www.filmannex.com/alifiyasintadewi-nurqodrihttp:generationofhighlyqualified.blogspot.com/www.myspace.com/551149748http://groups.google.com/group/generation-high-qualityhttp://www.mixpod.com/alif30271http://www.flickr.com/photos/alifi30271yahoocomhttp://alifi30271.blogspot.com/http://generationofhighlyqualified.blogspot.com/http://alif30271.blogspot.com/http://profile.typepad.com/alifiyasintadewisahidi.achmad @ yahoo.com rsida@ymail.com
SMS = 081331412197 = 087850539399 = 081939047397
Rosida SAHIDI / alifiyasintadewi nurqodri Klg POBOX.30271 69 471 INDONESIA JL. PORT KERTASADA No.38 RT.02/01 Kalianget SUMENEP 69 471 EAST JAVA INDONESIA
* While it is not yet born, later born, the child - children, adolescence, adulthood, so parents, if in the future it is better than all the elements (Chronicle, seeds, lathe, ancestor, and weight), it will be good precisely on The next period, or the next descent. (That's rotation system, if either it will be good also in the future - which will be passed next time.) But that does not mean there is a problem for which the system can not get / create GENERATION OF HIGHLY qualified ...! Before the marriage, before birth, or after birth, GENERATION OF HIGHLY qualified to be created.
So far away before marriage, there was no system of creation, how generations / children that we want, of this process we will know how to actually solve various problems from within ourselves or others, and how to achieve all desires ranging fromin themselves, then help others After birth we were able to drive to create, how abilitasnya, his IQ, character, future, etc., so that our children become the generation that highly qualified.
After birth GENERATION OF HIGHLY Qualified created through two methods:
1.metode in dlahir / sharia / real (through our assistance)
2.metode inner / supernatural (through our assistance)
* After being born under the control arms with MOTHER LOVE:1.method is dlahir / visible / tangible, MOM, DAD, and FAMILY will be more visible to direct, create for children / generation is to become GENERATION OF HIGHLY qualified. 2. methods are unseen through our aid.
* Nature after birth will be brought to nature - nature in the natural maturation of the length distribution, this is where (in nature after the birth of many banks and management of data storage for your child / children / next generation), negatifpenyimpananannya / planting, it will be negative pendewasaannya . then .......... how to create pendewasaannya?GENERATION OF HIGHLY order to become qualified ?.... contact us to get the method. (All goods will be shipped to your place)
* In the arms of the mother and father, and families: making peace happily embrace the affection (without interference of other negative plan brain thinking) that would make the implementation of ITS THE PEACEFUL, HAPPY, LOVE, affectionate, THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR
* Starting from happiness within yourself, then direct the happiness to the wife, or husband, (co-exist and complement between husband and wife). Subsequent to the generation / our child, in community groups, state, and even the world so it will be in accordance with the purpose of the creator, and the goal THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR will be the creation of perfect beings called human.
By creating GENERATION OF HIGHLY qualified then, each of the individual, every family, every group of society, every citizen, and every race and human beings will be in accordance with the wishes, goals, ideals of every self, every family, every human being on earth as the purpose of religion, state and nation, even as the purpose of the creator, as the purpose of THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR will be the creation of perfect beings called human
GENERASI BERKWALITAS TINGGI :
(adalah manusia/generasi yang mampu untuk berbuat sebagaimana berikut di bawah ini) :
1. ATASI BERBAGAI MACAM PROBLEMA MENCAPAI SEGALA KEINGINAN=
=penyembuhan..............untuk diri dan orang lain ; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cita..............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cinta.............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=kebahagiaan,dll............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
2. ANAK SESUAI KEINGINAN =SEBELUM/SETELAH LAHIR=
=wajahnya......................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=sifatnya........................ agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kelaminnya...................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kembar/tidaknya..........agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=ability............................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=IQ-nya..........................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=masa depannya,dll.......agar sesuai dengan keinginan
3. BEBERAPA HURUF SANDI CIPTAAN SENDIRI ........................(gratis)
4. CIPTA PUISI DARI GABUNGAN BEBERAPA NAMA=
=nama dan makna/tujuan puisi tergantung permintan............................. (gratis)
Mohon ma'af bukan untuk di diskusikan, diskusikan pada hati lalu dapatkan GENERATION HIGH QUALITY
kirim Rp;1.500.000 (untuk point 1 dan point 2)
ke :ROSIDA no. rek.654801002820505 BRI cabang: 6548 unit kalianget sumenep Jawa Timur Indonesia
kemudian kirim kepada kami: alamat lengkap, profil, dan keinginan lewat Po.Box,sms/call, email.atau anda dapat datang langsung ke gubug kami.
Maka anda akan mendapatkan:
1. beberapa kitab ilmu penuntun menjadi GENERATION HIGH QUALITY baik digunakan sebelum nikah/setelahnya, sebelum adanya kelahiran/setelahnya
dengan kitab ini anda akan belajar dan mampu untuk bisa:
a. ATASI BERBAGAI MACAM PROBLEMA MENCAPAI SEGALA KEINGINAN=
=penyembuhan..............untuk diri dan orang lain ; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cita..............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cinta.............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=kebahagiaan,dll............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
b. ANAK SESUAI KEINGINAN =SEBELUM/SETELAH LAHIR=
=wajahnya...................... agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=sifatnya........................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kelaminnya...................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kembar/tidaknya..........agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=ability............................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=IQ-nya..........................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=masa depannya,dll.......agar sesuai dengan keinginan
2. CAMPURAN MAKANAN,MINUMAN BERKHASIAT untuk di konsumsi selama 24jam X satu bulan, sehingga anda akan belajar dan mampu untuk bisa:
a. ATASI BERBAGAI MACAM PROBLEMA MENCAPAI SEGALA KEINGINAN=
=penyembuhan..............untuk diri dan orang lain ; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cita..............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cinta.............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=kebahagiaan,dll............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
b. ANAK SESUAI KEINGINAN =SEBELUM/SETELAH LAHIR=
=wajahnya...................... agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=sifatnya........................ agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kelaminnya...................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kembar/tidaknya..........agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=ability............................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=IQ-nya..........................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=masa depannya,dll.......agar sesuai dengan keinginan
3. panduan jarak dekat/jauh selamanya (jika kami mati generasi kami akan melanjutkannya; (transfer energi dan lain lain semacamnya) sehingga anda akan belajar dan mampu untuk bisa:
a. ATASI BERBAGAI MACAM PROBLEMA MENCAPAI SEGALA KEINGINAN=
=penyembuhan..............untuk diri dan orang lain ; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cita..............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=mencapai cinta.............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
=kebahagiaan,dll............untuk diri dan orang lain; jarak jauh/dekat
b. ANAK SESUAI KEINGINAN =SEBELUM/SETELAH LAHIR=
=wajahnya......................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=sifatnya........................ agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kelaminnya...................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=kembar/tidaknya..........agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=ability............................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=IQ-nya..........................agar sesuai dengan keinginan
=masa depannya,dll.......agar sesuai dengan keinginan
alifi30271@hotmail.com
alif30271@yahoo.co.id
alif30271@ymail.com
alifi30271@gmail.com
alifi30271@yahoo.com
al30271@yahoo.com
generationofhighlyqualified.blogspot.com/
www.mybloglog.com/buzz/alif30271
www.filmannex.com/alifiyasintadewi-nurqodri
http:generationofhighlyqualified.blogspot.com/
groups.google.com/group/generation-high-quality
www.flickr.com/photos/alifi30271yahoocom
generationofhighlyqualified.blogspot.com/
profile.typepad.com/alifiyasintadewi
sahidi.achmad@yahoo.com
rsida@ymail.com
SMS =081331412197 =087850539399 =081939047397
ROSIDA SAHIDI/alifiyasintadewi nurqodri
POBOX.30271 KLG 69471 INDONESIA
JL. PELABUHAN KERTASADA NO.38 RT.02/01 KALIANGET SUMENEP JAWA TIMUR 69471 INDONESIA
*Semasih belum lahir, kemudian lahir, masa anak - anak, masa remaja, dewasa, jadi orang tua, jika dalam pada masa itu adalah baik dari semua unsur (babad, bibit, bubut, bebet,dan bobot), maka akan baik pulalah pada masa berikutnya, atau keturunan berikutnya.(itulah sistem rotasi , jika baik maka akan baik pula pada masa - masa yang akan dilalui berikutnya).
Tetapi bukan berarti bagi yang sistemnya ada masalah tidak bisa mendapatkan/menciptakan GENERATION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED...!
Sebelum menikah, sebelum lahir,ataupun setelah lahir,GENERATION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED dapat diciptakan.
Maka jauh jauh sebelum menikah, dari sana sudah ada sistem penciptaan, bagaimana generasi/anak yang kita inginkan, dari proses ini kita akan tahu bagaimana sebenarnya mengatasi berbagai macam problema dari dalam diri kita sendiri atau orang lain,dan bagaimana cara mencapai segala keinginan mulai dari dalam diri, kemudian membantu orang lain
Setelah lahir pun kita dapat mengarahkan menciptakan; bagaimana abilitasnya, IQ-nya, sifatnya,masa depannya,dll, sehingga anak kita menjadi generasi yang highly qualified.
Setelah lahir GENERATION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED diciptakan melalui dua metode:
1.metode secara dlahir/syariat/nyata (melalui bantuan kami)
2.metode batin/ghaib (melalui bantuan kami)
*Setelah lahir yang tengah berada dalam kekuasaan dekapan KASIH IBU dengan:
1. metode secara dlahir/nampak/ nyata,IBU,AYAH, dan KELUARGA akan lebih nampak untuk mengarahkan,menciptakan agar anak/generasi adalah menjadi GENERATION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED.
2. metode secara ghaib melalui bantuan kami.
*Alam setelah kelahiran pun akan di bawa kepada alam - alam yang panjang pendistribusiannya pada alam pendewasaan, disinilah (pada alam setelah kelahiran ini banyak dan penuh bank penyimpanan data bagi si kecil/anak/generasi penerus), negatifpenyimpananannya/penanamannya,maka akan negatif pendewasaannya.
lalu.......... bagaimana menciptakan pendewasaannya? agar menjadi GENERATION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED?.... hubungi kami untuk mendapatkan metodenya. (semua barang akan dipaketkan ke tempat anda)
*Dalam dekapan sang ibu dan ayah ,serta keluarga: menjadikan dekapan damai bahagia kasih mesra (tanpa dicampuri pemikiran otak rencana negatif lain) yang akan menjadikan implementasi dari SANG PEMBERI DAMAI, BAHAGIA, KASIH,MESRA, SANG MAHA PENCIPTA
*Dimulai dari kebahagiaan dalam diri, kemudian mengarahkan kebahagiaan pada istri,atau suami,(saling mengisi dan melengkapi antara suami istri).selanjutnya pada generasi/anak kita, pada kelompok masyarakat,negara,bahkan dunia sehingga akan sesuai dengan tujuan pencipta, serta tujuan SANG MAHA PENCIPTA akan diciptakannya makhluk sempurna yang bernama manusia.
Dengan mencipta GENERATION OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED maka,setiap diri pribadi,setiap keluarga,setiap kelompok masyarakat,setiap warga negara,dan setiap umat dan makhluk manusia akan sesuai dengan keinginan,tujuan,cita-cita dari setiap diri,setiap keluarga,setiap umat manusia didunia sebagaimana tujuan agama,negara dan bangsa,bahkan sebagaimana tujuanpencipta, sebagaimana tujuan SANG MAHA PENCIPTA akan diciptakannya makhluk sempurna yang bernama manusia.
Guzmania musaica (famille Bromeliaceae). Si on parle de plantes ornamentales exotiques tropicales, peu d'entre elles sont si incroyables pour moi, et voir dans leur habitat naturel des espèces emblématiques comme celle-lá, que j'ai cultivé il y a bien longtemps en Belgique, constitue toujours une grande émotion. Je l'avais déjá vue sans fleur par le passé mais maintenant c'est fait et j'ái été très heureux de pouvoir la montrer aux touristes durant un tour de 11 jours que je viens de guider. dans les départements du Valle del Cauca et du Cauca, Colombie.
Guzmania musaica (Bromeliaceae family). If we speak about tropical exotic ornamental plants, few are so astounding to me, and seeing in the wild emblematic species such as this one, that I once grew a long time ago in Belgium, is always a thrill. I had seen it without flowers in the past but now it is done and I was very happy to be able to show it to tourists during an 11 days tour I just guided in Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments, Colombia.
Guzmania musaica (familia Bromeliaceae). Si hablamos de plantas ornamentales exóticas tropicales, pocas son tan asombrosas para mi, y ver en sus hábitats naturales a especies emblemáticas como esta, que alguna vez cultive hace mucho tiempo en Bélgica, siempre es una gran emoción. La había visto sin flor en el pasado pero ahora está hecho y estuve muy feliz poder mostrarla a los turistas durante un tour de 11 días que acabo de guiar en los departamentos del Valle del Cauca y del Cauca, Colombia.
It is the end of the first week of the year, and normality has returned.
Somewhat.
This retirement thing is still a bit of a novelty, like being able to take advantage of a sale for train tickets, which I have taken advantage of.
More of that in the upcoming weeks.
But normality, on Wednesdays, beings another class for Jools and bridge for me.
Things is with bridge, in the RAF we were all the same standard, and so bid pretty much the same way, reflecting our hands. The only convention we did follow was to open two clubs for a hand with over twenty points.
So, for the first meet of the year, the lesson was weak overcalls.
Which was very interesting, and the reason for it is to force the opposition into a higher contract than they would like.
But with so many conventions and opening bids, unless your partner knows what you do, it may all bring chaos.
But anyway, the hands were sorted so we could all experience making overcalls and seeing how well or how badly we would do.
Ten of us turned up, two didn't, meaning that we took turns in sitting out.
It was all enjoyable, and there was tea and refreshments as well as gossip. The two hours flow, and I bailed half an hour early as I was heading to Folkestone.
Jools had an appointment in Canterbury, so she was going on the bus, leaving me with a good two hours to do something.
Something involved a church.
I saw Ss, Mary and Eanswythe was open between eleven and one, so I would head over, and also try to arrange a visit for my churchcrawling group.
It was a bitterly cold, but gloriously sunny day, I drive back along the Deal Road, past St Maggies through Dover and out up the A20 to Folkestone.
Folkestone was pretty quiet. Lots of parking spaces, and some shops have given up opening some days of the week: Mondays and Tuesdays, and on other days have reduced hours.
So I walked up the Old High Street, where most places were closed, then up to the snicket to the church, past the woold shop, where I thought maybe I should buy Jools some wool.
But didn't.
The church was open, so I go in and was welcomed by a volunteer, Pam, who I struck up conversation with.
It would be a pleasure to have the group, so details were exchanged and hopefully we will go back next month.
I photograph the Victorian glass, some by Kempe were of a very high quality, but the Victorians were thorough in their renovation, and little of the church before the 19th century remains. But I spot some.
The church is bitterly cold, and this is having a detrimental effect on some of the Victorian wall paintings, one on the north wall of the tower had deteriorated badly in the last few weeks, as there appears to be a leak around an old blocked up window, and the water runs down through the mortar.
After an hour, I was done, so say thanks to the volunteers, and walk back to the car.
I was hungry, it was nearly one, and should I wait for Jools or get something?
In the end I called in at Little Farthingloe Farm Shop for a warm sausage roll, and as they looked delicious, a Viennese Whirl, half dipped in chocolate.
The sausage roll I ate standing in the car park, the whirl I ate once back home with a fresh brew, and was crumbly and delicious.
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A superb location in a leafy churchyard away from the busy shopping centre, and yet much more of a town church than that of a seaside resort. It was originally a thirteenth-century building, but so much has happened to it that today we are left with the impression of a Victorian interior. Excellent stained glass by Kempe, mosaics by Carpenter and paintings by Hemming show the enthusiasm of Canon Woodward, vicar from 1851 to 1898. His efforts encouraged others to donate money to beautify the building in an almost continuous restoration that lasted right into the twentieth century They were spurred on by the discovery, in 1885, of the bones of St Eanswythe, in a lead casket which had been set into the sanctuary wall. She had founded a convent in the town in the seventh century and died at the age of twenty-six.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Folkestone+1
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FOLKESTONE.
THE parish of Folkestone, which gives name to this hundred, was antiently bounded towards the south by the sea, but now by the town and liberty of Folkestone, which has long since been made a corporation, and exempt from the jurisdiction of the hundred. The district of which liberty is a long narrow slip of land, having the town within it, and extending the whole length of the parish, between the sea shore and that part of the parish still within the jurisdiction of the hundred, and county magistrates, which is by far the greatest part of it.
THE PARISH, which is about three miles across each way, is situated exceedingly pleasant and healthy. The high chalk, or down hills uniclosed, and well covered with pasture, cross the northern part of it, and from a sine romantic scene. Northward of these, this part of the parish is from its high situation, called the uphill of Folkestone; in this part is Tirlingham, the antient mansion of which has been some years since pulled down, and a modern farm-house erected in its stead; near it is Hearn forstal, on which is a good house, late belonging to Mr. Nicholas Rolse, but now of Mr. Richard Marsh; over this forstal the high road leads from Folkestone to Canterbury. The centre of the parish is in the beautiful and fertile vale called Folkestone vale, which has downs, meadows, brooks, marshes, arable land, and every thing in small parcels, which is sound in much larger regions; being interspersed with houses and cottages, and well watered by several fresh streams; besides which, at Ford forstall, about a mile northward from the town, there rises a strong chalybeat spring. This part of the parish, by far the greatest part of it, as far as the high road from Dover, through it, towards Hythe, is within the jurisdiction of the hundred of Folkestone, and the justices of the county. The small part on the opposite, or southern side of that road is within the liberty of the town or corporation of Folkestone, where the quarry or sand hills, on the broken side of one of which, the town is situated, are its southern maritime boundaries. These hills begin close under the chalk or down hills, in the eastern part of this parish, close to the sea at Eastware bay, and extend westward along the sea shore almost as far as Sandgate castle, where they stretch inland towards the north, leaving a small space between them and the shore. So that this parish there crossing one of them, extends below it, a small space in the bottom as far as that castle, these quarry, or sand hills, keeping on their course north-west, from the northern boundary of Romney Marsh, and then the southern boundary of the Weald, both which they overlook, extending pretty nearly in a parallel line with the chalk or down hills.
The prospect over this delightful vale of Folkestone from the hill, on the road from Dover as you descend to the town, is very beautiful indeed for the pastures and various fertility of the vale in the centre, beyond it the church and town of Hythe, Romney Marsh, and the high promontory of Beachy head, boldly stretching into the sea. On the right the chain of losty down hills, covered with verdure, and cattle seeding on them; on the lest the town of Folkestone, on the knole of a hill, close to the sea, with its scattered environs, at this distance a pleasing object, and beyond it the azure sea unbounded to the sight, except by the above-mentioned promontory, altogether from as pleasing a prospect as any in this county.
FOLKESTONE was a place of note in the time of the Romans, and afterwards in that of the Saxons, as will be more particularly noticed hereafter, under the description of the town itself. By what name it was called by the Romans, is uncertain; by the Saxons it was written Folcestane, and in the record of Domesday, Fulchestan. In the year 927 king Athelstane, son of king Edward the elder, and grandson of king Alfred, gave Folkstane, situated, as is mentioned in the grant of it, on the sea shore, where there had been a monastery, or abbey of holy virgins, in which St. Eanswith was buried, which had been destroyed by the Danes, to the church of Canterbury, with the privilege of holding it L. S. A. (fn. 1) But it Seems afterwards to have been taken from it, for king Knute, in 1038, is recorded to have restored to that church, the parish of Folkstane, which had been given to it as above-mentioned; but upon condition, that it should never be alienated by the archbishop, without the licence both of the king and the monks. Whether they joined in the alienation of it, or it was taken from them by force, is uncertain; but the church of Canterbury was not in possession of this place at the time of taking the survey of Domesday, in 1080, being the 14th year of the Conqueror's reign, at which time it was part of the possessions of the bishop of Baieux, the conqueror's half-brother, under the general description of whose lands it is thus entered in it:
In Limowart lest, in Fulcbestan hundred, William de Acris holds Fulchestan. In the time of king Edward the Consessor, it was taxed at forty sulings, and now at thirty-nine. The arable land is one hundred and twenty carucates. In demesne there are two hundred and nine villeins, and four times twenty, and three borderes. Among all they have forty-five carcates. There are five churches, from which the archbishop has fifty-five shillings. There are three servants, and seven mills of nine pounds and twelve shillings. There are one hundred acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of forty bogs. Earl Godwin held this manor.
Of this manor, Hugo, son of William, holds nine sulings of the land of the villeins, and there he has in demesne four carucates and an half, and thirty-eight villeins, with seventeen borderes, who have sixteen carucates. There are three churches, and one mill and an half, of sixteen shillings and five-pence, and one saltpit of thirty pence. Wood for the pannage of six bogs. It is worth twenty pounds.
Walter de Appeuile holds of this manor three yokes and twelve acres of land, and there he has one carucate in demesne, and three villeins, with one borderer. It is worth thirty shillings.
Alured holds one suling and forty acres of land, and there he has in demesne two carucates, with six borderers, and twelve acres of meadow. It is worth four pounds.
Walter, son of Engelbert, holds half a suling and forty acres, and there he has in demesne one carucate, with seven borderers, and five acres of meadow. It is worth thirty shillings.
Wesman holds one suling, and there he has in demesne one carucate, and two villeins, with seven borderers having one carucate and an half. It is worth four pounds.
Alured Dapiser holds one suling and one yoke and six acres of land, and there he has in demesne one carucate, with eleven borderers. It is worth fifty shillings.
Eudo holds half a suling, and there he has in demesne one carucate, with four borderers, and three acres of meadow. It is worth twenty shillings.
Bernard de St. Owen, four sulings, and there he has in demesne three carucates, and six villeins, with eleven borderes, having two carucates. There are four servants, and two mills of twenty-four shillings, and twenty acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of two bogs.
Of one denne, and of the land which is given from these suling to ferm, there goes out three pounds. In the whole it is worth nine pounds.
Baldric holds half a suling, and there he has one carucate, and two villeins, with six borderers having one carucate, and one mill of thirty pence. It is worth thirty shillings.
Richard holds fifty-eight acres of land, and there he has one carucate, with five borderers. It is worth ten shillings.
All Fulchestan, in the time of king Edward the Consessor, was worth one hundred and ten pounds, when he received it forty pounds, now what he has in demesne is worth one hundred pounds; what the knights hold abovementioned together, is worth forty-five pounds and ten shillings.
¶It plainly appears that this entry in Domesday does not only relate to the lands within this parish, but to those in the adjoining parishes within the hundred, the whole of which, most probably, were held of the bishop of Baieux, but to which of them each part refers in particular, is at this time impossible to point out. About four years after the taking of the above survey, the bishop was disgraced, and all his possessions consiscated to the crown. After which, Nigell de Muneville, a descendant of William de Arcis, mentioned before in Domesday, appears to have become possessed of the lordship of Folkestone, and as such in 1095, being the 9th year of king William Rusus, removed the priory of Folkestone from the bail of the castle to the place where it afterwards continued. His son William dying in his life-time s. p, Matilda his sole daughter and heir was given in marriage with the whole of her inheritance, by king Henry I. to Ruallanus de Albrincis, or Averenches, whose descendant Sir William de Albrincis, was become possessed of this lordship at the latter end of that reign; and in the 3d year of the next reign of king Stephen, he confirmed the gifts of his ancestors above-mentioned to the priory here. He appears to have been one of those knights, who had each a portion of lands, which they held for the de sence of Dover castle, being bound by the tenure of those lands to provide a certain number of soldiers, who should continually perform watch and ward within it, according to their particular allotment of time; but such portions of these lands as were not actually in their own possession were granted out by them to others, to hold by knight's service, and they were to be ready for the like service at command, upon any necessity whatever, and they were bound likewife, each knight to desend a certain tower in the castle; that desended by Sir William de Albrincis being called from him, Averenches tower, and afterwards Clinton tower, from the future owners of those lands. (fn. 2) Among those lands held by Sir William de Albrincis for this purpose was Folkestone, and he held them of the king in capitle by barony. These lands together made up the barony of Averenches, or Folkestone, as it was afterwards called, from this place being made the chief of the barony, caput baroniæ, as it was stiled in Latin; thus The Manor of Folkestone, frequently called in after times An Honor, (fn. 3) and the mansion of it the castle, from its becoming the chief seat or residence of the lords paramount of this barony, continued to be so held by his descendants, whose names were in Latin records frequently speit Albrincis, but in French Avereng and Averenches, and in after times in English ones, Evering; in them it continued till Matilda, daughter and heir of William de Albrincis, carried it in marriage to Hamo de Crevequer, who, in the 20th year of that reign, had possession given him of her inheritance. He died in the 47th year of that reign, possessed of the manor of Folkestone, held in capite, and by rent for the liberty of the hundred, and ward of Dover castle. Robert his grandson, dying s. p. his four sisters became his heirs, and upon the division of their inheritance, and partition of this barony, John de Sandwich, in right of his wife Agnes, the eldest sister, became entitled to this manor and lordship of Folkestone, being the chief seat of the barony, a preference given to her by law, by reason of her eldership; and from this he has been by some called Baron of Folkestone, as has his son Sir John de Sandwich, who left an only daughter and heir Julian, who carried this manor in marriage to Sir John de Segrave, who bore for his arms, Sable, three garbs, argent. He died in the 17th year of Edward III. who, as well as his son, of the same name, received summons to parliament, though whether as barons of Folkestone, as they are both by some called, I know not. Sir John de Segrave, the son, died possessed of this manor anno 23 Edward III. soon after which it appears to have passed into the family of Clinton, for William de Clinton, earl of Huntingdon, who bore for his arms, Argent, crusulee, situchee, sable, upon a chief, azure, two mullets, or, pierced gules; which coat differed from that of his elder brother's only in the croslets, which were not borne by any other of this family till long afterwards, (fn. 4) died possessed of it in the 28th year of that reign, at which time the mansion of this manor bore the name of the castle. He died s. p. leaving his nephew Sir John de Clinton, son of John de Clinton, of Maxtoke, in Warwickshire, his heir, who was afterwards summoned to parliament anno 42 Edward III. and was a man of great bravery and wisdom, and much employed in state affairs. He died possessed of this manor, with the view of frank-pledge, a moiety of the hundred of Folkestone, and THE MANOR OF WALTON, which, though now first mentioned, appears to have had the same owners as the manor of Folkestone, from the earliest account of it. He married Idonea, eldest daughter of Jeffry, lord Say, and at length the eldest coheir of that family, and was succeeded in these manors by his grandson William, lord Clinton, who, anno 6 Henry IV. had possession granted of his share of the lands of William de Say, as coheir to him in right of his grandmother Idonea, upon which he bore the title of lord Clinton and Saye, which latter however he afterwards relinquished, though he still bore for his arms, Qnarterly, Clinton and Saye, with two greybounds for his supporters. After which the manor of Folkestone, otherwise called Folkestone Clinton, and Walton, continued to be held in capite by knight's service, by his descendants lords Clinton, till Edward, lord Clinton and Saye, which title he then bore, together with Elizabeth his wife, in the 30th year of Henry VIII. conveyed these manors, with other premises in this parish, to Thomas Cromwell lord Cromwell, afterwards created earl of Essex, on whose attainder two years afterwards they reverted again to the crown, at which time the lordship of Folkestone was stiled an honor; whence they were granted in the fourth year of Edward VI. to the former possessor of them, Edward, lord Clinton and Saye, to hold in capite, for the meritorious services he had performed. In which year, then bearing the title of lord Clinton and Saye, he was declared lord high admiral, and of the privy council, besides other favours conferred on him; and among other lands, he had a grant of these manors, as abovementioned, which he next year, anno 5 Edward VI. reconveyed back to the crown, in exchange for other premises. (fn. 5) He was afterwards installed knight of the garter, by the title of Earl of Lincoln and Baron of Clinton and Saye; and in the last year of that reign, constable of the tower of London. Though in the 1st year of queen Mary he lost all his great offices for a small time, yet he had in recompence of his integrity and former services, a grant from her that year, of several manors and estates in this parish, as well as elsewhere, and among others, of these manors of Folkestone and Walton, together with the castle and park of Folkestone, to hold in capite; all which he, the next year, passed away by sale to Mr. Henry Herdson, citizen and alderman of London, who lest several sons, of whom Thomas succeeded him in this estate, in whose time the antient park of Folkestone seems to have been disparked. His son Mr. Francis Herdson alienated his interst in these manors and premises to his uncle Mr. John Herdson, who resided at the manor of Tyrlingham, in this parish, and dying in 1622, was buried in the chancel of Hawking church, where his monument remains; and there is another sumptuous one besides erected for him in the south isle of Folkestone church. They bore for their arms, Argent, a cross sable, between four fleurs de lis, gules. He died s. p. and by will devised these manors, with his other estates in this parish and neighbourhood, to his nephew Basill, second son of his sister Abigail, by Charles Dixwell, esq. Basill Dixwell, esq. afterwards resided at Tyrlingham, a part of the estate devised to him by his uncle, where, in the 3d year of king Charles I. he kept his shrievalty, with great honor and hospitality; after which he was knighted, and in 1627, anno 3 Charles I. created a baronet; but having rebuilt the mansion of Brome, in Barham, he removed thither before his death. On his decease unmarried, the title of baronet became extinct; but he devised these manors, with the rest of his estates, to his nephew Mark Dixwell, son of his elder brother William Dixwell, of Coton, in Warwickshire, who afterwards resided at Brome. He married Elizabeth, sister and heir of William Read, esq. of Folkestone, by whom he had Basill Dixwell, esq. of Brome, who in 1660, anno 12 Charles II. was created a baronet. His son Sir Basill Dixwell, bart. of Brome, about the year 1697, alientated these manors, with the park-house and grounds, and other estates in this parish and neighbourhood, to Jacob Desbouverie, esq. of LondonHe was descended from Laurence de Bouverie, de la Bouverie, or Des Bouveries, of an antient and honorable extraction in Flanders, (fn. 6) who renouncing the tenets of the Romish religion came into England in the year 1567, anno 10 Elizabeth, and seems to have settled first at Canterbury. He was a younger son of Le Sieur des Bouveries, of the chateau de Bouverie, near Lisle, in Flanders, where the eldest branch of this family did not long since possess a considerable estate, bearing for their arms, Gules, a bend, vaire. Edward, his eldest son, was an eminet Turkey merchant, was knighted by king James II. and died at his seat at Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, in 1694. He had seven sons and four daughters; of the former, William, the eldest, was likewife an eminent Turkey merchant, and was, anno 12 queen Anne, created a baronet, and died in 1717. Jacob, the third son, was purchaser of these manors; and Christopher, the seventh son, was knighted, and seated at Chart Sutton, in this county, under which a further account of him may be seen; (fn. 7) and Anne, the second daughter, married Sir Philip Boteler, bart. Jacob Desbouverie afterwards resided at Tyrlingham, and dying unmarried in 1722, by his will devised these manors, with his other estates here, to his nephew Sir Edward Desbouverie, bart. the eldest brother son of Sir William Desbouverie, bart. his elder brother, who died possessed of them in 1736, s. p. on which his title, with these and all his other estates, came to his next surviving brother and heir Sir Jacob Desbouverie, bart. who anno 10 George II. procured an act to enable himself and his descendants to use the name of Bouverie only, and was by patent, on June 29, 1747, created baron of Longford, in Wiltshire, and viscount Folkestone, of Folkestone. He was twice married; first to Mary, daughter and sole heir of Bartholomew Clarke, esq. of Hardingstone, in Northamptonshire, by whom he had several sons and daughters, of whom William, the eldest son, succeeded him in titles and estates; Edward is now of Delapre abbey, near Northamptonshire; Anne married George, a younger son of the lord chancellor Talbot; Charlotte; Mary married Anthony, earl of Shastesbury; and Harriot married Sir James Tilney Long, bart. of Wiltshire. By Elizabeth his second wife, daughter of Robert, lord Romney, he had Philip, who has taken the name of Pusey, and possesses, as heir to his mother Elizabeth, dowager viscountess Folkestone, who died in 1782, several manors and estates in the western part of this county. He died in 1761, and was buried in the family vault at Britford, near Salisbury, being succeeded in title and estates by his eldest son by his first wife, William, viscount Folkestone, who was on Sept. 28, anno 5 king George III. created Earl of Radnor, and Baron Pleydell Bouverie, of Coleshill, in Berkshire. He died in 1776, having been three times married; first, to Harriot, only daughter and heir of Sir Mark Stuart Pleydell, bart. of Colefhill, in Berkshire. By her, who died in 1750, and was buried at Britford, though there is an elegant monument erected for her at Coleshill, he had Hacob, his successor in titles and estates, born in 1750. He married secondly, Rebecca, daughter of John Alleyne, esq. of Barbadoes, by whom he had four sons; William-Henry, who married Bridget, daughter of James, earl of Morton; Bartholomew, who married MaryWyndham, daughter of James Everard Arundell, third son of Henry, lord Arundell, of Wardour; and Edward, who married first Catherine Murray, eldest daughter of John, earl of Dunmore; and secondly, Arabella, daughter of admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle. His third wife was Anne, relict of Anthony Duncombe, lord Faversham, and daughter of Sir Thomas Hales, bart. of Bekesborne, by whom he had two daughters, who both died young. He was succeeded in titles and estates by his eldest son, the right hon. Jacob Pleydell Bouverie, earl of Radnor, who is the present possessor of these manors of Folkestone and Walton, with the park-house and disparked grounds adjacent to it, formerly the antient park of Folkestone, the warren, and other manors and estates in this parish and neighbourhood.
FOLKESTONE is within the ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION of the diocese of Canterbury, and deanry of Dover.
The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary and St. Eanswith, consists of three isles and three chancels, having a square tower, with a beacon turret in the middle of it, in which there is a clock, and a peal of eight bells, put up in it in 1779. This church is built of sand-stone; the high chancel, which has been lately ceiled, seems by far the most antient part of it. Under an arch in the north wall is a tomb, with the effigies of a man, having a dog at his feet, very an tient, probably for one of the family of Fienes, constables of Dover castle and wardens of the five ports; and among many other monuments and inscriptions, within the altar-rails, are monuments for the Reades, of Folkestone, arms, Azure, a griffin, or, quartering gules, a pheon between three leopards faces, or; for William Langhorne, A.M. minister, obt. 1772. In the south chancel is a most elegant monument, having the effigies of two men kneeling at two desks, and an inscription for J. Herdson, esq. who lies buried in Hawkinge church, obt. 1622. In the south isle a tomb for J. Pragels, esq. obt. 1676, arms, A castle triple towered, between two portcullises; on a chief, a sinister hand gauntled, between two stirrups. In the middle isle a brass plate for Joane, wife of Thomas Harvey, mother of seven sons (one of which was the physician) and two daughters. In the north wall of the south isle were deposited the remains of St. Eanswith, in a stone coffin; and under that isle is a large charnelhouse, in which are deposited the great quantity of bones already taken notice of before. Philipott, p. 96, says, the Bakers, of Caldham, had a peculiar chancel belonging to them in this church, near the vestrydoor, over the charnel-house, which seems to have been that building mentioned by John Baker, of Folkestone, who by his will in 1464, ordered, that his executors should make a new work, called an isle, with a window in it, with the parishioners advice; which work should be built between the vestry there and the great window. John Tong, of Folkestone, who was buried in this church, by will in 1534, ordered that certain men of the parish should be enfeoffed in six acres of land, called Mervyle, to the use of the mass of Jhesu, in this church.
On Dec. 19, 1705, the west end of this church, for the length of two arches out of the five, was blown down by the violence of the wind; upon which the curate and parishioners petitioned archbishop Tillot son, for leave to shorten the church, by rebuilding only one of the fallen arches, which was granted. But by this, the church, which was before insufficient to contain the parishioners, is rendered much more inconvenient to them for that purpose. By the act passed anno 6 George III. for the preservation of the town and church from the ravages of the sea as already noticed before. After such works are finished, &c. the rates are to be applied towards their repair, and to the keeping in repair, and the support and preservation of this church.
¶This church was first built by Nigell de Muneville, lord of Folkestone at the latter end of king Henry I. or the beginning of king Stephen's reign, when he removed the priory from the precinct of the castle to it in 1137, and he gave this new church and the patronage of it to the monks of Lolley, in Normandy, for their establishing a cell, or alien priory here, as has been already mentioned, to which this new church afterwards served as the conventual church of it. The profits of it were very early appropriated to the use of this priory, that is, before the 8th of king Richard II. anno 1384, the duty of it being served by a vicar, whose portion was settled in 1448, at the yearly pension of 10l. 0s. 2½d. to be paid by the prior, in lieu of all other profits whatsoever. In which state this appropriation and vicarage remained till the surrendry of the priory, in the 27th year of king Henry VIII. when they came, with the rest of the possessions of it, into the king's hands, who in his 31st year demised the vicarage and parish church of Folkestone, with all its rights, profits, and emoluments, for a term of years, to Thomas, lord Cromwell, who assigned his interest in it to Anthony Allcher, esq. but the fee of both remained in the crown till the 4th year of king Edward VI. when they were granted, with the manor, priory, and other premises here, to Edward, lord Clinton and Saye, to hold in capite; who the next year conveyed them back again to the crown, in exchange for other premises, (fn. 23) where the patronage of the vicarage did not remain long; for in 1558, anno 6 queen Mary, the queen granted it, among several others, to the archbishop. But the church or parsonage appropriate of Folkestone remained longer in the crown, and till queen Elizabeth, in her 3d year, granted it in exchange, among other premises, to archbishop Parker, being then in lease to lord Clinton, at the rent of 57l. 2s. 11d. at which rate it was valued to the archbishop, in which manner it has continued to be leased out ever since, and it now, with the patronage of the vicarage, remains parcel of the possessions of the see of Canterbury; the family of Breams were formerly lessees of it, from whom the interest of the lease came to the Taylors, of Bifrons, and was sold by the late Rev. Edward Taylor, of Bisrons, to the right hon. Jacob, earl of Radnor, the present lessee of it.
We were really excited to be able to past this legendary city, however our Venice experience got off to a slow start. No internet and lack of communication left us sleeping in the freezing woods outside of the city on our first night.. Our second day also wasn’t so smooth because we spent the day climbing bridges with all of our equipment searching for a place to play with the police constantly kicking us out.. Only at the end of the day did Ilse happen to meet someone who invited us to his house to sleep. And only there did we finally had internet to read that we could have had four nice beds in a beautiful apartment in a great location from day one..!
Once we finally had a sleeping place, our Venice experience turned right side up again. We played on smaller streets where there was no police to bother us, and we had people throwing money out of their windows! At the same time we also wound up playing underneath the window of famous bass player Stuart Broatman who was visiting Venice at the time. Stuart was one of the founders of the klezmer revival in America, and the girls seemed to be fans of all people he had played and recorded with. He and his wife and family invited us inside for a nice evening with tea and cookies.
(the Balcony’s wound up recently playing a concert together with Stuart this past May 2012 at Yoshi’s in San Francisco)
Glad I was able to there. Was to busy jumping up and down yelling my A** off. Not many pictures from this amazing game
The overwhelming climax of the day during our first visit to this preserve was the way in which we were able to see the Indigo Bunting, a beautiful blue bird—not because of any blue pigment, but strictly form the refraction of its feathers to sunlight—unlike the experiences in previous occasions with this bird, where it would remain well protected in deeply shaded areas within trees or bushes, coming out into the open only to take quick flight from one dark area to another. As a result, the blue, when visible in proper conditions, was usually pretty dark, and when in those brief moments of flight, the tones you see in this series were never witnessed.
Hearing that they do inhabit the wooded areas of the preserve, we kept our eyes peeled and ears open during out final stretch of trails before the straightaway to the parking. We had given up on seeing any, for there were no signs, whatsoever, up to that point. An unmistakable song piped from somewhere very high up, and when my wife scanned the tree tops with her binoculars, she spotted the silhouette of the performer. And when the sunlight tapped it, even at the great distance, the beautiful sheen of the Egyptian art blue was very recognizable. We waited awhile in hopes of it dropping a few levels for a better naked eye view. Suddenly, its attention was captured by a possible intruding rival male far below. Instantly, it swooped down and chased off its uninvited visitor. That was followed by short flights between one spot and another, basically covering the outer perimeter of it domain.
We would have been content with the second shot of the series as it perched at eye level, for the brilliant colors and shade mentioned previously were in full display. But to make matters better, down a ways from the path leading from the woods trail, right in the mix of the grassland and the pretty Queen Anne’s Lace, the same protective character appeared in its magnificent brilliance . . . The late day sunlight was casting its warm rays perfectly on the little critter!!!
Now, there was drama, of course. What you see is the result of much cropping in, contrary to the original photo where the Indigo Bunting is at quite a distance from the lens, and appears to be such a small subject in the overall framework. These birds rarely remain in one spot for more than a few seconds at best, but the early evening breeze caused so much movement amongst the tall grass and other plants, preventing a clear shot at the Bunting. I kept holding my breath in anticipation for a split second opening and no escaping the absolutely perfect scene. My wife was able to fully appreciate the stunning appearance a split second here and a split second there, but she did not need to worry about focusing precisely at the opportune moment, as the depth of field would alter continuously with the swaying stalk and the bird perched upon it. Fortune was with me that day, for just when I was about to resign to the fact that the earlier photo will have to suffice, the blades of grass opened widely and there it was, first turned away, and a micro second later, in full view of the head and face. At the end of perhaps 10 continuous snaps of the shutter, the star of the day flew back toward the woods and entered deep into the darkness.
With baited breath, I looked at the screen on the back of the camera, enlarged each one for viewing, and felt that one or two might be something special. It turns out that exactly two shots of the 12, actually, were pretty sharp, and those are the ones we have here. The final two pair of shots represents alternative framing of the same original shots.
I hope this story did not bore you to sleep, but it was genuinely exciting for us—and we are not really bird watchers, per se, but do appreciate these amazing creatures . . . as we do with all.
This wonderful nature preserve of both grassland (111 acres) and woodland (53 acres) was purchased in 2003 by Franklin Township, and has become a “MUST SEE” site for us, since the landscape is so perfect in attracting all kinds of grassland birds, insects, and plants, and the setting is one that is rather off the beaten path; therefore, it allows visitors to enjoy the beauty in a quiet state. The grassland reminds one of a miniature version of sections cut out from the Great Plaines States.
Relatively close to Duke Farms—about 13 miles away—it is not too far to make it a stop for a day excursion, even if combined with DF or other nearby wildlife refuges.
CHECK OUT THE SEPARATE “ALBUM” CREATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR “NEGRI-NEPOTE NATIVE GRASSLAND PRESERVE” TO SEE THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED COLLECTION OF PHOTOS FROM HERE . . .
We made our annual trip to London in November. We travel down by coach from Slaithwaite and stay at The Cumberland Hotel at Marble Arch. It’s actually a weekend ladies shopping trip that is run as a fundraiser for Slaithwaite Brass Band – I’m the only bloke that goes every year! We decided ( the two of us) to stay down in London until Thursday this time as we wanted to see weekday London and be able to explore a bit further afield on foot. We covered up to 16 miles a day, which is tough going on crowded pavements with hundreds of busy roads to cross. I photographed anything that looked interesting but I bent a contact in the CF card slot, fortunately I had quite a few SD cards with me and the 5D has dual slots so I was able to carry on using it. It’s currently at Lehmann’s getting fixed.
With it being close to Christmas the decorations are up everywhere so there was plenty of colour at night. In Hyde Park the Winter Wonderland was in full swing, we’ve never bothered going to it before but I went twice at night this time. It is massive this year, I couldn’t get over how big it is and the quality of some of the attractions. The cost and effort involved must be phenomenal – it was quite expensive though. It was very difficult to photograph, with extremes of light (LED’s) and darkness and fast moving rides into the bargain. I think I have some decent usable stuff but at the time of writing I am only part way through the editing process so I don’t know for sure.
We set off at around 8.15 am every day and stayed out for at least 12 hours. The weather was poor for a day and a half with drizzle and very dull grey conditions, fortunately we had some pleasant weather (and light) along the way as well. Being based at the end of Oxford Street – Europe’s busiest shopping street – meant that I did quite a bit of night shooting on there. Although I carried a tripod everywhere I only used it once and that was during the day! Because there is always a moving element in almost every shot it seemed pointless using a tripod. I would have got some shots free of movement – or I could have gone for ultra-long exposures to eliminate people and traffic but it would have been problematic I felt. In the end I wound the ISO up and hand held – fingers crossed.
We walked out to Camden Market and Locks but it had been raining and we were a bit early as many were only just setting up for the day. We tried to follow routes that we hadn’t used before and visit new places. We paid a fortune to get in St Pauls but you can’t use cameras. This something that I fail to see the point of, ban flash if you want but if you are going to encourage tourism why ban cameras when there is nothing in particular happening in there. It’s a rule that seems to be applied arbitrarily in cities around the world. Fortunately we could take photos from the outside of the dome, which was real reason for visiting, and we had some great light. Expensive compared with a couple of euros in some famous cathedrals. I’ve wanted to walk to Canary Wharf for a number of years and this year we did. We crisscrossed the Thames a few times and tried to follow the Thames path at other times. We covered around ten miles but it was an interesting day. It was also very quiet for the last four or five miles. We got there about 12.00 and managed to get a sandwich in a café in the shopping centre at the foot of the high rise office blocks before tens of thousands of office workers descended from above. It was mayhem, packed, with snaking queues for anywhere that sold food. We crossed to the other side of The Isle of Dogs and looked across to the O2 Arena and the cable car, unfortunately there isn’t a way across for pedestrians and it was around 3.00 pm. With darkness falling at around 4.30 we decide it was too late to bother. We made our way back to the Thames Clipper pier to check the sailing times. They sail every twenty minutes so we had a couple of glasses of wine and a rest before catching the Clipper. Sailing on the Thames was a first in 15 trips to London. The Clipper is fast and smooth, the lights had come on in the city and there was a fantastic moon rise. It was nigh on impossible to get good shots at the speed we were traveling though and there were times that I wished I could be suspended motionless above the boat. Again, hopefully I will have some usable shots.
We felt that the shopping streets were a little quieter, following the Paris massacre it was to be expected, I might be wrong as we were out and about at later times than previous trips. I think I have heard that footfall is down though. It was good to get into some of the quieter backstreets and conversely to be stuck in the city business district – The Square Mile- at home time. A mass exodus of people running and speed walking to bus stops and the rail and tube stations. It was difficult to move against or across the flow of bodies rushing home.
Whilst the Northern(manufacturing) economy is collapsing, London is a giant development site, it must be the tower crane capital of Europe at the moment. It was difficult to take a shot of any landmark free of cranes, it was easier to make the cranes a feature of the photo. It’s easy to see where the wealth is concentrated – not that there was ever any doubt about it. The morons with too much money are still driving their Lambo’s and Ferraris etc. like clowns in streets that are packed with cars , cyclists and pedestrians, accelerating viciously and noisily for 50 yards. They are just sad attention seekers. From Battersea to Canary Wharf we walked the Thames Embankment, the difference between high and low tide on the river is massive, but the water was the colour of mud – brown! Not very attractive in colour. We caught a Virgin Train from Kings Cross for £14.00 each – a bargain!. We had quite a bit of time to kill around midday at Kings Cross so I checked with security that I was OK to wander around taking photos, without fear of getting jumped by armed security, and set off to photograph the station and St Pancras International Station across the road. I haven’t even looked at the results as I type this but I’ll find out if they are any good shortly. Talking of security, following Paris, there was certainly plenty of private security at most attractions, I don’t know if it was terrorism related though, I can’t say I noticed an increased police presence on the streets. It took us three hours and five minutes from Kings Cross to being back home, not bad for a journey of 200 miles. I can’t imagine that spending countless billions on HS2 or HS3 is going to make a meaningful (cost effective) difference to our journey. Improving what we have, a little faster, would be good. There are some bumpy bits along the route for a mainline and Wakefield to Huddersfield is the equivalent of a cart track – and takes over 30 minutes – it’s only a stone’s throw.
I was able to make it to my usual spot a little after the 24 mile mark on the east side within Central Park. I understand the need for some added security because of the Boston attack but in my opinion the tens of blocks of barricades and numerous garbage trucks used to block streets could have caused serious problems if god forbid something happened and thousands of people started to run in all directions.
With that said it's always a great experience to see people from all over the world, of all ages and abilities come to take part in this storied race. Boston was very well represented! I've noticed over the three or so I've attended that the French contingent is huge. I like this spot because you get a great range of exhaustion, pain, elation, joy, sweat and tears. Congratulations to all those who participated no matter what your time, or mode of taking part!
We made a short notice booking to Copenhagen, Jayne had the first week in September booked off and we wanted to try and do a city break. Five nights hardly seemed enough but the short flight was ok. We flew over home heading east on a beautiful morning. I love flying over an area that I know and being able to see it from above. We had been warned that Copenhagen was expensive-it was! I hadn’t done any research before we set off but on the flight over, I read that taxis were expensive, so it was best to use the Metro from the airport, it isn’t far in to the city and the Metro was fairly easy to use. However! We should have caught the train, I read this whist we were sat on the Metro it has to be said! The nearest Metro stop, which I was frantically trying to work out, using my phone, travelling in and out of tunnels, turned out to be a 1.5 mile walk from our hotel, the rail station was .5. Never mind we were there to walk-subject to my lately diagnosed arthritic ankle, we just didn’t want to be towing suitcases over cobbled pavements at the same time.
We were staying in the Tivoli Hotel which was described as central, it is near Central Station but you wouldn’t describe it as central to the city. Our room wasn’t ready but we could upgrade for a modest amount plus we realised it would be a good idea to include breakfast in the upgrade deal. A good move as it turned out. Our room overlooked the train lines-all twelve of them!! We could already hear train brakes squealing along with the thump thump of steel wheels rolling over points and joints. It’s true to say that Central Station is a 24/7 operation. The overnight noise didn’t bother Jayne but I could hear it all night.
We dumped our stuff and I loaded up with the backpack and camera and we were straight out there. Copenhagen is a relatively small city but there is a lot to see. We were soon finding out that it has an extensive network of canals and bridges and these are a major feature of life in the city. Pan flat, the cyclist rules, There appeared to be twice as many bikes as residents, with countless thousands propped up everywhere you went. Where ever you looked there was silent conveyor of sit up and beg cycles being ridden in all directions. You soon got used to looking over your shoulder before making a move. The vast majority of bikes are left unlocked and almost no one wears a helmet ( I’m a no helmet man, much to the annoyance of the helmet zealots). Copenhagen is reputedly the happiest place in the world and it certainly came across as friendly and relaxed. It is, though, one of the most expensive cities in the world and two burgers and two small glasses of wine at Nyhavn cost us £50. Comically, there were four people, local to us, shouting out Jayne’s name, they had seen us going past and we had a laugh about the prices, They were sat drinking beer at £8.50 a pint. Despite the expense, the place was packed with people parting with their money. Wages are very high locally, as are the taxes. The high wages and high costs must feed each other in an upward spiral I would have thought.
Unfortunately the cost of entering buildings to go up towers etc. for a higher view of the city was also very expensive (to us). The tower at Christiansborg Palace is free but restricted by the lift system and you don’t get to the top, it does also open later than the others so you have a chance of seeing sunset over the city. Unfortunately the lifts were out of order on one of our best weather days. We did get to go up the day after but it was dull and I wasn’t overly impressed. The spiral tower across in Christiana, The Church of Our Saviour, was far more impressive. We climbed the tower here just after it opened on a stunning morning and the views are fantastic. There will be incredible bottlenecks when it’s busy though on the corkscrew stairs that get progressively narrower towards the top. Some people hog it to take endless selfies at the top and it is extremely tight up there, you can’t move up until they come down.
As usual, we tried to get to some out of the way places, with only five days and mixed weather though we had enough mainstream destinations to see. We had a day of heavy rain so we went back to the rail station which was a good indoor (and free!) destination, and made umbrellas and the rain the focal point of that days photos. The entire Danish navy seemed to be at anchor, we just missed an open day on one ship. Some I could photograph, others were guarded and had restrictions, I got the evil eye from a couple of guards as the spotted the big Canon in my hand. I can’t imagine that they could police the Japanese and stop them from getting their photos and selfies though. I always act very openly with the camera and if people look at me suspiciously I smile and give them the thumbs up. In a rail station I usually ask the police. In Central Station the police were in their station and I never saw one move out, it is covered by extensive CCTV but there were some very unpleasant people, drinking and watching for people being careless with their belongings. We were lucky to be in the station on Sunday as a tourist steam train arrived, it sat at the platform belching smoke and steam for fifteen minutes, it was also coming back in an hour so we had an expensive coffee and waited to see it again. There was big military event outside the Christiansborg Palace on Monday, with a parade through the city that came past just as we were in a good spot to view it. The area was full of soldiers wearing their medals. We haven’t discovered the reason, although someone suggested a passing out parade for new recruits. Maybe the ships were in port for this as well.
Tivoli Gardens is another big draw and we went in, again it was fairly expensive, it had been a stunning day and the biggest problem was contrast, with deep shadows and a bright blue sky. We stayed until dark, it opens late and is very colourful. We went on the world’s highest carousel and got flung around 260 odd feet in the air. Luckily, we also found a bar that served wine at ‘only’ £5.60 a glass so we sat and watched people have fun screaming and shrieking above us.
There are many buildings with copper domes, entire copper roofs, even modern buildings are often clad in either brass or copper to blend in with the ancient buildings around them. Like every city we have visited, tower cranes are in abundance. There is a lot of development going on and unfortunately a lot of it is around buildings that you would want to photograph. We walked 12 to 14 mile every day and took in most of the sights. We didn’t really do any interiors, only towers and the railway station. At the time of writing I haven’t looked at what I’ve got, I have around 3000 shots, some on the G1X which I used when it was raining heavily as it easy to put in a pocket. I have a lot less time for editing these days so it will be a long process I think. To save time I am going to create a list of generic tags that I can copy and paste to each upload – the time saving is enormous – so apologies to anyone who gets a photo of a canal when they wanted a steam train or vice versa.
What an amazing feeling it is when you know that you helped someone who truly needs assistance and would not have been able to afford it. To know that it is because of your help, someone’s life got a little bit easier and safer. That was the goal and vision of Joseph Harper, a boy with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, who 5 years ago created The Wheeled Scotsman’s Foundation to do just that….to help people with mobility issues who cannot afford to make their homes safe because certain accommodations like ramps, pull bars in the bathroom, wheelchair accessible showers, etc. are usually not covered by insurance. Sadly, Joey passed away in January of 2010, yet his vision and legacy lives on in the people whose lives he has impacted as well as his family and friends who continue to run The Wheeled Scotsman.
It is with renewed vigor and urgency that we push forward and try to help as many people as we can. To date, The Wheeled Scotsman Foundation has been able to help more than 10 families make their homes safer. We send out our contractors, pay for all permits, and complete all work at absolutely no cost to the family or individual. Although we wish we could help everyone on our waiting list, we are limited by funds. 100% of the money raised through fundraisers, like the Black Sheep Run, is spent to help others and this is where we need your help!!!
The Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run will start at 9 am. The Family Fun Walk will start at 9:15 am. The 5K will start at 9:30 am. Dogs on leashes and baby strollers are all welcomed. Awards will be given when all the races for that day have finished. This includes: top male and female for each category as well as the top five males and females of each category will also be recognized. Categories consist of: dogs on leash, baby joggers, and headphones
You can sign up for this event at active.com just type in black sheep run in the search bar at our event will pop up:
Hi everyone.... I have not been able to be on here for a couple days... and I am leaving TODAY for 4 days to go to my daughter's College Graduation in Seattle! I am so thrilled, proud as punch, overjoyed that she finished what has been a difficult process for her.
sooo.... even though I have a dozen new gorgeous wildflower shots from today... and a report of further snow melting in the mountain roads as of this morning as I made another run to the hills before work... even though there are many more shots of Utah, and the drive south, and the wildflowers along the way... even though I want to come look at everyones beautiful shots and make lots of comments...
I am not going to right away! You understand..... and thank you all who come see... I love your comments! I may check in from my daughters too if there is time..
(oh dear... and then there will be a whole new set from this weekend to choose from! Yikes! how do some of you limit to ONE shot a week I will never know!) OK, I will post just a couple sets and then I have to go!
Best wishes to all of you...
Oh yes, and these wild roses smell so heavenly... we used to string necklaces from the buds in spring and let them dry...
L&C students were able to enjoy the fall weather during 2021 Fall Fest. There was plenty of music, food, games and giveaways on hand as well as balloon art, a bounce house and a characturist. Photos by Jan Dona, L&C Marketing/PR.
We made a short notice booking to Copenhagen, Jayne had the first week in September booked off and we wanted to try and do a city break. Five nights hardly seemed enough but the short flight was ok. We flew over home heading east on a beautiful morning. I love flying over an area that I know and being able to see it from above. We had been warned that Copenhagen was expensive-it was! I hadn’t done any research before we set off but on the flight over, I read that taxis were expensive, so it was best to use the Metro from the airport, it isn’t far in to the city and the Metro was fairly easy to use. However! We should have caught the train, I read this whist we were sat on the Metro it has to be said! The nearest Metro stop, which I was frantically trying to work out, using my phone, travelling in and out of tunnels, turned out to be a 1.5 mile walk from our hotel, the rail station was .5. Never mind we were there to walk-subject to my lately diagnosed arthritic ankle, we just didn’t want to be towing suitcases over cobbled pavements at the same time.
We were staying in the Tivoli Hotel which was described as central, it is near Central Station but you wouldn’t describe it as central to the city. Our room wasn’t ready but we could upgrade for a modest amount plus we realised it would be a good idea to include breakfast in the upgrade deal. A good move as it turned out. Our room overlooked the train lines-all twelve of them!! We could already hear train brakes squealing along with the thump thump of steel wheels rolling over points and joints. It’s true to say that Central Station is a 24/7 operation. The overnight noise didn’t bother Jayne but I could hear it all night.
We dumped our stuff and I loaded up with the backpack and camera and we were straight out there. Copenhagen is a relatively small city but there is a lot to see. We were soon finding out that it has an extensive network of canals and bridges and these are a major feature of life in the city. Pan flat, the cyclist rules, There appeared to be twice as many bikes as residents, with countless thousands propped up everywhere you went. Where ever you looked there was silent conveyor of sit up and beg cycles being ridden in all directions. You soon got used to looking over your shoulder before making a move. The vast majority of bikes are left unlocked and almost no one wears a helmet ( I’m a no helmet man, much to the annoyance of the helmet zealots). Copenhagen is reputedly the happiest place in the world and it certainly came across as friendly and relaxed. It is, though, one of the most expensive cities in the world and two burgers and two small glasses of wine at Nyhavn cost us £50. Comically, there were four people, local to us, shouting out Jayne’s name, they had seen us going past and we had a laugh about the prices, They were sat drinking beer at £8.50 a pint. Despite the expense, the place was packed with people parting with their money. Wages are very high locally, as are the taxes. The high wages and high costs must feed each other in an upward spiral I would have thought.
Unfortunately the cost of entering buildings to go up towers etc. for a higher view of the city was also very expensive (to us). The tower at Christiansborg Palace is free but restricted by the lift system and you don’t get to the top, it does also open later than the others so you have a chance of seeing sunset over the city. Unfortunately the lifts were out of order on one of our best weather days. We did get to go up the day after but it was dull and I wasn’t overly impressed. The spiral tower across in Christiana, The Church of Our Saviour, was far more impressive. We climbed the tower here just after it opened on a stunning morning and the views are fantastic. There will be incredible bottlenecks when it’s busy though on the corkscrew stairs that get progressively narrower towards the top. Some people hog it to take endless selfies at the top and it is extremely tight up there, you can’t move up until they come down.
As usual, we tried to get to some out of the way places, with only five days and mixed weather though we had enough mainstream destinations to see. We had a day of heavy rain so we went back to the rail station which was a good indoor (and free!) destination, and made umbrellas and the rain the focal point of that days photos. The entire Danish navy seemed to be at anchor, we just missed an open day on one ship. Some I could photograph, others were guarded and had restrictions, I got the evil eye from a couple of guards as the spotted the big Canon in my hand. I can’t imagine that they could police the Japanese and stop them from getting their photos and selfies though. I always act very openly with the camera and if people look at me suspiciously I smile and give them the thumbs up. In a rail station I usually ask the police. In Central Station the police were in their station and I never saw one move out, it is covered by extensive CCTV but there were some very unpleasant people, drinking and watching for people being careless with their belongings. We were lucky to be in the station on Sunday as a tourist steam train arrived, it sat at the platform belching smoke and steam for fifteen minutes, it was also coming back in an hour so we had an expensive coffee and waited to see it again. There was big military event outside the Christiansborg Palace on Monday, with a parade through the city that came past just as we were in a good spot to view it. The area was full of soldiers wearing their medals. We haven’t discovered the reason, although someone suggested a passing out parade for new recruits. Maybe the ships were in port for this as well.
Tivoli Gardens is another big draw and we went in, again it was fairly expensive, it had been a stunning day and the biggest problem was contrast, with deep shadows and a bright blue sky. We stayed until dark, it opens late and is very colourful. We went on the world’s highest carousel and got flung around 260 odd feet in the air. Luckily, we also found a bar that served wine at ‘only’ £5.60 a glass so we sat and watched people have fun screaming and shrieking above us.
There are many buildings with copper domes, entire copper roofs, even modern buildings are often clad in either brass or copper to blend in with the ancient buildings around them. Like every city we have visited, tower cranes are in abundance. There is a lot of development going on and unfortunately a lot of it is around buildings that you would want to photograph. We walked 12 to 14 mile every day and took in most of the sights. We didn’t really do any interiors, only towers and the railway station. At the time of writing I haven’t looked at what I’ve got, I have around 3000 shots, some on the G1X which I used when it was raining heavily as it easy to put in a pocket. I have a lot less time for editing these days so it will be a long process I think. To save time I am going to create a list of generic tags that I can copy and paste to each upload – the time saving is enormous – so apologies to anyone who gets a photo of a canal when they wanted a steam train or vice versa.
Dan got this bike a couple of weeks ago, and this was the first time I was able to see him in a while and ride with him on a his Lightning Phantom recumbent bike.
At 6' 6" tall, even the maximum settings for the bike fit aren't quite ideal for him.
Since I'm 6' 4", I was able to test drive it some and compare it to my Rans Vrex recumbent.
I like the sit position better on on the Phantom-- it is further forward and lower down. This better centers the weight between the wheels and moves the body further down out of the wind stream. However, I prefer the Rans seat cushion of the Phantom and the Rans Vrex handle bars. The Phantom also has mounts for only one water bottle, instead of the two that are the Vrex has on the sides of the seats.
With only about ten minutes on the bike, my preference remains with the Vrex, although I was influenced to consider models with a lower seat position if I was shopping for a recumbent again.
Malakoff, Texas, TX, Replica Series, Signature, Skatepark, Skate Park, Hardcore, Shotcrete, Extreme Sports, X Games, design, precast, concrete, skateable art, skate able art, skateboard, BMX, Inline, Roller Blade
Tuesday is a leg day.
Back on the bike.
And as Jools goes to a class at eight, I have to be back home by then.
So, I set the alarm for half five and am awake before it goes off.
There enough time for a brew before leaving, just as dawn breaks, but well before the sun rises.
I ride round Doha for forty minutes, then go down to the café for a coffee and a flapjack, as I had a blood test at ten.
I enjoy sitting and drinking. One of the worse things about the kitchen is not being able to make proper coffee, so one at the centre is very good.
Then back home for twenty past seven, just as traffic was building, the sun was up and it was going to be a sunny if blustery day.
Jools leaves, so I wait for Crag to arrive, and when he does I can go upstairs for a shave and shower, and be lovely for the nurse later.
Jools come home, and we're straight out so she can drop me off for the blood test, and once that's done we're off out in the car for the day. Or half day.
I have to wait ten minutes or so, but the good news is that the blood is red, though my weight is far higher than I thought.
But I am doing something about it.
Back outside and into the car, so I drive us to Dover, then up the A20 past Folkestone and Ashford to Maidstone, as we were doing a little churchcrawling.
We turn off at Hollingbourne, then take the road through Leeds, where I pull in to revisit the church, as it was about a decade since I was last here.
The tower is by far the most impressive thing here, thick walls several feet thick, with a small, stumpy spire on top.
But it was open, so I take shots of the glass, all Victorian, but of high quality.
Then back outside to deal with the narrow main road through the village, dodging between parked cars and ancient buildings that jut out into the road.
Across the busy junction, and along to Loose before turning down the main road through Linton and out onto the Weald.
Why are we going to Staplehurst?
Well, All Saints has one of the few confirmed anchorite cells, or the remains of one, and when I came a few years ago, I snapped the small window from inside, not from the outside.
Each time we come across a small window or opening in either the north or south wall of a church, we think anchorite, but it seldom is. But as Staplehurst there are two windows: one larger than the other, and outside the remains of where the cell would have stood.
I had checked that the church would be open; its open most days, so with high spirits, we park on the main road, walk back to the church, and while Jools goes inside, I walk to find the remains of the cell.
On the north wall of the Chancel, there are the two windows, and below a depression showing where the cell would have stood. It was only 10 feet by ten feet or so, and the anchorite could have lived here years.
I walk round and pay attention to the door in the south porch, the ironwork is 11th century Danish, and is very important. Sad then, that the church locks the door away, and last time I came was obscured by stored tables and suchlike. At least now the view is clear.
I go in to take shots. Again the glass is good Victorian, but the Chancel is being dug up, partially uncovered tombs can been seen in the soil, so I could not get to the anchorite windows.
We walk up the hill, and it is a hill, to the Kings Head for lunch, and get a table by the fire. It is very busy, especially for a Tuesday, but the food is great when it comes: steak and al pie for me and a "dirty" burger and fries for Jools.
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One of the largest twelfth-century towers in Kent. The arch between tower and nave is of three very plain orders with no hint of the usual zigzag moulding of the period, and is so large that a meeting room has recently been built into it. The nave has three bay aisles and short chapels to north and south of the chancel. The outstanding rood screen was partially reconstructed in 1892, and runs the full width of nave and aisles - with the staircase doorways in the south aisle. That the chancel was rebuilt in the sixteenth century may be seen by the plain sedilia through which is cut one of two hagioscopes from chapels to chancel. The north chapel contains some good seventeenth- and eighteenth-century tablets and monuments. The stained glass shows some excellent examples of the work of Heaton, Butler and Bayne (south aisle) whilst there is an uncharacteristically poor example of the work of C.E. Kempe & Co. Ltd. in the north aisle. The church has recently been reordered to provide a spacious, light and manageable interior with excellent lighting and a welcoming atmosphere without damaging the character of the building.
www.kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Leeds
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LEEDS
IS the next parish southward from Hollingborne. Kilburne says, that one Ledian, a chief counsellor to king Ethelbert II. who began his reign in 978, raised a fortress here, which was called in Latin, from him, Ledani Castrum, and in process of time in English, LEEDS. This castle was afterwards demolished by the Danes, and continued in that situation till the time of the Norman conquest.
THE PRESENT CASTLE is situated at the southeast boundary of this parish, adjoining to Bromfield, which includes a part of the castle itself. It is situated in the midst of the park, an ample description of it the reader will find hereafter. The Lenham rivulet takes its course through the park, and having supplied the moat, in which the castle stands, and the several waters in the grounds there, and having received into it the several small streamlets from Hollingborne, and one from the opposite side, which comes from Leeds abbey, it flows on, and at a small distance from Caring street, in this parish, adjoining to Bersted, the principal estate of which name there belongs to the Drapers company, it turns a mill, and then goes on to Maidstone, where it joins the river Medway. The high road from Ashford and Lenham runs close by the outside of the pales of Leeds park, at the northern boundary of the parish next to Hollingborne, and thence goes on towards Bersted and Maidstone, from which the park is distant a little more than five miles; here the soil is a deep sand, but near the river it changes to a black moorish earth. Southward from the castle the ground rises, at about three quarters of a mile south-west from it is Leeds abbey, the front of which is a handsome well-looking building, of the time of queen Elizabeth. It is not unpleasantly situated on a gentle eminence, and is well watered by a small stream which rises just above it, and here turns a mill. It is well cloathed with wood at the back part of it, to which the ground still keeps rising; adjoining to the abbey grounds westward is Leeds-street, a long straggling row of houses, near a mile in length, having the church at the south end of it; here the soil becomes a red unfertile earth much mixed with slints, which continues till it joins to Langley and Otham.
LEEDS was part of those possessions given by William the Conqueror to his half-brother Odo, bishop of Baieux; accordingly it is thus entered, under the general title of that prelate's lands, in the survey of Domesday, taken in the year 1080.
Adelold holds of the bishop (of Baieux) Esiedes. It was taxed at three sulings. The arable land is twelve carucates. In demesne there are two carucates, and twenty-eight villeins, with eight borderers, having seven carucates. There is a church, and eighteen servants. There are two arpends of vineyard, and eight acres of meadow. Wood for the pannage of twenty bogs, and five mills of the villeins. In the time of king Edward the Confessor, it was worth sixteen pounds, the like when be received it, now twenty pounds, and yet it pays twentyfive pounds. Earl Leuuin held it.
Of this manor the abbot of St. Augustine has half a suling, which is worth ten shillings, in exchange of the park of the bishop of Baieux. The earl of Ewe has four denns of this manor, which are worth twenty shillings.
The mention of the two arpends of vineyard in the above survey, is another instance of there having been such in this county in early times, some further observations of which the reader will find in the description of the parish of Chart Sutton, not far distant, and he will likewise observe, that at the above time the bishop of Baieux had a park here, which he acquired by exchange with the abbot of St. Augustine, who must therefore have had possessions here before that time.
On the bishop of Baieux's disgrace, about four years after the taking of the above-mentioned survey, this estate, among the rest of his possessions, became consiscated to the crown.
After which it was granted by king William to the eminent family of Crevequer, called in antient charters Creveceur, and in Latin, De Crepito Corde, who at first made Chatham in this county their seat, or caput baroniæ, i. e. the principal manor of their barony, for some time, until they removed hither, being before frequently written Domini de Cetham.
Robert, son of Hamon de Crevequer, who had probably a grant of Leeds from the Conqueror, appears to have held it of the king, as of his castle of Dover, in capite by barony, their barony, which consisted of five knight's sees, being stiled Baronia de Crevequer . (fn. 1) He erected the castle here, to which he asterwards removed the capital seat of his barony. This castle being environed with water, was frequently mentioned in antient writings by the name of Le Mote. In the north-west part of it he built a chapel, in which he placed three canons, which on his foundation of the priory of Leeds, in the 19th year of king Henry I. he removed thither.
His descendant, Hamon de Crevequer, lived in the reign of king Henry III. in the 19th year of which, he was joined with Walterand Teutonicus, or Teys, in the wardenship of the five ports, and the next year had possession granted to him of the lands of William de Albrincis or Averenches, whose daughter and heir Maud he had married. He died in the 47th year of king Henry III. possessed of the manor of Ledes, held of the king in capite, as belonging to his barony of Chatham; upon which Robert, his grandson, viz. son of Hamon his son, who died in his life-time, succeeded him as his heir, and in the 52d year of that reign, exchanged the manor of Ledes, with its appurtenances, together with a moiety of all his fees, with Roger de Leyburne, for the manors of Trottesclyve and Flete. He lest William de Leyburne, his son and heir, who in the 2d year of king Edward I. had possession granted to him of the manor of Ledes, as well as of the rest of his inheritance, of which Eleanor, countess of Winchester, his father's widow, was not endowed. (fn. 2)
His son, William de Leyborne, observing that the king looked on the strength of this fortress with a jealous eye, in the beginning of king Edward Ist.'s reign reinstated the crown in the possession of both the manor and castle; and the king having, in his 27th year married Margaret, sister of Philip, king of France, he settled them, being then of the clear yearly value of 21l. 6s. 8d. among other premises, as part of her dower. She survived the king her husband, who died in 1307, and in the 5th year of the next reign of king Edward II. by the king's recommendation, appointed Bartholomew de Badlesmere, a nobleman of great power and eminence, and much in that prince's favor, governor of this castle. (fn. 3) She died possessed of them in the 10th year of that reign; on which they came once more into the hands of the crown, and in the beginning of the next year the king appointed Bartholomew de Badlesmere, above-mentioned, governor of this castle, as well as of that of Bristol. In the 11th year of that reign, the king granted to him in see, this manor and castle, and the advowson of the priory of Ledes, in exchange for the manor of Addresley, in Shropshire. Being possessed of great possessions, especially in this county, he was usually stiled, the rich lord Badlesmere of Ledes. Being pussed up through ambition and his great wealth, he forgot his allegiance, and associated himself with the earl of Lancaster, and the discontented barons; which the king being well informed of, resolved, if possible, to gain possession of this strong fortress of Ledes: to effect which, under pretence of the queen's going on a pilgrimage to Canterbury, she set forward for that city with a large train of attendants, and, with a secret intention of surprising this castle, sent her marshal with others of her servants, to prepare lodging for her and her suit in it. The lord Badlesmere's family, that is, his wife, son, and four daughters, were at that time in it, together with all his treasure, deposited there for safety, under the care of Thomas Colepeper, the castellan, who refused the queen's servants admittance, and on her coming up, peremptorily persisted in denying her or any one entrance, without letters from his lord. The queen, upon this, made some attempt to gain admittance by force, and a skirmish ensued, in which one or more of her attendants were slain, but being repulsed, she was obliged to relinquish her design, and to retire for a lodging elsewhere.
The king, chagrined at the failure of his scheme, and highly resenting the indignity offered to the queen, sent a force under the earls of Pembroke and Richmond, to besiege the castle; (fn. 4) and those within it finding no hopes of relief, for though the lord Badlesmere had induced the barons to endeavours to raise the siege, yet they never advanced nearer than Kingston, yielded it up. Upon which, the lady Badlesmere and her children were sent prisoners to the tower of London, Thomas Colepeper, the castellan, was hung up, and the king took possession of the castle, as well as of all the lord Badlesmere's goods and treasures in it. But by others, Thomas de Aldone is said to have been castellan at this time, and that the castle being taken, he, with the lord Badlesmere's wife, his only son Giles, his daughters, Sir Bartholomew de Burgershe, and his wife, were sent to the tower of London by the king's order; and that afterwards, he caused Walter Colepeper, bailiff of the Seven Hundreds, to be drawn in a pitiable manner at the tails of horses, and to be hung just by this castle; on which Thomas Colepeper, and others, who were with him in Tunbridge castle, hearing of the king's approach, sled to the barons.
After which the lord Badlesmere, being taken prisoner in Yorkshire, was sent to Canterbury, and there drawn and hanged at the gallows of Blean, and his head being cut off, was set on a pole on Burgate, in that city. Upon which the manor and castle of Leeds, became part of the royal revenue and the castle remained in a most ruinous condition till the year 1359, anno 34 Edward III. in which year that munisicent prelate, William of Wickham, was constituted by the king, chief warden and surveyor of his castle of Ledes, among others, (fn. 5) having power to appoint all workmen, to provide materials, and to order every thing with regard to building and repairs; and in those manors to hold leets and other courts of trespass and misdemeanors, and to enquire of the king's liberties and rights; and from his attention to the re-edisying and rebuilding the rest of them, there is little doubt but he restored this of Leeds to a very superior state to whatever it had been before, insomuch, that it induced king Richard to visit it several times, particularly in his 19th year, in which several of his instruments were dated at his castle of Ledes; and it appears to have been at that time accounted a fortress of some strength, for in the beginning of the next reign, that unfortunate prince was, by order of king Henry IV. sent prisoner to this castle; and that king himself resided here part of the month of April in his 2d year.
After which, archbishop Arundel, whose mind was by no means inferior to his high birth, procured a grant of this castle, where he frequently resided and kept his court, whilst the process against the lord Cobham was carrying forward, and some of his instruments were dated from his castle of Ledes in the year 1413, being the year in which he died. On his death it reverted again to the crown, and became accounted as one of the king's houses, many of the principal gentry of the county being instrusted with the custody of it:
In the 7th year of king Henry V. Joane of Navarre, the second queen of the late king Henry IV. being accused of conspiring against the life of the king, her son-in-law, was committed to Leeds-castle, there to remain during the king's pleasure; and being afterwards ordered into Sir John Pelham's custody, he removed her to the castle of Pevensey, in Sussex.
In the 18th year of king Henry VI. archbishop Chichele sat at the king's castle of Leeds, in the process against Eleanor, duchess of Gloucester, for forcery and witchcrast.
King Edward IV. in his 11th year, made Ralph St. Leger, esq. of Ulcomb, who had served the office of sheriff of this county three years before, constable of this castle for life, and annexed one of the parks as a farther emolument to that office. He died that year, and was buried with his ancestors at Ulcomb.
Sir Thomas Bourchier resided at Leeds castle in the 1st year of king Richard III. in which year he had commission, among others of the principal gentry of this county, to receive the oaths of allegiance to king Richard, of the inhabitants of the several parts of Kent therein mentioned; in which year, the king confirmed the liberties of Leeds priory, in recompence of twentyfour acres of land in Bromfield, granted for the enlargement of his park of Ledes.
In the 4th year of king Henry VIII. Henry Guildford, esq. had a grant of the office of constable of Leeds castle, and of the parkership of it; and in the 12th year of that reign, he had a grant of the custody of the manor of Leeds, with sundry perquisities, for forty years. He died in the 23d year of that reign, having re-edisied great part of the castle, at the king's no small charge.
But the fee simple of the manor and castle of Leeds remained in the hands of the crown, till Edward VI. in his 6th year, granted them, with their appurtenances in the parishes of Leeds, Langley, and Sutton, to Sir Anthony St. Leger, lord deputy of Ireland, to hold in capite by knight's service.
His son, Sir Warham St. Leger, succeeded him in this manor and castle, and was afterwards chief governor of Munster, in Ireland, in which province he was unfortunately slain in 1599, (fn. 6) but before his death he alienated this manor and castle to Sir Richard Smyth, fourth son of Thomas Smyth, esq. of Westenhanger, commonly called Customer Smyth.
Sir Richard Smyth resided at Leeds castle, of which he died possessed in 1628, and was buried in Ashford church, where there is a costly monument erected to his memory.
Sir John Smith, his only son, succeeded his father, and resided at Leeds castle, and dying s. p. in 1632, was buried in this church; upon which his two sisters, Alice, wife of Sir Timothy Thornhill, and Mary, of Maurice Barrow, esq. became his coheirs, and entitled their respective husbands to the property of this manor and castle, which they afterwards joined in the sale of to Sir T. Culpeper, of Hollingborne, who settled this estate, after his purchase of it, on his eldest son Cheney Culpeper, remainder to his two other sons, Francis and Thomas. Cheney Culpeper, esq. resided at Leedscastle for some time, till at length persuading his brother Sir Thomas Culpeper, of Hollingborne, (then his only surviving brother, Francis being dead. s. p.) to cut off the entail of this estate, he alienated it to his cousin Sir John Colepeper, lord Colepeper, only son of Sir John Culpeper, of Wigsell, in Sussex, whose younger brother Francis was of Greenway-court, in Hollingborne, and was father of Sir Thomas Culpeper, the purchaser of this estate as before-mentioned.
Sir John Colepeper represented this county in parliament in the 16th year of king Charles I. and being a person, who by his abilities had raised himself much in the king's favor, was made of his privy council, and chancellor of the exchequer, afterwards master of the rolls, and governor of the Isle of Wight. During the troubles of that monarch, he continued stedfast to the royal cause, and as a reward for his services, was in 1644 created lord Colepeper, baron of Thoresway, in Lincolnshire.
After the king's death he continued abroad with king Charles II. in his exile. During his absence, Leeds-castle seems to have been in the possession of the usurping powers, and to have been made use of by them, for the assembling of their committee men and sequestrators, and for a receptacle to imprison the ejected ministers, for in 1652, all his estates had been declared by parliament forfeited, for treason against the state. He died in 1660, a few weeks only after the restoration, and was buried at Hollingborne. He bore for his arms, Argent, a bend ingrailed gules, the antient bearing of this family; he left by his second wife Judith, daughter of Sir Thomas Culpeper, of Hollingborne, several children, of whom Thomas was his successor in title and estates, and died without male issue as will be mentioned hereafter, John succeeded his brother in the title, and died in 1719 s. p. and Cheney succeeded his brother in the title, and died at his residence of Hoston St. John, in 1725, s. p. likewise, by which the title became extinct; they all, with the rest of the branch of the family, lie buried at Hollingborne. Thomas, lord Colepeper, the eldest son, succeeded his father in title, and in this manor and castle, where he resided, and having married Margaret, daughter of Signior Jean de Hesse, of a noble family in Germany, he left by her a sole daughter and heir Catherine, who intitled her husband Thomas, lord Fairfax, of Cameron, in Scotland, to this manor and castle, with his other estates in this neighbourhood.
The family of Fairfax appear by old evidences in the hands of the family to have been in possession of lands in Yorkshire near six hundred years ago. Richard Fairfax was possessed of lands in that county in the reign of king John, whose grandson William Fairfax in the time of king Henry III. purchased the manor of Walton, in the West Riding, where he and his successors resided for many generations afterwards, and from whom descended the Fairfax's, of Walton and Gilling, in Yorkshire; of whom, Sir Thomas Fairfax, of Gilling, was created viscount Fairfax, of the kingdom of Ireland, which title became extinct in 1772; and from a younger branch of them descended Sir Thomas Fairfax, of Denton, who lived in queen Elizabeth's reign, and changed the original field of his coat armour from argent to or, bearing for his arms, Or, 3 bars gemelles, gules, surmounted of a lion rampant, sable, crown'd, of the first, and was father of Sir. T. Fairfax, who was, for his services to James and Charles I. created in 1627 lord Fairfax, baron of Cameron, in Scotland. He died in 1640, having had ten sons and two daughters; of whom, Ferdinando was his successor; Henry was rector of Bolton Percy, and had two sons, Henry, who became lord Fairfax, and Bryan, who was ancestor of Bryan Fairfax, late commissioner of the customs; and colonel Charles Fairfax, of Menston, was the noted antiquary, whose issue settled there.
Ferdinando, the second lord Fairfax, in the civil wars of king Charles I. was made general of the parliamentary forces, and died at York in 1646. His son, Sir Thomas Fairfax, succeeded him as lord Fairfax, and in all his posts under the parliament, and was that famous general so noted in English history during the civil wars, being made commander in chief of all the parliamentary forces; but at last he grew so weary of the distress and confusion which his former actions had brought upon his unhappy country, that he heartily concurred in the restoration of king Charles II. After which he retired to his seat at Bilborough, in Yorkshire, where he died in 1671, and was buried there, leaving by Anne, daughter and coheir of Horatio, lord Vere of Tilbury, a truly loyal and virtuous lady, an only daughter; upon which the title devolved to Henry Fairfax, esq. of Oglesthorpe, in Yorkshire, his first cousin, eldest son of Henry, rector of Bolton Percy, the second son of Thomas, the first lord Fairfax. Henry, lord Fairfax, died in 1680, and was succeeded by his eldest son Thomas, fifth lord Fairfax, who was bred to a military life, and rose to the rank of a brigadier-general. He represented Yorkshire in several parliaments and marrying Catherine, daughter and heir of Thomas, lord Colepeper, possessed, in her right this manor and castle, and other large possessions, as before-mentioned. (fn. 7)
He died possessed of them in 1710, leaving three sons and four daughters, Thomas, who succeeded him as lord Fairfax; Henry Culpeper, who died unmarried, in 1734; and Robert, of whom hereafter. Of the daughters, Margaret married David Wilkins, D. D. and prebendary of Canterbury, and Francis married Denny Martin, esq. Thomas, lord Fairfax, the son, resided at Leeds-castle till his quitting England, to reside on his great possessions in Virginia, where he continued to the time of his death. On his departure from England, he gave up the possession of this manor and castle, with his other estates in this neighbourhood, to his only surviving brother, the hon. Robert Fairfax, who afterwards resided at Leeds-castle, and on his brother's death unmarried, in 1782, succeeded to the title of lord Fairfax. He was at first bred to a military life, but becoming possessed of Leeds castle, he retired there, and afterwards twice served in parliament for the town of Maidstoue, as he did afterwards in two successive parliaments for this county. He was twice married; first to Marsha, daughter and coheir of Anthony Collins, esq. of Baddow, in Essex, by whom he had one son, who died an instant; and, secondly, to one of the daughters of Thomas Best, esq. of Chatham, who died s. p. in 1750. Lord Fairfax dying s. p. in 1793, this castle and manor, with the rest of his estates in this county, came to his nephew the Rev. Denny Martin, the eldest son of his sister Frances, by Denny Martin, esq. of Loose, who had before his uncle's death been created D. D. and had, with the royal licence, assumed the name and arms of Fairfax. Dr. Fairfax is the present possessor of this manor and castle, and resides here, being at present unmarried.
A court leet and court baron is held for the manor of Leeds, at which three borsholders are appointed. It is divided into six divisions, or yokes as they are called, viz. Church-yoke, Ferinland-yoke, Mill-yoke, Russerken-yoke, Stockwell-yoke, and Lees-yoke.
Tactical shooting requires agile and adaptive thinkers able to handle the challenges of full spectrum operations in an era of persistent conflict. To meet this requirement, TAPS delivers a comprehensive, systematic, progressive Train-the-Trainer shooting program focused on fundamental mastery and built for Law Enforcement officers, military personal, and qualified civilians. Designed for leaders and trainers, the TAPS course also applies to the patrol-level officer, basic level Soldiers, and civilian self & home defense minded shooters. The approach to instruction is through coaching and mentorship and both demonstrates and transfers a training method that is safe, effective, combat relevant, and encourages a continuous thought process that demands accountability. Training is conducted on the range and focuses on advanced refinement of the basic fundamentals of marksmanship as applied to the primary and secondary weapons systems. Utilizing a building block learning model, TAPS combines the pressures and dynamics of competitive shooting and tactical application. While course of instruction is on the firing range, the TAPS training approach also translates into training venues outside the range.
Course Outline:
The 2-day course offering provides the following training and instruction:
- Lecture on proper weapons handling and safety
- Refresh the fundamentals and grouping exercises
- Conduct a diagnostic course of fire
- Conduct a discussion on the importance of performing a focal shift during training and avoiding mundane drills that do not encourage a thought process
- Other topics covered and practiced are; grouping exercises with both primary and secondary weapon systems, target discrimination, use of barricades, movement, close quarter battle techniques, immediate action drills, ballistics 101, transitions, magazine changes
- Escalation of training and intensity will vary depending on number of students and their skill level though the core of the course will always remain the same
- This course is marksmanship intensive.
Instructor: Patrick McNamara (AKA - "Mac")
Farmers are able to test drive the latest wheels or tracks at the Farm Progress Show, in Decatur, IL, on Aug 29, 2017. USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.
In the afternoon of of Friday May 19, 2017, I was able to get myself a place in the little town of Furlo at the Furlo Pass to watch the Mille Miglia pass Furlo.
The Furlo Pass
The Furlo Pass (Italian: Gola del Furlo or Passo del Furlo) is a gorge on the ancient Roman road Via Flaminia in the Marche region of central Italy.
The Roman emperor Vespasian had a tunnel built here to facilitate passage on the Via Flaminia at the narrowest point of the gorge (hence the name, from the Latina forulum, meaning "small hole"). Next to it is a similar but smaller tunnel dating from Etruscan times. The tunnel has a length of 38.30 meters and a height of 5.95 meters.
In the 1930s, a profile of Benito Mussolini was sculpted on the slopes of Mount Pietralata in the neighborhood, which was destroyed by partisans during World War II. In the 1980s, traffic in the Furlo tunnel was bypassed by the construction of two highway tunnels.
First, during passing of the Ferrari's I had chosen a position opposite the terraces of Albergo and Restaurant Antico Furlo and Bar Furlo. The owner of the Albergo is a famous cook and specializes in Truffel dishes as Aqualanga the neighbor town is one of Italy's main truffle centers. Altough not a Mussulini fan, he maintains a room where Mussolini slept some time in 1938 in its original state which as an ex hotelier I can condone.
Later I crossed the street and took position at a terrace with a beer and a sandwich as it became scorching hot in the sun.
The pass had been closed for car traffic during restoration works in 2015 and 2016.
Usually it is part of the Mille Miglia Classic Car Race as now in 2017 again.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furlo_Pass
Ferrari Tribute to The Mille Miglia.
Before the oldies pass the place, the Ferrari Owners Club as a Tribute to the Mille Miglia organizes a mirror of the Mille Miglia for Modern built Ferrari's. It is a posh event like the Mille Miglia itself, as the Ferrari Owners pay a hefty fee to be able to compete and also to sleep in posh hotels and to attend several parties of the event
See also www.ferraritribute.1000miglia.it/index-en.php
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmille ˈmiʎʎa], Thousand Miles) was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 (thirteen before the war, eleven from 1947).
In 1957 it was closed by the authorities because of severe accidents with several dead and wounded competitors and spectators.
Since 1977, the "Mille Miglia" has been reborn as a regularity race for classic and vintage cars. Participation is limited to cars, produced no later than 1957, which had attended (or were registered) to the original race. The route (Brescia-Rome round trip) is similar to that of the original race, maintaining the point of departure / arrival in Viale Venezia in Brescia.
It is a very expensive event and several captains of (car)industry, former race and rally drivers and other celebrities compete.
Source en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mille_Miglia
See also: www.1000miglia.eu/MilleMiglia/
We were able to jump in right behind the very end of Universal's Holiday Parade (the garland marks the official end) and bypass the nearly impassable crowded sidewalks.
FATAL ACCIDENT.
On Saturday evening, about half-past six o'clock, an able seaman of the s.s. Star of Victoria, named Arthur William Headley, 33 years of age, was accidentally killed while in a state of intoxication, by falling over the gangway guard-ropes, and fracturing his skull, by striking the side of the ship, and then the wharf stringers, with great force. George Bush, of the Permanent Artillery, saw deceased coming down the wharf under the influence of liquor, and the accident of his falling off the gangway, and called out, "Man overboard!". Ellis, night-watchman, and others of the crew of the Star of Victoria responded, and got a rope over the ship's side, and slid down it, getting the man out of the water within three or four minutes. He gasped a little, but was unconscious, and never spoke. Headley was taken to a cabin, and Dr. Hooper attended to the injured man, but he died about a quarter to eight o'clock the same night, The body was removed to the morgue.
An inquest was held yesterday at Gleeson's Hotel, before Mr. Thomas Hutchison, S.M. Evidence was given by Captain Hart, of the Star of Victoria, who identified the body. George Bush, of the Permanent Artillery, deposed to being near the Star of Victoria, and seeing the accident. Deceased was intoxicated. He attempted to climb up the gangway. The lower part of the platform of the gangway was projecting over the wharf, and 2ft or 3ft above it. Deceased climbed safely on to this platform, and got halfway up the gangway, which came down against the side of the ship. There was a rope on the outer side of the gangway. Deceased walked about 2yds or 3yds when he lurched, and fell over the siderope and struck the ledge of the wharf with his side, and fell between the wharf and the steamer. There was a netting under the foot of the gangway, but none where deceased fell over. The vessel was high out of the water, about 11ft above the wharf. The guard-rope would be as high as a man's hip. Dr. Hooper gave evidence to his belief, from the wounds on the head and other signs, that deceased died from fracture of the skull, and effusion of blood on the brain. He attended to the patient and used various remedies. George William Ellis, night-watchman, deposed that he went on duty at six p.m. His attention was drawn to deceased's condition when he came aboard, by the fourth officer, as being under the influence of liquor. Before he got to the gangway he called out to deceased to stop, and he would lower the gangway. Before he could release the tackle deceased km(?)ended the platform, and got halfway up the gangway and fell over. The net under the gangway reached from the bottom, 6ft or 7ft, forward, and projected beyond the foot 5ft or 6ft. His instructions were to raise and lower the gangway, according to the state of the tide. He had only gone on watch, and had just had his attention called tn the gangway as deceased came along the wharf. He attributed the accident to the insobriety of the deceased; with ordinary care the gangway was quite safe. The gangway had a plank and battens, because with the state of the tide it was practically horizontal. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death, and that no blame was attachable to anyone." They also appended the following rider: —"That the Harbour Board should provide captains of vessels with a copy of the wharf regulations; also that nets should be stretched the whole length of the gangway, and be inspected by the authorities." It will be seen by notice in our obituary column that the funeral will leave Mr. Little's premises, Hobson-street, at ten a.m. to-day for the Waikumete Cemetery.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19000108.2.33
Mr.T. B. Dineeh returns to the subject of the fatal accident to the sailor Headley in its relation to that gangway from the wharf to the steamer Star of Victoria. Mr, Dineen says he obtained a copy of the Harbour Regulations after the inquest, and found that No. 45 provides that all gangways must have double-sided rails, or ropes rove taut through stanchion, the top rail or rope to be not less than three feet high. If this is so, the Regulations must have been broken by the Star of Victoria, one witness having stated on oath that the top rope was only up to a man's hip, while Mr Dineen says it was no higher than a man's knee, and was not taut, so that it would be more calculated to trip than to assist anyone boarding the ship. Mr Dineen says the statement made by the coroner at the outset that the occurrence was an accidental one, influenced him, as one of the jury, in agreeing to the verdict arrived at, but information that subsquently reached him caused him to think that much blame rested elsewhere.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO19000120.2.15
Arthur William Headley, the young man killed by falling from the gangway of the s.s. Star of Victoria, seems to have been well connected. It is said that he was related to Dr Balls Headley, of Melbourne, and also to a general of the same name in the British army. The deceased is understood to have held a chief officer's certificate.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TO19000113.2.13
Plot 31: Arthur (Stan) William Headley (33) 6/1/1900 – Able Seaman Star of Victoria – Accident
unmarked grave
DEATHS
HEADLEY.—On January 6, 1900, accidentally killed on the steamer Star of Victoria, Arthur William Headley, aged 33 years.
The funeral will leave the residence of C. Little, Hobson-street, for Waikumete, to-day (Monday), at 10 a.m. Friends please accept this intimation.
Before Starting this Write up for the Days Events I want to say a Huge Thank You to all of the Marshals at Brands Hatch for the work that you do as without you We would not be able to Witness the Amazing Racing that takes Place Here Every Year.
During the Events of Saturday A Marshal Was Tragically Killed in an Accident on the Circuit. My Thoughts and Prayers are with The Family of the Marshal as well as Everyone Involved in the Incident.
Lets Keep Working Hard to Make Racing Exciting but also to work on the Safety Aspect of Both Spectators and Marshals at Each Event.
It was Time for the BARC To make a Very Special Return to Brands Hatch for the Annual BARC Club Car Championship Races. The Grids were looking to be Full up with lots of Action across both the Saturday and Sunday with Qualifying and Racing.
Lets See who's up First and Who can Take their Vehicles around the very Fast and Highly Paced Indy Circuit.
Brit Car Endurance Championship/Endurance And Praga Categories (Qualifying)
First Up was the Brit Car Endurance Championship Featuring a whole range of different cars from the Ferrari 488 to the Praga R1T. Thease two Classes of cars ran together during Qualifying so lets see who managed to take Pole Position for the Race on Sunday.
In First Place was (Tim Gray Motorsport and the Pairing of Richard Wells and Alex Kapadia) In their Praga R1T with a Lap Time of 44.675 and a Top Speed of 97.33mph. An Amazing Effort by Richard and Alex to claim Pole Position and start on the Front Row for Tomorrow's Race.
In Second Place was (CW Performance and the Pairing of Christopher Wesemael and Richard Morris) in their Praga R1 with a Lap Time of 45.128 and a Top Speed of 96.36mph. Another Incredible Drive from The Pairing of Christopher and Richard Claiming Second Position and Being Very Close to First in that Qualifying Battle. Fantastic Work.
In Third Place was (Team Praga Three Lions and The Pairing of Ash Dibden and Angus Fender) in their Praga R1 with a Lap Time of 45.365 and A Top Speed of 95.85mph. Very Close to Second Place Indeed with First, Second and Third place being a very hard Fought Battle for Positions. Fantastic work Ash and Angus.
A Very Exciting start to the Weekend with a Thrilling Qualifying Session and no doubt a Race to look forward to on the Sunday. Who will prevail and take the Checkered Flag? Only Time will tell.
CTCRC Edmundson Electrical Classic/Historic Thunder Saloons (Qualifying)
Next Up was the Edmundson Electrical Classics and The Historic Thunder Saloons as they Headed out for their Qualifying Session and with a Vast Grid of Historic Cars Such as Vauxhalls Fords and BMW'S this looks to be Another Spectacular Qualifying Session for the History Books.
Lets take a look and see who managed to get Pole Position and How Quickly they Managed to do it in.
In First Place was (Jason West) in his BMW E46 M3 3200 with a Lap Time of 50.576 and A Top Speed of 85.98mph. Very Fast Driving from Jason and a Fantastic Effort to achieve Pole Position for the Start of The Race.
In Second Place was (Mike Saunders) in his Ford MK1 Escort Mexico 4700 with a Lap Time of 51.100 and A Top Speed of 85.09mph. Another Fast and Well Controlled Lap from Mike to put himself into Second Place after a very Quick and Brave Drive.
In Third Place was (Andrew Wilson) in his Holden Monaro 7000 with a Lap Time of 51.282 and A Top Speed of 84.79mph. Fantastic Driving from Andrew to Achieve Third Place.
A Very Wonderful Qualifying Session for the CTCRC Edmundson Electrical Classic/Historic Thunder Saloons with Three Very Quick and Eager Drivers all wanting to be First but at the End of the Day their can only be One Winner. Who will it be? Only time will tell.
CTCRC JEC Saloon & GT Championship & Burton Power BOSS (Qualifying)
Next Up The Saloon and GT Championships and with More Escorts and Jaguars Heading onto the Circuit it was time to see what This set of Drivers could do and who would be able to claim Pole Position.
In First Place was (Malcom Harding) in his Ford Escort MK2 Zakspeed 2500 with a Lap Time of 53.705 and A Top Speed of 80.97mph. A Beautifully Prepared Machine Combined with a Fantastically Brave Drivers makes for a Perfect Paring. Amazing Work Malcom for Getting Pole Position.
In Second Place was (Steven Goldsmith) in his Ford Anglia 105e 2600 with a Lap Time of 54.237 and A Top Speed of 80.17mph. Another Amazing Driver pushing His Machinery Hard and Coming Very Close to Malcom's Time. Amazing Work Steven.
In Third Place was (Colin Philpott) in his Jaguar XJS 4000 with a Lap Time of 55.165 and A Top Speed of 79.27mph. Still Keeping very Close to Steven in Second Place and Rightfully Defending that Third Spot on the Grid. Amazing Drive from Colin.
Another Set of Amazing Drivers all showing the Love and Passion they have For Motorsport and Racing. But who will be Brave enough to push to the limits and Defend their Position for the Race. We will Have to Wait and Find Out.
CTCRC JEC Saloon & GT Championship & Burton Power BOSS (Race 1)
Its Time for The First Race of the Day and its for the JEC Saloons and GT Championship. After a Thrilling Qualifying Session Earlier its time to see who can Take Victory in the First Race.
In First Place and Taking the First Win of the Weekend was (MALCOLM HARDING) in his Ford Escort MK2 Zakspeed 2500 with a Lap Time of 54.028 and a Top Speed of 80.48mph. Amazing Drive There Malcolm and Congratulations on Your First Victory.
In Second Place was (STEVEN GOLDSMITH) in his Ford Anglia 105e 2600 with a Lap Time of 54.645 and A Top Speed of 79.57mph. Incredible Drive there Steve with a lot of Determination and a Very Brave Nerve to take Second Place.
In Third Place was (COLIN PHILPOT) in his Jaguar XJS 4000 with a Lap Time of 55.295 and a Top Speed of 78.64mph. Well Done Colin A Well Deserved Third Place and an Amazing Drive for Third Place.
What A Race from the Saloon and GT Championship and with Another Race to Come on Sunday More High Speed Action can be expected then.
CTCRC Laser Tools Pre 93 & Simply Serviced Pre 03 Touring Cars (Qualifying)
Next Up onto the Circuit was the Pre 03 and Pre 93 Touring Cars for their Qualifying Session and with some Fantastic Cars on the Gird it will be Interesting to see who Can take Pole Position and become the Victor of this Qualifying Session.
In First Place was (Gary Prebble) in his Honda Civic EG 2000 with a Lap Time of 52.971 and A Top Speed of 82.09mph. Fast and Committed rom Gary and a Beautifully Prepared Honda too. Well Done.
In Second Place was (AJ Owen) in his Honda Civic Type R 2000 with a Lap Time of 53.153 and A Top Speed of 81.81mph. Another Fantastic Drive from AJ Showing the Power of the Honda Engine and what it can do in the right hands.
In Third Place was (Don Hughes) in his Peugeot 306 XSI 2000 with a Lap Time of 54.013 and A Top Speed of 80.51mph. Another Super Lap from a Super Driver to Put himself into Third Place Behind the Two Hondas Awesome Work there Don.
A Brilliant Qualifying Session for the Pre 93 and Pre 03 Touring Cars. Well Done to the Top Three Drivers and Good Luck to all other Drivers Competing.
CTCRC Poultec Classic Race Engines Pre 66 Touring Cars (Qualifying)
Pre 66 Touring Cars are Next Up and usually a Fan Favourite at Brands Hatch Amongst Spectators and Race Enthusiasts and Who Can blame them. From the Mini Cooper S to The Ford Anglia and Lotus Cortina they are truly something Special to witness Racing around the Track.
Lets See who came where and how this will Impact the Race Ahead.
In First Place was (Alan Greenhalgh) in his Ford Falcon 4727 with a Lap Time of 58.396 and a Top Speed of 74.46mph. Fantastic Driving Alan and a well Deserved Pole Position.
In Second Place was (Robyn Slater) in his Ford Anglia 1550 with a Lap Time of 59.353 and A Top Speed of 73.26mph. Very Well Done to Robyn and an Amazing Drive to Achieve Second Place.
In Third Place was (Barry Sime) in his Morris Mini Cooper S with A Lap Time of 59.627 and A Top Speed of 72.93mph. Showing the Power of The Mini there Barry that's for sure What an Awesome Drive for Third Place.
What A Qualifying Session for the Pre 66 Touring Cars Showing some Awesome Machinery and Cars that Have Been Designed for One Thing Speed. Well Done to Alan Robyn and Barry Here's Hoping to see a Fantastic Battle Between all Three of you Come Race Day.
CTCRC Shell Oils Pre 83 Touring Cars (Qualifying)
Finally was the Turn of the Shell Oils Pre 83 Touring Cars to take to the Circuit. With More Fords and Jags ready to take on the Track and see who can take that Final Pole Position of The Day.
Lets see how things Turned out on the Track
In First Place was (Mike Luck) in his BMW E21 320 with a Lap Time of 56.575 and a Top Speed of 76.86mph. A Very Fast Time and enough to take Pole Position Amazing work there Mike.
In Second Place was (Mark Osbourne) in his Triumph Dolomite Sprint 1998 with a Lap Time of 56.839 and A Top Speed of 76.5mph. Amazing Drive from Mark to put his Triumph right up there in Second Place and not too far Behind Mike in the BMW.
In Third Place was (Stephen Primett) in his Ford Escort MK1 2037 with a Lap Time of 56.867mph and a Top Speed of 76.46mph. Another Incredible Drive for Third Place and The Final Spot in the Top Three for Qualifying. Very Well Done Stephen.
A Thrilling Qualifying Session for the Pre 83 Touring Cars to round of a Very Busy and Long First Day of Qualifying. Lets see what Each Driver can do come Race Day and who will be able to Dominate and Take Home The Trophy for Their Classes.
Best Luck To Everybody and See You All Tomorrow.
We made a short notice booking to Copenhagen, Jayne had the first week in September booked off and we wanted to try and do a city break. Five nights hardly seemed enough but the short flight was ok. We flew over home heading east on a beautiful morning. I love flying over an area that I know and being able to see it from above. We had been warned that Copenhagen was expensive-it was! I hadn’t done any research before we set off but on the flight over, I read that taxis were expensive, so it was best to use the Metro from the airport, it isn’t far in to the city and the Metro was fairly easy to use. However! We should have caught the train, I read this whist we were sat on the Metro it has to be said! The nearest Metro stop, which I was frantically trying to work out, using my phone, travelling in and out of tunnels, turned out to be a 1.5 mile walk from our hotel, the rail station was .5. Never mind we were there to walk-subject to my lately diagnosed arthritic ankle, we just didn’t want to be towing suitcases over cobbled pavements at the same time.
We were staying in the Tivoli Hotel which was described as central, it is near Central Station but you wouldn’t describe it as central to the city. Our room wasn’t ready but we could upgrade for a modest amount plus we realised it would be a good idea to include breakfast in the upgrade deal. A good move as it turned out. Our room overlooked the train lines-all twelve of them!! We could already hear train brakes squealing along with the thump thump of steel wheels rolling over points and joints. It’s true to say that Central Station is a 24/7 operation. The overnight noise didn’t bother Jayne but I could hear it all night.
We dumped our stuff and I loaded up with the backpack and camera and we were straight out there. Copenhagen is a relatively small city but there is a lot to see. We were soon finding out that it has an extensive network of canals and bridges and these are a major feature of life in the city. Pan flat, the cyclist rules, There appeared to be twice as many bikes as residents, with countless thousands propped up everywhere you went. Where ever you looked there was silent conveyor of sit up and beg cycles being ridden in all directions. You soon got used to looking over your shoulder before making a move. The vast majority of bikes are left unlocked and almost no one wears a helmet ( I’m a no helmet man, much to the annoyance of the helmet zealots). Copenhagen is reputedly the happiest place in the world and it certainly came across as friendly and relaxed. It is, though, one of the most expensive cities in the world and two burgers and two small glasses of wine at Nyhavn cost us £50. Comically, there were four people, local to us, shouting out Jayne’s name, they had seen us going past and we had a laugh about the prices, They were sat drinking beer at £8.50 a pint. Despite the expense, the place was packed with people parting with their money. Wages are very high locally, as are the taxes. The high wages and high costs must feed each other in an upward spiral I would have thought.
Unfortunately the cost of entering buildings to go up towers etc. for a higher view of the city was also very expensive (to us). The tower at Christiansborg Palace is free but restricted by the lift system and you don’t get to the top, it does also open later than the others so you have a chance of seeing sunset over the city. Unfortunately the lifts were out of order on one of our best weather days. We did get to go up the day after but it was dull and I wasn’t overly impressed. The spiral tower across in Christiana, The Church of Our Saviour, was far more impressive. We climbed the tower here just after it opened on a stunning morning and the views are fantastic. There will be incredible bottlenecks when it’s busy though on the corkscrew stairs that get progressively narrower towards the top. Some people hog it to take endless selfies at the top and it is extremely tight up there, you can’t move up until they come down.
As usual, we tried to get to some out of the way places, with only five days and mixed weather though we had enough mainstream destinations to see. We had a day of heavy rain so we went back to the rail station which was a good indoor (and free!) destination, and made umbrellas and the rain the focal point of that days photos. The entire Danish navy seemed to be at anchor, we just missed an open day on one ship. Some I could photograph, others were guarded and had restrictions, I got the evil eye from a couple of guards as the spotted the big Canon in my hand. I can’t imagine that they could police the Japanese and stop them from getting their photos and selfies though. I always act very openly with the camera and if people look at me suspiciously I smile and give them the thumbs up. In a rail station I usually ask the police. In Central Station the police were in their station and I never saw one move out, it is covered by extensive CCTV but there were some very unpleasant people, drinking and watching for people being careless with their belongings. We were lucky to be in the station on Sunday as a tourist steam train arrived, it sat at the platform belching smoke and steam for fifteen minutes, it was also coming back in an hour so we had an expensive coffee and waited to see it again. There was big military event outside the Christiansborg Palace on Monday, with a parade through the city that came past just as we were in a good spot to view it. The area was full of soldiers wearing their medals. We haven’t discovered the reason, although someone suggested a passing out parade for new recruits. Maybe the ships were in port for this as well.
Tivoli Gardens is another big draw and we went in, again it was fairly expensive, it had been a stunning day and the biggest problem was contrast, with deep shadows and a bright blue sky. We stayed until dark, it opens late and is very colourful. We went on the world’s highest carousel and got flung around 260 odd feet in the air. Luckily, we also found a bar that served wine at ‘only’ £5.60 a glass so we sat and watched people have fun screaming and shrieking above us.
There are many buildings with copper domes, entire copper roofs, even modern buildings are often clad in either brass or copper to blend in with the ancient buildings around them. Like every city we have visited, tower cranes are in abundance. There is a lot of development going on and unfortunately a lot of it is around buildings that you would want to photograph. We walked 12 to 14 mile every day and took in most of the sights. We didn’t really do any interiors, only towers and the railway station. At the time of writing I haven’t looked at what I’ve got, I have around 3000 shots, some on the G1X which I used when it was raining heavily as it easy to put in a pocket. I have a lot less time for editing these days so it will be a long process I think. To save time I am going to create a list of generic tags that I can copy and paste to each upload – the time saving is enormous – so apologies to anyone who gets a photo of a canal when they wanted a steam train or vice versa.
I was able to convince one of the police officers guarding this national treasure to allow me back into the complex long after it was closed to tourists. The evening was amazing even if I'm never able to create a complete image from the pictures I took. Being alone in this holy place normally crawling with tourists, monks chanting in the pagoda only fifty feet away. At first I could see nothing because it was so dark, only the stars over my head. Then as the moon began to climb I could make out the outline of the temple, the sky lit orange from the moonlight and ever-present haze that clings to the horizon.
Still working on compiling exposures and cleaning up the image as much as possible but this is the best I've been able to get so far.
Riaz Taplin, Bay Area, with Priya Singh, ABLE beneficiary employed as stewardess at ISHAARA- restaurant run by service staff with hearing and speech impairment, photographed in Mumbai on February 13, 2020. Photograph: ABHIJIT BHATLEKAR/AIF
Hi guys, what’s up? I’m sorry if haven’t been able to update in the last couple of weeks. I’ve been a bit pre-occupied as of late.
Well, I wanted to show my new doll, Mira Shards, a Special Edition doll from the Dragon Games line. I got her a last January, but my life has been so hectic I only got a chance to photograph her just now.
Before I go on to this review, I just want to give a shoutout to my friend Richard K. who sold me Mira last month. Most Mira dolls have rather wonky eyes…however Richard chose for me the best one he could find—and with perfect eyes no less! Richard, if you’re reading, I just wanna say thank you, thank you, THANK YOU so much for all your services!
Anyways, the Dragon Games line is a very opulent assortment of Ever After High dolls. A lot of the dolls are very detailed and they have a more medieval aesthetic when compared to the other lines. Most of the dolls look really great from this line—and Mira is no exception! I mean, just look at her! Wow, this girl is just so beautiful. The sheer fabulosity of this doll is just breathtaking. She is meticulously detailed and wonderfully designed from head to toe. Honestly, THIS is what an Ever After High doll should be like.
Her head is really cute, I kind of like it (it’s trademarked © 2015). Though, I wish that they used a more mature-looking head with angular features more. But I guess her head makes sense because she’s meant to resemble Raven (SPOLIER ALERT: Mira is Raven’s mom in disguise). Also, for the first time, this is the first EAH doll to have molded eyelids—honestly this is so cool, I hope the newer sculpts have molded eyelids, too!
As you may know she’s on the taller EAH body, which is a huge plus for me ‘cause the taller EAH girls just look a bit more elegant and more poseable than the rest of the crop. I also like to note that she has a rather different plastic used on her body. I don’t know if others have noticed, but I definitely feel a difference. The plastic on her skin is a lot smoother than my other EAH girls (it’s so smooth as if it were marble). Whether there is a difference or not, I really like it, and I hope future EAH dolls will have plastic as smooth as Mira’s.
And wow look at that hair! I love her hairstyling. The pouf on her head looks so good, and I love how thick and voluminous her high ponytail is (it’s sort of like Ariana Grande’s hairstyle, actually). I also love the neon magenta-red color. And usually I hate highlights, but woah the purple highlights really blend in with her hair quite well. Overall it’s a really striking hair color combo and it makes her look really ethereal, with the pallid skin and dark makeup.
Now for the outfit… oh my gosh, where do I even begin? This is easily one of the best outfit-ensembles that Mattel has designed in EAH. Just… wow! I love how gothic it looks, but still in a very regal, princess-y way. She’s practically a Gothic Lolita, which is a style that I really wanted to see in EAH. Anyway this dress is just beautiful! I love the multiple layered skirt. I love how on the right there’s a lace overskirt and on the left there’s just a belt hanging. It makes her look a bit feminine, but still a bit edgy and high fashion. It’s also surprisingly well-made—the underskirt skirt is very round and wide and it dramatically folds in place because of the overskirts which cover it. So fabulous, just fabulous.
Her ensemble is also magnificently accessorized. The neckpiece is just gorgeous, and I love how intricate and old-fashioned it looks. She has two bracers on her arms which kind of makes her a bit badass, sort of toning down the outfit a bit so that it wouldn’t look too formal. I also love her shoes (kind of a redundant comment because so far I have loved EVERY shoe released in EAH, but it’s worth noting because Mattel’s designers are just superb at creating shoes). And I really love the draconic details on them. But I think that my favorite accessory so far is her crown. I mean, gosh, look at it! It looks like something straight out of a high fantasy film. I’ve always loved medieval circlets/tiaras and I’m glad to see it on a doll as well.
I can’t think of a single thing I don’t like about this doll, so overall, I really love her. She’s just beautiful, amazing, fabulously designed, and of great quality. THIS is Ever After High at their best, and I really love it when Mattel makes their dolls like this. The upcoming Ever After High dolls are becoming more and more modern with each release, so it will be rare to see another doll with a more classic, Lolita look like Mira. But I’m keeping my fingers crossed for now and hopefully the upcoming releases will wow me, just like Mira did.
Seattle, Washington, WA, Dahl, Skatepark, Skate Park, Hardcore, Shotcrete, Extreme Sports, X Games, design, precast, concrete, skateable art, skate able art, skateboard, BMX, Inline, Roller Blade
Knox College alumni involved in the founding of the campus organization ABLE, Allied Blacks for Liberty and Equality, holding a panel discussion for Knox students and faculty, celebrating ABLE's 50th anniversary.
was able to catch the Sora that's been seen over at Fowles Marsh...there is also a Virginia Rail there but i didn't see it
I was able to make it to my usual spot a little after the 24 mile mark on the east side within Central Park. I understand the need for some added security because of the Boston attack but in my opinion the tens of blocks of barricades and numerous garbage trucks used to block streets could have caused serious problems if god forbid something happened and thousands of people started to run in all directions.
With that said it's always a great experience to see people from all over the world, of all ages and abilities come to take part in this storied race. Boston was very well represented! I've noticed over the three or so I've attended that the French contingent is huge. I like this spot because you get a great range of exhaustion, pain, elation, joy, sweat and tears. Congratulations to all those who participated no matter what your time, or mode of taking part!
All Albertans will soon be able to receive a second dose of vaccine, helping fully protect them and all Albertans from COVID-19.
Alberta’s vaccine rollout continues to reach new milestones, with more than 2.8 million doses administered to date and 63.4 per cent of Albertans aged 12-plus having received at least one dose.
Albertans will be able to schedule second-dose appointments in the order they received their first doses.
Anyone vaccinated in March or earlier can book their second dose starting June 1.
Anyone vaccinated in April can book their second dose starting June 14.
Anyone vaccinated in May can book their second dose starting June 28.
A single dose of COVID-19 vaccine offers at least 80 per cent protection against severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death. However, second doses are needed to get the best and most long-lasting protection against the virus.
Alberta is a national leader in second doses, with 10.4 per cent of eligible Albertans already fully protected with two doses.
“Every Albertan who has received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine will be able to book their second dose by the end of the month. This will provide Albertans with even more protection as we get ready to be open for summer and get back to normal. Please do your part by booking your second doses so we can beat COVID-19, once and for all.” said Premier Jason Kenney.
“First doses have brought Albertans much-needed relief to our families, our communities and our health system, but two doses are necessary for full protection. We are staggering the second-dose rollout to start with those who received their first dose earliest. Thank you to the AHS workers, pharmacists and physicians who continue to work tirelessly to administer these vaccines and to all Albertans who have chosen to get protected.” Said Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health.
“I strongly urge all Albertans to book their second-dose appointments in the coming weeks and months. It is critical that everyone who has received their first dose shows up for their second. In the meantime, we all need to continue to follow public health measures to keep driving transmission down.” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health.
(photography by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)