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Jack, the black lab on the left, belongs to my family in England. The other Spaniels are highly trained working dogs, but also live as part of the family with their owner.
The idea for a hotel in Dalen came with the expansion of the Telemark Canal in 1892. Through a series of staircase locks, the canal from Skien to Norsjø was extended to reach Bandak, with the small town of Dalen as its new endpoint. The canal was referred to as the "eighth wonder" upon its completion, and the waterway saw heavy traffic from ferries bringing passengers from the east in Oslo and Grenland travelling towards destinations in central and western Norway.
The initiative to build a luxury hotel in Dalen was taken by Skien businessman Hans Larsen along with his two associates, merchants Lars Rød and Anton Hansen from Skien and Porsgrunn respectively. The men commissioned local Porsgrunn architect Haldor Larsen Børve to design the hotel. Børve, originally from Ullensvang, was a highly trained architect, having studied at universities in Trondheim and later Hannover in Germany. After its opening in 1894, the hotel drew royal guests from all over Europe, playing host to the likes of King Oscar II of Sweden, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King Leopold II of Belgium, King Haakon VII of Norway and his family, and several members of the British aristocracy.
During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, Dalen Hotel was used as a resort for German officers. Most of the building's interior was stripped out and sold for parts, and the building fell into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance. After the war, the building was bought by singer and evangelist Aage Samuelsen with the intent of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Though Samuelsen failed to raise the necessary funds to renovate the building, he gave the hotel significant press exposure, and towards the end of the 1980s restoration efforts began in earnest. The hotel was reopened once the remodelling finished in 1992. In 2000, the hotel was honored with the Europa Nostra award for outstanding conservation.
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All of our operatives are highly trained in the art of stealth camouflage. You won't even know we're there. Total ninja. Nope, can't see us. It takes years to develop these skills.
Fond memories of a photo shoot walkabout in the Talad Noi area of Bangkok, near the river.
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Another shrill whistle came from over near the steps. Someone was up to no good again. Ah yes, the two ladies down there, one pouting in the manner of a catwalk model as the other took endless photos. With no apparent regard for the long history of her surroundings she'd plonked her handbag on top of one of the stone artefacts that littered the open space of the Acropolis. Because what you need to do when you visit a place where you can reach into the past and trace the footsteps of people who walked up here along the steep path from the village in ancient times, is to grin inanely into a phone camera. No wonder the security team weren't impressed. The offender retrieved her bag. We continued to watch as she did exactly the same thing again a few moments later. No whistle this time. Maybe the staff were losing the will to live. Besides which there were plenty of other errant visitors to admonish at regular intervals. Before long the whistle peeped again as another tourist stood where they weren't supposed to. We sat quietly, trying to be invisible in case we inadvertently trod on a three thousand year old stone scroll and incurred the wrath of the uniforms. It's always the same in places like the Acropolis of Lindos. Some people are here to immerse themselves in the history of a long gone civilisation, while others come because, well, I'm not sure why they do to be honest. I guess you have to take your Instaselfies at all the honeypots if that's what floats your coracle.
Lindos is quite a sight. The road here rises above a pristine white village, which nestles at the foot of a monolith, upon which someone once thought it would be a good idea to build an Acropolis. A kind of community centre in a grand sort of way. A lookout post for passing troublemakers. A sanctuary and a fortress, a place to discuss the weighty issues of the day, and a beacon for distant pilgrims. I wonder if they ever imagined that three thousand years later, pilgrims of a different kind would descend upon the island in numbers, transported in flying metal contraptions that might have had Daedalus saying, “Icarus, hang on a minute. I've just had another idea. Stop messing about with those feathers and go and wake up the blacksmith!”
When you stand up there by the walls, gazing out to sea, it only takes a small leap of the imagination to see an ancient Greek fleet passing by on the way to fight in the Trojan Wars. Or in the other direction the ships of Xerxes, heading towards the Peloponnese to take on three hundred highly trained Spartan and Athenian warriors led by brave Leonidas at Thermopylae. An entire era of temples, learning and discovery happened right here while our own ancestors were crawling about in the mud, trying to grow a few turnips to see them through the winters. And a lot of fighting of course. There always seems to be conflict somewhere. All of this romantic legend borne from men hacking lumps out of one another just because a king wanted a bigger throne. Some things never change.
It seems quite peaceful at the Acropolis now at least. As long as you discount the invading hordes roaming the gift shops and pausing for their lunchtime meze in the narrow streets of the white village below, and of course the ones up here who are dumping their accessories all over the exhibits while they strike a pose for the camera. No heavily armed passing convoys; just a liberal sprinkling of humanity down at the rocky lagoon of St Paul's Bay. Which is where I took the shot from in fact. With a timed entry ticket for the main attraction later, we wandered down here to have a look around first. And as we stood at the bottom, well over a hundred metres below the parapet, a flawless sheet of steely blue cloud spread across the sky directly above the Acropolis. Another opportunistic moment, which seemed to be the mantra for this trip.
I did next to no planning in Rhodes as far as photography goes and it was ironic that one of the few things I'd had in mind, namely the view from the top, offered nothing more than a nice view. Sometimes it's just a case of keeping the eyes open and being prepared for the unexpected. As long as you don't do anything that might end up with a mildly irked official blowing a whistle in your direction.
Remembrance Sunday Taunton, Somerset, UK. November 2025.
The main Royal Marines presence in the Taunton area is 40 Commando, stationed at Norton Manor Camp near Norton Fitzwarren.
The base has served as the home for the 40 Commando unit since 1983.
A UK commando is a member of the United Kingdom Commando Force (previously 3 Commando Brigade), an elite, light-role amphibious force that forms the core of the Royal Marines. Commandos are highly trained, multi-skilled soldiers capable of deploying rapidly in a wide range of extreme environments, including arctic, jungle, and desert conditions.
Colour Sergeants: Wear a red sash as part of the Colour Guard for parades to guard the unit's Colours (flags). The rank of Colour Sergeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry of the British Army.
And have all been taught by Mel how to hold his brush just so while he rubs his chin and cheeks against it. His expression lets us know when we've got right.
The idea for a hotel in Dalen came with the expansion of the Telemark Canal in 1892. Through a series of staircase locks, the canal from Skien to Norsjø was extended to reach Bandak, with the small town of Dalen as its new endpoint. The canal was referred to as the "eighth wonder" upon its completion, and the waterway saw heavy traffic from ferries bringing passengers from the east in Oslo and Grenland travelling towards destinations in central and western Norway.
The initiative to build a luxury hotel in Dalen was taken by Skien businessman Hans Larsen along with his two associates, merchants Lars Rød and Anton Hansen from Skien and Porsgrunn respectively. The men commissioned local Porsgrunn architect Haldor Larsen Børve to design the hotel. Børve, originally from Ullensvang, was a highly trained architect, having studied at universities in Trondheim and later Hannover in Germany. After its opening in 1894, the hotel drew royal guests from all over Europe, playing host to the likes of King Oscar II of Sweden, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King Leopold II of Belgium, King Haakon VII of Norway and his family, and several members of the British aristocracy.
During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, Dalen Hotel was used as a resort for German officers. Most of the building's interior was stripped out and sold for parts, and the building fell into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance. After the war, the building was bought by singer and evangelist Aage Samuelsen with the intent of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Though Samuelsen failed to raise the necessary funds to renovate the building, he gave the hotel significant press exposure, and towards the end of the 1980s restoration efforts began in earnest. The hotel was reopened once the remodelling finished in 1992. In 2000, the hotel was honored with the Europa Nostra award for outstanding conservation.
Portrait of Cali
Our beautiful white german shepherd lady - loyal, loving and just a great friend forever.
White German Shepherds are a loyal and friendly dog. Genetically no different to a tan German Shepherd, these pups are just as protective and love to be around you. Excellent working dogs, your German pup will make a great guard dog as well as a cuddly companion to lay on the couch with.
These magnificent dogs are renowned for their unwavering loyalty and fierce protective instincts, making them both formidable working dogs and beloved family companions. German Shepherds are confident, courageous, and highly trainable. They form deep bonds with their families and are known for their unwavering loyalty.
Dalhousie Castle Falconry.
A calming hand and a reassuring voice helps to calm the falcon after it was frightened by something unseen.
Dalhousie Castle is an 800 year old castle located approximately 8 miles from Edinburgh and was the family castle of the Ramsay Clan.
Today the castle still retains its famous heritage of the sport of falconry which is contained within the grounds of the estate.
Unlike its predecessors the falconry is used for more peaceful and entertaining purposes by allowing visitors to get up close and personal with these magnificent birds of prey.
Highly trained falconers provide the visitor with a totally unique experience by displaying hawks, eagles, falcons and owls.
There are several packages on offer for visitors to select for this great experience.
Dalhousie Castle.
Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Belgian Sheepdog is a highly trainable herder whose versatility and intelligence is the stuff of canine legend. This is a breed built for hard work, and plenty of it. These sensitive souls crave human companionship and abhor neglect.
Dunedin, NOVA ZELANDA 2023
Bridgman Street Panelbeaters is a vehicle repair workshop located in Dunedin, New Zealand, with over 50 years of experience in the automotive sector. They offer collision repair, chassis straightening, painting, and vehicle restoration services. As an approved repair agent for major insurance companies, they facilitate the claims process for their clients. Additionally, they provide specialized services for commercial fleets and private vehicles, ensuring efficient maintenance and repairs. Their team of highly trained technicians uses modern equipment and advanced techniques to guarantee high-quality results. The workshop is located at 64-85 Bridgman Street, Kensington, Dunedin, and operates Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Customers have praised their excellent customer service and attention to detail in repairs.
A small but highly trained squad of elite imperial troopers is protecting an imperial technician while he repairs a damaged cannon facility on field.
Dalhousie Falconry.
In some regions of the UK and Ireland the barn owl was referred to as ‘demon owls’ due to their shrieks.
Inhabiting in the open countryside and farmland the grasslands provide the bowls with a bounty of food sources and a breeding pair of owls have a requirement of approximately 1.5 ha of rough grass.
Their preferred diet consists short-tailed filed voles and these make up 60% of the barn owls diet. In addition they will hunt for mice, shrews, small rats and birds.
Breeding season runs from April to August and will if the nest site is undisturbed return to the same nest.
Laying between four to seven white eggs the female will utilise a barn or an unlined hole in a tree to nest.
One of the most widely ranging species in the Owl world but unfortunately in the UK their numbers are in decline with an estimated 400 pairs. These low numbers are mostly attributed to a lack of habitat and with fewer and fewer open style barns which prevent them from entering to roost.
In an attempt to alleviate this problem nest boxes are now being placed in strategic locations and with awareness many farmers have now reverted to opening their barns to allow access to the owls.
This particular barn owl is on display at the Dalhousie Castle Falconry located 8 miles from Edinburgh. Scotland Falconry is home to a number of owls, falcons, eagles, hawkes and buzzards.
Highly trained and skill falconers provide demonstrations to the public showing these birds of prey at work once they are released from their handler and fly around the grounds searching and capturing their favourite food sources.
Scotland Falconry, Dalhousie Castle.
Edinburgh, Scotland.
The idea for a hotel in Dalen came with the expansion of the Telemark Canal in 1892. Through a series of staircase locks, the canal from Skien to Norsjø was extended to reach Bandak, with the small town of Dalen as its new endpoint. The canal was referred to as the "eighth wonder" upon its completion, and the waterway saw heavy traffic from ferries bringing passengers from the east in Oslo and Grenland travelling towards destinations in central and western Norway.
The initiative to build a luxury hotel in Dalen was taken by Skien businessman Hans Larsen along with his two associates, merchants Lars Rød and Anton Hansen from Skien and Porsgrunn respectively. The men commissioned local Porsgrunn architect Haldor Larsen Børve to design the hotel. Børve, originally from Ullensvang, was a highly trained architect, having studied at universities in Trondheim and later Hannover in Germany. After its opening in 1894, the hotel drew royal guests from all over Europe, playing host to the likes of King Oscar II of Sweden, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King Leopold II of Belgium, King Haakon VII of Norway and his family, and several members of the British aristocracy.
During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, Dalen Hotel was used as a resort for German officers. Most of the building's interior was stripped out and sold for parts, and the building fell into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance. After the war, the building was bought by singer and evangelist Aage Samuelsen with the intent of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Though Samuelsen failed to raise the necessary funds to renovate the building, he gave the hotel significant press exposure, and towards the end of the 1980s restoration efforts began in earnest. The hotel was reopened once the remodelling finished in 1992. In 2000, the hotel was honored with the Europa Nostra award for outstanding conservation.
The secret world of the STS
If you didn't believe the existence of the STS from the pilot episode last Friday then you probably failed to notice the initial barrage of Explores that have hit Flickr in the last 48 hours and disappeared just as fast proving the stealth quality of this unit. Those that have been intrigued by this new fly-on-the-lens documentary from Flickr will have undoubtedly googled the acronym only to find that a meaningful description does not exist apart from the internet slang... Smirk To Self!
Well our man on the ground can officially tell you STS simply stands for Special Tog Services. A crack force of highly-trained togs who's fearless nature knows no bounds... they go places where Instagrammers fear to tread!
But to know how this landmark series got off the ground we have to go right back in time to June 2019. Only those that understand the workings of the dark web found the application buried in an inconspicuous WhatsApp group "B***'s I** Ph*t* Sal*n" - a classified porthole that few have found! However those that did, applied from all over the world... including Yorkshire. In the following weeks the applicants were fettled down to just 7 recruits, such are the high standards set by the STS.
Everything is on a need-to-know basis and the recruits were instructed to rendezvous at an undisclosed location in Wigan... this turned out to be a curry house and the first assignment. This might seem innocent and non-threatening, but a recruit from a previous intake suffered severe fallout in the field after failing to read the chilli rating on the menu correctly and ordered a Naga! The area is still a no-go zone to the general public and is expected to outlast Chernobyl's half-life.
At this point it must be explained that the recruits cannot be named for security reasons. If they pass the course and wish to join the STS then their identity will be erased until 20 years after their death. For purposes of the documentary they shall be known as Candidate #1 through #7... C1, C2, etc.
Unlike SAS: Who Dares Wins, there are no DS's (Directing Staff) to mollycoddle you through. It has never been disclosed whether the STS have DT's but random messages and instructions are delivered throughout the course... a bit like a Top Gear challenge.
So the adventure begins in a little curry house in Wigan, a popular haunt with the locals as it was packed to the rafters with two customers. C3 was first to find the location and had already befriended the staff by purchasing several pints whilst hoping other recruits had worked out the rendezvous point. Several hours later C1, C2, C4 and C5 arrived. This angered C3 immensely as he was out of pocket before the course had officially begun.
A message arrived.... two more recruits had made it through the selection process and were on their way. An unforeseen interrogation at a camera club meeting had delayed them but they had cleverly avoided questions about the overly packed military grade SUV with onboard slow-cooker. They shall be referred to as C6 and C7 from now on.
The five recruits ate a hearty curry, staying well clear of the potential botty-burners strategically hidden in the menu. The mission lay far away in a foreign land and the thought of the transit vehicles having no opening windows wasn't worth risking the mission from the outset.
A mobile vibrated into life.... C2 answered!
"Shall we stop off at Glen Coe for a sunrise en route to Skye?" a distorted disguised voice asked.
Could this be the DT, C2 thought to himself.
"Yes" he replied without hesitation, not wanting to feel like the runt of the litter at the first challenge.
"Meet at the fluky comp winner's home at 23:00 hrs"... the mobile went dead.
C2 recalled the instructions to the other four recruits. The mood changed and a sense of foreboding was hard to conceal on the faces of the other recruits.
"That's a bloody stupid time to be setting off... we'll never make the stop-off!" exclaimed C3 "count me out, what sort of Mickey Mouse outfit is this".
He takes his arm band off... "I request VW...I'm going home!"
The bill is paid and the four leave together wishing C3 all the best for making it through the curry.
When the four arrived at the second rendezvous point, C6 and C7 are all ready there. The two transport vehicles are repacked and the six set off into the night.
Key
DT - Directing Tog
VW - Voluntary Withdrawal
And so the STS's search for new recruits continues...
Dalhousie Castle Falconry.
The falcon handler quickly regained control over the falcon after it was spooked.
Dalhousie Castle is an 800 year old castle located approximately 8 miles from Edinburgh and was the family castle of the Ramsay Clan.
Today the castle still retains its famous heritage of the sport of falconry which is contained within the grounds of the estate.
Unlike its predecessors the falconry is used for more peaceful and entertaining purposes by allowing visitors to get up close and personal with these magnificent birds of prey.
Highly trained falconers provide the visitor with a totally unique experience by displaying hawks, eagles, falcons and owls.
There are several packages on offer for visitors to select for this great experience.
Dalhousie Castle.
Edinburgh, Scotland.
From my set entitled “Amsterdam”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/sets/72157602418470116/
In my collection entitled “Rhine Main Danube”
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/collections/7215760702...
In my photostream
www.flickr.com/photos/21861018@N00/
Just over a year ago, Karen and I cruised the Rhine-Main-Danube System. The tour covered the following countries: Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Hungary. The cities we visited included Amsterdam, Xanten, Cologne, Koblenz, Aschaffenburg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremburg, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna and Budapest. It was a lovely trip, and I came home with over 2000 photos, most of which I posted between October, 2007 and May, 2008.
The following articles deal with our ship, The MS Casanova, operated by Peter Deilmann Reederei
Reproduced from Deilmann Casanova Review
By Durant and Cheryl Imboden
www.riverdiscounts.com/5496294_14881.htm
Peter Deilmann Reederei has operated cruise vessels on European rivers since 1983, when the Donauprinzessin joined the line's existing fleet of ocean ships. Today, the company has 10 ships on the rivers of Western and Central Europe, together with two luxurious ocean vessels: the MS Deutschland and the sailing yacht Lili Marleen.
In fall, 2004, my son and I spent a week aboard the MS Casanova, a five-star river vessel that moved from Northern Italy to the Rhine, Danube, Moselle, and Rhine-Main Canal for the 2005 season and beyond. This illustrated review describes the ship, the service and amenities onboard, and the distinctly European style of river cruising that Peter Deilmann offers to cosmopolitan travelers.
MS Casanova: the ship
Casanova was built in 2001 for cruises on Italy's Po River, where ships must be able to cruise under low bridges and fit comfortably in narrow, shallow canals. As a result, it's smaller than many ships that cruise Central European waters, with a length of 338 feet and a beam of 32 feet, or 103 m by 9,70 m. The ship could be described as a "boutique vessel," since it accommodates only 96 passengers.
Most public rooms are on the Verdi deck, or main deck, which also has 26 of the the ship's 48 passenger cabins. A staircase leads down to the Rialto Deck, where a foyer separates the restaurant from the 22 lower-deck staterooms. The Sundeck, an open area on the top of the ship, offers deck chairs, tables, and plenty of space along the railings for sightseeing and picture-taking.
Passengers enter and leave the ship via the reception area, located amidships on the Verdi deck, which acts as a buffer between the public rooms and cabins. A doorway on the starboard side of Casanova leads past a boutique/hairdresser into the large and well-appointed lounge, which has a bar, a library corner, a small dance floor, and a piano for entertainment.
Audience and ambience
Like other Peter Deilmann river vessels, Casanova serves a multinational audience. This makes it different from its leading competitors on the European river-cruising circuit, which operate separate vessels for the U.S. and Canadian market (Viking) or cater only to North American travelers (Avalon Waterways, Uniworld, Vantage, etc.).
The bulk of Deilmann's guests come from German-speaking countries, but a substantial minority are from the U.S., Canada, and Britain. On our cruise, about a third of the passengers were American or Canadian, with one British couple on board. Most of our fellow guests were in their 60s or older (a fairly typical age range for European river cruises).
The ship's ambience has a strong German flavor, but don't go looking for stereotypes from yesteryear: The waiters, stewardesses, and reception staff are more friendly than formal, and the dress code on most evenings is "smart casual." You'll notice the Teutonic influence mostly when you turn on the TV--where German channels predominate--or if you request water in the restaurant, when you'll be asked if you want bottled mineral water or American-style ice water. (After the first meal or two, your beverage stewardess will remember your preferences.)
All ship's announcements are in both German and English, and separate versions of the daily newsletter are published for Deutsch- and English-speaking guests.
Overall, Casanova and Peter Deilmann Cruises offer a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than you'd find on a vessel that caters primarily to U.S. and Canadian travelers. With Deilmann, you feel that you're in Europe when you're aboard the ship, not just when you go ashore. Whether that's good or bad depends on your tastes and whether you prefer mingling with the locals or sticking with fellow foreigners.
Casanova's staterooms come in three flavors:
Queen cabins. In these 16 staterooms, the queen-size beds have separate mattresses, each with its own duvet when the stewardess removes the bedspread at night. This means you can snuggle or maintain separation, depending on whom you're traveling with.
Twin cabins. These 30 cabins have twin beds on opposite walls. One berth converts into a sofa during the day.
Junior suites. There are just two junior suites, both on the lower or Rialto deck. They have queen-size beds and are slightly larger than the standard queen and twin cabins.
Rooms on the Verdi or upper deck have cleverly designed French doors overlooking the water. Open the left half, and you have a floor-to-ceiling screen to keep bugs at bay. Open the right side, and you can lean out to take pictures, check the passing landscape in more detail, or get a feel for the weather.
Cabins on the Rialto or lower deck have fixed picture windows.
All staterooms are attractively decorated with generous expanses of wood paneling, drapes, pictures on the walls, etc. Casanova's designers gave a lot of attention to details, as the inset photo of a ceiling light will show. The gold-trim motif is also used on the custom cabin furniture, which includes built-in closets, nightstands with storage space, and a desk with minibar. (I did notice one small oversight: Casanova's duvets are filled with a thin polyester batting instead of down.)
The bathrooms are extremely well-designed, with luxury touches such as glass shower enclosures, marble and ceramic walls, wooden toilet seats, brass faucets, and sinks that have marble countertops in a beautiful brown-red marble above a wooden storage cabinet and shelves. There's a retractable clothesline in the shower stall, and you'll find plenty of racks and hooks for towels and dressing gowns. (Your stewardess will supply bathrobes on request.)
Finally, the TV in each cabin has a good assortment of channels--mostly in German, but with BBC World and CNN to keep you in touch with what's happening back home. Casanova also has closed-circuit movies several times a day in both German and English.
Dining
Germans have a reputation for taking their food seriously, and the quality of hotel and restaurant food in Germany tends to be much better than in the United States or Britain. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Peter Deilmann's Casanova lives up to its five-star ambitions in the dining room.
Breakfast consists of a buffet with fresh fruit, cereals, rolls, dark German breads, croissants and other pastries, cheeses, cold cuts, herring, smoked salmon, etc. Waiters are on hand to serve beverages, whisk away dirty plates, and take orders for fresh-cooked eggs or daily specials. Mineral water and sparkling wine, which you pay for at lunch or dinner, are free at breakfast. (Nicole, our beverage stewardess, told us that some guests like a glass of Prosecco to wake up in the morning. I tried a quarter-glass as a test but decided to stick with coffee. My son was pleased by the hot chocolate, which was excellent.)
Lunch is a choose-your-own-adventure affair where you can fill up a plate from the buffet or have a full meal served course by course. On most days, I grabbed a few salad and fish items from the buffet and skipped directly to the main course or requested pasta as an entrée.
At dinner, the menu typically features an appetizer, two soups, a fish or pasta course, a choice of entrées, and dessert. (On gala nights, a sorbet precedes the main course.) The restaurant's wood-and-marble buffet table is laid with a salad bar (with the term "salad" encompassing such luxuries as shrimp and fish), which is replaced by a selection of cheeses and fruit at the end of the meal.
Deilmann doesn't skimp on ingredients: High-quality fish is on the menu at nearly every midday or evening meal, and we were served lobster, large shrimp, lamb, veal, and duck at various times during the cruise. Baked goods are also excellent--most notably the cakes and other desserts, which are baked on board by a full-time pastry chef.
If sightseeing leaves you hungry for more than three square meals a day, you can top up your tummy with boullion at 11 a.m., finger sandwiches and cakes at afternoon tea, or the late-night snack in the lounge at 10:30 p.m. (On our voyage, Jozef--the Casanova's excellent pianst and vocalist--offered musical accompaniment during afternoon tea, the 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour, and the evening snack.)
About beverages:
Coffee, tea, ice water, and fruit juices are free. Other drinks cost extra at lunch and dinner, although complimentary sparkling wine and Kir Royale are served (and replenished generously) on gala nights. If you order a bottle of wine or mineral water in the dining room, your waiter will mark the bottle and save it for future meals.
Drink prices are in line with what you might expect on a European luxury vessel: On our cruise, a glass of German draft beer cost €2,80, a bar-size bottle of soft drink was €2,50, a 5-cl glass of vermouth cost €2,90, grappa was €3,80, and whiskies or cocktails were in the €5,50 to €6,90 range. Featured wines on the dinner menu typically cost €20 to €25, and a quarter-liter of the house white or red was less expensive than a glass of wine in a typical U.S. restaurant.
Service
Casanova has an unusually large staff for a river ship that carries only 96 passengers. Peter Deilmann claims a passenger-to-crew ratio of 2.5:1, or "about the best crew to passenger ratio of any river vessel." There's even a physician on board.
The multilingual restaurant, bar, housekeeping, and reception staff were a hardworking bunch during our cruise, and they were also highly-trained professionals. Our waiter, Mladen Tomljanovic, was a nine-year veteran of cruise ships, and our beverage stewardess, Nicole Hoppe, had three years of professional education and apprenticeship before joining Peter Deilmann Cruises. Mladen, Nicole, and other members of the restaurant and beverage staff worked together as an efficient team, delivering service on a par with what you'd expect on a luxury cruise line or a five-star hotel.
I was also impressed by the crew's warmth, friendliness, and overall good cheer. One evening, the younger staff were kind enough to invite my 18-year-old son to join them at a nightclub that was popular with riverboat crews. (I resisted the urge to play chaperone, spending the evening with a Donna Leon mystery instead.)
Tipping suggestions:
The Casanova's newsletter recommended dividing gratuities of €6,50 to €7,50 per passenger per day among the service staff, and passengers were encouraged to make additional contributions to a tips box at the reception desk for other members of the crew. I thought the recommended figures were a bit low for staff who worked 15 hours or more per day, so I gave €50 each (for two passengers) to our waiter, beverage stewardess, and cabin stewardess, plus another €50 for the crew box.
(Note: Tips for bar purchases should be made at the time of service, since the person who serves you a drink may not be your regular beverage stewardess or waiter.)
From Professional Travel Guide
www.professionaltravelguide.com/Cruise/Cruise-Lines/Peter...
This German-built river boat from Peter Deilmann Cruises launched in 2001 and was refitted in 2006. She sails with up to 96 passengers on a wide variety of itineraries along the Rhine, Moselle, Main and Danube rivers from mid-March to early November. This slim, trim triple-decker is an all-white 338-ft beauty with red trim. She has a width of 32 ft and a draft of 4 ft and shows a classical profile.
Peter Deilmann founded this German company a quarter century ago, first with oceangoing cruise ships and then riverboats. His two daughters carry on the tradition from the company headquarters at Neustadt in Holsetin, Germany operating eight high-end riverboats and the cruise ship Deutschland.
North American and German speakers come aboard in varying numbers depending on the itinerary and departure. Most are 50 and older. Very few children are found aboard, and there are no special facilities for them. The riverboat crew is fully bilingual, so there are no language problems. Suggested per diem tipping rates are US$9 for waitstaff and US$5 for the cabin attendant.
The Casanova used to sail on the River Po in northern Italy, and now she is found plying many different itineraries lasting from 7 to 14 days. She may be based at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, for cruises on the Dutch and Belgian waterways or along the Rhine and Main in Germany. She sails with the Mozart on 7-day Danube River trips based at Passau, Germany.
Her most ambitious cruise is a pair of sailings between Amsterdam and Budapest, Hungary, via the Rhine, Main, Danube and connecting canal. Some shore excursions are included in cruise-tours but not for cruise-only fares. A money-saving tour package can be bought for most itineraries. Depending on the numbers, the buses may be separate for each language or bilingual, and the same goes for the guided walks.
The panoramic restaurant has a stately Italian Provincial elegance with classic highback chairs and cherry accents, a circular compass rose of yellow glass on the ceiling and a buffet station. The room can accommodate all passengers at a single sitting. No one has time to get hungry, with breakfast, morning bouillon, lunch, tea, dinner and midnight snacks. Excellent multicourse luncheons and dinners feature Continental fare and wines of many countries. Evening meals can feature nine courses on some nights, so expect to spend a lot of time at the table.
English-speaking passengers are seated together at reserved tables and single sitting. Evening wear often sees men in jacket and tie. The tastefully furnished lounge brings passengers together several times a day, with its plump sofas and armchairs, panoramic views, well-stocked bar, and nightly entertainment and dancing. Announcements, menus, and daily programs are all provided in English and German.
The sun deck topside has plenty of deck chairs and blankets, and a doctor is onboard. Standard cabins are 140 sq ft, with two minisuites of 160 sq ft, all beautifully appointed with desks, TVs, phones, radios, closets, and baths with showers, hair dryers and robes. Beds are twins and queen-sized, and the upper deck cabins have French doors. Bedding is European-style with duvets and feather pillows, but synthetic materials are available upon request.
As of 2008, there is no smoking inside any Deilmann vessels. Smoking is only allowed on deck.
Post processing:
PhotoShop Elements 5: increased midtones, sharpened, posterized, canvas filter
The idea for a hotel in Dalen came with the expansion of the Telemark Canal in 1892. Through a series of staircase locks, the canal from Skien to Norsjø was extended to reach Bandak, with the small town of Dalen as its new endpoint. The canal was referred to as the "eighth wonder" upon its completion, and the waterway saw heavy traffic from ferries bringing passengers from the east in Oslo and Grenland travelling towards destinations in central and western Norway.
The initiative to build a luxury hotel in Dalen was taken by Skien businessman Hans Larsen along with his two associates, merchants Lars Rød and Anton Hansen from Skien and Porsgrunn respectively. The men commissioned local Porsgrunn architect Haldor Larsen Børve to design the hotel. Børve, originally from Ullensvang, was a highly trained architect, having studied at universities in Trondheim and later Hannover in Germany. After its opening in 1894, the hotel drew royal guests from all over Europe, playing host to the likes of King Oscar II of Sweden, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King Leopold II of Belgium, King Haakon VII of Norway and his family, and several members of the British aristocracy.
During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, Dalen Hotel was used as a resort for German officers. Most of the building's interior was stripped out and sold for parts, and the building fell into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance. After the war, the building was bought by singer and evangelist Aage Samuelsen with the intent of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Though Samuelsen failed to raise the necessary funds to renovate the building, he gave the hotel significant press exposure, and towards the end of the 1980s restoration efforts began in earnest. The hotel was reopened once the remodelling finished in 1992. In 2000, the hotel was honored with the Europa Nostra award for outstanding conservation
Fresno, Ca.
Fresno Fair. Just knowing these highly trained professionals are on the job made me feel safe.
What determines a memorable photoshoot is not always the subject and the number images cluttering up my SD card. Sometimes it’s the peripheral events. In this case is it was (in order):
- Being part of a multi-car police chase as the rozzers take down a well-known ageing drug lord, Mrs Marple, for running County Lines
- Discovering my blind-when-not-wearing-his-glasses photo-buddy what steering the boat to Belgium while I was engaged in a deep conversation the Captain and 1st Mate that my buddy really was a responsible and highly trained eminent NHS professional and therefore allowed to take control of the vessel.
- Meeting a septuplet of Timothy Taylors in a Rodney, along with Alan Carr
- Using all my Bear Grills survival skill to forage for nuts and crisps on discovering the Panda was closed
- Meeting Mr Taylor again in a Hussar, along with Alan Carr, and then getting into a few rounds of “home concoction” shots with a barman.
- Missing the planned next-morning dawn shoot by four hours and then spending the next four trying to piece together the fragmented snatches of memories to work out what happened the previous evening
- The obligatory stopping at every motorway service station on the way home to replenish the lifesaving jumbo carton of vanilla milkshake and expunge our bodies of the cumulated toxins from the night before.
And to quote the brilliant song by The Lancaster Hotpots, “It were a brilliant night.”
What my photographer's eye takes away from this master artwork: 1) Tightly cropped but stretched wide-angle view. 2) Vibrant colors. 3) Centered. 4) Balance and symmetry. 5) I can feel the motion and energy. 6) Thought-provoking subject matter: i.e., Why ride a guy jockey when you can use a naturally smaller, lighter, skilled gal for a less burdened, faster, highly-trained horse? Traditional wisdom says that a really light man is at a riding advantage because fast and mighty thoroughbreds need physically stronger control from a man's heavier, more powerful muscles.
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Title: Little Red Riding Hood (2022)
Material: relief wood carving and paint
Artist: LaVon Van Williams Jr. (b: 1958, Lexington-based artist and woodcarver who previously played on the University of Kentucky's 1978 National Championship basketball team)
Venue: University of Louisville's Speed Art Museum
Excerpt from the museum description tag: "Williams's updated version of Little Red Riding Hood imagines her as a young Black girl who literally rides a horse, in this case a Thoroughbred."
:: BIGGER is......... largely ......recommended!
The Brittany is still commonly referred to as the Brittany Spaniel, despite the AKC's official removal of "Spaniel" from the breed name in 1982 (read more about this in the history section). The Brittany is quick and curious with an abundant love for running, hunting, and playing. The dog’s good nature and natural eagerness to please make it a great companion pet, but potential owners should be aware that the breed requires plenty of exercise – let your Brittany roam in open areas whenever you can, especially with other dogs. The Brittany is highly trainable and obedient but is also very sensitive to reprimand; take care not to chastise your Brittany too roughly, or it may become shy and fearful. The dog is a natural socializer and gets along exceedingly well with other dogs and children, though small children should never be left alone with a Brittany as the dog’s natural energetic play could cause the child accidental harm.
:: One by One view on black!
My :: MOST INTERESTING images according to Flickr!
If you have a few minutes, a slideshow......... :: For your eyes only!
:: Brittany / Épagneul Breton
Copyright © 2008 Gaëtan Bourque. All rights reserved. Use without permission is illegal.
The idea for a hotel in Dalen came with the expansion of the Telemark Canal in 1892. Through a series of staircase locks, the canal from Skien to Norsjø was extended to reach Bandak, with the small town of Dalen as its new endpoint. The canal was referred to as the "eighth wonder" upon its completion, and the waterway saw heavy traffic from ferries bringing passengers from the east in Oslo and Grenland travelling towards destinations in central and western Norway.
The initiative to build a luxury hotel in Dalen was taken by Skien businessman Hans Larsen along with his two associates, merchants Lars Rød and Anton Hansen from Skien and Porsgrunn respectively. The men commissioned local Porsgrunn architect Haldor Larsen Børve to design the hotel. Børve, originally from Ullensvang, was a highly trained architect, having studied at universities in Trondheim and later Hannover in Germany. After its opening in 1894, the hotel drew royal guests from all over Europe, playing host to the likes of King Oscar II of Sweden, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King Leopold II of Belgium, King Haakon VII of Norway and his family, and several members of the British aristocracy.
During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, Dalen Hotel was used as a resort for German officers. Most of the building's interior was stripped out and sold for parts, and the building fell into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance. After the war, the building was bought by singer and evangelist Aage Samuelsen with the intent of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Though Samuelsen failed to raise the necessary funds to renovate the building, he gave the hotel significant press exposure, and towards the end of the 1980s restoration efforts began in earnest. The hotel was reopened once the remodelling finished in 1992. In 2000, the hotel was honored with the Europa Nostra award for outstanding conservation
The idea for a hotel in Dalen came with the expansion of the Telemark Canal in 1892. Through a series of staircase locks, the canal from Skien to Norsjø was extended to reach Bandak, with the small town of Dalen as its new endpoint. The canal was referred to as the "eighth wonder" upon its completion, and the waterway saw heavy traffic from ferries bringing passengers from the east in Oslo and Grenland travelling towards destinations in central and western Norway.
The initiative to build a luxury hotel in Dalen was taken by Skien businessman Hans Larsen along with his two associates, merchants Lars Rød and Anton Hansen from Skien and Porsgrunn respectively. The men commissioned local Porsgrunn architect Haldor Larsen Børve to design the hotel. Børve, originally from Ullensvang, was a highly trained architect, having studied at universities in Trondheim and later Hannover in Germany. After its opening in 1894, the hotel drew royal guests from all over Europe, playing host to the likes of King Oscar II of Sweden, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, King Leopold II of Belgium, King Haakon VII of Norway and his family, and several members of the British aristocracy.
During the German occupation of Norway in World War II, Dalen Hotel was used as a resort for German officers. Most of the building's interior was stripped out and sold for parts, and the building fell into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance. After the war, the building was bought by singer and evangelist Aage Samuelsen with the intent of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Though Samuelsen failed to raise the necessary funds to renovate the building, he gave the hotel significant press exposure, and towards the end of the 1980s restoration efforts began in earnest. The hotel was reopened once the remodelling finished in 1992. In 2000, the hotel was honored with the Europa Nostra award for outstanding conservation.
My first build in two years!
For my hobby-time, I have been concentrating on my travel and landscape photography, but with Brickfair Virginia finally taking place after being cancelled last year, I got the Lego bug again. It took seven weeks to produce this 112 x 48 studs x 18 bricks high beast. It has 104 minifigs and is based on a real battle during the Peninsula War, in Portugal near the border with Spain. It did well at Brickfair Virginia, was nominated for Best Battle Scene (but lost to a massive World War II MOC), and I did a Beyond the Brick interview for it. This build is 100% Lego.
THE HISTORY: The Combat of The Côa was a wild running battle that took place on July 24th, 1810, not long after the French had invaded Portugal. The British Expeditionary Force's Light Division, under Major General “Black Bob” Crauford, was deployed separately from the main Allied army across the River Côa in order to support the fortress town of Alameida. The Light Division consisted of approximately 4000 elite soldiers from Britain and Portugal, including the famed 95th Rifles and their hard-fighting Portuguese counterparts, the 1st and 3rd Cazadores ("hunters").
Part I: "Math is Hard" (prior to the events in this build)
The French, under Marshal Michel Ney, were determined to take Alameida, and waited until there was a heavy morning fog to strike. 25,000 French troops came marching out of the fog and surprised the Light Division, but Black Bob ignored the Duke of Wellington’s orders to redeploy across the River Côa and instead tried to hold his position against the French.
The highly-trained Light Division held out until a flanking attack by French Hussars all-but wiped out an entire company of the 95th. Outnumbered 6 to 1, the math caught up with Black Bob and his left flank started to crumble under the pressure. Crauford then finally ordered a retreat across the Côa, and a race to the bridge was accomplished with several counter-charges taking place to slow down the advancing victorious French. Due to their modern tactics, the Light Division made it across the bridge with only 300 casualties, a relatively impressive accomplishment when so badly outnumbered.
Part II: "Quit While You're Ahead" (this build here)
The French had achieved their goal of sweeping the smaller British and Portuguese forces off the field, with few casualties compared to the allies’ 300. They should have quit while ahead, but then Marshal Michel Ney recklessly sent the 66th Régiment de Ligne and the Chasseurs de la Siège to take the bridge. They were attacking in compacted formations against the greatest sharpshooter units of the age, the 95th Rifles and Portuguese Caçadores, along with men from the 43rd and 52nd Regiments of the Light Division. After three courageous assaults and over 500 casualties, the French gave up, and the value of light infantry equipped with rifled muskets became clear to both sides.
Comment: The bagpiper should not be there in the MOC...he's a refugee from my Scots Guards unit :P
***Press L for better viewing
Despite the immense machine of the First Galactic Empire, it still came down to boots on the ground and highly trained soldiers to carry out the will of the Emperor. They were even trained to miss targets when called on to. Forward Scouttroopers were the last of the "Light" world soldiers before you would be recruited into the "Shadow" soldiers ranks. FST's could work independently and with over sight for extended periods of time. Two man fire teams would search for insurgents for months on end with minimal support. They were extremely efficient and effective.
Hey guys! I'm starting a little side business, building one of a kind art toys with LEGO bricks. Each one will be made only once and there won't be copies.
I made a website where you can check what I have in stock at the moment. I'm open for commissions as well, so hit me up if you are looking for something specific :)
Meet the first guy - Frank. He is highly trained for close combat, but also loves cats and dressing like Santa, just for fun.
Beware of those chickens they've been highly trained!!
Our Daily Challenge ~ Warning, Caution, Be Careful ...
Stay Safe and Healthy Everyone!
Thanks to everyone who views this photo, adds a note, leaves a comment and of course BIG thanks to anyone who chooses to favourite my photo .... Thanks to you all!
BLACKPINKsl Winter Holiday! This year we were guests in the wonderful Omerta City at the Empire Hotel! A unique and wonderful place, incredible panorama and lots of snow in a unique atmosphere! Luxury location, highly trained staff and RP with an authentic and unique atmosphere! Many locations to explore such as the Cinema, the Fat Mermaid theater, the wonderful SPA and swimming pool and last but not least the sushi bar and the Vitali's restaurant offering excellent Italian cuisine. And much much more! We had the chance to explore Villa Costanza on a fantastic snow-capped island with wonderful nature! (soon the Villa will be open for reservation) More info Link: www.omertacity.com/index.html
Sven is looking on as the highly trained bee-keepers on Epsilon IV go about harvesting the honey. It's a dangerous job, but an important one.
This is Gary "Re-ride" Miller working as the Barrelman.
"In addition to the judges and at least one mounted pickup man who may rope the bull after the ride to escort it to the exit gate, three safety professionals work in the arena during the bull riding: two highly trained but sometimes zanily costumed bullfighters and possibly a barrelman. As soon as a rider is bucked off or dismounts, one bullfighter tries to distract the bull and get him moving toward the exit, while the other bullfighter may step between the bull and the downed cowboy to protect him. If the bull is determined to charge something, the barrelman tries to draw his attention to the barrel." 2009 PRCA ProRodeo Official Program
These barrels are a balance between on one hand being light enough so that the barrelman can run around with it and on the other hand being strong enough and padded enough to protect the barrelman. These barrels can take some pretty vicious dents from these bulls. Imagine sitting in a metal garbage can with some foam wrapped around it while a truck hits it - that will give you a feel for that the barrelman endures.
The Parada del Sol Rodeo is held annually in the Equidome at Westworld in Scottsdale. The 56th Annual Parada del Sol Rodeo was a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association ( PRCA ) Sanctioned Rodeo. Each performance consisted of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and bull riding.
Sadly, I add this info
[edit] sports.espn.go.com/rodeo/general/news/story?id=4376971
www.rodeoattitude.com/spur/eventnews/tiedownroping/rodeo-...
PRCA news and notes: Aug. 4, 2009
Courtesy PRCA
PRCA rodeo clown Garry Miller dies at 59
PRCA rodeo clown Garry (ReRide) Miller, of Laveen, Ariz., died of a heart attack July 20 at age 59. His funeral service will be Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. (PT) at Parkway Christian Church, 14787 N. Cholla St., Surprise, Ariz.
Miller became a PRCA member in 2003 and worked a number of rodeos in the Southwest, including the Scottsdale (Ariz.) Jaycees Parada del Sol.[end edit]
Chauffeur Drive Services From Car Club
Car Club offers a complete spectrum of Chauffeur Drive Services, to take care of all your personal and business requirements.
The range of services includes short-term rentals, long term rentals, airport services, local journeys- half day and full day usage as directed by you and inter-city journeys.We also offer services for occasions like weddings,conferences and any other special events with onsite support.
With exceptionally well groomed and highly trained chauffeurs at the wheel, you can expect a journey that is nothing short of smooth. Car Club Chauffeurs undergo extensive training in defensive driving once in every 60 days.
Car Club – Net work
Car Club offers premium car rental services 13 cities and through its experienced team of professionals. Car Club services are available in the cities of Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin. Coimbatore and Hyderabad in South, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Pune in West, Kolkata in East & Chandigarh, New Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon in the North.
Car Club would soon be driving into Jaipur in the North, Vishakhapatnam in South, Bhubaneswar in East & Goa and Vadodara in the West.
Car Club - Fleet
Car Club has wide range of fleet starting from Intermediate to Super Luxury cars comprising of Ford Fiesta, Honda City, Chevrolet Optra, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Innova, Chevrolet Magnum, Honda Accord, BMW , Mercedes Benz S Class etc.
Car Club offers in-car amenities like a bottle of mineral water, a pack of wet-tissues, a roll of mint & newspapers. Music menu and ice-box are available on request in some category of cars.
Car Club - Safety
Car Club has developed a fleet strength of cars with safety features including Airbags, ABS etc considering the complete safety of the travelers.
Car Club Chauffeurs are trained by Hubert Ebner – an Austrian Company specialists in Chauffeur training for safety and defensive driving skills. All our chauffeurs are certified by the Hubert Ebner agency for their driving skills. Our chauffeurs go through the compulsory training on a periodical basis.
Car Club - Technology
Car Club has the advantage of online reservation tool operational, to provide cutting edge over its competition. Some of the features includes Corporate Log-in, automated email confirmation and SMS alerts, real time MIS, e invoicing & payments etc.
Payment gateway for making rental charges payment through our VeriSign Certified Website by Master/Visa/American Express Credit Cards.
Car Club – Team & Infrastructure.
Car Club operations team in each location is an experienced lot and understands the need of the customers very well. All the units are equipped with adequate infrastructure for delivering high quality car rental services.
Chauffeur Drive Services From Car Club
Bull Fighting as we know it today, started in the village squares, and became formalised, with the building of the bullring in Ronda in the late 18th century.
Bullfighting is the most traditional of Spanish Fiestas. The Spanish people consider them art forms which are intimately linked with their country’s history, art and culture.
Bullfighting can be traced back to ancient days. They were popular spectacles in ancient Rome, but it was in the Iberian Peninsula that these contests were fully developed by the Moors from North Africa who overran Andalucia in AD 711. Bullfighting developed into a ritualistic occasion observed in connection with feast days, on which the conquering Moors, mounted on highly trained horses, confronted and killed the bulls.
Today bullfighting is big business in Spain with the top matadores earning comparable salaries to the nation's top soccer stars and rock idols.
If you like this, You can check my Most Interesting Photos according to Flickr.
BREAKING NEWS:NEW YORK ATTACK !!!December 28, 2019 10 pm. JERSEY CITY ATTACK !!! TERROR “premeditated violent antisemitic hate crime” “act of terror” December 10, 2019 12:30 pm (EST; UTC−05:00) USA
More 500 favorites lost by Flickr December 24 2019...
49 Forshay Rd, Monsey, NY 10952, Estados Unidos
4WV8+FR Viola, Ramapo, NY, Estados Unidos
thursdaynightshiur.com
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BREAKING NEWS:NEW YORK ATTACK !!!December 28, 2019 10 pm
apnews.com/2846e752d621824a9c2c75a89271c71e
www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50937186
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time.com/5748292/jersey-city-shooting/
time.com/5748418/jersey-city-shooting-victims/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Jersey_City_shooting
www.cnn.com/2019/12/13/us/jersey-city-new-jersey-shooting...
www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50764276
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/12/12/jersey-city-shoo...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/12/new-jersey-kosher...
www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/shooters-who-killed-4-jersey...
www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/12/12/jersey-city...
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"YOUR BEST SHOT 2019"
6/30/2022 6 p.m.
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If you had been standing at this spot in February 1177 you’d have had a ring side seat to the battle of Downpatrick. The local king, Rory MacDunlevy’s much bigger native Irish army forded the then tidal river Quoile and charged across the marshy water meadows to climb the hill where Down cathedral now stands. Anglo-Norman Knight, John de Courcy’s much smaller, but highly trained force emerged from their small enclosure on the top of the hill and his archers cut the Irish forces down in the water meadows. Those that made it to the top of the hill crashed into the highly disciplined Norman knights and were driven back down the hill. De Courcy’s knights then mounted their war horses and slaughtered MacDunlevys men as they tried to escape back across the river. This decisive victory allowed de Courcy to create his Norman Lordship in the east of Ulster and allowed him to start an extensive building programme of castles and monasteries. De Courcy was especially generous to the church and established Inch Abbey at this site on the banks of the Quoile to partly atone for the slaughter of the native Irish forces. It is also thought that was he copying William the Conqueror’s Battle Abbey which was built at the site of the decisive battle of Hastings a century earlier.
My brother-in-laws lab who has been my buddy for the last 2 months. A highly trained duck dog nearing retirement.
We have arrived on Dennogra and commenced our investigations. As reported by the general of the Vigilance’s ground troops, the transport apparently met forceful resistance. Judging by the wreckage of the lost juggernaut, the faction responsible is highly trained, heavily armed and equipped with remnant tech form the clone wars. We have found remains of B1-Battledroids at the crash site as well as traces of military grade thermal explosives. Samples of the latter have been sent to the laboratories aboard the Vigilance for further examination, while the scan of the crash site continues. A full check of the juggernaut’s cargo still remains to be completed. Recovering the cargo proves dangerous because of the traces of explosives mentioned above. Agents are advised to proceed with caution and scan for possible booby traps before moving any of the debris. As for the crew of the juggernaut, two troopers have been treated by medics and have been transferred back to the vigilance, as were the remains of the dead. In conclusion, everything is going by protocol and we will proceed to examine the wreckage, identify the elements behind the attack and organize their eradication.
— Mission report D-002 by Lieutenant Kalin Sorgurd, ISB
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My part of the ongoing #empiresoldenemiescollab by @gsw.lug and my first build of the year. It was a lot of fun building the destroyed cockpit of the juggernaut and try my hands at some organic terrain once again. Not too proud of the photo, but it will have to suffice. More builds are in the works, stay tuned!
According to the RNLI website, their lifeguards have been patrolling beaches around the UK and Channel Islands since 2001. They provide safety advice as well as rescuing people in trouble and providing first aid to those who need it. In 2022, 1,632 RNLI lifeguards provided cover on 242 beaches They attended 18,897 incidents, helped 23,204 people and saved 117 lives. RNLI lifeguards are qualified in lifesaving and casualty care, as well as being highly trained and fit. Their roles are salaried. I'm sure I've heard a few Australian accents in Cornwall!
... the art of motorcycle maintenance.
Finally, its fixed!
''What complicated repairs did you do?'', I ask eagerly.
''Errr, well, we jiggled it a bit....''
Great!!
FOUR hours in a dark carpark at night.
TWO AA mechanics.
ONE tow truck.
TWO weeks in a garage with several highly trained motorcycle mechanics.
And they JIGGLED it!
''Oh, but we also made you this''
Two miniscule pieces of number 8 wire, held together with red string???
The answer to all my future problems apparently!
Have a great week! I know I will - I have my transport back, AND I discovered the art of ZEN! :)))
...I saw the grenade roll in, and stop by my feet. Almost instantly, I threw myself backwards, bringing my backpack around to use as a shield. Moments later, shrapnel peppered my shins and pack, but was absorbed by the thick pack, or deflected harmlessly by the angled surfaces of the greaves. I threw down the pack, and gave the room a quick look-around. My cot was overturned and in tatters, and there was a smoking crater where the grenade was. The scalpel and syringe that had been in a medkit were embedded in the thick canvas partition. I took all of this in in a split-second, parallel to the motion of me drawing my magnum from it's holster. Looking ahead, I saw my attacker, wielding a katana. He had expected to find a helpless, wounded victim instead of an armed, highly trained, alert sniper. In the same split-second as he noticed my gun and began to turn to flee, I buried a single round into his chest. At last, these attacks were over. I walked over, keeping my gun trained on him, and kicked his sword away. "This is why you don't bring a knife to a gun fight..."
He tried to spit at me in defiance, but ultimately failed when he learned for a second time that he was wearing a headwrap. I laughed, and watched this bastard die as soldiers began to investigate the disturbance. Once he drew no more breath, I checked his dog tags. He shared the last name of the soldier who I failed to save. Vengeance: An answer to this mess, but one that didn't seem to fill in all the grooves. There must be another reason, one which I would find out. As I left the infirmary, I heard some new soldiers whisper in amazement. As I walked away, I turned my head, and said to them, "Hey. I'm not known as the toughest dog around for nothing..."
Bravo-Seven was formed after the dispersal of Echo-Six. These three highly trained professionals form this elite team of formidable heroes.
(HFfeb 2023 has begun! More mocs on the way!)
SANTUS CIRCUS - Le Cirque De France! A French family run circus that has toured the UK for over 30 years and been in the circus industry for over 6 generations with their famous Juggling and Unicycling acts. Santus Circus selects highly trained professional acts from around the world to bring fun and entertainment for all the family to enjoy, with new and exciting productions to look forward to every year that will be sure to keep you on the EDGE of your seat!!
A highly trained member of the ADR (Anglesey Defence Regiment) holds back the crowds at the opening of a new Hi-Tech Superstore in Menai Bridge.(Anglesey, North Wales)
Pictured here is a shinzō, who were the attendants of Yoshiwara courtesans in the Edo period. This woman was dressed up for the annual re-enactment of the Yoshiwara oiran procession.
Oiran were the highest rank of courtesan in the old Yoshiwara licensed pleasure quarter of Edo-Tokyo, after the rank of tayū disappeared. Taiyū were not just prostitutes, but used to also be highly trained in the arts. They were highly respected in Edo period society. Kyoto's version, from the Shimabara licensed quarter, were also called tayū and still exist there. Today, they are considered the pinnacle of beauty, grace and knowledge of traditional Japanese arts and culture. Today's Kyoto tayū are not classy prostitutes but 'super' geisha. It would be nice if Tokyo re-creates the oiran/tayū in the way that Kyoto's modern tayū exist.
Wedding Rings UK has a team of highly trained staff who have a passion for jewellery. Allan spent 25 years working in Hatton Garden London, designing and making fine Diamond Jewellery, Diamond Wedding Rings in UK.
This is another picture I want to share with you before wrapping up my selection from Quito. Not necessarily because the image is stunning, but because the subject is.
This is La Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, often called La Compañía. It's not just another church—it's a masterpiece of Quito Baroque architecture and one of Ecuador's most significant historical landmarks.
Construction began in 1605 and took over 160 years, finishing around 1765. The Jesuits built the church, an order known for its focus on education, missionary work, and ambitious architecture. The Jesuits were often called the "Soldiers of God" or the "Pope's Army"—highly trained, intellectually rigorous, and intensely loyal to the Pope. They played a significant role in spreading Catholicism across the globe, particularly during the Counter-Reformation.
La Compañía was designed to symbolize the power and spiritual authority of the Catholic Church in the New World during the Spanish colonial era.
What makes this church unforgettable is its interior—almost every surface is covered in gold leaf, an estimated 7 tons used. The walls, ceilings, altars, and columns are carved and gilded in elaborate detail. It's easy to see why many refer to it as "South America's Sistine Chapel."
Beyond the gold, the church's carvings and symbols feature a fusion of European and Indigenous influences—an essential example of the Quito School of Art and part of what makes the city's colonial heritage unique.
So, while this photo may not be remarkable on its own, I took it to document and share the cultural and artistic value of a visually stunning and historically significant place.
Our mission is to utilize USS Hornet and the collections, exhibitions and educational programming to promote awareness and understanding of history, science, technology, and service. The might of an aircraft carrier lies in its ability to quickly move about the world’s oceans, projecting power whenever and wherever it is needed. The heart of a carrier’s combat strength is its aircraft; her Air Groups provided Hornet’s lethal sting. Hornet’s success was dependent on the capabilities of highly trained pilots and aircrews and the specialized aircraft that operated from her flight deck.
In World War II, her air groups consisted of a fighter (VF) squadron, a bombing (VB) squadron and a torpedo (VT) squadron. During the 1950s as naval warfare technology evolved, so too did the complexity and specialty of carrier-based aircraft. Joining the classic fighter and attack aircraft were electronic/early warning, photo-reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Dual-role aircraft also provided aerial tanking and limited cargo capabilities and helicopters proved essential to carrier operations which included search and rescue missions.