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Inspiring Mountain Biking Students from 20 Years of Coaching, Part 1
As you can imagine in my 20 years of coaching mountain bike skills I have had a lot of interesting and inspiring people take my camps. Some of these people have gone on to become famous racers, some legends in the industry (more about them in Part 2) but many of the most interesting stories come from my passionate students who simply love riding bikes.
They say that with age comes wisdom and I have definitely learned a lot from some of my oldest students. While most people aged 50 plus are retiring from sports or watching their performance in their sport/s of choice decline many of my "older students" have inspired me to keep learning, improving and getting better for the rest of my life!
My first older student was a 55-year-old grandmother who had learned to ride a bike that year! She never had a bike until she was 55, impossible for me to even imagine how scary and intimidating it must have been for her. Did I mention she had four fused vertebrae?! She said her friends thought she was crazy and that they just sat home and watched TV most of the time. I remember telling her that her friends were the crazy ones, she was smart enough to continue learning, growing and exploring. I will never forget the smile on her face when she did her first wheelie! (unfortunately, I did forget her name, it was 19 years ago!)
Two other "older students" I coached were Nancy Harris (aka Den Mom) and her husband Roger Gutierrez. Nancy and her husband Roger took my first ever Bootleg Canyon Downhill Camp (with Luna Chick Marla Streb as my guest coach) in 2005. Nancy had grown up riding motorcycles and now both of them were into downhill mountain bike racing. While her heart was willing Nancy's knees were failing her, years of dirt bike riding had left her knees not functioning too well.
Nancy taught me to be tough! Seeing her grimace in pain but keep riding hard made a big impression on me. If she could ride in that pain I could push her bike (and my bike) up the trail to the top during that camp as her knees were really hurting in the cold (yes, it snowed in Las Vegas that weekend!). She has gone on to have both knees replaced, did her painful rehab and his still riding and racing downhill 14 years later! Roger is still riding and racing too, what an amazing couple!
I once coached a 67-year-old student in Fruita who rode up and over this rock on Prime Cut in Fruita (a student is riding down in this photo):
He did it with ease (using the manual and weight shift from this article: http://betterride.net/blog/2018/mtb-manual-over-obstacles-w-overlocked-move-video-tutorial/ ). That isn't the coolest part though. I was coaching in Fruita three years later and this elderly gentleman walked up to me and he said, "Gene, I don't know if you remember me but I took a camp from you three years ago and you said that I was the oldest rider you ever saw go up the rock on Prime Cut". I excitedly replied, "yeah, I remember you, you were 67!" He then, very nonchalantly said, "I just wanted to tell you, I did it again yesterday, thanks for your coaching." He went up that rock at 70! Wow!
My oldest student so far has been Fred Schmid who was 78 when he took a camp from me in Dallas, Texas eight years ago. Now that alone is impressive, mountain biking at 78! But wait, there's more, he did the Leadville 100 when he was 80 and finished in under 12 hours earning him the coveted Leadville 100 belt buckle! Fred started mountain biking in his 70's after being a rancher in Waco, Texas. Last I heard from him he was doing the Telluride 100 at 83 years of age! If that doesn't inspire you nothing will!
I'm sure I have left a few older riders that I have coached but don't think you didn't inspire me too! Here's to all the older riders out there inspiring the youngun's that they don't have to grow old! Thanks for the inspiration!


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Richard Baccus
Austin, Texas, USA
About ABC Vacuum …
Richard's father started ABC Vacuum Warehouse back in 1977. Richard worked for the company under his father, until leaving for college,working towards a dual degree in psychology and political science. Throughout college, Richard began his entrepreneurship, running two small businesses while earning his degree. Upon graduation, he started his career at the corporate office of pizza giant Papa Johns. This is where Richard first started familiarizing himself with online sales, as the company sought to become the pioneer of online pizza delivery. During the same time, in the hopes of expanding sales, Richard's father asked him to help set up a website for ABC VacuumWarehouse. The website was such a successful venture that Richard went back to the family business full-time. ABC Vacuum Warehouse joined eBay in 2000, and the business has grown exponentially from the natural extension of customers the online platform offers. The success of the business allows Richard to help his community by creating jobs, getting involved in scholarships and operating his business according to various green initiatives. Richard also helps fellow small businesses get off the ground and become successful.
I'm extremely passionate about small business and what it represents for us as a country. Owning my own business allows me to innovate, explore new markets, adjust to the changing retail landscape quickly, and share independence with others.

subset: commoncrawl


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Monday, November 17, 2014
Blog Hop is taking us all the way to New Zealand today!
My dear friend Juliet from THE TARTANKIWI blog is reviewing my book today. She is newer to free motion quilting and has been stuck on a few issues that were really tough for her to get past. She has had some time with my book and I am very excited to see if it helped her. Please click on her blog today to find out and be sure to comment to enter to win a free copy of my book! Also take some time to look at her fabulous paper piecing - the animals she recreates in fabric are just astonishing. Thanks for stopping by and happy Monday!
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Photos of the Week
9 comments:
Sunflowers are my fav flowers. These photos are stunning xxxxReplyDelete
Pretty! We just have one sunflower this year but it's about 12 feet tall and about to bloom!ReplyDelete
These are beuitful!!!ReplyDelete
My favorite is the second one :)
Keep clicking that camera . . . you have a real eye.
Thanks for sharing you talent with us.
Have a great week.
Your blogging sister, Connie :)
Thank you! Just beautiful!ReplyDelete
I love sunflowers and your fotoes are fantastic!ReplyDelete
Hugs, Marguerite
Love these photos, particularly #2ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 27, 2013 at 11:00 AM
Sunflowers are my favorite and these pictures are so beautiful!! Wow.ReplyDelete
I love storms too! I don't like having to be out and about in the rain, but when I am home hanging out - rain on! =]
I love this set of photos Elise!ReplyDelete


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Simo is located in the county of Lapland. There is 50 km of a trip to Sweden's border.
Simo's three big neighbour towns are Oulu (120 753 inhabitants), Kemi (23 689 inhabitants) and Tornio (22 617 inhabitants). Some of the bigger neighbouring municipalities are Keminmaa (8 930 inhabitants) and Kuivaniemi (2 137 inhabitants).
The nearest airfield is Kemi-Tornio that is located at the end of 30 km, the railway goes by Simo. By Simo the roads go, E75 and main road 4. The nearest important commercial port is found in Tornio.
In Simo there is a rural landscape and also in the planning of the centre an attempt has been made to emphasise the nature vicinity. Simo consists of many small and vital village communities. Simo's sights include Simo's Church which has been completed in 1846 in later Empire-aika and light infantryman place with its statues which will be a memory from the war of independence when the route goes through Simo's wildernesses.
In 2001 Simo's number of inhabitants was 3 895 and it has diminished every year on about twenty persons. Most there were 1999 15-64 year-olds (65,8%) and least over 85-year-old (1,5%) in Simo. The unemployment rate during the 2000 year was 20,7% when it was 21,0% in the county of the whole of Lapland. Simolainen had a 946,39 debt on an average in 2001 ?.
From Simo a comprehensive school and an upper secondary school are found. The nearest university is in Oulu.
In Simo there are mining activity, among other things, forest industry, food industry, clothing industry and metal industry.
The municipality tries to persuade new entrepreneurs with the sea spirituality and by offering high-quality services. In the municipality it would be possible to practise a tourism, accommodation, programme and ravitsemusliiketoiminta for example.
Simo's decision-makers and civil servants' attitude towards the new companies is promoting the coming true of the project start-specifically. The municipality supports risk-taking and active industrial policy in the reasonable circumstances, in other words it is ready riskirahoittaa suras also projects. It is the plan of the municipality to develop through the tax revenues created by the successful entrepreneurship.
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|Biosequences .. Software .. Molbio soft .. Network News .. FTP
Dear arab-gen newsgroup, A PhD student position is available with Josh Mylne, an Australian Research Council Queen Elizabeth II Fellow and the current John S. Mattick Fellow (www.imb.uq.edu.au/mylne). Dr Mylne is based within the Chemistry & Structural Biology Division of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland (www.uq.edu.au) in Brisbane, Australia. This is a 3-year position and carries a tax-free stipend of $AUD 22,860 ($AUD 1 = $US 1.03). The project will determine whether the shared life history between apicomplexan parasites and plants means Arabidopsis can inform us of the mode-of-action for human drugs. The project is multi-disciplinary and will involve forward mutagenesis, classical genetics, molecular biology, Arabidopsis genetic engineering and next-gen sequencing assisted gene cloning. There is also scope to acquire skills in protein biochemistry and structural biology. This project will involve collaboration with Professor Geoff McFadden (www.geoffmcfadden.com), who is based in the Botany Department of the University of Melbourne (www.unimelb.edu.au). Applicants should have a degree in Biology, Genetics or a related discipline, with excellent communication skills. Experience in plant genetics and molecular biology is a plus. Interested candidates should send before December 18th, their CV and a letter of motivation including a brief description of previous activities to j.mylne from imb.uq.edu.au. Please include "human drugs" in the e-mail subject line. Short listed candidates will be asked to provide 2-3 letters of reference. The Institute for Molecular Bioscience is a world-class research institute located at The University of Queensland, in Brisbane, Australia. The IMB's mission is to decipher the information contained in the genes, proteins and molecules of humans, animals and plants. It houses 32 research groups in the Divisions of Computational Biology and Genomics, Chemical and Structural Biology, Molecular Cell Biology, and Molecular Genetics and Development. Our emphasis is on quality basic research and its translation into medical and biotechnological outcomes. The University of Queensland (UQ) is both the largest and oldest university in Queensland. Recently, UQ was given an overall ranking as one of the top 100 universities in the world by the Times Higher Education, with a ranking of 74. UQ has 1011 full-time life science researchers and was ranked as the top Australian university in life sciences and 26th in the world, according to Times Higher Education. UQ was also voted one of the top three international academic institutions outside the USA in The Scientist magazine's annual Best Places to Work in Academia 2010 survey. References: McFadden, G.I., (2011) The apicoplast. Protoplasma. 248: 641-650. Mylne & Wigge (2011) Nature Chemical Biology 7:666-667. Mylne et al. (2011) Nature Chemical Biology 7:257-259. Josh ---- Dr Joshua S. Mylne ARC QEII Fellow Chemistry & Structural Biology Division Institute for Molecular Bioscience The University of Queensland St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia T: +61 7 3346 2021 E: j.mylne from imb.uq.edu.au www.researcherid.com/rid/A-5581-2009 www.imb.uq.edu.au/mylne See you at ICAR 2013 in Sydney? www.icar2013.com.au


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All The News That's Fit To Print
Bad news: My three-week-old now believes Mom is a pacifier who will magically solve all her problems, including the need to eat, to drink and to be soothed into dreamland.
Good news: The wounds I incurred from constantly nursing an infant with the strongest sucking reflex in the galaxy (she could peel paint off a dresser, I swear) are slowly healing. This means Teyla can now latch-on without me sending desperate prayers to heaven to "kill me now, please, kill me now."
Bad news: However, I am still curling my toes and breaking out in an involuntary sweat for the first two minutes of each nursing session.
Good news: I lost seven pounds since I came home from the hospital three weeks ago tomorrow. And I wasn't even trying! Go-go breastfeeding!
Bad news: I still look like a slightly warped number 8, no matter which direction you look at me. This is causing me some mental distress, as I normally look like a 1. The lumps. They are very lumpy.
Good news: Having a new baby is an automatic excuse to stay indoors all day and do nothing. And I do mean nothing. All of a sudden, making the beds and taking a shower in the same day seems like a major accomplishment.
Bad news: Unfortunately, the ability to get nothing done all day is also causing me mental distress. I like to multi-task. I like to cross things off my to-do list. I like to be In Control and In Charge and Accomplish Much. So cutting back my day-to-day expectations is painful.
Good news: Our high today is 12. (Yes, this is good news. Stay with me, people.) Our high yesterday was -2. The wind chill was -37. Only in Minnesota can 12 feel like a heat wave. And it's possible that yesterday's frigid temperatures were the worst of the winter. We're heading toward spring now, baby!
Bad news: Spring doesn't come to our neck of the woods until mid-April, which is still four months away.
Good news: My husband will change diapers. Even dirty ones. (Michael, are you reading this?!?)
Bad news: The stabbing pain of a thousand gas bubbles make for an unhappy baby.
Good news: I'm writing again! On the blog! And the baby is sleeping!
Bad news: She's waking up, and I still haven't made the beds this morning. And it's time to pick up my son from preschool.
Good news: Even though I'm not posting as much here, I'm reading a lot out there. Even if you don't see me, I'm lurking. Thank you for keeping me entertained, informed and encouraged. The last time I nursed an infant, my online reading material consisted of BabyCenter bulletin boards ("Like Junior High. Only With Less Maturity!") and news sites. You have saved me from that fate this time around, and I'm forever grateful.
17 comments:
I just remembered. Someone recommended that I take lecithin (available in health food stores, etc., as a supplement) every day - supposedly it helps prevent the plugged ducts that lead to mastitis. Can't hurt to try.ReplyDelete
You can still have a to do list - you just have to change what it looks like.
1. Get out of bed.
2. Nurse baby.
3. Brush teeth.
4. Nurse baby.
5. Eat something.
6. Smile at older children.
7. Repeat steps 4 - 6 until husband gets home.
8. Shower.
9. Eat something.
10. Go to bed with baby.
Anything else you get done is a bonus.
Wait, suburbancorrespondent! You forgot to add "Blog" and "Watch Daytime TV" to your to-do list. Your day isn't complete without those :-)ReplyDelete
"Like Junior High. Only With Less Maturity!" - HA!ReplyDelete
Has anyone checked you and your munchkin for thrush? We had a bout of that when the Baby was a newborn and OH MY GOSH THE BREASTFEEDING PAIN. Some antibiotic ointment and we were both jolly again. (if you have whitish patches on your breasts, or your baby has a whitish tongue, those are pretty clear signs.)
Blogging and nursing? You are a modern day supermom!ReplyDelete
I'm glad the antibiotics are working and you are beginning to feel better.
Teyla is so cute, even with all that horrible gas pain!
"...BabyCenter bulletin boards ("Like Junior High. Only With Less Maturity!")"ReplyDelete
LOL. I didn't discover the blogosphere until I was in the midst of weaning the Pie. How much wasted time!
So glad your mastitis has cleared....it IS evil!ReplyDelete
I cringe at the thought of your latching pain! I had horrible latch problems with all of mine and only until the third did I discover the heaven sent Nursing Shields!! They saved me! You should look into those....they literally take away ALL pain while allowing your baby to still nurse very well....and you can find them at Target! ;-) Good luck!
Oh and I second suburban up there....the lecithin works WONDERS! 1200 mg 3-4x a day. It acts as a lubricant for your milk ducts. It really does help when taken regularly. ;-)ReplyDelete
It's so nice to have you back, Kelly! I think I had your mastitis post memorized.ReplyDelete
You look like an "8"? I'm sorry, but that's such a funny visual, but because I know exactly what you're talking about, it's not funny at all. You'll be back to normal in no time!
And finally, I had a baaad case of thrush with Emma. OH THE PAIN! Nipple shields were my life saver. If yours are still tender, they might be a good transitioning tool. I cried and prayed everytime I nursed until I discovered those gems. Ahhh, the memories!
"However, I am still curling my toes and breaking out in an involuntary sweat for the first two minutes of each nursing session."ReplyDelete
This sent me into post traumatic stress disorder.
Lost 7 lbs? Can I have a turn? Oh the wonders of calorie-burning breastfeeding!! That number 8 will shrivel up in no time!!ReplyDelete
Your brain cells don't seem to have died like mine did with additional childbirth. I was not as witty as you are when I was sleep-deprived. Actually, I'm not as witty as you are when I'm not sleep-deprived either! Maybe it's not childbirth....
Isn't it nice she has such a strong sucking reflex. That will serve her well in the coming months when she reaches that charming stage when she decides to turn her head while she's nursing to see what's going on behind her. Nothing like a little tug-of-war with mommy.
On second thought, I don't want a turn! :-)
glad you're back and i remember that toe curling pain of the first 2 minutes of latch on.ReplyDelete
Enjoy the nothing. I have no room to talk because I wouldn't be able to, but you should!ReplyDelete
I remember the baby boards with my first. Blogging is definitely BETTER!
Welcome back and thank goodness for those antibiotics, huh?ReplyDelete
Funny that the blogosphere is the only place where these words:ReplyDelete
"Even if you don't see me, I'm lurking."
are reassuring instead of really creepy.
Glad you're feeling better. Lots of good stuff rolled into this post!
I can SO relate to all of this, Kelly. Good grief, I remember wincing perpetually for several weeks due to the whole "Let's use mommy as a pacifier" thing. Youch.ReplyDelete
And the memories are even more clear, what with just helping my sister and HER new baby. She's lost 24 pounds without trying - apparently her baby and yours are in some sort of sucking competition.
Ahhh, the joys of motherhood.
Praise God for HIS grace.
And blogging.
I well remember the pains of those few weeks nursing, grasping the chair, holding my breath, and yes, curling my toes. Thankfully, it does get better!ReplyDelete
Go ahead, do nothing, your baby will be a baby for only a short time! You have the rest of your life to cross off a list (this from the number one list maker in the South!).
And 12? -2? Count me grateful to live "down yonder!"
What a cutie--even when she's screaming :)ReplyDelete
I'm just excited my baby niece is moving up so I get to get my baby fix on a regular basis now :)


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Academies, Why Choose Us?
Converting to Academy status is a big decision for any school. Our Academies experts understand the unique issues and challenges that you will have to face during and after conversion.
Contact our Academies team today and find out how we can take these burdens from your shoulders and support you on the path your school has chosen.
For more information send us a quick enquiry or contact the team below:
Partner0151 2552300Liverpool


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Guilds for Basketmakers
NBO works to support the many guilds throughout the country and in Canada. These guilds are the bedrock of basketry education, offering a local or regional welcome to people interested in basketry. Each guild is independent and plans its own programs, welcoming new members and visitors alike. Following is a compiled list of the many guilds and their locations, along with the website or Facebook link for contact information.
Nancy Loorem in "Northwest Designer Craftsmen" Exhibit
NBO member Nancy Loorem's work is part of the 2016 juried "Northwest Designer Craftsmen" exhibit held at the Gallery in the Park, Allied Arts Association in Richland, Washington. Northwest Designer Craftsmen (NWDC) was founded in 1954 to promote excellence… Read More
Matt Tommey's New Book: Every Basket Begins with a Walk in the Woods
Our hearty congratulations to NBO member Matt Tommey on the publication of his new book! "I'm excited to announce the publication of my 4th book "Every Basket Begins with a Walk in the Woods: Sculptural Works by MattTommey"…. Read More


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Apple Event Roundup
Lots to unpack from today's Apple event in San Francisco. The highlights:
- Apple Watch preorders start April 10th for a April 24th launch, and Australia is included.
- The 12″ fanless MacBook is real, and it's spectacular.
- HBO Now launches in April and is exclusive to AppleTV.
Apple Watch
Tim Cook and Kevin Lynch showed off the Watch, and while there weren't any new features announced, they covered the most important things: pricing and availability. In Australia the Sport will start at $499 and the stainless steel Watch at $799. (The Edition starts at $14k, if you're in the market.) There will be a set of available watch and strap combinations and you'll be able to buy straps separately. No word yet on whether all straps work with all watches. iOS 8.2 (in Software Update now) includes the new Watch companion app, which contains a Watch App Store.
The long-rumoured 12-inch MacBook debuted on stage with Phil Schiller handling the presentation duties. Weighing in at under 1kg, it features a retina display at 2304 x 1440 px, a redesigned logic board that's 67% smaller (thanks in part to eliminating fans from the design), Force Touch, and a single port – USB type C. It's 24% thinner than the current model 11′ MacBook Air. This model marks the reintroduction of the Air- and Pro-less MacBook model, and it comes in iPhone colours: silver, space gray and gold. AU pricing starts at $2,199. (There were also spec bumps to both MacBook Airs and to the 13″ MacBook Pro.)
HBO Now
AppleTV will be the exclusive streaming box partner for HBO Now at launch, and it'll be available on iOS and in web browsers as well. $14.99/month gets you access to everything HBO has. No word if there will be any geo-blocking yet. But probably.
More on all of this as the roundups come in.


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Reasons to go to Croatia Hot Air Balloon Rally
Croatia Hot Air Balloon Rally is a unique festival dedicated to all balloon lovers, who have the opportunity to watch or take part in exciting balloon flights over Zagorje, Croatia. Here are the reasons why you should visit this event.
Hot Air Balloon Rally 2017
One of the most attractive outdoor events – Croatia Hot Air Balloon Rally. 15 top hot air balloon teams from all over the world (even USA) for 4 days had the opportunity to show their ballooning skills flying over the hills of Hrvatsko Zagorje while…
- Behind the scenes (1)
- Event (4)
- Tips (2)
- Travel (8)
adventure alps Asia austria Bali bali cat poo chino Bali tips Bled Bohinj delnice elephants Elephant Safari Park Lodge Bali first time in Bali germany gorge gorski holiday hot air balloon Indonesia kotar lake lokve luwak coffee monkeys Mostnica mountain mountains putovanje rafting rally Savica savjeti scooter Slovenia smartphone snimanje smartphoneom snow tips Travel trip vip Vip YouTube Akademija waterfall winter zugspitze


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Worthington School District 518 Referendum 2018 from Worthington Channel 3
Worthington Schools will hold a one-question referendum on February 13, 2018 that would allow the district to alleviate overcrowding at every grade level by building a new high school and shifting grade configurations at existing buildings.
We have a good problem: schools at every level are full and enrollment increases continue to beat projections. Enrollment has grown each year for the past 10 years, adding 1,100 students, and is expected to continue. Student learning suffers from overcrowding as building capacity is less than 3,000 students, but enrollment is more than 3,200.
We sought community input, and we listened: community members helped evaluate options that would address the problem. The new proposal is different than the 2016 referendum. It is a cost-effective solution and does not include athletic fields.
More information will be added to this website. Please check back often for updates. Please contact Lori Dudley, School Board Chair at 507-372-2172 or email@example.com for more information.
Fast Facts Flyer
Hoja De Respuestas Rápidas
MDE Review and Comment Submission
MDE Review and Comment
Open House Presentation
Prepared and paid for by Independent School District No.518 (Worthington Public Schools), 1117 Marine Avenue, Worthington, MN 56187


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Beverage Dynamics recently lauded two Cabernets from Parducci Wine Cellars, awarding 95 points to True Grit 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and 93 points to Small Lot Blend 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Notes on True Grit 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon: "This is Parducci's reserve level Cabernet Sauvignon; 18 months in French and American oak add a vanilla softness to the mix; small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Syrah add richness; beautiful cherry and cassis aromas finish out the wine."
Notes on Parducci Small Lot Blend 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon: "Parducci's entry level Cabernet, which over-delivers; all oak aged, with Merlot and Petite Verdot added to the blend; fruit forward, with complex aromas of smoke, pepper and spice; great with BBQ."
Sample a glass of each today!
Enter your email address for news, ideas, and sales notices.
*Offer applies to new signups only.


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Photoshop patterns: 9 in set
File size: 409.3 KB
Downloads: 921
Terms of use: Free for commercial use
See how to install patterns.
Love themed patterns in vivid colors. Just download and enjoy! Spread your love! If you use them in a design then come back and let me see what you came up with!
Copyright 2007-2020 - All rights reserved


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The Web Chef's Cafe
with Paul Gibler
May 2013
Google+: a plus or minus among your social media platforms?
The armamentarium of social media platforms and tools used by consumers and businesses continues to evolve and grow. This growth has made choosing the networks in which to "play" and sometimes "pay" a challenging task. Among the newer ones gaining steam is Google+. While still in its relative infancy, more than 100 brands have more than 1 million followers on Google+. Among these are iconic brands like Ford (2.6 million+), General Motors (1.4 million+), Time magazine (~3.4 million), U.K.-based newspaper The Guardian (1.8 million+), and less iconic brands like humorous illustrator Rodney Pike (~1.6 million).


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Time Out says
One of Godard's most sheerly enjoyable movies, a dazzling amalgam of film noir and science fiction in which tough gumshoe Lemmy Caution turns inter-galactic agent to re-enact the legend of Orpheus and Eurydice by conquering Alpha 60, the strange automated city from which such concepts as love and tenderness have been banished. As in Antonioni's The Red Desert (made the previous year), Godard's theme is alienation in a technological society, but his shotgun marriage between the poetry of legend and the irreverence of strip cartoons takes the film into entirely idiosyncratic areas. Not the least astonishing thing is the way Raoul Coutard's camera turns contemporary Paris into an icily dehumanised city of the future.
Release details
Cast and crew
Anna Karina
Howard Vernon
Akim Tamiroff
Laszlo Szabo
Michel Delahaye
Jean-Pierre Léaud
Find a cinema
1 cinema showing 'Alphaville'
Users say (3)
Average User Rating
2.3 / 5
Rating Breakdown
- 5 star:0
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- 3 star:1
- 2 star:2
- 1 star:0
It did'nt work for me. The actresses were nice to look at , however.
Very badly needs the jump-cut editing which had been used so effectively in ' Breathless '.
An interesting experimental film which doesn't quite succeed. The pacing is much too slow. Using 1960s Paris as a stand-in for a foreign planet did not work then, & it certainly does not work now. Using a silly mechanical voice for the computer was also a major style error. There are, though, some interesting critiques of Orwellian censorship of vocabulary. & there is a nice courtship scene ( of sorts ) betwixt the 2 main characters. This was a film from before the really pretentious & politically patronising period of Godard. It doesn't quite succeed.


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Ephesians 2:4-6 (NKJV – emphasis mine) — But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together …
I have noted before on my blog that legalism mocks God's grace. If we are raised in a home that doesn't perform "worldly" externals, and all Christianity is about is not doing those "worldly" externals, then God hasn't really saved us from much — we weren't dead in our trespasses; we just had the sniffles.
A couple weeks ago, Neil wrote about labels, and how they can be helpful at times — and downright useless and silly at other times. The latter issue was the larger portion of his post and (although he didn't initially identify it at the time of the writing), I was one of the people that he wrote about who had been incorrectly and unfairly labeled. (He later went back and filled readers in on who the label-ers were. 'Twas a hop, skip, and jump from there to figure out who the label-ees were.)
Unfortunately, for any "fact-checkers" out there, the background of my incident can't be accurately checked, as the moderators of the site on which I was labeled chose to conveniently excise large parts of the exchange in which either (a) I made a strong point or (b) they looked foolish in retrospect. But that's not why I'm writing this, anyway …
I was attempting to answer the question "Is Francis Chan emergent?" by noting that the important question was not whether or not someone had attached a label to Chan, but whether or not what he teaches/writes is the truth. As the questioner appeared to truly be researching Chan, but coming up empty, I pointed her to a couple of book reviews and a brief (and, for me, convicting) video by Chan.
(For what extremely little it was worth, one of the book reviews included a quote from Chan that pretty much answered her irrelevant question.)
Having just made the point that the issue was truth (not labels), the very next comment — by a moderator, no less — asked me if I was emergent. Quite frankly, I was stunned at how incredibly and thoroughly he had missed my entire point. I felt like tapping the mic and asking, "Is this thing on?"
I temporarily evaded the question, as it was no more relevant for me than it was for Chan. However, after a while, it became obvious that I was never going to get that point through, even though I repeated it numerous times in different ways. So I just (metaphorically) threw up my hands and answered their question. I worked off a list of teachers/writers that one of my accusers had provided, and (I'm sure to their utter shock) largely agreed with their stances on these men.
But then I "messed up" and dragged God into the conversation (what was I thinking?):
Bottom line though: While none of those men are on my bookshelf, I do not think God incapable of using them to speak truth to me.
The responses to this statement (all of my others "disappeared") made things abundantly clear — they were so utterly focused on these men, that they totally (dis)missed God. One can only come to the conclusion that they do think God incapable of using those men.
There was even a great, though certainly unintended, illustration of this. One of the moderators has an image in his signature line — riffing off of President Obama's "Hope" slogan — that says "Hopeless" (complete with the same logo in the "O" as was in the original). While no fan of the president by a long shot, I have to note that this image says infinitely more about the moderator's view of God than his view of the president.
I ran across a post on another blog today about some truly horrific people — murderers, drunkards, adulterers, pimps, prostitutes — the scum of the earth. Oddly, they're all characters cited in Genesis, many of whom were greatly used by God. And some of them don't even have the "good" testimonies of how they did all that bad stuff before they met God, and walked the straight and narrow ever since.
The phrase "another gospel" (riffing off Galatians 1) has been perverted in its overuse to mean "that with which we do not agree". And, to be sure, I saw that phrase used often in the discussions surrounding Chan and others. But to claim (even indirectly) that God is incapable of using anyone requires not only the ignoring of large portions of Scripture, but an outright mockery of God's grace and the heart of the gospel message.
That, my friends, is truly "another gospel".
Galatians 1:9 (NKJV – emphasis mine) — As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Don't blame me — I didn't say it.


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Porsche will be introducing another variant of the Porsche Cayenne with a turbodiesel engine, using the 3.0 TDI V6 engine from the Audi Q7. This will bring the number of Cayenne variants up to 6, with the others being the Cayenne, Cayenne S, Cayenne GTS (shown above), the Cayenne Turbo, and the Cayenne Turbo S.
There has also been a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the Cayenne displayed late last year that uses only 9 litres per 100km, decent for a huge SUV.
The new Porsche Cayenne TDI will likely feature the most aggressively tuned up version of the 3.0 TDI V6 engine, which means 240 hp and 550 Nm of torque from as low as 1,750rpm. It will be unveiled in March 2009.


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Kim Scheppele (Princeton) wanted to make sure ELS blog readers were aware of the following Fellowship opportunity. Please note that applications are due by 15 November 2007.
Kim Lane Scheppele, Director, Program on Law and Public Affairs Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Public Affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School and in the University Center for Human Values, Princeton University, and Faculty Fellow University of Pennsylvania Law School. Contact information: Woodrow Wilson School 415 Robertson Hall Princeton University Princeton, NJ 08544. Phone: 1-609-258-6949 Fax: 1-609-258-0922. E-mail: email@example.com.
Princeton University is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. LAPA is co-sponsored by the Woodrow
Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, the Center for Human Values, and Princeton University.


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When you are in the ocean you can feel the power of something stronger than you, and when you get your first wave, it feels like you can do anything. – female participant in 'Be Like Water' program, Iran
How we can use the unique qualities of surfing and the sea as a tool for social change #surfsocialchange
NEAR-health, NUI Galway
Role: Post-doctoral research fellow, Whitaker Institute, NUIG
The Nature and Environment to Attain and Restore (NEAR) Health Project at National University of Ireland Galway aims to connect people in Ireland with blue & green nature spaces.
Waves of Freedom
Role: Co-founder
A voluntary-led non-profit using the power of surfing as a creative medium for positive social change and connection across cultures.
Into the Sea
An award-winning documentary
Role: Co-producer and presenter
Pink Nose Revolution
Role: Advisor and facilitator
A powerful and innovative campaign to raise awareness about issues of gender equality and women's empowerment, using surfing as the tool to engage local communities on-board.
Humans of the Sea
Role: Co-founder
A storytelling project that seeks to showcase the diversity of those relationships and how we are defined/influenced by the sea and how it defines/influences us; what the sea means to us; inspiring new/better ways of living and being, and raising awareness about the importance of our ocean and coastal environments for all of humanity.
Currently being piloted in Portugal and PNG!
Sea State
Role: Associate Professor
Study abroad programs that combine unique and dynamic course instruction and community engagement with immersion in coastal communities
Course Professor, Engaged Global Citizenship, Haiti
Surf + Social Good Summit
Role: Co-founder
Co-creator, convener and facilitator at the world's first Surf for Social Good Summit, an action-focused conference, using the unifying power of surfing to connect and bring about positive impact globally.
Watch: vimeo.com/135190985


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How would you define a great online casino? Nice and modern website, fast and friendly customer support, your favorite games, generous bonuses? Yes, all of these aspects are important, but they're all worth nothing if the casino won't pay you when you manage to win something.
Winning and not getting paid is probably an even worse experience than losing.
That's the reason why in my reviews I put a strong focus on reputation. Different people can have different views on what makes a great game or effective support, but everyone wants to get paid after a big win.
My main rating criteria is simple: REPUTATION FIRST.
So how do I rate a casino's reputation? I rely mostly on the experience of other real players.
If a casino has tens of thousands of players and none of them have complained for years, you can be pretty sure that's a sign of a great and fair online casino. Some of these big casinos that play fairly are for example 32 Red, Mr. Green or Royal Panda.
For every casino review I search the internet to find any relevant complaints. Websites like AskGamblers, CasinoMeister or GamblingGrumbles are very useful for this. But I don't stop there and use Google to search for anything related on online forums or other websites.
Every complaint is reviewed in accordance with our Fair Gambling Codex. Not all complaints are legitimate and those which aren't, are not taken into account.
Then I evaluate all of the complaints by severity (amount involved, bonus money vs. real money), sum everything up and cross-check with the estimated number of casino visitors or its revenue.
You can see all complaints which I found relevant in every casino review we publish, in a table like this:
That's how I get the basic rating. Afterwards, I decrease it for things like:
- Fake or manipulated games
- Blacklisting by fellow websites which I respect
- Costa Rica license
I also study the casino Terms & conditions in detail and look for predatory paragraphs, such as the ones in the picture below.
It takes me up to 12 hours to write a good review of one casino. So why am I going the extra mile on this?
I hate those generic "how perfect is that casino" reviews. Sadly, many websites about casinos contain only these types of reviews. And I think that all review websites should put effort into delivering the most valuable info they possibly can. After all, we do it to protect you and your money.
I want to give you the best and I hope that CasinoGuru visitors will appreciate that at the end of the day.
What's very surprising is that even some really big brands are performing poorly by our reputation standards. They are big companies and while they are clearly not rogue casinos, their terms and conditions appear to give them an excuse to take advantage of their customers if the situation allows it. If you are curious what I'm talking about, read my reviews of Planet7, BGO or 888.
While you should be extra careful with the brands listed above, there are some you shouldn't go anywhere close to. These clearly fall into the bracket of rogue casinos.
More crazy stuff can be seen in the number of fake casinos with fake games without any license. This is a mainly seen on Russian market. Surprisingly, sometimes those casinos have quite a solid market share. There are around 10 casinos called Vulkan, plus some fake copies of big brands like Joy Casino etc. If you are interested, I carried out an investigation about Vulkan casinos.
What most of those casinos have in common are fake Novomatic games. How can you distinguish fake from original? Simple detail works for me: the real games start with the following loading screen, so anything else is clearly fake.
I must point out that the situation has changed a bit and now most of fake Novomatic games have the same loader as the genuine ones. That's why it's now much harder to distinguish between real and fake Novomatic games, even for me.
My advice: If you are from Russia and you like Novomatic games, try BitStarz. They have a clear reputation and are big enough to pay out big wins. The website and customer support is also in Russian language. Their bonuses are below average, but for fans of Sizzling Hot and Book of Ra it's still the best choice.
Besides big brands and obvious rogue casinos, there are hundreds of other small to middle sized operators. Here on Casino.guru you'll find reviews of a decent selection of them. They usually offer good welcome bonuses which you probably haven't used so far.
Keep in mind that these casinos haven't proven themselves as much as the respected big brands. Smaller number of players automatically means smaller revenues.
So, even if they are managed by fair and honest guys, you might not get paid. If you win €250 000 in such a casino, it's possible they'll have problems paying you, as they simply won't have enough money. If you are a high roller who likes high volatility games then better stay and play with the bigger brands.
Interesting story
I have talked to some casino managers who didn't realize the real volatility of some slot games. For example, in Book of Ra slot the player can win up to 5000-times the wagered amount in one spin. That means a possible win of €250 000 for a €50 bet.
That win is usually above payment capabilities of casino with €20 000 monthly revenues.
To make your life easier:
We publish our estimated "safe amount to win" for each casino, which is the amount of money the casino shouldn't have any issues paying out. It's a very rough estimate based on casino's estimated number of visitors and revenue.
My last piece of advice for now:
Always make sure you check any monthly withdrawal limits. Some casinos have withdrawals limited to $2000 per month or even less. If you get a big win while playing at one of these casinos, you may end up withdrawing your win for tens of months. And all the time with the risk that casino will close its doors before you get all of your money.


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Every morning at sunrise, rain, hail or shine, hundreds of monks silently walk the streets collecting Alms from those who wish to offer as a sign of pray and good fortune.
This photo was taken before the run had risen on rainy day. Crowds and worshippers were minimal due to the weather. For the most part wild dogs outnumbered participants. This worshipper braved the rain to give to the monks (2 of which can be seen huddling under an umbrella in the top corner of the shot.)
This photo was taken on the Canon EOS 5D MKIII a truly remarkable camera for low-light photography. ISO was 2000, and shutter speed was able to be reduced to 1/15 second thanks to the brilliant Image Stabilisation (IS) capabilities of the New 24-105 L series F4.0 lens. Canon claim the IS can give you three stops, allowing for very slow shutter speeds.
This image was processed using photoshop CS5 and additional NIK software filters to bring out some of the shadow areas such as the face of the lady and orange of the monks in the rear of the photo.


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The Financial Conduct Authority expects any intermediary to disclose to the customer that a commission may be payable by the owner or creditor to the intermediary, and, if the customer asks, the amount of that commission. The Financial Conduct Authority has made it clear that "commission" means any financial consideration.
In-line with new legislation, if you would like 21st Century Motors Limited to disclose any potential commission please make your request to our head office address on our contact page or by email to firstname.lastname@example.com or by telephone: 03333 70 2121
21st Century Motors Limited offer products and services from a range of Leasing Companies, UK Vehicle Dealerships and Product Providers with whom we have commercial agreements in place. We are a Commission Based Organisation which means that we receive payments for business introductions. We will receive financial remuneration which may be variable or pre-set dependent on the product and the volume that we place with that organisation. The amounts that we receive may vary.
(Question) We will advise and make recommendations for you after we have assessed your needs - (Answer) NO
(Question) You will not receive advice or a recommendation from us. We have provided you with product information enabling you to make your choice about how to proceed - (Answer) YES
21st Century Motors Limited, Cotton Court Business Centre, Church Street, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 3BY is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
If you wish to make a complaint please contact 21st Century Motors Limited in writing at our registered office address; Cotton Court, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 3BY and we will be happy to respond. Alternatively; you can contact us by e-mail on; email@example.com or call us on; 03333 70 2121. If you cannot settle things to your satisfaction with us directly you may be entitled to refer your complaint on to the Financial Services Ombudsman Service.
* All vehicle images and car descriptions on this site are for illustration and reference purposes only and are not necessarily an accurate representation of the vehicle on offer.
21st Century Motors Limited
Cotton Court Business Centre
Church Street
21st Century Motors Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, we are a credit broker and not a lender. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders. Our firm reference No is : 682528
You can check this on the FCA website www.fca.org.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0800 111 6768.
Registered in England & Wales with company number : 08901938 | Data Protection No : ZA105350 | VAT No : 214205361 |
Registered Office : Cotton Court, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 3BY
Copyright © 2020 21st Century Motors Limited, All rights reserved.


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Will Golf For Beer Metal Bar Sign
Like golf? Like beer? Need some funny bar signs to banish the bare walls in your 19th hole? We've got you covered.
- Overview
Like golf? Like beer? Need some funny bar signs to banish the bare walls in your 19th hole? We've got you covered!
This metal bar sign is made of sturdy aluminum with a pre-drilled hole in each corner for hassle-free hanging.
The sign reads, "Will Golf for Beer," which is a message that's sure to warm the hearts of thirsty duffers everywhere.
Don't let your bar be boring. Hanging bar signs is a quick and easy way to decorate and show off some personality. Hit a hole in one for your man cave decor and hang this metal sign today!
- Made of aluminum
- Four pre-drilled holes for easy hanging
Free Expert SupportContact Customer Care
- Specifications
- Dimensions: 8"W x 10"H
- Shipping & Delivery
Related Products
- Customer Reviews
- Questions & Answers
If You Like This, You May Also Like
About Backorders
This item is currently out of stock but we're expecting more soon.
For an estimated ship date, please contact Customer Care at 877.636.3673 or email email@example.com.


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We will use the location to give you relevant local information across MoreDirt.
Saturday 2nd April 2011 to Sunday 3rd April 2011
Alpine Bikes Winter Series, supported by Fox Clothing and Saracen. This years event will be taking place once again at Innerleithen in Feb, Mar and Apr 2011
|Event Type:
|Saturday 2nd April 2011
|Sunday 3rd April 2011
|Michael Marsden
|Location (trail):
IMPORTANT: To the best of our knowledge the details provided are accurate at the time of listing. However, as with any outdoor event of this type, there can always be unforeseen circumstances that will lead to changes or cancellations. For all demo days, please check with the organiser directly to confirm the event is going ahead, timing, location, bike availability and any other additional detail.
With 3 dates to choose from and the choice to do one or all and with an entry fee of just £55 it's sure to be a great weekend...
What have we got for you?
- All day Saturday Practice
- Sunday Morning Practice
- 1 x race Run Sunday Afternoon
- Prizes and Support from Alpine Bikes and Saracen
- A whole number of courses ready for any weather- BC Points
Use this map to find accommodation near this event location.
Type: Hotels
Type: Hotels
Type: Hotels
No members are currently attending this event.


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Approximately before 800 year particular community were cultivating agricultural lands which owned by 'Thillai Nataraja Peruman' temple were migrated from Chidambaram to Trichy ... that's exactly called as Arunattu Vellalar.
The Arunattu Vellalar is a subcaste of the Vellalar caste from India. The people originally belonging to six VIZHAges near Trichirapalli, Tamil Nadu are named as Arunattu Vellalar.Many people are living Thuraiyur town and surrounding VIZHAges. Apart from these six VIZHAges near Manachanallur and Musiri, they also live in Natham Kovilpatti in Dindigul District. They used to be also called as "Kaaniyalan Vellalar"
The major occupation of the caste used to be agriculture and most of them now concentrate in business and trading


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Pro First Grand Principal's address - November 2018
Regular Convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter
14 November 2018
An address by the ME Pro First Grand Principal Peter Lowndes
Companions, it is a great pleasure to see so many of you here this morning, and I wish to particularly welcome those of you who are attending Supreme Grand Chapter for the first time.
Our journey through Masonry can be thought of as a series of 'First times'. Of course, we all remember our initiation, but this is followed by a number of other masonic milestones. One learns and delivers the first piece of ritual, visits another Lodge or Chapter for the first time, gains a first office, and passes through a first chair. For some, other offices beckon whilst others are content to direct and, on occasions, 'tut' from the back benches.
One 'First Time' that all of us here this morning have shared is the moment in the Royal Arch ceremony where the blindfold comes off and the vault is revealed. We find ourselves surrounded, more often than not, by our friends and the banners of the Tribes of Israel. That is a truly unique moment in Freemasonry and one which candidates frequently comment on later in the evening.
The ability to think back and re-live that moment, and all the other moments we have enjoyed in our lives is one of the wonders of being human. The desire to share those experiences we value, and pass them on to others, so that they too might experience them in the same fashion, is something we value enormously. Our masonic experiences are, of course, no different. We invite people to join those chapters whose membership we have enjoyed and we ask people into those Orders that we value.
We won't always get this right and I urge you, think hard about why that might be. What might we have been able to do to improve things for those we ask to join us to ensure that they get the most from their membership? Were we perhaps more interested in ensuring that there was another candidate for Exaltation rather than thinking whether we were prepared to be as welcoming as we ought?
Just as could be said for the Craft, it is an undoubted truth that the Royal Arch is not for everybody. Our detractors, even within the masonic community speak of impenetrable ritual and overly long lectures. This need not be the case and with a little imagination the work is easily shared and, as I have often said in the past, a change of voice can reinvigorate both the candidate and the ceremony.
I have often wondered, and, indeed, spoken about why quite so many masons, after their third degree, fail to seek those further explanations offered by the Holy Royal Arch, yet it appears that many still do not. We should not be shy about explaining to those who are not yet our Companions the benefit of ensuring that they have as complete a picture as possible of the masonic journey.
In a world ever more willing to draw conclusions from a paucity of evidence, from unsubstantiated opinion or from the salacious gossip of others, something which teaches us the importance of seeking more of the 'Whole Picture' should never be underestimated.
With the upcoming launch of Solomon, another first for UGLE, and its numerous articles on the Royal Arch, its origins, ceremonies and splendour, we have begun to address the lack of understanding that puts some candidates off as they pass through unfamiliar territory. Solomon, of course, is a large learning resource and it covers not only the Royal Arch but the three Craft degrees as well. It is quite right that those whose curiosity is aroused, and who have chosen to complete their Craft journey should be able to explore the thoughts and meaning behind such a wonderful legacy of fundamental truths.
It is a great sadness to me that in some parts of the world, and even in some parts of our own constitution, the Craft and Royal Arch are uncomfortable bedfellows. However, I also derive great pleasure from seeing the large number of instances where this is clearly not the case and Royal Arch membership is actively promoted throughout the Constitution as I strongly feel it should be.
The Craft and the Royal Arch should get on together not because the Book of Constitutions tells us that they must, but rather because there is an obvious synergy between the two. The Royal Arch completes Craft Masonry and it is the obvious and right next step in the masonic journey. For me, it has provided great enjoyment over the years and I know that there are thousands of Brethren out there for whom the same could be true. Let us all consider what we can best do about this.
Tandem Skydive raises almost £13,000 in aid of Metropolitan Grand Lodge's Lift for Life appeal
Metropolitan Grand Secretary David Swain has taken to the skies as part of a sponsored tandem skydive, in aid of Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London's Lift for Life appeal
After the success of last year's event, James Macdonald, of Gresham Lodge No. 7651 in London and a skydiving instructor, organised a second event. This appeal will see London Freemasons buy two super-aerial platforms for the London Fire Brigade at a cost of £2.5 million, which when online, will be the highest of any platforms in Europe.
The call went out on social media and through the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London website and a number of members quickly signed up to take part. Following in the footsteps of Metropolitan Grand Inspector Mark Stollery, who took part last year, Metropolitan Grand Secretary David Swain was keen to be involved.
With the places booked, the members went to work to raise money for this very worthy cause. The combined total so far stands at almost £13,000.
When the day came, the nervous group arrived bright and early to an airfield just north of Peterborough, where James Macdonald was waiting to give them a full safety briefing and an outline for the morning. Once complete, everyone donned their jumpsuits, collected a ridiculous looking hat and met their instructors ready to board the aircraft.
Tentatively, the group boarded the aircraft and were quickly flying up to the exit altitude of 13,000ft. The nerves were growing, but the camaraderie in the cosy light aircraft helped maintain a relatively jovial mood. Beautiful views from the plane were soon forgotten however, as the door opened, letting in a cool breeze and an element of realised fear.
One by one, the group and their instructors edged towards the door and rolled out, exiting high above the Peterborough skies, reaching speeds of 130mph on the way down. After about 45 seconds the parachutes were deployed and the noisy, overwhelming excitement of freefall became the peaceful bliss of flying under their parachutes.
After circling around for about five minutes and taking in breath-taking views, everyone landed safely on the landing area, all sporting some of the biggest smiles they'd ever experienced. As if the skydiving wasn't enough, Scott Moffat of Veritas Lodge No. 4983, got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, who had also just jumped. Thankfully, she said yes.
Those who took part included David Swain, Scott Moffat, Paul Skipper of Old Foresters Lodge No. 7726, Alasdair Brown of Hampden Lodge No. 2427, Frederico Pessoa of Bee Hive Lodge No. 2809, Chris Griggs of Cholmeley Lodge No. 1731 and Maria Jeffery on behalf of Lloyds Lodge No. 5673.
After the event, David Swain said: 'The tandem skydive in support of our Lift for Life appeal for the London Fire Brigade was very well organised and slickly executed. Blessed with perfect skydiving weather, clear skies and great visibility, it was a fantastic experience and one I would recommend to anyone. Grateful thanks to James MacDonald and all at UK Parachuting for a seamless day.'
If you'd like to donate to the cause, please click here.
Suffolk Freemasons complete cycling challenge and raise over £21,600 for charity
Suffolk Freemasons Andy Gentle and Nick Moulton cycled all the way down to Freemasons' Hall on 12 September 2018, completing the final part of a four year challenge which has helped to raise over £21,600 towards their Festival 2019 for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
The Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk Ian Yeldham, together with his partner Amanda, wishing to show their support, accompanied Andy and Nick on this last cycle. All arrived safely and were greeted by Sir David Wootton, UGLE Assistant Grand Master, and James Newman, Chairman of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, along with around 70 supportive members from Suffolk.
Back in 2014, Andy and Nick came up with the idea of cycling to every lodge within the Province to attend a meeting, looking to raise awareness of the Festival whilst also hoping to gain an extra donation from each lodge they visited. With the added bonus of getting a little fitter and also being some of the very few to have visited all 68 lodges in the Province.
Their original target of £6,600 had to be re-evaluated due to fantastic support, as in the end the total amount raised was over £21,600 with 2,260 miles cycled.
Andy commented: 'The cycling challenge has been just that, no easy task either physically or logistically, with one of the hardest aspects being the juggle with work trying to fit in around all the various lodges meeting dates.
'But it was rewarding in so many ways, seeing the beautiful Suffolk countryside in a way we would never have otherwise seen it, making so many new friends amongst brothers and of course being so very well supported by all the lodges.'
West Lancashire Freemasons donate £65,000 to help prevent young suicides
'Suicide is the major cause of death in all people under 35 years of age'. That alarming statistic is one that will probably come as a major shock to many people. It certainly was to the group of West Lancashire Freemasons who were visiting the Warrington headquarters of the charity Papyrus, who have received a grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) of £65,342
The MCF has made the grant on behalf of the Province of West Lancashire, but on this occasion the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison was accompanied by his colleague from the neighbouring Province of Cheshire, Stephen Blank.
Papyrus, which was formed in 1997 in Lancashire, has three simple aims: provide confidential help and advice to young people and anyone worried about a young person; help others to prevent young suicide by working with and training professionals; and campaign and influence national policy. They summarise this as: Support, Equip and Influence.
The visitors were welcomed by CEO Ged Flynn, who explained the work that the charity does and also outlined the problems that are being faced nationally, as they try to de-stigmatise suicide and raise awareness of this tragic loss of young people. Ged stressed that the charity has values that it strongly promotes.
He said: 'We believe that many young suicides are preventable, and that no young person should suffer alone with thoughts or feelings of hopelessness. We believe that everyone can play a role in preventing young suicide.'
Stephen Habgood, who is the Chairman of Papyrus, then very movingly related his own story of the loss of his only child, Christopher 26, to suicide in 2009. Sarah Fitchett, a trustee of the charity, also shared her own tragic experience in speaking of the death of her 14-year-old son, Ben by suicide in 2013.
Their openness in speaking so frankly about their emotional experiences was a very moving revelation to the visitors but also cause for admiration, as they explained how they are working to try and prevent others having to experience the same trauma.
The £65,000 grant will enable the charity to engage another advisor to work on their HOPELineUK helpline (0800 068 4141), which is there to provide confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person.
An historic day as Jersey's Masonic Temple holds its first wedding
The Masonic Temple on Stopford Road in Jersey is one of the most impressive of its kind, so much so that local Freemason Julian Spurr believed it would be a fitting venue for his wedding
The Temple has recently benefitted from a complete refurbishment which saw the addition of a new bar, provincial robing room, disability access points, lady's toilets plus a complete interior and exterior redecoration. Once again, the building is a fantastic hub for the members of the Island and fit to serve the Craft long into the future.
It wasn't always so well polished, built in 1864 the property suffered heavily during the Nazi Occupation of Jersey and was ransacked by Nazi treasure hunters in 1941. Those dark days are now a distant memory and a new chapter has begun. Earlier in the year, history was made once more when Julian Spurr, of St Aubin's Lodge No. 958, and his blushing bride Karen tied the knot in the Corinthian-styled surroundings of the Jersey temple.
Julian said: 'Karen and I were discussing wedding venues one evening, and I reminded her that someone had mentioned to me that the Province had been toying with the idea of possibly promoting weddings at the Temple.'
When Julian and Karen arrived at the Temple, he took her inside and told her to close her eyes before turning the lights on – she said: 'This is the place. This where I want us to get married.'
The couple had already decided on a Great Gatsby theme and felt that the building would more than lend its colours and majesty to the 1920s style, not to mention the beauty of the exterior featuring in the all-important photographs. The newlyweds entertained 85 guests, with everyone throwing themselves into the glamorous theme.
Pre-ceremony drinks were held in the rear courtyard of the Temple, and the reception and sumptuous buffet wedding feast in the dining room.
Julian said: 'We danced the night away to music from the Charleston and Gatsby eras, the fifties and sixties, right up to Jess Glynne and Ed Sheeran – the Temple had never rocked like that before.'
During and after the event, countless guests commented on the fact that they had never been to such a wedding before, in such magnificent surroundings – a hugely successful first wedding held in Jersey's Masonic Temple.
Pro Grand Master's address - September 2018
Quarterly Communication
12 September 2018
An address by the MW The Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes
Brethren, it is a pleasure to see you all back after the long, hot summer, and I would like to particularly welcome again those younger members of our Universities Scheme and, indeed, anyone else making their first visit to Quarterly Communications this September.
Brethren, this year we will see perhaps the greatest change in senior leadership within the Craft that there has ever been - and I'm not of course referring to the three of us! No fewer than 12 Provincial Grand Masters and seven District Grand Masters will have retired and their successors Installed by the end of this year. With each Installation ride the hopes of not just the members of that particular Province or District but, to a certain extent, the success and longevity of the Craft itself. More than ever before we expect so much from our leaders. We hold them accountable for the guardianship of a heritage stretching back centuries, and also for the future of the Craft, its growth and development and, dare I say, the innovation and change needed to allow it to flourish and grow.
If we are to attract and engage our membership, and those who might flourish as members, we need to be not only responsive to the society in which we live, but also mould and form the perceptions of that society. It is quite right and proper that I pay tribute and thank those who, often for a decade or more, steward and safeguard the Ideals of the Craft for future generations.
Historically we have been a melting pot for ideas, a Brotherhood where concepts at the forefront of science and social change could be debated. We have been fortunate to count amongst our members some of the greatest minds of any age, Alexander Fleming and Edward Jenner; Scott of the Antarctic and Ernest Shackleton; Pope, Trollope, Burns, Kipling, and, like Sir Winston Churchill, those who truly valued service above the external advantages of rank and fortune.
Then, as now, there was not a 'Right' way of thinking, but a respect for all ways of thinking - some orthodox, some challenging. If we, as an organisation have a 'unique selling point' ghastly expression, I know, we respect each other, irrespective of our beliefs.
I know that some of our members were uncomfortable with the direction the Law has taken on issues such as gender fluidity and the obligation that puts upon us as individuals who pay due obedience to the laws of any State which may for a time become our place of residence.
I know from the debates that have been held up and down the country that there are similarly a large number of you who feel that our response to recent changes in the Law is generous, decent and open minded and you applaud it.
Throughout our history our members have held vastly different views on many different subjects. It is one of our great strengths to encompass this breadth of views. Unlike the echo chambers of social media, we meet people who are different to us, who think differently, but that does not set us apart, or put us at variance; it binds us together as it did for those many freemasons who have gone before us.
Brethren, this is one of the many things that, in my view, we have to offer society, and that so many outside the Craft could learn and prosper from, and it is just one of the many reasons I am proud to be Pro Grand Master.
Buckinghamshire Freemasons come together to raise funds for two-year-old Dexter's Braille machine
There was a large gathering of Freemasons from all across Buckinghamshire at Newton Longville Free Church, as they came together to attend a coffee morning in response to a letter which had been received alerting them to the situation of two-year-old Dexter Ward
Dexter is going blind due to infantile glaucoma, a rare condition unrelated to adult glaucoma, but still has a little sight. His mother, Julie- Ann, has been training in reading braille and is anxious to start teaching Dexter as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, both the NHS and the Royal National Institute of Blind People are unable to provide a braille machine on loan until Dexter reaches five years of age. By this time, he is expected to be completely blind, making the teaching more difficult.
Sue Sparling, and other representatives from the Church, got together to organise a coffee morning, raffle and bring and buy to help towards raising the £1,700 cost of a basic machine. It was at this point that it came to the attention of Buckinghamshire's Assistant Provincial Grand Master Phil Blacklaw.
Phil put out the call to invite any Freemasons who were able to support the event to attend. On the day, there was an excellent attendance of members from both the north and south of the Province including Tom Davies, Provincial Grand Tyler for Buckinghamshire. Tom presented Dexter's mother with £500 towards the machine explaining that the money was raised by his restoration and recycling of Masonic regalia. Winslow Lions Club also made a generous donation of £500.
By the end of the morning, the event had surpassed the target allowing Dexter's family to purchase a Tiger Cub braille embosser which costs £3,700 and will enable him to use it well into his teenage years and beyond. Dexter's mother was astonished and delighted by the turnout, expecting that the event would only make a contribution to the target amount.
The Braille embosser has now been purchased and is being used to print braille books by Dexter's parents. After the event, Dexter's parents sent a letter of thanks: 'The picture shows Dexter sitting next to the Braille embosser. The embosser is like a big dot matrix printer which punches the dots on to paper or clear acetate.
'Dexter is holding one of his favourite Mr Men books. It is the first book we have converted to braille for him. We type the words into the braille software which then converts it into the dots and then feed a clear sheet of acetate into the embosser which punches the braille on to it. We then cut the side off the book, insert the acetate pages and then rebind the book.
'Dexter loves his new book which will be the first of many. We would very much like to thank everyone for their generosity in helping a little boy access his favourite books.'
Derbyshire Freemasons make a flying visit with £1,700 donation to the Jon Egging Trust
Derbyshire Freemasons have donated £1,700 to the Jon Egging Trust, which supports young people who find themselves in difficult circumstances
On 20th August 2011, Flt Lt Jon Egging lost his life whilst completing a display at the Bournemouth Air Festival. He was coming to the end of his first year with the world-famous Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team 'The Red Arrows', flying in the position of Red 4.
In 2012, the Jon Egging Trust was formed to help realise Jon's dream of inspiring young people through his love of aviation, teamwork and leadership – helping them to overcome adversity, identify their strengths and work towards their ambitions.
The staff and volunteers for the Trust are all chosen for their ability to act as positive role models; in turn they inspire and enthuse young people to reach their full potential. Their accredited programmes increase young peoples' self-confidence, self-esteem and other vital life and work skills, empowering them to become role models within their own communities.
Derbyshire Freemason Adrian Clarke, Worshipful Master of Bradelei Lodge No. 9205, and his brother-in-law Flight Lieutenant Chris Lyndon-Smith (Red 4) were acutely aware of this very worthy charity and inspired the lodge to make a much welcome contribution to the Trust. The funds principally came from the fundraising from Adrian's Lodge Ladies Evening, where the Red Arrows had generously donated some of the raffle prizes.
When match funded by the Provincial Grand Charity of Derbyshire Freemasons, they were pleased to be able to present the Jon Egging Trust with a donation of £1,700. They were then invited to make the presentation at RAF Scampton where the Red Arrows are stationed and met with the pilots and ground crew.
This donation is a fitting preface to even more Derbyshire masonic support for organisations associated with the RAF taking place this year in the Province. In October 2018, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire will be making substantial donations to the each of the Air Training Core units in Derbyshire.
Bristol Lewis raises over £5,000 for Prostate Cancer UK
A 15-year-old son and grandson of two Bristol Freemasons has completed four endurance challenges in six weeks to raise over £5,000 for a national prostate cancer charity
When Dr Richard Hayes was suddenly and unexpectedly diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in April this year, his grandson Edward felt pretty powerless and didn't know what to do to help, so he decided to undertake a series of challenges to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. A retired GP, Richard was having an annual PSA blood test due to a family history of the disease.
Even though he had no symptoms, his PSA level was a little bit raised, which prompted referral to a specialist. The specialist turned out to be a member of his own lodge in Bristol, but unfortunately after he was investigated it was shown that the cancer had already spread to his bones.
Edward spoke to his teachers at Beechen Cliff School in Bath about what he could do to try and raise money. As Edward recalls: 'My school organises lots of outdoor activities and the teachers organise training and supervision to allow us to take part in a number of events. Normally, we would do one or two of these, but this year I thought I would do the Ten Tors, The March for Men, National Three Peaks Challenge and Centurion Challenge all together, to try to raise money to support Prostate Cancer UK and make sure that more people are aware of this disease and try to help men get diagnosed earlier so that they can be treated.'
For the Ten Tors, Edwards was the leader of his team which involved hiking 35 miles over the rough terrain of Dartmoor at the end of May 2018, visiting 10 different nominated tors in under two days. In the middle of June, he took part in The March for Men in Bristol. Organised by Prostate Cancer UK, it gives families the opportunity to walk in support or in memory of someone they know with prostate cancer. Edward did this walk with the rest of his family, but to make sure it was a proper endurance challenge he ran the whole 10K course twice.
In the last weekend in June, Edward completed the National Three Peaks Challenge with lots of other pupils from his school. This involved climbing the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales over one weekend – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon. They walked 23 miles and climbed the overall total of 10,052ft.
The last challenge was the school's annual Centurion Challenge. This event has been running at the school for 50 years now and is a 100 mile walk from Bath to Hungerford and back. It must be completed within 48 hours in order to be a "Centurion". Yet because it was so hot this year, for safety reasons, the walk was shortened to 50 miles in 24 hours.
Edward added: 'I was really disappointed because I wanted to do the full 100, but the teachers had to make sure we were all safe. Even though he's on chemotherapy at the moment, my grandpa got to watch me come in at the finish and gave me a massive hug. We were both a bit tearful. I had a big blister on my heel, but I managed to complete the course in 8hrs 57 minutes.
'My dad is a Freemason in Bristol and last year he was Provincial Senior Grand Warden, so when they heard about grandpa's illness, lots of the people in Bristol lodges sent me sponsorship money to support my fundraising. It's brilliant what fundraising support the Bristol masons have given me and I hope that I can join my grandpa's lodge when I'm old enough.
'When I got home after the Centurion Challenge, my great uncle Roy, who is a Freemason in Gloucestershire, presented me with an old ice axe. He was one of the first young people to do the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in 1959 and went on an expedition to Greenland with Sir John Hunt and Sir Edmund Hillary, who were both famous mountaineers. This was the axe that he took on that expedition and he gave it to me to celebrate successfully finishing these challenges. I'm really grateful to everyone who has sponsored me for doing these four events, to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.'
Prostate Cancer affects one in eight men in the UK. A man who has a father or brother who has been diagnosed, is two and a half times more likely to also be affected. You can contribute to the fundraising initiative here.
Freemasons' Hall unveils new Tercentenary organ in Temple 10
United Grand Lodge of England has been presented with a new organ in Temple 10 at Freemasons' Hall, which has been generously donated by The Grand Stewards' Lodge
The funds for the new organ were raised over a three-year period, through a combination of the generosity of individual members of the lodge and through donations from some of the 19 'Red-Apron' Lodges which nominate Grand Stewards.
A total of £65,000 was raised to pay for the new organ, which was installed in the latter part of 2017 by Viscount Organs and inaugurated at The Grand Stewards' Lodge installation meeting on 17th January 2018 by the then Grand Organist, Carl Jackson MVO.
The journey started when The Grand Stewards' Lodge were looking for a suitable project they could support to commemorate the Tercentenary of the first Grand Lodge on 24th June 1717. It was during this time that the organ in Temple 10, roughly 50 years old, stopped working and so it was decided that its replacement would be chosen as the lodge's project to celebrate the Tercentenary.
The Organ Committee decided that the new instruments specification and layout should mirror the fine renovated Willis III pipe organ in the Grand Temple at Freemasons' Hall. The organ console is made of oak, stained to match the existing furniture, it has three manuals (Great, Swell and Choir) and a full pedal board, 55 speaking stops and a full set of couplers, together with the same number of thumb and toe pistons as are available on the Grand Temple Organ.
UGLE has established close links with the Royal College of Organists, which was founded by Freemason Richard Limpus in 1864, and now funds the RCO Freemasons' Prize, as well as providing Freemasons' Bursaries to cover items such as tuition fees and travelling expenses. As a result, the new organ in Temple 10 will be available to pupils who wish to practise for their exams from September 2018.


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Manchester United's hopes of signing Paris St Germain midfielder Thiago Motta are over after the Italy international signed a new deal with the French side, as reported by Sky Sports.
United boss David Moyes was preparing a summer bid for the Brazilian-born holding midfielder but the price will now be too much for the Premier League champions.
United had hoped to get a cut price deal for the former Inter Milan and Barcelona star but Moyes will now have to look elsewhere as he struggles to sure up his inconsistent midfield.
Motta played the full 90 minutes for the Ligue 1 side in their midweek cruise against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League and is expected to go to the World Cup with Italy.
"I am very happy that I can play for Paris Saint-Germain until 2016," 31 year old Motta said.
"My intention was to continue playing for this team so now everything is fine for me.
"I will keep my feet on the ground and continue to work as I have before, to help PSG to win titles."


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Yes, I'm back from my break, and yes, thanks, I had a lovely time. I managed to keep in touch with events, of course, with the help of my trusty laptop and wonderful BBC News online – but thank goodness nothing much ever happens in August.
I gather there was just a bit of flooding (was it 20 million people affected across south Asia?), a spot of foot-and-mouth; a touch of turbulence on the world stock markets; several more British casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan – oh yes, and something about a great white shark that wasn't photographed off the coast of Cornwall.
And guess what: Iran is back in the news. Two developments you may have missed during all the storm dramas (both financial and meteorological) of the past few days -- although you won't have missed them if you've been listening to the programme this week: the US is said to be about to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a "foreign terrorist organisation", and Washington has just signed a new military assistance deal with Israel that's worth some $30 billion over the next 10 years.
That's an increase of about 25 per cent over current levels – and the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, says it will help to preserve his country's military advantage over other countries in the Middle East, ie Iran. (Incidentally, Washington is also providing generous military assistance to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other Gulf states. What do they all have in common? They all have reason to fear Iran.)
I remember when the Cold War ended in 1989, analysts started asking who would turn out to be the new enemy of the West. (I'm no psychologist, but there seems to be a primitive human need to define ourselves at least in part by who our enemies are.) At first, Islam seemed to be the most likely choice. But now, our governments' fears appear to be more focused: they don't so much fear an entire religion, rather they fear the aggressive political manifestation of one branch of that religion, the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Washington claims to have irrefutable evidence that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are deeply involved in the surreptitious acquisition of nuclear technology, and are financing, equipping and training Hizbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and a variety of militia groups in Iraq. They also, of course, were responsible for the capture of the 15 British marines and naval personnel in the Gulf last March.
But what good will calling them terrorists do? Well, it would enable the US to seize any of their assets that happen to be within US jurisdiction, and it would enable Washington to take action against any US company that does business with the Guards or their commercial front organisations. And, of course, it would be a way to ratchet up the pressure on the UN Security Council to agree to tougher sanctions against Tehran.
There have been signs for many months now in Tehran of strains within the government between those who favour opening up to the West and trying to defuse some of the current tensions, and those close to the mercurial president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who prefer a more confrontational approach. There is a parallel debate in Western capitals between those who say the time for sweet-talking is over (the European Union tried "constructive dialogue" for years, but seems now pretty much to have given up), and those who insist that it is still more sensible to engage with the so-called "moderate" elements in Tehran. I wonder which approach you would favour?
By the way, on the subject of stock market turmoil, have you noticed that even after all the recent talk of crises and collapses, the current level of the FTSE-100 index (at time of writing, mid-morning on Friday) is just about exactly where it was a year ago? I sometimes wonder if we get a bit over-excited about these things.


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You know when you're looking at someone and you can't help but smile at how oblivious they are to their own charm? That's what was happening to me, and it was making me feel…happy. Euphoric. Something indescribable. It was like we already knew each other, like we had met in a previous life. Memories that didn't exist began exploding in my mind like fireworks.
Charlotte has spent her twenties adrift, searching for a spark to jump-start her life and give her a sense of purpose. She's had as many jobs as she's had bad relationships, and now she's feeling especially lost in her less-than-glamorous gig at a pie-and-fry joint in Los Angeles, where the uniforms are bad and the tips are even worse.
Then she collides—literally—with Adam, an intriguing, handsome, and mysterious painter. Their serendipitous meeting on the street turns into a whirlwind one-night stand that has Charlotte feeling enchanted by Adam's spontaneity and joy for life. There's promise in both his words and actions, but in the harsh light of morning, Adam's tune changes, leaving Charlotte to wonder if her notorious bad luck with men is really just her own bad judgment.
Months later, a new relationship with Seth, a charming baseball player, is turning into something more meaningful, but Charlotte's still having trouble moving past her one enthralling night with Adam. Why? When she searches for answers, she finds the situation with Adam is far more complicated than she ever imagined. Faced with the decision to write a new story with Seth or finish the one started with Adam, Charlotte embarks on a life-altering journey, one that takes her across the world and back again, bringing a lifetime's worth of pain, joy, and wisdom.
B&N | Kobo | iBooks
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Reviewed by Rachel
"… everything is reduced to feelings and emotions and actions that don't need explanation or justification….."
I've been a fan of Renee Carlino since I fell in love with her book covers however when I picked up a copy of Before We Were Strangers in my local store and took a chance it was then I fell in love with her words. I read the blurb and was sold; it sounded like my kind of read. The style of her writing just sucked me in and kept me captive until the very last page. It was then that I bought all her other books and never looked back. Renee fast became of my all-time favourite authors. So when I was offered to a chance to read her latest book, Wish You Were Here, it was a no-brainer! I didn't even read the synopsis as I just know she will never let me down. However, what I didn't anticipate was what an emotional roller coaster she would take me on. Never before have her stories hit me like this one. The storyline in this read took me on a very personal journey and at times I did have to put my Kindle down and gather my thoughts and take a few deep breaths, oh and also go grab a pile of tissues! My tears just wouldn't stop and even now writing this review I'm tearing up.
"I realised that right now is all that matters for everyone…."
The beginning of the story starts at a gentle enough pace when you are introduced to Charlotte and her bestie, Helen. They are living and working together at local restaurant and enjoying their freedom after college. Charlotte has no idea what to do with her life and has had a series of disastrous relationships with the opposite sex. You could say she's in a rut and needs to take a chance on life but she plays things safe. But, one night she takes a leap of faith with a guy she's just met. They both experience an all-consuming instant attraction and what transpires is nothing short of life changing.
"Everything I did in the past was safe."
Adam is spontaneous and a total whirlwind and this makes Charlotte feel brave, which inspires her to move out of comfort zone. He's recently moved into the neighbourhood after leaving his high powered law career. Their night together is surreal and the stuff of fantasies but there is something she cannot figure out about him but pushes this to the back of her mind because she totally mesmerised. I think at this point in the story something felt off but like Charlotte I couldn't pin it down. After their night together ends quite abruptly Charlotte puts it down to a one night stand and moves on but as that night has such a profound effect on her thoughts of Adam are never far from her mind.
"Do you believe in soul mates, Charlotte?"
"I think so."
"Do you know what I think?"
"I think we have soul mates but I think we can have more than one …."
I've written quite a reviews in my time but never found them hard until this one. I'm a lover of sharing quotes as I think they add something special to your thoughts and feelings of a book but this time I've been very careful as so many I love give the plot away and I believe you must go in blind!
The secondary characters in this read fitted in very well and were very extremely well developed. Yes, this story is an emotional one and thought provoking albeit, humour was evident and at times brought much needed levity at just the right moments. I especially loved the way her relationship with her brother, Charles (Chucky), developed and changed for the better. At first I didn't like, Charles, nevertheless in the end I loved him.
" Love is an inside secret joke. Only the two of you have to understand it."
This book is written entirely from Charlotte's point of view and at times this did niggle me as I was itching to get into the minds of the other characters but when I finished I realised it would have been a mistake. The reason for this was this was Charlotte's story. Never before has the saying, it's not about the destination but all about the journey and this book is shining example of that. This author has delivered a heart breaking, emotional but bittersweet read and one that will stay with me for some time. If you are already a fan of Ms. Carlino's work then you'll adore it however, if you have yet to read her work then get ready as she will spoil you rotten!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Reviewed by Sharon Thérèse
Goodness me, never did I expect this standalone to put me through such a soul-crushing wringer! Firstly, I'd chosen to ignore the blurb so I had no idea what I was letting myself in for and secondly, this is the first book I've read by Ms Carlino and oh boy, to say I'm impressed with her writing would be putting it mildly! It is everything and so much more than I could have ever possibly wished for. And how could I not mention the cover or the title! Simply stunning; and these four words written in such an outstanding font are perfectly apt for this book. Nonetheless, a quarter of the way in and my feeling were all over the place. I wasn't sure where the author was leading me and even felt a tad let down as one of the male protagonists who'd left his stamp engraved in my head, did something difficult to fathom. Soon I'd discover it was early days! The beauty of the plot is it overflows with surprises; some of them were unforeseen, a few lifted my heart and others left me plain devastated. But as I read on, I got so involved in all the characters that I had no option but to do an all-nighter. I knew if I'd put the book down, I wouldn't have slept a wink seeing as the angst was gnawing at me. Result–I closed the book or better said, my Kindle, at six in the morning puffy-eyed, exhausted, elated–my emotions running riot.
Getting to know Charlotte was a delightfully humbling experience. Her approaching life head on convinced me that destiny really does exist, that fate is in our own hands and we can control it as did she. Not only was my faith in humanity revived by her actions, but her story is a torrent of empathy and love which took me on a captivating journey. A fleeting encounter, a shared intimacy in this young woman's life whose heart is bigger than anyone close to her realises–mind you, before long I discovered her charity has no limits, inspires her to make a life-altering decision. The author nailed Charlotte's character in such a way that I felt like I knew her and would be honoured to have her as my friend! I couldn't help but suffer with this unpretentious gal on a level which was beyond realistic. In my mind's eye, I saw her struggling with her feelings and when she tries to be logical, that very logic plays her an unfair hand she never questions. Yes, parts of the book are so heart-stirring, I found myself sobbing into my pillow, so it might not be a bad idea to have a man-sized hanky or three at hand!
I truly loved watching Charlotte come into her own; become a person with strong convictions, step out of her comfort zone and stick to her guns. Olé to the author for making me feel like a fly on the wall! However, before this happened there were times when I feared for her sanity because even though she knew how she felt about certain characters, little niggling signs confuse her, yet are impossible to forget. One thing is for sure, her bestie was always rooting for her. Hmm, Helen and Charlotte are like chalk and cheese which to my way of thinking, is the reason they get on very well together. Seeing as this read is extremely intense, I lapped up their laugh-out-loud moments, and Charlotte's brother and parents got a chuckle and a half out of me, too!
A hundred and eighty degree turn in the story and I was elated. Oops, false hopes! The horizon held a twist, no… a storm of emotions which I was little prepared for and quite simply, my heart broke. Note that I haven't mentioned who the male protagonists are. What I can say without letting on is they are both adorable and one of them has an admirable sense of humour. This isn't a triangle and for those of you who are concerned about cheating, you can breathe deeply. It's pure, it's thick with passion, love and sensitivity and will incite an eruption of feelings in even the most hardened readers. For lovers of this genre; be adventurous and go in blind because I know you won't regret it–I certainly didn't! Now I've found Ms Carlino, I'm anxious to read more of her works. BRAVO!
"You're making love sound tragic," I said.
"No"—he shook his head—"I wouldn't want it any other way. Tell me about us. What do we like to do?"
"Paint and sail and eat and drink. Just simple things." "Don't forget about sex," he said.
"Yeah, lots of sex. Before the children were born we
"We were practically naked every second of the day."
"I like that."
"When they got older, we'd sneak away for weekends and leave them at my mom's."
"What are they like? Our children."
"Happy. That's all we wished for. We put our love first and it just spilled over into them and now they're happy."
Tears sprang from my eyes and ran down my cheeks. Isn't that what we all hope for when it comes to our children?
His tone suddenly changed. "That's beautiful, Char- lotte." It was like he was waking up from the dream. I didn't want to go back to reality yet, but I knew these fantasies were just to help Adam get his mind off things.
"I can imagine a long life with you," he said. "I can imagine what a great wife you'd be."
I pulled my hand out of his. "The story is about you and me." He didn't say anything; he just nodded and then continued to stare out the window. I bent and kissed the top of his head again, and whispered, "It's about us. Don't take that away from me."
Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, and Publisher's Weekly. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she's not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate. Learn more at www.reneecarlino.com


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Girdev Camp is a uniquely beautiful and remote plateau, 1750 metres above sea level in the highlands of the Western Toros Mountains. During the sweltering summer months it offers a refreshing change from the hot and bustling coastal tourism resorts. Many of the seasonal Turkish residents of Girdev have maintained their authentic Turkish way of life and the Girdev highlands are still home for nomads who live in the area between May and October. Girdev Camping is remote enough for visitors to experience the traditional culture of southwest Turkey, unspoiled nature and traditional lifestyles but close enough to local airports, transport and towns to incorporate into their holiday itinerary.
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