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The Amazfit Verge smartwatch comes from the brand that is known for its high tech gadgets at a budget price. Huami (wearable tech company of Xiaomi) has launched it's new smartwatch in the market and named it Amazfit Verge. Before we can dwell into more details and give it a hands-on review, let's look at its brief features. The Amazfit Verge has some extraordinary features which most smartwatches at that price don't offer. The Amazfit Verge smartwatch is priced just under $160 and it will soon be launched on Amazon.
The Verge smartwatch comes with options of dialing and receiving calls, NFC options, beautiful display, Speaker and mic, and much more for your health and fitness.
Amazfit Verge is extremely durable, faster and smarter than it's previous models. With lots of tracking features that give importance to your health, Amazfit Verge from Huami is the smartwatch to own. In this review of Amazfit Verge, we will see design and display, features, software & apps, tech specifications, battery life, pros and cons and much more.
Amazfit Verge Smartwatch Review – Introduction
The Amazfit Verge smartwatch from Huami is loaded with features that are unmatchable in the market at that price tag. With a gorgeous 1.3″ AMOLED display screen, the Verge shows you crystal clear and larger images. I was pretty impressed with the Verge's ability to act as a mobile phone. If you have this smartwatch, you have a phone on your wrist. Amazfit claims that the Verge smartwatch has more than 5days of battery life and has lots of options. Let's check them out.
Design & Size
The Amazfit Verge display is simply gorgeous. It has 1.3″ AMOLED display screen with corning gorilla glass 3 tempered glass and anti-fingerprint coating. This gives an extremely crisp display and showcases clear images. The watch case is 43 mm and the display screen provides a 360×360 pixel resolution. It has an Ambient light sensor and I was pretty much able to see the display screen in the bright sunlight.
The Amazfit Verge smartwatch is extremely comfortable and durable. It fits right on your wrist and gives a cool trendy look. There are three color options to choose from such as Twilight Blue, Shadow Gray, and Moonlight White.
Coming to the watch faces that the Amazfit offers, they are just beautiful in one word. Combined with options to customize your display interface, Verge has your back in all occasions. There are trendy, modest ones, sports ones, vigor and much more for almost every occasion and emotions
There was a time when smartwatches were extremely narrow featured. With Amazfit Verge which comes within your budget, it's just outstanding in what a smartwatch can offer. We talked about Apple Watch Series 4 in our last review, but for some of us(although it's a full-fledged smartwatch), it was still costly. Amazfit Verge on the other side provides worthy features.
Dial and Receive Calls: You can use the smartwatch to dial and make calls. If you have forgotten your phone somewhere nearby but out of reach, no worries. Amazfit Verge acts just like your smartphone. When there are any incoming calls, the watch will vibrate notifying you and you can just simply receive the call. There is no hassle involved. It's simple. You don't have to take your phone. However, please note that to dial or receive any phone call, you have to be connected via Bluetooth to your phone. Also, note that this is available only for Android smartphone.
Messages: Okay, done with calls. How do you read your texts? With Verge, you can see all your important text messages. You just have to lift your wrist and check your messages. You don't need to take out your smartphone from your pocket.
Similar is the feature of emails. Read all your emails on the go right on your wrist. I also ran music on the smartwatch and it was good to kill some time when I was away from the phone.
Health: There are about 11 sports modes and will be more in the future. With these many options and having the feature of GPS+GLONASS Double-satellite positioning, you can track all your sports activities and check on your calories burned.
So what are these sports modes?
- Running
- Indoor Running
- Trail Running
- Walking
- Elliptical Training
- Climbing
- Tennis
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Outdoor Cycling
- Indoor Cycling.
The Amazfit Verge smartwatch is made with the latest algorithms, high precision optical sensors which give high accuracy and it checks on heart-rate monitoring. This helps if there are any heart rate changes in your daily activities so that you can identify and rectify for abnormality. There is an optical sensor behind your watch case which provides good accuracy in your activities.
To power all your activities, the Verge smartwatch has Optical Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic Sensor, Air pressure Sensor, Ambient light sensors.
Software & Apps
The Amazfit Verge smartwatch has it's own OS. The proprietary Amazfit OS system is doing good rounds and at the moment is receiving only positive feedbacks. The OS receives regular updates based on customer feedback and experience. It has a RAM of 512MB and 4GB built-in memory. I wish, the RAM could have been a little more to give more juice to run apps in the smartwatch.
The Amazfit Verge smartwatch is currently available for Android and iPhone smartphone. For Android smartphone, the smartphone should be version 4.4 or above and for iPhone it should be iOS 9.0 or above.
Battery & Charger
Amazfit Verge gives 5 Days of battery life on a single charge and I believe it's amazing with all things that we do on a smartwatch. It has 390mAh lithium polymer battery. Xiaomi is known for its products having higher battery life and we saw the same with the Verge too.
As per sources, the product development team had researched for many months to optimize battery consumption. I believe 5 days battery life is a really good thing for a smartwatch which comes with these many features and GPS capability.
Battery life also depends upon its usage. When we tested this smartwatch, we used it extensively and thus the watch was able to give 3 days battery life which is still good for me because there are only a few smartwatches that give battery life for more than 1 day. Hence Amazfit Verge is good at battery life as well.
Pros & Cons
- Beautiful & Trendy Display
- Crisp display
- Good battery life
- 11 Sports modes
- Advanced optical sensor
- Call feature
- Budget-friendly
- RAM could have been more
|Bluetooth 4.2 BLE+BR/EDR, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g
|390mAh lithium polymer battery
|Battery Life
|5 days*
|Battery Charge Time
|2.5 Hours
|Case Diameter
|43 mm
|Display Size
|1.3" AMOLED Resolution
|360×360 pixels
|Corning Gorilla 3 tempered glass + anti-fingerprint coating
|1.2GHz dual-core processor
|Flash Memory
|4GB ROM (1.9GB available for use)
|Optical Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic Sensor, Air pressure Sensor, Ambient light sensor
|Microphone and Speaker
|Amazfit OS
What's Inside the Box?
Watch Case, Band, Charging Cable, Manual
Buy from Amazon
Check if Amazfit Verge smartwatch is available in your country and buy from Amazon.
Design & Display
Must Buy!
Beautiful design and display. Advanced heart rate monitoring sensor and the ability to receive and make calls. Budge friendly.


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Double row maize forager/harvester, used out the side, folds around behind for transport, also can be used in reverse behind tractor, excellent heavy-duty machine, needs 130hp+ to operate, coming in to Mech Agriculture yard shortly
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subset: commoncrawl


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The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is that the Department strives to:
A native of the Southwest, Computer Science Sophomore Naomi Rankin always appreciated living in Albuquerque, New Mexico from her early years. It was in elementary school that Rankin began taking STEM classes. From this young age Rankin began to realize she was different from her peers, being the only student of color in her STEM classes. Read More >>
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Professor Charles Kim received the 2019 VIP Consortium Outstanding Research and Dissemination Award for the Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) program at Howard University (VIP@Howard) for his "creation and leadership of the VIP site at Howard University, his introduction of VIP members of a consortium of HBCUs, and for very thought-provoking papers on VIP". Dr. Kim currently serves as the VIP@Howard coordinator. Read More >>
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Parisi Construction
- Manage projects including curb and gutter, sidewalk, and concrete pavement.
- Work with project owner representatives, Parisi crews, and subcontractors to ensure timely and efficient project completion.
- Participate in scheduling multiple concrete crews.
- Experience with curb machines and laser screeds preferred.
- Associated degree or construction management degree recommended but not required.


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Here at Ancient Wisdom we are delighted to see our new and existing customers.
To book an appointment, please call on 01142 729 165, hit the online chat or send us an email.
You will love these amazing and colourful mosaic Animal Mirrors. Each piece is handcrafted using very fine terracotta, paintings and glass pieces.
They are really beautiful pieces! Animal mirrors may slightly vary in colour and design so we've taken more pictures to display. Our new design of turtle-shaped boxes is handmade with small tiles and wood base.
They are very shiny and have a spectacular colour. Great for hiding a small secret (if you lift the shell) But even better to use as candle holders. See how those mosaic crystals reflect the light.
Models may vary slightly in colour and design craft by their nature (sold in pack of 6 assorted colours


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BBF Hosted by DJ EscrowHyperdub HDB15358LP
- 2LP: Includes download
incl. 19 % VAT, excl. Shipping
Delivery outside of EU is 15,96% off.
Delivery outside of EU is 15,96% off.
The music (as well as the art) of Dean Blunt always raised questions. And Blunt always avoided to answer them. With his new 'band' (is it a band at all?), Blunt has made a 90s HipHop-infected album, that also harks back to the dubby and pop informed sounds of his last solo album. Arca has produced three tracks, (you heard 'Meditation' last year') that are highlighted because of it's different production style. Pirate-radio style, the whole album is 'hosted' by DJ Escrow, who appeared on various Blunt-mixtapes already, but might also be an Alter Ego of Blunt (pitched voice, slightly different accent). As always with Blunt, we can never be sure what is happening and who's talking. This of course also goes for the lyrics. And while Escrow gives shouts to the streets, Blunt's loops sometimes evolve from 90s Hip Hop into pure white noise and back. Fantastic. (cb)
Babyfather: BBF Hosted by DJ Escrow
Stealth Intro Babyfather 5' 03''
Greezebloc Babyfather 1' 45''
Meditation Babyfather 5' 22''
Escrow Babyfather 40''
Shook Babyfather 2' 06''
Motivation Babyfather 2' 04''
PROLIFIC DEAMONS Babyfather 3' 03''
Platinum Cookies Babyfather 1' 14''
Esco Freestyle Babyfather 1' 56''
Stealth Babyfather 2' 14''
God Hour Babyfather 2' 36''
NAZ Babyfather 2' 37''
Juice Babyfather 1' 06''
HELLS ANGLES Babyfather 1' 16''
Killuminatti Babyfather 2' 43''
Escrow 2 Babyfather 25''
Deep Babyfather 3' 11''
Escrow 3 Babyfather 30''
The Realness Babyfather 3' 21''
Flames Babyfather 1' 55''
Snm Babyfather 39''
Stealth Outro Babyfather 3' 26''
Message Babyfather 50''
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Ammer & Console Die Vögel - Nach Oskar Sala Code
CD+DVD: €7,99 €13,99incl. instant DL
Dump Superpowerless Morr Music
2LP: €13,99 €21,99incl. instant DL
Dump I Can Hear Music Morr Music
3LP: €15,99 €23,99incl. instant DL
Deerhoof La Isla Bonita Altin Village & Mine
LP: €14,99incl. instant DL


text: Hi everyone, Just joined the forum in hopes of getting a little help with my shower situation. I want to install a new shower head in my guest bathroom. Since the shower is fairly small, I think a shower head like the one pictured below that streams the water from directly overhead will be best. My problem is that the plumbing is not at the correct height for this. I'm trying to avoid removing the tile and extending the plumbing to the correct shower head height. Is there any way to install a new shower head with and waterfall type head with my current plumbing? Thanks for any help. - Mark


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I think all Friday's need to be Treat Like with French Crepes loaded with cream, berries and icing sugar !! And why not?? We are just about enjoy the little Weekend pleasures – doing things we like without the routine !! That Friday feeling is always awesome… Don't you guys agree with me?
Easy 10 Minutes Chocolate Tiramisu in Jars. Its Eggless too !
Chocolate, Coffee, Dessert!!! My Super Easy 10 Minutes Chocolate Tiramisu is layered with Chocolate Cake, Coffee Cream and some Cocoa. Overlay them in Small Mason Jars and serve the classic Italian dessert in a casual funtastic way! It's Eggless and with No Alcohol too !!!


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How would you like to write conveniently at home, work at flexible hours, set your own schedule, spend more time with your family and friends, and get a nice big fat paycheck at the end of the month?
Get Paid to Write at Home!"
- Work at home, make money no matter where you are in the world!
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Recipe: Raw Lemon Lime and Coconut Slice
The temperature is getting warmer, and so are the cravings for refreshing food and drink. Lemons and limes are always a warm weather favourite, and combined with coconut, make a really fruity tropical mix. This slice is really easy to make, and uses the same raw base that I have used for most of my raw treats, so it gets easier and easier very time 🙂 Hope you enjoy!


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I am finishing up a master's degree in the social sciences, and I decided to take a year off to get some work experience before going into a PhD program. But I made the mistake of gaining little work experience while I pursued my studies for 6 years. Aside from a couple of really fulfilling part-time positions, and a bit of volunteering experience, I don't have much recent job experience. (My income has come from student loans and scholarships). I have been working with an employment coach, but I haven't gotten anywhere in applying for jobs related to my field during the past two month. So I've recently taken up a job as a retail sales associate. If I stay in this position for a year, will it look bad on my CV in the future (i.e. when I apply for a job more related to my field during or after a PhD program)? Would having this job for a year before going into a PhD make me look unambitious? My concern is that leaving it off would raise eyebrows regarding what I did during that year.
EDIT: I'm not just wondering about the irrelevance of the retail job. I'm wondering if staying in it for a year before entering a PhD would look bad, like I don't have the drive to enter a field relevant to my degree.


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Sentimental retirement gifts. Scrapbooks, photo albums and collections of notes from customers, clients or colleagues are often the most meaningful retirement gifts. While sentimental gifts take some effort to compile, they are likely to be cherished by the retiree. "Gift recipients of all kinds love sentimental gifts, ones that remind them of the gift giver and the relationship the gift giver has with the recipient," says Jeff Galak, an associate professor of marketing at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business in Pittsburgh. "Givers should focus on gifts that exemplify the relationship they had and will hopefully continue to have with the person who is retiring. Research shows that this will not only be well liked by the recipient, but could also strengthen the relationship between gift giver and gift recipient."
Experience retirement gifts. Retirees already have a lifetime of accumulated possessions, but almost everyone appreciates a fun new experience. "The research suggests that experiential gifts are better than material gifts," Galak says. "That is, rather than give a gold watch, give a ticket to a concert. Even better would be to give two tickets, and go with the recipient. Not only will the retiree appreciate the experience itself, but they will have a chance to form a stronger bond with the gift giver."
Social retirement gifts. For some people, retirement can be isolating and lonely. Consider including a social invitation with your gift, such as an offer to get coffee, see a movie or attend a sporting event. "Rather than buy them a material gift, give them the gift of time – specifically, your time," says Michael Norton, a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School and co-author of "Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending." "Retirement involves completely changing your daily routine, which included conversations with co-workers all day, every day. Commit yourself to spending regular time with someone who is retiring, and you'll help them adjust to their new life."
Hobby retirement gifts. If you know what the retiree plans to do after leaving the workforce, you can tailor your gift to the retiree's hobbies or travel plans. "Subscriptions to publications, or to wine or gourmet food clubs, organization memberships, cultural events, lessons or activities in which the retiree has expressed interest, i.e. becoming more tech-savvy, learning a new language, painting, sculpting – even skydiving or rock climbing," says Rosanne Thomas, president of Protocol Advisors. "The person is retiring from work, not from life. Treat him or her to an exciting new experience."
Industry retirement gifts. A retirement gift can relate to the field you worked in. The gift might reference things the retiree created, bought or sold on the job or the many people he or she helped at work. "Different fields of employment could be taken into consideration, making the gift more related to their career. For example, if in aerospace, the gift might be a model of the aircraft you helped build. In construction, it could be a new toolbox with an engraving for their garage," says Pamela Eyring, president of The Protocol School of Washington. "The company culture and industry will help guide your selection."
Humor retirement gifts. Your retirement celebration can be enhanced with a good-natured humorous gift. Funny T-shirts and mugs are easy to come by online on sites like Etsy and Zazzle. Just be careful to avoid offending the recipient. "Remember 'gag' gifts, or any alluding to behaviors or interests that are not suitable for all audiences, are to be avoided," Thomas says. "These are funny in the moment maybe, but soon lose their charm. You do not want to be remembered for your tactless gift."
Group retirement gifts. The most economical way to give a gift is as a group. Consider taking up a collection at the office in order to give a significant gift without busting your budget. "There is a benefit by going in as a group," says Cassie Mogilner Holmes, an associate professor of marketing at the UCLA Anderson School of Management. "Some experiences are quite costly, and a really great extraordinary experience is sort of better than the single bottle of wine you could buy by yourself." Remember to include a card or item that everyone in the office signs.
A heartfelt note. Long after the chocolate has been eaten or the experience has been enjoyed, a retiree might stumble upon the thoughtful card included with the gift. "Present the gift in person with a heartfelt written and verbalized message of thanks for the retiree's dedication, hard work and accomplishments," Thomas says. "It is appreciation and acknowledgment that people want most of all."


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A fight broke out in my neighbourhood somewhere around 1.30 am this morning. It was over a woman. After some confusion, kicking and pushing, two boys were separated.
"Okay, you can both sleep next to me" the woman was heard to have said "I'll lay in the middle, you can each have a side."
"What about if I have her for one hour and then you can have her for one hour?" The eldest was tying to negotiate.
The woman rolled over and decided they could fight until death, she was too tired and it was only a few hours until she needed to be up to walk the beagle. The beagle (she would discover later) was downstairs enjoying a plate of Schnitzels it had recovered from the refrigerator. A small person had neglected to close the refrigerator door properly last night, this meant the beagle enjoyed a tub of butter, a plate of schnitzels and half a tub of yoghurt. Listening to all that arguing had obviously made the beagle hungry.
G gets home on Saturday, I will return to just the one 6ft 2 man in the bed, rather than the continual flow of foot traffic that is the norm while he's away. One day they'll stop coming, and I'll be sad. In the meantime I'll continue to walk around with a crook in my neck and the outline of a small foot print on my bum cheek.
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Friendship With Morocco Box
The inlaid image on top of this box came from a US postage stamp titled, "Friendship with Morocco". It was a 22 cent stamp, which shows you how long ago the box was constructed.
I made the box from spalted walnut with double laminated sides and a symmetric three piece top. Lacquer finish.
The inlay is brass, copper, silver, mother of pearl and red abalone heart interior sections. The brass has turned black, even under the finish, after 23 years of UV patina. That's why I don't use brass anymore.


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|Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка
Белорусская Советская Социалистическая Республика
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
|Smolensk, Minsk
|Official language
|Belarusian, Russian, Polish, Yiddish (the last two only official before WWII)
In the Soviet Union:
- Since
- Until
|1 January 1919
30 December 1922
25 August 1991
- Total
- Water (%)
|Ranked 6th in the USSR
207,600 km²
- Total
- Density
|Ranked 5th in the USSR
10,151,806 (1989)
|Time zone
|Anthem of Byelorussian SSR
|Order of Lenin, one Hero City and one Hero Fortress
|History of Belarus
This article is part of a series
|Early East Slavs
|Principality of Polatsk
|Kievan Rus'
|Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia
|Golden Horde
|Grand Duchy of Lithuania
|Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
|Russian Empire
|Belarusian People's Republic
|Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia
|West Belarus
|Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
|Modern Belarus
Belarus Portal
The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (abbreviated as Byelorussian SSR or BSSR) (Belarusian: Беларуская Савецкая Сацыялістычная Рэспубліка [БССР] Belaruskaya Savetskaya Satsyyalistychnaya Respublika [BSSR]; Russian: Белору́сская Сове́тская Социалисти́ческая Респу́блика [БССР] Belorusskaya Sovetskaya Sotsalisticheskaya Respublika [BSSR]) was one of fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union. It was one of the four original founding members of the Soviet Union in 1922, together with the Ukrainian SSR, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the Russian SFSR. The Soviet Republic, along with the Ukrainian SSR and the Soviet Union, were founder members of the United Nations Organization in 1945.
The Soviet republic, Socialist Soviet Republic of Byelorussia, in the lands of Belarus was declared on 1 January 1919, but it took a few years to define its status. Byelorussia was also one of several Soviet Republics occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II. The end of the Soviet Republic occurred in 1991 and the country was later renamed into the current Republic of Belarus.
Being part of the Russian Empire before World War I, Belarus declared independence on 25 March 1918, forming the Belarus National Republic. The Republic was, however, short-lived, and was overthrown soon after the German withdrawal. On 1 January 1919 the Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus (SSRB) was created. Soon it was disbanded, its territory merged into the RSFSR and the new Lithuanian-Belorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The latter one was also short-lived, overridden by the 1919 Polish invasion. After Polish-Soviet War ended in 1921, Byelorussian lands were split between Poland, Russia, and the recreated SSRB[1], which became a founding member of the Soviet Union in 1922 and became known as BSSR.
Polish Autonomous District Dzierzynszczyzna was created within BSSR in 1932 and disbanded in 1935.
In September 1939, the Soviet Union annexed the Polish-held West Belarus during the 1939 invasion of Poland and incorporated it into the BSSR. Part of it, including the city of Vilno, was later transferred to the Lithuanian SSR.
After World War II, the Byelorussian SSR was given a seat in the United Nations General Assembly together with the Soviet Union and Ukrainian SSR, becoming one of the founding members of the UN. This was part of a deal with the United States to ensure a degree of balance in the General Assembly, which, the USSR opined, was unbalanced in favor of the Western Bloc. A Byelorussian, G.G. Tchernouchtchenko, served as President of the United Nations Security Council from January-February 1975.
Following the August Coup, the Supreme Soviet of Belarus declared independence from the Soviet Union on 25 August 1991. The republic was renamed the Republic of Belarus on 19 September 1991. On 8 December 1991 it was a signatory, along with Russia and Ukraine, of the Belavezha Accords, which replaced the Soviet Union with the Commonwealth of Independent States. Belarus receieved independence on December 25, 1991. A day later the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
According to the 1959 Soviet Census, the population of the republic were made up as follows:
Nationalities (1959):
Other ethnic/religious groups (1959):
The largest cities were:


text: Happy Shoe Year! 01/04/2019 Thank you to all our customers for a very successful and gratifying year at Strada. We began in 1994 with a small shop in the basement of Thornes. Since moving to Main Street (we are now located in the historic Ann August Building) and have become a favorite destination for shoe lovers. For over 25 years locals and worldwide travelers have walked through our doors and shared our enthusiasm for footwear. This year we were proud to be able to make donations to the Northampton Public Schools,


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Dubai Gets More Dubious
I am not surprised that the reaction in world markets was so muted; I am not an an economist but I was a real estate developer and have been through a few booms and busts. They have been heading for the exits in Dubai for over a year; In February we wrote about estimates that the population of Dubai will drop by eight percent and property values will drop by sixty percent in our post Dubious Dubai Redefines Long-Term Parking. People have seen this coming and it was already marked to market.
Sandstorm on Sheikh Zayed Road; image via Pradeeps Weblog
I also wrote in my post Bye, Bye, Dubious Dubai:
That title sounds flip and "we told you so" but this is not cheap schadenfreude. The long boom could have built sustainable cities and sustainable jobs; instead we got Donald Trump and Dubai, sometimes together.
Dubai Jumps the Shark
Willem Buiter, Professor of European Political Economy, London School of Economics and Political Science, writes in the Financial Times:
I don't see what the big deal is. Dubai has experienced for most of this decade the craziest construction boom seen in the Middle East since the construction of the Great Pyramids. That boom turned to bust - as booms invariably do. Property developers tend to be highly geared and very procyclical in their revenue flows and access to the capital markets. During construction slumps they drop like flies.
Like every other real estate meltdown, it all resets at a lower price, the investors take their losses, and the "gormless rock stars and European football geniuses," as Buiter calls them, are replaced by those who pick up the bargains. It was ever thus. Unfortunately this stuff doesn't melt back into sand so that they can do it right the next time.
Read also Andrew Leonard, Is the Dubai World debacle the new Lehman?


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So here is another original short film. As usual I am a one man band, I shot, Edited, and composed the music! WOOHOO! Watch Sam Elias one of the world's best mixed climbers, ninja his way up Red Bull and Vodka an impressive Mixed climb on Vail Pass that ventures out and endless stretch of gymnastic, tiered roof madness! The climb overhangs over fifty feet in a hundred and twenty, and finishes on the Fang, one of the most iconic ice climbs in the world.
Shortly after this was filmed, Sam Elias onsighted Direct King Cobra. Which at M11 is one of the hardest Mixed climbs in the world.


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Enforcing at third party addresses
By David Asker on
Prior to the introduction of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEO) were permitted to enter third party premises to enforce a writ of fieri facias if they had good reason to believe goods belonging to the debtor were located there.
The 2013 regulations changed that, bringing in the writ of control to replace the writ of fieri facias and removing the automatic right to enforce at third party premises.
The case of the safety deposit box
We have a case for a very large sum where the debtor is very elusive, to say the least, having vacated the address we were given a few weeks before we attended.
The client hired investigators who discovered that the debtor had a safety deposit box, so we started the process of requesting court permission to enforce at the location where the deposit box was.
A warrant to gain entry
We made an application, using the standard application notice, for leave to attend a third party address, seeking a warrant for the purposes of gaining entry and taking control of goods. The application is normally made "on notice", which incurs a court fee of £255.
The Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (TCA), schedule 12, para 15 states that the court must be satisfied that all these conditions are met before they will issue the warrant:
- An enforcement power has become exercisable
- There is reason to believe that there are goods on the premises that the enforcement power will be exercisable to take control of if the warrant is issued
- It is reasonable in all the circumstances to issue the warrant
The warrant authorises repeated entry to the same premises, subject to any restriction in regulations.
When the HCEO attends the third party property with the warrant, the third party may not refuse entry, although they could make matters tricky and police attendance may be required. We will normally visit the premises in advance of enforcement to check the lay of the land and find out what specialist equipment, if any, we will need.
In this particular case, the third party was very cooperative when we met with them in advance, as well as on the day of enforcement.
Service of notice
The debtor will be served notice of the issue of the warrant. If the third party address is the only one known for the debtor, then notice of enforcement would be sent there as well.
If the serving of notice creates a high risk of the goods being removed before enforcement, then the claimant can apply for an order to dispense with the service of notice. This can be done at the same time as the application for the warrant to gain entry.
An example where this could occur might be an aircraft landing at a UK airport, which would be a third party address. Notice of enforcement would simply mean that flight plans were changed, so an application for leave to attend a third party address and to dispense with service of notice would be essential in such as case.
What was inside the box?
There were some assets of value inside the box, but unfortunately not of sufficient value to fully clear the debt, so the detective work continues.
David Asker
David is an authorised High Court Enforcement Officer and our Director of Corporate Governance


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A record 650 athletes from 49 countries are taking part at the 2018 Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, up from about 570 at the last Winter Paralympics in Sochi, Russia. They are competing in 80 medal events across six sports -- alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, snowboard and wheelchair curling. The Paralympic Games are scheduled to run from March 9 to March 18.
Organisers say there has been good public interest, with about 275,000 tickets sold so far.
One of the most popular spectator sports is para ice hockey, also known as sledge ice hockey. It is a fast and furious game in which players sit in double-bladed sledges and use two sticks to propel themselves across the ice and to shoot.
Alpine skiing and snowboarding are also favourites with spectators. There are no new sports in Pyeongchang but eight new events have been added to snowboarding.
Google on Friday also came up with a special doodle in order to celebrate the commencement of the Winter Paralympics.
Here's the full schedule of the event.
Friday, March 9
Opening ceremony Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium
Saturday, March 10
Alpine Skiing Men's and women's downhill
Biathlon Women's 6 km
Biathlon Men's 7.5 km
Biathlon Standing/Visually Impaired
Ice Hockey Preliminary matches
Wheelchair Curling Round robin
Sunday, March 11
Alpine Skiing Men's and women's super-G
Cross-Country Skiing Men's 15 km
Cross-Country Skiing Women's 12 km
Ice Hockey Preliminary matches
Wheelchair Curling Round robin
Monday, March 12
Cross-Country Skiing Men's 20 km Free
Cross-Country Skiing Women's 15 km Free
Ice Hockey Preliminary matches
Snowboard Men's and women's super-G cross
Wheelchair Curling Round robin
Tuesday, March 13
Alpine Skiing Men's and women's Super Combined
Biathlon Women's 10 km
Biathlon Men's 12.5 km
Biathlon Standing/Visually Impaired
Ice Hockey Preliminary matches
Wheelchair Curling Round robin
Wednesday, March 14
Alpine Skiing Men's slalom
Cross-Country Skiing Men's and women's Sprint Classic
Cross-Country Skiing Semifinals & Finals
Ice Hockey Preliminary matches
Wheelchair Curling Round robin
Thursday, March 15
Alpine Skiing Women's slalom
Ice Hockey Play-offs
Wheelchair Curling Round robin
Friday, March 16
Biathlon Women's 12.5 km
Biathlon Men's 15 km
Biathlon Standing/Visually Impaired
Ice Hockey Play-offs
Snowboard Men's and women's Banked Slalom
Wheelchair Curling Tie breakers
Wheelchair Curling Semi-final
Saturday, March 17
Alpine Skiing Men's Giant Slalom
Cross-Country Skiing Men's 10km classic
Cross-Country Skiing Women's 7.5 km Classic
Cross-Country Skiing Men's 7.5 km
Cross-Country Skiing Women's 5 km Classic
Ice Hockey Bronze medal match
Wheelchair Curling Bronze medal match
Wheelchair Curling Gold medal match
Sunday, March 18
Alpine Skiing Women's Giant Slalom
Cross-Country Skiing 4 x 2.5 km Mixed Relay
Cross-Country Skiing 4 x 2.5 km Open Relay
Ice Hockey Gold medal match
Closing ceremony Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium


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To the editor,
A few weeks ago I went to my doctor in Tecumseh. Upon entering the waiting room I was hit smack in the face with the reeking smell of marijuana. I had to sit there with my hand over my mouth and nose so I could breathe, my granddaughter's eyes watering as we sat there.
We both have asthma so this really triggered things. As the nurse called us in, I said to her this is ridiculous, pot reeking all through the place. She apologized and said they'd had two in there, back to back. The smell was through the whole place.
I don't have a problem with anyone who smokes it, but have common sense. Change your clothes. Don't smoke in your vehicle before entering a place where it is public, where others are who do not smoke it.
Grocery stores are the same way. You cannot go shopping without smelling pot in the stores. People used to complain about cigarette smoke.
This is why people don't have common sense, because the more you smoke the more your brain is burned out, so you're senseless.
Have common sense. It's your right to smoke it. It's also my right not to have to smell it while I'm out in public places. When a person enters a place, smelling like this, they should have to leave.
Hilda McCarley, Morenci


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The situation in Mumbai is unreal. It all seems like some incredibly vivid dream, or rather nightmare, that just won't end. But amidst the violence and overwhelming fear, the media is pushing boundaries as usual to bring the atrocities of Mumbai to the rest of the world. But beyond the consistent CNN coverage and barrage of copy clogging up the wires, photographers of the Boston Globe are producing some of the most compelling photography of the Mumbai crisis.
This is worth taking a minute to look at:


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Sage Green Worker Chino Trousers
A pair of simple, clean trousers made in England from mid-weight cotton drill, sourced from a local British mill. Cut with a regular fit, they're finished with five pockets, a notched waistband detail and brown corozo nut buttons. Pair with a long-sleeved shirt or with the matching unlined blazer for a casual suit.
– 100% cotton drill
– Corozo buttons
– Made in England
Model Stats:
Height - 190cm / 6' 2"
Waist - 81 cm / 32"
- Machine wash
Style No. SP/MC/TR/A003


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I got a cold call from an unknown insurance agent recently asking for a short meeting. Since she kept saying it's an interesting twist to my EPF contribution, I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.
She came with the husband, let's call him Mr. K and they presented a very classic investment plans which I heard many times before. Well, there are always pros and cons in those plans but I wont get into the details. There were something else which made me uneasy.
At the start, Mr. K saw my name card which reads "Daryl Chew, ACA" and said," You are Daryl Chew Acaaaaa….." and started gigling, thinking that he was very funny.
"So can you tell me what is this Acaaaaaaaa…..You are the Acaaaaaaa of the company, so what do you do?" he added on while still giggling.
I began to feel annoyed by that derogatory tone of pronouncing my ACA designation. Well if he is my close friend, I would be totally fine and I would even joke around with. Imagine if I get an interview with a Tan Sri whom I have not met before and I try to break the ice by saying, "What is this Tan Sriiiiiiiiii thing on your name….hahahhhaha!"
Mr. K continued his presentation, "……bla bla bla…..you only pay the premium for eight years then stop for the rest of your life. We give you a premium holiday. You usually only get public holiday but now we are giving you a prrrremmmiummm holiday…hahaha!".
At that point, I almost pulled my hair out. I almost had to tickle myself to force a smile.
"You pay RM30k per annum for eight years and stop. Then you can get back RM725k in 15 years! That's almost 3X return and our fund has average 16% return…..bla bla bla…." he continued.
"Ok, it's such a long period, so what's the actual internal rate of return for that or IRR as you guys always call it. I guess it's around 5% based on my quick look at it" I asked.
"No way, our investment fund return is much higher at 16% and I can show you on this chart. What is IRR by the way? I never heard of that," he replied.
By that time, I knew it's probably not worth to delve too much into it as we were not on the same page. The whole thing ended not long after that, thank god.
I really admire people who have the balls to do cold calling and pay random visits to their business prospects. That's part of being an entrepreneur and I have a lot to learn on that. On the other hand, I keep reminding myself that I need to keep sharpening my social skills. One thing is for sure, no stupid lame jokes.


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"Easy Way To Make Sales"
Are you interesting finding out new methods how to market your brand? Well, e-mail marketing turns into one of the most previously owned Aweber Review devices by lots of entrepreneurs to reach new leads and helps them engage their target market. But this sort of approach is not practical for big businesses with budget plans.
Instead, email marketing is for local Getresponse business as well, because e-mail marketing is both budget-friendly and also cost-effective. In making it as the great alternative for small business you could collaborate with it with much less advertising and internet marketing budget plan. However, before you begin putting together a technique or establishing campaigns, it is essential to comprehend exactly how to email advertising and marketing functions.
Why Email Advertising And Marketing is Important for Local Business
First, let's discuss how email marketing helps small companies. While larger investment business is able to examine out various strategies as well as invest money in a variety of techniques, a lot of local businesses have extra limited budgets. This indicates that you need to focus on what works as well as what will supply the best return on investment.
Among the best advantages of email, advertising is that it's cost-efficient. Whether you are managing your personal e-mail advertising projects or hiring an e-mail marketing agency to assist you, e-mail is just one of one of the most affordable means to reach the biggest variety of clients. The affordability of email advertising and marketing aids a local business maximize their advertising spending plan and also obtain more for their investment by generating even more competent leads for less.
Boost Sales Conversions
Every company intends to boost their conversions. However exactly how can you gauge if your email marketing is aiding? There are a few different metrics that you can track to identify just how efficient your email advertising lead nurturing is, including engagement, lead velocity, and also impact on profits.
Boost Website Traffic
This is another common objective for small business e-mail marketing. If you want to boost understanding and also grow your brand, you need to get visitors to your site to ensure that they could see exactly what your company has to supply. The very best method to track these statistics is by looking at click-through rates.
Boost Earnings
This is an objective for a lot of businesses. Yet exactly how does this relate to your e-mail advertising approach? Well, when a person comes to be a customer, you should have the ability to see how e-mail marketing could have contributed to their conversion. For example, if they clicked a link to purchase, then you will certainly be able to see simply how much profits enhanced as a result of your advertising e-mails.
Usual Obstacles of Email Marketing
Email advertising is fantastic, yet no marketing technique lacks its flaws. Allow's take a look at a few of the difficulties that surround e-mail marketing:
- Improving Email Deliverability: The challenge of email deliverability can be tough, as you have to be frequently obtaining and updating accurate info for readily available get in touches with. Deliverability rates are identified by the ratio of emails you have sent versus the variety of e-mails that actually make it to the inbox of your intended recipient. It's regularly presumed that an email sent out will instantly make right into the recipient's inbox, yet this, not the situation, as several e-mails are filtering system and also will certainly go unread.
- Maintaining Customers: Marketing experts that have difficulty adding and also preserving clients sometimes resort to buying email lists in hopes that they'll transform possible consumers by sending unrequested messages (spam) to people who have no interest or association with their company or item. This is not a great technique to adhere to, as it's highly not likely any of these individuals will respond, and/or messages could be noted as spam.
- Mobile-Friendly Emails: Nowadays, most consumers examine their email from their mobile phones or tablet computers, meaning businesses need to highly stress mobile-friendly emails. If your email isn't mobile-friendly, you require consumers right into scrolling left and also best to review the entire email, or even worse, removing part of the message so it'll fit on the screen. Undersized message and also images will likewise wreck readability.
Email + Data= A suit made in heaven
Understanding is no more an alternative, however, a necessity when you are attempting to produce as well as support your prospective consumers to fruition. If the email you're sending out does not relate to a prospect or contact person, it's not going to be effective. Yet there is a remedy, and it's one that marketers will authorize of.
A romance has developed as well as blooming in between email as well as information through advertising and marketing automation. Marketing automation assists you address your need to use customization at the range by utilizing information collected from potential customers to send the right message, to the right customer, at the right time in the purchase cycle.
Summary Of The Cycle Of Email Marketing
Well, I could say that e-mail advertising is extremely beneficial especially in today's generation which all the business owners are using technology in making sales. Yes, it is very reliable; the thing that I such as in email marketing is that it provides a possibility for that rookie entrepreneur to advertise their products/services without paying way too much, which's a great aid for them.
Source: https://www.mikemarko.com/aweber-vs-getresponse-autoresponder-review/


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Engine delays hit Airbus profits, delivery targets fragile
10:58 am
Europe`s Airbus on Thursday unveiled a one-third slump in half-way operating profit on flat revenue, as delays in engine deliveries for its upgraded A320neo hit interim earnings.
The world`s second largest planemaker after Boeing stuck to its financial targets and production plans, but suggested reaching its 2017 delivery target depended essentially on deliveries from Pratt & Whitney.
For the second quarter, Airbus posted a lower-than-expected 859 million euro ($1 billion) operating profit, down 27 percent, on revenues of 15.271 billion. Analysts were on average expecting profit of 910 million euros on 15.823 billion euros in sales, according to a Reuters poll.
Airbus also disclosed a new output cut for its slow-selling A380, saying it would now deliver eight superjumbos in 2019, down from a previously announced 12 in 2018.
The figures came a day after rival Boeing saw its shares hit a record after posting second-quarter profit and cashflow well ahead of Wall Street estimates.
(This article has not been edited by Zeebiz editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)


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Great value meets great location at our Education City hotel in Doha. Renowned universities, Qatar National Convention Centre and Qatar Science and Technology Park are mere minutes from the hotel. For shoppers, there's Mall of Qatar to enjoy, before returning to our welcoming team and spacious modern rooms. Enjoy a delicious dinner in our contemporary restaurant, Omnia, work out in the gym, or relax in the pool or jacuzzi.
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Fatherly Influence: A Man's Finest Legacy is a person-to-person conversation about one of life's priceless treasures--our young. Like longtime friends over a cup of coffee, Sutherland's winsome tone sets the stage for a warm and inviting dialogue. He raided several treasure troves to deliver this gem--his life of fatherlessness, his mentoring experiences, and the stories of 100 people who told of their experiences with their dads. Mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters tell it like it is with insights into fatherly mentoring. See beyond the daily grind of responsibilities, into the dignity and honor of being your child's hero. Understand your powerful influence in their lives. Build indestructible bonds with Junior and Princess. Discover the secret to effective role modeling. Raise happier, more balanced kids. Supplant Heathcliff Huxtable as America's favorite dad in the eyes of those who matter--your kids. Build a fine legacy.
Read More


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A World of friendly wonder in comfortable, inviting placemats.
Set of six. Brown and white tones, Brown and gold tones.
Don't miss this opportunity to share a meal with a loved one on these inviting placemats.
11 x 17, laminate
With You In This Journey
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If you're a writer, your goal might be to finish writing a book. Or start one. Or publish a book you've written. Or perhaps you've done that and your goal is to promote it. Maybe your goal is to sell out your print run or win a contest. Whatever your goal, you may think that reaching it will make you happy. But more often than not, as soon as we reach one goal, we create a new one. There's nothing wrong with this, per se—many of us get a lot done this way—but when we believe that our contentment or joy is somewhere "out there" attached to a goal we have to strive, fight, or suffer in some way to achieve, we live in a perpetual state of wanting, and, in the words of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, we "can't get no satisfaction."
Michael Neill, an internationally renowned success coach and author, asks his clients to state their goal and then add the words, "as part of my wonderful life." So, for example, if your goal is to sell out your print run, you'd say "My goal is to sell out my print run as part of my wonderful life." This is different from the belief—which may or may not be conscious--When I sell out my print run my life will be wonderful. It may be. But it may not be, especially if you've been deferring your happiness or feelings of self-worth and putting conditions on your joy. I'll be happy when—fill in the blank. This is putting the proverbial cart before the horse. Contentment and satisfaction take place in the here and now.
Over the past few years, family illnesses and deaths have challenged me like never before. While I might have referred to earlier times of my life as "wonderful," that's not the first word that comes to mind now. Words like hard, heartbreaking, and at times gut-wrenching feel more accurate. Still, I'm discovering that even when the shit hits the fan--especially when the shit hits the fan—there's still love, beauty, inspiration, and plenty to learn. I've been practicing slowing down. I agree with Michael Neill, who says that urgency is insecurity, not wisdom. I've also been attempting to surrender my illusions of control and practice acceptance of what is. And I've been trying to trust and love more and fear less. It's a practice. Some days are better than others.
But I'm more likely to experience my life as wonderful—even with "shit" flying in my face—if I have the thought in my head that it can be and often is and keep asking myself questions like, Where's the beauty here? How can I love more? How can I be of service? This is where shifts in perspective occur; a life can go from wanting to wonderful even when there's no change in outer circumstances. This is fertile ground.
Our lives matter more than our work. It's not that your writing isn't important, but we write within the context of our lives. So honor yourself and your life as the exquisite creative process it is and soak up inspiration wherever you can find it. Look for it in places you might not expect to find it, like in the struggles of others, or in your own aching heart. Be with your challenges. Respect them. And go ahead and set goals—as part of your wonderful life!
Can you see the wonder-fullness of your life even when part of you thinks it sucks? What have life's biggest challenges taught you? Can you move forward in the direction of your goal while perceiving your life as wonderful? If not, what needs to change right now for you to step into your wonderful life? Please share. I'd love to hear from you.
Light Meditation for Dark Times
One of my life intentions is to relish the joy of self-expression. But lately I've been reluctant to say what I think, especially on social media and in my blog posts. This is partly because posting anything other than politics these days has felt trivial, and political conversations can easily erupt into flames. Putting out wildfires makes me anxious, and I don't want to live in hatred and fear. I know from experience that crashes are inevitable when anger and fear take over the steering wheel of my life. Another reason I haven't been relishing the joy of self-expression lately is that when the shit hits the fan, like it has these past few weeks in our country, I tend to think that the problems of the world are so much bigger than I am that nothing I have to say could possibly matter. Of course this isn't true. It's a lie fear tells me. I know there's plenty all of us can do. Especially writers.
And yet, we each have to navigate our own path. We must decide for ourselves what types of advocacy are best suited to our temperaments, personalities, and resources. I've been asking myself, How can I serve? How can I do something positive? How can I love myself and others—especially people with whom I disagree? This last question is the hardest. I won't pretend I have it answered. I just keep asking the question. Every day. And sometimes I'm surprised by what happens.
A few days before my daughter returned to college after winter break, we went to a wholesale florist and bought four dozen white roses. At home, I wrapped each one individually in cellophane and ribbon while my daughter attached handwritten notes that said, "Wishing you a wonderful day. Spread the love." We handed the roses out to people on the street. Some folks were reluctant to receive; they couldn't believe the roses were free. "Why are you doing this?" they asked. "We just want to spread some love," we said, "and bring a little beauty into your life." Giving really is receiving. We went home with empty buckets and full hearts because of connections and conversations we'd forged with strangers.
Another thing I've been practicing a lot lately is my light meditation. I sit for my regular mediation, but position myself in front of a window blindfolded. After twenty minutes, I remove the blindfold and keep my eyes closed. The darkness on the insides of my eyelids is replaced by golden light. I imagine this light inside me; that it's the real me. In other words, I identify not with my pain, but with this light. I then try to "locate" my elusive spirit. I sit and listen, poised to receive guidance. I bask in the light until I feel that I am this light, which exists in every person on the planet, not just the people I like or agree with, but everyone. I envision the light radiating from every living thing, consider how we are connected, and I pray for us all.
To some this might seem like a waste of time. But for me it's an essential practice. While anger and fear have their place, they can also be knee-jerk reactions. They are like smog in Southern California in that it's everywhere. You're so surrounded by it that often you don't even notice it anymore. In our culture love is the radical choice, and during these crazy times, I intend to remain sane. The best way I know how to do this is to up my self-care practices: to back away from the ledge when I become dizzy and feel like I'm about to careen into a pit; to turn inward; to appreciate the larger picture of our humanity; to notice the blessings and light; to connect with my heart; to reach out to friends; and to have faith that things unfold the way they do for a reason.
How are you and your writing faring during these turbulent times? I'd love to hear how you're coping, as well as ideas for random acts of kindness. How do you spread love?
A few months ago, soon after I'd finished writing my memoir, Raw: A Midlife Quest for Health & Happiness, I had the opportunity to share five minutes of my work at a reading. While combing through my manuscript for excerpts, I found myself thinking, Hmm, maybe this writing isn't as strong as I thought. The writing felt flabby and slow. I found myself tinkering with passages so they'd read better in a shorter timeframe, and wondered if that was okay. In past readings, I've mostly read my poems, complete works, each one featuring a beginning, middle, and end.
But my memoir is different. It took time to develop stories in that longer format—time I wouldn't have in a five-minute reading. I wanted to give my audience the best bang for their buck, to make my reading worth their while. I wanted them with me from the first word to the last. I have been to too many readings where restless audience members pick cuticles, scrimmage inside purses, check iPhones, or stare out windows, all overt cues that they're desperate for the reader to just finish already. This sucks for writers, but it also means it's our responsibility to ensure that doesn't happen.
Every time you stand up and read your work, you're pitching it. If you don't grab your audience, and keep them with you, they will not buy your book. I've given several readings from my memoir since that first one and here's what I've learned: presenting an edited excerpt of your novel or memoir is a gift for your audience as well as your book! In order to most effectively share part of a long-form story in a short-form (time) venue, you will need to compress, collapse, or cut. You may also need to compose transitions, connections, or endings to create a satisfying, standalone experience.
The key is to view a time "constraint" as a container. Make it work for you in the same way specific poetry forms, such as the villanelle, shape a poem. If you honor the requirements of your reading venue and deliver a complete experience, if you craft your work with a particular reading in mind, you have a much better shot of connecting with and entertaining your audience. If you leave them laughing, crying, or nodding their head, they are with you.
I have a three-ring binder with ten edited excerpts from my memoir, along with a list of others I want to develop. At the top of each page I've jotted down how long the excerpt takes to read. Please note: read slower than you think you should. Take your time. Plant your feet on the floor. Let your voice rise from your belly.
Edited excerpts will serve you well even if you're giving a featured reading and have thirty or forty minutes. Remember to consider your audience when choosing passages. Your excerpt filled with sex and "colorful" language, however well edited, might not go over so well at a conservative ladies' luncheon. This may sound obvious, but I've seen authors fall into this trap. You may want to share several edited excerpts that feature different flavors of your story, rather than one or two longer selections. Sadly, attention spans are shorter than they've ever been, and while a passage might be perfectly paced in your book, it might not hold a listener's attention. Consider crafting ten or twenty excerpts of different lengths before it's time to promote your book. You will be surprised what you can do with five minutes, or less. Being ready to go with as many great, edited clips as possible will make the reading part of your job successful and fun!
I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. Have you grappled with the problem of reading a passage intended to unfold more slowly in your novel or memoir? Were you resistant, as I was in the beginning, to edit your excerpts? Did you do it anyway? If so, what was the result?
The Myth of Perfection
If you haven't already done so, treat yourself to this gift: Elizabeth Gilbert's new book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear. It's full of wisdom and inspiration for writers and anyone living—or wanting to live—a creative life. The book champions creative living of all kinds, and is divided into six parts: Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust, and Divinity.
Gilbert's writing sparkles, soothes, and is guided by great stories. Her prose resonates deeply. But one chapter in particular, "Fear in High Heels," hit me in the gut with its clarity and truth. I shared excerpts from this chapter with my students, and as I read to them, looks of recognition and awe illuminated their faces. I found myself wanting to share Gilbert's words with all of the brilliant women in my life. I wanted to echo her message that contrary to the subtle and insidious teachings of our culture, women don't have to be perfect to be loved or successful or worthy of their dreams. Just being here makes us worthy.
"Perfection is unachievable," Gilbert says, and then quotes writer Rebecca Solnit, who adds, "So many of us believe in perfection, which ruins everything else, because perfection is not only the enemy of the good; it's also the enemy of the realistic, the possible, and the fun."
But Gilbert takes this thought a step further. "The Most evil trick about perfectionism, though, is that it disguises itself as a virtue." A few lines later, she explains, "[People] wear their perfectionism like a badge of honor, as if it signals high tastes and exquisite standards." And then she comes in for the kill: "Perfectionism is just fear in fancy shoes and a mink coat, pretending to be elegant when actually it's just terrified. Because underneath that shiny veneer, perfectionism is nothing more than a deep existential angst that says, again and again, 'I'm not good enough and I will never be good enough.'"
I never heard this stated so boldly, yet eloquently. Gilbert yanks the covers off perfectionism, and makes me want to kick off my shoes, dance around my living room, and then head for my study to prance all over the page. She makes a case for tinkering, for not taking yourself so seriously. She speaks of creating for the sheer joy of it.
Gilbert also says that perfectionism afflicts women more than men, pointing to "every single message society has ever sent us!" Where a man might go after a job he feels 41 percent qualified for, women tend to say things like, "I am 99.8 percent qualified for this task, but until I master that last smidgen of ability, I will hold myself back, just to be on the safe side."
And she doesn't stop there.
"We women," she urges, "must break this habit in ourselves—and we are the only ones who can break it. We must understand that the drive for perfection is a corrosive waste of time, because nothing is ever beyond criticism. No matter how many hours you spend attempting to render something flawless, somebody will always be able to find fault with it. (There are people out there who still consider Beethoven's symphonies a little bit too, you know, loud.) At some point, you really just have to finish your work and release it as is—if only so that you can go on to make other things with a glad and determined heart. Which is the entire point. Or should be."
A glad and determined heart? Thank you, Elizabeth Gilbert! This is the point! How many of us work joyfully with a glad and determined heart? How many of us live this way? How many of us even believe this is possible? Gilbert suggests it's not only possible, but inevitable, when we open up to the "Big Magic" that surrounds each and every one of us!
Do yourself a favor: read this book. Nourish yourself. Live the fullest expression of your creative life—now!
And please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences regarding perfectionism. It's up to us to lay this demon down. It's up to us to allow ourselves to be exactly where we are, as humans, creators, and artists ready to live radiant, expressive, and imperfect (real) lives!
P.S. I just listened to Brooke Warner's SW.com interview with Elizabeth Gilbert, which shimmers with insight, humor, wisdom, and light. I wish I could attend "Elizabeth Gilbert Live: Writing, Truth, and Community," in Napa on November 7th, but I'll be at my nephew's wedding in Virginia. If you're looking for a creative boost, a hit of inspiration, or if you think you might enjoy engaging face-to-face with a stellar writing community, it's not too late to get tickets. If you go, I'd love to hear about it!
When Life Gets Hard
Let's face it: the writing life can be difficult. We procrastinate, bargain with the universe, write hundreds of pages no one will read. We judge, discipline, chide, and berate ourselves, and others. We make unfair comparisons, inflate and deflate our work, our efforts. Our egos loom large like monsters, or cower in corners. We recoil from shadows, fight our own wisdom, attempt to flee our pain, but cannot escape ourselves, our lives—alas, our material. And this is the fun part! Add to this wondrous, yet at times daunting, creative process the business of writing and the slippery slope upon which conventional publishing resides. We attend conferences, make pitches, and reach out to agents and editors. Platform-building has become the buzzword every author feels they're not doing well enough at. We perch ourselves upon social media towers from which we blog, tweet, chat, and update our "status." It's exhausting and overwhelming—and it's also an honor, a privilege, a blessing, and a gift! You don't get to do this work—play this game—if you're sick or struggling with life's basics.
If you've been following my blog, you know the past three years have been personally challenging. We've had five family deaths. I was executor of a contentious family estate. During this time I developed, and holistically healed, an anxiety disorder. I've radically downsized my professional efforts in order to deal with these personal challenges. John Lennon's quote, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans," has crossed my mind many times.
But contrary to how things appear, life is still sweet. I'm learning how to slow down at a very deep and nourishing level. I am discovering what it takes to make peace with what life brings, even when it's not what I wanted or expected. I'm realizing the importance of honoring life, going with its flow, and cultivating an open, patient, and loving heart.
When I was a child my family used to visit Mitzi and Sherwood, an elderly couple who lived at the beach on New York's Fire Island. Mitzi was a painter and Sherwood was a sculptor and jewelry-maker. Their house had high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and art crammed into every nook and cranny. They were an eccentric, white-haired couple who lived and breathed art.
In Sherwood's studio, one piece of equipment captivated me: a stone tumbler. We'd collect stones on the beach and put them into his tumbler. After days, and sometimes weeks, of being tossed about, these rough stones would emerge from the tumbler as semi-precious, polished stones ready to be made into jewelry. The transformation was amazing.
Lately I've been feeling a lot like those stones. What if life is the tumbler creating the friction needed to transform me into a human version of those polished stones? Some might think it's a cliché to say our challenges are opportunities in disguise, but I disagree. Although my writing career hasn't been going like gangbusters these three years, the lessons I'm learning will illuminate my writing—and my life—for years to come. Nietzsche said it best: "That which does not kill us makes us stronger."
It's always a matter of keeping things in perspective. When your writing life starts to lag, or feel difficult, discouraging, or frustrating, count your blessings. Appreciate your health, as well as the freedom you have to engage in this noble work.
I'd love to hear from those of you who have soldiered on in the face of personal challenges, and what you've learned along the way. Please share your wisdom and your light!
How to Unlock Your Truth
Earlier this summer I made my annual trip to Claremont, CA, to teach my Write Where You Are Workshop at Camp Scripps, a four-day summer camp run by and for alumnae of Scripps College. I handed out three pages of prompts, lines gleaned from Nancy Levin's poetry collection, Writing For My Life. A volunteer read them aloud and people circled the prompts they felt a visceral response to. Some of the most popular were:
We scribbled, nonstop, for thirty minutes. When the timer went off, one woman clutched her notebook to her chest and said, "I am going to hide this—or better yet--destroy it!"
Knowing that sometimes the most reluctant participants share the brightest gems, I turned to her and said, "If I had to bet, I'd say you've written something very much worth sharing. Would you like to read it?"
She turned red. "I didn't know we were going to have to read what we wrote."
"You don't have to," I said, "but in my experience, the more we don't want to share what we've written, the more liberating the process can be. Bearing witness to our life experiences is a profound, sacred, and healing act."
The woman read what she'd written and it was great. She had no idea anyone would care about her marriage, health, and finances. But her writing was closely observed, loaded with details, and her voice was magnanimous and wise. The fact that she had no clue she'd written something wonderful, along with her reluctance to share and her desire to destroy what she'd written, provided valuable lessons.
Webster's New World College Dictionary defines shame as "a painful feeling of having lost the respect of others because of the improper behavior, incompetence, etc. of oneself or another." For writers, telling the truth can feel like improper behavior. Many of us were raised jumping through hoops trying to please others. As smart, sensitive children we knew what to say to satisfy those around us, even if that meant betraying ourselves. As mature women engaged in the act of truth-telling it can feel like we're breaking rules. It goes against our "good-girl" conditioning, and this creates feelings of shame, which makes it hard to write the truth.
But people have a deep need to voice their truth, to see it, witness it, write and speak about it. Doing so affirms our existence. This is a major reason why we read: to see our lives mirrored back to us. It's also the case that the personal is universal, especially when closely observed, without judgment. I remind students that just because they write something, it doesn't mean they're going to share it with the world. At least not right away. Years may stretch between the moment you write something and its publishing debut, especially if you're writing a book. The point is, you get to choose what, how, and when to share with others. The main thing is to share first with yourself. Giving yourself permission to speak your truth in the privacy of your own room is a crucial first step toward creative self-expression and healing.
At a deeper level, resistance to sharing may reflect a lack of respect for yourself, or an inability to honor yourself. It's often a clue that you're judging yourself. We humans do all sorts of things we're not proud of. But can we forgive ourselves? Can we accept and learn from our circumstances? Can we allow ourselves to be who, what, and where we are? Can we accept our darkness as well as our light? The ability to be honest about our less-than-glamorous selves, to expose our vulnerability and fear—and share it—is a virtue. My old writing teacher, Jack Grapes, used to say, "Your strengths are your weaknesses, and your weaknesses are your strengths."
In order to write, and then share, your innermost truths, you have to make peace with them. This is a life-affirming process, which involves laying down your shame. If you can set it aside, if you can accept your life the way it is, with humility, curiosity, and wonder, you'll experience deep radiance, which will warm you from the inside out. You will also become a beacon for others yearning to do the same.
We are imperfect creatures, perfect in our imperfection, but most important, we are here to learn. When you turn toward what you perceive as your weaknesses you exhibit great strength. This is where your creative power lies. This is your treasure, your gift, and your truth.
I'd love to hear about your relationship with shame and how it's impacted your writing life. Also, please share how you unlock your truth. Or challenges you've faced (and perhaps overcome) while doing so!
How do you protect yourself when writing about difficult times? How do you make sure you don't relive painful experiences while writing them? How do you keep your heart open without getting sucked into negative energy or destructive old patterns? Which painful memories do you revisit, and to what extent? And how much should be included in your memoir? These questions came up for me recently while working on my memoir, The Raw Years: A Midlife Quest for Health & Happiness. Here are eight ways to make your way through painful memories while not losing yourself in the process:
Fear Is An Excellent Teacher
"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone," says author Neal Donald Walsch in Conversations with God, Book 3. Easy to say. Hard to do—especially when fear kicks in, which it does as you near the edges of your comfort zone. Writers are particularly susceptible. What happens when the thought of speaking in front of an audience fills you with dread? Or what if you're afraid to fly and you need to travel for a book tour? Or what if your own writing is taking you down some dark alley and you're sure you're going to get mugged—or worse?
Last year, while struggling with anxiety, I learned a lot about fear. I learned that fear cannot be trusted. If it doesn't outright lie, fear distorts the truth. Fear prevents us from being who we are meant to be. It's a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. A bully. And yet, fear is also an excellent teacher—if you're willing to learn its lessons.
The first thing fear taught me was acceptance. It taught me the importance of letting myself feel what I feel, even if it's uncomfortable, especially then. "You're not here to be comfortable," my therapist told me. "You're here to live your life. Move forward. Do what you want and need to do. Comfort is not the goal. Living is." And for writers, I'd add, comfort is not the goal, getting your book written and into the world is.
Acceptance also means not resisting, fighting, or obsessing about things over which you have no control. I recently saw a cartoon titled "Suffering," which consisted of a leaf gently falling from a tree. A dialog bubble, expressing the leaf's sentiments, said, "Why is this happening?"
We don't suffer because we experience challenges, or have to do things we don't want to do. We don't suffer because we are ill or in pain or uncomfortable. We suffer because of the stories we tell ourselves about our circumstances or situation. We suffer when our minds become like a dog with a bone, refusing to let go of limiting, fearful thoughts or ideas. Obsessive thinking, resisting, fighting, and trying to figure everything out is less effective than going with the flow and riding a wave, especially when dealing with things over which we have no control.
Writers have vivid imaginations. The stories we make up reflect our fear and our love of drama. When our work isn't accepted into a journal, when our books don't sell, when agents don't return our calls, when two people show up to a reading, when we have a crappy writing day, or don't write at all, we may ask, Why am I wasting my time? Or berate ourselves with negative self-talk, like, I have nothing original to say, or, My writing sucks. If you hear messages like this in your head, beware! This is not the real you talking; this is the voice of fear. Tell it, "Thanks for sharing," ignore its false message, and keep moving forward.
Another thing I've learned from fear is that if you embrace it, if you give it some love, it disappears. Years ago I dreamed a snake was coming at me from a crack in my living room wall. At first I was horrified. But then I realized I was dreaming, and as soon as that awareness kicked in, I thought, Oh, it's a snake. I'm afraid of snakes. Let me try to love this object of my fear. I stared into the snake's eyes, and repeated the words, "I love you," feeling warmth in my heart. Within seconds the snake transformed into a radiant, smiling queen who handed me her scepter.
Authors often complain about the many hats they're expected to wear in today's publishing climate. If I could just be by myself and do what I love—write—I'd be happy, some think. Many dread, and even resent, the hours waiting to hear back from agents and publishers. Many complain that social media sucks their precious time. Some writers would rather do just about anything else than promote themselves, and their work. But what if all these things are great opportunities to grow as a person, as well as an author? What if all our snakes are longing to be turned into queens? What if we are the sovereign rulers of our work and of our lives? Why not tell ourselves this story? It's not enough to tell a story or have a thought. What matters is what we believe. Why not believe positive, liberating thoughts such as this one?
In the video, The Energetics of Healing: A Visual Guide to Your Body's Energy Anatomy, Caroline Myss relates positive and negative thinking to financial investing, urging people to "invest" in positive thoughts, likening the negative ones fear conjures to junk bonds. "What thoughts are you going to invest [believe] in?" she asks, "Are you going to finance that idea?"
Lately, when I remember to do so, I've been checking in with my thoughts and beliefs, and trying to consciously choose love over fear. Love is like the water Dorothy throws on the Wicked Witch of the West; fear simply cannot survive when drenched with love.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on fear. What has it taught you? How have you overcome it? What do you know in your heart to be true about fear?
My mother-in-law died this week. It wasn't unexpected. She was under the care of hospice, and had been declining in health since her husband's death in 2011. My mom died in 2012. As I've mentioned in previous posts, for close to two years I've been embroiled in a family fight over money that has created stress, and with it, debilitating anxiety. We finally reached a settlement agreement a couple of weeks ago, but 2014 has been the hardest year of my life. In 2013, I'd buried my grief and escaped into my work. But by 2014, as family tensions escalated, my grief erupted and I had to stop working. My clients fell away like dominoes, I reduced my teaching schedule to one class, and I hit the pause button on my memoir, The Raw Years: A Midlife Quest for Health & Happiness.
I stopped working on my memoir for two reasons. First, I was sick—not physically (though I experienced physical discomfort, such as intense jitters and pressure in my chest), but emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. I needed to focus my energy on getting better; I needed to slow down my life and take time to grieve, as well as to heal. When you're struggling to get through the day, work feels relatively unimportant—all you want is to be well again.
But there was more to my not working on my book than that. I was writing a memoir on my "midlife quest for health and happiness," which I'd thought I'd attained. I was an "expert" on the subject, writing my "success story." My life had been at an all-time high; I'd felt like a flower in full bloom. The word "flow" best describes the ways in which my life was unfolding—until everything came crashing down around me. I couldn't help but wonder, How can I write a book about health and happiness when I'm such a wreck? I felt like the oncologist who gets cancer.
It turned out my "raw years" weren't over. My book is divided into three sections: body, mind, and sprit, and the proverbial shit hit the fan two chapters short of beginning the "spirit" section. It was as if the Universe said, "Now wait just a minute! You don't know as much as you think you do; you have to live this before you can write about it. Buckle up, I'm taking you for a ride!" Well, let me tell you, it's been a doozy. Never have I felt so out of control; never have I experienced such fear; never have I trembled, cried, and prayed so often or so hard.
The upside is, I've learned a few things. Every illness or malady contains within it an invitation and opportunity for healing and growth. The lessons of spirit have to do with surrender, faith, letting go of what others think of you, and, even more important, letting go of what you think of you. Anxiety shattered my self-image. I was supposed to be a helper, not someone who needed help. I was the kid who always had a "good head on her shoulders." How had I gone from King of the Hill to hooligan?
The hardest lesson was learning to accept "what is" without judgment. Judgment creates tension in the mind. Tightness creates tension in the body. I experienced both. As humans, we all have pain, but that doesn't mean we need to suffer. Suffering happens when we resist our pain. So I've learned to lean into my discomfort. I've also encountered a new word: kindfulness. Stephanie Nash, a mindfulness meditation coach, coined this term. She uses it to refer to bringing loving attention to the body. "We only have so much real estate in consciousness," she says. "There's only so much you can focus on at one time." I've had to consider where and how to focus my awareness. I've had to learn how to be kinder and more patient with myself. I've had to consciously choose love over fear—over and over again. I've had to allow myself to be where I am, to befriend my fear. And I've learned that we are all much larger than we think.
Thankfully, these past few months, my internal storm has raged less and less, and I sense it has almost passed. I have borne what I naively deemed unbearable. We humans are stronger than we think. When I first heard the news about my mother-in-law, I feared her death might throw me back into the pit out of which I have worked so hard to climb, but I feel calm, and grateful, because she lived a full life and was ready to go. It's a blessing. This is life. We live and we die. Her death inspires me to live. And for me, writing is a huge part of living. Although I haven't been writing my book, I have been writing. My journal has been a close companion and a source of comfort during this time. I've also written many letters to my mother, and monthly blog posts. Though that's not the same as working on my book, it has taken the lid off of my internal pressure cooker and enabled me to express myself. This kind of writing is a tremendous release. I let go of what I don't need and receive universal wisdom, while keeping my writing juices flowing. I liken this process to daily barre exercises, which I did for years as a young dancer.
Sometimes it's hard to know when to work on a project and when to pause—and for how long. I knew I needed to stop working on my book, and I trusted that I'd be called back to it when the time was right. My mother-in-law's passing has made me think the time is now.
I don't have everything figured out, which I know isn't necessary, but my hand and heart are steady enough to return to my memoir, old friend, who I suspect will deliver me to my next level of healing. No need for perfection. No shame in falling apart, when in coming back together I bring with me new gifts of insight, deeper compassion, and expanded consciousness. Still, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel some trepidation. So I'm asking you, my kind readers, for your support, love, and prayers as I begin again.
This post appeared earlier this month in my She Writes Column.
This post was featured earlier this month on She Writes, an online organization serving over 20,000 writers. They also have a first-rate press, which is publishing exquisite books! If you haven't already done so, check them out!
Let's face it: there are times when, as much as you love and want to write, you just can't do it. It may be that life has swelled like a tidal wave and crashed down hard on you. You may be ill, depressed, anxious, or maybe someone you love has died and you need to grieve. Or maybe you're going through a rough patch with your partner, or your teenager is on drugs, or your baby keeps you up all night.
Or perhaps there's no obvious reason for your resistance—you just don't feel like writing. Sometimes the best response is to take time off, to understand that rest is part of your work cycle. Dormancy, stillness, quiet, and respite may not seem like ideal places to inhabit, but they are just as important as cranking out pages. You are a human being, not a machine. Your life is rich and complex. You are more than just a writer.
Dwelling in this non-writing phase will be challenging to most writers unless you consciously practice acceptance of what is, compassionate self-forgiveness, and radical self-care. To do this you must surrender your judgments of what you think you and your writing life is supposed to look like. You must slow the running horses in your mind and sink deep into your heart. You must embrace your inner knowing. You must trust that what's happening is for your highest good, that the wave that's crashed over your head will eventually deliver you to the shore of a lovely beach, which you will comb for shells and other treasures.
But what do you do when you've given yourself the rest you need and you still don't feel like writing? You listen. Maybe you need more rest. Perhaps you need to make a change in your life, such as lightening you load, joining a spiritual community, or attending a writers' conference. Or perhaps you need to have fun, visit a museum, spend time in nature, or read, not as a writer, but simply for your own pleasure.
I've seen people (myself included) search high and low for answers. We consult experts of all kinds when we're in distress. Over the past three months, in response to debilitating anxiety, I've visited an acupuncturist, a Reiki healer, a hypnotherapist, a spiritual counselor, a shaman, a breath-work practitioner, a therapist, two medical doctors, and a psychiatrist.
And then—finally—I made the decision to consult the person who knows me best: me. I pulled out my journal and told myself everything I needed to hear; everything I wished I'd heard from the lips of experts. I became, at last, my own authority, and I was brilliant. I got to use the full range of my writer's imagination to articulate my own diagnosis and treatment.
Doing this reminded me of a time, seventeen years ago, when, while walking the Venice Beach Boardwalk, I sat down with a fortune-teller. I was nine months pregnant, two days from my due date, and wanted reassurance that the birth would go well. I don't remember what the woman said, just that I didn't like it, or her, and nothing about her words resonated with me, so when I got home I decided to consult my own inner fortune-teller. I pulled out my journal and let her speak. I let her say all the things I'd hoped to hear at Venice Beach. Her words soothed me, which was all I was really looking (and paying) for.
Journal writing is free, and always available to us in service to our healing, growth, and upliftment. We don't have to limit our writing to our projects, blogs, and professional lives. It doesn't have to be a public process. I find writing most powerful as a tool for self-comfort, self-knowledge, and personal transformation. When everything feels like it's falling apart, I pull out my journal and try to get out of my own way. I try to allow whatever needs to come through me to do so. I tell myself everything I need to hear. It doesn't always work. I sometimes have to get creative, like when giving my heart, or other body parts, a voice. Sometimes I rant at God, or ask for assistance. Sometimes I speak with my Future Self, who has already lived through whatever turbulence I'm navigating. I also consult my Inner Counselor, my Wise Self, and my Spirit. I let them all advise me.
And I let my Gremlins express their fears as well. I put what they say in quotation marks to separate their thoughts from my own. All they really want is to be heard, and they tend to mellow out when I let them express themselves.
It's wonderful having access to this kind of communication. We're writers. We receive and we give. Sometimes we need to give the gift of our writing to ourselves.
Sooner or later this process will lead you back to the project that's been patiently waiting for you, or a new project will glimmer at the edge of a waking dream and you'll catch a glimpse of what your next step will be. Either way, trust that you will be called back to work when the time is right. And in the meantime, use your journal. It's not only your writer's training ground; it's your therapist and your best friend rolled into one. You may even mine it at some point in the future for a book or other project to access source material.
The key is to lean into your journal; to trust it. Let it hold you. Accept where you are and be compassionate and loving with yourself through your challenges, as well as your triumphs. Contrary to what you might think, one state is not more desirable than another. It's all grist for the mill. And writing is only one part of your life, one thing you do. It's a calling to be answered in service to your highest good and the highest good of those around you—and so we must pay attention to those moments in life when it's time to pause. Your writing—your gift, your creativity, your voice—will never give up on you; it'll be there when you're ready to return.
January 2020


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