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First Line Friday # 16 and Giveaway!
Friday, April 21, 2017
We made it to Friday, which means it's First Line Friday! Grab the book closest to you and leave the first line in the comment section.
Today I am featuring , , ,
About the book:
Miss Permilia Griswold, the wallflower behind "The Quill" gossip column, knows everything that goes on in the ballrooms of New York. When she overhears a threat against the estimable Mr. Asher Rutherford, she's determined to warn him. Away from society's spotlight, Asher and Permilia discover there's more going on behind the scenes than they anticipated.
First Line:
March 1883 - New York City
Pressing her nose against the glass of the carriage window, Miss Permilia Griswold felt her stomach begin to churn as she took note of the throngs of people lining Fifth Avenue.
Visit my other blogger friends, see their first line's and leave yours in the comment section. I have an extra copy of this book which means there is a giveaway at the end of this post. As always, mark your place, and keep reading!
Amanda at With A Joyful Noise
Beth Erin at Faithfully Bookish
Bree at Bibliophile Reviews
Carrie at Reading is My SuperPower
Heather at Encouraging Words From the Tea Queen
Jessica at A Baker's Perspective
Kathleen at Kathleen Denly
Katie at Fiction Aficionado
Lauraine at Lauraine's Notes
Rachel at Bookworm Mama
Robin at Robin's Nest
Sarah at All The Book Blog Names Are Taken
Sydney at Singing Librarian
Giveaway for Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano
a Rafflecopter giveaway
24 Responses to "First Line Friday # 16 and Giveaway!"
Post a Comment | Post Comments (Atom)
Excited to read this one.
Let's see a first line... How about from Wed on the wagon by Tracy blalock: "You're supposed to be a man, so stop acting like a girl, Matilda Prescott silently warned herself."
I just finished "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio, which I really enjoyed. The book opens with this line, "I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid."
Happy Friday! My first line is: "For a moment she couldn't breathe, and then the barest whisper passed her lips – half spontaneous praise half simple awe. 'Oh my… I've found Paradise!' " From Spring Raine by Delia Latham
Honor the Lord you heavenly beings: honor the Lord for his glory and strength. Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 29:1-2
I HAVE FLOWN A LOT OF MILES in the past twenty years, so not surprisingly, I take many things about the experience for granted. From Worship Changes Everything by Darlene Zschech
I can't wait to read this book...it's on my Kindle. :)
Great first line! Happy Friday!
You'll love it!!
It's a great one!
That's hilarious!
Haven't heard of either. Happy Friday!
Read this one this week. :) It was fun!!
My first "line"...
"Good morning, Lord, it's time to rise.
The sun is shining bright.
I've got my day ahead of me.
Please help me do what's right."
("Princess Prayers" by Crystal Bowman)
Looking forward to starting that one!
I love this!
Beth, you will love it! Congratulations on being chosen as an INSPY judge!
Sounds like there will be plenty of intrigue in that read! Which reminds me of the book I'll be reviewing this Monday on my blog, The Patriot & The Loyalist by Angela K. Couch, so I'll share the first line from that book:
South Carolina, November 1780
Daniel Reid slowed his horse and sucked air into his lungs as he reined to the road's grassy edge.
I love reading about the Gilded Age. Seeing 5th Avenue at the time, all those mansions, wow.
I am currently reading this and you will enjoy it. Ms. Turano does a great job creating a visual world with her words.
LOVED this book!
It is so good!!
It's such a wonderful book!
I really liked Gilded Age New York. It is one of my favorite topics. Happy Friday!
They were coming. - Orphan's Song by Gillian Bronte Adams
HAPPY FRIDAY and HAPPY READING!
This book is on my TBR list!! Can't wait to start reading it.


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This is a site dedicated to the use of all of the arts in the Steampunk community! We especially look for use of the arts to move healthy social agendas or that appear otherwise destined to alter the landscape and philosophy of the community. I have recently opened up this blog to articles about other counter culture groups that find common ground in our mutual rebellion against prejudice and suppression.
Favorite Links
- Admiral Ramon Leon del Mar FB
- DFW-Clockpunk-Renpunk-Group
- Kali's Hourglass Blog
- Kali's Hourglass Facebook
- Kali's Hourglass Panels
- Kali's Hourglass Performance Art Troupe
- Kali's Hourglass Photo Gallery
- North Texas Steampunks
- Psyche Corporation
- Steampunk Illumination Society
- The Difference Engine-Steampunk Convention
- Vice Admiral Radha Narasimhan FB
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Just Like a Chap Gentleman Rhymer Preview via Steampunk Tribune
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subset: commoncrawl


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Dec 12, 2011
Named To Third Team
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore Nick Alers, who anchored a Yale defense that yielded only 16 goals and posted four shutouts, has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Northeast Region third team.
Alers started 16 games for the Bulldogs and was a first team All-Ivy selection. His top performance may have come against Dartmouth when he held Ivy League Player of the Year Lucky Mkosana scoreless, limiting him to only two shots, in the Bulldogs' 2-0 victory.
Alers has started 32 games for Yale in the last two years. He was an honorable mention All-Ivy selection as a freshman.
Complete NSCAA All-Northeast Region Team
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity


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yesod-auth: Authentication for Yesod.
[ library, mit, web, yesod ] [ Propose Tags ]
This package provides a pluggable mechanism for allowing users to authenticate with your site. It comes with a number of common plugins, such as OpenID, BrowserID (a.k.a., Mozilla Persona), and email. Other packages are available from Hackage as well. If you've written such an add-on, please notify me so that it can be added to this description.
http://hackage.haskell.org/package/yesod-auth-account: An account authentication plugin for Yesod
- yesod-auth-1.2.2.tar.gz [browse] (Cabal source package)
- Package description (as included in the package)
Maintainer's Corner
For package maintainers and hackage trustees


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This page contains information about editing the KDE TechBase wiki, including what content belongs where and helpful tools specific to this wiki. Even if you are familiar with wikis, you should read the section on organisation to see what content should be put where on this wiki.
This wiki is for documentation for developers wanting to use or extend KDE products (e.g. via APIs), or:
End-user documentation belongs on UserBase, and things directed at contributors, teams and the KDE Community in general belong on the community wiki.
Examples of things that don't belong on TechBase include:
More on this on the guidelines on community.kde.org
Maintaining a clean and useful wiki involves making sure content is up to date, there are no broken links, and all pages can be found (they are linked to from somewhere). The following special pages can help find issues that need fixing:
You can also add a page to the Needs Attention to flag it for later work by adding [[Category:Needs Attention]] to the page. Using Template:TODO will also add a page to this category.
Most users cannot delete pages on the Wiki - this is because once a page is gone, you cannot get it back. If you think a page should be deleted, mark it with Template:Proposed_deletion at the top:
{{Proposed_deletion|reason=this page contains only spam}}


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(Theysken's Theory satchel, was $695 now $347.50)
(Missoni Mare bikini, was $395 now $237)
(YSL cuff, was $1120 now $560)
(Rick Owens leather jacket, was $2420 now $1694)
(Acne wedge boots, was $720 now $360)
It's End of Season Sale again! So much to buy, so little time to shop! No worries eager shoppers, Net-a-Porter is now offering up to 50% off on their Spring/Summer collection! Online shopping is now even more exciting!!!
So, my eyes went straight to Theysken's Theory Canapa leather-trimmed woven satchel at 50% off. Not only it's one of the hotest lable among the fashion insiders now, it's also the most current style! And at under $350, what's there to think about?
Other summer must buys are obviously an new string bikini, like an iconic Missoni triangle bikini, and organic jewelry, like the YSL clover leaf wrap cuff.
And if you like to stock up on year-round essentials like me, the Rick Owens Blister leather jacket in dust and the Acne Hydro suede wedge boots in slate will promise a higher ROI (Return On Investment) than anything else you'll ever buy!


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Wandering Days
m (Added references)
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[[Category:History of the Shire]]
[[Category:History of the Shire]]
Revision as of 20:16, 17 January 2012
The Wandering Days was the term used by Hobbits to refer to the centuries-long period of their westward migration from their races' ancestral home somewhere in the wild East (probably in the upper vales of the river Anduin).[1]
Over many generations the Hobbits drifted westward until around T.A. 1050 many Harfoots settled in Eriador. About 1150 the Fallohides entered Eriador while many Stoors settled near Tharbad in Dunland. In 1300 the northern Hobbits had to flee from Angmar and some Stoors (in 1356) returned to the Gladden. The others continued westward and their first settlements were in Bree and Staddle.[2]
Eventually, in the year T.A. 1601 a large population of Hobbits was granted permission by King Argeleb II,[2] one of the last few Kings of Arthedain, to colonize the region beyond the Brandywine, and were later joined by the Stoors of Dunland. This would become The Shire, the main homeland of most of Hobbit-kind.
The oral history and memory of the Hobbits did not extend further back than their "Wandering Days", with their exact origins having been lost.[1]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "Prologue", "Concerning Hobbits"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"


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|May 2011
|OKLAHOMA'S eGOV NEWS REPORT
Welcome to Oklahoma's eGovernment News Report. We hope you enjoy the monthly report providing you with up-to-date information on Oklahoma's eGovernment achievements.
The Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology Launches Online License Renewal System
OKLAHOMA CITY – May 18, 2011 – The Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology recently released a new application at cosmorenewal.ok.gov, which allows licensed cosmetologists across the state to renew their license online.
"We want to make renewing a license as pain-free as possible," said Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology Executive Director, Sherry Lewelling. "You just go to our site, fill out your information, and as soon as your application is approved, we will send you a new license. It's that easy!"
This year, the OSBC expects most cosmetology licensees to renew online, because submitting online will save licensees time by speeding up what previously was a paper-intensive process. A typical online renewal takes about five minutes to complete, and licensees can print a renewal verification at the end of the process. In conjunction with their license renewal, a licensee will be able to change their contact information, purchase a certificate of record, certificate of hours and/or a Rule Book.
For more information about the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology, visit cosmo.ok.gov. The Web site and services are a product of a partnership between the OSBC and OK.gov, Oklahoma's Official Website managed by the eGovernment firm, NIC Inc. (Nasdaq: EGOV)
IT Consolidation Signed Into Law
May 25, 2011 By Matt Williams
As recently as a few weeks ago, a proposed consolidation and modernization of Oklahoma's IT systems was in doubt.
Despite backing from Gov. Mary Fallin, who said the state's technology systems were "outdated eight-track bureaucracies in an iPod world," some lawmakers were skeptical the effort would result in cost savings and efficiencies. The legislation, House Bill 1304, was stalled as the legislative session wound down.
Alex Pettit, Oklahoma's state CIO, said Wednesday he feared that there was no better than a 50-50 chance the consolidation would move forward. But he and the governor ultimately got their wish Tuesday, May 24, when Fallin announced she signed the legislation.
The bill centralizes policymaking, procurement and decision-making into the CIO's office in an attempt to streamline the state's hardware, software and storage. Pettit conceded that Oklahoma has a long journey ahead to meet the consolidation's aims. But the legislation was a necessary first step.
Now all agencies are mandated to participate, which Pettit said is important for the consolidation to be successful. "Either we're all in, or nobody is in," he said. First up likely will be e-mail and mainframe consolidation, Pettit said. The state will be teaming with Microsoft to merge 129 e-mail servers scattered across state agencies.
It remains to be seen if the state will take advantage of cloud-based services for e-mail, he said. The state currently has seven mainframes, and needs the computing power of only one of them. The state released a feasibility study in April that found redundancy across the state enterprise, including 76 financial systems, 22 unique time and attendance systems, 17 different imaging systems, 48 reporting and analytics applications and 30 data center locations. The report estimated that consolidation and modernization could significantly reduce the state's $233 million in annual IT spending.
Much work remains to be done, though, to consolidate those systems. The state is continuing to inventory agencies' IT assets and has to hammer out the initiative's governance, which will probably include a steering committee, Pettit said. The consolidation will move forward agency by agency, he said, by first optimizing servers and e-mail. The goal is to make these improvements with existing resources and without extra funding.
Pettit said it's hard to predict where the state will be a year from now, but he said Fallin and the legislature's leadership should be credited for making IT transformation a top priority. Pettit concedes that the clock has started. After being retained from the previous administration, he's now expected to bring results.
What's Inside
Oklahoma Board of Examiners: Optometry Online License System
Oklahoma Board of Nursing: Online License/Certificate Renewal System Phase 2
OCAST: Collaborative Assistance System
Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology: License Renewal application
Ok State Board of Licensed Social Workers: Licensee Search Application
How Do I Find Low-Cost Ways to Liven Up My Summer in Oklahoma?
Visit the Oklahoma Tourism's Hot Deals Site
How Do I Help My Child Learn To Read Better During The Summer?
Visit the Education.gov's Reading Site
July 4, 2011
September 5, 2011
View Upcoming 2011 State Holidays
Skiatook Bluegrass Festival
These Amazing Shadows
Share Your eGov Story
Have an Oklahoma eGovernment story to tell? Want to give us feedback?
About OK.gov
OK.gov is the official website of the state of Oklahoma and a collaborative effort between the Oklahoma Office of State Finance (OSF) and Oklahoma Interactive, LLC to help Oklahoma government entities Web-enable their information services. OSF is responsible for OK.gov. Oklahoma Interactive operates, maintains, and markets OK.gov and is part of eGovernment firm NIC's (NASDAQ: EGOV) family of companies.
Learn more about Oklahoma's eGov News Report and view past issues
405.524.3468 or Toll Free at 1.800.955.3468


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The select button confirms the choice of a row of a grid when it is used for selecting an object for a reference selector or reference set selector. For this reason, the select button can only be placed on a grid in a page that is connected to a reference selector or to the 'Add' button of a reference set selector.
Common properties
The class property allows you to specify a cascading style sheet (CSS) class for the widget. This class will be applied to the widget in the browser and the widget will get the corresponding styling. The class should be a class from the theme that is used in the project. It overrules the default styling of the widget.
Note that the styling is applied in the following order:
- Default styling defined by the theme the project uses.
- The 'Class' property of the widget.
- The 'Style' property of the widget.
The style property allows you to specify additional CSS styling. If a class is also specified, this styling is applied after the class.
background-color:blue; This will result in a blue background
General properties
Changed in Mendix 5.19: button captions are based on templates with parameters that will be replaced by attribute values.
The caption defines the text that will be shown. The template can contain parameters that are written as a number between braces, e.g. {1}. The first parameter has number 1, the second 2 etcetera. Note that to use template parameters the widget must be placed in a context of an entity, e.g. inside a data view or list view. The parameters will be replaced by the values of the attributes.
Before 5.19:
This property indicates what text will be shown on this widget or part of the widget. This is a translatable text. See Translatable Texts.
Added in Mendix 5.8.0.
The tooltip property determines the text you will see in the tooltip that appears when you hover over the button. The tooltip text is translatable. See Translatable Texts. If the tooltip is not specified, no tooltip will be shown when hovering over the button.
Replaced by the property 'Icon' in Mendix 5.16.
This property indicates which image will be shown in front of the caption of the button.
Added in Mendix 5.16.
The icon property determines the icon that will be shown in front of the caption of the button. There are three options: no icon, a glyph icon or a (bitmap) image. Glyph icons come from the Bootstrap Halflings collection. The advantages of a glyph icon over a bitmap image are that glyphs are scalable, look sharp on high-resolution screens and their color can be changed by changing the font color. The advantage of an image icon is that it can have multiple colors.
Button Style
Added in Mendix 5.18.
This property applies a predefined styling to the button.
Is default button
This property indicates whether this button is the default button of the grid or reference set selector. A grid or reference set selector can only have one default button. The default button is triggered when clicking or double clicking a row. Whether a click or a double click triggers it depends on the 'default button trigger' property of the Data grid, Template grid or Reference set selector.
The default button is marked with a "(default)" suffix in the Modeler, so that you can easily spot it. In the screenshot below the Edit button is the default button and the Delete button has a button style 'Warning'.
Default value: False
Visibility properties
Conditional visibility settings were added in version 5.10.0.
By default, whether or not an element is displayed in the browser is determined by how the page is designed and the user's roles within the application. However, the page can be configured to hide the element unless a certain condition is met.
Attribute Condition
When checked, this setting hides the widget unless a particular attribute has a certain value. Only boolean and enumeration attributes can be assigned to this purpose.
A practical example would be a web shop in which the user must submit both billing and delivery information. In this case you might not wish to bother the user with a second set of address input fields unless he or she indicates that the billing and delivery address are not the same. You can accomplish this by making the delivery address fields conditionally visible based on the boolean attribute SameBillingAndDeliveryAddress.
Module roles
The widget can be made visible to a subset of the user roles available in your application. When activated, this setting will render the widget invisible to all users that are not linked to one of the selected user roles. Please note that this does not override project security. Any restrictions due to microflow, form, or entity access will remain in effect.


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For Release: August 7, 2001
Sally V. Harrington
Media Relations Office
Nineteen urban teachers arrived with an idea of what they wanted to see happen in their schools and departed with action plans they will implement upon their return.
Teams of educators from grades K-12 representing school districts in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio participated in the NASA Educational Workshop (NEW) Urban 2001 during the last two weeks of July. This unique residential workshop was located on-site at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, OH. The goal of the two-week workshop was to support systemic change and to enhance the skills, abilities and resources of the teachers.
Three educators from Fenger Academy in Chicago, IL, attended the workshop. Valerie Solomon, Prentis Jones, and Mary Greer agreed, "It was a wonderful experience for urban educators to interact with the Glenn professionals, tour the facilities, and participate in hands-on activities."
Participants experienced direct interaction with NASA scientists, engineers, technicians and education specialists. Incorporating the knowledge they gained, contacts they made, and new resources they discovered, the teachers developed action plans for model programs to be used in their schools.
"The NEW Urban workshop was developed in 1998 to meet the needs of urban districts," said NEW Urban Program Manager Linda Little of the Office of Educational Programs at Glenn. "The resources provided to them during the workshop can also be used for staff development and parental involvement throughout the school year."
The NEW Program was established in 1984 to encourage students' enthusiasm for mathematics, science, technology and geography by engaging teachers in an exciting program. The first NEW Urban workshop was held at Glenn in 1999. NEW is funded by NASA and is a collaborative effort between Glenn's Office of Educational Programs and the National Science Teachers Association.
Additional information on Glenn's Office of Educational Programs is available on the Internet at:
Further information about NEW is available on the Internet at: http://www.nsta.org/programs/new.htm
# # #
- end -
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text:
The magician takes a Chinese coin and an empty bottle. He requests a spectator who takes the bottle for the peak and strikes the bottom of the bottle with the coin, and it crosses the bottom of the bottle. Afterwards he shows that the coin is really inside the bottle, the magician waves the bottle and the coin goes out of it. Immediately he gives to examine the coin and the bottle.
Comes with Internal piece and Leather pouch!!
Internal Folding System ONLY from Tango Magic
Do you own this product? Write a review.


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Hello ladies! As the other Bee Mamas have said in their posts ...oh man time flies! So it's my turn and I hope you like my choice.
Yes it's a traditional block but I want to have something really colourful and in your face and at the same time an easy block to run up!
Take a square of Fabric Colour 1 and a square of Fabric Colour 2, on the back of Fabric Colour 1 draw a diagonal line from corner to corner and place face down on Fabric Colour 2. Pin together.
I was thinking and thinking and thinking came up with nothing, so I got on to Pinterest and saw this!
Read the next sentence with sincere politeness: I don't want J any batiks, browns, flowerly prints, kiddy fabrics.
I would like pretty please, bright cheerful colours if at all possible, warm colours. Again I refer you to Imagingermonkey's pic for inspiration.
One condition – the centre of the churn dash should be one of your favourite scrappy fabrics.
Scant ¼" is required for sewing the block in certain parts – I interpreted this as just shy of the ¼" mark on your ¼" sewing foot, so please if you could follow that that'd be great, in other words a breath away from ¼" – apologies if I'm saying the same thing 10 different ways but it's important, if you are unsure just shout out and please don't be intimidated about this scant thing.
Two blocks please, no need to trim them.
I used CluckCluckSew's tutorial to make my blocks.
So to get started:
Select three fabrics – one for your centre piece (this should be one of your favourite pieces), plus two other colours. If they clash that's fine, look at Imagingermonkey's pic, this the kind of look I'm going for e.g. colourful, clashing.
Cut the following:
Centre piece: 1 - 3 ½" square
Fabric Colour 1: two 3 7/8" squares
Fabric Colour 1: one 2"x15" strip
Fabric Colour 2: two 3 7/8" squares
Fabric Colour 2: one 2"x15" strip
Take a square of Fabric Colour 1 and a square of Fabric Colour 2, on the back of Fabric Colour 1 draw a diagonal line from corner to corner and place face down on Fabric Colour 2. Pin together.
Carefully sew a SCANT ¼" along either side of the diagonal line, so I sewed just inside the ¼" line. Cut along the pencil line and iron the seam towards the darker of the two fabrics. Repeat with remaining squares and you should end up with four Half Square Triangles (HSTs). If in doubt refer to Cluckclucks tutorial. Trim to 3 ½"
Next take your two strips of fabric – right sides together, sew normal ¼".
Iron seam to darker fabric. Apologies for the different coloured fabric (this is my second block colours, but I forgot to take a pic).
Cut this strip into 3 ½" squares, you will be able to cut 4 squares in total.
Now the fun part, layout your pieces. Make sure the colours are in the right order, sew the pieces into three rows. When pressing your seams of each individual square i would recommend pressing the seams on Row 1 to the leave, Row 2 to the right and Row 3 to the left again, this way the slot in nicely. Any questions email me.
You should have a lovely colourful block, 9 ½" unfinished, don't trim I will look after this.
So thank you for your time in making these blocks and I look forward to receiving them!


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webelieve wrote:So when will we know of the official draft?
Whenever everyone can agree on a certain day.
Moderators: Mr. Crackerz, JREED, Guybrush, 32
JOEL wrote:8th ave wrote:JOEL wrote:8th ave wrote:im in it... my name is raider nation
the nation is tight ....i picked pillaging for furn...its a line from the raiders song
i didnt know the autumn wind had any lyrics.. or are you talkin about the song the loonies did?
the autumn wind is a pirate
blustering in from sea
with a rollicking he sweeps along
swaggering boisterously....
his face is weather beaten
he wears a hooded sash
with a silver hat about his head
and a bristly black moustache...
he growls as he storm the country
a villan big and bold
and the trees all shake and quiver and quake
as he robs them of their gold...
the autumn wind is a raider
pillaging just for fun
he'll knock you 'round and upside down
and laugh win he's conquered and won.
xbay wrote:Alright, cool, we got 9 in so far. Hey sleandres, are you 49ers? Just checkin'.
d1mex, sleandres, and webelieve, can you guys confirm that your in so I'm not confused. Thanks fellas.
Right now, we have 11. One more spot is open so if anyone wants to join, say it now. But I'm also awaiting on TMC's response on whether he can sign up or not. If anyone wants to join, say it now and you may join if TMC doesn't give me an answer before the desired draft day everyone wants to set.


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Georgia and Armenia may sound like unconventional destinations, but trust us, they ought to top your list of places to visit. Our eight-day trip is a wonderful showcase of the cultural and natural highlights the Caucasus Region has to offer, with a huge helping of beautiful architecture and delicious cuisine to boot. Stroll the narrow streets of Tbilisi, tour ancient monasteries, stare down massive mountain ranges, visit with friendly locals, and soak up all the exotic culture of this underexplored region.
What's Included
Your Foodie Moment: Local Lunch and Traditional Cooking Demonstration, Geghard
Your Foodie Moment: Local Lunch and Wine Tasting, Kakheti. Echmiadzin visit. Khor Virap visit. Garni Roman temple and gorge visit. Lake Sevan stop with visit to monasteries. Sanahin visit. City tour of Tbilisi. Georgian Military Road drive. Mtskheta's UNESCO-listed churches visit. Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral visit. Hike to Uplistsikhe Cave. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Set eyes on the stunning Caucasus Mountains, wander in and out of ancient churches, stroll narrow streets in Tbilisi, savour under-the-radar delicious food and wine in Georgia
Itinerary Disclaimer
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Group Leader Description
This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by two of our Chief Experience Officers (CEOs), one escorting the group in Armenia and the other picking the group up at the border in Georgia.
The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.
We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it's the best of both worlds.
Group Size Notes
Max 16, avg 12.
Meals Included
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches
Eating is a big part of traveling. G Adventures understands the importance of breakfast to start your day, we strive to include a basic breakfast wherever possible. A typical breakfast may include toast, coffee and tea, however this may vary depending on the city. Should breakfast not be included, your CEO can suggest some local options.
Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip.
Georgia and Armenia are known for their under-the-radar fantastic cuisine and wine. Be sure to come hungry.
For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
Private van, walking.
About our Transportation
This itinerary utilizes private transport for all included activities and transport between destinations.
Solo Travellers
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Standard hotels (7 nts).
My Own Room
Please note that if you have booked the "My Own Room" option for this tour, you will receive your own single room for all night stops
Joining Hotel
For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent.
Joining Instructions
Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to the city on day 1 (or earlier if you have booked pre-accommodation with us), please make your way to the joining hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon). Once you arrive at the hotel, look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm), where you will get a chance to meet your CEO and other travellers, as well as learn more about how the tour will run. If you don't see a note, please ask reception for details!
If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.
We always recommend printing out the address of the hotel (in the native language as well as English if available), to show to your taxi driver.
From the airport you can take a taxi to the hotel. Use taxi company Aerotaxi and the cost should be about 10-12USD.
Arrival Complications
We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please refer to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier and contact us as soon as possible. If you have a pre-booked transfer, and you have not made contact with our representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.
Emergency Contact
Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative (if one is listed below) or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
If you have purchased an arrival through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that:
Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If you are advised of a flight schedule change within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, we will do our best to rearrange your arrival transfer however we cannot guarantee this. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please take a taxi to your start point hotel.
Ms. Astghik Hakobyan (Armenia)
Tel: +374 10 541463
Mob: +374 95/96 419312
If you are unable for any reason to contact our local office, please call the numbers listed below, which will connect you directly with our 24 hour Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
What to Take
You will be on the move a good deal, so pack as lightly as possible (try to stay under 10kg / 22lb). It is in your own interest as you are expected to carry your own luggage. Please, note that we use public transport on this trip – the walking distance is never too far, but having a backpack makes travelling easier. We don't recommend bringing suitcases. It is important that your bag can be locked.
Packing List
• Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)
• Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)
• Passport (required) (With photocopies)
• Required visas or vaccination certificates (required) (With photocopies)
• Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)
• Binoculars (optional)
• Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)
• Cash, credit and debit cards
• Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)
• Ear plugs
• First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)
• Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)
• Fleece top/sweater
• Footwear
• Hat
• Locks for bags
• Long pants/jeans
• Moneybelt
• Outlet adapter
• Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)
• Reusable water bottle
• Shirts/t-shirts
• Sleepwear
• Small travel towel
• Sunglasses
• Toiletries (Preferably biodegradable)
• Watch and alarm clock
• Waterproof backpack cover
• Windproof rain jacket
Warm Weather:
• Sandals/flip-flops
• Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)
• Sun hat/bandana
• Swimwear
Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Visas and Entry Requirements
Please note that visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. We keep the following information up to date as much as possible, but rules do change. It is important that you check for yourself with the embassy of each country. Your travel agent can assist. Please, keep in mind that all countries require passports valid for at least 6 months from the moment of departure from the country.
Currently Americans and Canadians require a visa to Armenia, but not to Georgia.
Spending Money
Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Money Exchange
A mix of cash (USD or EUR to exchange), credit cards and debit cards are the best way to ensure you have enough money at all times. The currency in Armenia is the Armenian Dram (ARD) and in Georgia you'll use the Georgian Lari (GEL).
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Although not compulsory, tipping is expected and is an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you throughout your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There will be several occasions during this trip where there is the opportunity to tip the local guides that we use. You may do this individually, or your CEO will offer to collect the money and tip as a group. Recommendations for tipping local guides range from 3-5 USD/EUR per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service. Ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture. Also, at the end of your trip, if you felt that your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline 20-25 USD/EUR per person, per week can be used.
Optional Activities
- Megerian Carpet Factory Visit
- Yerevan Brandy Factory (10USD per person)
Safety and Security
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it deemed necessary, due to safety concerns. Your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy and explore at your leisure. While your CEO will assist you with options available in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Although the cities visited on tour are generally safe during the day, there can be risks to wandering throughout any major city at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants, or during night time excursions.
Water based activities have an element of danger and excitement built into them. We recommend only participating in water based activities when accompanied by a guide(s). We make every reasonable effort to ensure the fun and adventurous element of any water based activities (in countries with varying degrees of operating standards), have a balanced approach to safety. It is our policy not to allow our CEOs to make arrangements on your behalf for water based activities that are not accompanied by guide(s).
Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk. Read more about travel safety for ways to further enhance your personal safety while traveling.
Trip Specific Safety
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travellers' cheques, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home – you won't need it while travelling. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they engage in any form of paid sex work.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. G Adventures can provide you with the appropriate coverage. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Planeterra-The G Adventures Foundation
The Planeterra Foundation planeterra.org is a Canadian non-profit organization that helps empower local people to develop their communities, conserve their cultures, and create humane and supportive systems for their endeavours. Planeterra provides capacity building and catalyst grants to get community social enterprises off the ground. These businesses address local challenges by providing benefits for indigenous people, empowering marginalized women, and granting disadvantaged youth access to education, employment, and brighter futures. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating programs into G Adventures' itineraries globally.
G Adventures is Planeterra's largest corporate donor, covering all operating costs so 100% of your donation will bring opportunity to people in need.
Dollar-a-Day Program
G Adventures' Dollar-a-Day Program provides travellers with the opportunity to give back to the people and places visited on our tours by donating one dollar for every day you are on trip. 100% of these donations go directly to support community development projects worldwide that are implemented by Planeterra.
Local Dress
When packing be aware that dress standards are conservative throughout the area. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and practical. As a general guideline shoulders and knees should be covered at all times – shorts, singlets and tank tops are not suitable.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us that we'll give you 5% off the price of your next G Adventures trip if your feedback is completed on-line within 30 days of finishing your trip. Your tour evaluation will be e-mailed to you 24 hours after the conclusion of your trip. If you do not receive the tour evaluation link in the days after your tour has finished, please drop us a line at email@example.com and we will send it on to you.
Our adventure travel e-newsletter is full of travel news, trip information, interesting stories and contests. To avoid missing out on special offers and updates from G Adventures, subscribe at www.gadventures.com/newsletters/
Stay current on how our company invests in our global community through our foundation – Planeterra. Sign up for Planeterra's monthly news to learn more about how to give back and support the people and places we love to visit.
Minimum Age
You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.
International Flights
Check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Max Pax
Group Leader
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
Day 1: Yerevan
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Included Activities:
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
Day 2: Yerevan/Echmiadzin (1B)
Drive to Echmiadzin to visit its famous cathedral. Later, enjoy a city tour of Yerevan, followed by a visit to the Genocide Memorial. Take some free time to explore the city of Yerevan.
Included Activities:
Echmiadzin Visit
Yerevan City Tour
Private Vehicle (0.50 hour(s))
Private Vehicle (0.30-0.75 hours)
Day 3: Yerevan/Khor Virap/Garni (1B, 1L)
During your free time in Yerevan opt to visit the Yerevan Brandy Factory or Megerian Carpet factory for some insight into staples of Armenian culture.
Included Activities:
Khor Virap Visit
Garni Temple and Gorge Visit
Local Lunch and Traditional Cooking Demonstration
Day 4: Yerevan/Haghpat (1B, 1L)
The Molokan are a minority population in Armenia derived from settlers exiled from Russia for not obeying the rules of the Church. Their name derives from "Milk" due to the great amount of milk they would consume, especially during the fasting period determined by the Orthodox Clergy. Stop in a Molokan village en route to Haghpat to get a glimpse into daily life, and enjoy a traditional meal.
Included Activities:
Lake Sevan Visit
Sevanavank and Haghartsin Monastery Visits
Private Vehicle (1.00-1.50 hours, 66km)
Private Vehicle (3.00 hour(s), 131km)
Day 5: Haghpat/Telavi (1B)
Visit Haghpat Monestary and UNESCO-listed monastic complex of Sanahin. Cross into Georgia to be welcomed and greeted by your Georgian CEO before transferring to Telavi, located on the foothills of the Tsiv-Gombori Range.
Included Activities:
Sanahin Monastery Visit
Border Crossing (Armenia – Georgia)
Private Vehicle (0.75 hour(s), 36km)
Private Vehicle (2.00 hour(s), 165km)
Day 6: Telavi/Kakheti Province/Tblisi (1B, 1L)
Experience a full day in the Kakheti Province, dotted with churches and vineyards. Enjoy breathaking views of the Kizikhi area and Sighnaghi. Stop for lunch at a local village house to taste the delicious lunch and wine and local drinks tasting. Head to Tbilisi and enjoy a guided tour of the city.
Included Activities:
Local Lunch and Wine Tasting
City Tour Tbilisi
Private Vehicle (100km)
Day 7: Tblisi/Uplistsikhe (1B)
Drive the famous Georgian Military Road to Mtskheta, ancient capital of Georgia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Jvari Monastery and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Continue to Uplistsikhe cave town and on through the dramatic Aragvi River Valley. Return to Tbilisi in the evening.
Included Activities:
Mtskheta Visit
Uplistsikhe Visit
Private Vehicle (0.45 hour(s), 25km)
Private Vehicle (0.75 hour(s), 25km)
Day 8: Tbilisi (1B)
Depart at any time.


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Bucs CB Barber set to retire
Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran cornerback Ronde Barber is officially retiring from the NFL.
Barber will close the door on a 16-year tenure with the Bucs which resulted in three NFL All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl victory in 2002.
Tampa Bay will hold a press conference for Barber on Thursday at 2 p.m. (et) to make the announcement official.
The 38-year-old has been a staple of Tampa Bay's defense since the team drafted him out of Virginia in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He had started 215 consecutive games, the most in NFL history for a defensive back, since the 1999 campaign.
"Ronde is synonymous with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, establishing himself as one of our franchise's iconic players over a 16-year, Hall of Fame-worthy career," said Buccaneers co-chairman Joel Glazer. "When anyone thinks of Ronde, they think of a true professional and leader. He approached every day the same, giving everything he had to make himself and his teammates the best they could be. We will miss him."
Barber haunted quarterbacks better than anyone who has ever played his position, totaling 47 interceptions with 28 sacks. His sack total is the most ever for a cornerback and is the only player in NFL history to record at least 25 sacks and 40 interceptions.
His 1,428 career tackles chart as the second highest total in franchise history and he owns the club record with nine interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Barber amassed a total of 14 return touchdowns over the course of his career, good for fourth most in NFL history.


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> Vistation Details
David C. Smith
February 21, 1944
July 24, 2014
David Cleveland Smith of Lucknow passed away at Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home on Thursday July 24, 2014 at age 70. He was born on February 21, 1944 to the late Louise (Brophy) and Joslyn Smith. Special friend of Cathy Lee of Lucknow. Also greatly missed by sister Barbara (Joe) Spitzer of Orlando, Florida, Uncle Julien Smith of Ithaca NY and several cousins. Cremation has taken place and interment in Mickle Memorial Cemetery, Gravenhust will be held at a later date.
Pinecrest Manor Nursing Home, Lucknow
Please select one of the family's preferred charities:
Canadian Cancer Society
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Canadian Cancer Society
Alzheimer Society of Grey Bruce
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Jews for Judaism
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Anglican Foundation of Canada
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Humane Society of Canada (KW Branch)
Christian Blind Mission International
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Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (National) Inc.
Save the Children
The Charitable Gift Planning Office Catholic Missions In Canada
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Amensty International Canadian Section
Shriners Hospital for Children
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Art Gallery of Ontario
Arthritis & Autoimmunity Research Centre Foundation
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Autism Society Ontario
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Canadian AIDS Society
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Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Canadian Down Syndrome Society
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
Canadian Hemophilia Society
Canadian Liver Foundation
Canadian Mental Health Association
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)
Canadian Opera Company
Canadian Physicans for Aid and Relief (CPAR)
Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation (CPRF)
Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Canadian Wildlife Federation
Cancer Research Society
Care Canada
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Catholic Missions in Canada
Children's Aid Foundation
Children's Wish Foundation of Canada
Christian Children's Fund of Canada
CODE (Formerly Canadian Organization for Development Through Education)
Community Home Assistance to Seniors (CHATS)
Compassion Canada
Conservation Foundation
David Suzuki Doundation
Easter Seals Canada
Easter Seal Society Ontario
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Hope for Children Foundation
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Huntington Society of Canada
IDRF (International Development and Relief Foundation)
Ireland Fund of Canada
ISTAR (Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research)
Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada
Kerry's Place Autism Services
Kidney Foundation of Canada
Kids Help Phone
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Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Western Ontario
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Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation of Toronto
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Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
The Lung Association
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Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada
Robarts Research Institute
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
Royal Ontario Museum Governors
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Schizophernia Society of Canada
Sickle Cell Association of Ontario
Smoking and Health Action Foundation
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World Society for the Protection of Animals
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YMCA Canada
Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation
Kincardine Hospital Foundation
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Canadian Celiac Association
Lucknow Presbyterian Church
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Canadian Diabetes Association
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Royal Canadian Legion Br. 440 (Ripley)
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Grey Bruce RHC Foundation- Oncology
Canadian Hearing Society
Township of Huron Kinloss - Ripley Fire Department
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Sleeping Children Around the World
SPCA - Huron County
Ripley Agricultural Society
Huron Womens Shelter
Goderich Women's Shelter
Lucknow United Church
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Presbyterian Church in Canada (for Haiti releif)
Canadian Red Cross
Thameswood Lodge c/o LHSC
Durham Rd. Baptist Cemetery
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Goderich Minor Hockey
ALS Society of Ontario
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Community Living - Central Huron
Pinecrest Residents Council
Kinlough Presbyterian Church
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Kincardine Community Health Care Foundation
Lucknow Minor Hockey
Lucknow Fire Department
Township of Huron Kinloss - Minor Sports
Teen Challenge Canada
Trent University - Electrical Pollution Research
Newton Green Scholarship Fund Cheques made to AMDSB trust fund
March of Dimes
Participation House
Lucknow & District Lions Club
Conestoga College Memorial Award
Gull Lake Recreational Complex
London Health Sciences Centre
Wounded Warriors of Canada
Harbour Church - summer kids program
Lucknow Community Christian Reform Church
MacGowan Residents' Council (Braemar Retirement Centre)
Dungannon Cemetery
Stratford General Hospital Foundation
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Lucknow Agricultural Society
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Ontario
The John Bradley Medical Education Endowment Fund
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Grey Bruce Health Services- Oncology Unit
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Walkerton Baptist Church (C/O Pat Carlson)
Trinity United Church
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Southampton boss Nigel Adkins claims defender Luke Shaw will not be moving
Southampton boss Nigel Adkins insists defender Luke Shaw will not be leaving St Mary's in January.
Last Updated: 01/01/13 1:57pm
The 17-year-old left-back has been in impressive form for Saints, prompting speculation that he may follow Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott to Arsenal.
Manchester City and Chelsea have also reportedly shown interest in the left-back, although Adkins does not expect him to be going anywhere.
"I've not read any of the newspapers," the Saints boss said. "I think Luke gets linked every week with Arsenal, doesn't he?
"Luke is under contract, he is playing football for us in the Premier League, which is important.
"We are not looking to let him go anywhere if anyone wants to come in for any of our players, by all means speak to the chairman. He does the deals and all the best with that."
Meanwhile, Adkins believes Oxlade-Chamberlain will be given a warm welcome from Saints fans when he returns to St Mary's with the Gunners this evening.
"I think he will get a fantastic reception," Adkins added. "He is one of the players that came through our system. I think everybody at Southampton is proud of what he is doing now.
"Everybody at the football club has had a role and a responsibility to play in Alex's development, but it is down to him as well. He is an exciting young talent."


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Early Learning
Higher Education
School Turnaround Grants
IDEA Determination Letters
President's Education Awards
Odds and Ends
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
Early Learning
On July 8, Secretary Duncan joined Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius for an online gathering of more than 20 non-profit organizations and thousands of leading children's advocates to promote high-quality early learning opportunities for the nation's youngest children. They highlighted the need to give all children a strong start so that they have a better chance to thrive in school and stay on track for college and career success. The event, "Rally4Babies: Learning Happens from the Start," was led by Zero to Three, a national non-profit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. Noted journalist Soledad O'Brien hosted the event and, in addition to the Secretaries, interviewed actress Jennifer Garner, America's Promise Alliance Board Chair Alma Powell, and children's musician Laurie Berkner.
Then, on July 16, Secretary Duncan traveled to Minneapolis for a town hall with Governor Mark Dayton on the importance of investing in high-quality early learning programs. Minnesota, a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grantee, has made early learning a priority through an Office of Early Learning, an Early Learning Council, and a Children's Cabinet. Also, this year, Governor Dayton signed a bill that invests nearly $200 million in early learning, which will help tens of thousands of additional children attend high-quality child care, preschool, and all-day kindergarten. (Note: While in town, the Secretary also addressed teachers at the National Network of State Teachers of the Year National Conference, urging them to lead the transformation of the teaching profession.)
Later today (July 19), Secretary Duncan will travel to Denver for a similar early learning town hall with Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia. The event will be broadcast live at 2:45 p.m. Eastern Time. Colorado is a Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grantee, and the state's Early Childhood Leadership Commission works to ensure and advance a comprehensive service delivery system for children birth to age 8. (Note: While in town, the Secretary will also co-host a conversation with the Hispanic community with Governor John Hickenlooper, Lieutenant Governor Garcia, and U.S. Senator Michael Bennett and serve as a panelist for an education symposium at the Biennial of the Americas international festival.)
Higher Education
Last week, Secretary Duncan spoke about the "nation's higher education agenda" at the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. "I would make the case to you today that higher education is approaching a crossroads, where leaders will be asked to choose between incremental and transformational change," he said. "At the heart of this choice is a paradox. In many ways, America's system of higher education is still the envy of the world.... And yet, for all its historic and current successes, our system of higher education must get dramatically better. In an era of the knowledge-based, global economy, America has to rapidly accelerate college attainment to prosper and maintain the global competitiveness of our individual states and nation."
In response to the three "core challenges" of high prices, low completion rates, and too little accountability, the Secretary anticipates two ideas taking hold. First, the system of state and federal grants and loans will start to shift more toward a performance-based and outcomes-based systemone that does more to reward innovation. Second, leveraging of educational technology will increase student learning, as well as institutional performance and productivity.
"I am actually optimistic that states and institutions of higher education are beginning to move beyond the trap of the so-called iron triangle [of quality, access, and cost]," he added, outlining a number of pioneering programs and positive data points. "There are universities, community colleges, and state leaders all across America that are thinking boldly.... We just need to take transformational change to scaleand show that the iron triangle is not so rigid after all."
The following new blog posts also spotlight higher education:
- "Duncan to Grads: Follow Your Passion," on the Secretary's commencement speeches this spring.
- "Road to College," with tips and tools from the agency to help high school seniors get a head start this summer.
- "Summer Melt," on alleviating, via simple measures at home during the summer, the issue of college-eligible students not attending in the fall.
School Turnaround Grants
This week, just days after President Obama created a new federal task force to identify more ways that the public and private sectors can partner together to support national service as a strategy for tackling national priorities, the Education Department and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) announced the first grants under the new School Turnaround AmeriCorps program. Launched in February 2013, the School Turnaround AmeriCorps program is designed to support the placement of a dedicated cadre of AmeriCorps members in schools implementing school turnaround interventions, as required by the Department's School Improvement Grant (SIG) program or through Elementary and Secondary Education Act(ESEA) flexibility. AmeriCorps members will help keep students on track to graduate by working to increase student academic achievement, attendance, and high school graduation rates; improve college- and career-readiness; and provide college enrollment advice and assistance.
The program will be supported by an initial investment of $15 million in public funds from both agencies over the span of three years. CNCS will seek to raise additional private funds to contribute to this effort. Moreover, AmeriCorps members who complete their service in the program will qualify for aSegal AmeriCorps Education Award, which could total $1.5 million a year for all participants.
The program supports organizations that serve low-performing schools around the country and expands on Together for Tomorrow, an initiative between the Department, CNCS, and the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
IDEA Determination Letters
As required by law, the Department has issued annual determination letters regarding states' implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Each state was evaluated on key indicators under Part B (ages 3 through 21) and Part C (infants through age 2) and placed into one of four categories: meets requirements, needs assistance, needs intervention, and needs substantial intervention. Most states fell into the top categories; 38 states met requirements for Part B, and 37 states and Puerto Rico met requirements for Part C. No states were in needs substantial intervention. The IDEA identifies specific technical assistance or enforcement actions that the agency must undertake for states that do not meet requirements.
Also: President Obama announced his intent to nominate Michael Yudin as Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. He is currently Acting Assistant Secretary. Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.
President's Education Awards
The Department recently announced 2013 President's Education Awards Program (PEAP) recipients, honoring nearly three million students from over 30,000 schools across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Every year, K-12 students are eligible to receive individual recognition from the President and Secretary of Education for their achievements toward educational excellence (gold seal) and outstanding educational growth (silver seal). The award includes a congratulatory letter and certificate. The school principal is the final authority on which students receive awards and the number of qualifying students, based on eligibility and selection requirements. There is no limit on awards, as long as students meet the criteria for awards.
Odds and Ends
Last month, President Obama and Secretary Duncan announced ConnectED, an initiative to connect almost all schools to high-speed Internet. Last week, the Secretary discussed ConnectED and his ideas about digital learning with Teaching Ambassador Fellow Dan Brown. Also, about 50 education organizations have co-signed a letter of support for the ConnectED vision.
During the opening session of the National Association for Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Annual Conference, the Secretary talked aboutprincipal leadership, early learning, and school safety. He was joined on site by the Department's Resident Principal Joshua Klaris.
On June 27, as part of the ED Youth Voices series, two powerful young women spoke to agency staff about how their civic engagement work has empowered them to be better students and leaders.
Then, on July 10, more than 175 preschool and elementary school children from the area participated in the kick-off of this summer's "Let's Read! Let's Move!" enrichment series, featuring figure skater Michelle Kwan, White House chief Sam Kass, and Congressman John Kline. Another event was held July 17, and future events will be held July 24, August 1, and August 6.
New guidance on the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers program answers questions on expanded learning time under the ESEA flexibility optional waiver.
The Department is seeking qualified individuals to serve as peer reviewers for a new Race to the Top-District competition. Resumes and a completed questionnaire are due by August 4.
A technical review for the two consortia of states developing the next generation of assessments evaluated progress to date and urged the consortia to ensure their tests are accessible to English language learners and students with disabilities.
This year's Promise Neighborhoods directors meeting brought together administrators, evaluators, and practitioners to strengthen relationships, forge new ties, and expand the knowledge of how to truly construct a cradle-to-career promise in communities.
Don't miss these new reports from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES): data on postsecondary tuition, fees, and degrees;characteristics of private schools in the U.S.; and national and state-level revenues and expenditures for public elementary and secondary education.
"America's Children 2013," prepared by the 22 federal agencies of the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics (including NCES), is a compendium of the latest data and trends on children and their families. This year's report contains a special feature on the kindergarten year.
Quote to Note
"Ultimately, the challenges to our higher education system can only be met via a shared partnership with clear responsibilities, involving all levels of government, institutions, and students, as well as the business, education, labor, and philanthropic communities. It's time to end the buck-passing and blame game, where college leaders blame high schools for sending ill-prepared students, high school principals blame the elementary schools, elementary school principals blame the preschool programs, and preschool teachers blame the parents. At every stage from cradle through career, our students are always our students.... There must be no more cracks to fall through. Collectively, we must own both the challenges and the solutions."
|Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (7/9/13), on the coming crossroads in higher education
Upcoming Events
On July 25, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will hold a live, public webinar on music learning and brain development. This is the latest webinar hosted by the NEA's Interagency Task Force on the Arts and Human Development, an alliance of 17 federal agencies and offices that encourage more and better research on how the arts help people reach their full potential at all stages of life. Please register in advance.
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Director Andrea Falken and Special Advisor to the Secretary Don Yu will visit Green Ribbon Schools in New England July 29 and 30, as part of the second leg of the agency's "Education Built to Last" Facilities Best Practices Tour. (A blog post on the first leg in Alabama is here.) The tour is highlighting school building and grounds design, construction, operations, and management to support health, educational outcomes, equity, energy efficiency, and cost savings. (Note: States are asked to indicate their intent to participate in next year's U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools competition, nominating up to four schools and a district, by sending a message to email@example.com before August 1.)
Register today for the 2013 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week Conference, September 26 and 27 in Washington, D.C. Approximately 600 representatives from black colleges and universities, federal agencies, corporations, and foundations are expected to participate in discussions on issues of interest for the HBCU community.
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text:
Adventure of Meno by Tony & Angela DiTerlizzi
Book 1: Big Fun!
Book 2: Wet Friend!
Simon & Schuster; Oct. 09; 48pp; $9.99 HC
978-1416971481 / 978-1416971498
Core Audience: giggly children 2-6 and retro-loving adults
Strengths: Appealing square trim, poppy visual approach, silliness
It's been awhile since I've had a chance to talk about books, partly because all of the industry upheaval this year has directed my attention to larger issues, and partly because I am in the middle of writing a book myself. So it was a real pleasure to tear open an envelope recently and have these two books tumble out.
Just the antidote to too much heavy thinking.
Meet Meno, the supercute space-elf hero of Tony & Angela Diterlizzi's new series for the peepers. With his green beanie, irrepressible cowlick, and nifty sweater & tie set, Meno is the embodiment of My Three Sons meets Dennis the Menace with a pinch of Japanese-inspired Friends With You thrown in for good measure.
Tony and Angela have said they were inspired by lots of mid-century influences when creating these books. Things like "Little Golden Books, old Fisher-Price toys, and vintage cereal boxes" as well as funny words like pickle, weasel and spork. They must have had a lot of fun doing this project, and it shows. Populated with friends like Yamagoo, Wishi, and—my favorite—Zanzibar who lives in his HAPPY FUN BOWL, Meno's world is full of interesting names to roll around on the tongue.
Presented in "Vibrant MENO-COLOR" the books' clean layout, punchy full bleed art, and bouncy text add up to a high-style package that will be equally at home on a children's bookshelf or a pop-culture lover's coffee table.
Because of their strong aesthetic and minimal, playful text, it would be easy to dismiss these books as a design exercise, but that would be a big mistake. In our house we've tested these books on a range of ages from 2 to 8 (as well as 40) with great success. We've even adopted some "menoisms" into our daily routine. We sometimes drink "moo juice" and like Meno, we always want it to be "sunshine time" at our house.
This cheeky series may not appeal to all parents, especially those who are overly concerned with the occasional silly potty joke or creative play with language. Dick and Jane do not make an appearance in Meno's world, but that's part of the appeal. These books will entertain in direct proportion to an adult's willingness to get goofy. They fall into the same category as tickle tag, making silly faces, and rolling around on the floor. Lots of fun, and a great opportunity to share some all-ages giggles.
Meno is BIG FUN for sure.
Rating: 8.5
Bonus videos:
Tony & Angela discuss the project
Tony and Angela read Meno (I especially like their rendition of the diminutive farts at the end. So silly!)
Buy these books from your Local Indie Bookstore


text:
This Operator Reviews
|Flip Laffoon - from United States
|currently unavailable
|rating 5/5
|I absolutely fell in love with South Africa, and I really did not want to come home!
Cape Town is a magical city, and I loved all of the activities we did and sights we saw; the winter weather was even fairly cooperative! Umlani was absolutely exceptional; the staff there is so warm and friendly and knowledgeable, the grounds are lovely and comfortable, and the bush drives through the Timbavati Game Reserve were one of the true highlights of my (almost) four weeks in Africa!
In fact, I loved both Cape Town and Timbavati so much that I don't think it will be too long before I return!
|Tim Barker - from United Kingdom
|Cape Town, Kruger Park Safari & Victoria Falls
|rating 4.5/5
|Our itinerary was customised to include what we wanted to see and do and it was a trip of a lifetime!
Kruger was great. The animals did their bit by showing up! We saw more than we could have hoped for. Accommodation fine. Our guide was fabulous. Friendly from the outset, courteous, helpful, well informed and good fun too. I cannot speak highly enough of him. Did all we could have hoped for and more.
Karongwe was brilliant, fantastic. Great animal viewing. Evans (our guide) was great as was Joel (our tracker). All staff great. We were really happy with this.
Victoria Falls were incredible. Spent a good couple of hours just wandering round and taking photos. Great. We then had a walk over the bridge which was an interesting experience, not at all like I had read about. The Zambezi cruise was great. Following trip from airport we literally only had time to dump cases in room, brush teeth, freshen up etc so was a bit rushed but the cruise was very relaxing. The staff on the boat were lovely. Free alcohol helped. The trip was better for being on a smaller boat. Chatted to other guests who gave some helpful tips re Victoria Falls itself etc.
Chobe was great. Nice food. Friendly staff. River cruise good but not in same league as Zambezi despite more animals to see. Walter, our guide, was very friendly and knowledgeable.
A fantastic holiday that will leave us great memories forever. Will do it again some day, hopefully in the not too distant future, with some variations I'm sure.
|A. Deacon-Morey - from United States
|currently unavailable
|rating 4.5/5
|Communication with them was fluid, they customised an itinrary to be a private 4 four day Garden Route tour for us as well as several full days tours from Cape Town.
They were very accommodating to our requests and assigned our group a very knowledgeable and experienced tour guide/driver (Seppie Bornman).
We were very satisfied with his services. We had a wonderful trip!
We would like to thank The Africa Guide team for offering us this tour operator as a reliable and professional tour operator for our recent trip to South Africa
|Peter & Wendy Collins - from Australia
|Cape Town, Kruger Park Safari & Victoria Falls
|rating 5/5
|We arrived back home last night and just wanted to say thank you to the tour operator for organising such a wonderful trip.
We had a fantastic time seeing your beautiful country and we really appreciate how everything ran so smoothly.
The trip was perfect!
Organising all the pick ups and transfers – these were fantastic and all worked like clock-work and certainly took the stress out of arriving in a new city. The transfer drivers were all punctual and courteous and helpful.
The tours – we enjoyed all the tours around Cape Town and the Beaches/Cape Point etc.
Kruger Park – this was a fabulous 4 days. Thanks to Jantjie for his attention to detail and for expert wildlife advice. He was attentive and knowledgeable and made the time very interesting and enjoyable. We saw so many interesting animals, large and small!
Vic Falls – thanks so much for the advice re going to the Zimbabwe side rather than Zambia and for the excellent accommodation selection. Vic Falls Hotel was exceptional and we were so thrilled to stay there. The Falls were magnificent and we were grateful to see them at this time of year in peak flow. A highlight of our trip!
The air fares within Africa all worked out well and although Fly Africa is a budget airline, we were very happy with the flights and service.
So, thanks again for a wonderful service, right from our first enquiries with you, through to all the itinerary and details worked out for us.
|Tricia Maxwell - from United States
|5 Days Kruger Park & Luxury Safari Lodge Combo
|rating 5/5
|We had a wonderful vacation in South Africa thanks to the safari operator.
They provided excellent service from start to finish. They were very attentive and were willing to work with me to come up with the best itinerary that would fit my budget and time. I would use their services again, and highly recommend them to others.
I give the operator a 10.
|Sally & Scott Johnson - from United States
|Kruger Park Budget Safari 3-5 Days
|rating 5/5
|It was a wonderful experience and the setting, facilities and staff were fantastic!
Andre was great and incredibly knowledgeable - we enjoyed the 14 hours on the road with him! Please pass along our thanks to him.
|Pauline Harwood - from Canada
|Cape Town - Kruger Park - Victoria Falls Luxury
|rating 5/5
|We had a great trip in SA and beyond. All went very smoothly and seemed effortless. Trouble with Africa is that once you have been there you want to keep returning!
Everything was terrific and we really enjoyed Gomo Gomo and the laid back atmosphere and the great people running it, and also the suggestion of the Zambezi Sun was a good one. We had a holiday to remember!
I would give the tour operator themselves a 10 - everything went very smoothly and on one occasion when a pick up was going to be half an hour late they phoned the hotel to let us know. Good service with Carina, our travel planner.
|Edward & Jade Chong - from Canada
|Cape Town - Kruger Park - Victoria Falls Luxury
|rating 5/5
|We've returned from a trip of a lifetime, it was thoroughly fabulous.
The tour operator managed to take care of every aspect of our trip and the itinerary was fantastic.
Each of the safari destinations were unique and your selection was superb. We'd be hard pressed to decide on just one and thus the three selected were perfect. Cape Town and Victoria Falls were also incredible travel destinations.
We cannot thank the operator enough and sincerely appreciate their experience and efforts.
We will not hestitate to use your services in the future, nor will we hestitate to reccomend your services.
|Steven Christopher - from United States
|Authentic BIG5 Kruger Park Safari - Classic African Safari Camp
|rating 5/5
|I had a great time on my safari adventure in southern Africa. The arrangements all worked perfectly for me, and they were pretty complicated as I had seven different lodging venues and all the transportation moving between them required.
I particularly enjoyed my stays n the Timbavati Private Game Preserve, and in Thornybush Private Game Reserve. The animal viewing was fantastic and the experiences provided by the staffd members and facilities were really first rate.
The trip exceeded my already high expectations, as you would expect since an African safari was No. 1 on my "bucket list."
|Jeannie - from United States
|currently unavailable
|rating 5/5
|Trains, animals and food are some of the few passions I have in life (not necessarily in that order).
My decision to go to South Africa was mainly to experience an intimate encounter with wildlife in an environment that is as close to their natural environment as possible. My initial contact was to inquire about a package tour that was advertised on the Africa Guide that includes the Blue Train, Big 5 Safari and Cape Town. From the very beginning, Cecil was the specialist that took care of me. I knew what I wanted from the trip but the challenge was to design an itinerary that would accommodate time constraints (the trip was a last minute decision and I had to be back home by certain date) and to include the Blue Train with its limited time schedule. Cecil worked hard in designing several itineraries to best fit my schedule and budget. All throughout, Cecil was always very patient and replied professionally and promptly to all of my questions.
I didn't know what to expect from the trip as I had never travelled to any countries in Africa. All of the tour guides were very professional, knowledgeable, prompt, pleasant, and friendly. Cape Town was beautiful and the people felt genuinely nice. Being in the Blue Train was quite an experience. It's the perfect backdrop for an Agatha Christie's novel - mysterious, elegant, and classic. Service was superb and the train was truly a moving 5-star hotel.
The safari is a photographer's dream. There were so many momentous events to capture. I am still dumbfounded as to how close we can get to these wild animals. Pierre and Service, the assigned ranger and trekker were quite a team. They tracked all Big 5 and many other wildlife. Pierre was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the region. It's always gratifying to learn from one who shows much enthusiasm in his field.
I learn so much about the history and peoples of South Africa. Of course the opinions of the history, culture and points of view differ in range with people from different backgrounds and economic status. All politics aside, South Africans were very approachable, courteous and warm. Overall, it was a spectacular and unforgettable experience.
From a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being top marks) I give this trip a score of 10!
|Martin Rains - from United Kingdom
|14 Day Cape Town, Garden Route, Kruger Park
|rating 5/5
|I had an excellent time and really enjoyed myself to the point that I am looking at returning next year.
|Pamela Davidson - from United States
|Cape Town, Kruger Park Safari & Victoria Falls
|rating 5/5
|Thank you for a amazing trip. It was more than I thought it would be. I did so much and saw so many awesome animals , I saw four of the big five. The places I stayed was great. Cliff Top was one of my favorites , beautiful place and huge game farm for the animals. The staff was so nice there. The Ranger Sebastian was awesome and funny.
The Elephant Safari was a highlight as well as the great tour of Cape Town. Cape Town is a great city. I went to the waterfront thanks for the suggestion I got to spend a good amount of time there. Thanks again. Also the drivers were nice and great also. Everything went smooth with the transfers.
Great tour company and they did a great job.
|Antonio Gueli - from Italy
|Cape Town, Kruger Park Safari & Victoria Falls
|rating 5/5
|We enjoyed a wonderful safari holiday thanking the competence and the seriousness of the tour operator and of our guide/interpreter/driver Mrs.Carla Dogliani.
Everything was perfect !
|JosephineTan - from Singapore
|3 Days Victoria Falls ex Johannesburg or Cape Town
|rating 5/5
|I just returned from the most wonderful holiday in Africa! It's my first visit and it will certainly not be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, from camping at Victoria Falls to Safari at Kruger and finally at the most beautiful Cape Town.
The operator was helpful. He was very responsive from the beginning and I am very grateful for his help in booking 4days/3 nights at a tent at Waterfront Resort, Livingstone, Zambia. The arrangement including transfer from OR Tambo was flawless and it was a very auspicious start of my holiday :-)
Now I am planning my next trip to Africa and will certainly turn to your website for ideas and suggestions. Thank you for the great site and keep up the good work.
|Shari Smith - from United States
|Cape Town, Kruger Park Safari & Victoria Falls
|rating 5/5
|The trip was WONDERFUL! We had a FABULOUS time and we would do it all over again!
The whole thing was VERY organized! Right from the start, Cecil, was great at answering our questions and staying in contact with us!
The tour guides were fun and professional, the hotels were perfect (some fancy and some bungalows), the food was good and the tours/safaris were exactly what we were looking for (not too fast and not too slow)! I would highly recommend both a trip to Africa and using this operator to go!
|Daniele Doyle - from Germany
|Cape Town - Kruger Park - Victoria Falls Luxury
|rating 5/5
|The operator took care of my every need for my first trip to Africa. I was a bit nervous traveling as a single female, but they made all the arrangements and everything was taken care of for me.
My safari in Kruger Park was unforgettable. Marc's Treehouse Lodge fit the occasion perfectly, although I did have a few unwanted guests the first evening :-). The hostess was very sweet, the food delicious, and the safari exciting. The guides were not only knowledgeable but anyone could tell they were completely dedicated and enthralled with their jobs. That made our safari even more special.
Victoria Falls was breathtaking. The tour on the falls and the river cruise just made the experience that more memorable. I have photographs of scenes that I could never have imagined. Again, the accommodations at the Zambezi Sun were lovely and the food excellent. The staff were helpful, always polite and always with a smile.
Cape Town speaks for itself. Africa definitely is a place of surprises. First a safari, then to the falls, then on to a bustling metropolis with a small town flair. Only in Africa :-). Both guides in Cape Town were phenomenal!! They answered every question and more. They were as excited as their guests to show them their town and all the beautiful sites. They made my stay that much more special.
I want to personally thank Cecil and all his Team for making my first trip to Africa as memorable as I knew it would be. I will definitely return and hope to build more fond memories...and hope to bring my family and friends along too.
|Nicole Benko - from Switzerland
|Cape Town, Kruger Park Safari & Victoria Falls
|rating 4.5/5
|The Safari was great. Everything was organised well. Thank you very much again.
|Nancy King - from United States
|currently unavailable
|rating 5/5
|I recently completed a short safari, staying at Marc's Treehouse Lodge. The whole process went like clockwork from the start. Being a single female traveler, I was concerned about safety, but I truly had no need to worry.
Everything from my travel to Johannesburg and hotel accomodations there to transportation to the camp and back to the hotel was was well orchestrated through the operator.
Marc's Treehouse Lodge was a little more rustic than I expected, but the treehouse was fun and thoroughly adequate with a very comfortable bed, electricity, and en suite facilites. The little tree frog who shared the shower with me served as a reminder that I was indeed in the African bush! Monkeys and amazing birdsong were the morning alarm clock and stembok were grazing right by my porch! What a treat!
The food was simple, traditional cooking and absolutely delicious. The staff members at the lodge were delightful and totally concerned with the comfort of the guests. Getting to know the other guests was lovely and we quickly became a congenial group. I especially enjoyed chatting with our guide Lorey.
I had one day in Krueger Park and what an amazing day it was- we saw the big 5 and so much more. The guide for my vehicle was very interesting, fun, and knowledgable- I'll never forget how to identify impala, kudu, and waterbok from his whimsical technique!
All in all it was an wonderful and unforgettable experience and I wish I had been able to stay longer!
|Rosi & KG - from Australia
|Cape Town, Kruger Park Safari & Victoria Falls
|rating 5/5
|We loved our South Africa trip immensely and would like to thank the tour operator for bringing my 50th birthday trip together.
We were so happy with Andre who was our guide for half the trip. He was a wealth of information and looked after us ever so well and made us feel very at home.
My goal was to not only see an 'ingwe' but to get lots of beautiful pictures, so thank you Cecil & Andre for helping me achieve this.
Hope to be back again one day.
|Robert and Barbara Brown - from United States
|currently unavailable
|rating 5/5
|My wife and I recently utilized them on a tour of South Africa, Zambia and Botswana and can't say enough goods things about our holiday.
Cecil and his team put together a wonderful customized tour that exceeded our expectations. We tend to try and avoid the large packaged tours and look for guide services that can provide more individualized service. When faced with making choices another hemisphere away over the internet this can be challenging.
No worries, all the choices, be they transfers, accommodations or tours were of great value and high quality.
I would,(and have) no problem recommending Cecil and the team highly and to hopefully one day utilize them and visit their wonderful country again.