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We make the case for watch winders and the one brand that manages to avoid the most common winder-related problems
If one has a beginning interest in collecting watches, it is important to consider the problem of watch movement. The automatic movement of a mechanical watch is usually wound when on the wearer's wrist. If kept stationary for too long, the watch imposes on its owner the tedious habit of resetting the time, which after an extended period will break the watch's mechanism altogether. But a collector can't be wearing a watch all the time. What if he owns several pieces?
Enter WOLF, a company originally famous as a maker of fine jewellry boxes but now widely recognized as the world leader in the design and production of technically advanced automatic watch winders and boxes.
There isn't much room to explain what watch winders do. They wind watches when the wearer isn't. But there are plenty of issues that surround the mechanics of these devices, and a watch winder that overwinds or magnetizes watches is sure to turn off any starting collector to the idea of watch winders. WOLF's inventory of watch winders are specifically designed to avoid the most common faults of watch winders.
In the manufacturing stage, all winders are carefully tested to ensure that it gives off low electrical fields to avoid magnetizing timepieces. Its incorporation of composite material seals the gearbox and ensures that WOLF winders are the most silent watch winders on the market. One of the most notable visible features of WOLF watch winders is that all of them can be pre-set to wind for a specific amount of time before going on sleep phases, preventing the watch from being overwound.
Having made its way into the Philippine market, WOLF hopes to encourage more customers to become watch collectors. WOLF offers seven different models, depending on watch capacity and material. Its entry level model, Cub, allows beginning watch collectors to smart small and care for individual pieces. Meanwhile the Meridian is made from fine wood and can wind up to three watches at a time. WOLF also offers stylish watch boxes to protect and organize your collection.
WOLF is available in Lucerne Shangri-la, Lucerne Cebu, Lucerne Glorietta 4, Lucerne Solaria, Chronos Megamall, Chronos Glorietta 3, Chorines SM Mall of Asia, Swiss Gear Greenbelt 1, Swiss Gear Greenhills, Swiss Gear Trinoma, Swiss Gear Cebu, Adora, Elemento SM Aura, Le Temps Resorts World, and Winder Wonders in 6750 Makati.


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The second trailer for the new season of Counting On is here, and it looks like it's going to be one heck of a ride. The previews shows clips of newly engaged Jinger Duggar and Jeremy Vuolo, including what appears to be a fairy tale proposal.
We already knew that Jinger and Jeremy's courtship was going to be a major plot point on Counting On this season, but it looks like we're going to get a really intimate look at their relationship -- including the proposal.
More from CafeMom: Jill Duggar Shares Intimate Moment Between Jinger & Jeremy for All to See
Jer's got game! Not only did he pop the question on a New York City rooftop, but he even had live music on hand as well. The Duggar family is hugely into music (all the kids play piano and various other instruments), so this was an especially touching detail.
In between clips of Jeremy ring-shopping with soon to be brother-in-law Ben Seewald, and a briefest preview of the purported proposal, Jeremy gushed about Jinger. "It's been very clear to me that this is the woman that I want to marry," he said.
More from CafeMom: Jinger Duggar & Jeremy Vuolo Broke a Sacred Courtship Rule
They haven't announced a date yet, but we're positive that they are already full steam ahead with their wedding plans. It's clear they're nuts about each other in the preview. And during a couples interview for the camera, Jinger even coyly reveals, "I think the fast track is always better," while staring dreamily into his eyes.
Joy-Anna Duggar 18, also piped up on the subject, saying, "I think that Jinger and Jeremy's courtship is going to be pretty fast."
Given the Duggar tradition of short engagements, we don't doubt it.
Image via thejingerduggar/Instagram


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James Shu
James Shu has extensive experience in capital markets, financial advisory and investment management as well as investor relations. He has experience in M&A advisory for small cap publicly traded healthcare companies and has handled investor relations functions for publicly traded companies in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry.
Mr. Shu's experience includes work at a hedge fund with a fundamental investment strategy focusing on high yield corporate fixed income. His professional experience includes investment analysis and research, capital raises and marketing. Mr. Shu has a strong analytical background focusing on review and analysis of financial statements, capital structures, and conducting due diligence activities with management teams. His investor base includes family office clients, investment consultants, fund of funds and endowments.
Mr. Shu graduated from the University of Miami, where he received his B.B.A. in business administration with a double major in management and finance.


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Hi, I'm Sara!
A Catholic wife, mathematician, former teacher, sometimes artist, and mom of 4 who loves the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. When I visit Jesus in Adoration, I write my prayers down to help me stay focused.
And then I bring it to you.
I'm here to open wide the doors of my heart and let you in on my joys, my struggles, my questions, and my life lessons. I invite you to pray and reflect along with me. Together, we can lift our mind and hearts to God, seeking to walk the path of holiness He sets before us.
Please introduce yourself in the comments below, and don't be shy to stop in and say "hi" on social media!
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The monthly Virtue Challenge is a devotion that's dear to my heart. When I realized I was trying to do all-the-things… to perfect every virtue… root out every sin… I was overwhelmed with my lack of progress. And then it hit me – hey, what if I focus on just one virtue each month? And for a whole month, learn about that virtue, pray for it, practice it. These challenges have helped me make real progress in my spiritual life. To discover and remedy my weaknesses. But I'm still far from perfect, so I'll be repeating these challenges year after year. I hope you will join me for the challenges, and for more support, get in on the Virtue Challenge Team group on Facebook.
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Sunday is the Lord's day… but how do we set it apart from every other day of the week? Sometimes, just by going to Mass for an hour in the morning, then business as usual. But I decided I want more. I don't want to walk away from Mass and forget the readings, the homily, the grace I've been given through God's Word and His very Body. I want to carry Him with me in my heart, truly devoting the day to loving Him. Join me every Sunday on Instagram or Facebook to read #MyMassTakeaway: a summary of the thoughts and reflections I bring home from Mass. Use hashtag #MyMassTakeaway to join the conversation!
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My goal is always to keep it as simple as possible and to have both comfort and healthy to kind of balance each other.
Most of the time I serve this with fish or chicken, but It does go very well with meatballs, too.
You can't really go wrong with it…sauteed it with spinach or serve it separately, perhaps adding more veggies or kale instead of spinach.
Couscous with Spinach
Serves 4 (potion size /or 2 bigger sizes)
- 2 cups Couscous pearl pasta +1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. unsalted butter
- 10 oz Spinach,
- 3-4 Basil leaves, fresh
- 1 Tbs. Olive Oil or butter
- 3 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 tsp. Dried Italian Herbs(mix)
- Sea salt to taste
- Boil water with salt and butter for couscous. Cook as directed on the package. It's more steaming after water boils so follow directions.
- Boil water for Spinach and blanch for minute or two; drain, put it under cold water and then try to remove liquid by squeezing it out of the spinach. If you use frozen defrost completely, and squeeze any water out.
- In saute pan add olive oil or butter, minced garlic, then add blanched/defrosted spinach, dried Italian herbs, few pinches of salt to taste, stir-fry for few minutes. Stir and try to break spinach while sauteing.
- Drain couscous and add it with the sauteed spinach, break basil leaves and add in the pan; You can add more butter. *Also you can serve it separately from spinach just by draining couscous and adding little garlic powder and butter on top in the pan with the couscous. Stir and serve with spinach on the side.
- Serve Hot and immediately.
You can add cooked chicken cubes or any other protein.
You can use pasta –any type of pasta!
Sandra's Easy Cooking by sandraseasycooking.com is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at sandraseasycooking.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at email@example.com.


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Rio Ferdinand has provided an insight into his gruelling boxing training regime with a video posted online.
The former Manchester United centre-back, who is taking up the sport two years after retiring from football, is seen performing bear crawls with weights.
He posted the clip to his Instagram page, updating his followers on the progress he has been making since announcing the news.
Ferdinand, who now works as a pundit with BT Sport, was recently contacted by former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
He responded to Ferdinand's comment that he has won Premier League titles with Manchester United, but is now looking to win a belt.
"Looking forward to seeing this," tweeted Fury. "From football star to boxing star, if you need any tips on being a bad a** call me. Good luck."
And Tyson isn't the only professional boxer Ferdinand has been conversing with in recent weeks. The 38-year-old has plans to spar with Britain's heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua.
"We were on a plane together and he offered to help me," said Ferdinand. "He invited me to the gym for sparring. He's the only one I've spoken to about it, I told him before it was announced.
"He said, 'You've got a good reach, man, you'll be able to keep people off! I had one of the best nights in a sports arena, outside of playing, when I saw him fight Wladimir Klitschko.
"Carl Froch has also offered to come in and give me a bit of knowledge here and there, which will be welcomed."


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Yate youth clubs saved from funding axe
Local councillors have welcomed the news that South Gloucestershire Council has pulled back from major cuts to youth services in Yate. Youth clubs had been told that funding to St Nicholas Youth Centre at Abbotswood would be cut by 65%, together with significant cuts to Brimsham Green Youth Centre.
After concerted lobbying from local councillors South Gloucestershire has now guaranteed funding for another year.
Dodington Parish Councillor Paul Hulbert said "South Glos seemed to think that because the Youth Café will be open in a few months time, local services could automatically be scaled back. The Youth Café was never a replacement for existing youth clubs, all along it was intended as an exciting new facility for our young people"
"As a councillor for a ward with one of the highest proportions of young people in South Glos, I was appalled at the prospect of St Nicks being cut to just a couple of 'pool and pop nights'. Without adequate funding there is no way that local youth work can be developed and improved to tackle existing problems in Abbotswood and the surrounding area"
Yate Town Councillor Chris Willmore said "I am relieved that proposals to cut funding to St Nicks and Brimsham have been dropped from the Conservatives' draft Budget"
"All the groups providing youth services in Yate have been working together, and as chair of the Youth Cafe Project I am delighted that funding has been continued for St Nicholas for another year. When we heard it was under threat, all our local councils united to support the project"
South Gloucestershire Councillor Ruth Davis (Lib Dem, Yate Central) said "This is an excellent result for Yate. It means that the new youth cafe can be opened based on what the new users want rather than be expected to cover evening sessions that were previously covered by Brimsham and St Nicholas Youth Clubs".
"It's really important that young residents decide what they would like provided, and when, for all three centres to be successful"
South Gloucestershire Council has said that funding for local youth centres will now be reviewed again after the Youth Café has been open for a year.


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posted: Jun 03, 2016
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Returning to New Zealand? Discover these hidden gems
A return visit to New Zealand is the perfect chance to hit all the spots you couldn't fit in the last time round - and a few you may not have known existed
Ohau Waterfall, Kaikoura
It's a short journey from Christchurch to Kaikoura (2.5 hours) and the Ohau waterfall, just north of Kaikoura. This is a short walk to a stunning waterfall where you can encounter seals. Follow SH1 and as the road descends towards the coast look out for the signpost indicating the Ohau Stream and Waterfall Walkway.
Te Waikoropupū (or Pupu Springs), Golden Bay, Nelson
Check out the largest freshwater springs in New Zealand and the largest cold water springs in the Southern Hemisphere – these amazing hidden gems of the northern South Island contain some of the clearest water ever measured. To local Māori, Te Waikoropupū Springs are a taonga (treasure) and wāhi tapu, a place held in high cultural and spiritual regard. A great place to wander around and soak up the natural beauty. The springs are well signposted from State Highway 60, near the town of Takaka.
Glowworm Caves in Charleston
Easily accessible from the West Coast you can experience an ancient wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites and galaxies of Glowworms - all in their natural unspoilt state, the way the cavers first discovered them. Just south of Westport, this is one of the largest such displays in New Zealand.
Mou Waho Island, Wanaka
Accessible only by boat from Wanaka, this is one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand. Guided walks are available. You can walk to see a lake at the top of the beautiful island – a lake within an island within a lake within an island!
Bob's Cove, Queenstown
Known by local Maori as Te Punatapo meaning 'the sacred waters'. Here you can discover stunning lakeshore walks, historic sites, swimming beaches and fantastic fishing.
Gemstone Beach, Orepuki, Western Southland
With some of the best surf New Zealand has to offer, this is known as Gemstone Beach because it is in a constant state of change, with the surface shifting from sand to stones with the storms and tides. 'Gems' have often been found on the beach, and your fossicking is guaranteed to uncover some very interesting stones and geological wonders.
Tunnel Beach, Dunedin
Visit the stunning and evocative Tunnel Beach, where you will feel like you are in a Victorian novel. In the 1870s John Cargill, a son of Captain William Cargill, excavated a tunnel down to a secluded beach so that the Cargill families could bathe in privacy. It has been called the most romantic spot in Dunedin.
Moeraki Lighthouse, Waitaki
Sea birds are a feature of Katiki Point Wildlife Management Reserve, and none are more popular than the yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho and little penguin/kororā. The rock platforms below support a large colony of New Zealand fur seals/kekeno.
Hydro Canal Road, Lake Tekapo
Take a detour to the crystal clear waters of the canals - they reflect the dramatic mountain scenery and are home to a number of salmon farms - don't forget to catch a salmon for dinner!
Ancient Maori Rock Art, South Canterbury
Ancient limestone caves and overhanging rock shelves have formed hundreds of ancient natural art galleries, used for centuries by local Maori to tell the stories of their lives.
Adventure & Adrenalin at Peel Forest, South Canterbury
An oasis of beauty and tranquillity set amid the dense virgin bush of Peel Forest Park, on the south bank of the Rangitata River. Try white-water rafting with Rangitata Rafts, kayaking with Alps2Ocean or canyoning with Big Rock Canyons.


text: This is a small slice of a banana peel I ate that morning. I had to use a knife to start the slice thin enough but then I ripped the rest of it to get a more realistic pattern. I was having trouble getting the glass slides to work for me so it is just mounted on a paper slide like my last one.


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The Art of the Han Dynasty › Amarna › Amarna Letters » Origins and History
Articles and Definitions › Contents
- The Art of the Han Dynasty › Origins
- Amarna › Origins
- Amarna Letters › Origins
Ancient civilizations › Historical places, and their characters
The Art of the Han Dynasty › Origins
Ancient Civilizations
Author: Mark Cartwright
The art of the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) of ancient China is characterised by a new desire to represent everyday life and the stories from history and mythology familiar to all. The arts were fuelled both by a political stability with its consequent economic prosperity and the development and highly successful combination of brushes, ink, and paper. Calligraphy, painting, lacquerware production, and jade carving were just some of the areas Han artists pushed forward the boundaries of what was possible to make technically and what was desired aesthetically by the ever-increasing number of art connoisseurs.
Han Jade Burial Suit
The art historian Mary Tregear gives the following summary of how art evolved under the Han:
Whereas in previous ages art had been associated with rituals and ceremonies, gradually evolving into a decorative expression of social status, the art first of the Qin and then of the Han is concerned with myths and everyday life. It was from the outset both a narrative and an expressive art. (50)
The Han, like the brief Qin dynasty before them, had acquired a vast swathe of Asia which encompassed many varied cultures, belief systems, and myths. Han rulers realised that art could be a useful tool in collecting this heritage together and presenting a unified and comprehensibly "Chinese" view of the world. People and daily-life, especially hunting, farming, fishing, and landscape scenes, became very popular. Decorative motifs abounded and became highly stylised in border decorations whose uniformity suggests the use of pattern books in the larger urban workshops. These motifs are especially prominent on pottery, lacquerware, and bronze mirrors.
Developments in paper and the use of brushes and inks led to a boom in writing, which in turn created a need for illustrations of those texts. Indeed, these two art forms: painting and calligraphy would remain the two most important forms of artistic expression in China for the next two millennia. Engraved calligraphy was already well developed, and styles had evolved on surfaces such as bronze, stone, and bone, but the fluidity of paper and brush would lead to many more new styles of writing over the following centuries.
Han Figure Painting
Using animal hair brushes and ink which was a mix of compressed pine carbon and thinned glue, calligraphers were now only limited by their imagination. Some writing styles produced flamboyant characters, others were heavy, some mixed heavy and light strokes, while still others were designed for speed. The composition of the characters together on the page was also an important consideration. Eventually, a whole connoisseurship developed amongst the Chinese literati, and excellent writing skills became essential for anyone wishing to be taken seriously by their peers.
Silk had long been used as a medium for painting, but the increase in paper use and the greater availability of books were certainly a factor in the increase in paintings. Another reason for paintings' popularity was the stability provided by the Han government and the consequent accumulation of wealth by its more fortunate citizens. Wealthy individuals became both patrons and consumers of fine artworks. This demand led to innovations and experimentation in art, and one such area to benefit was figure painting.
Portraits became common, especially of filial sons but not only, with people of all kinds appearing on the stone walls, lintels and pillars of tombs, and on everyday objects like small boxes, and on coffins. One of the most celebrated examples of Han portraiture is from a basket discovered in the Lolang commandery in North Korea. The sides of the basket have panels with 7.5 cm (3 inches) high painted figures of famous historical personalities all of whom are labelled. Here, as elsewhere in Han painting, human figures are presented either in profile or three-quarter view.
Han Women, Dahuting Tomb.
Chinese painters began to portray narrative scenes in their work even before the more mature approach was brought to China by Buddhist monks from India along the Silk Road. This was especially seen in tomb wall paintings and on lacquer-painted wooden panels. Very often there are multiple scenes arranged either horizontally or vertically as they would have appeared if painted on a silk or paper scroll. An outstanding example is the c. 168 BCE portrayal of the various levels of human existence from the underworld to the heavens in the hanging discovered at the Mawangdui caves at Changsha.
Landscape painting would not come to the fore until the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 CE) but its beginnings were in the Han period and they probably stemmed from the popular depictions of the heavens. As with Chinese painting in general, the aim of the artist was not to copy exactly reality but always to represent the essence of a subject. For this reason, most scenes are painted from multiple perspectives, as opposed to the single viewpoint more common in Western art. Colour-shading was not used, even if Chinese artists were aware of it. Rather, the use of thinner and broader brush lines was the preferred method of providing depth to a painting.
Bricks were stamped and carved, as was stone, with relief scenes similar to those seen in paintings and are particularly common in tombs. This was a new departure for Chinese art, creating permanent artworks in durable materials. The finest examples are from the Wu Liang Shrine at Jiaxiang. Dating to 151 CE or 168 CE there are some 70 relief slabs which carry scenes of battles and famous historical figures, such as Confucius, all identified by accompanying texts and covering a chronological Chinese history in a pictorial record similar to a history book.
A Chinese Servant Statue
Large figure sculptures are rare from the Han period, but there are some statues representing generals and officials which were stood outside their tombs. Smaller-scale works include cast bronze sculptures of horses which are common in 2nd-century CE Han tombs. These are usually depicted in full gallop with only one hoof resting on the base so that they almost appear to be flying.
Painted earthenware figurines of single standing women, men, and servants are common. Cast bronze was used to make small figurines and ornate incense burners. These were often inlaid with gold and silver or gilded. One superb piece is a gilded bronze oil-lamp in the form of a kneeling servant girl, which dates to the late 2nd century BCE.
Jade was especially esteemed for its rarity, durability, purity, and certain mystical qualities. The material was carved into all manner of animals, people, and mythical creatures. Han Jade carvers now used circular cutting drills and iron tools, but pieces often have a lower quality finish than previously, which suggests they were starting to be made quicker and on a larger scale of production. Another feature of Han jade sculpture is the use of flaws and impurities in the jade to make them part of the sculpture. From the 1st century BCE, a pure white jade became available from central Asia following the expansion of the Han empire.
Han Gilt Bronze Lamp
One unique but stunning art form was the creation of jade 'suits' to cover the body of the deceased in royal tombs. The 'suits' cover the contours of the body and are made from up to two thousand individually carved rectangular pieces of jade stitched together using gold or silver wire. Two outstanding examples come from the late 2nd century BCE tomb of Prince Liu Sheng and Princess Dou Wan at Mancheng. Reserved only for royalty, they nevertheless became so costly to produce that later rulers banned their use.
Developments in techniques and kilns led to both higher firing temperatures and the first glazed pottery during the Han period.Pottery, especially the vessels painted with a grey slip commonly found in Han tombs, very often imitated the shape and decoration of bronze vessels. Low circular jars with lids and tall vases with a bulbous body and narrow base are characteristic.A painted dragon, phoenix, or tiger was a popular choice of decoration. Clay was also used to produce small unglazed models of ordinary houses which were set in tombs to accompany the dead and, presumably, symbolically meet their need for a new home. The two-storey models are useful indicators of now lost mud and wood structures; many are complete with adjacent animal pen and figurines of their occupants and animals.
Han Dynasty Farm Model
Lacquer - a liquid of shellac and resin - was used to coat objects of wood and other material since the Neolithic period in China but, as with many other art forms, production took off under the Han. Indeed, the state sponsored and supervised the production of lacquerware, which now had different schools of lacquer art producing common forms but with recognisably distinct designs. Lacquerware commonly took the form of plates, cups, and jars and similarly imitated metal vessels, but they were decorated more elaborately, particularly with scenes of mythical creatures appearing from behind clouds and probably representing the spirit world of the afterlife.
Amarna › Origins
Definition and Origins
Author: Joshua J. Mark
Amarna is the modern Arabic name for the site of the ancient Egyptian city of Akhetaten, capital of the country under the reign of Akhenaten (1353-1336 BCE). The site is officially known as Tell el-Amarna, so-named for the Beni Amran tribe who were living in the area when it was discovered.
A 'tell' in archaeology is a mound created by the remains of successive human habitation of an area over a given number of years. As each new generation builds on the ruins of the previous one, their buildings rise in elevation to create an artificial hill.Amarna differs from the usual 'tell' in that it did not fall to a foreign power or earthquake and was never built over in antiquity; it was instead destroyed by order of the pharaoh Horemheb (c. 1320-1292 BCE) who sought to erase Akhenaten's name and accomplishments from history; afterwards its ruins lay in the plain by the Nile River for centuries and gradually was built on by others who lived nearby.
When he came to power, Akhenaten was a powerful king entrusted – as all kings were – with the maintenance of ma'at(harmony and balance) in the land. Ma'at was the central value of the culture which allowed all aspects of life to function harmoniously as they should. It came into being at the beginning of creation and so, naturally, a king's observance and maintenance of ma'at relied heavily on the proper veneration of the gods through traditional rites and rituals.
Although Akhenaten initially kept to this practice, in around the fifth year of his reign (c. 1348 BCE) he abolished the ancient Egyptian religion, closed the temples, and imposed his own monotheistic vision on the people. This innovation, though hailed by monotheists for the last hundred years, crippled the Egyptian economy (which relied heavily on the temples), distracted the king from foreign affairs, stagnated the military, and resulted in Egypt 's significant loss of status among neighboring lands.
It is for these reasons that Akhenaten's son and successor, Tutankhamun (c. 1336-1327 BCE), returned Egypt to traditional religious practices and rejected the monotheism of his father. He did not live long enough to complete the restoration of Egypt, however, and so this was accomplished by Horemheb. This era in Egypt's history is known as the Amarna Period and is usually dated from Akhenaten's reforms to Horemheb's reign: c. 1348 - c. 1320 BCE.
The god Akhenaten chose to replace all the others was not his own creation. Aten was a minor solar deity who personified the light of the sun. Egyptologist David P. Silverman points out how all Akhenaten did was elevate this god to the level of a supreme being and attribute to him the qualities once associated with Amun but without any of that god's personal characteristics. Silverman writes:
Unlike traditional deities, this god could not be depicted: the symbol of the sun disc with rays, dominating Amarna art, is nothing more than a large-scale version of the hieroglyph for 'light'. (128)
Akhenaten's one true god was light, the light of the sun, which sustained all life. Unlike the other gods, Aten was above human concerns and possessed no human weaknesses. As Akhenaten expresses in his Great Hymn to the Aten, his god could not be jealous or depressed or angry or act on impulse; he simply existed and, by that existence, caused all else to exist. A god this powerful and awe-inspiring could not be worshiped at any other god's repurposed temple nor even in any city which had known the worship of other deities; he required a new city built solely for his honor and adoration.
This city was Akhetaten, built midway between the traditional capitals of Memphis in the north and Thebes in the south.Boundary steles were erected at intervals around its perimeter which told the story of its founding. On one, Akhenaten records the nature of the site he chose:
Behold, it is Pharaoh, who found it – not being the property of a god, not being the property of a goddess, not being the property of a male ruler, not being the property of a female ruler, and not being the property of any people. (Snape, 155)
Other stelae and inscriptions make clear that the foundation of the city was entirely Akhenaten's initiative as an individual, not as a king of Egypt. A pharaoh of the New Kingdom of Egypt (c. 1570 - c. 1069 BCE) would issue a commission for the building of a city or temple or erection of obelisks or monuments in his royal name and for the glory of his particular god, but these projects were to benefit the nation collectively, not just the king. Akhenaten's city was built for the sole purpose of providing him with an elaborate sacred precinct for his god.
Akhetaten was laid out over six miles on the east bank of the Nile between the shore and the cliffs above Assiut. Some boundary stelae were carved directly into the cliffs with others free-standing on the far side of the city. The four main districts were the North City, Central City, Southern Suburbs, and Outskirts; none of these names were used to designate the locales in antiquity.
The North City was constructed around the Northern Palace where guests were received and Aten was worshiped. The royal family lived in apartments to the rear of the palace and the most opulent rooms, painted with outdoor scenes depicting the fertility of the Delta region, were dedicated to Aten who was thought to inhabit them. The palace had no roof – a common feature of the buildings at Akhetaten – as a gesture of welcome to Aten.
Amarna, Northern Palace
The Central City was designed around the Great Temple of Aten and the Small Temple of Aten. This was the bureaucratic center of the city where the administrators worked and lived. The Southern Suburbs was the residential district for the wealthy elite and featured large estates and monuments. The Outskirts were inhabited by the peasant farmers who worked the fields and on the tombs of the necropolis.
Akhenaten himself designed the city for his god, as his boundary stelae make clear, and refused suggestions or advice from anyone else, even his wife Nefertiti (c. 1370 - c. 1336 BCE). Precisely what kind of suggestions she may have made is unknown, but the fact that Akhenaten makes a point of stating that he did not listen to her advice would seem to indicate they were significant. Egyptologist Steven Snape comments:
It is obvious that the 'prospectus' for the new city carved on the boundary stelae is deeply concerned with describing the provision that will be made for the king, his immediate family, the god Aten, and those religious officials who were to be involved with the cult of the Aten. It is equally obvious that it utterly ignores the needs of the vast majority of the population of Amarna, people who would have been moved (possibly unwillingly) from their homes to inhabit the new city. (158)
Once Akhenaten moved his capital to Akhetaten, he focused his attention on the adoration of Aten and increasingly ignored affairs of state as well as the condition of the country outside of the city which was slipping into decline.
The Amarna Letters are cuneiform tablets discovered at Akhetaten in 1887 CE by a local woman who was digging for fertilizer. They are the correspondence found between the kings of Egypt and those of foreign nations as well as official documents from the period. The majority of these letters demonstrate that Akhenaten was an able administrator when a situation interested him personally but also that as his reign progressed he cared less and less for the responsibilities of a monarch.
In one letter, he strongly rebukes the foreign ruler Abdiashirta for his actions against another, Ribaddi (who was killed), and for his friendship with the Hittites who were then Egypt's enemy. This no doubt had more to do with his desire to keep friendly the buffer states between Egypt and the Land of the Hatti - Canaan and Syria, for example, which were under Abdiashirta's influence - than any sense of justice for the death of Ribaddi and the taking of Byblos.
The Amarna Letters
There is no doubt that his attention to this problem served the interests of the state but, as other similar issues were ignored, it seems that he only chose to address issues which affected him personally. Akhenaten had Abdiashirta brought to Egypt and imprisoned for a year until Hittite advances in the north compelled his release but there seems a marked difference between his letters dealing with this situation and other king's correspondence on similar matters.
While there are examples like this one of Akhenaten looking after state affairs, there are more which provide evidence of his disregard for anything other than his religious reforms and life in the palace. It should be noted, however, that this is a point often – and hotly - debated among scholars in the modern day, as is the whole of the so-called Amarna Period of Akhenaten's rule. Regarding this, Dr. Zahi Hawass writes:
More has been written on this period in Egyptian history than any other and scholars have been known to come to blows, or at least to major episodes of impoliteness, over their conflicting opinions. (35)
The preponderance of the evidence, both from the Amarna letters and from Tutankhamun's later decree, as well as archaeological indications, strongly suggests that Akhenaten was a very poor ruler as far as his subjects and vassal states were concerned and his reign, in the words of Hawass, was "an inward-focused regime that had lost interest in its foreign policy" (45).
Akhenaten saw himself and his wife not just as servants of the gods but the incarnation of the light of Aten. The art of the period depicts the royal family as strangely elongated and narrow and, while this has been interpreted by some as "realism" it is far more likely symbolism. To Akhenaten, the god Aten was unlike any other – invisible, all-powerful, omniscient, and transformative – and the art from the period would seem to reflect this belief in the curiously tall and thin figures depicted: they have been transformed by the touch of Aten.
The city flourished until Akhenaten's death; afterwards, Tutankhamun moved the capital back to Memphis and then to Thebes.Tutankhamun initiated the measures to reverse his father's policies and return Egypt to the former beliefs and practices which had maintained the culture and helped it develop for almost 2,000 years. Temples were reopened, and the businesses which depended upon them were renewed.
Tutankhamun died before he could finish these reforms, and they were carried on by his successor, the former vizier Ay, and then by Horemheb. Horemheb had been a general under Akhenaten and served him faithfully but disagreed vehemently with his religious reforms. When Horemheb came to the throne, Akhetaten was still standing (as evidenced by a shrine to him built there at this time) but it would not remain intact for long. He ordered the city razed and its remains dumped as fill for his own projects.
Relief of Horemheb
Horemheb was so dedicated to erasing the name and accomplishments of Akhenaten that he does not appear in any of Egypt's later historical records. Where he had to be cited it is only as "the heretic of Akhetaten" but never named and no reference made to his position as pharaoh.
The ruins of the city were first mapped and drawn in the 18th century CE by the French priest Claude Sicard. Other Europeans visited the site afterwards, and interest in the area was piqued after the discovery of the Amarna Letters. It was further explored and mapped in the late 19th century CE by Napoleon's corps of engineers during his Egyptian campaign, and this work attracted the attention of other archaeologists once the Rosetta Stone was deciphered and ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics could be read in c. 1824 CE. Akhenaten's name was therefore known but not his significance. It was not until archeologists in the early 20th century CE found the ruins Horemheb had dumped as fill that the story of Akhenaten was finally put together.
In the present day, the site is a wide, barren, expanse of ruined foundations which is being preserved and excavated by The Amarna Project. Unlike the ruins of Thebes or the village of Deir el-Medina, there is little left of Akhetaten for a visitor to admire. Egyptologist Steven Snape comments, "apart from the modest reconstructions of parts of the city by modern archaeologists, there is virtually nothing to be seen of the city of Amarna" (154). This is not unusual as the cities of Memphis and Per-Ramesses, both also capitals of ancient Egypt – as well as many others – are largely vacant lots today with far fewer monuments than those extant at Amarna.
What makes Amarna a special case in this regard is that the city was not leveled by time nor by an invading army but by the successor of the king who built it. At no other time in Egypt's ancient history was a city destroyed by a king's successor to blot out his name. To remove one's name from a temple or monument or tomb was to condemn them for eternity, but in this instance, only the removal of an entire city would satisfy Horemheb's sense of justice.
The Egyptians believed one had to be remembered by the living in order to continue one's eternal journey in the afterlife. In Akhenaten's case, it was not just a tomb or temple which was defaced but the totality of his life and reign. All of his monuments, in every city across Egypt, were torn down and every inscription bearing his name or that of his god was edited with chisels. Akhenaten's heresy was considered so serious, and the damage done to the country so severe, that he was thought to have earned the worst punishment that could be meted out in ancient Egypt: non-existence.
Amarna Letters › Origins
Definition and Origins
Author: Priscila Scoville
The Amarna Letters are a body of 14th century BCE correspondence exchanged between the rulers of the Ancient Near Eastand Egypt. They are perhaps the earliest examples of international diplomacy while their most common subjects are negotiations of diplomatic marriage, friendship statements and exchanged materials. The name " Amarna Letters" derives from the place where the tablets were found: the ancient city of Akhetaten (built by order of the Pharaoh Akhenaten ), but nowadays known as Tell el-Amarna, in Egypt.
The first letters were found in 1887 CE and date back to the 14th century BCE. They are the first international diplomatic system known to us, ie they contain rules, conventions and institutions responsible for communication and negotiation.Although in the early third millennium BCE there was already another form of relationship, this was merely straightforward written communication between Mesopotamia and Syria. With time, this form added some rules, based on necessity and developed the beginning of diplomatic mechanisms, which would culminate in the Amarna system. Thus, diplomacy was created to be used as a tool in the process of creating an empire.
Even though the simpler form of communication between states already existed, it was the Amarna diplomatic system that expanded relationships throughout the Near East, establishing terms of equality among the Great Powers ( Babylon, Hatti, Egypt, Mitanni, Assyria ) for the first time. The Amarna Letters show us that great kings from the ancient world had both responsibilities and privileges which were held with power and respect. Therefore, the Amarna system brought a notion of stability and peace, although not always real, for more than two centuries.
Amarna Letter
The tablets cover the reigns of the rulers Amenhotep III, Akhenaten and possibly Smenkhkare or Tutankhamun, of the 18th dynasty of Egypt. Nonetheless, the system continued to be used for approximately a hundred years after the end of the Amarna Period.
The researchers R. Cohen and R. Westbrook tell us the importance of studying the Amarna Letters. They say that people nowadays should pay more attention to them, as these tablets are the first known diplomatic system. By seeing the mechanisms used in the past, we can learn about different kinds of relationships and how they changed and were modified through time. This means that we can learn more about the contacts between such distant civilizations, acknowledging that isolation was not part of ancient life. By realizing the sophistication of international relations in this period, our way to perceive the distant past can drastically improve.
There are 382 known tablets, ordered chronologically and geographically with the acronym "EA", by JA Kunudtzon, in 1907 CE. However, when Knudtzon organized the tablets, in the "Die El-Amarna-Tafeln", only 358 of them were known, so the other 24 tablets were analyzed in 1970 CE by Anson F. Rainey, with the exception of EA 80-82.
Amarna Letter from Biridiya
Some of these tablets (32) are not letters, but probably training material for scribes. The letters themselves were organized by Jean Nougayrol in two groups: lettre d'envoi (indicating what is being sent) and lettre d'injonction (making requests). The major part of this correspondence is a combination of these two types, ie the letters name gifts sent and ask for something in return.
Most of the letters were received by the Egyptians, only a few of them were written by the Pharaoh. We do not know why these letters were together, but maybe they were never sent or were retained copies. Furthermore, in addition to the letters for training purposes, there are two other subdivisions: the international ones (which the Egyptian rulers exchanged between the Great Powers of the Near East and the independent kingdoms); and the administrative ones (exchanged between the Syrian- Palestine region, mostly Egyptian vassals).
Amarna Letter from Abdi-Tirshi
Due to the current stage of research we do not know much about these 32 training tablets. They have various themes such as myths and epics (EA 356-59, and probably EA340 and EA 375), syllabary (EA348, 350, 379), lexical texts (EA 351-54, 373), lists of gods (EA374), a tale of Hurrian origin (EA341), a list of Egyptian words written in cuneiform with Babylonian equivalences (EA368), and one tablet is perhaps an amulet (EA355). According to William Moran, the rest of them (EA 342-47, 349, 260-61, 372, 376-77, 380-81) are too fragmented and its content is still waiting to be determined.
The letters of this group can be divided into those exchanged between the Great Powers and the ones exchanged between independent kingdoms.
• Independent kingdoms: There are only two places in this category, which is Arzawa (EA 31-32) and Alashiya (EA 33-40).Arzawa was located on the south Anatolian coast. The alliance with Egypt was made via diplomatic marriage. Alashiya was on Cyprus, and was known as a source of copper.
• Great Powers: They were an exclusive group in which kingdoms were treated equally. They were the most influential and prosperous territories. Egypt only entered this group after the campaigns of Thutmose III. The others were Babylon, Hatti, Mitanni and Assyria. As they were equals, they had a "brotherly" relationship and had to employ a specific pattern when writing to each other. At first, they had to identify who was writing and for whom the letter was written, then, report their wishes to the other, as showed in the example below:
"Say to Naphurreya, the king of Egypt, my brother, my son-in-law, whom I love and whom loves me: Thus Tushratta, Great King, the king of Mitanni, you father-in-law, who loves you, your brother. For me all goes well.For you may all go well. For Tiye, your mother, for your household, may all go well. For Tadu-Heba, my daughter, your wife, for the rest of your wives, for your sons, for your magnates, for your chariots, for your horses, for your troops, for your country, and for whatever else belongs to you, may all go very, very well." (EA27).
The rest of the letter was less stereotypical, making requests or listing the items being sent. But, as we said, normally, they presented both requests and gifts. The most common subjects were negotiations of diplomatic marriage, friendship statements and exchanged materials.
Amarna Letter from Yapahu
During the reign of Thutmose III, the Egyptian army went as far as the Euphates, establishing an empire in Cannan. These territories became vassals of Egypt, and some examples are Amurru (EA60-67, 156-71), Byblos (EA 68-138, 362, 139-40), Damascus (EA 194-97) and Qadesh (EA 189-190).
The Egyptian vassals referred to the Pharaoh as "my lord" or "my Sun" and usualy began the letters in a pattern similar to the example below:
"Say to the king, my lord, the Sun: Message of Rib-Hadda, your servant. I fall at the feet of my lord 7 times and 7 times" (EA85).
Vassals, in theory, must obey their lords and although the Egyptian vassals constantly declared and affirmed loyalty to the Pharaoh some of them were traitors, negotiating with the Hitites, as did Qadesh and Amurru. Others, as Byblos and Damascus, were truly loyal to Egypt, but were everely repressed by the traitors.
Amarna Letter from Shipti Ba'al of Lagash
As noted above, there are 382 tablets known to us, however, they were not found at the same time, which means that different groups of archaeologists and Universities have discovered various portions. Thus, the tablets are nowadays spread all over the world. They can be seen in museums like the Vorderasiatisches Museum (Berlin), the British Museum (London), the Louvre ( Paris ) and the Egyptian Museum (Cairo).
In 1992 CE, William Moran translated the 350 letters into English for the first time. Thanks to his book, The Amarna Letters, the correspondence can be easily explored by researchers from all over the world, given that, until then, only the version in cuneiform was available. In 2014 CE, a new edition of the letters was published by Anson F. Rainey and edited by William M. Schniedewind and Zipora Cochavi-Rainey. The book, The el-Amarna Correspondence, has translations, cuneiform transcriptions and commentaries on the letters.
LicenseArticle based on information obtained from these sources:
Ancient History Encyclopedia
Content is available under License Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. CC-BY-NC-SA License


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Pizza base ingredients: 1/3 cup spelt flour pinch sea salt 1 tsp chopped green chilli 1/2 tsp fennel seeds 2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary 2 tablespoons water
Topping: I use whatever I haven the fridge. Pizza is great for using up leftovers. For the tomato base I use blended fresh tomatoes with a little basil or garlic and a teaspoon of tomato concentrate. Then get creative! For the pictured pizza my toppings were:
Beef tomatoes, chestnut mushrooms, dandelion root and leaves from the garden, sun blush tomatoes, torn green olives, coriander, basil, samphire and spring onion.
- Add the spelt flour in a big mixing bowl, add the salt, chilli, fennel and rosemary and mix. Slowly add the water little by little until you can form a dough. If the dough is too wet add a little more flour. If it is too dry add a little more water
- Roll the dough out on a floured surface until 2 mm thick with a rolling pin.
- Pu a plate or bowl on top of your dough the size you want your pizza and cut around it to get a nice even round pizza base.
- Heat a crepe pan (or another really flat pan) until slightly smoking add a small amount of coconut oil.
- Place your pizza base in the hot pan and let it cook for about 1/2 a minute on each side.
- Spread your tomato base onto your pizza and add your favourite toppings.


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Your Professional Development
There are two elements to continuing professional development at Coast Academies and these apply equally to all staff.
1. A core offer which includes joint practice development with other staff and the compulsory parts of training such as safeguarding
2. An enhanced "opt in" element which encourages you to take control of your own CPD across a broad range of opportunities and can link perfectly with your personal appraisal targets. These pages set out the full range of optional opportunities.
Our optional CPD is delivered by staff within the trust, through links with professional associations and by our own Specialist Leaders of Education (SLEs)
This enhanced CPD offered across Coast Academies is a reflection of our commitment to 'lifelong learning for all':
- We are committed to a culture of lifelong learning
- We will encourage reflection and self-review through the use of coaching approaches
- We will support and encourage young people and adults to understand how they learn and to believe that they can achieve
- We will encourage national accreditation where appropriate
Enhanced CPD runs across the year, and is designed to reflect need, ensuring we target the skills and expertise of our staff. To partake in the training sessions, please contact the colleague running the training directly.
Further information regarding bespoke training opportunities can be found below. Please click on the training title.
Impact and Innovation - Accredited to the Chartered College of Teaching
- When - Termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Emma King
- Timeframe - 1-2 Hours Per Session
An opportunity to join the growing Chartered College of Teaching: A national, independent and chartered organisation for the teaching profession. It is hoped that this national college will raise the profile and status of the teaching profession in the UK, and give our profession a voice, enabling us to be removed from the frequent changes in political agendas. Joining this CPD pathway will include:
- Your personal membership to the CCT, which will be paid by Coast for the year.
- A termly journal called 'Impact'. This will consist of articles and evidence-based research based around a theme. The autumn term's theme is 'Assessment' and spring term is 'Memory'. Additional resources will be available to you on their website.
- You will meet once a term for a facilitated discussion with Emma King and others on the pathway to discuss responses to the journal and how the evidence presented relates to our experience in the classroom.
You may choose to take some of the innovations within the publication and try them out in your classroom
Comparative Judgement Research
- When - Termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Emma King
- Timeframe - 2-3 Hours Per Session
A Coaching Programme
- When - Termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Melissa Oliver and Russell Pearson
- Timeframe - 2 Hours Per Session
A sequence of group-based, discussion-based sessions exploring the principles of coaching and how these principles can help to a have a positive impact on ourselves and those we work with. Drawing upon our own training, there will be a particular focus on the idea of 'self-awareness' looking at how a knowledge of our own thoughts and feelings can help to have a positive impact on our interactions with others.
These sessions would benefit teachers at all levels of experience, including those wanting to develop further as leaders.
Sessions will include a focus on the following themes:
- What is coaching and how is it different from mentoring?
- What is self-awareness? (An introduction to the 'mood-elevator' and the 'thought-feeling connection'
- What are the core skills of coaching? (Will include a focus on deep listening, summarising and intuitive questions.)
Shadowing Colleagues in Various Roles
- When - Autumn Term
- Training with - Abby Maggs and Tom Matthews
- Timeframe - On Request
SEN-specific training
- When - Autumn Term
- Training with - Jane Stead
- Timeframe - Sessions on requst
- Early Bird - The aims of the Early Bird programme are to provide support for the parents between the diagnosis of autism and admission to a school setting; to help parents to foster their child's social communication and appropriate behaviour in the day to day environment; and to support parents in establishing good practice in the handling of their child in order to avert the development of maladaptive behaviours.
- Autism Friendly - Every child with autism is different so we work individually and with those working with them, to help them thrive and enjoy learning, and to make the best possible progress.
- SALT - Speech and Language Therapy
- Mindfulness and Various Sensory Aids - Interventions shown to aid a childs' functionality in the school environment
Behaviour Management Training
- When - Half Termly Commencing in the Spring Term
- Training with - JP Sharman
- Timeframe - TBA
Instilling knowledge, skills and techniques, with colleagues to develop their practice.
- Tailored to an individual or group of teachers/LSAs/MTAs, who wish to broaden their behaviour management techniques.
- Through sessions based on theory outside of the classroom or a more 'hands on' approach, via observation, modelling, planning and coaching colleagues, who wish to develop this aspect of teaching.
- Restorative approaches is an area where colleagues are trained in the principles, which underpin this method of behaviour management.
- Passive Intervention Procedures so would able to share with the staff within our MAT.
JP Sharman has a passion and belief that all children have the potential to make the right choices when in school – we just need to find the right strategies to enable this to happen.
The Practicalities of Being a Phase Leader
- When - 3 Sessions Commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Hannah Yeo
- Timeframe - 1.5 Hours Per Session
- Being able to prioritise and manage time effectively when faced with a number of tasks and a demanding timetable, ensuring all tasks are completed efficiently
- Effective communication with team members to ensure the smooth-running of the phase/team
- Motivating team members and pupils when the pressure is on and expectations are high, in order to maintain a positive and enjoyable working environment
- Being able to deliver constructive criticism in a way that ensures team members feel supported, but also ensures progress is made
- Managing data priorities while still supporting the children as individuals
- When - Second half of the Autumn term
- Training with - Sarah Pascoe
- Timeframe - 3, 1 Hour Sessions
No matter which programme your school uses for the teaching of phonics, this course will guide you through the essential steps that underpin the teaching of reading. (Suitable for teachers or support staff who are new to the teaching of phonics).
Sessions will include:
- A complex language – Learning the sound code inc. correct pronunciation
- Blending to read and early readers
- Phonics for spelling
- Reading with fluency, expression and comprehension
- The importance of regular and systematic assessment
- The love of reading
NQT Mentoring
- When - First half of the Autumn Term
- Training with - Janet Blatchford
- Timeframe - Dependent on need
How to successfully complete your NQT year
- Mentor support, guidance and a listenting ear
- How to best utilise your NQT time
- Form Completion
EYFS Training
- When - Second half of the Autumn Term
- Training with - Tori Howard, Janet Blatchford and Georgina Bastin
- Timeframe - 1-2 Hours Per Session
- EYFS development
- Maximising Progress in EYFS
- The environment that promotes learning
- Use of adults and their questioning children with continuous provision
- What are the characteristics of effective learning.
- Supporting new TA's
- Development Matters EYFS curriculum what it/s all about. How to observe and record this.
- When - Half termly sessions starting the second half of the Autumn Term
- Training with - Leah Fraser
- Timeframe - 1.5 Hours Per Session
MAT wide English systems throughout each school:
- Reading systems in each school. What do we all do in our schools to teach reading? How is guided reading and whole class reading arranged? How is it assessed and what evidence is collected? Could we share ideas and link up in some way?
- Spellings. How is spelling taught throughout the MAT? How are we encouraging our children to spell at the point of writing? How are they learning their spellings?
- SPAG: Strategies across the schools.
Classroom Organisation and Management
- When - Commencing in the Autumn Term and at Key Points throughout the year.
- Training with - Abby Maggs
- Timeframe - 1.5 Hours Per Session
Classroom organisation skills would come under:
- Time management in and out of class hours
- Effective use of TA's during school hours for jobs helping the teacher out, as well as working with children
- Prioritising Job List
- Always being ready for the next day
- Thinking ahead for the next couple of weeks
- Making sure everyone in your team feels informed and up to date specifically with trips and events
How- Observations of class teaching, discussions with teachers, team teaching, observing others lessons in order to look for next steps.
Forest School Training
- When - Autumn Term
- Training with - Carolen Lawton
- Timeframe - 3, 2 Hour Sessions
Training colleagues with child led learning techniques up to Level 2 in Forest School. Areas include:
- Knowledge of trees
- Indigenous animals to the habitat
- Woodland safety
- Exploring plants
- Woodland seasonality
- Fire craft and fire safety
- Naturalist Skills
- Conservation Activities
MS Office IT Workshops
- When - Spring Term
- Training with - Charles Morris
- Timeframe - 3, 1 hours sessions
Key Skills in:
- Office 365 – Word, Excel, Powerpoint
- SharePoint
The following training is specific to the teaching of mathematics across Coast Academies
Singapore Bar
- When - Twice termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Chris Firrell and Chris Hallett
- Timeframe - 1 hour sessions
Variation Theory
- When - Twice termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Chris Hallett and Melissa Oliver
- Timeframe - 1hour sessions
Variation, both conceptual and procedural, is an important element of a mastery approach. Conceptual variation means the opportunity to work on different representations of the same mathematical idea.
Procedural variation is the idea that questions are not just randomly selected, that each has been chosen for a reason; sometimes to highlight a concept, sometimes to link with the question that proceeds it.
Maths 'No Problem' Textbooks
- When - Termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Chris Hallett and Melissa Oliver
- Timeframe - 2 hours Per Session
Maths No problem is a series of textbooks that have been developed using a mastery style of teaching. They include fantastic images that can be used in lessons to help the children visualise the maths involved. Each textbook/workbook already includes variation; it is a fantastic tool to aid the mastery maths curriculum but training is required to really utilise them to their full potential.
A Mastery Classroom Approach
- When - Twice termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Chris Hallett, Melissa Oliver and Tom Matthews
- Timeframe - 2 hours Per Session
Shanghai/Singapore - Planning/Resourcing/Teaching) – Switching to the mastery curriculum is a huge change. This training is a guide regarding the reasons behind it as well as strategies that will help maths lessons become more mastery.
Problem Solving Activities
- When - Termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Chris Firrell and Chris Hallett
- Timeframe - 1.5 hours Per Session
Problem solving is one of the three main areas of the maths curriculum (along with reasoning and fluency). This will be a guide to how to set up problem solving challenges that children can work through over the course of a lesson, as well as a sharing of great examples of low threshold, high ceiling tasks that will engage the whole class, regardless of ability. This will also include a guide to use the NCETM and Nrich websites.
Using Manipulatives
- When - Termly meetings commencing in the Autumn Term
- Training with - Chris Hallett and Chris Firrell
- Timeframe - 1.5 hours Per Session
How to use physical resources to aid the teaching of mathematical concepts. This includes using base 10/Place value counters to aid the teaching of place value and number, particularly the compact written methods. Other great examples of manipulatives include fractions walls, Cuisenaire rods, counters, numicon and various others.
New Teachers and Assistants Mathematics Support
- When - On request
- Training with - Chris Firrell
- Timeframe - 1.5 hour session
Year 1 Mathematics Linked to Continuous Provision
- When - On request
- Training with - Trish Clague
- Timeframe - 1.5 hour session
Modern Foreign Languages
- When - On Monday Afternoons Throughout the School Year
- Training with - Sarah Wroot
- Timeframe - 1.5 hour session
French or Language Support
- If you find it difficult to deliver a language, please arrange to observe Sarah teaching French to Year 5 at Cockington. Sarah can demonstrate a range of activities which are easy to plan and resource and cover the French objectives for KS2.
- Share planning, resources and teaching ideas with you.


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This week marked the 100th consecutive "It's a String Thing" weekly adventure. We used my string and new tangle, both inspired by the number 100 - a Zentennial Monotangle as Joyce Evans coined it.
Since I posted the details last Tuesday, I have been absolutely overwhelmed with the warm responses and extraordinary tiles. I have laughed and cried reading your kind words and updates and I am still soaking up all of the good wishes and expressions of gratitude.
Instead of writing my usual Tangled Tidbits after each post, I responded to each email personally. The entries are listed below with the notes that accompanied them. Where I was able, I included the state/country of the artist as well as the number of the first "It's a String Thing" they participated in.
The lucky winner of my new frame is announced at the end - can you stand the anticipation?!
Grab a cup of tea, a glass of wine, a friend or two, and enjoy the show ~
The first tile arrived from Juul (France) #31 ~
Chère Adèle
Thank you so much for everything you do. I admire your generosity.
From Ilse Lukken (The Netherlands) #53 ~
Congratulations with this milestone you've reached: 100 challenges! Thanks for all the work you do for us tanglers :-))
Love your new tangle as well!
My tile is on my blog
congratulation, dear Adele,
to the zentennial of your challenge!!! Your String-Thing-challenge is a very special one!!!
Many thanks for your creative ideas and the energy that you spend in the challenge every week!
This special zentennial challenge was wonderful and I had a lot of fun to tangle it :-)
In my blog
From CZT Cheryl Rotnem (California) #6 ~
What a fun tangle. So many possibilities! Hope everyone is inspired by this. Just a touch of red to set it off!
From Sarah Antoinette (Michigan) #87 ~
Used the fun new tangle 100 in celebration of challenge 100! Just did a study of it rather than get too experimental. I did color and shine it up pretty for the occasion!
[my blog]
From Joanne Faherty (England) #79 ~
Joanne Faherty from uk celebrating adele bruno's 100th it's a string thing with a 100 inspired string, plus her new tangle 100 :)
The new tangle is so much fun.
I loved doing the aquafleur one and the big one across the middle they are my 2 favourites and then they all discided to have a party at the bottom with as many variations as I could fit in ( they broke out of line too!)
Till next week. Have fun and keep tangling [my blog]
From Ann (Denmark) #76 ~
I love your 100 tangle. Quick and easy, yet with endless possibilities!
This was one of those tiles that just drew it self. I love when that happens.
Congratulations on your 100th challenge, that is quite an achievement!
From Joyce Evans (British Columbia, Canada) #31 ~
This is my entry for It's a String Thing # 100. The Zentennial Monotangle.
I wanted to try out my new Derwent Inktense Pencils that I got 2 days ago so added some colour.
Thank you for doing this challenge 100 times. Congratulations!
Congratulations Adele, what a wonderful treat you have given us this week. I think I have said most of what I wanted to in my blog hereI remain amazed at your creativity, I hope you enjoy each and every tile people send you this week.
From Lynne Harvey #96 ~
I have attached 2 pictures as I couldn't decide which position I like it in the best - I will let you decide. (Lynne used my tangles - a tear jerker - and I love both!)
I wanted to do something special since this marks the 100th (zentennial) string challenge. I chose a black 4.5" tile and gold and silver metallic pens. After a bit of research I decided to make an Adele Sampler! You can read more about this tile on my blog -
I am anxious to see how others met this challenge. It was a pleasure to participate in this week and I look forward to the next 100!
Congratulations on 100 challenges, and what a great new tangle! I used
some of your tangleations, as well as combining it with Mooka and
Congratulations on such a monumental achievement! I had such a fun time with this challenge. I love the string and the pattern and all of it's variations.
I've been in watercolor mode and thought this challenge deserved some festive color.
I've gone into more detail on my blog about how special these challenges are but for me, what sets It's a String Thing apart from other challenges I participate in is the anticipation and joy I get from the Monday email gallery and all of the work you do to make that happen.
You are a gem!
Thank you for all that you do.
From Lucy Banta (New Jersey) #35 ~
Congratulations Adele! I'm happy and honored to contribute to your 100th string thing challenge! I contribute my love of Zentangle art to your string challenges -- you got me started and gave me a weekly goal (even if I missed a few!). Thank you for your generosity, and for your beautiful Zentangle art.
Attached is my contribution to this monumental occasion. And here's the link to my blog
A very warm welcome to Sabrina Kirjavainen - and the first tile to arrive from Lammi, Finland ~
congrats on the 100!!
I am taking part for the first time and I hope all is ok. I had fun with it!!
From Tina Kirchhübel (Germany ) #91 ~
String Thing #100! ! ! That's awesome. I really wanted to accept this challenge. But this time it wasn't as easy as I thought before and I am not perfectly satisfied with the result. But there is no right or wrong in Zentangle and so - here is my tile for the Zentennial.
From Portia Hyde (Michigan) #64 ~
Happy 100!
From Dorothy Allison (Adelaide, South Australia) #33 ~
Thank you Adele for your invitation to contribute to your #100 "It's a String Thing". I have still been tangling, and enjoying your posts even though I haven't submitted anything for a while. I especially like your Wednesday Words. The challenge to do your "100" Monotangle was fun - congratulations on your achievement and for your encouragement to all who visit your site.
From Lori Byerly (Washington) #48 ~
Congratulations, Adele, for reaching 100 in your It's a String Thing challenges! Thanks so much for sharing your time and talents to give us all hours of tangling fun and the added gift of seeing so many tiles from tanglers around the world.
You may also see my tile here.
From Karin Sauerbier (Hagen, Germany) #97 ~
congratulation to the zentennial!!!
Thank you for the weekly adventures! This time it was a very relaxing new pattern and an interesting string. I really enjoyed it.
Because of the jubilee I decided to add some fireworks to the monotangle.
Hope you received many beautiful tiles!
From Cathy Cusson (USA) #17 ~
I love the new tangle! I have been playing with it in my journal for hours. It has so many cool variations. Great job! Also congrats on our 100th challenge!
From Cheryl Stocks (Arizona) #52 ~
For your 100th String Thing, I was drawn to week 99 and Tripoli. Using all the various responses as inspiration, I created this bouquet in your honor. I read that the proper modern gift for a 100th anniversary is a ten-carat diamond. While I am sure you are worthy, it's just a little bit out of my budget at this time.
These simple flowers don't require a vase or water. I hope to post them on my blog before the big event.
From Emily Shelton (Kentucky) #77 ~
Congrats on 100! I know it's a lot of work. Thanks so much.
Sorry – your string kinda got lost.
From Sidney Kapinos (Virginia) #89 ~
Congratulations on the Zentennial round of "It's A String Thing"! This is quite an important milestone. Thank you as always for the opportunity to participate in the challenge. It's especially fun this time due to the commemorative new pattern and string, and also the giveaway. Can't wait to see the results and announcement on Monday!
[Here is the] link to my blog
From Heidi Sue W (Utah) # 75 ~
First of all, congratulations on hitting 100! That's pretty nifty. And what a fun pattern to tangle with. I did play with your 100 a LOT, but in the end, what the string told me to do, was a ribbon of 100, sort of twisting around the shapes of the 0's. And it ended up looking like columns, not twisty winding ribbons. Very solid and sober looking, indeed. :)
I used tan and blue/black micron pens in 05, and some blue and gray shading in prismacolor pencil.
Fun challenge, this 100!
From Beth Gaughan (North Carolina) #91 ~
Congratulations on reaching your 100 milestone and on your new tangle pattern!
I only began tangling earlier this year and "Tangle Tuesday" has quickly become a highlight each week. I look forward to the next 100!
I realized after I finished this tile that I had turned it sideways to tangle it, but I liked the result so here it is anyway.
From Miriam G (California) #94 ~
This one was so much fun that I actually did two before I could stop myself...am only sending the second one, as I am sure you will have more than enough to post!
I tried to stick pretty tightly with your string design, but incorporated every circular tangle pattern I could recall, along with your variations. Too much fun!
Thank you once again for an enchanting challenge.
(Can you spot my 'whoops'? got a little bleary-eyed after doing all those circles)
From Sue Agnew (Arizona) #3 ~
Congratulations on your 100th challenge, and thank you for all the fun and connections you have brought to so many people.(Sue tangled each of the circles in one of my original patterns - now, that made me cry!)
Your new tangle, 100, was full of possibilities for decoration. All those circles (if I were really Zentangley I'd call them "orbs") just begged to be filled in various ways.
Although perhaps I stretched the definition of monotangle, I am going to claim that this is one ... I repeated the 100 motif numerous times ... and just decorated it variously. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
From Anna Houston (British Columbia, Cananda) #22 ~
I'm not sure I've done your string or tangle much justice but it was fun and done with love and appreciation for your hard work and dedication in bringing us these challenges.
I hope you have a wonderful celebration in your own way for this great accomplishment!
From Linda Bladen (The United Kingdom) #43 ~
Thank you for the nudge have attached my tangle, I'm away from home at the moment and borrowed some pens so it feels a little rough and ready. Sneaked in a roman numeral too.
Congratulations on this significant milestone, looking forward to the next 100
From Annie Taylor (Spain) #15 ~
Congratulation, Adele - a lot of hard work goes into maintaining a blog, never mind a weekly challenge and you're doing a fantastic job. Thank you!
I did two tiles this week. The first one I did whilst 'watching' the latest Mad Max film...it ended up kind of steampunked, too! Wonder why?
The second one I did yesterday and I kept it very simple.
They're definitely not the best I've ever done, but I enjoyed them and for a little while, they managed to distract me from the suffocating heat we have had here for the past few weeks. It's set to last a bit longer, (lol, and then summer REALLY starts) so I am looking forward to more distractions in the shape of String Thing 101!
I'm sure you'll be kept very busy loading up all the entries for this week's challenge - and I'm sure they will be as varied and as interesting as usual.
From Jem - AKA Ragged Ray- (The United Kingdom) #7 ~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your wonderful weekly challenge! I'm so pleased I've been with you since the very early days. I remember it all so fondly and it's entirely transformed my Zentangle journey!
I've loved playing about with your new tangle and have filled a page with variations to try. I think it will look wonderful played out over long and wandering ribbons. For now, three variations in the chosen string. I'm not sure it's come out quite how I imagined, but I don't think that matters. The joy and the love it was drawn with are what matter!
Thank you for all your time and effort for creating and curating this space for us to share our tangled outpourings. Here's to the next 100!
Congratulations on reaching your 100th challenge! You've put in so much effort into this challenge, giving people something to look forward to every week and then blessing us with personalized words of encouragement and praise.
...I haven't tangled for over 2 months...I became a final year medical student. Life just got busy overnight and while trying to prioritize my time I unfortunately haven't had much time for Zentangle. I have missed it though, and when I saw your email, I knew I had to participate.
I'm rather rusty, so this tile is not one of my best. I did, however, enjoy the tangling process very much. I used to try to achieve perfection with my tiles, but with this one I just let myself have fun with it. You've created a tangle with lots of possibility for exploration, and I look forward to seeing what others do with it.
From Deb Jacobs (Wisconsin) #90 ~
Thanks for your insptration. Here is my rise to the 100 challenge. Carpe Diem!
From Alex (Germany) #93 ~
enclosed you find my entry for the #100! It was really fun to tangle away with all those numbers and I really tried to come up with a tile that does justice to this special event. Thus I incorporated balloons, a candle, a fastoon and lots of color...
Happy Zentennial and warm greetings from
Alex, Germany
From CZT Tracey Lyon (Florida) ~
Congratulations on such an auspicious occasion as a Zentennial. Blessings on your 100th challenge, may the response exceed all of your expectations!
From Tracey McDonald #98 ~
I learned a lot about shading this time. 1. One does not need as much graphite as one would expect. 2. After smoothing with a Q-tip, I realized that shadows generally have strong chrisp edges, unless the item is round. After smoothing my center piece was a bit too dark. But other than that I did get the effect I wanted. Somehow it ended up looking like a "one" though, rather than a "zero". I used a bit of red to liven it up a bit. Hope you enjoy it.
I've only started doing zentangles recently but these challenges have taught me so much. Congratulations on your 100th. I only had time to do this once and would certainly simplify the second time around. Looking forward to retirement soon when I can play more. It's always a great to see so many creative takes on a tangle.
Congratulations with the String Thing Challenge # 100!!!!! and with your new tangle 100!
Wow, what a milestone! and I hope there will be a lot more to follow.
A big, big thank you for all the work you do to provide us week after week with a new string to tangle in. Thank you for the tangling tips, Wednesday Words of Wisdom and of course your Artwork which is always so beautiful and a candy to the eye! Your comments to every tile that has been send and lined up are always so positive.
Enclosed my ST #100 tile that I started in France and finished in The Netherlands.
I wanted to make a festive, colorful and memorable tile, and I hope I succeeded.
To take part in the ST challenges, this past year, [taught] me a lot. In the beginning I was judging my tiles not very positive, and there were a lot of times that I did not wanted to send them in because I felt very ashamed of them. But despite my feelings about the tile, I did not want to be a coward and sent them in week after week. And in recent months, I started to be more and more positive about what I made. They are definitely not masterpieces but I think they are ok and I work with pleasure.
So thank you also for this experience!
I am looking forward to see all the other festive tiles!
With lots of love!
Congratulations on #100! I decided to add the celebration into my tangle. You can see party hats, streamers, and confetti. Looking forward to 100 more!
From Linda Goncalves #98 ~
I just wanted to practice the background from Wednesday's inspiration. Happy 100th!
Congratulations on this fantastic achievement of dedication and passion. So many of us are so appreciative of what you have done.
It may be a Zentennial for you but it is a first for me. My first monotangle. It took me a while to get my head around using only one tangle. Nestled in the giant 100 in the background is one tiny 100 that decided to deconstruct itself into a smile, to represent the many hundreds of people you have given smiles to over the last 100 challenges :)
Thanks for all that you do.
This week's string challenge was done as I sat on the deck enjoying the peace and quiet as dusk approached. I continued to tangle happily until some areas did not go together as well as I would have liked. Since it was dusk and I couldn't see too well by then it was easiest to make the areas black. The result was as you can see a marked contrast between the black and white, which I decided to keep without shading since I could still see it. By daylight the next day I decided to leave well enough alone. I had very much enjoyed my evening tangling on the deck and decided not to change what I had done. Thank you for your challenges each week. I hope to be able to complete more in the future. Congratulations on reaching 100!
Thanks for your weekly challenges and especially for this Zentennial challenge!
A very fun tangle…thank you Adele!
From Sharyn Penna (Massachusetts) #27 ~
Loved the string ... the simplicity of the tangle offers so many variations ... I can't wait to see all the responses to this prompt!
I had a blast celebration your first 100 ... Looking forward to the next 100! Sending you 100 cheers!
From Beverly Gotthardt #95 ~
Congrats Adele on all your accomplishments. Love the frame, such a cool idea.
Wish I had a steadier hand to do your new tangle 100 better justice.
Here's the link to my blog
A very warm welcome to Rae Smith (Queensland, Australia) ~
This is my first try on your challenge and I may be too late, but congratulations anyway on presenting 100 challenges.
From Jackie Becker (Washington) #4 ~
...Even though I haven't lifted a Micron pen for quite a long time, I have continued to follow your posts every week and have enjoyed seeing your participants grow quite a bit since I sent you my first attempt. I could not let this #100 go by without extending my heartfelt congratulations. I still thank you for encouraging me to break out the "real" tiles and give them a try! ...I am sending this tile to recognize and be a part of your wonderful milestone. I have to admit that after so long being away from pen to paper, I feel like I am back at square one...Your new frame looks great! Love the corners matching the tiles. I am such a fan of metal, basic "black" and "minimalist" architecture/decor. I am so excited for you to have this new product. I'm also looking forward to seeing what you have coming up with your new website.
From Marla Mendenhall (California) #97 ~
Glass, granite, marble, all withstand the test of time - as has Tickled To Tangle's String Challenge, with best wishes for many more centangles to come. Congratulations, Adele. You and your site are a tangler's treasure. Let's Par-Tay!!!
The second tile was just for fun. The strings in the middle of two balloons was supposed to be the 1 - didn't quite happen the way I envisioned; oh well. The colored version was made from a copy onto parchment.
Mazel Tov, Adele. Happy 100 challenge. I wouldn't have missed this one for the world.
It was a fun one to do. I like all the variations of your tangle pattern. So again, congratulations. Here it is:
Also on my blog
…and here is a tile for your 100th!
Created especially for you, it has an Akuras Bunzo in the middle, and your tangles of 100 and Pauline's Pigtail. This was a lot of fun, and I wish you all the best!
From Susan Theron (South Africa) #55 ~
I SO wanted to participate in your big milestone challenge, but with moving I did not really have time. I still send you my "I-wonder-what-it-would-look-like-if-I-try-this" tile. Hopefully you can see that I tried to use Uncorked and MelMel. A BIG Congratulations. I do enjoy your challenges because it lets me think outside the box and I learn a lot from my fellow tanglers.
A very warm welcome to Anita Aspfors Westin (Sweden) ~
Hello there!
I got into the zentanglemethod in the beginning of this year and now I found your challenges with the String Thing, which I like very much... I´ve tried to do the anniversary-challenge and it is posted in my blog, so I send the link hereAll the best and congratulations to you for a nice work!
Hope you are well and enjoying Summer. Now for ZENTENNIEL CHALLENGE 100!! Hmm! Zenpiration, Zenuthusiasm, and Zenvariety seem to Zenwhelm me and I landed up with 3 tiles!! The first has a close connection with Adele's String 100 and I varied tangle 100 within each band. I incorporated over 12 official tangles like Cayke, Cruffle, Yang,Onamato,Moonpie, Croon and Fire works as I moved along. For the background, I deconstructed 100's, giving the tile a festive, happy look. Tile 2 the Tangle 100 loosely echoes String 100 and I continued with the Zenvariety method and used Hollibaugh bands using a different version of the tangle as I continued. Still Zenspired, I did Tile 3! Not so Zentisfied with the result, but I thought, take a leap of Zenate and include it. 100 tangle zenvarities as a background and then I "attempted" a Zenshadow of 100. Hmm? Zentastic?? Also on my blog.
Thank you for a fabulous Zenchallenge 100!! Hope you have a peaceful week.
From Donna Symons (Pennsylvania and Idaho) #87 ~
Hope this can still make it in.We are in the Sawtooth Mts. in Idaho and had to drive 15 miles to Stanley to get cell reception to send this!! It tickled me that after I was done and looked at my tile it not only included your new tangle but the trails we hike!! Congratulations and many thanks for being such a creative and positive voice in the Zentangle community!!!!
From CZT Brenda Urbanik (South Africa) #4 ~
Thank you so much for this invitation! Of course I will participate. I have put my entry on my blog, which you can find here.
You have been such great motivation on my Zentangle journey. I wish I could have played in every challenge, but time did not allow it...
Happy 100th sweet lady, you have been the greatest challenge host.
From CZT Margaret Bremner (Saskatchewan, Canada) #41 ~
Well, hearty congratulations! It takes dedication to keep something like this going for so long! I'm attaching two tiles. The first one is the one where I forgot to remember "Oh, it's a STRING thing" and just used a string I had handy. The second one is the one I did properly, following instructions. Yay me!
From Joya (Germany) #52 ~
hearty congratulations on your centennial ♥
From CZT Sindy P (Florida) #30 ~
Hope this represents the excitement I have for your accomplishment !!
From CZT Joan Delony (Florida) #7 ~
And the winner is...
CONGRATULATIONS, Lori!
In closing, please know that I am eternally grateful to all of you for your willingness to share your tangled journeys with me. To quote Ragged Ray, "Thanks for the never-ending warmth of a shared passion."
Here's to the next 100!


text:
In 2003, the wife and I did a 1200+km bike ride from Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti-Kunzum La-Gramphoo-Keylong-Leh and then to Pangong Tso, to Nubra and around Leh.
I have never made my peace with bikers writing about how they conquer the mountains, ever since.
These are some of the most active mountains in the world. Never still. Never stable. Tall. Dangerous. And just because we made it without much of an adventure or any mishap does not mean we conquered something that's beyond our control at a scale we cannot usually comprehend. Most days on the ride, one was very aware that one boulder moving at the wrong time would be all it took for it to be all over, and the world, life and especially the planet would continue exactly how it always was. The realization that, ultimately, I am insignificant is immediate and persistent, and I guess sows the seeds of a spiritual understanding of life.
You still feel proud and happy that you did it, but you realize you also have been allowed to, by circumstances.
In this context, the recent tragedy in Garhwal and in Kinnaur is a mere reminder, despite it's scale.
These trips were always assumed and known to be dangerous, and in treacherous terrain. Part of the reason of going there was to submit yourself and abandon the usual notion of control.
More than anything else, what's gone wrong is our expectation that we will be able to do it easily, safely. Up there, that was never true – it's a mountain range moving up at 5mm a year, changing all the time. And because of this expectation, we started turning up in larger and larger numbers, and built anyhow and anywhere for them, losing respect for this much larger set of forces than we are. And we paid.
It's sad. But not surprising. And in a sense, even how it was meant to be. The same is playing out across the planet, sometimes in less dramatic ways. We are losing sight and understanding of natural limits, boundaries and the expectation is that we are harm-proof. So we continue recklessly.
The Himalayas taught me that I can count, but beyond a point, I don't matter. That there is a larger scheme of things, and I exist within that. It taught me the true meaning of humility, of understanding and of effort and reward.
And it's taught all of us that lesson again. Harsh, but a lesson nevertheless.


text:
This perfume collection is inspired by different archetypal witches. Each perfume is a unique interpretation of each witch character, with the unifying theme being the dark kaleidoscopic spices used in each fragrance. Our perfumes are brewed to change on your skin as you wear them throughout the day, shifting from one note to the next as your body warms. Each perfume is 10mL and is made with real essential oils, plant extracts, and naturally-derived aromatics from raw botanical ingredients, blended into pure coconut oil. These perfumes contain essential oils. If you have allergies or sensitivities to essential oils please do a test patch before using.
These perfumes are made without any dyes, pesticides, phthalates, synthetics, preservatives, animal products, or petroleum products. Vegan.
Wise Woman -
"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes." (Joan Clayton)
This perfume oil is classic and feminine, without being cloying. Rose, cardamom, and cedarwood essential oils blend to create a balanced scent.
Description: A balance of rose, spice, and woods
Top Notes: Cardamom and rose
Middle Notes: Cedar
Base Notes: Vetiver
Solitary Practitioner -
"Be kind to yourself, dispel disbelief and ground yourself in earthly ecstasy."
Simple and pure, this woodsy unisex fragrance has strong middle notes of sandalwood and patchouli.
Description: Light Sandalwood and Patchouli
Top Notes: Light rose
Middle Notes: Sandalwood and Patchouli
Base Notes: Light musk
Vintage Goth -
"You're so necromantic, Venomous and vain/Mixing molotov cocktails, In the sub terrain" (Bauhaus)
Top notes of sweet vanilla smoke float above a rich middle of damp earth, clove, tobacco, and worn leather.
Description: Balanced vanilla and smoke, tobacco, and leather
Top Notes: Bergamot and Clove
Middle Notes: Tobacco
Base Notes: Leather and clay
Medium -
"Mystical, magical world traveler..."
Inspired by tea leaf readers, this perfume has strong notes of spice and sweet mandarin.
Description: Light spicy tea and tobacco
Top Notes: Valencia orange and bergamot
Middle Notes: Pink pepper and spices
Base Notes: Ebony woods
Weird Sisters -
"The Weird Sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the Sea and Land..." (Shakespeare)
Difficult to pin down, this versatile fragrance is peppery and autumnal, but can be worn year-round.
Description: Potent blend of delicious smoky sugar and spice
Top Notes: Tobacco and sweet vanilla
Middle Notes: Spice
Base Notes: Tonka bean


text:
When you have a house, junk is as much part of the house as love, laughter and fun are. You cannot have a home without some junk stashed away here and there, for later use, only to be forgotten forever.
When you desperately need to get rid of all this junk, you need to get some help from professionals like Dumpsterator. Cleaning up on your own from time to time can save you from having to sit and clear it all in one go. Here are few tips to remove junk from your home, effectively:
When you have kids around, you are bound to have some toys that are not usable at all. Over a period of time, the toys junk just keeps building up. In order to get rid of this junk, you need to do the following-
Get all the toys out on the floor and segregate them based on usage. The ones that are rarely used or have never been used for more than 6 months have to go into a box. The broken ones that have been set aside for repair and forgotten have to be thrown out unless it is an expensive toy that can be repaired or has some memories to cherish when the kids grow up.
Again, the ones that have not been used for more than a year or two, go into a box to be sorted later. The ones that are torn or faded need to be thrown out. If something has a memory attached to it, put it away in another box that can be stashed away from rest of your clothes.
Many retain old clothes because they think they will use it someday or they will get back to that size. If weight is the issue, you should either get rid of the clothes you have not been able to fit into the last couple of years or the clothes you are using now. This will reduce the clothes options available to you and remind you about your weight goals.


text:
6 people killed and 1 injured in traffic accident
10:24, 17 September 2007Ukraine
544 0
In the Poltava Oblast
A head-on collision of an "Alfa Romeo" car and a "VAZ-2106" car took place at "Gadyach – Poltava" highway, in near Opyshnya village of the Zenkovskyi region, the Poltava Oblast.
According to the Emergency Ministry of Ukraine, as a result of the traffic accident, 6 people were killed and 1 person in moderately severe condition was taken to hospital.
An investigation into the accident is carried out by the law-enforcement agencies.
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