text:
JAMES BRAXTON As seen on BBC's Bargain Hunt and Flog It
About Me
Pre-blog Diary
Bargain Hunt
Flog It
David Dickinson
Michael Hogben
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Beckham or Johnson? Only the Duke will know
The migration of goods from Cardiff to Bristol worked against us. It was always going to be a steep hill to climb, Cardiff's Pumping Station and Jacobs antique centre had little to offer. Rob and Cat's Meerschaum pipe, George II style mahogany and gilt wall mirror and Art Nouveau vase were greeted with little enthusiasm, resulting in a debt of £80. In moments of lose, I remind myself that the British viewer would soon tire of self-satisfied contestants grinning as they were handed another £100. Bargain Hunt gloriously embodies our self-depreciating nature, as after all, it would be embarrassing to profit from another's money. I remember, a year ago, as I drove into work hearing Terry Wogan reading a listener's letter relating how after despairing at another night of "I am a celebrity get me out of here" he switched to see what Auntie had to offer, and was perplexed to see David Dickinson congratulating 2 experts on loosing £500 in half an hour after buying a large wooden turkey and a rusty pedal car. Now that's television, both the factual and the ridiculous.
I wasn't looking forward to Thursday after having volunteered to be auctioneer at a celebrity charity golf day. It wasn't the auctioneering that worried me it was the golf, having last played over a year ago, when it took me 3 swings to move off the 1st tee. I had, up until then, been lucky with my swing that had looked after me in spite of no practice. So I addressed the problem with a more considered approach, and played higher pitched woods and irons until my confidence grew, and it worked. The day was hosted by Jimmy Hill for SPARKS (sporting aiding medical research for kids) and sponsored by a trendy exhibition company called Indigo, I played with Con Cluskey one of the singing duo called The Bachelors and Toby and Matt from Royal Eastbourne Golf Club. I was amused to relate that there was some confusion who was the celebrity, as the photographer on the 1st tee asked me to shake hands with the others, I was sure Con was the man, and he thought I should assume the role, I stood down as 4 years on television compares unfavourably to 40 years on the stage. Much to my surprise I played alright, and mentioned, in my pre-auction amble that Terry Wogan says that the secret of golf is all in the buttocks, Con Cluskey says it's not in the wrists, and I said an auction is all in the arms, so get them up and keep bidding. My advice was unnecessary, they bid like good'uns, taking a signed Martin Johnson shirt to £2,000, a signed David Beckham Real Madrid shirt to £1,300, and an oar blade signed by the Olympic four of Sir Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinset, James Cracknell and Tim Foster making £2,500, which was helped by having Tim Foster in the house.
Life is a circle, as I sat back in the Duke of Devonshire's club house after enjoying a lovely round of golf on the Devonshire course I thought of the recently departed Duke, who was humorously self-deprecating about himself and his own place in the world, would have maybe enjoyed the fact that gentlemen of sport make more at auction.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
3 hours to anywhere
Be it Harrogate, Newcastle (by train) Exeter or Cardiff they are all 3 hours away. Two weeks ago I was in Cardiff home of the Millienimum stadium, It was the hardest Challenge to date, Portebello Road in London was a breeze compared to finding an antique/bargain at Cardiff's the Pumping Station and Jacobs Antique Centre. My fellow expert Kevin Jackson and I were partners in a themed "Guys and Dolls" programme, with amateur dramatics contestants. My director, the lovely Liz, who knows I can't sing, having filmed my cover version of 10cc's "I'm not in Love" at Kedleston last year. "But when you see a John waiting in the rain you know its for a doll", and when James wears a dogtooth jacket you know its for the Beeb!
Jacob's Antique Centre saw some action, as whilst filming the centre saw some unwelcomed attention from 3 likely lads keen to clear the basement, but were rather knievely unaware that the Welsh police force were on full strength, as Prince William was attending a match at the Millienimum stadium, only some 200 metres away, suddenly the centre was surrounded by 50 officiers and their bullet proof jackets. To the credit of the director she shouted at the researcher to keep the police there, but even the Beeb has its limits!
So purchases were made with a frisson of risk, much in the spirit of Guys and Dolls, I hope the same thrill remains for the auction, we have a pipe, landscape mirror and Art Nouveau vase, only some £350, is there a profit, only you can decide.
Screamed home for Sunday, after my sons Scottish reeling party, a great success as "Stripping the Willow" allows every boy and every girl a swing with all.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Comments, why do we want them?
In every perceived assured person there is a nagging doubt, without the doubt, the same space is quickly grabbed by arrogance. Without Lalique, Marie and the many others, one might pursue a course that nobody had empathy with. I would always prefer criticism delivererd with well intent, rather than travel the lonely path with arrogance as my companion and guide. This must always be balanced with your own goals, never let your future ambitions be derailed by reaction to current events.
Will post more, this Bank Holiday weekend as so much to tell, but in the meantime I wanted to thank those who took the trouble to comment, congratulations, you are the joiners.
Sunday, April 18, 2004
Pass them Apples
Poor Posh, there can be no crueler blow than the swipe of snobbery, delivered by Rebecca Loos. Not only has she allegedly pinched Posh's man, but now she delivers a critic on her children's manners. Cruel as itis, we still have an insatiable desire for gossip, which I believe is healthy, as it undermines poposity, whose cousin must be political correctness.
Wednesday saw the repeat of the Flog It biscuit tin. I remember the valuation day, and sale day well. I drove to Reading early Sunday morning to be greeted by the debris of Reading festival, party goers clutching pints of milk, correcting chemical imbalances in attempt to last just one more day. I went to school just outside Reading and remember running the gauntlet of punks loitering outside Reading Station. Punks were a general hazard of any school child in the late 1970's , but through a celebration of aggression, they stirred up some creative juices, embodied by the Clash and Joy Division. Its ironic that such a generation are now effectively the public face of the media, names such as Jonathan Ross and Ruby Wax. Reading had 2 big businesses, one was Huntley and Palmers and the other was Metal Box. The collaboration was not too dissimelair to Royal Doulton and the Lambeth school of Art. Two neighbouring businesses finding mutual ground in art. Interestingly, Joy Division's double album came in a film reel like box, made by guess who, yes Metal Box. So to the Huntley Palmers novelty biscuit tin modellled as a Thames river launch which went on to make a staggering £1,400. This really seems to have caught the viewers imagination, and was more exciting to witness.
Saturday, April 10, 2004
Its all in the units
I read with interest a diary entry of last year, where I considered that in 17 years of marriage, my wife has put on 4 lbs, and I have added 4 stone. There is something spooky about the same numbers, but something rather depressing about the differant units.This disparity is now in hand, as yesterday I bought a new pair of Salomon cross trainers. A very necessary catalyst to the start of my journey to becoming a 13 stone racing snake.
Newark, the largest antiques fair in Europe, should hold some bargains. As it's the experts job to guide their contestants towards these in one hour, after the fair has been picked over for the last 12 hours. Here lies the root of the expression, " Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder."As hundreds pass and reject goods, they are followed by whose who fall upon these rejects, and prize them as treasures.
Nothing could quite prepare me for my first contestants. We shopped with Penny, in the pram, £200 and 3 very differant opinions on what might make a profit. DD was the best Charlie Chaplin impersonata I have seen, here she is with the accordian and Tim.
Newark took us through the full range of weathers; rain, hale, biting wind and glorious sunshine, and as I sat at dinner I couldn't workout whether I was weather beaten or sunburnt. The best item I bought at the fair was a silver collared green and blue onyx ball shaped match strike. I would have passed it, had it had that 1970's combo of green and brown veining as used on ghastly telephones and lampstands that are the stable of general auctions up and down the country. At approximately £55 I believe it was cheap. The stars of the fair were Serina and Charlotte, Serina was a passionate bargain hunter and a keen auction goer. I really hope that they get a grand slam gavel, and with the shooting stick, smokers cabinet and silver coffee spoons, they stand a good chance. I leave you with Thomas, Tim and I.
Friday, April 09, 2004
25TH March 2004
I'm writing this diary in room 217, Hotel Barcelona, Exeter, it's a fabulous room with a fireplace opposing my bed, to my right a study, and to my left a bathroom.
Lovely supper sat next to Kate and Judy, my duck was offered as either bloody, pink or cooked through, for a man who normally has aromatic Peking duck with plum sauce, the bloody would be too extreme, and the cooked through underdone. It was very good. A good bloody Mary, with both the addition of port and sherry, was good, but just too spicy. Am writing this diary with a still Exeter below viewed from my eerie with Pavarotti on the CD player.
I look forward, with a tinge of anticipation, to tomorrow's events, profit or loss. My weakness, being the swap item, a budgerigar egg cup at £75, a bargain, not!
Back to the day job, sale week started with a drinks party in Royal Tunbridge Wells. You can divide friends into joiners and friends. The joiners are the reliable stalwarts, who bring a smile and a supportive word. In the future, I will try to fulfill this roll, for it's always the dreaded party that's the best. Regrettably, as with all evolving mailing lists, I have managed to gather the bizarre as well as the good. As I greeted one such person, he replied "What are you doing here?" Modesty didn't allow me to say I had owned Bracketts for 7 years. He was immediatly recognizableable as the man who had sat infront of the rostrum for the last BBC Children In Need auction, it goes without saying that he didn't raise a finger to bid, but only to offer up an empty glass, for another refill!
Thursday, April 08, 2004
I am back, with much to report
The live Bargain Hunt week was pressured with expectation, I shouldn't have been surprised how competitive professional sportsman are after the were 20 yards in front on our shopping trip to Shepton Mallet. My 2 celebrity Bargain Hunters were the BBC rugby commentators Jonathan Davies and Jeremy Guscott. They were both keen not only to make profits but also to win. We achieved the profits, but not the win, that was whipped by Kate Alcock, but the boys were pleased with their Grand Slam Gavels. Here they are with the Six Nations cup, modelled with 15 sides to represent the number of players on each team. There was lots of teasing between the 4, and whilst Tim Wonnacott was interviewing Jill Douglas and Craig Doyle, Jonathan and Jeremy were asking, what team had Craig played for? The budgie egg cup made a profit! More later.


text:
Your exclusive customised dining experience.
Your exclusive customised dining experience.
MAREWA's private chef & event services are for those who, like us, have an idealistic and sensitive nature that gives them a deep appreciation for the finer things of life.
Our exceptional team are here to bring you the best culinary experience – direct to your home or yacht. We guarantee the best quality products and service, and an ambience that is subtle and professional. Let our private chefs and attendants take care of entertaining your guests and providing your family with a balanced healthy diet. So that you can relax and focus on the important things; enjoying this beautiful island and making your stay in Formentera a memorable one.
We provide full-time private chef services for your family and friends for the duration of your holiday. Our chefs will cook for you on site, conserving the maximum freshness and quality. We offer a variety of customisable cuisines and menus options, and can adapt meals to your dietary requirements.
Our staff are highly trained with years of experience, ensuring their standard of service is professional and discreet.
– Menu Options –
Mediterranean, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, organic & more.
The casual service is great for those whose holidays are active and spontaneous but who still likes to enjoy the luxury and convenience of a private chef.
Perhaps you like to be served a freshly made breakfast daily before a long day out or have dinner ready for when you return. Or maybe you would like to share a paella by the pool or a gourmet dinner with a few guests.
Whatever your preferences, we can customise a menu and service schedule to suit your specific needs.
We can also provide you with additional home delivery services such as:
– Welcome Service –
A basket of all the essentials waiting for when you arrive at your holiday home.
– Grocery Shopping –
Get the best fresh local produce according to your preferences.
– Picnic Hampers –
Take a selection of cold meats & cheeses, gourmet sandwiches, fruits, beverages etc. to enjoy at your favourite beach.
We advise, design and organize from the location, menu selection, photographer, decoration, floral details and more ...
We take care of every little detail with a subtle and perfect execution, leaving our clients and their guests just the enjoyment of the impeccably finished product.
Share with us your ideas for a perfect wedding day and allow our professionals to transform them creating an exceptional and unique event that you and your guests will always remember.
Our qualified chefs and service attendants have years of experience working with well-known restaurants and event venues in Formentera. Whatever your event, our team of dedicate professionals will be sure to make it a memorable one.
During the past 10 years we have built strong relationships with various companies, venues and other service providers who are renowned for their quality products and expertise. We know the importance of working with the best if you want the best result, and we can make that happen for you.
We will take care of every last detail, from the decor, menu selection, floral arrangements, location, photographer etc., with seamless execution – you need only to enjoy the impeccable result.
Let us take your ideas for a perfect wedding day and transform them into an exceptional event you and your guests will remember forever.
Be the perfect host and treat your guests to the MAREWA experience. Enjoy the same standard of service you would expect from your favourite restaurant, but from within the comfort of your holiday home or yacht.
Imagine a Mediterranean dégustation menu, an aperitivo with a selection of the best Spanish tapas, a BBQ party with friends or an intimate gourmet dinner of the highest quality. Whatever your dining event, you can rely on our team of professional chefs and waiters to create an unforgettable experience.
– Tapas –
– Paella –
– Barbecue –
– Finger Food –
– Casual & Gourmet Dining –
& more.
Escape the crowds but not the experience or quality service. Let our experienced barmen serve you a selection of exquisite cocktails and other beverages in the intimate setting of your holiday space.
Treat yourself and your guests to exotic drinks by the pool, an aperitivo complete with wine and finger food before your dinner reservations, or after dinner cocktails for you and a few friends.
– Aperitivos –
– After-dinner drinks –
– Cocktails by the pool –
– Wine tasting –
& more.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
One Fell Sweep is so-o-o good
Recently, very few books hold my attention. I haven't been here for a while either - nothing to post but DNFs - but I'm trying. This morning, I started reading One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews. It's still free on their website; they have been posting it weekly since January; and it's now complete. I have been devouring it. Such a good story, even unproofed as it is. I'm now in Chapter 5 and I hope to finish the story today or tomorrow. Loving it! The characters are great, and the action flows, unstoppable like a river. Below is the picture of the heroine, Dina, the Innkeeper, I pulled off the authors' website.


text:
Rating: 5 Stars – Highly Recommended (with warning)
When I first saw this book, I was intrigued but something about the description on Amazon seemed a bit forced. After the description, it gave the standard warning, but then listed all the things that could possibly offend somebody. It listed everything from nudity, to lesbian sex, to arson, to violence, an entire assortment of sins. I guess I am just a sucker for those kinds of things.
As I started to read it though, something seemed familiar about it, familiar yet improved. The protagonist of the story is a collage freshman named Alex. He is very awkward and slightly clumsy. He meets two women with whom he forms a love triangle. The new world that he is thrown into is both exciting and dangerous. Any of this sound familiar? Yes, this story is "Twilight" for guys!
Now before you let the word twilight turn you off, allow me to explain the nuances and how they are twisted into something awesome! First, let us talk about Alex. He is the Bella of the story. Does that mean he is an unlikeable blank slate? I think blank slate is a strong statement, yet he is a character with whom many male readers can relate. He is awkward, he lacks confidence, and when things start to go well for him he has trouble believing his good fortunes. That is understandable, as I will show you in a bit here. He is a likeable enough character. He treats his friends and lovers with respect and dignity. He has morals. He gets along well with his mother. Most importantly, when the shit goes down, he steps up rather than expecting somebody else to handle things for him.
Now this is like "Twilight," so there is a love triangle in it. However, it is "Twilight" for guys. In ourrendition, we don't have love triangles. We have threesomes! Alex's two girl friends are Lorelei, and Rachael. Lorelei is a succubus, and Rachael is an angel. I will not give away how they meet, but they end up bonded to Alex through magical means.
Lorelei is the Edward of the group. She speaks with a resounding eloquence, and she has an underlying air of danger to her. Unlike Edward though, Lorelei does not want to wait until marriage to have sex with Alex. She encourages Alex to have sex with her, and any woman he wants. She has the power to make him more sexually attractive to do it also. She even goes as far as to brag to others how good he is in bed. What guy would not want a Lorelei in his life? There is a method to her madness though. You will have to read the book to find out what I mean.
Rachel is the proverbial Jacob. She is an angel so she does have the pretense of being the nice and safe girl, but her conduct throws that into the briar patch. She speaks very crassly. She uses vulgarities and prefers to address her fellow angels with "sup bitches!" She is also voyeuristic, watching Alex have sex with Lorelei or whoever he happens to be with. She is his guardian angel though, so that gives her an excuse. :)
Eventually, trouble enters paradise and Alex finds himself on the defense from Vampires, Werewolves, other demons, a demonic lord that wants Lorelei back, and a heavenly council that mayfire Rachael for her involvement with Alex.
One thing that dragged the story down for me was the stories that gave brief looks at Alex's past lives. They did end up being important to the plot, but I found them a bit too long and they always ended the same so I found myself skipping past them.
I did give the story my five star rating so it is something I recommend everyone should read. However, by this review and the description given where the book is advertised, it should be obvious that this book is not for everyone. No book is, but if you are easily offended, this book will offend you. People describe this book as a guilty pleasure. I would agree with that, if I ever felt guilt about anything in which I take pleasure.
If you are a guy, or if you are a girl who has a guy who will not read, this one is a must read. It is too much fun to pass up.


text:
Let's hear from you.
Just Ask!
Drop us a note, or give us a call.
Projects Worldwide.
From our operational offices in Montreal, Dubai, and Beirut, 80% of our projects are remote; we've done work in over 47 cities.
For worldwide inquiries give us a shout at email@example.com
Meet us in Montréal
PenguinCube, Inc.
From Montréal, we service our clients in the United States and Canada.
telephone +1 (514) 5758636
email email@example.com
hours Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm [EST/GMT-4]
office & mail Suite 1700, 2001 Boulevard Robert-Bourassa,
Montréal, QC H3A, Canada
Meet us in Dubai
PenguinCube FZ-LLC
From Dubai, we service our clients in the UAE, Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait), South Asia and Asia Pacific areas.
telephone +971 (55) 7300353
email email@example.com
hours Sunday to Thursday 9 am to 6 pm [GST/GMT+4]
office Building 3, Dubai Design District (d3)
mail PO Box 333222, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Meet us in Beirut
PenguinCube SAL
From Beirut, we service our clients in Lebanon, The Levant (Syria/Jordan), Europe and Africa.
telephone +961 (1) 740088
email email@example.com
hours Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm [GMT+3]
office Bloc B, Antwork Campus, May Ziadeh St, Kantari
mail PO Box 113-6117, Hamra 1103 2100, Beirut, Lebanon


text:
A few weeks I saw The Maze Runner Trailer. And I remember thinking, "Oh yeah. That thing. That's a book." I'd seen it in the library, and I remembered wanting to check it out but never actually getting around to it. Either I didn't have my card or only book two was on the shelf or we were in and out too quickly to get anything. But then my friend checked out the first book and started shouting at me, so I ran to the library to check it out too. Unfortunately it wasn't there. I put in on hold but the hold list was really, really long. So it seemed I was in for a bit of a wait. Which sucks cause this trilogy had friendships and I WANTED it. Then the movie came out in theaters and my brother invited me out to see it with him and some of my sisters. The book still hadn't come in but I really wanted to see the movie so I decided just this once I could cheat and watch the movie before reading the book.
I took the invite.
Just in case, this might have some spoilers. So be careful reading okay? Okay. Good.
Thomas wakes up in a large glade filled with dozens of other boys, all sharing one thing in common. They all were sent up to The Glade in the metal box with no memories and no identity, The boys are sent up one after the other once a month, like clockwork. The only thing they are able too keep after waking is their name. Nothing else. Surrounding The Glade is the giant Maze, boxing the children in like a prison. The only way out of the Glade is through the Maze and it is unspeakably dangerous. It's patterns changes every night and it is infested with the creatures called Grievers. No one has ever faced one and lived to tell about it and those who get stung by one lose their mind and slowly die. It's quite awful. No one goes into the Maze except the Runners, two of the best boys who have taken it on themselves to run the maze by day and attempt to memorize its patterns and find a way out. Meanwhile in The Glade the boys have made a type of community. They grown their own food and make their own homes. The box coming up every month provides the supplies they can't grow or build themselves, like clothes and seeds and such like.
That is until Thomas. He is determined to find a way out of the Glade, even if it means becoming a Runner himself and risking the dangers of the Grievers to find his freedom. But the moment Thomas ventures into the Maze is the moment that everything changes. Suddenly the boys start getting attacked by Grievers during the day. The Maze is changing irregularly. Boys start getting hurt. And then a girl is sent up in the box instead of a boy with a note saying "She is the last one ever."
Very quickly after the dangers of the Maze escalate and getting out of The Glade and escaping becomes the top priority.
JUST WOW!!! Okay! Let me just say this. The whole movie can be summed up in four gifs.
The story doesn't take any time getting started. You are thrown into the action almost immediately and from the moment you hear, "Day one Greenie...." you are hooked. At first it is a little disconcerting because The Glade seems so calm, so peaceful. It's disturbing to have something like organized in a place that is surrounded by something so dangerous. You feel like there HAS to be a catch, some kind of price for this quiet little world. And then the Maze starts changing it's rules and chaos starts bleeding through. And then fear. And suddenly the nice Quiet Glade isn't so Nice anymore. And then of course there is the Maze itself. That thing is freakin' TERRIFYING and Thomas being a Runner does nothing for your nerves. There are small, odd moments of calm in the odd, disconcerting Glade, and then you are running through the Maze, being chased by Greavers. Greavers are so awful! They are like these giant metal spiders/scorpions THINGS and they are just awful!!!! They are as bad as Shelob. And there are way more than one. So you spend three quarters of the movie in a perpetual state of panic. It is so intense you guys! I was shocked at how many times I jumped and flailed in my seat. I kept grabbing at Tiny and she would smack me. Especially if I got too fangirly.
As for the side characters, they were also pretty good. Some of them you didn't get long enough to really have a connection to them, but the main side characters were incredibly likable. There were two in particular that I really liked. One was Chuck who became like a little brother to Thomas, and the other was Newt. I LOVED NEWT. Newt was one of the characters you don't get a lot of but you can't help but see him whenever he is around. He is super cute. He keeps everyone together and always tries to smooth things over and make the best of a bad situation. He thinks the best of people, and he trusts Thomas when no one else will. He is one of the few boys who thinks for himself and seems to have a better mind for what is right and wrong. If anything happens to him I will cry and cry and cry and probably go into mourning for a good number of weeks. And well.... I know the last book is really sad and after the movie I'm very afraid something awful will happen. And I will drown in a pool of feels.
I hate feels.
Newt and Thomas are my two favorite characters. I loved them both very much and I can tell that they are going to be something very special in the future. I might have fangirled. A little bit. a lot. In the theater. And then, afterwards Treskie laughed at me because my little sister Annie didn't see the movie and she wanted to know if it was a brother story and I was like, "Yeeeeees!!!!!!!" and Treskie was like, "OMG Bella! It was barely a friendship!"
She doesn't understand! They share a bond now! THEY SHALL BE BROTHERS!!!!!
She just rolled her eyes at my ejaculation. She thinks I'm ridiculous. I Brotp almost as much as I ship. It's become a thing. The minute I see that two boys are forming a friendship, even if its a small little thing, I'm like.
Don't judge. Brotp's are my weakness. I can't help that. I jump on friendship like a rabid rabbit jumps on carrots. (note; I watched pet rabbits once and they never had a carrot. not even one. I fed them salad. lots and lots of salad. I felt like my whole life was a lie.) If they aren't a brotp, (such as Clara and the Doctor or Juliet and Lassadar or Eleven and the Ponds) I am like
I have many older sisters who heave long sufferings sighs at my use of the Tumblr words. But they are so fun to use, and they're really catchy. Just try it. Next time you see a friendship story, like... Let's say Clara and Twelve. Wait until they do something adorable and then say
I swear you'll feel free. Its even better to say BROTPING IT! That is my favorite after Ship. Ship is just so much fun to say. "Oh I ship it." Ship is such a fun word. and when you say it fast enough it almost feels like one sharp word. "IShipit!"
I hope you enjoyed the Review! I should be posting again soon because this is Tolkien Week and I want to do at least ONE Tolkien inspired post and honor him accordingly. PEACE OUT Y'ALL!


text:
Please, have a kidney...really.
*Acrylic paint on 5"x7" mini gallery wrapped canvas.
After everything she and her assistant photographer/husband did for us before, during and after our recent wedding, just sending a thank you card would have been an insult. Hopefully this better captures how grateful we are for everything they did for us.
We love you guys!!!


text:
Mount Snow Resort and the Mount Snow Valley had been planning "Devin Day" for a couple weeks to celebrate hometown girl and Olympic silver medalist, Devin Logan, promoting a parade through town, presentation of the "Key to the Valley", an autograph session and more. But the big surprise came the morning of Saturday, March 22 when it was revealed that Mount Snow had honorably renamed itself "Mount Logan" for the day as a tribute to Devin.
Video by Mount Snow
The southern Vermont resort, which is also where three time Olympic medalist Kelly Clark grew up, didn't stop at just changing the signs at each of the main entrances. New Mount Logan trail maps were printed, the lift tickets were on Mount Logan ticket stock, the website was redirected to www.mount-logan.com, a new Twitter handle @mountloganVT was used, a new Facebook page was created and the popular gourmet burger joint at the base of the mountain was renamed "Devin Burger". Guests could even order a Devin Burger off the menu, which was made to the Olympian's specifications: two patties, Vermont cheddar, bacon and jalapeños. It was the most popular thing ordered from the menu all day.
Following the parade through Dover, during which Logan waved to fans lining Route 100 from the top of the Mount Snow float, she was presented with a number of recognition awards in front of an enthusiastic crowd in the Main Base Area of Mount Snow. The first was a resolution read by Rep. John Moran for the Vermont State Legislature to support Devin Day, followed by a Devin Day proclamation and presentation of the Key to the Valley made by select board members from the towns of Dover and Wilmington. Finally, Mount Snow general manager Kelly Pawlak made a heartfelt speech congratulating Devin on her accomplishments which concluded with presenting her with a lifetime season pass to Mount Snow.
After the presentations were made, fans lined up to say hello to their hometown hero during an autograph session in which Devin posed for pictures and signed posters, helmets and t-shirts for more than two and a half hours.
Devin attended Mount Snow Academy and was a member of the Mount Snow Training Center Freestyle Competitions Program. She learned to ski at the resort when she was just two years old. Mount Snow Resort and the entire Mount Snow Valley are thrilled to have such a down to earth, great person enjoy such incredible success on the world's biggest sports stage.
Devin Logan was the only American female to medal in the Winter Olympics debut of Ladies' Ski Slopestyle in Sochi. She was the back-to-back Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) Overall World Champion in 2011 and 2012 before being sidelined with a knee injury for the 2012/2013 season. After almost a year of rehab she came back strong and qualified for the U.S. Olympic women's ski slopestyle team at the Grand Prix in Park City, UT in January of 2013.
All photos by Mount Snow.


text:
Could the U.S. block sales of refined gasoline to Iran as a way of ratcheting up pressure on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the Iranian regime? That's a prospect U.S. politicians have talked up for months. But as the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China prepare for crucial talks with Iran in Geneva on Oct. 1, there's a growing realization that the strategy might not work. "The hype around blocking gas is hugely overdone," says Richard Dalton, who was British ambassador to Iran until 2006 and is now an associate fellow at the London think tank Chatham House. "People use this term Achilles' heel, but it has got very little substance to it."
The idea of blocking refined gas to Iran was raised several times during last year's U.S. presidential campaign. Barack Obama described the plan in a debate with John McCain as "putting the squeeze" on Ahmadinejad. In April the U.S. Senate introduced the bipartisan Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, which would expand sanctions imposed by Bill Clinton in 1996 and give the White House the authority to sanction companies that export gas to Iran. Senator Joe Lieberman told reporters at the time that the law would "target Iran's Achilles' economic heel, which is its dependence on imports of petroleum ... most notably gasoline."
Iran sits atop mammoth energy reserves about 136 billion bbl. of oil and some 14 trillion cu m of natural gas. But because its refineries are too few and too old, the country refines just two-thirds of the gas it needs to keep its economy working and its 65 million people lit, driving and heated. The remaining third about 120,000 bbl. a day has to be imported.
Blocking one-third of Iran's gasoline supplies might seem relatively simple. The country's imports come from a fairly small number of firms, including Swiss-Dutch companies Vitol and Trafigura and India's Reliance Industries. New U.S. sanctions would force those companies to choose between doing business in the U.S. or doing business with Iran a no-brainer for most firms. "They have bigger fish to fry [than Iran]," says Mark Fitzpatrick, a former State Department official and now director of Nuclear Nonproliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. "They all have bigger markets elsewhere, including in the U.S." Indeed, even talk of a refined-petroleum blockade convinced British Petroleum to halt its exports to Iran last year. Oil analysts believe Reliance has suspended sales to Iran too.
But that early talk gave Iran time to prepare for new sanctions. Earlier this year, it began importing far more than it was using. Intelligence consultancy Stratfor noted last week that Iran has probably stockpiled at least three months' worth of gasoline. The National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Co. estimates that the country has some 15.7 million bbl. of gasoline about four months' worth stockpiled in tankers on land and off its Persian Gulf coast. After BP and Reliance halted exports to Iran, Chinese state-owned oil companies filled the gap, supplying about one-third of Iran's gasoline imports as of last month, according to the Financial Times. Lawrence Eagles, head of commodities research at JPMorgan, told the paper last week that Iran was importing 30,000 bbl. to 40,000 bbl. a day from Chinese companies. And Malaysia's state-owned oil company Petronas delivered three shipments of gas to Iran last month, each containing about 93,000 bbl., according to Stratfor.
It is far from certain that Chinese and Malaysian companies would bend to the same pressures that Western firms have to stop exports to Iran. Even if they do, Iran has other options. For one thing, gas-guzzling Iran could cut its consumption. As any visitor can testify, driving across Tehran can take hours in clogged traffic, which barely eases up at night. That's because Iran's regime, keen to keep voters happy, heavily subsidizes gas. Iranians are entitled to 26 gal. (100 L) of fuel a month at 38 cents per gal. (about 10 cents per L) a tiny fraction of what it costs in the U.S. or Europe. If the U.S. blocked imports of refined gas, Tehran could simply ease its subsidies while pointing to Washington as the cause of the pain. As Iranian ire and the price of a tank of gas rose, demand would dip.
And then there's smuggling. Ahmadinejad could perhaps easily boost his gas supplies by cracking down on rampant smuggling. About 10.6 million gal. (40 million L) of gas are smuggled out of the country daily to neighboring countries like Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Turkey, where it is sold at higher prices, according to Iranian officials. "In some border regions, smugglers are using underground pipelines up to the frontiers," the ministry's director of economic affairs, Mohammed Reza Farzin, told an Iranian newspaper last week, explaining the difficulties of stopping the smuggling networks.
Tehran could use all these stopgap methods to buy time which is all it really needs to do. Chinese firms and, until recently, India's Reliance, have been working on massive upgrades of the country's refineries. "If Iran can maintain its refinery upgrades, they'll be self-sufficient in gas by 2013," says Dalton.
U.S. officials believe going after oil imports may still be worth it. Rather than passing laws or attempting to push new sanctions through the U.N. Security Council where Russia and China could veto them officials are quietly approaching companies directly, convincing executives that the cost of doing business with Iran has become too high. In the past few months, Washington has leaned on insurance companies that underwrite Iran's shipments abroad and as many as 80 banks that handle financial transactions for the country. In January, the U.S. slapped a $350 million fine on Britain's Lloyds TSB Bank for funneling money from Iran and Sudan into U.S. institutions. "The U.S. Treasury Department has been encouraging major firms to be cautious in their dealings with Iran," says Fitzpatrick. "They are informally advising them not to be investing in the Iranian oil and gas sector."
The message seems to be getting across. The French energy giant Total recently failed to bid on a major block in Iran's South Pars field the world's biggest natural gas field after spending years eyeing the business. Like other energy companies, it calculated that its Iran business was becoming a problem it could live without.


text:
Last Chance To Sign Up: The Heirloom Orchard: A Three-Day Series on Estate Orchard Management. Saturday Dec 8th, 15th, 22nd 2018. 5:00-8:00 pm HVRL 3357 Rt. 9W, Highland NY 12528
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.
Comments are closed.
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
Please, insert a valid email.
Thank you, your email will be added to the mailing list once you click on the link in the confirmation email.
Please prove that you are not a robot.


text:
Hey All
The vacation is over and I am back on track. The break gave me many interesting ideas to make this blog more fun for you and I am starting right away. This was something I wanted to post for a long time, so here it is.
Beautiful You – from Head to Toe
Different kind of head accessories are very popular these days. This is a departure from the days when the bride's only option was to cover their head and content with a paranda or bun pins. These days brides have several option to dress up their head – maangtika, matha patti, side jhoomar and even a flower can do wonders for your look.
Take a peak at some of the accessories that are in vogue these days and pick one for yourself.
Back with a Bang
Hey All
2 comments:
- God Made Me fuNky said...
love the one she is wearing in the first pic
- April 21, 2010 at 7:39 PM
- suk... said...
I like the one in the third pic...pretty interesting...
- April 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM


text:
The invention of printing also altered the occupational construction of European metropolitan areas. Printers emerged as a whole new team of artisans for whom literacy was necessary, Even though the a great deal more labour-intensive occupation in the scribe By natural means declined.
Print gave a broader array of audience use of understanding and enabled later generations to develop right around the mental achievements of previously types without the variations arising within just verbal traditions. Print, As outlined by Acton in his lecture About the Review of Historical past (1895), gave "assurance that the get the job done of the Renaissance would past, that what was prepared will be available to all, that this sort of an occultation of data and concepts as experienced depressed the center Ages would under no circumstances recur, that not an notion could be shed".[26]
Copper movable sort printing originated in China in the beginning from the 12th century. It absolutely was Employed in substantial-scale printing of paper dollars issued from the Northern Tune dynasty. Movable variety spread to Korea over the Goryeo dynasty.
Cheques is often printed with liquid ink or on special cheque paper with toner anchorage to ensure alterations may very well be detected.[six] The machine-readable decreased percentage of a cheque needs to be printed applying MICR toner or ink.
Pen-based plotters ended up an alternate printing technological innovation once common in engineering and architectural corporations. Pen-primarily based plotters rely upon connection with the paper (but not affect, per se) and Distinctive intent pens which might be mechanically run above the paper to create textual content and pictures.
We welcome recommended enhancements to any of our content. You can also make it simpler for us to overview and, with any luck ,, publish your contribution by keeping a couple of factors in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles or blog posts are penned inside a neutral goal tone for your normal audience.
Via the ninth century, printing on paper had taken off, and the primary extant comprehensive printed e book made up of its day is the Diamond Sutra (British Library) of 868.
It can be Harmless and safe Your documents are deleted from Google's servers once printing is total. Learn more
Apple can make no representations pertaining to third-get together Internet site precision or trustworthiness. Challenges are inherent in the usage of the online market place. Get in touch with the vendor For extra data. Other corporation and products names may be emblems of their respective house owners.
Simple look for our Assist Center for the most common issues or look through by handy content. All of our 3D printing know-how is currently suitable at your fingertips.
Lessen overhead, deliver Value-effective short operates and establish new income alternatives with digitally printed packaging.
About 1040, the very first known movable style process was designed in China by Bi Sheng from porcelain.[two] Bi Sheng employed clay variety, which broke quickly, but Wang Zhen by 1298 had carved a far more resilient sort from wood. He also made a posh technique of revolving tables and quantity-association with penned Bonuses Chinese figures that created typesetting and printing much more economical.
Stable ink printers, generally known as phase-alter printers, certainly are a variety of thermal transfer printer. They use strong sticks of CMYK-coloured ink, comparable in consistency to candle wax, that happen to be melted and fed right into a piezo crystal operated print-head. The printhead sprays the ink with a rotating, oil coated drum. The paper then passes over the print drum, at which time the image is immediately transferred, or transfixed, towards the webpage. Stable ink printers are most commonly employed Continue as colour Place of work printers, and so are exceptional at printing on transparencies together with other non-porous media. Good ink printers can deliver excellent effects.
The additional reading paper then innovations and the subsequent pixel row is printed. Due to the YOURURL.com fact much significantly less movement is involved than in a standard dot matrix printer, these printers are quite rapidly when compared with dot matrix printers and Clicking Here therefore are competitive in velocity with shaped-character line printers when also being able to print dot matrix graphics. The Printronix P7000 series of line matrix printers remain created as of 2013.
Jpopforum - The Fact About Printing That No One Is Suggesting
The invention of printing also altered the occupational construction of European metropolitan areas. Printers emerged as a whole new team of artisans for whom literacy was necessary, Even though the a great deal more labour-intensive occupation in the scribe By natural means declined.


text:
Category Archives: travel
Morning River Walk
Every day on the way to work, we go over a bridge with a river – mostly dry riverbed – below. It looks sort of intriguing, partly because it's a moving body of water and anything moving somewhere intrigues me … Continue reading
Musings, Reflections and Random Moments in Sulimanayah
1. Heat. It's hot now. Every day is really, really hot. The actual, reported, official temperature during the summer here, like in the UAE, is not accurate; it's always underreported. The reported temperature at the moment (10:30 am) in Suli … Continue reading
In which fave chicken place leads me to VIP hospital treatment
….with a few not so fun bits in between, but hey! that's life. Friend Jason, who I worked with in COB Speicher (1 km. from Tikrit, in Iraq), came for a visit, really to see his former students from Erbil … Continue reading
Nawroz and Jli Kurdi (3 months ago)
Yep, another after-the-fact posting. Life was busy…trying to catch up on recording some of my activities now:). Nawroz is the Kurdish New Year and is held on the 1st day of spring; for anyone interested in learning a bit more … Continue reading
Springtime Picnic in the Mountains!
The Kurds, (like the Gulf Arabs) here in Kurdistan anyway, seem to be mad for picnicking, and as soon as the warmer spring weather arrives, people from the cities make for one of the many beautiful spots in the mountains … Continue reading
Or, BUHZ-ah, as my students pronounce it and, really, they oughta know. The bazaar here is the real McCoy; it's where the local people go to buy absolutely anything they need. From clothes to produce to electronics to live … Continue reading
Apparent safety
It often seems as though things are safer here than they are in almost any place I've seen or been. As mentioned before, the Peshmerga guards are everywhere: in front of our apartment building, in front of the university, at … Continue reading


text:
Scripture for Today: I Thes. 2:13 "And we also thank God continually because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as human word, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe."
I wonder if even the Beatles hated Mondays. The parody of this iconic picture sums up the attitude of most people. Somehow, when that alarm jars you awake after a full weekend, the temptation to stay under those covers is oh so strong! No wonder we hate Mondays. Like the Mamas and the Papas' 1966 song, "Every other day of the week is fine." But, "Monday, Monday, can't trust that day!"
Today's verse is about a work that is continual, regardless of the day of the week. The Word of God is at work in those who believe. When God sends out His Word, it will accomplish what He desires (Isaiah 55:11). His Word is unlike any other book, being that it is alive and active, judging our thoughts and attitudes (Hebrews 4:12). His Word reveals who God is and who I am. Reading His Word brings comfort and encouragement. It is absolute truth that changes how I see my world. His Word guides my steps and keeps me on the best path.
Of course, His Word cannot be at work in me every day of the week if I am not reading it, listening to it or singing it! I need to hide it in my heart like the Psalmist tells me. It is then that His Word can do its work, slowly transforming me by renewing my mind (Rom. 12:2).
Lord, keep me motivated to read and love Your Word, even on Mondays!


text:
EBook "Kindle Countdown Promotion" from January 16th 2017 to January 23rd, 2017
Authored by Rita Kapadia
Written for today's generation of cooks and food enthusiasts, the cookbook "Parsi Cuisine Manna of the 21st Century" provides a treasure trove of recipes, along with an immersive cultural experience for those seeking to understand this ancient and timeless cuisine of India.
The book's full color photographs, 200 Recipes and 239 pages are intertwined with descriptions of ancient and modern Parsi ceremonies, poetry, folktales, travelogue excerpts and anecdotes.
Product Details
- File Size: 5829 KB
- Print Length: 371 pages
- Full Index for digital browsing


text:
I've been playing the drums since the spring of 1980. I got my first set of Westbury's just shy of my tenth birthday. My Dad helped me set them up in the basement and showed me how to play my first ever beat: the intro to the reprise of Sgt. Pepper by the Beatles. From then on I was hooked.
I started gigging around the Toronto scene in a punk/hardcore band during my mid-teens called Death of Gods (D.O.G. – 'twas cool then for bands to have acronym names) in which I got my first taste of playing gigs in and out of town and recording in a proper studio.
I drifted in and out of a few crossover/metal bands during the late 80s and became interested in jazz fusion, which eventually piqued my interest in be-bop and post-bop. I then decided it was high time to get serious about taking some lessons and practicing more than just Dave Lombardo licks on the double bass drum pedal.
I was fortunate enough to be introduced to a great man and brilliant teacher named Jim Blackley, with whom I studied with for two-and-a-half years. Mr. Blackley really opened up my thinking, hearing and playing with regards to drumming and music, as well as introducing me to some philosophical and spiritual approaches to the overall big picture.
While I was becoming more serious about my jazz playing, I found myself splitting time between rock bands and jazz workshops, which lead to playing jazz gigs with various local groups and bandleaders.
Over the years I have been fortunate enough to share the stage and/or studio with some brilliant musicians such as Kevin Breit, Danny Greenspoon, Maury Lafoy, Gary Breit, George Koller, Richard Underhill, Clay Tyson, Chris Gartner, Mike Lewis, Ron Davis, Rob Thaller, Wayne Cass, Tanya Tagaq Gillis, Marc Nadjiwan, Andrew Aldridge, James Clark, Tim Martin, Artie Roth, and Michael Bates.


text:
Business Transformation
Financial Statement Analysis
A great plan starts with a thorough review. We'll check out your past performance to create the best action plan.
Cost Control Optimization
Save some money by finding out where you can better control costs and implement the best future plan.
Key Performance Indicator Research
The best results come from measuring the right metrics. We'll find them for you and create a comprehensive dashboard.
Business Performance Management
Ready to start accurately projecting your performance goals? We can help you create a management system to do just that.
Optimization of Processes and Procedures
Boost your efficiency and get ultimate time management. We'll help you put the right systems in place.
Strategy for Increasing Profit Margins
Time to increase your profit margins and make your hard earned dollars stretch farther. We'll help you get the best strategy.
Customer Experience
Customer Experience Evaluation
Ever measured your NPS®? We can help you find out if your customers are satisfied and out promoting your brand.
Competitive Brand Positioning
You need to highlight your USPs if you want to be an authority in your industry. We can help you gather insights to do it.
Increased Client Engagement
How are you interacting with your customers? From the moment they meet your brand, you need to be focused on their experience.
Actionable Improvement Plans
Stay ahead of the curve. Get action plans for your company's future customer experience and see constant satisfaction.
Advanced Growth Strategy
In-Depth Market Analysis
Understanding your market is key to your business's success. We provide an in-depth analysis to gather valuable insights.
Competitive Positioning
Get yourself branded as an authority in your industry. We make sure you're highlighting your unique selling points.
Better Business Planning
Sometimes your business planning just needs a refresh. We'll give it a boost to help with future success.
Effective Marketing Mix
Are you using social media? Which channels? How do you promote your business to reach your target audience? We've got you covered.
Successful Product Launch
Launching a new product can bring up a lot of questions. Will it be right for the market? How should it be promoted? We can provide solutions.
Improved Customer Services
Constant improvement is the key to success. We can put systems in place to make sure you're providing the best quality services.
Advanced Sales Strategy
Sales Process Automation
You want it to be easy for your customers to spend money. Get a seamless automated system that allows for the best customer experience.
Commission and Target Structures
How much should you be selling? How do you set realistic goals? We can help set realistic goals and structures.
Tracking and Automation
Feedback is critical to success and future growth. Get the best automated system to improve your analytics and success.
People Development and Motivation
Training your team the right way means increased sales, cross-selling, and customer satisfaction. Get it all.
Digital Evolution
Online Customer Account Viewing
Your customers can keep track of all their interactions with your brand in a digital space.
Online Ordering and Payments
Make it easier for your customers to spend money. Let them pay, get invoices, and see account summaries online.
Internal Automated Procedures
Go paperless. Real-time business performance tracking at the click of a button.
Automated Internal Communications
Keep your employees up-to-date with company wide reach through an intranet system.
App Development
Leap into the world of mobile. Take advantage of the smart device revolution with a cohesive app.
Website Optimization
Create the best customer experience with user friendly design. Make sure you get the most leads converted on your site.
Organizational Effectiveness
Evaluate Current Structure
Is your corporation efficient? Are you spending way too much on payroll? We can do an analysis and find out.
Rightsizing of Corporate Structure
After finding out your efficiency level, we can help you rightsize your company to optimize processes.
Hire, Coach, and Train for Efficiency
You need to hire, coach, and train the right people in the right way. We'll put systems in place to help.
Support and Measurement
Stay on track with continued evaluation. Short-term and long-term, we'll make sure you're hitting the mark.


text:
Inspire Your Community
Become A Yuna Guide.
Online Training:
No prerequisites necessary. Yuna is free from levels and labels and everyone is welcome to our trainings.
Location: Wherever you are. On your computer, smartphone or tablet.
If everyone would help with yoga the way the extraordinary Suzanne Freiherz does, everyone would fall in love with yoga.
Elena C.
Yuna has top priority because it heals me. Thank you both!
Kerstin W.
I'm grateful and so happy that I can be a part of the Yuna world. I enjoy being on this way and sharing my experiences with other wonderful people.
Chih-Ching H.
I admire and thank you for following your heart and supporting so many people to progress, become free, stand up for themselves and have the courage to be great. Thank you!!!
Birgit S.
For years I felt like I had to play a role for the world and society. That was very hard. Now I began to be myself. You two set the ball rolling.
Judith E.
I love you! I love Yuna!
Christoph S.
It is amazing on how many levels you guys are working – from physical, emotional, energetic directly into the soul.
Elka W.
Yuna has changed my life.
Birgit O.
Our training offers a mindset to create a happy, successful life and is a door opener to a fulfilling and versatile job.
Benefit from years of experience working with a diverse community and circumstances. You will work with field-tested tools and a harmonious, well-structured system leaving space for you to share Yuna your own way.
Let's create a world where a smile is not unusual but normal. Let's offer classes free from competition and judgement to rediscover a joyful training.
Let's live a mindset that sees unlimited potential wherever we are.
Free Online Intro*
*in German
Learn to guide harmonious classes of 30, 60, 75 or 90 minutes and explore the almost unlimited possibilities of the Yuna building blocks.
Share powerful, dynamic (Heaven) and quiet, gentle (Earth) classes.
Detox your mind through Space techniques. Tap into your true potential and inspire others, too.
Support and value humans in their individuality.
Find out how to guide a versatile group without creating an atmosphere of support instead of competition.
Have fun with vocal training and conscious choice of verbal information fields.
Transform physical, mental, emotional and spiritual patterns that influence life in a negative way.
And here's the best thing: Right after this training you are ready to begin teaching.
Flows – Heaven and Earth Flows for Opening (warm-up), Theme (subject of the class), Transitions, Games and Closure (cool-down). Detailed description of every flow plus variations and how to guide on a verbal basis only.
Breath – Relaxed awareness through breathing techniques like Darth Vader Breathing, Heart Breathing and more.
Meditation & Relaxation – Natural and effortless activation of stillness and present moment awareness with various techniques like Quantum Release, Golden Ball and more.
Space Techniques – Handling emotions and thoughts sensibly. Programs to increase appreciation, abundance and positivity to apply on and off the mat.
Magic Practice – Enhancing intuition and the wisdom of the heart. Magic Practice balances and unites logic and intuition.
Guiding Techniques – Structure of Yuna classes: Welcome, Breath, Movement, Stillness, Awareness, Appreciation. Plus: Timing, Assists, voice training, wording and personal development as a group leader.
Classes – Guiding a versatile group and support as well as challenge everyone in their uniqueness. Personal feedback and advice from Suzanne.
Anatomy – Applied and practical knowledge about alignment, body types and how to address patters of tension or health problems. Healthy and strong posture while giving manual assists.
Lifestyle – Regular self practice of Heaven and Earth. Living the pillars of Yuna guided by the wisdom of the heart.
For whom is the training?
Everyone comes together: yoga teachers, fitness trainers and those who have no experience in either teaching or fitness benefit from our trainings.
Did you do your first Yuna class and feel like this is exactly what you want to share as well? Brilliant!
No prerequisites are needed to take part! Our training is hands-on giving you the skills to share Yuna directly after completion, even when it is your very first time leading a group or working in the fitness sector. After the training you are equipped to share dynamic (Heaven) and quiet (Earth) Yuna classes and will be part of a unique network. Our network is a powerful field dedicated to share mindful movement and a genuine joy of life.
You already teach yoga, pilates, Zumba or similar? Brilliant!
You will benefit from a variety of new techniques and know-how. Add Yuna classes to our services and bring new inspiration to your community.
You want to include Yuna techniques in your job? Wonderful!
Yuna is a practice and a lifestyle, so you can apply everything you learn to any situation: you will enhance your private life and it will be easy to include Yuna techniques into various sectors: wellness, fitness, health as well as any job that involves working with or leading people.
Physical flexibility or strength don't matter.
You don't need to be able to do certain poses. If you love to inspire and work with people, this training is perfect for you. You learn how to adjust the techniques to you personally and different body types. Yuna Guides are empathetic and focused on their group instead of showing off poses. Of course your personal practice on and off the mat is vital to share your passion and experience.
If it is not about physical ability, what makes a Yuna Guide?
Yuna Guides share mindfulness and a genuine joy of being alive. You will create a field of support, free from expectation and competition. In this special atmosphere negative patterns in posture, the way we think and react can transform effortlessly. Yuna Guides are door openers to the awareness that life is a gift that wants to be appreciated and lived to the fullest.
What to bring? All your enthusiasm and dedication, prepare with diligence and be open to expand your abilities and senses. You are welcome as you are and Suzanne will support you in your uniqueness.
How can I teach right after completion?
Our training begins in your home weeks before we come together personally. Starting in the comfort of your own home you can access the learning platform any time and progress at your own pace. All your senses are included in this learning process and make it easy to meet the needs of every learning type: You will see the movements, listen to the detailed explanation and do the practice yourself. When we come together you have the chance to ask questions, practice with Suzanne, guide through the techniques you've learned, get Suzanne's feedback and advice plus you will learn new techniques like manual assists. And there's more: You will enjoy our magic practice that will boost your intuition and tap into the potential of your right hemisphere. With your intuition and logical side united, you will share Yuna with knowledge coming of your mind and wisdom arising from your heart. Be amazed at how your potential will unfold.
Why specific flows instead of single postures?
Within the flows of Yuna vibrate more than 15 years of experience of working with various people. The intelligence and simplicity of the flows and the building block system ensures that every guide, no matter how experienced, can create safe and harmonious classes. Studying the postures in the context of the Yuna flows makes it easy to understand alignment, effects and purpose. Our flows are born from natural body intelligence and trigger self-awareness, ease and joy. You are getting ready to use sequences and like bricks, you'll build your own Yuna class. With every flow you'll get detailed instruction of how to guide them and how to offer different options.
Every class for everyone? How is that possible?
Our logical side wants to differentiate the world into categories. We even do it with ourselves. We separate people into groups according to age, gender, beginner, advanced and many more and completely overlook the fact that everyone is unique. In every class, even if everyone were the same age, same sex, same background, the body types are completely different, they face different challenges in their lives, have different mindset and a unique mixture of interests, ways to move, love and live. Humans don't belong in categories. We are bigger than that. Yuna is dedicated to oneness instead of separation. Life expresses itself in a unique way in every human being. You will learn to look deeper and see the same life essence in every being. In a Yuna class there are no beginners, no advanced students, no old or young person, but unique, amazing beings connected by the power of the heart.
Why are there no prerequisites for the training? Shouldn't I be ahead of my group, fitter and more flexible?
Yuna is no competition. You don't compete with your group, you don't show off poses and don't look down on your group but instead you connect with them as an equal. You are there to guide, inspire and share what you love. How can someone be more advanced when it comes to doing what you love? Of course your inspiration and knowledge comes from your own regular Yuna practice. You can only fully understand and share important details when you know all of it first hand. As a Yuna Guide you will shine as brightly as your group and will inspire, support, challenge and nurture everyone naturally. The frequency of heart power is always with you and only nurturing and positive fields are active in a Yuna class.
I would love to teach but I've never lead a group. I am not sure if I can speak in front of a class.
We come together to learn. You will begin to guide your fellow YGT students. Our group is a safe space. Everyone is learning and making new experiences. Facing a challenge around people you got to know in the context of the training is much easier and more fun. It provides the time and space you need to ease into the new role. If you have the desire to teach, life has equipped you with everything you need to do so. Suzanne will offer a variety of techniques to enhance your talent and will give you loving support.
Your Guide
Suzanne Freiherz, the co-creator of Yuna, teaches trainings since 2007. She has been sharing Yuna for more than 15 years in the form of classes, retreats, festivals and on corporate events and management seminars.
The essence of Suzannes teaching is coming home into the heart where we can tap into our limitless potential. In the heart we remember that we are magical, powerful beings and everything we need is within already.
She is guided by teachers of many worlds. Her classes are known to be full of lightness, fun and free from judgement. The atmosphere she creates honors everyone's uniqueness and makes it easy to work on yourself with kindness and playfulness.
Look forward to benefit from her broad experience, her knowledge and loving support.
Get inspiration and free Yuna classes in English and follow Suzanne's Journal, Instagram and don't miss her YouTube-Kanal FeelsÏncredible.
Tap into your full potential
Suzanne will speak to your whole system making the learning process easy for everyone.
Next to many details and a coherent process to please your logic mind, you will boost your intuition and sharpen your senses with simple and fun exercises like remote viewing.
Your logical mind and your intuition will unite with heart wisdom. Learn to use this powerful unity to guide big or small groups into the magic of the now.
Online Training
Before coming together personally, you will prepare with our online platform.
Videos, audio classes and a written manual will provide the following infos.
Heaven & Earth
Detailed instruction to every flow and its variations. The movement part of every Heaven and every Earth class works like a building block system and you'll have lots of fun putting together your classes. There are almost unlimited possibilities!
These are the building blocks:
Opening – Warming up the body.
Theme – Topic of the class like e.g. back, legs, arms, core, balance.
Transitions & Games – Movements to transit between flows and space of play.
Closure – Cool Down.
The inner quality of the practice is the heart of Yuna. Space is a detox for your mind. On the platform you will find videos about e.g. appreciation, gratitude, how to deal with emotions and thoughts and more. These techniques are hands-on and you will learn to include them while you are guiding through the movements as well as share inspiration live the mindset as a lifestyle.
The structure of a Yuna class and advice for before and after class. A Yuna class consists of:
Welcome: Letting go and being present in the heart.
Breath: Breathing techniques.
Movement: either Heaven or Earth Flows
Stillness: Effortless relaxation.
Awareness: The inner quality (Space) during the day.
Appreciation: Programming for abundance.
Detailed instruction to guide breathing techniques, the connection of breath and body and the Yuna way to work with breathing techniques: they are not an isolated element, but the base of every movement.
Art of Guiding
Supporting and challenging a versatile group.
Also: Benefits of verbal instruction, Verbal Assists: The power of Yuna language, Manual Assists: Selfless touch, triggering body wisdom.
Hands-on techniques to activate deep relaxation.
Being kind, respectful and supportive. Yuna Guides connect with their groups on equal grounds. Useful advice on how to deal with positive and negative feedback from customers.
Training on Location
After you've prepared with our online learning platform, we all meet with the same knowledge and deepen it together.
Heaven and Earth classes guided by Suzanne.
Ask any question about what you've learned during the preparation time at home.
Design your own Yuna class
Learn how to use the Yuna building blocks and practice your guiding skills with the YGT group.
Feedback on guiding, choice of words, challenges of working with people and leading a group.
Vocal Training
Study the versatility of your voice and learn to take people with you.
Manual Assists
You'll learn Manual Assists: intensity, timing, frequency, using assistants like blankets and your own posture while giving Manual Assists.
Magic Practice
Sharpen your senses and activate your intuition through simple, fun exercises like remote viewing, multiple selves, impossible things and more.
Applied Anatomy
Understanding body dynamics and how to deal with physical issues and tension.
What's included
See Training on location.
Written manual
You'll get a comprehensive manual, partly digitally and partly printed.
Access to videos on our learning platform
During the preparation period, you'll access our platform in the convenience of your home. No matter if you find it easier to study in the morning or evening, you can study at your own pace according to your learning type.
Practice with Suzanne Freiherz
Experience Yuna on a regular basis.
Your Yuna class
You will create your own Yuna classes and have the chance to get Suzannes feedback and advice. You can begin to share Yuna right after our training.
After successful completion of the theoretical and practical exam you will receive your certificate.
Listing on yuna.com
After successful completion you will be listed on yuna.com and be part of our powerful, wonderful community.
Farewell Party
After the intense and fulfilling time of studying we keep flowing. We'll celebrate life and ourselves. Our farewell is not an ending but a beginning. Begin to create your life more powerful, mindful, successful and joyful like never before. Live your full potential, live the Yuna lifestyle. We are taking care of drinks and nibbles : )
The registration is currently closed. Stay tuned for our next training.


text:
Friday, December 23, 2016
Monday, December 19, 2016
Assignment // Epic Israel race for Mens Health
I was recently asked to travel to Israel to cover an annual race known as the Epic Israel for Mens Health magazine. The race took place over three days through mountainous terrain, with road and trail sections, in the extreme heat of the Middle Eastern sun. Lot of respect for the men and women, some of whom had traveled from around the world to take part.
I love getting assignments like this - these stories have everything you could want as a reportage photographer; drive, determination, a bit of danger and a whole lot of drama.
The piece as it ran in the magazine below
Friday, December 16, 2016
Portrait // Fashion designer Molly Goddard
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Portrait // Andy Hayler for American Way
Friday, December 09, 2016
Assignment // Shortlist Magazine
I was recently asked to shoot a feature for Shortlist magazine on a journeyman boxer, this involved teaming up once again with the writer Matt Blake and traveling down to Brighton to catch a fight between the outsider, Sonny Whiting and the local favourite Max Wicks. I'm sure Matt will have a copy of the story on his website which is worth a read - here are some of the shots from the piece.
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Phlebotomus sp.
Genus of sand flies that vector Leishmania in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Lutzomyia sp.
Lutzomyia feeding on a spiny lizard (Sceloporus sp.). Lutzomyia is a vector for Leishmania spp. and vesicular stomatitis virus in the Americas.
Biting midges
Culicoides sp.
Because of their small size, Culicoides or biting midges are often called no-see-ums. Even so, they have a painful bite, causing considerable annoyance to human and animal hosts. Horses often become allergic to the bites. Culicoides sp. also serve as a vector of bluetongue virus.
Culicoides hypersensitivity
Sweet itch, Queensland itch, seasonal recurrent dermatitis, and summer itch are all common names for a condition in horses caused by hypersensitivity to the saliva of Culicoides sp. Common affected areas include the tail head, mane, ears, and ventrum. Alopecia occurs secondary to pruritus.
Aedes sp.
Aedes mosquitoes are important vectors of heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) and several viruses important in veterinary medicine and public health.
Anopheles sp.
Anopheles are important vectors of human malaria throughout the world.
Culex sp.
Magnified view of the head of a male culicine mosquito. Culex is an important vector of many diseases including West Nile virus and avian malaria.
Horn Flies, Face Flies, and Stable Flies
Haematobia irritans
Although it is known as the horn fly, H. irritans can be commonly found on the backs of cattle. In addition to annoyance, they serve as a vector for Stephanofilaria stilesi.
Haematobia irritans
Although it is known as the horn fly, H. irritans can be commonly found on the backs of cattle. In addition to annoyance, they serve as a vector for Stephanofilaria stilesi.
Haematobia irritans
Dorsal view of the horn fly. The majority of a horn fly's adult life is spent on its host, leaving only briefly to oviposit in fresh manure piles.
Musca autumnalis
Adults of Musca autumnalis, an important vector for pink eye (Moraxella bovis) and Thelazia sp., feeding on the eye secretions of a cow. Their preferential feeding habit is the basis for the common name, 'face fly'.
Musca domestica
The common house fly, Musca domestica, is a mechanical vector of many infections and is a biological vector for Draschia megastoma and Habronema muscae.
Musca domestica
Four black stripes along the thorax of this fly aid in identification.
Phormia regina
A member of the family Calliphoridae, Phormia regina is an important cause of secondary myiasis, or wound myiasis with a tendency to invade not only necrotic tissue, but fresh tissue as well. Commonly known as the black blow fly, these flies are ubiquitous in the United States; times of peak activity vary by climate.
Stomoxys calcitrans
The stable fly is distinguished from other parasitic flies by its emarginated eye and distinct proboscis which projects forward. Although usually associated with cattle and horses, this fly may occasionally be found feeding on dogs and is also known as the dog fly or kennel fly.
Stomoxys calcitrans
Adult Stomoxys calcitrans prefer to feed on the distal limbs of cattle. However, most of their time as adults is spent elsewhere in the environment and they reproduce in piles of decaying organic matter.
Horse Flies, Deer Flies, and Black Flies
Chrysops sp.
Female Chrysops ovipositing on a blade of grass above water. The female of the genus feeds on the blood of hosts while the male collects pollen. The females serve as an important mechanical vector for disease as well as a source of discomfort and loss of production for livestock.
Hybomitra hinei
A member of the family Tabanidae, Hybomitra hinei has been recorded as one of the fastest flying insects with a reported rate of 145 km/h. It has been proposed that Tabanids use polarized light to orient themselves and thus are active only during daylight hours.
Tabanus americanum
A member of the family Tabanidae, the genus Tabanus americanum may be distinguished from other horse flies by its antennae. Its first two segments are distinctively short, while the terminal segment has a tooth like projection at its base.
Tabanus lineola
Known as the striped horse fly, Tabanus lineola is more commonly found in the eastern and southern United States, though it is not limited to this range. It's common for Tabanids to hold their wings horizontally when resting, as shown.
Tabanus melanocerus
A feeding female Tabanus melanocerus. Female Tabanids are well known blood-feeders but will also feed on honeydew and nectar as the males do. When biting a host, they cut the skin and lap up the blood that pools on the skin. This direct blood contact gives them the ability to act as a mechanical vector for many diseases. They also serve as biological vectors for Trypansosma theileri and Elaeophora schneideri.
Simulium sp. female
Simulium, also known as the "buffalo gnat," "black fly," or "humpback fly," are biting flies that swarm when they attack. There are reports of Simulium attacks resulting in the death of livestock and wildlife as a primary cause. Simulium is also known to vector various viruses such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis and Vesicular Stomatitis, along with various protozoa and nematodes such as Leucocytozoon and Onchocerca, respectively.
Simulium sp. larvae
Simulium lay their eggs on stones or plants just below the surface of the water in running streams. The eggs hatch in 4 to 12 days and the larvae attach themselves to rocks by means of a posterior organ that is armed with small hooks. Their anterior is equiped with a pair of brush-like organs with which they trap and ingest other insects.
Cutaneous myiasis
Post docking cutaneous myiasis in a lamb. Commonly known as "fly strike" or "fly blown" to producers. Possible species of facilitative myiasis-producing flies include; Musca domestica, Calliphora, Phaenicia, Lucilia, Phormia, Sarcophaga, and Chochliomyia macellaria.
Cochliomyia hominivorax and C. macellaria
Cochliomyia hominovorax, primary screwworm, can be distinguished from Cochliomyia macellaria, secondary screwworm, by its pigmented tracheal trunks.
Bot Flies
Cephenemyia sp.
Nasal bots of white-tailed deer, Cephenemyiacan be found in the retropharyngeal space.
Cuterebra sp.
Severe infestation of Cuterebra in a vole. Adult Cuterebra deposit their eggs near the entrances of burrows belonging to potential hosts.
Cuterebra sp.
Larval Cuterebra encysted in the neck of a cat. Infections of the cranial cavity of the cat has been reported as well as parasitic orchitis in the dog and cat, and dermal infections in humans.
Dermatobia hominis
Larval stage of Dermatobia hominis in the skin of a man. Human infections are usually associated with close living in proximity to domestic animals. Development in the host requires five to ten weeks.
Dermatobia hominis
Larval stage of Dermatobia hominis in the skin of a man. Human infections are usually associated with close living in proximity to domestic animals. Development in the host requires five to ten weeks.
Dermatobia hominis
Extraction of Dermatobia hominis from the back of a bovine. The posterior end of the larva may be seen protruding through the hole it has cut through the dermis. Dermatobia hominis may infect cattle, dogs, cats, sheep, rabbits, and other animals including humans.
Dermatobia hominis
Larva of Dermatobia hominis. A member of the family Cuterebridae, Dermatobia hominis is found in tropical America, from Mexico to the Argentine. Adults lay eggs on the abdomens of biting flies which provide transportation as well as initial access into the dermis.
Gasterophilus sp.
Species of Gasterophilus can be differentiated according to patterns of spines on the bot larvae.
Gasterophilus sp.
Section of horse stomach infected with bots. Larvae tend to cluster together on the the non-glandular portion of the stomach, near the margo plicatus.
Gasterophilus nasalis
Migrating first stage larvae of Gasterophilus nasalis around the molar of a horse. First stage larvae will migrate for approximately 28 days before molting and moving to the stomach.
Gasterophilus sp.
Egg of a Gasterophilus sp. on a horse hair. Horse bot flies can oviposit between 150 and 100 eggs on a horse's body, typically during the early summer months.
Hypoderma sp.
Adult Hypoderma, also known as the warble fly are non-feeding, as evident by their diminished mouth parts. Their adult life is short, usually less than a week, giving them only time to breed and oviposit.
Hypoderma sp.
Nodules on the backs of cattle caused by encysted Hypoderma larvae, said to be in the, 'warble' stage. The larvae cut small holes or pores in the backs of cattle through which they respire. This stage lasts approximately 30 days before the larvae emerge through the pores and begin pupation on the ground.
Hypoderma sp.
The third-instar of Hypoderma can be found in subcutaneous nodules in the backs of cattle.
Hypoderma lineatum
Migrating first stage larvae of Hypoderma lineatum found on necropsy of a bovine. Adult female Hypoderma lineatum deposit their eggs below the hocks on the hair of cattle during the spring, the eggs hatch, larvae penetrate, and may be found around the esophagus during the winter.
Oestrus ovis
Oestrus ovis larvae in the nasal turbinates of a sheep head cross section. Though the adults do not feed on animals, Oestrus is still considered parasitic as its larvae feed solely off the bodily fluids of their host. "False gid" is a condition wherein the larvae erode the bone of the skull and damage the brain, causing neurologic signs.
Keds (Wingless Flies)
Melophagus ovinus
Melophagus ovinus is the sheep ked. This wingless fly is most often confused for a louse and is sometime called the louse fly.


text:
Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company - has announced a net profit of KD 7.79 million (US$ 27.26 million), or 7.10 fils per share, for the 9 month period to the end of September 30th, 2009. This represents an increase of 115% per cent on the KD 3.63 million profit (US$ 12.70 Million), or 3.31 fils per share, for the same period last year.
Al-Qurain's Chairman, Sheikh Mubarak Abduallah Al-Sabah, announced that profit from operations for the first 9 months of 2009 increased by 83 per cent, to KD 8.92 million (US$ 31.22 million) compared with the same period in 2008 (KD 4.88 million (US$ 17.08 million). The significant increase in earnings was due to a recovery in global markets and sound financial management, which saw total expenses reduced by 26% compared to the same period last year.
Available for sale investments (AFS) carrying cost in the balance sheet as of 30 September 2009 has increased by 2% (KD 2.05 million). Increase investments in associates, and AFS is in accordance with the company plan to diversify its activities, increase its core investments, and add shareholder value.
This reporting period saw a number of significant events and achievements for Al-Qurain and its investments. The Kuwait Olefins company began commercial production in late 2008 and has been producing since the beginning of 2009. The Kuwait Olefins Company has a capacity to produce 850,000 tonnes of Ethylene and 600,000 tonnes of Ethylene Glycol and is a joint-venture between Al-Qurain, PIC, DOW and Boubyan, where Al-Qurain has a 6% holding. The Kuwait Olefins Company capacity is in addition to Al-Qurain's investment in EQUATE which has a capacity of 800,000 tonnes of Ethylene, 830,000 tonnes of Polyethylene, and 400,000 tonnes of Ethylene Glycol. From their lows in Q1 2009, Polyethylene and Ethylene Glycol prices have witnessed a rebound of approximately 65% and 90% respectively.
In the 3rd Quarter of 2009 the Kuwait Styrene Company completed its commissioning and began production of its 450,000 tone styrene plant. This world-scale plant is Kuwait's first ever styrene facility. Al-Qurain's investment in this plant is through its associate company the Kuwait Aromatics Company in which it holds 20%. Global styrene prices have also witnessed a significant increase from their low in early 2009.
The Kuwait Aromatics Company achieved mechanical completion in the 3rd Quarter of this year, a major milestone for the plant that will produce 820,000 tonnes of Paraxylene and 400,000 tonnes of Benzene. Al-Qurain booked a loss of KD 4.2 million (US$ 14.7 million) for the 9 months of 2009 as part of the plant's pre-operating expenses. The plant is expected to begin commercial production prior to year-end.
The Algerian Methanol Company witnessed significant progress in the first 9 months of this year with the completion of the final review of all provisions of the partnership agreement with SONATRACH – the Algerian Oil Company. Following the global economic recession the 1,000,000 tone methanol plant is expect to benefit from lower EPC costs further improving the overall economics of the project, which is expected to begin production in early 2013. Al-Qurain holds 42.5% of the Algerian Methanol Company which retains 51% of the project while the other 49% is held by SONATRACH.
"As all of the company's major projects begin production and with Al-Qurain's solid financial position with no bank debts or significant liabilities, the company has set the platform for sustained future growth and returns to its shareholders." said Al-Qurain Chairman, Sheikh Mubarak Abduallah Al-Sabah
© 2000 - 2019 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)


text:
Cal State Long Beach will give its art students extra credit if they got to the Brewery Artwalk this weekend and take a picture of themselves with an artist.
Schools have become tinkertot summer camp babysitting service. Wonder if Chris Miles teaches fingerpainting classes at Long Beach (he is the only CSULB teacher I know so he gets the sling and arrow and is probably not responsible for sending kids to a place where if they are hot chicks, art dudes are going to offer them pot – I didn't give your daughters extra credit to smoke dope with artists who cannot get solo shows and get knocked up by party guys whose parents pay their loft rent)…
Comments Off


text:
Steve DaSilva scores a goal and an assist as the Ice beat the Oil KingsNHL.com @NHLdotcom
EDMONTON - Steve DaSilva and the Kootenay Ice continue to bully their way up the Central Division standings, recording their fifth straight win, 3-1 against the Edmonton Oil Kings in Western Hockey League action Friday night.
DaSilva recorded his twelfth and thirteenth point in seven games, assisting on Dustin Sylvester's game-winner in the third period on a two-man advantage and adding an empty net marker.
Kootenay (12-10-2-0) nearly scored first late in the period on the powerplay as a centering pass found Kevin King, but Oil Kings netminder Dalyn Flette stuck out the right pad.
The Oil Kings (9-11-1-3) put the first marker on the scoreboard 2:30 into the second period on a one-timer past by Clayton Cumiskey.
Edmonton quickly gave their lead away. Dalyn Flette attempted to clear the puck on a penalty kill and instead the puck found Arnaud Jacquemet's body in front and bounced into the open cage.
Flette was forced to make a save on Michael Stickland with 35 seconds left in the second as Stickland stopped a pass out in front and curled it on his backhand to keep the score tied at one each.
Sylvester's marker came at 1:56 of the third frame as he settled a hard pass from DaSilva before lifting it over a sprawled Flette.
Kootenay added their empty net goal with one second left.
Both Lazaruk and Flette stopped 23 shots apiece.


text:
Talented High School Seniors Speak to SMC Founder about President Obama's Houston Visit
Ariana Sharma and Victoria Comesanas are talented Houston area high school seniors who attended President Obama's fundraising rally on March 9. This was their first political rally. They spoke with Social Media Correspondents' founder Serbino Sandifer-Walker and correspondent Sierra Randolph Williams on the significance of attending the event . Tweet »


text:
|Renwood Winery
2009 Petite Sirah
Shenandoah Valley, California
May's theme for our class tasting was Southwest United States..so basically California! Yup! All wines brought for the evening were from California. We decided since the weather was getting warmer, we'd talk about warmer climes! Originally, the thought was to taste patio wines, and to actually SIP them on the patio...well, the weather wasn't THAT nice! We had six wines this evening, and I usually talk about them all. Not this time. I will showcase only one. I WILL say, that James and I uncorked and sniffed out our first faulty wine. Poor Jen...her night to host, and her wine was corked. Needless to say, she wasn't impressed! At least she can return it right? I digress...tonight is not the time to talk of faulty wine...
Today we talk GOOD wine! And this was an outstanding wine!! So what IS this Petite Sirah? Well, we know that the French call it Syrah, and the Aussies dub it Shiraz...any relation? Well, the short answer is no.
First of all, you can see that they are spelled differently. You may actually see it called Durif on the bottle, named after its founder Francois Durif. And it's given the adjective Petite because it refers to the size of the berries, which are tightly packed clusters with large leaves. The highest quality Petite Sirah's seem to be found in California and Australia. And I would agree...this one was very good. And interestingly enough (& also unfortunately) rumour has it that Renwood wineries will no longer be producing Petite Sirah. So disappointing...this wine was by far, the best wine of the night. Lots of black fruits, but even some fennel (herb) and violet overtones on the nose. We all found this to be a well balanced glass of wine. Tannins weren't too harsh, and balanced nicely with a little acidity and not too high of a level of alcohol (13.5%). Again, lots of black fruits, and oodles of chocolate! In fact, Jen had the coup d'etat..."Glosette Raisins in a glass". Keep in mind that we opened it immediately upon arriving, and tasted it last in our round of tastings. (Meaning it sat for about an hour before we got to it?) As time went by, it just kept opening up and getting more and more stunning...those "Glosette Raisins" didn't appear right away...they "developed" in the glass, and just got more pronounced as the night went on. What a fantastic description for anyone who loves chocolate and raisins! Outstanding!
Pairings? Well, we had the various array of cheeses, but in my book? A nice thick piece of chocolate cake...yum!
All this to say...if you're looking for something a little different, give this a try! You won't be disappointed!