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The Waiting Rooms, Warkworth, Northumberland, UK
Northumberland is the least populated county in the UK and has fresh air, clear skies, magnificent landscapes you can walk/hike in, huge beaches with golden sands, rivers, 70 castles, an abundance of interesting flora and fauna
and almost traffic free roads with a scenic view. See the Northern Lights tab for the aurora photos and videos taken by both locals and visitors after the geomagnetic storm on February 27 2014.
There was aurora activity last night, 27 August 2014 and may be some tonight - Dru Dodd has just displayed this photo taken from Bamburgh on Facebook, click on the photo to see how to take your own aurora photographs.
See Robson Green on Tales from Northumberland at
- there is a copy of the DVD in the cottage.
If you haven't surfed or tried Stand Up and Paddle before, try
Northside Surf Amble
- all equipment is included in the price and John has offered a SUP discount to my guests. Thanks to Matty Stanley for sharing.
Northside Surf Amble
Matty posted a YouTub
e video on 3 August 2014 which was stolen - he has now uploaded this and another is now in the hands of a news agency - best watched on YouTube - it's remarkable!
You need Flash Player in order to view this.
seal joins us for a surf! :) ©matthew stanley
this is my original footage from my go pro taken on Sunday 3rd august at 12.00 mid day... amazing stuff! all footage is copyright © to Matthew Stanley and cannot be used without permission. For any li...
Warkworth is classified as an Area of Outstanding Beauty, centrally placed for visiting Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Garden, (reknowned for its link with Harry Potter), Bamburgh Castle, Seahouses, The Farne Islands, Holy Island and Lindisfarne, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Seaton Delaval, Kielder, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and Hadrian's Wall. Some of my visitors also like to take the train from Alnmouth into Edinburgh, especially in August when the Edinburgh Fringe is on, it's just an hour and a quarter away. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne is 35 minutes by train.
You can now download attraction leaflets/maps before your visit
The cottage is the single storey building you can see in the photo below
and is reached via a 15 step dual handrail metal staircase.
Self contained entrance to The Waiting Rooms
Warkworth Railway Station was built by
The Newcastle and Berwick Railway in 1847 and The Waiting Rooms are at the end of the Station in the south wing.
The station was closed to the public in 1958 due to the Beeching cuts, but the East Coast Main line on the doorstep is live, and scheduled diesel trains pass at very high speeds to/from King's Cross/Edinburgh Waverley.
The steam charters that occasionally pass are slower f
or technical reasons. See
for information on steam trains. We recommend a trip on the 'Orient Express' of the north, the
Northern Belle
, for special occasions, we had a memorable time.
The cottage offers you a characterful and comfortable interior for two, with a secluded sunny line side patio garden with a choice of seating and a large gas barbecue.
We are sorry but we cannot allow candles inside The Waiting Rooms because of
our Listed Building status. We do provide you with artificial candles.
I regret we cannot accept dogs ourselves, but I often meet visitors who are at a loss what to do with their dogs so I am including the Dog Friendly tab again.
Self contained one-bedroomed cottage in the sunny south wing of our Listed Grade II railway station. The late Duke of Northumberland used the Gentlemen's Waiting Room, now the lounge.
Planted line side garden and gravelled patio with choice of seating, large gas barbecue, bird table, bird bath.
Warkworth village, golf course and beach - approximately one mile away.
Accommodation is reached by climbing a 15 step metal staircase with dual handrails.
Tourist information centre leaflets/books, maps, SATNAV. Free WiFi but signal weak due to thickness of walls.
Courtesy Welcome pack provided per booking
Flatscreen TV with Freeview, DVD player and DVDs, CD player/radio.
Well equipped kitchen with fridge with a small 3 star freezer compartment (additional freezer space available by prior arrangement), electric oven, microwave, dishwasher, Tassimo coffee machine, bread maker, 4 slice toaster, cookery books. .
Tea towels and an apron provided.
Please note the cottage does not have a washing machine but I can offer laundry facilities by prior arrangement.
Full size ironing board, steam iron. Wooden airer and radiator hanger.
Picnic basket, thermos flask, blanket and folding chairs.
King size brass bed with top quality pocket sprung mattress.
(If your sleeping is affected by back pain,
please see the '
Smile Health
' tab - Dr Cooper sent my son home 'smiling' after weeks of agonising back spasms caused through having to lift such heavy weights at his job).
A choice of pillows - wool, feather or synthetic. 100% wool Devon Duvets.
Books - trains and railways, reference, fiction, and board games.
Clock radio and alarm with charging station.
All bed linen and towels provided.
Parking on our private drive.
Central heating radiators in lounge and bedroom controlled from station house, woodburner in lounge (fuel provided for first two nights), additional electric oil filled radiator in bedroom, electric heater in kitchen. Heated towel rail in bathroom.
Our sofa and bed throws are for use in the cottage only please, we do provide a picnic blanket you can take out on your trips.
As we are in the north it is much cooler up here and I'd recommend bringing layered clothing as well as your waterproofs for walking/boat trips. We provide a golf umbrella in the cottage.
To save you having to pack too much we also provide courtesy kitchen/bathroom basics, please see the list.
I was a lecturer at the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London and am very happy to discuss arrangements with visually or hearing impaired guests.
me, Sharon Williams, with any questions about the accommodation or the county, I can help you plan your itinerary in advance of your holiday. I know most of the local people in the area and am happy to help. I do feel very safe here and walk for miles in isolated open spaces with our dog - I would recommend it for solo travellers.
Information on Warkworth and the county can be found at
, (see 'Sharon's Welcome' if you are considering moving here) and the official tourism web site for Northumberland, Visit Northumberland, can be seen
Please see the Booking and prices tab for more details.
As well as being classified as an
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Warkwoth is also on the route of
St Oswald's Way
. The cottage has a full selection of maps for your use.
Northumberland has thirty miles of fabulous coast line and rain or shine, many local people, including myself, try to go to the beach every day for a walk, run, or horse ride - we all feel lucky to live here. Surfing, stand up paddling and power/surf kiting are also popular pursuits. In late spring and summer we enjoy very long days and sunset can be as late as 9.50 pm - see
for summer 2013 details. Summer sees the jellyfish washing in - they can still sting even when dead and the NHS now recommend using shaving cream to help with the pain. See my Marine tab for the poster.
Seals are regular visitors to our beaches and it is natural behaviour for them to haul themselves out of the sea onto the beach. However, if you find a seal and are concerned for its welfare, please see my 'Marine life' page, or ring
BDMLR hotline: 01825 765546
(British Diver's Marine Life Rescue). People fishing with a salmon licence have permission to shoot seals if they are interfering with their catch, you'll see the fishing boats at both Alnmouth and Warkworth. If you see humans in trouble at sea, ring 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
Puffins come to breed on the Farnes from April - early August and spend the rest of the year out at sea - I've just found this beautiful video of them swimming underwater. You can also see them at Coquet Island by taking a boat trip from Amble.
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Puffins & Guillemots Underwater, Farne Islands, UK
Puffins and Gulliemots swimming around me while diving in the farne islands. www.jackperksphotography.com Music by Kevin Macleod - incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/
Warkworth village itself has several pubs, restaurants, shops, and a gallery, and is centrally placed for touring Northumberland and the North East of England.
Visitors can book in from 3 pm on Saturday and I would recommend booking a restaurant in advance if you intend eating out , I am happy to do this for you.
We have a wonderful French patisserie called
- if you look at the website you will see photos of HRH Prince Charles choosing his chocolates on the 'Royal Visit' tab! I also recommend
Topsey Turvey
- you can see Margaret's huge and lovely home made desserts in the chiller in the window - or you can buy her delicious pies from the village shop to take on a picnic or eat at home.
There are beautiful walks within the village along the banks of the River Coquet with lots of birdlife/wildlife in addition to the tame ducks and swans who come to be fed at the Stanners – cormorants, eider ducks (nicknamed cuddy ducks), kingfishers, herons, and the occasional seal. You will hear the pheasants and partridges on the opposite bank and if you are lucky, see a deer. The large black and white birds you may see in the fields are lapwings.
Thank you to Bon Jo for this victorian magic lantern photograph of Warkworth Castle, Mill Walk, and Victorians rowing on the River Coquet.
The owner of the rowing boats was at the river today putting the boats out 25 July 2014.
The Hermitage at the end of Mill Walk is owned by English Heritage, and can be accessed by ferry boat on Monday and Sundays, 11.00-4.00 pm.
My friend's daughter Ellen Puddephatt is now in charge of the ferry, and rowed Robson Green across last week as he was filming The Hermitage for the new series of Tales of Northumberland.
Autumn/winter opening
The Aln Valley Railway is now being built to link Alnmouth and Alnwick - click on the picture to go to the website
Aln Valley Railway
Nice video clip of Robson Green filming at AVR with Kevin Holden
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Dancing With Ghosts --The Alnwick to Alnmouth Line
Dancing With Ghosts wrote and recorded a song for the Aln Valley Railway called "The Alnwick To Alnmouth Line" With all proceeds of the CD Single going to the Aln Valley Railway The group performed...
Warkworth village has its own castle with a medieval Hermitage across the river reached by English Heritage rowing boat; a Norman church; pubs and restaurants; Cabosse, our French
; a village store and post office with newspapers, an ATM and the lottery; small shops and a gallery; river walks; a golf course; a cricket club; a beautiful beach - and free parking. We moved to Northumberland in 1999 and looked at many villages - we still think Warkworth is the best.
When you leave The Waiting Rooms, turn left out of the drive and when you get to the end of Station Road turn right. You will see the beach road almost opposite on the left.
The old bridge shown below was used until the 1960's and is cobbled, with tracks for cart wheels. We have a lot of swans in Warkworth, and they favour this area under the bridge. Unfortunately now we have the new modern bridge, like all villages, we suffer from very heavy transport travelling onto the A1068. See
for photos of the new bridge being built.
Full details of village life, photographs and links can be found on the
website as mentioned before - we are already twinned with Warkworth in New Zealand, see their website here
If you drive over the bridge (free parking in Dial Place) you will find :-
A million thanks to Paul for allowing me special permission to display this copyrighted aerial photograph of Warkworth village, the best I've seen in 14 years! Copyright
/ and
My son had his 21st birthday flight today with Storm, the owner of
Purple Aviation
- he had a fantastic view of our beautiful countryside and the DVD will be arriving soon. Eshott Airfield is only about ten minutes from us and we had a marvellous day waiting on the ground with some inspirational people - including Paul of Northumberland Aerial Views!
The spire of
Lawrence's Church can just be seen at the top left of the aerial view photo above which shows how the River Coquet loops around the castle and village. The church is open to visitors, please go in and have a look around. A service was held here on February 14 2012 for our lovely vicar, Rev Canon Janet Brearley, who sadly died after a courageous fight with blood cancer. See Neil Stalker's lovely photo of St Lawrence's under the Northumberland tab at
. Alnmouth is at the top right of the photo, the cricket club pavilion and ground is out of view just in front of the castle. Amble is out of sight to the right of the photo.
The history of the salmon fishery and its demise on the Butts is very interesting - see a rare series of copyright salmon
fishing photographs taken from the banks of the Coquet near the bridge at Warkworth
row 4 on this page:
The Waiting Rooms are not in any danger from the floods as we are in an elevated position.
As I mentioned before, at the end of our road is the beach road to Warkworth Golf Club and
Beach on the North Sea, with free parking and public toilets (unfortunately closed 2014, vandalised).
As you go up the beach road the cemetery and old chapel are on your left, St Mary Magdalene's.
Lots of responsible owners walk their dogs on the beach, and you may also encounter horses. If you want to go riding on the beach I recommend the
Slate Hall
stable at Seahouses.
People also bring their metal detectors to the beaches - it is amazing what they find. There is a Victorian dump behind the public toilets at Warkworth beach but unfortunately people excavating dug too deeply and erratically and digging is now forbidden.
You will also see people collecting bags of seaweed - once rotted, if you add it to your compost heap it speeds up the process. Not recommended for trying to make potatoes taste like jersey royals, it didn't work for my friend at all!
Warkworth Memorial Hall is our very busy community hall and the base for the British Legion. It is also used by the Women's Institute, choir practise, drama group, dances etc. There are also
'cinema' nights now, mainly at weekends. If you come in December the panto is a must see - and other exciting productions by Warkworth Drama Group run throughout the year.
Please note it is difficult to get a mobile signal inside any of the buildings in the village - especially the public houses! Most people stand on the village cross. The Masons pub now offers free WiFi.
Cricket matches start at Warkworth Cricket Club in April - sit in the sunshine with a beer with the locals and support our teams. The cricket club also host a Beer Festival in the summer.
The Warkworth Flower show in August is a spectacular annual event in the village, once the only 'holiday' day people were allowed to take so they could enter with their vegetables etc. Warkworth Flower Show is on Saturday August 16 2014 this year, catalogues available in the Village shop.
The 2014 Alnmouth Beer Festival is on the 3rd, 4th and 5th October with 30 regional Ales & ciders and fantastic entertainment!
Tweets by @TheWaitingRooms
updated 26 August 2014
Errors and omissions excepted
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Lieutenant Colonel Jan von der Felsen graduated from the German Armed Forces University in Munich, Germany with the academic degree of Diplom-Ingenieur (Univ.) in Aerospace Engineering in 1994. In 2009 he earned a Master of Science (Systems Engineering) from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson AFB/Ohio. He has spent over 26 years in the German Air Force and was assigned to several operational and commanding positions related to ground based air defense systems. Outside national positions he has served at NATO HQ for three years and was deployed to Uzbekistan as part of the ISAF mission.
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On Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at approximately 12:24 pm the Wall Township Police Department and West Belmar Fire Company were dispatched to the West Belmar School for a reported Fire Alarm Activation. Prior to the arrival of Police and Fire Units all students and staff were evacuated from the School to the United Methodist Church located across the street. It was determined that the alarms were set off by the steam from a malfunctioning heater coil located in a boiler room.
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Responding units to the scene included; Wall Township Police Department, West Belmar Fire Company, Wall Township Office of Emergency Management, Wall Township Fire Prevention and Wall Township Building Department..


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Three months ago, EMQ FamiliesFirst served 63 children with mental health issues at its sprawling Davis group home on Fifth Street.
Today, it serves zero.
The facility was a ghost town Tuesday, with only a handful of staff members remaining. The laughter of children on the playground was replaced by the chirping of birds. Classrooms and dormitories lay deserted, as a cluster of desks stood watch over the largely empty parking lot.
The last child at the group home left Sept. 3, according to the state Department of Social Services the agency that moved to revoke the facilitys license this summer when allegations of sexual assaults, unsupervised children and dozens of runaways were reported to the Davis Police Department.
While nearby residents and other community care advocates declared that the homes future is seriously in doubt, a spokeswoman for the Los Gatos nonprofit insisted that it still intends to operate the Davis facility
I cant speak to all of our plans because quite frankly, it hinges on a settlement with licensing, spokeswoman Kristine Austin said. As long as the license is in question, we are in a holding pattern. Once that is settled, the goal is to have children referred into the program.
Carroll Schroeder, executive director for the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, called the revocation order a death mark.
Counties were removing kids because of political pressure from press reports and licensing. The revocation action in effect closed the place, he said.
Davis elected officials are watching the episode play out.
Were in a wait-and-see mode, Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza said. The hurricane has come through, and weve cleaned up most of the mess.
Krovoza said he would like to see children return, but emphasized the need for local oversight to prevent a repeat of history.
The California Department of Social Services yanked the facilitys license June 13. Yolo County followed suit and revoked the homes mental health certification July 3.
EMQ FamiliesFirst formally appealed the revocation order June 21, denying that the state had jurisdiction over events that occur outside the campus. A state administrative court judge is set to hear the appeal in June.
Meanwhile, the agencys licensing issues had a immediate effect.
At its height, EMQ FamiliesFirst hosted children from 25 counties and employed 120 staff members to care for them. After the allegations of misconduct surfaced, counties throughout the state rushed to pull their children from the home. Sacramento, Placer and Fresno counties removed a total of seven children within a week of the news. By the end of July, the number of residents dropped to a half dozen children.
EMQ FamiliesFirst announced a bruising round of layoffs, cutting 77 staff from its roster.
The organization had received $9,419 a month for each child age 6 to 14 housed at the group home, according to DSS.
The rapid decline for the group home began in June after Davis police arrested two of its teen residents, ages 13 and 14, on suspicion of raping an 11-year-old girl, also a client, at a nearby park. In the six months leading up to the incident, police responded to more than 500 calls for assistance from the group home and documented 100 cases of runaways.
DSS spokesman Michael Weston said Tuesday that the agency doesnt require a minimum amount of children for a facility to stay licensed.
You dont need to have children to stay licensed, he said.
The hearing next June could become a high-stakes battle. If the judge sides with the nonprofit, the state still could reject the ruling and close the facility for good, Weston said. At that point, EMQ FamiliesFirst could sue the department in civil court, he said.
EMQ FamiliesFirst operates 33 youth care facilities in California and another group home in Los Gatos. It had an operating budget of $103 million in 2010, according to documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
Call The Bees Richard Chang, (916) 321-1018. Follow him on Twitter @richardychang.


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Rebecca Maizel
St. Martin's Press
Chapter 2
Hathersage, England -- The Peaks
October 31, 1910 – Evening
My house was a stone castle. There were halls with marble floors and painted ceilings. I lived in Hathersage, a rural town known for its rolling hills and gorges. My castle was offset from the road and watched over endless fields. That night was Nuit Rouge or in English, Red Night. Once a year, vampires would come from around the globe and occupy my home for one month. For the 31 days in October, Nuit Rouge brought vampires of all races to my home. 31 days of opulence. 31 days of pure terror. This was the last night before everyone returned to their respective hauntings.
It was just after dusk. Above me the stars sparkled in the twilight - they glinted gold light off of glass goblets. I pushed past guests sipping on blood and dancing to a string quartet. Rhode followed me out from the back of the castle and onto the stone terrace. Men and women, dressed in top hats, corsets, and the finest silks from China, laughed and crowded Rhode's way. At the back of the house, a set of stone steps led down into the gardens. Two white candles stood tall on either end of the steps, their wax dripped tiny archipelagos onto the stone. The yard spread out wide and then down, out into the sweeping countryside. I was wearing an evergreen, silk gown adorned with a gold piping, and a matching corset beneath.
"Lenah!" Rhode called but I was darting through the crowd. I was walking so fast that for a moment I thought I would spill out over my corset.
"Lenah! Stop!" Rhode called again.
It was just after dusk. I ran the length of the gardens down the sloping hill into the start of fields.
I led Rhode down the hill, out of sight of the vampires in the castle. I stood at the foot of fields that spread out for countless miles into the distance. Back then, I looked different. My skin was pale white, no shadows under my eyes or wrinkles on my skin. Just white, clear skin as if my pores had been buffed away.
At the crest of the hill, Rhode looked down at me. He was dressed in an evening suit, with a top hat and black silk lapels. He held a cane in his right hand. When he stepped down the side of the steep hill, the wispy grass that stretched for hundreds of miles, bowed under his feet. I turned to look out at the fields.
"You have not said a word to me all evening. You've been completely silent. And now you run out here? Care to share with me what the hell is going on?"
"You don't understand? If I uttered a word I would not be able to conceal my intentions. Vicken is unnaturally gifted. He could read my lips from five miles away."
Vicken was my last creation, that is, the last man I made into a vampire. At fifty, he was also the youngest vampire of my coven, though he didn't look a day older than nineteen.
"Dare I think that this might be a moment of clarity?" Rhode asked. "That perhaps you realize Vicken and your band of ingrates are more dangerous than you anticipated?"
I said nothing. Instead, I watched the wind trace patterns over the grass.
"Do you know why I left you? My fear," Rhode spat, "was that you had truly lost your mind. That the prospect of infinite time had started to eat away at you. You were reckless."
I spun around, our eyes met immediately.
"I will not let you fault me for creating a coven of the strongest, most gifted vampires in existence. You told me to protect myself, and I did what I had to do."
"You cannot see what you have done," Rhode said. His strong jaw clenched.
"What I have done?" I stepped closer to him. "I feel the weight of this existence in my bones. As though a thousand parasites are eating away at my sanity. You told me once, that I was what kept you sane. That the curse of emotional pain released you when you were with me. What do you think happened to me for the 170 years you were gone?"
Rhode's shoulders fell. His eyes were the most blue I had ever seen - even in 500 years. The beauty of his slim nose and dark hair always shocked me. The vampire essence heightened a person's beauty but for Rhode it radiated from within and lit up his soul -- it made my heart burn.
"The magic that binds your coven is more dangerous than I would have ever thought possible. How did you expect me to feel?"
"You don't feel. Remember? We're vampires," I replied.
He gripped my arm so hard, I was sure he would break a bone. I would have been frightened had I not loved him more than I could articulate. Rhode and I were soul mates. Linked in a love bound by passion, the lust for blood, death and the unfaltering understanding of eternity. Were we lovers? Sometimes. Certain centuries more than others. Were we best friends? Always. We were bound.
"You left me for 170 years," I said through gritted teeth. Rhode had only returned from his "break" from me the week prior. We had been inseparable since his return. "Do you not know why I brought you down here?" I asked. "I can tell no one else the real truth."
Rhode dropped his arm and I turned to face him directly.
"I have nothing left. No more sympathies," I whispered though there was an edge of hysteria in my voice. I could see my reflection in Rhode's eyes. His dilated pupils overwhelmed the blue but I stared into the blackness. My voice quivered, "Now that I know you have the ritual…Rhode, I cannot think of anything else. That my humanity - that it might be a possibility."
"You have no idea how dangerous this ritual is."
"I don't care! I want to feel the sand beneath my toes. I want to wake up to the sunlight pouring through my window. I want to smell the air. Anything. Anything I can feel. God, Rhode. I need to smile¾and mean it."
"We all want those things," he replied in a calm manner.
"Do you? Because I don't think you do," I said.
"Of course. I want to wake up to blue waters and feel sunlight on my face."
"The pain is too much," I said.
"You could try again. Concentrate on me – loving me," Rhode said gently.
"You, who leave."
"That's not fair," Rhode said now reaching for my hands.
"Even loving you is a curse. I can't really feel or touch you. I look at the humans we take and even they can feel. Even in their last minutes of life they have breath in their lungs and taste in their mouth."
Rhode held my palm in his and the warmth, the feeling of his passion for me swept up though my hand and into my body. I closed my eyes, relishing the momentary relief from the countless tragedies resting within me. I opened my eyes and took a step away from him.
"I am losing my mind and I don't know how much longer I can bear it." I took a moment, careful in my wording. "Ever since you discovered the ritual," I continued. "It's all I can think about. My way out." My eyes were wild, I was sure of it. "I need this. I need this. God help me, Rhode because if you don't I will walk out into sunlight until it scorches me to flames."
Rhode nearly lost his top hat with a gust of the wind. He ripped his hand out of mine. He still had long hair then and it fell past his shoulders and onto his topcoat.
"You dare to threaten me with your suicide? Don't be petty, Lenah. No one has survived the ritual. Thousands of vampires have tried. All - every single one has died in the process. Do you think I can bear to lose you? That I could part with you?"
"You already did," I whispered savagely.
Rhode pulled me close, so fast that I wasn't prepared for the force of his mouth against mine. One deep growl from him and my bottom lip split open-Rhode bit into me. I could feel a rhythmic pull as he sucked the blood from my mouth. After a moment, he stepped away and wiped his bloody lip on his jacket sleeve.
"Yes, I left you. But I had to find the magic and science I needed. If we ever try this ritual -- I needed to make sure…I didn't expect you to fall in love when I left."
There was a silence. Rhode knew as well as I that I never believed he was coming back.
"I do not love Vicken as I love you." I said every word so it was clear and calculated. After a moment, I added, "I want out."
"You do not know what will come to you if you chose human life."
"The air? Real breath? Happiness?"
"Death, sickness, human nature?"
"I don't understand," I said stepping back again. "You have said yourself that humanity is what all vampires crave. The freedom to feel more than constant pain and suffering. Do you not feel this way?"
"It consumes me," Rhode said and took off his top hat. He looked out at the fields. "There are deer, there," he pointed. He was right. About ten miles away a herd of deer grazed silently. We could have fed off them, though I did love my dress and blood would not match the green silk. Besides, I hated the taste of animal blood and would only feed on them if I were in a dire situation. With the creation of the coven, I had ensured that would never happen.
Rhode slipped his hands around my lower back and brought me even closer.
"Your beauty will be a powerful force in the human world. Your human face may betray even your best intentions."
"I don't care," I said not quite understanding and not really caring either way.
Rhode reached out and ran his index finger down the thin slope of my nose. He then gently rubbed his thumb over my lips. His furrowed brow and piercing stare. I couldn't have looked away even if I had tried.
"When I took you from your father's orchards in the 15th century I saw your future laid out before me," Rhode confessed. "Swashbuckling vampire linked to my side for all eternity." There was a pause. Somewhere behind us music from the party echoed down into the fields. "I saw my own dreams."
"Then give me what I want."
Rhode's mouth was a thin line. He furrowed his eyebrows and looked out at the deer. They galloped deeper into the grassy hills. I could tell from his still mouth and dark expression that he was formulating a plan.
"One hundred years," he whispered but still looked out at the deer.
My eyes widened.
"Starting tonight you will hibernate for one hundred years." Rhode turned back to look at me and pointed up the hill. I knew he was gesturing toward a cemetery. It was to the right of the terrace and protected by a wrought iron gate topped by spiked points.
Hibernation only occurred when a vampire rested in the ground. The vampire sleeps and deprives herself of blood – there are a series of spells so the vampire remains in a meditative state, almost to the point of death. On a prearranged day a fellow vampire revives her. But only with magic is this possible. Only very brave (and some would argue very stupid) vampires have done this.
"The night before you are supposed to wake," Rhode continued. "I will unearth you and take you somewhere safe, somewhere you cannot be found. Somewhere you can be a human and live out your days."
"And the coven?" I asked.
"You leave them behind."
My heart throbbed, a familiar pain that I couldn't help but recognize. The magical binding between the coven and myself would force them to search for me. Just as I knew I would love Rhode until the end of the earth, I knew that the coven would search for me. I nodded once but said nothing. I watched the deer nibbling at the grass and licking their fur.
"You are not afraid to die?" he asked.
I shook my head. Rhode turned to face the house. I stopped him from walking up the hill by gently grasping his fingers. He turned to me.
"Will you be there?" I asked. "If I die and we fail, will you be there?"
Rhode's fingers lightly grazed the top of my hand. He turned it over, touched my palm and whispered,
"How did you do it?" I was spellbound. Back in the dark apartment, my back pressed into the pillows. My fingers wandered over the fine velvet. My fingertips skimmed along the softness of the couch, which produced a wave of goose bumps over my legs. Before, I would have known the couch was soft but it would only have meant the fabric. It wouldn't have meant comfort or safety. Just soft.
"That night. The last night of Nuit Rouge. You went to bed…" Rhode started.
"After killing one of the maids," I admitted remembering the young, blonde girl I caught off guard in the attic.
Rhode continued with a slight smile. "I told Vicken that you had decided on your hibernation. That you would sleep for 100 years and that I was to wake you on the last night of the following Nuit Rouge. I also explained that you wanted to be buried - to make it official. He thought it was a wonderful idea. He wanted a chance to rule your coven."
"I wouldn't have protested against that," I said.
"Precisely why he believed me so willingly. It was a lie, Lenah. The moment you looked into my eyes on the fields and begged me for human life, I knew that my quest, my vampire life, your vampire life, what I had done to you was coming to an end."
"I shouldn't have begged you. Manipulated you like I did."
Rhode laughed but the breath was short,
"That is your way."
I looked at the bandage around his wrist and the dark rings circling Rhode's eyes. At that moment, I felt a surge of guilt. In my human state, I couldn't imagine bribing Rhode or threatening him with suicide. It had been so easy for me before. Easy because the emotional pain that clouded the vampire life prevented rational thought.
"Please tell me about the ritual," I asked again.
Rhode unwrapped the white bandage, roll-by-roll until his wrist was bare. There, on the inside of his wrist were teeth marks, my teeth marks - two small indents on the inside of Rhode's wrist. The one on the left was just higher than the one on the right, I always hated that my bite was uneven. I could have recognized my teeth marks anywhere.
"The most important thing is the intent. The success of the sacrifice and it is a sacrifice, depends solely on the vampire performing the ritual. It takes two days."
Rhode stood up. He paced whenever he was telling me something difficult. Sometime in the 16th century I asked him why. He said it was so he wouldn't have to look me in the eye.
"The intent is where most vampires fail," Rhode continued. "You have to want the other vampire to live. You, in turn, have to want to die. It is the most unselfish act you've ever committed. As you know such selflessness is nearly impossible for the natural state of a vampire."
"Who told you this?" I asked.
"When I left you for those years, I went to France. I searched for --"
"Suleen," I said though I was suddenly finding it very hard to breathe. Rhode had met Suleen…in person.
"Yes. He was coming out of a fifty-year hibernation. When I described you and then told him of my plan, he comforted me with a compliment. He said that I might be the only vampire with soul enough to succeed."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. It must have been quite a special moment in Rhode's life. I wished I had been there to see Rhode's reaction when Suleen said something so significant.
I imagined Suleen. He was an East Indian man, or at least he had been some time ago - when, I have no idea. He is the oldest vampire alive. Nothing in the grand scheme of life would or could ever rattle his soul. Suleen is not hindered by death nor does he want to return to human life. All he wants is to live long enough so he may see the end of the world.
"There are a few more rules," Rhode explained. "The vampire performing the ritual must be over 500 years old. Suleen mentioned something about the chemistry of a vampire of that age. It is a crucial ingredient. But most of all he kept saying, 'The intent, Rhode. It's the intent.' The will and the desire to give up your life in order that another may live. Vampires are selfish, Lenah. Inherently so. I had to find that will within myself."
"You sacrificed yourself?" I whispered. I was unable to look up from the floor. Rhode remained silent. He was waiting for me to look at him. I hated him for it. Finally, our eyes met.
"The ritual required that I gave you all of my blood. After two days, you woke up, more or less, and bit into me. I had to allow you to finish it—well, almost all of it. But the important thing was the intent, the chemistry of my blood and my love for you."
"I never would have agreed to those conditions."
Much to my surprise, Rhode's stoic facial expression turned into a smile. A toothy, happy smile. "Precisely why I did it when you were weakened and hibernating."
I stood up, now it was my turn to pace.
"So where is Vicken?" I asked trying to think like a vampire. Trying to place all the pieces together. I had been asleep for one hundred years.
"He remains at your house in Hathersage with the rest of the coven. I believe he is awaiting your return."
"Have you seen him since my hibernation?"
"He is too young for me to converse with as often as he would like. His energy tires me. Yet, when I stayed with them he was respectful. He's a fighter. Excellent swordsman. I can see why you loved him."
My cheeks warmed, which surprised me. Then I realized, I was feeling shame. I snuck a peek at Rhode's fingers holding the arm of the lounger. They were pruned, and wrinkled as though all the liquid inside him had been sucked away.
"I do not blame you for loving another," Rhode said.
"You believe Vicken loves me? As I love you?"
Rhode shook his head. "Vicken loves your outward appearance and desire for thick, congealed blood. I love your soul. As a mate to my long search on this earth. You are - were - the most vicious vampire I have ever known. I love you for that."
I couldn't respond. I thought of Hathersage, of the fields, of Rhode in his top hat and the deer grazing in the distance.
"Vicken will search for me," I said. "As you know, he is bound to me. And when he finds me, the coven will destroy me. I created the coven to do just that. To seek, capture, and obliterate."
"That is the exact reason why I chose this place."
"Yes. Where are we?" I looked about the apartment.
"This is your new school."
"You intend for me to go to school?" My head reared in his direction.
"It is crucial you understand." Even in his weakened state Rhode stood up and towered over me. He glared at me with such a passionate fierceness that I should have been frightened. "Vicken will dig you up from the cemetery. I promised you would return on the final night of Nuit Rouge. The party ends October 31st."
"So on the 31st he will find an empty casket. End of story."
"It's not that simple. You were a vampire, Lenah. One of the oldest of your kind."
"I know what I was."
"Then do not pretend that you need a tutorial in the seriousness of this situation!" Rhode snapped and continued pacing very slowly. I was silent. Rhode regained some of his composure and again spoke at a low decibel. "When Vicken digs up the grave and discovers an empty casket he will search the earth for you. As you've said yourself, the magic that binds the coven has made it so. You made it so. He will exhaust himself, so will all of the coven until they find you and bring you home."
"I did not foresee myself in this situation."
"Yes, well, luckily, for now, the magic that protects you allows a few luxuries. Your vampire sight and your extra sensory perception."
"So I did keep it, then," I said and stood up. I looked around the room again. Yes, as Rhode said I could see all of the adornments in the room down to the knots in the wood floor and the perfection in the paint on the walls.
"The more you assimilate into this human existence these accompaniments will fade."
How was I to process not being a vampire anymore but still retain some vampire qualities? Could I be in the sun? Did I eat food again? These thoughts rattled within my head and I stamped my foot in frustration. Rhode put his hand on my cheeks and I was startled by how cold they were. It stopped my tantrum.
"You must disappear into human life, Lenah. You must go to school and become a sixteen year old girl again."
In that moment, I couldn't cry no matter how badly I wanted to – I was too shocked. Vampires cannot cry. There is nothing natural in a vampire. No tears, no water¾just blood and black magic. Instead, the tears, which would spill over the cheeks of a normal person, in the vampire are utter and acidic pain that scorches the tear ducts.
I wanted to run or turn inside out, anything to curb the feeling that made my stomach burn. I balled my hands into fists and tried to fill the anxiety with a breath but it caught in my throat. My gaze fell onto a photo resting on top of a bureau. It looked tattered and old though the last time I had seen the photo, I was posing for it. 1910, the last night of Nuit Rouge. In the photo, Rhode and I stood hip-to-hip, arms around each other's waists, on the back terrace of my home. Rhode was dressed in his black suit and top hat, me in a gown, my long brown hair tied and styled in a long braid that fell over my left breast. We were more than human. We were frighteningly beautiful.
"How can I do that?" I turned away from the photo to look at Rhode. "Hide?"
"Oh, I think you will find it easier than you expect. You have never been sixteen before. I snatched that away before you could."
He stepped close to me again and kissed my forehead.
"Why did you do this for me?" I asked. He pulled away and the air shifted as the space opened up between us.
"Of course, you must know," Rhode said and cocked his head to the side.
I shook my head to say that I did not nor could I ever understand what he had done for me.
"Because," he continued, "throughout all of my histories I found no one I loved more than you. No one."
"But I'm losing you," I said, my voice breaking.
Rhode grasped me so my cheek pressed against his chest. I stayed there a moment and let my heartbeat echo between our bodies.
"And you think Vicken won't be able to find me?" I asked
"I do not think in his wildest dreams he will understand what I have done. It will take the entire coven's effort just to follow us this far and I believe I have done my best to conceal our whereabouts. Also, why would he ever suspect you could be human?"
I stepped away and looked back at the photo portrait of Rhode and me.
"When will you die?" I asked turning away from the photo and sat back down on the couch. I brought my knees to my chest and linked my arms around my shins.
"The morning."
We sat together and I stared into Rhode's eyes for as long as possible. He told me of the changes in society. Cars, television, sciences, wars that neither of us, even in our vampire minds, could understand. He said that practical things were of the utmost importance to humans. I would now be capable of getting sick. He had placed me in the finest boarding school in New England. A doctor, he informed me, was only a few buildings away. He begged that I complete school and grow up, as he had prevented me from doing.
We talked and talked and without knowing it, I fell asleep. The last thing I remember were his eyes looking into mine. I think he may have kissed my lips but that also felt like a dream.
When I awoke, the shades were drawn and the whole living area was shrouded in darkness. Across from me, red-lighted numbers illuminated the blackness. A digital clock said that the time was eight in the morning. I was on the couch and Rhode wasn't in the red lounger across from me. I shot up. My muscles were stiff so I stumbled and held onto arm of the chair.
"Rhode?" I called out.
But I already knew.
"No…" I whispered. I spun in a circle. There were only four rooms: a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room and a kitchen. Off the living area was a porch. The curtains were closed yet the way the wind drifted inward made the curtains billow. The door was open behind them. I pushed them aside and stepped out onto the wooden patio. I put my hand over my eyes as a visor. My eyes adjusted immediately as I scanned the porch, hopeful for only a moment.
Rhode was gone. From my life. From my existence.
I saw the onyx ring lying in the center of the tile. When I approached it, I realized it was in the middle of a tiny pile of glittering dust. It looked as though sand was mixed with mica or tiny diamonds. My Rhode, my companion for close to 600 years, weakened from the transformation and self-sacrifice had evaporated in the sun. I dipped my thumb and index finger into Rhode's remains. They were cool and gritty. I pulled out the ring and slid the smooth metal over my new, sensitive skin.
I was alone.
Rebecca Maizel is the bestselling author of the Vampire Queen series, starting with Infinite Days. She graduated from Boston University and the Rhode Island College master's program. She teaches community college in Rhode Island and is studying to receive her MFA from Vermont College.


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Introducing Australia
Australia – the sixth-largest country on this lonely planet – is dazzlingly diverse: a sing-along medley of mountains, deserts, reefs, forests, beaches and multicultural melting-pot cities.
Hip Cities
Most Australians live along the coast, and most of these folks live in cities. In fact, Australia is the 18th-most urbanised country in the world: it follows that cities here are a lot of fun! Sydney is a glamorous collusion of beaches, boutiques and bars. Melbourne is all arts, alleyways and Australian Rules football. Brisbane is a subtropical town on the way up; Adelaide has festive grace and pubby poise. Boomtown Perth breathes west-coast optimism; Canberra transcends political agendas. And the tropical northern frontier town of Darwin and chilly southern sandstone city of Hobart couldn't be more different.
Food & Drink
Australia plates up a multicultural fusion of European techniques and fresh Pacific-rim ingredients – aka 'Mod Oz' (Modern Australian). Seafood plays a starring role − from succulent Moreton Bay Bugs to delicate King George Whiting, there's variety in the ocean's bounty. And of course, beer in hand, you'll still find beef, lamb and chicken at Aussie barbecues. Don't drink beer? Australian wines are world-reknown: punchy Barossa Valley shiraz, Hunter Valley semillon and cool-climate Tasmanian sauvignon blanc. Need a caffeine hit? You'll find cafes everywhere, coffee machines in pubs and petrol stations, and baristas in downtown coffee carts.
It's a Wide Open Road
There's a heckuva lot of tarmac across this wide brown land. From Margaret River to Cooktown, Jabiru to Dover, the best way to appreciate Australia is to hit the road. Car hire is relatively affordable, road conditions are generally good, and outside of the big cities there's hardly any traffic. If you're driving a campervan, you'll find well-appointed caravan parks in most sizable towns. If you're feeling more adventurous, hire a 4WD and go off-road: Australia's national parks and secluded corners are custom-made for camping trips down the dirt road. Embrace your inner road warrior!
Why I Love Australia
By Charles Rawlings-Way & Meg Worby, Authors
We've both been living on this great southern land for 30-something years, and there are still places here that we haven't explored. This isn't to say that we've been sitting at home eating popcorn and watching David Attenborough – we're travel writers! It's just that Australia is so damn big. Even if we spent the next 30-something years on an endless round-Australia road trip, there'd still be surprises out there. And that, for a couple of restless road-addicts, is a very comforting reality.
For more about our authors, see page 000
Arts & Culture
No matter which city you're wheeling into, you'll never go wanting for an offbeat theatre production, a rockin' live band, lofty art-gallery opening, movie launch or music festival mosh-pit. This was once a country where 'cultural cringe' held sway – the notion that anything locally produced simply wasn't up to scratch. But these days the tables have turned (and, if anything, Australian pride is a tad over-inflated). Aboriginal arts – particularly painting and dance – seem immune to such fluctuations and remain timelessly captivating.
Best places to stay in Australia
East Coast Australia travel guide
Picture-perfect beaches, rainforests, hip cities and the Great Barrier Reef: just a few of our favourite things along Australia's East Coast.
Australia's best food experiences: a bush tucker tour in the outback
The best way to get a real taste of Australia's traditional customs and landscapes is to accompany a guide on a bush tucker and bush medicine tour around their locale. You'll never look at a humble berry in the same way again...
Bushwalking in Australia
Australia for kids
Australia travel guide
Australia – the sixth-largest country on this lonely planet – is dazzlingly diverse: a sing-along medley of mountains, deserts, reefs, forests, beaches and multicultural melting-pot cities.
East Coast Australia
Beautiful beaches, cosmopolitan cities, wildlife-filled rainforests and the Great Barrier Reef are just a few reasons why so many have fallen under the spell of Australia's enchanting East Coast. Spectacular Scenery With nearly 18,000km of coastline, Australia's East Coast has some of the most captivating scenery on the planet.
Australia in a campervan: top tips from the experts
One of the best ways to see Australia – the east coast, the west coast, or the whole country – is on a self-drive road trip in your own campervan...
Australia's East Coast itinerary
Discover Australia travel guide
Island, country, continent…Australia is a big 'un whichever way you spin it. The essence of the place is diversity: deserts, coral reefs, tall forests, snow-cloaked mountains and multicultural melting-pot cities.
Yarra Valley Wine and Winery Tour from Melbourne
Join a full-day Yarra Valley wine tour and visit four of the region's best known wineries: Yering Station, Balgownie Estate, Yering Farm and Domaine Chandon. Over lunch and a series of wine tastings, see why the Yarra Valley is one of Australia's most picturesque wine regions on your Yarra Valley wine tour, the perfect day trip from Melbourne.
Sydney Tower Restaurant Buffet
Enjoy panoramic views and an incredible meal at the Sydney Tower Restaurant, perched atop the tallest building in Sydney.
Road trip Tasmania: how to tackle the island state
Tasmania doesn't look very big on the map – an inverted leafy triangle just a few hundred kilometers tall and not much wider across the top. But appearances can be deceiving for those planning a road trip of Australia's most southern state...
Cycling in Australia - Planning & Environment (Chapter)
This chapter contains the Route Descriptions, Maps & Charts, Planning, Environment and Outback Tracks chapters from Lonely Planet's Cycling Australia guidebook.
Sights in Australia
Activities in Australia
Tours in Australia
Restaurants in Australia
Budget hotels & hostels
Guesthouses and B&Bs
New South Wales
Brassy, bold, stately and old, New South Wales (NSW) hogs the lion's share of Australia's population, and it's where the country's modern society was birthed. It's the most eclectic state and one of great contrasts; from the glitz of Sydney's uberstyle bars and heart-breaking harbour, to the lunar landscapes of Mungo National Park.


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Vote of the week: Big names headline Universal Orlando's Mardi Gras
Written by Domenik Jost
[Editor's note: Domenik submitted this story, and I'm hijacking it for a vote of the week. Keep reading - Robert]Tweet
It's that time of year again to scream the loudest you can to get as many beads as humanly possible at Universal Orlando's Mardi Gras celebration.
Beginning on February 7, the celebration kicks off with it's traditional parade through the streets of Universal Studios Florida.
This year's theme is for the parade is "The Wonderful World of Literature" and includes Western (Wild West), Mythology (Greek/Roman), Horror (Gargoyle), Fantasy (Lord of the Rings), Children's (Toy Trains, Nursery Rhymes), and Adventure (Pirates) floats followed by the traditional Mardi Gras floats.
Parade Times:
This year's Mardi Gras concert line up looks to be one of Universal Orlando's most promising yet:
February 7 - KC & The Sunshine Band
So here is our vote of the week. Gush, or complain, in the comments.
Readers' Opinions
From Domenik Jost on January 15, 2009 at 11:40 PM
Haha thanks for hijacking it, never even thought of that or would know how to do it.
Personally I think MC Hammer will be a fun one to go to. I mean come on, "Can't touch this" how much fun will that be.
And how can we not go see the classic "KC and The Sunshine Band". Universal Orlando's Mardi Gras would not be the same without them putting on a fun good show.
Besides that I really like that Universal Orlando finally stepped up to the plate again, it's been like four or five years since they've had a lineup that was close to being as good as this years. (In my opinion)
By the way, go to UniversalOrlando.com/MardiGras for more information on the event.
From Tony Duda on January 16, 2009 at 12:36 AM
I agree that this is a good year for talent. I'll be there for KC & the Sunshine Band because I'm doubling up with a pass holders American Idol preview earlier in the day at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Then I plan to see Pat Benatar while also doubling up with ESPN the Weekend at DHS again. I may try for one more visit for either Collective Soul or Kelly Clarkson. I may have tried for MC Hammer or Trace Adkins except that they are the Saturdays before Palm Sunday and Easter.
From Joseph Staconis on January 16, 2009 at 2:00 AM
I have to ask why USF does Mardi Gras' and USH does not it sounds like a cool idea
I'm not saying get the same singers as the one in FL has but USH does have a record label I think so why not get some singers on there Label to show up at USH
From Derek Potter on January 16, 2009 at 6:21 AM
It would be an interesting...but paying to see any of those acts would be a bit of a stretch for me.
From Amy Tupper on January 16, 2009 at 7:35 AM
Awesome! My favorite band - Barenaked Ladies - are coming to me instead of me having to travel to see them! Yay!!!
From Chris Wilkes on January 16, 2009 at 7:49 AM
Slim pickins this year (for my tastes) though I will probably narrow it down to either Pat Benatar or Kelly Clarkson.
I scored three nights at the Sheraton Safari for only $33 a night (just had to pay upfront last time I was there) and I need to use them this spring anyway.
From Andy Guinigundo on January 16, 2009 at 8:44 AM
Yes, a lot of big names - I like Barenaked Ladies. This is a group that has really matured and their music evolved. Take a listen to their iTunes exclusive recording. Great stuff.
From Domenik Jost on January 16, 2009 at 9:37 AM
For those that want to see more than one concert but thing it would be kind of expensive, just get the seasonal pass for $99, you can see all the concerts with it and go for most of the year until December 23. Its a pretty good deal, still the best deal is the preferred pass which gives you no blackout days for the entire year of fun at both parks and you get free parking (no more paying $12 a visit) but it's $199 for the first year and $109 to renew each year after that.
From Joshua Counsil on January 16, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Barenaked for sure. Gotta represent the home soil. KC would be my second choice.
From steve lee on January 16, 2009 at 3:19 PM
BNL, without a doubt. I'm still a little sore that Counting Crows never rescheduled their night (they had to cancel their Mardi Gras booking a few years back)
From Tim W on January 19, 2009 at 10:37 AM
I love country music so obviously trace adkins and montgomery gentry. two others i like are kelly clarkson and bnl.
From Pyra Dong on January 20, 2009 at 7:59 PM
Hey... anyone else enjoy the hip-hop scene?
I will definitely be taking my butt over to Orlando to see Ne-yo. OooOO I want him to serenade me personally. As for Nelly, I bet there'll be a lot of young-uns dancing in the street for that one.
MC also sounds fun. Hopefully everything will still be kept old-school and we'll see his famous dance moves and his dressy style.
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The 251-room St. Regis Princeville is considered by many to be the premier luxury option in Hawaii, and given the stunning setting overlooking Hanalei Bay, it's hard to disagree. Guests can expect warm, sophisticated decor, suites with personal butler service, world-class golf, and a memorable breakfast buffet on a terrace with gorgeous ocean views. The discerning clientele this resort attracts will find little to fault, though if one had to nitpick, the formal dress code might not appeal to everyone, and food prices -- as one might expect at this caliber of property -- are steep. The location on Kauai's lush, ruggedly beautiful northern coast makes for natural beauty that's unparalleled, but rain is more frequent here and the beach, though lovely, doesn't have the finest sand.
This 121-room Poipu boutique hotel offers five-star features -- rooms with fine Egyptian linens, Italian marble bathrooms, and personal espresso machines, and a free fitness center with individual cable-TV monitors. With just one pool and restaurant, it lacks the extras of the mega-resorts -- but the service is more attentive and pampering.
One of the best luxury resorts in Kauai, this 602-room behemoth (renovated in 2011) rewards guests with large, tasteful rooms, award-winning golf, immaculate grounds, and a host of high-end restaurants. Honeymooners will appreciate the spa, secluded gardens, and pools that stay open all night. Families will love the five acres of aquatic fun and Kauai's best kids' club.
At this condo resort, you get a huge one- and two-bedroom suite that's among the best on the island. A family-friendly pool is just one of the hotel's family friendly bonuses. On-site dining is slim, and the beach is unremarkable, but full kitchens, a grocery store across the street, and a convenient location can make up for those shortcomings.
The 346-room Westin Princeville's condo-style time-share units, four beautiful pools, expansive cliffside grounds, and excellent service (for a condo property) make it a solid, quiet option for families and couples. However, there's no on-site beach, better rooms can be found elsewhere, and restaurant options are limited.
This private, quiet property has large rooms, gorgeous sunrises over a rugged beach, a waterslide and sand-bottom pool, and a romantic bar with live music. It's a good choice for a quiet, relaxed stay. Just know that for similar rates, the Kauai Marriott has better service, better food, high-design pools, a more usable beach, and more stuff to do.
Made up of 39 huge one- and two-bedroom luxury condos (each with a kitchen and washer and dryer), this condo-hotel complex offers stunning views of the Pacific from its small but gorgeous pool and every room's balcony. Sure, there's no sandy beach, restaurant, gym, overnight desk staff, or even air conditioning, but these views are worth it.
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Adam's Interview with R-Truth!!!
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
Here's My interview with R-Truth!
Once again, a BIG Thank You to R-Truth! I know that the WWE guys are busy travelling and don't get to spend a lot of time with their families, so for him to take 15 minutes out of his day to talk to me was awesome. I tried do my research, and ask him some questions he hasn't heard a thousand times this week, hopefully ya'll enjoyed it. Now get your tickets and get ready for an awesome show this Sunday!!!
If you haven't purchased tickets yet go to the Reed Arena Box Office, Call 979-845-2311 or click here.


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New Castle's Trey Ball was selected Friday as the baseball Player of the Year, which was given out by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.
The news was confirmed on Ball's Twitter account, where he wrote: "A Big thank you to the Indiana High School Baseball Association for selecting me Mr. Baseball inIndiana! Beyond speechless and honored!"
Josh VanMeter of Norwell, who led the Knights to the Class 3A state championship, finished second for the award.
VanMeter, a fifth-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres, has already begun his professional career. So has Ball, a first-round pick of the Boston Red Sox.
Ball was 6-0 with a 0.76 earned-run average and 93 strikeouts, while batting .330 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI forNew Castle.
VanMeter was 14-1 with a 1.40 ERA and 115 strikeouts, and he batted .450 with nine home runs and 36 RBI.


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La Salle Explorers (17-7)@
St. Joseph's Hawks (15-9)
Saturday, February 04
The Palestra
Attendance: 8,722
La Salle
St. Joseph's
Game Leaders
17 pts, 33 fg%, 100 ft%
18 pts, 70 fg%, 67 ft%
7 reb
15 reb
4 ast
4 ast
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Halil Kanacevic recorded a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Saint Joseph's Hawks to a 70-66 victory over the La Salle Explorers in an Atlantic 10 Conference battle at The Palestra.
Carl Jones added 13 points for Saint Joseph's (15-9, 5-4 A-10).
Earl Pettis led La Salle (17-7, 6-3) with 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting from the floor. Ramon Galloway finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Sam Mills scored 11 points. The loss snapped the Explorers' four-game winning streak.
The Hawks took a 42-33 lead into the intermission after they shot 56.7 percent from the floor in the opening period. La Salle made just 35.7 percent of its field goals, but remained close by going 7-of-7 from beyond the arc in the first half.
The Explorers put together a comeback effort after the break as they attempted 14 more field goals and shot 31.6 percent in the second period. Pettis dunked it in to make it a one-point game with 11 seconds remaining in the contest. C.J. Aiken pushed the Hawks' lead to 69-66 with a pair of free throws before Pettis missed a game-tying three-point attempt with two seconds left. Langston Galloway secured the rebound and added a free throw to put it out of reach. Saint Joseph's went 7-of-24 from the field after halftime, but made up for it by converting 14-of-18 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes.
Saint Joseph's won the battle inside as it held a 43-35 advantage in the rebounding battle and outscored the Explorers, 30-16, in the paint.
D.J. Carstensen, Joe DeMayo, David Walker


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- Wayne Busby
- Montreal
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What is your favourite quote and why?
I would like to begin here a compendium of those bits of wisdom humanity perceives to be most true or without exception.
It is not necessary to name who might be credited with saying your selection, as no such person can honestly claim to have been without some outside inspiration, which catalyzed their creativity and moved them to express their insight.
Much like what you are called here to do.
If you yourself have distilled some wisdom through reflection, please allow me to present you this moment to pass it on here for consideration or perhaps start your own string.
The purpose of all this is to provide a most efficient tool for correlating the most valid ideas about morality and what we perceive to be real or important across culture or socialization. I would then like to work with you to turn this soil and see what new things (ideas) might grow. Food for the soul.
You are encouraged to emulate the creative process here so: COPY, COMBINE and TRANSFORM! Help me correlate.
Please comment in a constructive way if you agree or not with anything posted here and explain why.
Closing Statement from Wayne Busby
Herein you will find over 700 quotes and comments full of inspiration and wisdom, from Tedsters motivated by positivity and the betterment of mankind.
I am blessed and humbled to have consorted with them.
Get yourself your favourite comfort drink and stay a while, this is one of 'Ted Conversations' longest strings ever.
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Mar 25 2012: Buddha said, "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment"
I constantly have to remember to keep my mind on the "here and now". When it comes down to it, yesterday is gone and tomorrow may not come. All I have is this very moment to make up for lost times and to live life to the fullest. Dwelling on the past will only lead to regrets or nostalgia, and planning too far ahead will only cause me to miss out on alternative opportunities and adventures. It's easier said than done because I am both a dweller and a planner. My fear of repeating my mistakes and my fear of not being prepared cause me to forget about the present. But this brings me to my next favorite quote that I learned from my favorite movie growing up, "hakunna matata" :)
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A year after their youngest goes missing, Eve takes her family to Crickley Hall to escape the anniversary. When they realize the place is haunted they try to leave but Eve hears a message that her son is alive and the ghosts know where he is.
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Inspection of the chest and abdomen posteriorly (A) and anteriorly (B) shows multiple bruises in the lower back compared to minimal bruises in the front (arrows), confirming the presence of retropulsion and backward falls.
To the Editor: Drug-induced parkinsonism is common especially in the psychiatric population where it can be overlooked.1,2 Among other extrapyramidal features, falls due to retropulsion are common and frequently lead to considerable clinical implications, including injuries and high cost of hospitalization. The pathophysiology of falls in parkinsonian disorders is growing and points to a loss of intersegmental flexibility (or axial rigidity) that predisposes patients to fall backward or in lateral directions.3 In this case, we report multiple bruises noted on the skin examination of a patient admitted with excessive retropulsive falls.
A 74-year-old man with history of bipolar depression presented with increasing backward falls that became pronounced following the initiation of a D2-receptor blocker (risperidone). Neurological examination showed multiple extrapyramidal signs including a rest tremor in the right hand, axial rigidity, decreased blink rate, masked facies, and stooped posture with profound postural instability and retropulsion. Backward shoulder pull test was positive for a minimum of five steps with severe tendency to fall. He also exhibited positive glabellar and palmomental reflexes consistent with release of frontal inhibition. Further inspection of the skin revealed severe bilateral bruises in the lower back (Figure 1). A noncontrasted CT scan of the brain showed mild atrophy. The dose of risperidone was reduced, and his axial rigidity has improved.
Subtle extrapyramidal signs are often overlooked on neurological examination. The severity of falls in patients with drug-induced parkinsonism is assessed by adequate clinical history of fall frequency and coexisting injuries in addition to the positive shoulder pull test.4 Coexisting injuries requiring professional health care are reported in 75% of falls, including bone fractures in 30%.5 Thorough inspection of the skin in these patients may ascertain evidence and point to the severity of backward falls and retropulsion in Parkinson's disease and other parkinsonian disorders including drug-induced parkinsonism.
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Varietals: Prugnolo Gentile, Canaiolo Nero, Mammolino
Vino Nobile is garnet red in color; its bouquet is delicate and intense, with a slight scent of violet; the taste is dry with a hint of tannin. This wine is ideal with roast and grilled meat, game and mature cheeses.
"Ripe strawberry and blackberry aromas follow through to a full body, with plenty of rich, luscious fruit, fine tannins and a clean finish. Mouthwateringly delicious. Drink now. 8,500 cases imported."
90 Points
Wine Spectator
"The estate's 2006 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Grandi Annate has the body and structural components to balance its super-ripe dark fruit. Black cherries, mint, licorice and white flowers are some of the aromas and flavors that take shape in this extroverted, unusual Vino Nobile."
90 Points
Vinous / Antonio Galloni
In 1309 pope Clement V transferred the papal residence from Rome to Avignon, France. In 1377, when pope Gregory XI moved the papal residence back to Rome, some noble families of Avignon left France to follow him. It was at that time, in Italy, that one of those families became known as Avignonesi - probably to simplify an otherwise difficult, foreign name. Soon the Avignonesi...Read More About Avignonesi
One of the most important wine regions in Italy, Tuscany is home to the cities of Florence and Siena, the districts of Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, and the wineries of Sassicaia, Tignanello and Ornellaia. Tuscany is also home to the indigenous Italian grape variety, Sangiovese. Most of the wine coming from Tuscany is made from some clone of this...Read More About Tuscany
Sangiovese (SAHN-gee-oh-VAY-zee) Blood of Jove (literally translated) The principal grape of Chianti - in fact, the principle grape of all of Tuscany - has had its ups and downs. For a stint in the 70s and 80s, wines labeled Chianti contained cheap red wine packaged in a straw casked bottle, most popular for the candle holder it would become. But no more. Sangiovese re...Read More About Sangiovese
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Profitability of simple trading strategies exploiting the forward premium bias in foreign exchange markets and the time premium in yield curves
AbstractThis paper focuses on two actively studied inefficiencies in financial markets: the forward premium bias in foreign exchange markets (see, for example, Hansen and Hodrick 1980, Fama 1984, Bansal and Dahlquist 2000, etc.) and the empirical finding that the time expectations theory performs relatively poorly in describing the average shape of yield curves (for a list of papers see, for example, Backus et al. 1998, p 1). The goal of the article is to test whether these two inefficiencies can still offer the possibilities of earning positive and stable excess return for investors. For that purpose, first two very simple trading strategies are tested based on the abovementioned inefficiencies: buying the currencies of the countries with higher short-term interest rates against the currencies of the countries with lower short-term interest rates (i.e. simple FX carry-strategy) and holding long-only positions in longerterm interest rate futures. The results show that the two studied risk premiums are still present in the markets and enable investors to earn excess returns even with simple strategies. Additional tests show that the performance of these simple strategies can be further improved by the inclusion of a risk factor in the foreign exchange carry-strategy and by the addition of monetary policy direction and yield curve steepness filters in the long-only strategy in interest rate futures.
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Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by Bank of Estonia in its series Bank of Estonia Working Papers with number 2006-04.
Length: 34 pages
Date of creation: 10 Oct 2006
Date of revision: 12 Oct 2006
Publication status: published
Handle: RePEc:eea:boewps:wp2006-04
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Related researchKeywords: trading rules; forward premium bias; time expectations theory;
Find related papers by JEL classification:
- E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
- E47 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
- E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
- F37 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Finance Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
- G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
- G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
- NEP-ALL-2006-11-04 (All new papers)
- NEP-CBA-2006-11-04 (Central Banking)
- NEP-IFN-2006-11-04 (International Finance)
- NEP-MAC-2006-11-04 (Macroeconomics)
- NEP-MON-2006-11-04 (Monetary Economics)
ReferencesReferences listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Fama, Eugene F., 1984. "Forward and spot exchange rates," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 319-338, November.
- David Backus & Silverio Foresi & Abon Mozumdar & Liuren Wu, 1998.
"Predictable Changes in Yields and Forward Rates,"
NBER Working Papers
6379, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
- Backus, David & Foresi, Silverio & Mozumdar, Abon & Wu, Liuren, 2001. "Predictable changes in yields and forward rates," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(3), pages 281-311, March.
- Hansen, Lars Peter & Hodrick, Robert J, 1980. "Forward Exchange Rates as Optimal Predictors of Future Spot Rates: An Econometric Analysis," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 88(5), pages 829-53, October.
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Celebs and film fans storm in for TropFest Arabia
More than 4,000 film enthusiasts attended a night filled with movies, musical performances, and live entertainment as TropFest Arabia, the Middle East version of the world's largest short film festival, kicked off the Abu Dhabi Corniche on Friday.
Organised as part of Yasalam series building up to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the event also featured a live musical performance by the Lebanese star Carole Samaha.
Sixteen shortlisted films from across the Middle East and North Africa were screened for the first time in front of celebrity judges, including Tunisian actress Hind Sabry, and the audience. Egyptian filmmaker Mohammad Hussen Anwar's five-minute film 'Undamageable', based around the Arab Spring', was adjudged the winner by the panel which included John Polsen, founder of the festival; Mohammad Saeed Hareb, the Emirati animator; Amr Al Zuheir, Kuwaiti film producer and director; Seba Mubarak, Jordanian actress and producer and Amr Salama, Egyptian writer and director.
By Sara Sabry
Top Headlines
- And the winner is... Yusra will be helping choose the best films at 'Tropfest Arabia'
- Ramy Ayach ready to rain down on TROPFEST Arabia
- Tunisian Qairawan Fest Honors Enas al Deghaidi
- Kinda Alloush will be judging your next movie at the 29th Alexandria Film Festival
- Award-winning Emirati film gets nod at New York's Tribeca Film Fest


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WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans borrowed more in April to attend college and buy cars and were a little less cautious with their credit cards than the previous month.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Gamblers who prefer their laptops to blackjack tables could soon get a boost from Washington.
SACRAMENTO (AP) - PG&E and its contractors have agreed to pay $50.5 million to settle Department of Justice allegations that the utility was responsible for two wildfires that scorched 18,000 acres of national forest land in Northern California.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Two employees at a Whole Foods Market store in Albuquerque say they were suspended last month after complaining about being told they couldn't speak Spanish to each other while on the job - a claim the company says was a misunderstanding.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health experts are recommending changes to safety restrictions on former blockbuster diabetes pill Avandia, in light of a new analysis suggesting that the drug may not increase the risk of heart attack as much as previously thought.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Microsoft will add its popular Outlook email program to more tablets running on a lightweight version of its Windows operating system as part of a free software update this year.
NEW YORK (AP) - Generic versions of emergency contraception can be sold without a prescription or age restrictions while the federal government appeals a judge's ruling allowing the sales, an appeals court said Wednesday.
TORONTO (AP) - Modern BlackBerrys with physical keyboards are now available in the U.S., months after the touch-screen versions went on sale.
NEW YORK (AP) - A mom sits at her kitchen table when her grade schooler saunters up with a big box of Cheerios.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A decade ago, the mere idea of cloud computing was a difficult concept to explain, let alone sell. Today, the technology is spurring a high-stakes scramble to buy some of the early leaders in the cloud-computing movement.
NEW YORK (AP) - A U.S. trade agency on Tuesday issued a ban on imports of Apple's iPhone 4 and a variant of the iPad 2 after finding the devices violate a patent held by South Korean rival Samsung Electronics.
WASHINGTON (AP) - An Oregon company is recalling a frozen berry mix sold to Costco and Harris Teeter stores after the product has been linked to at least 49 hepatitis A illnesses in seven states.
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. home prices soared 12.1 percent in April from a year earlier, the biggest gain since February 2006, as more buyers competed for fewer homes.
DETROIT (AP) - A defiant Chrysler is refusing to recall about 2.7 million Jeeps the government says are at risk of a fuel tank fire in a rear-end collision.
NEW YORK (AP) - With the recent news that a Russian hacker ring has amassed some 1.2 billion username and password combinations, it's a good time to review ways to protect yourself online.
NEW YORK (AP) - The collapse of Sprint's push to buy T-Mobile US could mean fresh options in wireless plans and lower prices for U.S. consumers. But in the long run, tougher competition on prices could lead to slower service and slower expansion of coverage.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Internet radio leader Pandora has come to its first-ever direct licensing deal with artists, a wide-ranging agreement with independent label group Merlin that both said would mean higher payments to artists and more play for them on Pandora stations.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Economists have long argued that a rising wealth gap has complicated the U.S. rebound from the Great Recession.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Aiming to sidestep a logjam in Congress, the Obama administration is looking for steps it could take on its own to prevent American companies from reincorporating overseas to shirk U.S. taxes, officials said Tuesday.
MIAMI (AP) - To motivate a classroom packed with 87 aspiring real estate agents, instructor Keith Grandy started off his one-week, intensive course with the promise of big money: With hard work, fresh licensees in the Miami metro area could make $100,000 a year if they complete at least two transactions per month, according to current property prices and commissions.
BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) - Office Depot's second-quarter loss widened as the office supply retailer dealt with increased expenses.
NEW YORK - Passcodes are outdated.
NEW YORK (AP) - Wal-Mart, in its latest bid to compete with nemesis Amazon.com, is rebuilding its website to further personalize the online shopping experience of each customer.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - A case pitting a casino against gamblers who won $1.5 million in a game with unshuffled card decks may be heading toward trial.