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Commercial Diets and Medicating Emotions: Dr. Chambers on Good Day
Hear Dr. Chambers on "Good Day with Doug Stephan" every Tuesday at 7:50am ET. In this week's segment, Doug and Dr. Chambers talk about a new ranking of commercial diet programs. And they have pointed comments about a New York Times piece on a new trend of medicating bad emotions away. »


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First Penn State coaches are embroiled in sexual abuse scandal, and now Syracuse. I'll spare everyone the details, since if you don't already know them by now, you've probably avoided through an act of personal will.
Suffice it to say it's ugly. Horrific. The effects of such abuses will affect the lives of victims forever.
So is there any good whatsoever to be found amid the darkness of such sexually morbid exploitation? Maybe I'm being naively optimistic, but I'd like to think so.
It's not as if one sex abuse scandal triggered a chain of other crimes. On the contrary, I'd like to think that the very act of dragging the Penn state scandal out into the light led to others being emboldened to speak about similar wrongdoing elsewhere. And I'd suggest the same dynamic has taken hold in recent years in the Catholic Church.
Of course it's easy to vilify the Church for its obfuscation and willing blindness in the face of heinous violations of its own faithful; it certainly seems as if such problems are suddenly everywhere. But it's important to keep in mind that many of the cases being brought forward now are years – even decades – old. It's only once others were brave enough to speak the truth about their situation that fellow victims felt able to do the same. They realized they were not alone, and they saw that when the victims spoke, people really listened.
Although it's unpleasant to have such ugly patterns emerge in such short order, such a reality check is necessary on two levels. First, it's the only way many of the perpetrators would ever be stopped, and the only way to dissuade potential predators from lapsing into similar behavior. Second, having their pain acknowledged is the only way many feel they can find a path to healing, and perhaps even reconciliation.
There's a mystique around both that is attractive to many.
Both coaches and priests hold tremendous power, both in the public eye and with respect to individuals.
They are gatekeepers of sorts.
It's generally assumed that their intentions are good, so often their power goes unchecked.
If there's any redemption in the ongoing saga that continues to unfold daily around collegiate sports and the gross liberties some coaches are taking with their position to exploit the innocent, it's that the wrong has finally been named. It's been brought into the light.
And though the process is painful, we should all pray that the power of such honesty gives strength to others still hiding, humiliated and broken, in the shadows.
Christian Piatt is an author, editor, speaker, musician and spoken word artist. He co-founded Milagro Christian Church in Pueblo, Colorado with his wife, Rev. Amy Piatt, in 2004. Christian is the creator and editor of "Banned Questions About The Bible" and "Banned Questions About Jesus." He has a memoir on faith, family and parenting being published in early 2012 called "PREGMANCY: A Dad, a Little Dude and a Due Date." For more information about Christian, visit www.christianpiatt.com, or find him on Twitter or Facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


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The 7 Best Foods I Ate in Hawaii
This article originally appeared in December 2012 on Naomi Bishop's blog. Below is a snippet from Naomi's dining experience around the Hawaiian Islands.
Like so many of our trips, our Hawaii vacation quickly spiraled into 'research.' As in, I carted us all over creation looking for the best bites the islands have to offer. If you've been watching my columns on Serious Eats, you might have seen me talk about some of the things I ate. But right here, right now, I'm going to tell you about the seven best bites I had in the seven days we spent in Hawaii. **Note: The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau helped out with my transportation and lodging costs for this trip, though I chose all meal locations and paid for all meals, except where noted.
Spam Omelet, Liliha Bakery
I can't explain what made this so good. Maybe it was the fact that it was 2 in the morning local time (5 in the morning on the time I'd woken up on), and I was in a new city with an old friend, who, it being Halloween, was dressed as Magnum P.I.–complete with eyeliner-applied chest hair and all. The salty meat was chopped up with nicely caramelized onions, the whole thing had the inverse ratio of messiness to deliciousness down pat. Friendly locals on the other barstools were happy to opine on our ordering, and it just felt right. Not pictured? The buttery bun with secret-ingredient house jam that came with.
Goat Barbacoa Tacos, Canoe House
It was actually a set menu media (read: free) dinner at this fancy-pants restaurant, and these were not on the menu. Luckily we were seated next to the PR lady, who kept mentioning things. House-made local-pig bacon? "Oh, would you guys want to try that?" She'd ask, innocently. Um, yes, yes, we would. "Oh, you guys like goat?" She wondered. The five people within earshot all started babbling incoherently at high volume about how much we love goat. "Chef will bring out his goat tacos," she said, calming us down. We were not prepared for this. Yes, what's inside is falling apart local goat meat, 'Korean-braised' according to the menu, and it was incredibly good, especially with the crisp daikon salsa on top. The clincher, the thing that made me declare this one of the best bites of my year, though, was that the whole thing was wrapped in a flaky pastry. She called it a bao bun, but it was less like a soft Chinese bao, and more like the crispness of a scallion pancake. It was the perfect foil for the soft goat, and I was won over.
To continue reading about and viewing photos from Naomi's Hawaiian dining experience, click here.
Naomi Bishop is a Seattle based food writer whose musings can be found on her food blog, TheGastroGnome, where she claims that being a GastroGnome is not about sitting idly on the front lawn of culinary cottages. You can also follow her explorations of cooking and culture around the world at @GastroGnome.


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From Media Post
Microsoft's controversial decision to turn on a do-not-track header by default in its newest browser is drawing heated criticism from ad industry representatives, who criticize the software giant for taking a position contrary to self-regulatory groups.
A browser-based do-not-track header sends a request to Web sites, but doesn't block cookies or prevent tracking users in order to send them ads based on their online activity.
Read more: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/176000/daa-ad-industry-might-ignore-ie10-do-not-track-re.html#ixzz1wmpqh1sx
MediaPost Publications DAA: Ad Industry Might Ignore IE10 Do-Not-Track Requests 06/04/2012.


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his blog first appeared on the blog Fear, Honor, and Interest on 1 September 2011. I am reposting it here because I think the author, Nick Prime, was particularly prescient in his analysis and provides some cautionary points for technologically-focused warfare and revolutions in military affairs. This is the first part of a two-part blog exploring the strategic effects of NATO's entry into the war in Libya. These will focus primarily on the effects of airpower, special operations forces and the role of the NTC. Possible implications for NATO's future may also be explored/questioned. The first installment will explore the way operational success can achieve or fail to achieve the desired strategic end state. The second piece will be posted in the next few days.
A fortnight ago, the Libyan rebels swept into the capital city of Tripoli and have since begun to assert control over territory it seemed only weeks ago they would never lay claim to. The side that spent months teetering on the brink of imminent demise has now become the mortal lock. Now that they've reached this position of unrivaled dominance it seems the world is ready to start talking in past tense about the conflict. The clear impression being that the good guys won, the bad guys lost and now it's time to divvy up the credit. In such a low risk/low reward scenario it's not hard to find plenty of factions looking for their fair share of congratulations.
Considering that a simple, humble deferral of credit to the Libyan people who fought and died for their own freedom is clearly not in any NATO member's political best interest, it obviously must have been something we did. Since we only really managed to do two things successfully, providing tactical air support and sending in a small number of special operations troops to train, equip and coordinate, those must have been the two factors that proved strategically significant, right? Before NATO came along it looked like the rebels were going to be flushed into the sea like a dearly departed goldfish, surely it must have been this strategy, understated in its elegance that saved the day.
If such limited contributions of men and resources could achieve such a strategically decisive result here, well this must be the recipe for future conflicts. If so much can be accomplished with so little, well we wouldn't need large combat brigades, we wouldn't need to get bogged down in quagmires. Just send in a few A-Teams, a few SEALs, some Combat Air Controllers and the B-52's, B-1B's, A-10's and AC-130's, shake lightly let sit for 4-6 months and presto! Fledgling democracy made easy….it could work right?
Not so fast, while airpower and special operations forces punched far above their weight in Afghanistan in '01 and seem to have done so here, it's important to understand the relationship between these tremendous capabilities and the strategic end state their capable (or incapable) of achieving. The limitations and strengths of these two extremely valuable strategic assets are significant enough to deserve their own post, so that will be saved for future consideration. For now however I want to focus on the first salient point. We have not yet reached a strategic end state. In much the same way as in early phases of the Afghan war, where an SOF/Air Force dynamic duo, routed the Taliban from power in a matter of months. Yet they failed in achieving a singularly decisive strategic result, sowing the seeds for what would soon become a lengthy and protracted battle to hold those quickly gotten gains. A battle that became so lengthy and protracted, in large part, because it lacked a government and security apparatus with a firmly grounded base of public support, unlike say the National Transitional Council that appears to be taking root in Libya.
While it's simple to draw parallels to Afghanistan '01, and to an extent they're valid, just not necessarily in a positive sense. The more relevant conflict for comparison is the Soviet-Afghan War, specifically the final throes. In that conflict a rag tag collection of unlikely allies (both within Afghanistan and outside the battlefield) banded together in the face of a common enemy and with (an even smaller commitment, lacking as it did in airpower) just the addition of light, man portable, weapons and a small number of intelligence/SOF trainers, this force was capable of ultimately defeating the army of a superpower. Yet while one group of bad guys was ultimately defeated the removal of the sole impetus for cooperative effort destroyed any sense of national unity, the crucial unity required to create a stable and secure Afghanistan. The failure to achieve a suitable concluding strategic end state in that scenario proved prophetic for reasons I shouldn't have to spell out to this readership. In the current conflict in Libya a similar scenario could, ultimately undermine the humanitarian justification for NATO's entry into the proceedings.
The various NATO states currently bowing for applause could, if they're not careful become dangerously distracted. By taking their eye off the ball to try and advance the argument that Airpower/SOF saved the day and achieved a singular strategic victory they will both ignore the singularly significant strategic aspect of the conflict (the unification of anti-Gaddafi forces under the banner of the Libyan NTC), and ultimately fail to fulfil the purpose of the humanitarian intervention. After all, what good is removing a brutal totalitarian dictator simply to leave a failed state in his wake?
Case in point, while defeating the forces of Soviet Russia was the primary objective of foreign involvement in Afghanistan in the '80's. The inability of the Northern Alliance and other affiliated groups to evolve from capable fighting force to capable governing force created a vacuum that ultimately destabilised the region for decades. Libya, itself surrounded by fledgling democracies could too become a destabilising force in the region should the NTC fail to deliver on its institutional potential. For now then it would seem painfully obvious. Anyone who emphasizes the war winning, peace-bringing, capabilities of SOF and airpower, as the legacy of Western involvement in this Libyan war needs to stop and consider the fact that the legacy of this conflict will be the success or failure of the NTC. How best NATO and the UN can assure the ultimate success of the NTC, is a question for someone with a very different area of expertise.
Nicholas Prime is an MPhil/PhD Candidate in the Department of War Studies, King's College London. His thesis research is focused on the evolution of American strategic thought in the first half of the Cold War. Follow him on Twitter: @NC_Prime. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect any official organization.
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After making sure that you have a Fragrant Branch of Yore in your inventory; you can run back towards the entrance to Things Betwixt; but instead of going up the hill, look right for some stone archways instead.
Head through here and you should chat to Benhart the NPC who's resting on the ground with the giant blue sword. Speak to him then head inside and approach the stone statue.
Use your Fragrant Branch of Yore on the statue to free the woman known as Roseabeth. Speak with her fully (until she offers to go to Majula ) and then offer her your worst armor/anything you've got a duplicate of for the trophy/achievement.
Note: If you're looking to complete Benhart's story-arc then we recommend you speak to him right after releasing Rosabeth from her statue form. Exhausting his dialogue will push him on to the next area.
Before pulling the lever, enter the cells in the lower level and kill the enemies inside. After pulling the lever the cell doors up above will all open up and drop even more of those pesky poison Goblins onto the ground.
Pick them off with any sweeping melee weapons or area-of-effect spells to get rid of them quickly as a Basilisk will appear in the door by the lever. Kill this creature and then open the cells near the stairs in front for an [Estus Flask Shard] and a Bonfire . Eventually; the door at the top of these stairs will open and you'll be in the next area of the game - Shaded Woods .


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The RSC will celebrate Shakespeare's 451st birthday with a concert and a programme of free family-friendly events in and around its theatres.
On April 26, at 4pm, the RSC will stage a Birthday Bash concert of live music in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
It will feature music written for previous RSC productions and the forthcoming summer season, interspersed with speeches and extracts from Shakespeare performed by actors who have a close association with the RSC.
Around 20 of the RSC's musicians, along with guest instrumentalists and vocalists, will treat the audience to music from productions.
They include Henry V (1951, composer Leslie Bridgewater) which featured Richard Burton in the title role; Othello (1999, composer George Fenton, and 1948, composer Ann Carbutt); The Merchant of Venice (1987, composer Guy Woolfenden) and Henry IV (2014/15, composer Paul Englishby). Rufus Wainwright's setting of Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 will also be part of the programme.
On the day before (Saturday), a series of events will include storytelling sessions, crafts, street theatre, puppetry, stage-fighting workshops, theatre workshops and the chance to discover how fake scars and bruises are created.
For details, visit RSC


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Meak Bochea Day is Coming Up/
In two days Cambodia will have one of it's many religious holidays. Meak Bochea Day is for honoring Buddha and offering numerous sacrifices at local temples. Much time and money is put into these sacrifices by families who don't have enough to take care of themselves. Pray for Cambodians' eyes to be opened to the waste and futility of these rituals, and for revelation of the FREE gift of salvation which Jesus offers to them. Also pray that new Christians would not be swayed by family pressures to take part in idolatry.


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"I'll grab the harmonica, you haul the vibraphone." No doubt multi-instrumentalist Hendrik Meurkens has offered that suggestion or something akin to it following a concert in which he demonstrated his mastery of instruments alternately compact and cumbersome-concerts like those captured on Live at Bird's Eye, recorded during engagements in 2008 and 2010 at the Basel, Switzerland club.
Longtime fans won't be surprised by the level of performance sustained by Meurkens and his seasoned bandmates: Russian-born pianist Misha Tsiganov and two natives of Brazil, bassist Gustavo Amarante and drummer Adriano Santos. The close rapport these musicians share consistently enhances the performances, and it is the principal reason why the pop standards covered here sound so vibrant. Mind you, that's no small task when you're dealing with tunes as familiar as "Body and Soul," "Dindi" and "Estate," but Meurkens and company accomplish it with verve and ease.
Throughout, Meurkens switch-hits fluidly, though the chromaticism and percussion he generates on vibes, beginning with the samba-driven "Amazonas," can pack a wallop. Sharp contrasts come into play when a melody as alluring as "Estate" surfaces and Meurkens uses his chromatic harmonica to warmly embellish the theme. Tsiganov, who is accorded as much solo space as Meurkens, often displays a rhapsodic touch on ballads and brings a hammering attack to Meurkens' festive "Sambatropolis." Meanwhile, Amarante and Santos make for a pitch-perfect pairing, subtly shading some arrangements ("Dindi") and vigorously stirring others ("Nóa Nóa").


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The new Micromax smartphone features 5.2-inch display, 8MP camera and 2,200 mAh battery.
Redmi Note 7 Pro with 48MP camera @ just Rs.13508
Get additonal 5-10 % on debit & Credit cards.
Click here to know more
Micromax has added a new smartphone to its Bolt series. Called the Bolt A075, the new Micromax smartphone is listed on the company's website without details on pricing and availability.
The Micromax Bolt A075 has a 5.2-inch TFT display with 480x800 pixel resolution. The smartphone dual-SIM, runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Spreadtrum SC6825A Cortex A5 processor along with 512MB of RAM.
The Bolt A075 has an 8MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera, 4GB of built-in storage and supports additional storage up to 32 GB via microSD. The new smartphone supports EDGE, GPRS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and micro-USB for connectivity.
The smartphone is powered by a 2,200 mAh battery, which is rated to deliver 8 hours of talktime and 220 hours of standby time.
Micromax Bolt A075


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Dimension Norraena: Vision is the final book of the trilogy. Once again in the writing process I found that it was not really difficult to let the story just flow out of me. Being a "pancer" and not really knowing where the characters or my mind was going to lead me, I knew it would come. I think that's because I was so involved with the story myself and especially the characters.
Being that in this trilogy, the stories are not different from one another. I had the task of continuing the enduring suspense romantically and this meant finding a believable way for Skye to ultimately make her decision. Making that decision included a great deal more than just selecting a partner, it meant trusting not only someone else, but herself first and foremost.
Near the end there is a twist, you might see it earlier, you might not, but it lends a whole new possibility to adventures Skye might have from this point on.
I've learned a lot and continue to learn even more that I'd like to contribute for other writers. I plan to be much more active now, so I hope you'll check in more frequently as well. Thank you for being here.
I've already begun a new book called, NAME OF THE GAME. That's the working title and either I'll have to change the title of this blog eventually or maybe start a new one. In any case it's not a trilogy and I'll tell you about it soon.


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In Torbay there are sadly now few places that allow for a loved one to be buried. This means that many people are cremated and the final resting place of the cremated remains is decided by the family or executor.
Scattering the Cremated Remains
Many people choose to scatter the cremated remains at a favourite place or location that was special to the family or the departed.
Our Scattering tubes not only make this task easier, they also come in a variety of styles that allow families to personalise their choices to reflect the life of the deceased.
Urns and Keepsakes
Some people prefer not to scatter the cremated remains, choosing instead to keep them to remember a loved one. We offer the widest selection of cremation urns in the area, with many different styles available in many different sizes.
Large urns can contain all the cremated remains and keepsake urns can hold a small amount, which people often choose when they have scattered the majority of the ashes, or when many members of the family wish to possess a memory of their relative.


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Sawgrass Country Club - Ponte Vedra Beach
Built between the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and spreading west to A1A, the Sawgrass Country Club experience features social and active lifestyles in the heart of Ponte Vedra Beach replete with fun activities for all ages. This established community is a gated community with a North, South, East and Beach security gate, located on A1A and Ponte Vedra Blvd. Within the community, there is a large clubhouse and country club with membership open to residents and non-residents and an oceanfront beach club offering resort amenities including fine dining under separate membership.
- Gated Community
- Consisting of Condominiums, Town Homes, and Single Family Homes
- Built from the 1970's to 2000
- Average heated square footage of 3,027
- With homes ranging from 545 square feet to 6,507 square feet.
- H.O.A. Deed restricted.
- Golf Club, Tennis Club, Beach Club, & Fitness Center
Sawgrass Country Club Homes For Sale
North Gate on Preston Trail East: Lake Kathryn, Kathryn Oaks, Fisherman's Cove, Tifton Way, Deer Run, Quail Point 1 & 2, Rough Creek.
South Security Gate on Preston Trail: Garden Homes and Willow Pond.
On Sawgrass Drive South: Walker's Ridge and Village Walk.
On Sawgrass Drive East: Club Cove and Old Barn Island
- On Sawgrass Drive South: Walker's Ridge and Village Walk.
- On Sawgrass Drive East: Club Cove and Old Barn Island
Sawgrass Drive South & South Nine Drive: The Preserve, Sanpiper Cove, Lighthouse Bend
East Gate on Wildlife Preserve: Windemere, Hallmark, Spinnaker's Reach, Surf Club Villas, Ocean's Ridge, & Beach Club Villas
Club life at Sawgrass
Like many close-knit gated communities in Ponte Vedra Beach, Sawgrass Country Club offers a full year-round calendar of activities. These range from club-sponsored annual events like a Polar Bear Plunge at the pool in January to summer block parties. The best way to get to know the community is to attend the activities that are open to the public. According to their website, about one third of Sawgrass Country Club members are non-residents.
Homes in Sawgrass
Within the community, Sawgrass Country Club homes range from traditional patio homes to large multi-million dollar luxury estates. The community is home to a large number of retirees and seniors with a growing contingent of younger professionals and families. Residents are attracted to the area not only by the natural beauty and proximity to the beach, but also by the value offered by the well-established country club. Because of its sidewalks, lush landscaping, lakes and golf course views many residents are seen walking, bicycling or on their golf carts and always with a friendly wave.
Sawgrass Country Club golfing
The Club features a 27-hole golf course designed by Ed Seay, consisting of the East nine, West nine and South nine, all of which have had the fairways, tees and bunkers recently renovated by Robert Walker, a protégé of Ed Seay, as part of the club's master plan. Future work includes the greens, bridges, cart paths, drainage, bulkheads and irrigation system. These improvements showcase Sawgrass Country Club's commitment to golf and being amongst the best courses in Northeast Florida. Featured in Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, and Golf Week Magazine, the Club used to play host to the Players Championship, which moved to TPC Sawgrass. In addition to the three nines, the Sawgrass Country Club's golf options include a putting green, driving range, chipping green and practice bunker. Clinics and lessons are available year round as are social golf activities with formal and informal groups for men and women playing most weeks of the year.
A tennis lover's dream at Sawgrass
Sawgrass Country Club is also a tennis-lover's haven with 13 Har-Tru courts. The five-star Racquet Club has appeared in Tennis Magazine and World Tennis and is widely recognized as one of the best on the First Coast. The facilities include 4 lit courts for night play and stadium-style seating to give a comfortable spectator area for friends, fans and family. The Racquet Club offers clinics, lessons and teams for men, women, seniors and juniors.
Keeping fit at the Sawgrass Country Club
There is no need for a separate gym membership for County Club members. The Sawgrass Country Club is home to a 6,800 square foot fitness facility with conditioning equipment, weight machines and free weights. The gym is fully staffed with personal trainers, fitness professionals and massage therapists. The club offers a variety of group exercise classes seven days a week. In addition to the typical menu of classes, the fitness center also offers Yoga for Cancer Patients, lower back exercise and on site physical therapy. There are also specific sports programs offered through the fitness center such as surfing, fitness for tennis players, surf fishing lessons and stretching for golfers. With such a wide variety of classes available, it's easy to stay active and get involved at Sawgrass Country Club, even if you don't play tennis or golf. Amenities include a heated lap pool, indoor and outdoor group fitness classes and massage therapy.
Beach access and dining at Sawgrass
When talking about the Sawgrass Country Club, it's impossible to ignore the beautiful beach club and clubhouse available to members. Renovations to this 24,000 square foot recreation center will be completed in March 2016 to include replacing the family pool, renovating all the indoor dining and bar areas, outdoor decks, and an expansion of the SandBar Bistro at the Pavilion.
Dining options include the Inn-Between, Grill Room Bar, Golf Clubhouse, the Topsider, Ocean's Edge, Oasis Deck and Ocean Bar and the SandBar Grill. A wide variety of dining options are available through these different venues, from casual snack bar style meals to gourmet multi-course dining and wine tastings.
Other Sawgrass Country Club amenities
At the Sawgrass Country Club clubhouse, you'll find swimming options to satisfy everyone in the family, including an "Olympic+" size lap pool open to families and a beach-side adults-only pool. Membership at the Sawgrass Country Club comes in many shapes and sizes, including Preview, Country Club, Associate, Junior and Guest membership packages. The club also offers different payment plans including interest-free installment plans and deposit plans for those who live outside of the five county area.
For more information about this community in Ponte Vedra Beach, contact Jack McCarthy 904-607-4196 or Matt McCarthy 904-536-8113.
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Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Who Manages Leabank Square?
55 comments:
Hi Sóna
I know we have coverred this in the meetings - but it's good that you bowed to pressure & put it up here too.
PMMS are an absolute joke - it's high time they were replaced by someone who gives better value for money.
I have mates who live next door in Wick village who pay LESS THAN HALF the service charge we do - and look how lovely it is?
I sear - if it wasn't for you (& your kids doing all the gardening & DIY around here - it would be such a horrible place to live!! PMMS should be absolutely ashamed of themselves ripping us off like this!!
The sooner we get up & running - the sooner we get shot of them!!
(As you say) Peace
- 12 September 2008 at 20:02:00 BST
Hey Sóna
Good on you for putting this blog up on the site - I know you hate us wingeing & wining on here - but these PMMS lot are a f***ing joke!!
Is there anyone in the square who have had a positive dealing with them?
We pay a HUGE amount of service charge & get a bare minimum service for the charge!!
All their work is done by contractors - so they never have to leave Reading to come & see for themselves!!
The sooner we all get rid of them - the better!!
- 13 September 2008 at 11:04:00 BST
I agree Pete!
Remember when we all moved in? We could go up to the Riverside anytime we liked.
Thanks Sóna for organising this again. Pity we've got the Olympics there instead of Arena Fields again - but that's 'progress' for you.
But what a difference you lot have made over the last few years?! Why are we paying this PMMS lot money when you all do everything virtually for free?
You pick up the litter, you garden the green, you DIY the broken drain-pipes (I saw you!), you tidy up all the bin areas, you have spruced up the Riverside, you've sorted out neighbour disputes, you organise the annual Leabank Square Festival, I bet if you had a lawn mower - you'd do that too!!
AND - nobody pays you a penny to do that. Imagine what it would be like if we ALL strated doing little things for each other?
Come on Leabank Square - let's start talking about ousting this sham of a management company & replacing it with good neighbourliness!!
- 13 September 2008 at 11:26:00 BST
Hello Sóna
Saturday is the best day to catch up with all your emails!! I also came across this blog which I sorta missed 1st time around!
Have you ever tried phoning to speak to this Derek Lee?!
I mean - does he actually exist?!
Everytime I phone to speak to him - some receptionist ALWAYS asks what it is about - and then proceeds to ask - EVERY TIME - to put it writing!!
Never - not even ONCE - has she put me through to him. Even on the times I've absolutely insited - she has promised to pass the message on to him & that he will call me back!
Has he EVER?!
Has he ****!!!!!
As I understand it - we have a right to speak to the person WE are PAYING to service us - but he is as alusive as Lord Lucan!!
- 13 September 2008 at 12:15:00 BST
Hi Guys
..... and who mis-co-ordinates all the seperate management companies to come on complteely separate days and only do their tiny patch of litter picking up?!
And why is it never on a Monday - when Hackney Council come & do the refuse collection?!
The result of ALL this mis-management - is that any litter simply blows back into the tiny bit that's just been cleaned up - and we're back to Square 1 again!!!!
- 13 September 2008 at 14:18:00 BST
Hi Sóna
How's this for a story?
A mate has just left with his family. They were visiting - pretty much the whole day - so we had time to wander around the area.
They loved the Bankside flowers & green (which you & all the kids do) - but they 'felt' that there was no love & soul in the rest of the square!!
They specifically mentioned the un-friendly entrance - with all the cars parked on the sidewalk - forcing them (WITH SMALL KIDS) into the road!!
They could not believe the difference between the gardened areas - and the accomodation blocks & terraces!!
Do I need to remind you that our two blocks have just been 're-decorated' - and yet they still felt that they looked un-maintained?
You know - sometimes you just need that fresh eye to tell you new things that we see every day?!?
And we are PAYING some joker to 'maintain' the Square?!
He's having a laugh!!!!!!
- 13 September 2008 at 22:09:00 BST
Hi Sóna
Has anyone ever seen an annual statement? By that I mean a complete breakdown of what they have said they have spent OUR money on?
Surely we are meant to be sent a detailed Income & Expenditure report?
It is OUR money after all - and we shouldn't have to ASK for one - it should just automatically be sent out to us at the end of each financial year.
Please could anyone who has ever seen one - let us all know if it is available.
- 14 September 2008 at 13:26:00 BST
Hello leabanksquare.blogspot.com
I just want to say that this blogsite is the ideal forum for talking about ALL our management companies.
I am lucky enough (I guess) to stay in one of the Family Mosaic houses - but have had to have dealings with PMMS in the past. Besides them never responding to my polite requests, they are so very difficult to speak to.
I find their telephone manner, defensive in the extreme!!
Even when they simply answer the phone, there is an unnecessary degree of agressiveness in their voice! The conversation just goes downhil from then on in!
I have to keep reminding myself that I am the one PAYING for their service, and yet they see fit to talk to me as if I am inconveniencing THEM!?!
Do they get abusive phone calls all day long from their other premises they look after? This is the only conclusion I can come up with to understand their horid telephone manner.
In my opinion, we should do whatever it takes to find another company that will act in OUR best interests, not THEIRS!!!
Thank you for this opportunity for all of us to discuss this dire set of affairs in common with all Leabank Square's residents.
- 15 September 2008 at 18:04:00 BST
Hi Sóna - I agree with everything everyone has said above - wholeheartedly!!
There is another thing that bugs me as well.
How come - when Family Mosaic DON'T manage the whole square - all the 'no dog fouling' & 'no ball games' signs are all their signs?!
Surely - IF our so-called management company PMMS is the overall management company - any signs in our square should be theirs?!
Also - did Family Mosaic consult with any residents before putting their signs all over the square? They certainly did NOT ask me (& I live in a Family Mosaic property) nor any of my friends & neighbours!!!
This PMMS are such a useless lot - I can't believe we have let them get away with this for so long!!! I'm all for setting up this new Residents Association & kicking them out!!!
- 16 September 2008 at 12:50:00 BST
Hey Sóna
As you know I rent my flat from my landlord who deals with this PMMS lot. Whenever I phone them up - they are incredibly rude & offensive.
They once told me that 'all' the children in Leabank Square are 'yobs'! Can you believe that?!
Often they tell me that they cannot help me & that I have to deal through my landlord. But it's the manner in which they speak to you, so condescending! It's as if THEY are doing US a favour - when in reality it's US who are paying THEM for a service they do NOT deliver!!
I've handed over the CAB file on how we get to oust them - and it won't be too long now!!
- 17 September 2008 at 11:30:00 BST
And why are we NEVER consulted whenever something gets done?!?!
They came and took away all the planters - no-one consulted!
They knocked down the walls hiding the wheelie bins - no-one consulted!
They locked the gate to the Riverside - no-one consulted!
They re-painted the car-park lines in useless paint - no-one consulted!
They drove a heavy goods vehicle over paving and broke several paving stones - no-one consulted!
I could go on & on - but the upshot is that PMMS simply do what the hell they want to - without consulting any of US - the people THAY are supposed to ask before spending OUR money!!
A bigger bunch of time and money wasters I have yet to meet!!
Get rid of them very quickly I say!
- 17 September 2008 at 20:40:00 BST
Like most of us, I have had the mis-pleasure of phoning PMMS over the past 11 years, and have never been put through to this Derek Lee person who sends the letters out.
Not only that, but the receptionists that field his calls are downright rude and obstructive! They will do anything to stop us talking to him. Why does he have to hide behind his receptionists?
I simply cannot believe this level of service(?!) is acceptable to anyone here in Leabank Square. Good luck with the Residents Association. I'm so glad we have a lawyer on our board as well, it make everything a lot clearer.
- 18 September 2008 at 12:59:00 BST
Hey Shona
Whatever happened to that group of you residents that met with this allusive Drek Lee person?
If I remember correctly it was you, Charlotte & Brian who met once with this guy. Did that group ever continue?
I know Charlotte & Brian are renting their properties out just now, but does the group still meet this idiot who runs PMMS?
If so, please let us all know when last, and what was discussed.
- 18 September 2008 at 13:59:00 BST
Hi everyone
Although I've only been in Leabank Square for 5 years now, I cannot work out who actually maintains it?!
I know that you guys do an absolutely brilliant job looking after all the gardening, Riverside and bits & pieces of DIY - but I am shocked at how little we ALL get for the extortionate amount of Service Charge we pay!!
I am 100% behind getting rid of this PMMS shower!!
- 18 September 2008 at 17:52:00 BST
And also why is it the only time we ever hear from them is a week or two before they send the annual service charge bill out to us all. Then they suddenly remember to tell us (NEVER consult us!) that they're doing something superficial & inconsequential in Leabank Square. As if that is supposed to justify the enormous service charge coming in a few days time!!
PMMS, we are not fooled! And also, that old addage of Leabank Square being a constantly changing populace is not true anymore. There is a core group of at least a half of the square who have been here for at least 7 years, and we are the ones setting up the Residents Association. So whereas before there was very little continuity, there is now a long history of their VERY bad management.
Let's get this thing together people!!
- 19 September 2008 at 11:23:00 BST
Hi Sóna
I think their tendering process is crap as well. Remember the guy who suposedly came to change the lights in the corridor?!
He came & left the wires dangling for a day, then changed the lights, they worked absolutely fine, thyen came back the next week & supposedly re-fixed them again. All of these visits we were no doubt charged for!!
The thing is - they worked absolutely fine in the first place!!
But then when we ALL phoned about the intercom system, it still doesn't work after 3 years of me phoning them!!
PMMS - Pre Menstrual Management Suckers - sucking us all dry of service charge!!
- 19 September 2008 at 19:24:00 BST
OMG Sóna!!!!
I didn't believe the geezer from PMMS really said that until you showed me the video recording!!
What a rascist!! You know - NOW that I think about it - they have said some really close to the knuckle things to me over the years - on the phone when talking about some of the residents of Leabank Square!!
How can OUR management company - who are supposed to represent US - ALL OF THE RESIDENTS (NO MATTER WHERE THEY COME FROM!!!!!) OF LEABANK SQUARE - say such rascist things about us?
I'm glad you sent everyone on the committee the vid - we will keep it until we need to kick them out! This is EXACTLY the problem we have always had with PMMS - long before you even settled here!
They are provincial close-minded village idiots - who have NO IDEA how to manage an inner-city estate - with ALL it's wonderfully diverse residents. They view most of the residents with utter contempt because they are not white British people. They view all children of these 'foreigners' (I cannot belive the ease at which he spoke about 'them' still!!) as causing massive problems in the Square. They view ALL new residents from around the world as second-class citizens 'who can't even read english or speak our language'........
OMG Sóna - I've just realised that our service charge is going to the BNP!!
I can't wait for the sh*t to hit the fan! These are just the kind of little Englanders who make me so embarrassed to be a white Englishman!!
- 21 September 2008 at 19:27:00 BST
Hi Sóna
What a great barbie yesterday mate!!! Where do you get them sausages from?!
Thanks for showing us the vid of that rascist scumbag Lee from PMMS talking about me and all the other 'foreign' residents like that!! We spoke to Jim (the lawyer in number 11) and we are definetely going to take it a whole lot further!!
I am still flabergasted that this is the level of proffesionalism we have got from our management company!! It makes me so angry that we are supporting National Front type memebers like this through our service charge!!!
Once, when the receptionist at PMMS was chatting freely to me, she made similar references to 'foreigners' dragging the square down the pan!!!
And she had no idea what the colour of my skin was, or where in the world I had come from!!
Anyway, thanks for the barbie, at least we can have a good time in Leabank Square, no matter WHO we are!!
See you at the meeting.
- 22 September 2008 at 14:27:00 BST
Hey Dude!!
Why am I not surprised at the email vid? This is the kind of thing I feel like uploading onto YouTube!!
He goes on about 'all these immigrants taking over', then startight into the classic 'I'm not rascist but.....' laying into all the people coming over and taking over!?!
Bloody BNP member if ever I saw one dude!
Now you know why I've given up ever phoning that bunch again? Why do you think they don't give a shit about Leabank Square?
Because it's full of the 'bloody foreigners' they hate so much!!
Let's kick them out to Ibiza where they all belong in one huge expat ghetto!!
- 22 September 2008 at 22:26:00 BST
Hey Sóna
I can't count how many times I've called up Ujima (in the past), and now London & Quadrant, to ask if the planters in the entrance to Leabank Square can be moved back onto the sidewalk!
Every time they then have to ask PMMS to do it, but it has been 7 years now!!
I know my block is not managed by PMMS, but the maintainance of the sidewalks and green are, and they are pathetic!! If it wasn't for you starting the Gardening Club, then NOTHING would get done on the green!! The time wasters who occasinally mow the grass are teenage work experience kids who are not in the slightest bit interrested in how OUR green looks!!
Thanks to you and ALL the kids who make our Square look as beautiful as it does. No thanks to PMMS in the future!!
- 23 September 2008 at 12:12:00 BST
Hey Sóna
And how many times do we have to call to sort all the street lights out in the square!?
The reason some residents don't feel safe in the winter months is that they have to walk into a VERY dark square most of the time!!
I'm all for these 'so-called' environmentaly friendly energy efficient bulbs in our lights, but some are so old that they only come on for a minute, and are then OFF for just over 10 minutes!
The useless lot in PMMS have never bothered to even check the lights during the dark!! This is the management company WE pay to MAINTAIN our square!!
How many cycles have we had reported knicked this year so far? 17 at last count!! That's 17 times some scallies have come into Leabank Square in the dark and left without being seen!!
Why - because PMMS can't be bothered!!
Get shot of them!!
- 23 September 2008 at 14:07:00 BST
Hi Sóna
Was this guy on such a rant that he did not even realise that you two are not his beloved brits?!
How did you keep a straight face when he went off on one?
What's even more stunning is that we are paying his wages!! WE are supporting rascists like this bunch in PMMS!! Thankfully we've got the vid & Jim says its what's called 'compelling evidence'.
Amazing rascist idiot!! But it doesn't surprise me in the slightest when you hear how they talk to me on the phone whenever I make a complaint! Whatever is wrong in the square is always blamed on 'the immigrants' - never her beloved Brits! How little does she know huh!?
Nice one mate - a little while from now & they'll be just a footnote in our history - like all rascists should be!!
- 24 September 2008 at 12:47:00 BST
Hey Sóna
I saw those 2 idiots from PMMS staring at the stairs for a few minutes, making a few calls, and then moving on to looking at the lights for a few minutes, making a few calls, then taking off.
So how much do you think PMMS are going to bill us all for this consulting visit at the end of the years invoice?
Do you remember when we used the Freedom of Information act to get the Olympics to produce the noise & dust levels figures?
Well - please could you do the same with PMMS & get them to produce a full break-down of the last financial year's figures.
I do not trust them at all. That poxy breakdown they provide us with every year is not worth the paper they print it on (except that they charge us for sending it out!).
I know that we are getting rid of them legally soon - but let's see if we can hold them accountable for some of the money that we've paid for very poor service in the past as well!!
Cheers mate.
- 24 September 2008 at 18:56:00 BST
PMMS are USELESS!!
I have lived here since day one, when they were even struggling to find money to complete building some of the blocks. We were living in the middle of a building site!
Then when PMMS took over a few years later, the square took a turn for the worse!! They NEVER EVER return my calls. They always say that they will pass my messages on to Derek Lee, but he has NEVER called me back!!
And all the messages I have left via their web-site have never EVER been responded to.
I am so glad we have started the process of their removal, just a pity we cannot see their faces when they get told!!
- 24 September 2008 at 21:36:00 BST
Hey Sóna
Just got in and Maria said she saw the git from PMMS taking some of the steps away. I hope that means that they're replacing them with better ones for the festival.
If not - we go back to your tried & tested ladders huh!?
- 24 September 2008 at 22:18:00 BST
- Leabank Square said...
Hi Everyone!!
Don't panic about the stairs. Lee & his mate promised us that he would make sure the stairs were safe for the festival.
I guess they've just taken some of the wood away in order to take measurements or something.
They guaranteed that we would be able to use them on Saturday!!
Also - far be it for me to excuse ANY sort of rascism - but - cool it on the blog. The poor guy didn't even know he stepped into our video about the festival.
We have to let the Residents Association - and our lawyers handle the legal bits & pieces about the replacement of PMMS. I know it's frustrating - but these things take time.
Luckily Family Mosaic and London & Quadrant are 100% behind us - so that should speed things up.
But let's not whip up any unnessesary stress at this crucial time in Leabank Square's negotiations okay? Please?
- 25 September 2008 at 11:21:00 BST
I, like many of our fellow residents writing here, have had a VERY bad experience trying to get hold of Derek Lee!!
The receptionist always tries to find out what the call is about, and when I politeley request to rather deal directly with him, she gets very abrupt & defensive.
She then reluctantly says that she will pass the mesage on to him, but NOT ONCE has he EVER returned my calls!!
So, either she is not telling him about the calls, or they are both colluding to keep Leabank Square at a very long distance in their dealings!
Either way, I am really looking foreward to the day we put Leabank Square's servicing out to tender & choose the better company to do our maintainance.
- 25 September 2008 at 14:07:00 BST
Hi Sóna
Did you see that git from PMMS come over on his little bike to spy on us at the festival?
He gives me the creeps man!! Lurking all over the square, making mental notes on all the foreigners to pass on to Derek Lee and his receptionist.
Yeah I know he fixed the steps for us, but he was very reluctant. I heard him chatting to Derek Lee from the balconey saying that they were unrepairable until you came along and charmed him & his mate into fixing them!!
Do you not think it was inappropriate for someone from the management company to come to OUR festival?
Creeeeeepy man.
- 30 September 2008 at 13:36:00 BST
Hi Sóna
I have asked the mamangement company for years now to install bollards on the sidewalk pavement outside our block (at the entrance).
They keep saying that it's PMMS's responsibility, but when they ask, they say it's their responsibility!!
So who is right?
Does it take someone to get run over in Leabank Squares entrance for someone to act?!
I sincerely hope you lot kick PMMS out soon and tender for the best management company to take over and GIVE US A DECENT SERVICE!!!!
- 2 October 2008 at 11:05:00 BST
Hey Sóna
I also filmed that git saying some right dodgy things about some of us as well at the festival.
Thats the thing about rascists innit they cant help themselves. It all just comes out.
What makes pmms feel that way about us foreigners? Are we not supposed to expect some proffesionalism from the company we are paying to see that we have a well running square?
In order to make it run well we need our management company to treat us all equally and based on them talking we know they dont.
anyhow more ammo for the laywer innit.
- 2 October 2008 at 15:19:00 BST
Hello Sóna
We have got to get those lawyers we met working for us. The fact that they have done this exact action succesfully so many times is a major plus.
Plus - we only have to pay if they get money back out of PMMS!!
Don't worry about the rest of the association, I'll get them around.
Next year is going to be our year!! Leabank Square takes control back into the square!!
- 4 October 2008 at 14:33:00 BST
Hi Sóna
Its been a few weeks now since you spoke to that guy from PMMS about the planters at the entrance.
Has anything been done yet?
Why do you even try asking them anything. We get many more things done by using all the skills here in Leabank Square!!
All we need is to find someone with a massive truck to push them back onto the sidewalk!
- 5 October 2008 at 09:36:00 BST
Hey Dude!!
We seriously need to get that situation at the entrance sorted out soon man.
There were 2 ambulances and two police cars there this afternoon, and nowhere to park!!
The poor patient had to be wheeled to the parking spaces next to the green, which must have added a bit more time & bumps to her condition.
It's amazing - the space is reserved for emergency vehicles, but all the residents in the 1st two blocks park there as if its their right!!
Let us hope that the next emergency is not a fire - those trucks are double the size, and REALLY need to be close to the action.
Get these PMMS half-wits on the case man.
- 6 October 2008 at 21:42:00 BST
I just saw the jpeg as well, what a dickhead!!
I really can't wait to get rid of this bunch of idiots. I would rather pay service charge to Hackney Council than a rascist!
- 7 October 2008 at 21:12:00 BST
Hi Guys!
I know we've just recently moved into Leabank Square, but the most shocking thing to us is how very little we are getting for an enormous amount of Service Charge!!
The only maintainance we see going on is all the volunteers doing things!
How did you allow this to develope? When did one tiny little company convince you all to pay so much for nothing?
I was at last weeks meeting and am so very glad that we now have a mojority! The quicker we get shot of PMMS and getting bang for buck, the sooner we start improving our lovely Leabank Square!!
- 17 October 2008 at 11:56:00 BST
Please can anyone help me? I have an electric meter that I need to feed with a money key. Trouble is that someone has broken the lock of the electric cupboard in the bin area.
Does anyone have any idea how to get into the cupboard as my meter is going to run out in a day or two. My landlady says I need to phone the management company. Who are they? What is their number?
Any help will be very much appreciated.
- 19 October 2008 at 19:13:00 BST
Hello Residents Committee
I have just moved in and need to give EDF my meter reading before they will connect me. I think this has something to do with the squaters that were in before me.
Can anyone lend me their key for the electric cupboard downstairs please.
- 20 October 2008 at 11:56:00 BST
Hi to the new residents
Looks like the kids have been at the old superglue again. Sorry!!
I'll spray some magic mix into the lock - but it does take a day or so to disolve the glue.
Check again tomorrow
- 20 October 2008 at 16:28:00 BST
We might have to break in peeps. We can't have residents having no leccy because of some kids!
Even if we break the lock, as long as we replace it with an FB2, everyone still has a key for it!
We'll pay out of the Associtaions bank account.
- 20 October 2008 at 18:09:00 BST
- Leabank Square said...
Hi Steve
Too late mate - someone has already broken it! I'll try & fix it up later when I get home.
Can you pick up another FB2 lock form Blanks in Well St - we'll pay you back later.
Great isn't it, one bit of vandalism leads to another, leads to....
- 21 October 2008 at 11:19:00 BST
Hello Sóna
Please could you put up a newer link to these shite bags in PMMS nearer the front of the blog? This one is too far away in the archive for us to be reminded what a useless bunch they actually are!!
I suggest you head the new one 'anyone consulted?'.
We all know that they have NEVER bothered consulting any of us before they do anything IN OUR OWN SQUARE!! But just in case they actually have - let's ask ALL the residents if they can EVER recall having been consulted about ANYTHING by pmms?
- 21 October 2008 at 15:08:00 BST
Hey Sóna
I agree with Jim. We need to start a new fresh blog about PMMS. This one is just too far back to catch any disgruntled residents.
How about the fact that they have never called a residents meeting? A few years ago some guy in your block said he had to BEG to get some suit to come to a small residents meeting.
Now that there are regular Mosaic residents meetings - and the new 'Rest Of' residents meetings - the only people missing are the ones we are all metting about: PMMS.
Mr Smith
- 21 October 2008 at 20:31:00 BST
- Leabank Square said...
Hi Everyone
The lock has been fixed - and we can carry on using the FB2 keys.
For those of you that can see the bin areas - keep an eye on the door if you can - we need to chat to some of the parents again about the after-school activities of their children.
- 22 October 2008 at 15:05:00 BST
Hi Sóna
Whats with the Mosaic Housing signs all over the Square?
How comes thay're allowed to put them up everywhere, even tho they only have a quarter of the residents under their management?
This is why the new Association must be up and running soon. We need to ask ALL the residents what signs, markings, artwork, gardens, etc we ALL want.
That old pmms bunch were useless, the ones we've interviewd so far are so far superior to the, for a fraction of the cost!!
Good on ya
- 24 October 2008 at 10:33:00 BST
Hi Sóna
This is just a reminder to everyone to be a bit more careful about what we say on this blog.
If PMMS were bothered enough, they might do a google search one day and guess that something is up!
Please could we stick to emails while we are in this planning stage. We definetley do not want them to guess waht we're all up to.
Thank you.
Mr Jones
- 24 October 2008 at 13:11:00 BST
Hello Everyone
I know we are talking about all this by email nowadays, but I really cannot understand some of the lawyers emails.
All the legal speak is a bit tricky to follow, so can someone please simplify it for me (and probably others) and only send me a weekly update.
I know we all said we wanted to be kept up-to-date, but to be honest, all I want is PMMS out. I will sign anything to make that happen, I just don't want to read too much.
But I do like to read about the companies we are interviewing. How have we not acted sooner before? I cannot believe how much we've been ripped off!!
Ms Pinky
- 26 October 2008 at 18:36:00 GMT
Hi Sóna & Family
Now that winter is closing in - I feel even more guilty that I am too old to help all you guys do the litter pickup all around the square!
It will be a lot better when we tender for one managment company to service the WHOLE square AT THE SAME TIME!!
Hopefully then there will not be too much blown around rubbish to pick up!
- 27 October 2008 at 12:49:00 GMT
Hey Guys
I still find it absolutely astonishing that the so called management compant pmms has manged to get all the seperate housing companies to tidy up their little sections on seperate days?!
Look at them in action. They (sometimes) pick up litter right to their tiny boundary, and then watch the litter blow across into another mangement company's section.
We all live in one Square - and if it wasn't for you sweeping & tidying up after the companies, we would be living in a rubbish tip!
- 29 October 2008 at 11:19:00 GMT
I cannot stand this pmms lot for one minute longer!! Every thing I phone them up for 'is being noted'!!!
We DO NOT pay them to 'note' things down!! We pay them to sort gardeners, cleaners, dog owners, mulitple car owners, etc out!!
Not to sit in an office FAR AWAY and only take phone calls!!
Tonights meeting should bring their demise one step closer!!
- 7 November 2008 at 11:31:00 GMT
What a bloody joke this pmms lot are!! Can any of the old timers here tell me if they EVER had our interests at heart?
And when did you EVER let the service charge get to this exhorbitantly high level?!
Check the new block in Felstead Road out!!
They have a far superior layout, fantastic level of service, excellent maintainance - and they are paying just under half of what we're forking out!!
I feel I want to physically give their bums a kick when we give their services a kick!!
- 9 November 2008 at 16:35:00 GMT
Hello all
What's going on with the gormless idiots who normally do the mowing & hoovering in the two riverside blocks?
Why have they not hoovered in the last two weeks? If this is the way that PMMS monitors the cleaners, then I agree that they should be rid of.
- 11 November 2008 at 21:37:00 GMT
Are these goons at pmms just apathetic, or or they deliberately trying to wind us all up?
The front left block has just had their hedge very expertly trimmed and shaped, but the front right looks completely unkempt.
How are we supposed to portray a cohesive and pleasant image to anyone passing by, let alone any of our own visitors?!
Please association - get them out quick!!
- 15 November 2008 at 16:28:00 GMT
Hey Sóna
I cannot tell you how many times I have complained about the 'No-Dogs' area being exclusively used for irresponsible dog owners as a toilet?!
All pmms do is make notes.
I can make notes all day long myself, but it won't stop them pooing all over what is supposed to be a childrens area.
Get rid of pmms (and dog owners who behave anti-socially) for ever from Leabank Square.
- 17 November 2008 at 16:36:00 GMT
Hello Sóna
Why should I waste my phone bill money on pmms? I know you said we should all phone them when we see things that need there attention. But each week those cleaners come they miss huge parts of their cleaning.
Why should we be the ones to monitor their work? Why does pmms not come down and do their job properly?
- 21 November 2008 at 11:45:00 GMT
Who is this idiot electrician?!?
Every time he comes, something else CONVENIENTLY breaks and he then has to return to do another job!
The light in the corridor always works fine, and then he came to 'fix' the socket for the cleaners, and now my end of the corridor is CONVENIENTLY dark?!?
This happened last time he came to 'test' the fire alarm as well.
I hope I can catch him at it next time - besides ringing the hopeless PMMS - I'll get the police involved. This is nothing short of stealing my money by PMMS putting up the service charge to pay for contractors who diddle them! Why do they not come and check the contractors and cleaners?
How far away are we from getting a new bunch?
- 2 December 2008 at 16:58:00 GMT


text:
My journals will take the place of a blog. They have moved to https://goo.gl/JyZbSK
Items for sale:
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Apple ipod - PDA Functions You Can Sync
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Page bread crumbs:
I am long time user of the Palm platform (and the Apple Newton before that). Since moving over to the ipod platform I wanted to be able to duplicate the four basic functions that made Palm so darn useful (besides the handwriting recognition) so here is the result of my research. Note that I currently use an ipod Touch so offline syncing is a must!
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Currently using Evernote.
Looks like I am going with SplashID for now. Yes it's commercial but it is available on (almost no Linux) all of my platforms: Mac, Windows, Legacy Palm and iPod.
Kevin's Public Wiki maintained and created by Kevin P. Inscoe is licensed under a
Back to my web site - http://kevininscoe.com


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- World heritage architecture, grand piazzas and vaporettos in Venice
- Glistening waters of Lake Garda and therapeutic thermal springs
- Golden beaches, historic salt mines and holiday hotspots in Slovenia
The Trip
Day 1 (Sat):
Arrival in Bolzano
Explore the bilingual streets of Bolzano and experience the unique blend of Italian and Austrian cultures in the city's medieval centre.
Day 2 (Sun):
Bolzano - Trento
40/44 miles (65/70km)
Ride through vineyards and sprawling orchards along the banks of the Adige River, passing typical South Tyrol villages. Visit the sophisticated city of Trento and see ancient palaces, frescoed facades and the church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
There is the possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train today.
Day 3 (Mon):
Trento - Peschiera/Desenzano
31 miles (50km)
Pedal through the ancient fortress city of Roverto and visit the popular tourist town of Riva on the north shore of Lake Garda. Relax by the lakeside before cruising across to the southern shore by ferry.
Day 4 (Tue):
Peschiera/Desenzano - Verona
22/38 miles (35/60 km)
Cycle through green vineyards to the stunning city of Verona and step inside the Roman Arena, Juliet's House and the Church of San Zeno.
If you want more time in Verona request to stay in Peschiera on day 3.
Day 5 (Wed):
Verona - Vicenza
47/25 miles (75/40 km)
Marvel at the mountains of Monti Berici and take in the views of Vicenza city, home to 16th century palaces designed by Andrea Palladio. Cycle here from Verona or take it easy and travel the first half by train.
There is the possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train today.
Day 6 (Thu):
Vicenza - Padova Thermal District
31 miles (50km)
Pass the impressive Palladian Villa Rotonda and cycle alongside the Bacchiglione River before continuing on to the thermal district of Padova.
Day 7 (Fri):
Padova Thermal District - Mestre/Venice
34 miles (55km)
Enjoy an easy ride through rural Veneto as you cycle alongside the Brenta Canal with the breeze on your back. Pass the villas of Venetian nobles as you pedal into the astounding island city of Venice.
Day 8 (Sat):
Mestre/Venice - Rest day
Relax in Mestre, the mainland area of Venice, and stroll around the attractive town square or take the shuttle to Venice proper to start exploring the watery World Heritage city's magnificent canals, architecture and marble bridges.
Day 9 (Sun):
Mestre/Venice - Jesolo/Caorle
25/37 miles (40/65 km)
After a short cycle, take the *ferry and vaporetto, passing the famous Piazza San Marco. Reach the wide beach at Punta Sabbioni and cycle northwards along the Adriatic coast, stopping off for refreshments or a dip in the sea.
*The ferry is replaced by a road transfer for tours starting on July 16th
Day 10 (Mon):
Jesolo/Caorle - Portogruaro
37/25 miles (60/40 km)
Ride away from the sea and cycle north towards the Julian Alps. Pass historic fishermen's huts and blue lagoons enclosed by earthen dikes. Reach the town of Portogruaro, home to glorious palaces.
Day 11 (Tue):
37/43 miles (60/70 km)
Cycle across the plain of Friuli, passing canals and Roman towns. Ride to the city of Aquileia, where the Roman excavations here are one of the main archaeological sites in Northern Italy. Alternatively, pedal to the city of Palmanova which, from above, resembles a 9-point star or on to the coastal lagoon of Grado.
There is the possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train on this day.
Day 12 (Wed):
Palmanova/Aquileia -Trieste
43/31 miles (70/50 km)
Cross the River Isonzo at a World War I battleside and head back towards the sea to reach the Gulf of Trieste. Take your pick of places to stop at en route, such as the castles at Duino and Miramare or the beautiful bay at Sistiana. Spend the night near to the ancient port city of Trieste.
There is the possibility to shorten the itinerary by taking the train on this day.
Day 13 (Thu):
Trieste - Portorož
28 miles (45 km)
Cross the border into Slovenia and cycle through famous holiday resorts such as Koper and Piran. Arrive in Portorož, a town renowned for its spa and Adriatic beachfront.
Day 14 (Fri):
Portorož - Porec
34 miles (55 km)
Cycle southwards past the salt mines of Secovlje, a large Slovenian town with wildlife-rich wetlands. Cross into Croatia and cycle along the Istrian Peninsula to reach the tourist hotspot of Porec, with Gothic architecture and a UNESCO listed basilica.
Day 15 (Sat):
Depart from Porec
Check out after breakfast and return to Venice by boat (we can arrange this for you when you book your holiday) or extend your stay in Porec.
Please note: Daily distances are dependent on the location of your overnight accommodation.
3* & 4* Hotels
We use a pool of 3* & 4* hotels to maximise our availability for this tour, so regardless of the time of year we do our best to secure your dates of choice. The accommodation often has a lovely local flair, with a chance to experience local life with an authentic flavour of your destination.
- 3* & 4* Hotels
- Breakfast included
- Luggage transferred each day
- Secure bike storage
Mainly 3* & some 2* hotels
We use a pool of mainly 3* Hotels and some 2* hotels to maximise our availability for this tour, so regardless of the time of year we do our best to secure your dates of choice. The accommodation often has a lovely local flair, with a chance to experience local life with an authentic flavour of your destination.
- Mainly 3* Hotels and some 2* Hotels
- Breakfast included
- Luggage transferred each day
- Secure bike storage
Dates & Prices
Please choose your hotel category, then click on a departure date for price options at a glance
Price includes
- 14 nights accommodation in your chosen category
- Board basis: Bed and breakfast
- Luggage transportation
- Maps and route information (GPS tracks available on request)
- Welcome meeting
- Local contact number for assistance
- Ferry cruise on Lake Garda
- Entrance to Villa Valmarana ai Nani
- Ice cream in Vicenza
- Ferry transfer on day nine - bike not included approx. €4 (or a road transfer for arrivals on July 16th)
Price excludes
- Flights and transfers
- Bike hire
- Cycle helmets
- Tourist tax (approx 20-30 Euros for the tour - payable locally)
Bike Hire & Extras
Bike hire
Pannier, handlebar bag or map holder and lock all included at no extra cost when you hire a bike. The bikes are also equipped with puncture-resistant Schwalbe tyres. One repair kit per room is provided and includes a spare inner tube, glue, patch, pump, allen keys and tyre levers.
Hybrid bike with 27 gears
You can add these when you price your trip
Extra nights
How to Get There
Getting there
Fly to Verona, Venice or Innsbruck
Take the train (Trenitalia) to Bolzano.
Getting back
Take the ferry to Venice and then the train (Trenitalia) from Venice/Mestre to your airport.
Fly from Venice, Treviso or Verona
If you wish to stay longer in Porec, we suggest flying back from Pula in Croatia or Trieste in Italy.
News, Reviews & FAQs
Simply click on a question to reveal the answers
Why are the hotels not listed in the itinerary?
We use a pool of hotels to maximise availability for you.
Customer reviews
What other customers have said
Been on this tour? Add your review!
Just finished a two week ride from Bolzano in Italy to Porec in Croatia, I had a great time, fantastic scenery and met some wonderful people.Glenn Patterson, United Kingdom, June 2018


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05 Sep Metz Teases New First Class Flash
Posted at 17:10h in Uncategorized 0 Comments
EXPECT FIRST CLASS! ⚡ #Metz #mecablitz
At photokina, we present you a new flash light which will be the starting shot of a new generation of insertion flashes! With new developed technologies and construction, we save more than 30 % of the manufactured size. #SizeMatters 😉
Till photokina, we will publish further exlusive information concerning the new flash light on facebook! 📷 #Metz #TheLightpioneer ⚡


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Well Hello!
It's been quite the long delay here on my blog. But all for good reason.
Well Hello!
It's been quite the long delay here on my blog. But all for good reason.
If the last home decor post didn't give you any clue as to my current obsession, this post just might. I'm really into natural wood and the house is quickly filling with it. This is very budget friendly and pretty darn easy. Please excuse my lack of writing in this post. It's been a long week (it's barely Tuesday).
I am all about easy DIY projects, for the most part. This deer head has quickly become a favorite. And it is one of the easiest projects to do!
Happy December! Where has 2016 gone?! It has been such a great year and can't wait to celebrate with family. These gift tags are sure to be hit when opening presents.
Confessions … We already know I have a problem with shopping at thrift stores & garage sales. From my previous post, I enjoy finding those hidden gems for a steal. Another little problem of mine is my abundance of fonts on my computer. I just recently told my husband how I almost feel like I own too many. I think I have given myself to many options & find myself having trouble committing to a certain font. BUT I'm addicted and will continue to download fonts anyway. =)
I have put together my favorite Fall / Halloween fonts. And best part, they are all FREE! Enjoy!


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Anthony Mcintyre, 6'1″, 175, Guard, Freshman
Antelope Valley College welcomes Anthony Mcintyre, 6'1″, 175 Combo Guard from Saugus High School, where he averaged 10 ppg. Arriving late at AVC, after playing a number of tournaments/games this summer including the Double Pump Tournament-Platinum level where he averaged over 20 points per game.
I talked to coach/former professional basketball player Rapheal Harris who is high on Anthony's potential. " I think in college he will be a 1 or a combo 2. He has a nice handle on the ball with a variety of moves to shake defenders. Along with deceptive speed and strength. He has the ability to change pace quickly and can dish the ball effective."
"His strength is penetration and finishing at the rim even with pressure. He does have a consistent 3 point shot, and at times, can shoot well beyond the arc. Offensively he is very similar to Lemelo Ball."
"Mcintyre needs to work on several area's as he tends to favor going right too much. He does not really pull up enough for mid range even thought he can shoot it effectively. He has to learn how to play college defense from the ground up he shows good effort but lacks solid defensive principles. He doesn't look too strong but he is fairly solid. However needs to get into the weight room for sure on the college level."
Although it may take some time because of his late arrival, Anthony should add some solid depth to AVC's guard cadre this year and beyond.


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Some cool things I've encountered over the past couple of weeks…
Code Contracts for .NET
This is a preview from the visual studio developer labs group that implements Design by Contract (DBC) principles as espoused by Bertrand Meyer in the Eiffel language. Code Contracts provide a language-agnostic way to express coding assumptions. The contracts take the form of pre-conditions, post-conditions, and invariant object states. The preview uses a small class framework and some compiler hooks to perform runtime and static compile time DBC rule checking. The preview will work with VS 2008 and the CTP of VS 2010. I'm a huge fan of DBC and from what's said in the interview, it looks like DBC will be integrated into the 4.0 release of the .NET framework. Wohoo!
Top 25 Most Dangerous Programming Errors
Experts from more than 30 US and international cyber security organizations jointly released this consensus list of the 25 most dangerous programming errors that lead to security bugs and that enable cyber espionage and cyber crime. Shockingly, most of these errors are not well understood by programmers; their avoidance is not widely taught by computer science programs; and their presence is frequently not tested by organizations developing software. Every member of your development staff needs to read this bulletin.
UI Design for Developers Video Series
Building an application with a good user experience is about more than pretty pixels and is every bit as important as the business logic in most applications. Here's a link to some outstanding tutorials on the principles of graphic design produced by the Microsoft Platform & Tools Team. They're short, very informative and cover the essential elements of graphic design.
Five Step UML: OOAD for Short Attention Spans
I'm a huge fan of UML and I was thrilled when we announced UML support in Visual Studio 2010. If you'd like to get a head start, this book excerpt will wet your appetite. FYI - I'm planning a series of screen casts that show the basics of OOAD using UML in VS 2010 and will highlight the architectures described in the recently updated Application Architecture Guide 2.0 book.
Modular Data Centers
This is just plain wild and for those of you who don't think cloud computing is coming, think again. Data centers are becoming more and more modular and pluggable as the industry evolves towards a utility computing model (which I think is the right direction) and ALL the major players are banking on it. This article showcases one of the first offerings from HP.
March 3. 2009 19:33
Thanks for adding the links for UI Design tutorials! I'm a web developer that IS artistic and very much want to learn more about design.


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The one you all know and love, episodic content co-developed with non other than Peter Jackson and an ambitious RTS...
Without doubt it was the launch of Halo with Microsoft's original Xbox that put the console on the gaming map. Our own intrepid editor famously made the trip all the way to the US to get his hands on an early copy and the series is clearly Microsoft's most powerful asset. Sp how do you bring a similar boost to your second generation system? Try releasing three new Halos and a movie!
Which such mind numbing news it is hard to know which of the announcements to approach first so I'll deal with the one that caught us all out: 'Halo Wars'. In true Apple style, the title was kept under wraps until the final moment of the company's X06 presentation when Chris Lewis, Regional VP of Microsoft's EMEA Entertainment and Devices division, teased "But before we leave, there's one more story to tell…"
What we got was a stunning pre-rendered trailer (see it here) from which you can see three grabs, one above, two below. Subsequently, what I've learnt is Halo Wars will be the first real-time strategy game based on the Halo world. It is set before the events of Halo 1 during the UNSC's first encounters with the Covenant and players will lead the crew of the UNSC's 'Spirit of Fire' from initial skirmishes to an all out war. The official site went live today, find it here.
No in game footage is yet available, neither was a release date but it will be on Xbox 360 exclusively (yes, no PC) and is being developed by Emsemble Studios.
Rivalling Halo Wars for headlines is also the announcement that Peter Jackson (there on the night) has entered into a partnership with Microsoft Game Studios to create a new Halo series of downloadable content that will be co-developed and co-produced with Bungie.
Jackson has formed New Zealand based 'Wingnut Interactive' to take on the project and he will also use this team to work on new stories in which he aims to merge the game and film mediums. No solid facts were available but Jackson signalled his intention to create a whole new medium which he said he "was going to have to think of a name for!"
Wingnut will swing into action after Jackson completes work on the upcoming Halo movie.
Other than that we have the little business of Halo 3. Unfortunately there was no new content released at X06 which ironically makes the hotly anticipated title the smallest of the event's Halo announcements but doesn't that just say everything…


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1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 750Washington, DC 20005202.887.6400Customer Service: 800.544.0155
All Contents © 2019The Kiplinger Washington Editors
Selling quality stocks was just one of the mistakes.
I never should have owned Sohu, the Chinese Internet stock, in the first place. Buying it was a rash move.
It took me 16 years to leave my ex. But I wanted to get divorced from my hurtful investments more quickly, so I called a couple of financial therapists.
More Investing News »


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A senior Egyptian politician and leading official of the liberal and secular al-Wafd party has called the Holocaust a "lie," the 'Diary of Anne Frank' a "fake" and the 9/11 terror attacks "made in the USA." In an interview with the 'Washington Times' newspaper, Wafd foreign policy chief Ahmed Ezz el-Arab declared: "The Holocaust is a lie. The Jews under German occupation were 2.4 million. So if they were all exterminated, where does the remaining 3.6 million come from?"
El-Arab said he accepted that the Germans had killed "hundreds of thousands" of Jews but he discounted the existence of gas chambers and of skinning Jews alive, calling them "fanciful stories". El-Arab then dismissed 'The Diary of Anne Frank' which he said he studied as a doctoral student in Sweden, as a forgery. "I could swear to God it's a fake," he said. "The girl was there, but the memoirs are a fake."
The politician also questioned that the terror network al-Qaeda of Osama Bin Laden was behind the 11 September 2001 attacks. Bin Laden "could not have the know-how or the ability to do it," he said, calling the al-Qaeda leader "an American agent." "If he had the ability, one plane only landing on the Knesset would give more effect," he said, naming the Mossad, CIA and America's "military-industrial complex" as the actual perpetrators of the terrorist attacks.


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After months of expectation, the Head of FIFA's taskforce finally presented their recommendation that the 2022 Qatar World Cup should be held in November and December. The decision told the event away from the traditional Summer period had long been expected due to fears of the effect of extreme heat on player safety. Staging the event between January and February was rejected due to the Winter Olympics, whilst Sheikh bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa also ruled out other options of hostin the event between April and September due to Ramadan and excessive heat. To reflect the untimely staging of the event for many countries, the taskforce also proposed "reduced competition days schedule with the exact dates to be defined in line with the match schedule and number of venues to be used.
Whilst FIFA has spent a great deal of time and effort in an attempt to formulate an outcome that would reduce the stress on Football Federations across the globe, European heads and, in particular, England have expressed considerable angst at the taskforce's decision. Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, who was also a part of the taskforce, expressed his frustration at the "disappointing" decision that he believes would spoil the extremly busy Christmas programme in place in England. Meanwhile, Scudamore has not been alone in his criticism of the decision. The Association of European Professional Leagues has condemned the movement of the Qatar World Cup to November, explaining it will "cause great damage" to domestic and European competitions, whilst declaring its intention to maintain its battle against the decision. Its sister organisation, the European Club Association also called on the international football Federation to pay compensation to reflect the extreme disruption to the schedules of clubs across Europe who will have to release their players mid season. This request has since been rejected by FIFA with Jerome Valcke, FIFA Secretary stating that "its happening once we're not destroying football."
However, not all footballing quarters are opposed to the proposition put forward for the Qatar World Cup. Whilst reinforcing his ultimate defiance against Qatar staging the competition, Greg Dyke the FA Chairman, has voiced his support for the decision. Dyke explained that the change of date signalled "the best of the bad options," pointing to the fact that the high temperatures meant that "it would be ridiculous" to play during the summer months. Jim Boyce, the FIFA Vice President expressed a similar view that it was important that the confusion regarding the date of the tournament had been put to bed to allow for preparation to commence, "if its going to be in Qatar then lets agree on a date in the winter and look forward to a wonderful World Cup."
It should be noted that whilst such comments do not represent a glowing indictment of FIFA's decision, certain analysts have commented that the task force's decision may significantly benefit the chances of the English National Team. Phil Neville commented that the English often arrive at major tournaments on the back of a mentally and physically draining nine month season. For instance, in each of the last three world cups, Wayne Rooney has entered having played more than 50 games, far from an ideal preparation for an intense month long competition. However, in 2022, the average England player participating in the Champions League would have played 14 games before having to depart for their World Cup training camp. This illustrates that hosting the competition in November will allow the players to arrive at the tournament in prime condition.
Despite the varying opinions on the matter, it says much for the priorities of FIFA that the decision was made to hand the footballing centrepiece to Qatar with little consultation with the global footballing federations or promises for meaningful reform of their treatment of migrant labourers building the infrastructure to host the tournament.
Fastest Live Scores provide reliable, accurate and affordable football/soccer data feeds and widgets covering leagues across the globe. Click here to find out more.


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Susan, I met you last fall at the NRWA conference. I am happy to report I am now doing resume writing full-time. When I took advantage of your training offer and signed up for your G3 coaching class, you wrote a very kind note in my book, The Twitter Job Search Guide, about succeeding one client at a time. I took your advice to heart and have been doing just that! I am excited about starting the class, and if the book is any kind of precursor (and I was only halfway through) to what we'll learn about personal branding I know it will make me an even better writer.
— Michelle Robin
Susan, thank you for continuing to change the world one step at a time by making a difference in the lives of others. You are an amazing person, I am so grateful to know and admire you.
— Roxan Park
The Career Coach Academy and Susan Whitcomb [are] the best of the best! And I would also highly recommend taking the Refresher Course if you became a CCMC several years ago. I enjoyed and learned so much with the new materials being offered. I've been in business over ten years and this training is excellent.
— Kit Prendergast, PCC, CCMC
Working with Susan, and studying Career Coaching under her leadership, has been perhaps the most useful and helpful training which I have received as a Coach. Susan's gentle perceptiveness, her generosity of time and materials, and her un-matched expertise, made the Coarse work fun, valuable, and eventually profitable for me. It takes time and work and persistence to accomplish big goals; but Susan is with you on this journey, encouraging, championing, cheer-leading, as you push yourself to new heights. I am so very grateful to you, Susan, and thank you for your kindness and expertise throughout this season of my life.
— Carol L (Career Coach, SF Bay Area)
From the smallest tweet to the largest conference to an international webinar, Susan Whitcomb's encouraging and dedicated presence surrounds and influences job seekers and professional career coaches in the most supportive and comprehensive way. Susan listens deeply and has great wisdom. Her programs, books, and teleconferences reflect her understanding and thoughtful approach in this demanding job market. Her passion transforms careers and moves beyond boundaries into vast possibilities.
— Linda Van Valkenburgh, M.S., CCMC
I have completed three certifications (CCMC, CJSS, & OPNS) from the Career Coach Academy/The Academies and continue to be a big fan of Susan. I have been impressed, and continue to be impressed, by the quality and professionalism in which Susan runs her organization. Having been coached by Susan personally, I can attest to the absolute mastery that Susan possesses in the coaching field. Susan's knowledge, passion, dedication, insight, and professional background are second to none. If you are considering any coach training in the future, I would highly encourage you to not settle for anything less than Susan and The Academies.
— Randy VanderVaate, Certified Professional Career & Life Coach, CGCS, CCMC, CJSS, OPNS
I can always spot [Susan's] hand in the products [she] introduces. Somehow, [she manages] to combine exceptional breadth and depth of concepts and options with up-to-the-minute currency. I know that comes from an enormous amount of work on [her] part. But please believe me, such quality is rare indeed.
— Don Orlando, MBA, CPRW, JCTC, CCM, CCMC
Goodness, I don't know where to begin, so I'll keep it simple. I loved [this] class! I found myself looking forward each week to spending "my special time" with [Susan] and my classmates. [Her] style as a facilitator is very welcoming, non-judgmental, and accepting. And [her] course is structured and organized so beautifully, with plenty of very thorough and well-researched materials. I learned so much about myself (and of course career coaching) during [this] course. Most of all, I appreciate [her] generosity in sharing so much of [her] wisdom and experience with us.
— Janet Cranford, LCSW, CCMC
[Susan] is truly gifted in [her] encouraging, optimistic and caring approach in working with others. I appreciate all that [she has] given of [herself] to my class and growth as a career coach. It has been great working with [her]. It is evident [she has] put [herself] into all that makes up the Academy. I am amazed at the comprehensiveness of the program from start to finish.
— Kathy J. Susman, MA, MPA, CCMC
I once told a prospective career coach, "If you want to be the best, work with the best." I took my own advice and for fifteen wonderful weeks worked with Susan Whitcomb whom I consider to be the best career coach and coaching mentor in the field today. Susan gave me the tools to look within myself and recognize that the experiences which have shaped my life can be focused to help others find truly fulfilling lives and careers. I now have the skills and confidence to fulfill my life's calling as a nationally certified professional career coach. If you are considering entering into the rewarding field of career coaching, then I highly recommend you consider Susan as a mentor. After all, if you want to be the best, work with the best!
— Dan Diedriech
Coaching with Susan helped me overcome challenges that I had struggled with for years. With each session, I came away with insights which have since enabled me to define my niche, try new opportunities, and increase my income. I highly recommend Susan to anyone looking to grow their business. I've had many wins that I've learned from coaching with Susan! I hope these help with the prospective client!
-Higher income, and higher price per client after raising my rates.
-Identification of a niche (I had struggled with this for a long time).
-A much clearer idea of how to get paid to speak as well as get published.
-Got a few association specific clients, in response to my brand
-Will be the featured author (on the cover!) of a book where I contributed a chapter.
Charlotte Weeks, CCMC, NCRW, CPRW