text:
Dear Dad
Marlene Olin
Dear Dad,
I'm still in shock. I mean, one minute you were talking, telling us that great story about Uncle Mike, you know—the one where he bought a truckload of butter during The Depression thinking he'd score big, thinking everybody needs butter who doesn't need butter? But he didn't think it through—did Mike ever think things through? It never occurred to him that butter melts awfully fast in a hot truck smack in the middle of July. And before you know it, he has buckets, no bathtubs, full of liquid yellowish sludge.
Then the next minute, you grabbed the arms of your wheelchair and stared at a spot on the wall. I thought you were going to say something. You know, like what's that fly doing on the wall? The fox-trot? Or—for the prices we pay this fancy schmancy Boca Raton Retirement Village, you'd think they could throw in a fresh coat of paint every now and then.
But then your shoulders slumped and your eyes closed and you just kinda crumbled.
Mom was the first one to notice.
"Sam! My Sam!"
She whacked her fist against her heart as if whacking hers could somehow jump-start yours. Then she bent down and pressed her cheek against your face. Your skin got cold so quickly. I never knew how quickly a person's skin could get cold.
After that everything was a blur. The nurse, the ambulance, the social worker. Before I knew it they had whisked you out and shipped you off. Your bed was still made. Your Sunday puzzle was still half finished. It was like you stepped out to get a cup of coffee and forgot to come back.
At first Mom cried. She understood what happened. How many people have come and gone over the years? First Gramps and Memaw. Then Uncle Lou and Aunt Sally. Mom's shoulders shook and her eyes scrunched. She knew the pain for what it was.
But then an hour later, whatever happened was erased. Mom plopped herself on the couch and asked me to turn on her favorite channel. Before I knew it, she was laughing along to Ellen DeGeneres and blowing her nose with a sock. When the hall intercom chimed at 5 o'clock, she grabbed her purse and sweater.
"Sam, are you ready to go to the cafeteria?" she yelled. "Sam, it's time for supper."
She looked in the bathroom and the closet. She peeked under the bed and behind the shower curtain, too. Then she walked up to me —playing with the button of her blouse, tilting her head the way she tilts it three, four seconds before she starts to cry.
"I have no idea where your father is. It's time to eat. Wherever is your father?"
Dear Dad,
The neighbors are sending their condolences. Gerty and Seymour Schwartz in 5G came over with noodle pudding. Seymour, as usual, forgot his hearing aids.
"We'll try to make the service," said Gerty.
"Is someone nervous?" said Seymour. "If you're nervous, I have a pill."
The noodle pudding must have weighed five pounds. Gerty's hands were shaking overtime from the weight.
"I'mmm so sorry for your loss," she stuttered.
Everything was shaking. Her chin. Her mouth. Like a compass needle, the shaking.
"Is Sam hitting the sauce?" asked Seymour.
They told me that their nephew was taking them to the cemetery. Isn't that thoughtful? Between the walker and the wheelchair, there's a lot of logistics involved.
"Did you need any help?" they asked.
"I never realized there were so many decisions," I whispered. We all side-glanced the bedroom where Mom was napping. "The casket. The plot. It simplifies things if you're cremated. Do you think Dad should be cremated?"
"Has someone fainted?" said Seymour. "I have smelling salts. Some Cherry Heering."
A few moments later, Mom emerged from the bedroom wearing the same outfit she had on the day before. Ketchup stains. Soup splotches. An entire history of yesterday's meals was recorded on her clothes.
Suddenly, the finality of it all hit me like a slap. You were the one in charge. You were the one who combed Mom's hair. You were the one who laid out her blouse and slacks every morning. Now who's going to lay out her clothes?
"Did someone die?" asked Mom. "Did I hear you say that someone died?"
Dear Dad,
Larry and I drove Mom to the funeral home today to pick everything out. It's sort of like buying a car.
"There's a two for one special right now if you hurry," said our Grief Specialist. "Buy one plot, get one free."
He took our elbows and gave us the full tour. The coffin room. The headstone room.
"Of course many couples like you and Larry consider our four-pack," he continued. "When you buy a four-pack, I throw in a perpetual bush." His teeth, when he smiled, were blindingly white. "It's a miracle bush. No water. No sun. No nothing."
Larry was sweating sheets. Slowly he retreated and started inching toward the door. He almost made it. Then like lightning, the Grief Specialist two-fingered Larry's sport coat lapel and reeled him back in.
Again, the gleaming teeth. "You know," said the Grief Specialist, "it's never too soon to prepare for the future."
"Buddy," said Larry, "it's too soon for me."
Ten different kinds of urns were lined up on a shelf. Everything from gold inlaid to Tupperware. Mom ran her fingers up and down each one like she was at Macy's furniture department, redecorating her home.
"Pretty things," she said. "Pretty pretty things."
Larry threw me a look. You know that look. The one where he arches one eyebrow and smirks. Then he grabbed Mom's arms and positioned her on the couch.
"Like we told you yesterday, Mom. And the day before. Dad passed. Remember? He collapsed in your apartment. Remember they called the ambulance?"
One by one Mom's synapses started clicking. First her face contorted in pain, then she doubled over and clutched her stomach. Soon her head was nodding no no no while her feet pawed the ground. When she looked up, everything in the Afterlife Salon took on new meaning. She tried to walk but her knees buckled. The Grief Specialist caught her swooning just in the nick of time.
"Sam, my Sam!" she cried. "Whatever happened to my Sam!"
Then she glanced at me without a hint of recognition and squeezed my hand. "I think my husband died. Isn't that sad? Fifty years of marriage, and now he's gone."
Larry tucked in his neck and examined his feet. He knew he was in trouble. Big trouble. I narrowed my eyes. If looks could kill, he'd be dead.
"What did I do?"
"You know what you did."
The Grief Specialist slinked over to a desk and started shuffling some papers. Larry latched onto my wrist and pulled me into next room. The Prayer and Meditation Chapel was mercifully empty. A beautiful stained glass window threw prisms of light. The plucking of harps played from discreetly placed speakers.
"How long are we going to do this?" said Larry. "Every day your mom wakes up all sunny and happy, and every day we lower the boom."
I tried to move but Larry just tugged my wrist tighter.
I'm drifting at sea, Dad. Don't you see? You were our anchor. You were our glue. You were the one that held everything together.
"Day in. Day out," said Larry. "Every fucking day we break your mother's heart."
Dear Dad,
Instead of springing for a service inside the funeral parlor, Larry suggested we do it all at the grave site. You know Larry. He goes on and on about how much easier it'll be to have everyone at one location, about how your friends would get lost negotiating their way from the chapel, finding every excuse in the book just to save another buck. But your friends know this cemetery inside and out. If this were Beverly Hills, they'd be giving guided tours to the tourists.
The Schwartzs, the Levines, the Greenbaums. Everyone was there. Sure, the Rent-a-Rabbi got your name wrong. He called you Sammy three times and if there was one thing you hated was being called Sammy. But they draped a flag over your casket and a few guys showed up from your old platoon.
The night before, I found some family photos and pasted them on a piece of poster board. So there, front and center, sitting right on an easel, was your wedding picture, those funny Polaroids we snapped at my Sweet Sixteen, a shot of you and Mom celebrating your twentieth in St. Tropez.
I looked at Mom and waited once more for the synapses to kick in. But there she sat, a vision in her best going-to-synagogue suit, humming a song, and inspecting her nails.
"We're saying goodbye to Dad, Mom. Don't you want to say goodbye to Dad?"
With fifty of our closest friends and family bunched together, hunched over that hole in the ground in the ninety-degree heat, Mom got up from her folding chair and left. We watched as she walked down rows of grave sites, stopping every few feet to read a marker. There were loads of familiar names. Neighbors. Women from her mahjong group. A few of your poker buddies.
Though the specifics still escaped her, the sadness remained real. We watched as she collected pebbles and one by one laid them at the feet of old friends.
I looked over at the crowd. Half of the people were wilting from the sun. The other half were scuttling toward their air-conditioned cars. Mom ignored all of them, walking farther and farther away, making her way toward the little stone house with the restrooms.
"Pretty soon she's gonna need a chip in her ear," said Larry.
I forgot to eat that morning. Remember how you always reminded me to eat? So I'm a little dizzy and a little hungry and a lot mean. The claws unfurled.
"You think this is funny? You think this is a situation comedy, Larry? You think our life is some ha! ha! ha! laugh track? Well, I could use a commercial break about now, Larry. I could use my father back and my mother sane and around five minutes of normal."
Once I started crying, it was difficult to stop. Snot dripped down my nose and my chin. I was gulping air and hiccupping sobs and basically falling apart. And if we didn't act fast, Mom would be straddling the cemetery fence and hightailing it toward I-95.
Larry "there there'd" me. Then he leaned over and kissed the top of my head. "Every day we tell your mother the truth and every day she forgets. What we're doing is cruel. It's hard on us and cruel to her."
"So what are you suggesting?"
And that's how it all started.
Dear Dad,
First thing this morning, Larry and I showed up at Mom's doorstep with a plan. I helped her shower and together we picked out fresh clothes. When it was time for breakfast, as usual she looked for you.
"Where's Dad? Has anybody seen Dad?"
Larry winked at me. We had rehearsed our script in the car driving over.
"We just dropped him off at the airport, Mom. He's heading to a convention."
"A convention?" said Mom.
Remember all those meetings you went to when I was a kid, Dad? Back in the 60's there were no cell phones, no Internet, no email. People could disappear for hours.
"Yeah," I said. "A business convention. He'll be flying home in a few days tops."
Mom scrambled over to the couch and sat down. "That's odd. I usually help him pack. Did anyone help him pack?"
I was improvising now. The lies came easier than I thought. "He didn't want to wake you. Remember the brown suitcase? He took the brown suitcase."
I could practically see the gears spinning in her head. "Maybe he'll call," said Mom.
I sighed theatrically. "Don't count on it. Those long distance charges can cost a fortune."
"And believe me," said Larry, "this particular convention is a long, long distance away."
Dear Dad,
So that's how it's playing out. Every day we tell Mom you're on a business trip and every day she expects your return. Each afternoon she puts on a dress. Draws on some lipstick. Clips on a pair of earrings. There's a spring in her step and a smile on her face. Then she turns the channel to Ellen DeGeneres and waits for you to pass through the front door.
Of course she's disappointed sooner or later. When that five o'clock chime rings on the intercom, she looks around and realizes you're not there. But instead of being crestfallen, she's just a little sad. Dad's in Philly, we tell her. Or Chicago. Maybe one week it's Des Moines.
Then, arm in arm, Larry and I walk her to the cafeteria for supper. And we talk about you, remembering bits and pieces, trying to bring you back in some small way, trying to hold onto whatever we can.


text:
SEVEN YEARS AGO, I answered a few phone calls from unemployed construction workers who wanted a lifeline to employment. They rang our campus to explore CAO options and several started coursework on our BSc in Creative Multimedia a few weeks later. Today, the picture has changed with the biggest increase in demand for Irish third level courses in support of the construction sector.
Brian Mooney explains today that "the CAO points requirements ... (have increased) for applications on construction, nursing, architecture, engineering/technology, business, pharmacy". Points for courses in the arts "have dropped across the board".

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
A few ReArise pre-registration updates!
First up, it's been announced that pre-registrations have gone over 500k, so everyone gets the Pumpkinmon egg that will evolve to the new Mega Digimon!
They've put up a small clip of Pumpkinmon to celebrate!
On top of that they've announced 2 more pre-registration bonus items, although it appears one was announced by accident...
First is the one that appears to be an accident.
This is based on the fan vote that was run as a pre-registration event for ReArise in Japan.
Choose which Digimon you want to help in an event between: Impmon, Gaomon, Goblimon, Gomamon, Patamon, DemiDevimon, Veemon, SnowAgumon, Lalmon, Renamon, and Wormmon.
The one with the most votes will be given out as a pre-registration reward. (The winner in Japan was V-mon.)
Due to the image seemingly going up by mistake, we don't know what (if any) the pre-registration number for this one actually is.
It was connected to this Facebook post, so post your favorite there for now until they clarify...
That post itself describes a 'different' pre-registration bonus though...
That one is an 800k pre-registration bonus that unlocks a decoration item for everyone. The image was seemingly meant to be digicode that would say what the item was, but with the wrong image up we don't know...
Hopefully those 2 get fixed up and clarified.
Update- They removed the prior Facebook post with the wrong image and posted the correct one as a few people have noted.
It says 'Butterfly'
The game is currently listed on the Google Play Store for Android users and the Apple App Store for iOS users.
Digimon ReArise has no solid date announced for when it may launch, although the Apple App Store lists October 21st as a stand-in date.


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Olivetti's Ivrea
Thanks to Matthew Collins for alerting me to his article published in California Italian Studies, an open-access journal.
Collins, M. (2017) 'The Formation of a Heterotopia: An Inquiry into the Intermingling of Utopic Thoughts and Concrete Activities in Olivetti's Ivrea', California Italian Studies 7 (1) 1-28.
This essay explores the process by which the Olivetti factory and its related structures in Ivrea developed, especially under Adriano Olivetti from the 1930s through the 50s, into what could be regarded as a heterotopic space in keeping with the fundamental significance of the term as it was presented by Michel Foucault. Looking at four significant sources (or causes) of influence—Italian rationalism, Le Corbusier, the corporativist policies of Italian fascism, and Frank Lloyd Wright—the essay traces their respective roles in shaping the built environment of this relatively small subalpine Italian city. Specific projects discussed include the principal factory building and its numerous extension projects, Figini and Pollini's workers' housing units of 1935, the rationalist duo's design of the social services building, and Piccinato's Quartiere Bellavista.


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Skyway Bridge reopens following inclement weather
Tampa's Skyway Bridge has reopened after closing because of high winds.
The bridge, part of Interstate 275, was shut down for about an hour on Tuesday, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The bridge spans the length of Tampa Bay.
The high winds are part of a chain of storms hitting Florida on Tuesday. A tornado watch remains in effect until 7 p.m. for the entire state, according to the National Weather Service.
More: Cape Coral police: Man who crashed car in vacant lot had gun, drugs in car
More: Six months after Hurricane Irma, some in Fort Myers area still struggling to get back to normal
Read or Share this story: http://newspr.es/2uaMHoU


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Black Panther New Stylish Costume Jacket
Tired of the same old super hero ensemble? Fan of Black Panther but want something other than our very own batman? New Stylish Black Panther Costume Jacket is what you're looking for. This costume is not just any replica, it's THE replica. Available in all sizes, this outfit is what every fan desires. It's not only comfortable but feels great on the skin so for all those who till date were avoiding all super hero suits because of the skin tight feel, WAIT NO MORE. This costume is sure to grasp all attention when you walk in at a party so flaunt it all you want.
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- Available in faux leather
- Designed as per the Black Panther character in Captain America Civil War
- Perfect lines to reflect the actual costume
- Not just fashionable but also unique for a super hero.
- Precisely layered to give the exact body shape
- Black color


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Dave Hutchinson is a weirdly good writer, and I don't quite know how to characterize The Return of the Incredible Exploding Man precisely because of that skill. Absorbingly readable, it's nonetheless doing some very odd things at the meta level, things that left me with a definitive feeling of "huh" when it was all over.
Alex Dolan is a recently out-of-work science writer, a Scot, who is offered a lucrative book deal by an eccentric American billionaire, Stan Clayton. Reluctantly signing on, Dolan makes his way to the still-developing Sioux Crossing Supercollider in Iowa, Clayton's pet project. Lightly enmeshed in the lives and politics of the science team and native Iowans, Dolan is also roped into light espionage by the British government, and faces an escalating series of threats from an unknown antagonist. Finally, three-quarters through the novel, Dolan must deal with a bizarre accident at the supercollider, and its aftermath.


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Mining industry Introduction (by: Jujhar Jhajj)
Mining is the process of extraction of minerals and ores that come from underground and the depths of our earth.Majority of the coal mines in Canada can be found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia. The resources that are extracted are used in our everyday lives thus making mining an important industry.Ores that are gained through mining include metals , coal, oil shale, gemstones, rock salt, clay, gravel, copper, gold silver, and various other minerals.
Surface mining is when you remove ore deposits that are near the surface. When there is a huge ore deposits the method known as open pit mining is used. They create a large pit and take out any earth that does not consist of any ore and this earth is put to the side as they continue to dig. The material that is not consistent of ore is called overburden. When there is just the ore and the overburden is cleared away they use explosives such as dynamite to extract the ore and break it up when it is being removed from the ground.
To extract the minerals deep deep underground such as thousands of feet deep they use a method known as subsurface mining. They create tunnels that vary and depend which can sometimes be created in one of the two directions horizontally or vertically. These tunnels are heavily reinforced to make sure it doesn't collapse and to remove the minerals there are a number of different ways. You can use explosives to blast the minerals out of the earth and send the ore back up that tunnels or you can use longwall mining which is when you can shear the coal out of the walls and send it up on a conveyor belt and solution mining where you use hot water and put it into the ore which dissolves the ore and when it finally dissolves air is pushed into it where it is then bubbled to the surface.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/extraction-processing-of-minerals-surface-mining-subsurface-mining-smelting.html -this is a link to a website with a video that explains the process of mining extraction.
Coal is a black sedimentary rock. It is used primarily for the sole purpose of providing fuel/energy and is used to create fuel in various of ways. It can create electricity through the process of burning the coal. It also creates heat through a process known as combustion which is a chemical reaction. The process of creating electricity is done by crushing then burning the coal in a furnace which creates steam where the steam is then used to spin the turbines of a generator which produces electricity.
Canada has over 3000 suppliers in mining supplying. In 2012 canada made around 60 million tons of coal. The total amount of exports made in this industry in 2015 was 37,345.The mining industry provides around 3.7 million jobs in canada and around 20 million people work in small scale mining which is when mining using less expensive and smaller equipment and technology. In 2011 mining industry provided around 126,000 in millions of chained dollars while in 2015 it provided around 134 000.
how does the mining industry help canada (benefits)?
-it provides jobs for people
-it has an economic benefit
-we can create manufactured goods from the resources
-it allows us to trade resources with other countries which could be beneficial towards our economy.
Almost every item you touch in your everyday life comes from minerals from the mining industry. For example in cell phones, jewelry, transportation vehicles, and more.
There are many issues relating to the extraction of coal and using it which majority of these problems are environmental issues that affect the environment. Some issues that occur are contaminated water, when the coal is burned the gas contributes to greenhouse gases, deforestation occurs, it destroys land when the land is dug to get the coal, it destroys wildlife habitats. When we mine and dig into the earth the contaminants like harmful minerals and metals mix in with the mining wastewater and this seeps through the water table contaminating the groundwater. A problem with extraction is that when they extract the coal out of the ground in strip mining it lowers the groundwater levels because to extract the coal they need to pump and take out the groundwater from the mine. This causes all the ecosystems around the mine to dry up and it causes soil erosion and changes the land around it.
Instead of using surface water we can reduce the damage by using groundwater which would decrease the quantity and quality of the water in aquatic ecosystems which means the animals have a better living environment which would help the impact on the surrounding ecosystems like soil erosion and dry land as well as better water. Some ways to reduce the impact of mining is to try and limit/reduce the amount of waste, reducing the amount of of land damage, and minimizing the amount of energy and water used to extract the coal.
I think that in development in human history there has been quite some some change and now that we are starting to comprehend our mistakes we are trying to correct them by developing new ways to create a way to extract the minerals without harming the environment and keeping it sustainable. I think what's being done is somewhat effective although there is a lot we can improve on for the near future.


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Great start at An Carn
The new term of Irish classes at An Carn in Tirkane has made a great start with record numbers of learners signing up to start or continue learning Irish. Sixty adult learners, from teenagers to pensioners and all ages between, are now registered in four levels in the classes which take place at 7.30 on Monday night. Tús maith, leath na hoibre!
The Monday night Irish courses have undergone systematic consolidation and development over recent years. The dedicated team of teachers and An Carn staff have analysed learner feedback and researched the best practice of other providers. Learners can come in as absolute beginners and progress to fluency from year to year. At present there are four levels and there are plans to increase this to six levels over the next two years. Learners are not obliged to sit any exams but the courses are a great preparation for anyone wishing to study GCSE or A Level Irish or go on to study Irish at University. An Carn can also help learners access the prestigious European Certificate in Irish (Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge, TEG).
A significant development this year is the provision of an intermediate and an advanced conversation circle, or ciorcal comhrá. These conversation sessions will complement the Monday evening language classes, giving learners the opportunity to put into practice what they have learned and also to learn more in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. The intermediate ciorcal comhrá is suitable for those who have completed at least one year learning Irish and will run from six weeks from Wednesday 12 November at 7.30pm. This is a great opportunity for anyone who has a basic level of Irish to improve their conversational skills. The advanced ciorcal comhrá will also run for six weeks, beginning on Friday 14 November at 7.30pm. This advanced conversation circle is aimed at advanced learners at level 4 or above in the classes or any learner approaching fluency or already fairly fluent. Beidh seans ag muintir an chiorcail ardleibhéil freastal ar oíche airneáil saor in aisce uair sa choicís díreach i ndiaidh an chiorcail chomhrá.
Both ciorcal comhrá will be of great benefit to those attending the Monday evening language, but they are also open to anyone attending classes elsewhere or indeed anyone who cannot get to a class this year but who wants to keep up their Irish. The advanced ciorcal comhrá is also a great opportunity for anyone studying A level or university students home for the weekend to meet other Irish language learners.
If you are interested in learning or want to improve your Irish it is still not to late to join the Monday evening classes. You can also book your place in your choice of ciorcal comhrá now at An Carn. Call now at 028 79549978 and ask for Joe Ó Dochartaigh or email email@example.com or email@example.com. Bí linn, beidh fáilte romhat!


text:
Garcia looking at home in Valderrama
Tournament host Sergio Garcia and Joost Luiten hold a one-shot lead after the first round of the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.
Garcia, winner of the previous staging of this event six years ago, made an excellent start in his pursuit of a sixth European Tour title on home soil - and a 14th in total - by carding a five-under 66 at Real Club Valderrama on Thursday.
The Masters champion hit the turn in 32 after starting on the 10th and took his tally of birdies to seven in his opening round, dropping shots at the first and the eighth.
Garcia said: "I'm very happy with my round. The game was on pretty much all day. I hit my irons very well, I didn't drive the ball well on the eighth hole but I was pretty much spot on there and I made some nice putts here and there.
"The greens were rolling quite fast, more than anything the back nine was even faster than the front. Overall I think it was very solid."
Sergio on crowd-pleasing duties. pic.twitter.com/QByAwPJ18A-- The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 19, 2017
Dutchman Luiten was level par through 11 holes after also getting under way on the back nine, but birdied five of his last seven holes to take a share of the lead.
Pablo Larrazabal also made a promising start in his homeland, signing for a four-under 67 to sit just a shot off the pace along with Robert Rock.
Paul Peterson of the United States is just two shots adrift of the leading duo, while Andrew Johnson - who won the Real Club Valderrama Open de Espana on the same course last year - is among 10 players on two under.


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Samahquam Nation
FN Code:
"The recently re-constructed community of Baptiste-Smith, located at the southwest end of Little Lillooet Lake on the Lillooet River system, is the newest of those along the Lillooet River. It is the current residence of members of the Samahquam [shah-MAH-kwum] Nation, who had previously lived on the Samahquam Reserve (I.R. 1) about 5 kilometres south of Baptiste-Smith (I.R. 1b)."[[1363]]
Community information
The village of Samahquam at southeast end of Little Lillooet Lake dates back centuries and perhaps even millennia. In historic times, the town of 29-Mile House was built beside the eastern arm of the village and it served as the end of the first portage along the Harrison-Lillooet route and a point of embarkment for steamships. In the 1950s, the Samahquam Nation dispersed to other reserves where better economic opportunities could be found. In recent times, new houses have been built at Samahquam and families have moved back to the village. "The majority of schoolchildren from this community attend the Xit'olacw community school in Mount Currie, and Pemberton Elementary. The majority of high school students living on reserve attend the Mount Currie School, Pemberton Secondary, or Mission Secondary."[[1363]]Population on reserve: 81[[8828]]Population off reserve: 292[[8828]]Total population: 373[[8828]]
Language information
The Samahquam speak Ucwalmícwts (Lower St̓át̓imc).
St̓át̓imcetsNumber of Fluent Speakers: Number of Speakers that understand some of the language: Number of Speakers learning the language:
Historically known as:
Samakwa Band
(604) 894-3355
LNA 1s
|Organization/First Nation/Government
|LNA6540 - In-Shuck-Ch Services Society DBA Samahquam Services Society
|Not submitted
|In-Shuck-Ch Services Society DBA Samahquam Services Society
|LNA6536 - Pa'La7Wit Society of the Lower Lillooet Lake
|Pa'La7Wit Society of the Lower Lillooet Lake
|LNA6512 - Pa'La7Wit Society of the Lower Lillooet Lake
|Pa'La7Wit Society of the Lower Lillooet Lake
|LNA6228 - Samahquam
|LNA3762 - Head of the Lake School
|Head of the Lake School


text: Arteriosclerosis / Atherosclerosis Arteriosclerosis is a disorder characterized by a progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries. This condition is often called "hardening of the arteries." The hardening and thickening of the arteries causes a decrease in the blood circulation through the affected vessel and affects the organs it serves. Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaque) on the interior lining of the arterial walls. This plaque accumulation impedes the flow of blood. If the accumulation becomes too great, it may cause a complete blockage of blood flow through the artery, in turn, leading to damage to the tissues served by the affected blood vessel. Although the onset of atherosclerosis is thought to be part of the normal aging process, other factors increase its likelihood and severity. These factors include hypertension, cigarette smoking, obesity, diabetes, elevated serum cholesterol levels, inactivity, and family predisposition. There is no known cure for atherosclerosis. Making positive life style changes to reduce the impact of cardiac risk factors such as obesity, cigarette smoking, inactivity, and diet to reduce serum cholesterol levels are the best means of minimizing the effects of atherosclerosis.


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Revenge5 December 2019
Do you ever get the urge to take someone down a peg or two? Maybe they have done something that's hurt you. Maybe they are just... Read more >
Let's work to the design29 November 2019
We are such strange creatures. We design complex machines with inbuilt warning systems to stop problems turning into calamities. When we see the oil light flashing on our car dashboard we'll take... Read more >
Making doubt your friend27 March 2019
When doubt raises its head open your arms and grasp it to you and softly speak to it as follows: Remind it how many mountains you have conquered, many you have seen... Read more >
Making your words work for you20 September 2018
Making words work for you. The words we use create our internal images, impacting how we feel and the energy we have at our finger tips. By changing our words we change... Read more >
A path to better relationships24 August 2018
When feeling the pull of self doubt, anger, resentment or even false optimism, its wise to stop and see what may be missing in the storyline you are building in your brain... Read more >
Do you live or simply exist? 4 truths about emotions5 February 2018
The future is uncertain, you know that. Nothing can be predicted, there are simply too many variables in any situation. Will Mr Trump press his bigger button? Will a crisis happen and... Read more >
Validation: 3 questions that improve your leadership edge27 September 2017
Where we look for validation has a direct impact on our ability to lead as it impacts how we react to everyday occurrences. Self validation is an important part of... Read more >
Creating the power of closeness1 August 2017
One of the most frequently heard laments is leadership is a lonely role, especially for leaders at the very top of firms. Loneliness infers there is a lack of intimacy in relationships. If... Read more >


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Posts tagged with wellbeing
ecophon interview01 Jul 2017
Following on from Richard's talk at the Workplace Trends conference he was interviewed by Ecophon for their regular blog posts on workplace design. You can visit the interview on their pages and here from Sarah Welton the Well Building Institute.
workplace design25 Mar 2017
Richard spoke at the Workplace Trends Spring Summit 2017 in London. The summit focused health and wellbeing in the workplace with a range of amazing speakers from across Europe. We especially enjoyed the presentions by Vicki Lockhart and Sarah Welton from the International Well Building Institute. The team from D/Dock…


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It was announced in August that Highway Hawk was sold to a foreign party.
As a result, it is temporarily not possible for us to deliver items that we do not have in stock.
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Ordered on weekdays before 2 p.m., shipped the same day.
Provided a delivery time is stated with the item


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I purchased these little advent ginger bread house boxes over 3 years ago, thinking they would last just that one year, however 3 Years later, they are still going strong! The kids love them and they are the perfect size to fit fun toys in along with a little treat inside. Considering how rough the kids can be at times, these little houses are still in pretty good nick, though I have had to be very careful, putting each individual house away safely all of the 24 days, but its been worth it, as they are so fun, I love styling them up differently each year, plus what a great upcycle!
I kept it simple with two sweet little string cascades all in a row and some festive snowflake lighting. They were each filled with chocolate coins and fun party bag gifts. Which we later regretted. The chocolate coins were not a good idea! We couldn't light the stove for 24 days!
Inspired by the branch above our table, I decided to hang them all on a branch found in the garden alongside some paper snowflakes, minus the chocolates!
2019: and this is what I have rustled up this year...
It all started on a dog walk last weekend, with my son collecting sticks and inspiration from some vivid Pinterest memories. I decided it would be fun to make a stick tree so we all ended up on a collecting mission in the forest.
We initially dried out the sticks, the under floor heating helped, then we created the shape of a tree, cutting the sticks down to size. Then I tied it all together using twine to loop around each individual stick a couple of times, creating a triangle/tree like shape.
I entwined some little battery operated LED wire lights around the sticks and a fir branch to the bottom, that we also came across on the walk. The treats most of which were purchased at Flying Tiger (not impressed with all the packaging on these small items), were added to the little card houses, which were then hung on the sticks combined with a few subtle festive tree decorations, a mix I have collected over the years from The White Company, Layered Lounge and H&M home
Apart from the treats, this is such a cost effective way of doing advent and a lot of fun for all to take part in. No idea what I am going to do next year, but I had better get my thinking cap on!
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Tea is my go to for that instant moment of calm in a very busy house, as soon as I have my mug to hand I feel all tensions seem to melt way. I can totally relate to the whole 'Cha' tea ceremony in China and how special the ritual of tea is within history, creating that special moment in time to drink your tea. Perhaps this has all stemmed from that feeling of comfort you get taking that first sip!
With national Tea day just past, what better way to celebrate tea in collaboration with Laura Ashley and create a Tea Station, using the gorgeous items above. This station gives me easy access to my tea ritual with everything in one space, not only that, every time I walk past, it will remind me to have a quick peaceful moment in time and make a cup of tea. The kitchen Island is definitely the best spot for this, as I will never miss it, despite ours being slightly tucked in a corner, it is always the area that everyone gravitates to, so the perfect spot for a tea station.
The rustic Water Hyacinth Round Tray is the perfect container to hold my English Breakfast tea alongside the Sliver Effect Sugar Caddy and very pretty mugs from the Lisette Steel range, the natural weave adds a gorgeous warm texture to this setting. I also wanted to create a bit of height, so used a Glass cake stand to create this and then popped the small Glass Jar filled with fresh lemons on top, alongside the very elegant Jossette Cup and Saucers for that more indulgent tea and the Lissette Glass Tea Pot. The gorgeous aroma of the Lavender and Camomile candle helps create that warm inviting scene especially for guests.
Making up a little tea station has created an area not only helps me relax just looking at it, but also reminds me to make that cup of tea and gives me easy access to everything that I need, it also adds a lovely focal point to the island, which can look very bare at times and is a great area to catch up socially with friends over a cup of tea. With Autumn quickly drawing in and the days getting colder it is so nice having a little area dedicated to feel good ritual in the home.
Disclaimer: This is a paid collaboration with https://www.lauraashley.com . I chose and styled the items mentioned and as always only ever work with products I love!
My Summer Bath Edit
The bath is my go to space for that rare moment to unwind and relax, so I love this space to have a spa like feel to it, a little haven of calm in a very busy house. It is also an area that I can't resist restyling now and then, especially in the different seasons. I tend to go for a more cosy look in the winter months and often lighten this up in the summer time. So I was delighted when Laura Ashley asked me to work with them to create my perfect bath with a slightly new look to it, what perfect timing!
Before: After:
A summer styled sanctuary. The key to a slightly indulgent spa look is having the majority of items that you actually use out on display within the look. These can include items such as towels and products, alongside pretty accessories like candles, baskets and bathmats. Using woven baskets as storage adds a gorgeous texture and beside the James and Ellington lanterns creates a perfect summer garden feel. I love bringing the outside in with interiors. There is no view from this room, so I find it even more important to inject a bit of greenery through adding plants and flowers to the space.
The wafting scent of Jasmine and Fresh linen from Scented Candle and Lotions add that all important tranquil relaxed feel, giving the whole look a sense of calm and serenity.
Using baskets as storage achieves three things, less clutter, a beautiful rustic look and a feature. Take the Apple Rattan Basket for example perfect for extra storage, but looks beautiful at the same time and the Kuba Rattan Storage basket , so handy for all those go to essentials, just within reach of the bath.
Leaving the towels and bath mats out, also gives the bath area that extra cosy spa feel and adds an element of luxury to the space. Ladders such as my bamboo one in the above image are a fantastic way to create this look and again great storage. Other key items that really help create this look are a bath shelf and little stools to add plants, lanterns, flowers, candles and products too. Now to fill the bath, light the candles, drop some essential oils in the water and relax!
Disclaimer: This is a paid collaboration with https://www.lauraashley.com . I chose and styled the items mentioned and as always only ever work with products I love!
Seasonal Crafting Over Easter
Decorating eggs for Easter is something that I will always remember doing as a child. I'm not sure why, but for some reason I found it more exciting than Christmas back then, perhaps it was all the colours and the thought of all the yummy chocolates in store! So when I was approached by Hobby Craft to collaborate this easter and do some fun crafting with the kids, I was all over it. What perfect timing for some Easter holiday fun.
The super cute ceramic bunnies were the first items to catch my eye, perfect for characterful table decor. They are actually very pretty in their original white colour, ideal for table placements, that can be tailored and personalised to your hearts content, however it was all about adding some colour when presenting them to my daughter, so we went for it and colourful they are!
We used soft pastel shades of green, yellow and pink from the ready mixed paint range, which covered the ceramics beautifully, and then added pretty little Paper Flowers to the bunnies and a touch of Glitter Glue for that extra shimmer and sparkle. We left a couple in the white and just added some extra flowers to these.
Then on to the eggs, for the branch. This branch has become a permanent feature in our home. It has ever-changing looks that are tailored for all occasions such as Birthdays, Christmas etc, we have had it for over a year now and I love the challenge of decorating it differently for each celebration. Between occasions it has simple glass tea light holders hanging from it that gives it more of a light installation feel, but all the colour and fun comes out for festivities such as Easter.
These hanging wooden eggs were a lot of fun to decorate, and unbreakable too, which meant my son could join in the fun. We painted them in all the colours, finished some off with a dusting of the Bio glitter (biodegradable glitter) adding stripes, spots, you name it with the glitter glue!
Once dry the branch was ready to be decorated, with the most fun and colourful decorations it has had to date! It was so nice to have children involved in the process of putting it all together this time, they love a bit of arts a crafts especially my daughter (5) who can craft away for hours on end...
I used transparent string to hang the eggs at different heights to give a wave feel. Last year they were all the same length, however the more I decorate this branch I have realised that its much nicer having a few decorations hanging lower over the table.
The colourful rabbits found their friends along the centre of the the table alongside some seasonal potted plants that I got from a local garden centre and that's our Easter table sorted! Easter we are ready for you...
Wishing every one a wonderful Easter break!
Disclaimer: This is a paid collaboration with www.hobbycraft.co.uk . I chose and put together all the above decorations and as always only ever work with items I love!
With full intentions to get back to blogging after the Christmas break in January, my little break has ended up being a lot longer than planned, writers block! I have done quite a few bits around the house though and have plenty of things to talk about. So I thought I would ease myself back in slowly with the little kitchen revamp I spontaneously did the other month to my daughters toy kitchen.
We have had this kitchen since my daughter was a one year old, so with over four years of being bashed about, it was looking pretty sad and tired. Initially I was planning to paint it a nice navy blue colour to work for both my daughter and son, but as always the pink got the better of me and to be honest you can get away with this one, with its black pigments it isn't too feminine at all, I also had loads left over in the garage from a previous project, so it was meant to be!
The original kitchen was a pale blue design by Tidlo, I think you can still get it from shops such as John Lewis. Alongside the pink I wanted to add some brass tones to areas that were silver. I also had grand ideas on wallpapering the door panel in a fun print, but after giving this a go, it was swiftly removed and I decided to keep it simple, created a whole new look just using two different paints.
It had to be the pink... (Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink)
I had some primer ready to be used, but on doing a little patch test in Estate EggshellI found that it went on really well and didn't budge, so the primer wasn't needed. I simply gave the whole kitchen a good clean and once dried applied the paint directly on to it. It must have been due to this particular surface, as I have heard of other people trying this on different designs and needing primer, in normal cases I would definitely recommend the primer such as Zinsser if you have time, just in case.
I also randomly had some Liquid Leaf gold metallic paint in the garage that I had found on Amazon last year to use in my daughters room. This worked a treat on the handles, shelves and tap. You do however need to make sure the first layer is completely dry before touching up as it got very gloopy when layered. I found out the hard way and had to give up on the tricky oven knobs, they proved to be way too fiddly, so only one got painted and the rest are still silver. They do say mixing metals is now in... haha. The finish is amazing though, a really bright shimmering gold colour.
This pink and gold work beautifully together and the kitchen is fully transformed! Which has got me thinking wouldn't our kitchen look nice in this colour combination?!?
Before: After:
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A Year of The Branch
It was just over a year ago that we cut down this large branch at the back of the garden, I remember it being all wet and very large, so it needed a good dry off inside the dining room before we could hang it. The plan was that it would replace a Christmas tree in this room, as lasts years had died immediately due to the underfloor heating. I wanted to elevate it above our dining table in the conservatory, which has a lot of empty ceiling space and two very handy metal beams that make it easy to hang decor. It was a bit of a gamble on how this was going to look, as the branch looked quite unruly and rough around the edges... So I was pleasantly surprised when it fitted the space beautifully. We only needed some strong string to hang it from the beams either side et voila! If you don't have the beams, you can create the same look through using screw hooks in the ceiling.
December 2017: And here it is last Christmas fully decorated, I went for a very soft pink and white theme with the decor using paper snow flakes and transparent glass baubles from Cox & Cox, mixed with a few gold stars. The plan was to take the whole thing down in January, but along with a lot of protests about this on Instagram, I couldn't bring myself to do it either! So off came the decor and we were left with a bare branch, that I decided to decorate throughout the year for seasonal occasions and Birthdays.
First up Valentines day! A mix of heart garlands, honey comb balls added to the pink baubles that I popped back on the branch from Christmas. I also entwined some faux ivy on and preserved rose heads, which have become a permanent fixture.
Followed by a Peter Rabbit theme on my sons Birthday in March, it was a lot of fun putting this all together and finally having something back on the branch, which had been completely stripped after Valentines!
The carrots were taken out, but other than that I kept a lot of the decor used for my sons Birthday at Easter, just adding some pretty gold and light green/teal speckled eggs made it perfect for the occasion.
It was a bit bare for a couple of months while the conservatory had a little paint over. We changed the colour of the windows to a more dramatic dark grey/blue tone to get more of an industrial look. Then fully decorated it for my husbands 40th Birthday, with fun gold fans from Ginger Ray, I also added round glass tea light holders, which along with the ivy have also stayed as they look so pretty lit up at night, especially for dinner parties.
All the fun and colour was added for my daughter 5th Birthday party and what an amazing hot summers day it was too!
Things got a bit more dramatic for Halloween with spiders and webs that I found in Tiger, mixed with fun black honeycomb ball garlands. The kids loved it.
Ready for this years Christmas decor... and this is what the branch looks like on a regular day now, the ivy has stayed as have the round glass tea light holders.
One year later and the branch is still here and boy did we make use of it! This Christmas it has more of a dramatic look through using larger baubles and darker colours. I felt this would work well with the newly painted windows. I have also hung all the decor at different levels which looks great over the table especially when the tea lights are all lit up along with the little LED battery fairy lights I also added. It looks so pretty and sparkly at night.
The question is do I keep it up another year... Well I think I will, as I couldn't imagine the space without it now. It would have to take a pretty special light feature to take on the branch! Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year, Happy 2019!
Where to get the looks:
Around The House At Christmas
Its the busiest time of year and I have been decorating other peoples homes for Christmas this year too, a first for me and a lot of fun, but I have had to make a conscious effort to put some time aside to also decorate our own home, which I love doing. Over the years my style has changed from colourful to monochrome, bold to delicate and now I would say that the decor around our house is mix of all these things. I thought I would share a few of my favourite pics mostly from this year, but a few have crept in from the last 2 years too.
I made this garland a couple of years ago, using fresh pine and flowers mixed with baubles and pine cones. Every one loved it, the only problem, was that there wasn't space for food on the table, so we had to dish up everyones plate first. Its actually really easy to make a garland, all you need to do is create a nice full bunch of pine/foliage then another and wire them all together going forward in the same direction while you keep adding. I then place the flowers, baubles etc on top. Giving it a good mist of water everyday makes it last a while too, this one made all the way to NYE!
I am so pleased with our Christmas tree this year, its definitely up there as a favourite, we went for a large 9ft Nordmann pine, which has barely dropped a needle! I was however slightly concerned I didn't have enough decor for it, but some trusty small honeycomb balls came to the rescue and filled the void, I also love the texture and colour they bring to a tree I discovered this last year when in a similar situation. This years colour scheme is gold, copper and green, I found some beautiful copper sparkly baubles at Amara Living and somehow thats how the theme evolved.
I made this wreath on a willow base for the front door, using fresh foliage and flowers, this base doesn't retain the water as much as a moss one, but knowing how much hydrangeas love water, I thought this style would look good dried too. 3 weeks on it has dried up quite a bit now, but still looks beautiful. And the peacock feathers still give a fresh colourful feel.
Inspired by last years branch that kept on giving... (It will be getting its very own blog post) A few more branches have popped up around the house. The kids love the advent calendar that I have hung on a branch from the garden in their playroom. I just added little numbered box houses that we used last year from Not on the High and put treats for both the kids inside, its a fun way to make sure they are getting something nice each day. The hallway is looking pretty with its very own branch display too.
And here it is, the branch we have had in our house for one whole year now. Its been so much fun decorating it differently throughout the seasons and family events. This year it has a bit more of a dramatic look in comparison to how it was decorated last year (below). I have hung very large drop baubles in various lengths above the table giving it a wave effect. It looks so pretty at night when the tree lights are lit up and the little fairy lights are on.
Last years branch had a much softer feel, with glass baubles soft pinks golds and pretty paper snowflakes that gave it a very delicate feel.
The garland around the banisters was a lot more structured last year, I went for some bold green honeycomb balls in mixed sizes to break it up a bit. This year I have created more of a sweeping look using faux eucalyptus, little LED fairy lights and paper snowflakes that I have re-used from the branch.
This little garland is a fab way to add some colour to a dresser or door, I made it using preserved eucalyptus and hydrangeas, it so easy to do, all you need is a wooden hoop, which you then simply wire you foliage and flowers onto. Don't you find you lose bits every year, I like to think that I have been organised in my packing up, but there's always something missing such as these fun LED lights, I had them spread all around the house last year and they would be out again if I could find them.
We had friends over for lunch at weekend, so I gave the Christmas table set up a little test... A lot of brass and green on this table, I might just add a table cloth but other than that I'm ready to go on the decor front, just a whole load of presents and food to still sort out...
MERRY CHRISTMAS! xxx
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The Guest Bedroom Makeover
Despite being a little dark in the winter this room has such a calm feel to it. The transformation has been very gradual and my main aim was to add a bit of warmth and depth to it, which all started when we ripped out the carpet to reveal some beautiful originally floor boards that were surprisingly in pretty good nick!
They needed a good sand down, a bit of filler in places and all the carpet nails removed. We then primed using Dulux pure white undercoat and painted the floor boards with two coats of Eico Antique white floor paint, a slight off white with hints of grey. We have since used Eico on all the windows in the house, as its durability has been very impressive!
Removing the carpet revealed a fireplace hearth, which we painted white at the time, I didn't think much of it until I finally decided to fully revamp the room last month, which had cracks everywhere, it was high time for a good lick of paint. I got a bit carried away on the patch test front as wanted to introduce some colour, but found all the ones I tested were too cool for this north facing room. Going to the Farrow and Ball new colour launch, got me obsessed with the gorgeous new Sulking Room pink colour, but again the tone was not right on the walls. In the end we decided on Little Green Slaked Lime Deep (Intelligent Matt Emulsion). It has a gorgeous earthy tone to it I would describe the colour as a moss like grey/green colour that gives off a really warm feel and works beautifully with blacks and sulking room pink, which I was determined to use as a colour pop somewhere in the room.
On removing the mirror where the hearth is, I found the wall was crying out for a focal point and that's when I started searching online for Victorian cast iron fireplaces, after a little hunt I found one on Gumtree £40, it was beautiful and close to home, I couldn't believe my luck! It arrived a little rusty and broken in some places, but other than that in a very good condition. Knocking the initial a hole in the wall was a tad nail biting, but luckily after the first layer of bricks a hole was revealed and it fitted like a glove. It wont be a working fireplace it is purely decorative to bring back some of the rooms initial character. To add a bit of contrast I decided to paint it in the colour we used downstairs on our conservatory windows. This is basically a mix I created using the Ash and Midnight blue of Fusion Mineral Paints in equal parts, it creates a beautiful blue toned dark grey colour, similar to the Farrow and Ball Railings. This paint doesn't need much prep, just a quick sand down on the wood/metal surface and it can be applied very easily, once dry it has a beautiful matt finish.
A lot of the furniture we already had in the room looked pretty worn down and tired, but was still perfectly functional, so I decided to up-cycle as much as possible, whilst making it more in keeping with the new colour scheme. This was my queue to finally use a bit of Sulking Room Pink (Estate Eggshell) of which the two side tables had the pleasure, I also added new brass handles. I was on a roll and also decided to up-cycle the chest and mirror in the black/grey and a little end of bed bench we were using in another room. With new handles and a fresh coat of paint these pieces now look completely different! I got the handles for the chest at Dowsing and Reynolds and the small ones on the side table from Amazon Home.
The divan bed was transformed through adding a headboard (Tikamoon), the whole room has a bit of 1930's feel to it with the new colour scheme, so I went for a rattan style and painted the wood surround in my little paint mix.
I am aware that I might be repeating myself here, but it really is amazing how a lick of paint can transform a room especially if you are on a budget. This room is now so cosy and inviting, just changing the colour palate adding a pops of pink and some cosy soft furnishing has given it so much more character and the main vocal point the fireplace, looks like it was always meant to be!
Find The Style
Walking into my home a few years was a very different experience to now, the walls were bare, bar the very odd piece of art. Family photos and pictures were only seen on shelves, picture rails and consoles, however over the last two years I have discovered a love for wall hangings and gallery walls, which are now ever expanding across the entire house.
The most recent area was the hallway, which is still in progress. I have had a lot of questions on how I planned this wall, which actually came about quite organically. I initially picked a few family pictures I wanted up on the walls ordered up some frames to fit these from Made.com and started hanging them. I placed 3 on the landing and then worked all the rest around these. I didn't want it to look too structured so mixed the sizes and added the odd white frame and random splash of colour. I have gradually filled it further with a few more prints and love mixing text among pictures. I think the key is not to rush, take your time building it up, so you see what you love on the walls as you walk past and not just something that fills a gap. As you can see mine isn't finished yet, there are still a few gaps...
The most recent picture I hung was actually spontaneously placed, new for me, as most of my hangings are more grouped or structured. I love this effect of randomly filling a space without worrying about measurements or symmetry, this really works if you have something with graduated heights below, the chest and chair really frame the picture making it blend in seamlessly with the rest of the room.
Unlike the hallway the gallery wall in our lounge took a lot more time to put up, endless measuring was involved to create a grid like wall. But the actual planning was easier as all the frames are the same size and style framing pictures of the family. We created this with a view that it would eventually extend across the whole width of the wall, with further images being added over the years as the family grows up. I got these frames from The White Company and all my photos are printed at Sim Lab.
You can't go wrong with a group of 3! They look great above a bed or fireplace drawing your attention to a focal point in the room and adding more interest. Its always nice mixing these up a bit whether it be colour or a varied theme.
I love layering on shelves/ledges and picture rails are a great way to pop and update family photos. I like mixing up the frames on these, different sizes and styles some layered in front of each other. Some people are very strict about mixing colour with black and white, but I actually like mixing the two, it makes the colours pop out and the black and white look more striking.
Though sometimes you just cant beat a large single picture on its very own wall to give that instant statement.
Where I like to get frames: Ikea, The White Company, GLTC, One.World, Made.com, Brissi and John Lewis
Imagery: a mix of family photos and prints
What I hang with: Usually using picture nails and hooks and sometimes I use command strips for smaller frames.
Where I like to get prints: Cherylrawlings, Junie Poonie, The Little Jones, Will Makes Things, Daisy & Bump, Belle and Boo, Desenio and Slaymyprint,
I had a few little patch tests on these window panes for at least 2 months before I decided to take the plunge and go dark. The conservatory in our house is such a beautiful feature, however the white paint was very tired and needed some serious TLC, so it was a choice between a fresh coat of white, a pale grey tone or a significant leap to black where the change would be difficult to reverse. I have always loved the more industrial look of Crittall windows and as this space is very traditional, I felt going dark would give it a more up-to-date feel while simultaneously accentuating the classic design of the doors.
The dark won my heart in the end. I wanted the finish to be as matt as possible - to get that Crittall window feel – so the paint choice was extremely important. A friend of mine had recently been raving about Fusion Mineral Paint as it doesn't mark up and is easy to clean (unusual for a matt finish), however the colours were either too dark or or very blue. Eventually, I did a little tester using sample pots of the Navy and Ash Black and mixing them up in equal measures. This created a beautiful dark blue/grey tone, very similar to Farrow and Ball railings, just a tad darker. I found the perfect colour!
- The paint colours mixed together equal measures - Before
-During -After
The window frames were all sanded down then painted with 3 coats of the Fusion mix, no primer or sealer were needed, this paint is amazingly smooth to apply and a little goes a long way, I had bought a total of 12 paint pots, as they look small and I only ended up using 6 of them. The instant change in this room was unbelievable, it immediately framed the garden drawing the greenery inside and creating a sense of fluidity.
Originally I was going to paint the pillars dark too, but then decided in order to compliment the glass ceiling they needed to be light, so opted for Farrow and Ball 'Wevet' instead, along with the rest of the wood work and walls in this room. The dark paint did mark up a little initially with dust and a few tiny chips in some places, which at first was a concern, but a paint specialist confirmed that unlike other paints it takes a few weeks to harden and once it does will be stronger than normal paints. Four months later and this appears to be correct.
This colour change is even possible on uPVC as discovered by my instagram pal Jess, thehoppyhome.co.uk. When Jess saw the finished result on my page, she did a similar paint over in her uPVC conservatory. Firstly, she primed all the frames with two coats of 'Zinsser Bulls Eye 1.2.3 Primer-Sealer' then followed with a coat of 'Johnstone's Trade Eggshell' colour matched to the Farrow & Ball Railings for a similar effect. The result was amazing!
I am a great believer that a lick of paint can completely enhance a space and this room says it all. At night, it does feel a little vast, absorbing into the dark with no defined colour to differentiate the two. However, during the day it emphasises the greenery beyond, beautifully framing the garden while seamlessly blending in with the greens. Unexpectedly, the effect is a lot more subtle than the white, yet still offers a gorgeous contrast between the inside and outside of the house. The transformation is dramatic and I love it, proving it sometimes pays dividends to take a risk and experiment.
How I Style the Clutter...
With a house full of pets and children, a question friends often ask me, is how despite the inevitable bits lying here and there and everywhere, can a room look stylish? Firstly, I try to avoid anything too bright/plastic and garish for the kids at home, obviously we have a few items of this very description, but when not being played with they tend to be hidden away in the most subtle baskets/toy storage I can find. I love a challenge and to think outside the box in regard to the way I style the clutter in our home. Whether it's about accessorising, storage solutions, a splash of colour or up-cycling , I try and maximise every existing item that is visible to the eye so the house looks its very best. This is achieved through clutter being styled or completely hidden!
I love the above baskets with pom poms for the children's areas in the house. They add an instant splash of colour, hide all the toys when not being played with and look stylish at the same time, I found these on Etsy who have lots of different colour options. I used fruit storage units below these from Cox & Cox, they are great to store all the little bits such as lego, wood blocks and puzzles. Wall stickers are amazing at making a dead space instantly look more characterful, I got this rabbit from Bell & Boo. Little details such as flowers, ball lights and neon lighting also add an element of fun to a space and I love having picture rails along the walls in family areas with family pics, though I have to admit I am very behind on updating these as the kids get older...
Storageboxes are a decluttering must, stacked neatly along with book racks and sectioned magazine storage. Canvas baskets are ideal for throwing the soft toys in at the end of the day and the above (along with the Teepee) are from Wildire Teepees. I usually keep the walls quite neutral in these areas, so the fun colours and patterns can speak for themselves. Chalk paint on certain walls is great to avoid writing anywhere else, these two areas are painted in Eico Chalk Paint, they have loads of colours to choose from, this is a lovely blue toned grey that the kids can draw on to their hearts content.
The more stylish clutter, a mixture of sentimental items, plants, books, candles and photos, are arranged on shelves around the house (the above two photos were featured in a Rockmystyle blog). This provides a homely and lived in feel, however, keeping them contained to specific areas allows other spaces to beclutter free creating a sense of equilibrium.
It's not just the kids' areas that have baskets, they are literally everywhere around the house. Whether containing umbrellas by the door, loo rolls in the bathroom or dirty laundry, there is always a basket to hide a multitude of clutter creators. Plants look wonderful when popped in them too - John Lewis, Cox & Cox, TK Max and OlliElla always have a great selection to pick from.
A splash of colour on the inside of doors not only adds a fun focal point to any room but also distracts from the clutter. Hooks on the inside are always a useful way to hang special items that would usually be discarded into a basket or on the floor. Decorating the walls with pretty shelves and toys also helps avoid too much chaos on the floor and I love stacking suitcases on top of each other as they're ideal for storing puzzles, books and Lego.
The above doors are painted in Farrow and Ball Nancy Blushes (pink) and Babouche (yellow)
Desk storage has suddenly become a necessity for my 5-year-old daughter. I made this desk using an Ikea work top cut down to size along with two of the Eket range units either side, adding pretty handles for a colour splash. The vibrant shelves are again Ikea spice racks that I painted. I always keep nice simple gift boxes such as those from The White Company, JoJo Maman, Bebe and Jo Malone as they're great for storing little bits.
I tend to put pin boards up on hidden walls that we walk past regularly but are not a focal point in the house, such as outside the downstairs loo. These are great to pin memories, things to do and reminders. Cute hooks on the children's walls are also very handy to hang pretty outfits that are usually hidden away in the wardrobe.
I hope this helps give a little insight on how I style the clutter. The bottom line is that certain clutter can work if presented correctly, you don't have to be minimal to have a clutter free home, it's about the right storage and making it appealing to the eye. There's so much more to share so I can't wait to post my next blog for you!
We were very lucky to inherit a beautiful master bathroom with the house. It has a dreamy roll-top bath, which had been on my wish list for many years and the layout is brilliant, however floor to ceiling was literally the same off white tone making it look pretty bland despite the nice features. There was no depth and all the character seemed lost within the sea of beige. If I had the budget I would have put down new patterned tiles and replaced the sink unit for something more characterful, but this wasn't the case, so I decided to revamp it through a dramatic colour change.
I started by giving the bath a good rub down and then painting it in Farrow and Ball Black & Blue (Estate Eggshell, 3 coats) to tie in with the sink unit, all the walls had a good lick of F&B Oval Room Blue (Estate Emulsion), which instantly refreshed the room with it's beautiful cool blue/green tones. I have found this particular blue really compliments dark colours such as black. As extra storage I have an Ikea Hemnes single cabinet to the side of the shower, I also painted this in FB Black & Blue and switched the handle, it now looks like a completely different unit!
The spot lights above the sink were replaced with hanging lights from Cox and Cox (placed within IP regulations) to soften the unit and I have also added a few plants to this room, they always seem to thrive in bathrooms due to the water/steam. This is now one of my favourite rooms in the house, a little sanctuary to retreat for a peaceful bath in the evenings, I no longer dream of patterned tiles, as it works just the way it is, and it just goes to show what a transformation simply picking up the paint brush can make.
Welcome to her ever so girly haven...
When moving into our house 3 years ago, this room was mainly just used for sleeping as my daughter was still in her cot at the time, so initially it had a quick lick of white paint, balloon wallpaper put on a feature wall with fitted shelves over it, alongside a new floor and radiators, which were also updated throughout the house. Other than that I left it pretty neutral and dressed it with fun pretty accessories and toys.
This is what it was like for a while before the recent updates
However this year my daughter has started use the room a lot more. She loves going to her room to read, draw and play, so I decided to update it a bit to suit her age, by adding a fun bunk bed alongside a new desk. I created a wall to wall desk space under the shelves using Ikea units and adding a cut to size white worktop, making it look more interesting with some fun colourful handles. I used some spice racks as shelves behind this and painted them up in bright colours using old sample pots. The new bed is a fun house frame bunk bed that I have painted pink, I have created a cosy snug area full of cushions at the bottom and the top is where she sleeps. The whole room has also had a refresh with a lick of paint in Little Greene French Grey and I have added some pretty metallic gold stars to the wall by her bed.
I found the bed on Etsy, its sold by a seller called SilverElk. We are really happy with it, its a very sturdy wood frame. The idea is that she will sleep at the top and the bottom area with be a fun snug area she can read and hang out it which will double up for sleep overs in a few years time. We painted it up in Farrow and Ball Nancy Blushes to match the inside of her door which is also that pink.
After a lot of patch testing we settled on Little Greene French Grey Mid for the walls as it goes so well with the Nancy Blushes Pink and I added some beautiful metallic wall stickers stars to the walls beside her bedside by Nutmeg Wallart Stickers and some garland of coloured lights by Cotton Ball Lights. I also found a gorgeous selection of cushions from H&M Home which I added to ones we already had for a fun snug area at the bottom.
The desk area: To create this I used a plain white Ikea work top cut down to size and two of the Ikea Eket range cabinets on which I then fixed the work top. The reason I chose the Eket cabinets is the they are only 35cm deep which worked perfectly for this set which I didn't want to stick out too much.
I found some really cute handles to pop on one of the Eket cabinets these were also an Etsy find sold by The Leather Handle Company and painted up three spice wracks from Ikea using old sample pots to go above the desk. The colours used were Little Greene Yellow: Mister David Green: Aquamarine Deep and Pink: Little Piggy by Fusion mineral paints.
And here it is all finished... Ooh and I also painted the chair, another Ikea purchase, using some remaining Farrow and Ball Babouche Yellow paint.
The pink door has stayed and this wall has had a few fun items which were originally above her bed added to it alongside these colourful GLTC wall houses. I must update that number 4, haha...
She is so delighted with her new room and loves hanging out in it a lot more now, especially when she has friends over.
Summer Blooms Around The House
After I had my first child I worked in floristry for a while, it took off quite quickly, as I started doing displays for lots of previous clients in the public relations world, which is what I used to do before having children. I still style the odd event now and then, but what I love most is having flowers around the house.
How could I resist when One.World approached me to create some summer floral vibes in my own home using their stunning vases!
I have kept the styles quite simple, so it's easy to replicate and even managed to use some fresh flowers from the garden.
A rustic country garden look, using a simple mix of white stock and small roses in the beautiful Birkdale Squat Vase.
I have really got into using trays to add a bit of interest to the centre of a coffee table lately, using the vase above you can create a completely different look by simply popping it on a beautiful mirror tray with candle sticks, tea lights and a little glass cloche over a rose head.
A summer posy in the gorgeous Goodwood vase. So pleased to have been able to pick some beautiful fresh Alliums straight from the garden for this little bunch.
This Sudbury vase is so elegant, all it needs is a few sprigs of tall stems such as Larkspur flowers and you have a beautiful display on your hands!
The Birkdale urn full of roses, so classic and elegant. I used preserved roses to make this one as they last ages so you can keep it on display for years to come...
How gorgeous are these two vases! The silver Claymore vase simply styled with some large artificial dried agapanthus stems and the Albany ribbed bowl filled with peonies and a mixed selection of buds and foliage from the garden. I have recently started to use herbs such as mint and rosemary within my foliage, it makes the whole display smell divine.
and finally I do love a flower cluster on the dining room table. Mixing vases of all shapes and sizes with varied displays gives such a gorgeous focal point to a room and adds depth and interest to a table.
All the above vases, candleholders, mirrored tray & votives are from www.one.world
A little bit of February
A bit late with this one, but here's a few of my favourite squares from February. Lots of pink in the house this month with Valentines day and the branch that keeps on giving did the trick adorned with some pink pompoms and fans. So pleased with the new wall paper in the downstairs loo and our gallery wall on the stairway is coming along nicely too.
Style the Clutter
Interiors By Leoma Harper
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November 2019
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Let's call it: Neither SoftBank nor Saudi Arabia will face any significant U.S. investment losses over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Driving the news: Axios has learned from multiple sources that San Francisco-based freight logistics startup Flexport is in talks to raise around $500 million in a SoftBank-led deal. One source puts the pre-money price talk at around $3 billion (another dissents), which could mean the final investment is smaller if either side becomes concerned about CFIUS approvals (which I'd think they would). [Update: A source closer to the situation puts the pre-money closer to $2 billion]


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Why did many people choose organic food? In fact, it is getting very popular these days. Find out more in this article.
Choosing organic food is not just a fad. Its popularity has increased massively over the last few years, and for many good reasons. If you are not sure whether you should be spending that little bit more on such products, check out the information below. By the end of this article you should be convinced that you need to provide yourself and your family with chemical free foods.
Although the government may want us to believe that consuming foods that have been grown with a dizzying concoction of herbicides, nitrates, and other chemicals does not have an impact on our health and well-being, there is evidence that points to the opposite being true. The toxins used in most industrial farming systems can build up in the body's cells leading to a range of serious illnesses such as cancer and auto-immune conditions. By shunning such products you can minimize the risk of falling ill.
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Genetically modified foods are now widely present. There is ongoing controversy about the safety and the actual value of growing and consuming foods that have been altered in such a way. There are only a few countries in the world where such products are banned, such is the power of the corporations promoting this practice.
Inserting genes from one species into another is a dangerous activity which may have unforeseen dangers. The only sure-fire way to avoid such products is to eat organic. Why take the risk when there is a safer alternative readily available.
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