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We work to ensure that traders have procedures and resources in place to prevent sales to underage children.
Working closely with Suffolk Constabulary and licensing authorities, we carry out covert test purchase operations on businesses who sell age restricted products.
Using volunteers, often between the ages of 15 and 17, we carry out test purchases of age restricted products to ensure shops and businesses are complying with the law.
Steps to prevent underage sales
As a trader or business owner you are responsible for ensuring that you and your staff do not engage in underage sales.
- Ensure all staff are trained in the sale of age restricted products
- Keep written records of the training you have provided to staff (sign and date these records)
- Review all staff training on a regular basis and provide re-training to staff where necessary
Refusals record
- Keep a refusals book to record refusals made by staff (noting the date, details of refused person, and reason of refusal)
- Ensure that a manager or senior person reviews the refusals book regularly to ensure it is being completed (and take corrective action where it isn't being completed)
ID policy
- Consider adopting a "No ID, no sale" policy requiring staff to ask everyone who looks underage for proof of age before a sale
- Implement a "Challenge 21" or "Challenge 25" (PDF, 34KB) policy to make it easier for staff to identify underage purchases
- Advertise clearly (PDF, 100KB) that you will be asking for identification from those who look underage
Proof of age
Suffolk Trading Standards support 3 main types of proof of age identification:
- photo driving licenses
- passports
- PASS cards bearing the PASS hologram
When you are checking identification:
- take the ID from the customer (don't examine it from a distance)
- take the ID out of any holder it may be in - this will often show up poorly made fake cards
- see if it is flimsy or too rigid - this could indicate a photocopy or ID that has been taped over
- make sure that the person in front of you is the same as in the photograph
- take note of whether the ID is a valid or provisional driving license, a National Identity Card or European Driving Permit
- read the date of birth carefully (you can also ask the customer to tell you - there is a good chance they will struggle if they are lying)
- see if the card has a swipe strip on the back (if it does, it is unlikely that this is a genuine ID card as no UK ID cards have strips on them)
- take your time, even if you are busy
Business Companion provides a guide to underage sales. it covers the age restrictions that apply to the sale of certain products and services, including alcohol, tobacco, blades, solvents and sunbeds, as well as offering advice on how to prevent underage sales.
Report underage sales
If you are aware of businesses selling age restricted products to underage customers please report them.
To do this contact us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service by phoning 03454 040506.
Any information you give will be treated in the utmost confidence.
Call us on 01473 264859 from 9am to 5pm or email email@example.com.


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Labyrinthe en champ thé (visite libre)
Location: Saint Joseph
rue Emile Mussard Grand-Coude, 97480 Saint-Joseph (show map)
Category: Events, Culture
- Directions: Coming from Saint-Joseph, take the road to Jean-Petit, then on to Grand-Coude. Turn right at the first intersection in the village of Grand-Coude. The Labyrinthe en Champ Thé is a few metres along on the right.
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The Colorado National Monument and the Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture will host an opening reception for the "Exhibit of the Century" art contest winners on Friday evening at Grand Junction City Hall, January 7 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend.
The Colorado National Monument's "Exhibit of the Century" winners will exhibit their works reflecting the Colorado National Monument as part of our Centennial Celebration. Twenty artworks, including photographs, paintings, and pen and ink drawings, will be on display and many of the pieces will be for sale by contacting the individual artists. Best-of-show, first, second, and third place winners will be announced at the opening reception.
The Exhibit will be on display and open to the public at: Grand Junction City Hall, from January 7-March 30, 2011 (8-5 daily) Mesa County Building April 1-June 30, 2011 (8-5 daily).
An additional People's Choice online competition will also take place from Jan. 8 through Feb. 28. The public is invited to vote online at www.coloradonma.org.
For more information about the event, visit the park website at www.nps.gov/colm/ or call 970/858-3617, ext. 360.


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So it got us thinking.....if you give a teacher a gift card what will s/he buy?
Teacher Appreciation Giveaway!
So it got us thinking.....if you give a teacher a gift card what will s/he buy?
Swap, Share, Give Linky!
I am so excited to be participating in my first Swap, Share, Give Linky with a bunch of Aussie blogging buddies! I have learned so much from these talented and generous teachers through their knowledge and enthusiasm for the profession, and today you get the chance to win some of their amazing resources! More on that soon.
I chose Sheri's Animal Themed Math Centers as so many different concepts were included in this pack. My own kidlets had fun trying these out and learning as they played.
My kidlets used many mental math strategies to sort these addition and subtraction cards into True/False categories. It may or may not have become a competition to see who could complete the task the fastest. I think they must get that competitive streak from their paternal side ;)
It was so interesting watching my Kinder kidlet as he balanced the birdie equations. Listening to his counting and watching him make connections was so wonderful!
Time and money always seem to be the hardest concepts for students to grasp. Well let's be honest, the management of time and money isn't the easiest thing for us adults to grasp ;) While this time matching exercise may not solve our work-life (or bank) balance, it will help your kidlets learn analogue, digital and spoken forms of time.
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ORUEF Christian Honor Student Association
The Christian Honor Student Association (CHSA) was established by the Oral Roberts University Education Fellowship as a way to recognize students who show Christian traits through character, leadership, scholarship, and service.
All students in grades 9-12, whose school is a member of ORUEF, are eligible to participate in CHSA. Each participating school will receive a certificate for new and renewal members, lapel pins for new student members, special diploma seals for graduating seniors, and recognition of outstanding theme projects at the annual ORUEF Awards Banquet.
A special part of the CHSA program is the Theme Project which encourages Christian service to the school, church, community, or a special organization. In scripture we are encouraged to be "...doers of the Word, and not hearers only," and in this sense an honor society should desire to find avenues of service that demonstrates its Christianity in action. The project should reflect the interests, abilities, and talents of the group. Each school is encouraged to participate in the Theme Project.


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It's a theme challenge over on the Paperbabe Stamps challenge today...
A sprinkle of Glitter yum!
Definitely the season for glitter?
Like you need a time of year for sparkly stuff lol!
So during the Holiday Style class the talented May Sukyong Park showed us how to create this wonderful card idea of filling a shape with small stamped images...
Well, I started off by die cutting a tree shape from acetate, two in fact so I could work on two card fronts simultaneously.
I used quite a few Paperbabe Stamp sets in my Christmas tree design... most of the images were from Reindeer fusions, Sparkle Bright, Bottle Brush Trees, Arctic Jumper and Female Face Mini just for those dinky cute heart images.
You can see that this card is pretty identical, but with a different glitter edging(loving this DCWV glitzy paper) it looks quite different (it's tricky photographing glittery shimmer). You might just see that I punched a few dots of the glitter paper for some of the baubles, just for ease and so my card wouldn't buckle under the heat gun!
But, then I thought I would try making the tree stand out a bit more by die cutting four trees in cardstock and laminating, to then line up behind the stamped area and dry embossing through my die cut machine, FUN!
Thanks for stopping by
We will be introducing December's New stamps next week Yay, so I hope you have time to pop back then!
Enjoy a wonderfully creative and festive shopping weekend!
Hugs Kim x


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Tåg mot Akalla, a way to come to Kista
Every weekday morning; breakfast or not, it is Tåg mot Akalla for me. Mot Akalla is one of the destination of Stockholm metro, blue line. All Ericsson employees who work at Kista, Stockholm would know. Stockholm subway system is also known as Tunel banan.
Wake up and get out of my bed in the morning is the hardest challenge of the day for me. Somehow, completing this challenge often leads to a compromising choice. An epic battle starts between shaving, getting ready or making breakfast. You who see me in the morning should know the winner of that war :). Below is a picture of my office building.
Talking about Kista and not mentioning Kista Galleria is like eating ice cream without sugar. It is one of the biggest centrum of Stockholm containing all major shopping brands, a large food court, bars, bakery and sports bar, O´Learys. Where one can go for Bowling, Go Cart and off-course watch a championship with a beer and great friends. In other words it's a death trap, once you are in you will never need to go anywhere else!
Undeniably Kista is the silicon valley of Stockholm thus lunch restaurants are very popular yet one good place I would like to mention is the latest skyscraper Victoria Tower. You can go for lunch as well as dinner. The restaurant can be considered a little expensive and portions are not that big (for me) but hey isn't that a good restaurant's definition. If you are visiting Victoria Tower, it worth to go to the sky bar. with a view towards Sollentuna, a recommended place for after work.
Ironic point is, I live near Solna centrum which is also a blue line stop of Stockholm subway system. A good place to live. practically, in the middle of Kista and old town. Will write about Solna in some other post. Below is a small section of Solna Tbana.
If you prefer dynamic view and interactive reading, go to the twin blog of Tale Of Nordic SAGA
Related articles
- Stockholm's Subway System is the World's Largest Underground Art Museum (inhabitat.com)
- How smart parking in Stockholm works (myparkingsign.com)
- cards, cards and more cards….. (studentblogski.wordpress.com)
- Stockholm Metro – a fun guide (studentblogsusb.wordpress.com)


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Recently, I was going through my lip products to see what I wanted to keep, what I wanted to give away, and what was just too old and needed to be tossed. As I was going through my (very hefty) lip bag, I came across this gem that I had somehow completely forgotten about: Minted Rose Lip Balm from Rosebud Perfume Co.
This balm, available from Sephora, is only $7. I have purchased so many of these tins over the years, but I guess I've been using so many from L'Occitane this past year that it got shoved aside for far too long.
This minted rose balm has such a light, beautiful rose scent. It tints my lips ever so subtly. A teeny bit can go a very long way – when I used this every single day at least once a day, I only had to repurchase yearly. I don't believe there is a case of lip chapping severe enough that this product can't cure it. It's just the best, and the moisturizing effect is long-lasting. When I apply this in the morning in lieu of other lip products, I won't have to reapply until after I've eaten a meal, and even then, my lips are still feeling softer and more moisturized. When I apply a thicker coat before bed, my lips still feel great in the morning.
So, should you but it?
Pros: $7 for a lip balm that will last you a year is actually a great deal. This balm delivers all the moisture anyone could desire. The rose scent is so light and refreshing that even people who dislike rose scents probably wouldn't be bothered by it because it is so subtle.
Cons: Some may not the cool, tingly feeling that accompanies this product. Also, some people are averse to products that come in tins instead of tubes. There is a tube version of this balm, but I have used it and I did not find the texture to be the same and the results seemed a bit less moisturizing and long-lasting.
Overall, I can't say enough good things about this product. Now that I've rediscovered this product, I essentially want to give away all my other lip balms and salves. This is the holy grail of lip balms!


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Yesterday was an interesting day. I was forced to deal with the truth of God which I currently have a hard time believing. Even now I hesitate to tell you for fear that it might push you away from the church rather than toward it (and honestly, I fear others thinking less of me). So as I begin, let me say something very clearly about God's word for us in Scripture. This is an important lesson God taught me over the past week:
Don't accept something because you are able to believe it, accept it because it is true.
Now, just that phrase will send theologically-minded thinkers and debaters running down a rabbit trail talking about how we know something to be true. I'm not here to debate that. What I can say is that when you read the Bible with an ear for the truth of God, when you seek to hear truth – real truth – God will show it to you. God reveals Himself to those who truly seek Him.
With that in mind, I knew this promise of God to be true: and as a recap, yesterday I was preaching from Haggai chapter 2 (a very popular book for preachers – he said with tongue in cheek). In Haggai chapter 2 the prophet is speaking to the leaders of God's people, the ones who have just recently returned from exile. They have come back to the "promised land" that was destroyed by the enemy. The temple itself was in ruins as well. Through Haggai the Lord says to those leaders and the people – I am going to restore your land and the house of God to a greater glory than you can even remember. It's not a carrot dangled before them to get them to dance to God's tune. It is not an inspirational speech telling them, "you can do this." It is a promise that God will do a new thing even in the midst of what seems to have come undone.
So, I tried to preach that promise to the church where there are significantly less people this week than there was the same week 3 years ago. I did my best to proclaim this promise of God to a room less full than it had been. That was really hard. I feel the burden of the loss. I feel the weight of the empty seats. I have come to a place where internally I carry the failure. And then God leads me to this passage. God makes me not only hear the promise, but he leads me to preach it. It was one of the hardest sermons for me to deliver because I had to keep listening to my own voice declaring a promise I found so hard to believe.
But here's the point of all this: the good news is not that I believe this promise, the good news is that the promise is true. The reality of God and the future promise of God does not depend on my ability to believe. The future glory depends only on the faithfulness of God to deliver on His promise. And God is faithful.
I say all this to you and share my unbelief for this reason – you may be in a place where you hear God's promise but find it hard to believe. Where God says you are forgiven, you may think your sin is too great. Where God says I will never leave you, you may feel like God is nowhere to be found. Where God says, I have come to give you life and give it to the full, you may wonder if it will ever happen for you. The good news is that God's promises may not always be believable, but they are always true. You may find it hard to believe what the Bible says God will do and is doing, but your doubt in God does not negate God's mercy and love and grace for you.
God's promises are not always believable, but they are always true. That's the hope I cling to. I encourage you to do the same.
Holy high-five to you,


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I have always been a fan of putting the little details in my models; this includes decals to make the models look as they did in real life and if I want to portray my models as a certain unit, this extra step really helps. While I never had much of an issue with the products from Battlefront or my favorite - Doms Decals - (his site seems to be down), I wanted to have the ability to create something that neither of those retailers had. As with everything else, my search started online. While I found many good tips (model rocketry sites had the most info) I decided to go with Testors Clear Waterslide paper, which I picked up online for around $9. You can also get products with a white background, however I felt that clear would do the trick. I also want to point out that laser and inkjet printers use different paper and they are not interchangeable.At Historicon I picked up three old Comet tanks that Battlefront produced many years ago. Knowing that the 11th Armoured Division used the Comet in 1945, I decided to make the divisional symbol, the Bull.
I went online and found the graphic I was looking for and saved it as a .jpg. While you can buy a dedicated program to make your decals, I found a lot of online tips that claimed that Microsoft Word would do the trick. Having gotten my PowerPoint Ranger badge many years ago I coped the graphic to Word and it was easy to re-sized them to what I needed.
I did a bunch despite the fact I only needed six
My printer is an HP Photosmart 5510 which works very well with both paper and when I print pictures.
... and placed the decals on the yellow block. As you can see, they do not look horrible and at a distance they look good enough. I will probably fix these up, but who knows when I will need a Comet tank.
Not to be stopped by my first failure, I decided to try this again, this time making some flags for my Japanese tanks, markings for my AOP, and something for my Dad's Army tournament objective I got at Historicon.
This time I changed my printer setting and selected this batch to print as if it was a picture. I felt that this would throw more ink on the paper and I was worried that with the clear paper that the white parts of the Japanese flag would come out clear. I applied 3 light coats of acrylic and let it dry for a few hours. After I printed this batch I noticed the flag may be too big for my tanks. The last time I printed a test page on paper, I will make sure I do that from now on in.
So I did some more research and found out that a lot of folks used a hair dryer to speed up the process
So I hit it with a hair dryer and tried again with my Japanese tanks
And how about that AOP.
And now for the tanks...
No, they are not planning to surrender
Now for the Solvaset, I am sure other solutions made for decal would work just as well.
If you noticed, I did not include pictures of my Dad's Army objective decals; they yellow color was almost invisible on the model and scrapped that part of the project for now.
Tips from my experience
- Decide if you need the clear or white paper for your project
- Make a paper draft of your decals and make sure they are of the right size, this also gets you exploring what settings (regular print, photo print etc) work best on your printer
- Maximize your paper, while you can use part of the page and cut it off before you spray it (important, you cannot print on paper that is sprayed) it is best to use as much of the paper (which is $1 for a 5"x7" sheet). All of the decals above were made with one sheet during two separate printings.
- Over spray and fix the ink, I used 3-5 light coats
- Wait, the longer you wait the more stable the ink becomes, I would recommend the hair dryer, but not to save time
- Trim the decal to the size you need
- Dip the decal in the water, I did this with tweezers for about 10 seconds, then shake all the water of the decal
- Place the decal over the area you want to place it and wait, the water will work the glue loose
- With a brush carefully move the decal onto the model
- I then used the Solvaset, the liquid from it makes the decal more fluid on your model and you can then fix it in the exact place you need it.
- Use the brush to flatten the decal in place, remove bubbles and set the decal
Final Thoughts
Overall, this process was harder than I thought it was going to be, however everything I read told me that their is a learning curve when making your own decals. The quality of the decals I made if feel is good but not great. The fixer I used to set the ink on the decals made them look a bit rough or as described on one website "like a turtle's shell". From what I read, there is little way around this, however there are some manufacturers who claim that their inkjet paper does not need over-spray and this may be eliminated. I may look into this or other types of paper one day. However with my first Great War box set due to arrive today, this future experimentation wont be for a while.
So my if you need a particular decal that is not made by the pro's I would give DIY decals a shot, however the savings in time, quality and ease of use of what is available on the market would recommend using those until you perfect your own method.


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2013 R4 Conference News UPDATE (9/25/13) – Registration CLOSED
Hey all,
Registration is now closed and we are on the final stretch for the 2013 R4 Conference in Los Angeles.
Remember that NO at the door registrations will be accepted due to limited seating.
If you have any questions about the conference and/or registration questions, email Dave Mason at: email@example.com
Visit the R4 Conference website at: http://www.region4.org/lcars/summit-13/


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CANNABIS CULTURE – Like Bob Marley, Joe Strummer, and John Lennon before him, Todd Snider loves to stir it up and see how much shit he can raise.
Some artists' first priority is to be loved and admired, and they'll do anything to make you feel that way, but spend a little time listening to Snider's in-your-face brand of agitated folk grunge music and you'll realize he's not in the game to make friends.
That said, since his first album, 'Songs for the Daily Planet' came out in 1994, Snider has continued to attract a growing number of like-minded fans who long ago tired of the clichés and platitudes that continue to dominate pop music. Bitter, witty and insightful, Snider and his music have never made concessions to popular taste or good manners. Like Dylan's songs, Snider's epic spoken, sung musical monologues chronicle the desperate lives and escapades of society's beautiful losers. From tales of working people who can't take any more to celebrations of baseball players who have pitched no-hitters while high on acid, Snider's songs inhabit a world of their own.
When it was announced that Todd's newest album would be called, 'Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables', Cannabis Culture knew that they had to hook up with the restless Mr. Snider and find out what was going on with his newest collection of songs. I reached him on the road at a hotel in Arizona where he was preparing for a weekend of dates and enjoying his first smoke of the day.
– Read a review of 'Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables' here.
'It ain't the despair that gets you, it's the hope'
– a stoned interview with Todd Snider
DR: Hi Todd! It's good to hear you.
TS: Sorry if you caught me in the middle of some confusion. We've done four shows this week and we've got three more shows before we start our tour.
DR: So, have you been trying out some of your new material from 'Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables' for live audiences?
TS: I haven't been. I've only been doing the song about the kids.
DR: Precious Little Miracles?
TS: Yeah, for some reason, I decided that would be the one. I don't know why. I was just trying to keep most of them as a surprise, from being already known when the record came out.
DR: That's a sweet little song – 'Precious Miracles.' It's got a great vintage, hollow sound to it. It could've been written around 1932, the way you recorded it.
TS: Cool.
DR: What were you going for in that song? I can hear you trying all kinds of different sounds out on this record. It's got a different feel than some of your other music.
TS: Thank you. I guess on that particular song, the way the chords were written, I was going for that older sound. It sounds like an older song. The only other thing – aside from my guitar – that we recorded for that one was the 'stirring the soup' kind of brush tones. I really like Dylan's new stuff – my favourite stuff of all of his is his new music – and I think that song is influenced by what he's been dong lately.
DR: Yeah, it has a little bit of a 'Spirit on the Water' vibe to it.
TS: Yeah, I love that song. I love how he does either sort of tin pan alley songs or 1-4-5 boogies these days. It's like he's gone, 'fuck it, there are only two great songs – Hoagy Carmichael's and Chuck Berry's, so that's what I'm going to play'
DR: Ha Ha. I agree. Any time I've gone to see Dylan in the last decade or so, he's been better than any other time I've heard him in the years before that.DR:
TS: I think so, too. His new records are my favourites and I love the old records.
DR: I grew up with his music, but by the time I was old enough to see him in the eighties, he wasn't necessarily doing his best music. I'd go to see a concert with no expectations of how he'd sound. It was a bit of a gamble. Have you ever had the chance to play with him?DR:
TS: I did one time, but that was before I even had a record contract. I guess that I was doing pretty good in the bars around Memphis, and there was this friend of mine who owned a bar and he was bringing Dylan to Jackson, so I phoned and asked if he could get me tickets. He phoned me back and somehow he'd wrangled me the opening spot. I went out, and I didn't get to meet him, but I did pretty good. This was during a period when Dylan seemed wasted. I loved him, but you really couldn't even tell what he was doing. He'd play 'Tangled Up In Blue' and part way through you'd go 'oh my God. That's what he's playing!' I love him, but that was a weird time in his career.
DR: He's 'on' these days, but you can still hear the same song two nights in a row and it will sound different each time. I think there are lots of reasons for that. Some are conscious and some maybe aren't.
TS: I love when that happens. I love that kind of stuff and I'm really starting to love jam band music where they go off on tangents. Really, Dylan almost invented that. 'Here's a song you know, but you have never heard it like this.'
DR: Do you try and bring a little of that into your own show?
TS: I do. For the past two years, I've been trying to incorporate that. I've been travelling with a band called 'The Great American Taxi' for the past few years, and their leader is Vince Herman who is a jam band legend. So, I got to study that stuff under those guys a little bit. I'm trying to put my own band together now, and we'll see how that evolves. But, I really like the approach a lot.
DR: Does it keep you on your toes when you play in that way?
TS: Yeah, I like to feel that it's making me a better player. All of the guitars on the new record were played by me. I like to think that I'm getting better over time.
DR: I can hear that your tone is really expanding. I like that sloppy Keith Richards thing that's all over your new CD. Then, on the other side, you're developing this vintage approach with songs like 'Precious Little Miracles' that sound as if they could have been recorded by Jimmy Rodgers.
TS: Oh thank you. The acoustic songs on the new record were recorded with a gut string guitar, an old Willie Nelson type of thing. It sounded good, so we went with it.
DR: Did you punch a hole in it like Willie did?
TS: Yeah right! That would have sounded even better.
DR: So, you playing mostly solo these days?
TS: Tonight I'm playing solo. Then, I'm going to London and Belfast where I'll also play solo. But, when I come home from that, they'll be all band shows for the rest of the year. I like the longer tours because I get in better shape when I play a lot. For the past few years, I've been playing every weekend and then once in the winter we'll go on a month long tour. This year because of the new record, we're going to play every night for a couple of months. It's a lot for old guys like us.
DR: How do things change once you're half way through a tour like that as opposed to if I saw your show in the first week of a tour?
TS: Well, we probably get a little tighter, but what I'm hoping is to expand my repertoire. Because what happens when I spend so much time on my new songs, it gets harder to remember my older ones when I'm on the road. So, for the last year, my window of songs has been about twenty-five or thirty that I have in my brain. It should be up around sixty. I'm working on that right now.
DR: I was interviewing Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead and he said at their touring peak, they had about 160 songs they could draw from and revolve around.
TS: That's a lot! I'd like to work up to that.
DR: Do you make up your set list up as you go along when you play? Do you have certain songs you 'need' to sing, or is it pretty much formatted the same each night?
TS: I do a bit of that. About a decade or so ago, there was some sort of website started that lists what songs bands play each night. So, I get my friend, Brian who works for us to check it out to see what I played in a particular town the last time I was there and he gets back to me. He also can tell me what stories I told, and that helps me make sure that every time I go to St. Louis, for example, it's always a new show. That's related to the jam band thing we were talking about, but it takes work to learn and be good at playing a lot of songs. That allows me to play a different set every time I visit a place and also allows me to play different sets if say I'm playing for a whole weekend in Boulder. That's something I'm trying hard to work on. Right now, I'm trying to work up learning a bunch of my old songs again.
DR: So, when you play something you haven't played for a while, do you ever get back into the moment you wrote it and say, 'Shit, that is a good song!'
TS: No, I'm very hard on my own material. Some days I have real good days where I like them all, but mostly it makes me think I have to make up some new songs. Some of my old songs are more fictional and they weren't really based on anything that had anything to do with me. It'd be more like I'd hear a riff or a few lines, write a poem around it and there'd be the song. As the years go by, it's often hard for me to still want to sing a song like that.
DR: Do you ever get tempted to go back to a song like that and rewrite a section so that it does have relevance to you again?
TS: Yeah, there are a few that I'd like to go back and fix and change a thing here and there to make them more relevant. I haven't done that yet. Maybe I'll try this year.
DR: I don't think anything's written in stone. I love it when artists do things like that.
TS: I do, too.
DR: We were just talking about changing up your set lists. Do you do that because you have a proportion of your audience that follows you from show to show? Are there Snider heads out there that you've come to recognize in the audience?
TS: Usually if there's a weekend in a city, I'll often see the same people. But, yeah, isn't that something that people like to do if they're into a band? If I play in Tucson and Phoenix, they're close and I think people like to take mini-holidays and follow a band they like to a few different places. Almost all artists have people who follow them like that, I think. It started out with Deadheads, now it's just concert heads.
DR: I think a lot of artists are aware of that now and have begun to reflect that awareness in their shows. Back to Dylan, for years he was glued to his setlists. Since touring with the Dead in 1987, you might only hear five of the same songs from night to night.
TS: Yeah, that's something that The Yonder Mountain String Band made me aware of years ago. They were the first people who told me that that was something that some musicians did. So, that's when I first began changing up what I played from night to night to show that I was appreciative of the people who were supporting me.
DR: So, let's talk about your new record a bit. The title is 'Agnostic Hymns and Stoner Fables.' To me, that's a description of all of your work.
TS: Ha Ha. Shit.
DR: So, how did you come up with that title?
TS: I think that there's a song called 'Too Soon To Tell' that was originally called 'Agnostic Hymn' and there's another song called 'In the Beginning' that started off being called 'Stoner Fable.' So, I was trying to come up with a title and I realized that that 'stoner fables' covers all of my songs and that should be the title of the record.
DR: So, what's a stoner fable?
TS: Well, I've written several of them. Maybe it's a song where you see the universe in your fingernail! (big laugh) But, there's the one song that talks about how religion is what keeps the poor from killing the rich, and there's the whole military industrial complex. I almost wrote a song about that. That would be a stoner fable. There are certain things that are really fucked up that are the things that stoners are aware of. Certain kinds of truth. Roswell and certain kinds of things like that are all stoner fables.
DR: So, how dangerous is it in America these days to identify yourself as a stoner? I mean, in Canada, you say you're a stoner and nobody cares. I have a different impression of what it's like in the States. I mean, can you get your record sold at Walmart if you have a title like Stoner Fables on the jacket?
TS: Probably not. I think they've said that we couldn't. But, that doesn't matter to me. You know, I'm not really a suburban person. I'm not going to be out there and neither are most of the people who listen to me. They might be in Walmart, but they're not going there to find my record. They're there for other shit they don't need.
DR: So, you're not mellowing with age or pulling any punches with a title like that. It sparks a reaction – no pun intended.
(shared huge stoned laughter)
TS: Well, thank you! I like the title. It's like those other Canadians – Bob and Doug McKenzie said – 'There's no sense steering now!'
DR: Jesus! OK, now that we've gotten that out of the way – that you're not a suburban guy selling to the Walmart crowd – who are you writing music for? You know this interview is for Cannabis Culture and a lot of the younger readers think of stoner music as hip hop or reggae – not some middle aged long haired hippie playing a guitar.
TS: Yeah! (laugh) Well, I write for stoners. Exclusively! We call it Stoner Folk! It's not every night you can have the chance to see a stoner folk singer practicing his craft anymore. That's often the first thing I say when I come on stage. I think that I am singing for mostly pot heads in the same way that Arlo Guthrie sang for potheads way back when.
DR: Can you tell that you've got a pothead audience right away – as opposed to a drinking audience or a straight audience?
TS: Oh yeah! I think that my audience is mostly stoned. They're drunk, too and so am I. I usually get stoned right before we play. I like to think that's what my audience does, too. Sitting on the bus before the show, I always see people in their cars getting high.
DR: Isn't that what we all do before we play whatever we play?
TS: Yeah, I like to think so. I think it's a positive thing. I've never been afraid of it or thought it was negative.
DR: Have you ever found your stance towards pot dangerous?
TS: No, I mean some studies have just come out that prove marijuana doesn't cause cancer. It might cause some inflammation in the lungs, but –
DR: I didn't mean dangerous in terms of your health, but more in terms of the social or political climate in the US. Have you ever worried about being targeted or restricted in your movements like say John Lennon was in the seventies?
TS: I would hope that if anyone was offended by me smoking pot, they'd realize that my music has a middle finger aimed directly at them. I travel a lot and I've come to realize that most hotels don't give a shit if you smoke pot in your room. Most cops don't give a shit. Some do, but most don't. I was playing a show in Idaho when this cop found me smoking pot. He came around a corner and I had just gotten high. I was having a stoner moment where I didn't put it out. I just said 'hello' and kept hitting it. When he saw the look on my face when it occurred to me that he was a cop, he thought it was the funniest fucking thing he had ever seen. I was also somewhere in Layton in a hotel when the lobby called me and this lady who was there freaked out and was so angry because she had smelled pot. The cop came up and searched our room. He found a little bit of pot and said, 'I've got to take you to jail. Let's go down to my car.' The lady was standing there in the hallway, tapping her foot. She was so satisfied that we were being arrested. We got into the elevator and I swear to you as soon as the elevator door closed, that cop turned to us and said 'what a bitch! Sorry to scare you guys, but let's go down to my car for a minute and talk and then she'll be satisfied. You guys got to get out of this part of town. You're not on the hippie side of town. '
DR: That's crazy! I had an experience a couple of years ago in Vancouver. I was at a concert in Vancouver and security came up to me, looking menacing. He took a sniff and then apologized and said 'I'm sorry. I thought you were smoking a cigarette, and this is a no smoking venue!'
TS: Oh man!
DR: Yeah, it's got to the point where smokers have to hide in a circle of potsmokers to sneak a cigarette.
TS: Shit, that is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time.
DR: Yeah, there's got to be a song in that somewhere!
TS: Right!
DR: So, to change the subject – you sound really pissed off on your new record!
TS: That's what I keep hearing.
DR: For example on 'In Between Jobs' you sing 'I know how mad I'm getting, just knowing how much more you've got than me. Keep me from killing this guy while he takes a shit.' Where did that come from?
TS: I was just thinking. Hmm… I don't know where that song came from. At first, I had a line about Alan Greenspan playing the saxophone and a lot of other gibberish. I was just making it one line at a time and by the end, it sounded like begging that had turned into a mugging. Once that aspect started to show itself, I knew what the song was about. I wasn't sure who was telling the story and then it occurred to me that it could be about a street person asking for some money and feeling condescended to. He then thinks, 'you know I could just knock you and take it' and I thought that served as a decent metaphor for what I think will happen if rich people continue on the way they're headed. In the end, it's the guy with twelve million dollars hating his brother who's got sixteen million dollars who the system is catering to. Not to sound inflammatory, but in the States we have the right to bear arms, so shit, this could get gross. Rich people should look out because if rich people keep pissing off poor people…
DR: It is scary. A real powder keg.
TS: Here's a stoner fable. In fifty years, in poor neighbourhoods, instead of dividing into gangs behind bandanas where some people are blue bandanas and others are red bandanas, the poor will get rid of their bandanas and all the poor people will get together and stop turning on each other. Instead, they'll randomly drive into rich neighbourhoods and start fucking shooting people.
DR: I'm amazed it's not happening more.
TS: I'm amazed it's not happening more, too. There is reason to be positive because our president – I like that guy – I think really cares about poor people. I wish I lived in a society where he didn't have to pretend that he believed that marriage just had to between a man and a woman or where he didn't have to pretend he was religious when he's obviously read too many books to be too superstitious. But,he also knows that he has to win the election by pretending to be Catholic or whatever. He's slowing it all down for people, I think.
DR: I agree. You have the sense that left to his devices, he'd do so much more.
TS: You have to realize that I'm rooting for God. That's why I am more for agnosticism than for atheism. If there is a God, that'd be fucking great! Because of that, I'm never going to live in a crazy way so that if there is a God he wouldn't like me.
DR: I gotta say Todd, your American system baffles me. For instance, we've got comprehensive medicare. If you get sick, you go to the hospital and you don't worry about the money. It is humane. It respects that the primary responsibility of a nation is to look after its people's well-being first. It hasn't instigated a surge of Marxism or anything like that. You live in a wealthy country. What the Hell is behind all this resistance?
TS: I don't understand that at all. It's that whole bootstrap mentality. It's like for kids born on third base, to hit a triple is no big deal, but they think everyone else should be able to do it. But, they didn't do anything to get there! It's so fucking arrogant. What really riles me is that not only is there a rich class, but many of them gain at the direct expense of poor people. But, instead of revolution, there's a class of people underneath them that want to be just like them. They're the nastiest class of people. They're fighting for the trophy they don't have yet –
DR: – without questioning whether it's even worth fighting for.
TS: Yeah. They're the people that go to church every Sunday and plot against each other. Then, they come at the poor people – like in the first song on my new CD – with all this stuff about not being 'in good with God' or 'you'd be rich like me.' They forget that they got to go to a good college because my dad was so rich. But, there you have it. You can get me going man.
DR: We've been talking a lot about metaphors in your work. So, before you go, I have to ask you about the line from one of your new songs that says 'Mick Jagger was born on a Monday. Keith Richards was born on a Saturday night.' I've been wondering what you're getting at with that lyric.
TS: Well, man, I'm an old zealous Stones fan and I love Mick Jagger as much as I love Keith Richards. I'm a little obsessed with them. So, I was reading something about them and then I noticed that one of them had been born on a Monday and one had been born on a Saturday and that seemed so completely apt. So, I started making up what I thought was a song about the two of them. There's a bunch of little things in there from their real story like they met on a train. It was about when Keith was a kid and saw Mick holding those records on the train. There are lots of little hints in it that I put in there. Early on I had a line about 'he went to find satisfaction', but I thought that would give it away too soon. So, I was trying to tell their story but also talk about love in a way that didn't have to encapsulate suburban mythology like we were talking about earlier on.
DR: So, what day of the week were you born on Todd?
TS: (big laugh) I don't know! I've never thought of that. I should check into that. I don't know which one of those two I'm closer to. I love Mick Jagger and Keith Richards even more now that I've read what Keith has to say about him in his book. I love the idea that where every other band breaks up – no other band can hold the weight of two powerful stars – they stayed together. The girls look at Keith and the guys who think he's faggy can look at Keith. Everyone can enjoy the show. I love that everyone wants to know if they hate each other, but Keith says 'there's no way you can make us hate each other. I can tell Rolling Stone magazine that I'd like to slit his throat, but if he showed up at my door with your body, I'd help him bury it.'
DR: Yeah, it's like I can criticize my family, but you can't. So, your last CD 'The Excitement Plan' was produced by Don Was – who has worked with the Stones. Is that why you chose to work with him?
TS: No, but I heard some great stories while working on that album. You know some people have told me they didn't really care for the sound Don Was gave me, but I asked him to record me the way he did. He didn't 'do anything' to my music. I asked him for a more acoustic sound and I really like how it turned out. We were going to do this new record together and record it at my friend, Eric's house and I don't know if it would have turned out much different if Don had worked on it. He might have helped us finish faster. He is really great at getting ideas for arrangements, and I'm sure he would have had some suggestions for us.
DR: So, you've tried so interesting things out on some of the songs on 'Agnostic Hymns.' I think I hear a string section on the first section.
TS: Yes, I got some players together and got them drunk and didn't tell them anything. They wanted direction, but I said 'nobody's getting any direction. Just show off and play. If we have to do another take, you don't have to do it the same way next time.' I just kinda wanted to make a mess.
DR: And, on the last song, 'The Big Finish' you kind of unleash your inner Marvin Gaye with that upper register stuff.
TS: My little falsetto! I didn't know I was going to do that. I just kinda wung it. We recorded about a million versions of it before we found just the right way to do it.
DR: The other thing I was going to ask you is whether you've tried your hand at formal writing, short story writing. A lot of your songs of course are story songs and they really beg to be expanded and given a kind of literary treatment. Is this something you've thought of?
TS: Yeah, I've tried and failed. People have told me that. Writers like you have told me that, so I've typed out stories that I tell and last year when I had a pile of stories, this guy went out and approached some publishers for me. There were no takers. I'd like to be considered as someone who can type! (laugh) It sounds fun and noble. But, I don't know if something I can do. Little poems might be better.
DR: On the last song on the record, you say 'the older I get, the more I worry, the more I worry, the older I get, but I still worry.'
TS: That's a favourite saying of me and my wife. I guess I said it first. On some of these songs, I didn't think much; I just said whatever came to mind. It's only later on that I go back and try to figure what it's supposed to mean. I know I like the line in there – 'it ain't the despair that gets you, it's the hope.' That was something that Bob Mercer said for years. He recently passed away and I put the line in the song. His wife told me that he got that line from Oscar Wilde. I have done that lots of times – where I hear something and it eventually becomes a part of a lyric of a song. It's like a lady at a tollbooth said to me when I asked how she was, 'I'm broken as the ten commandments.' Shit, how could you not use that line in a song?
DR: So, do you worry a lot, Todd?
TS: Yeah, I do. Most people think it's about music, but mostly it's about my family. But, yeah, if I have shit on my plate, I do worry and then I try and fight it with alcohol. That's how my friends in the neighbourhood know if I'm worried – by the amount I'm drinking. But, you know how that works – as soon as I sober up, the plate load of shit has gotten bigger. I wouldn't say I worry too much- just enough to be a good husband. I know I'm true to my old lady. We just opened up a little clothing store in a little hippie hub of stores that opened up in Nashville. I walk down there during the day and hang out at the store. It's a good thing. You should come down to Nashville and stay with us.
DR: I've always wanted to visit there. So, finally, you know that up here in BC a grower has named a strain of weed after you.
TS: Get out! What's it called!
DR: Well, a friend who listens to your music was looking for a name for his new strain. We tried it and it kind of went down harsh, scratchy and unreasonable, but then it got all mellow and expansive, so I suggested 'Snider Sativa' which stuck for a while until he blended it with some indica strain so that it's now morphed into 'Todd's Blue God.'
TS: Man, I can't wait to try some. We gotta get up there soon! I remember meeting you the last time I was up and I played in that skid row hotel. I really enjoyed hanging out and that was a very cool street to walk up and down where we played. I've also played at the Vancouver Folk Festival and I sure had a great time! I'd like to do that again.
DR: That would be great! But, in the meantime, I'll drive down to Seattle to catch your show in April.
TS: See you then! Thanks so much and tell your friends at Cannabis Culture that we're big, big fans of their organization.
– To listen to Todd Snider's music and find out when he's playing close to you, check out www.toddsnider.net.


text:
Supplements and
prescription drugs have a lot in common. Both are used in an attempt
to improve health. But "natural" remedies marketed as dietary
supplements in the United States are regulated differently than their
prescription counterparts. These supplements include:
over-the-counter vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, herbs, plants in
various forms, and combinations that are intended as additions to the
diet and other products such as topical progesterone cream and
other nonprescription hormone treatments.
In Canada,
similar types of products are classified as natural health products
(NHPs) and, in addition to vitamins, minerals, probiotics, amino acids
and essential fatty acids, also include herbal products,
homeopathic medicines, and Traditional Chinese
Supplements can provide important nutrients that a woman's diet alone may
not. But before women consider making supplements part of their
daily routine, here are some simple safety points and procedures:
For current information and advisories regarding
supplements in the US, visit the FDA safety page.
For up-to-date health
product warnings and recalls in Canada, visit the Health
Canada safety page.
Last reviewed: September 2008
This e-newsletter, developed under the direction of the Consumer Education Committee of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), provides current information, but not specific medical advice. It is not intended to substitute for the judgment of an individual's healthcare provider. To unsubscribe, send us an e-mail request.
Copyright 2008. Distributing print copies of this e-newsletter, in whole or part, is strictly prohibited.
The North American Menopause Society (NAMS)
5900 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 390
Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, USA


text:
Here's what Ryan Hatley from the magazine had to say:
Best Local Up-and-Coming Rock Band:Silent Cinema
It's strange referring to Silent Cinema as up-and-coming because they have been playing the New Orleans circuit for years now. But with the release of their first CD, Fins and Feathers, and finally narrowing the many members of the band down to its core players, Silent Cinema seem ready to get the recognition they deserve. Currently at 8 listed members, they continue to produce an atmospheric wall of sound that is reminiscent of the Canadian indie supergroup Broken Social Scene. Displaying a variety of influences and genres, their wild, sprawling song structures suggest a controlled recklessness kept together by the consistent playing of each band member. From the lulling, hypnotic blues of "John the Revelator" to the joyous, sing-along crescendos of the playful "Tree's Came Alive," Silent Cinema proves itself as New Orleans' next up-and-coming/already here band. Purchase their new CD online, but more importantly, go see them live and hear for yourself.
Congratulations to our friends in mynameisjohnmichael and Lovehog who won the polls as well!
Oh and this month is Micah's birthday, and we are gonna be doing a lot to celebrate. Details soon


text:
Please not this is not quite finished yet. I need to add your comments from the session.
Why do students lack confidence?
So what can we do?
Listen to your students not your student's mistakes.
4 reasons not to over-correct your students
· students will become demotivated and fear making a mistake
· communicative accuracy is as important as linguistic accuracy.
· being listened to and getting a message across is motivating
· errors can be learning steps, we don't want to make students think making mistakes is wrong.
4 Reasons to correct your students.
- if mistakes are learning steps then error correction and coaching is important to help students see the problem and improve.
- students perceive the teacher's job is to correct, they will feel like they are learning if they correct.
- students are passed the natural age for learning language so coaching and correction are important to help the students develop.
- it is a way to deal with language the students would like to be able to use but can't. (emerging language)
Golden Rules of Error Correction
- Don't correct all the time.
- Remember what is being said is as important as how.
- Echo rather than overtly correct.
- Don't interrupt… go back to correct.
- If error causes breakdown in communication negotiate meaning don't correct.
- Use errors to help you plan
- Think about the needs of your students, are they confident, can they handle correction.
This will make the students more confident so they speak more. So they will make more mistakes.
Helping our students make better mistakes.
My tips for helping students make better mistakes
- The more they speak … the more mistakes they make.
- Give time to prepare and plan.
- Encourage a friendly, supportive environment.
- Allow for lots of variety.
- Allow chance to repeat the activity.
- Favour pair and group work rather than whole class.
- Pick topics that will interest and won't embarrass.
- Don't make them do what they don't want to.
Making Speaking Fun
Some principles for making speaking fun
- Make sure there is a task.
- Make sure the students know what they are doing.
- Give students freedom to express themselves.
- Make sure there is a reason to speak and to listen.
The students interview them and they have to answer 'in character'.


text:
Friends Newsletter #45
This is a copy of our monthly friends email newsletter. If you want to get it via email, you can sign up on our about page.
DuckDuckGo friends,
We're proud to announce that all of our community sites now have one home at https://duck.co/ including:
- Our new forum: https://duck.co/forum
- Our new instant answers ideas platform: https://duck.co/ideas
- Our new DuckDuckHack documentation: https://duck.co/duckduckhack/ddh-intro
- Our new help pages: https://duck.co/help
- Our translation platform (with new wizard): https://duck.co/translate
We're looking forward to adding more community-driven features, based on your feedback. If you have any ideas on how to improve the platform, please post them on the forum. If you're a developer, you can additionally get involved in developing the code, which is all open source: https://github.com/duckduckgo/community-platform
Thank you for your continued support!
The DuckDuckGo staff
This blog has been archived
Thank you for reading and contributing lively discussion to our blog! Read more posts about online privacy on our new blog at spreadprivacy.com.
I like your new domain, and I am exited to present my page DUCK COIN:
Hopefully we will soon be able to have our own blog, modify, edit, add, remove stuff from it.
Keep up the good job guys.


text:
Nov 10, 2015 – Buhari Sacks 17 Lazy Permanent Secretaries Ahead Of Swearing In Of Ministers
As the swearing in ceremony of his new ministers draws near, President Buhari has removed 17 Permanent Secretaries over allegations of non performance and laziness.
Buhari made this known today during a meeting with COS, Abba Kyari and Winifred Oyo Ita, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
It would be recalled that Buhari received reports from the permanent secretaries, using the opportunity to assess the performances of the PS.
The man no get time for on the job training. #tough employer


text:
One of the benefits of hiring removal services is that they can quick. It is because of the fact that they have the capacity to deal with the complications that are to be faced during the relocation procedure. While considering a removal company, there are some factors that can make the difference. Likewise, whenever we talk about the removals company, the size matters the most. The size of the company will certainly indicate the capacity not only in terms of the manpower but also in terms of the ability to satisfy customer need. As a customer, you would like to relocate to a place with a peace of mind. That peace of mind can be provided with the services that we offer. As a company we have a well established network. We are not superior in our services only, but we have enough resources available that can manage to assist clients during relocation. The size of the company does have an influence on the vehicles. Large number of vehicles means quick and timely transportation. Our skilled staff and experts are committed to provide excellence to the customers. We have various teams lined up for the task assigned. One of the reasons for a quick completion of the task is that we follow a complete plan. We don't have to hire additional resource or vehicles to complete the assigned job. We have enough manpower and resources that can handle any equipment any time.
Estimation and free consultancy
As a client, you may need to have an idea about the movement cost. In that case, it can be made possible with the help of Removals Company. Our company is not just focused upon providing the services only. We can assist our clients in the best possible way we could. Our experts can offer free surveys to our clients. The concept behind providing this opportunity is to make it sure that clients is guided through the whole procedure. In is often seen that removal companies don't really give the accurate estimate to the clients. In most of the cases, clients are charged with the heavy amount of money. There are some hidden charges that are not mentioned to the customers and at the end there is an accumulative amount charged from the customers. In our case, there is no such policy because we believe in long term relations with our customers. We keep it straight and simple with our customers. Our prime focus is to make it sure that the customers are provided with the quality services at the cheapest rate. The prices that we offer are best in the whole region because we have all the qualities that a customer needs to have in a removal company. Moreover, we are dedicated towards the task assigned no matter how difficult it is. Our workers are primarily focused upon the safety and security of the all the items that are handed over for relocation purposes. We offer genuine quotes to all our valuable customers. We always stick to our plans.


text:
Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you are a visual person. I certainly am.
With Instagram, Twitter and everything in between, we are the recipients of eye candy on a daily basis. Photos and inspiration come in hot and usually with little reading. And I just started a blog.. Great..
Pretty, chic, gorgeous are all words sitting on the tip of my tongue waiting to be used on anything from a kitchen sink to a piece of fancy art. I like pretty things, from topiaries to bed spreads. I live in an over stylized Pinteresty world and I enjoy it. Little did I know, my search for a new pound puppy would lead me down a colorful path of inspiration.
South Central Los Angeles is a hop, skip and a jump from my bucolic neighborhood. The gorgeous green lawns trade places with yards littered with grocery carts. Riots , poverty and crime are words that are synonymous with this area more than beautiful and chic.
With every drive, my eyes were opened to something new amidst the decrepit buildings and baron yards. At 7 am I had a glimpse of the elderly grandfather watering his petite garden patch that was as colorful as children's book. I discovered a tiny house painted a shocking magenta pink crawling with blooming soft blush roses and neon colored bougainvillea.
The touch of people, the human touch on so many of these houses screamed "Look at me in a different way".
The neatly swept brick path speckled with garden statues and gnomes felt cared for with love. One porch was barely visible from the street as it was covered in a riot of planted ferns all in painted pots.
What a wonderful break from what is becoming the norm to me on the internet. Cape Cod styled kitchens, food so glorious that it should not be eaten,bedroom canopies that rival those of Marie Antoinette. My idea of pretty has become fairly unrealistic.
The time I spent in South Central had an impact on me . Not only the long and surprising drive but the people I met along the way. While I touched several furry friends, the people at the shelters touched me.
Leslie, the supervisor, has a favorite dog named Michael that she named after an angel. She takes him out everyday and showers him with treats when she can.
John, the cop, drives the streets of downtown LA in search of dogs that are abandoned. He started his own rescue and had just carried in two dogs that were pushed out of a car.
I needed this change of scenery. Those bright orange shutters and hot pink house will probably never make it to a Pinterest page. And I am not sure when I will connect with Destiny any time soon. But I feel richer than I do surfing the net or sometime chatting about mundane topics. This was a new kind of beauty. And one that I have been missing in my life.
And now, I have a new puppy, many new friends at the animal shelter and a new view.
Below are some moments that remind me of my journey . The black and white photography came from a fantastic book called The Americans, photographs by Robert Frank and paintings from my favorite artist, Edward Hopper.
I hope you can find beauty and inspiration today in some unsurprising places.
PS-This has a happy ending but get out the tissues. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8EBjjgWkII


text:
President Napolitano has finally spoken – almost four weeks after the elections. He took the only option open short of resigning himself (to allow his successor to call early elections) and that was to give a mandate to Pierluigi Bersani leader of the Democratic Party (PD). But it is a conditional mandate – not directly to form a government but to see if there is the possibility of finding a stable majority to support his government. Then Bersani must report back, probably before Easter though there is no explicit deadline on the mandate.
In an unprecedented speech after giving Bersani the job, Napolitano spoke at length albeit vaguely, about the need for national unity and the need to deal with the pressing economic problems rather than having devisive elections. It was a not very veiled appeal to Bersani to talk to Silvio Berlusconi (centre-right People of Freedom, PdL), to Beppe Grillo (Five Star Movement, M5S) to talk to Bersani and to Berlusconi to actually compromise.
The speech set the tone for Bersani to start the official part of his job (he's been working on it unofficially since the elections).
His game plan is to end with the parties rather than start negotiating with them from the beginning. First he will seek declarations of support from civil society – the trades unions and employers both of whom want stable government – from associations, Catholic and secular, trade and professional who can also endorse his government. At the same time, he is putting together a lineup for a streamlined cabinet (15 rather than 18 in Monti's) of people who are either new faces or older ones well outside the party nomenklature; people who are certainly not closely linked to the PD like the present minister of the interior, Anna Maria Cancellieri, the runner-up for the top employers' federation (Confindustria) job, Alberto Bombassei for Economic Development.
The basis of his programme will be the 8 points he proposed immediately after the elections. As they stand, they are pretty anodyne but the PdL is concerned that new anti-corruption and conflict of interest laws are aimed at Berlusconi (which of course they are). Grillo says they are all within the M5S programme so ignores them.
Grillo's game plan is not at all clear. Yesterday the M5S Senate spokesman, Vito Crimi first said that if the PD gave up all their public financing "we can talk" and in the evening said "we will not vote a Bersani government confidence motion – what language do you want me to say it in?" Grillo and the movement are in a catch 22 dilemma; they are like a dog that chases after a car and then doesn't know what to do with it when it's caught it. If Grillo negotiates with Bersani and comes to a compromise, the pure protest vote will cry "sell-out" and leave him. If he refuses to compromise and forces new elections, then the moderates will return to the PD. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. But for the moment, he holds the cards.
But if Bersani can present a cabinet of clean faces and a programme which matches at least some of the grillini's main objectives, he might just persuade enough of them to walk out at the vote of confidence.
Silvio Berlusconi and the PdL are playing a double game. Yesterday, their spokesman, Fabrizio Cicchitto said that they were available to work towards a broad coalition to deal with the economy and national interests. Today, Berlusconi and (he hopes) half a million others will fill piazza del Popolo in a protest against the judiciary, a curious position for someone who proclaims himself only interested in national unity but entirely consistent with his previous record. He is at his best in an election campaign or at least at the centre of attention and at the moment he has neither. The PD knows that an alliance with Berlusconi is the kiss of death in an early election so keep him and the PdL at more than arm's length. And Berlusconi knows that the longer a Bersani or "President's" government lasts, the more chances there are of him being convicted again and possibly expelled from Parliament by a PD-M5S vote. Time works against him personally and against the very uncertain unity of the PdL.
So he has to return to centre stage either in a Grand Coalition or in early elections.
His allies in the Northern League (LN) say they will not come to a separate deal with Bersani but if Bersani can offer them a constitutional reform which creates a Senate for the Regions, then LN leader, Umberto Maroni might give partial support.
To succeed, Bersani has to translate conditional support into something solid and remove the reciprocal vetoes.
Sisiphus is maybe the wrong metaphor for Bersani. The founder of Corinth had to push a rock; whatever effort he put into the task would hardly damage it while Bersani has to put Sisiphus's energy into the job but with the precision of a watchmaker. And if and when he completes the fragile structure, he has to persuade Napolitano that it is robust… at least enough to last till next year.
Unlike Sisiphus, though, Bersani is not condemned to an eternal game of government formation. If he doesn't make it by Easter, as the comic imitator, Maurizio Crozza said in his sketch last night, "after the Easter holidays there's a ton of bargain package holidays for you to take".


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General Information
Any person is hereby authorized to view the information available from this web site for informational purposes only. No part of the information on this site can be redistributed, copied, or reproduced without prior written consent of The Honesdale National Bank.
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©2001 The Honesdale National Bank, All Rights Reserved
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Descriptions of, or references to, products, services or publications within The Honesdale National Bank's web site does not imply endorsement of that product, service or publication. The Honesdale National Bank makes no warranty of any kind with respect to the subject matter included herein, the products listed herein, or the completeness or accuracy of the information. The Honesdale National Bank specifically disclaims all warranties, express, implied or otherwise, including without limitation, all warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
This publication could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes may be periodically made to the information herein.
Disclosure Statement For Consumers: Loan information presented on the website of The Honesdale National Bank is in accordance with the Federal Reserve Truth in Lending Act (12CFR226). Interest rates displayed for loan products are based on an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and may fluctuate at any time.
Deposit information presented on the website of The Honesdale National Bank is in accordance with the Federal Reserves Truth in Savings Act (12CFR230). Interest rates displayed for deposit products are based on Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and may fluctuate at any time.
Facts, data, & other information presented on The Honesdale National Bank website pages are provided directly by The Honesdale National Bank.
The Honesdale National Bank, our employees, officers, directors and shareholders, as well as BankSITE®, are not responsible for typographical errors or errors of omission; and, we cannot guarantee that all information is accurate or complete.
In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, The Honesdale National Bank does not collect any personal information from children under the age of 13.
Click here to view our current privacy policy.
Electronic Privacy Policy
The Honesdale National Bank respects your privacy. Through our Website, we strive to provide valuable information to you about how we may serve you. Whether you are a valued existing customer or someone shopping for new bank services, we hope our site answers your questions about our products and services Our website does not require you to disclose any personally identifying information. If, however, you chose to contact us via Email, please keep in mind that your Email address and any other information in your Email header will be revealed to us in the Email message. We pledge, however, that when you communicate with us via Email, we will use your Email information only for the specific purpose of responding to your comments, questions or forms. Your Email address will not be sold, nor will it be shared with others outside the bank unless we are compelled to do so by law.
Cookies, (small electronic files placed on your computer), are used by our website to estimate our audience size. Each browser accessing our site is given a unique cookie which is then used to determine whether a user is a first time visitor or a return visitor. This helps us deliver better service by helping us understand whether the majority of those accessing the site are new or repeat visitors.
We reserve the right to change this policy at any time by posting a new Electronic Privacy Policy.
Information Security – Account Hijacking
The Honesdale National Bank will never request sensitive information from ANYONE via Email.
We want to keep you informed of some scams that are currently active on the internet that affect your privacy and your account information. According to the FDIC account hijacking is the presently the fastest growing form of identity theft. Account hijacking is the unauthorized access and misuse of existing banking account information, primarily through "Phishing" attacks. A classic Phishing attack involves a deceptive Email purporting to be from a legitimate financial institution, which typically tells a customer that there is some sort of problem with the customer's account. The Email usually includes a hyperlink to a "spoofed," or fake, Web site that looks exactly like the site of a legitimate financial institution with which the consumer does business. The Email then typically instructs the recipient to click on the included hyperlink, go to the financial institution Web site, and log in using the customer's user name and password in order to "fix" the problem. In reality, the spoofed Web site is simply collecting customer user names and passwords in order to highjack accounts. Never respond to Email asking you to verify Bank Account information or click on links in an email message, even if it looks like it is from The Honesdale National Bank. The Honesdale National Bank will never request sensitive information from ANYONE via Email. If you have any question about the legitimacy of an email that looks to be from The Honesdale National Bank, please contact your local branch.
This Agreement describes your rights and obligations as a user of the Home Banking Service, as well as the rights and obligations of The Honesdale National Bank. Please read this Agreement carefully. By requesting and using this service, you agree to comply with this Agreement.
- "HNB Online Banking" – The Honesdale National Bank Internet Banking Service
- "Home Banking" is the Internet-based service providing access to your HNB Account(s).
- "Home Banking Account" is an HNB account from which you will be conducting transactions using an Internet-based Service.
- "PASSWORD" is for use during the initial sign-on, or the PASSWORD you select after the initial sign-on, that establishes your connection to the Service.
- "Time of Day" references are to Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Time as applicable.
- "We" refers to The Honesdale National Bank which offers and provides the services.
We will provide instructions on how to use HNB Online Banking. You will gain access to your Account(s) through the use of your Internet-enabled device, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), your HNB Online Banking ID# and Password.
If your PASSWORD has been lost or stolen, call us immediately at (570) 253-3355 or 800.HNB.9515 from 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. If you believe your PASSWORD has been lost or stolen and you tell us within two (2) business days after you learn of the loss or theft, you can lose no more than $50 if someone uses your PASSWORD without your permission. If you do NOT tell us within two (2) business days after you learn of the loss or theft of your PASSWORD and we can prove we could have stopped someone from using your PASSWORD without your permission had you told us, you could lose as much as $500.
In addition to viewing account information, you may use HNB Online Banking to transfer funds between your HNB Online Banking account(s), make loan payments, stop payments, view statements and view check images. Refer to Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) disclosure for certain restrictions regarding transfers. New services may be introduced for HNB Online Banking from time to time. By using these services when they become available, you agree to be bound by the rules which will be made available to you concerning these services.
The services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except during special maintenance periods. For purposes of transactions, our business days are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. All HNB Online Banking transfer requests received after 6 p.m. on business days and all transfers which are requested on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays on which we are closed, will be processed on the next business day. Business day begins at 8:30 a.m.
We may modify the terms and conditions applicable to services from time to time upon mailing or delivering a notice of the modifications to you at the address shown on our account records and the revised terms and conditions shall be effective at the earliest date allowed by law. We reserve the right to terminate this Agreement and your use of the services in whole or in part at any time without prior notice.
You will continue to receive your regular account statement monthly. You may choose to receive an electronic version using eStatements.
We will disclose information to third parties about your account or the transfers you make:
When it is necessary for completing transfers
In order to verify the existence and condition of your account for a third Party, such as a credit bureau or merchant
In order to comply with government or court orders, or other reporting requirements
If you give us your written permission
You are responsible for complying with this Agreement and with the terms of the Agreement governing deposit or loan accounts which you access using electronic banking services. We can terminate your electronic banking privileges under this Agreement without notice to you if you do not comply with the Agreement governing your deposit or loan accounts or your accounts are not maintained in good standing.
We may convert your account to inactive status if you do not sign on to the service or have any transaction scheduled through the service during any consecutive 90 day period. If your account is considered inactive, you must contact us to have the service activated before you will be able to schedule any transaction through the service.
To cancel HNB Online Banking, you must notify us in writing stating you are discontinuing HNB Online Banking and provide your name, address, and the effective date to stop the service. You may notify us by one of the following methods:
- By sending an email by using the email feature on your HNB Online Banking page
- By sending us an email using the Secure Email Feature on The Honesdale National Bank's Contact Us Webpage
- By writing a letter and delivering it to a Customer Service Representative or Branch Manager at any HNB Office
- By mailing a letter to us at: The Honesdale National Bank, P. O. Box 350, Honesdale, PA 18431.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and applicable federal law.
FEE SCHEDULE Fees for The Honesdale National Bank
Continuous Overdraft Fee, $5.00 per day
Overdraft Fee, per item – Checking & Savings: $35.00 per item
Stop Payment Fee: $30.00 per item
Telephone Transfer Fee: $3.00 per transfer
Bill Payment Service may be provided through a third party or affiliate. This Agreement describes your rights and obligations as a user of the Bill Payment Service, as well as the rights and obligations of The Honesdale National Bank. Please read this Agreement carefully. By requesting and using this service, you agree to comply with this Agreement.
"BPSP" — Bill Pay Service Provider
"Bill Payment" is the Internet-based service providing access to your bill payment account.
"Bill Payment Account" is a HNB Checking Account from which you will be conducting transactions using an Internet-based service.
"Time of Day" references are to Eastern Standard Time or Eastern Daylight Time, as applicable.
"We" refers to The Honesdale National Bank which offers the services and which holds the services.
We will provide instructions on how to use the Bill Payment Service. You will gain access to your Bill Pay account through the use of your Internet-enabled device, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and your HNB ONLINE BANKING ID# and PASSWORD.
The Bill Payment Service permits you to use your Internet-enabled device to direct payments from your designated online Bill Pay Account to third parties. Your Bill Payment Account must be an HNB Checking Account. All payments you make will be deducted from the account you designate as your Bill Payment Account for the Bill Payment Service. Any payments you wish to make through this service must be payable in U.S. dollars to a payee located in the continental United States. We reserve the right to restrict types of payees. You should not use the Bill Payment Service to make payments to settle securities purchases, payments to interest bearing accounts, government payments, or court ordered payments. Payments for these payees will be your sole responsibility if delayed or improperly processed or credited.
Funds must be available in your Bill Pay Account on the scheduled payment date. If the date you schedule a payment to be initiated falls over a weekend, funds must available in your Bill Pay Account on Friday. Any new payments scheduled over a weekend will be processed at 3:00 am Monday morning. If the date you scheduled a payment to be initiated falls on a holiday, funds must be available the day following the holiday. Your BPSP may make the payment either by transferring funds electronically to the payee or by mailing the payee a check. You may choose to schedule payments to recur in the same amount weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, semi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. You should schedule a payment to a new payee at least ten (10) business days before any payment due date for check payment, or five (5) business days before any payment due date for electronic payment.
For all subsequent check payments, you agree to allow at least seven to ten (7-10) business days between the date you schedule a payment to be initiated and the payment due date. For all subsequent electronic payments, you agree to allow at least three to five (3-5) business days between the date you schedule a payment to be initiated and the payment due date, that is, the due date shown on your invoice or provided in your agreement with the payee, not taking into account any applicable grace period. You will be responsible for all late fees, finance charges, or other action taken by the payee. If you schedule your payment and follow all instructions provided, but the payment is not received by the payee in a timely manner, notify The Honesdale National Banks' Data Processing Department at 570-253-3362 ext 1450.
We will not be liable for damages you incur if you do not have sufficient funds in your Bill Pay Account to make the payment on the processing date, for delays in mail delivery, for changes to the payees address or account number, for the failure of any payee to correctly account for or timely credit the payment, or for any other circumstances beyond our control.
For all entries made using the service, the time recorded by the Online Banking Service controls. If your Bill Payment debit is received at The Honesdale National Bank and there are insufficient funds to cover the payment, The Honesdale National Bank will return the payment. An overdraft fee will be assessed per item by The Honesdale National Bank, as set in the fee schedule relating to your account.
The way to add, edit or delete a payment is to use the service. Payments are pulled Monday though Friday at 3 am and 1 pm; so you may add, edit, or delete payments scheduled before they are processed for the day. If you wish to stop a payment after it is issued, you must call The Honesdale National Bank and stop payment fees will apply, as set in the fee schedule.
You are responsible for complying with this Agreement and with the terms of the Agreement governing deposits which you access using Bill Payment Services. We can terminate your electronic banking privileges under this Agreement without notice to you if you do not comply with the Agreement governing your deposit accounts or your accounts are not maintained in good standing.
To cancel the Bill Payment Service, you must notify us in writing stating you are discontinuing Bill Payment Service and provide your name, account number, address, and the effective date to stop the service. Send to: The Honesdale National Bank, Data Processing Department, P. O. Box 350, Honesdale, PA 18431.
If you send us an electronic mail message we will be deemed to have received it on the following business day. We will have a reasonable time to act on your Email. You should NOT rely on electronic mail if you need to communicate with us immediately.
In addition to these Agreements, you agree to be bound by and comply with the requirements of the Agreements applicable to each of your Online accounts. Your use of the Home Banking Service or the Bill Payment Service is your acknowledgement that you have received these Agreements and intend to be bound by them. You should review other disclosures received by you when you open your accounts, including the charges that may be imposed for electronic funds transfers or the right to make transfers listed in the fee schedules accompanying those disclosures and the fee schedule at the end of the Agreement.
THE HONESDALE NATIONAL BANK eSTATEMENTS DISCLOSURE
Electronic Statements/Notices Delivery Agreement By checking the box in front of "I agree to the listed terms" and clicking the "Enroll Now" button the customer agrees to the following:
- I have the authority to enter into agreements for the accounts listed in HNB Online Banking.
- I am requesting to make Statements/Notices available electronically and understand these documents will no longer be sent in paper form for the accounts I have selected. I agree to maintain my valid email address in my HNB Online Banking account listed under the Options tab.
- I understand an email will be sent to the email address in HNB Online Banking listed under the Options tab when the Statements/Notices are available for download and the statements will be available for 60 days and the notices for 30 days. Statements in a different format can be accessed in HNB Online Banking for up to 12 months.
- I understand I must have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 6.0 or greater to view the Statements/Notices and I can save them in PDF format or print out on paper.
- I understand the service providing Electronic Statements/Notices is generally available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; however, this service may be unavailable from time to time for routine software and hardware maintenance or due to unscheduled down time.
- I can un-enroll specific statements or notices or from the entire service at any time by signing on to HNB Online Banking, select the eStatements tab, select Documents & Settings, and deselect each account or notice by removing the check mark in the appropriate box.
- I understand during the time that statements and notices are available to me through e-Doc (60 days for statements and 30 days for notices) I can request a paper copy and it will be provided at no charge. Older items will be available at a charge as disclosed under the terms and conditions as provided in the new account disclosure.
- I understand this agreement may be amended by The Honesdale National Bank at any time at its discretion and I will receive any notice of amendments required by law.
The information here describes our policy of holding deposited items in a transaction account before funds are made available to you for withdrawal. This is our Funds Availability Policy. In summary our policy is to make your funds available on the first Business Day after the day of deposit. Please refer to the section DETERMINING THE AVAILABILITY OF YOUR DEPOSIT for the complete policy. For purposes of this disclosure, the terms "you/your" refer to the customer and the terms "our/we/us" refer to The Honesdale National Bank. Generally, transaction accounts are accounts which would permit an unlimited number of payments by check to third persons, and also an unlimited number of telephonic and preauthorized transfers to third persons or other accounts you may have with us.
The length of the delay varies depending on the type of deposit and is explained below. When we delay your ability to withdraw funds from a deposit, you may not withdraw the funds in cash, and we will not pay checks you have written on your account by using these funds. Even after we have made funds available to you and you have withdrawn the funds, you are still responsible for checks you deposit that are returned to us unpaid and for any other problems involving your deposit. When we delay your ability to withdraw funds, the length of the delay is counted in Business Days from the day of your deposit. The term "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or federally declared legal holiday, and the term "Banking Day" means that part of any Business Day on which we are open to the public for carrying on substantially all of our banking functions.
If you make a deposit before 4:00 pm on a Business Day that we are open, we will consider that day to be the day of your deposit. However, if you make a deposit after 4:00 pm or on a day that we are not open, we will consider the deposit made on the next Business Day we are open.
Our policy is to make funds from your cash and check deposits available to you on the first Business Day after the day we receive your deposit. Electronic direct deposits will be available on the day we receive the deposit. Once the funds are available, you can withdraw them in cash and we will use them to pay checks that you have written.
If we cash a check for you that is drawn on another financial institution, we may withhold the availability of a corresponding amount of funds that are already in your account. Those funds will be available at the time funds from the check we cashed would have been available if you had deposited it and we decided to delay availability on the deposit.
If we accept for deposit a check that is drawn on another financial institution, we may make funds from the deposit available for withdrawal immediately but delay your availability to withdraw a corresponding amount of funds that you have on deposit in another account with us. The funds in the other account would then not be available for withdrawal until the time periods that are described elsewhere in this disclosure for the type of check that you deposited and we decided to delay availability on the deposit.
In some cases, we will not make all of the funds that you deposit by check available to you according to the previously stated availability schedule. Depending on the type of check that you deposit, funds may not be available until the second Business Day after the day of your deposit. The first S200.00 of your deposits, however, may be available on the first Business Day after the day of deposit.
If we are not going to make all of the funds from your deposit available to you according to the previously stated availability schedule, we will notify you at the time you make your deposit. We will also tell you when the funds will be available. If your deposit is not made directly to one of our employees, or if we decide to take this action after you have left the premises, we will mail you the notice by the day after we receive your deposit. If you will need the funds from a deposit right away, you should ask us when the funds will be available.
Funds you deposit by check may be delayed for a longer period under the following circumstances: (a) if we believe a check you deposit will not be paid; (b) if you deposit checks totaling more than $5,000 on any one day; (c) if you redeposit a check that has been returned unpaid; (d) if you have overdrawn your account repeatedly in the last six months; or (e) if an emergency condition arises that would not enable us to make the funds available to you, such as the failure of computer or communications equipment. We will notify you if we delay your availability to withdraw funds for any of these reasons, and we will tell you when the funds will be available. They will generally be available no later than the seventh Business Day after the day of your deposit. If you will need the funds from a deposit right away, you should ask us when the funds will be available.
If you are a new customer, the following special rules may apply during the first 30 days your account is opened. Funds from electronic direct deposits to your account will be available on the day we receive the deposit. Funds from deposits of cash, wire transfers, and the first $5,000 of a day's total deposits of cashier's, certified, teller's, traveler's, and federal, state and local government checks will be available on the first Business Day after the day of deposit if the deposit meets certain conditions. For example, the checks must be payable to you (and you may have to use a special deposit slip). The excess over $5,000 will be available on the ninth Business Day after the day of your deposit. If your deposit of these checks (other than a U.S. Treasury check) is not made in person to one of our employees, the first $5,000 will not be available until the first Business Day after the day of deposit.
Funds from all other check deposits will be available on the ninth Business Day after the day of your deposit.
We only allow deposits to be made at ATMs that we own or operate. A list of our ATMs is enclosed.
Deposits are accepted at The Honesdale National Bank ATMS listed below:
– Main Street Office, Drive Up 8th & Church Streets Honesdale, PA 18431
– Route 6 Plaza Office, 1207 Texas Palmyra Highway, Honesdale, PA 18431
– Lake Wallenpaupack Office, 2547 Route 6, Hawley PA 18428
– Hamlin Office, 559 Hamlin Highway, Hamlin, PA 18427


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In 2013, the IACP Midsize Agencies Section set out to fulfill its promise to serve as an incubator for innovative police practices. With support and input from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), the section convened more than 40 police leaders and city managers to discuss their successes and challenges under the theme Sustaining and Advancing Community Policing in the New Economy. Through an interactive facilitated discussion, participants were asked three questions:
In a time of increasing demands and diminishing resources, how is your agency:
- changing its business model?
- maximizing technology?
- redefining community policing?
Participating chiefs and city managers offered successful examples and case studies, candidly discussed challenges, and offered thought-provoking considerations and solutions for the future proving midsize agencies are leaning forward in many ways. The results are summarized in a new publication from the IACP and COPS Office, entitled Midsize Police Agencies: Surviving, Thriving, and Forging a New Business Model for Law Enforcement in a Post-Recession Economy. This publication is follow-on to the 2009 IACP/COPS report, Out of the Shadows: Policy Research for Midsize Law Enforcement Agencies – A Call for Action.
The IACP Midsize Agencies Section is dedicated to providing a voice for police executives serving jurisdictions with populations between 50,000 and 500,000, as well as a forum for these leaders to share the unique challenges and opportunities in policing that emerge from departments of this size. The section is committed to embracing and leveraging the special capacity and flexibility of these agencies to innovate and drive progressive change within our profession with the goal of better policing our communities.
For more information or to get involved with the Midsize Agencies Section, visit www.theiacp.org/Midsize-Agencies-Section or email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Barron Contracting Reviews
Reviews from Barron Contracting Customers
Have gone above and beyond to help me with my roof claim. They had material at my house the day after I called. Could not be happier with Dagan and the quality of service! Would refer to anyone!
Fort Worth, VA
Dagan and Barron Contracting did an amazingly professional job painting interior walls of our home. More importantly, they were efficient yet thorough. Unlike other companies, they also left our home is spit-spot shape. No cleanup required from us. Dagan also remained on-site. In my opinion, that is a major plus. I do not like hiring a contractor and never seeing the boss return to check on employees or customer satisfaction. Dagan's concern for his customers and quality of his employees' work makes his company my number one preference.
Dallas, TX
Barron Contracting Firm did an amazing job on our wood floors and patio. I would highly recommend them for your remodeling and add-ons. Their customer service was amazing!!! They exceeded our expectations and we will definitely use them again!!
Fort Worth, TX


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As I write this, my eyes are streaming, I have a tissue rammed up each nostril and I am drugged up on the every reliable Lemsip. I planned to do a Christmassy make up look post today but given my current state, I don't think that would be the most attractive of looks. As annoyed as I am about having a horrible cold at Christmas, I'm most annoyed about having a lack of taste buds - I just devoured three mini yule logs and I may as well have chewed the tablecloth.
I'm home at my mum's for Christmas and she's something of a decor goddess at the best of times, but really comes into her own over the festive period. This year she's been even more of a crafty queen than usual and has made a lot of our decorations. With the help of some snow spray and a few wintery walks, she has managed to create simple, beautiful decorations from a few twigs and some pine cones - Pinterest points to you mother.
Aside from the crafty goodness, there's been baking galore with homemade chocolate Christmas cake, stollen, quiche and so on which will ensure my jeans get that little bit more uncomfortable in time for the new year (taste buds depending).
I'm enjoying a couple of weeks off work and am certainly not missing my hours of commuting every day. The presents are all wrapped and under the tree and I can't wait for tomorrow! This year has been eventful to say the least and I will be entering 2015 with a positive mind set, looking forward to the year ahead!
While I'm feeling all mushy and festive, I just want to take the time to thank all you lovely readers for perusing my little corner of the internet over the past six months. It means more than I can say and I hope to grow my blog even more in the coming year!
Here, have a homemade mince pie on me :)