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Igoski is a trading name of Alpine Elements LTD, which is a licensed ATOL holder. ATOL – 6435. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.
"We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the Services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable)."
"If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme." Remaining Balance Payments with your holiday confirmation, you will be sent a link to our Client Area where you can pay your balance online via our secure server. It is cheaper to pay online than by phone. You may pay by cheque for no fee, so long as your date of departure permits. Pay online: Pay over the phone by credit or debit card. AMEX is not accepted.
For the pre Christmas week, (Dec 16-22) we give cheaper prices in exchange for newly trained staff. Full back up will be in resort, alongside a careful oversight by managers - so if staff do make the odd mistake, it will be limited to very minor items.
Please be aware that before December 21st and after April 12th some resorts may have a limited number of lifts and runs open, especially in the lower resorts. Please check with the Tourist Offices directly for updates and information.
(Effective for all bookings made after 17/07/2018, and not for deals with a £1 Lift pass): We will offer a guarantee that your holiday price will not be offered cheaper with us or anyone else, now or later in the season. In fact your price will only increase in cost with on going availability! If in the unlikely event your holiday is offered cheaper then we will refund you the difference in the new price. This does not apply to bookings made within 6 weeks prior to departure, or for Sun-Weds bookings, or for holidays with Swiss-Air Flights. And remember, your holiday Price Guarantee (for comparison purposes) can only be compared with a like-for-like package using the same flights and times outside 6 weeks prior to departure! This Guarantee only applies to our own exclusive properties: Hotels Hermine Blanche, Hotel Philibert, Hotel Les Dents Blanches, Hotel Montana. Chalets: Deneriaz, Marcelle, Camarine, Flo.
A £1 Lift pass Deal is valid for 3 or 4 days and only for your principal resort. If applicable this will be automatically added to your invoice. If you arrive on a Sunday or Thursday your Lift pass is valid for 3 days, Wednesday arrivals will receive a 4 day Lift pass. A £1 pass will generally be a local area lift pass which will have enough skiing or boarding for your short break away. All local area passes can be upgraded to a full or extended area for a small additional cost.
Carte Neiges, (French Medical Insurance), or any other Lift pass loss or theft Insurance is not included with our Lift pass offers. We would always recommend that guests buy a standard Travel Medical Policy from a UK insurer, which includes limits and benefits for your needs as a UK traveller
- In return for giving group discounts, we ask that one group leader is selected for coordinating the group and they are the only point of contact with us.
- All group questions must be directed through the group leader and all payments must be made via the group leader. This reduces any misconception or uncertainty.
- Group leaders are responsible for imparting all knowledge of the holiday and booking onto their group. Igoski cannot be held responsible for group misconceptions after the holiday has been invoiced.
- Free places apply only to the basic holiday price and not for regional airport departures, accommodation supplements or extras.
- The party size is determined by the number of full fare paying passengers.
- The group must book the same departure date and holiday type, although mixed accommodation may be used if the property is not able to take the whole group.
- All Passengers names (as on passports) must be supplied at time of booking.
- Cancellation of group members or name changes must come through Group Leader and may result in added costs.
- Groups must book at the same time, holiday additions may be charged a supplement.
- Group reductions are available for select chalets and dates.
- Group discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.
- Group discounts must be registered at time of booking.
Over 16's will be allowed to holiday with us unaccompanied. We receive many young people to our chalets and hotels, and they will most likely find others of a similar age with whom to bond. Under 16's must always be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Please remember that if a member of your group cancels, you may incur an empty bed charge, group free places may be affected and the change will carry a cancellation charge (see Cancellations and Amendments by You). Having a standby list of people to come on your holiday is often the best solution. If you find a substitute they naturally take on the holiday cost of the person they are replacing. There may be an amendment fee for a name change or even a 100% cancellation charge for scheduled flight services. If you take advantage of our low deposit, you will be liable for the remainder of the deposit up to £175pp or the 30% as per our cancellation terms & conditions. Please check with our Cancellation Specialists, you can always email firstname.lastname@example.com for relevant charges applicable to your group.
Please make sure you have adequate insurance to cover for the duration of your holiday.
You may check into your hotel / chalet bedroom on the day of your pre-booked arrival, normally, on arrival in resort or after 3pm. All bedrooms must be vacated by 10.00am on the day of departure. Hotels or residence and self-catered apartment check-in times can vary, please check with the Hotel or with our UK office staff for further information.
Courtesy rooms for showers should be available in most properties on your afternoon departure date, however this cannot be guaranteed. Please be aware that chalet staff have a big job to do each changeover day which can result in unforeseen logistical problems. The hotel or chalet may be in some disarray during changeover day. Our staff will be cleaning the property and therefore linen and cleaning materials may dominate the public areas.
The property may not be fully cleaned and fit for normal use until after 6pm. We would respectfully ask that all self-travellers and earlier arrivals appreciate this. As your arrival may be late, your first evening meal may be a hot soup and/or cold buffet. For later arrivals staff may not be able to wait up, but they will leave clear instructions. If you are not arriving via igoski transfer then you must inform us of your estimated time of arrival.
Luggage can be left in a designated area so you can maximise your time on the slopes. This can be arranged at the Hotel reception or with the Chalet Hosts.
En suite facilities do not always have a WC. They will always include a bath, a mini bath and/or a shower but not necessarily feature all of these facilities. En suite shower facilities may not always have a partition wall or door, but may just consist of a shower cubicle within the room or a curtained bathroom / shower area within the room. There also may only be a shower attachment on the bath with no curtain, wall fixture or shower door. Private bathrooms are bathrooms that are private to that room and can be either a bath or a shower, but not necessarily within that room like a true en suite. They may be located over the corridor or next door.
The following meal arrangements will be in place this winter:
For guests staying from Sunday to Wednesday or Sunday to Thursday, there will be an evening meal every evening except Tuesday*.
For guests staying from Wednesday or Thursday to Sunday, there will be an evening meal every evening except Friday*.
*There will be no evening meal for guests arriving after 9pm on their first night. Breakfast / afternoon tea & cakes are still provided (self-serve). For more info see: Catered ski breaks.
Vegetarian and other special diets can be accommodated so long as group leaders give our reservation staff advance notice by email (at least 14 days prior to departure) on firstname.lastname@example.com. Due to the fact that ingredients are not always clearly evident on labels, particularly when taking into account translation problems, we cannot guarantee avoiding specified ingredients. Due the constraints in local supply, milk is often UHT. We reserve the right to make an additional charge for some special diets due to the costly nature of certain specialist ingredients so it is important to discuss this with us at the time of booking. Please check your invoice to ensure any such requests have been recorded. Please also check with your chalet host or chef as soon as you arrive so that they can discuss your requirements with you.
Please note that our 2, 3, 4 and 5 Diamond classifications are Igoski ratings for our properties only, and are not any indication of the level of service or catering within. Our rating system is not to be compared with that of other companies or an "industry standard" if indeed one exists. For some of our properties, the 3 or 4 Diamond classification is given only for the facilities (eg sauna/pool) rather than the actual quality of accommodation.
A chalet holiday is more informal and relaxed than a hotel (yes, you can come to dinner in your slippers). One of the attractions of chalet accommodation is the individuality or uniqueness of the property and its rooms. All of our chalets are selected with care on the basis of general comfort, character, convenience and facilities. They vary in size and can be larger purpose-built properties, apartments within complexes or local people's alpine houses. As such, chalets are very different from hotels. Occasionally beds may be against a wall, there may not always be a WC on each floor, room sizes may vary (even when priced similarly), rooms may not all have lockable doors and bathrooms may be shared with other guests or resident staff. Chalet apartments within complexes may be accessed by stairs and/or lifts. The majority of chalets have lounge areas although, in some cases, seating may be limited. If in doubt, please call us. As in your own home, from time to time things may go wrong and we do ask that you be patient as it may not always be possible to repair or replace items immediately due to the mountain locations involved.
Some of our properties have access to shared swimming pools and health centres, which have hot tubs and saunas. The facilities may not match guest expectations, and we cannot be held directly responsible for the failure or non-provision of any of these facilities, which includes temperature, cleanliness and opening hours. However we will do our best to escalate complaints to the residence as they are made aware to our management. Fitness suite facilities will vary and we cannot guarantee the range or type of gym equipment, nor that it will be as extensive as a purpose built gym.
The size, décor, soundproofing and furnishing of a bedroom can differ markedly, even within the same property. There can also be considerable difference in floor space, head clearance, clothes storage facilities and types and sizes of bed. We make every effort to detail any disadvantages in our Chalet Special Notes section. We recommend that if you have any particular room requirements, they are expressed to us on the Special Requests section of our booking form or in writing. Some rooms may have an unused kitchenette (for self-catering) and we may have disconnected the fittings. Some beds may be put up, pull out, or sofa beds. Again you must advise us in writing if any of these are unacceptable. Cabin bedrooms often feature in our self-catered apartments and some chalets and will often mean that they are small internal rooms with no natural light. Rooms with eaves or sloping ceiling: We notify you of these in room descriptions as whilst characterful, these rooms often have reduced headroom and skylight windows.
Our Austrian ski chalets and hotels have Austrian twin beds which in the case of a double bed will consist of a double bed base and two single mattresses with two single quilts. These are very common in all hotels and chalets.
To help with your choice we have detailed the room breakdown for each and every one of our properties. We also provide room numbers or names, which are shown on your invoice, so you can be sure of exactly what has been booked. Further information (in addition to that on our website and in our brochure) is available on request.
Extra beds can be added to a chalet at your request for a full chalet booking, and for select chalets only. You will be asked to sign and agree to a waiver because we do not generally recommend adding beds to chalets as they will inevitably put pressure on the overall chalet space and comfort as well as chalet domestics: furniture, electrical supply, heating and plumbing.
Each room in each chalet sleeps a minimum number of people. If you would like to book the whole chalet for your group's exclusive use, or a room for yourself and you do not have the minimum number, you can choose to pay for any empty beds to ensure you have sole occupancy of the room/chalet. Any rooms below the minimum number (see individual chalet descriptions) that are unoccupied and not paid for by you will be sold to other skiers. Please check your invoice and the property description if in doubt. Please remember that if a member of your group cancels and leaves a bed unoccupied, an empty bed charge applies (in addition to cancellation charges and a possible reduction of group free places/discounts).
Access to many of our chalets may be up a hill, up a steep path or steps, and this is especially the case for properties located close to the slopes. Our coaches cannot always get to the front doors of some chalets and hotels, thereby necessitating a short walk (for the final 100 to 200 metres) with luggage. We do try to ensure that all paths to the chalets and hotels are clear of ice and snow however sometimes this is an impossible task due to the weather conditions. If you are concerned with this then please ask for details before booking or discuss with the team when in resort.
We strongly recommend that you bring slippers or indoor shoes for chalets and chalet/hotels because all properties operate a "no shoes" policy in the interests of keeping our chalets cleaner and more comfortable for all guests!
'Ski In' and 'Ski Out' or 'Ski to Door' and 'Ski from Door' locations mean a chalet or hotel which is within 50-150 metres of the ski slopes under normal skiing conditions. Please be aware that in the case of poor snowfall or early / late season dates, this measurement to the slopes may lengthen, and may considerably lengthen in lower resorts. Where such 'Ski In' and 'Ski Out' benefits are quoted, this may also depend on the ability of the skier and the current snow conditions. Beginners cannot always make use of these 'Ski In' and 'Ski Out' benefits.
Distances outlined on the website and in brochures are a guide, and may in practice vary, according to speed of walking, fitness and any indirect routes you choose to take. Please ask your chalet staff for any short-cuts to the slopes or resort facilities. We have used the bench mark of 100 metres taking 1 minute to walk in normal shoes. Clearly this will vary in accordance with snow, ice, footwear, age and fitness of walker.
With the constant movement of people in and out of our chalets and hotels it is an uphill task to keep the accommodation, and particularly the floors clean. Public areas and public bathrooms / toilets are cleaned daily (except for the staff day off). Your bedroom will be cleaned regularly but please understand that the service of our chalet hosts is not intended to be that of a hotel. If you are unhappy with the cleanliness then please raise this point with your resort manager or call our French office on +33 (0) 479 00 44 45 and they will react in complete confidence, if you do not feel comfortable speaking with the team in France you can always email firstname.lastname@example.com. All chalets have one towel per guest and we do not offer a towel change as standard.
Many of our resort staff are younger than our adult guests, which is in keeping with the general type of worker this industry attracts. However our staff are carefully chosen, and put through a rigorous Igoski training programme which includes catering, cleaning, chalet operations, health, safety and food hygiene. For this reason, most chalet and chalet-hotel staff do not have professional catering qualifications.
Our hard working staff deserve time off, and these are the only times where evening meals will not be provided. A Continental breakfast is still provided on a simplified self-serve basis which is left out the evening before. Afternoon tea and cakes are also provided.
Your chalet may also be home to the chalet staff and they may therefore have to share your chalet facilities.
Many of our chalets have combined TV DVD players, Hi-fi however our stock of DVD films, music and games is limited and may be non-existent. It's always a good idea to bring your own. If some of this equipment becomes unserviceable, we cannot guarantee an immediate replacement because spares are not easy to source from ski resorts. Where a Television is advertised or supplied there is no guarantee implied as to how many English speaking channels (if any) will be available. Satellite TV in chalets and chalet-hotels may have a very limited choice of channels and not always English speaking, sometimes only BBC World Service.
In line with hotel industry practices we reserve the right to take credit card deposits or imprints at our larger chalets, chalet-hotels or self-catered properties on check-in, to cover for potential breakages to accommodation or Company equipment, hired or otherwise.
Chalets are communal homes. In many cases guests will be issued either with an individual front door card or key or a combination code. However this cannot be guaranteed due to loss of keys or cards from the previous weeks guests. You will be asked for a 10 euro deposit for any keys. Chalets and hotels exclusive to Igoski do not have safes and not all bedroom doors have locks. It is unusual for chalet entrance doors to be locked during the day. In some residences, parts of the building may be shared by other guests using the same communal entrance. We cannot be held responsible for damage, loss or theft of guest belongings from our properties and buildings and we advise guests to obtain appropriate insurance for their needs. Any theft in resort may require obtaining a Police Report in resort to validate claims.
We cannot guarantee that guests will have their own room key or lockable bedroom door. Chalets and chalet-hotels are privately run by Igoski for our guests and are communal homes. As such we do not prioritise lockable bedroom doors. We are unable to accept responsibility for valuables.
Our reservation staff may have to charge supplements for standard items or for extra costs that are surplus to the base package price advertised. These supplements may be for regional airport departures, flight and air fuel supplements, room or chalet supplements and special airport transfer services. In any case you will be notified of such supplements at the time of booking or as soon as possible.
Any Special Requests whether mentioned within or surplus to the product described in this brochure, and information that describes our product in a way that is different to, or in addition to the descriptive text in this brochure must be supported in writing by a member of Igoski Reservation Staff. Unless it is supported in writing – we cannot guarantee that request, or indeed the information you have received.
Please bear in mind that ski chalets are often privately owned homes and whilst they have reliable supplies of hot water – they are not endless. We ask that guests stagger their bath or shower times and consider other guests in the chalet.
We provide one towel and standard toiletries (shampoo/soap) for all chalets in our Original Programme. So please bring an extra towel if required.
Some of our properties feature hot tubs, sauna, swimming pool, DVD TV, Satellite, elevators, boot warmers and log fires as standard chalet equipment. If some of this equipment becomes unserviceable, we cannot guarantee an immediate replacement. Often spares and servicing are not easy to source from in a ski resort. If any of these facilities are important to you please make this known to us at the time of booking and confirm to us in writing. If we have been informed that these facilities are important to you then we will do our best to make you aware of any changes to these facilities prior to your arrival, but we will not be obliged in such circumstances to either provide the facility or compensate for its absence. If the facility is considered "essential" to your holiday then it must be outlined in the Special Requests section on our booking form or by writing to our UK office. No refund/compensation will otherwise be paid for non availability of these facilities.
WiFi is not guaranteed in hotels, chalets or apartments. Where it is provided, it is not always guaranteed throughout the whole building, all WiFi provisions are stated on the specific property info page on the website and or in the brochure. Using the WiFi may incur charges with your hotel/chalet or apartment and with your service provider – please check with reception and with your provider for more information.
Your health and safety is of paramount importance and this is why we employ a health and safety officer to monitor hygiene and risk assessment with our catered chalet programme. We provide information on balconies, fire, child safety, gas, electricity, personal safety, road safety, sun care and sauna, Hot-tub, and swimming pools. We would ask you to familiarise yourselves with this information on arrival.
Hot tubs and saunas are intended as a complimentary facility, but risks for the users are involved. Although we disinfect our hot tubs in line with manufacturer recommendations, please be aware that the use of our hot tubs is at your own risk and we ask you to be aware of the dangers of communal facilities with respect to health and hygiene, and more particularly to skin infection. Often a chalet hot tub may be taken out of action for one day a week for cleaning. If a hot tub breaks down, we always try to have it repaired as quickly as possible. However, as their repair is a specialist task, these technicians are often in high demand. Delays may also occur if parts need to be ordered. We always do our utmost to minimise such delays. Children must be supervised at all times.
Some hotels and self-catered apartments may require a small local charge for use of the leisure facilities, and times of operation will be in line with the Hoteliers terms. The same applies for spa treatments.
Igoski reserves the right to recover the cost of breakages or damage caused by you and your party regardless of whether these are accidental or not. If you have caused any damage you will be invoiced for the cost of replacement or repair and this amount will be payable by the party leader prior to departure. In the unfortunate case of something being damaged, lost or stolen, all cases should be reported to reception. For insurance claims, guests will be required to head to a local police station to fill out a form to present to their insurance company for any claims. Igoski cannot be held responsible for the loss or theft of any personal belongings in any hotel, chalet or apartment booked with Igoski.
Ski lockers are provided with some chalets/ hotels, but are not guaranteed. Please note: Ski lockers can be a target for thieves and Igoski cannot be held responsible for the loss, damage or theft to any equipment left in the lockers throughout your stay. Please have appropriate insurance.
In the interest of fire and safety regulations and for our owners, our chalets and ski lodges are all non-smoking.
Please advise us of your children's ages on the booking form so that we can prepare for their arrival. If you require a high tea or an earlier meal time for your children, then we ask that you keep to this arrangement throughout the week. Please request this at the time of booking or at least 10 days before departure by using the special requests box on the booking form or shortly after by emailing: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Cots with a mattress and bedding, as well as high chairs can be booked and paid for before departure from the UK so that we can ensure availability. Please note that we cannot guarantee that cots reach British safety standards. The inclusion of a cot may restrict room space and some rooms may not be large enough to contain a cot. Please call our sales staff for help and information.
Departure times and Transfer times will be scheduled to keep travelling and waiting times for all parties to a minimum. Your shared transfer will take place on a coach, minibus or similar vehicle. Free Transfers are supplied by ourselves and may be subject to delays. The reason for this is because separate inbound and outbound flights which share the same transfer may become disjointed, or for possible delays and / or problems with baggage. Transfers which incur a set fee (e.g. £59.50) are for the return trip and are provided by local third party suppliers (their Terms & Conditions will apply). These can be sent to you upon request. Private cars or minibuses are also used for transfers and feeder transfers, however sometimes it may be necessary to share a transfer with another operator, especially with off peak flight times or delays. In the case of extreme weather, snowfall or at peak times it may be necessary for your inbound transfer to depart earlier than normally scheduled. You will be informed of this in resort.
CAA regulations state that a child of 2 years or older (on the return date of travel) must have its own air seat and will otherwise be denied boarding by the airline. Children under 2 years (on the return date of travel) must sit on a parent's lap and they are not entitled to a luggage allowance on flights or seats on transfers.
Baggage EasyJet flights: EasyJet flights only come with hand luggage included (one piece of cabin baggage no bigger than 56 x 45 x 25cm including handles and wheels) in order to give passengers the option of travelling light, without hold bags, or sharing hold bags allowances between group members. If you would like to add hold luggage to your flight, please do this after booking by emailing email@example.com. Prices are route dependent and range between £9 and £30 for 1 suitcase or bag weighing no more than 15kg in total and between £14 and £34 for a piece of luggage up to £23kg in weight. In the event of bookings with other airlines, please check with the relevant airline's website for luggage information.
In line with all other major winter sports operators, we ask that you register your skis/ boards with us at the time of booking at a cost from £30 to £82 return, subject to the airline's surplus baggage policy and availability. Additional £8 charge will also have to be met in order to secure your skis and boards on the coach or minibus transfer. This is due to the extra costs involved in handling, and to cover for extras such as racks and trailers if necessary. In the event racks and trailers are not used there will be no refunds. If you do not pre-book, there may be a higher charge per board or set of skis charge at the airport and we cannot guarantee that your equipment will be accepted. Each plane has a limited amount of space for skis and boards and this is allocated on a first come first served basis. We strongly advise that you book your equipment with us at the earliest opportunity. Ski and Snowboard bags must contain skis and snowboards only and boot bags contain ski or snowboarding boots only (in case of delay or the necessity of offloading this equipment). Please note that snowboard bags count as oversized sporting equipment and must be paid for as board carriage, regardless of whether this is your only item of checked baggage.
Skis and snowboard bags are considered outsize baggage and must be pre-booked. Ski and board carriage is offered on a 'first come first served' basis, so please make sure you pre-book as soon as possible. Charges (incl. return & transfer handling fee) are as follows:
EasyJet: £82
Ski and Snowboard bags must contain skis and snowboards only and boot bags must contain ski or snowboard boots only (in case of delay or the necessity of offloading this equipment). The weight limit varies depending on airline:
EasyJet: 20kg (you can pool your hold luggage and carriage weight allowance as long as no single item exceeds £32kg)
You may add baggage on to your booking by calling 020 3393 4671, or emailing: firstname.lastname@example.com at any time up until 1 week prior to departure.
If your flight has been booked with a no-frills scheduled carrier such as Easyjet, a charge will be incurred subject to airlines conditions. All charter flights incur a £30 admin fee if requested 10 weeks prior departure, charges will increase closer to departure date.
For all of our charter flights you will be issued an E-ticket, these will be emailed within a week of departure. These are arranged with the airline and a boarding pass will be issued at check-in on receipt of your E-Ticket. Any adhoc flights such as Easyjet you will need to check in online, enter in your passport details and print your own boarding passes.
The travel services we use are non-transferable so you should make sure you have ample time to get to the airport for your journey. Please remember to leave time for traffic delays and parking or reaching the terminal from the rail station. Your ticket will advise which terminal your flight departs from. Should you miss the outbound flight, you are responsible for making your own way to your destination and onward to your booked accommodation. If this happens, please notify our team in France 0033 479 00 4445 immediately as our staff will be expecting you at your original arrival time. Some airlines will cancel all onward and return flights if the outbound flight is not flown.
Airlines have different regulations regarding travellers in the advanced stages of pregnancy and may refuse to carry passengers who will be more than 28 weeks pregnant on their return journey. A general guideline is to carry a doctor's note signed within 7 days before your departure confirming that you are fit to travel. Always consult with a doctor if you are unsure of whether you will be able to fly.
Please ensure that you check in at least 2 to 2.5 hours prior to departure. Check-in desks are now open 2.5 to 3 hours prior to departure times in busy or peak periods. Remember to allow enough time for parking and any airport shuttles. It is our guests responsibility to ensure that they make their outbound flight departure from the UK and so we ask you to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure. (3 hours in peak periods). If you fail to check in on time then the airline may refuse to allow you to board the flight. Please inform our French office as soon as possible if you have missed your flights, (tel 0033 479 00 44 45) or email email@example.com.
If you arrive at Geneva airport and you cannot find one of our reps or our transfer representative (who are usually waiting to greet you on arrival) then this may mean the coach is delayed or stuck in traffic. Do not despair, please just wait in the arrival lounge.
Please understand that the airline reserves the right to adjust flight times. Guests with inward or outward connections should allow plenty of time in the event of a schedule change or flight delay. We strongly recommend that tickets are purchased on a fully flexible basis to accommodate any unforeseen delays.
At Igoski we cannot guarantee snow, but it is our mission to endeavour to get all guests skiing whatever the weather! All our resorts are chosen for their reliable snow records and high altitude status, and 90% of our resorts have the benefit of access to glaciers which ensure snow almost all year round. Snow conditions can change dramatically overnight, so if conditions are exceptionally poor then we will do our best to change you to another resort, and this will be done at the last minute. Furthermore, when you book an Igoski holiday then we will arrange for transport* to another ski area with more than 20% of the runs open if the lift company and ski school decide you are not able to ride or ski the area or resort in which you are staying. Transport will be arranged to a local resort where skiing/riding is deemed better than in your own resort, and which is less than 2.5 hour drive away. This will be subject to the resort allowing additional skiers.
Our Snow Assurance only covers skiers and snowboarders, it does not cover cross-country skiers. It does not cover lifts not being open due to high winds, adverse weather or too much snow! In some cases the alternative resort might be in another country. In order to take advantage of this option then non UK nationals must make sure that they comply with the local passport regulations for the country where the alternative resort might be located. *All transport to other ski areas, by way of coach, minibus or taxi to another ski resort under the terms of this Snow Assurance will incur an additional local charge to guests.
Lift passes, Lessons and Ski Hire: Our Snow Assurance will not cover any additional costs required for ski and board lessons, lift pass or ski and board hire. Any additional costs (if required) must be paid locally and such services will be subject to availability. It may well be the case that the resort in which you are staying will transfer lift passes for little or no extra cost and/or a refund on your existing pass for lost days skiing. We will be all the help we can in claims for these instances. If this is a concern, we would recommend you investigate an additional benefit to your travel insurance policy.
You can make alterations to your proposed itinerary at any time prior to booking. After the booking has been made we will do our best to make alterations, provided that we receive written request from the Group Leader (the person that completed the booking). If we can make a change then you will be provided with a quote for any additional costs plus our administrative fee of £30 per person per change. This fee is due for all changes, and by way of example (and not by limitation) this will include: name change and incorrect spelling on the booking form, lift pass or lessons change, date change, flight change, addition of ski or bike carriage.
The price of your new holiday arrangements will be based on the prices that apply at the time you ask for the change. These prices may not be the same as when you booked the holiday. Please note that some airline tickets cannot be changed and some incur considerable cost. Some accommodation is booked according to the number of people staying. E.g. If one of your group cancels so that fewer people share the accommodation, then the cost for each of the remaining group members may increase.
We don't often receive complaints for our service or chalets and hotels, but if you do have an issue, no matter how trivial, we want to know about it immediately! After all it is in all of our interests to resolve any complaints or problems as soon as they arise therefore we have a procedure: You must inform our resort manager or supplier of any complaint out in resort as soon as possible so that we can try to make alternative arrangements. No matter how trivial your issue, please do not wait until your return to the UK, or until later in the holiday before informing us of a problem and filling out a Customer Report Form (CRF).
We ask guests to inform their Chalet Host, Resort Rep or Manager as soon as an issue arises. You must then fill out a CRF(Customer Report Form) immediately, which is available from your Chalet Host, and keep your carbon copy as proof that the complaint was raised in good time. After raising the problem to us, guests must allow us 12 hours to find a solution, because not all solutions can be immediate! If our reaction is not acceptable to you then please contact our UK or French Office (details below) If you would like to complain directly to head office rather than involving the resort staff then please use the contact details below. Please be aware of our office opening hours. We will refund any call charges to you on receipt of a bill. If you still feel that any resort complaint was not dealt with to your satisfaction, then you must send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com or write into our UK office within 28 days of your return otherwise we will not be able to investigate your complaint to the degree and accuracy that we could if the complaint is submitted upon return of your holiday.
Your complaint will be acknowledged and replies will be within 28 days of the date your email is acknowledged by somebody from the Customer Care Team. If we have not been able to complete our investigation after 28 days we will write to you advising you as to our progress. We cannot accept complaints by telephone, as we require a log of all communication made to our company in a written format. This is also because; as we did not travel with you your personal experiences are required in order for us to fully understand your grievances. You are still entitled and more than welcome to discuss your complaint with a member of the Customer Care Team but we will ask you to follow the call up in written form. We regret that we cannot accept liability in respect of any complaints which are not notified entirely in accordance with this procedure. Our resort staff are not authorised to promise a refund in respect of a clients' claim and no such promises will be accepted by Igoski. UK Office +44 (0)844 770 4070. French Office +33 (0) 479 00 44 45. Alternatively you can email firstname.lastname@example.com
The information and prices in the brochure and on our website may have changed by the time you come to book your holiday. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the brochure and prices at time of print regrettably errors can occur, and situations with suppliers can change. You must therefore check all the details of your chosen holiday at the time of booking. During the season we may have to purchase extra flights and services and this may have an effect on the printed brochure price. The pictures, maps and chalet room plans within the brochure and on the website are intended as a guide for style and general relevance. Maps are not to scale or completely accurate. Photographs of rooms are intended to give an indication and may vary where furnishings have changed or a partial refurbishment has been completed. Some details of holidays may change after a brochure has been printed, we will display the most up-to-date information on www.igoski.co.uk


text:
As of January 1, 2016, Gapers Block has ceased publication. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
✶ Thank you for your readership and contributions over the past 12-plus years. ✶
Thursday, May 28
JJ's List is a site where people with disabilities review businesses and services, created by JJ Hanley, producer of Refrigerator Mothers, a documentary by Kartemquin Films.
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text:
Last year while I was running our booth at a street fair, someone came up to me and asked me if he could use my guitar. I said sure, no problem, just stick to the five minute rule.
He told me he'd been playing for several years and doubted that there was much that I could teach him.
He picked up my guitar and proceeded to play the fastest, and sloppiest guitar solo I've ever heard in my life!
It's one thing to be able to play quickly, but if your notes are not clean, clear and precise, you're only making noise, not music, and nobody is going to want to hear what you have to play. It's the sad reality.
So is there a way to build up your speed AND play cleanly? Is there a way to play blazingly fast and never to hit a bad note?
Yes, yes there is.
Imagine a treadmill running on its own. Imagine that treadmill operating at full speed without a runner. Imagine that conveyer belt zipping around almost uncontrollably, then imagine someone stepping on that treadmill from a standing position. Imagine what you know will happen next. You're probably thinking to yourself " yeah, I've already seen that YouTube video!" Well, so have I and it's a sad thing to see.
So how does that relate to your guitar playing?
If you are not experienced in running your fingers up and down the fretboard, your fingers are just like that runner stepping on the moving treadmill. If you have not applied the techniques you need to master in order to play quickly, it will be messy.
Proper fretting hand strength, string muting, good picking technique, knowing your scales exactly, these are just a few of the things you will need to know before you can play at light speed without falling on your face.
So what is the lesson to be learned here? SLOW DOWN!!
When you slow down your playing to a crawl, and pay attention to everything your fingers are doing when you practice, you will begin training yourself to play without making a single mistake.
Once you've gone through the material a few times without making a mistake, you will find that what you're going through is getting easier and easier. So you start to play it a little faster, again, without mistakes. Then the material gets even easier. Then you start to play a little faster… Do you see the pattern?
When you slow down and play the right way FIRST, THEN SPEED IS THE NATURAL RESULT!!
So, what you need to make sure that when you play fast, you play clean, and never make a single mistake?
Learn and practice each technique slowly, teaching your fingers how to play the right way the first time. Then, your playing will automatically get faster!
Those techniques I mentioned earlier? Those are only a few of the concepts you'll need to master in order to be a fast player.
The best way to master all the right techniques and get the speed that you want is to find an instructor who knows exactly what to teach you and when to teach it to you.
I have a tremendous resource to help you with this. It's our FREE ebook called "How To Find The Right Instructor For You In Less Than A Day". See below to find out how to download the book.
And if you live in Northern New Jersey, you'll find great instruction here, at Master Your Guitar Music Academy. Give us a call and we will set you up with a free evaluation session. If it's after hours for you right now, fill out this short survey and we will get in touch with you to help you get started in the right direction.
So you want to play fast? Slow down, play it right and remember that the best thing you can do to really launch your guitar playing to the next level is to find a great instructor near you who knows what they're doing and knows exactly how to help you.
If that's here with us, then I'll see you in training!
Marcus Diaz
Master Your Guitar Music Academy
P.S. – For more great tips like these, check out the Free Resources section above, or join one of our guitar training programs to get massively better at your guitar and get even more great advice in person! Call (973)245-1941 today!


text:
I just sent this to the Jezebel staff.
Today, I made an offer to Emma Carmichael to return to Gawker Media as Editor-in-Chief of Jezebel. She accepted. Jessica and I are still working out her next role after she steps down from Jezebel—she's very likely going to be working with me directly spearheading a new cross-site interviews initiative—but in the interim she'll be working with Emma and deputy editor Dodai Stewart to figure out a transition schedule sometime around late summer or early fall.
There were many amazing candidates under consideration. I hope to hire and keep them all. And to take the helm of such a pioneering title is a daunting role, especially considering Gawker Media's mandate to never let one of our titles grow staid or unchallenging. I'm sure Emma will rise to the challenge, especially with your help.
Please feel free to hit me up directly if you have questions.


text:
I wanted to point out this excellent new picnicware by MissPrint at John Lewis. The MissPrint family team of Rebecca, Lee, and Yvonne Drury have adapted their designs onto melamine plates, storage containers, cups, bowls, bags etc. Look out for Figs, Dandelion, and Little Trees. In John Lewis stores now and online.
Besides the MissPrint collection John Lewis also have their own range designed under their 'House' brand. The 'Explore' designs feature graphic mountains and waves...
24 June 2015
PICNIC - john lewis
Posted by bowie style at 7:59 am
Labels: TABLEWARE
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text:
Clarkston, MI (PRWEB) August 30, 2013
Thinking about starting a family? Prevention is the best medicine. The Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), Tracie Achrem and Chris Borowski, of Women's Excellence in Midwifery are now offering preconception visits for women who are considering pregnancy in the near future and want to get that pregnancy off to a healthy start. According to Tracie Achrem, "The goal of a preconception visit is to provide important information and treat any existing problems before pregnancy, thereby improving a woman's health and reducing health risks to her future baby."
"A healthy pregnancy and baby starts before conception, since many women learn they are pregnant after the baby's internal organs have already started to form," says Borowski. Preconception education on healthy diet, avoidance of harmful substances, pregnancy-friendly medications, and harmful infections can make a difference and boost the chances of a healthy baby.
The CNMs of Women's Excellence in Midwifery will also identify health problems that can can pose a risk to having a healthy pregnancy. Conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), phenylketouria (PKU), and kidney disease are maternal health problems that should be controlled or treated prior to pregnancy. A thorough patient/family medical history that screens for risk of birth defects, prematurity, and genetic disorders is also part of the preconception visit. A simple blood test at the time of the preconception visit will be done to test for immunity to diseases or infections, like chickenpox and rubella, that can cause birth defects and other complications during pregnancy.
In addition to preconception counseling, Achrem and Borowski also provide personalized gynecology, prenatal, antenatal and postnatal care. Both have labor and delivery privileges at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, Michigan and are backed up by a great team of Women's Excellence OB/GYNs.
Founded by Dr. Jonathan Zaidan, Women's Excellence in Midwifery is focused on providing a personalized approach to women's health and pregnancy with one-on-one, family-based care. The CNMs of Women's Excellence in Midwifery offer a holistic approach in the natural process of birth and minimize unnecessary interventions. Tracie Achrem and Chris Borowski are educated specialists in the "art" of normal labor and birth and view pregnancy as one of the most important events in a woman's life. The CNMs of Women's Excellence in Midwifery deliver at Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, MI. Visit them at http://www.centerofmidwifery.com.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/8/prweb10947771.htm.
|Source: PRWeb
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text:
Skip to 0 minutes and 9 secondsOur main text this week is Wordsworth's autobiographical poem "The Prelude" in which he describes his childhood growing up in the Lake District. I've come back to the Jerwood Centre in Grasmere, which holds Wordsworth's collection of manuscripts, to talk to Jeff Cowton about "The Prelude." So, Jeff, I understand there's more than one manuscript for "The Prelude." Well, there are 24 surviving ones that we know of. There were many more than that haven't survived. And the 24 manuscripts, they began in 1798, and the last manuscript that we know of that has survived is 1839. So they cover over 40 years. So this is a poem that changes enormously and grows and develops over a long period of time.
Skip to 0 minutes and 54 secondsIt grows and it changes as Wordsworth grew and as his ideas changed and as his vision of the poem changed, and so it began with a very humble notebook, which we have. This is one of our greatest treasures, and as you can see, it survived well. It's coming apart a little at the spine, and as you can see from it that someone has labelled it as diaries on the front. And this being helpful, also has been misleading over the years because it's a notebook that contains all sorts of things, Wordsworth's writing, his sister Dorothy's writing, but the lines that relate to "The Prelude" come right at the very back. Why would he write in the back of his sister's diary?
Skip to 1 minute and 40 secondsIs it just a matter of being short of paper? Well, paper was expensive. And when William and Dorothy went into Germany in 1798, they bought a number of little notebooks like this one, and it began in the front of the notebook with accounts of their experiences so their travels, the people that they meet. And then at the back of the notebook, Wordsworth picks up the pen, and he works from the rear in towards the notebook. So the result from when they came back from Germany was the Dorothy, which was writing in her hand at the front and Wordsworth with the early lines of "The Prelude" at the back.
Skip to 2 minutes and 21 secondsSo if we look at this volume, we can see the first lines of "The Prelude" as they were written? As far as we know, these certainly are the earliest surviving lines of the poem. And if we look just inside the back cover, you can see Wordsworth very much at work, so lines written and then lines revised. And then the opening lines of the first version of the poem as it became "was it for this that one the fairest of all rivers?" It's very sort of squeezed in up at the top there, isn't it? It is. It's a narrow page. Sometimes he changes as you can see, so he remains in that format for a while, but then he'll change.
Skip to 3 minutes and 5 secondsSo he'll adapt, and that gives more space by writing horizontally. And you can see there too that he's very conscious of progress, so you have a number which shows the number of lines that he's written. So he's marking his progress as he goes. So how much of the poem gets written in this notebook? A lot of the episodes that make up the first book of "The Prelude" are already recorded at this point. So episodes of boat stealing, of stealing bird's eggs, or of stealing birds from other people's bird traps. They're recorded in this notebook. So some of the most important passages of "The Prelude" appear in this notebook. So that's an extraordinary item.
Skip to 3 minutes and 47 secondsIt's strangely modest for what then becomes one of the greatest poems in the English language. Well, when Wordsworth began recording these episodes, he would have no idea what it would become. Here he was in Germany. His friend and fellow poet, Coleridge, had almost set him a challenge of writing the great poem of the age, and Wordsworth was sort of coming to terms with this and perhaps begins by thinking, well, why me? Why did it become me? It was the man with this challenge. And so we think that here he is sort of thinking, well, how has my experience so far led me to this point?
Skip to 4 minutes and 24 secondsSo there are a series of episodes rather than with this master plan of an 8,000 line poem at the end. So this isn't the poem he's thinking of at all as a masterpiece in the making. This is just a process of self-scrutiny, self-inquiry. Exactly, and looking through his childhood and the education that he received and how he has learned through nature, as he puts it, to become the man, the poet, that he is at this stage of its life. What a fascinating origin for this great poem, so what's the next stage after that? The next stage is that he returned to England, so that was 1798. And in 1799, he returns to England, and the poem grows.
Skip to 5 minutes and 6 secondsAnd the next manuscript-- well, not the next manuscript-- but the next sort of fair copy, the next full version written out neatly, combines those fragments and other fragments. And Dorothy Wordsworth, his sister, writes it in this neat copy. So you can see that here's Dorothy taking all sorts of fragments, perhaps with Wordsworth at her side and making it into this poem of two books. And it covers his childhood. It covers his school days and many of those episodes. So it's a beautiful object, beautiful handwriting. But again, this itself is part of the creative process. We can see the revisions again. Well, here as you say, so there are lines that are crossed out.
Skip to 5 minutes and 51 secondsThere are lines that are written in the margin, and lines just completely removed altogether. So what's the next major manuscript stage for the poem? Well, it continues to grow. Yeah? So this would take us up to the end of 1799, and then over the next few years, he returns to the poem, particularly in 1804 and 1805. And those fragments appear in any number of manuscripts, so the job, again, it was a similar process of many manuscripts being brought together by Dorothy with Wordsworth's direction. And I guess we must imagine that even as Dorothy is copying from earlier manuscripts that Wordsworth will be correcting it as he goes. It's this process of continual continuous revision.
Skip to 6 minutes and 36 secondsSo this is one of the great manuscripts of English literature. This takes us from the two-book Prelude into 13 books or 13 sections. And this again, is Dorothy Wordsworth, and this is just magnificent. This is, as you can see, it's the recto side all the way through where, when I say, recto, I mean the right-hand side of the page all the way through. And I think there's 8,000 lines of poetry written out with a quill pen, written in Dove Cottage over the winter. Presumably dark, cold, and it's just a wonderful result really of all that effort. A family industry with Wordsworth creating and Dorothy doing the writing and no doubt contributing to the poem too.
Skip to 7 minutes and 23 secondsSo we can see that the poem's developed significantly there just in terms of scale. As you say, we moved from a few extracts first joined into two books in the second volume we looked at, and now we're up to how many books here? 13 books. 13 books. And this takes his life through to the moment of coming to Dove Cottage. So right through to the age of 29. But as you can see again, there's a process of revision. And Wordsworth returns to the poem perhaps years later. Some of these corrections may have been done 1805 when this was written. Others will have been returned to and so the process goes on.
Skip to 8 minutes and 4 secondsSo that then takes us to Wordsworth at the age of 62 when his wife, Mary, then writes out the poem. So she lends a hand too.
Skip to 8 minutes and 22 secondsAnd so this is a complete rewriting, 8,000 lines again. And Wordsworth does what you would expect him to do. He then corrects it of course. And it's not just the odd word here and there. It's a wholesale revision. And so it goes, so there's Mary's handwriting underneath with Wordsworth's corrections. So what date did you say this was, Jeff? This is 1832-- 1832. --and then revisions through the 1830s. So we're three decades on from when he first started writing this poem. And a different man, you know, a different stage of his life. His politics will have changed, and his friendship to Coleridge, to whom the poem was addressed, will have changed. And so it becomes a different poem.
Skip to 9 minutes and 5 secondsIt looks like we have sections pasted in here. We do. The amount of revision was so great sometimes that Wordsworth had to add extra lines, so there's an instance where extra lines are added, but in some instances, there's crossings out. And a piece of paper is then stuck over if I can find one. There we are. So there's I mean, there's not much room for any more revisions there, so another piece of paper is stuck over the top and starts again. So we've got this great piece of work begun in 1798, still working on it 1832. So all the time while the poem's growing and is being revised in this way, it remains unpublished.
Skip to 9 minutes and 56 secondsIt wasn't published for a number of reasons, but Wordsworth was very conscious of a financial legacy for his family. And so to have published it at the earliest stage, as he later pointed, the copyright would have run out in his lifetime, and the family wouldn't have had the financial benefit. So he held back from publishing it so that after his time that was the length of copyright for the family to gain the income from it. So when is it first published? Well, it's first published just after his death. He died in April, 1850. And just a few months later, here it is in its published form. So that's the first edition of "The Prelude." This is the first edition.
Skip to 10 minutes and 34 secondsAnd this is the first time the poem gets its name. It's his wife, Mary, who gave the poem its name, and its called "The Prelude" because it is the introduction of the prelude to the great poem that he'd been set the challenge to by Coleridge. I see. So 8,000 lines is the introduction, so the great poem itself, you can imagine would have been some length. But we began with the lines "Was it for this," and we saw how they were first written in 1798. And there we are. Those lines have made it all the way through to the 1850 edition. "Was it for this that one, the fairest of all rivers loved to blend his murmurs with my nurse's song."
Skip to 11 minutes and 15 secondsSo that's the writing we saw squeezed into that early notebook over 50 years before it's first published here. And they've survived unchanged. So with so many manuscripts versions of the poem, what do people mean by "The Prelude?" Well, I think it largely depends, perhaps, on where you're brought up. I think in I believe in America that people largely read the 1850 version. I think in this country, it's more the 1805 version. And it seems to be what you become familiar with is what you come to love. Do you have a favourite version yourself? Well I like the 1799 version. I like that very early response from the boyhood experiences. But it's a great poem whichever version you read, isn't it?
Skip to 12 minutes and 0 secondsWell, thank you very much, Jeff. It's been an absolutely fascinating illustration of how this poem grows and develops and how Wordsworth revises the masterpiece that is gradually developing and also how other members of the family, Dorothy, you were saying, and Mary contribute to the production of this great work of literature. Thank you.
The Prelude Manuscripts
This week we will be studying Wordsworth's autobiographical poem, The Prelude, which many people consider his masterpiece.
The poem is particularly admired by readers for its depiction of Wordsworth's childhood growing up in the Lake District. Watch this video to gain an introduction to the history of Wordsworth's writing of the poem, which began in 1798 and continued for much of the rest of his life.
As you watch the video, you may like to take notes because in the next step we have set a quiz on the key issues it covers. In the rest of the week, we will examine how Wordsworth began writing The Prelude and explore some of its key passages.
We will focus on Wordsworth's concept of 'spots of time' and investigate how he presents his childhood adventures. In the week's videos, we will visit some of the key locations in The Prelude, including Hawkshead, where Wordsworth went to school, and Ullswater, the scene of one of his most interesting boyhood adventures.
© Lancaster University


text:
SYRIAN government forces are alleged to have launched a chemical attack which has left as many as 1300 people dead in the middle eastern country.
Today, William Hague insisted the people behind the attack would be held accountable.
The Foreign Secretary said claims of toxic agents being used in an assault on rebel-held areas on the outskirts of Damascus would mark a "shocking escalation" if proved true.
UN inspectors, already in the region to investigate three sites where chemical attacks previously allegedly occurred, must be given immediate access to investigate the latest claims, he insisted.
Opposition groups accused President Bashar Assad's regime of carrying out the deadly attack using rockets with poisonous gas heads - a claim Government officials insist is baseless.
Mr Hague said: "I am deeply concerned by reports that hundreds of people, including children, have been killed in air strikes and a chemical weapons attack on rebel-held areas near Damascus.
"These reports are uncorroborated and we are urgently seeking more information. But it is clear that, if they are verified, it would mark a shocking escalation in the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
"Those who order the use of chemical weapons, and those who use them, should be in no doubt that we will work in every way we can to hold them to account.
"I call on the Syrian Government to allow immediate access to the area for the UN team currently investigating previous allegations of chemical weapons use. The UK will be raising this incident at the UN Security Council."
Unverified footage of casualties, including children, in makeshift hospitals suffering convulsions and breathing difficulties, has circulated on YouTube.
The Syrian Government and opposition groups have repeatedly accused each other of chemical warfare, something US President Barack Obama warned was a "clear red line".
Earlier this year Prime Minister David Cameron backed Washington's "candid assessment"' that the Assad regime had used chemical weapons.
Ake Sellstrom, a chemical weapons expert leading the UN team, has said he wants to look into the attack. Syria would need to agree to any request made through UN by a member state.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "The use of chemical weapons by any side in the Syria conflict deserves the categoric condemnation of the whole international community.
"These latest reports underline the need for the Syrian authorities to grant immediate and unfettered access to the team of UN chemical weapons inspectors currently on the ground.
"This access should include the sites surrounding Damascus where reports today suggest that chemical weapons may have been used."


text:
Monday, August 31, 2009
Memory is the mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experiences. The saved mental impressions that are embedded in our gray matter filed away like important documents tucked into a file cabinet. Just like the 1980 Andrew Lloyd Weber pop song compares memories "as a light comes from my mind", my flash ram recalls the yearning essence of new baby smell once again. It had been three long weeks since I had held little Ian in my arms and inhaled that calming delicious smell from his sweet perfectly round baby head. That's like eonic ages in Grandma years. Hubby started to note symptoms of grand-baby withdrawal once again and offered a trip to Ash Grove to get my fix. Did I ever mention that this man is too good to me? No need to ask this chick twice so last Sunday we jumped in the car after church services and made the jaunt.
I am the first to admit I can be compulsively crazed in some areas but when it comes to this new baby smell thing I have really not gone off the deep end. I'm not talkin' odors from spit-up, poop or anything else that oozes from their orifices, this is something totally different. I did a little research on 'new baby smell' and found studies on the subject. The sense of smell is the strongest memory trigger we mortals possess. It is critical of existence of all creatures for finding nourishment, avoiding predators and choosing that special someone to share our lifelong obsessions with. The chemical sensing system has many scientific life uses. A Sweden team of scientist uncovered the distinct new baby smell may act as a pheromone to reinforce the sensation that babies ARE cute and adorable. Yeah, like we need a reminder...right! Another study showed the unique smell played an important part in the bonding process between babes and their caretakers. Yes, Virginia, there is a 'new baby smell!' It may be completely indescribable but it exists.
Reaching our destination,this rockin' grandma excitedly entered the house with olfactories engaged charging toward the little bundle of love. I sniffed and inhaled cuddly Ian noting various baby smells exuding from him. Scents like the pure cleanliness of fresh clothes, new diaper and calming lotion. I deeply inhaled to the depths of my lungs.....nothing.....GONE! Gone like the fragrance of a rose as the petals wither on the ground. Gone like the weeks I spent missing this babe. He was of course seven weeks old and changing everyday. I enjoyed my visit taking in every stimuli during the time I had to spend. I was blessed to change him, feed him and give him the very special noisy grandma kisses I reserve only for grandchildren. I am looking forward to all the wonderful experiences I will have with this little one but as far a the new baby smells go, they will forever be filed away in my "Memories."
26 comments:
I still love to sniff my girl necks -- right in the crook where the neck meets and shoulder. I tell people that you could blind fold me and line up a group of teenagers and I could find my children. When my 22 yr old comes home, she still lets me (at least once) line down with her and hug her and sniff her neck. She's my baby still!!ReplyDelete
But we must count our blessings. We wouldn't want our grandchildren to never leave the diaper-changing phase. Happy Blue Monday!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 31, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Hey! Thanks for the great comment on my blog today. You had me laughing a ton too! Great blog here! Hope you have a great day!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 31, 2009 at 3:22 PM
Hehhe.... what fun!! I'm this way with puppy breath... why I do not know other than I associate puppies with fun filled good times and lots of loving!ReplyDelete
Cute baby! The smell of a baby is The best 'perfume' in the world.ReplyDelete
Hi--Babies are soo much fun to hold and sniffReplyDelete
especially if they have lotion or powder on.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving the nicest
comments, I enjoy seeing that you have been by.
Have a terrific week!
Sorry, I forgot to highlight "this". Here's the link...http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/story?id=1291826ReplyDelete
Your grandbaby is a sweetheart! You have a lovely blog here!
God knows what he is doing!! If our children continued to have that baby smell as they grew up, mothers would never let their children leave home and . . . they should. . .leave home. I'm just saying.ReplyDelete
What a cutie patooti! New babies are heavenly to smell and hold. Nothing better! TraciReplyDelete
Ahh, new baby...what a delightful change, even if in memory, from Pepe Le'Pew.ReplyDelete
I'm with you, I love that smell and it doesn't last long, but it does give way to even further joys for grandmothers. Boy, that makes me sound both really old and very sappy, and I'm really only a little of each.ReplyDelete
Oh my gosh! You give Grandma kisses too! I used to call it giving "Mommy kisses" and now they are Grandma kisses!ReplyDelete
What an adorable baby!
Nothing beats that newborn baby smell and it sure doesn't last long. Be thankful you can get in a car and drive to see yours. Our grandchildren live in Houston and we are in Charlotte NC, which is severalhours by plane and a 15 hour drive in the car! We have another grandson on the way. He lives in Boston which is just about as far! It's awful!!ReplyDelete
By the way your little grandson is adorable, but I don't have to tell you that!!
((hugs)) Rhondi
babies smell soooooo much better than skunks
;) lol
have a great night~
You described the baby smell to a tee! We are programed from birth to have these intense sensory reactors to babies. Great post!ReplyDelete
Ahhh yes, baby smells. I wish I could bottle it! It's perfection and so is your grand-baby.ReplyDelete
Thanks a million for your kind comment about my More.com feature. As you could tell I was pretty excited about it. Your comment made it feel all the more special.
Nothing...just checking in to tell you that I appreciate you being there and for your so sweet words to me during my...um...days of whining! :)ReplyDelete
I totally agree with you! I never thought to research it, but I'm convinced there's a chemical reaction there somewhere that triggers the whole momma feeling.ReplyDelete
I may not be the first to agree but I am the next.ReplyDelete
Being a grandma is the best! I get the joy of babysitting my youngest grandson daily!ReplyDelete
Oh how darling!!! I want one!!!ReplyDelete
Thank you for your encouraging posts on my blogs. We should be neighbours! I think I'd spend a lot of time with you! Blessings!ReplyDelete
Awwwww, how blessed you are!!! I know the smell and although it doesn't last forever, the smiles and the love always do!!ReplyDelete
Oh, that smell is wonderful! Thanks for stopping by and I am a bit envious! CindyReplyDelete
Just spent a long wonderful weekend sniffing my own grands! You can never get enough of those giggly little sweet things, eh? :-)ReplyDelete
Tammy ~@~
I can't wait. Well, I can wait, but you know what I mean.... Happy for you :)ReplyDelete
Yippie Tie Yie Yay, I'm so glad you popped in. I adore, cherish and covet your comments. Even though I love seein' my name in lights I am an award free blog. Thanks for visitin' ya'll!


text: David Nail, Jana Kramer and the duo Love and Theft will perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum this summer. The museum's Hot Nights at the Hall concert series will begin with a set by Nail ("Let It Rain" ) on June 5. Kramer ("Why Ya Wanna" ) will sing July 13, followed by Love and Theft ("Angel Eyes" ) on Aug. 31. Admission to Hot Nights at the Hall is free to all museum members. Membership at the museum begins at $40 and includes admission to all three of the concert events as well as a year of free admission to the museum.


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Model #TOG-3060M
|List Price:
|Our Price:
General Description
We're committed to exceeding your expectations:
- Found it for less? We'll match the price
- 25-Year or Limited Lifetime Warranty
Our customers come first — we guarantee it!
This ample cafeteria booth table has an MDF core, which makes it a sturdy option, that will last for many years.
Mix it up with this cool mobile cafeteria booth system. No matter what combination of pieces you choose, these booths and tables are the flexible, functional choice. Locking, double ball-bearing casters, and an industrial-grade folding mechanism, make this collection incredibly easy to move and store.
Setting up your booths and tables is just as easy. Once they have been steered into position, they easily open with the pull of a handle. Choose from tables and booth benches in a selection of sizes, as well as convenient sets, and a choice of MDF or particleboard core, to get the ideal fit for your space and budget.
- Manufacturer:
National Public Seating
National Public Seating manufactures a wide range of portable furniture including folding chairs and tables for a variety of purposes, moveable risers and stages for musical performances and solutions for furniture transport.
- Width:
- 30 in.
- Length:
- 60 in.
- Height:
- 29 in.
- Weight:
- 94 lbs.
- Casters:
- 3" Heavy-Duty Non-Marring Casters
- Folding:
- Yes
- Frame Finish:
Powder Coated
Powder coat is a paint finish that is electro-statically applied to steel components leaving a highly-durable, scratch-resistant, rust-free, eco-friendly finish.
- Frame Specs:
14-Gauge Steel
Gauge is a measurement of steel thickness - the lower the gauge, the thicker the steel.
- Green
- MAS Certified LEED
- Leg Specs:
- 14-gauge, 2" Tubular Steel
- Locking Mechanism:
- Automatic Open and Closed
- Meets ANSI-BIFMA:
- Yes
- Overall Width:
- 24"
- Seating Capacity:
- 4-6
- Style:
- Booth and Cluster Seating
- Tabletop Core Material:
- Medium-Density Fiberboard
- Tabletop Edge:
Protect Edge
Protect edge consists of a polyurethane epoxy resin chemically bound to the edge of the laminate, core and backing sheet. This resin helps from food getting stuck in between the core and ends.
- Tabletop Support:
- 14-gauge steel
- Tabletop Surface Material:
High-Pressure Laminate
High-pressure laminate is the finish commonly found on kitchen counters (commonly known as Formica). It is extremely durable and easy to clean.
- Warranty:
- Limited Lifetime
- Certified Green
- No Hassle: Rolls smoothly on double ball bearing, locking, non-marring 3" casters.
- Easy Operation: All models open and lock automatically, and are easily released with the pull of a handle.
- Convenient: Folds up for space-saving nesting via industrial-grade, easy-fold mechanism.
- Durable Material: Frames are 14-gauge steel.
- Additional Colors: These tables can be ordered in any standard Wilsonart laminate color ending in -60, at no upcharge.
- Options: Available with MDF or particleboard core, in a selection of laminates.
- Lifetime Coverage: Our Limited Lifetime Warranty guarantees many years of use and enjoyment.
This product has been tested by an independent testing laboratory to establish that it confirms with the ANSI/BIFMA Safety and Performance Standards. This means it is safe, durable and adequate for use in a commercial environment.
MAS Certified Green (compliant with LEED for Schools)
Assembled in the USA with the highest standards of quality.
We're committed to exceeding your expectations:
- Found it for less? We'll match the price
- 15-Year or Limited Lifetime Warranty
Our customers come first — we guarantee it!
Shipping & Assembly
- Ships Via:
- Common Carrier
- Leaves Factory In:
- Approximately 4-6 weeks
- Assembly:
- Ships assembled
ToGo Mobile Cafeteria Booth Table - MDF Core
|List Price:
|Our Price:
Product Family
This product is a part of ToGo Mobile Cafeteria Booth System by NPS
There are 20 products in the family


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User research: Level 6
Champions user-centred design and secures organisational commitment to the significant involvement of users in research to achieve a deep understanding of their current and future needs. Develops organisational policies, standards, and guidelines to ensure research continually informs the development of systems, interactions, products and services to optimise utility and usability for users and enable them to achieve their required outcomes. Develops or sources organisational resources and capabilities to facilitate adoption and exploitation of user research, including specialist user-centred facilities and user communities. Collaborates with internal and external partners to facilitate effective user research.


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Are you looking for a software to cut or split a VCD? Then you may try the "Free VCD Cutter" to cut or split any portion of your VCD.
How to Cut a VCD with VCD Cutter?
VCD Cutter is not only free but is simple and easy to use. This Video Cutter maintains the VCD quality, even in the clipped Videos.
Find below a simple three step process to cut a VCD into clips:
- Open the VCD(DAT) file by clicking "open"
- Mark the start and end of the VCD Clip to cut
- Click Save and choose the output file name
That is all folks! You are done splitting your VCD. Free Download VCD cutter from vcd-cutter.com to cut any of your VCD.
If you are looking for a tool to split AVI, DivX or Mpeg videos into smaller clips, try the free Video Splitter, called Easy video Splitter.


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Today I have another birthday card for you. It was made at the same time as this card, and as I had my Distressing Essentials Kit out I decided to use it on this card too.
I've used the Clockworks stamp set to stamp a collage type design on the front of the card. I also used the retired Happiest Birthday Wishes for the sentiment, which is stamped on some Cotton Ribbon.
I continued the collage stamping on the inside too. I'm quite liking this stamp set now that I've had a play with it!
Bye for now,


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by Sherry BonDurant, writer for The Artery
Barb's Fine Glass turns ordinary items into extraordinary glass pieces. Barb uses an abundance of color and her pieces are playful. She is ready and willing to create your custom design(s). With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to have Barb create some unique gifts. Learn more about this artist right here.
How did you become a glass artist and how long have you been doing it?
I have been doing stained glass for about 8 years. I had wanted to learn the process for years prior but found myself needing a reason to get out of the house as a new stay-at-home mom after my second son was born. I took a class at MATC one night a week, and I was immediately hooked. After honing my skills for years making gifts for friends and family, I finally started to believe what others had been telling me – maybe I really could sell this stuff. After a few fairly successful art shows, I formed an LLC earlier this year.
What is the process for designing fine glass and where do you create your pieces?
Being new to the medium, I used designs I would find in commercially available pattern books. As my mind got more creative I would start to envision designs I couldn't find available in print or online. I study existing patterns at times and take elements I like from them and incorporate my own ideas. It is rewarding to see my skills developing as far as gaining the ability to make my ideas and visions concrete on paper and ultimately in glass.
Approximately how long does it take to produce a piece?
I offer a wide range of sizes of pieces so suit any budget, so the time I dedicate can vary considerably. I have small items I can complete in an hour and larger items that require more time developing a pattern can be extensively time consuming.
What is your greatest satisfaction with being a glass artist?
To me, the greatest satisfaction is when a customer is happy. I had a customer see a piece from across the street at an art fair and be drawn to my booth and exclaim, "It's perfect!" Custom orders are my specialty, so being able to create a one-of-a-kind unique piece is a special feeling. I am currently in production of a beautiful butterfly designed by a melanoma survivor incorporating the cancer support ribbon. (I think the design was originally made for a tattoo) It will be a surprise for her from her boyfriend. That one will be really be a gratifying one!
What do you like to do outside of being an artist?
My life is also filled with two sons that keep me busy and a part time job outside the home in healthcare. I am an avid kayaker and take to the waters in this beautiful city two to three times a week when weather (and time) permits. Kayaking is so much more than a means of exercise to me. It's good for the mind, body and spirit.
What is your ultimate goal with Barb's Fine Glass?
My experience in selling art is in its infancy. I hope to build up a customer base via online sales and art shows enough to keep me busy doing something I'm so passionate about. I'm beginning to break into the niche of recreating company logos of local businesses in glass for display in reception areas or conference rooms. I'm excited to be getting some interest in that area.


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The Onion News Touch Wall
ONN anchors manipulate media in real time
ONN anchors manipulate media in real time
A custom Open Exhibits (formerly GestureWorks Flash) application helps the Onion News Network create the funniest news on television. The Onion News Network, is a television series from the popular satirical news source The Onion, where news anchors use a multi-touch enabled media browsing application to explore story content.
Recon Wall is a custom-built Open Exhibits application that allows users to manipulate and draw on images or video in real-time. Media objects can be sorted, scaled, rotated and annotated using intuitive multi-touch gestures. The application is presented on a 52″ NextWindow 2700 overlay. This application is an inexpensive alternative to CNN's $100,000+ touch wall. The Recon Wall system, including LCD, NextWindow overlay and Open Exhibits software, cost around $5,000.
The Onion News Network airs Fridays on IFC at 10 EST. See more about the features and function of the mulitouch media viewing application in this video.
Visitors to Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum commemorate the fallen and learn about the Vietnam War.
Create mixed-reality stop motion animations on the Sprout by HP
Crystal Bridges visitors design themed virtual galleries.


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Return Policy
No cash refunds will be given for services or products.
Receipt must be presented for exchange or store credit.
Styling tools are covered by a limited 30-Day Manufacturer Warranty.
For health, sanitation and safety purposes, no returns or refunds will be given for the following products:
BioElement, Yonka, and Makeup - All sales are final.
Gift certificates have no cash value and shall be used on store merchandise and services only.


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Overarching theme: New engineering concepts for a valued agriculture
1: Design methods for integrated and sustainable farming systems (FS)
Theoretical concepts and methodological approaches to design novel concepts of farming systems (crops and greenhouses, animals, insects, algae, seaweed etc. and combinations thereof) that improve the performance on multiple aspects of sustainability. Examples are conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, tests and integrated assessment of concepts of farming systems, supply chain and market aspects.
2: New farming management systems (FM)
Ideas, designs of concepts and proofs of principle of new farm information and data management systems to enhance sustainability and profitability of farming. Examples are integration of multiple technologies in management and farming systems (big data, data hubs, standards), Internet of Things applications, data-based and model-based decision support.
3: Co-production and implementation of technology in food production systems (FP)
Experiences and research into systems addressing the human aspects for farmers, workers, consumers and society involved in the development, implementation and use of new technology and systems in food production and processing. Examples include acceptance/rejection, safety and risk and management thereof, responsible development and democratization.
4: Robotics and sensor technology (RM)
Research and development of mechatronic and (semi-autonomous) robotic systems and machine vision for agricultural applications, from breeding and seeding to monitoring in primary production and post-harvest processing. Contributions may include sensing technology such as 3D vision, hyperspectral imaging, spectroscopy, acoustics, use of satellites and drones, classification techniques including use of artificial intelligence for e.g. phenotyping and 3D reconstruction of plants, animals and environment.
5: Energy and greenhouse gas emissions (EG)
Reduction of environmental impact of operations in food and biomass production and processing by reducing energy demand, energy storage technologies, and new non-fossil energy sources. Examples are new implements and tractors including smart control, integration of energy from wind, bio-refinery and wastes, and reduction of emissions.
6: Soil, land and water engineering (SW)
Technology and systems for management of water and nutrients in soil, soil quality and rural planning. Contributions can address irrigation and drainage, logistics of equipment in the field, losses and emissions, soil compaction and carbon sequestration.
7: Animal production technologies (AP)
Research and application of technology and management of systems to control indoor air quality and thermal comfort in barns, improve welfare and health of animals, reduce emissions and their impacts. Examples include precision livestock farming, CFD and ventilation systems, emissions of particulate matter and gases (e.g. ammonia, greenhouse gases, odour), and control of pest and diseases.
8: Plant production technologies (PP)
Technology and management systems to control weeds, diseases and pest in crops, and equipment for seeding, maintenance and harvest. Contributions may include automation and autonomous systems, precision farming / agriculture, integrated pest management, precision spraying, geo-information systems, and related applications of drones.
9: Greenhouse production technologies (GP)
Technology and management systems for greenhouse production systems. Contributions may include greenhouse structures, covering materials, climate and energy systems, design of ventilation and CFD applications, automation and decision support systems for greenhouse climate, crop, water and nutrient management, as well as pest and disease detection and control.
10: Post-harvest technologies (PH)
Technology and management systems to monitor and control the quality of products, and for sorting, food processing, packaging and storage. Contributions can address nutrition, flavour and shelf life, and include various types of sensors, actuators, packaging materials and controlled-atmosphere techniques.
11: Nutrient management and waste treatment (NM)
Research and application of technology and systems to manage and recycle organic wastes in plant and animal production systems. Contributions may include organic matter and nutrient management on arable farms (e.g. with cover crops) and on animal farms (e.g. processing of animal manure) and include emissions and other nutrient losses.


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Fun post idea from Lauren P — thank you! 🙂
We are approaching the time of year when a new team of teachers will be hired, and they'll excitedly begin planning and preparing for their first classrooms. As a novice teacher you are starting from the ground up, and buying supplies for a classroom can be very costly. Here are a few quality items that can be purchased at your local dollar store to help supply your classroom without breaking the bank.
Plastic shoe boxes. These are an asset to the classroom and can be used for many different purposes! They can be used to hold art supplies, math manipulatives, as goal bins for IEP students, etc…You can find them in sets and they also come with lids, which are great for stacking in a small space.
Plastic storage containers. They come in many shapes and sizes and also have lids for easy stacking and keeping prepped items for word work, art, or math. The smaller containers can be used to hold dice for math games. The kids can shake the entire container so the dice stay in one spot.
Dice. They are lost many times during different classroom activities and some math activities require each student to have a set. Many times the dollar store sells them in big packs. Foam dice can also be found, which will allow for a quieter math time.
Clothespins. Clothespins can be used to place students in different centers or used as a placeholder when students borrow books from the classroom library.
Utensil caddies. These come in many different colors and have different compartments to hold supplies. The caddies can be used to hold pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, etc…
Ziploc bags. These are also sold in different sizes. In early childhood the sandwich size bags are used the most. Make sure the bags have an actual locking system and they are not the sandwich bags that fold over. The bags are used to hold items for word work, manipulatives for math games, lost teeth, art supplies for a class project, etc… If you are reusing the items that are in the bags, they can be stored away in a plastic shoe box! Bigger Ziploc bags can be used as book baggies for reading workshop.
Plastic baskets. Plastic baskets can be used to hold books for your classroom libraries and come in a variety of colors. I would suggest buying more than you need. After a while these bins can break, but can be easily swapped out if you have extra.
Magnetic boards or clipboards. A class set is more of an investment, but can last for several years and be used in every subject. Perfect for rug activities, active engagement, word study, observation inquiry, etc. Plus these "professional" tools are appealing and motivating!
These are just some of the items that can be found at the local dollar store. Every time you go it feels like a treasure hunt. And the last few bits of advice are to start shopping early and when you see something you like, BUY IT! There are many other teachers that shop in the dollar store and things will be gone before you know it. Happy dollar store hunting!


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When you are buying makeup,what makes you buy that product.
As for me..anything goes.Example like my 2 way foundation compact
That expensive one is Estee Lauder Double Wear & Pixy UV Whitening 2 Way Cake.
My Estee Lauder cost me about RM150++ for the refill the price is RM128 and that Pixy Powder price is around RM20 and the refill is RM11.90.You can get it at much cheaper price during sale promotion.
Both are 2 way foundation,both gave me the coverage I want.The only difference is the price and label.
Prove that I love my pixy foundation so much..you can see the bottom of the pan 😀
Do you have any cheap & expensive makeup that you love?


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Wednesday, March 5th, 2008
CouchDB: Using E4X to get the XML back
Christopher Lenz has been spending time on the CouchDB project. He got lulled over when CouchDB went to JSON.
He talks about how "CouchDB is pretty well positioned for storing and querying XML data in addition to JSON" via the E4X support that it gets out of the box as it uses SpiderMonkey.
- by_lang: function(doc) {
- var html = new XML(doc.content);
- map(html.@lang, {title: html.head.title.text(), …});
- }
To be fair, this is already possible if you use other view servers (such as the Ruby or Python ones), where you also have access to the XML support provided by the respective standard libraries. Given CouchDB's incremental view update model, you usually don't care so much about the performance of view functions as you care about the data it produces. So if your view function can somehow parse the XML and put some data into the view index, that's usually all you need. Actually querying the view is going to be really fast.
But E4X is an exceptionally convenient API for XML. I think using E4X is going to be a pretty good approach for those who want to to CouchDB to store and query XML content.
Posted by Dion Almaer at 6:18 am
1 Comment


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Yes indeed the olives are now picked and made into divine olive oil.The nets have been put away for another year and the 1,300 mile journey back to the kennel from Umbria has been completed.The linen has been traded in for woolly jumpers and the wood-burner has been stoked. Brrrrrrrr!
It's good to be back with fresh verve and inspiration and I look forward to seeing friends for walking, chatting and simply being with. Watch out for new Rocking Dog posts including my trip to fifteen French and Belgian cemeteries over 2 days for the Rocking Dog "Remember Me Project" It was the most incredible and poignant experience.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY– Rocking Dog will be selling Christmas Loveliness together with other wonderful crafty and artisanal foodie folk at the seriously fandabidosi (my Italian is really improving!) Court House Farm, Portishead on Sunday 26th November and Sunday 10th December 10-3.30.
It's now time to shut myself away like a little elf in my workroom and create some creative and very festive magic!
Love to all, and hope you have a good week. A wine fasting Rocking Dog x