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Blog Archives
In search of rag wells: St Teilo's Well, Llandeilo – a photo archive
In search of rag wells: The Lincolnshire rag well cluster part 2
Last month I introduced the rag wells associated with Lincolnshire we now move southwards to explore the other sites.
At the significantly named Hemswell are the seven springs apparently rise from the spring wells and one of these is dedicated to St Helen's Well (SK 932 911). The site has an eerie but not unquiet atmosphere. The proximity of a local stone called the Devil's pulpit may help this of course. It is a large approximately six foot high piece of sandstone under which a small spring arises. This Ian Thompson (1999) Lincolnshire Wells and Springs notes local opinion thought was St. Helen's, he said it tasted sweeten than the other waters (a fact that I cannot testify as the spring has appeared to have almost dried up the year I went). Peter Binnall (1845) in his theories on eye wells notes that the spring wells were regarded as possessing curative powers and rags were hung on the surrounding bushes. The dedication of St Helen is an interesting one of course and just within the main area. Jeremy Harte's 2008 English Holy Wells suggests that the name is spurious and that Ethel Rudkin (1936) Lincolnshire Folklore does not refer to it as such, however in support of the view I had no problem locally detecting the well using this name in the village (incidentally Harte makes an error referring to the springs as Aisthorpe Springs, these are clearly another site). There was supposed to be a chapel or church associated with the site, of which there is no trace or record. There was no evidence of any rags on any of the trees and the only thing hanging was a rope for a tyre swing!
Not far away and still surviving are the Aisthorpe springs (SK 956 899) a curative spring and a rag well, despite what Thompson (1999) notes is not now incorporated into a sewage farm, although this is nearby. The spring arises with some force near by the footpath which passes towards the sewage farm and has a separate flow from that of the plant. The spring flows from a pipe beneath some thorn bushes, sadly without any sign of rags.
To the east is Holton cum Beckering were to the east of Holton Hall was a Rag Well according to Lincolnshire Notes and Queries which was said to have had some medicinal qualities, however recent correspondence with local vicar has shown that there is now no local knowledge of this well. The only evidence was a local name for a field to the south of the town known as Well Walk. There is a spring fed pool in churchyard but no traditions are given concerning this. It is possible perhaps that this is the same site as the Wishing Well at Nettleton.
Here at Nettleton, the Wishing well which is records as being half mile from church, east of the grange on land belonging to Holton Park hence the possible confusion with above. Eliza Gutch and Mabel Peacock (1908) Lincolnshire County Folklore note that:
"It was famous for its curative virtues, and thither many of the afflicted, until very recently, if not now, were wont to make a pilgrimage. A thorn tree grew over the well, which used to be covered with votive offerings, chiefly bits of rag, the understood condition to any benefit being that whoever partook of the water should 'leave something.' The thorn tree, however, is now cut down."
Again no local people could determine the existence of this site and nothing is marked on maps.
Kingerby Spa (TF 045 914) whose name first appears in 1824 as the site of a Chalybeate spring might seem an unusual place for a rag well but it is an old site. In Lincolnshire notes and queries state that large numbers of coins dating back to Elizabeth I, were dredged from the pool. Records tell that in 1900, pins and coins were found nearby, and the thorn rags were full of rags. Mr Wilkinson states that it became popular in Victorian times as a place to go for the healing waters and he had seen a photo of the spring with strips of cloth fastened to the bushes surrounding the spring but could not locate it. He believed it fell out of popularity after the turn of the century, and suggested that the landowner was against people tramping over his land to reach it. However, as late as the 1990s, that the then owner was thinking of selling the waters. Mr. Wilkinson also noted that last time he saw the spa it resembled a pipe discharging into a dyke. This is at variance to Pastscape, which notes that the site consists of a small oval shaped isolated pool which has three courses of narrow brickwork forming a semi-circular rim with another brick course and a coping stone set into the side of the hollow suggesting that was a well house. Despite appearing to exist as a small pool on both the current O/S and Google maps; recent field work failed to reveal it. The site would appear to have either dried up or purposely filled in. Field train channels were nearby. This was despite being described on the parish map outside the church, although interestingly this revealed itself to be in another location to that noted on the map so maybe I was pixy led.
The last traditional site is the chalybeate Blind Well (TF 085 208) on the edge to Bourne Wood is the furthest south rag well. However, there are no signs of rags now. Its water was used to cure eye complaints and sold in Bourne Market. It is now rather neglected being rather weed filled and untidy surrounded by a rather ugly wooden frame.
Thus completes the traditional rag wells but as I have eluded to before what is interesting is the site called Lud's Well (TF 176 937) at Stainton Le Vale. The evocative site is a spring which arises in a small cave like structure and fills a small pool. When I saw it in the summer it was a bit dry but apparently it forms a small waterfall according to local sources. I learnt of the site from Thompson's 1999 work and when visited did not see any sign of ribbons. Now this is the county's only rag well. This can be seen from this screenshot from a recent video visiting the site. Why?
The origin of the name may suggest why. Although it is believed to come from O.E Hlud meaning 'loud' others prefer to believe it is derived from Celtic deity Lud, this however is unlikely. Thus it seems very likely that the site has been adopted by the local pagan community who have adopted the attaching of ribbons as a pagan gesture.
So why. Such a cluster as far east as it is as possible to go puts in question the idea that the custom is strongly Celtic in origin perhaps. So why in Lincolnshire. A theory I discuss in my working thesis on the work is that the custom was brought by gypsy communities who had a stronghold in the county. However, why these particular springs is unclear perhaps like Winterton, Hemswell, Aisthorpe, Healing they were close to main roads – we cannot state this in the case of the lost sites of course.
What is interesting is how quickly the custom died out in the county and one wonders whether this is correlated by the reduction in gypsy numbers as well.
In search of the Lady's Well, Harthead, West Yorkshire
Holy well hunting can be a tough activity; covered in nettles, cuts, mud and water and still you may only find a boggy hole or concreted site. Even when it seems simple ie marked by a roadside it is not always easy. Therefore this is why it is important to search for wells in the winter month summed up by this comment on Geograph by a Humphrey Bolton :
"I had looked for this in vain several times, but was eventually informed by a lady of 90 years that it is under a hawthorn bush. After cautiously entering the bush from the side, removing a few nettle stems, I was able to take this photograph. Apparently it is opened up as necessary in times of drought, so there must be a stone slab under the twigs and soil."
Thus in February I searched for the Lady well at Hartshead.
An ancient pre-Christian well
The Rev H. N Pobjoy in their 1972 'Story of the ancient parish of Harthead and Clifton', states it may well have been here before the church which dates to 500 A.D in foundation. The author also states that it is possible that its waters were used by St. Paulinus to baptism local converts. The saint was based at Dewsbury so it is possible. It is also said that the church of St. Peter is aligned to the equinoxes which may indicate some pre-christian observations at the site. In the churchyard is a venerable yew said to predate the church as well. One wonders whether the church was once dedicated to St Mary originally?
It's Kirklees so there must be a Robin Hood association
Not far from Hartshead is Kirklees were one can find Robin Hood's grave. Therefore it would not be surprising to hear that no only did he use the yew tree in the grounds of the church for his bow – perhaps the famed one which he shot for the location of his burial – but he drank of the spring water.
Difficult to find?
In away the well being covered by the only large tree along Lady Well Lane means it is easy to find – well in winter anyway. As such I pushed back the branches beneath. The side closest to the road appeared to be closed over and covered in earth but I had heard that the site was a trough split in two. Jumping over the fence I found the other side of the trough and this was full of water. This was in line with what has been reported about the site being purposely closed up and only opened in times of drought.
Val Shepherd in their Holy Wells of West Yorkshire and the Dales in 2002 notes that there was in 1925-7 a historical pageant enacted about the church and that the area was associated with Whitsun walks. She also draws an association with Walton Cross – a cross base – derived from O.E Wagstan meaning a 'guide' post and was on the boundary of Bradford/Kirklees and their may have been an association with the holy well.
It would be good to see the Lady Well be restored as stated by Shepherd but at least as long as the lane is named after it it will be remembered and easier to find!
Cheshire's very own Archbishop of Canterbury and his holy well – Plemstall's St Plemund's Well
Found down a quiet lane, called Plemstall Lane near the church, is this well named after 9th century saint and Archbishop of Canterbury. The earliest record of the well is in 1302 but doubtlessly the settlement itself derived from Plemstow and supposedly where the saint lived a hermit life on a supposed island on which the church now stands, the spring arising at the base of its cliff. Plemstall taking its name from the saint.
Who was St Plegmund?
Rotha Mary Clay in her 1914 Hermit and anchorites of England states that Plegmund, an Eremite (lived) in the Isle of Chester'. He rose to a position of high office, being promoted Prinate of all England during King Alfred 871-899 AD being a learned individual noted for his writings and translations. He travelled to Rome to be consecrated the 19th Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Formosus. Following the death of King Alfred, Plegmund crowned Alfred's son, Edward the Elder. He continued to be Archbishop of Canterbury until his death in 923 AD and is buried in Canterbury Cathedral. There is no evidence of his association with the well as sadly, the earliest reference to the well is a 1301 quit rent.
The well today
The present structure was erected by Mr Osborne Aldis in 1907 is curbed with stones with steps down to the water. The site was dedicated by the Venerable E. Barber, Archdeacon of Chester, on 11 November 1907. A Latin couplet was placed on the stone supposedly reading:
"Here, as in days when Alfred erst was King, Baptismal water flows from Plegmund's spring."
Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews reported that in 1995 a survey of the well was carried out. This failed to find the slabs in added in 1907 but revealed that the well was a square stone-lined pit which had on either side two large slabs. The bottom of the well was a ceramic pipe inserted at a later date and there was water covering the first step as there was when I first visited. In 2002 a substantial wrought iron structure bearing the saint's name and date was erected making the site easy to find.
Continuing celebration
As noted by the signage, site was supposedly used for baptisms and was called the church well or Christening well, and is mentioned in Churchwardens' accounts, although this may be another well. In the 1990s rags, or clootties, have been placed around the site, and attached to a hawthorn overhanging the tree. However, there does not appear to be any folklore or historical reference to this activity at this site and it has probably been transferred by those in the know! However, there is a tradition of hanging rags at Alderley Edge in the same county so it may be traditional. According to Richards (1947), that:
"on Sunday, August 14th, 1938, the Saint's Day, a large body of Roman Catholics made a pilgrimage on foot to the well."
This was probably started by the curate at St Werburgh's Chester at the time, Canon Frank Murphy. Canon Frank Murphy was clearly highly devoted to the saint, the church had stained glass windows of St Plegmund and the church hall opened by the Canon in 1971 is also dedicated to him and has stained glass featuring him. Curates Frs Gerry Courell and Peter Sharrocks in the 1970s, remember that there was an annual pilgrimage to the well from St Werburgh's probably from the time Canon Murphy returned as the parish priest in 1959. When it ceased is unclear although in the late 1990s, Chester City Council archaeologists lead local children on a well dressing walk on the 2nd of August St Plegmund's feast day. The children on arrival would informally dress the well inspired by the rags hanging nearby. This is said to have ceased in 2000,but according to stcolumbachester.wordpress.com a pilgrimage returned in 2016, The website states:
"On 11 Sept 2016, Fr Jonathan together with 11 parishioners representing 3 generations of St Columba's and St Theresa's parishes, revived the tradition of walking to the nearby well of St Plegmund. It was a lovely warm sunny day for the 3.6 mile walk which is now mostly along the Millennium Greenway. We said prayers at the well and were then welcomed with tea and chocolate biscuits by Mike, the verger to St Peter's at Plemstall where we were impressed by the carvings mostly done by the Rev Toogood in the last century. There followed a picnic in the historic graveyard before a leisurely walk back to St Columba's."
Now since 2000 a Peak District style well dressing has been undertaken. Cheshire-Live website notes:
"THE annual tradition of well dressing is taking place in a Cheshire village this weekend. Volunteers in Mickle Trafford have been preparing the well dressing in the scout hut on School Lane in readiness for the blessing of St Plegmund's Well ceremony on Sunday. Helpers include efforts by the Village Well Dressing Group, Mickle Trafford Primary School pupils and the Cestrian Scouts group. They have been providing decorations for the well and will transport their completed display from the scout hut to the well on Saturday in preparation for the ceremony. Only natural materials are permitted to be used within the display. The blessing of the well ceremony was originally intended to mark the new millennium but proved so successful it was decided to make the occasion an annual tradition. This year's theme for the well is astronomy, with previous years' displays based upon Alice in Wonderland, Hogwart's Express and Creatures Great and Small."
Themes varied from Royal Britannia to although this appears to have died out in 2010.
Sadly, no water flows through the well now said to be the result of a nearby Shell plant lowered the water table, but it clearly continues to be celebrated locally and provide a local connection to the age of saints. It is nice to hear of a village remembering its name's original connection
In search of rag wells: St Helen's well, Thorp Arch, Walton, Yorkshire
A fragment of cream coloured cloth is a curious exhibit piece at Oxford Universities' Pitt Rivers museum. It states:
"Votive rags from St Helen's Well, Thorp Arch near Boston Spa, West Yorkshire 1884.140.331 is an example of the votive rags that were tied to a tree near a well."
Interestingly it also notes:
"Oddly this item was not accessioned into the Pitt Rivers Museum collections until the 1990s though it had lain in the museum for over a hundred years by then."
This rag is perhaps unique being the only museum example of a rag taken from a rag well (considering the folklore associated with such sites I would be interested what happened to the collector). It is fitting to have this record of one of the countries most famed rag wells. For outside the famed Clootie Well and Madron Well, St Helen's Well, Thorp Arch is perhaps the most famed rag well; one which today only a memory survives perhaps –and this acquisition is interestingly the earliest reference to the site. The earliest published reference is in A Thousand miles in Wharfedale by Edmund Bogg (1892) refers to it as:
"St Helen's or the Wishing Well, which is often visited by young men and maidens… In a clump of trees near the river, hanging on the roots of the trees, are some scores of gewgaws left by anxious lovers, who suppose the well holds some subtle efficacy or charm."
A gewgaw would appear to refer to rags as the dictionary definition being a showy thing, especially one that is useless or worthless. A term which has largely fallen out of usage since the Victorian times.
Our next reference is Charles Hope in his 1893 Legendary Lore of Holy Wells. He explicitly now refers to rags, as he notes that:
"It was usual for those who consulted the oracle at this well to make an offering there of a scrap of cloth. This was fastened to an adjoining thorn, which, being literally covered with pieces of, rag, presented a peculiar appearance."
Harry Speight (1902) Lower Wharfedale visited St. Helen's Well he notes in reference to a cross:
"This interesting relic of the ancient faith was discovered here, hidden among brushwood near the celebrated spring which bears St. Helen's name. Whitaker thinks that the distinguished lady had crossed the ford of Wharfe, and that in all probability she had drank at this well, which for centuries afterwards became a very popular resort of religious votaries, particularly from the vicinity of York. Subsequently a chapel was erected on the spot, which was standing in Leland's time, but the Reformation did away with most of these wayside oratories, and not a stone now remains.
He description of the rag custom seems to suggest it was by his time in abeyance:
Such, however, was the fascination of this time-honoured spot, that down even to our own time pilgrimages continued to be made to the holy fountain, and bits of metal or pins were thrown into the water, or ribbons were attached to the adjoining bushes (as many as forty or fifty have been seen within living memory), in propitiation of the good cause of St. Helen and Christianity. The water is beautifully soft and clear, and in former times was much resorted to as a specific for sore or weak eyes."
By the time that C.N. Bromehead wrote an article entitled 'Rag Wells,' in Antiquity IX, March 1935 he visited the well he recorded that:
"There is now no well or visible spring, but from the position at the lower margin of a gravel terrace it is obvious that water would be obtained by digging a few feet; a small stream flows just east of the site."
Yet despite its lost he noted that:
"It is curious that the hanging of rags should survive when the actual well has vanished, but the writer has visited the spot many times in the last seven years and there are always plenty of obviously recent additions. The custom is to stand facing the well (i.e., due west), preferably after sunset, wish, and then attach something torn from one's clothing either to the big tree — wych elm — or to any of the bushes."
Like a precursor of the lovelocks folk craze now current everywhere the author then continues to observe:
"Probably the custom is largely maintained by vagrants who frequently camp in the wood, but it also has its attraction for courting couples from the neighbouring villages!"
Certainly the final nail in the coffin was in 1940 when a munitions factory called ROF Thorp Arch was opened following compulsory purchase of the land. This made St Helen's Lane and the Rag Well out of bounds until 1958 when the site was closed. According to Pastscape historical record that in 1958 it recorded:
"St. Helen's Well (a Votive or Rag Well) still used as such. The Well, now dry and overgrown, has no associated masonry, and appears to have been a simple spring."
This appears to be to the contra of the fact the munitions factory had emasculated the custom. Yet it was doubtless on the way out for by 1963, this entry had been updated to read:
"There are no visible remains of the chapel, but the contour of the ground in the vicinity of the well, suggests a natural hillock at SE 45134583 as the probable site.
However even in the 2000s ribbons could still be seen in the vicinity but whether these were placed by locals seeking a cure or local pagans keen to continue the tradition is unclear but it is interestingly that one of the most famous English rag wells lives on. I only wish that those who had attached the current rags were aware of the that original in Oxford and ensured that their examples were cotton based!
Did St Chad visit Pertenhall Bedfordshire? – in search for St. Chad's Well
Bedfordshire is a bit of forgotten county when it comes to research into holy wells but a digging into a range of resources coupled with field work indicates that the county does have a number of interesting sites. St Chad's Well at Pertenhall is one such site. I was first made aware of the site reading Haunted Britain by Anthony Hippisley Coxe being one of only two holy wells he mentions in the county. It is also worth noting that despite an inclusion in Charles Hope's 1893 Legendary lore of holy wells it has been largely forgotten. The author records:
"The other day, in passing through Pertenhall, I noticed the Chadwell Spring, at Chadwell End, to be a big one. At one time it was proposed to have a drain to carry the water to Kimbolton, a distance of seven miles. Within the last few years much water from this spring has been bottled, and used for sore eyes. The parish church is dedicated to St. Peter, and formerly Pertenhall was Saint Peter's Hall, and there were seven churches altogether in the parish once on a time, so my informant, an old inhabitant I chanced upon, asserted.–A. C. G. Cameron, H.M. Geological Survey. March 14, 1891."
When J. Steele Elliott compiled Bygone water supplies in 1933 he wrote:
"The water was referred to in 1806 for its ferruginous valves…Yields a considerable flow.."
By the time that Hippisley Coxe in his 1973's Haunted Britain arrived he recorded another name:
"At Chadwell End, the southern part of the village, is Holy Spring (originally St Chad's Well)
He continues:
"where only eighty years ago water was bottled and used for sore eyes. The spring lies off Chadwell Farm, 200 yards to the west, through the farmyard, over a wooden bridge Miss Banks, the farmers' daughter may not only give you permission to visit it, but also show the way. No building remains."
The Bedfordshire County Council stated that:
"It is well documented that during the last century it was thought that the water in this well had curative properties, especially for eyesight problems, and people came from miles around hoping to cure their ailments."
It is St Chad's Well or Chadwell?
There is a distinction. There are a large number of wells named Chadwell particularly in the eastern part of the country.
Like quite a number of so called Chad Wells it is more likely to be derived from the Old English ceald meaning 'cold' and indeed it was called Chawdwell in 1607 according to Allen Mawer and F. M. Stenton's 1926 The Place-Names of Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire. On this basis it appears not and indeed Steele Elliott notes that the name Cadwell is recorded in 1712-14.
Bedfordshire was part of Mercia where Chad lived but there is no evidence his visited this area of Bedfordshire. Furthermore, although the manor once belonged to the Knights Templar there is no evidence that the group either utilised the well or named it. However, Elliott does that there is a record of a Nun's Well in the same parish but he does not give a location so perhaps this site and the Nun's well are the same? Is Anthony D Hippisley Coxe naming of the site Holy Spring a clue?
The site today
A glance of the current O/S map shows in blue writing Chadwell spring in an indistinct location at the confluence of footpaths. Elliott shows a photo (see below) of the site which appears to show a spring flowing at some speed into a circular possibly stone lined basin.
Before decide to explore its current state my attention was drawn to the Bedfordshire County Council (2002) notes that:
"The well is still there today but in a poor state of repair, although the Parish Council are hoping to undertake restoration work in the near future."
Bedfordshire 2002 – Issue 19, June 2002
Therefore I was expecting to see some sort of structure in line with Elliot perhaps. However the site is difficult to line up with his photo. It is possible that the site has been tanked although one can hear the sound of water flowing into a small pool of clear water but one could note easily reach this area. Not exactly derelict and just about observable from the footpath although the spring itself probably lies off of it. Clearly a spring of considerable importance but whether St Chad was there it seems very unlikely!
Armchair holy wells – a Youtube focus part 1 Wales
Dear followers and casual readers, as Covid-19 spreads across the globe and around 80% of the World's population are in Lock Down the chances of any of us visiting a holy well are less than usual – unless its on our recreational walk or like me its under the house! Therefore I thought I'd post some Youtube videos which enable us to travel to holy wells from the comfort and perhaps frustration of our armchairs. I plan to focus on an area each month until the Lock Down period is over in the UK – sorry the rest of the world!
This month – Wales
A great introductory lecture
A well for lovers – Maen-du Well, Brecon
Now on the edge of a modern housing estate on the outskirts of Brecon, the Maen du well is a delightful find. Nestling in a small wood, a signed footpath takes you from the road to another world. The well is a small building, measuring 1.7, by 1.5 m inside. It is constructed of stone with a high vaulted roof formed with overlapping slabs. A doorway leads into a shallow pool of clear water with steps descending into it. The water flows into a large stone lined pool below it.
How old is it?
Despite resembling the early Christian chapel/monastic cells that survive in Ireland and Scotland . A stone by the entrance is engraved 1754 with the initials WW. Which suggests it is not medieval after all. However, this could be the date it was built, or perhaps of a later rebuilding. The remains of an older well-building maybe evidenced by the ring of rough boulders in the pool.
An article provides more in The Express dated 27th February 1913:
"THE MAENDU WELL – The well-known and ancient well is situated four fields from Maendu Street, and is to the north of the Priory Church. There is a pathway leading from Maendu Street, but this path for many months of the year is simply a gutter to carry away the water overflowing from fields higher up which badly want draining. The well was for many years the chief supply for the people residing in the Baileyglas and Pendre, and in ancient times it also supplied the Brecknock Castle. Old Sam Cooke, whose father was at one time wood-man to the Camden estate at Brecon, tells us that the well for some years also supplied water to Priory House, being carried through pipes to a tank placed in one of the fields near the Priory Churchyard. There is always a strong and clean supply of water. The well is arched over with stone-work and behind is planted a holly tree. On a stone at the entrance are the letters and figures "W.W. 1754" – probably the date when the present arch was erected. The stone-work shows signs of decay on the N.E. The dimension of the well inside is about 5 feet square, and the roof is about 10 feet from the water, which is only a foot deep, but very clear. The water runs away to a place outside, where those who were in the habit of fetching the water could descend steps and there place their water vessels, beneath the running stream."
A well for the castle
Thompson notes Pen y Crug an iron age hill fort nearby and suggests that the population therein used the spring. Certainly, Maen-Du well supplied Brecon Castle with water. An account reads:
Hugh Thomas tells us, that at each corner of what he calls the square of this spacious building, were two watch towers, as might then be seen. The ruins of two of them still remain at the southern angle, and join an elevated and artificial mound, to the north east is the keep, since the confinement of Morton bishop of Ely, called Ely tower, where the conversation with the duke of Buckingham, mentioned in the former volume, is supposed to have passed. The adjoining ground on this side is considerably higher than the site of the castle, which made the northern front more assailable than on any other aspect ; there were here therefore, in addition to the deep ravine or mote before noticed, two additional fosses, occasionally filled with water from a well called the Maendy well, which also supplied the fortress, though from the facility with which this stream could be interrupted by an enemy in the time of a siege, there can be no doubt that there was also a well within the walls, as water could be procured there without digging to any great depth."
A well for lovers
This well is very generally known as "The Wishing Well", and love sick maidens are said to make pilgrimages and drop pins in the water whilst making their wishes.
Ian and Francis Thompson note in their 1999 The Waters of Life notes:
"the water was also good for eye complaints. We were assured that one man still fills his bottles at the well for his own use and that of his dog, who will not drink the local tap water."
Richard Hall, the Brecon poet, has a reference to this well in his "Tale of the Past and other poems." Today there are no pins in the well that can be seen so perhaps the lovers have ceased to come…and now only local children hide out in this place.
Thompson notes that:
"within living memory hat pins were dropped in the well by girls seeking a husband, and since hatpins were relatively expensive, cheap imitations were sold in local shops for this purpose."
The pool was restored with EU money and a local group called the Maen Du Group since 2009 have looked after the site clearing litter from the site, keeping the pond clean and producing signage although part of this sign has recently been vandalised. One does wonder how long the well can survive with the encroachment of urbanisation on its doorstep but for now it remains a romantic curiosity.
In search of rag wells: The Ragged Springs of Healing, Lincolnshire
There are records of a considerable number of rag wells in Lincolnshire and as such a cluster can be identified. In a couple of posts we shall be exploring the sites focusing on some in detail such as the significantly named Ragged springs near Cleethorpes to the north of the county which is the focus on this blog post.
First it is worth considering the name. The springs themselves whilst possibly being an ancient site, noted by the fact that the earliest name for the parish is Heghelinge. One may make the assumption that perhaps this derives from the springs. However, this is at variance to the view of the Cameron (1985-2002) as it is noted that Hægelingas is derived from 'the sons or followers of a man named Hægel' rather than healing, although it is of course a strange coincidence perhaps.
The first reference appears to be Charles Edward Hope (1893) in his Legendary Lore of Holy Wells, which of course takes a number of sources, some hitherto unknown, but often from local accounts. He records it confusing under another nearby village and states?
"Lincolnshire GREAT COTES, ULCEBY. Here is a spring celebrated locally for its healing properties. It rises from the side of a bank in a plantation, and is overshadowed by an ancient thorn, on the branches of which hang innumerable rags, fastened there by those who have drunk of its waters."
Gutch and Peacock (1908) note that a:
"Mr. Cordeaux visited them not long since for the purpose of discovering whether pins are ever dropped into them, but the bottom of the water in both cases was too muddy and full of leaves to allow accurate examination."
According to Gutch and Peacock (1908) each well had a different use, one spring being a chalybeate one was done for eye problems, whereas the other was for skin problems. They continue to note that a:
"F S, a middle-aged man, who grew up in an adjoining parish, states that when he was a lad, one spring was used for bathing, and the second for drinking. The latter was considered good against consumption, among other forms of sickness. . . . What the special gift of the bathing well was F S cannot say. He often plunged his feet into it when a boy, but he does not venture to assert that it had any great power in reality, although 'folks used to come for miles,' and the gipsies, who called the place Ragged Spring or Ragged Well, frequently visited it. A Gentleman who hunts with the Yarborough pack every winter, says that he notices the rags fluttering on the shrubs and briars each season as he rides past. There is always a supply of these tatters, whether used superstitiously or not, and always has been since his father first knew the district some seventy years ago."
The custom apparently continued until the 1940s, indeed a visitor in the 1920s noted that even the trunks were covered with longer pieces of rag. A picture in Healy (1995) shows a number of rags on the bushes as seen below.
It is worth noting that perhaps the presence of a large thorn perhaps suggests a great antiquity to the site The springs are still marked on the current OS map, as Healing Wells, in a small plantation, but they are, as the photo shows, only marked by circular indentations in the ground, the first spring being the easier to trace and appears to have holes, although these may be made by animals.
The springs are now quite dry, perhaps that the clogging of the springs noted above continued as the springs were forgotten, resulting in the current situation. Lying around the springs are a range of metal buckets in various stages of decay and some metal pieces which may be remains of a metal fence around it. I was unable to find any sign of rags although the man I asked in the whereabouts referred to them as the ragged springs. So there name maybe remembered even if the custom has long since been forgotten.


text:
The first call to give one's life to God in the service of others as a priest or brother may come very early or somewhat later as one goes through life….and it can be a solid feeling or an undercurrent of an idea. Discernment then is the process of searching and researching the validity of this call initially, and then to find the path where God is leading us and where the gifts that God has bestowed on each of us can best be used to serve Him and others.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary are consecrated to God by religious profession of vows and live fraternal communal life.
The call to religious life requires reflecting on the following questions:
You can find help in discussing these aspects of religious life with a Vocation Director or Spiritual Director. Through conversations, vocation materials and visits to a community, a clearer picture of a religious life within a particular religious order can be ascertained.
The Discernment process has no specific time limit and one is encouraged to research several religious institutes before moving to the application process.

subset: commoncrawl


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Climate change is increasingly impacting our economies and the shifts in our climate have potentially profound implications for the financial sector, i.e. for the EIB.
For six months, a team of Sciences Po Masters' students working under the framework of a capstone project assessed EIB portfolio looking at the three broad channels through which climate change can affect financial stability: physical risks, liability risks and transition risks -changes in policy or technology which could prompt a reassessment of the value of a large range of assets.Their analysis focused on three specific sectors: energy, transport and industry.
Their conclusion? Today, these risk factors are largely covered during the project appraisal cycle and the credit risk assessment. However, the Bank will need to deepen its analysis to better understand its exposure for operations signed and disbursed in previous years when the perceived risks from climate change were not so prominent, or for climate related risks that may affect EIB guarantors, collateral and securities.
This was the second of two capstone projects undertaken in 2016-2017 under the agreement signed between the EIB Group and Sciences Po, France's leading university for social sciences.
Click here for presentation


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After awhile of using my computer, the drivers will eventually mess-up. I won't be able to run games as it won't recognize resolutions on my graphics driver, sound will sometimes cut out on any program and my webcam will constantly fail to initialize. I have also noticed that this usually only happens after using Windows Movie Maker or Dark Basic's "The 3D Game Maker" after a few times. It would be really nice to fix as I use Windows Movie Maker A-LOT! Also, my graphics card is an FX5500, my sound is integrated as SOUNDMAX digital audio, and my webcam is an Intel PC Camera Pro. I am also running WindowsXP Pro with Service Pack 3. These seem to be the only drivers and hardware that messes up that I have tested so far. Anyone know what could possibly be causing this?
Thanks in Regards,
P.S. When it occurs I usually hold the power button to Shut-Down instead of normally telling it to shut down itself as I'm afraid it might save the drivers settings as I have had problems with that before :(
Computer=IBM Netvista
CPU=Pentium IV 2.4GHz
You realize that the FX5500 is not only old (released in 2003), but never was a very good gaming card to begin with, right?
Try this driver:
It might be a heat problem. If you're comfortable, try openning the computer and putting a fan close to the computer and see if that work.
I tried your idea, it worked! Must of been overheating in the specific spot.
Thanks for the information, I will try to find a better one when I save up more money.
Thanks guys!
Computer=IBM Netvista
CPU=Pentium IV 2.4GHz


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This is where I will be. Come check out my long time friends Jake Allen (104.9 The Cat), Deejay Element and I at Vapor Night Club this Saturday for their 4th of July Absolut party. Sure to be a good night!
Tags: 104.9 the cat, absolut, albany wedding dj, albany's best dj's, best events dj, deejay element, dj playground, jake allen, jake allen of 104.9 the Cat, playground productions, saratoga wedding dj, saratoga's best dj's, sights and sounds, sweet 16 DJ, vapor night club, wedding dj albany, wedding dj saratoga
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Concert Review: Edwin McCain
Submitted by [email protected] on April 29, 2011
Sometimes you have to travel 95 miles to see a show. Edwin McCain, with the acoustic trio, plus one, performed at the Kent Stage, in Kent, OH, Thursday night. The Kent Stage is one of the best "listening rooms" I've been to over the last couple of years to see some of my favorite singer-songwriters perform including Livingston Taylor and Marc Cohn. I can now add Edwin McCain to that list. Mr. McCain was in Pittsburgh in March with his full band. It was an energetic performance with the songs sounding like what you hear on the CD's with some great jams. But where Mr. McCain is at his best is when he can tell stories and just let the songs speak for themselves. The acoustic trio consists of Edwin McCain on vocals and guitar with long time sidemen Larry Chaney on guitar and Craig Shields on saxophone and wind instruments. A couple of songs into the set a long time friend of Mr. McCain's, Kay Smith from Kent State made the trio a four-some when he came on stage to play percussion. In his early 40's. Mr. McCain is married with three young children at home. His stories now are more about his family life and how he tries to still look cool driving a sedan to a local coffee shop drive-thru with car seats in the back. Mr. McCain casually walked on stage and began the show with Walk With You. The set included more of the songs that make you think and sound good in a small theater with just a few musicians on stage. White Crosses, I Could Not Ask For More, Shooting Stars, Sober, and I'll Be were intertwined with stories of Mr. McCain's life with his family, including his mother-in-law. The three song encore started with Mr. McCain on stage alone singing The Lucky One, and ended with all the other musicians joining him on stage one by one on Holy City. Opening the show was 22 year-old Seth Glier. He began his 35-minute, 7-song set singing the title track of his latest CD The Next Right Thing acapella. He next performed Walk Katie Home and Gotta Get Away before Pittsburgh musician Brad Yoder joined him on stage to play sax on I Don't Need You and First. Mr. Glier also tells stories: living at home in a small town in MA with his parents and taking care of his 26-year old brother Jamie who is autistic. The young singer-songwriter has been polishing his performance by spending 200 nights on the road each year. Mr. Glier ended his set with the song he was thrilled to hear on the radio as he was driving into Ohio, Lauralee. The audience rewarded Mr. Glier with a standing ovation. Barb S. - Sunday Mix Host
- [email protected]'s blog
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Permalink Submitted by Catherine M. Cheek on May 4, 2011
I was at the Kent that night and thought that had to be the most entertaining concerts I have attended. Edwin was in top form and I don't think I have heard him sound better even on his albums. He has one amazing voice and is a top-rate songwriter. Seth also blew me away with such raw talent. His music was beautiful and he still possessed the eagerness of a musician who is in it to share his art. He reminds me of what Edwin might have been at 22. I met Edwin and the band, even his sound man. I felt at ease around all of them, no vanity or 'star trip' attitude. It was like sitting on my front porch with old friends. Edwin was so patient with me and my cutting up with him. I still laugh about it. I was able to spend more time with Seth though. My husband and I talked with him off and on for awhile. I recognized him from Youtube and found him refreshing. He is going to go somewhere and it would not surprise me in the least if his dedication to his music is as profound as Edwin's McCain's. I teased him about future Grammy awards and how I would say, "Hey, I knew him when." His face lit up with a big smile and that made me happy. I have been to many shows and have met a few 'rockstars' and musicians. None were as friendly as these men I met at the Kent and I have to say that I loved the Kent Stage's intimate atmosphere.
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Guards: Armed man caught at Al-Aqsa
Jerusalem - Ma'an - An Israeli man was caught by Palestinian security guards at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound early Sunday morning, onlookers and security officials told Ma'an.
Worshipers said the man attempted to reach the Al-Mathara building using a ladder from Az-Zurba alley, which is adjacent to Al-Qattanin Gate in East Jerusalem's Old City.
Onlookers said a machine gun was strapped to the man's back. While several people reported a struggle as the man attempted to flee, there were no reports that he tried to open fire. The man was handed over to Israeli police around 2am, as guards believed he "intended to commit a massacre against worshippers at dawn prayer," one of them insisted.
Later, Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld confirmed that a "28-year-old disturbed man" was "picked up" when he was found wandering around the area, but denied that the man was armed.
Individuals purportedly involved in catching the man expressed astonishment when told police were denying he possessed a weapon. "Settlers never wander the Old City unarmed," one guard quipped.
Shortly after he taken into custody, an Israeli police source told Ma'an that "it was decided he should be transferred to the [Kfar Shaul] mental health center in Givat Shaul," a West Jerusalem village known in Arabic as Deir Yassin.
Police will hold a meeting at their Jerusalem headquarters to discuss the incident and its potential repercussions, said the same source on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
Meanwhile, the website of the Israeli news network Channel 10 reported that police arrested a "Jewish man who tried to infiltrate the Temple Mount compound," but cast doubt on claims he had actually entered the mosque area or that he was armed. The report also said the assailant was "mentally disturbed" and taken to a psychiatric hospital.
Jerusalem Governor Adnan Al-Husseini rejected that the specific incident in question could have been executed by a mentally unstable individual, rather than someone with radical religious or political beliefs, due to its supposedly technical nature and the planning presumably required to bypass security cameras and barbed wire, as well as the Palestinian and Israeli guards deployed in and around the area.
In an interview, Al-Husseini stopped short of specifically accusing the Israeli government, however, instead speculating that the man was associated with an extremist organization intent on damaging the mosque or harming worshipers nearby.
For his part, Fatah Jerusalem affairs chief Hatem Abdul Qader called the police's reaction "ironic and indicative" of what he said were Israeli authorities' double standards for Palestinians and Jews.
"When a Palestinian is thought to be behind an attack, he or she is abruptly classified a terrorist who threatens state security, and interrogators are immediately deployed to begin investigations before he's transferred to jail," he said. "However, when the aggressor is a Jew, he's then classified as insane or eccentric, as every health expert is deployed to treat him before he's tossed in a mental hospital."
Abdul Qader added that such policies encourage settlers and extremists "to continue with terror against Palestinians and holy places," recalling a similar reaction to the radical Christian Zionist Dennis Michael Rohan, who Abdul Qader said was swiftly declared insane and hospitalized shortly after he set fire to Al-Aqsa in 1969.


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We are delighted to add to our range this wonderful Broccati block-printed pure linen tablecloth. With a design based upon the damask and brocade patterns of old, we have deliberately used large wooden blocks in order to create a 'watercolour' effect. With a vivid display of hues and shades within each pattern, no two tablecloths are the same and we would never want them to be. Here we are creating something truly unique and in effect, a work of art on a sheet of pure linen.
A technique much loved by artisans
Woodblock printing is a much-loved technique of artisans and dates to being one of the earliest methods or textile decoration ever used. It takes a great deal of time and requires a lot of skill from the craftsmen applying the blocks. The results are not only extremely artistic with clear patterns and vivid colours, but the style is very defined. Woodblock printing creates a finish that cannot be replicated in any other way, adding to the immense appeal of this method of decoration.
Each wooden block has to be carved by hand until totally smooth; the design is then transferred, and the wood chipped away to leave the shape intact. It is then used to apply tints that have been mixed by hand with many of the shades coming from natural herbs and plants. Very much influenced by the colours of the land, forests, mountains and the sea, the result is extremely rich and colourful.
Pure natural linen
Of course, this woodblock printing technique can only look as good as the fabric upon which it is applied. For this tablecloth we use pure linen, hand-woven on looms using traditional and long-established methods. Linen has been produced for thousands of years and is one of the finest of cloths due to its longevity and strength. The more you use linen and wash it, the softer and suppler it becomes. Use it, wash it and store it in cupboards and decades from now, it will still look wonderful. Not only is our linen one of the finest available but we have mastered the art of dying the fibres, producing a tablecloth that displays a remarkable mix and depth of colour. You know that when you buy Italian linen, you are receiving the very best in terms of cloth.
Rich radiant colour
By using traditional techniques, the threads are carefully placed and the resultant cloth truly exceptional in terms of quality and excellence. Because the yarn gives a very fine weave, when we apply the woodblocks to the fabric, the colour is revealed in all its glory, looking richly radiant.
Inspired by the patterns of damask and brocade, our hand-produced woodblock patterned linen tablecloth is a delight to behold. Add life and colour to your table with this wonderful item by placing your order today. Our woodblock hand-finished tablecloths also make the perfect family heirloom and are thus very desirable to give as engagement or wedding presents.
If you would like hand-printed table napkins to complete your table décor, please get in touch with us to add this to your selection.


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Contact any one of our four UK offices and we'll be happy to help.
Fill in the form and a sales advisor will arrange your personal appointment.
Fill in the form and a sales advisor will call you back within your selected timeframe.
If you have one acre or more of land for sale, please fill in the enquiry form.
Our Homebuyers Guide helps you to plan ahead for your move!
Personalise your home with a superb range of options and extras.
The scheme is available to all new home buyers, and not just those starting out.
Energy Saving, Superior Specification, Total Confidence, Time Is Precious, Choice Of House Styles.
Even if you haven't sold your existing property you may still be able to reserve your new home.
Paying a monthly mortgage could actually be cheaper than paying rent.
With Part Exchange Plus, your buyer is ready and waiting whenever you are.
We all know how critical first impressions can be. Which is why it's important to do all you can to show your home in the best possible light.
We've been creating beautiful new homes in highly desirable locations since 1959.
We believe people are at the heart of our success, and we are always on the look out.
Catch up on the latest news from all our developments across the country.
Watch our video to learn more about us, what we do, and where we are heading!
Our commitment to providing our customers the highest quality of service.
Search for your perfect home! We offer apartments, mews, townhouses and spacious detached homes.
Our Sales & Information Centre is now open for 1-2-1 appointments, please contact us to make an appointment or talk to us about making a reservation. Our Sales Advisor will be able to take your call on 01909 570063 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Gateford Park is an exclusive development offering a range of 4 & 5 bedroom detached homes in Gateford, Worksop, bringing new houses for sale in Nottinghamshire.
With ten different house designs available in phase 2, you can be rest assured that there is something for everyone. From young professionals to growing families or perhaps those looking to downsize but still requiring a spacious well served home. Traditionally designed with modern living in mind, the light and airy interiors offer plenty of space to work, play and relax in style whilst the variety of external finishes gives each home character and identity.
Gateford Park provides the perfect haven for those looking for the bestof both worlds.
Situated on the outskirts of Worksop, Gateford is close to open countryside and has the nearby National Trust Clumber Park which is a beautiful expanse of parkland, heath and woods covering more than 3,800 acres and offers many leisure activities. The royal Sherwood Forest, made famous by the legend of Robin Hood, is also within easy reach and has events and activities throughout the year.
Neighbouring Worksop offers everything you need for modern living with a choice of restaurants, cafés and bars, a variety of sporting clubs to enjoy and many shops including the Priory Shopping Centre. Gateford itself is only half an hour away from Sheffield's leading shopping and leisure destination Meadowhall, which offers an array of designer and high street shops.
For professionals looking to commute, Gateford is well located to main motorway links with close access to the M1 and A1(M), also with two local train stations Gateford is well connected to many major destinations including Sheffield and Nottingham.
Nearest stations:
Shireoaks (1.4 miles)
Worksop (1.5 miles)
Kiveton Park (4.3 miles)
For families, Gateford and the surrounding area offers a wide choice of schools;
Gateford Early Years, Balmoral Community Centre, Worksop S81 7EF
Claremont House Nursery, 300 Carlton Road, Worksop S81 7LW
Gateford Park Primary School , Amherst Rise, Gateford Park S81 7RG
St John's CofE Primary School, Raymoth Lane, Worksop S81 7LU
Worksop Prospect Hill I & N School, Maple Drive, Worksop S81 0LR
Prospect Hill Junior School, Maple Drive, Worksop S81 0LR
Valley Comprehensive, Baulk Lane, Worksop S81 7DG
Portland School, Sparken Hill, Worksop S80 1AW
Dinnington Comprehensive School, Doe Quarry Lane, Dinnington S25 2NZ
What to expect when buying a Jones Home. Find out here >
Discover the Options and Extras we offer. Take a look here >


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If you have integrated your Microsoft Office365 or Google G-Suite calendar, EVA will automatically read your calendar and join meetings based on the settings you have defined when you configured your integration. However, there may be an upcoming meeting which is private, and you don't want EVA to join. In this case, you can easily let EVA know to treat this meeting as an exception, and to not join. You can do this two different ways:
- Upcoming daily digest of meetings EVA is planning to attended
- At the beginning of every day, EVA will send you an email with the meetings that are planned for the day. Next to each meeting, there is a link that allows you to prevent EVA from joining. Simply click this link - "Want EVA to sit this one out - click here" - and EVA will know not to join your upcoming meeting.
2) 20 minutes before your meeting starts
- If your email settings are configured to send you a reminder before your meeting starts, EVA will email you 20 mins before the meeting is scheduled to start. You can also tell EVA not to join directly from this email. Simply click on the button that says "Do Not Join".


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No Loans Barred
In an industry that is notoriously under-regulated, Federal Reserve Officials warn against ANY regulations that might cramp their ability to suck the life out of American borrowers.
Regulators need to take care not to stifle innovation as they seek to ensure new loan practices, such as "exotic" mortgages, do not put institutions or consumers at undue risk, a top Federal Reserve official said on Thursday.How else are we supposed to fleece those hard to reach consumers?
Richmond Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker told the Conference of State Bank Supervisors that the expansion of credit to U.S. consumers had been "broadly beneficial," [to lenders] even though the pace of defaults and bankruptcies had risen.
"We need to be mindful of benefits as well as risks when evaluating banks' activities, and be careful not to stifle worthwhile financial innovations," [a.k.a., scams] Lacker said.
Lacker, who is among the voters this year on the Fed panel that sets interest rates, did not address the U.S. economic or interest-rate outlook in his remarks.
The Richmond Fed chief noted that concern has been on the rise about the potential for new bank loan products to ensnare unwitting consumers, but said the best approach would be to work harder to educate borrowers.
"Many proposals amount to calls for lending restrictions or the outright prohibition of some lending practices. This strikes me as a dangerous approach," he said.
Lacker said a better job could be done with the disclosures banks are required to make of loans terms.Nevermind that many borrowers don't bother to read them.
"The supervisory community ought to encourage disclosure statements written for real consumers, rather than lawyers, as now seems to be the case," he said.
Lacker said advances in information technologies had fueled the expansion in consumer credit availability by making banks more efficient in monitoring and extending loans.And you thought all that spying was for national security purposes. It's to keep track of how much you spend and earn, the better to know who to target!
He said a rise in the number and rate of delinquencies was a natural byproduct of the wider availability of credit.That's because bankers collect interest for doing nothing. They extend "credit" which is nothing but thin air that is ALWAYS paid by the interest they collect from someone else.
While these "bad outcomes" could expose some banks to increased losses, a rise in bank losses was not, in and of itself, problematic, he said.
"As long as a lender's entry into a new product line is appropriately managed, increased loss rates are in a sense a measure of the extent to which access to credit has been provided to new borrowers," Lacker said.They don't care if 5% of borrowers default. They collect the difference from everyone else by expanding credit and collecting more interest.
As far as they're concerned utopia is a world in which NO loans are barred.


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Afraid to open Author Copies -- Enchanted Ever After
The copy editor got this, my editor got this, and we had several major conversations with the art department (apparently they do the special fonts) as to what font we wanted since we were limited by their software. I wanted a cursive font with connected letters, like so:
By the time I got the final edits, I was stunned to see that there was no special font, after all that effort by so many. I contacted everyone I needed to, hoped I found all the places, and sent it in on a wave of exhaustion.
I'm not sure everything made it.
So, like, I haven't even opened the boxes...
I guess I should nerve myself and do that.


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Halsey Earns Top Spot On Billboard Top 200 Chart
One of the biggest fears a creative faces is the "sophomore slump." There are all sorts of expectations, both artistically and professionally, that come with a second release. Luckily for Halsey, she can mark her sophomore full-length album a success.
The singer earned a No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 with the release of her latest album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. Check out the good news in a tweet from Billboard after the jump. Congrats, Halsey!
For more Halsey, you can purchase a concert ticket here or buy a CD here!
.@Halsey earns first No. 1 album on Billboard 200 chart with 'Hopeless Fountain Kingdom' https://t.co/6TtHmNB4Ux
— billboard (@billboard) June 11, 2017
Brooke Daly
Latest posts by Brooke Daly (see all)
- We Came As Romans Announce Headlining Tour - January 7, 2018
- Warped Tour Adjusts 2018 Routing - January 7, 2018
- The Maine Launch Podcast - January 3, 2018


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On the Legal Blog Watch, Robert J. Ambrogi gives us another example of how the Internet is intruding on jury trials. The South Dakota Supreme Court found that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in declaring a mistrial in a seat belt defect wrongful death case because of a juror's Google searches.
You can read the entire South Dakota Supreme Court opinion here.
- Jurors and Facebook (PA trial)
- Jurors and Twitter
- The Faculty Lounge (more on Twitter and jurors)
- Twitter Marketing (Overlawyered post on one lawyer's effort to market his law practice via Twitter)


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Feel free to get in touch with us
5/1129 North Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - 3166
5/1129 North Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - 3166
We had our Christmas party at our offices with catering from Big Flavours. They brought a BBQ and cooked up a feast! A fantastic experience. Food was awesome and service amazing. Would highly recommend
- Tim Washington
All the finger-food canapes were delicious. My guests particularly enjoyed the substantial serves of Wild Mushroom Risotto, and the Braised Lamb Shanks with mash. Sara responded to all my questions promptly. The food was delivered at the agreed time and was professionally presented. I can highly recommend this catering company.
- Jacqui Cooper
I used Big flavours catering for our wedding anniversary and found the whole process from the first contact to end function to be fabulous. The food was fresh, full of 'flavour' and there was ample choice of menu dishes. I am a happy customer and our friends were most complementary of the food and services.
- Janette McMillan
What a fantastic experience! Great company to deal with.. the chef and food was just amazing and a seamless stress free experience. Will definitely be using these guys again!!
- Kate Guardiano
Lovely food and great service, would use again!
- Annalies Engwerda
We had 60 people and the Chef was efficient and the meal was attractive and well presented. They scoffed it all down. Wonderful!
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We were absolutely blown away by how efficient and helpful your staff were. They were prompt, friendly, flexible and went above and beyond to help make our function amazing. The food was delicious and every single guest was absolutely thrilled. Thanks so much for covering our function.
- Elke Calleja


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Your cart is currently empty.
Multi-functional and ready for anything, that's the Jim Jack-et, a button-up, collared shirt you can wear skiing or to drink Moscow Mules at the bar. It doubles as a lightweight jacket with 40 grams of thin Spaceloft micropuff synthetic insulation, covered by a water-resistant polyester outer fabric. Durable snaps cinch up the front and there's one zippered chest pocket for stashing your house key. It packs small, making it the perfect travel companion for the journey ahead.
$ 62.50
$ 125.00


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These days, you need to be on top of your game when it comes to internet marketing. If you do not keep up with the current trends then your techniques may become outdated or even obsolete. Use the tips provided in this article to make sure you are staying current in the market.
If you get disheartened with internet promotion, do not throw in the towel. You may be close to achieving a successful internet marketing campaign when you stop. Have everything prepared before you start selling. At times, this can take a lot of effort. But remember, the harder you work now, the more it'll pay off in the end.
To be a great marketer on the Internet, track your statistics and data. Keeping records of everything you possibly can is extremely important for learning what really works. Track what marketing methods you use and how they affect people. Record exactly what you sent or presented or posted, when, to which people and in what form. Track who clicks, who responds, who buys, and when and how and how many people take each specific action in response to your marketing campaigns. The more you know, the more you'll see what you need to do to boost your success rate.
Brand yourself up. Make a logo, a saying, or even a simple title that will carry into everything you do. When people start to recognize your brand, success is on the way. Market your website just like you would a product: acknowledge the shortfalls, but be sure to praise the uniqueness.
When you are using any popular video-posting site to post your videos, you should try to make sure to add closed captions to them. The fact that you would be catering to users that are hearing impaired shows people that you care about your customers, and that you will go out of your way to make sure they are satisfied.
Look online for local bloggers of the destination you are visiting and contact them personally for recommendations. Bloggers post stories to offer others their expertise, and often they are happy to respond to a personal request (especially a request that has a hint of flattery). Be sure to be specific in your questions.
Avoid spamming whenever you can. Although it might seem easy to promote your site using software that crawls the web and fires off comments and e-mails, you probably won't be very successful at all. Actually, impersonal advertising will turn off people giving them the opposite effect you intended to give.
Give your customers and website visitors options about how they want you to contact them. Giving them no say in your communications channel can turn some of them off. Even better, letting customers pick and choose reduces the chance that they will opt entirely out of your communications. Preserving a channel to talk to each of your visitors is smart internet promotion.
In conclusion, you know that in this day and age it is crucial to stay in the know with the latest information on web marketing. Use the tips provided in this article to help you stay up-to-date. Don't get left behind or become obsolete! Make your website marketing a success!


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Arsene Wenger on Friday gave the latest update on the squad that will face Liverpool today.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arsene confirmed that Diaby, Wilshere and Gibbs will miss the game due to injury along with Song and Gervinho, who are suspended.
In an update on Djourou and Traore, who had positive tests on Thursday, the manager said that they won't also be available. Djourou is out with a minor hamstring strain while Traore has a slight groin problem.
Rosicky, whose inclusion was pending a late decision on Thursday, will also be given a rest against Liverpool due to a thigh injury. However, he will be back with the squad by Monday as according to the manager the injury is not bad.
Meanwhile, Wenger announced, Japanese sensation, Miyaichi, and want away midfielder, Nasri, are available and included in the squad.
Frimpong will also be in contention to start as Wenger admitted his likeness for the youngster and his ability and added only his injury proved a hindrance or he would have played last year.
Wenger also hinted at a possible start for Jenkinson after praising his performance against Udinese.
Arsene Wenger, ahead of the game against Liverpool, said:
"The morale is strong and the belief is strong. I believe we have had a decent start. We have Song and Gervinho suspended. Diaby and Wilshere are injured. Djourou and Traore will not be available and Gibbs will not be available.
We will give Tomas a rest tomorrow. It is not a bad injury and he should be back with us on Monday but he is rested tomorrow.
He [Ryo Miyaichi] came back from Japan yesterday and is in the squad. He [Samir Nasri] is in the squad tomorrow and available to be picked to play.
Frimpong will be in contention when I pick my team tomorrow morning. I like him very much. He is a fighter, he is strong in the duels, has fantastic levels of commitment and he uses the ball well with his feet. He was one of the players who dominated pre-season last year with Jack Wilshere and was stopped through a cruciate. I think he would have played last year.
Jenkinson did really well at left-back the other night [against Udinese]. I believe that he will have an impact and you will fight for him not to play for Finland."
Follow @Rgunners


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Reality Hunger, a new book by David Shields, is an important book—of this much I am sure. If I had any doubts about this fact, the torrent of blurbs on the book jacket would clear any of those up. There is not an inch of space on the back or front cover that is not taken up by someone's praise of the book, whether that praise is from fiction writer Jonathan Lethem, poet and "cultural critic" Wayne Koestenbaum, short story writer Amy Hempel, or nearly a dozen others. Some of the blurbs actually cover the title. It's a bit much.
But then, Reality Hunger is all about breaking boundaries—boundaries of taboo, genre, expectation, artificiality, and so on. It also seems by design that a fair number of the blurbers are quoted in the actual book itself. Shields wants to force the reader to think about the relationship between different texts and different authors. Not much of Shields' "manifesto," you see, is actually written—or at least originally written—by Shields himself. What he has done instead is aggregate an impressive amount of text from other sources, ranging from Michael Moore to T.S. Eliot to Ralph Waldo Emerson, and organize them into several distinct categories.
This does not make Reality Hunger an inferior version of Bartlett's, since the organization is the primary creative act. I cannot begin to imagine how well-read Shields must be for him to have cataloged such a diverse group of texts and remolded them into his own stream-of-consciousness treatise. It is also important to note that the vast majority of quotations are not presented as quotations. Their original sources are only listed in the appendix (and even then only out of legal obligation—Shields frankly admits he didn't want to include them at all), and they are presented as regular text in numbered chunks, marked no differently from Shields' own words. Indeed, it took me several dozen pages to realize that not everything in the book comes from Shields himself. The idea is that Shields is using other peoples' words to express his own ideas. Continue reading


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Connecting with School Communities
In addition to SRE or CRE, there are a variety of ways that local individuals and congregations can connect with school communities – showing you care about the school and community not just your own church. Some existing opportunities may include: Parents & Citizens Associations, assisting with reading groups, and canteen helpers.
Additional opportunities can also be sort out, including things like lunchtime groups and mentoring programs, such as Kids Hope Australia.
In offering to help in a school community it is important that we seek out, respect and comply with any policies and procedure around being a volunteer in that school. This is the first step in building a mutually respectful and positive relationship with the schools community – students, teachers, parents, principal, and support staff.
Some other avenues you may wish to explore:
Chaplaincy for the school community through the National Schools Chaplaincy & Student Welfare Program


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Sand Sea Resort, Railay Beach
a magic land of the sea, beautiful places of the world.
Happy Anniversary/ Wedding proposal/ Super Surprise Birthday
Weddings vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes.
Your wedding is one of the most important days of your lives. We know how much thought goes into every decision when you're planning your big day.
We provide two different wedding packages, Thai Wedding & Western Wedding. Please find detail of each package below.
We can also tailor a package to suit your specific requirements!
SAND SEA RESORT is located at centered in the heart of Railay west beach with perfect combination price and service in Krabi province, along the Andaman Sea coastline south of Thailand.


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Networking, Relationships, Business, Connections, Goals
Episode 049: Dynamic Networking - Meridith Elliott Powell
URL: http://www.julieannsullivan.com/dynamic-networking-meridith-elliott-powell
On this episode of Mere Mortals Unite, I'm speaking with Meridith Elliott Powell about Dynamic Networking. It's not just about making the rounds in a room full of people. Meridith shares some valuable skills on making your time beneficial by not placing the focus only on yourself. A true connection is made when you follow the 80/20 rule--20% of the time the conversation is about you and 80% of the time it's about the other person.
This power of connection doesn't happen in a vacuum. Meridith says you have to be intentional, and she gives a number of great ideas about doing that. Some of the easiest actions you can take can also help you reap the greatest rewards. You gotta work it, though, and Meridith tells you how.
Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to watch by Currency Fair, Meridith Elliott Powell is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and business strategist. With a background in corporate sales and leadership, her career expands over several industries including banking, healthcare, and finance. Meridith worked her way up from an entry-level position to earn her seat at the C-Suite table. She is Certified Speaking Professional, a designation held by less than 12% of professional speakers, and a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaching Council.
You'll discover:
Interview Links & Other Resources
Follow Meridith Elliott Powell on Twitter
Connect with Meridith Elliott Powell on LinkedIn
Connect with Meridith Elliott Powell on Facebook
Yes, Believe It or Not, There is Leadership in Washington
Own It: Redefining Responsibility by Meridith Elliott Powell
Letting Go, Clarity, Focus, Productivity
Episode 064 Letting Go for Clarity and Focus with Joe Calloway
URL: http://www.julieannsullivan.com/clarity-focus-joe-calloway/
Today's guest is Joe Calloway, a leadership & performance speaker, author, business workshop leader, keynote speaker, and a consultant on branding and competitive positioning. He has authored Becoming a Category of One, Be the Best at What Matters Most, Magnetic: The Art of Attracting Business, Work Like You're Showing Off, and several other top sellers on Amazon and other book publishers.
He has been a coach and speaker for the past 30 years and his client list includes global brands like BMW, IBM, Saks Fifth Avenue, Coca Cola, American Express, newspapers in Sweden, companies in South Africa, and hotels in Great Britain. He speaks on various topics but most frequently on business trends.
The major themes in his motivational talks include "moving on", "letting go" and forgiveness.
Bio: Joe Calloway is a business author, consultant and speaker who helps top performing individuals and organizations unlock potential and get even better. Joe is the author of 7 business books, including the classic Becoming A Category Of One.
You'll discover:
Joe Calloway's list of things to let go:
Let go of the toxic people in your life.
Let go of being envious.
Let go of being late.
Let go of having to be right.
Let go of re-posting without fact-checking.
Let go of not listening.
Let go of negative self-talk.
Let go of trying to impress everyone.
Let go of beating yourself up for past mistakes.
Let go of making the same mistake over and over.
Let go of over-thinking everything.
Let go of making it complicated.
Let go of someone else's definition of success.
Let go of the need to please everyone. You can't.
Let go of waiting for someone else to make you happy.
Let go of spending all of your money. Save - even a little.
Let go of saying "yes" to things you don't want to do.
Let go of hating people who don't look, sound, or think like you.
Let go of being afraid of new ideas.
Interview Links & Other Resources
iTunes - Subscribe, Rate & Review
Faith, Laughter, Humor, Purpose, Suffering
Episode 41: Faith - Maia Aziz
URL: http://www.julieannsullivan.com/faith-maia-aziz/
On this episode of Mere Mortals Unite, we interview our first Canadian, Maia Aziz. Maia has her own podcast called Morning Moments with Maia. She's a mother of six, a wonderful wife, and works at Mackay Rehabilitation Centre in Montreal as their program director. I hear she's a great cook and I know she can crochet awesome scarves. She can do it all, but none of that prevented her from having a child with some genetic anomalies.
Maia shares her story and how it solidified her faith that all will be well. She reminds us that we have the ability to choose having faith that life has a great purpose for us, but we have to remember to make that choice. A key to her success is to accept that sometimes we have to suffer through and know that's OK. We all have days that don't go according to plan, so join us to find some helpful ideas on how to cope.
You'll discover:
Interview Links & Other Resources
Connect with Maia Aziz on LinkedIn
Connect with Maia Aziz on Facebook
Morning Moments With Maia: Sheva Carr on Humor and Human Trafficking
Morning Moments With Maia: Judith Henry on Humor and Caregiving
leadership, role model, example, relationships
Episode 067 Being a Role Model at Work with Lee Cockerell
URL: http://julieannsullivan.com/being-role-model-work-lee-cockerell
It seems like being a boss in the workplace would be an easy job. You just tell everyone else what to do, they do all the work and you call it a day. Well, that's not exactly how it works. The entire workplace can be toxic when you have a big, bad boss. Employee turnover is higher, stress is rampant and this causes employees to miss more days of work. To top it all off, those who do show up to work are terrified and suffer through an excruciating work experience. It doesn't have to be that way, and today's guest is going to show us how to change it.
Lee Cockrell was the Executive VP of DisneyWorld Paris. He began his career by being the big, bad, boss! He used to scare and intimidate his employees and even shares a life changing moment. Lee is an expert in Time Management and he teaches it each and every week. But today, we aren't focusing on time management and productivity, but we are turning to the soft skills.
Today Lee is here to share his transformation story. His focus now is to help us build great relationships at work. One of the keys to building great work relationships is understanding that you really can't control people. Great leaders at work can improve work performance and cultivate the next generation of great leadership in the workplace. People want to come to work and learn and grow, and when you feed that part of people, the keep coming back for more.
Lee's Bio: Former Executive Vice President, Operation for Disney World for ten years. Before Disney, Lee held executive positions with Hilton Hotels for 8 year and Marriott for 17 years. Lee now gives seminars and keynote speeches around the world on Leadership, Management and Customer Service.
You'll discover:
Interview Links & Other Resources
Additional Resources:
Lee's 15 Minutes Edutainment Videos


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We can never get more time which makes it our most precious resource. But in God's eyes, people are more precious still. Whether it be in prayer, acts of service, or just listening, let's give each other what is so difficult to give: the time God has given us.Click here for opportunities to serve.
No one can give what you can when it comes to your talents. We are God's unique, handcrafted child and He has created you to do some incredible things. Let's not be shy about our abilities because anything that you do well has a place in what God is building.
Money can be spent and disappear or it can be used for something that will remain. Giving to the Lord's people is not really about numbers but about lives. Give of your treasure to change a life and you just may find your life changed as well.
Click here for online giving.


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|The calmness of Fort De Soto Park
|Gotta love that crystal clear water
Using my handy iPhone equipped with a US roaming data package, I was able to find a highly regarded beach bar called Bongo's in nearby St. Pete Beach. It covered our criteria of great seafood options and an ocean-view patio. This was actually the in-house restaurant of a popular beach resort complex. Good eats, drinks and cigars followed and as usual I received a healthy dose of "props" from the boys for this clutch find. After lunch we decided to take advantage of what would be our final hours of sunshine on the trip by catching some more rays on famous St. Pete Beach.
|Little lunch action beach-side at Bongos
Aside for the equally impressive white sand and clear water, St Pete Beach was nothing like the bustling Clearwater Beach. It's possible that the fact that it was quite windy and a Monday could have had a lot to do with it. We took our waterproof camera into the ocean and got some great shots while avoiding the sandstorm that was building on land.
|Going for a TD pass at St Pete Beach
Once back in Tampa for the evening we chose to head back to Ybor City, as there seemed to be quite a bit going on there a couple nights earlier before we had to leave for the game. We started off the night yet again at Tampa Bay Brewing Co. for some more cider wings and other assorted apps. While deciding where to head next we were approached by a group, led by two suggestively dressed women who advised us that there was a great karaoke night happening at a bar down the street. The single friends in our group were instantly sold, and we headed on over.
|Tampa Bay Brewing Co. - One last time
The bar, Dopple Decker, was a tad divey, but had a decent crowd and reasonably priced drinks so we decided to stick around. My buddy John, riding high on 'liquid courage' asked me to sign him up for some karaoke, which I did. What followed was a decidedly awful, yet hilariously entertaining rendition of Nirvana's "In Bloom". (R.I.P Kurt, 20 Years). We stuck around for a few more songs after that, before heading back to the hotel to try and make a little more of a dent in our in-house booze stash as we were now in our 2nd last night of the trip.
|A 'legendary' performance, and by 'legendary' I mean 'drunk'
We woke up the morning of our final full day in Tampa to cool temps and a steady rain. As we were expecting this, we had made plans to drive out to Ellenton, for a little outlet shopping. A combination of crappy weather, big crowds and lack of any significant deals caused us to tire of the shopping experience rather quickly. As we were in line at the mall's disappointing food court, my iPhone and data plan once again came to the rescue and we were off to an authentic BBQ joint only a few minutes away.
Hickory Hollow provided us with some delicious southern BBQ fare including pulled pork, ribs, rotisserie chicken, and of course delicious corn bread! We were soon stuffed beyond proper function and returned to the hotel in preparation of the main event of the trip. A (sadly, nearly meaningless) hockey game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and our hometown Toronto Maple Leafs!
|The boys are ready for game time!
After cleaning up from the beach and indulging in a few pre-game adult pops in the room we headed down to the hotel's happy hour for a couple bites and of course the free beer. We had the front-desk call us a cab, and we were advised it would be up to a 45min wait. Well over an hour later (with the free beer still flowing) there was no sign of our cabbie. Eventually one pulled up looking for "Shane". Since no one else was in sight we decided 'what the hell' and jumped in with our incognito coffee cup brewskis.
|Lots of coffee consumed on this trip
We arrived at the stadium to a large crowd and some pre-game festivities out front. As beer prices were through the roof, we just decided to head to our seats a bit early. Our group had to split up into two packs of three, but all of us had awesome seats to the game. We passionately belted out O'Canada, but unfortunately that's where our cheering ended as the Leafs were bounced 3-0 in a rather dull affair. After the final buzzer we made our way back to the Bud Light Party Deck for some more of their famous $2 draughts. While drowning our sorrows we met a couple of friendly locals. One of whom was a Lightning fan/season ticket holder who was originally from Toronto, and now is living and working in Tampa. We also met a chick who came to the game solo after her friend bailed on her and she kindly offered to take us to some hot spots downtown.
|Loving their seats
|Making friends @ the Bud Light Party Deck
First stop was Hooters, which was closed (common mid-week theme apparently)… so we sauntered a little further to a really cool adult slushie bar. Basically a room that looked like a high-end ice cream parlor with about two-dozen flavors of alcoholic slushies. Being the frozen drink connoisseur that I am, this was quite the find. We stayed here as long as we could until they (politely) kicked us out. After that we hung out on their patio a little longer before heading back to the hotel. We spent our final hour with a few more drinks, before retiring for the night and catching a flight back to reality in the morning.
|Alcoholic slushie anyone?
Random Musing – with a return connection in DC, I realized that the North American terminal @ Ronald Regan National Airport is a joke. No duty-free, under 5 food options, tiny and crowded.
Mike @ Palms & Pints


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Category: Stock Graphic, Illustrations
Stock Graphic >> Illustration - Black and white vector illustration 12662 by SolveigEugenia Design @ CreativeMarket
File Size: 657.27 KB; Requirements: Adobe CS1+; Vector: Yes.
Girl and music. Black and white vector illustration. Artistic doodle style
Keywords: vector, girl, music, art, artistic, background, black, black and white, illustration, flower, digital, doodle, decorative, lace, elegant, ink, stylized, treble clef, notes, sound.


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Contact us
Do you have questions, wishes or suggestions for our vegan river cruises? We are looking forward to hearing from you via phone, fax or email.
Phone +49 (0)2506-3047481
Fax +49 (0)2506-3047482
eMail firstname.lastname@example.com
Or write us:
Vegan Travel Ltd.
Von-Grueter-Weg 71
48167 Münster
You can also find us on Facebook.
Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/vegantravel
Or follow us on Twitter.
We will respond to your inquiries as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours.


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In a pure formality, Mitch Unrein signed his $555K exclusive rights free agent tender today. The move was inevitable once Denver tendered him, because as a player with less than three accrued seasons, Unrein was not free to negotiate with any other teams.
Unrein could only have been a true free agent had Denver non-tendered him, and provided he makes the team, he'll be a restricted free agent next offseason.
Tony Carter was also tendered as an ERFA, but with a $715K salary. Carter hasn't yet signed his tender, and like Unrein, will be a restricted free agent next offseason.
Be sure to check our free agency tracker for updated statuses.


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what we saw in not execution, it was not killing, it was more than murder, it was 10,000 times more painful than what the Jews went thru at the concentration camp. This was worse than murder. This went beyond torture. I dont see a word for it.
The Area Mp is Honorable Onyonka. Please contact him and let him tell the world why some of his constituent s are murdering others and where is the justice for the lynched


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A reading on Philadelphia-area manufacturing activity unexpectedly showed a substantial acceleration in the pace of growth in the month of February, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia revealed in a report on Thursday.
The Philly Fed said its index for current manufacturing activity in the region soared to 43.3 in February from 23.6 in January, with a positive reading indicating growth. The jump surprised economists, who had expected the index to dip to 19.3.
With the sharp increase during the month, the Philly Fed Index skyrocketed to its highest level since January of 1984.
Paul Ashworth, Chief U.S. Economist at Capital Economics, said, "The Philly Fed index is now at a level that, based on the historical relationship, would point to GDP growth of slightly more than 6%."
"Before we get too carried away, it's important to stress that this is a regional indicator that can be very volatile from month to month," he added.
The spike by the headline index was partly due to notably faster growth in new orders, as the new orders index jumped to 38.0 in February from 26.0 in January. The shipments index also climbed to 28.6 from 20.5.
On the other hand, the employment index edged down to 11.1 in February from 12.8 in January, indicating a modest slowdown in the pace of job growth.
The report also said the prices paid index dipped to 29.9 in February from 32.5 in January, while the prices received index tumbled to 10.6 from 26.8.
Looking ahead, the Philly Fed said the future indexes for growth moderated from last month but continued to reflect a high degree of optimism.
The diffusion index for future general activity fell to 53.5 in February after reaching a two-year high of 56.6 in February.
On Wednesday, the New York Federal Reserve released a separate report showing a significant acceleration in the pace of growth in regional manufacturing activity in February.
The New York Fed said its general business conditions index jumped to 18.7 in February from 6.5 in January, with a positive reading indicating growth in manufacturing activity. Economists had expected the index to edge up to 7.5.
With the much bigger than expected increase, the index rose to its highest level since reaching 30.2 in September of 2014.
For comments and feedback contact: firstname.lastname@example.com
Economic News
What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
Biotech Stocks Facing FDA Decision In August 2020
New Drugs Approved In June
Tracking Coronavirus Vaccines In Human Trials


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This morning my boyfriend and I had an argument. Certainly not something that happens seldomly, given both of our predilections for moodiness and strong opinions. However, it had been a long time since we argued about God, as generally our arguments are of a much more
pointless earthly nature.
I am a staunch atheist. I believe only in the absolute, inexplicable awesomeness of Nature. I feel no comfort in the thought that some higher power created the universe and all that resides in it. I'm much more impressed by the thought that everything is a result of an intricate dance of the natural world, unsullied by something magical (because lets be honest, the difference between "miracle" and "magic" is a matter of semantics and translation) and inhuman. I'm as likely to believe in 42 as the answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything as I am to believe in the omnipotence of a higher power. As a student of both psychology and anthropology I have a deep love/hate of humanity, and as conflicted as I may be about the inherent goodness or malevolence of people, I still have faith that humans are capable of amazing things which have nothing whatsoever to do with God.
There are a lot if people who would read that and argue that the only reason Nature is as awesome as it is, is because of God. But why? Can't nature be awesome on its own? Evolution is a far more compelling story than any I've read in the Christian Bible (aside from maybe the New Testament, because Jesus – Son of God or not – was a pretty BAMF dude, but that's a post for a different time). This morning my boyfriend accused me of looking down on him because he believed in a higher power (not necessarily a sentient one, but rather something amorphous and definitely more than human).
To clarify, I was not consciously looking down on him, but maybe there was a hint judgement in my voice. Afterhis accusation, I got to thinking (God forbid a woman do such a thing, terrible pun entirely intended) and realized that the reason that I don't believe in God, or any higher sentient power is because I don't want any of the comfort that comes with the belief that there is something more than human that has influence over my actions. I am a Goddamn Independent Woman, thank you very much! I cant believe whatever the fuck I want and take comfort in whatever silly beliefs I may hold!
And therein lies the heart of the argument with my boyfriend. It wasn't about whether or not God existed, it was about the kind of comfort we take from the world around us. And then suddenly, it wasn't an argument anymore, but a comparison of our separate loves and what things make us feel joy, wonder, and fulfillment.
So think about it. What makes you smile? Dogs? Writing silly blog posts? Tumblr? The love of Jesus Christ? Whatever makes you happy, own it, be proud of it. It's yours and no person can take away your potential for true happiness. It's something I'm still learning and I hope that at some point my cynicism will stop getting in the way!


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Welcome to Hell Week 2017 – brought to you by the Infernal Interview Service, the Library of Erana and with kind permission of Perseid Press.
The twentieth book in the much-acclaimed Heroes in Hell series brings us pirates, plagiarists, monsters, heroes and villains and, of course, the shared world of Hell.
Spotlight on Hell – check out the link for further details.
So what poor souls are joining us for this?
Joe Bonadonna, Seth Lindberg, Andrew Weston, Michael Hanson, Rob Hinkle, Larry Atchley Jr, and Janet and Chris Morris bring us their characters and their time.
So, dear minions…. er readers… pull up a pitchfork, get the marshmallows out and watch out for those pesky demons.