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Count Radbout Houwdegen is an ancestor of the Fischer family. He's married with Contessa Natasha Houwdegen and the ex-husband of Contessa Willow Houwdegen.
The Sims MedievalEdit
Radbout in The Sims Medieval
Radbout's appearance as a mortal.
Radbout Houwdegen was an handsome and flirty merchant who was born in the 13th century. He lived in Simtopia (later known as SimNation). Radbout got in love with Queen Samantha. She was the wife of the first monarch, King William. He did woohoo with her and Samantha got pregnant. Everyone thought there would be a second royal child (the first on was prince William II). So, when Samantha gave a birth to a son, everyone called him prince Henry. Radbout impregnate Samantha again. Radbout also had an eye on Sister Pythia. After the woohoo, Pythia discovered she was pregnant too. Samantha gave a birth to Petrus and Pythia gave a birth to Phillip. After the insistence of his wife, the king gave Radbout the title of Count. Radbout celebrate his title with Marquess Kira. Later, Samantha told him she was pregnant of his fourth child. After the birth of is fourth son Jacob, the king discovered the affaire. Samantha was doomed to the pit of judgement and Radbout ran away and never came back.
The Sims 2Edit
Above 800 years the Count reappeared in Fear Valley as a vampire. He discovered that some of his descendants lived there, so he decided to stay a while. In the local H&M he met Willow Darga, another vampire. They talked, flirted and before he knew he woohoo'ed Willow in the changing booth. The Count and Willow were in love with each other and there were seeing each other more and more. However, Willow lived together with her lover Peter Carr. When Peter left for taking care of his granddaughter, the Count proposed Willow and they married. They moved to Houwdegen Mansion.
Radbout and Willow gave a house warming party and they invited a few friends. One of them was Carla Cooke, Willow's friend. She told Willow about her happy family life and Radbout heard that. Radbout wanted to be a good father and have a big family. He wanted to fix the faults he made 800 years ago. After the party he told Willow what he want. However, Willow said she was to old to get children. Radbout was really upset about it.
Willow didn't want to see her husband upset and she started to search a nice women who would like to carry a child. So, she met Natasha Una who has just got a miscarriage and broke up with her fiancée John Mole. Willow and Natasha got along and she invited her at a diner in Houwdegen Mansion. The next night, Natasha met the Count and she liked him immediately. Radbout and Willow asked her if she would carry their child and Natasha agreed. However, Willow noticed the Count and Natasha loved each other, but Radbout didn't want to cheat his wife. And then Willow made an unexpected decision: she didn't want to be a vampire anymore and she wanted to divorce Radbout. He was shocked and she told him she couldn't fulfill his want and she was to old to be a good wife. She also said Natasha was a better wife for him. Radbout didn't agree and he said he really loved her and not Natasha. But Willow knew Radbout was in love with Natasha and she asked her for a favor. So, when Radbout was working, Natasha and Willow bought a Vamprocillin-D and Willow drank it. Radbout came home and he discovered the human Willow. First he was angry, but finally he knew it was her decision. Radbout and Willow divorced, but she may keep her name as an honor.
Radbout and Natasha married not much later and went on honeymoon in Twikkii Island. After the honeymoon Natasha discovered she was pregnant and gave a birth of Anastasia.
- The Dutch name of the Count is Graaf Radbout Houwedegen.
- Actually, the Count was never intended to be an ancestor. But I wanted to relate him with the Fischer family.


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subset: commoncrawl


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MIAMI – The Miami Heat have signed forward Eric Griffin and center Justin Hamilton.
Terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Griffin appeared in 10 summer league games for the Heat.
He averaged 6.8 points and 3.2 rebounds.
Hamilton was acquired by the Heat on draft night 2012 after a trade with Philadelphia.


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Informazioni su questo video
A demo of the Data Sync functionality on Red Hat Mobile Application Platform. Data Sync can be challenging for mobile app developers as it's not about standard transactions being transmitted back to a database. It can involve complicated scenarios where some data is stored locally on the device to be accessed when the device is offline and then synced back with the server when the device is back online. This is a particularly useful demo for field workforce apps or indeed for any app development that may involve access to data when there is no network coverage.
Learn more: https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/mobile/application-platform
- Video Channel
- Dimostrazioni
- Durata
- 7:44
- Data
- 18 agosto 2017


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The Rook is Daniel O'Malley's debut novel and he sets out his stall out early. "Dear You, The body you are wearing used to be mine." is the opening statement from O'Malley's protagonist, Myfanwy Thomas (a name she incorrectly and deliberately pronounces Miff-un-wee). She wakes up holding the letter addressed to herself in a London park surrounded by dead bodies – all wearing latex gloves and no memory whatsoever. Thus, she – and we, the reader – must follow the trail of instructions left by Myfanwy's predecessor to discover her lost identity and uncover the individual responsible for leaving her in this state.
Soon enough, O'Malley segues from the woman who finds herself shivering in the rain to the reveal that Myfanwy is in fact a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret governmental agency known as the Checquy, who protect the world from known supernatural threats. Unfortunately, there is a mole within the agency and this unknown individual wants Myfanwy dead. So far, so compelling - and a pretty intriguing premise from which to spin what subsequently becomes a complex dual-tone/personality narrative from both Myfanwy and her previous personality.
As an aside, given Myfanwy engages in a form of intellectual play-by-play with her antagonist throughout the course of the narrative and fact that "the game" is even referred to specifically towards the conclusion of the novel, the title of the novel is arguably also a suitably clever way for the author to mirror its overriding theme and reinforce the extent of the author's knowledge of the text intended to be provided to the reader.
The concept of a "supernatural spy novel" forms a nice twist upon the burgeoning spec fic genre and one which is rich with opportunities to indulge in. This is James Bond meets Doctor Who/Torchwood, with an additional sinister element added in by virtue of Myfanwy's amnesiac status at the outset (and thus also a main protagonist reminiscent of Ludlum's Jason Bourne in this respect).
The concept of an amnesiac narrator also serves to ensure O'Malley's debut breaks new ground from previous works within the subject area, such as Tregillis's alternate history novel, Bitter Seeds, for one, and thus stands out from the crowd. Further, by throwing elements of action, sci-fi, thriller, mystery and fantasy into the melting pot, O'Malley provides his audience with a somewhat subversive narrative which defies categorisation within purely simplistic terms and ultimately making it a more compelling read as a result. Not only this but, cleverly, by providing his reader with this kind of set up, both reader and main protagonist maintain the same pace within their fact finding mission and encounter the supernatural world into which we are thrust from the same perspective, with a fresh pair of eyes – both down the rabbit hole together, as it were. As such, O'Malley's premise is afforded additional impact.
Whilst it is true to say that there are a number of "familiar" elements present within O'Malley's narrative – namely, a boarding school involving young "pupils" with differing "powers" they are encouraged to harness, in addition to the aforementioned amnesiac heroine (as opposed to hero) – it is also correct that they are given a decided twist so as to ensure they fit O'Malley's purposes – thus, no superhuman strength or x-ray vision per se or overt comparison to X-Men applicable. Instead, we see fortune telling ducks and individuals capable of exuding neuro-chemicals, for example; thus, more of a nod in the genetic mutant direction, as opposed to treading an already familiar path, in the strictest sense. Added together, these elements remain fresh enough to ensure the plot is free to stand on its own merits, as opposed to feeling borrowed or weighed down by an inevitable sense of cliché.
Myfanwy herself is also arguably a character capable of definition within the somewhat familiar tropes of the speculative genre. Whilst she may not be a Harry Potter or Buffy style "chosen one", she is on one level an individual struggling to come to terms with the powers she knows herself to possess – and, indeed, choose whether to exercise them or not.
The manner in which O'Malley chooses to address this dilemma is an interesting one, with Myfanwy's predecessor and Myfanwy herself ultimately coming to differing decisions as to how to act. Again, then, the narrative refuses to be pinned down in simplistic terms. Here, O'Malley, whether by deliberate design or otherwise, poses an interesting question; ostensibly a slightly less distinct aspect of the age old "nature versus" nurture issue. Effectively, what extent can we consider Myfanwy to be a product of her previous experiences in terms of reaction and is her behaviour post-amnesia the result of being freed from these and thus reacting without forethought or preconception? Does this allow her to fulfil her supernatural potential at a more advanced level, although it previously lay dormant within the body which both versions of Myfanwy inhabit at differing stages? Given the lack of overt answer within the print on the page, this may well be something O'Malley intends for the reader to reach a decision upon for themselves.
This issue aside, O'Malley's narrative is not one which takes itself too seriously – nor should it. By throwing itself wholeheartedly into a plot which is resplendent with spores and slime, we are afforded the opportunity to enjoy a book which aims predominantly to entertain. Quite simply, we are intended to have some fun; this being something O'Malley seems to have had whilst building his secret society and its surrounding environs. With this in mind, we see power supplies cut to Liverpool to prevent a media broadcast concerning ghost animals within the business district and suggestions concerning an individual capable of secreting toxins through her fingertips.
Whilst this might come across under a different author as overblown, O'Malley keeps us on side by ensuring his tongue remains firmly in cheek during these events and exploits the comic potential of his "fantastical" plotline. This is aided in no small part by the irreverent voice of his main protagonist, Myfanwy, who makes no secret of her opinions in the face of the events she is forced to play a part in whilst she attempts to uncover her adversary.
Pleasingly, the secret society agency itself, the Checquy, is realised in a suitable level of detail during the course of the narrative via numerous letters addressed from Myfanwy's predecessor to herself ("Dear You"), even down to the monarchy-reminiscent crest adorning the black and white cover to the novel. We also gain a sense of the bureaucratic manner in which any such organisation might be forced to operate and the levels of seniority and power play envisaged by the chess playing piece designations for which its members are named during the course of the discussions by its members with one another. Thus, O'Malley maintains a delicate balance between realism in his depiction of the supernatural branch of the secret service versus the field work his agents are required to enter into when facing down threats. Not only are there super-powered foes to face down, there's a supreme amount of paperwork involved in the process too!
Further, we are introduced to the American Bishop, Shantay, expanding our national horizons. Thus, we gain an impression as to the potential scale of the global supernatural network and O'Malley provides himself with a larger backdrop against which he can stage his narrative in the event of a future sequel.
The level of description, on geographic levels both domestic and international, ensures not only that the supernatural spy "world" of the Checquy is sufficiently well established to convince the reader of its potential plausibility but also that we are provided with the necessary clues for the purposes of the "mystery" element of the narrative which will keep the reader engaged in the quest towards discovery of the truth. Thus, O'Malley serves to achieve two aims via a singular means.
Thankfully, O'Malley ensures the "mystery" is suitably resolved prior to the debut's conclusion, as opposed to leaving things hanging for a second or third instalment – also a relief in light of the apparently increasing trend within genre fiction towards "story by instalments" and the prevalence of the "novel via trilogy" within fiction generally.
Despite the eventual "reveal" of the identity of Myfanwy's nemesis within The Rook, however, matters are sill left suitably open at the conclusion that a return to the world of the Checquy and the Rookery is a distinct possibility. I understand the author is working on a further instalment and I suspect there may already be a ready market for it on the basis of his opening gambit into the urban fantasy market.


text: There is a great podcast with the New Yorker's Sasha Frere-Jones, that places auto-tuning in a historical and technological context. Very interesting… and already a part of next year's Media, Technology, & Sociology course. (He also has a nice rundown of the Lost season finale, which highlights Jeremy Bentham–which I hope wasn't lost on my urban students! …McSweeney's has a nice catch up screenplay)


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Nanda Devi is the chief patronizing Goddess of Uttarakhand and several shrines are devoted to her all across the central Himalayas. Nanda Devi Fair is one of the most popular festivals in Uttarakhand and attracts people from near and far. Nanda means well-being and prosperity. The fair is held every year in memory of Goddesses Nanda and Sunanda during the month of September and is taken as a symbol of spiritual and material prosperity. The fair is said to have started in the Kumaon region during the reign of Raja Kalyan Chand in the 16th century.
Roop kund #1
Roopkund (locally known as Mystery Lake) is a high altitude glacial lake in Uttarakhand state of India, lies in the lap of Trishul massif and famous due to hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake. The location is uninhabited and is located in Himalaya at an altitude of about 5,029 metres (16,499 feet). The lake is surrounded by rock-strewn glaciers and snow clad mountains, making it a good trekking destination.A shallow lake, having a depth of about 2 metres, Roopkund has attracted attention by having human skeletal remains easily visible at its bottom when snow melts. There are many theories and opinions, from purely spiritual to purely scientific ones, which explain the existence of these skeletons, which date back to 9th century CE. Because of these skeletons, the lake is also sometimes called as Skeleton lake in recent times
The otherwise quite and serene Chamoli district in Garhwal reverberates during the festive event of Nanda Devi Raj Jat. The Raj Jat (Originally Raj-Yatra the Royal journey) takes place every 12 years after elaborate preparations by the descendants of the royal priests living in village Nauti and the royal family of Kunwars living in Kansuwar. Nanda Devi is an excellent example of the vibrant culture of Uttaranchal pulsating in a land blessed with superb natural beauty..
Chau Singh Khadu #3
This yatra goes up to the heights of Roopkund and Homkund and the main attraction of the yatra is a mythical four horned sheep known as CHAUSINGHA KHADU and ŌĆśRINGAL KI CHATOLIŌĆÖ (a devotional symbol to cover Devi Nanda seat like an umbrella).


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Since the beginning of teachers in classes, there have been certain types of students. As reliably as the sun will rise, you will have kids in your class that are always running late, or "forgetting" homework, or doing who-knows-what as soon as your back is turned. Here is a list of some of the more common ones, and how to do your best to make sure you're classroom stays in order. Continue reading
teach overseas
10 Big Online TEFL Course Advantages
We know choosing the best TEFL certification course for you can be almost as overwhelming (or more!) as choosing a country where you want to teach English abroad. While the onsite courses certainly have their appeal, we think the Online TEFL course might be what you're looking for if you haven't yet decided on that country, you're still working or in school, or you simply want a high quality course with maximum flexibility. Continue reading


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Sno-cone Costume
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Sno-Cone Chloe
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|Costumes for Girls
This homemade costume for girls entered our 2015 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Kim, the 'Sno-cone' costume creator:
This is my daughter Chloe who loves to eat sno-cones! We made this costume 2 hours before trick or treat using white flannel fabric and red letters and snowflake stickers from the craft store. She wore a clown wig and we painted her face to match the colors.


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Crackdown 2 Demo Due Before Release
"You can definitely expect a demo to hit Live before [Crackdown 2] is out," producer James Cope told IGN, "but I can't say when that will be... yet. The [original] Crackdown demo was fantastic and we want to carry on in that form."
But while there hasn't been a specific release date announced for the super-powered sequel, we do have a general idea as to when it'll arrive, as Microsoft recently listed Crackdown 2 among the Xbox 360 exclusives due in the first half of 2010.
From The Chatty


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To Touch a Heart
An American soldier in Afghanistan defines true heroism.
May 25, 2019 | by Rabbi Yaakov Cohen
An American soldier in Afghanistan defines true heroism.
Related Articles
(4) Anonymous, July 11, 2019 1:13 PM
I will never leave a Fallen Comrade
Respectfully, it's wasn't just a pact between Larry and Michael. It's part of the Warrior Ethos which is nested within the Soldier's Creed. Every US Army Soldier is taught and drilled so it's not only committed to memory but it becomes a way of life. And as a Veteran, I can attest that it still holds true for my Battle-Buddies and I: If one of us is in trouble, we will always come.
(3) Anonymous, June 17, 2019 9:33 PM
this message is for everyone
this message is not directed to jews, but to every human being on the planet.
Unfortunately in this "me" generation kids are learning the wrong message.
It is not about money, fashion or fame, it it about GOODNESS. What can I do
to help another. Let's teach our children the importance of this.
(2) Sydne, May 27, 2019 6:39 PM
True heroism
Watching this video I could not keep a dry eye..
Profound and wise with hope to reach those who might understand it.
A visual memory to never forget.
Most Popular In Videos


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SANAA — Yemeni troops began to deploy in the northern province of Saada on Saturday to monitor a ceasefire between Shiite rebels and hardline Sunni Salafists, a security official said.
The deal brokered late Friday by a presidential commission ends fighting that erupted in late October centred on a Salafist mosque and Koranic school in the town of Dammaj.
But the deadly conflict had spread in the northern provinces, embroiling Sunni tribes wary of the Shiite rebels, known as Huthis, who have been accused of receiving support from Iran.
"Forces have begun deploying in the areas surrounding Dammaj," the Saada-based security official told AFP, adding some gunmen had not yet vacated their posts.
The deal stipulated the two sides would withdraw from the areas around Dammaj to be replaced by army troops who would monitor the ceasefire, said Yahya Abu Isba, head of the presidential mediation commission.
"This agreement ends the military conflict between the Huthis and the Salafists in Dammaj... and prevents a sectarian war that was looming over Yemen," he told state television.
The Huthis, named after their late leader Abdel Malek Al Huthi, are part of the Zaidi Shiite community.
They rose up in 2004 in their stronghold of Saada against former president Ali Abdullah Saleh's government, complaining of marginalisation.
They accuse radical Sunnis in Dammaj of turning the town centre into "a real barracks for thousands of armed foreigners", a reference to the Dar Al Hadith Koranic school, where foreigners study.
The security official said a plane was expected to evacuate "foreign students" and the leader of the Salafists in Dammaj, Yahya Al Hujuri, on Saturday.
Sources in the mediation commission told AFP that Hujuri had requested President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi decide on a solution for the Koranic school and its foreign students, while providing protection for the town.
Dammaj has a population of about 15,000 people.
The Red Cross said it evacuated 25 casualties from Dammaj on Saturday after the ceasefire.
The wounded, some of whom are in a critical condition, have been airlifted from Saada airport to Sanaa, the spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Yemen, Marie Claire Feghali told AFP.
The ICRC said on Monday it evacuated 34 critically wounded casualties from Dammaj, taking advantage of an earlier truce, as it has done five times since fighting resumed in the area on October 24.
On Wednesday, a presidential commission also brokered a ceasefire between the Huthis and gunmen from the powerful Hashid tribes, ending two days of clashes in the northern province of Amran.


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Mitt Romney Picks Pro-Life Rep. Paul Ryan as VP Running Mate
Mitt Romney has selected strongly pro-life Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate. Ryan is a Wisconsin congressman know for his conservative stances on fiscal and budget issues but he is very strongly pro-life — saying he would never vote for abortion.
Ryan has made a solid pro-life pledge that will endear him to millions of voters looking for a pro-life Vice President to replace pro-abortion Vice President Joe Biden.
During the 2010 elections, Ryan told The Weekly Standard's John McCormack, "I'm as pro-life as a person gets."
He responded to a controversial "truce" that Mitch Daniels of Indiana had put forward saying social issues should be put on the back burner, and repudiated it.
"You're not going to have a truce. Judges are going to come up. Issues come up, they're unavoidable, and I'm never going to not vote pro-life," Ryan said.
Ryan said he is equally adamant about both his conservative fiscal views as well as his position that every unborn child has the right to live...


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Do you remember when football used to be a contact sport? I do. It was what made the game great. Now, however, thanks to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, it's quickly turning into a video game with passing yards piling up in ways that make every defensive player sick to their stomach. Defense was once the most important aspect of the game. Under Goodell, however, it's little more than a necessary evil that needs to be constantly restrained for fear that the high-priced offensive talent might actually get banged up. Um, Roger, in case you didn't know, that's what the game's all about. If you're gonna drop back to pass, you're gonna get smacked down. Risk/reward, you know? Or it used to be, anyway. The new defenseless player rules are quickly making for an entirely defenseless league.
He also recently upheld Terrelle Pryor's suspension for NCAA violations. Just consider that for a moment. He suspended a guy for violations he has exactly zero jurisdiction over, and the violations themselves aren't even against NFL rules. There also just might be a conflict of interest in allowing the guy who issued the thoroughly unjustified suspension to rule on the appeal, as well. But, hey, apparently integrity only matters when Goodell says so. This might have been something the players should have addressed in the recent CBA battle, if they weren't too busy caving in to the owners' ludicrous claims of poverty.


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Latest News
11 February 2020
Our Communities
Kurraka (Magpie): Black
Martin Luther: A Black cross…so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us.
Romans 10:10 New International Version (NIV)
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Kadli (Dingo): Gold
Luther: A golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end.
James 1:12 New International Version (NIV)
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Yaltu (Pelican): White
Luther: A white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace.
John 14:27 New International Version (NIV)
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Nantu (Kangaroo): Red
Luther: It leaves the heart in its natural colour.
Luke 8:15 (NIV)
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Kardi (Emu): Sky Blue
Luther: A sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed.
Romans 15:13 New International Version (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Shed Men Go Bush - 180 Dads and their children go bush!
19 May 2017
This weekend our prayers are with SMGB Planning Committee and more than 180 Dads and their children as they go bush to enjoy a variety of activities including campfire making, bush cooking, rock climbing, archery, leather making, life be in it, tractor rides, coke bottle rockets and damper making. A huge thankyou to Scott Hartwig and his organising committee for their tireless work in organising such a special event.


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Who We Are
BAB is a partnership of individuals and organisations working together to reduce isolation and loneliness among older people in Bristol.
As we start to create the conditions in the city and find the most isolated and lonely older people, we must make sure that they have strong and vibrant communities around them that they can get support from and contribute to. This theme will support new approaches to developing communities and will also be proactive in evaluating the impact of the programme.
We will encourage innovation through this theme, supporting the development of larger and small projects that will trial new methods of supporting lonely and isolated people to meet and engage with their communities.
City-wide roll out of asset-based approach providing a diverse range of activities, co-production and capacity building.
A major asset based intergenerational programme with local Learning institutions, with a focus on the empowerment of isolated older people through sharing skills and experience.
A fund for community groups who have an idea to kickstart activities that tackle isolation and loneliness.
Training and supporting a group of older people to become competent in qualitative research to undertake community audits and much of the evaluation of BAB.
BAB is a partnership of individuals and organisations working together to reduce isolation and loneliness among older people in Bristol.
BAB is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund to develop and deliver a programme that identifies the best ways of reducing the isolation and loneliness of older people.
BAB is a partnership working to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people and help them live fulfilling lives.
© 2020 Age UK Bristol.
A charity limited by guarantee. Registered no 2984207.
Registered Charity no. 1042548
Somerset Design - Supporting Charities in Bristol
If you'd like to receive our updates then you can subscribe to one or all three by clicking here.


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Hello Kitty!
I'm referring to the town of Kuching actually. Happy to be back here after 2 decades!
While doing some bunga telur shopping at Kuching town near the Waterfront, we stopped by at Bismillah Cafe for the yummy and famous Mee Kolok. There are a few types of the noodle, but today I had the Mee Kolok soup.
|Bismillah cafe
|Types of Mee Kolok
|Mee Kolok soup
We passed by the stalls at the India Street Pedestrian Mall, selling clothes, tudung, and food, navigating our way through the narrow Indian Mosque lane which connects the mall and Gambier Road with the mosque in between. Walking a bit from India Street is Jalan Main Bazaar where there are many shops selling spices. I bought Masala tea spice and Mee Jawa paste for my mom here.
|India Street
|India street
|stalls near India street
|Masjid India
I noticed that vans are used as mode of transport in Kuching and are divided into zones since the city itself covers a vast area. Each Zone is dedicated to a designated area of Kuching. The nostalgic rectangle bus is also still in service.
|Zone 1 van
|Classic bus
|Classic van schedule table
Crossing the street from the spice shop is the Waterfront promenade along the Santubong river, a popular place to hang out with friends and families and take photographs. We took our outdoor wedding shots here too, with people cheering and congratulating us. Sweet.
On the night before the kenduri we stopped by at Topspot, a food court on the top of a multi storey parking building; with mostly stalls selling seafood, just beside Ariva Gateway where my family were staying to have dinner with mom and my side of the family from KL.
Image taken from here
After the majlis kenduri (wedding reception) at the kampung, we spent a night in Kuching town with our good friends from KL, Mas, Ezad, baby Mishary and Liza who came all the way to Kuching. In fact, they attended both wedding receptions in KL and Kuching. We stayed at Merdeka Palace Hotel at Padang Merdeka Kuching. Our friends opted for the 2 room apartment while myself and Partner in Crime chose the hotel room.
The 2 room apartment is spacious with 3 bathrooms, a living room and kitchen with a view of the Padang Merdeka. However, the hotel room is a disappointment - very small, no view and has outdated deco (RM180/room/night with no breakfast).
|Apartment master bedroom
|Apartment room no. 2
|Apartment kitchen
|View from apartment
That evening we went for the Sunset River Cruise from 5.30pm - 7pm which include drinks, kek lapis and a short traditional dance performance onboard. The cruise cost RM60/person. Little Mishary also joined us on the cruise and he seemed to love it (and managed a nap too) with the cool breeze lapping. We passed by the Dewan Undangan Negeri, DUN (State Assembly) Astana (a palace, the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, or the Governor of Sarawak), Malay traditional water village, Kuching State Mosque, Fort Margherita (built in 1879 by Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak) , Kampung Boyan/ Surabaya and Chief Minister's house, among others. The cruise ended with Sarawak traditional dance of the Iban, Bidayuh and Melanau.
|before going onboard
|u can sit inside
|u can sit outside
|Mishary loves it
|Chief Minister's house
|Brooke dockyard
|traditional dance
|Mishary ogling at the lady dancer. Naughty ;)
It was drizzling when we made our way to the Sarawak cat museum. Located at the Kuching North City Hall headquarters on top of a hill, it has a great view of the city. The entrance is free but we had to pay RM for a camera permit. The exhibition is all about cats but seemed dated and in need of new content. Nonetheless, the cat exhibits are indeed kawaii (cute) ^_^
|Japanese painting
|Cats Rock!
|Spacey Cat
|keep off my teddy bear!
We then made our way back to the Waterfront to take the sampan (or tambang) to cross the river and back. The return journey cost us RM1. Residents of the water village by the river regularly use this service for their daily transport.
|tambang coming!
|Pramugari tambang...Silakan Masuk...
It was then time to eat again! I wasn't about to give up yet on my mission to get good Mee Kolok and Laksa Sarawak. So we tried our luck again today at Mom's Laksa (they ran out of laksa the day before). We noticed that Mee Kolok and Laksa Sarawak are served for breakfast at most of the restaurants and tend to finish up by 11am.
Luckily the Laksa Sarawak was still available for lunch, but no Mee Kolok though. Some of us also tried the Meehoon Belacan, but it was so-so only. After the hearty lunch, we went to the nearby Kubah Ria, an integrated complex comprising of a food court and stalls selling local goods such as kuih lapis sarawak, laksa sarawak paste, ikan terubuk masin and beras bario, among others.
|laksa sarawak
|meehun belacan
|laksa sarawak paste
|food court
We then bade farewell to Mas, Ezad, Liza and baby Mishary. We would be doing our outdoor photoshoot that evening before going back to kampung and leaving for KL the next day. I would definitely be seeing Kuching again in the near future ;)


text:
WikiFX Express
Trump will put the UK first in line for a trade deal after Brexit, says John Bolton
Britain will be 'first in line' for a trade deal with the US once it has left the EU, according to Donald Trump's national security advisor.
John Bolton, who is visiting the UK, said "to be clear, in the Trump administration, Britain's constantly at the front of the trade queue, or line as we say."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has prioritised a trade agreement with the US once the UK has left the European Union. Trump has promised a comprehensive and deep trade deal.
However, last week former US treasury secretary Larry Summers said the UK would be "desperate" in trade talks and that Trump would "strike the hardest bargain."
Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.
The United Kingdom will be "first in line" for a free trade deal with Donald Trump once it has left the European Union, according to the President's National Security Advisor, John Bolton.
Bolton said "to be clear, in the Trump administration, Britain's constantly at the front of the trade queue, or line as we say."
He added that the UK would "enthusiastically" support Britain leaving the EU without a deal at the end of October.
"If that's the decision of the British government, we will support it enthusiastically, and that's what I'm trying to convey," Bolton said.
Bolton visited the the UK this week as both Trump and Boris Johnson's government lay the foundations for a wide-ranging trade agreement between the two countries once Britain has left the EU.
He said the purpose of his visit and meeting with Prime Minister Johnson was to "convey President Trump's desire to see a successful exit from the European Union for the United Kingdom on October 31."
Read more: 'Britain has no leverage. Britain is desperate. Britain has nothing else': Trump will exploit the UK in trade talks, former US treasury secretary says
Bolton suggested that trade negotiations between the two countries — which cannot formally begin until Brexit has taken place — could be sped up by implementing agreements "sector by sector."
Numerous trade experts have said that a UK-US trade deal will likely take years to negotiate, and that US negotiators will demand access to areas of UK industry that British politicians and the public would find unacceptable.
An example of this is in agriculture. There is concern that US companies could flood the UK market with cheap goods that would undercut British businesses and reduce the standards of goods sold in the UK.
"You could carve out some areas where it might be possible to reach a bilateral agreement very quickly, very straightforwardly," Bolton said, adding that "areas that might be more difficult" could be negotiated later.
"So the objective is either one document or a series of agreements that would be comprehensive," he said.
"In order to expedite things and enhance the possibility for increasing the trade and investments between the two countries, doing it in a sector-by-sector approach or some other approach that the trade negotiators might agree with, we are open to that."
Brexit-backing members of Parliament — including Prime Minister Johnson — argue that a free-trade deal with the US could be one of the biggest benefits of leaving the EU. Trump has promised a deal that will be unprecedented in scope.
However, last week Larry Summers, a former US treasury secretary, warned that the UK will be "desperate" and without "leverage" in talks with the US, meaning Trump will "strike the hardest bargain."
"The last thing you do is quit a job before you look for your new one," Summers told BBC radio.
"In the same way, establishing absolutely that as a matter of sacred principle you're leaving Europe has to be the worst way to give you leverage with any new potential partners."
Read more: The Lib Dems are set to punish the Conservatives in Britain's next election — but it could be a 'blessing in disguise' for Boris Johnson
Summers added: "Britain has much less to give than Europe as a whole did, therefore less reason for the United States to make concessions. You make more concessions dealing with a wealthy man than you do dealing with a poor man."
Members of Congress have also said they will not approve any trade agreement that threatens the Good Friday Agreement and the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Naomi Smith, CEO of pro-EU group Best For Britain, said Bolton's claim that the US could negotiate a "sector by sector" deal with the UK "simply isn't true."
She added: Britain won't get a trade deal with the US if we rip up our treaty obligations and put the Good Friday Agreement in danger. Democrats and Republicans will block anything that damages Ireland so badly.
"We need to stop Brexit so we can focus on retaining the benefits of our EU membership. As part of the world's largest single market, we have far more clout in trade negotiations than by ourselves."
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Colours Kannada seems to be leaving no stone unturned to make its forthcoming Bigg Boss 4 a talk of the town. It has approached several big names from different fields. The latest buzz is that cricketer Sreesanth is likely to be part of Sudeep's show.
Rumours are rife that Sreesanth has been approached by Colours Kannada and he has reportedly shown interest to be part of the show. His presence might not come as a surprise as he had earlier appeared in Golden Star Ganesh's Kannada game show Super Minute.
Apart from Sreesanth, the names of Vanitha Vasu, Sudharani, Naveen Krishna, Charulatha, Roopika, Sheethal Shetty and Kirik Keerthi are doing rounds. It is also speculated that popular Tulu drama and film artiste Naveen D Padil, who is currently appearing in Srujan Lokesh's Majaa Talkies, will be participating in the show.
Earlier, it was speculated that Anu Prabhakar, Tara and Komal Kumar (Jaggesh's brother) were approached. But they have denied the reports.
Bigg Boss 4 Kannada will be telecast from 9 October every day for about three months. It will be aired between 9 and 10 pm. It is one of the most successful reality shows in Kannada and the first three seasons had enjoyed good viewership.


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This article is about the series in its original incarnations. For the current series, see TreeTopia.
|Nova's TreeHouse thumbnail
Gassy Mexican
Danz Newz
|Incarnations and spin-offs
|Tree Fortress
|January 15 - April 22, 2011
|Tree Fortress Reborn Pt. 1
|August 29 - September 30, 2011
|Tree Fortress Reborn Pt. 2
|October 5, 2011 - May 28, 2012
|TreeTopia Pt. 1
|August 6 - Novmber 20, 2013
|TreeTopia Pt. 2
|November 25, 2013 - June 27, 2014
|November 01, 2014 - ongoing
The TreeHouse is the first Minecraft megabuild that the Creatures made. It was formulated and begun by Nova and Kootra, and since its inception, all past and current Creatures excluding Chilled Chaos, Dexter Manning, and Kevin have participated in at least one of the four installments.
Tree Fortress
The idea of the Treehouse - first called by Kootra the Tree Fortress - originated as a small platform on a tree intended for squid hunting. Nova, Kootra, and the other Creatures (Gassy Mexican, Sp00n, Junk, Seamus, Sly, and Dan) expanded on the original platform by turning it into a building that was fitted as a storage/crafting room. Off-camera at some point, Kootra doubled the size of the fortress. Shortly thereafter, Nova and Kootra made a giant cobblestone wall around the fortress to block out monsters. They then embarked on a mission to get enough obsidian to make a portal under the impression that it was fixed for multiplayer. However, instead of going to the Nether, Nova fell off the portal's ledge and landed very luckily on a well-placed ladder.
Off-camera again, the two then extended the fortress to a faraway island cove, connecting the two areas through a rail system. On this cove they built a statue in honor of Pineapple Sp00n, Nova built his MLG multicolored house, and Kootra built the Brown House. As a joke, they burned the Tree Fortress after making sure they had backed up the world. At this point, however, Minecraft had received several major updates, and the server became so outdated that it was too glitchy to be considered playable. As a finale to this version of the series, Kootra bid the viewers farewell and jumped into the ocean to hunt squids.
Tree Fortress Reborn
Although it was believed that the Treehouse server was still active, it was not, Nova confirmed this when he said that it was so outdated that it lagged terribly, so they took it down. Kootra and Nova later started another series called "Tree Fortress Reborn"
At the end of Nova's part 13, it ended in a Machinima-like [1]short where it left off, with Nova chopping down trees. The short begins when Nova discovers a forest fire, gets lit on fire, and runs back to the tree fortress, making it catch fire. Kootra (played by Ze) and to put it out but they failed. It ended in shots of it burning down and the Creatures crying, while Nova yells out his famous line "NOTCH YOU SON OF A BITCH!", and in the last seconds, "Notch" is shown walking away with flint and steel in hand.
It was revealed that the map was not saved and Kootra, Nova and Gassy went into a new map, with multiple villages and new mobs from a mod, called Millénaire. Kootra and Nova have battle damaged skins after the second fortress burned down. After doing many parts and with many Creatures, they made a giant tree and made houses on the branches, however, due to the lack of torches, the bottom of the tree had sustained damage. When Jordan was away on his honeymoon, Danz, Nova, Seamus and Ze made a church for him where they could re-enact the wedding.
In the newest recording of the Tree Fortress, Kootra said that they needed to change their goals, and they were going to look for a stronghold. This of course, was a setup, because when Kootra ventured out, the original Tree Fortress was found. At the beginning of Gassy's video, you can hear Ze say "We'll just say 'Okay guys, we're going to look for a stronghold.', we all go off in our own direction, Jordan goes in the direction of the Treehouse". It is believed that Ze edited the map. This could also be proven, when in Sly's 10th Treehouse video, when creating the new rail system with Kootra, there are many broken, beta-hole-like gaps in the map visible, to which Kootra says, more or less to himself, "You broke our map Ze"
The group went to the original treehouse shortly then went to the cove where the statue of Sp00n was made along with the Brown House and Nova's colorful house and fixed the rail system to the tree fortress with powered rails, then made a rail system to the newer tree fortress.
Ze had a copy of the newer Treehouse and took a picture of it on fire.
The newest session of the game was when the Creatures changed their skins to their favorite super hero from the Avengers and acted as them in the series. Most of the session was them making the treehouse taller, and Danz acting like Nick Fury recruiting the Creatures for the Avengers. At the end of the session, the Creatures gay tony off the highest point of the treehouse into the water, most of them died.
Post-"Reborn" Tree Fortress
After the end of Tree Fortress Reborn, Sly, Seamus, and Nova had time to return to their popular Minecraft series, The Ex-Communicated Series. Sly and Seamus would team up with Immortal to create a series known as The Last Update. Nova and Dan would join up to create their series called Hershel's Land. Nova and Kootra would cooperate in an attempt to create a second megabuild project called Asgard Adventures.
See: TreeTopia
- The 4 incarnations of the series are Tree House/Fortress, Treehouse Reborn, TreeHouse 3.0, and TreeTopia (also known as TreeBoot and TreeSet).
- In the Asgard series beginning Nova brought up about Treehouse 3.0 not being up and people wanting it back. Kootra picked up two flowers saying they were representing the newest treehouse and the original one, then bluntly tossed them both into the sea thereby showing that the series was not coming back. However, a couple months later Treetopia was born.
- Kootra has uploaded the most Treehouse videos with 136 on his channel. 2nd comes Nova with 120, Seamus is 3rd with 77, Ze is 4th with 74, Danz is 5th with 28, Sly is 6th with 18, and Sp00n is 7th with 1.
Note: The series was not always called TreeHouse from the beginning.
Treehouse Reborn:
Also see
- TreeTopia - the 2013 revival of the TreeHouse series
- Minecraft Adventures with Nova and Sp00n - the preceding series
|Creatures' Minecraft Series
| James': Air Canada Down • Craft Crossing• Mob vs. Mob • Tri-Mountain Survival • Quad-Mountain Survival
Jordan's: Hardcore • MLG • Viking Adventures
Aleks': Spooky-Craft
Seamus': Detroitcraft
|Adventures • Asgard • Carnival Of Doooom • CreatureCraft • Daily • Excellent Adventure • Ex-Comm • Creature Factions • Hershel's Land • The Last Update • The Legend of Gazathor • Wifey-Craft • Middle Earth • Mission-Craft • Serenity Mine • Skygrid • The Survival Games • TreeHouse ➙ TreeTopia ➙ CreatureTopia • WAR


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|low graphics version | feedback | help
|You are in: UK: Scotland
Wednesday, 25 October, 2000, 00:31 GMT 01:31 UK
Surveying the Surveyors: transcript
This is the full transcript of the Surveying the Surveyors programme, broadcast on 24 October.
REPORTER, EUAN MCILWRAITH: Buying a house. For most of us the biggest purchase of our lives, and it's a purchase you can't make without first getting a survey. It's crucial.
Now they cost several hundreds of pounds, and you may have to shell out quite a few times before finally getting a property, so are we getting value for money or is there a better way?
Tonight, Frontline Scotland surveys the surveyors.
There are two types of survey, which are popular in Scotland. Because most people end up shelling out for more than one survey many Scots opt for a Scheme 1, essentially a valuation.
It's the cheapest and gives little or no information about the property. The other option is a Scheme 2 or a Homebuyers. More expensive, but more of a test of a surveyor's skill.
When Damien Robson decided to buy a flat near Edinburgh he followed the advice of his father, and commissioned a survey.
What they wanted was a report that would identify potential problems, so they opted for a Homebuyers' survey, but when they moved in they found some surprises.
DAMIEN ROBSON (Son): Starting from the front door you've got ... there was a sag, and giveness of spring in what we thought were the floorboards.
When we took up the carpeting that covered that we discovered a real nightmare.
MR ROBSON (Father): A mixtor, maxtor of patching of the different timbers and planks, and even a motorway sign.
DAMIEN ROBSON (Son): That's right. As you go into the bedroom there was a significant crack through the ...
MR ROBSON (Father): Windowsill.
DAMIEN ROBSON (Son): Windowsill. There was a crack above the window itself. All the mullions had significant gaps in them.
MR. ROBSON (Father): And it went through the full thickness of the mullion. That was the disturbing thing. This held up the, the lintels above the window, and if this ha, ha, had given way, the whole thing would have fallen down.
DAMIEN ROBSON (Son): I, I, I, I, feel absolutely gutted the fact that my surveyor hasn't picked up on these points, particularly since all the work we've had to do to rectify the problems, and basically make the place safe.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So they complained to the surveyors. The surveyors claimed the missed defects required only minor localised repair, and rejected the views of the Robsons.
So they then contacted The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in London to claim about their surveyors.
They rejected their claims saying: 'We are unconvinced there's a conduct issue to pursue.'
MR ROBSON (Father): We're really horrified by, by, by their response. Thought it was less than adequate, you know, for someone with a Royal Charter to, to, to, to be so unconcerned about professional standards and ethics.
Thought it, it was absolutely wicked.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Their only option was the courts, and in court they would have to prove that no ordinary competent surveyor, acting with reasonable care, would have acted as their surveyor did, so just because your surveyor doesn't pick up a defect doesn't mean he's negligent.
Under a new system arbitration could have provided a solution, but requires Ł235 to be put up front, and requires the agreement of both parties.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Do you think you're being unreasonable?
DAMIEN ROBSON (Son): Not at all. You pay a considerable amount of money for what you are led to believe is a professional service. When you find that they've let you down significantly you, you, you feel that you should have some recourse, in fact, you're led to believe you have a recourse because of the standard of survey that you took out, and when you find out that you're left to do all the chasing they just dismiss all your complaints initially in a very, very offhand manner particularly for what is the largest financial commitment you're gonna make in your life. It's a sort of considerable stress.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: The RICS now admits they could, and should have dealt with the complaint in a more consumer friendly and informative manner.
So how good are the surveyors? Frontline decided to carry out our own survey. We found a family who let us use their house, and we've commissioned an expert to help us devise a test.
Steve Edenburgh is a Chartered Surveyor with many years experience. He's worked in the industry and now lectures in surveying at the University of Paisley. He's going to carry out the equivalent of a Homebuyers' survey.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So this is pretty typical. Would you expect to see this most days of the week?
STEVE EDENBURGH: Yeah this is a fairly standard family home.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: You would expect to find some problems.
STEVE EDENBURGH: Yes there ought to be problems in a property of this age.
STEVE EDENBURGH: Fully furnished typical family room. Surveyor should be looking to find areas of access to take moisture meter readings for potential dampness.
They should be testing the floor, issues such as the fireplace here should be highlighted.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: You'd have a good look at it would you?
STEVE EDENBURGH: Yep down on your hands and knees. Torch looking for any defects either to the flue or potentially to the fire, and there's a, a fireplace, which appears to be removed.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: This - doesn't look like a fireplace.
STEVE EDENBURGH: Well it's, it's obviously been bricked up for some time and redecorated, concealed. They should, however, take moisture metre readings above and around the chimneybreast.
We're looking for any indication externally that might give rise to problems internally so really we're trying to get an overview of the whole house from here.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So you wouldn't really rush on this, just take your time?
STEVE EDENBURGH: Yep. It's all about observation. There's signs here of ... hich has obviously gone through the roughcast. There's been some movement in the boundary wall where the railing has between the bricks. In this particular area there's obviously signs of wet rot, and this required area would need to be replaced.
This is an extension. It's flat roofed and flat roofs of that age give rise to water defects, and we can see that clearly where the, the down pipes are coming through. There's also water penetration in the gas flue and this whole place could be considered suspect.
Now this section of flooring has a definite forward move. You can feel yourself being thrown forward slightly towards the, the wall.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Slopes off to the left.
STEVE EDENBURGH: What we've got now is an access hatch covered by a table, but the surveyor should draw that out and make a specific point of getting into the space.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So you would have a look at that?
STEVE EDENBUGH: Yep. You've got a junction between the new roof and the old roof.
STEVE EDENBUGH: There's obvious signs of prolonged rainwater penetration next to the wall and above the window, and that could give rise to serious rot.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So you think you've given it a good going over.
STEVE EDENBURGH: Yeah. We've spent a fair amount of time here.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: In this quite typical, the surveyor would normally do this in his working day.
Well that's it. A typical Glasgow family home. The next stage is to install some secret cameras to find out how long the surveyors take and to discover what they're actually gonna pick up. Now there's no tricks. It's just a house that does have some problems. Now while the cameras are being installed I'm off to find four surveyors, at random, from the yellow pages.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: (Euan on telephone phoning surveyors). We asked four surveyors to do the same type of survey as our expert has just carried out. A Homebuyers' Survey which costs up to Ł400 for a property of this size.
A Homebuyers' Survey is designed to pick up major defects, which may need further investigation.
According to Steve Edenburgh the recommended time to spend on a Homebuyers' Survey on a house of this size is two and half-hours. Surveyor No. 1 is from Harvey, Donaldson & Gibson.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So will he notice that big crack in the wall, or have a look at the boundary wall, which is cracked? Meanwhile in the lounge he could look up the chimney there, watch out for the fireguard though and over to the left is that blocked in chimney, which he may, or he may not pick up.
Upstairs, time is money, you've got to move on when you're doing a Homebuyers' Survey, and he's got to get up into the loft. Now remember up in the loft there's that leak which has got a basin underneath it, but will he spot it?
He's certainly straight in there, no hesitation, right into the loft space. Down in the video room now, and our man takes his life in his hands with a pretty shoogly chair, but he's doing exactly what you would expect him to do. There's a big damp patch right in the corner, and he's up there with the damp meter to get a reading.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Surveyor No. 2 is from J & E Shepherd, but will he notice the sloping floor? He's noticed something, but is it the slope underneath his right foot? Meanwhile up in the loft, remember there's that basin of water through that hatch behind him, but will he go in? He's thinking about it, will he go, no he won't.
Now the next test, there's the chimney. Will he look up it to see what the state of it is? That flat roof, remember there's a leak in the laundry from which he's just coming out. That's generally needing attention.
He's certainly given it a good going over, but will he pick up the faults. Nice day though.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Surveyor No.3 is from D.M.Hall. Yeah that seems to be a wall. Wonder how long this is? As long as that. Now down in the lounge there's that chimney behind him, and remember there's a blocked chimney off to the right.
Meanwhile up in the lobby there's that sloping floor, and down in the video room, no damp in there. Well it's damp up here though. Meanwhile up in the loft space, will he find that basin of water behind the desk? Well top marks, straight in there, no messing about.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Surveyor No. 4 is from Countrywide Surveyors. He's also measured the wall and found it fascinating, and he's moved into the video room.
Now this is remember, the big damp patch in the corner. Will he spot it? He's spotted the videotapes though. Huh, I've got that one, but what about the damp - it's behind you, it's right behind you. No. It's tiring work though being a surveyor.
Meanwhile up in the loft space it's time to go through that hatch to find the leak in the roof, but will he do it? He won't. Down in the lounge, and remember Steve's advice to take the fireguard out and have a good look up the chimney, down on your hands and knees, hands and knees.
So how did they do? Our expert has pored over the reports and closely examined the footage through the secret cameras.
First Surveyor from Harvey, Donaldson & Gibson, he took just 35 minutes for his survey.
STEVE EDENBURGH: In the back garden area he's much too quick looking in the laundry and storage area. Doesn't pick up on some key points there and he fails to progress round the outside to the crack on the gable wall.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: In the reply to this criticism Harvey, Donaldson & Gibson say their objective was to focus only on urgent and significant matters.
STEVE EDENBURGH: Up in the loft he's looking through the inspection hatch; he's doing exactly what I would hope he would do within that area.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Surveyor No. 2 is from J & E. Shepherd. He took one hour to do his survey. According to our expert the leak in the flat roof wasn't identified, and the surveyor didn't comment on its general condition.
J & E. Shepherd said they were satisfied with the condition of the flat roof, but said the report could have been worded a little more succinctly.
STEVE EDENBURGH: On the hallway and landing on the upper floor you can see that he's moving backwards and forwards, but he's never actually picking up the slope on the floor outside the bathroom door. It, it, it's not just using your eyes, it, it's using all your senses. Sense of smell, in this particular case your sense of balance. This, this floor is noticeably off level.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: J & E Shepherd said they noticed no deflection in any of the floors to an extent, in their opinion, would have affected the value of the property. Our expert pointed out he failed to go through the hatch and identify the lelaking roof.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Surveyor 3 from D.M.Hall. He spent one hour and ten minutes in the house, and our expert said this was one of the better surveys.
STEVE EDENBURGH: Looking at Surveyor 3 upstairs he's missed the slope to the floor in the hall. He's pulling down the, the loft ladder, and that is perceptively off level.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: D.M.Hall say that this deflection is minor, and has no affect on the structure of the property, or its valuation. D.M.Hall also questioned the credentials of our expert saying that as an academic he's not doing surveys on a daily basis.
Surveyor No. 4 is from Countrywide. He spent one hour doing his Homebuyers' Survey.
STEVE EDENBURGH: Surveyor 4 seems to spend more time looking at the tapes and other paraphernalia in this room, and completely misses the damp patch which is just to the left of the window at the far end of the room even to the extent he sits down with his back to the defect.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Countrywide say, regarding the damp patch, that their surveyor doesn't recall seeing the penetration at this window, but they're happy to have another look.
STEVE EDENBURGH: He moves backwards and forwards, but doesn't take the time or the effort to move the bit of furniture, and look through the inspection hatch.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: He also missed the sloping floor, which Countrywide say was within acceptable tolerances. So four surveys four very different reports. And some of these missed defects would have cost thousands to put right.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Does it worry you that four randomly picked surveyors could miss such obvious defects?
EILEEN MASTERMAN, RCIS: Did you say they all missed?
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Sorry.
EILEEN MASTERMAN: Did you say they all missed the, the defect?
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Some of them missed each defect. They didn't all miss every defect.
EILEEN MASTERMAN: And what, what did the report say, did it say there's a crack in the wall, and this should be pursued further, or did it not mention the crack?
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Some, some mentioned the crack and suggested further studies. Others missed it completely.
EILEEN MASTERMAN: Yeah. Well, as I said, I can't protect people who are missing fairly glaringly obvious problems.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So four surveys all in the same house, and all very different when reporting faults. Remember the Homebuyers' Survey carries no guarantee and comes with lots of small print.
So you can't be sure they'll pick up everything, but there's yet another gripe for consumers. Lots of surveys for just one property because any perspective buyer has to lay out hundreds of pounds on a survey just to enter the bidding war. You need a survey for valuation before you can put in an offer, and that can mean spending a small fortune on surveys, especially in places like Edinburgh or here in the West End of Glasgow.
MARION MACPHEE: I've been looking for a flat for 13 months. I've spent in excess of a thousand pounds to do it. I've had 11 surveys, two of which were for the same property. The winners in this system are the surveyors and estate agents. The losers are the buyers.
This was flat No. 1. On the market for eighty-two and a half thousand. I offered one hundred and six thousand. I was a little bit naďve at this stage. It went for one hundred and twenty five thousand.
Offers over eighty nine thousand, I offered one hundred and twenty thousand, and I lost it by six thousand.
Offers over eighty-two and a half thousand. I offered one hundred and twelve thousand, and it went for one hundred and sixteen thousand.
Another property. This one had problems, and I couldn't even get a valuation.
Offers over eighty nine thousand. I offered one hundred and twenty five thousand, and I still lost it.
Another flat that I couldn't get a valuation on.
I offered one hundred and ten thousand; it went for one hundred and twenty.
This flat was offers over ninety five thousand. I offered one hundred and twenty five thousand, and it went for a hundred and forty three thousand.
I didn't offer on this property. My survey said dry rot problems.
Eleven surveys later it's mine. This is the one.
EILEEN MASTERMAN: I think that's highly unusual, highly unusual, and they're not, that's not my feeling, that's been borne out by the Consumer Council.
They can have eight surveys done. I think it, it's a rare occurrence, but they should be seeking to have the fee abated, and that wouldn't be a problem.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So when a property has been surveyed before, according to the RICS you're entitled to a fee abatement. If there's an existing survey on a property you can ask for a discount, as the work required by the surveyor only involves the running off of another copy.
In an attempt to resolve the problem of more than one survey being done per property, one company came up with what appeared to be the ideal solution. A guaranteed survey which would be available to all perspective buyers with only the final successful bidder paying for the survey. A scheme, which would have done away with multiple surveys at a stroke.
BILL CULLEN, CHAIR, CLYDE PROPERTY: We proposed very very simply to put a quality survey on the table to make sure that that survey came with a guarantee which implied that if, if there were latent defects in the property, they would be covered by the surveyor who carried out the, the survey in the first instance. The survey would be offered to every interested party free, and would only be paid for by the successful purchaser. The reception from the public was overwhelmingly positive. They came in their droves. Instead of having perhaps three or four people bidding for one property we had in some instances up to 15 people which was great news for the vendors as well.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: The scheme was tested all over the West of Scotland, not just in the hot spots of Glasgow including places where multiple surveys are not a problem.
One of the pilot areas for the Clyde scheme was Hamilton. This couple used it and they were delighted.
WILLIAM HISLOP: Frae a buyer's point of view it was superb. We got the survey, we didnae need to pay anything out to start with, and if we weren't interested in the property we could move on and go on to another property, and look at somewhere else rather than paying out for surveys all the time which we done for a couple of other houses we were looking at, so in that aspect that was great, and plus you're guaranteed for a year so if anything did go wrong, and it wasnae picked up in the survey, you had a comeback on it.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: The guaranteed survey ran for six weeks until it was finally withdrawn after objections from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The surveyors' professional body.
BILL CULLEN: Privately I, I spoke to, obviously spoke to quite a few surveyors, and initially many of them were worried that a scheme like this, if it took off throughout the country, and I hope it does, Initially they were worried that they'd be out of a job, but I think we were able to overcome those fears when we pointed out to them that in, in actual fact if everybody adopted this scheme we'd need more surveyors.
At the moment a surveyor will take on average, say an hour, to do the survey, but a great deal longer than that if he's providing a quality product with a guarantee, and he, and he's able to charge a bit more for it obviously.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: At present most surveys in Scotland are Scheme 1, essentially a valuation for mortgage purchases, and not the Homebuyers, which is more extensive.
BILL CULLEN: If an office-bearer in the Institute of Chartered Surveyors was the beneficiary of a great deal of Scheme 1 business he'd be very, very nervous.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Why?
BILL CULLEN: Bec, because he stands to lose a lot of money. If he's not geared up for doing quality surveys, if he's geared up for doing Scheme 1 surveys, valuations in effect then he obviously stands to lose if the market swings towards a more, a better quality product.
EILEEN MASTERMAN: The survey that they were promoting didn't meet our technical requirements, and as such the members, our members, couldn't continue with it. The surveyor in normal circumstances acts in the best interest of his or her client. The surveyor in, in that case is being put in a position where he's acting for both the buyer and the seller. With the seller's survey you're getting purely factual advice. With the Homebuyers' survey the relationship exists between you and the surv, surveyor where you can interrogate the surveyor, as it were, were you can ask questions you can, you have a relationship with them.
You can say, you know, you've indicated there may be a problem with wet rot, dry rot, tell me more about it. Is it an insurmountable problem, is it going to cost me a lot of money? Shall I, should I pull out of this sale? All that sort of question can't be asked with a seller's survey.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: The Clyde scheme also failed because one mortgage lender didn't like the valuation of a property, going directly to the buyer, and to the seller claiming a conflict of interest. They made it clear to the surveyors concerned that they would lose their business if they continued with the project.
Now new plans are afoot to introduce a scheme, which will be acceptable to the mortgage lenders and the RICS. Only the successful bidder will pay the full fee, so a single guaranteed survey could well be an option for buyers in the future.
One problem with any investigation and to the world of house buying is getting anyone to talk. It's a tightly knit community with close financial links between the different professions, but we found one man who will talk and he has concerns about how these links affect the consumer.
MIKE MORTIMER, CHARTERED SURVEYOR: There are more and more pressures now from the commercialism where there are problems where surveyors have got to work in a very, very commercial atmosphere but I think some of the time if consumers actually knew what went on behind the scenes, they might say hold on stop this is a silly process.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Many surveyors also work for estate agents, and it's the estate agents who influence many buyers on where to get a mortgage. If you want to get a mortgage on a property the lender or building society will insist that a survey is carried out, and they'll only accept a surveyor from their appointed panel.
MIKE MORTIMER: One of the criteria is, as an estate agency or surveying company, if you can give Lender X a certain amount of business and mortgage introductions, they may look more favourably on your panel appointment. You give us so many mortgages; we'll give you so many surveys in return.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Sounds like a very cosy club.
MIKE MORTIMER: I think it's like everything which can cause problems in the UK as opposed to other countries where the conflicts of interest, the cosy club, whatever you would want to call it, can occur.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So basically you've got to jump through the building society hoop?
MIKE MORTIMER: That's certainly true.
KENNEDY FOSTER, CHAIR, Council for Mortgage Lenders, Scotland: There are working relationships between various people in the industry. We obviously have to speak to each other, but these arr, these arrangements are at arms length.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So would it worry you if there was that type of relationship between, you know, you give us some mortgage work, and we'll give you the survey work?
KENNEDY FOSTER As long as conflicts of interest do, do not arise in that situation, no it doesn't worry me.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: Can you see a potential for conflict of interest there?
KENNEDY FOSTER I can in certain circumstances see potential for conflict of interest, but at the end of the day the valuer in carrying out the valuation does owe the lender a duty of care.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: But how far does that duty of care go? Mike Mortimer claims that when he was working for Countrywide Surveyors, he was put under pressure to alter his valuation.
MIKE MORTIMER: I was asked to value a property where a, a subsidiary Countyr, Countrywide Agency was selling. The purchase price was too much. I down valued it, and questions were asked.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: You're saying questions were asked, but you're basically saying this is the wrong value; this is what we want you to be.
MIKE MORTIMER: My valuation was questioned internally. It's fair enough if my quot, if my valuation is questioned perhaps by the client which would be the building society, or bank, or the prospective purchaser, but not actually to be questioned within the estate agency Group to the surveying group.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: So they wanted you to up, up your value?
MIKE MORTIMER: They questioned why I'd down valued it, yes, and to put it back onto a, a higher plain.
EUAN MCILWRAITH: We contacted Countrywide who deny Mr Mortimer's allegations. They went on to state it's a policy of Countrywide surveyors not to influence its valuers, and surveyors to change valuations.
So buying a house isn't as simple as you'd think. We offered the RICS the opportunity to check the results of our survey on this house. They declined saying they couldn't get involved.
We also asked how many surveyors have been struck off. The RICS admitted they don't keep records, but they thought it was quite a small figure So are consumers getting a good deal - you decide.
See also:
18 Oct 00 | Scotland
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FAQChoosing a celebrant is a personal decision that depends on a host of variables – just like life, right? So...
What is your background?
My training is as an actor and writer. Using these tools makes me a Celebrant who can easily and quickly create an atmosphere of joy and trust in a wedding ceremony.
Why did you become a wedding celebrant?
Frankly, I had been to enough dry and listless ceremonies to drive me nuts. There were more than one where the officiant forgot the name of the couple or never referred to them by name. Horrible!!
People come to a wedding ceremony hoping to be connected to the wedding couple on what I call a cellular level. And we want to be connected to one another as well.
That is the purpose of a ceremony.
I knew I could make that happen. I knew I could be the conduit between a bridal couple and their guests, and that it would be a way to serve everyone.
So I looked and looked – but could find no way, other than attending a formal seminary. UNTIL…..
How and when did you become a wedding celebrant?
In 2004, I heard an interview with Charlotte Eulette of the Celebrant USA Foundation on NPR. Charlotte's enthusiasm for her work leaped out of the radio as she explained that the purpose of the Foundation was to train people in the art of creating ceremonies. They called their graduates Celebrants. One of the courses she mentioned was the training to become a Wedding Celebrant. I enrolled that spring.
I discovered that being a Celebrant was a natural fit in so many ways. With a background in theatre I understand how to include everyone in the room and turn the gathering into an event that is spiritual without being specifically religious.
Ten years later I still love this work!
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