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In a previous post, I alluded to an interview I had where I sent common sense on vacation and ended up being talked into accepting a job that ol' Beelzebub himself told me was wrong for me. I said I'd tell the story behind that, so wanna hear it? Here it go:
I applied for an Accounting Manager position with Sunrise Wood Designs because the job description sounded like a good fit for me and the company was small but stable. I went for an interview with the CEO and the CFO (whom I would be reporting to). It was a conversational style interview which is my favorite type. I always go to an interview as myself and not the "Perfect Candidate" because I want them to know who's going to show up on the first day; if you don't like the real me at the interview, you're not going to like the real me on day one either. It was easy to tell the CEO was a former salesperson even though he also had an accounting background. He did most of the talking; the CFO was one of those real quiet, observant types that embodies the stereotypical accountant. I went into the interview with a nagging sense that it was not the place for me. The Sunrise Wood Designs corporate office was small and cluttered and loud and I saw dingy cubicles in a very un-ideal location (I prayed that those cubicles weren't for the accounting department). Anyway, back to the interview…
You know that analogy about something being a train wreck but you just can't walk away? That was this interview. I had red flags, neon signs, flashing lights and still that very quiet voice telling me to bid Sunrise Wood Designs farewell post-haste. Let me tell you why: it's never a good sign when the interviewer/potential employer manages to slide in very subtle insults relating to your experience or skills. I almost laughed out loud when it happened but it was so subtle, I almost missed it! I heard a few statements around the theme of my experience was "kinda thin" more than once. I did challenge that statement after the last time by saying that if my experience was so thin, why was I contacted to interview for the position? I didn't hear any variant of that statement again but I did get one along the lines of I still enjoy the type of work I do because I haven't been doing it very long. I've been an accountant doing the type of work I love for almost 10 years and, the Sunrise Wood Designs CEO, not being much older than me, didn't have many more years than that and never did full cycle accounting work anyway (it takes a special kind of person to do that kind of work and like it). I digressed again huh? When your interviewer is denigrating the very skills and experience that you assume are the reason you got the interview in the first place, it's not unreasonable to be exceptionally confuzzled and…offended.
The interview lasted for about an hour with the feeling that this was not the place for me growing ever more insistent. I also remember that during this interview, the CEO confirmed my salary range again since I had given it during the phone screen before the interview was set up. As during the phone screen, he said that my range was in line with what the Sunrise Wood Designs Accounting Manager position was offering. The CEO had made some very good points during the interview about why the opportunity was a good one for someone with my background and at the stage of my career that I was in but I was also made to feel like the lucky contestant on the Sunrise Wood Designs hiring game show for a large part of it; kinda like I was lucky they were even considering me versus they were lucky that they had gotten qualified and experienced candidates to interview. I don't like being made to feel as though I'm fortunate that the benevolent employer deigns to grace me with an interview and I'm lucky if I actually get the job! I left that day thinking two things: 1. this is the best commute I've ever had; 2. Sunrise Wood Designs is going to offer me this job because I'm sure I don't want it.
I was right…the offer came within two days of the interview, after my thank you letter and their response, in which they again took the opportunity to remind me that I was so lucky because I was Sunrise Wood Designs'
lucky contestant #1 leading candidate! The CFO called me first to let me know I had gotten the job and to give me the details of the offer–an offer that I was very disappointed with to say the least…the absolute least! The salary was $5k below my minimum annual salary requirements, the vacation time was as minuscule as it comes (10 days a year to cover vacation AND sick/personal days!) AND Sunrise Wood Designs actually makes you accrue that paltry amount of time off before you can use it! There was a bonus that offset half of the salary discrepancy but bonuses are never guaranteed and salary is, you know? Yeah, you know. Let's see…oh yeah! And there was also the fact that their benefits sucked zebra toe which they admitted during the interview. Yes, the CEO actually said that if I have medical coverage through another source, like my spouse's employer, I'd better keep it! So, not much incentive there either. I tried to make it palatable by asking them if the pay cut at least came with an office; it didn't. I'd be the only person in a management role in a cubicle…right by the Sunrise Wood Designs customer service desk. Yeah…no. I know you're wondering and yes, I did bring up the fact that I was told TWICE that my salary range was within the range for the position and that, as accountants, they should understand the mathematical impossibility of that being true if my minimum was higher than their maximum (math is hard)! Do you know what they had the unmitigated gall to tell me? The CEO said that they would never rule a person out of consideration for a great opportunity just because of a $5k variance in salary (especially in their favor)! How mighty considerate of them huh?! I had to stop what I was doing and kick something because I was soooo outdone!
So, of course, given all of those signs of imminent doom, I told Sunrise Wood Designs where they could put their offer, right? I mean, who in their right mind would ignore such screaming examples of why NOT to take this job, right? Well, I think my right mind gave its letter of resignation that day and quit me because I told them I needed time to think about it. Now, before you leave my site thinking that I'm #TeamBadDecisions and there's nothing that can change that, let me explain!
Warning: religious overtones ahead…
Before I had gone on this interview, I said a prayer putting the outcome in God's hands. See, I've been doing this job search thing for 2 years now and I've yet to find what I'm looking for and I've actually been fooled a few times. So, I figure I must be doing something wrong, right? (←Haha!) So, I decide that I will let Jesus take the wheel and assume whatever happens is Him steering. I admit now that this was more in the spirit of laziness rather than true faith because I was so tired of all the applications, phone screens, interviews, assessments,
bullsh*t, and bad outcomes that I just wanted to not think or consider anything anymore. Of course, God knew my heart and this whole thing worked out accordingly.
Now, a disclaimer: I don't want anyone to think I'm some kind of religious zealot who will work God and my beliefs into a post whenever I can because I respect the religious beliefs of everyone whether they believe what I do or not. Whatever the higher power you believe in–God, Jehovah, Allah, Krishna, the benevolent Universe, QVC–substitute that in for my use of the words God and Jesus if you are so inclined.
Long story longer, (because, you know, you read this far and stuff) I ended up deciding to take the Sunrise Wood Designs job despite my strong reservations because God told me to! ∗∗∗This is off topic but you know how they say if you talk to God, it's called praying but if God talks back, it's called schizophrenia? Yeah, there's a reason for that.∗∗∗
In the interest of not making this post a novella, I'm going to leave my retelling of how my first day at Sunrise Wood Designs demonstrated why I should have listened to my instincts, for another post. To be continued…
Have you ever had a horrible interview but took the job anyway? Please let me know I'm not "stupid, party of one" here!
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This project has now been completed.
Adopt an Intern was delighted to partner with Museums Galleries Scotland in 2013 to help place 20 paid graduate interns in galleries and museums across the country.
With over 2000 applications the project was a huge success and the 20 talented interns will spend 12 months working within one of the following host museums:
- The University of Aberdeen: Museum Intern (Collections)
- Dumfries and Galloway Council: Collections Intern
- University of Dundee: Museum Collections Intern
- East Ayrshire Council (Dick Institute): Collection Care Intern
- City of Edinburgh Council Museums and Galleries: Volunteer Co-ordinator Intern
- University of Edinburgh: Collections Intern
- Fife Cultural Trust (Kirkcaldy): Museum Collections Intern
- Fife Cultural Trust (Pittencrief/Dunfermline): Volunteer Co-ordinator Intern
- Glasgow Life (GoMA): GENERATION young people audience engagement and co-production Intern
- Glasgow Life (Glasgow Museums Resource Centre): Volunteer & Placement Co-ordinator Intern
- The Hunterian: Natural Sciences Collections Intern
- Inverclyde Council (McLean Gallery): Learning & Outreach Intern
- National Museums Scotland: Partnerships & Access intern
- National Trust Scotland: NTS Volunteer Management Internship
- Orkney Islands Council and Pier Arts Centre: Gallery & Museums intern
- Perth and Kinross Council: Digital & Collections Intern
- Scottish Borders Council & Trimontium Museum Trust: Collections and Interpretation Intern
- Scottish Maritime Museum: Learning Access intern
- South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture: Museum Intern
- Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum: Collections and Digital Cataloguing Intern.
This project has now been completed, however we continue to offer paid internships at many other museums and galleries throughout the year on our current opportunities page.
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subset: commoncrawl


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This 1990 one cent master coin was one of the last produced before Paul Keating decided to withdraw this denomination.Australia's long usage of copper coins ended when the Hawke government stopped the production and issue of new one and two cent coins.
Treasurer Paul Keating told the cabinet in July 1990 that the purchasing power of both coins had become "practically nil".
Both coins were introduced with decimalisation on February 14, 1966, replacing the penny and halfpenny. The original reverse designs remained unchanged for 24 years. Many countries, including Norway, Sweden, France and New Zealand, had recently withdrawn lowest denomination coins from circulation.
Mr Keating said most consumers regarded them as a nuisance.
"The coins cost more to produce than their face value," he said.
"There is likely to be some false concern initially that the proposed change will add to inflation. Changes to coinage and notes give rise to opposition, but it is usually short-lived."
Both coins were withdrawn from circulation in February 1992.
Cabinet records release
Cabinet records for 1990 and 1991 held by the National Archives of Australia became eligible for access from January 1, 2016. Information about the cabinet records, lists of the documents and copies of key cabinet documents, including selected submissions and decisions, are available on the Archives' website (naa.gov备案老域名). Click on the "Collection" tab, then "Popular research topics", then "Cabinet".
Requests for access to records not already released may be made via RecordSearch on the Archives' website.
This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on 老域名购买.


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Who, in their right mind, would turn down an offer for driving a Tesla Roadster? Who would not want to own this all-electric sports car if they could afford it? The answer: everyone I know – especially those EVangelists at Plugin 2012. I unfortunately can't say the same thing about the Volt, LEAF, Focus Electric, and the handful of other models of electric vehicles out there. You know why – Tesla made a car that was worth something to the higher class folk, which then created desire in everyone else. All the other AutoOEM's missed the mark, unfortunately, and are fighting an uphill battle – but in the next three years will finally 'get it'.
I have heard and seen Volt and LEAF owners get crazy frustrated with people who ask the simple questions about their cars – how much was it, how much range do you get, can you take it on trips? Then with very little thought, these inquisitive people say something like, "Well I could buy a $23K Prius for that and do everything else that limits you. Why did you buy that?" Talk about an irate EV owner – yikes!
Have you ever compared a Porsche 911 to a Prius?
Have you ever asked why the owner of a Maserati bought one, and not a simple Dodge Neon (if they still sold them)?
The funny thing about electric vehicles is that Continue reading


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Queens County Farm Children's Carnival – Petting Zoo – Pony Rides
NYC with kids April 11, 2016 esteepouleris 1
Simply Charming. This annual event held at Queens County Farm Museum has all the classic carnival fun you would expect. This past weekend was the opening weekend and next weekend, April 16-17th 2016 is the closing weekend, so there's still time to go! We made the trip out to Floral Park, Queens on a sunny but cold Sunday. Perfect for a carnival if dressed appropriately.
Petting Zoo
We arrived shortly after opening, around 11:15. The atmosphere was already buzzing with excitement but not overcrowded. Our adventure began at the Queens County Farm Museum Petting Zoo. This is a permanent fixture at the farm and costs $4/person. My 4 year old, Brooklyn, and I each received a large leaf of lettuce to feed the animals. We made our way over to a pen in the center which had alpacas, sheep and goats. Off to the side pigs and rabbits can be fed. Inside the barn were reptiles, lots of tortoises and a large iguana. They also had two tractors you could climb and a 'corn pit', their version of a sand box with bits of corn for kids to dig and enjoy. I think $8 for us to experience this was a bit steep, but we did enjoy it. The animal pens were all clean and I liked that we were feeding them lettuce rather than pet feed. The live stock was not as obese as in other petting zoos we've visited. It's hard to avoid visiting the petting zoo, it's between the free parking lot and the entrance to the carnival. In addition they're piping really fun music in this area making it very appealing for little ones.
Pony Rides
Next to the petting zoo was a large pen offering pony rides for $4/person. Of course Brooklyn wanted to ride, so we paid the $4 for one lap. The pony ride process felt very unorganized and rushed. It was disappointing to only go one lap. I didn't share my sentiments with my daughter, she thought it was awesome. I'd probably try to skip this next time we visit.
Children's Carnival
Food vendors lined the sidewalk as we made our way to the entrance, setting the tone for a classic carnival. We purchased 'all you can ride' wristbands for $12/each, which is the only option for admission. This carnival is small but absolutely adorable. The rides are bright jewel toned colors with cute themes to each. We didn't wait long for anything towards the beginning of the day, which was nice. All of the rides felt really long once you were on them, although maybe that's just my age – I no longer require a full two minutes of spinning. Regardless, my daughter LOVED it here!
We left the carnival area for lunch. There were picnic tables set up so you could sit and eat food purchased from the trucks or bring your own. After lunch we gained entry again with our wristbands and tried out some games. We did a magnetic fishing game and a ball shooting game. You were a guaranteed winner with the fish game, so we brought home a small stuffed animal dolphin. Towards the end of our afternoon, around 2:00 it was growing overcrowded. My daughter was getting a little nuts from the cotton candy and I was getting a little claustrophobic from the masses of families, it was time to call it a day.
On our way back to the car we made one last stop, the hayride. This was an additional $3/person. A large tractor toted us around the grounds of the farm. It was nice but we could have skipped this. It probably would have been worth it if we were visiting the farm for another event but given all the rides we had already gone on it wasn't thoroughly appreciated.
In summary, I'm really glad we made the trip here. The Children's Carnival was definitely worth the $24 we paid. We'll be visiting again next year and aiming to go when it opens, rather than later in the day. There is a lot of fun to be had here and the classic carnival nostalgia brought me right back to being a kid again.
Saturday & Sunday,
April 9-10 & April 16-17, 2016
11 am – 6 pm
ADMISSION: $12 all ages (children/adults)
Queens County Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Parkway
Floral Park, New York 11004-1129
(718) 347-3276
- Plan you trip for the morning, it get overcrowded and chaotic in the afternoon.
- Strollers are allowed but not recommended.
- Bring your own lunch if you want to save money.
- Rides are probably best suited for ages 2 – 7 years old. Teenagers would definitely be bored.
- Cash only for hayrides ($3), petting zoo ($4), pony ride ($4) food vendors and games (prices vary).
- Free parking on-site.
- Children under age 2 may enter carnival area for free unless riding on any rides.
- For public transportation and directions click here.
- Check out our video and see if this is the right adventure for your family
Jolly RogerApril 11, 2016 #1 Author
Another exciting trip and a fun day behind you. Well Done~


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You probably know someone who curates their own meme page, holding up an example of 10 likes on a post as proof of their comedic genius. But it takes a certain kind of talent to gain wide scope of traction, which brings me to one of Perth's best upcoming meme pages.
Created in February this year, Perth Snowstorm Warnings makes it their daily mission to be there for the people of Perth, to ensure they are safe from any oncoming blankets of white powder. The Weather Department of Pelican got in contact with the admin of the page to find out more.
Why did you create the page?
To save lives. The suicide rate in Western Australia is 14.4 per 100,000. Given Perth has over 1.6 million people, that's 230 suicides a year. Now, they're probably not ALL due to fear of snowstorms, but even if only 90% of them are, that's 200 lives. Add that to about 160 road deaths a year in WA (largely due to snowstorm induced panic), and you quickly see the importance of the work I do.
Then you have to think about an actual snowstorm. DFES (editor: Department of Fire and Emergency Services) get an enormous budget annually, but for some reason a Perth Metro Area snowstorm isn't the kind of 'emergency' they bother preparing for. A big enough snowstorm could potentially wipe out 90% of Perth, if the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" is anything to go by.
Also the ABC get an enormous budget, but never warn Perth citizens about snowstorms.
Why snowstorms in particular?
I don't understand the question.
Paint us a picture of the person behind the page
Honestly, I'm probably the second most beautiful person to ever live.
Who's the first?
The girl reading this.
Would you ever branch off into other kinds of weather?
No, of course not.
How would you describe your relationship with weatherpeople and the Bureau of Meteorology?
Please. They're all paid off by Big Snowstorm. I wouldn't listen to a word they say.
What would you say to the Snowstorm Lovers in Perth?
Edward Snowed-in and I used to be great friends, and he even helped build the Snowstormometer. I have nothing to say to him now that he has turned to a life of evil.
How do you create engaging content on a daily basis?
If I don't, people die. It's not hard to find inspiration.
Is the page really just a conspiracy to subconsciously remind people about global warming?
Absolutely not. Global warming would be great, as it would significantly reduce the chance of snowstorms.
Have you got something special prepared for the day that there is a snowstorm in the Perth CBD?
Depends whether you consider your only chance of surviving to be 'special'. To me, a warning is very special.
What is something you would like to say especially to UWA students?
We must secure the existence of our people and a future for Perth's children.
And there you have it. Perth Snowstorm Warnings, saving Perth citizens one warning at a time. Go like their page to stay informed!
Thomas Coltrona


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All of the Kardashian-Jenner ladies bear some resemblance toward one another, but sometimes Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian look so much alike, it's almost hard to tell them apart! And with each more gorgeous than the next, it's safe to say that both women are super lucky.
Here are 18 photos of Kim and Kourtney Kardashian looking eerily similar. Numbers 15 and 17 are seriously going to blow your mind!
Image via kimkardashian/Instagram
Choker Twins1
Maybe it's the fact that both women are wearing seriously aggressive chokers ... or maybe it's the fact that they have the same face.
Mini Kim and Kourt2
With their matching '90s grunge haircuts, Kim and Kourt were even twins back in the day.
Giraffe Makes Three3
No, that isn't the long-lost Kardashian sister -- it's a giraffe! Just kidding. But, seriously, Kourt and Kim are almost indistinguishable here.
More from The Stir: Kim Kardashian's Butt Through the Years: An Evolution in Photos
Same Face4
Dude. You could pretty much swap out these women's faces in this photo. Uncanny!
Red Lips? Same Lips!5
Save for the fact that Kim is pregnant here, she and Kourt look wildly similar here — they even have the same expression!
Kindred Spirits6
Make no mistake: The Kardashians love wearing black. But, outfits aside, how much do these girls look alike here?!
More from The Stir: Who's the Richest of Them All? What Each of the Kardashian-Jenners Is Worth (PHOTOS)
Soul Sisters7
Kourtney and Kim have two totally different looks going on here, but in no universe could anyone ever mistake them for anything but sisters.
Anna & Elsa8
They've got the same pose. They've got the same hair style. They're the Bobbsey twins.
Vintage K & K9
How similiar do these ladies look? And what the hell is Kourtney drinking that she literally doesn't age?!
More from The Stir: Khloe Kardashian's Swanky Mansion Is the Ultimate Bachelorette Pad (PHOTOS)
The Eyes Have It10
Not only do Kim and Kourt look unmistakably like sisters in this photo, but they also both have the exact same look on their faces here -- aka "Get the hell out of my face."
STILL Similar11
While Kim looks kind of different here, the women still manage to look practically like twins.
Sorry, Khloe12
Sorry, Khloe, but right here you're flanked by a set of twinsies.
More from The Stir: Most Memorable Kardashian Costumes From Halloweens Past (PHOTOS)
Sister Sandwich13
Here, Jonathan Cheban is annoyed because he can't tell who's who.
Sister Squad14
Yes, all the girls -- including North -- bear a resemblance to one another here, but no two more than Kourtney and Kim.
Carbon Copies15
Come on, people, these two are spitting images of each other!!!
More from The Stir: Khloe Kardashian's Incredible Body Transformation Through the Years (PHOTOS)
Cutie Pies16
Again, twinning.
Goth Twins17
Same hair, same lipstick, same face.
Visions in White18
Doesn't get much more sisterly than this, now does it? Gorgeous!
More from The Stir: Khloe Kardashian Then & Now: See Just How Much Her Face Has Changed (PHOTOS)


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The HCM City-based VN-Index has risen 3.9 per cent so far this year while Ha Noi's HNX-Index has fallen 5.1 per cent.
Bang told a meeting of the commission late last week that the local market capitalisation had reached about VND1.33 quadrillion (US$59 billion), equivalent to 34 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.
As of December, there were 682 shares and fund certificates on the HCM City and Ha Noi exchanges, with a combined face value of some VND528 trillion ($23.5 billion), up 24 per cent over last year.
Bonds listed on the exchanges reached 571 codes, with a total value of VND709 trillion ($31.5 billion), a rise of 5 per cent from last year's figure.
This year, share and fund certificate transactions averaged VND5 trillion ($220 million) per day, while an average VND2.5 trillion ($110 million) worth of bonds were traded per day.
In production and business activities, the total revenue that the listed companies obtained during the first nine months of this year increased 5.9 per cent over the same period last year, while their nine-month after-tax profits grew by 17.5 per cent year-on-year.
In the first 10 months, investors' portfolios in the domestic stock market totaled $15.2 billion, an increase of 12.5 per cent over the end of last year.
Bang said the restructuring of the stock market had been impulsed in 2015. There were now 81 securities companies in operation, a decrease of 23 per cent over last year's number.
There were 1.5 million investor accounts, increasing 7 per cent compared to that of 2014. Foreign investor accounts alone reached more than 17,600, a year-on-year rise of 5.4 per cent.
This year, the two local exchanges witnessed 47 more companies listing shares, 253 firms supplementing listed share volumes, and 33 enterprises de-listing from the bourses.
Seventy-two more firms listed shares on the unlisted public company market (UPCoM), raising the number of companies listing shares on this market to 243 in 2015. — VNS
The first building in Hanoi with unique inter-floor design


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(The original poem - Casey At The Bat)
(The inspiration for this - Jayson Stark)
(The game - 10/17, Cards 5, Astros 4)
Pujols At The Bat
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Cardinal nine that day;
The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play.
And then when Luna struck out hard, and Mabry did the same,
A crazy cheering started from the patrons of the game.
The Astros needed just one out to be the NL champs;
The stadium erupted more in waves of claps and stamps.
LaRussa knew if Pujols could but get a whack at that--
They still might have a chance to score with Pujols at the bat.
But X preceded Pujols, and Jim Edmonds did as well;
And the former was a midget and the latter was a kvell.
So upon that rooting multitude high confidences sat
For there seemed but little chance of Pujols getting up to bat.
But Eckstein hit a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Edmonds, with great patience, didn't swing at the fourth ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and the perfect save had burst,
There was Eckstein poised at second as Jim Edmonds walked to first.
Then forty thousand throats and more had sudd'nly ceased to cheer;
The silence filled the outfield, it smothered fans with fear;
It hushed upon the dugouts and recoiled upon the flat,
For Pujols, Albert Pujols, was advancing to the bat.
There was ease in Albert's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Albert's bearing, but no smile upon his face.
And as he stepped into the box, eyes narrowed like a cat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Pujols at the bat.
And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Pujols stood a-watching it for a split second there.
He swung wild at the slider, but his form had briefly fled,
"That pitch was tough," thought Pujols. "Strike one," the umpire said.
"YES!" cried the maddened thousands, and it echoed out abroad;
But one stoic look from Pujols and the audience was awed.
They saw him start to concentrate, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Pujols wouldn't let that ball go by again.
He tenses up his upper arms, he starts to shift his weight;
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now Brad Lidge winds up the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by a Pujols crushing blow.
The ball rose up into the air, it seemed 'twould never land;
And all the crowd was silent as it flew over the stand.
The players ran the bases, the ball soared in its arc
It hit the glassy outer wall, high up above the park.
Oh, somewhere in this southern state the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
And somewhere fans are cheering, and somewhere children shout;
But there is no joy in Houston - Mighty Pujols slammed one out.


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Congo: The pygmies of Boyanga – BBC News
Congo: The pygmies of Boyanga – BBC News We'Re heading deep into the forest for our next door. For me, spa Adventure Time Just 4 hours for the nearest town takes you back in time. People living off the forest, the pygmies Village. Before my good luck ritual every time, they go hunting looking for wildlife, they flock animal holes and use smok 2/4. The make the Belgian King Leopold II, who owned the car it was his personal colony, found something in the forest with huge amount of money rubber. This white sap from the wild rubber Vines could be made into tires. The pygmies were made to collect it. Bronco kobachi to Millennium Park bullet Journal men's cuts off up to 10 million people died under the regime of King Leopold. The brutality inspired the first International Human Rights Campaign, the Belgian state only for the exploitation and brutality to continue. It was the Belgian Congo. Until 1960, pygmy Community still live a very traditional way of life. For the forest of being cleared for farming animals ass cast. I may still feel like that treated as second-class Citizens. Next to the former president, ruin the jungle Palace and bubbly, say: River stream, fishing in kisangani, Go hunting in the forest with pygmies who still live a very traditional way of life.
Their elders remember the brutal colonial time under the Belgian King Leopold II.
His men would force them to collect rubber from wild forest vines – and amputate limbs if they didn't collect enough.
Please subscribe HERE http://bit.ly/1rbfUog To Find out more:
World News Documentary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3ct5fyt
World Service Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06v…
VR Hub: https://www.bbc.co.uk/virtualreality


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Having a crepe bar for the bridal shower I hosted last Saturday was so much fun. It was fun, pretty and delicious. The perfect combination for a party.
I love crepes and fell even more in love with them after my visit to Paris last summer where I ate as many as I could. I loved watching the crepe makers on the street do their thing!
They made it look so easy with their super cool big crepe makers and their smooth wrist action.
I decided I needed to learn to make crepes so I went onto Amazon and bought myself one of those nifty little crepe making spreaders.
Since I didn't think I could afford one of those fancy crepe making griddles I decided to use my frying pan.
I tried two different methods. The swirl it in the frying pan method which worked pretty good. Just pour about 1/4 c of batter into the pan ( I grease my pan first) and start swirling the pan around. It's all in the wrist.
and I used the crepe spreader method using my flat bottomed cast iron skillet.
The main trick is you need to have your batter the right consistency – it needs to be pretty runny so that it spreads evenly and quickly.
After you pour in your batter (I used about 1/4 C you hold your little spreader straight up and start to turn it.
Just keep turning as the batter spreads out.
Because they are so thin they cook quickly – you don't want it to get too done or brown.
I then place it on a piece of wax paper and put another piece on top. Layer crepe with wax paper and repeat. The wax paper keeps them from sticking together and helps keep them soft so they roll up really nice. You don't want them to dry out.
You will eventually end up with a nice little pile of crepes
For the shower I was lucky to have a party guest who just graduated from culinary school volunteer to make all the crepes! That is the easiest way to make crepes.
Next up – all the fun crepe fillings. That's the best party!
For the crepe fillings go here.
Crepe Bar}The Crepes
- 2 C flour
- 3 eggs
- 1 Tbsp oil
- 2 C milk
- pinch of salt
- Combine all the ingredients into the blender and mix until well combined
- Heat pan and pour in batter (about 1/4 C at a time)
- Twirl pan to evenly spread out batter or use a crepe spreader
- Cook until lightly browned on bottom and then flip


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Yesterday we cleaned the house and then went to the movies - I to see Rogue One and Tash and the kids to watch Sing. Rogue One was pretty darn good and I'll not post any spoilers, and watching it in 3D in a practically empty theater was just about a perfect way to see it.
Then, for the first night of Hanukkah and Christmas Eve we went to a friends house for a dinner party.
One of the guests made these two cakes from scratch:
Rather impressive and very festive.
So we lit the Menorah, had drinks a festive meal and good times with all who were there.
Once home, we gave presents for the first night of Hanukkah to the kids and then the kids went off to bed.
So a very Merry Christmas to all of my Christian friends and readers, and a very Happy Hanukkah to all of my Jewish ones.


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Being a NDW track, it's not all diamonds-on-the-soles-of-her-shoes, and this is where a wryly-grinning Losoul comes in. Discarding the electric guitar clangs, weird pitch-bending synths and deadpan vocal deliveries of the verse, the Playhouse stalwart hones in on those marimbas, bongos and oh-so-pertinent lyrics, ups the tempo from beach hut to beach house and asks if you'd like a slice of lime with your tune. Erring on the jaunty has always suited Losoul, and in his carefree (well, apart from the money/girlfriend thing) tropicana, as the last vestiges of summer draw near, it seems we'll get at least eight more minutes of sun.
Published /
Thu / 16 Sep 2010
Words /
Jack Haighton
Tracklist /
A Schoene Frau mit Geld (Losoul Remix)
B Schoene Frau mit Geld (Losoul Instrumental Dub)


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Sonicu meets the demanding needs of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing with a full suite of monitoring solutions that ensure safety, precision and quality. Automated logging and reporting boost lean manufacturing practices and ease the burden of regulatory reporting.
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Live Chat
User can chat with the ctn staff through the live chat section . If they are online , they will respond to the enquiry . Othervise the enquiry will be send as email and the user will get response when they are online .
Click on the Live chat link from the top of the site
Then the chat box will appear on the bottom of the site .
Contact Us
User can send enquiries from the contact us section . For send enquiries Click on the contact us link from the header .
The enquiry will be send as email to the site admin .


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I am sucking this week at spitting out posts.
To distract you from my incompetency, here is a video!!!!!
I am sucking this week at spitting out posts.
To distract you from my incompetency, here is a video!!!!!
I got the WordPress application for my phone and it won't send the post to the interwebs. Funny because the post praises technology to a T, especially the synchronization of phone and computer yet it can't sync a simple blog post.
No point in being all dramatic though. Maybe technology isn't as advanced as I had hoped…..
I was just at a talk about how to be the most super blogger imaginable with blog stars (and my new favourite people) Casie Stewart, Sean Ward, and Raymi the Minx, and here I am not blogging every day.
In light of this, I have decided to make it my personal goal to at least post SOMETHING every.single.day. If I don't, you can punch me in the face….not really, but you can direct nasty comments my way. I'm not promising the content will be fab seven days a week, but there will be some stalking material.
I will be posting a video from the event on My City Lives over the next couple days, so watch out for that y'all.
In the quickest recap imaginable, here's some things to keep in mind if you're planning on being of blogging fame: Continue reading
Happy Saturday!
I'm taking the less noble route and not writing much today. Mainly because I'm going shopping in Buffalo ala Blackweekend (the extension of black Friday, term invented by yours truly).
While you're waiting for me to write a highly critical and well written piece, I'll be waiting for three hours at customs, speed shopping at Target (or Tarje as I lovingly call it), and being strip searched on the way back.
I will, however, leave you with the following: Continue reading


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Image found here.
I am at a loss on why so many people are so quick to jump on the discrimination bandwagon. I have even seen some discussions that mention the removal of religious freedoms.
How is this the case? This change in eBay's listing policies only means that a person cannot sell an intangible item such as spellcasting services. It does not mean that all Pagan items are going to be banned. The part on Divination services will have to be worked out in the future. I do agree that some of those practitioners deserve to be on eBay.
As I said before, I sell on eBay. I sell the stuff that is NOT getting the boot. For that I am happy. I do not think that this is the prelude to the powers that be removing all things Pagan, Wiccan, or Witch-y from the endless pages of stuff to buy on eBay. Those that believe so need to take a breath and put away the pitchforks.
Image found here.
I also believe some of the problems stems from the media and their headlines.
Examples include:
eBay Bans Sale Of Magic Spells, Potions And Other Witchcraft - The Huffington Post
The last part being the problem, "Other Witchcraft". This is what is causing so many to assume that all Pagan items will be removed.
A more accurate headline comes from the Daily Mail out the UK.
"Auction site eBay bans sale of magic potions, spells, curses and advice books in bid to stop charlatans"
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2189757/Auction-site-eBay-bans-sale-magic-potions-spells-curses-advice-books-bid-stop-charlatans.html#ixzz241WJktyE
Examples of what is not going to be allowed come August 30th.
ALMIGHTY BLACK MAGICK PENIS ENLARGEMENT SPELL TANTRIC LOVE VOODOOf course it is.
EXTREME RARE POWERS 72 SPELLS NECRONOMICON SPELLYea I got nothing.
ultimate 12 month cast Weight loss divine gods goddesses beauty spell ritual sexHave you seen some of the Goddesses? Size zero they are not.
What will be staying.
Celtic Brass Cauldron Pagan Cerridwen Wiccan Witchcraft Ritual
Centering Ritual Kit Pagan Wiccan Witchcraft
Goddess Athame with Sheath Ritual Tool Pagan Wiccan Witch Witchcraft
I ask that if you do happen to get into a conversation about this with those in the community or anywhere else for that matter be sure to give accurate information.
This is not an attack on the Pagan community nor it is an attack on religion or the freedom associated with it.


text: June 13, 2016 Initiation through humiliation? How Blinds.com welcomes new hires to the family! Here at Blinds.com we have a tradition very near and dear to our hearts for employee onboarding… welcoming our new hires (view our play list here)! At each SayJay (our weekly all-hands company meeting), a group of new Blinds.com-ers take the stage and either tell us all a joke, sing a song, or do a dance. […] Read


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Edit fields on app recoding screen
It would be great if you could change and add what is shown on the recording screen. I would like to see current speed, average speed, current altitude, distance and time. This is the main reason I haven't used your app in the past. Also, to save battery, I would like to be able to have a black background with white letters.


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What is the Best AT&T DSL Modem?by Melanie Jo Triebel
AT&T currently offers three different models of DSL modems for use with its DSL Internet service. Which of these models is the best for you will depend upon your needs: what features you are looking for, whether you have or want to provide your own wireless router, and how much you would like to spend.
AT&T DSL Modems
The three modems currently offered by AT&T for its residential customers are the 2Wire DSL Gateway Model 2701HG-B, the Motorola DSL Modem Model 2210, and the Westell DSL Modem Model F90-6100. Although it is possible to use other models of DSL modems with AT&T's DSL service (and the those with special technical needs may choose to do so), these modems have the advantage of full technical support provided by AT&T. The company also offers an advanced Motorola Wi-Fi Business Router Model 3347 modem, but this modem works only with AT&T's business DSL service for the time being.
Gateway Modem
AT&T generally refers to the 2Wire DSL Gateway Model 2701HG-B as a "Gateway." This modem is the default modem for AT&T's DSL customers. If you are purchasing one of AT&T's upper-tier DSL plans, the Gateway may well be the best choice for you because it usually comes free when you sign up for service. The Gateway also has the great advantage of serving a dual role as a modem and a router, providing Ethernet and Wi-Fi signals to multiple computers.
Motorola Modem
The Motorola DSL Modem Model 2210 is priced lower than the Gateway, and thus may be advantageous for cost-conscious customers purchasing AT&T's more basic DSL service. But the Motorola does not serve the dual role of the Gateway: it is only a modem, not a router. This means that the Motorola provides Internet service to only a single computer, and only via Ethernet (not Wi-Fi). Customers who need or want Wi-Fi or wish to use multiple computers would need to obtain and use a separate router.
The Westell DSL Modem Model F90-6100, like the Motorola DSL Modem Model 2210, is priced lower than the Gateway. But, also like the AT&T Motorola modem, the Westell does not serve as a router or wireless router, so customers who want Wi-Fi or even Ethernet home networking will need to provide their own router. Additionally, the Westell is currently compatible only with DSL service in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Customers in other states cannot use the AT&T Westell modem.
Photo Credits
- Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images


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Imaginarium Summer Camp @ The Book Garden
A Week of Forest Creature Fun!
Spread your wings and let your inner fairy, griffin and dragon fly, or keep your feet on the ground and explore your inner gnome or elf!
Over the week we will read about these wonderful beings and bring them to life with poetry, and write and illustrate our own tales as a group with a group written book. Children will also create their own small garden for their chosen beings to live in.
Facilitating this week of fun is Grace Stearns-Fiorito, a Frenchtown local and mother of two. Grace is a poet and lover of the written word and all things colorful, imaginary and adventurous. Please join us at the Book Garden and let your young ones imaginations bloom
Imaginarium Summer Camp Details:
Who: Kids ages 6-11
Where: The Book Garden
When: July 7-11
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Cost: $115.00 per child; includes snacks, materials, journal and Friday lunch. Call us at 908-996-2022 or email email@example.com to reserve your child's place. Space is limited.


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Giving up chocolate is so Lent '15.
That's why this year I've set myself a challenge I'm calling '40 under 40.' Pretty simple really - every day until Easter I will review a whisky that costs under £40 per bottle.
I don't normally do reviews beyond my hastily-scribbled notes for the drams they dish out on distillery tours, and this isn't going to be some slide towards giving scores and singling out the particular variety of orchid I can smell. Just a couple of thoughts on the whisk(e)y, a comment or two on style and broad aroma/flavour profile seasoned with the odd 'fun fact'.
I'll be charging my glass with Single Malt, Blended Malt, Blended Whisky, Bourbon, Rye and Pure Pot Still. (Not all at once.) Anything, in fact, as long as it can be found in the UK market with change from two purple notes. Obviously 40 whiskies only represent a fraction of what's available in this price bracket, but if you think there's one that I simply can't leave out then give me a shout on twitter or in the comments section below and I'll look into it. Or - if you fancy getting involved - write a note from your own tasting, send it my way and I'll see about sticking it up as the Whisky of the day. I won't even try to claim credit.
Right, I'd better crack on. I'll upload the notes to this article on a daily basis, so do keep checking in - should be a fun Lent!
Though I actually am also giving up chocolate.
Day 1: Elijah Craig 12yo. 47%ABV
Kicking off with this Bourbon, a personal favourite, as Heaven Hill recently announced they're discontinuing it, which is a great shame. It's basically reliability bottled. Proper hug-in-a-mug (or Glencairn in this case) stuff; just the right balance of sweetness and nutmeg-led spice. Big, fulsome aromas, and warming without being too pokey, this is a whiskey that says 'long day over, undo that top button and sink into a sofa.' A good friend who will be greatly missed.
Day 2: Talisker 10yo. 45.8%ABV
It's been a little while since I've had this old friend, so plumped for it last night at a colleague's leaving drinks and, on tasting, sent the following text to a friend: 'Christ, I know it's pretty commonplace but the Talisker 10 is just so good. I give it 2 years at best before Diageo knock it on the head - strongly recommend giving it a fair hearing before they do.' Not much more needs to be said really! It's fairly peaty, mostly savoury except for a sweet spot somewhere in the mid-palate and it tastes like it shouldn't be suitable for vegetarians. Oh, and when I said '2 years' I was being optimistic. As with so many age-dated whiskies the stormclouds are gathering. In Talisker's case quite literally.
Day 3: Crown Royal De Luxe Blended Whisky. 40%ABV
Crown Royal's a Canadian distillery which has been making headlines recently as a certain someone rated their rye pretty highly. I've not had a chance to give that one a whirl unfortunately, but a very generous friend recently gave me and Rachel a bottle of their house blend, and we - ok, mostly I - have been making our way through it. Pretty cute nose - the vanilla/caramel/oak triumvirate well in evidence. Nice silky palate too, with a touch of spice but mostly more of the sweet stuff. Canada's not my most familiar whisky country, but for the price you can do a lot worse than this anywhere. Whether Crown Royal makes the 'best' (weird term) whisk(e)y in the world I couldn't possibly say. Enjoying this one though - might even share a drop with Rach if she's lucky.
Day 4: Glenmorangie - A Midwinter Night's Dram. 43%ABV
One for fans of Shakespeare, of puns, or just of good Scotch. Being a disciple of all three I am currently a happy boy. This sample was unexpectedly donated by a new colleague following a long chat about all things whisk(e)y. I suspect we will get along very well. I can't taste Glenmorangie without being taken back to Tain - to that Château-esque distillery and those gorgeous, tall, elegant stills. This dram is suitably sexy and silken - fans of the distillery's original 10yo will find plenty they know and love, but overlaid with a strudelly, raisiny, toffee-apple kind of thing. Apt name really - Hermia, but in a duffle coat and mittens. Still some left for under £40 in Sainsbury's by the way.
Day 5: Adelphi Blended Scotch Whisky. 40%ABV
My first of the 20 'drinks by the dram' I bought from Master of Malt to help this project along. Gave me one of my proudest whisky moments too - asked Rachel to pick one at random from the sample box, gave it a nose and got it first time. Something I'll now doubtless spend years failing to replicate. A very decent, if slightly youthful and estery blend. Big on fruit - that was my first comment when its identity was still a mystery. There's a smidge of smoke which swells as the whisky opens up, but nothing that should deter peat-o-phobes. Maybe not the cleanest or most complex dram in the world but given you near as damn it get change from a twenty it's definitely worth a punt. Decent session whisky for sure.
Day 6: Rebel Yell Small Batch Rye. 45%ABV
I've been getting seriously into Rye Whiskies over the last half a year or so. Think Bourbon, but leaner and spicier. It's a great shame that UK supermarkets aren't really including any in their ranges, though I suspect that may change sooner or later. In the meantime it's well worth going off the beaten track, because it's a properly delicious style. Didn't know anything about this one when I bought it with the other samples, but he's a tasty fellow. Slightly muted on the nose maybe, but comes alive with a bristling intensity on the palate. Another for the sweet-toothed; lots of crunchy sugar going on with plenty of coffee bean and juicy fruit kicking in with the classic rye spice. Veering slightly too close to 'tasting note speak' there! Basically a tongue-tingling whiskey - and more importantly genre of whiskey - everyone should get to know.
Day 7: Yoichi No Age Statement. 43% ABV
OK, I admit this entry is a bit self-indulgent given Nikka culled this whisky along with all its age-dated siblings back in June. They have brought out a new no-age-statement whisky under the distillery's label, but it's not made its way West yet, and if I'm honest I don't expect it to any time soon. (One of these days I'll post a proper rant about the price and availability of Japanese whisky.) Returning to point, this one was under £40 before the quite recent brand cull, and since I wanted to try it and you can still find a bottle or two in that price bracket if you look hard I'm making the executive decision to include it. And if you don't approve...well nuts to you. My list, my rules.
For the mischievously minded this is an A-Grade choice for tricking people into thinking a World whisky is a Scotch. If it's how Nikka like their peated whisky then Ben Nevis is a good fit for them - mid level rather than the full Kildalton, and rather prettily floral rather than iodiney. Some sherry has been involved here; there's a whack of sultana and - yes - a smear of sulphur. Albeit happily we are talking a teensy, teensy smear. More a smudge really. (Both important technical tasting terms, just as 'teensy' is a valid unit of measurement.) Peat sweet on nose, then prickles about in your mouth before fading to sweetness again. (Dried fruit rather than vanilla/caramel.) Very much my bag, and a very lovely thing indeed. I look forward to attempting to get my hands on some of the new stuff.
Day 8: GlenDronach 12yo. 43%ABV
GlenDronach is my distillery of the moment I think. Though when you're as fickle in your tastes as I am that means roughly the square root of zilch. I was won over by their balls-to-the-wall, 'subtlety's for wimps' Pedro Ximenez matured, cask strength, single cask range. This fellow isn't quite from the same school of unbridled, unashamed, glorious, 'take your shirt off and wrestle a badger' madness, being a much more shirt-and-tie 43%ABV. Still Very Sherry though, with capital letters and the emphasis strongly on both words. GlenDronach's sherry butts incidentally are some of the most reliable in the business. If you like your malt unpeated and if, like me, you're a sucker for this style of deeply sweet-fruited, mouthcoating, chocolatey, raisiny joyfest then this may be your perfect 12yo Scotch. Whatever your tastes it's up there with the best in the world for this price point.
Day 9: Spice King (Wemyss Malts) 46%ABV
They're good chaps are those fellows at Wemyss. This is one of their three blended (formerly vatted) malts, meaning it comprises entirely malt whisky. As opposed to blended whisky, which is a mixture of malt and grain. Confused? Don't blame you. Cheers SWA... Anyway Wemyss' other two blended malts are called The Hive and The Peat Chimney, giving you a good idea of what their intended flavour profile is. Which I think is a great shout. As I say - good chaps. The 16 malts (according to a Charles MacLean video) used in Spice King are Highland and Island, and so far as the name goes: mission accomplished, especially on the palate, where it is very pokey indeed. Lots of pepper; bits and pieces of something nutmeggy. For me though it's first and foremost a savoury, malty beast; real storm-tossed stuff, all brine and kipper and heather and charcoal, sewn together with a toffee sweetness that keeps it neatly balanced. As far as Scottish Kings go, definitely more a Macbeth than a Duncan. Love it.
Day 10: Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow Blend 43%ABV
After all the excitement of yesterday today's dram for under £40 just had to be a Compass Box. The stance they've taken has brought whisky lovers from around the world to their feet - and rightly so. See http://bit.ly/24dMH01 for my argument in support of more transparency in the whisky industry - and then please do use the link at the bottom to support the Compass Box campaign. And then buy a bottle of this because it's utterly delicious and laughs in the face of the 'single malts are inherently better than blends' notion. I'd like to know which bit of Glasgow they had in mind; the nose is a teasingly delicate citrus and lightly peppered peat affair. Does become slightly richer with a few minutes in the glass, but mostly it's youthful and balanced and exuberant and spicy. Honey and green fruit on the palate mingling with more light peat spice. Just a delight, and a great way to toast the worthiest of campaigns by some proper whisky legends.
Day 11: Fighting Cock 6yo Bourbon. 51.5%ABV
At 51.5% the booziest of the 40 under £40 thus far - though doesn't punch you too hard in the nose when you take a sniff. Proper spicy bourbon from the nutmeg and oak school - I gather it's about 10% rye but that spicy grain certainly makes its presence felt. Tastes totally, totally different to the nose - the booze finally pops up from where it's been hiding first of all, and then a kind of salty, buttery popcorn thing which melts all of a sudden into a vanilla and sweet spice finish. It's a roller coaster of a bourbon this one, which keeps you thinking about it long after you've finished. Ever more proof of just how hard American whiskey, especially bourbon, punches in this price bracket when it comes to quality, value and diversity of flavour.
Day 12: Redbreast 12yo. 40%ABV
Now that I've moved from the West Country to Reading I'm a little closer to London, that vast black hole which has sucked in so many of my old University friends. Having been nomadically making my way through Scotland and Bristol for the last two and a half years a catch-up was long overdue, so Saturday saw a trip to the pub. Arriving early I decided to take advantage of a spare 10 minutes to break my no-whisky-at-the-pub rule and tick off my under £40 entry for the day with this old favourite. One of Ireland's unique Single/Pure Pot Still Whiskeys made with a mixture of malted and unmalted barley. Also a candidate for the whiskey I'd use to convert a whiskey doubter. Not because it's my favourite, though it does rank very highly, but because it's fruitier than a fruit basket full of fruit, decorated with more fruit, standing on some fruit boxes labelled 'FRUIT!' all making up an art installation labelled 'fruity-fruit-fruit.' With a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon thrown in out of respect. In order to not love this whisky you'd need the soul of a 17th Century Puritan suffering gingivitis. And haemorrhoids.
Day 13: Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold. 43%ABV
For further elaboration on the skimmed-over technical stuff below do get in touch. And prepare for a long chat!
Firstly, an apology to Dalwhinnie. Since I'm working from a 'Drinks by the dram' sample and not a regular bottle I missed their unusual suggestion to serve this straight out of the freezer. That obviously isn't how I'd normally take my whisky, but I'm always open to giving something a try. Promise I'll make amends next time!
So this spirit was made during winter months only. On the face of it, sounds a bit gimmicky, and lots of people online have asked what difference that would make. The nerdy answer is that the way Dalwhinnie condense their spirit - a device called a worm tub - results in a chunky, sulphury new make, and the classic Dalwhinnie lightness is only achieved by 15 years in cask. In the winter time condensation happens a lot more quickly, and spirit is known to emerge bigger and heavier still. Given Winter's Gold is NAS I'm imagining fewer than the usual 15 years have been spent in cask, so prior to nosing and tasting I'm expecting a bigger, more robust whisky than the delicious 15, which I have previously called Whisky's answer to Chablis. I'm a pretentious little urchin when I want to be.
So the nose is pretty sweet. I don't have a 15yo to hand to do a comparison with, but I finished a bottle recently, and this is certainly a little brawnier. Still lots of honey and apples, but there are definitely also some estery notes at play. Pretty nice though. However - to my taste - it does come apart in the mouth a little. Just a bit harsh and spirity and disjointed really, leaving a slightly bitter aftertaste. For my money this one needed more time in a cask to iron out the kinks and develop the silken, honeyed mouthfeel I associate with Dalwhinnie. I still love the distillery and their hallmark 15, which I once drank on top of Ben Nevis (!) but this particular expression wasn't for me. Though I'll try it again sometime the way they recommend it being served.
Day 14: Mackmyra Brukswhisky (Sweden) 41.4%ABV
I don't even want to taste this - I'm just lost in that nose. A few folk on Master of Malt's website have accused this of lacking complexity. Since they all posted in December I assume they just had colds. Sure, it's delicate, but there's just so much going on. Starts off very clean and crisp, very 'teacher's pet' whisky from the savoury, malty school - no feet put wrong but nothing out of the ordinary, then gradually develops into something much sexier with flashes of smoke and pine and honey and a splash of juicy tropical fruit. Have to say that the palate's decent, but can't quite keep up - curious I've thought that about two whiskies in a row now. What a nose though. Love this distillery's whisky after it gave me one of last year's most magical whisky moments. If you like your dram subtle and seductive I suggest you get acquainted.
Day 15: Hankey Bannister 12yo Regency. 40%ABV
Whenever I decide to pick something at random from the sample box I seem to get a blend! Not that's I'm complaining mind you. Nice and savoury this one, fresh, zesty, grainy. Little bit of meaty smoke, bit of caramel and honey on the palate. It's a very civilised blend - as you'd expect of a brand that Winston Churchill was a fan of. Enough complexity to keep you honest - certainly more than you'd get from an equivalent price Single Malt, if you could even find one! What a few people I know would call an excellent breakfast whisky - and very good value indeed. Rather nice fruit arriving after a few minutes too. I shall revisit this fellow in bottle and highball form...and next time I won't be picking at random.
Day 16: Corriemhor Cigar Reserve 46%ABV
Guest Entry from The Amateur Drammer. I've been chatting whisky to Andy on twitter for a while now, and even done an entry in his excellent 'Desert Island Drams,' for his own blog, so I was very pleased he agreed to do the first 40 under £40 guest entry.
Champagne lifestyle? Lager budget? This could be the answer.
The Whisky Pilgrim sent me out shopping with £40 in my pocket to spend on a bottle of whisky and asked me to tell you all about it. There is a surprising amount of competition for your hard earned money at this price point so I thought I would try to pick something that is perhaps a little more unknown. £40 will buy you a well blended, balanced and surprisingly drinkable whisky in the form of the Corriemhor Cigar Reserve. This has got Dalmore written all over it (well, it has Richard Paterson's name written on the side of the bottle) so it is a fair guess that it is either the last of the old style cigar reserve sold on to another company (perhaps even bottled by a Whyte&Mackay subsidiary) or maybe some secondary barrels left over and blended together (If anyone does know exactly whats going on here please feel free to contact me and let me know)
The nose is dark but soft, elements of muscovado sugar, raisins soaked in tea and a nice chocolate orange note. The palate isn't quite as complex or deep as you would take from the nose however. Light leather, cedar wood and tobacco mix together with sultanas (not raisins as per the nose) and a little chocolate. The finish is short and mildly drying but really quite pleasant, leaving a nice buttery vanilla note behind. I can think of whiskies I have spent double, or even triple the price of this on and been left a little disappointed. I've not yet tried this with a cigar, unfortunately I couldn't afford both on my allocated budget...
Thanks to Andy for the contribution - I'll have to try this myself! In the meantime his excellent blog can be found at http://amateurdrammer.com/
Day 17: BenRiach 12yo Sherry Wood. 46%ABV
Can't believe it's taken until Day 17 to get to Speyside - quite a commentary on how many different whiskies there are available these days. (Yes I know I've not done Islay yet either, but I'm actually going there the week after next - be patient!) Anyway, BenRiach is Speyside ticked off with a vengeance - and behind Glendronach 12 and the A'Bunadh it's probably also the most sherry you'll get from a Scotch for less than the magic £40. I tell you what - it's not shy about it; dried fruit and baked apple practically oozing through the stopper! Nipped to the kitchen for a moment, leaving this in the lounge, and could smell it from the hallway on my way back. One of the most unctuous, mouth-coating palates you'll get with change from two twenties - and one of the longest finishes. Those who say Speyside or unpeated whiskies are dull have not been drinking enough Benriach. I don't just love this whisky - I kneel before it. Not literally, obviously. Someone might come in and get the right impression...
Day 18: W.L.Weller Special Reserve Bourbon. 45%ABV
Wheated Bourbon from the Buffalo Trace stable, and the (very) little brother of the hugely lauded, ultra hard to come by William Larue Weller, which I've only been lucky enough to try twice. This one is very much a sweet young thing as Bourbons go, and for 'sweet' read 'caramel and vanilla.' Funnily enough the nose isn't as sweet as all that though - I'm getting butter and grain mostly. I admit I mainly bought this for the name when I wanted a wheated Bourbon for around this price that wasn't Maker's Mark. That being said, it's quaffable, it's got a nice, juicy palate, and I topped my glass up again when it ran dry. And you can't do better by them than that!
Day 19: Longrow Peated. 46%ABV
I'm there again. I'm back. Like I always am when I smell a Longrow or a Hazelburn or a Springbank. Back in that astounding, wonderful temple to whisky about which, as with Highland Park, I just can't be truly objective - albeit this is unquestionably an objectively excellent dram. Sure, there's peat, though not as much as you'd expect from the name or the ppm, and it's cloaked on the nose by citrus and honey and light white flowers. Smoke does pop up to say hello in charcoaly fashion on the palate and lingers to a long finish, though never aggressively; always wrapped in velvet. Longrow and Springbank age magnificently, which has led some to suggest that they're not worth drinking young. Fine, that's their opinion - all the more for me then. At this stage they have a glorious teasing delicacy - this dram and its 10yo Springbank sister - and they have me utterly in their thrall. Everyone who loves whisk(e)y can name a couple of distilleries whose creations strike a special, inexplicable chord. In also producing Longrow and Hazelburn, Springbank gives me three for the price of one.
Day 20: Teeling Single Grain. 46%ABV
After hearing the sad news of the passing of a stage and screen hero, Frank Kelly of 'Father Jack' fame, the under £40 entry for today had to be Irish. I've not had much single grain before to be honest - and based on this sample I've been massively missing out. That nose is a thing of beauty. Don't know what grains have been used here, but I'm guessing a fair bit of corn, because there's more than a hint of some of the smells I'd normally associate with a bourbon going on. Some tasty fruit going on here too. Wine casks? Oh God, that palate's silken as well, with just the right amount of alcohol to keep things lively.
So I've just checked and apparently this chap did his time in a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon cask, which explains the vanilla and the caramel and the red fruit. As a huge lover of Californian Cabernet it also offers another reason I like this whisky so much. I've always thought of Redbreast as my favourite Irish. Too early to reconsider?...oh, whatever. And, incidentally, DRINK! FECK! DRINK!
Day 21: Ardmore Traditional Cask. 46%ABV
Another from the 'discontinued' school I'm afraid - though still findable in the right places. Picked up a dram after nosily seeing that a couple of twitterers had lamented its replacement by the Ardmore Legacy. Not a distillery I have much experience of, though once again it feels as if I've been missing a trick. Right up my street - peated but not excessively so, various bits and pieces of honeys and vanillins in the background. A good whack of sweet honeycomb and butterscotch balancing out the smoke in what is a really cracking whisky. As is so often the case with these younger peated whiskies the peat pops up more on the palate alongside a nice boozy prickle. All in all a very decent dram. Shame it's going - will have to try the Legacy sooner or later. Will be in the East Highlands in June, and this is top of the 'to visit' list.
Day 22: Nikka Pure Malt Black. 43% ABV
The 'mummy bear' of the Nikka Pure Malt range - Red being unpeated, White 'heavily' peated and Black in the middle. Which must make me an unlikely Goldilocks, because to my taste it's just right. Peat barely noticeable on the nose initially, to the point that it almost comes across as just being salty. Perfect balance of sweet fruit and savoury barley with just the faintest hint of something meaty in the background. Pretty lip-smacking palate too - not overly full-bodied but plenty intense on the flavour front. As standard the peat pipes up a bit more here, but then so does the fruit, so that lovely balance isn't lost. Returning to the nose a bit later to discover a gorgeous rich custardy, trifley thing going on. Within this price bracket you can't do much better than Nikka on the blended malt or blended whisky front. I'll even forgive them their smaller bottle sizing policy, so delicious is this 'mummy bear.' Though with a description like that, possibly one for Leonardo diCaprio to steer clear of...
Day 23: Glenalmond Everyday. 40%ABV
Knew literally nothing about this one at the time of purchase - hadn't even heard of it. Just needed an extra dram to get free delivery from Master of Malt and it reminded me of all the long A9 drives up to Inverness and over the beautiful River Almond. So here goes...
OK, not sure what blend of malts went in here - going to go out on a limb and say the Lower Highlands. Whichever they were they were blended too young - tastes a bit like licking the stills at times. Still very spirity - Rach said 'smells chemically' when I gave her the glass, and that girl has a properly sensitive nose. There are some nice moments of appley sweetness, but I can't fight off a suspicion that it's rather heavy on the caramel colouring front. Not an unpleasant dram, but just a bit bland and unexciting. Keenly priced, but considering I can get Four Roses Small Batch for a quid or two more this isn't the everyday dram for me. Finished my glass mind you...
Day 24: Tomintoul 10yo. 40%ABV
I'm midway through packing for my trip to Islay, which is sure to be a week of storm-tossed fury and snarling peat. So juxtaposing that today with this offering from a distillery which styles its whisky as 'the gentle dram.' Certainly an apt note so far as the nose goes - not one of those you'll scent from the far side of the room. Pretty cute though - no 'nose-wrinkler' off-notes, and a nice blend of sweet and savoury; vanilla and barley. Surprisingly lively on the palate - had to double check the label to confirm only 40%, but then it is still only a comparative nipper at 10 years old. Flavours more or less exactly as on the nose. Tomintoul is one of those single malts more people should be drinking - but I'm actually almost glad they aren't. Because I can't think of a distillery with a better priced core range. I mean if I looked hard I could find their 16yo for less than £40, which in the current market is just astonishing. And I don't want those prices to go up! Ok, this 10yo might not be the loudest, brashest whisky in the world, but it's whistle-clean, the flavours are great, there's decent complexity for 40% and - most importantly - I reckon I could convert 9 out of 10 people to drinking Scotch with this dram. And with change from £30 that's a very decent shift.
Day 25: Highland Park 12yo. 40%ABV
Just driven 200 miles up the M40 and M6 after a hard week of work. It's been pitch black, pouring with rain and with no one else in the car for company it's a long and lonely old trip. So getting home to a glass of this is like flopping into a favourite armchair. (Which I have also done!) That familiar heather-honey, splash of orange, gently fragrant peat - a world away from what I'll be experiencing this week on Islay - and that spray of Orcadian sea-salt. Once you've had HP a few times its signature is hard to forget. When you've had it as often as I have it stays with you forever. I make no secret of my love for this distillery and this whisky. Is it perfect? No - for starters it'd be lovely to see it at 46%ABV. Is it 'the best'? No - there's no such thing in whisky. Will it be for everyone? Of course not - nothing can be all things to all folk. But is it something everyone should try, if only once? Oh yes. Yes, yes and yes again. In this drinker's (highly biased) opinion your whisky experience will lack a vital chapter until you do.
Day 26: Mekhong - The Spirit of Thailand. 35%ABV
To no degree should this be marketed as a whiskey - a quick Google search shows it's 95% molasses and 5% rice. Also only 35%ABV! But I'm out at a Thai restaurant with my folks, the menu and the nice Thai waiter insist it's a whiskey and if you don't try such things then you're one of those with no spirit of adventure about you! One sniff and you know this ought to be labelled 'rum'. It's sugar, it's caramel, it's everything that makes whisky purists run for the hills. But hey - it's a lot of fun, it's tasty enough, we're passing it around and having a smell and a sip and a laugh. Which it's what it's all about at the end of the day. And the label does insist 'whiskey'! Plus, go to
India - the world's biggest whisky consumer - and anything you try that isn't Paul John or Amrut will probably taste like this. What the hell - here's to good times and the spice of life!
Day 27: Laphroaig Quarter Cask. 48%ABV
Given where I've been for the last week it just wouldn't be right for the recommencement of the 40 under £40 to be anything other than Islay. Apart from anything else our hotel bar whisky options were Islay, Islay or Islay. Or Jura. This dram is exactly what great NAS whisky should be about - superb, characterful spirit married to clever, thoughtful work in the warehouse. Those tiny casks have really worked their magic, and there's bags of vanilla and shortbread and sweetness alongside the coalsmoke, kipper and peat. Hats off to Laphroaig for bottling this at 48% incidentally - really allows the flavours to shine without being excessively boozy. 'Cleaner' than your standard whisky from this distillery - Laphroaig with its shirt tucked in! Still loads of the classic seaweed and iodine though, and still a proper peat beast as all whiskies from that Kildalton stretch should be. Supremely well balanced - the casks more than a match for the smoke without overwhelming it as sherry or other wine casks might. Bought a glass of 10yo to try next to this so I could test a hunch, and yes - I really do think this is a big step up. And that's saying something.
Day 28: Wild Turkey 8yo 101 Proof. 50.5%ABV
I love Islay, and what an amazing week I've just had there, but time for a change - and by 'change' I mean we're off to completely the other end of the flavour spectrum for a juicy, spicy slug of this gorgeously aromatic Bourbon that wouldn't know what peat was if you buried it in a bog. It would certainly know what caramel was though - and brown sugar. And it smells like it'd know its way around a baking spice rack too. Big, boozy slap on the palate, and actually less full-bodied than the nose led me to expect, but still a proper off-dry mouthcoater. Taken out of its cask at just the right moment to my taste; all the goodness sucked out of the oak, with none of the bitterness. Flavours don't quite live up to that intoxicating aroma, but yet another stunning example of why I love Bourbon in this price range. If I can save some pennies I simply must make a trans-Atlantic pilgrimage one day...
Day 29: Hazelburn 10yo. 46%ABV
Possibly shouldn't be doing a second entry from a distillery I've already included, but Hazelburn and Longrow are further in style from each other than a lot of whiskies of completely different provenance, so I reckon fair play. Also, it's my list. Sue me. This one's another from the 'whistle-clean' school of Scotch. Floral in style with a lot of green apples and pears going on. Just a touch of something slightly white-spirity if I'm to be picky - could possibly have done with either a couple more years or slightly more assertive casks... That being said, it has a lovely freshness - an A-grade aperitif whisky. Some nice, sweet honey notes creep in after a few moments too. Being completely honest I do prefer the entry level Springbank and Longrow to this. But that's personal preference for you, and this youthful, triple-distilled, unpeated dram is still an interesting and very drinkable whisky.
Day 30: Stronachie 10yo. 43%ABV
Guest entry from Will Jefferson
A close friend and co-conspirator in all things wine and whisky. I first encountered Will when our company sent us both to Inverness for a few months. Years later we've worked together, studied for exams both tasting and theoretical together and we've sunk a good number of bottles of whatever's available at any given time. Here's his response on being challenged to pick a bottle under £40:
This is an interesting one. Until recently anyone drinking a bottle with the name 'Stronachie' on the label would have popped their bung and shuffled off this mortal coil many years ago. That's because the original Stronachie distillery closed down in 1928, leaving only a legacy and an ever decreasing supply of whisky. It was't until A.D. Rattray managed to get hold of a bottle of 1904 Stronachie (one of only 4 left!) that the name, and the whisky, came back to life. After taking a sample (for scientific purposes) and comparing it against the whisky produced by several distilleries they finally found their match - Benrinnes distillery in Speyside was chosen and Stronachie was set to rise from the ashes.
Now the flavours aren't incredibly complex, but they definitely do get them right! Imagine smearing your face with honey, stuffing a handful of malted barley into your mouth and rubbing your face against a highland heather bush and you're getting close to the flavours this malt has to offer. The honey on the nose is sweet and pure, gently transitioning into aromas of rich malt. The initial sweetness of the palate is suddenly accosted by a lively peppery bite which will kick your taste buds into action, leaving a long, lingering finish. Coming in well under budget (£31.50) this dram is a steal for the price.
Thanks to Will for the contribution - another I'll have to go looking for - if only to experience a drink that tastes like shoving one's face into a bush!
Day 31: Bushmills 10yo. 40%ABV
Last time I drank this was St Patrick's day 2012. I was in my last year of Uni, and over the afternoon I watched In Bruges and The Departed with a couple of mates, after which we attended a house party and between us sank a bottle of Bushmills 10. I woke the next day to a proclamation on facebook that I was in a new relationship. Four years later she still hasn't escaped - and I've never seen off a bottle in a night again, assisted or otherwise. There's a lesson in there somewhere... To the whisky - soft barley and fresh, juicy, green fruit are the headlines. Scotch-only drinkers fond of Lowland and Speyside malts would find a compelling argument here for broadening their horizons. Pretty silky mouthfeel, albeit slightly diluted - 40%. Very easy-drinking though; went a lot more quickly than some of the other samples. I can see how my friends and I made our way through that bottle four years ago. Obviously I'm older and more sensible these days...still, happy memories. If fuzzy ones. Happy St Patrick's everyone!
Day 32. Bulleit 95 Rye. 45%ABV
There's not much I don't love about this whiskey. I love the look of the bottle, I love the name of the brand and I love that it describes itself as 'Frontier Whiskey.' In every regard this whiskey is somehow cool. Which, if we're honest with ourselves, isn't an epithet one can often attach to whiskey. Scotch in particular is almost never cool. It's very difficult for something to be cool when its fans include people like me. But in some indefinable way this whiskey manages it.
Anyway, those reasons for loving Bulleit 95 Rye are slightly superficial; onto the guts. Firstly, it's brilliant value for money. I know I'm always saying that about US whiskey, but that doesn't make it untrue, and this offers one of the best value to quality ratios of the lot. I also suspect it will become the first Rye to become a staple across British supermarkets, and that's great too. Most importantly it's absolutely delicious. The nose is just alive with nutmeg and Granny Smith rind and coffee bean, and manages to convey beautiful sweetness without anything sickly or cloying. It's lean and toned and focussed, if that makes sense at all. Tastes amazing too - balance still there; grain and oak imparting their flavours in beautiful tandem. Like I say, there's not much I don't love. Nothing, in fact - except that my bottle is running low, and my 'no repeat buying bottles' rule still stands. I'll just have to hope - desperately - that someone buys one for me.
Day 33: Big Peat. 46%ABV
I like the name of this blended malt. Nice and to-the-point. So just how big is this peat then? Well, you don't need to look hard; seal of bottle cracks...yep, there it is! Good job chaps - definitely not a misnomer. Unmistakeably Islay, lots of iodine and brine with a touch of background vanilla keeping things balanced. I find that in the best young peated Islays the cask takes a back seat and just acts as balance, allowing the whisky to depend on the quality of the malt. That dependence has been rewarded here, because there is character in spades. Or should that be peat shovels? Unusually I actually think there's more peat on the initial nose than there is on the palate...until the finish kicks in, and wham! BIG PEAT SMASH! An awesome, full-throttle, rock-and-roll kind of a whisky that, as I had hoped it would, transports me straight back to Islay. A blend, apparently, of Bowmore, Caol Ila, Ardbeg and even the late, great *looks furtively around and whispers: 'but not as great as so many people slavishly insist'* Port Ellen. What I really...unkh. [The Whisky Pilgrim has just been shot by a Port Ellen fundamentalist. We're confident he'll respawn for tomorrow.]
Day 34: Aberlour 12yo Double Cask Matured. 40%ABV
So fervent is my dedication to the A'Bunadh that I often overlook the rest of the Aberlour range. But seeing this at the insanely good price of £26 in Sainsbury's stirred my usually more fiscally conservative impulses into action. Nice to see a double cask whisky in which the components have spent 12 years in Sherry or 12 years in 'traditional' oak before being married together as opposed to 11 years, 364 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes in Bourbon and then rolled over to the filling point in a Sherry cask. (To be clear, this is a slight exaggeration.) As you'd expect the Sherry character isn't as loud as in, say, the Glendronach 12yo. In fact the nose generally is a soft-fruit driven affair; I wonder if it's tailored to what the French whisky drinker likes given Aberlour's status as France's favourite malt? Anyone from Aberlour or France - please feel free to amend my ignorance in this regard. Some caramel touches too, but mostly sweet apples (definitely not the Granny Smiths mentioned two days back. More of the same on the plumply-bodied, juicy palate. Not a desperately assertive malt perhaps, but it doesn't try to be. Touches of spice, more sherry fruit (fresh, not dried) and a bit of wood tannin on the finish. Another with which I could convert hordes to whisky. A charming, well behaved and very tasty malt. And for £26 per bottle an absolute steal. I recommend heading to Sainsbury's...
Day 35: Asyla (Compass Box) 40%ABV
If every blend was as good as this one this Single-Malt-Only drinker wouldn't exist. This is real lightness and beauty; it's malt and almond and vanilla and honey. The nose does take some prompting; nothing brash, nothing you can rush, but when it arrives - and my God it arrives - there is just so much complexity and so much to admire, with no off-notes whatsoever. Palate balance is spot on - don't know whether to focus on the sweet or the savoury at any given point. Again, must be stressed, not one that's going to hammer away at you on the flavour front, and I'd love to see what this whisky could do at 46%+ but if you're after a light, aperitif style of whisky that's awesome value and intelligently made then this Compass Box creation is very much your friend.
Day 36: Four Roses Small Batch. 45%ABV
Word of advice to all tasters. Just occasionally pass your glass to someone who isn't a fellow whisky nerd and see what comes back. Gave a glass of this to Rach whilst I was sipping and scribbling. Immediately: 'ooh...smells like banoffee.' What can I say? The girl's spot on. All lovers of fruit and cake should branch out more - whisky tasting's ideal for them if they can get past the booze! Anyway, Four Roses is my favourite US distillery, which considering my feelings towards American whiskey and how fickle my tastes are is a massive, massive statement. Their Single Cask is one of my all-time top whiskeys from anywhere - also under £40 if you fancy looking for it. This expression is lighter and fruitier - far fruitier, and Rach is bang on with bananas, to which I would add mango and coffee. Caramel and toffee are also about; ditto a big dollop of vanilla. And yes - on the finish - some Christmassy spice too. Whistle clean, big on body, big on flavour. Bourbon with personality; Bourbon as I like my Bourbon to be, simple as that. And, given the price, you really do have no excuse not to give it a whirl.
Day 37: Old Pulteney 12yo. 40%ABV
From a distillery I love comes this benchmark Single Malt of which I have been a fan for years. There aren't many you can find these days which better Old Pulteney 12 for price, and those that come close are massively different in style, meaning that this whisky offers a real (and delicious) USP at a very competitive rate. Good news all round, especially since you can easily find this chap in your local supermarket nowadays. A proper salty sea-dog; whether it's the maritime air or that eensy-weensy (traditional British unit of measurement) touch of smoke, there's an unmistakeable saline element. Behind it sweet, biscuity malt jostles harmoniously with honey, vanilla, a squeeze of lemon and the light tropical fruit that usually says 'ex-Bourbon casks.' Yum yum yum. A lovely Wick whisky. At some point in the summer I need to head to Thurso since Wolfburn is now officially in bottle. Rude not to pop in here again on the way past I think! At any rate, I bet they're glad the town doesn't still prohibit alcohol. I certainly am.
Day 38: Glenfiddich 15yo. 40%ABV
The guys at work have clocked that I like a whisky from time to time. (As well kept of a secret as that is...) Was busily working away yesterday afternoon when a colleague suggested I make my way downstairs. Following his advice I headed to the tasting room (a must-have in all good offices) to find myself faced with bottles of Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Bruichladdich - not typical names seen at a wine merchant's! Half an hour of happy tasting ensued (or at least that was how long I insisted to my manager it was) and one of them just had to be today's 'under £40.' I plumped for the Glenfiddich 15 - an old favourite, and very wine-merchant-appropriate given the Sherry-style solera system Glenfiddich use for it.
For those to whom 'solera' means nothing it's basically a system of blending a mixture of ages in which whenever you take out a little from the solera you replace it with new spirit (or in this case 15 year old spirit). Since you don't fully empty the solera at any point the liquid left behind slowly increases in average age, leading theoretically to a richer and more complex product. (Glenfiddich's is unique to Scotch whisky.)
For the price, one of the best quality Scotches you'll find of any provenance, sort or age; that honeycomb/beeswax nose is just a glorious, glorious thing. Silky, fruity palate; more full-bodied than I remember. Finish shortened a bit by the minimum 40%ABV, but actually the flavours are a lot more lingering than many drams you'll find at this strength. From the first distillery I toured as an adult and the makers of the first malt I bought with my own money, this is an absolute treat. And the people who dismiss Glenfiddich for being 'mass market' are seriously missing out.
Day 39: The One. British Blended Whisky. 40%ABV
OK, so this is a bit of a gimmick. But it's a fun one, and why not? From a distillery I absolutely can't wait to try the first of its own whisky from, and not just because the Lake District is easily in my top 5 places on Earth. It's a blend of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish whisky, though there's no info whatsoever as to whether it is blended malt or a blend of malt and grain. I'm not helped by the back label of the bottle being all in Spanish. (Weird, given my parents brought me this bottle back from the distillery itself.) Whatever the blend is, it's young as all hell. Can practically taste the copper of the stills; real metallic tang going on. Lots of new-make style notes, with some fruity freshness and touches of barley. It's perfectly drinkable but needed far more time in some more charismatic oak. Still - as I say, can't wait for the first release of their own fully English whisky!
Day 40: Aberlour A'Bunadh (Batch 53). 59.7%ABV
You'll have to shop around to find this under £40 - but it's so worth the hunt. When I planned my 40 under £40 I didn't know what the first 39 would look like, but I knew that this would be the 40th. The malt I love best; the Scotch Whisky which I believe offers better value for money than any other. Matured entirely in ex-Oloroso sherry butts and bottled at cask strength. Has everything you would expect such a whisky to involve; massive raisin, massive dark chocolate, massive aroma, massive body, massive complexity, massive finish and - if you don't sip carefully - massive heat. I discovered this whisky in the duty free of Delhi airport 5 and a half years ago and I have been a disciple ever since. The objective best I've ever tasted? No. The right whisky for every occasion? Of course not. But my favourite - a whisky that delivers whenever I pour myself a glass, that is brimming with that all-important and definition-defying 'character.' Everything I ask of a whisky, in fact, and all for under £40.
Which is, I think, the point. And the right way to round off this Lenton exercise. Because what the A'Bunadh - and indeed the previous 39 drams represent, is huge diversity of flavour and astonishing quality made the world over, and affordable to whisky lovers everywhere. Of course it's great to try a Special Release, or something very old or very rare. But as whisky's hyperinflation continues and bottles appear for the price of a car or a house; as the prices even of entry levels climb unrelentingly and so many of our favourite expressions disappear from the shelves or beyond the reach of our mortal purses it is a great comfort to know that whiskies like the Teeling Single Grain, like the Four Roses Small Batch, like Longrow Peated, like Nikka Pure Malt Black, like the Aberlour A'Bunadh and like so many others exist. Because so often I hear distilleries say that whisky is about people, and I believe it is. These great whiskies, then, are very much for those people. They have the flavour of greatness, and for under £40 a bottle we can all have a taste.
Thanks again to Andy and Will for their contributions - and thanks to all who've been reading!


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I love this easy, amazingly delicious and healthy Vietnamese Salmon Rolls and Fish Sauce recipe. It's perfect for an appetizer or full meal and will surely delight the entire family. And of course, for dipping, we are going to create a fish sauce and take it up a notch in flavor and heat. Let's get started!
- 1 Cup Water
- 1/4 Cup Rice Vinegar
- 1 Tbspn Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Phu Quoc (Flying Lion) Fish Sauce
- 1 Tbspn Diced Garlic
- 2 Tbspn Sriracha Chili Garlic Sauce
Fish Sauce (Nuoc Mam)
- 1lb Fresh Salmon Filet
- 1 Small Head Romaine Lettuce Cut into 3
- 5 Chopped Green Onions -
- 1/2 Cup Fried Shallots
- 1/2 Cup, Crushed, Unsalted Peanuts
- Spring Rolls Skin (Banh Trang)
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh Ground Pepper
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Salmon Rolls
- In a small pot, bring the water, rice vinegar and sugar to a boil. The sugar will dissolve nicely into the liquid. Remove from the heat and let cool. Stir in the fish sauce, garlic and Sriracha chili garlic sauce. Set aside.
Fish Sauce with a punch
- Coat a baking sheet with olive oil. Place the Salmon filet in the pan and season generously with salt and pepper. Place into the oven at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes.
- Prepare the lettuce by cutting into 3-4 inch strips. You'll be using this to hold the ingredients and rolling.
- In a small bowl, add the chopped green onions with a generous helping of olive oil. Place in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until the onions are nice and aromatic.
- Remove the Salmon from the oven and cover with crushed peanuts, fried shallots and green onions.
Salmon Rolls
- Using a small bowl of warm water, wet the Banh Trang and lay flat on a cutting board or surface. Take a small portion of the Salmon (including the awesome toppings) and spoon into a piece of romaine lettuce. Lay onto to the Banh Trang and roll tightly ensuring a consistent size.
Making the rolls
- Pour the fish sauce into a small bowl and place rolls onto a plate. Enjoy!
http://www.fridaynightcooking.com Copyright 2015-2017 Social Pants LLC. All rights reserved.


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Primary Health Sciences (PHS) supported by Queen's University Belfast and the Wellcome Trust, is a programme which aims for scientists from the universities and industry to help develop primary teachers' and pupils' interest and appreciation of the biological sciences and link their application to everyday life. The scientists act as inspiring role models, and help the pupils identify potential careers in the sciences.
Dr Lisa Connolly (Institute for Global Food Security) is a key participant in the PHS programme, visiting primary schools, talking to pupils and introducing them to science. Being keen to nurture pupils' interest in the sciences, Lisa developed an associated conference whereby the primary school pupils could experience the science environment at University. The Queen's University Belfast (QUB) conference aims to give valuable insight to pupils who may hold negative misconceptions about university life or consider university out of their reach. It also allows the student to meet and converse with "real life scientists" demonstrating the importance of scientific research and its relevance to everyday life.
The QUB event, held for the second time on Thursday 19 May 2016, proved to be an overwhelming success. Pupils were invited to present their PHS project within a lecture theatre environment, in front of an invited audience of scientists, industrialists, policy makers, parents and teachers. Excellent presentations were confidently given by the pupils, supported by their teachers who had also put tremendous effort into making science education an innovative and fun experience. The pupils were also given tours of the Institute laboratories by research staff and students where they experienced fun but very practical demonstrations of some research behind the food we eat.
We look forward to the third Primary Health Sciences conference at QUB will be held on Tuesday 23rd May 2017. Below is a short video of the Primary Life Sciences QUB event 2015


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This week we are using the fun and interactive Nearpod to practice some of those necessary skills.
We are learning what is private information and what is OK to share. We are learning to always have an adult fill in registrations if we need them for websites. We are also learning how to create safe and effective usernames.
Older students are thinking about cyber bullying. We are learning what to do if someone is being mean to us on the internet and how to be sure we are not being mean to others on the internet.


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Billboards Which You Cant Miss.
Did it ever happen to you that you went past a billboard even without noticing that it's there? Polish designer Fuss makes sure what he puts up on the billboard doesn't go unnoticed. And how does he do that? In his works, he examines and evaluates the present and puts up his works on billboards as a way to make a bitter comment on the reality surrounding him.
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