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Business Opportunities in Cyprus

Long-Term Strategic Business Opportunities in Cyprus

With a 21.9 billion Euro total GDP in 2019 and ranking 54th in the world for doing business, the Republic of Cyprus has experienced a continuous expansion which has transformed its economy to a thriving business environment and an investment hotspot. Structural reforms alongside a range of financial incentives for international commerce have translated in a surge of business opportunities in Cyprus.

The Aspen Trust Group breaks down the key sectors of this flourishing economy and the many benefits associated with the business opportunities in Cyprus, despite the challenges of Covid-19.

Cyprus as a Business Destination

Economic growth in this Mediterranean island is forecast to continue in 2021. In 2019, real GDP growth was 3.2 percent and, regardless of the slowdown due to the pandemic, Cyprus is on a path to have a 3.7 percent real GDP growth in 2021.

The largest sector of the economy is service-based, accounting for 71.9 percent of the country’s business. Yet, over the last 20 years, investment opportunities in Cyprus led to the diversification and evolution of the country as an important global business center. The geographical location between three major continents, as well as the well-structured and mature administration and services infrastructures have made Cyprus an efficient and profitable business community.

The government of Cyprus pursued numerous initiatives through 2019 and 2020, even though the pandemic has curbed government action in other parts of the world. The country established a new Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy in March 2020, which rapidly prompted the digitalization of the public sector.

The Fast Track Business Activation Mechanism was also approved in September 2020 to continue the efforts made by the Fast Track Headquartering scheme in 2019, allowing non-EU nationals greater business opportunities in Cyprus when setting up headquarters for more access to emerging and established markets in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Foreign investors and business owners starting a business in the country only need 1 to 3 days on average to establish a European Union company within Cyprus.

Types of Business Opportunities in Cyprus

Foreign nationals interested in becoming business owners, from establishing an online business to franchises in Cyprus or taking small ideas and transforming them into profitable businesses, can find many business opportunities in Cyprus regardless of the kind of business industry they are seeking.

Outside of finance and financial services, there are many other unique established industries in Cyprus:

Energy Industry

Reserves of vast natural gas in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus as well as its surroundings have been discovered in recent years since 2011 and encouraged regional ambition to strengthen the energy industry. The oil and gas sector promises to be a key economic growth driver and the Minister of Energy has already discussed Cyprus’s partaking in cross-border infrastructure projects by selling part of the natural gas supply to large corporations.

This also includes a drive to push hydrocarbon initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean and expand energy-focused business opportunities in Cyprus.

Solar energy is another field aimed at introducing new business and government developments. From smart-grid technologies to utilizing the huge potential of solar energy throughout real estate, transport, and public good industries, Cyprus is making strides towards sustainable innovation, efficiency, and improved storing methods. The boom in solar projects is forecast to create thousands of jobs on the island in the next decade and have cost-saving benefits and business potential for companies in any industry.

Construction and Real Estate Industry

Many new luxury and large-scale construction projects contributed to nearly 8 billion Euros in foreign investment in the country and promoted an upward trajectory in the real estate market throughout the past few years.

Among these are a growing demand for office spaces and headquartering locales in several of the city centers around Cyprus. It is projected that Cyprus should achieve 260,000 square meters of office space at the closing of 2020. Included in this is the capital of Nicosia with new commercial developments such as Nicosia City Centre, the Cymiva Office Tower, and the Capital Gate and the Asteroid Tower.

Film Production

Since the Cypriot government introduced its film scheme in 2018 to include incentives for film production that includes cash rebates, tax credits, tax allowances for infrastructure investments and equipment, and VAT refunds on certain income, Cyprus has become a popular film destination. This scheme has attracted multimillion budget movies with Hollywood actors like Nicholas Cage and William Baldwin. The movie Jiu Jitsu starring Nicholas Cage has successfully completed filming in August 2019.

The Aspen Trust Group was also named a “leading service provider” for international film production incentives as the film production service sector continues to grow.

Over 7 percent of the GDP relates to maritime activity, contributing more than 1 billion Euros per year. Companies located in Cyprus manage around 20 percent of the global third-party managed fleet in part due to the shipping incentives offered in the country. Cyprus is an attractive maritime center with low-cost registration, a range of tax benefits and ideal tonnage tax system, a number of bilateral agreements, highly-skilled professionals and quality infrastructure, and the benefits of a white-listed European Union flag.

Technology and Start-Ups

With a new focus on diversification and technology-driven enterprise, digital business opportunities in Cyprus are rapidly expanding. The largest industry making the shift is the financial sector, and demand for support services and skill training is increasing. Online business owners, digital marketers, and companies that offer web design or web hosting also enjoy the plethora ofbusiness advantages of registered Cyprus companies. The country has already attracted over 7,000 IT professionals and the Start-Up Visa scheme, extended until May 2021, has enticed more international talent to join the growing industry in Cyprus.

Business Opportunities in Cyprus with the Aspen Trust Group

A Distinguished Business Destination

As a flourishing economy with many expanding industries, Cyprus is an ideal place to start a company or relocate the headquarters of an existing company. As an EU member-state, the country allows access to a market of over 500 million EU citizens as well as markets in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Furthermore, Cyprus has the lowest corporate tax rate in the EU (12.5 percent) and many tax incentives such as no capital gains tax, transferring tax, or withholding tax. The jurisdiction is often cited as an ideal destination within Europe for tax optimization for many types of companies and individuals with financial goals in mind. It has also been a strategic relocation business center for UK companies following Brexit.

Another huge draw for foreign business is the quality of protections and financial benefits experienced as a result of the Cyprus Intellectual Property (IP) Box regime which encourages innovation and safeguarding of strategic business goods that are both non-physical and cross-border. Cyprus is leading the digital business age by being one of only a handful of countries to offer such policies.

Finally, the large talent pool of corporate and financial services enriches all the industries in Cyprus, offering quality professional services that maintain competitiveness with other global jurisdictions. As more businesses establish branches in Cyprus, the service industry continues to thrive and adjust for better business management and optimization.

Interested in learning about the specific business opportunities in Cyprus for your business needs and the many benefits for tax optimization and financial services? The Aspen Trust Group provides a range of high-quality professional services and tailor-made consultation on solutions for the establishment of your business in Cyprus. Contact us for more information today.

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“Mumbo Jumbo: The (In)Audibility of Kanye West:

  • March 8, 2017 • 6 PM – 7:30 PM
  • Knight Hall Emerson Auditorium

Why study Kanye West?

It’s a question Jeffrey McCune constantly fields since news of his WashU course has spread across the globe.

McCune says it’s the wrong question:

“The question isn’t, ‘Why teach Kanye West? The question is, ‘What does Kanye teach us?’”

In his talk, the second of three public lectures on Kanye West, McCune explains in detail that hip-hop is “one of the greatest art forms this country has created,” and West is one of its most brilliant creators. For detractors who believe it’s not a musical form worthy of study, consider the parallels to jazz. There is no longer debate that this American-made musical genre isn’t an extraordinary contribution to the world of music, but that wasn’t always the case. Early in its rise in popularity, jazz was called the “devil’s music.” Early detractors like Thomas Edison ridiculed jazz, saying it sounded better played backwards. By the end of the 1920s, at least 60 communities across the nation enacted laws prohibiting jazz in public dance halls.

For a fascinating peek at McCune’s talk, check out this video in the Source.


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Bad Boys for Life

Will Smith is 51 years old; costar Martin Lawrence is 55. Their characters, Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett, are feeling every bit of their age on the Miami police department where they haven’t been boys for quite some time, and are maybe looking to be a little less bad. But ‘Good Men’ just doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?

Like always, Marcus is trying to talk himself into quitting – or in this case, 25 years after the first installment – retire. And as always, Mike pshaws his excuses and presses him into further recklessness. Age hasn’t mellowed Mike nearly enough. He’s still the guy scorching through the streets in his Porsche, shooting first and asking questions never, still giving his Captain (Joe Pantoliano) heart palpitations which are increasingly risky now that they’re all AARP eligible.

Currently Miami is being terrorized by the systematic assassination of every member of law enforcement who worked a case a quarter century ago. A mother-son pair of drug lords (Kate del Castillo, Jacob Scipio) are behind the bloody vengeance but they’ve proved virtually untouchable thus far. Mike has every reason to sit this one out, which inevitably means he’s going to barge right in, invited or not, so he gets assigned to the AMMO team headed by his ex Rita (Paola Nuñez) which will now have to solve the case while babysitting the legendary detective who acts more like a toddler with an assault rifle.

Bad Boys for Life is the third in the franchise and the first that isn’t directed by Michael Bay. Don’t worry though, directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Adil & Bilall) are adept at mimicking his style, recreating several iconic shots from the previous films, making fans feel right at home. As if that wasn’t enough, they even worked Bay in with a cameo, both as a very minor character in the film, and as the director of that particular scene, which features his signature 360 degree shot.

There may be a little more gray in their beards and a little less spring in their steps, but Smith and Lawrence recapture their dynamic and deliver an exciting and fun addition to the franchise. This movie has everything you’ve come to expect from the trilogy and manages to deliver it in a way that doesn’t feel derivative. While no one will ever call it a ‘good film,’ it is every bit the film that fans deserve, and I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed by it. Ludicrous car chases, improbable explosions, random impalement, a menacing helicopter and a blacked out motorcycle – Bad Boys for Life is a high octane delivery system for all the ‘Bayhem’ the original helped make industry standard. Yes, it’s junk food, but as far as greasy take-out goes, this burger is top notch.

6 thoughts on “Bad Boys for Life

  1. Invisibly Me

    I want to check this out. Actually no, I didn’t at first because I didn’t want it to soil the legacy. But it sounds okay, and I’m a sucker for Smith. Also, you review made me Google ‘pshaw’ because I didn’t think that was a ‘real’ word. It is. There you have it, learn something new every day from your blog! xx

  2. Pingback: Bad Boys for Life — ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES | First Scene Screenplay Festival

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Technical details

Languages Russian
Orbital Position 31.5°E
Satellite Astra 5B
Originating countries Russia
Reception countries Albania, Armenia, Austria, Aland Islands, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Libya, Monaco, Moldova, Montenegro, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Palestine, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, San Marino, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, Vatican City
Target Markets Georgia
Standard DVB-S2
Encryption system Bulcrypt, Panaccess
Polarization H
Frequency (MHz) 11954
Transponder Number 5.213
Symbol rate 27500

You can receive the channel in this area:

ASTRA 5B High Power Ku-band beam

ASTRA 5B High Power Ku-band beam
Channel information provided by LyngSat Network. SES ASTRA is not responsible for the content of linked websites or external sources. If you notice an error or would like to add a channel please contact LyngSat directly.


text:
Role of isoleucyl-transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase in ribonucleic acid synthesis and enzyme repression in yeast.

C. S. McLaughlin, P. T. Magee, L. H. Hartwell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)579-584
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of bacteriology
Issue number2
StatePublished - Nov 1 1969
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology

Cite this


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Asparagus Risotto

26 May 2010

Asparagus Risotto

Classic asparagus risotto made with arborio rice, onions, stock, Parmesan cheese and fresh asparagus.

The season for asparagus always seems too short. In a blink of an eye it’s gone and you have to wait a whole year to enjoy these tasty shoots again. So when I was in Provence this past weekend I took advantage of the Uzes Market.

There were many different varieties of asparagus to choose from – white,  green, purple tipped, but for this recipe I prefered the green.  What is great about risotto is that it doesn’t over power the asparagus, but compliments it. This is quintessential Italian cooking, which is all about tasting each ingredient.

For other asparagus recipes see these links: Pumpkin Risotto Grilled Asparagus

See link ‘asparagus risotto‘ below for recipe:

We escaped the city this past weekend for a little sun & olive picking. Despite a very trying train journey… apparently booking a ticket does not automatically include a seat…. and the fact that it poured rain all of Saturday (hail was an added bonus!), we still managed to get in some quality olive picking.

Read the rest of this entry »

16 May 2008

{ASPERGES GRILLEES AVEC HUILE D’OLIVE ET SEL DE LA MER} With the spring time, comes the arrival of the one seasonable vegetable that is not considered a table etiquette ‘faux pas’ to eat with your finger…… ASPARAGUS

Now the Frenchman, a true gourmand at heart, knows a good thing when he sees it. So it was to no surprise that this culinary delight was in abundance at the local Provencal farmers market last weekend. A crunchy treat for the taste-buds, excellent as a detox cleanser, the only thing to watch out for is the afteraffects of smelly pee…. my god yes I just mentioned urination in my blog post! But better safe than sorry 🙂

Moving swiftly on, I had the pleasure of eating wonderful grilled asparagus in a little tapas bar in Barcelona, and wanted to recreate the recipe. The olive oil adds flavour & visual appeal, while the grilling accentuates the natural flavours of the asparagus, while keeping the crisp texture and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt to give a little kick.

Helpful HINTS :

  • when buying asparagus, the younger, thinner variety tends to be more tender, and less prone to tough, stingy outer skin (epecially towards the bottom of the stocks)
  • when cooking on the grill, place the smaller stalks towards the outer / cooler part of the pan, to cook all the asparagus evenly
  • don’t over cook the asparagus, otherwise it becomes overly soft & looses its bright green colour, crunchy texture and taste!

Facts: asparagus is a member of the Lily family! It contains elements that build the kidneys, skin, bones & liver – and a positive effect on our liver = a positive effect on our moods + ability to deal with stress

15 May 2008

Provence cherries

{LE PRINTEMS EN PROVENCE} Spring is finally here, and with that my 1st visit of the season to Provence. You can really see the difference in climate as you drive further south – the first thing I noticed was how many leaves were already out on the grapevines. And how the cherries on our cherry trees blossomed literally overnight, turning lovely shades of rosy pink, red and yellow !!!

Read the rest of this entry »

Sablés lavande miel

{PETITS SABLES AUX FLEURS DE LAVANDE ET MIEL} This past weekend I escaped from the city to the French countryside …. peace and quiet from all the tourists in town, cool breeze, listening to the cow bells, reading Marianne Paquin’s ‘Cueillez, c’est prêt!’ cookbook, and finding inspiration in a lavender bush!

For me lavender is the true ‘parfum de Provence’ (the perfume of Provence). However when it comes to cooking I think there should be a warning label: ‘this flower is sweet BUT strong …. therefore do not run a muck, suppress your enthusiasm to add more, or your desert will taste like a bar of soap! A little goes a long way

Sadly I did not have these words of wisdom when I first made ‘a lavender & apricot compote’…. wild horses could not have stopped me from adding an overly abundant amount of this innocent looking purple flower. The result was overwhelming and not in a good way.

Keeping this experience in mind as I read Marianne’s recipe for lavender cookies, I decided to make the recipe as follows: omitting the lavender essence as I simply didn’t have any and thought that the flowers alone would be enough. I replaced 25g of white sugar with orange blossom honey, and added a little extra flour to the dough – which instead of rolling out, I made into two long thin rolls which I chilled and then cut into circles. The result was a delicately subtle perfume of lavender, that tickles your sense as you nibble on these golden shortbreads.

3 August 2007

Confiture abricot-romarin

{CONFITURE D’ABRICOT ET ROMARIN} I was recently on holiday in Provence when the apricot season was in full bloom. To some this is a dream come true, to my father, whose keen desire to keep up with the overly abundant apricot tree in the garden (which was apparently getting the better of him), it was a loosing battle.

By the time I arrived he couldn’t look, let alone eat another one. Help was on the way 🙂 Perfectly juicy and ripe, just waiting to be plucked and in close proximity to the rosemary bushes…. I couldn’t wait to make jam and thought how nicely the two would go together.

  • I use the juice of a lemon = natural pectin, as the thickening agent for jam
  • Certain fruits / berries such as blackberries naturally contain a high % of pectin, requiring less cooking time when making jam & little or no lemon juice

19 June 2007

It is cherry season, and if I eat one more handful I think I am going to look like a cherry….. so I have decided to turn my attention to making jam!An enjoyable, even relaxing project, that marries well with Olivier’s love for tartines and our continued shortage of confiture! Tartine is the French delicacy of a lovely thick slice of bread with creamy butter topped with homemade confiture (jam).

However a black cloud, or should I say frustrated very red finger tips, began to settle over my little jam making jamboree, as I struggled with a paring knife in a feeble attempt to separate the clinging cherry from its pip! Lucky for me, help was not far away. While chatting with my mother, who is currently in Provence surrounded by les cerisiers (cherry trees), I recounted my sad story and she introduced me to the “Dénoyauteur“!

What you may ask is a Dénoyauteur… well, it is my new best friend! A simple little handheld machine that removes the cherry pip in one simple action. Place the cherry in the holder squeeze handles together and voila! De-piped cherry ready and willing to hop into a pie/ cake / jam, I could go on…. There are more complex devices, that are perhaps better for larger batches of cherries, but as I live in the city and storage space being at a premium, the smaller the utensil the better. Not only does this wonderful invention eliminate the red finger problem (attractive as this is at work…), decreases the de-pipping time and cherry loss, but it can be easily purchased in your local shops for about €2!! Naturally best to drop everything and run out and buy at least one if not two 🙂


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EL OLIVIO Restaurant, Deia

24 September 2008

***Restaurant Recommendation***

I am physically back from my honeymoon, but I fear my heart & soul are still sitting on the sunny balcony of our room at La Residencia, a lovely hotel in Mallorca’s hillside village – Deia.

The trip from start to finish was perfect, lovely accommodation, impeccable service, breath taking views, the sea, lush hills and a little stone village. Then there was relaxing by the pool, a day at the spa, yoga classes, various day trips to local towns & cities including Palma – a general return to earth after the bussling busy weeks leading up to the wedding.

However as this is a food blog, and for those of you who have been reading along – there may be the occasional story, a trip down memory lane or a brief wander off the beaten track…. however I always find my way back to the essential – my stomach. And I tell you nothing was to prepare me for the pièce de résistance of culinary delights that was awaiting us on this island at the El Olivio RESTAURANT….

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El Olivio continued


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Collectables – Messenger №975

Out of stock

For this new collectable we have used a French Marine poncho. Of course in a combination with the deadstock leather details. There is just one in stock of this unique bag handmade in our atelier in The Netherlands.

This messenger model is a roll-up messenger bag. The bag can be rolled-up to different heights and is still closable by the in height adjustable belt.

All Atelier de l’Armée bags are one of a kind, individually numbered and constructed from carefully selected materials. The distinct look of our materials can only be achieved by years of usage, therefore our bags may have stains, small repairs, errors, stamps or other natural wear. This is all part of our philosophy, it is what makes them special. Our bags are made by hand with great care for detail in our small workshop in Amsterdam. They are build to last and strong enough to hold all your belongings.

Back in stock? Notify me please!

– French Marine poncho

– Deadstock vegetable tanned leather

– Cordura waterproof nylon

– 13″/15″ laptop compartment

– 3 inner pockets

– Detachable nylon shoulder strap

– Vegetable tanned leather straps


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Currently set to Index
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Thanksgiving is the kickoff to the holiday season, and I am excited to team up with Walmart, the sponsors of this blog post to share a simple and delicious Thanksgiving recipe.

The Autumn salad is the perfect Thanksgiving side dish. It is a combination of delicious fresh vegetables sprinkled with cranberries and walnuts. I think my favorite part of this recipe is that it is super simple! With the Thanksgiving meal being such a huge part of the holiday, having recipes that take minimal effort but provide loads of flavor is essential. Because I can order my groceries online at Walmart, I will spend more time kicking my heels up watching holiday movies instead of cooking in the kitchen.

  • 2 Large Sweet Potatoes (peeled and cubed)
  • 1 1/2 c. Fresh Cranberries
  • 16 oz. Fresh Brussel Sprouts(halved)
  • 1 cup Walnuts
  • 3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • 1 Tsp. Salt
  • 1 Tsp. Pepper
  • 1 Tsp. Nutmeg (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°. On a large baking sheet, place the sweet potatoes, cranberries, and Brussel sprouts. Season as desired with salt, pepper, and nutmeg (optional). Drizzle with olive oil and mix well. Bake for 20 minutes, tossing halfway through. Place walnuts on parchment paper and place them on a baking sheet. Bake for five minutes at 400°. Mix all ingredients together and serve. Makes 8-10 servings.

I would love to learn some your delicious holiday recipes. Share your favorite Thanksgiving holiday recipe on Instagram or Facebook using #walmartcommunitytable. I hope you and your family have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.

My favorite time of the year is here! I genuinely love the warmth of fall, but something magical always happens to our home when I pull out the Christmas decor. This year I sprinkled some extra special magic with a beautiful new tree from Balsam Hill in our dining room. As I enter my home now, I am greeted with the joy of the holidays, which has me excited and inspired to be a part of the Balsam Hill 12 Bloggers of Christmas to share with you some tips to help you on your journey of getting your home holiday-ready.

Because Christmas is such a particularly special time of year, make sure that your home feels different. In my home, I am known for my neutral gray and ivory colors. There is something so calming with having a monochromatic color palette in my house. That goes out the window during the holidays. I love infusing a bright and cheery red compliment to bring a different burst to our home. The Red Berry picks played a huge part in helping me accomplish my mission this year. It is such a refreshing change at the end of the year.

Bringing the feel of outdoors into your home is always the goal during the holiday season. Wreaths, garland, and a beautiful Christmas tree are the essentials in most homes during the holidays. As I was trimming my beautiful Frosted Fraser Fir tree that my friends at Balsam Hill sent me, I had a knock at the door. As they entered, their eyes lit up as they saw the tree (which at this point had no ornaments). They were so impressed with how natural the tree looked. This made my day!

When decorating our home for the holidays, it is important to also think about the experience and memories that we would like to create during this special time of year. I love to implement unique experiences for my family and guest. One way that I did that this year was by giving each guest their own personal and cozy fire by their table setting. This will enhance the mood during our holiday dinners and hours of great conversation and laughs.

I also love conversation starters in a space. This is why I am in love with my Nordic Frost ornaments. They bring my family back to our days of living in Europe. We have so many great memories from that time, and to add this simple touch in my decor is a beautiful addition to our home this year.

The most important tip I can share with you is to be joyful this holiday season. No matter what is going on in your life, take this short moment in time to create a space that will give you and your family a moment of joy. Balsam Hill is also in the business of spreading joy with their “12 Days of Giveaways”. The giveaway will run from November 18 -29, 2019. There will be a winner drawn each day. Be sure to enter! They have also provided my readers with a discount code AHWN10OFF which will give you an additional 10%. This coupon is valid until December 15, 2019

Need more holiday inspiration? Check out my other friends in the Balsam Hill 12 Bloggers of Christmas amazing holiday set-ups!

French Country Cottage
Inspired By Charm
Golden Boys and Me
Styled With Lace:
Old Salt Farm
Charlotte’s Happy Home
The Lettered Cottage
She Gave It A Go
Shanty 2 Chic
My Vintage Porch
At Home With Nikki: You are here.
My Texas House

This post is a paid collaboration with Lowe’s ® Home Improvement. All opinions are my own.

As we are getting closer to Christmas, the pressure of selecting the perfect gift gets heavy. As a professional organizer, I love sharing ways to give amazing gifts that bring order to your life. We all get our fair share of perfume, clothes and the latest tech item but by the Christmas, we have forgotten everything we received for Christmas. I recently created a home maintenance center in our garage. This is a place where the entire family can easily get to tools needed to maintain the home on a daily basis. This means that instead of hiring a professional to install Dino composite decking, one of us should most likely be able to do it! Whether hanging a picture or tightening a loose screw by having a well-organized home maintenance center helps you knock out these tasks with ease and stress-free because all your tools are right at your fingertips. While we are talking about tools, if you are looking for a new cordless drill, then take a look at this guide from Coolest Gadgets to see a range of the latest products. This would be the perfect sidekick for any upcoming home improvement projects you have planned. If you are planning large-scale renovations then it might be worth using this loan calculator to help you finance the project.

Financing any project can be difficult and you will want to make sure that you are financially stable to ensure you can afford to support yourself throughout the project. Home improvements and projects such as fixing garage doors can be complex, you can click here if you want to check out some garage door repairments, having great garage doors to protect your car and belongings is essential to building any comfortable home.

In my latest video, I share with you how I created a home maintenance center in our garage in no time. You all know how I am a fan of coordinating just about everything. Well, tools are no different. Lowe’s ® has a variety of brands such as CRAFTSMAN ® , Bosch, DeWalt ®, Kobalt™ and more great prices which makes it simple to coordinate all of your tool essentials to look seamless in your home.

The essential CRAFTSMAN ® tools that I used to create my home maintenance center are:

To bring beautiful order to all my new tools, I found this affordable and very streamline metal pegboard as I was headed to check out. I got so excited because I knew that this was the final piece to bring my home maintenance center to life. My husband Mike and I had so much fun unboxing our tools and organizing them in a way that made it easy for us to access our tools. I think what I love more about this center is the fun that Mike and I had spending time together unboxing the tools and arranging our center. Lowe’s ® has some fantastic deals currently so take advantage of this one-stop shop opportunity this Christmas season. Don’t forget to share your home management center with me on Instagram and Facebook. I am excited to see what you and your family create this Christmas! -Nikki

This post is sponsored by my friends at Tuesday Morning.

The entryway cabinet is the first place that guest reach when entering our home.  Being such a central piece in the house, it was the first place that I prepped for Christmas.   I wanted this cabinet to serve as a functional space for my guest to get all those little tidbits to make staying at our home for the holidays enjoyable.   Tuesday Morning was my one- stop shop for everything needed to make this space not only function for the holidays but to make it beautiful!  If you have been with me for any time you know that Tuesday Morning is my go-to store for all things for the home such as home decor, linens, kitchen items and furniture.

The first thing that I did was clean out the cabinet and then pulled out my pen and paper to plan out what I needed for each drawer.  With my handy list, I headed to my local Tuesday Morning to get everything I needed to complete this project.

One of the first things that I knew I wanted accessible for my guest this Christmas is beautiful comfy blankets.  My family and friends love to lounge around our home, and I wanted to have blankets readily available for them both upstairs and downstairs.  These beautiful red and white throws were the perfect find!  Tuesday Morning had so many blankets to choose from, but my eye immediately was drawn to these beauties.  I loved that they also had them in a variety of prints.

Now everyone can easily grab a blanket when needed and it is in a centralized area in our home.

I use to live in the United Kingdom, and one of my British friends introduced me to crackers, and I have been hooked ever since!  These are so fun to share with family and friends during the holidays.  When I saw them in Tuesday Morning, I got so excited and was torn between which style to choose from.  I ended up going with these beautiful white and red holiday scripted crackers.  Christmas Eve, I will ask everyone to grab one from the drawer so that we can enjoy a British tradition.

My family is very competitive, and games are a huge hit every Christmas.  I was so excited when I came across so many wooden style games in Tuesday Morning.  At a price from $4 to 8 dollars per game, I could not get these in my shopping cart fast enough.   This drawer is going to be such a hit this Christmas.

Many of you know that we have a shoe-less home.  Since we do not wear shoes in our home I like to have socks available for all guest.  I wanted to make them look festive by tying a beautiful red ribbon around each pair of socks.   Every year Tuesday Morning is my go-to store for my holiday ribbons as they never disappoint.

This is such a simple but budget-friendly way to upgrade this drawer.

You know I was going to have chocolate available.  I could not resist.  One of my favorite shopping spots in Tuesday Morning is the aisle with the assortment of delicious and unique teas, coffee, and candies.  I found these “Emergency Chocolates”  which I thought were not only fun but tasty.  I am going to let my guest know that at any time they feel a chocolate emergency they should run to this drawer.

I knew I wanted an on-the-go drawer for guest.  All of our guests come in from out of town and often like to sneak away to enjoy the local area and beach views.  I wanted to have beverage carafes and a blanket that they could take with them in case they wanted to sit on the beach and enjoy the view of the waves.

Now I have a Christmas ready entryway cabinet.  I love how it turned out, and I knew that Tuesday Morning would have everything I needed to make this happen.  Now that I had the interior portion of the cabinet ready I moved onto the top of the cabinet.

I had been eyeing this fabulous stemware for a few weeks in Tuesday Morning.  I love the unique design and thought they would be perfect to place on the entryway table as guest come downstairs for breakfast Christmas Morning.  I will have them filled with orange juice.   I also found this beautiful silver tray on the next aisle. Together they are the perfect fit for my entryway cabinet.

I also knew that I needed a little Christmas red to bring all of the white in the space to holiday life!  These holiday stems were perfect!  I will be going back to Tuesday Morning for more of these I am sure.  Also while in Tuesday Morning,  I found a beautiful little silver vase with the perfect amount of holiday sparkle to place them in.

Of course,  I found a beautiful grey marble lamp and the table top was complete!

As I was headed to the register to check out, thinking I have found all the gems needed I ran into this magnificent wine bucket.  How fabulous is this!  I could not resist.  This will be perfect to keep all of my holiday wine chilled and ready for guest.   I can say my entryway cabinet Christmas prep was a complete success thanks to Tuesday Morning.   I highly encourage you to stop by your Tuesday Morning to get your home holiday ready.

It is time to start thinking about those holiday gift ideas!  Recently I put together a birthday gift for my sister-in-love.  I wanted to get her a variety of things that she loves such as candles, entertaining pieces, planner items and more.  I also wanted a creative way to package and present the gifts to her so I used a tiered tray.   In the video I share with you my journey of putting this gift together in the hopes that it will provide some holiday gift giving inspiration.

I just love decorating my home for the Fall season.  Decorating on a budget is even better!  Today I wanted to share with you some of my tips for decorating for the Fall season on a budget.  There are so many creative ways to make your home feel festive and beautiful without breaking the bank.  I hope you will enjoy the tips that I share in the video below.  Happy Fall Decorating!

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    On July 31, 2012, Brookhaven became the highest populated city in DeKalb County, Georgia. The city is famous for its mixed-use developments. Found at Peachtree Road and Town Boulevard, alongside Oglethorpe University, is Town Brookhaven. Town Brookhaven is an amazing mixed-use development found in Brookhaven, Georgia. With a movie theater, fitness center, and 460,000 square feet of shopping, eating, and more, locals find everything they need. It is on Peachtree Road, next to Oglethorpe University. In addition to office and retail space, Town Brookhaven also hosts more than 950 luxury residential apartments.

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    The city of Brookhaven hosts the Brookhaven Chili Cook-off annually in the Fall. In the warmer months, locally grown food, and other local products are found at the Brookhaven Farmers Market at Brookhaven Baptist Church.


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FS19 mods

Ford F150 SVT Raptor v2.1

Date 2016-09-18 18:49

V2.1 Changelog:

– Corrected physic
– Corrected data
– Corrected some errors
– Corrected windshield excessive reflection
– Removed some ugly skins
– Added Template to make your own skin
– New Skins
– New Tuning parts

BUG : none ! If you find some bugs, tell me in commentary.

Open the archive with Winrar 5.xx or 7Z and extract Ford_F150_SVT_Raptor.scs.
Delete the previous version in your mod folder and replace with this one.

Elaman, Matroskin, Mahad110, Crazy Squirrel, FH

Comments (18)

18 Responses to Ford F150 SVT Raptor v2.1

  1. Test Video on my Youtube Channel youtube.com/MrGermanTruck

  2. Deputydawg

    If this could be added to traffic, that’d be cool as hell

  3. MatthewC

  4. David

    look when I try to put the mod bone activate it and the whole thing entered the concecionario but do not let me see the vehicles I get the game back inside after said detected wanted saver happens

  5. j

    no me sirve tengo la version vieja sera por eso? en que version fue testeado?

  6. j

    no use to me, I have the old version will be for that? that version was tested?

  7. yahir luna

    as una cuatro puetas

  8. yahir luna

  9. cel

    muy buen aporte

  10. Dylan Nazari

    is there a way for you to put this on the workshop?

  11. lewisb

    DIR skin messes up after purchase

  12. Carl Jhonson

  13. sean

    add this to the steam work shop

  14. binbot3845

    where do you get this truck from?

  15. Jackson

    I added the mod into my mods folder, showed up, so far so good. Then, when I went to the dealer to buy it, It would not appear for purchase.

  16. jaiver

    has una que funcione en la 1.39-140 del Ats – Ford F150 SVT Raptor v 2.5

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About Me

  • Thank you so much for visiting me in the Attic, it's lovely to see you. My name is Lucy and I'm a happily married Mum with three children. We live in a cosy terraced house on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales in England which we are slowly renovating and making home. I have a passion for crochet and colour and love to share my creative journey. I hope you enjoy your peek into my colourful little world x

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« Making the Seasons :: October | Main | Autumn Decorating »

November 07, 2018

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Very enjoyable as we really don’t have change of seasons that are so dramatic. Do hope your family is all feeling better and on the mend.

Annie Brodrick

I really enjoy visiting with you through your posts on your blog Lucy. You started me on my crochet journey in the Autumn 5 years ago & I have enjoyed every minute of it! Thank you for inspiring me to pick up my 1st crochet hook and ball of yarn, it has been such a lovely journey. 🍁🍂🐑

The glizty gold pattern on your candle matches the underside of your toadstool! It's just perfect! :) Thanks for sharing your world with the world, you brighten my days!

Lynne Stankard

Lovely post Lucy - all those lovely pics! Don't tell me you didn't have slices of thickly buttered Parkin with the fireworks? I miss the days of great big bonfires and everyone putting potatoes in the ashes to bake and all the boys running round with bangers and rip-raps scaring us girls to death! Yes, and the smell of it all priceless.

Joy Teale

I am so loving those sweet pea colours.

The farm shop looks wonderful, I love places like that. I'm glad it was a nice relaxing half term. It was good here too, except I had terrible tooth pain. Had the tooth extracted today though, so I am hoping that's the end of that. I'm looking forward to some real food! I shall look forward to seeing your toadstool, the first one is absolutely amazing, a thing of beauty. CJ xx

Winwick Mum

For the first time that I can remember, we didn't buy fireworks this year but there were plenty around for us to enjoy watching. Sparklers do have that special nostalgic smell, don't they? I think I missed the sparklers more than the fireworks, if I'm honest! xx

I’ve so enjoyed reading your posts. Your life is calm and wonderful compared to so many. Love your colors in the pictures, just up my alley (an American term for ok).

Angela- Southern USA

I am not looking forward to saying goodbye to autumn, ours has been so short here this year, summer hanging on too long (intense heat & humidity)fingers-crossed it will last a bit longer. Love the latest hoop art! I have a few that I hang on the walls inside, and love them hanging that way as much as twirling in the wind outside. Here's to more slow lazy days. xxxxxxxxxx

Mary W

I love the gathering of colored yarn balls. It shouts a happy, floral, warm, summery nap. So excited to see what is forming inside your head and out through your fingers.

I love reading your blog...you have such a sweet and calming post and I really appreciate it. I would love to request that you teach us how to do the felted bowl that I saw on a previous post. TFS your creative talents with all of us!

such a heart warming post~ just how a half term with family should be. I love the toadstool make, how precious. I have a thing for toadstools, i seem to have one on nearly every shelf and seem to always appear in my illustrations to. Isn't that just magical when the fire works light the dark sky~ I think im still a child at heart because i so enjoy it. We have a hill top garden and it looks down towards the little town next to Dartmoor, devon and all the little gardens below we could see with sparklers and whizzing bangs of sparkly light, filling the sky with glitter. We head to a village in cornwall set by a river, but for some reason the fireworks are later this year there and will be this saturady. looking forward to that. Love the yarny mandala! colours are beautiful. And the Autumnal photographs, cheered up my grey outlook its raining heavy here in devon. x

Cristina Vasile

Love all your posts , i m happy that you are well . God bless you dear !Wish you best . Kisses :-*

It occurred to me reading this that you could make seasonal mandala hoops and change them out (if you were short of things to do haaa!).
Also, I am absolutely besotted with that paper mushroom you made, it is beautiful.

Your lovely autumnal post just gave me a relaxing coffee break. Thanks. I always love it when you let us have a peek iinto your world and your creative mind.
I wish you could blow some of your wet and windy weather our way (the Netherlands). Our garden and I would be ever so grateful.

I'm actually really rather liking Autumn this year. It's felt quite sleepy. I think because October was really rather warm, it highlighted (for me) Autumns yawning.

I'm pottering along sewing up the million blankets I decided to make at once, but I've been trying to take it gently in between the stresses of other stuff going on in my life. It's also Birthday season here in my patch which always panics me a little as I seem to miss the Christmas build up because of it. I hope J is doing well. We've had those kind of scares. It really does make you focus on family and self care.

Like you, I adore the smell of fireworks and sparklers. Such memories of childhood associated with them!

It definitely is candle lighting season isn't it? I've got a lemon poppyseed one that I light in the kitchen and within 5 minutes the whole kitchen smells like you've been baking. I make a coffee just to mix the fresh coffee smell in! ha ha! what about a crochet cover for your candle if you don't like the gold? I adore your mushroom. I rubbishly missed the craftpod box. gah! xxxxx

I just love reading your blog! I live in the US but have English and Irish roots and live vicariously through your stories and photos!

Carolyn Dietrich

Your comment about Autumn changing into winter reminded me a poem I wrote years ago:

Autumn, tossing her flaming tresses
Holds Winter an arm’s length away.
Until, overcome by his chilling persistence
She succumbs to his numbing embrace.

You share yourself on your blog, which I love, so I thought I would share this with you.

I do love slow, lazy school breaks, they're perfect for helping everyone recharge the batteries. The colours of your mandala are gorgeous too. xx Susan

Jo McGee

Hi, Lucy Thank you for the post it has warmed my cockles. Oh I miss the UK so much at this time of year the events and changes that Autumn brings. Here in Australia it is warming up but I am trying to find all the joy in nature around, but i love seeing your fireworks and colours which i miss so much. Thx Lucy Love Jo (the lassie who stopped you in the street and mentioned your red coat and little woolie a few winters back) xxx

Ariadne Desarro

Ahhh, lovely post!

Green Girl Gardener

That should be *never participated! 🤦🏻♀

Green Girl Gardener

Love the sweetpea colours. I’ve participated in a CAL before but I think I’ll give it a go 😁 xx.

Looking forward to the Sweet Pea blanket. I think you encapsulate autumn beautifully x

I very much enjoyed this post!

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Calamitous England suffer batting collapse to leave New Zealand on brink of victory

·6-min read
England batsman Dan Lawrence is dismissed by New Zealand bowler Neil Wagner for 0 (Getty)
England batsman Dan Lawrence is dismissed by New Zealand bowler Neil Wagner for 0 (Getty)

James Bracey’s hands could not have been tighter, gripping his bat like a man caught in a shootout and handed a gun for the first time.

A day earlier, he chased a wide delivery for his second Test duck in as many innings. A few hours earlier, after a succession of fumbles, he dropped a simple chance to dismiss Tom Blundell three balls and no runs into an innings that swelled to 34 off 77. By the time Blundell was done, the Blackcaps were 58 ahead with one wicket remaining, instead of 11 behind with five to go.

Of course, it wasn’t all Bracey’s fault. It never is one person’s, least of all a Test newbie. But as those hands tightened around that black bat handle and his third ball skewed into the leg side, a scamper – scored by a sarcastic pop from the Hollies Stand – got him his first Test run. For a brief moment, there was relief.

Alas, this is not the origin story of a Hollywood, come-from-behind innings. Very few of those end with gloving a ball onto your stumps for eight. He arrived at 58 for five in England’s second innings and left as the next man out for 71. New Zealand, eventually 388 all out, had taken an 85-run head start into this portion of the Test. A lead that remained intact even when home skipper Joe Root edged Ajaz Patel behind. At 76 for seven, the last of the designated batters had gone, not that you could have recognised them as such.

It is hard to remember a worse display from an England batting side. All at fault to a man. The brief was straight forward: essentially, to see out the day on a pitch they knew carried few tricks to surprise them. Instead, Rory Burns wafted at the second delivery. Nought for one. Dom Sibley hung back and held his bat out. 17 for two. Zak Crawley was trapped in front and reviewed to give us a second look at his error in committing too early. 30 for three. Ollie Pope misjudged an inswinger after the most Ollie Pope 23 off 20. 58 for four. Dan Lawrence, defiant on Friday with 81 not out , tamely offered an edge on Saturday for a duck. 58 for five. Bracey, well, yeah. 71 for six. And, of course, Root. 76 for seven.

The bowlers picked up the slack. Barely a couple of hours from their 120-over stint, it was on them again. Mark Wood and Olly Stone, those quicks the ECB management will talk to you all day about preserving, went out there and took England into a lead, after 25 and 24 overs respectively.

They managed 44 between them, a stand that will finish as the highest partnership of the innings. By close, with Stone and James Anderson still there, the hosts were left on 122 for nine and a frail lead of 37. A first series defeat since Sri Lanka in 2014, and a first New Zealand win over here since 1999 awaits.

It is in keeping with the lot of those with the ball that it fell on them to take this match to the fourth day. When Stuart Broad had finished New Zealand’s innings, trapping Patel in front to end an annoying 27-run partnership, he walked off with a well-earned four for 48 from his 23.1 overs but still with a sense he and the rest of the quicks had been let down.

He should have dismissed Ross Taylor on 68 when a top edge flew high and dropped through the hands of substitute fielder Sam Billings at fine leg. Taylor would eventually fall for 80, his 54th score above fifty, as Stone’s first Test dismissal at his home ground. But the joy was short-lived when, at the end of the same over, Bracey shelled Blundell.

Zealand bowler Neil Wagner celebrates after taking the wicket of England batsman Ollie Pope (Getty)
Zealand bowler Neil Wagner celebrates after taking the wicket of England batsman Ollie Pope (Getty)

There was a point today when you could have argued that New Zealand had let England get off the hook. The loss of Will Young to the final delivery of Friday meant they arrived on day three on 229 for three. Not only did they make it to 292 without further loss, they were also 335 for five before losing those last five for just 53.

Yet the standards of the No 2 Test side in the world, one due to contest the World Test Championship against India next week, are high for a reason. And even amid their mistakes, it was clear to see a sense of calm, which almost reeks of over-politeness towards the game’s fundamentals. At times, it can feel quite annoying: How are you, that little country over there, so good at this? Especially to an England side who have tried to outthink a format and, more often than not, been made to look silly. Not least with the decision not to pick Jack Leach in the XI given Patel’s effectiveness in his spurts.

Arguably Bracey is the most Galaxy brain of the selections. The desperation to get him a cap ahead of an Ashes tour where he was already being pencilled in as a top-order alternate has come awry. His selection as wicketkeeper for this series, when he wasn’t even the best wicketkeeper in the squad, looks to have done him more harm than good.

He does it for Gloucestershire, of course, and is more than capable at first-class level. But the role, along with batting at number seven, is something he was never going to adopt in the Test side even if he had put in a passable Adam Gilchrist impression over the last week. Trying to play it smart has come at a very real cost to Bracey.

This brings us on to the rest. The temptation will be to say without Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, this line-up was always against it. Even with New Zealand making six changes to their XI, considering two of those, Matt Henry - who accounted for all of the top three for 36 so far - and Trent Boult - with only Broad’s wicket to his name, remarkably - could walk into most, if not all, Test attacks.

England batsman James Bracey leaves the field dejectedly (Getty)
England batsman James Bracey leaves the field dejectedly (Getty)

Even if Stokes and Buttler were available, the top seven would have featured five of the top seven here today. No doubt those two have a quality of clout that emboldens those around them. But those here and now had the chance to take responsibility and spurned it. Sure, they are young. Yes, this is “Test cricket”. But these are England’s Test best: the ones given the most opportunities to succeed at this level over the last 18 months.

One of the deserved criticisms around England’s build-up over the last month - heck, since the start of the year - is how focussed they have been on Australia later this year. Well, after witnessing day like this, they can probably forget about that, too.

Read More

Joe Root will not panic over England’s poor batting at Edgbaston

How the England players rated in their home Test series defeat by New Zealand

England staring at New Zealand series defeat after day three of second Test

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Ecuador 6: The Butterflies in Mindo

Mindo also offers an excellent opportunity to see many of the butterflies of Ecuador. A good place to start is at the local mariposarium (Butterfly Garden).

Südamerika’s Schmetterlinge sind prachtvoll. Mindo bietet dafür eine gute Gelegenheit im Schmetterlingspark, welcher etwa 2km ausserhalb des Dorfes liegt und auch per Fuss zu erreichen ist.

At the butterfly sanctuary we saw, amongst others,Papilio thoas, Owl butterflies on a tree trunk, Morpho elenor,Celtinas with their transparent wings,the red and black Heliconius melpomene toma.

Following our visit to the butterfly sanctuary, we departed and drove from Mindo  via Santo Domingo de los Colorados to Quevedo, where we found a parking spot inside the security area of Hotel Presidente owned and run by Señor Wellington and his wife Sunet. Pictures on the wall testified of better times when even presidents of Ecuador stayed over here. Today it is no longer in the class for presidents, but we were happy to camp in the yard and use a room’s bathroom, all for US$8 for the night. It was quiet and safe.

Hotel Presidente -found a safe campsite in their parking at the new part being constructed

Next day we travelled from Quevedo to Babahoyo, then on to Milagro (past Guayaquil). On the way on a very busy single lane road a rear tyre burst and we were somewhat nervous while changing the wheel due to the traffic of heavy vehicles.

Heavy traffic in both directions -not a good place to change a burst tyre

Our next stop was past Naranjal where we camped at Kaluz Hosteria and Spa with the hot Balneario de Aguas Termales in walking distance, which were run by the local Shuar people in the village. Breakfast was included in the tariff at Kaluz and we were permitted to use the clean bathroom of a vacant cabaña. The breakfast consisted of a piece of indescript queso (cheese) and deep-fried platanas, a bland and fairly tasteless banana – not quite what we would normally have ordered if there had been a choice.

Camping at Kaluz

A wonderful specimen of a Travellers Palm in the Kaluz gardens

The Shuar are part of the Jivaro tribe, known for the shrunken head trophies which were only outlawed in modern times by the Ecuadorian and Peruvian governments.

Balneario de Aguas Termales

From Kaluz camp our route took us back to the trunk road and on the way we spoke to Shuar farmers harvesting the large red cacao fruits.

Harvesting Cacao fruit

On her way to school

Then on to Santa Rosa, from there to Arenillas and ultimately to the border at Huaquillas from where we aimed to get to Zorritos in Peru for the night, knowing that a pleasant campsite awaited us. Border formalities were without any hitches although it took approximately 2 hours.

Soon the magnificent trees of Ecuador started making way for boring banana plantations as we got closer to the border

Post cover period    4th to 6th December 2016

Ecuador 5: Hummingbirds (Colibris) and other Birds in Mindo

South America is endowed with beautiful birds – hummingbirds and colibris are just one of the many groups present. So we had to find a spot that would allow us to observe some from close by.

Südamerika hat eine Vielzahl schönster Vogelarten. Die Familie der Kolibris ist eine der faszinierensten Gruppen. Wir hatten gehört das auf unserem Weg gen Süden der Ort Mindo dafür bekannt ist. Aber vorher musste noch etwas am Wagen getan werden.

Galápagos felt like a 14 day holiday for us being on the ship. For a change we had super bathroom facilities, a roof over our heads and all food that was prepared for us in place of having to cooking outside no matter what the weather conditions were. By now we had travelled 7 months in our vehicle and we had done just over 21 000km exploring 6 countries.

However, a few things needed fixing before we could continue – especially our fridge. Luckily parts had arrived in Ibarra when we got back and we could get them out of customs for the moderate sum of US$130. This amount was little in comparison to the DHL courier freight costs from South Africa for the few items we needed. Fellow traveller Stefan Sigl assisted to get the compressor brazed back into the fridge circuitry ( with assistance of local technicians in Ibarra), we also repaired the ARB air compressor ( the over-heating protection sensor failed) and did general maintenance, cleaning, washing etc. Then it was time to say our goodbyes to new friends we had now met going up north and coming back south and a good occasion was a farewell braai! Not to forget Fred & Elisabeth Smits from New Zealand in their 1957  Mercedes who had to leave their trailer behind to be able to tackle the high Andes.

View from Finca Sommerwind

Farewell Petra & Stefan

Our route took us past Ibarra, Otavalo, Cayambe, then past Quito to Mindo, where we camped in the parking area of Jadin El Descanso hostal where we hoped to be able to observe hummingbirds in their extensive gardens. Mindo is a good place to see birds as everywhere are bushes and flowers and many restaurants and hostals put out feeders that ensure that Colibris have sufficient nourishment in the area. We were not disappointed – despite it raining almost all the time.

White-necked Jacobin

A pair of White-necked Jacobins

Rufus-tailed Hummingbird

Rufus-tailed Hummingbird

Green-crowned brillant Hummingbird

Green-crowned Woodnymph

White-whiskered Hermit

Unidentified -please advise if you know

Unidentified -please advise if you know

We were able to identify the following Colibris: Andean Emerald, Green-crowned brillant Hummingbird, Rufous-tailed Hummingbird,Green-crowned Woodnymph,White-necked Jacobin and White-whiskered Hermit.

Post covers the period    28th November-6th December 2016

Galápagos Week 2 -Itinerary B, days 5-8

Thursday: Punta Moreno – Navigation to Puerto Villamil with Whale watching (24/11)

At Punta Moreno we visited a relatively young lava field -approx. 10 000 years old. Here the gradual inhabitation by spiders, birds and flora can be witnessed.

Lagunas had formed with a green borders of plants. Different types of lava flows were visible. 3 different cacti, each with a population of ants that help in the plant’s pollination. We saw spiders inhabitating the cracks, Darwin daisies, silk plants and a type of sunflower. On the laguna we observed Bahama ducks and Moorhen, Flamingo, Galapagos Martin and Darwin finches.

While snorkelling we saw an approx 15cm long sea horse, varied fish and many more turtles grazing.

As the ship continued southwards along Isla Isabela we saw interesting landscapes, small craters in front of Volcán Cerro Azul and Volcán Sierra Negra which last errupted 2005. Not far from us 3 Orcas fished. Before dark we reached Puerto Villamil, a small harbour tricky to enter during darkness.

Friday: Puerto Villamil: Volcán Sierra Negra: Hike to the Crater -Tortoise Breeding Center of Villamil (25/11)

Per bus we travelled closer to the Volcán Sierra Negra and reached the crater on foot after approx. 1 hour walking. Flowers, Butterflies, Guava trees and lush green vegetation -quite different to the other areas we had visited so far in Galápagos. In 2005 the volcano errupted and the 13km diameter caldera filled approx 30% with fresh lava.

After 3 hours we were back in Puerto Villamil and visited the local Darwin breeding station for different land tortoises, all from the various areas of Isla Isabela.

On our walk back we saw flamingos, stilts, Bahama ducks and Moorhen.

Charles Darwin visited the islands aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835 for 5 weeks. During this time his observation lead to the theory of Evolution by Natural Selection – particularly sparked off by the fact that the tortoises on each island had developed in a very distinct way to survive on the different available food sources.

Visiting the local church was special – it is decorated in themes from the islands and not in the normal way.

Please also take note that the park benches in this town belong to the sea lions and humans are only tolerated occasionally.

Back at the ship our Captain William made an exception and allowed a swim in the harbour area -refreshing after a hot and interesting day. At our special wish the Captain and chef managed to source local Lobster in the harbour and we sat down for a very special dinner.

Saturday: Floreana: Punta Comorant – Corona del Diablo – Post Office Bay -Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz)  (26/11)

The ship departed at midnight and we reached the island Floreana early in the morning. Punta Comorant was our land excursion and on the beach we saw rays sucking worms from the sand in shallow water. A snorkelling outing followed at Corona del Diablo and we drifted through the rocks watching the abundant sea life.

Back on board we soon departed to Post Office Bay where already in the olden days ships stopped to drop and pick up mail – the only way of communicating with Europe and North America at the time. It was one of the islands that was inhabitated very early on due to the source of fresh water.

We looked through the mail of the barrel mailbox and selected some post cards we would be able to drop off or mail in Argentina and left some cards for friends and family in South Africa to see how well the post service still functions ( by the way our postcard arrived in Cape Town after 4 months, unfortunately we do not know who collected it in Galápagos).

After lunch we proceeded back to Puerto Ayora, where the ship needed to replenish and we had some time in the town. Towards evening we were back on board for the farewell dinner which Francisco the chef had prepared and which featured Bacaláo (Seabass), the tables again decorated with vegetable art.

Sunday: Daphne Mayor (Panoramic) – Baltra (27/11)

Our last day started very early with a panoramic circumnavigation of Daphne island, well-known through the 40 year long research by scientists Peter and Rosemary Grant, observing the changes/evolution of finches in Galapagos.

Some Brown Pelicans gave us a special display of their fishing skills – with brown Noddy terns frequently sitting on their heads hoping for a small fish to escape.

By 9:45am our flight left Baltra to Quito, where we took a bus first to Carcelen bus terminal, and from there 2.5 hrs by long distance bus to Ibarra and then a taxi back to Finca Sommerwind- all this for US$ 7 per person.

This post covers 23th – 27th November 2016

Galápagos: Week 2 Itinerary B, days 1-4

Galápagos for a second week -what a privilege! We were curious to see what other creatures and landscapes the other islands more to the West on Itinerary B had to offer.

Sunday: Baltra – Las Bachas (20/11/2016)

The ship was refuelled and Maja Homberger came on board with the new passengers -this time we were only 11. From Baltra it was only a short distance to reach Playa las Bachas on the northern section of Santa Cruz island. We were lucky to see more Iguanas, many Blue-footed Boobies,2 Flamingos in a laguna ( there are only a few flamingos on Galapagos).

We then visited a beach to see whether Turtles have laid any eggs yet, saw some spotted rays and went for a swim.  Interesting was to see how mangroves get rid of excess salt via their leaves.

At supper we were back in Baltra harbour and the crew ceremoniously introduced themselves to the new guests.

Monday: Mosquera – Cerro Dragon (21/11)

We rose early and made our way by zodiac to the islet Mosquera, where plenty of sea lions awaited us. They are a pleasure to observe surfing in the waves. The Sea Lions came very close -sometimes too close for comfort and we moved away. After the issue of snorkeling gear and wetsuits for the week, we went for a swim and saw a lot of sea life -rays, sharks, surgeonfish, etc.

The Angelito I then relocated to Cerro Dragon on Santa Cruz for a land outing: Turtles, Land-and Marine Iguanas,, large Cacti. As we walked around the hill we realised how dry the area was -two years of virtually no rainfall. There are still some goats and donkeys on Santa Cruz that eat the cacti -a problem as the cactus does not survive once the bark is eaten all around.The cacti are the staple diet for land iguanas.

Tuesday: Tagus Cove (Isabela) – Punta Espinoza (Fernandina) (22/11)

Tagus Cove is formed by the caldera of an extinct volcano. We wandered up the side wall where there should be many finches -however, it was extremely dry.

The views across the lagunas were beautiful.

The Palo Santo forests were white and leafless, we saw a sunflower tree, Euphorbias and Darwin Cactus. From the top the volcanos Alcedo, Darwin and the Darwin lava fields and volcano Wolf could be seen as well as the emerald green Darwin lake lower down.

As we returned to catch the Zodiac we saw our first flightless cormorant. We then went snorkelling below the cliffs and could watch both the cormorants as well as penguins fishing with high speed under water by them checking each little hole and cave in the steep wall. In this area we counted 7 Green Pacific turtles feeding.

After lunch we visited Punta Espinosa on island Fernandina. As we approached by rubberduck, marine iguanas could be seen exiting the waters after the midday feeding session. They needed to return to land to warm up.

Interesting were the many iguana skeletons -two years prior the sea temperatures had risen to the degree that less algae grew with the resultant loss of approx 50% of the iguana population, apparently due to the el Niño phenomenon. The area rewarded our visit richly with sightings of seals, Pelicans, Cormorants, Lava Herons, Lava Lizards and a good sighting of a Gal.Hawk.

The number of marine iguanas here was very high and we could observe some males asserting their status.

The golden dry sea lions sunning themselves on the black lava were a special sight at Punta Espinosa.

While the boat navigated to our next destination, we could observe the fragile looking Galápagos storm petrels (Galápagos Wellenläufer) that seem to walk on the water while feeding on krill.

Wednesday: Isla Isabela : Urbina Bay – Elizabeth Bay (23/11)

The next three stops were all on Isla Isabela – first Urbina bay, then Bahia Elizabeth and on to Punta Moreno.

Urbina -on this beach turtles lay their eggs -for this reason a part is cordoned off. This area rose 1954 by 6m – it was interesting to see the changes in vegetation which included the very poisonous Apple tree which only iguanas can feed on. The milky sap produces a sunburn type affect if it gets on the skin and for humans eating them accidently can lead to death.

We saw mainly finches in this area, no tortoises although there should be some in this area. Snorkeling from the beach was exciting as we saw a few very large Pacific Green turtles feeding ahead of the breeding season.

Note: click on the video to play and also to stop it from looping.

While travelling to Elizabeth bay we had the luck of seeing approx. 50 dolphins and as many sea lions that followed us.

Once we arrived we took a late afternoon zodiac cruise into the mangroves, where many turtles rest and feed in preparation of laying their eggs. Towards evening we arrived in Punta Moreno.

This post covers 20th – 23th November 2016

Galapagos: Week 1 (Itinerary A) days 6-8

Friday: Isla Española: Punta Suarez -Playa Gardner (18/11)

After breakfast we rode to Playa Gardner, a white beach , quite a contrast to the previous black and red ones. Sea lions awaited us, different Mocking birds, light coloured Gal. Hawks and American Oystercatchers.

Note: This video loops – please stop it manually when you are finished watching it

During snorkelling we saw large Stingrays, Lobsters, Turtles and a number of swarming fish. Water here was colder with viz approx 10-15m.

Afternoon was a scheduled landing at Punta Súarez with plenty of sea iguanas with beautiful red and green shading. Many sea lions on the beach and in the water, dense vegetations with mocking birds that accompanied us. Many dead iguanas were testimony to global warming – two years before approx. 50% of the iguana population starved to death due to the sea grass and algae not growing as the water temperatures rose too high.

At the cliffs we could observe Gal. Hawk, red-billed Tropicbirds, Noddys, Blue-footed as well as Nasca Boobies and breeding Galapagos Albatross. We saw plenty of Lava Lizards as well as a snake, the beautiful Gal. dove and different Warbler Finches.

Saturday: Santa Fé – South Plaza (19/11)

At Santa Fé island we did a morning walk among the many catcti on which land iguanas fed and had beautiful vistas from higher up.

Per zodiac we rode past the opposite island, saw male sea lions patrolling their territory and during snorkelling we saw rays as well as a cleaning station for sea turtles.

While the boat transferred to the island, we had more opportunity to observe frigate birds following the boat.

At South Plaza island we viewed a bay filled with cacti and succulants  in red and yellow. Plenty of the sea birds we had seen before, however here we saw the nests of tropic birds and were amazed at the speed with which they landed on the rocks to feed the chicks.

While the ship travelled to a sheltered canal for replenishing, we spotted large black-tipped reefsharks. From here the ship returned to Baltra for the night.

During supper the crew was formally dressed and presented a thank-you ceremony to the guests, tables were decorated with animals carved from vegetables and fruit and a dessert chocolate cake – yummy!

Sunday: Black Turtle Cove – Baltra (20/11)

An early morning outing by Zodiac to Black Turtle Cove (part of Santa Cruz) allowed us again to observe Blue-footed Boobies, Pelicans, Striated Herons, White-tipped Reefsharks, Eagle Rays, Gal.Turtles, mostly in-between mangroves.

Back at Baltra our fellow travellers and guide Efrain sadly left.

The ship was refuelled and soon the new passengers arrived for Itinerary B. How lucky for us to be able to stay for a second week. Maja boarded and would be our guide for the coming days.

This post covers 18th -20th November 2016

Galapagos: Week 1 (Itinerary A) day 1-5

Galapagos -this destination is on many a bucket list. We were very fortunate to be able to visit these very special islands while waiting on our vehicle and fridge parts to arrive from South Africa.

Die Galapagos Inseln besuchen zu können ist auf dem Wunschzettel vieler Reisender. Wir hatten das Glück, diesen Traum zu verwirklichen. Für Naturliebhaber sind diese Inseln ein Paradies -und für Fotographie Interessierte ein ganz besonderes Ziel.

Galapagos consists of 14 main islands and more that 120 rocky islets, surrounded by 133 sq km marine reserve. In 1959 97% of the land area was designated as a National Park, 20 years later the islands became the first ever Unesco World Heritage site. Around 30 000 people live in Galapagos permanently and 200 000 tourists visit each year (about 3800 visitors per week). The name Galapagos means Tortoises and is derived from an old Spanish word for this animal.

From a number of fellow travellers we had the recommendation to visit the Galapagos islands on board of the Angelito I. The reason given was the impeccable quality and service and that the boat is a smaller one, taking a maximum of 16 passengers ( 8 double cabins) and she has a crew of 8. It is owned by 2 Galapeño brothers ( Hugo and Leonardo Andrade Serrano ) and the bookings and guiding is handled by the Swiss Cometa Travel in Quito. So we decided it is worth a try and that it only took 16 passengers appealed to us and so was the fact that all cabins have outside windows. The boat was also fully refurbished during 2013.

This information convinced us sufficiently to give it a try. Maja Homberger from Cometa Travel accommodated all our wishes,her 30 years of guiding in Galapagos showed in the information we received back promptly.

To view our first week’s route, click on the Cometa Travel link, select virtual map and view Itinerary A.

On Saturday we left by bus from Ibarra to Quito’s northern bus terminal Carcelen (2.5hrs ) and from here into Quito where we stayed overnight at Maja’s place. For the bus trip we bought an extra ticket to ensure that the photographic equipment would be next to us and not stowed where it could disappear. Public transport is safe and cost-effective in Ecuador – however we were cautioned that on bus rides baggage could be pilfered.

Next morning at 4 o’clock we were duly collected by her driver and taken to the airport, from where we departed on time, saw a number of the Ecuadorian volcanoes from the air, then stopped at Guayaquil airport to refuel and take on more passengers. From here it took 1.5hrs to the Galapagos airport on Baltra island (very flat, used to be an American war-time airport) where on disembarkation every visitor had to pay the US$ 100 entry fee to the islands.

Our guide for the first week, Efrain Zambrano, welcomed us and we were transferred to the Angelito I, in readiness for the new passengers for the week of which there were only 13.

Sunday: Baltra – North Seymor – Baltra harbour (13/11/2016)

We navigated to North Seymor island in hefty swell due to the supermoon on this particular weekend. Our first land outing produced some interesting sights -2 types of frigate birds (the larger Magnificent and the Great Frigate bird), young Blue-footed Boobies, yellow Galapagos Warbler, Galapagos dove, yellow land iguana and the black marine iguana, sea lions, brightly coloured crabs, Brown Pelicans and Lava Lizards.

It was quite a special feeling as the animals on these islands show no instinct to flee. Landings are well controlled so that only a few tourists visit at any given time and it is only permitted to walk on the prescribed paths with a qualified Galapagos guide.

On our return to the ship we spotted a ray and in the evening sharks circled the ship. The boat returned to Baltra harbour for the night.

Monday: Chinese Hat – Bartolome (14/11)

The boat left the harbour at 4am and sailed towards Chinese Hat island.

The morning outing was onto a small rocky lava island, where we saw Sea Lions with pups, a Galapagos Hawk trying to catch marine iguana, Lava Heron and crabs which had shed their shell.

This outing was followed by a snorkel outing, we saw Parrot-, Surgeon- and other Wrasses and many fish we did not know, but also Sea Cucumbers, Starfish etc.

In the afternoon we climbed the 140m high lava hill on island Bartolome, where the view from the top was spectacular covering some of the surrounding islands.

Per zodiac we rode past Pinnacle Rock, where we spotted our first Galapagos Penguins and some American Oystercatchers.

At 23:30 we departed towards Genovesa -the caldera of an extinct volcano, over 100m deep and open on one side so ships can enter.

Tuesday: Genovesa: Darwin Bay & Prince Phillips Steps (15/11)

First landing was at Darwin’s Bay where we saw Red-footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nasca Boobies, the fast flying Red-billed Tropic Birds, Dracula Finches, Brown Pelicans, Galapagos Mocking Birds and Ruddy Turnstones.

We went for a swim amongst the sea lions and birds landed in close proximity. While snorkelling the viz was limited due to thermoclines, but we spotted Moorish Idol and some Pufferfish.

The afternoon outing took us up the Prince Phillips steps and during the walk we saw many Frigate Birds, Red-billed Tropic Birds, Pelicans, Boobies, Gal.Doves, Gal. Finches, Galápagos Short-eared owls and seals.

After an early supper the ship took bearing towards Puerto Egas on Santiago island.

Wednesday: Puerto Egas (Santiago) – Rabida (16/11)

The night ride was rough! Seldom have the islands seen such high swell, it was the first time that the fridge on board the Angelito I toppled over.

An early landing at Puerto Egas took place on a scenic pitch black lava sand beach. Along the rocks were blowholes pumping and we spotted Gal.Hawk. Many Marine Iguanas could be observed here as well as seals with pups.

The ship then sailed to Rabida island, where we landed on a red vulcanic sand beach. Here the vegetation had many colourful saltbushes, a small lagoon with an orange coloured Flamingo ( only one as the salt concentration at this time is too high) and we spotted Pacific Green Turtles. Galápagos Finches were spotted drinking from Cactus flowers.

During snorkelling we observed white-tipped reef sharks, seals, large starfish and many different tropical fish including Trumpet fish.

The ship took course to Puerto Ayora, the harbour on Santa Cruz island -we remained for the night in the harbour and appreciated a quiet night.

Thursday:  Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Station – Highlands of Santa Cruz  (17/11)

In the morning a visit to the Darwing Research Centre was scheduled, where many large land tortoises are reared and we could appreciate the different developments of the animals depending which island they inhabitated and what source of food was available there ( length of the neck differed greatly).

There was sufficient time to take a stroll through Puerto Ayora and to appreciate the crafts, the buildings and the market.

In the afternoon an outing to the highlands took place by bus in order to see more tortoises and the large lava tunnels, that formed during an eruption.

The ship only transferred late evening to Isla Española, which gave the crew and passengers time on shore in Puerto Ayora.

This post covers 13th -17th November 2016


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    Life is so SWEET! Sage Green

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    This LIFE IS SO SWEET crew neck tee is so soft and very unique.  In fact, every shirt is a little different because of the acid wash process that each shirt undergoes to get this fabulous look.  It is a combination of beautiful forrest, grassy and sage greens with a stunning watermelon just in time for spring and summer.

    Also made available in mommy and me and tea towel

    We suggest ordering true to size.


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Chocolate fondant

  • 250 ml maple condensed milk
  • 15 ml PDC maple syrup
  • 4 eggs
  • 85 g flour
  • 60 g butter
  • 100 g sugar
  • 375 g sweet and sour chocolate

  1. Mix the butter and sugar with a mixer until they turn pale.
  2. Gradually pour in the condensed milk, then the eggs, making sure that each new addition is well incorporated before adding the next.
  3. Stir in the maple syrup.
  4. The mixer at low speed, incorporate the chocolate, then the flour.
  5. Grease 6 ramekins of 125 ml and distribute the mixture evenly (they can be covered with plastic film and refrigerated for up to 8 hours). Place in the center of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes at 205 ° C (400 ° F) or until the top has lost its gloss and the edges have set.
  6. Immediately pass a small paring knife around the ramekins.
  7. Invert onto a plate and serve immediately.