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Bhutan Tour from Nepal - All you Need to Know

  • Author: Naba Raj Amgai
  • Posted on: Sun Oct 18, 2020
Bhutan Tour From Nepal

Bhutan Tour from Nepal offers a chance to visit the two Himalayan Kingdom- Nepal and Bhutan, known for their stunning mountains, diverse landscape, warm hospitality and unique culture and tradition. The tour is an unforgettable journey that offers close experience with traditions, culture and festivals that have remained pristine over the years. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site and observe the holy temples, monasteries and shrines. These two countries were forbidden to enter by the tourists.

However, Nepal was introduced to the outside world in the late 1960s whereas Bhutan did it in mid 1970s. Bhutan follows a strict tourism policy to protect its environment, culture and the people itself. It only allows a few tourists every year to visit and experience the Land of Dragon, Bhutan. From colorful prayer flags in Nepal to the traditional Bhutanese attire, both the countries do not fail to fascinate tourists each year and bring peace. Every architecture, crafts, designs reflects the culture of Nepal and Bhutan.

Bhutan is a country known for its natural beauty, rich culture and heritage and gross national happiness as well as only carbon negative country in the world. It is an unspoiled place to sightsee the Himalayas and landscape. Bhutan is a place filled with magic where people are happy and simple. It is amazing to see beautiful land that touches your heart and soul.

Recommended Read: 12 Days In Nepal And Bhutan - Where To Go And What To Do?

Why Bhutan tour from Kathmandu

1. Explore the two Great Himalayan Kingdoms In One Journey

Explore the two Great Himalayan Kingdoms

Nepal and Bhutan offer beauty at its best. The unique features of the countries reward tourists with an incomparable experience. The tour takes you to scenic flights, stunning sightseeing, long drives, and short hikes to Nepal and Bhutan's tourist attractions. In Nepal, you can explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in Kathmandu. You can see the holy Pashupatinath Temple-the oldest Hindu temple where devotees from mainly Nepal and India come to celebrate the festival each year. Spin the prayer wheel in Boudhanath-a Buddhist pilgrimage stupa. Likewise, visit Swayambhunath which is located at the top of the hill, which lets you see the valley's panoramic view. The journey offers a visit to the Royal palaces of Kathmandu valley Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. These heritages reflect the ancient culture, design and values in their architecture.

Not to forget, the famous treks and hikes offered by Nepal that takes you to the different region of the country. You can watch the soaring Himalayas and watch the snowy landscape around you that will take your breath away.

The journey leads you to the beautiful country of Bhutan. As you go from one place to another, you will enjoy the scenic drives to major cities of Bhutan- Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. The cities hold Dzongs which depicts historical importance from the 12th to 16th centuries. You can find numerous religious sites in most parts of the villages. Thus, you can have a good chance to observe the rituals, culture and practices. You can hike to Tiger’s Nest which is a famous spot in Bhutan and observe Paro Dzong (Rinpung Dzong), a 15th-century fort that holds14 shrines and chapels.

2. Visa – Agency office or representative in Bhutan apply for the visa

You can get a visa when you book a tour which will cost you at least USD 200 per day. It includes accommodation, meals, fees, and transport and tour guide fees. Everyone, except Bangladeshi, Indian, Maldivians, needs a visa to get into Bhutan. You can obtain on arrival visa after applying for visa clearance through a tour operator.

If you get an invitation from the government or an organization, you can apply for official visa clearance. You must apply for visa clearance from the Department of Immigration, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Bhutan by issuing an application form and invitation letter from the organization. Here, if you get visa clearance, then you do not have to pay USD 200 for daily for the tour.

Must Read: How To Get Bhutan Visa From Nepal

You must apply for Bhutan visa via an authorized tour operator who will submit your application on your behalf at the Tourism Council of Bhutan. The application process is as follows:

  • Consult a registered tour operator to book your tour package. The Tourism Council of Bhutan already has a list of registered tour operators. You can choose one that is feasible for you. You can also find a tour agency in your country tied to a Bhutanese company and coordinate with you for the application process.
  • Pay the cost of the tour and submit the tour operators the necessary documents and information.
    • Colored scan of your passport, which is valid for at least another six months.
    • If you are a student, you can get a discount. Also, Children can also get discounts.
    • Your contact information, address and itinerary.
  • The tour operators will give the visa application to the Tourism Council of Bhutan on your behalf.
  • The Tourism Council of Bhutan verifies the application and passes on to the Department of Immigration who then issues a Visa Clearance Letter. You need to print this letter and bring it to the airport.
  • Get travel health insurance because it is non- inclusive on the tour operator packages.
  • Travel to Bhutan and show the visa clearance letter to the immigration officers at the airport. They will stamp the actual visa on your passport after reviewing it.

The cost of the Bhutan visa is US$40 per person, which is a non-refundable fee. The Tourism Council of Bhutan has a fixed Minimum Daily Package for all the tours:

Where to travel next?

Get help from our travel specialists for holiday ideas that matches your interests.

How to Book with Trusted Travel Agency

Traveling to Bhutan requires a registered tour operator. Thus, ensure the company you are booking with is certified before making any payment. The tour operators will give the visa application to the Tourism Council of Bhutan on your behalf. The Tourism Council of Bhutan verifies the application and then passes on to the Department of Immigration to issue a Visa Clearance Letter. Travel to Bhutan and show the visa clearance letter to the immigration officers at the airport. They will stamp the actual visa on your passport after reviewing it.

Check on the location of hotels, flights, facilities, transfers and anything else that may be added match up to what you are searching for. This is the single-best way to know a tour operator. You can also check on their website and analyze their tour packages, government association and see the reviews from previous clients. You can directly call or text the operator and see how well is their response time and are responsible for the customer. There are other third party reviews portals such as trip advisor, lonely planet that can give authentic information.

When to Visit Bhutan from Kathmandu

Bhutan is one of the magical countries with seasonal variations. It is perfect for traveling all-round the year. The best season to visit Bhutan is in the spring months of March to May and autumn months of September to November.

Summer season

The summer season starts from June to August. It is a good season to visit Bhutan if you want to get an up-close view of snowy capped mountain and green landscape. The temperature goes to 25 degrees Celsius. The weather is clear with mild humidity. You might get surrounded by rainy clouds of the monsoons. Monsoon in Bhutan is constrained to mild afternoon rain that happens once every two or three days. This summer depicts the starting of the Haa festival celebrated in the high altitude, meadows, alpine forests, and lake. You can explore the places more calmly, talk to the locals, and know more about the culture and traditions. It is the time for perfect views of the Himalayan Mountains, flora and fauna.

winter Season

The winter season in Bhutan starts from December to February. The temperature can vary from 10 degrees to minus 5 degrees Celsius. Most of Bhutan is dry in winter. In the northern regions, you can explore snowy mountains. Enjoy mild snowfall in cities like Thimphu and Paro in late January. Winter is the time of Punakha Dromche and Tshechu - a festival that reflects Bhutan's founding during the 16th century. With such festivities around the regions of Bhutan's old capital – Punakha – this is the time the locals to skip the winters and energetically participate in the festivities. In Bhutan's western and central regions, the weather can get harsh due to heavy snowfall, disturbing roads, and everyday transportation, which makes it difficult to commute.

Spring Season

Spring in Bhutan is from March to May. The temperature goes from 3 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius approximately. Spring is the best season to visit Bhutan, where the weather is dry with less humid. You have perfect conditions to enjoy Bhutan on trekking activities. This is the time the Jacaranda flower blossoms in Bhutan. Apart from the rich flora, this is the best time to visit Bhutan to meet Bhutan's king during the Paro Tshechu. Being the peak time to visit Bhutan, there are crowded trails where many tourists escape from their daily lives.

Autumn Season

Autumn is another best time to visit Bhutan which starts from September to November. The average temperature goes from 10 degrees to 23 degrees. The weather is warm and sunny making it the second peak season to visit Bhutan. There is no rainfall and nature is gorgeous and gratifying at this time. During this time, you can enjoy festivals like the Black-Necked Crane Festival around the gorgeous Phobjikha Valley and the Thimphu Tshechu around Thimphu. The landscape becomes beautiful with green turn gold colors, with farmers reaping rice crops during this season! This season offers a lot of festivals so that the visitor can explore something unique

How to get Bhutan from Nepal

Traveling by overland

Traveling from Nepal to Bhutan gives you similar experiences in sceneries, cultures, and people. If you want an exhilarating adventure, then overland trip from Nepal to Bhutan via India is the best option.  If you are traveling overland, start the trip by getting into a local bus from Kathmandu to India's border. Bhutan's nearest border is Kakarbhitta which is situated in eastern Nepal, opposite the town of Panitanki. Cross the Raniganj Immigration checkpoint over the Mechi River bridge, take a local bus to Siliguri, the nearest railway station to Panitanki. From Siliguri, get a train from New Jalpaiguri to Hasimara, the adjacent train station to the Bhutan border of Phuentsholing. After four hours of the trip, get into the local bus to Jaigaon, pass the border and start your journey.

Directly flight from Kathmandu to Paro

Flight from/to Paro Airport

You can take a direct flight from Kathmandu to Paro International Airport and enjoy flying amidst the beautiful white peaks and landing on a short runway. The total duration of the flight is 1 hour 15 minutes, which covers 404km. You can travel via Druk Air (the government airline) and Bhutan Airlines (the private airline). Bhutan airlines run every day except Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday. The flight cost ranges from USD 234 to USD 279. Druk Air flies twice each day and the flight cost ranges from USD 196 to USD 231.

How Much Does It Cost?

Normally, Bhutan's tour package is made under the policy of Bhutan at USD 250 per day in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). It will cost you USD 200 per day in summer/ monsoon (June to August) and winter (December to February. This price includes the following:

  • Accommodation in at least a three-star hotel
  • Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • Internal transport in Bhutan
  • English speaking tour guide
  • Entry fees to tourist attractions
  • Camping gear and haulage for trekking tours
  • Government fees, aka the “sustainable development fee”, which is about US$65

There are facilities for discounts in large groups. However, it depends on the policy of the tour operator. The Minimum cost of Daily Tour means that you will have an accommodation facility of three-star hotels ranging from nice hotels to home-stay facilities. Tourism Council of Bhutan has approved all accommodation in Bhutan for tourists. Also, depending on your service and facilities, the rate varies from travel agencies.

You would not be getting 4 and 5 star accommodation for the paid daily fee but will obtain a decent standard accommodation. However, if you want to upgrade your accommodation facilities, you have to pay extra from the standard daily fee. The luxury accommodation will be in a 4-5 star hotel with private washrooms and terraces, and huge living areas, and dining areas for room service dinners.

All transfers are deposited to the Tourism Council of Bhutan's bank account and not into a personal account. The most effective way is Telegraphic Transfer. It is not advisable to do any payment in cash or cheque. In cases of arrival or delay of departure or cancellation of your trip to Bhutan, no visa fee is reimbursed.

Luxury Bhutan tour

The normal package includes accommodation facilities in a three-star hotel with standard food, and other associated expenses. Tourists looking for an upgraded “luxury” option can easily find the most luxurious hotels with advanced benefits and services. The luxury tours in Bhutan are customized to give you the experience as you want it. Bhutan is a developing tourism nation but it offers some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, spas, and resorts. Luxury hotels offer more extravagant meals that cost higher than the standard rate. The cost can go up to $500 USD per day per person for a luxury tour. Overnight stays at 5-star hotels and resorts throughout the trip. Luxury, comfort and style in this tour's heart and expect to be swept away on a luxurious expedition of the best that Bhutan offers while enjoying the various high-end resorts and its services.

Bhutan tours in Budget

The minimum package cost per day for the Bhutan tour is $200 per person in January, February, June, July, August and December. This goes up to $250 per person for March, April, May, September, October and November. These costs depend on the minimum group size of three people and the cost increases up if you want a private trip, one or two-person.

The trip includes all the facilities of guide, accommodation, driver, transport, food and any camping equipment. Whilst the least Bhutan tour price is $200 per day per person in accommodation in at least 3-star hotels. You can spend more if you upgrade your accommodation or meals. Bhutan's cost can go up to $200-$290 USD (dependent on season and demand) doesn’t comprise things like Visas, flights, or travel insurance. These tourism costs will go directly to the government to ensure that Bhutan functions smoothly and successfully. About 65% of the price you will pay goes towards environmental costs, internal taxes, as well as tourism fees.

Where to travel next?

Get help from our travel specialists for holiday ideas that matches your interests.

Different Options on Bhutan Tour Packages From Nepal

Different tour operators provide various options on Nepal Bhutan Tour packages. However, we have divided these packages into three in terms of days and your choice of facilities. The number of days can be from one to two weeks and above 15 days. Likewise, the choice of facilities can be either normal accommodation or luxury accommodation with add-on benefits. Each tour packages have their flexibility and attraction that goes with your budget and schedule.

And it is no surprise that Bhutan has a blend of a local and international chain of high-end luxury hotels, resorts and boutique lodges. There are only about 10 or less 5-star hotels in Bhutan but these offer the best services to the luxury traveler. The well-preserved traditional architectures have influenced a mix of the traditional with modern art. The results are majestic luxurious hotels and a local chain of international hotels and resorts. Bhutanese people's warm hospitality and smiling faces along with luxury services in peaceful natural surroundings make Bhutan the ultimate luxury holiday place.

Important Tips

The following data are a guide when you are on the Bhutan tour. These might offer useful information for you to make it easier for you to travel.

Travel / Medical Insurance

The Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan has introduced travel and medical plan mainly for the tourists. Travel insurance can be issued through your authorized Bhutanese tour operator.

Bhutan's currency is the Ngultrum (Nu.) ATM and bank services are available everywhere. You can easily access payment by credit card at most places.

Bhutan offers good accessibility to electricity. All major cities have electricity that runs on 220/240 volts with round hole two-pin and three-pin power. It is advisable to bring flat-to-round pin converters for charging your gadgets. Bhutan is a carbon-neutral place where the priority is given to energy generated by hydropower.

Bhutan rewards a huge chance for photography in the outdoor sightseeing trips.

Enjoy the sceneries before you capture temples, monasteries Dzongs, and religious places as in some area photograph/filming is not permitted.

You can capture the beautiful landscape, the panoramic views of the mountain ranges, flora and fauna, rural life, unique Bhutanese architecture and the exterior of Dzongs and Chortens.

Many tourists are fond of the handicraft items such as woven baskets of cane and bamboo, hand-woven textiles of raw silk or silk, carved masks of various animals, handmade paper products, wooden bowls known as Dapas, finely crafted gods of silver. You can find the beautiful Buddhist Thangkha paintings, colorful postage stamps and so on. You can buy these handicrafts in any shops in and around Thimphu and in other major cities.

Tipping is a purely personal choice. You can tip your guides, drivers, or helpers. However, if doing so, it is suggested that you give it in an envelope.

The country has a wide network of telecommunication. Most hotels, stores and cafes offer Wi-Fi. Bhutan has an inclusive mobile (cell) phone network with global roaming.

Clothes & Other Equipment

Bhutan has altitudinal variations with unforeseeable weather conditions. It is advisable to dress respectfully if you visit monasteries, temples, or any religious places. Be kind enough to remove caps, hats, and socks as you go to the religious places or places where national flags are being raised.

Health Immunizations

Before visiting Bhutan, please do the necessary precautions and immunization from your doctor. Please be safe with typhoid, tetanus, and hepatitis A immunizations.

Bhutan is the safest countries but taking safety precautions is a great idea. Please ensure that your stuff such as cameras, wallets, passports, and purses are properly held. Avoid drinking tap water or unboiled waters; you can carry a liquid purifier for safety. Bhutan is against drugs and tobacco products, so please do not carry tobacco goods over the set limit. For more, please see the following link. Tobacco Control Act

Bhutan, the Thunder Dragon Land, is a Himalayan kingdom filled with a rich historic culture and majestic landscape. Rich in warm hospitality, culture, and tradition, one can see the unique way of living at this majestic Bhutan's Kingdom. The Bhutan tour from Nepal is an exclusive package that offers a blend of everything nice of both the countries (Nepal and Bhutan).

Bhutan's country is known as 'The Land of Happiness' as a survey revealed that the locals of Bhutan are the happy people living on earth! This appealing country holds its own specific and sole being on the earth. The tradition, values and culture is the most important feature for the people of this country and the blend of it with landscape and the majestic Himalayas is something that can free mind and soul from any problems and stress.

Make sure you travel to Bhutan on your next adventure. If you have any queries relating to the travel plans, make sure you give us a call or contact us for the answers you were looking for.

  • Author: Naba Raj Amgai
  • Posted on: Sunday Oct 18, 2020
Naba Raj

About Author - Naba Raj Amgai

Naba Raj Amgai, stepped into the world of travel and tourism in 1996. He is Founder and Managing Director of Third Rock Adventures.

Beginning his journey in the tourism industry as a humble Porter Guide to founding hospitality establishments and an adventure travel company, he has come a long way.

In a career spanning more than two decades, he has achieved more than anybody dreams of achieving. Along with his professional achievements, his selfless contribution towards his community and society has won him a lot of accolades and praises.

Having dedicated more than two decades in the tourism and hospitality sector, he has amassed a wealth of experience.

After passing high school, he began helping out some trekking guides and was soon recruited as a porter guide at a reputed trekking agency. Within a short time, he was individually guiding clients across the well-known trails of the Himalayas.

He went on to lead tour groups on multi-country tours to Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and India. Being a part of mountain climbing expeditions familiarised him with expedition logistics and operations. Later on, he went to become the Executive Director and took over the reins of Operations, Sales and Marketing departments. Spending several years in the tourism field has made Naba Raj Amgai a destination expert.

Travelling is his passion and he has been to many countries across the world – USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Holland, Germany, Austria and many parts of Asia.

His journeys to different parts of the world have enriched his travel experience and knowledge. This experience has been instrumental in planning and organizing successful trips for several clients.

As of today many reputed travel companies, hotels and restaurants are under his leadership. A dynamic and proactive leader, he continues to inspire and motivate people from all walks of life.

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Why I choose digital maturity over digital transformation

The charity sector's digital know-how is improving gradually and we need to measure the change, says Breast Cancer Care's Jo Wolfe

Jo Wolfe
Jo Wolfe

How do you know your work has value? If you sold ice creams for a living, it would be simple – do people come back for a second scoop? In charities, it’s more complicated. Income is only one part of the story and there’s never enough Neapolitan to go around. Complex key performance indicators are needed to measure the impact of services on beneficiaries.

In digital, we often focus on the big numbers – website visitors and other vanity metrics. These are the hundreds and thousands on the ice cream. Lovely, but not enough by themselves. More substantially, we measure fundraising income, campaigns sign-ups, information downloads. Those have even more value than a Calippo on a hot summer’s day.

We also have the tricky job of adapting our charities to a digital world. It’s change management at its most extreme – as soon as we get buy in, technology and best practice change again. We risk being "disrupted" and left behind. Time to get the blender out and turn that ice cream into a milkshake.

Why digital maturity?

Maturity implies progress along a continuum, rather than a radical transformation. Do we expect charities to emerge butterfly-like from their digital chrysalises having transformed from luddite caterpillars? It’s contrary to what we know of a sector where change is often slow. Digital advancement isn’t a binary switch from 0 to 1. It requires incremental improvement.

In recent years, a seemingly infinite number of articles and reports have been published on digital transformation. Their content was by turns motivating and depressing. If charities don’t invest, improve skills, and develop more tech they’ll cease to exist. Or be replaced by startups like Uber.

I don’t think the handwringing is working. For one thing, the reports are sponsored by agencies who profit when charities invest in digital transformation. For another, this reactionary thinking belies the work of digital teams in many charities. An increase in digital maturity is already happening in charities like the one I work for − Breast Cancer Care.

Where can we see digital maturity in action?

The penny has dropped that people of all ages will seek support online. Tech funders are stepping up, like CAST, who are working on a tech for good project with Breast Cancer Care. Dementia Citizens is another great example of the digital services trend.

Digital fundraising might be one of the most debated phrases after digital transformation, but significant income is now coming through online. That's vital when direct mail is flat-lining and regulation looms. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is inspiring in this space.

What if you can’t get digital investment in your charity?

It’s easy to complain that others ‘don’t get digital’, but charities are turning that paradigm around:

1. Start by proving the value in what you do by measuring your current state

2. Make as many cost neutral improvements as you can to demonstrate impact

3. Use your success to build relationships with senior management. Check out Digital Leadership for tips

4. Make a case for gradual investment based on results

5. Ensure you have the right team in place to deliver change

6. Continue to focus on results, develop your offer and iterate based on data

Can we really measure digital maturity?

Along with a colleague, I developed the Third Sector Digital Maturity Matrix to measure the impact of our work. Our self-assessment tool allows any charity to understand their maturity against their aspiration for one year in the future (thanks to Diabetes UK, MSF and Stroke Association who piloted the tool).

Figure 1 Breast Cancer Care Digital Maturity Matrix. Current state 31% / Aspiration 56%

If we quantify our current digital maturity we can better advocate for ourselves as digital professionals, and make the case to senior management for investment. We can also track our progress over time as we address gaps.

Perhaps an agency or sector body would like to take over the Maturity Matrix to track the increase in digital maturity across the sector? Then we might have a better idea of the pace of change and real barriers to maturity.

Where digital maturity is concerned, there will always be more work to do. In many charities, the good work has at least begun and we can start to measure its value. Let’s all celebrate that with an ice cream.

Jo Wolfe is assistant director, digital, at Breast Cancer Care

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Imo 2019: Don’t Despair, Victory Is Assured – Amuchie Tells Supporters

Sir Stanley Amuchie

Sir Stanley Amuchie, a governorship on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Imo State, has urged his supporters in the party to be calm as steps are being taken to resolve the crisis which engulfed the party as a result of the gubernatorial primary election.

In a statement he issued and personally signed on Saturday, he understood the pain and anger of his teeming supporters having worked very hard collectively towards Victory at the primary election.

The full statement reads:

It has been a week since the fate of our movement to enthrone a new Imo State anchored on good governance has been hanging in the balance owing to the crisis surrounding the governorship ticket of our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the 2019 election.

You have been calling, asking questions, seeking answers, wanting to know what happened, wanting to have explanation for this seeming impasse.

I feel your pulse, I feel your pain, I feel your anxiety. Your anger is understandable.

It is understandable because we talked, we discussed and you believed in the message and keyed into the vision, the promise of hope that working and walking together we would build a new Imo State, restore our people’s faith in governance and recover from the years eaten by the locust.

I can relate to your anger and your frustration because together we laboured under the sun; together we were beaten by rain as we planned our campaign and honed our strategies.

But today I say be calm, be steadfast and be hopeful. Hope is not lost as we try to resolve the impasse in our great party with regard to the governorship ticket of our party.

Our campaign has been premised on key areas of agriculture, industrialisation and healthcare with emphasis also on education and security. These are sectors that if properly harnessed can act as catalyst to the economic emancipation of our people and our state.

From the outset this campaign has never been about me. It has been about giving hope to our people, who have suffered unduly from poor leadership and abysmal governance.

It has been about restoring the dignity of our people, about making sure that the land bequeathed to us by our forebears is not left for pillaging and desecration by political merchants and brigands.

When I move round Imo State I see a state where despair has become second nature; where hunger has reduced the humanity of it’s people; where our young ones, who are seen as the leaders of tomorrow and through no fault of theirs, grope about in helplessness and hopelessness; where traditional rulers, our once revered royal fathers are not given the honour and dignity they deserve.

When I move round Owerri, our state capital, I see that a city that was once declared the cleanest state capital in the country, is now actually the dirtiest.

But it doesn’t have to be so. We have to take a critical look at our situation in order to know where the rain began to beat us. That way we will be able to chart a course that will take Imo State to the level we all desire

I go around Imo State and I see that those in authority in our state appear not to give a thought about the welfare of the people. For instance our senior citizens who gave the state their best in their youthful years are not being taken care of. Pensioners are owed arrears for up to one year and no one loses sleep over how these elderly men and women survive. I see many of my father’s contemporaries in the civil service dying out of neglect. If my father has children who take care of him what about others who are not so lucky? They are left to suffer and not a few die from ailments that easily could have been taken care of if there was a support system in place.

These are the considerations that led us into this journey. It is a journey of hope and of promise. We are together in this journey and with God on our side we shall overcome and all our efforts will come to fruition by the grace of God.
Ours is a mandate that is divine, built on God and anchored on His promise of emancipation for His people of Imo State.

We are working very hard and making necessary efforts to ensure that we resolve the issues that have led to this ugly situation and claim our ticket, a ticket that will bring joy, peace, development and progress to Imo State.
We must understand that no good thing comes easy. It is also said that in order to get gold one must dig deeply for it. The ticket we seek and for which we have worked very hard, is worth more than gold because on it lies the key to opening a vista of opportunities for our people and unlocking the potentials of our youth in a way that will positively harness their creative energy for the greater glory of our dear state.

For this we will not relent, we will not get tired and we will not go to slumber until victory becomes ours.

It is on this premise that I urge you again to be calm, be courageous and hold onto this promise of hope as we begin to resolve the issues around the gubernatorial ticket of our party for the 2019 election in Imo State.


text:
MultiChoice to Thrill Fans with El Clasico

For the first time since 2007, Lionel Messi will not appear in ‘El Clasico’ – the eagerly anticipated clash is between hated Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid. The teams will meet in a round 10 La Liga match at the Camp Nou on Sunday, 28 October 2018, kick-off at 17:15 CAT.

Messi’s absence is a body blow for Barca. The Argentine master helped the Catalans to a 4-2 home win over Sevilla on Saturday night – which took them back to the top of the log – but he played less than half an hour of the game, after colliding heavily with Franco Vazquez and suffering a broken right arm.

“Obviously it’s a considerable loss,” said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde. “We know what he gives us and what we miss when he is not around. We have to deal with it and we will be prepared. It’s clear that we will notice his absence, but we will cope and we have resources, even though we will be facing some very difficult teams.”

Without Messi, Barcelona’s hopes of winning ‘El Clasico’ are certainly reduced, but they still have the talent in their ranks to get one over their arch rivals. Valverde will look to the likes of Luis Suarez, Ousmane Dembele, Arthur, Philippe Coutinho and even youngster Munir El Haddadi to raise their game and – temporarily at least – step out of the shadow cast by Messi.

Even with their talisman missing, Barca are still favourites due to Real’s dire recent form. ‘Los Blancos’ brought up a fifth successive match without a win across all competitions when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Levante on Saturday afternoon.

There is speculation that Real manager Julen Lopetegui may not survive the week, but the former Spain boss has played down suggestions that he will be axed before his team head to Barcelona on Sunday.

“I feel more encouraged than ever to continue because the team gave their heart and soul on the pitch,” said Lopetegui after their most recent defeat. He may be putting on a brave face, but a defeat to Barca – which would open a seven-point gap between the teams – would surely signal the end of Lopetegui’s tenure.

In addition, Real will be without one of their rising stars – Vinicius Jr – after he was sent off in a reserve match this past weekend.

In head-to-head terms, the rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid dates back over a century. In La Liga, they have clashed 176 times, with ‘Los Blancos’ claiming 72 wins compared to 70 for the ‘Blaugrana’ (plus 34 draws).

Barca took four points off Real in the teams’ La Liga meetings last season: a 3-0 win at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in December 2017 and a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in May 2018.


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Weakness in Tax Revenue Dampens Enthusiasm on Budget 2021 Projections

Festus Akanbi

All things being equal, the N13.08trillion proposed federal budget will be transmitted to the National Assembly next week but analysts argued that the projected revenue of N8.60 trillion was largely exaggerated given the perceived structural weakness of the nation’s tax revenue.

With projected revenue of N8.60 trillion, the Federal Executive Council put the total deficit for the 2021 fiscal year at N4.48 trillion, translating to 3.6% of the projected GDP.

However, analysts from Cordros Securities, in their Weekly Economic and Market Update released yesterday, believe the assumptions were too optimistic and may not represent the true realities on ground especially in the face of sustained failure of the tax agency, the Federal Inland Revenue Service to meet its targets.

“In our view, the FGNs revenue expectations are rather optimistic, given that (1) aggregate revenue has averaged NGN3.94 trillion between 2017 and 2019 and (2) revenue performance from Jan-July 2020 revenue performance was only 68.0% despite the exchange rate devaluation. Given the structural weakness in tax revenue, we expect the projected revenue to underperform, implying a larger than projected deficit,” the report said.

Key assumptions of the proposed budget include an oil price benchmark of $40.00/barrel, oil production of 1.86mb/d, an exchange rate of N379/USD, and an inflation target of 11.95%. “Although the proposed revenue is greater than the NGN6.15 trillion stated in the MTEF, we suspect that the variance stems from the upward adjustment in the exchange rate assumption (MTEF: NGN360/USD) which translates to higher estimates naira receipts from oil sales,” the report said.

In 2018, a total revenue of N6.7 trillion was set, while the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was able to collect N5.32 trillion. In 2019, N8.8trillion was the target in a year when N5trillion was collected.

The agency’s chairman, Mohammed Nami, in a recent audience with the National Assembly, explained that Nigeria loses a lot of revenue through tax waivers granted to big companies which otherwise would have been taxed to buoy up government revenue. He also blamed illicit financial flow for the revenue loss.

The problem of low collection however predated Nami’s appointment as the trend became a national embarrassment in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. For instance, in 2015, it set N4.7 trillion target but was only able to make N3.7 trillion in the actual collection. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the target collections were N4.2 trillion, N4.8 trillion and N6.7 trillion but the actual collections were N3.3 trillion, N4 trillion and N5.3 trillion, respectively.

The National Assembly passed a revised 2020 budget of N10,805,544,664,642 on the 11th of June after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a revised budget of N10.523trillion in May, which was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Oil benchmark in the revised budget was reduced from $57 per barrel to $25 and crude production was reduced from 2.18 million to 1.94 million barrels per day in the new revised budget which was disclosed by Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance.


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HNPM mzr-7255

  • Max. Capacity 288 ml/min

  • Max. Pressure 40 bar

  • Max. Viscosity 1000 mPas

  • Temperature Range -20 to +100 °C

HNPM mzr-7255

Hermetic Inert Series Pump mzr-7255 micro annular gear pump suitable for aggressive and corrosive fluids from HNP Mikrosysteme.

The HNP MIkrosysteme micro annular gear pump mzr-7255 is leak Free, has a long Service life and is low on energy consumption with outstanding resistance to corrosion and wear.

The HNP (HNPM) Mikrosysteme  mzr-7255 micro annular gear pump of the hermetic and chemically inert series is, considering its almost universal suitability for aggressive and corrosive media, a revolution in the pump technology. Its rotors and functional elements being made of ceramics, the pump shows the highest chemical resistance and an outstanding resistance to wear. Thanks to the use of SSiC (pressureless sintered silicon carbide) as bearing and shaft material, a magnetic coupling, and case components made out of alloy C22 (DIN 2.4602), this pump will take up any challenge in the chemical industry applications.

Advantages of the HNP Mikrosysteme HNPM mzr-7255 micro annular gear pump with compact chemically inert pump head.

  • High resistance to corrosion - oxidizing and reducing media, acids and bases
  • Long service life - wear-resistant ceramic components

  • Hermetically sealed - magnetic coupling (NdFeB)

  • Compact, chemically inert pump head - 146 mm long, alloy C22, SSiC, Al2O3 and ZrO2-ceramics

  • Precision motor and user-friendly control - dynamic DC-servomotor with encoder and microcontroller RS-232 or CAN-Bus, analog, I/O

  • Precise dosage, low pulsation rotary micro annular gear technology, no valves

Applications of the HNPM mzr-7255 Hermetically sealed ceramic rotor pump:

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  • Microreaction technology
  • Accessories
  • Heat insulation module
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Technical Data for the HNPM Mikrosysteme MZR-7255 Micro Annular Gear Pump

Flow rate 0.048 – 288 ml/min
Viscosity range 0.3 – 1,000 mPas
Precision CV < 1 % (Coefficient of variation CV)
Velocity range 1 – 6000 rpm
Fluid connection 1/8" NPT internal thread, lateral
Wetted parts Pump case alloy C22 (2.4602), optional: stainless steel 316L; seals FFKM (Kalrez® Spectrum™ 6375), optional: FPM, EPDM; shaft/bearing sintered silicon carbide (SSiC); bearing and wetted functional parts Al2O3 ceramics; rotors partially stabilized ZrO2, optional: tungsten carbide Ni-based
Motor DC-servomotor, 24 V DC, 44 W, with microcontroller
Interface 0–10 V, 0 (4) –20 mA, RS-232, 1 digital input/output, optional: CAN-Bus
Dimensions (L x W x H) 146 x 70 x 72 mm
Weight approx. 1650 g
Maximum system pressure 80 bar (1160 psi) (inlet pressure + differential pressure)
Torque transfer 8-pole NdFeB magnetic coupling
Differential pressure range 0 – 40 bar (580 psi)
Operating temperature range -5 … +60 °C (-20 … +200 °C *)
Displacement volume 48 µl
Smallest dosage volume 30 µl
Remark * with optional heat insulation module,
Customized solutions on request
Even if single parameters are within the indicated performance range of technical data, certain parameter combinations may not be achievable. Single parameters may exceed their indicated performance range under adequate circumstances. For detailed evaluation please contact HNP Mikrosysteme. Actual performance may vary.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.


text:
Thor Forums

Thor Forums (
-   Class C and Super C Motorhomes (
-   -   Electric outlets not working when plugged into house (

RVnewbie30FE 05-04-2017 04:43 PM

Electric outlets not working when plugged into house
Hi! We just purchased the 2018 Freedom Elite 30fe from CW. Did our first shakedown ride. Everything was working ok but once we got home, we tried to plug it into the house & found out the electrical outlets won't work. All the rest of the power works just fine plugged into the house except for the outlets. When we were plugged into the campsite everything was fine. We must be missing something stupid. Previous owner of travel trailers but first motor home! Can anyone help?

Jegdrum5050 05-04-2017 05:06 PM

Check GFI reset in bathroom for a start. Are you plugged into a GFI at home, if so, might be another issue

RVnewbie30FE 05-05-2017 12:52 AM

Thank you Jegdrum5050! I tried it & the GFI did not reset :( no click, no green light. At least I know what the problem is to bring it back to CW.

Jegdrum5050 05-05-2017 11:58 AM

If you are plugged into a GFI at home, try another outlet. Sometimes GFI and GFI are not compatible, which was the case with my former MH. It kept popping the house GFI, I even replaced it, no luck. Used another outlet Bingo, worked great. Now I have dedicated power to my MH..

TheTraveler 05-05-2017 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by RVnewbie30FE (Post 66657)
Thank you Jegdrum5050! I tried it & the GFI did not reset :( no click, no green light. At least I know what the problem is to bring it back to CW.

I'm assuming you've checked all the breakers. What happens when you're not plugged in and running the generator ? Will the GFI reset then? if not you may have a bad GFI outlet?

RVnewbie30FE 05-06-2017 03:57 AM

TheTraveler- I unplugged as you suggested from the house, (and checked all the breakers & fuses) ran the generator & yes! All electricity was back on. Yay! I wonder if this model RV does not allow for the outlets to work when plugged into a regular house power supply 120/240 volt ac like our travel trailer? Because with the generator, the microwave works as well as the outlets. When we were parked at the RV park, we didn't have a problem.

TheTraveler 05-06-2017 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by RVnewbie30FE (Post 66758)
TheTraveler- I unplugged as you suggested from the house, (and checked all the breakers & fuses) ran the generator & yes! All electricity was back on. Yay! I wonder if this model RV does not allow for the outlets to work when plugged into a regular house power supply 120/240 volt ac like our travel trailer? Because with the generator, the microwave works as well as the outlets. When we were parked at the RV park, we didn't have a problem.

Ah, so shore power worked for you at the RV Park but not at home? Was no 110 power working for you at home (TV, Microwave, Fridge(not gas), outlets)? How are you plugging in at home? I assume your RV is 30amp. Did you happen to put a 30amp to 15amp (standard 110 power plug) plug adapter on your power cable to plug into your home? If so, check your breakers in your home. I used to do this too, and you can run limited power to the RV but it will throw the breaker from time to time. Usually, I could run the AC by itself without much problem, but I mainly did it to keep the fridge cold. I understand these kind of adapters have a history of burning out easily though it never happened to me.

I actually had a breaker on the outside of my garage where I was plugging in by the main power connection box that I didn't know about. Anyway, to make a long story short that kept getting thrown so I had a 30amp plug put in just for my RV connection while at home.

RVnewbie30FE 05-08-2017 02:55 PM

TheTraveler, yes I am plugged in at home with the correct power converter of 30/15. All breakers were checked & I even tried different outlets around the garage side. We never had problems with our Cruise RV travel trailer so I'm perplexed as why I get enough power to work the slides, lights etc but not the electrical outlets & microwave. I plan to call the guy who did the new RV walk through with me at CW. I'll keep everyone posted on what he says. Thank you!

bevedfelker 05-08-2017 04:42 PM

The slides use DC motors and lights are 12 VDC. AC powers the A/C, Refrigerator, Hot Water Heater, Microwave, TVs, and all the 115 VAC plugs. So that means that AC power is getting to the converter and being converted to DC power. Sounds like there is a problem on the AC side of your converter. Are you sure there is no AC circuit breaker popped? So nothing AC works when plugged in at home (A/C, Microwave, TVs, Refrig, Hot Water heater, and none of the wall plugs)? Are only the wall plugs affected? Does any AC appliance work? Is the DC stuff working off the house batteries or is it getting DC power from the converter?

bevedfelker 05-08-2017 04:49 PM

You said in post #3 the GFI was popped and could not be reset. That could be the main problem because the other outlets are tied to the GFI.

Next you said all the AC worked when you ran the Generator. So I assume you were able to reset the GFI when you ran the generator. Once the GFI was reset everything worked -- so sounds like their is nothing wrong with the RV GFI.

So when you plugged back in to the garage it sounds like the GFI in the RV popped again. Like Jegdrum said it is not uncommon for a GFI at home to be incompatible with the GFI in the RV. Are all your garage plugs connected to the garage GFI? Can you find a Non-GFI at home and try plugging in to that?

Also before you plug in at home be sure everything AC in the RV is off (A/C, Water Heater, Refrig, and nothing turned on that is plugged in to any wall outlet). Plug in at home and then try turning on thing plugged in to a wall socket. This precludes any AC power surge at plug-in due to load.
Also, what is the rating of the extension cord you are using in the garage. It should be at least middle weight, or heavy weight preferred.

gmc 05-08-2017 05:35 PM

The GFI/GFCI in the RV is not going to interrupt ALL AC 110v usage... It will certainly affect the bathroom, kitchen, and exterior outlets - but others including microwave, TV's, bedroom outlets, air conditioning are normally NOT on the GFCI circuit...

Most of our rigs have a SINGLE GFCI outlet in the bathroom - that protects only the outlets ON THAT CIRCUIT that are 'electrically downstream' from the GFCI... Nothing on any other circuit breaker is protected... (Some larger coaches may have more than one - but still a limited number covered...)

Now - a GFCI in the HOUSE that is powering the RV certainly would interrupt all AC 110v usage in the RV...

As Ed suggested - try to plug into another circuit - non GFCI - in the house at least for a test... If that works - I would verify the HOUSE wiring for the GFCI and/or replace the HOUSE GFCI... (or provide a separate non-GFCI outlet for the RV... It doesn't need to be GFCI protected - as it has its own for the necessary (wet location) outlets.)

Had a GFCI in my new home (sticks/bricks) that worked most of the time - but when I plugged in one large (attic style) fan would trip immediately... The fan had no issue in a non-GFCI... Opened up the wiring and found an open ground going to the GFCI - fixed that and all was well with the fan. It isn't just RV's that have their issues...

Laco 05-08-2017 08:07 PM

One possibility, again related to GFI, on our former DP, it had the norcold refrigerator, If I plugged into shore power in storage, a GFI circuit, when the refrigerator was on AC it would trip the GFI, no ac power in the coach except through the inverter. It was fine plugged in at any campsite we stayed, but consistently tripped the GFI in my storage garage. If I left the refrigerator off, all was well. Fortunately the Gemini refrigerator does not have that problem. I never did solve that issue, but we could never leave the refrigerator on while in storage, and running on propane was not an option, since its stored in a closed garage.

mccharliejr 05-09-2017 08:23 PM

Hey Team,

On the topic of power... I have a Windsport 34J equipped with the Xantrex inverter. When dry camping off the house battery (generator is off) it was explained to me during my orientation from the dealer that when the volts drop it would auto start the generator. We have a small switch next to the inverter that says "gen auto start "On"" that when toggled would start the generator when the volts dropped. (To clarify, this is not the normal generator prime/start switch) However, it hasn't. So I have two questions.

1) Do you know how to set the voltage threshold on the inverter (Xantrex) to fire up the generator once it drops to a particular level and what is the recommended voltage to have it start?
2) Is there another step to get the generator to auto start when the voltage hits a particular level vs simply have the "gen auto start on" switch in the "on" position?

The Thor owners manual was zero help and I have not been able to find instructions online. Would love any insight.

tenbear 05-09-2017 09:24 PM

It seems to me that your power cord has a problem. Can you check that you have power at the RV end of the power cord, or someplace near that? Is there a switch you throw to connect the RV to the generator? Maybe there is an automatic switch that is not working???

All the things you listed as coming on are powered by the battery.

Ronmac 05-10-2017 01:17 AM

I had the same issue with my Chateau. I suggest purchasing an outlet tester to see if the entire outlet is dead or if the neutral or power is bad. I found I have no neutral. After contacting Thor, they suggested I start testing wire nut couplings from where the power comes into the coach and goes to the outlets. Low and behold I found one wire nut that had a wire that was not in contact with the others. Tightened everything up and no more problem. Good luck:thumb:

Laco 05-10-2017 01:39 AM

Glad you were able to find the problem on your Chateau, but I guess I'm a bit troubled that so much of these kind of issues manage to get past QA, such as it exists. On mine, I lost half of the inside lights and a couple of 110 outlets, when pulling in the rear slide. Turned out, some framework under the bedroom floor came loose (again how does this get by QA) and got tangled in some of the wiring as the slide came in. Lots of wiring was torn loose, and had to be rewired. Fortunately we are still under warrantee, so other than inconvenience there was no dollar cost to me.

RVnewbie30FE 05-10-2017 07:29 PM

I wanted to update & also thank everyone for letting me pick your brain. All this time I had forwarded all your ideas to my husband & he said he checked all the garage fuses & none of the GFI was popped. I even put in an order for an extra heavy duty power extension cord thinking it's our cord. Well as I'm waiting for my new cord to arrive, I decided to manually switch the garage power myself. Low & behold all the power in the RV came on. Everything works!! Moral of story? Double check the work yourself lol. Again, thank you to a wonder RV community!

bevedfelker 05-10-2017 08:45 PM

Glad you found the problem. In the military we maintainers had an axiom -- trust but verify. Sometimes your own eyeballs are way better than asking if someone else did X, Y, or Z.

And when an aircrew was expeiencing a problem before takeoff and they called for a maintenence assist (REDBALL), the first thing we'd do when we got to the aircraft was to be sure the O-N, O-F-F switch was in the O-N position.

tenbear 05-10-2017 08:58 PM

Glad you found the problem.

I guess we all ASSUMED that the garage had power. Shame on us.

It might be a good idea to buy a multimeter and learn how to use it.

Laco 05-10-2017 09:50 PM

My kind of problem, one that can be fixed. Glad you found it.

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Children in Need – Thursday 15th November

‘The Big Spotacular’

As you may already know, Monday 12th November is the start of this year’s BBC Children in Need Appeal Week. Thorn Grove is excited to be joining in with other schools across the UK to participate in fundraising for this good cause.

This year’s theme is ‘The Big Spotacular’ and we will be celebrating with a spotty themed non-uniform day on Thursday 15th November 2018. Think big or small – full spotty themed outfits and face paint or just a pair of spotty socks – we welcome and encourage it all! To help raise funds for Children in Need we ask anyone wishing to wear something spotty to bring in a suggested donation of £1 on the day.

As well as our non-uniform event, children will be attending a whole school assembly in which their class teachers will be participating in a spotty, pie challenge! Children will also be voting for 1 member of their class to compete in the child friendly version. We can guarantee it will be a side splitting event.

Thank you for your continued support and let’s make a big difference to the lives of children across the UK.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Bennett & Mrs Denford

BBC Children In Need Letter Nov 18v2

Thorn Grove Primary School
Woodstock Avenue
Cheadle Hulme


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TH Stone Lawn & Landscaping Service in Silver Plume CO

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TH Stone Landscaping and Grass Cutting Service has been performing landscape services for decades with an emphasis on yard maintenance to keep it all looking good. For the time we have been in business, we have given our customers nicer, greener looking lawns and landscaping maintenance. We take pride in having low prices for homeowners near Silver Plume, CO. Our grass mowing service has a solid reputation. We feature a full line of landscaping and lawn cutting specials, like criss-cross lines, diamond cut patterns or just basic striped lines. TH Stone Lawn & Landscaping Service would love to earn your lawn care work or maintenance contract if desired.

Our workers are trained and skilled at lawn care and can quickly spot problems in your outdoor landscaping or plant gardens to keep them flourishing and healthy. TH Stone Landscaping and Lawn Service has a reputation as one of the best mowing services in Silver Plume Colorado. We would be honored if you were to hire us for your residential or commercial lawn care!

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Coronation Chicken Recipe
Tilda Kitchen Recipe created by Tilda Kitchen

Coronation Chicken and Rice Salad

17 mins
  • Serves 4
  • Quick & Easy
  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 12 mins

A simple recipe for coronation chicken and rice salad. Mix things up and swap the chicken for turkey for a twist.

  • 200g Tilda Everyday rice
  • Large pinch Turmeric
  • 150g low fat mayonnaise
  • 100ml semi skimmed milk
  • 1½ tbsp mild curry powder
  • 100g dried apricots, chopped
  • 50g sultanas
  • 50g toasted flaked almonds
  • 300g cooked chicken, cut into chunks

  1. Cook the rice and turmeric in a pan of boiling water for 12 minutes then drain and allow to cool.
  2. Meanwhile, mix together the mayonnaise, milk and curry powder, stir in the dried fruit, almonds and chicken.
  3. Stir into the cooled cooked rice and season to taste. Serve with leafy salad.

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In the meantime, please feel free to contact us on 02 9386 5522

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Our equipment can handle both domestic and commercial tile & grout cleaning, leaving your coffee shop hygienic and protected

Our services are available in all Sydney Suburbs within 100km from the Sydney CBD

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Tag Archives: heart disease

Grain Free Diets and Heart Disease?

A new client walks in with their first dog. They have the food recommended by the pet store. “It’s grain-free” they smile with an expectant affirmative response. After all isn’t that the best diet for their dog (cat)? As veterinarians this is a very common dialogue.  Unfortunately, the response to the client is a letdown. Grain-free diets are: extrapolated from the human side of nutrition, they do not meet all of your pet’s nutritional needs and new research shows these diets maybe harmful to your pet. The lack of grains requires replacement ingredients such as potatoes, legumes, peas and lentils. These ingredients lead to low levels of Taurine an essential amino acid.

  A recent UCDavis study (7/2018) discovered the dogs seemed to have a higher correlation of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) when on grain free diets due to the replacement ingredients.  Taurine deficiency is well-documented as potentially leading to DCM. DCM is a disease of the heart muscle that results in weakened contractions and poor pumping ability. As the disease progresses the heart chambers become enlarged, one or more valves may leak, and signs of congestive heart failure develop. This disease is serious and in some cases sudden death.

Breeds that are typically more frequently affected by DCM include large and giant breed dogs, such as Great Danes, Boxers, Newfoundlands, Irish Wolfhounds, Saint Bernards and Doberman Pinschers. It is less common in small and medium breed dogs, except American and English Cocker Spaniels. However, the cases that have been reported to the FDA have included Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Whippets, a Shih Tzu, a Bulldog and Miniature Schnauzers, as well as mixed breeds. see source FDA…

If the problem is identified early and if the patient has been on a grain-free diet the patient can be treated. However, early detection is not usually the case. Prevention is through dietary awareness. Ask your veterinarian for nutritional advice.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy can cause sudden death


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Eldar Khamitov (aka Eldalieee) is an American street photographer based in New York City.

Focus of Eldar’s work is narrative through candid images of people in the streets on New York City and all over the world. His primary goal is to capture mood of each scene or character, and create a story that has a timeless quality.

Eldar is a founder of a Timeless Streets Collective of international photographers that features best work of fellow artists through social media thus connecting talents around the world.

His inspirations in photography are Vivian Maier, Harry Gruyaert, Diane Arbus, and Danny Lyon.

Besides photography, Eldar loves traveling, color black, and dogs.

Website: www.eldalieee.com

Nico Froehlich is a photographer based in South East London.

By utilising the camera as a tool for observation, documentation and social commentary, Nico seeks to convey his photography in a raw and uncompromising way.

Website: www.nicofroehlich.com

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Philip Warp is a street photographer based in Brooklyn, New York.

He is originally from Florence, Italy, where he was born and lived for 17 years before moving to New York.

His passion for night photography came from an urgency to discover a different side of New York City. A more intimate and introvert side of the city.
Hiding under his umbrella, Philip quietly observes and documents the silence and the energy of the night, the inhabitants of the city, and their emotions.
Unique of his style is the way he leverages his umbrella to manipulate light and compose his photos.

Rain, umbrellas, dark and elusive figures, reflections of light, and vivid colors are all elements that prevail in all of his photos.

For Philip, the city is a universe of vivid colors that only exists in his mind. His photos are a way for him to bring to life his visions.

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I have been taking photos on and off for more than 35 years, for a while as a professional. Street photography is my latest venture, and I find it extremely rewarding as just a hobby.

I grew up with all those old masters: Doisneau, Bresson, Frank, Winogrand, Arbus...I'm sure they always live in the back of my head (and the amazing Maier.)

However, what I am really inspired to is the "newer" styles carried by Saul Leiter, Gueorgui Pinkhassov, Alex Webb and Dougie Wallace.

I don’t have a bright view of the world. SP is like stars in the dark sky, It allows me to find the bright spots in the vast black canvas.

I am a Sydney photographer, but I always walk in the various suburbs instead of CBD alone.

I just started a Youtube channel, I find filming and editing are very intriguing (even just how-to, and solo-man-job). The only problem is I don’t get enough free time out from my day (with night shifts) job.


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Monster Hunter World Iceborne Expansion is Now on PC

Shodan/ Gennaio 10, 2020/ All Key Shop

Monster Hunter World Iceborne

Monster Hunter World’s Iceborne expansion released for PlayStation and Xbox One back in September last year, leaving PC players to make do with existing content. That, however, changes today as Iceborne has finally landed on PC.

Pre-orders for the expansion had been open for a while now on Steam and early adopters will find themselves treated to two free packs of assorted consumables. Everyone gets one of those packs while only Iceborned owners get a second pack. Players can claim the freebie by simply logging in by February 5th.

Here’s a preview of what Iceborne brings to MHW:

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne - Gameplay Reveal Trailer
Watch this video on YouTube.

Now that Iceborne is out for PC, Capcom is getting ready to keep updates for the PC version of MHW synced up with consoles. “Title updates for Iceborne on PC are planned to align with the console update release schedule in the future,” Capcom announced in a press release.

Monster Hunter World Iceborne is available now on PC, and also on Xbox One and PS4. New PC players can purchase special editions of the game than bundle the base game with the expansion and maybe other bonuses.

Top Game Releases for January 2020

The year is starting off slow but there are still some great games coming your way this January. Check out the top game releases for January 2020.

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Stop Settling for Pseudo-Community

Clear out the junk that might be holding you back.
Stop Settling for Pseudo-Community

I so badly want “community.” I want a meal delivered with extended arms on bad days. I want heartfelt calls when things go wrong. I want friends to walk straight through my unlocked door as I wait with a plate of cookies. I want known faces to pull up on moving day. I want gatherings of people, smiling at the sound of loud laughs. I want both my tears and my joys to be tenderly held. I want to encourage another to astounding new heights. I want to love and be loved within a community that cares—that endures.

I don’t have that—but the idea thrills me. It thrills many of us. In fact, we crave it. We look for it. We desire it, but we often miss it altogether.

Settling for Less

Community is like a missing puzzle piece in our lives. We know it should complete a beautiful picture, but we have no idea how to find it. We understand it’s valuable and irreplaceable in the grand scheme of things, but it’s gotten lost in the shuffle. We say we want to find it, but we don’t feel like pulling out all the junk in order to recover it. Why? Because we know that community can get messy.

So, we go along our way, hoping it will some day easily turn up without much effort on our parts. We dream of the finished product—of friends, fellowship, and fun—but we resign ourselves to a partial picture, lacking both community and completion.

We settle for pseudo-community that offers a quick hello and a quick goodbye. It doesn’t have time to listen to pain. It allows a messy living room to take priority over sharing messy lives. It puts individual needs above the needs of others.

The Blame Game

This sort of pseudo-community leaves us feeling empty and unsatisfied, and when we feel community is lost, we often start blaming others.

We blame the church. Maybe we think our church doesn’t offer us good enough chances to connect, or the small groups are too big, or the space doesn’t allow for conversation.

We blame our circumstances. Perhaps our kids’ naptimes take the blame. We’ve got too much going on in our schedule. Perhaps we zero in on a particular person who annoys us.

We blame ourselves. We may think, I’ll never be able to handle talking with all these people. Or maybe we wonder, Do these people even care about me? Perhaps we focus on a sense of inadequacy, feeling like we can’t handle all that’s already on our plate.

As we cast blame, our bitterness grows; we feel lonely, discontent, and isolated. Instead of fixing the problem, blaming and shaming only seem to make it worse. In order to experience real community, we need to be willing to do something drastic: we have to look at our junk. We have to dig through the mess that is covering our missing puzzle piece.

Sorting Through Your Own Junk

Are these common “junk piles” preventing you from finding and experiencing real, life-giving community?

1. Busyness

We rush from here to there and then rush from there to here. We rush everywhere. When we are not rushing, we are texting, calling, or driving. There is no time for community when there’s no time to think about anything besides our daily agenda.

By slowing down, we can look at each item in our life to evaluate its worth, deciding whether to keep it or toss it. If it isn’t giving us the chance to love God or to love others more, we have to take a serious look at its value in our lives. We need to make more space to love others, so clearing out this rapidly accumulating pile of junk is key.

2. Laziness

We want community that moves past cordial greetings and shallow hellos to deep care and authentic transparency. But sometimes we can’t even motivate ourselves to get up off of our couch to offer a friendly hello. Television grabs us, the Internet holds us, and aching backs keep us in. We tell ourselves that we just need to relax—to chill.

Christ took time to be alone and to pray. There is a time to recuperate; however, this time is meant to replenish us with God’s love so that we can go out and love others. We shouldn’t let laziness leech away time that is better spent developing relationships rather than deepening isolation.

3. Annoyance

There is always that person. The person who laughs a little too loud, who steals the spotlight, who doesn’t talk, who aggravates, who pesters, who complains, who _________ (fill in the blank). That person is always there, and dealing with them can be like dealing with a living nightmare.

We can get aggravated when we pursue community only to feel that the piece we find doesn’t fit into our puzzle quite right. We want to toss it out and give up on chasing after the dream we always imagined. But God calls us to bear with one another (Colossians 3:13). He commands this for good reason! In seeing difficult relationships through, by persevering in the face of frustration or annoyance, God is giving us a greater gift—sanctification. Know this: when people annoy us, God will grow us. Even this taxing aspect of community can serve God’s purpose in our lives.

4. Self-Centeredness

Sometimes we’re just trying to make it through the junk in our own life. We already feel incapable of handling the problems we are dealing with, so how could we add on another person’s problems? How could we possibly handle everything we have—and someone else?

Yet Scripture urges us: “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too” (Philippians 2:3–4). It’s easy to become self-centered and to see our problems as bigger than others’. But true community develops when we choose to set aside our own concerns for a time and focus on another’s struggles—with Christ’s humility as our example. As we step out in faith to walk toward someone else in need, God will be faithful to provide all we need. When we refresh another, we are the ones who get refreshed (Proverbs 11:25).

5. Acceptance

Will others like us? Will we be accepted? Will they want to be friends with us too? Sometimes it can feel like we’re regressing right back into high school, but these are normal questions. We all want to be liked, and we’re all afraid of rejection.

Community demands that we become willing to show others the hidden parts of ourselves—our struggles, weaknesses, shortcomings. In order to experience true acceptance, we must make ourselves vulnerable to rejection.

It’s worth the risk. If we live according to our fears, we live constrained and alone. God calls us to walk by faith and not by sight, and that may mean that we have to ignore all of the warning signs telling us that this is too painful or difficult. Pushing through that fear and being willing to take down our guard is the first step in entering into a vibrant, growing community.

Grab Hold of the Missing Piece

Community may be puzzling, but it has a purpose. In community, we can build up each other and stir up each other to good works (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 10:24–25). As we sharpen each other, we grow stronger (Proverbs 27:17). We learn to bear another’s burdens and love others as he has loved us (Galatians 6:2; John 13:34). God’s Word is clear: community is a vital link to faith.

When we come together, we are encouraged together. As we are encouraged together, we walk together. We go farther. We reach higher. We feel stronger. We have unity. We love those who need love. We come outside of our own homes to link hands with those who may need the love of Christ.

When we each look back at our lives, we will never wish that we’d spent more time being busy, relaxing, or protecting ourselves. No. We will look back and remember the moments, the people, the relationships, how we helped others, and how God used us.

So let’s clear out the junk and grab hold of that missing piece. Having that complete picture of what God wants for us—living in community—will teach us lessons about selfless love, steadfast friendship, and generous living that we may never have learned otherwise.

Kelly Balarie is a blogger, speaker, and mom of two toddlers. When she isn’t writing on her blog, Purposeful Faith, tweeting or posting on Facebook, you will find her devouring yummy food with her husband, laughing with her toddlers, or searching online for her next travel destination.

Read more articles that highlight writing by Christian women at

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Blame; Busyness; Church; Community; Fellowship; Humility; Laziness
Today's Christian Woman, May 27, 2015
Posted May 27, 2015

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How to get your kids to leave the park—in 10 easy steps

Kids refuse to leave the park? The 10 real-life steps it takes to finally get home.

Photo: iStockphoto

If you are like me, you have probably spent a significant amount of time at the park with your kids this summer.

We are at the park on almost a daily basis, but no matter how often we go, we always run into the same problem: The kids never want to leave. We go through the same song and dance each time we are at the park, with our daughters convinced we are shortchanging their time at the park.

Read more: Canadian playgrounds: 18 great outdoor parks>

The argument is always the same: I say it’s time to go, and they beg and plead for extra time. I have been through this routine so many times that I am now an expert on how to deal with this situation.

So I have created a 10-step guide for how to successfully handle the departure from the park with your kids.

Step 1—Give the five-minute warning
When you give a five-minute warning to somebody, it doesn’t actually mean five minutes. Like when my wife tells me that she needs five more minutes to get ready. Or when I tell her there are five minutes left in a hockey game. It ends up being more like 17 or 18 minutes.

So when you tell a child they have five minutes left at the park, you are actually giving them about 15 minutes. While your departure from the park is not imminent with this approach, it does plant the seed in their tiny brains that the clock is ticking on their time at the park.

Step 2—Give one-minute warning
Now this means they actually have five minutes left at the park.

Step 3—Give them one more ride
“Can we just go down the slide one more time?”

“Can you give me one last push on the swing?”

You will be tempted to stonewall your child in this situation, but it’s probably best that you just give in and let them go down the slide one more time. If you argue them on this point, by the time you convince them to leave the park, they could have gone down the slide three times and you could have been at home and consuming your second alcoholic beverage.

Step 4—Lie to your child
Say something sweet and reassuring like, “I promise we’ll come back to the park after dinner” or “I will bring you back here tomorrow,” even though you really have no intention of following through.

Step 5—Use idle threats
The problem with trying to get your kids to leave the park is that at some point you need to switch from good cop to bad cop—all by yourself. So after trying to play nice for a few minutes, you need to start getting tough. This is where idle threats can be a nice transition into the “bad cop” phase. You can go with a small approach like, “I guess you won’t be having a Popsicle when we get home.” Or for a more dramatic effect, you could tell your child, “You won’t be coming to Disney World with the rest of us.”

The nice thing about idle threats is that the possibilities are endless.

Step 6—Pretend to leave
The “fake out” is a classic move in a parent’s playbook, when you announce you are leaving the park with or without your child. “Well, I’m leaving the park now. I guess you can just stay here by yourself.”

Then you proceed to take 20 steps toward home, while constantly checking over your shoulder to see what the child is doing. It’s the worst game of chicken ever—and usually ends up with you back at Step 2 or 3.

Step 7—Blame the weather
At some point, you need to get this show on the road back home. Point to some clouds in the distance and make a vague reference to a tornado watch. That should get your kids’ attention.

Step 8—Give a one-minute warning
But this time, it actually means one minute.

Step 9—Physically remove them from the park
Sadly, you could have skipped the first eight steps and come right to this one—especially if you have a child younger than three. Simply grab your child and awkwardly force them back into their wagon/stroller/Barbie car—while simultaneously trying to buckle them in. Why this isn’t an Olympic sport is beyond me.

Step 10—Handle the walk of shame with dignity
For the final step, you get to walk back to your house with a screaming child while all the neighbours are on their lawns and silently judging you. Nobody will really make eye contact with you, but you have to keep your head held high if no other reason than you will be in this exact same situation tomorrow.

Read more: 5 fun games to play at the park>

Follow along as Ottawa-based sports radio host Ian Mendes gets candid about raising daughters, Elissa and Lily, with his wife, Sonia. Read all of Ian’s The Good Sport posts and follow him on Twitter @ian_mendes.


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Welcome to Toddler Sense

Yo-ho-ho! Life's an adventure at Toddler Sense!

Multi-sensory adventures for busy people from 13 months to 5 years!

Welcome to Toddler Sense - a whole new world of sensory stimulation, play, fun adventures and learning for your toddler or child. When your toddler or child has finished exploring, a whole new world of adventure begins with our unique soft toy, Tod!

See "About Toddler sense" to find out more about the benefits for your toddler.

Toddlers and Bonfire Night

Guy Fawkes Night can be an exceptionally sensory experience for young children. The.. read more

Toddler Keep Fit

Toddlers are busy people, but this does not mean that they are getting enough exercise... read more

Toddler Play

At some time in their second year, most babies take their first steps and become.. read more

Explore our fabulous adventure play area!

Come along and join us in our fabulous play area. It's not only a great place to play, but the equipment encourages a wide range of skills from social (making new friends) to physical (climbing, rolling, bouncing), emotional (it's so much fun!), creative (building a house), intellectual (working out how to get over obstacles), and heaps more! And we all know how important physical activity is in helping your child to sleep!


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The Write Word Books and Stories

Think Like a Writer: How to Write the Stories You See

I published Think Like a Writer: How to Write the Stories You See in print and as an Amazon e-book. The book’s core is how to see the world as a writer. It supplies tools to find and cultivate your writer’s voice, that unique combination of attributes—sensitivity to language, storytelling and audience—by which writers see and define the world. You can download sample chapters here.

Think Like a Writer will stimulate your story-hunting process, and explores how to get the stories written, for both fiction and nonfiction writing. The book discusses writing at a structural level: how words work in sentences and how sentences work in stories, moving to how to use those elements and that writer’s stance to write across genres.

It ends with how to deal with writing distractions, and offers a resources section with takes on practical matters of software, hardware and links to writing resources. And it’s written in a light, entertaining style.

Oh, and it’s funny.

Swirled All the Way to the Shrub

Swirled All the Way to the Shrub is set in Prohibition-era Boston. Our hero, Pinky DeVroom senses that his soul has been stifled by writing fluff for years about the gilt-edged Boston society mandarins. He’s hoping the novel he’s written will turn fortune to his favor. Fortune will soon turn a different direction, since it’s late October, 1929. The book works its way through Pinky’s travails with weavings of Prohibition history, actual historical figures, corporate malfeasance, and love’s losses and gains.

There are many humorous encounters and moments, and an equal number of moments you will say, “Pinky, no!” But he rarely listens, poor fellow. Plenty of thorny subplots about the publishing industry of the time, corporate politics and outrage over those politics, and the best way to stomach bathtub gin.

See more about historical references in the book, updates and about my co-author, Rick Wilson, at

Aftershock is the story of a scheming would-be novelist, his prim, closet-alcoholic boss and a discerning homeless veteran who have their fates thrown together by the 1989 S.F. earthquake. The distinct first-person voice of the schemer, and that of the homeless veteran and the secret alcoholic make for an at times rollicking, at times sad collision of lives. Their interplay is disastrous, surprising, and richly human.

There’s a lot of San Francisco in the book, including the city’s beauties, and how the AIDS crisis affects a secondary character. Even the Bronte sisters get their moments. The cover image links to various online stores to grab the book.

This page also used to house a number of my published short stories, but most of those were published in Flowering, a story collection in late May of 2012, along with many new stories. Two of the stories can be downloaded below.

Flowering’s 16 stories are built around themes of loss, social disruption, mistaken judgment & stumbling redemption. Characters are complex and not always charming, but their colors are memorably bright. Please download for free Exchange, one of the stories in the collection.

Here’s the cover of Flowering and Other Stories, published through Author Mike Ink. The link goes to Amazon, but it’s also available at Barnes and Noble.

Right Where the Sun Don’t Shine

A tale about a stubborn small-town kid who refuses his chance to watch a total eclipse because of a feud with a local dignitary, published in Flowering and Other Stories, my book of short stories.

The Dolls

A creepy short story about creepy dolls, published in the lovely literary magazine, Catamaran Literary Reader.

All Roads Are Circles

Here’s the cover of my coming-of-age novel, published in print and as an ebook on Amazon. It’s a road story of two just-out-of-high-school best friends, hitchhiking across Canada, hearts on their thumbs. And now it’s FREE on Amazon and at other online booksellers.

All Roads Are Circles is a story of innocence lost, knowledge gained, and the sweet madness of accepting a ride with drivers who might not—or definitely don’t—have their passengers’ best interests in mind. A wild ride; seat belts optional.

Flowering and Other Stories


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The US Government's Attack on Homeless Americans - DVD
The US Government's Attack on Homeless Americans

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Product Code: 2194

The number of homeless Americans is increasing - and instead of handling it with compassion and fixing the root causes (wealth inequality from a rigged economic system), the US Government has been busy criminalizing homelessness. It many places it's illegal for the homeless to sleep in public areas and enter certain areas (e.g. downtown Columbia SC), or for anyone to feed the homeless and shelter them on your own land! The homeless are being beaten, rounded up into shelter prisons or permanently "disappeared". Find out where they are being taken and more. (Hint: FEMA is involved). 36-min.
  • ISA is an eco-friendly company. Whenever possible, DVD's will ship in an eco-friendly recyclable plastic sleeve.

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5 of 5 fema camps exposed March 13, 2016
Reviewer: Kevin Kelso from Ludlow, KY United States
First that come for the homeless then the poor. This is incredibly cpleing and a must see.

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