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Sunday, November 23, 2008

Horses and nuclear waste monkey suits

Hello all. Been a while. No excuses except it's been well cold here at night and as our internet access is outside and we've been staying huddled together inside, no blogs. But today is different. It's Sunday morning and the sun is shining bright in a cloudless powder blue November sky with this as my view across the Amieira valley here at Bacelo. Sweet.

But before I update you on what's been going on here in The Shire, just took the following fly on the wall video of the kids 10 minutes ago. Every morning they are up before 6 off up the hill at 7.30 to catch the school bus at 7.50, have classes all day from 9 to 5, then get back at 6.30, do their homework, eat dinner, share the stories of their day and collapse exhausted in bed by 9. So on Sundays they can have a lie in. Bless their cotton socks. We are very proud of them. They are learning so much so quickly and are growing physically and emotionally as a result. Well done kids. Keep it up. You are stars.

Hello from the kids on a Sunday Morning

November has been pretty full on. Von and I have been working together Monday to Friday on restoring our first house down at Moses. We got all the easy stuff out of the way in the first 6 weeks - clearing the house, creating the internal wooden structures, laying our first roof, laying our first floor and rendering all the walls with lime. Now we are into the harder phase which will require outside expertise - electrics, plumbing (picture here is of Senhor Lucas installing the pumps and tubing into our new bore hole which is 300 metres up the hill from the house) hot water water system (thermodynamic panels from a company called ENat), hand crafted double glazing and pine staircases (from a lovely carpenter called Senhor Dias), railings for the internal veranda (an ironmonger in Oleiros) and a handmade wood burning stove (from Guillierm in Esteiro). All of which have been arranged and now we wait to see this last phase unfold while we lay more floors, finish the rendering build the kitchen and paint. So if all goes to plan over the next 4 weeks, we'll be able to move in for Christmas. Yaaaaay.

Anyway here's a couple of videos to update you on the work.

Nuclear waste factory monkey suit

Our first floor: slate dust topped

The weekends here in the last month have been quite hectic. We had a farewell party by the fire at Moses for Ian and his family as unfortunately Merle had to return early to Germany for the unexpected death of her mother there. Guys we hope you are all OK and your journey has not been too painful. Following weekend Shanti B and her great friend Emma from Ireland camped with us down at Moses. Emma taught us how to express the joy of life in just one phrase that we've been using every day since. WOW!!! I LOVE....(insert anything you like here - this place, that word, the bigness, fires, synchronicity, etc etc etc etc). Thanks Emma. You can come again anytime you want. (You too Shants of course, no invitation necessary.)

Last weekend we visited the National Horse Festival in Portugal's capital of horses - Galegã. It was a wonderful chance to experience another dimension of Portuguese culture. Horses and their devoted human companion admirers. The town has some exquisite architecture that we've seen elements of before but not on this scale. Streets and streets of gorgeous old buildings with hundreds of horse stables inside courtyards hidden behind the street frontage of the houses. And in the centre of the town a magnificent corral where all the horses were on show, either jumping or just trotting around the circumference. Kids, adults, intrepid horse enthusiasts the lot of them. Splendid. We'll be going again next year. Definitely. On Saturday night we stayed in Lisbon again so we wouldn't have too far to travel on Sunday for Josh's last cricket game of the year, played, of course, in delightful sunshine all day with the usual blend of multicultural languages from India, Pakistan, South Africa, England and Portugal ringing in our ears. Von has a tale to tell of that day coming soon....

One final thing to mention is that after 6 weeks of being pretty cold at night we finally have had this wood burning stove installed in our room at Bacelo. And what a difference it's made. Although the days are still sunny and hot, the evenings have been bitter when the wind blows. So thank you to "Tom and Jerry" for buying and fitting this stove for us. Toasty.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Anniversarying with the King of the Swingers

One day, back in the life of the jungle, many animals lived together, some in blissful harmony, others engaged constantly in the fight to stay alive. One special animal grew up there and managed to discover the secret to life. And shared it with everyone he met with generosity of heart, humour and a cascading backdrop of monkey music. His secret was simply to enjoy the bare necessities. His name, of course, was Balloo.

Last year, and joyously again this month, we’ve had the great privilege to meet and hang out with Balloo in person, reincarnated in the form of a man from Hereford and his most cool mate and tribe currently holidaying in the nearby abandoned village of Eiro do Miguel over the mountain on the slopes of the Rio Zezere. His human name is Ian Huntingdon, his mate is the inimitable and gorgeous Merla, their two stunning daughters are Evie (12) and Anna (18), Anna’s perfect beau Oli (21), and an old friend of the family, Roger (age and origin unknown).

It was our 14th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. To celebrate, the Winter clan took a long weekend trip to Lisbon with the tribe of Balloo, the King of the Swingers. The 10 of us camped in Monsanto park 15 minutes ride from the centre of the city. Had dinner in one of the quirky old café restaurants in the heart of Lisbon’s Fado district made memorable for the moment when the owner, shortly after taking our orders for fish of the day, strolled over and pulled out of the boot of his old Mercedes, a sack of freshly bought, and probably caught, fish to cook, along with veggies and the eggs for dessert. We climbed and wandered through the capital’s charming streets lined with once grand now slightly dishevelled, tall old stone framed houses dripping with the past and present tapestries of a culturally rich Lisbon: centuries old wobbly limestone cobbled streets; colour filled walls occasionally splashed with sections of those typically Portuguese hand painted tiles; antique black railinged window verandas, from which residents’ laundry hangs cheek by jowel with large canvasses beautifully illustrated with an eclectic mix of sketches and paintings for the latest public art exhibition.

For the weekend’s finale, Ian and Merle arranged a surprise gift for their tribe to thank them all for their previous fortnight of hard labour clearing the land in Eiro do Miguel – tickets to see the Thievery Corporation at the Coliseu. They invited us to join them and what an experience it turned out to be, especially cos it was the first big gig for Josh and Eli, who watched the spectacle of the audience as much as they did the musicians, drummers, singers, rappers and dancers on stage. A most cool way to finish celebrating our 14 year heavenly journey of a marriage dripping with love, romance, adventure and family.

Thank you Balloo and crew. And thank you Lisbon. There’s only one Lisboa. And it’s awesome that this weekend it’s felt that it’s become ours. Our Lisboa. We’ll meet again soon.

Restoration Update: In the pursuit of beauty...

Back at the Moses ranch, River and I have been in full flow, rendering, solving problems, mending, fixing, restoring, more rendering, waiting for wood and materials to arrive, choosing the appropriate heating and water systems to buy, more rendering, but surrounding all of it, is the magic of being able to use our energy and imagination to create. We are so thankful we’ve been given the chance to do this thing with our own hands. These last 2 weeks we’ve been able to move beyond the purely functional tasks to embrace a far more creative process that imprints our own stamp on the function. Using our hands to sculpt the plastering on the walls and over the bedrock, to carve the eucalyptus beam we chain sawed, planed, sanded and heaved into position to support the bedroom floor, to select the prettiest slate lintels for remaking the doorway of the old clay bread oven, and to roll huge boulders into place for the borders of a water channel gutter at the back of the house. It’s just one big art attack (for those of you who’ve ever watched kiddies TV). We are hand sculpting our house and filling it full with romance and love along the way.

As you can tell we’re feeling all loved up at the moment. Not enough time to tell you even half the stories happening here. Just know it is rich. As Merle says, “dripping” with the gorgeousness and fullness of life. School, shopping, building, friends, neighbours, dinners, coffees, passing chats, even the drives and walks to and from these things. Everywhere you look, every landscape you stumble across, every task necessary, every problem solved, every single moment is a an experience to be cherished and treasured because it will never be experienced in that particular way again. Just like the enchanting, colourful, historic and steep streets of Lisbon, we are the tapestry upon which something magnificent and unique is being woven.

And did I mention the sun is still shining hot here? No? Desculpe. It is. Just the icing, or the cherry, or the cream, or all of it on the whole home baked wedding anniversary cake of a life.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Learning Portuguese ‘The Easy Way’ - by Josh

Hello, Óla, Ciao, Hola, Bonjúr and any other ‘hi’s’ that I’ve missed out just started school and going on overload with the amount of Portuguese going in and not coming out of my head decided to make a little space and write down whats been happening down here in the Floresta das Pinheiras (forest of the pines).

School at Escola Básica e Segundária Padre António de Andrade has been tiring but fun. We’ve been taking the carinha (minibus) at 8:00; starting school at 9:00; getting a fifteen minute break at 10:45 to get a snack from the school bar; eating lunch at 13:00; starting lessons again at 14:15; doing more lessons until 15:45 then we stop lessons for the day and go home at 17:30.

I’ve learnt so much already after just a week (some things I'm not aloud to write on the internet) but funnily enough I don’t know what it is that I’ve learnt. After 15:45 I do some of my T.P.C (trabalho para casa (work for home)) with my colegas in the biblioteca (library) (surprisingly I haven’t had much T.P.C this last week only homework for Ciências Das Naturezas (Biology) and PLNM (for me only: extra Portuguese) and matemática (for those of you who aren’t English its mathematics).

School (dare I say it) is great. Ellie is in the Quarto (4º (4th)) ano and I'm in the Sexto (6º (6th)) ano. I’ve only got twelve people in my class (6 boys 6 girls) 5 are 12 and the rest are 11. Some subjects (like maths) I’ve done 2 years ago and others (like biology) are new things to me.

This last week pai e mãe have been working on Moses to get it ready for moving in before Natal (Christmas). Just now (its 20:07) we got electricidade (electricity) down there from a guy called Lucas who works at the school as well as being an electrician. We’ve got a temporary kitchen and the wood for the telhado (roof) and the chão (floor) of our walkway.

During the feiras (holidays) I was getting more and more nervous everyday but now I’ve started I don’t know why. Probably because I didn’t know Portuguese I didn’t know anything about the subjects or the putos in my class. We went to São Pedro de Moel on the coast and we had loads of people come (6: Caroline, Jon, Maya, violet, grandma & Papops) and basically just chilled out for 3 months.

The last time I went to school was 18 months ago and the time I had with my parents was one of the best times of my life and to give that up is always very difficult but things never last forever and it was time to leave that behind and learn Portuguese.

At this moment in time it is 20:51 20 de Septembro de 2008, Mother is moaning that she wants to go to bed while laughing her head off and saying she’s tired while messing about and saying things like Ellie and Josh can put up a stand in Oleiros with rent-a-goat; Ellie’s being a smart-arse and saying things at random like driving a 4x4 golf cart around the place and about horses eating our houses and donkeys sleeping with dad in bed; dad is lying in bed being as quiet as possible; Angel’s sleeping thinking what idiots we are; Moses is lying outside sleeping in the rain for begging; Slinky is either lying in my bed or playing in the rain; Daffy & Dodo the Delicious Duo of Dumbo Duck Dudes are sleeping in the chicken shed; and I'm writing this. And at this moment in time it is 21:05 and Joshua Krystian Maffezzoni Winter nº8 (number 8) turma B (class B) ano 6º (year 6) is going to bed. Boa Noite!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Dragonfly Passing Through - by River

“Wherever the River flows, life will flourish…Where the River flows life abounds…the River itself, on both banks, will grow fruit trees of all kinds. Their leaves won't wither, the fruit won’t fail. Every month they’ll bear fresh fruit because the river from the Sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.”

Ezekiel 47 : 8 – 12 mais ou menos

Thanks Shanti B this one has gotten me through some tough times here in Our Zion.

But the last month has been fabulous why? Cause I have finally figured out all I have to do in this place is just flow. Keep on flowing River.

Memphis and I moved here for so many reasons with so many hopes and dreams and many of them seemed to be coming to pass. But the biggest one of all had not yet happened. Falcon Bear and Effie Starlight had not yet started school. School was more or less a topic avoided as I don’t think any of us dared express our hopes about how it could be. I think this lack of resolution encouraged me to see this as an extended holiday that I could (however difficult it maybe) walk away from if Falcon and Starlight weren’t happy at school. Big tension!

I think we may have been able to continue home schooling if we were in England where the children could still have easy access to other relationships and clubs and so forth. But here, the only way to make relationships with other children is at school.

Well! It has been four weeks at school and I could never claim to speak for Starlight and Falcon’s internal feelings but from what I have heard from them and what I have seen, school has been a little bit of what we all hoped for and therefore a wonderful thing to have happened in our lives.

Falcon I think wanted to find like minded boys to hang out with. So far he seems to have found boys who want to talk about sport. Be willing to listen to him and think about the importance of being kind to even the smallest creatures. He also wants to be around boys who have ambitions and want to talk about going to University and they have even been talking about going together since one wants to be an architect and the other two want to be photographers. And he has found that: a sense of place, companionship and people who show the desire to learn.

Starlight I think wants to be able to express her individuality. She is not afraid to be her own person and I think she wants to be recognised for having the special tender accepting love of life that she has. She had that recognition in her early school life in London and I think being her own person and being recognised as that is important to Starlight. It helps her feel safe to shine. And she is shining. She is often the first one to get ready for school in the morning and walk up the hill. She gets her stuff ready the night before. Goes to bed without messing around too much and is ready for her day. I remember Andy and I constantly saying to the kids “Just get up and get ready for your day and then you will be ready for whatever it brings. “ But she never listened and now she is doing it all on her own. She is fabulous.

I think Memphis, Big Daddy Penguin as he is, wants the children to be able to stay children a little bit longer and just enjoy the process of growing up and learning to take responsibility for themselves. Watching them walk up that hill every morning at a quarter to eight, we can see they are well on their way.

For me, I want the kids to want to learn. To learn from everything and everyone. To be around us enough to want to learn from us. To be with other people fuelled up by taking learning seriously and enjoying it. But I also want them to be safe, not safe from bad days and low times and from generally feeling pissed off and frustrated, those times come to us all. But safe from the separateness that is so much a part of life in London. I want them to feel deeply connected to the Earth around them and everything in it. I also want them to still be willing to fly free of everything and work it out for themselves a lesson I think they will retain from their life as city folks. All this learning and experiencing requires a lot of great people in your life. Your family, your extended family, your families’ friends, your teachers, your peers. It’s easier if the majority of these people are good people, willing to give you some of their time, willing to be themselves with you and willing to teach you. That is what I had when I was growing up and I want that for my kids. They had some of that too in the Metropolis and now they can have a different experience of good people here to help teach them about this time in their life.

In many ways I jus couldn’t get stuck into our home at Moses until I had seen that my children were safe at school. But now Memphis and I are putting down roots. It has been great!

We have been working together alone for the last four weeks and so at first we were really scared without Sunshine or someone else who had actually done this before. We also wanted to do it ourselves, a confidence that we would not have had without Sunshine’s help and for which I am truly thankful.

But alone we were, so we looked at each, sat down and just looked at our home, alone and ready to begin. Memphis looked at me and said, “Ready to begin River” and I looked at him and said “Let’s go Memphis”. I think the names help, its like watching a story unfold. Andy and Von are fairly set as who they are but Memphis and River are highly adaptable new beings who would know how to tackle any situation. The good thing about having been here without building the house for so long, is that we have spent a lot of time doing research on just about everything to do with house building. While we were demolishing parts of the three houses and also visiting hoards of other local derelict buildings, we were able see how these old houses were originally put together, piece by piece. So that’s what we are doing with the first house, rebuilding it section by section.

In the last two weeks we have had a great deal of encouragement and advice from our neighbours, and a special thanks has to go out to some people who have come and really gave us a boost; Senior Lucas for sorting out our electricity so smoothly. Senior Julio and the bore hole guys who drove up in their fantastic 1950's van and just dug the bore hole in a day, gave us lunch and shared their wine with us. Finally, our architect, Phillipe, I am gives am always so relieved now to see him walking down that hill. He is mostly quiet, listens beautifully, gives us things to think about that we never would have and usually leaves us one piece of style advice. This style advice is the best, it reminds me that these stones, clay, straw, sand and lime are coming together to form a building, so keep your eye on the big picture. I find myself working harder now wanting to have something for us to show him so he can test us on it. So we have the advice of some experts to help us but ultimately we are on our own.

It’s wonderful I have loved it so far. We have hiked up and down our land looking for Eucalyptus to cut, skin and lay as beams. We have sifted huge sacks of clay from our land and hauled them down the hill on our backs and than hiked up again. We have carried hundreds of planks of wood down the hill and up the stairs and round the corner and careful you don’t bash into the god knows how old terrace. We have lugged stones and laid stones and cut ourselves on stones. We have hauled sacks of cal (lime) and barrows of sand down the hill only to carry it up the stairs in heavy black buckets. We have been made cold by the wind, wet by the rain, overly hot by the sun. We have assembled all these materials and made all this effort to create a room that will be our bathroom, a ground floor that will be the kitchen and Moroccan lounge, and today I have been digging trenches and laying stones to create what will be our water channel around the house while Andy has been building a stone box for new bore hole. And we are doing it, and I am loving it.

Sure I get really tired and fed up but the occasions are so fleeting and that verse my friend Shanti B gave me has really been an encouragement. My hubby is happy, my kids are happy and I am happy all I have to do is keep flowing like a River. Keep moving with life, keep accepting, keep shifting, keep being in the flow and just work at it bit by bit step by step, Shanti Shanti whatever it brings.

We have had one sad occasion this month, our lovely friend Raquel (here with her Mom at her leaving do last week) has finally left Oleiros to work nearer Lisbon. I am happy for her the work sounds exciting and she can now live in her home in Abrantes and who knows what she will do with all that time that was taken up driving to Oleiros every weekend! But, I am also sorry for too for our little slice of heaven is less brighter without her here. Fortunately Abrantes is only maybe 45 mins away, virtually neighbours in these parts, so whether Francisco and Raquel like it or not we will be making a point of visiting.

At the moment there are the most enormous dragonflies everywhere (yes this is a butterfly because we dont have any pictures of the dragon variety). They seem to perfectly match their surroundings and sparkle them up a bit. There is sky blue, sunshine yellow and grass green ones. I don’t know if Hari’s House is in their flight path but I have seen them quite a lot here. I have seen them at Cocoa’s new house, at Eugenia and João’s, outside our house at Moses, at the school, at our neighbour´s Steve and the list could go on. They are beautiful and where ever I am I have to stop and look at them. I am learning that every now and again, you have to stop whatever you are doing or saying and just watch as the dragonfly passes through. Inside our homes for a spell and then out. Off to see the world.

Digging for water

First thing to say is that Falcon and River have written great blogs. But as usual it takes a while for them to choose their photos and upload them. Josh however has an excuse. He is working well hard at school learning Portuguese at an alarmingly rapid pace. 3 weeks in and both he and Eloise are doing fantastically well their and really enjoying the whole experience. They leave before it’s light and return at 6.30 in the evening still full of life but can only really manage to eat, tell us the stories of their day and then go to bed. Anyway, watch this space, their contributions are coming shortly.

So what’s new? We have a bore hole. 93 metres deep and apparently with loads of water in it. A few weeks ago an old guy from Oleiros, senior Julio, came along to find the best place on our land to dig for water. Good old divination. But instead of a forked branch, he used a metal measuring tape, held so that it formed a stiff triangle in the air. When he walked over a line of water the tape just folded down, then rose again 2 paces later. He did this for an hour or so in various places until he informed us that we have 3 good sources of water underground. We chose the highest point to give us the most number of uses for water – good pressure for our drinking and showering water in all the houses 40 to 50 metres below, as well as a source for all the irrigation and emergency watering systems we want to build. So much easier to start with your primary origin of water at the top – no fussing with pumps and electricity, except to bring it out of the ground then let gravity do the rest.

When Sr Julio bought his mates along on Monday, it was a trifle odd, cos their lorries and machinery could have come straight out of the 1930’s. The 2 videos below show what I mean and also our excitement at the moment the water started spouting into the air, proving the old diviner was bang on. He better have been, cos the ‘no water, no fee’ deal was pretty reassuring.

Der’s sure gotta be oil in dem hills…

Now all we need to do is work out where to run all the pipes to, then employ our trusted local electrician, Sr Lucas, who also works at the school, to sort out the best pump and automatic system to install. Will fill you in when we have any idea what we are doing. Although today I built a cute little stone box around the top of the bore hole, like the ones you see around the top of a well. My first walls constructed in stone. Felt terrific. Gathering long heavy pieces of slate scattered around the place (mined from the road and terrace building work in July) driving them to the top in our jeep, laying them out as 4 dry walls around the top of the bore hole where the tube sticks out of the ground and the old guys screwed a paint can to the top to keep the water safe, then mixing a lime, straw and river sand grout in the cement mixer next to the house right at the bottom where there’s electricity and having to carry 5 enormously heavy buckets of the stuff back up to the top again to secure the structure with a minimal render inside and out of the walls. Took me most of the day and now I am knackered. Yet most satisfying.

A beautiful by product of the bore holing is we now have loads of slate dust. Dark bluey grey metallicy slate dust. A perfect material to add to our lime floors to tie in the slate outside with exactly the same colour for the floors at the bottom of the house. We did a test mix yesterday and laid it in a corner next to the exposed bed rock. It’s a sumptuously gorgeous colour and we’re really looking forward to laying it once the final coat of earthen plaster goes on the walls. Will show pictures soon.

Last bit of news is that Josh and I have played another couple of games of cricket against touring English sides. He is now regularly getting wickets when he bowls and loving the thrill of it all. Last week we had the chance to bat together and even managed to be there at the end of the innings, not out. This time though we have proof thanks to one of the tourists. Cheers Tony.

Well that’s all for now folks. Leave a comment or two and let us know how life is treating you all. Night night. I will leave you with this pic of Laurinda who runs the cafe in neighbouring Abitueira, picking us a bunch of ginormous grapes from her back yard. Sweet.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

The Bathroom Roof Goes On

What a week this was! For two and a half months River and I have been removing an enormous quantity of stuff from the 3 houses at Moses. Walls, stones, wood, windows, lintels, tiles. It’s been quite a destructive phase where everything feels a little chaotic, with piles of the stuff taken out of the houses neatly laid around clearly demarking the place as a building site. But before this week we hadn’t really done any building, any construction. Last week we began with learning to mix mud and setting slates with it on top of the bathroom walls. This week however, was a very different story. Proper construction. Just River and I. And I tell you, it feels fantastic to have finally finished the roof, our first task on the 14 week plan to restore Moses before Christmas.

We had a few hurdles to overcome. First was finding a good supplier of wood and fixing it to the eucalyptus beams. Second, finding roof felt and fixing it to the wooden ceiling. And third buying all the tools we need to do so now and for the next few months ahead. At the weekend we found a great lumber yard on the road to Serta who delivered some tongue and groove pine, which we lumbered all the way to the bottom of the land in readiness to put on on Monday. However it was the wrong type, too slim, and wouldn’t have been strong enough for the tiles on top. So we lumbered it all back up the hill and returned to the sawmill to ensure they delivered the right type, which they did, the same day. Of course we then had to carry the new, heavier wood, on our shoulders, down the hill one more time. This work is definitely growing muscles we didn’t know we had.

What a pair of roofers we are....

Michelle told us about a local place in Estreito that sold a type of roofing felt called Underline. A bit more pricey than the ordinary stuff but the ease of using it with its ‘simple to lay tiles on top’ ridges is definitely worth it. Reusing the original old tiles that Von had carefully removed while my parents were here at the beginning of September, was a most satisfying job. They now no longer make tiles the way they used to. These old clay ones, are all unique. Each one has a slightly different pattern of moss grown over the years but more interestingly has a different curve and shape too. This is cos they were formed around people’s thighs before being kilned. Some are wide and short (made by the thighs of smaller fatter Portuguese) and some are narrow and long (taller skinnier ones). Quite incredible really and it kind of connects you, handling and laying each tile, to another time, another way of living, another world. As a result, the finished roof has so much more innate character than one we could have built with sparkly new uniform tiles. It’s old, it’s gorgeous and we absolutely love it.

Yesterday, we started rendering the bathroom walls too. We tried a mix suggested in the Building Green book, which is 3 parts sand, to one part hydraulic lime, to half part straw. The straw is shredded by sucking it back through an ordinary garden leaf blower and is soaked in water before adding to the mix, so that the lime can extract the water from the straw helping to prevent cracking when it sets on the wall. We’ll see how it turns out but it was a lot of fun plastering our first wall together beneath the beautiful pine boarded, eucalyptus beamed roof we’d just put on.

So today, with a new roof and 2 walls half rendered with just one coat of natural plaster, I feel that everything is possible. To be honest at the beginning of the week I was emotionally fluctuating between a deep contentment in what is already here now and a blind overwhelming panic at the immensity of all the work in front of us. Yeah the journey is more important than the destination and all that, but sometimes the distance to the destination can affect the way you feel about the journey. But you can only do what is in front of you to do. One step at a time. Yes we have many steps to take, but it is still possible to see each one, individually, as splendid in its own right. That’s how it is today with our first roof built with mud, slate, trees, straw and tiles from the land and a little sand, lime, felt and wood bought from round the corner.

On the road to Oleiros last night for a celebratory meal, we stopped the car, got out and took a moment to enjoy this exquisite sunset over the surrounding mountains and valleys. What a life this is. We only get one shot at it, and we’re making the very most of it. Yeah baby.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Back to School!

The new season of Autumn has started for real this week. The kids have gone back to school. And they love it. Proper love it. Josh is in year 6, the year he missed when we were on the Poop in Europe tour, so he can learn everything he already knows but this time in Portuguese. In year 7 they will have to study 16 subjects so we thought it best to ease him in gently to a new system and a new language. There are only 11 other children in his class, five older five younger, yet although so few pupils, they still have classroom assistants. You gotta love it here! Eli is in year 4 which is based in another building in the school and is the last year of the younger age groups, so she's a big fish in a little pond. Day 1 she was voted vice president of the class by the other 18 kids in it. They've both settled in nicely and are keen to learn as much as they can. One of our hopes for their 18 months of home schooling on our various adventures was to instil in them a desire to learn for learning sake. Not just to pass tests or to pass through the school system but to enjoy the process of learning. So it's been such a joy to see them both bouncing off to school at 8am and still bouncing when they return on the minibus at 6.30pm relishing the chance to discover more about the world.

Hi ho, hi ho, its off to school we go....

We had a terrific time with Grandma and Papops, my mum and dad, while they we here on holiday. As did Josh and Eli who stayed with them for a week in a log cabin at the campismo de Oleiros. They flew back last Thursday from Lisbon looking much the healthier for 10 days in the Portuguese sunshine. Came back soon guys. And on Friday we took a trip to Coimbra to buy clothes and loads of school stuff. On Saturday we all went down to Albegaria, a little village an hour north of Lisbon where a South African and Portuguese couple, Sandy and Fatima, have made a piece of heaven on earth. A cricket field. Josh and I played and Von and Eli devotedly watched! But it was worth the trip cos Josh took his first wicket in men's cricket. Then another. And then a third. A truly momentous occasion and a fab boost to his confidence the weekend before going back to school. No picies to show but we do have a wee film clip of the cafe there that serves the best ham and cheese toasted sandwiches in the world!

The cafe in the famous cricketing village of Albegaria...

Last thing to say is that "Jerry" has returned to the UK to see her mum and dad. Before she left we all had a rethink on how the renovation work is progressing at Bacelo and Moses. "Tom" really needs to focus his energy on Bacelo so Von and I will be renovating our houses and creating the gardens by ourselves from here on in. We have appreciated their support on the work at Moses since July, especially the belief they've given us that we can do this. Our first goal is to get the house called Moses ready for moving in before Christmas. We have a project plan to that effect and the first few days working together have been really sweet. Sieving the clay we took from the first 2 houses (called Cabeco) earlier in the year and mixing in water with our feet (well Von's feet actually cos I chickened out), then setting in slate with it on top of the walls. It's the way all the stone houses were built in this region years ago and it feels great to be using only the materials we have on the land to kick off the building phase after 2.5 months of demolition. The bathroom roof should be complete by Friday and we'll show you the evidence next week. For now just a short clip to show Von's gorgeous muddy feet in action.

Mud, glorious mud...

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Have you seen these grapes…? by River

Here I am finally having a quiet day, the first one in months. I am sitting cross legged at my little table listening to Jazz vocals, at the moment Stormy Weather by Sarah Vaughan is flowing into my body via my ears. It’s a beautiful evening the earth is mellow and comfortable after the first substantial rains in over two months. The air is at its cleanest, sweetest smelling of pine needles, heather and the incomparable smell of autumn ripening fruit. The season at the moment is grapes. Everywhere you look they are hanging hedonistically from voluptuous vines and you find yourself irresistibly drawn to nibbling one or two.

Pergolas of grapes have featured highly in the highlights of this Summer season for me.

It was under a pergola that I sat one day in the village of my dear friend Shanti B and watched the most fantastic (in the truest sense of the word) array of people walking to the last night of a summer fiesta that she and her crew had arranged with the local mayor.

First came her beautiful sister and her twin boys. It was amazing to spend time with her. She was so full of light and laughter it was infectious. It was really odd to meet someone who smiled like Shanti, had the same mannerisms and the same nature, predisposed to joy.

After her came a few rainbow people one of whom was my teacher for the afternoon (I always meet one at Shanti´s and was waiting for him), Jaia my love I am still unpacking that conversation but what I took away from you was to try to remain as natural as possible and move forward as far as I could in love.

Next came the traditional Portuguese dancers with their black or deep red frocks and white pinafores with white head dresses. I had an interesting experience with them when I needed to spend a penny, pee that is. I went into the ladies and there they all were men and women getting tied up in the last of their outfits. There was a great deal of encouragement to pee in front of them with just a half wall dividing us but that was just too much for me, so off to a more private bush I went.

After them came the Rainbow festival clan, in all their beautiful colours, floaty dresses and MC Hammer trousers. With wild, hair, bare feet and dirty angels faces. The light seemed to shine brighter around their combined energy.

After the Rainbow clan came the sound of drummers, Portuguese rather than African. Down the street came this loud, base chakra vibrating sound, played out by stocky strong shouting men. Followed by some of the villagers and the little kids. It was a very heart warming scene.

As if that wasn’t enough there came a sexy young woman, wild haired, brown and doe eyed on a donkey!

There I sat under the pergola eating grapes hanging perfectly within reach and prepared for a fabulous evening and that it was. Thanks Shanti.

It was under a pergola that I realised that things weren’t really working out for Michelle and the rest of us here and I let go of trying to make things work and allowed the winds of change to have their will. It’s been hard that process, and I have felt quite shaken by it but…

Another highlight of the summer had been having our friends Caroline and Jon and their beautiful girls Maya and Violet with us. We have missed them greatly and it was a joy to have that time together, singing, dancing, philosophysing and just generally enjoying being together. And it was sitting under a pergola of grapes that I realised that time was precious and it was good that we shared so much of it together as it would be sometime before life would give us that time again.

We spent the most youthful long weekend in Sao Pedro de Moel with our dear friend Rachel. We laughed, drank too much wine. We walked around on the coast until 7am. And just generally relaxed. We spent time with a woman I am now calling the Goddess of the Lighthouse who taught me an exercise that I hadn’t consciously tried before and I am now using it. It’s well powerful stuff but in order to know about it you’ll have to come to Zion and talk to the Goddess of the Lighthouse herself. We all left saying we love Sao Pedro de Moel and will be going again next year by the grace.

One other highlight worth mentioning was the annual Summer fiesta of Oleiros. Great fun, like Christmas on a summer’s evening. Dancing and watching Sunshine dance in the early hours of the morning had to be the highlight of that experience.

Now Papops and Dr. Mops are here, Andy’s Mum and Dad. The kids have abandoned us for the weekend, but I think they really are sick of us and are so very excited to have their grandparents in their new town. It’s lovely to see.

It’s been unusual having so many people descend on me in my life. Sometimes people are giving to you and sometimes they are taking. It’s not easy for me and I have been showing signs of wear and tear; the main one being a loss of confidence. I have found myself questioning for the first time whether I am doing the right thing. The undertaking here is mammoth I know but when so many people tell you how brave you are to take on so much work, it has the opposite effect on me because I am not brave or spectacular or special in anyway nor am I equipped for this task. Yet what I do know is that when I am working here taking off roof tiles or removing a pile of rocks, I know that I am working for my life for the life of my family and hopefully for the life of some of my friends. I am no great yoga master or gardener or artist or anything that would equip me for a life such as this. I am an ordinary woman being given the extraordinary opportunity to start again from scratch but having a little wisdom of age. I remember that it’s called Moses. So when the giants of doubt and fear come to catch up with me as they have been doing this month I try to remember this biblical story big daddy Memphis told me recently of when Joshua and Caleb came back from spying for the tribes of Israel and responded to the tales of fear and woe told by the other spies with this. “Don’t worry about those big men and their armies, look at the size of these grapes boys!!”

And I remember that that is my divine mission in life. To rejoice in the fruits of life and let the joys of a fruitful life cast out all fear and doubt and to keep flowing like a River. This evening I am flowing eating a bowl full of grapes that Memphis just brought home after spending a few hours with one of our older neighbours. And I am no longer sitting under the grapevine I am sitting in the evening sunlight gorging myself on the fruits of this life.


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News << back to recent news

Family Law - Firm of the Year (Wales)

Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice has been awarded Family Law Firm of the Year (Wales). After attending an excellent award ceremony last night, we are thrilled to have been awarded with this prestigious accolade.

This award is testament to the hard work each and every member of the firm carries out. We are dedicated to maintaining high standards and providing expert services in all areas of Family Law

You can see all of our awards here

If you would like to get in touch to speak with a speciaist family law solicitor, see our contact inforamtion below;

T: 029 2034 2233

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Saturday, December 1, 2007

Bernard the Jewish elf

I was watching The Santa Clause on TBS a few minutes ago. It always tickles me a bit that Jewish dreamboat David Krumholtz plays Bernard the Christmas elf in the series.

It begs this question: Do dreamboat Jewish Christmas elves celebrate Channukah?

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omg! he is so hot!!!!!!

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I know! He is to die for... Very hott.

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Sam Feldt Unveils Engagement Portal,

Written by:

Views: 739

Sam Feldt Launches Personal Music and Content Portal – Fans are able to unlock exclusive Sam Feldt content

With this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event on the horizon, Sam Feldt is ready to reveal his brand new fan engagement portal,

In collaboration with, Sam is the first artist to have his own fan engagement site, which will contain new and exclusive music, competitions as well as behind the scenes footage. Only taking two clicks to sign up, users can delve into Sam’s world and can get one step closer to the Dutch hitmaker.

The portal is split into 5 sections – Radio Shows, Mixtapes, Contests, Adventures and Tracks. Users will be the first to know about new music and upcoming shows before anyone else, while Sam’s mixtapes, free tracks and his Heartfeldt radio show are all available to download in an instant.

Fans will be able to watch Sam’s ‘Heartfeldt Adventures’ – an insight of his life on the road, live shows and everything in between. New and exclusive content – including merchandise and the opportunity to win meet & greet tickets to Sam’s shows are also included. Producers can upload demos onto for Sam’s radio show, while other users can connect and give feedback on each demo. Soon, will also play host to Q&A’s tutorials and livestreams direct to your device.

Sam will introduce at ‘Turning the Artist/Fan Interface Around’ conference at ADE University, where Sam will explore the relationship between fan and artist. Then on Thursday, he will host ADE’s first ever pool party – ‘Heartfeldt and Friends’.

“I’m really excited to be the first artist to launch their own fan engagement portal in collaboration with It provides fans a much more in-depth and personal way to connect and communicate with me and my content. The portal is already filled up with all my radio shows, mixtapes, free downloads and even includes 2 exclusive NEW Sam Feldt mixtapes and the opportunity to win Sam Feldt merchandise, meet & greets and tickets to my shows. I invite you to go check out the website at and register yourself to see all the goodness I’ve prepared for you.” – Sam Feldt

Sam Feldt:
Website I Facebook I Twitter I Soundcloud I Instagram


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Job Postings

Scroll down to apply for the Human Resources Administrative Assistance position.

The Firefighter Application is closed at this time.

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Human Resources Department at or call 303-989-4307.

ps two in garage
WMFR P41 (3)

As of August 3, 2017, West Metro Fire Rescue launched a new online application portal that will require you to set up a new account even if you've applied with us before.

Equal Opportunity Statement

West Metro Fire Rescue is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, West Metro Fire Rescue will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with eligible disabilities (unless the disability precludes performance of the essential functions of the position).

West Metro Fire Rescue is a drug free workplace.

**We recommend that applicants use Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer 10 or higher.


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Contact Details

Office Hours:
Monday 9.30-2.30
Tuesday 9.30-2.30
Thursday 9.30-2.30
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Jane Hill
Office Tel: 07951 530 417

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Call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergencyNHS ChoicesThis site is brought to you by My Surgery Website


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Hero Image

Beauty Point, 36 Ross Street

Affordable Brick Home with Water Views!

Contact agent for sold price

  • 3
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Listing Number: TTW8362
About this listing
Don't judge this home from the street! Larger than in it looks and the timber deck offers great views of the River! Comprising 3 bedrooms, the main with a large built-in, open plan kitchen with a huge walk in pantry, dining and living, separate toilet, a carport at the main door entry and the laundry is located outside in a large room, ideal for storage or a workshop. The lounge opens onto the expansive sunny deck; you can watch the children play in the fully enclosed backyard. This comfortable home in a fantastic location is a great investment either as a rental property (available as vacant possession in November - achieving $240 a week currently) or a home that will benefit from landscaping and a bit of imagination to improve the street appeal.! Walk to shops, cafes and beaches! Only 40 minutes from Launceston as well!
Property Information
  • Floor Area: 105 sqm
  • Land Size: 911 sqm
  • Tenure: Freehold
  • Approx year built: 1974
  • Property condition: Good
  • Property Type: House
  • Garaging / carparking: Open carport
  • Construction: Brick
  • Joinery: Aluminium
  • Roof: Iron
  • Window coverings: Blinds (Vertical)
  • Heating / Cooling: Electric
  • Chattels remaining: All fixed floor coverings, all window furnishings, all light fittings, cook top, wall oven, pureheat electric heater, double garden shed.
  • Kitchen: Modern, Separate cooktop, Separate oven and Pantry
  • Main bedroom: Double and Built-in-robe
  • Bedroom 2: Double
  • Bedroom 3: Double
  • Main bathroom: Separate shower
  • Laundry: Separate
  • Workshop: Separate
  • Views: Water
  • Fencing: Fully fenced
  • Land contour: Flat to sloping
  • Water heating: Electric
  • Water supply: Town supply
  • Sewerage: Mains
  • Fixtures/chattels excluded: Curtains in child's bedroom belong to the tennat

Contact Details

Harcourts West Tamar

Legana Shopping Centre
Shop 1/12 Legana Grove
Office website

Property Location

Property Search

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You may have heard of no deposit casinos some other deposit bonuses, online casinos with deposits and several more. However, this really is something quite novel and fascinating. The New online casinos with no deposit bonuses altogether supply you with a new experience for gambling, loving, learning and having fun. They’re instant no deposit Casino bonus in which you aren’t required to earn any sort of investment. They’re for free. An individual may download games for free and staying playing with.

The New online Casino bonus would be the best for people who have only begun with betting advertisement are learning the art. People who would be the masters of betting can start earning some real money by the moment no deposit casino bonus. In the majority of the new online casinos with no deposit bonuses you’ll discover an assortment of various sorts of games which may not be available from the casinos which you see on weekends. Together with the online casinos you can play virtual games, slots and blackjack and a lot more which you could generally think off anytime. You simply have to log on into the moment no deposit casino bonus and sense that the distinction between gaming in a property casino and betting online. When you get enrolled with some of the online casinos you can start playing immediately by simply downloading some game of your choice and start earning money. Cash or bonus is made available for you in due time or has been moved into your accounts that’s precisely why this service is called instant no deposit casino bonus unlike other casinos do.
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The NSA is a non-profit organization. That means our very existence depends upon financial support from our members and other sources. As a part of our fund development plan, we look for funding from a variety of sources, but our grassroots/individual support is an important part of how we fulfill our mission. Individual donations, both large and small are the heart of our funding. We hope you will consider these options for providing ongoing support for the National Stuttering Association. You tell us how important the NSA is in your life and the lives of your loved ones, and we hope you can help us to bring the gift of the NSA spirit to future generations of people who stutter.

  1. Support Beyond Words (easy and sustaining)
  2. Individual donations
  3. Spring and Fall fund drives
  4. Donations to fund specific programs
  5. Matching fund programs at your place of employment
  6. Donations to honor or remember a loved one

Make a Recurring Monthly Donation

The National Stuttering Association exists to support people who stutter with local support groups, conferences, Youth Days, educational resources and more. The financial support needed to make this happen comes almost entirely from our members and contributors. If what the NSA does is important to you, and especially if our programs have touched your life, we hope you will support the NSA by selecting one of our easy donation options.

Ongoing Support

Join our Support Beyond Words Program and help the NSA 365 days a year by making a monthly contributions using your credit card starting at just $15/month.

Make a One-Time Donation

  • Bronze ($50-$249)
    $100 – Provides lunch to children at one Family Fun Day
    $150 – Prints and distributes 200 stuttering support brochures
  • Silver ($250-$499)
    $250 – Provides stuttering support materials to 5 schools
  • Gold ($500-$999)
    $500 – Runs local advertising to promote one Youth Day
    $500 – Educates speech therapists about stuttering at a state speech-language association convention
  • Platinum ($1,000-$1,499)
    $1,000 – Sponsors a Youth Day (includes most expenses)
  • Diamond ($1500-$4,999)
    $1,500 – Produces a radio PSA (public service announcement)
    $2,500 – Sponsors and prints one year of Letting Go
  • Lifetime ($5,000 +)
    $5,000 – Sponsors 2 families to attend an NSA Conference
    $10,000 – Sponsors 4 families to attend an NSA Conferences

Donation YOUR Way

None of these options fit what you’re looking for? Make a donation YOUR way! The financial support needed to run the NSA comes almost entirely from our members and contributors, so there is no contribution to great or too small.

Method of Payment

  • Pay Online
    Click here to make a donation
  • Pay by Phone
    Contact the National Office at (800)WE STUTTER to arrange for payment of your donation over the telephone.
  • Network for Good
    Have your payment remitted through the Network for Good program, which aids non-profit organizations through lower cost donation collection.
  • Pay by Mail
    Send your payment by check or credit card through the mail directly to the NSA via our mail donation form.

Memorial Gift

Would you like to remember someone close to you by making a gift in his or her memory? Your thoughtful contribution in the name of a friend or loved one will be a special way to help us aid children and adults afflicted with stuttering through our research, education and community services.

To make a donation on behalf of or in memory of another person, please contact the National Office to tell us the person’s name. (You will have a chance to notify this person about your dedication with a giving card after you complete the donation.)

Where does my money go?

We treat your money with the same respect that you would and want to make sure that each and every donation is having a maximum impact for the stuttering community. Publications and information, support, education, research, and advocacy are the main ways in which we use our donations.

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Martine’s Lounge Drink of the Day: Jasmine 75

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) - Our friends over at Martine's Lounge have the perfect drink for your holiday party - or for any time of year.

The Drink of the Day for Wednesday, Dec. 21 is the Jasmine 75.

To make a Jasmine 75, you`ll need Beefeater gin, sparkling wine, rhubarb bitters, jasmine water, fresh lemon and just a little bit of simple syrup.

First, you muddle the lemon and simple syrup. Just a little bit of simple syrup - you don`t need a lot - then add ice.

Next, add a shot of Beefeater gin, followed by four-to-five dashes of rhubarb bitters, then eight dashes of the jasmine water.

Strain it into your cup and top it with sparkling wine.

Add a lemon twist for garnish - and enjoy!

You can try this drink or choose another tasty concoction at Martine's Lounge, 2347 Metairie Road.


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A brief history of the Krewe of Muses: Throw me something sister!

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) - The nine muses in Greek mythology were the patrons for the arts and sciences. We know them well, as nine of our New Orleans streets are named for them.

In addition to those streets, we now have the Krewe of Muses.

It all started in 2001 with Captain Staci Rosenberg, and 16 years later, the Muses are no longer accepting applications for membership because there's simply no room.

"The response was so good that they grew very rapidly, and suddenly everybody wanted to be a member of the Krewe of Muses," says Wayne Philips with the Louisiana State Museum.

The Muses set a new standard for both parades and women's organizations.

Something you may not know about this Krewe is that there's no ball and there's no queen either.

There is an honorary Muse, and this Krewe knows how to parade with plenty of satire.

"I've heard the captain of the Krewe of Muses say if they don't offend somebody in their parade then they haven't tried hard enough," says Philips.

The Krewe of Muses is also known for those glittered, bedazzled, feathered shoes that have evolved over the years.

The very first Muses shoe was crafted by a founding member as a special throw for her friends.

"They have really advanced the tradition of the throw. They have taken parade throws to a whole new level," says Philips.

So what's the secret? Want to know how to get your hands on a Muses prized possession?

Make a sign and be creative.

“Throw me something sister!"

Check out the photo gallery from our live News with a Twist shows from the Muses den:


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Above the Clouds: Karen Loftus gets first-hand experience in aerobatic plane

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Belle Chasse, La. -- The Screamin’ Sasquatch is one of the main features in the New Orleans Air Show, but I got to go up in the Extra 300L to test-out some of the same maneuvers that the pilots will perform in the Jack Link's Jet Waco this weekend.

The day started by meeting my pilot, Lieutenant Colonel John Klatt (ret.), a veteran of 3 combat tours in Iraq flying F-16s

“It’s been a unique transition for sure," Klatt said. "I’ve kind of been doing them both at the same time for almost my entire flying career.”

With 20 years of air show experience flying aerobatic planes on top of his military experience, I knew I was in good hands.

"We need to talk call signs," I said. "Do you have one?”

“I do, I do," Klatt said. "My call sign is ‘Switch,’ John ‘Switch’ Klatt.”

As I requested a call sign for myself, John explained that they don't just hand those out-- that I needed to earn it. He told me we'd see how the flight went if I would be able to get one at the end.

Now it was time to buckle-up and fit my 5-foot-10-inch frame inside the tiny plane.

The first few minutes we spent climbing to the necessary altitude to perform some tricks, between 1,500 and 3,000 feet, then it was time for the real fun to begin. John began by doing a "seat belt check," or basically inverting the plane as a warm-up. Once he made sure I was OK, we did circles around our chase plane, aileron rolls, snap rolls and a few other maneuvers which he performed with ease. He even let me perform a maneuver on my own, which I reluctantly took the controls on with his encouragement.

“Go, go, go, you can do it," Klatt said, "My hands are up! Keep going. Now bring the nose back up.”

Certainly not your average morning, but it’s all in a day’s work for Klatt, who will perform many of these same maneuvers above the crowds at the New Orleans Air Show this weekend. And as promised, I did get a call sign.

Karen “Stinger” Loftus signing off.


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Sunday, 5 October 2014

best part of the week

I've never really been one for exercise, that's been something other people do. But after months of going out for runs, today I completed a half marathon. If someone had told me this a year ago I wouldn't have believed them, but to-day it happened. Even at 45 you can still surprise yourself, and that's good.

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Faculty & Staff Directory

Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Main phone 360.383.3000 | Fax 360.383.4000 | Video phone 360.255.7182 | Email info@whatcom.edu

For additional staff information, including office location, click on a name below.

Aasby (Overland), Alison

  • Departments:World Languages, English as a Second Language Academic
  • Divisions:Arts & Humanities, Cascade Hall (CAS)
  • Title:English as a Second Language Academic (ESLA) Adjunct Faculty
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Aasby (Overland), Alison
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Interpretation of dream: Elbows

To see your own elbows in your dream, indicates that you need to make a space for yourself. Your dream may express hesitance or fear in creating your own space for fear of being scrutinized. To dream that your elbow is wounded, suggests your inability to function in some waking situation. It may also refer to some sexual anxiety. The right elbow relate to moral and ethical issues while the left elbow represents passiveness and your undeveloped characteristics.

More interpretations:
Elbows (Miller): To see elbows in a dream, signifies that arduous labors will devolve upon you, ...


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Wednesday, March 5, 2008

What's New @ Bodies by Oh!

Bodies by Oh! presents our newest body shape, Victoria. Available in two versions, standard and BBW. Come visit the shop and purchase any shape, IM GiveMeABig Oh, and mention coupon code WN0305 and recieve a 25% rebate on your shape purchase. This offer expires at midnight on March 8, SLT.

Bodies by Oh!
Kitaro (216, 196, 48)


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Check out the Latest Posts:

For such a culturally diverse city, it’s surprising that there aren’t very many Indonesian restaurants in Toronto. One visit to the newly opened Little Sister (@littlesisterto) and I can guarantee that you’ll be craving for more Indonesian fare.

The bar

Located on Yonge between Davisville and Eglinton, Little Sister is brought to us by Jennifer Gittins and Michael van den Winkel who also own Quince Bistro just up the street.

The restaurant was a long time in the making but the result was worth the wait – the space is beautiful. It features a gorgeous bar near the entrance with floor to ceiling windows which fill the front of the restaurant with natural light.

The kitchen

The kitchen is located at the back of the restaurant which is separated by glass allowing you to peer into the kitchen. Everything about the restaurant just makes you feel as though you’re dining from street hawkers. The menus are even printed on pieces of cardboard boxes. I love the fun and casual vibe here!

The menu

As far as food goes, the menu is divided into several sections: skewers ($6 each), snacks ($4 to $10), traditional dishes ($11.75 to $15.75) and sides which include nasi goreng and fried cauliflower salad.

I was recently invited to a media tasting at Little Sister and was incredibly impressed with what they have to offer. Here’s a look:

Ubud Hangout  Tanqueray Rangpur gin, lime, jalapeno black pepper syrup, cucumber, fresh cilantro & orange

Ubud Hangout

Little Brother  Mount Gay extra old rum, lime, Bandreck syrup (house-made chai), Angostura bitters, mint & ginger beer

The Little Brother

Satay Babi – pork & peanut sauce

Satay Babi

Satay Lilit – Balinese spiced chicken

Satay Lilit

Sumatra Spiced Beef Croquettes

Pangsit – Jakarta wontons, beef, green onion, chili lime sauce

Shrimp Lettuce Wrap – sambal, lettuce, coriander, cucumber pickle, crispy shallots

Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Rendang Taco – beef, coconut cream, lettuce, pickled red onion

Rendang Taco

Semur Java – Javanese dark spiced braised beef, crispy potato, green onion

Semur Java

Babi Panggang – roasted pork belly, pickled been sprouts, fresh chili sauce

Babi Panggang

While everything was delicious, my personal highlights were the satay babi, pangsit, croquettes and babi pangang. All too often I find satay skewers dry and devoid of any flavour. This definitely wasn’t the case at Little Sister. The pork satay was incredibly moist and the peanut sauce had a delicious kick to it.

The pangsit bites were another favourite. Consisting of spicy ground beef wrapped inside a wonton wrapper, these were the perfect bar snack to complement our cocktails.

We also really enjoyed the croquettes. They had a nice crisp exterior without being greasy and the rich pulled beef filling was delicious. Be careful though, the filling is piping hot!

Another winner was the pork belly which was packed full of flavour. The belly had the perfect fat to meat ratio and like most of the other dishes we tried, it had a great kick to it.

Little Sister was a great introduction to Indonesian fare. With great cocktails, a fun vibe and delicious food, I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

*This was a complimentary meal. The opinions in the post, as always, are my own.*

Little Sister Indonesian Food Bar on Urbanspoon

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Thursday, February 13, 2014

Buying Cheap Laminate Could End Up Being Expencive

If you have been tempted by the ads for where to buy cheap laminate floors, ads that talk about $1 per square foot, you can see these ads everywhere from your local news paper and advertising brochures in you mail. At first glance it all looks oke and sounds like a very nice price for a new laminate floor.

Spacers For Laminate Floors
But when you have bought this $1 per square foot laminate floor you will probably be very disappointed with the quality of the laminate, after all there is a reason that it is only $1 per square foot and that is that the quality of the laminate is crap (and the word crap doesn't even cover how poor the quality often is).

If you really want to know where to buy cheap laminate floors and how to save money on your floor then u suggest you keep reading, a lot of manufactures make a low end copy of their laminate collection, these are often this boards with a low end texture, that means you will be replacing your laminate floor sooner then you might thought when you bought the laminate.

In the older versions of laminate you also have to apply glue which could make laying the laminate a messy job and is better left to a professional (which cost money) the better types of laminate have a hard surface that exist out of aluminum oxide in the top layer to enhance the hardness and damage resistance and melamine to give it added strength.

The best way to buy cheap laminate flooring that is good quality is to shop around at discount flooring stores. If you are lucky you will be able to find one in your local area. Before you go, you may want to take a look at some manufacturer's websites and get a good idea of what types of products you like and don't like. Make yourself familiar with the process of making laminate as well as installing it so that you can decide which laminate is best for you.

If you don't have a discount flooring store in your area, or if you would rather not shop around that way, you can find dozens of discount flooring stores online with large selections of products. You can save 50 percent or more and you may even be able to get a deal on shipping.

If you want to know more about where to buy cheap laminate floors visit Keller Flooring USA for a great quote on a cheap laminate floor that you can install yourself


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J.Crew Collection Glittered Leather Sandals

J.Crew Collection glittered leather sandals, Sprinkled with kaleidoscopic glitter on the heel and strap, J.Crew's sandals are perfect for the party season. From the label's coveted 'Collection' line, this dark-olive pair has been crafted in Italy from supple leather. Wear them with everything from cocktail dresses to boyfriend jeans Size: 8.5. Gender: Female. Age Group: Adult.


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Who Hijacked Our Country

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Climate Change Vigilance = National Security

Here's an excerpt from President Obama's Keynote Address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Commencement:

“When you’re on deck, standing your watch, you stay vigilant. You plan for every contingency. And if you see storm clouds gathering, or dangerous shoals ahead, you don't sit back and do nothing. You take action — to protect your ship, to keep your crew safe. Anything less is negligence. It is a dereliction of duty. And so, too, with climate change. Denying it, or refusing to deal with it endangers our national security. It undermines the readiness of our forces.”

My sentiments exactly.  Climate-change denial — the fossil fuel barons who are choreographing it and the millions of inbreds who keep dancing to it — is a dire threat to our national security.

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Blogger Jerry Critter said...

It is interesting. The republican dialog on climate change is shifting away from total denial to a more nuanced position. They are beginning to accept climate change but are saying that it is unknown what affect human activity is having on climate change. This allows them to continue to block any efforts to reduce the human impact while moving away from the indefensible position that climate change does not exist.

They are able to serve their masters while not alienating their base.

May 21, 2015 at 10:53 PM
Blogger Tom Harper said...

Jerry: True, this change of semantics gives the Koch puppets a way to keep blocking all efforts to mitigate climate change. I guess they're hoping they won't alienate quite as many people if they soften their rhetoric with "we still don't know," "I'm not a scientist, Man," etc.

May 22, 2015 at 10:02 AM
Blogger jim marquis said...

I was watching O'Reilly the other day and he was just scandalized that the president would talk about climate change when giving a speech to members of the Coast Guard. He's the definition of short sighted.

May 23, 2015 at 7:20 AM
Blogger Tom Harper said...

Jim: That's probably what millions of conservatives are thinking. When the POTUS speaks to a military academy, he should be talking about the newest shiniest weapons for blowing up swarthy enemies, instead of handwringing over that sissy environment.

May 23, 2015 at 10:13 AM

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“Our Shadows Taller Than Our Soul…”

Christie Eliezer looks at Led Zeppelin’s continued massive influence on modern day culture.

It’s a little known fact that when Led Zeppelin began rehearsing in September 1980 for a North American tour, they had been speaking to Australian promoters about playing here the year after.

But John Bonham’s death on September 24 was the end. He’d begun drinking at breakfast (a ham roll downed with four quadruple vodkas), through the day’s rehearsals and then at Jimmy Page’s house in Windsor until midnight when he was put to bed. The next day, about 1.45 pm, John Paul Jones and the band’s tour manager found him dead. He’d choked on his vomit.

On 4 December 1980 they announced they were disbanding.

This decision was also an “out” for Plant. He had not wanted to do that world tour. Today he is the single obstacle for another Zeppelin world tour. He’s hated the reunion shows they’ve done since. He called their set at Live Aid “atrocious”.

He even has bad memories of their much-lauded 2007 reunion in London: it was too much pressure. Afterwards, pop royalty like Oasis’ Gallagher brothers came backstage wanting to hang out. Instead, he fled to a nearby pub, polished off four bottles of lager and half a bottle of vodka and went home. He explained to Mojo: “Because I had to get away from it. I’d done it. Had to go. [It was] too heavy. Beautiful – but talk about examining your own mortality . . . Crazy.”

The expectations are not surprising, really. Led Zeppelin sold 200 million albums worldwide, half of these in America. Rock critic Mikal Gilmore suggested that “Led Zeppelin—talented, complex, grasping, beautiful and dangerous—made one of the most enduring bodies of composition and performance in twentieth-century music, despite everything they had to overpower, including themselves”.

Thirty years after Bonham’s death, they hold a massive influence over modern rock. It’s still debated as to who invented “heavy metal” — Zeppelin? Jimi Hendrix? Blue Cheer? MC5? But an American reviewer took the line “heavy metal thunder” from Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild” to describe the intensity of the first Zeppelin album. Since then every major metal/rock band from Metallica to Maiden to Van Halen have taken their sound, stage movements and even their stage costumes.

Zeppelin were more than just a metal band of course. They threw folk, country, reggae, rock, electro and funk into the mix. The artists who have covered their songs range from jazzers as King Curtis to troubadours as Jeff Buckley to pop singers as Gabriella Cilmi to hip hop acts as the Beastie Boys.

For Page, Zep’s crowning achievement was not any of the hard rock tracks but “Kashmir”, born more of Eastern drones and red deserts.

To Plant it’s the Presence album. “That’s got a lot of reality in it. I had a girlfriend, not that long ago, and we used to play ‘Achilles’ Last Stand’ really loud. She said one day, ‘I wouldn’t like to be left alone in a room with this.’ That’s great.”

Through the boxed sets compiled personally by Page to give a better perspective of the scale of their vision, new generations discover how Page is one of the most exquisite and accomplished players. He approaches his riffs using architecture theories. His production of Zep records make them sound timeless. His passion and technique touch emotions in fans that few others. His solo on “Stairway to Heaven” was voted the greatest of all time. “Stairway” is the most requested rock song ever on American radio. Zeppelin are the most bootlegged in British history: in August 1999, there were 384 different bootleg titles around.

They are still both a teenager’s sex fantasy about being a rock star. They used violence to get their way. Yet at the same time they evoke the flower power of the mid-60s and the cosmicness of the ‘70s. Their hellraising, with shark tales and motorbike races inside five star hotels, are legendary. Yet Page was given an OBE medal by the British government in 2005 followed by Plant’s CBE four years later.

The awards keep coming. A Grammy lifetime achievement (2005), Polar Music Prize (2006), voted the best live act ever by the readers of Mojo (2008), ranked #1 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, and third greatest band of all time by Spin. In June this year, the BBC Two series I’m In A Rock ‘n’ Roll Band! named them best rock ‘n’ roll band of all time.

Zeppelin changed the way bands do business. They invented stadium rock alongside the Stones, and took the grosses. Their album artwork broke new ground. They refused to do TV or release singles in the UK.

They popularized interest in the works of Tolkien and satanist Aleister Crowley (the snake on Page’s pants? The “fallen angel” logo? Does “Stairway” really say “I live for Satan” when played backwards?).

Fashion designers are mesmerized by the Zep look. Simeon Lipman, head of pop culture at Christie’s, observed, “Led Zeppelin have had a big influence on fashion because the whole aura surrounding them is so cool, and people want a piece of that.”

They cast their shadow on film makers who use their music in Shrek the Third, One Day in September, School of Rock and Small Soldiers among others. Video game developers want them too but the band has turned them down.

But to Jimmy Page it’s just the music. “It’s been a great legacy. That’s what I’m proud of is the legacy of it. The fact that it’s turned so many people on to want to play. That’s what pulled me into playing, is hearing musicians who really really sent shivers down my spine. So that’s it. That’s the legacy and that’s what I’m really proud of.”

The Song Remains The Same

Philip Morris, Rock Photographer

In February 1972 Led Zeppelin toured Australia for the first and only time, playing shows in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Sunday February 27 was a typically hot Sydney summer afternoon, but what made the Sydney Showground really sizzle was the 25,000 fans who had turned up to see a band at the peak of their powers. Bob ‘Lefty’ Townsend has commented on ledzeppelin.com
that “none of us had ever seen a PA that big before. The show started with ‘Immigrant Song’
and the memory of that riff and Page’s scream still gives me goosebumps today… It was like listening to a brand new Zeppelin album through a brand new stereo. To this day, it‘s still the best concert I have ever attended.”

Footage from the concert is featured on disc 2 of the Led Zeppelin DVD, released some thirty years after the event, which captures the extraordinary energy of the performance. Led Zeppelin IV raced up the charts as a result of the tour, peaking at #2 for several months but was ultimately held off the number one position in Australia by Cat Stevens’ ‘Teaser And The Firecat’ then Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’.

Only a handful of photographers were officially engaged to capture this extraordinary concert. Philip Morris, who was working on behalf of Go-Set Magazine and WEA Records, was one of them.

Philip Morris is the inimitable Australian rock photographer who today boasts one of the most extensive photo archive libraries of Australian rock music. Born in Narrandera, Australia, Morris started his career behind the lens in Sydney at the age of 15. He got his first official gig as a contributing photographer for the first national Australian pop publication Go-Set in the late 60‘s. His career continued to soar into the 70’s when he was a contributor to all the major music magazines in Australia, including ‘RAM’ and ‘Juke’. During this time he shot Australian legends, the Easybeats, on their last national tour, as well as almost every international band touring the country including the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and Paul McCartney. Shooting AC/DC’s first ever photo session in 1974, Morris is still the only photographer to have shot the hard rock legends at the famed Alberts Studios.

Morris has shot album jackets for such bands as Midnight Oil (‘Head Injuries’), John Paul Young (‘Hero’), Johnny O’Keefe, Sherbet, Daddy Cool, Marcia Hines, and The Angel’s ‘Face To Face’ – which won a best album cover award in 1978 – and he has contributed much to various books including AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’, Peter Allan’s ‘Boy From OZ’ and most recently to two highly acclaimed contemporary music history books, ‘The Real Thing’ and ‘Friday on My Mind’.

Tonight, you have the opportunity to view and purchase a rare selection of Philip Morris’ Led Zeppelin photographs in the foyer. Visit www.rockphotograph.com to see more of Philip’s amazing photography.

Yes! Size Does Matter

You have just heard the concert – and you have been blown away with the impact, the energy, the emotion and the sound, and now you just want to get home so that you can re-create the experience in your lounge room – right! The reality is more likely to be – wrong!

Neighbours aside, there are a few reasons why you will never recreate this experience in your living room, one of the more obvious is trying to cram a thousand people into the room so you can feed off the collective atmosphere created when that many like-minded people come together into an enclosed space. Secondly, forking out for a few kilowatts of amplification can be tough on the budget. Plus, did you see the size of those speakers at the venue? Try fitting them into your lounge room!

The good news is that you can do something about the last couple of points. Speakers produce sound by moving air, and physics (and common sense) dictates that if you want to move a lot of air you are going to need a big speaker, and the necessary power to drive it. This is where many modern domestic systems fall down. Over the last decade or so there has been a tendency for system and speaker design in particular to be driven by aesthetic values rather than performance. The result is that speakers are becoming smaller, and in some cases the bass portion of the sound has been separated into a separate box to create what the industry calls sub-sat (subwoofer-satellite) speaker systems. The upper midrange and high frequency signals are covered by two small (left and right) satellite speakers, and the rest is covered by a single bass box. The advantage of these is that they can be placed inconspicuously in a room – the downside is that they generally sound worse than average.

I believe that there are three main reasons for this:

A small satellite speaker cannot handle any bass at all, so the frequency at which the music is divided between the satellite speaker and the bass speaker usually occurs in a critical listening area of the music – and I have never heard a sub-sat system where this crossover point was flawless. Most sub-sat systems suffer a suck-out in the midrange area – the most critical for musical enjoyment.

There is some truth in the argument that you cannot tell stereo imagery in low frequency notes (below 80Hz), which is why you can get away with one subwoofer in a Home Theatre system. Because the brain cannot determine where a bass note is emanating from it is tricked into believing that it is coming from where the action is. The problem with sub-sat designs is that the bass box can handle frequencies of up to 1,000Hz and beyond – where stereo imaging is still obvious.

I believe that possibly the most important reason is that manufacturers of sub-sat systems believe people are more interested in design than performance, so they don’t really care much about the end result themselves.

(Don’t get me wrong – sub-sat speaker systems have a rightful place in the Audio and Audio/Visual marketplace, they can produce some very pleasant and enjoyable music – but they are not High Fidelity!)

So you have discounted the idea of a sub-sat speaker system – great. There is a large number of small stereo bookshelf speakers that do a remarkable job of reproducing recorded music. Fabulous timbre, stunning pin-point imagery, crystal clear yet liquid sweet high-frequencies, open spacious mid-range, deep rich… hang on… where’s the bass?

A good quality bookshelf speaker, correctly positioned in your room, can do a remarkable and immensely involving job of recreating recorded music. This is provided you are not expecting to listen to it at very high volume levels, or to reproduce those very low notes of bass. One of the greatest sins a bookshelf speaker can make is to pretend it has bass when it really doesn’t. The result is always a bloated lower mid-range/upper bass. While at times this can sound pleasant, it is never accurate. I would much prefer to have a speaker which will accurately reproduce the lowest notes that this particular design is capable of reproducing, without adding or subtracting anything.

This brings us back to the problem of recreating the concert experience at home. Sorry – but the only way that you can do this is with cubic capacity. Yes, the industry is now getting a lot more out of smaller box’s than it did a decade or so ago, both in terms of volume level and low frequency reproduction. However is it any coincidence that the next model up in any speaker manufacturers’ range is larger than the model below it. If you want high volume and/or low frequencies you will need to move a lot of air, and as I said to do this you will need a lot of cubic capacity, plus a lot of (genuine) power to drive the speakers to move this air.

I doubt you will ever really recreate the live event in your living area – but you can come close – size permitting. www.lenwallisaudio.com.au

By Len Wallis

Whole Lotta Love Live Review

by Christie Eliezer

“You don’t know what a joy it is to sing these songs,” Dave Gleeson of the Screaming Jets told the crowd midway through “Whole Lotta Love”. That was obvious in the way he leaped, ran around the stage and swirled his butt at the audience. He was one of the night’s singers brought together by Sydney guitarist and music director Joseph Calderazzo of CCEntertainment.

Tonight was not a by-numbers gallop through the Zep songbook. Rather it was a celebration which reassembled the songs respectfully and captured the spirit that originally drove the music. The hammering riffs of “Rock and Roll”, “The Ocean”, “Black Dog” and “Immigrant Song” kept purists happy. But the others threw in Zep’s palette of Middle Eastern, blues and celtic that transcended a music created by four white males. “Battle of Evermore” took on Eastern tinges and “Four Sticks” a blistering blues workout, that highlighted the light/shade of Zep music.

So the roll-out of singers wasn’t confined to males Gleeson, John Swan, Dave Larkin, Steve Balbi of Noiseworks and Simon Meli of Sydney’s The Widowbirds. Adelaide’s Zkye Compson-Harris and Ngaiire, ex of Blue King Brown, put in thunderous performances, while keys player Charmaine Ford, who shone on synths and piano on “No Quarter”, took turns on guitar and percussion.

The most magnificent moments came when the ensemble, joined by the Sydney Lyric Strings, stretched to 15 minutes utterly glorious “Stairway To Heaven”, “Rain Song” (with such wonderful guitar interplay by Calderazzo and Peter Northcote that at the end they shook hands), “Moby Dick”, with a drum solo from Gordon Rytmeister, and the peak with “Kashmir” where you could see the red sands. The night finished with the entire ensemble on “Whole Lotta Love” to a standing ovation.

This show was the first foray to Melbourne by CCEntertainment which has been holding such celebrations of Eagles, Stones, Beatles etc in NSW and ACT. Given the crowd reaction to “Whole Lotta Love”, we should see more of theses in Australia’s most musical city.

A Whole Lotta Love! The Palais, Melbourne

by Jake Schatz (Schatzy)

CCEntertainment’s Annual ‘WHOLE LOTTA LOVE’ Led Zeppelin Celebration made it’s Melbourne debut on Friday the 1st of October.The well reputed show has grown to be a staple performance at Sydney’s Enmore theater each year, and it was an absolute pleasure to have the show in Melbourne on it’s 8th anniversary.
Generally speaking, tribute band’s aren’t my thing. Not in their usual sense anyway, with people dressing up like the original band members and imitating something that they are not. However, this wasn’t a typical tribute show, and the performers were certainly not trying to blatantly copy the music of the greatest rock band to ever exist. They were merely celebrating the music with combined musical brilliance, and a ‘Whole Lotta Love’ for Led Zeppelin.

It is undeniable the effect that Led Zeppelin have had, and are still having on rock music. Many of the greatest and most imitated guitar riffs have come directly out of Jimmy Page’s guitar playing. If there were ever four absolute legends of music to form a bond as a band it was Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. All four were absolute masters of their individual instruments, and together they created music that was godlike.

The host of incredibly diverse and talented musicians that tore up the stage at the Palais Theatre last Friday night did Led Zeppelin perfect justice, in giving their own renditions of Zeppelin classics with an evident mutual love for the band. For a tribute band to receive a standing ovation is something very special indeed.

Renowned vocalists including John Swan (Swanee), Dave Gleeson (The Screaming Jets), Steve Balbi (Noiseworks), Simon Meli (Ooh La La), Ngaiire Joseph (ex-Blue King Brown) and Dave Larkin (Dallas Crane) all gave impressive takes on songs taken from Led Zeppelin’s 12 year career. The idea of rotating vocalists appealed to me because it kept the performance fresh and exciting, and helped separate the show from the typical tribute show stereotype.

Steve Balbi particularly impressed, with a rendition of Kashmir that was both unique and innovative whilst bringing on the vocal power and prowess that Robert Plant was famous for. I’ve listened to a few of my Dad’s Noiseworks records, but Balbi was the bassist for the band and as far as I’m aware I had never heard him sing before. I am currently on the hunt for some of his solo records, because his voice is absolutely phenomenal.

In my eyes, the stand-out performer of the night was Adelaide born vocallist Zkye. Her entire performance of ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ had me in chills. The brilliant guitar soloing of Joseph Calderazzo was exhilarating, and had the crowd absolutely roaring. The live strings section were incredible, essential in the ‘Stairway To Heaven’ performance. Charmaine Ford’s virtuosic keyboard solo during ‘No Quarter’ was breathtaking, firmly stating to the hordes of people in the packed out theater that she is one of New Zealand’s finest performers.

After this incredible show, I looked into CCEntertainment and discovered that it was one of many shows in a Classic Rock series. I would love to see more of the shows brought to Melbourne. As a kid born at the wrong era of music, it is painful to think I will never have the opportunity to see Led Zeppelin perform, along with bands such as The Doors, Pink Floyd and of course The Beatles.

It’s this knowledge that prompts me to think that while music is timeless and lasts forever, live music opportunities shouldn’t be ignored, you never know what tragic accident could lie around the corner ready to rob a new legion of fans from seeing their favourite band perform. So long time Eagles and Rolling Stones fans, you would be crazy to not go and see them on their upcoming runs around the country, every show could potentially be their last one.

If this Led Zeppelin celebration show was indicative of all of the CCEntertainment’s production’s, I am convinced that it really is the next best thing to seeing the actual band perform. Rather than cheaply ripping off a legendary act, the musician’s celebrate the band’s music with the raw passion and love for the act that has deeply influenced their careers.

CCEntertainment, you have found yourself a new customer.

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