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A day after the devastating earthquake in Nepal in April 2015, China dispatched a 68-member search-and-rescue team to aid its southern neighbor. Within months, it had pledged over $650 million to help Nepal. The event also acted as a springboard for several long-term Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief initiatives, such as an MoU on risk reduction and emergency response signed during President Xi Jinping's visit to the country in 2019.
Nepal is not alone. Over the past one decade, moves like these have indicated a deepening engagement between China and countries in South Asia such as Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. In fact, China's economic and political footprint has expanded so quickly that many countries, even those with relatively strong state and civil society institutions, have struggled to grapple with the implications. This reflects in China involving itself in domestic political developments in these countries, actively pursuing people-to-people relations, and even influencing how it is portrayed in the media in these countries.Our project, "China's Impact on Strategic Regions," is aimed at understanding the effect of such engagement and is based on a sharing of experiences across national boundaries by dozens of influencers with deep local knowledge. The study found that Chinese engagement leaves a deep impact on the institutions, civil societies, and elites of partner countries. The effect is higher in aspects of state and society that are already under duress.
A critical understanding of the drivers of this engagement, the various forms it has taken, and its impact on South Asian countries has been largely missing from the discourse, which is punctuated by broad-based assumptions such as allegations of debt-trap diplomacy. In reality, however, in a multidimensional region like South Asia, each of these relationships—in Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—are unique. In Nepal, while centuries-old ties of trade, culture, and family were the initial drivers, in recent years China has had other avenues to expand its influence. At present, development assistance and Nepal's keenness to explore an alternate route for trade and transit have taken the center-stage in the relationship with China.
However, this has also meant that for every instance of successful partnership, as in the case of the Pokhara International Airport, there is an instance of shrinking space for Tibetan issues in Nepal's newspapers; or for every instance of a fiber-optic cable link with China ending Nepal's dependence on internet through India, there is an instance of Nepal's state-owned airline finding aircraft purchased from China unprofitable and unviable.
Significantly, we found that contrary to popular discourse, partner countries such as Nepal wield considerable agency, learning from their experiences and that of others in the region. This is reflected in the rigor to evaluate all available options before accepting Chinese proposals, and, if need be, reject them, as in the case of the Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project, which was found irregular and non-transparent by a parliamentary committee in 2017.
For all their uniqueness, as developing states, the common and overwhelming motivation for the countries under study is the quest to partner with countries that can help develop their economy, improve their infrastructure, and help their citizens meet their ambitions of a higher standard of living. These countries will engage the United States, China, or anyone else that can best assist them in realizing these goals.
In this scenario, the challenge for the US and its partners is to develop a policy that consistently and productively engages South Asian countries on their developmental needs. It follows that such engagement should be based on its own merits, delinked from how the countries choose to engage with China.
The decision at the Quad summit in March 2021 to focus on vaccines, emerging technologies, and climate is a productive step in this direction, as is the Build Back Better World initiative, announced at the June 2021 meeting of G7 leaders. Together with the Blue Dot Network, it has the potential to offer the kind of engagement these states seek.
As countries in South Asia graduate to lower middle-income status, they are likely to require assistance in dealing with a new reality where they are ineligible for much of concessional financing. The United States could use its influence in Western multilateral organizations to ease the transition and help these states develop the capacity to access alternative avenues for assistance.
Beyond state institutions, there is scope for partnership with other organizations. Media outlets and civil society organizations in all four countries have been focusing on questions of good governance—from their regimes' human rights records to opacity in Chinese contracting practices. Building their capacity, over time, will lead more stakeholders in these countries to see the dangers of opaque deals and ignoring environmental and other concerns.
The article was co-authored with Saheb Singh Chadha for the Annapurna Express on December 02, 2021.


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As city leaders contemplate a new 10 year strategic plan for the future of DeKalb they must first come to grips with a community within the community — that being University Village. A proposal for zoning considerations will be heard at tonight's (Aug. 24) city council meeting.
The proposal seeks to rezone University Village to maintain occupancy at the current level in the event of a catastrophic incident. According to current owners should more than 50% of the property be destroyed new ownership wouldn't be allowed to rebuild at the current density. In such an event existing density zoning ordinances would result in the loss of 178 households.
Alderman Dave Baker (6th ward) wrote a scathing letter to the editor opposing the proposal for what he says amounts to a reward for the current investors for milking their project for forty years while creating a depreciated – poorly maintained and run down, high density place that forces the city to pay for increased social services.
Baker thinks allowing University Village to become 100% Section 8 is foolish.
His letter drew a sharp response from the current owners who blasted Baker for making false accusations of owners milking the project and describing the property as run down.
According to their rebuttal letter within the past ten years University Village has reinvested over $5,000,000 in capital improvements, including but not limited to security cameras, exterior lighting, new roofs, new siding on about 75% of the buildings, new balconies, new windows, sidewalks, concrete replacement and landscaping. In addition, repairs and maintenance has substantially exceeded that $5,000,000 amount.
Were permits issued? Were improvements noted by the tax assessor? Were waivers or exemptions granted?
There are annual U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) inspections, which include occupied and vacant units, common areas, and the exterior of the buildings and grounds. University Village is also required to conduct an annual inspection on all of the units to insure that residents are living in an acceptable environment.
|Property Name
|HUD Inspection Score
|Total Units
|Program Type
|University Village Phase I
|68 out of 100
|Gideon Court Apartments
|92 out of 100
|Family (LMSA)
|University Village IIi
|61 out of 100
|Family (S8NC)
|University Village Phase II
|80 out of 100
|Greenbrier Apartments
|94 out of 100
|Elderly (202)
|Colonial House Apartments
|99 out of 100
|Family (S8NC)
|Opportunity House Residences
|65 out of 100
|Elderly (202)
|Village Green-Genoa
|99 out of 100
|Rochelle Senior Housing
|10 out of 100
|Elderly (PRAC/202)
|Sci Apartments
|98 out of 100
|Disabled (PRAC/811)
If DeKalb's 10 year strategic plan is to have any chance for improving the future of the city then truth must be sorted from fiction.
It was reported in a recent housing study that perhaps as much as 11% of District 428's enrollment came from University Village. It has also been reported that the property receives a discounted rate on property taxes compared to other rental properties in the county.
Local property taxes pay the lion's share of local public school expenses. Whereas DeKalb is a Home Rule community and the Illinois courts shall construe that power liberally there is no excuse for a discounted property tax rate for University Village. True federal and state taxes come from the same pockets but discounting property taxes amounts to a struggling college community unfairly subsidizing a federal housing program.
District 428 is operating in the red and drawing down its rainy day fund. Any consideration of a proposal for University Heights must make the school district whole.
There are far too many questions than answers for any responsible action to be taken on the University Village proposal by the city council at this time.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Every day we bring you the best in IU and Big Ten news and recruiting notes with The Daily Hoosier Report. It's your daily one stop shop for comprehensive and free IU Athletics related information for busy Hoosier fans.
Here's today's latest IU Athletics and Big Ten coverage + recruiting news from around the net:
- This Date in Hoosier History: Indiana defeats Kansas for the 1940 national title
- This Date in Hoosier History: Indiana caps off dominant finish to 1981 season with national title
- This Date in Hoosier History: Indiana wins title No. 5 on a Keith Smart game winner
- IU Legend Isiah Thomas goes in depth on his basketball career
- IU Football: Nick Sheridan seeks to build on offensive success
- Jazz Rookie Juwan Morgan discusses the shutdown of the NBA season.
- Eagles' Nate Sudfeld confident in his role in Philadelphia.
- Dolphins' Jordan Howard talks future in Miami.
- Hannah Noveroske made strides in freshman year for IU women.
- Big Ten: Michigan Attorney General asked to investigate rape claim against MSU basketball player.
(Follow us on Twitter here)
We are a part of something bigger than ourselves! #LEO pic.twitter.com/X01uLDPpYS
— Coach Tom Allen (@CoachAllenIU) March 30, 2020
I blocked 2 people this morning because both kept insisting they KNEW Bob Knight was a horrible person w/no good qualities. I tried to engage but they wouldn't stop even though they NEVER MET THE MAN. Eventually, gave up. This is twitter at its worst.
— John Feinstein (@JFeinsteinBooks) March 30, 2020
🙅♂🙅♂🙅♂@Mullen_7era | #SundaySloMo pic.twitter.com/NxbHNWhoX6
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) March 29, 2020
- 2021 forward Trey Kaufman's timeline says his timeline likely moving up ($)
- 2021 guard Jalen Blackmon talks recovery timeline.
- 2021 athlete Bryon Threats survived gunshot wounds, now a top recruit of Indiana football and others.
- IU Base looks at the class of 2021 baseball recruiting rankings.
- Big Ten: Rutgers lands a top-50 recruit.
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Twinings 100% Pure Bags English Breakfast Black Tea 50 Ea
Non GMO Project verified. nongmoproject.org. By appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Tea and coffee merchants R. Twinning and Company Limited, London., Estd. 1706., Enjoy the smooth, full-bodied taste of this classic tea any time of the day., Tea Profile: Strength: 3. Notes: Smooth, flavourful, robust notes. Origins: Malawi, Kenya and Assam., 50 individual tea bags sealed for freshness., Over 300 years of experience., Master Blender's Notes: Notes: Smooth, flavourful, robust. Colour: Bright, coppery-red. Strength: 3. Steep Time: 4 minutes (recommended). English Breakfast is one of our most popular tea. To create this well-balanced blend, we select some of the finest teas each with its own unique characteristics. Tea from Kenya and Malawi, provides the briskness and coppery red colour while Assam gives full body and flavour. The robustness from these regions is complemented by softer teas from other regions. This combination yields a complex, full bodied, lively cup of tea that is perfect any time of day. - Jeremy Sturges-Master Blender., The Twinings of London Story: In 1706, Thomas Twining began selling fine tea from an English storefront in The Strand, London. Today, Twinings continues to sell some of the world's best teas from the original store and in more than 100 countries throughout the world. www.twiningsusa.com. www.ethicalteapartnership.org. For questions or comments, please contact us at: www.twiningsusa.com or call us at 1-800-803-6695. To discover more about these fine teas, please visit us at www.twiningsusa.com. Find out about our membership of: www.ethicalteapartnership.org working for a responsible tea industry. Explore the entire world of Twinings 100% Pure Black Teas. Tea Blend: Ceylon Orange Pekoe; Strength: 3; Notes: Bright, crisp, refreshing. Darjeeling; 2; Light, thin-bodied, woody. English Afternoon; 3; Smooth, refreshing, slightly sweet. Irish Breakfast; 4; Thick, malty, full-bodied. Lapsang Souchong; 5; Smoky, pungent, woody. Prince of Wales; 2; Soft, smooth, mild., Enjoy All 50+ Varieties of Twinings Premium Teas: Black; Green; Herbal; Chai; K-Cup Packs; Organic & Fair Trade Certified Cold Brewed Iced Tea.


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By Jim Flieler, VP of Sales Canada
Over the past year, we've seen the ubiquitous use of disinfecting wipes. They can be found everywhere from the front of every grocery store to the teacher's desk in every classroom across North America. While these are a simple solution to challenges to public health during the global coronavirus pandemic, they can often be misused, leading to a waste of resources, or worse—unsafe conditions. In this blog, we'll share some rules for using disinfecting wipes in your facility that will help ensure that your building is clean and safe for occupants.
What Is a Disinfecting Wipe?
Disinfecting wipes are single-use wet wipes that can be used to disinfect surfaces quickly. Wipes that claim to disinfect surfaces contain a certain amount of active ingredients that are, by their nature, aggressive. That is because they need to support kill claims listed on the disinfecting product, which means they need to be strong enough to kill or inactivate bacteria and viruses. The active ingredients present in disinfectants often come with a negative impact on human health. They can trigger respiratory illnesses, or even in some cases cause asthma. Wet wipes generally have a high rate of efficiency in killing viruses and bacteria on surfaces because they can be extremely aggressive. Follow these rules to ensure you protect the health and safety of your building and your people.
Don't overuse.
Disinfectants, including disinfecting wipes, must be used sparingly. We recommend that disinfecting wipes be used only in designated, strategic places. Look at your building and identify high-touch surfaces that include things like light switches, door knobs, railings, elevator buttons and keyboards. These high-touch surfaces should be disinfected regularly. Some surfaces may be cleaned using a general purpose cleaner (or a cleaning wipe) rather than being disinfected.
Don't allow children to use disinfecting wipes.
Some schools are now asking students to use disinfecting wipes in their personal spaces before and after mealtimes. A child should never be asked to use a disinfectant wipe. Children's bodies are still developing, and they may be more susceptible to the health effects of the aggressive ingredients in disinfectants. Additionally, teachers are often using disinfecting wipes in the classroom. All adults should be provided the proper PPE and training needed to use disinfecting wipes safely.
Do clean first, then disinfect.
Remove all soil from the surface before using your disinfecting wipes. Using a general purpose cleaner or a cleaning wipe will do the trick. A disinfectant's effectiveness can be disrupted when soil and other contaminants are present on a surface. This is why we always recommend to clean a surface first, and then disinfect.
Don't reuse a wipe.
After you've wiped your surface with your disinfecting wipe, you may consider turning it over and using the other side to get more out of one wipe. However, when you've used both sides, it will be time to dispose of the wipe. Do not save wipes and reuse them. This will increase the chance of cross contamination. Dispose of your used wipes in a trash container with a lid and a liner.
Do keep the surface wet.
All disinfectants, including disinfecting wipes, have a dwell time listed on the label. This is the amount of time the disinfectant will need to remain wet on a surface in order to achieve effectiveness. Make sure the surface stays wet for the amount of dwell time needed when you are using disinfecting wipes. This may mean you will need to use more wipes to make sure the area you are disinfecting has a higher saturation level.
Do use for only one type of surface.
Avoid cross contamination by using one wipe for each type of surface. Do not use your wipe on a keyboard, for example, and then continue using it on a doorknob. This could potentially take a contaminant from the keyboard and transfer it to the doorknob.
Do rinse food contact surfaces.
For food contact surfaces or when used in preschools where surfaces may come into contact with children's mouths, a sanitizer may be a safer choice than a disinfecting wipe. With either type of wipe, make sure to rinse with water or a wet wipe after you've applied the disinfecting wipe to remove harmful, aggressive ingredients that could be dangerous if ingested. Wait to rinse until after you have allowed the disinfectant to sit for the proper dwell time.
Our ServClean Sanitizing Wipes are intended to be used to provide antiseptic cleaning for hands and hard surfaces. These wipes contain 70% isopropyl alcohol. They are effective in destroying harmful bacteria and are safe for use on hands and hard surfaces such as electronics, keyboards, phones, desks, etc. These are a safer alternative for use in schools, or on food contact surfaces.


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UWTSD Home - Institutes and Academies - Institute of Management and Health - Institute of Management and Health Staff - Sian Turvey
Mrs Sian Turvey BA(Hons), FCILEx, GDL, PGDip (Law and Legal Practice).
Lecturer and Programme Manager for Law
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Law Programme Manager
I am a solicitor with over 18 years' experience in professional legal practice. I specialise in residential and commercial property, equity and trusts, wills, probate and landlord and tenant matters.
- Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
- The Law Society
- Property Law
- Conveyancing Practice
- Criminal Litigation
- Principles of Professional Legal Practice
- Business Law and Practice
- Legal Skills
- Law of Wills and Succession
- Family Law
- Commercial Property
I have been a lecturer since 2016 and am also a Chief Examiner and Lead Assessor at the Chartered institute of Legal Executives.
I am a consultant with John W Davies Solicitors and undertake private client and property matters.


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Life Lately: Its been an uneventful week here :) Sometimes those are the best kinds of weeks! Hubs won't be home this weekend... he's on what I call a "turn and burn" run up to Michigan. But its ok... I might actually get my fabric organized a little more this weekend! I got some awesome, … [Read more...]
Life And Link Love
Its been a couple weeks since my last Life and Link Love post... first there was our Anniversary, and then I was gone quilting last weekend! This week I'm back with a little about life and some links you simply MUST check out, as well as an intro to one of my fabulous sponsors! Life … [Read more...]
Life and Link Love
Life Lately: I picked hubby up yesterday afternoon... Its so nice to have him home, even if its only for 40ish hours. Also, its looking like he will be home most weekends :) So far he's loving the job, co-workers and bosses. I'm frantically working on goodies for the … [Read more...]
Life & Link Lovin Saturday
Life Lately: HUBBY GOT A JOB!! After 2.5 months of being unemployed, doing odd jobs around town, and fighting one heck of a flu bug for most of December, he's officially employed! And one of the best parts about this job is that he'll be home a lot more :) No more of this being on the road for 6 … [Read more...]
Life & Link Lovin Saturday
I've decided to add something to my "blogging schedule". Lately I've been coming across such good content from other bloggers and sites, that I simply need a way to share it with you! Also, I figured this would be a good place and time to share a few bits and pieces of my life. I can't guarantee … [Read more...]


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A Tesla Motors 2014 punch list for success
In just about 2 weeks Tesla Motors will report its earnings for Q3 and also its overall 2013 financial performance. Although we will then report the Tesla financial news, good, bad, or otherwise, it is pretty fair to say this was a momentous year for the world's most innovative automaker. We counted down what the Tesla owners and enthusiasts told us they thought were the most important things Tesla did in 2013. Now we would like to lay out our predictions for what the automaker will have to do to stay successful in 2014.
Searching for Tesla Motors news today, as I do every day, I found one "expert" that I had never heard of before predicting that GM will buy Tesla in 2014. As I am no fan of GM in general (though I love some of their creations) this would break my heart. GM represents every single thing that can possibly be wrong with the automotive world to me and Tesla Motors represents a glimmer of hope for change. Furthermore, since Tesla already works closely with both Mercedes and Toyota, why a sale to GM would happen now is a mystery to me.
Selling Tesla to anyone in 2014 would be a big surprise for me. Unless something unfortunate was to happen to Elon Musk, I can't imagine why 2014 would be the sell year. The Model S is only 15 months old and it seems that the global market is wide open to Tesla for the S. Tesla just moved the ball down the field 80 yards for a touchdown in 2013. The extra point kick is 2014. Yes, the stock is crazy overvalued, even according to Musk, but he does not seem to me the guy who takes advantage of that now to try to sell Tesla Motors. On the other hand, he is busy with two other companies that are almost equally as exciting. Still, it seems premature.
2014 Punch List For Tesla Success
First, never mind what I personally think. The Tesla owners I poled informally on Tesla Owners' forums I am lucky enough to be allowed to participate in (since I am not yet an owner) tell me that to them continued roll out of the Supercharger network is important to them. They think it is an exciting part of ownership and though many have used the network, other owners have not simply because it doesn't take them anyplace they want to go – yet. Keeping the Supercharger network growing received the most feedback by far to my requests for input.
What came next to the Tesla owners was not clear, so from here on out the order is mine. Based on my own instincts I think that Tesla needs to make serious headlines in 2014 about the GEN III. This will be the "every-man's" Tesla. Now clearly, the car is not slated for release for about 3 or more years. However, Tesla is bound to encounter more challenges next year and in 2015. This year all Tesla had to really push past (in terms of external challenges) was the hype over the fires. It has done so, and it will have to keep the PR machine going to offset that issue, but 2013 could have been harder. In the coming years external factors could bite Tesla. "Regime change" could occur here in America and the huge subsidies that EV owners enjoy could be challenged. It would not be out of the question for a 51% vote in congress to limit EV price supports to cars under $50K. Tesla can hold that off by continuing to remind America that it is really still pushing to bring out a car that can be in an owner's driveway for about $35K.
Another important thing Tesla needs to do is continue to evolve the Model S. If you wish, combine the Model X with this section, since to me the X is simply an AWD Model S with a different body. If I am wrong about that feel free to blast me in the comments section, but let's keep it civil. I love the S and I think building an X from as many common parts as possible is a great idea. I don't mean it as an insult.
When I write that Teslas are cars, and that cars have problems, the fans of the brand freak out and send me hate mail. However, visit any Tesla forum and you can see the many issues that the owners struggle with. Water leaks, door handles that don't pop out (specifically the rear ones), melting connectors for charging, the list is real, but manageable. Tesla needs to eliminate all these little things, just as any automaker does as a car matures in its lifecycle. The only reason fixing the small Model S issues is on this list is that it was a common point of feedback to my inquiry. Also, I worry that Tesla could look at its limited resources and at some point prioritize the new model over making the Model S the best it can be.
Piggy backed onto this would be more content in the Model S. The car simply does not have things that all of its price range competitors do. When I drove it this summer it had almost no driver aids by comparison to a Mercedes, Audi, or even Lexus of half its price tag. Some owners want autonomous driving. Simply stated there is no automaker farther from that goal than Tesla. It can catch up on its own or simply buy the needed equipment from suppliers. Either way, it needs to leap forward just to catch the pack.
A price reduction would also help Tesla in my own opinion. Even if it were simply a 3% across the board drop in price Tesla could claim it is learning how to save money in its operations and that would boost confidence. Teslas are very expensive. Owners claim that their savings on gas and the tax breaks offset that, but the truth is that a Prius can run for 100,000 miles on just $13,000 worth of gas. Hybrids come with tax breaks too. At some point the math model needs to actually improve for EVs and Tesla could offer up hope.
Here are two things I think Tesla need not do in 2014. I don't think it needs to hit the 55,000 unit number for Model S production some are bandying about. Why should Tesla do that? In my opinion it should keep the supply tight. That makes the car more desirable. Grow the production, but it does not have anything to prove that requires that production actually double.
Tesla also does not have to make money in 2014. By that I mean it does not have to be cash flow positive. I slammed Tesla in Q3 when it lost money not because it is a bad thing for the company financially, but because the managers had been stupid enough to claim that they would be cash flow positive in 2013. Tesla has mountains of cash to use and it should use it. Go big or go home is a reality in the auto world. Amazon, GM, Ford and many other huge names in the American business world have gone long stretches without making money and still have very bright futures.
2014 should be an easy year for Tesla relatively speaking. That does not mean bad decisions can be overcome, or that the company won't be exciting to watch. If we have skipped an important goal you think the company should shoot for in the next 12 months please add it below with your reasoning.
Model X image courtesy of the Tesla Motors public page.


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Here is WRC.com's view on the performances of the second batch of top-flight drivers in new machinery on Rallye Monte-Carlo.
Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20 WRC)
The Spaniard retired on the road section before SS5 when his car developed a mysterious electrical fault. But the fact that he was lying third at the time gave Hyundai cause for optimism. Sordo did what was asked of him and it would have been great to see the potential of his i20 WRC without any mechanical hiccups.
Mads Ostberg (Citroen DS3 WRC)
Like his team-mate, Ostberg should be proud of his weekend's work. The DS3 WRC is completely new to him and, after a cautious start on the first morning, he picked things up and began to get faster as his confidence grew. Not starting with a DNF against his name was his target and he delivered for himself and Citroen.
Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta RS WRC)
M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson has put a lot of faith in the 25-year-old by giving him a full season in a Ford Fiesta RS WRC. The Welshman repaid a large chunk of that confidence in Monte. He was handicapped to a certain extent by running on conservative tyre choices for much of the rally, but he steered clear of any serious trouble to reach the finish in sixth.


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Mediation could speed up process
Steve Horrell
With a new mediation rule in place now for Madison County, every civil case under $50,000 dollars will go to arbitration and every medical malpractice and nursing home case will go to mediation. Participants in other types of civil suits can use a mediator if the parties agree to it.
"Nobody's right to trial has been taken away," Circuit Judge Dave Hylla said Friday in comments to the county's Judiciary Committee. "Even with arbitration, but especially mediation, if the parties don't agree to resolve the case they can still have their day in court."
While the Illinois Supreme Court officially approved the rule this week, the county adopted it last summer. So far, there is no data available to show how many cases have settled through mediation, Hylla said.
"My thinking – and I think the rest of the judges – was that even if 20 percent of the cases are settled through the mediation process, that lessens the load of cases and people come out of that having controlled their fate and agreeing to something, rather than having a jury decide. A lot of times people think the jury was wrong, so at least the parties decided."
The processes have several distinctions. In arbitration, plaintiffs and defendants make their case to an arbitrator and give them what they consider to be a fair settlement figure. Unless both sides agree to the figure, the case proceeds to trial.
In mediation, each side submits facts to a mediator, who encourages them to reach an agreement. "They don't come up with numbers saying this is what the value of the case is, or this is what we think you should settle for," Hylla said. "We leave that to the parties."
Nursing home cases were included in the mediation rule at the urging of East Alton attorney Robert Gregory. Gregory says he saw several similarities between nursing home and medical malpractice cases and felt that nursing home cases would have more success. Medical malpractice cases require that doctors approve a settlement proposal, he said. "That's a big problem," Hylla said. "In nursing home cases, you have an institution, and they're more likely to agree to a settlement."
Circuit Judge Dan Stack suggested requiring civil cases over $50,000 to use mediation but others suggested holding off. For now, mediation in those cases is voluntary. "Where both sides say they want to do that," Hylla said. "They would probably be cases where the parties are close to settling and they just need a little push."


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Déodorant naturel - Schmidt's - 92g
Barcode: 0019962085116(EAN / EAN-13) 019962085116 (UPC / UPC-A)
Product characteristics
Common name: Déodorant
Quantity: 92g
Packaging: tube plastique
Brands: Schmidt's
Categories: Hygiene, Deodorants
Manufacturing or processing places: Portland USA
Period of time after opening: 12 months
Countries where sold: France
→Ingredients are listed in order of importance (quantity).
If this product has an ingredients list in English, please add it. Edit the page
Ingredients analysis:
→ The analysis is based solely on the ingredients listed and does not take into account processing methods.
Details of the analysis of the ingredients » We need your help!
- Without Parabens
- Without Formaldehyde-releasers
- Without Allergenic-fragrances
- Without Silicones
- Without Phenoxyethanol
- Without Triclosan
- Without Cetrimonium-bromide
- Without Methylisothiazolinone
- Without Aluminum-salts
Note: ingredients can be listed with many different names, please let us know if you think the analysis above is incorrect.
Product added on by openfoodfacts-contributors
Last edit of product page on by jean-yves.


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3 1/2 cups of plain flour (or bread flour)
1 sachet of yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup hot water
Mix all dry ingredients lightly, slowly add in the water and start mixing from the centre till a dough starts coming together. Knead a few minutes, then place this dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with cling wrap or a tea towel to allow it to rise. After a couple of hours check it again and it should have doubled. Place this on a lightly floured board and knead lightly again. Place this in a lightly oiled loaf tin and bake in preheated medium heat oven for about 30 mins. The bread should be a light brown.
From this dough, you can divide into 6-8 bun sizes and bake it on a greased tray.


text: Blimey, this is real nice. Premiered by Boiler Room earlier today "Maajo is a musical continuation of the similarly titled 12" single by Herman Prime, the Finnish producer's idea expanded to a five-member band." Taken from their forthcoming debut album "Tropic of Tulli" the warm sounding vibes that emanate from "Darkness is Good," will have you harking back to recent summer days and nights. Lovely head-nodding tribal percussion coupled with bewitching guitar lines has us well and truly peeled for the rest of the album.


text: Rooms Kitchen Decor & Design Kitchen Cabinets Kitchen Cabinet Styles 20 Ideas for Colorful Kitchen Cabinets to Update Your Space Take the most-used space in your home up a design notch by adding a big pop of color on your cabinets. You'll love it! By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on May 18, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Kitchens are meant to be practical and functional, but that doesn't mean they can't be beautiful, too. For a bold statement, add colorful kitchen cabinets. There's no reason to stick with white (though we love those, too) if blue, green, or yellow are what you're dreaming about. Check out our list of ideas for kitchen cabinets that make a big impact with not too much work. 19 Popular Kitchen Cabinet Colors with Long-Lasting Appeal 01 of 20 Bold Blue These colorful kitchen cabinets add a welcome pop of blue. Paired with white countertops and a white tile backsplash, this lovely hue stands out without being too loud. The color is perfect for a home that needs something a little extra special in the kitchen without going overboard. 02 of 20 Chartreuse Confidence Looking for a quick and easy way to revitalize an all-white kitchen? Take a cue from this one and paint colorful kitchen cabinets in an eye-catching hue. The bold chartreuse color of these cabinets personalizes the standard builder-style cabinetry. Plus, it complements the whimsical butterfly prints and wall decals sprinkled throughout the kitchen. 03 of 20 Royal Purpleheart Although some trends point toward painting wood, some species make naturally colorful kitchen cabinets. One example is purpleheart, the dense, durable wood used to make these cabinets. A clear-coat finish brings out the purpleheart's reddish undertones, which work well with the stone countertops and stainless-steel appliances. 12 No-Fail Kitchen Color Combinations You Won't Regret 04 of 20 Cozy Gray-Blue The light blue-gray color of the cabinets in this kitchen gives it a balance of contemporary and vintage. The honed white granite countertops, apron-front sink, and exposed ceiling beams tie the look together effortlessly. 15 Gray Kitchen Ideas for a Timeless Space 05 of 20 Refreshing Mint These bright, colorful kitchen cabinets add an energetic feeling. The cheerful mint color is popular and fun and ensures the hardworking space is welcoming for the whole family. 27 Gorgeous Green Kitchen Ideas from Country to Modern 06 of 20 Beautiful Blues It's no secret that using your home's location is an easy way to cultivate a color palette. These robin's-egg blue cabinets nod to the stunning views of the land and sky outside the kitchen windows. The cabinets were also treated with a glaze, which gives the cabinets an aged look and the kitchen a casual, lived-in sensibility. 17 Blue Kitchens to Show You How to Incorporate the Classic Color 07 of 20 How to Paint Cabinets Learn how to paint old cabinets in 6 easy steps! 08 of 20 Restrained Red Colorful kitchen cabinets don't have to come in big doses to be effective. Adding just a few units with a distinctive hue can have more impact than painting all of them. Here, sections of red-dyed cabinets stand out in a contemporary kitchen where the rest of the cabinetry and shelving wear a natural wood finish. 09 of 20 Gray Eminence It's not just brighter hues that make for colorful kitchen cabinets. The subtle sheen of stainless steel inspired this kitchen's calming palette of gray cabinets and blue backsplash tiles. The soft gray hue of the cabinetry modernizes the kitchen but doesn't overwhelm the small space. 10 of 20 Butter Cupboards Yellow cabinetry gives even the darkest kitchen a sunnier disposition. But yellow comes in many shades, from pale buttermilk and zesty lemon to subdued gold. This kitchen's cabinetry is a buttery yellow, warming the cottage-style space without overwhelming it. The white ceiling and the hardwood floor tone down the brightness. Yellow Kitchen Design Ideas to Brighten Up Your Cooking Space 11 of 20 Natural Appeal Give your cabinets a new look quickly with a fresh coat of paint. Muted colors inspired by nature add modern appeal to this cottage-style kitchen. The greenish-gray hue of the cabinetry expertly coordinates with the subway-tile backsplash and stained concrete countertops. 15 Tips for a Cottage-Style Kitchen You Will Adore 12 of 20 Dropping Anchor Using painted kitchen cabinets doesn't mean forsaking natural wood finishes elsewhere in your kitchen. In fact, some colors and woods work exceptionally well together, with one surface reinforcing the other. For example, the rich hue of this island adds dramatic contrast to the white-painted cabinetry and a thick marble countertop. The dark finish of the island blends with the flooring, which helps anchor it in the center of the kitchen. 13 of 20 Teal and Tradition White is a color, too, and going with more vibrant cabinetry in your kitchen doesn't mean you have to exclude white. Mixing colors allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds—and ensures a visually interesting result. This kitchen's teal cabinetry along one wall is lightened by a white tiled backsplash and center island. 14 of 20 Barely-There Hues Not sure you want your cabinets to scream color? Aim for more of a whisper. This pale blue island reflects a pastel approach, which results from layering a creamy-white glaze over a bright blue one. The off-white cabinetry throughout the rest of the kitchen exudes soft and welcoming energy. 15 of 20 Striking Orange The bold orange accents add colorful kitchen cabinets to the otherwise white space. The cabinetry's clean lines and streamlined construction expertly coordinate the paint color inspired by midcentury modern style. 16 of 20 Boost of Yellow Colorful kitchen cabinets are often found in contemporary-style kitchens but can also effectively energize a more traditional setting. Bold yellow paint graces the lower cabinets and an island in this cottage-style kitchen. The energetic hue adds a splash of needed color to the neutral space and contrasts the dark-stained countertops. How to Pull Off Mustard Yellow Paint in Your Home 17 of 20 Collected Color Colorful collectibles and traditional styling give this kitchen a welcoming, vintage look. Drawing inspiration from a collection of antique dishware, the milky green color of the island is a fresh accent for the white cabinets. The beaded-board paneling used on the island base adds subtle texture. 18 of 20 Seeing Red Afraid of going too far with bold color? Then concentrate it where it will count. In this kitchen, the hutch-inspired unit along one wall was painted an eye-catching red hue. The rest of the cabinets were painted white or stained with a dark, rich color. Although the splash of red is anything but subtle, it doesn't overwhelm the kitchen with color. 19 of 20 Ebony and Ivory High contrast between cabinet colors can create a dramatic effect. In the kitchen of this contemporary-style home, a black-and-white color scheme carries over to the cabinets, creating a sleek and modern aesthetic. Stainless steel appliances and a polished island countertop contribute to the contemporary look. Our Favorite Kitchens with Black Cabinets 20 of 20 Festive Focal Point Color has the power to transform ordinary cabinetry into a true focal point. In this kitchen, vibrant yellow cabinetry adds warmth and energy to the otherwise neutral space. The look-at-me hue conveys the homeowners' personality and makes the utilitarian space a fun and spirited area for preparing meals and entertaining guests. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit


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I managed to record over eleven minutes of live sex action while being in this hot babe's room. As you can see, she has these innocent looks but she is not shy at all when it comes to doing dirty deeds.
This young slut drives my cock insane while she is fisting and then stroking her inviting pussy in a very naughty way. Just see it for yourself and let me know what you think about it in the comments.
If you pay her a visit, you might see her stretch different things in her own holes.


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User Guide: How to Convert Videos on Mac OS X?
Here is a tutorial tells you how to use iPubsoft Video Converter for Mac to convert overall video and audio files to your desired format with one click. With its intuitive interface, you can go through the conversion process without any hassle. Read on to check the details.
1 Import Video or Audio File(s)
After installing and launching the Mac application on your Mac computer, the first thing you need to do is uploading target video or audio files to the program. Just go to Add File(s) menu and locate to the media files you want to convert.
2 Customize Output Video Settings
The second step is to set output format. Click the "Settings" button to reveal the small window where you can set output video encoder, bit rate, resolution, frame rate, sample rate and channel for the video and audio.
3 Start to Convert Imported Videos
After setting the information of output videos, you can hit on "Browse" to choose an output folder for saving the converted files. After that, you can directly go to the "Start" button to launch the video conversion on Mac.
Here is a progress bar showing you the conversion speed. The conversion will be finished soon and then you can click "Find Target" to check the converted video files in the output folder,


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Starring: Hugh Jackman (The Greatest Showman), Zoe Saldana (Avatar), Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks), Stephen Fry (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows), Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood)
Writer/Director: Chris Butler (ParaNorman)
Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes
Release Date: 5th April (UK), 12th April (US)
Even after producing wonderful film after wonderful film, Laika still can't seem to catch on with mainstream audiences. One of the few studios keeping stop-motion features alive, the quirky style and thematic depth of their films easily make them the most distinctive animation studio in the west. Whilst Missing Link does sometimes feel like an attempt to court a more traditional audience, shying away from the darkness of their previous efforts for more of a light-hearted tone, it still retains the spirit and attention to detail all Laika productions have in spades.
A throwback to the globetrotting adventure stories of the early 20th century, Missing Link evokes a kind of classic family film we rarely enjoy these days. The plot is relatively simple and its themes of friendship and finding meaning in life are well worn, but they are executed with such proficiency and wit that they feel fresh again. The film has a wicked sense of humour comparable to Laika's underrated The Boxtrolls, capturing the essence of British comedy so well that I wouldn't fault anyone for mistaking it for an Aardman production.
A lot of the film's heart lies in its fantastic voice cast, led ably by Hugh Jackman's Sir Lionel Frost. He is a wonderfully realised character that puts an engaging spin on the self-important British explorer cliché, and Jackman captures English idioms and cadence like a true-born Brit. Zach Galifianakis is endearing and hilarious as the titular Mister Link, best described as a more wholesome answer to Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy, and his comedic chemistry with Jackman is up there with the best mismatched animated duos. Zoe Saldana is feisty and kick-ass as Frost's reluctant associate Adelina, whilst Stephen Fry and Timothy Olyphant as the film's villains are delightful in their own respective ways.
Ultimately though, Laika's gorgeous animation is the real showstopper, pushing the limits of the form in constantly jaw dropping ways. Without it, Missing Link would still be a solid adventure for the whole family, but the loving artistry of the production is what makes it this a joy for anyone who loves the craft of animation.
Starring: Jason Clarke (Zero Dark Thirty), Amy Seimetz (Upstream Colour), John Lithgow (Interstellar), Jeté Lawrence (The Snowman)
Directors: Kevin Kölsch & Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes)
Writer: Jeff Buhler (The Midnight Meat Train)
Runtime: 1 hour 41 minutes
Release Date: 4th April (UK), 5th April (US)
The astounding success of 2017's It has ushered in something of a renaissance for Stephen King adaptations, both in terms of remaking classics and new stories not previously brought to the screen. Pet Sematary (yes, the misspelling is intentional) is the first of several King films out this year alone, and comparisons are bound to be abundant to both the original novel and the previous 1989 film adaptation. Having experienced neither, I can only judge this Pet Sematary as a film on its own terms, and from my particular perspective I think it is…OK.
The basic premise of Pet Sematary should be reasonably familiar to even those with little horror knowledge, and it uses those concepts in an effective if not particularly original way. The story builds strong tension and a looming atmosphere as it ponders its themes of death and grief, but its culmination feels underdeveloped. Despite the strong set-up, the film's third act blows by with little fanfare and fails to pay off what it's been building up, ending on a suitably twisted note but one that never gets a chance to sink in before the credits roll.
What saves Pet Sematary from mediocrity are the strong performances from its cast, who mine the rudimentary plot and characters for all they're worth. Jason Clarke handles the degrading mental state of father Louis with aplomb, making a character turn that feels a little sudden on paper feel cohesive. Amy Seimetz is fantastic as Rachel, especially when grappling the horrors of her past, whilst John Lithgow manages to bring both a lightness and foreboding eeriness to his role as neighbour Jud; he really is one of the most underrated veteran actors still working. The film's real MVP is Jeté Lawrence as daughter Ellie, giving a horror story trope a fresh perspective that I wish got more time to flourish.
In conclusion, Pet Sematary doesn't do a whole lot to stand out from the deluge of studio horror films coming out these days, but it's at least effective with what it has. It's ideal for a late-night Netflix horror binge, but on its own it lacks punch.
Starring: Jessie Buckley (Beast), Julie Walters (Mamma Mia!), Sophie Okenedo (Hotel Rwanda)
Director: Tom Harper (The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death)
Writer: Nicole Taylor (The C Word)
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
Release Date: 12th April (UK), 14th June (US)
With the success of films like Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star is Born and the imminent release of Rocketman, it seems like films about musicians are all the rage right now. However, much like its rebellious main character, Wild Rose is an unconventional take on the rising star story that speaks truer to the heart of what it means to be an artist than those glitzy Hollywood biopics, and an early contender for the British sleeper hit of the year.
We've all seen tales of struggling musicians striving for stardom, but Wild Rose takes a more grounded and honest approach to the concept, and heightens the stakes by putting its protagonist as far from her goals as possible. You can't say you've ever seen a film about a Glaswegian ex-con single mother struggling to become a country singer, and for my money I don't think we're going to see a better example of this story than this (if ever). It's a simple but crowd-pleasing tale that should warm the heart of any audience, but particularly those who've dreamed big and know the conflict of balancing your life with your passion firsthand.
The material may be strong on the page, but Wild Rose would be nothing without its breakout star Jessie Buckley. She brings a spark of energy to an archetype often portrayed with a patronising sense of sympathy, never taking advantage of her social class or intelligence and allowing her to be a fully-rounded and genuine character. Buckley's performance is simultaneously hilarious and tragic, and her on-screen chemistry with Julie Walters as her cynical mother (who is as great as you'd expect) makes her seem like a seasoned pro. It'd honestly be an absolute crime if this film doesn't launch her to greater heights, because her work here proves she absolutely deserves it.
Wild Rose is the best film of its kind since Billy Elliot, and a prime example of what British cinema can be when it stops being so self-important. As much as I love Hollywood spectacle and high-concept fantasies, this is exactly the type of film we need more of in our often-lopsided media diet. In other words: I loved it!


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What counts as a 'modification' to my car?
That's a good question with a very broad answer.
Our policy wording defines a modification as any alteration to the manufacturer's standard specification for your car, including optional extras fitted to the car when new by the vehicle manufacturer or dealer, which improves its value, performance, appearance or attractiveness to thieves.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- changes to the engine
- engine management system or exhaust system
- changes to the wheels or suspension system
- changes to the bodywork such as spoilers or body kits
- tinting on windows
- a fitted tow bar
This includes modifications made by previous owners. As always, if you're unsure please call us on 0345 045 1000.


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Category Archives: Fitness/Health
3 Healthy Habits to Teach Your Child this Year
Like it or not, parents won't always be around to help their children make smart health choices. Eventually, your kid will grow up and face the world on their own. The good news is that you can take action today … Continue reading
How to Avoid Feeling Stressed Out While Medicating
Undergoing medical treatment can be stressful. You worry that you're not getting better. You also fear that the medications won't work. If you keep thinking about what might happen, you will feel stressed out. These tips will help you avoid … Continue reading
Steamer – How It Works For Preparing Healthy Meals
With summer in full-force, people all around the world are trying to get fit and healthy. One technique that is commonly utilized for this purpose is steam. To create enough high-pressurized steam, you will need an instant pot. This small … Continue reading
How to Prevent Common Health Problems
A person's health and wellness is determined by many factors –– only some of which can be influenced by smart decision making. Indeed, the harsh reality is that many common health issues have nothing to do with behavior, but are … Continue reading
Best Essential Oils for Anxiety
With everything that is going on I have to admit, it's given me a bit of anxiety. The stress of keeping your family safe, homeschooling your kid, worrying about your bills, and wondering if we will ever get out of … Continue reading


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With rich chocolate and a smooth caramel sauce, who could resist this delicious king cake?
Salted Caramel and Chocolate King Cake
Yields: 1
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- King Cake Dough (recipe follows)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 (4-ounce) semisweet chocolate baking bars, chopped
- Salted Caramel Sauce (recipe follows)
- Garnish: assorted gold sprinkles*
Salted Caramel Sauce
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon Maldon sea salt
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons water, divided
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed and softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a small bowl, whisk together butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Lightly punch down King Cake Dough. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. In another small bowl, whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon water.
- Turn out King Cake Dough onto a lightly floured surface, and divide in half. Roll one half into a 24×6-inch rectangle. Using a small offset spatula, spread half of butter mixture onto dough, leaving a ½-inch border on one long side. Sprinkle with half of chocolate. Brush border with egg wash. Starting with long side opposite border, roll up dough, jelly roll style; pinch seam to seal. Gently shape log to even thickness, if necessary. Repeat procedure with remaining dough, remaining filling, and remaining chocolate.
- Carefully twist logs together, and place on a sheet of parchment paper. Form into a circle, twisting and pinching ends to seal. (Use egg wash, if needed.) Slide parchment onto a baking sheet. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°) until puffed, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Brush dough with egg wash.
- Bake until lightly golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center registers 190°, about 50 minutes, loosely covering with foil halfway through baking to prevent excess browning, if necessary. Let cool on pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool completely on a wire rack. Drizzle with Salted Caramel Sauce, and garnish with sprinkles, if desired.
Salted Caramel Sauce
- In a small saucepan, heat cream and sea salt over medium-low heat just until bubbles form around edges of pan and salt is dissolved. (Do not boil.) Remove from heat, and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, heat sugar and 3 tablespoons water over high heat, being, careful not to splash sides of pan. (Mixture should look like wet sand.) Use remaining 1 tablespoon water to brush down sides of pan, and stir to help sugar dissolve. (Do not stir once it starts to boil). Cook until light amber colored, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat; slowly add warm cream mixture, whisking to combine. Add butter, a few pieces at a time, whisking until combined. Stir in vanilla. Let cool to room temperature.
*We used Wilton Gold Pearlized Sprinkles and Wilton Gold Sugar Pearl Sprinkles.
King Cake Dough
- 4½ cups bread flour, divided
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 (0.25-ounce) package instant yeast
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup water, butter, and vanilla over medium heat until butter is melted and an instant-read thermometer registers 120° to 130°. Add warm butter mixture to flour mixture, and beat at medium speed until combined and cooled slightly, about 2 minutes. Add egg and egg yolk, and beat at medium speed until combined. With mixer on low speed, gradually add remaining 2½ cups flour, beating just until combined and stopping to scrape sides of bowl.
- Switch to the dough hook attachment. Beat at low speed until a soft dough forms, about 8 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl and dough hook. (Dough will be slightly sticky.) Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and shape into a smooth round.
- Lightly oil a large bowl. Place dough in bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place (75°) until doubled in size, about 1 hour.


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Welcome to Morning Magic!
Your next step is to check your inbox for your welcome email and challenge calendar!
I can't wait to start this journey with you.
(If you're not seeing that email, click the button below to send me an email.
I've got your back!)
And why not share this challenge with your friends, and get them to join you!


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Enjoy Celebrity Radio's Garth Fagan Life Story Interview ~ Broadway / Movie Choreographer……
Garth Fagan is a Jamaican modern dance choreographer. He is the founder and artistic director of Garth Fagan Dance, a modern dance company based in Rochester, New York.
Fagan's choreography incorporates elements of modern dance, ballet, Afro-Caribbean dance, and social dance. Many of his works are autobiographical or include themes of personal relevance. His untitled 1977 work chronicles the dissolution of his marriage, showing a couple beginning a relationship with affection and passion but eventually drifting apart due to inevitable obstacles.
For his path-breaking choreography for Walt Disney's The Lion King, Fagan was awarded the prestigious 1998 Tony Award for Best Choreography. He also received the 1998 Drama Desk Award, 1998 Outer Critics Circle Award, 1998 Astaire Award, 2000 Laurence Olivier Award, 2001 Ovation Award, and the 2004 Helpmann Award for his work on the Broadway musical, which opened in fall 1997 to extraordinary critical praise.
Fagan's distinguished work in the theatre also includes the first fully staged production of the Duke Ellington street opera, Queenie Pie at the Kennedy Center in 1986 and the opening production of Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival's Shakespeare Marathon: A Midsummer Night's Dream, (1988), set in Brazil and directed by A.J. Antoon.
Alex went to meet Garth at the 10th Anniversary of the Disney's The Lion King @ The Lyceum Theatre in London's West End in 2009…..
Recorded 2009


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The Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan update (CCPu), published on 16 December 2020, includes one car-related policy outcome:
we will reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030.
This replaces the two car related policy outcomes in the previous version of the Plan published in 2018. These aimed to:
- achieve annual reductions in average greenhouse gas emissions from new cars sold in Scotland
- increase the proportion of ultra-low emission new car sales, until they accounted for 100% of car sales in 2032.
Progress towards meeting these, now superseded, outcomes is explored in the recent SPICe spotlight post Car Wars: Revenge of the SUV.
What does this new commitment mean in practice?
The baseline year against which the 20% reduction will be measured is 2019. However, the latest year for which figures are publicly available is 2018 – during which cars travelled 36.4bn kilometres in Scotland. A reduction of 20% (7.3bn kilometres) to 29.1bn kilometres would mean taking car travel back to a level last seen in Scotland during 1994.
Taking a longer perspective, the steady growth in car travel since the end of the second world war is one of the nation's key transport trends. Since the publication of the first Climate Change Plan in 2011 the distance travelled by car has increased by 8.4% – an additional 2.8bn kilometres in 2018 compared to 2011. This trend is predicted to continue for the foreseeable future. Transport Scotland modelling forecasts a 25% increase in car trips and a 37% increase in distance driven (which also includes the fast-growing freight transport sector) between 2018 and 2037.
The impact of COVID-19 on travel in Scotland
Transport Scotland travel statistics show that travel by all modes has been running well below normal levels since March 2020. However, travel by car has been closer to normal levels than any other mode, down 25% on usual between 30 November to 6 December 2020, compared with reductions of 85% for rail, 55% for ferry and 60% for concessionary bus travel. This is perhaps unsurprising given Scottish Government guidance to avoid public transport for all but essential travel.
It is difficult to predict what these changes in travel patterns, combined with possible increases in working from home, might mean for the longer term while we are still living with COVID-19 and restrictions on travel and activity. The possible impact on motorists was explored by the RAC in its Report on Motoring for 2020 which found that:
…the majority of motorists (52%) say they will use public transport less in future as a result of the pandemic…Meanwhile, for the first time since 2002 fewer than half of drivers (43%) say they would use their cars less if public transport was improved – down sharply from 57% in 2019.
While drivers were asked to consider their use of public transport in non-pandemic times, the coronavirus has likely had a significant impact on how drivers answered.
Nonetheless, taken at face value, the declining appeal of public transport seemingly represents a seismic shift compared to recent years, and suggests drivers are more wedded to their cars than they have been for a long time.
However, a significant long-term switch from public transport to car travel is not inevitable, if appropriate action is taken. Academics working on the Covid-19 Transport, Travel and Social Adaptation Study have highlighted the need for the Scottish Government to pursue two principle policy responses to manage demand for car travel as we exit the coronavirus pandemic, these are:
- Investment in digital infrastructure, particularly high-speed broadband and 5G, and continued support for working from home.
- Car restraint, through the reallocation of road space from cars to buses, cyclists and pedestrians, parking restraint, and road pricing.
How does the Scottish Government intend to achieve the reduction in car travel?
The CCPu sets out 17 policies to support the delivery of a 20% reduction in the distance travelled by car by 2030. The first of which is a commitment to set out full details of how this outcome will be achieved in a "route map", to be published at some point during 2021. The other commitments can be summarised under three broad headings as follows:
Consultation, engagement and review commitments
- Explore options around remote working as part of ambitions for 20-minute neighbourhoods and the work local programme.
- Highlights the Work Local Challenge announced in the 2020/21 Programme for Government.
- Work with UK Government on options to review fuel duty.
- Work with local authorities on the climate impacts of local transport and parking strategies.
- Support the implementation of a robust National Transport Strategy monitoring and evaluation framework.
- Consult on regulations and guidance that will allow local authorities to implement a workplace parking levy.
- Carry out a review of discounts available on public transport to those under the age of 26.
Policy commitments
- Continue to support the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) programme to encourage behaviour change, child and adult cycle training and cycle safety training for drivers.
- Support increased access to bikes for all including the provision of public bike and e-bike share.
- Work to improve road safety, publishing Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2030, the consultation on which closed on 1 December 2020. This is the successor to Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020.
- Provide free bus travel for under 19s resident in Scotland.
Spending commitments
- £500m for active travel over five years – first announced in the 2020/21 Programme for Government.
- £39m for temporary COVID-19 related walking and cycling infrastructure through the Spaces for People programme. These funds were reallocated from within the 2020-21 active travel budget.
- £2m over three years to develop Mobility as a Service in Scotland – first announced in the 2018-19 Programme for Government.
- £500m for bus infrastructure – first announced in the 2019-20 Programme for Government.
- £50m for the development of "active freeways", segregated active travel routes on main travel corridors – this is a new commitment.
Are other Scottish Government transport commitments aligned with this goal?
The spending and policy commitments highlighted above are dwarfed by the investment of:
- £6bn in dualling the A9 and A96 trunk roads
- £120m to upgrade the Sheriffhall roundabout
- £31.5m to build the A77 Maybole bypass
- other significant investments in trunk roads including the A82 and A83.
Such investment may run counter to efforts to reduce travel by car. The expansion of road capacity can stimulate additional trips by car through a process known as "induced demand", as appears to have happened with the Queensferry Crossing. In addition, cost and travel time are the two most important factors in how people choose to travel. Investment which reduces car journey times, relative to travel by rail or bus, on key strategic routes may result in travellers switching from public transport to car, as public transport journey times become less competitive.
New road building also generates significant greenhouse gas emissions during construction and locks in higher emission travel choices for years to come.
Reducing car travel. What works?
Research indicates that there are two broad approaches to reducing travel by car, often referred to as travel demand management (TDM):
- Push (coercive): Measures that directly discourage car use, such as vehicle and fuel taxation, road closures, road pricing, parking controls and reduced speed limits.
- Pull (non-coercive): Measures that encourage the use of alternative modes, such as cheaper, quicker or more reliable public transport, park and ride sites, multi-modal ticketing, better cycling facilities and flexible and home working.
Researchers at the University of Aberdeen investigated what combination of measures was most likely to reduce private car use, concluding that:
…noncoercive TDM measures alone are unlikely to be effective in reducing car use. Therefore, coercive TDM measures such as increasing cost for or prohibiting car use may be necessary but are difficult to implement because of public opposition and political infeasibility. If combined with noncoercive TDM measures providing attractive travel alternatives and communicating the benefits of car‐use reduction to the public, coercive TDM measures are likely to become more effective, acceptable, and politically feasible.
This chimes with evidence given to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee by Professor Tom Rye at its meeting of 8 February 2017, where he stated that:
…If we want to focus on and bring about mode shift, we need to improve the alternatives, but I am afraid that all the evidence suggests that we also need to make car use a bit more difficult…What has to be borne in mind is that, if we only improve public transport without making car use a bit more inconvenient, the new passengers on public transport will primarily be people who have been attracted to it from walking or cycling.
Reducing the distance travelled by car by 20% by 2030 requires a reversal of decades of growth and predicted future increases. Are the policies set out in the CCPu likely to deliver this level of reduction in car travel? Most of the 17 policies can be classed as "pull" measures. The two policies that clearly fall into the "push" category are dependent on future action by other administrations:
- the UK Government will lead on, and implement the results of, any review of vehicle excise duty and/or fuel duty.
- local authorities will decide whether to introduce a workplace parking levy once regulations are approved and guidance published.
Research highlights that a reliance on "pull" measures is unlikely to reduce car use and that significant "push" policies may be required to achieve this goal. It is questionable whether the CCPu contains sufficient "push" measures, such as support for road user charging, to deliver the level of change required. Much will depend on the content of the delivery "route map" which should be published during 2021.
The Scottish Government's pursuit of a road building programme that may produce more, rather than fewer, car journeys may make achieving the desired reduction in car travel more difficult. In addition, the Scottish Government will also have to carefully manage demand for car travel as we exit the coronavirus pandemic, to prevent unsustainable travel choices becoming embedded in people's daily routines.
Alan Rehfisch, Senior Researcher, Transport and Planning


text: Arm Candy (2717 Main St., Santa Monica, 310.392.7492) is Santa Monica new handbag boutique. They specialize in unusual, handcrafted pieces by established and emerging labels, with an emphasis on local designers like Julie K. and A. Tunney. The owner works as a mediator between customers and designers to create one-of-kind bags. The possibilities of color, material, hardware, and strap length are endless.


text:
Editor's note: We have made this story free to read in hopes that you will see firsthand our dedication to keeping our community informed and connected. Will you consider now? For just $1 a week, you will support non-editorial local news and be up to date on what's happening in the community. Consider reading more by clicking here.
The Trellis Bar & Grill is no more.
David Everett, chef and owner of the restaurant said The Trellis closed Tuesday.
"It was just a good time and a good move," he said.
The restaurant located in downtown Colonial Williamsburg served American cuisine, including its Death by Chocolate dessert, made famous by chef Marcel Desaulniers, the previous owner of the restaurant.
In 1980, Desaulniers opened The Trellis Restaurant, a new American fine dining restaurant with his business partners, John Curtis and Tom Power, owner of the Cheese Shop.
RELATED STORY: Owner of Cheese Shop dies in swimming accident
The restaurant was known for its Death by Chocolate dessert and Desaulniers, author of 1992 book Death by Chocolate, won several accolades throughout the years, according to his Wikipedia page.
Power left The Trellis Restaurant in 1994 and opened the Fat Canary seven years later.
In 2009, Everett, owner of the Blue Talon Bistro, bought The Trellis and highlighted Desaulniers' "Death by Chocolate" dessert on the new menu.
Besides The Trellis Bar & Grill and DoG Street Pub, Everett also owns Hair of the DoG Bottle Shop and Black Bird Bakery. He also co-owns Blue Talon Bistro with Adam Steely, co-owner of Illy Cafe, and Culture Cafe with his former employees, Scott Hoyland and Louise Wood.
What's next?
The Trellis Bar & Grill's lease with Colonial Williamsburg Foundation expired in December 2019, Everett said. He extended the lease this year and during the last 6 to 8 months of negotiations, he decided to change The Trellis Bar & Grill to La Piazza.
"When I first came into downtown, I was looking for a space," he said, adding at the time the foundation wanted a high end Italian place. "It's just one of those things I've had on the burner."
The Trellis Venture LLC comprised of Everett and three silent partners felt they could offer Merchants Square something different by giving it a fresh look and reinventing themselves completely, he said.
Other reasons for the change include the challenge of operating a large restaurant and a tough time hiring waitstaff, Everett said.
The Trellis has 250 seats and after downsizing the space, La Piazza will have a total capacity of 100 seats. Renovations start Wednesday and include dividing the venue into two spaces, one for retail and most of the right hand side for La Piazza.
The new family-friendly restaurant will specialize in handmade pasta as well as gluten-free options and plant-based, Everett said. The goal is to cater to tourists, military families and other people who frequent Merchants Square by offering them something with a lower price point made with fresh ingredients.
La Piazza opens April 1.
"Prices are getting higher and higher," Everett said of the restaurants in Merchants Square. "We think this is a way we can answer that –– something other people aren't doing."
"It will probably be as much Italian as Blue Talon is French," he added.
The bakery connected to the space will stay and feature "grab-and-go items" like sandwiches.
So what about Death by Chocolate dessert?
"I think we're gonna retire that for now," Everett said, adding the Death Bombs will still be in the bakery. "It's done well, it's done okay…we may see it rear it's head."
When asked why he did not tell customers The Trellis was closing earlier, Everett said the negotiation with the foundation was signed on Monday and he could not release anything until it was signed.
"It's a little abrupt," he said, adding he understands it would have been nice for customers to visit the restaurant one last time.
Everett said the negotiations took time with the holidays and coordinating people's schedules. If the negotiations ended in January during the slower season it would have been great, he said.
"I think we had a good run at The Trellis," Everett said. "We're just excited for the venture. It's good –––change is good."
Desaulniers was not immediately available for comment.


text:
Endless pleasure
gives birth to utterance
Gifts come
to these small hands of mine
Ages pass
and still there is room to fill
I listen in silent amazement.
Light illumines the world
runs from sky to sky
breaks through
My heart struggles for a voice. I cry
captive in endless meshes of music
I ask for a moment.
The works I have in hand I will finish.
My heart knows no rest. My work
becomes endless in a shoreless sea.
Summer has come to my window:
the bees, the flowering grove. Time
to sit still, face to face, to sing
of life in silent leisure
Priya Sarukkai Chabria is an award-winning poet, translator and writer who is acclaimed for her radical aesthetics across her eight books of poetry, spec-fic, literary non-fiction, novel and, as editor, two anthologies. Anthology publications include Another English: Anglophone Poems from Around the World, A Book of Bhakti Poetry: Eating God, Adelphiana, Asymptote, Drunken Boat, PEN International, Post Road, Reliquiae, The Literary Review(USA), The Gollancz Book of South Asian Science Fiction, The HarperCollins Book of English Poetry, The British Journal of Literary Translation, Language for a New Century, Voyages of Body and Soul etc. She edits Poetry at Sangam. http://poetry.sangamhouse.org/


text:
Pink Pig 917 Porsche
917k Pink Pig Porsche car print. This is a print from our exotic race car art collection, and is printed on Canon semi-gloss paper. The print is placed in a cellophane bag with a cardboard backing board. This print is signed by the artist Daryl Thompson.


text:
It is well understood that parenthood conduces to harm women's professions but not men's. Various studies have revealed that as a group, having kids decreases women's lifetime incomes, a consequence recognised as the "child penalty." A wide array of individual choices accounts for this effect. Some women work fewer hours, or not at all when their children are growing. Others shift to positions that are more family-friendly but low paying. There is also a significant variation in the extent of the earnings decline, varying from zero up to 100% (in a situation when women quit working completely).
Also Read: Cinema Goers Too Are Responsible For Bollywood's Gender Pay Gap
A study to predict "child penalty"
A new scholarly studyreveals an interesting factor that helps to foretell whether the decline in a woman's wagesdue to having children is likely to be big or small. This is by the decisions made during her childhood by her mother. The study's contributors, Henrik Kleven from Princeton University, Camille Landais from the London School of Economics and Jakob Sogaard from the Danish Ministry of Taxation, used official data from Denmark, which comprises the country's entire population for ages. They described "child penalty" as the amount by which women's wages fell behind those of men after having kids.
From 1980 to 2013, the long-term child penalty was about 20%. This is because the overall pay gap between men and women narrowed during that period. By 2013, the child penalty estimated for almost the entire remaining inequality in the sexes' incomes. Before becoming mothers, women's earnings, more or less maintains speed with men's. Only once they have kids do their financial trajectories start to slacken.
Findings of the study
As the researchers examined potential reasons for this happening, they saw that women who were raised in families in which the mother worked a lot corresponding to the father led to suffer comparatively small child penalties. Conversely, those who grew up with mothers who were homemakers were more likely to scale back their careers. This implies that the models set by their mothers when deciding how to coordinate between family and work profoundly affect women. However, the working patterns of a woman's parents-in-law made no discord to her child penalty. This inferred that preferences do not affect women's decisions that their spouses may have developed during their youth.
Before becoming mothers, women's earnings, more or less maintains speed with men's. Only once they have kids do their financial trajectories start to slacken.
This is a teaching to those mothers who want their girls to bridge the gender pay gap. Their dreams are more likely to come true if they drive by example, when their girls are young.
Also Read: The Gender Pay Gap In Sport: Why We Must Talk About It
Image: New York Post
Saumya Rastogi is an intern with SheThePeople.TV


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Agnew, Campbell Ritchie Interview
Today is the 6th June 2018. I'm interviewing Campbell Agnew of Havelock North on the life and times of the Agnew family. Campbell, would you like to tell us something about your family and where they came from, and what they did?
The information I have on that, Frank, is my grandfather came from Ireland; I can't say whether it's northern or southern, 'cause I don't know. And my grandmother, his wife, was Irish also, but I have no other details on that. I can't even recall her maiden name. And he came to Hawke's Bay after arriving in New Zealand – probably came to Wellington, but that's a guess. And he spent time in Hawke's Bay doing what, I don't know, before he bought the farm that is in Lawn Road here, that he then spent the rest of his life on; farming it and then retired on it.
Yes, now this farm you're talking about, Lawn Road, was that the block that was called Moore Edge?
It was called Exmoor.
And that was pretty wet country, wasn't it, with springs?
Yes, it was, Frank. Yes, and it had creeks running through it; and the springs and the creeks were all dealt to over the years as the farm went from pastoral into agriculture or horticulture.
Did he ever milk cows there?
So he was a dairy farmer. Would it have been in the late 1800s?
[Traffic noise in background] Once again, I can only guess at late 1800s; very late.
Sure. So many people that came out then, a few cows was the only way they could get some income.
I understand Grandfather Agnew was in Twyford first; and just from hearsay, I have an idea he ran a horse transport company from Taradale to Napier before he bought the farm here.
So now you're mentioning Twyford; so there's a link between Grandfather Agnew and the Agnews of Twyford?
That was my grandfather and his brother, were the two … I don't think they actually came to Twyford, I think they were in Crownthorpe.
They moved down, that's correct, yes. I always remember him, he used to stand so straight – like a gun barrel, his back was. I was always a bit apprehensive of him, but he had a twinkle in his eye … had a smile.
Yeah – from my memory of him … I can't remember how old I was when he passed away, but it wasn't a lot of time I knew him but he was a very gentle, calm person.
And so he would have grown crops?
I don't think he was into any of that, Frank; that was when my father became [the] operator of the property. He bought additional land to Exmoor which was called Moore Edge.
Do you know who that belonged to?
I would have thought it was the Nelson family.
Yes, it was a natural boundary really, wasn't it?
Yes, yep. So my father early on in his life was agricultural contracting, and I think that was what was happening on the property not under my grandfather's guidance but when my father took over.
Just coming back to your grandfather, he had more than one son?
Two sons.
One was Jack?
Jack …
He was the Agnew Refrigeration man in Hastings, wasn't he?
That's right, yes. Yes, he had stores in Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North and Levin.
Agnew's was the name, wasn't it?
But it's disappeared, and Tony was the last one, wasn't he?
Yes, Tony took over from his father. And the business was wound up due to the competition by what we call multi-nationals, or large chain companies.
So then your father, Doug, took over the running of the farm. That was a whole new direction, wasn't it?
Yes. It's not something I can give you precise dates on, but it was about the commencement of the expansion by Wattie's Canneries out of just fruit; and my father was the first to be involved in growing the peas for the company, which I think was either during or just after the Second World War.
Those days, the peas would have been taken by truck and threshed in at the canneries, wouldn't they?
He grew beans?
We grew peas and beans, tomatoes. I can't recall any other crops, Frank, but in that rotation of peas and beans there was ryegrass, and that third year fallow. So the farm was doing the cropping, doing the grass seed, and doing livestock raising.
How big was the farm in toto?
I think the Exmoor/Moore Edge farm was a hundred and twenty acres.
I always remember the Model U Allis Chalmers tractor he had was the biggest tractor in Hawke's Bay at the time almost, and it was really quite famous.
Yes, it was the first rubber tyre tractor in Hawke's Bay, and my sister-in-law still has it …
Good Lord!
… sitting down there in the shed.
Just down the road?
I'll be blowed!
And it was probably purchased because he was contracting, so they didn't have to load a tractor to take to properties throughout Hawke's Bay. Yes, I think that tractor was 1938. I mean just after the war he got the first of the Nuffields that he had a series of.
And now the children. Was Dougal the eldest?
Yes, Dougal was Doug and Margaret's eldest, and I was the second child, and the youngest son was Stewart.
Now you all went to which school?
We all were educated at the Mangateretere Primary School until secondary school age, and then we were all boarded at Dannevirke High School for our secondary education.
Where did you go to work when you left school?
I worked locally here; ooh, I don't know for how long … two or three years, and then I leased some land, Frank; started doing my own thing. And then in 1971 or 2 ['72] I bought a farm in Otane, and I farmed there for five years.
And was that a grassland farm?
It was a combination of grass and some cultivated ground growing just peas and barley.
And one day you met your wife?
No, I met her before we went to Otane.
Oh, okay. Was she a local girl?
No, she was from Lower Hutt.
Oh, you imported ..?
I didn't import; she was working in Hastings.
Aha … and so you were married; and children?
We had two children … still have, actually. A daughter, Jane, and a son, James.
And what do they do?
Jane is in Auckland in the IT business, and James is in London. He's a merchant banker.
And your older brother, Dougal – did he work on the family farm?
He left school and worked in the bank in Hastings for a while, and then I think he came to the farm.
And he married ..?
What was Helen's maiden name?
Yes … no, that's not coming to mind, Frank.
And then your youngest brother?
Yes, Stewart.
What did he do?
He had an interest in livestock, and he worked in Feilding on the sheep stud farms for some years learning that business.
And who did he marry?
He married Jill Brown from Feilding.
And sadly you lost both your brothers quite early in life.
Stewart, yes – he was mid-forties when he passed away; but Dougal only passed away four years ago.
It still seems early, though.
Yeah, I know. Yeah, it is [by] today's standards, Frank, yeah.
Now coming back to Campbell … tell us about some things that you did that really complemented your farming?
Yes, well as far as interests go I've got just an interest in general sport, although a particular interest in rugby which I played myself after school for a couple of years. And then my other very strong interest is motor cars which isn't anything to do with agriculture, Frank.
It's as a result of agriculture, isn't it?
Well, yes, I suppose that's true.
But you took a lot of pride in your ploughing locally and nationally, didn't you?
Well I don't know why I got an interest in it. I can recall going to the matches with my father, which I don't remember my other two brothers doing. I used to tag along when he went to Patangata and Takapau to plough; I took that up in 1969, I think, to start my competition years. Spent some years learning the ropes, and then went on to be able to represent certain clubs in the North Island at the national championships, which I did on several occasions.
What sort of plough were you using?
I started with a Reid & Gray and then had an English ………. plough.
The Reid & Gray was just a standard mould board, was it? Or were they modified?
I think the Reid & Gray I had converted to a Duncan mould board. I only used it for two or three years. It was something I think I converted in the third year I used it, to a Duncan mould board. And then the same happened with the Ransomes – we converted them to Duncan mould boards. They were much more suited to what we were trying to do competition wise.
I remember the truck that your father had all loaded up, heading south to a ploughing match …
That was a Chev. [Chevrolet] It was pre-war; in fact the one you probably remember … he had two of them, but the one you probably remember had a wooden frame cab.
No, the one that he took down south …
You mean going to New Zealand championships? No, he never took a tractor with him; he always took the plough on a trailer, towed it behind the car.
So you ploughed in the North Island and the South Island?
Yes, yes. I've for many years ploughed the North Island circuit. We had I think in the early days six clubs ran events in the North Island; the latter years it built to seven. And I used to follow that circuit when I could, just as time allowed, but used to go to most of the matches, and I ploughed in all the clubs at one time or other, but probably not all the clubs every year. And then when I was able to qualify to plough in the National Championships, I went to the South Island.
That photo that I'm looking at here, that's in the South Island? Gosh that soil is even, isn't it?
Oh, it's lovely down there. It's all covered with dairy cows now, but in those days it was the bread basket of New Zealand … grain, grain, grain.
So you gave up ploughing, I guess?
I did, yes, a long time ago, Frank.
Yes. And you have part of the old farm here?
Well, it's not really; this block that I'm farming [was] purchased as a family trust in addition to the Exmoor/Moore Edge land. And there was another farm purchased from the Cambridges, which was the eighty-acre farm that Dougal farmed, which is across the road here.
How big is this block then?
This is eleven hectares.
Twenty-eight acres about, isn't it?
'Bout twenty-seven, yeah.
So you obviously grew some crops for a start?
Well, yes; I sold the farm in Otane and we bought … and bought this property. I bought my two brothers out of this property, being a family trust; and as the property didn't have a house, we bought the house in Havelock. And then I farmed this for two or three years, Frank, and then went into grape growing on it.
Right. And who did you grow grapes for?
Pretty much just about everybody. [Chuckles]
Well if you didn't you would be taken over … I grew grapes for McWilliam's, Cook's, Corban's, the French group …
That's exactly what happened to me. I originally signed the contract with McWilliam's, which you know, as you've just stated … but I did also contract with the Auckland companies when they looked down to Hawke's Bay here to get better grapes than they were able to grow on their own sites up there, because of the weather. So I was one of the early ones doing that on a consistent basis.
Right – all on this block?
Yes, yes, yes, it was on this block.
And then at some stage you became Johnny Appleseed and planted some apple trees, didn't you?
Yes. That was about the variation in the way the grape industry went, and just looking for something that was more of an alternative. So I planted the first block of apples, and I've now gone on from doing that to planting a second block of apples and then getting totally out of the grapes and planting all the rest of it in that.
Did you used to take part in grape harvesting during the season?
Yes. Yes. When I came back from Otane I worked for Did Ericksen [who] was the local contractor at that time through … I got to do that, Frank, through the association with Did on the grain company we owned in those days.
Oh …
And while I was not doing a lot here it was quite a good fill in to drive a grape harvester for him. And then of course, our other owner of the grain company got killed, and I took over running that for three or four years.
Yes – that was …
Gordon Nowell-Usticke.
And is it still …
The grain company no longer exists. We built the business to the point where we had it running very nicely, and then the grain available in Hawke's Bay started decreasing. The property that we had the grain plant on was very valuable and somebody wanted it for other commercial uses, and so – we were only running the grain company at like, half capacity – and it was decided by the other two shareholders … they wanted out, Gordon Nowell-Usticke's widow particularly, so we realised the value in the company by selling.
You must've had apples now for what – ten years?
No, I'd be close on thirty – it's about twenty-eight years, Frank.
Since you planted the first apples?
Time flies, doesn't it?
Oh, well I'm not sure whether there's much fun in it. [Chuckle]
No. It creates some negative cashflow, and sometimes it has some positive cashflows …
[Chuckle] Yes, it's interesting. I said earlier that the idea of apples was to smooth the ups and downs of the grape industry, and … have to say the apple industry has just been just [chuckle] the same – up and down, up and down.
Well, I … the big corporates have been able to pull some money out of it; our overseas prices have certainly firmed, haven't they?
Yes, we've done some great work with varieties that's put profitability back in, which I think we're probably over the hump of at the moment, Frank, from what I'm seeing happen.
So you run this block mainly with contract pruners?
No, no. The work done here is by myself, apart from the hand thinning work and the picking. All the rest is done by myself.
You don't spray as much as we used to.
No, we don't.
Do you have to irrigate this block?
I do. Yes, I've got irrigation and I do it on demand; I've got meters to tell me when to do it, so even though you probably could grow without, there are times when you're damaging your fruit if you don't have sufficient water up there, and the very hot days, you'll sunburn, so …
You mentioned that you have a love of cars – have you raced them or do you just like driving?
I did competition motorsport before I started property owning and realised that the two didn't fit, [chuckle] and sensibly decided to just go property owning.
So what sort of a car were you chasing round the ..?
I had quite a series of cars in those times, Frank, there was just the … what do you call it? Cars that were particularly good for competition in those days.
Like Anglias and Humber 80s ..?
Yes, and Ford Cortinas. But since those days I've just owned cars on an interest basis, for personal use.
I think it's something that you sort of grow out of eventually.
I really wish I had. [Chuckle] No, I haven't grown out of them, no.
So during all this period of time, did Margaret work?
No, Margaret worked for the Justice Department because she was in that line of business when I met her. I think she was working for a thing called Psych Services then, whatever that meant; and so in the Justice she was involved with the Probation Officers, supervising people.
Now your children went to local schools?
Yes, they did all their schooling in Havelock North.
And their names are? And when were they born?
Jane was the eldest, our daughter, and then James was born. And they were born in the seventies.
Both Havelock Primary?
Yeah, that complex of schools that is the kindergarten, the primary, the intermediate and the secondary school. And that's why we bought the house in Havelock rather than build on this property when we bought it, because the children were just starting that exercise and we could see the value to be close to the schools. And we're still there.
And travelling – have you as a family travelled a bit?
Yes, we've done local, national and international travel.
Have you played any sport like golf or fishing?
I had to sort of retire from a lot of active sport because I injured myself at rugby; sort of limited what I could do then, Frank. So my sport has been on the screen more than …
Comfortable watching. [Chuckle] Have you ever been to Richardson's museum in Invercargill?
Yes. Yes, I have. I went there before it was public. Richardson became involved in sponsoring the New Zealand Ploughing thing through his company, Allied Petroleum. When he first put that together I was on the New Zealand Ploughing Executive, and he invited us in there one afternoon and he showed us around, which was just amazing. But it's changed since I was there, and I understand originally he had this old bakery building that he had … converted.
[Speaking together] Oh, is that what it was originally?
Yes, but I understand there are additional buildings to it now.
There are – it's fifteen thousand square metres in size; it's got a huge restaurant.
Yeah, well see none of that was there when we were there, because it wasn't public, and it was his private thing which he was doing. And it was well set up, Frank, it wasn't just a big shed full of gear. But I understand that the sons just pushed on and on; it's a tribute to him – he'd gathered all that material together. What was great when I went was he was telling stories about securing this, and securing that, and how he'd competed against me in Winton, with this truck, and we'd found it in the shed some years later.
It shows the affluence that's behind it, because everything that's there is prepared beautifully.
What's interesting you making that comment about money, because we were told by somebody who knew him well that he used to bike down there to the museum; you know, like the famous man in Timaru with the finance company – he used to have the old Veedub [Volkswagen] car. Bill Richardson used to bike into the Board meetings; but he invested in that.
So and both your children are now what age approximately.
In their forties … just in their forties, yeah.
And grandchildren?
How many?
Got three grandsons, yeah.
And what age are they?
Oh, they're ten down to three.
Well, can you think of anything that you haven't told me?
Not really, Frank. The early history is just not with me. I was never, I suppose, stimulated enough to get it and now those things have gone. And we can see and regret … like Tony, my cousin, lives in Taradale and another cousin from my father's sister, he lives in Wellington; and we meet every now and again and have a meal together in Havelock. We talk about this … how we didn't gather all the information about the history.
It's never too late though; today we are doing exactly that by recording what you know at this point. Somewhere along the line someone else will have some of the history that you don't know.
Yes, although we know in our case, our big historian passed away about five years ago; that was my cousin, and she followed that and was interested in that, and had all that information, but we didn't get it. My mother had a lot of that information and she's passed away.
Well that's something we didn't mention, and that's when your father and mother … can you remember the dates that they passed away?
No, I can't, Frank. No, my father passed away some years ago; my mother … I don't know … within the last ten years.
Yes, time goes on.
It's quite a usual happening I understand, Frank. The first generation … the second knows it but doesn't pass it on to the third, and the third tells the fourth, [but] doesn't tell them what they're missing. They go looking.
That's right. Well I think that's probably given us a good coverage of the Agnews and where they came from and where they are today. So thank you, Campbell, for sharing that with everyone. Thank you.
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Interviewer: Campbell Agnew
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