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Charley organises everything again
Finally, everyone reached home. There had been about an hour of 'We're so glad you're safe' and then another half an hour of 'This is what happens when you talk to strange people on the Internet', and then, finally, Valorie had told her parents that there was work to be done.
'We need to check on Thoughts.com to see how many people are prepared to join us,' Charley explained. 'This is going to be a big battle, so, if it's alright with you…'
Mr Morse shrugged, waving them upstairs. Eddie followed Charley, cradling a mug of hot chocolate.
'Thanks for helping me, Dad,' she said for the seventh time.
'No problem.'
'I wish I could have been there,' Mrs Morse said. 'Unfortunately I'd agreed – rather reluctantly, I might add – to stay in the car.'
'I didn't want you to get hurt, Meg,' Mr Morse said as he sat beside her. 'You would have been scared stiff. I was scared. I hated to think of some creepy guy hoarding our daughter away like that…'
'Oh, don't talk about it,' Valorie's mother said, recoiling.
The two embraced. Valorie, sensing her moment, chose to leave the room, and padded up the stairs to join Charley and Eddie.
When she got up there, Charley was at the computer, thinking hard. He was still very rusty with any form of technology. Valorie had had a big enough struggle teaching him how to use a mobile phone. She wasn't about to show him around a computer. Eddie stood behind him, holding her hot chocolate. Evidently it was still too hot for her to drink.
'How many people are there?' she asked, trying to be helpful.
He finished counting. 'One hundred and twenty four. More than we expected…' he looked carefully at the screen. 'But about seventeen people have written to say they can't come.'
'So that's, er…'
'Come on, come on, don't they teach mental maths at school anymore?'
'Let me think! It's… one hundred and seven. That's still really good… isn't it?'
'It's more than we expected,' Charley repeated. 'I took the liberty, while you were being held hostage, to move the meeting to the 16th of November.'
'Today? That was optimistic of you.'
'Well, I was sort of expecting the rescue mission to be successful, but in case it wasn't, I needed more people to help us.'
Valorie grinned. 'But it was successful. So even better, I'll be able to help you!'
Charley didn't look at her. Eddie cleared her throat and took a sip of hot chocolate.
'Argh! That is really really hot!' She put the mug down.
'I am allowed to come and fight with you, aren't I?'
'Absolutely not.'
'What?' Valorie was outraged.
Charley sighed. 'You're just a child, Valorie, whether we like it or not. I owe it to your parents to make sure you're kept safe until this whole ordeal is over.'
Eddie gave Valorie a sympathetic half-smile, but Valorie wasn't paying any attention.
'I just got kidnapped by that guy, and I can't help you fight him? I could really help you, I'm getting really good at magic.'
Before Charley could contradict her, his mobile phone began to ring in his pocket. He dug it out and held it to his ear.
'Charley Aether speaking.' He listened. 'Hello, O'Hanlon.'
'What's he saying?' Eddie interrupted. Charley turned away from her.
'Yes, we did, sir… Yes, she's safe. Mhmmmmm. That's right… What? What's happened?… Oh my God.'
'How many people?… I see.' Charley looked grim as he listened to whatever was being said. 'What can I do?… OK… I can have everyone assembled in a few hours… It's fastest I can get everyone there… Well, I can't guarantee anything. I'll try… Thank you, sir.'
He hung up with a look on his face that was new to Valorie – one that suggested a deep sense of foreboding.
'What is it?' Eddie asked softly.
Charley turned towards her.
'Adam Quinn has just killed forty-one people.'
Eddie covered her mouth, and Valorie stared at him in shock.
'He collapsed his flat, killing all thirty inhabitants, and murdered eleven more, burning them to death. He's been targeted by police in the area, but… well. They haven't been able to stop him.'
'What else did he say?'
Charley inhaled deeply. 'He said that I have to defeat him as soon as possible, and I'm free to use any means necessary. This means we at least have his permission to band together. Coming from O'Hanlon, that's quite a big step forward.'
Eddie sat down heavily on the chair, her eyes beady.
'Oh my God… all those poor people. This is terrible.'
Everyone in the room was silent. Then Charley strode out and made his way downstairs. Eddie and Valorie exchanged a look, and quickly followed. Eddie's steps down the stairs were quick and light; Valorie's were heavy and clumping, and she took the steps two at a time. They reached the hallway at the same time to see Charley tugging on his coat.
'Where are we going?'
'You're going to stay here,' Charley said, motioning to Eddie, who hesitantly stepped forward to get her coat as well. 'We have to go out and stop Adam Quinn.'
'You can't just leave me here! It's not fair! I want to go with you!'
'Valorie, no.' She felt long-fingered hands on her shoulder, pull her backwards. 'You need to stay here and relax, you've been through too much already.'
Valorie whipped round to face her mother.
'No Mum,' she said, livid. 'I have to go. You don't understand -'
'I do understand, sweetheart,' Mrs Morse replied. 'I went through the same thing today. I hated waiting in the car while the others went to get you. But then I realised something. Waiting was the right thing to do. It is, sometimes. Sometimes things are too big for you to handle, and you have to step back.'
Charley was looking away again.
'You need to calm down after what's happened,' Mr Morse agreed, standing beside his wife. 'You also need to take some time off school to catch up with your work.'
'But -'
Valorie stared desperately at them, trying hopelessly to make them see her point. She couldn't wait while everyone else in the world defeated Adam. She wanted revenge. It was a shock to realise this. But it was too clear to ignore. Valorie's insides churned when she thought of how many people Adam had made suffer – Sophie, Joe, all those dead people just tonight… it was dreadful. She couldn't let him get away with it.
But her parents refused to see it.
Valorie wilted like a dying flower. 'I need to go. I can't…'
Eddie walked over to pat her shoulder. 'I promise we'll contact you to let you know what's going on,' she assured her.
Valorie nodded weakly.
Charley seemed to be finding all this too difficult to watch. He had already located the door handle and was standing half in, half out of the house. 'Eddie,' he said.
Valorie let them go.
The door slammed. There followed a long silence.
'Let's go to bed,' Valorie's mother said quietly.
Adam Quinn was having a great time. He hadn't had so much fun in years. In fact, he thought casually as he dispatched another few frightened passers-by, this was probably the best night of his life.
Who needs friends, he thought. This was much better – this was indescribable – unbeatable. He had the power to morph reality – to kill as often as he wished, and nobody could stop him.
He gazed in satisfaction at what he had already created. In a few short hours, the fire had spread to the surrounding trees in the park. It had once been a pleasant place where couples had strolled or children walked their dogs. Now it blazed red, orange and yellow. The trees had become scorched and blackened.
The pathway, previously a nice cobbled trail winding through the grass, had developed into a winding river of lava. A deep shade of scarlet was bleeding into the grass.
Hell on Earth. This was Adam's Distortia – the name he had chosen for his newly formed world. Here, he could be the King – people would look up to him, regard him with fear and respect.
And yet somehow all this still felt bad.
It was all rotten somehow because Sophie wasn't here with him. And she should be here.
Valorie was very like Sophie. Maybe if he could get Valorie to stand by him to watch, he would feel better.
So where, he wondered, did he go next?
An old man walked by with his guide dog. Adam annihilated them with no more than a flick of his wrist.
Valorie lay in bed, unable to sleep. She couldn't stop thinking about poor Sophie. Adam had never gone into that much detail, so she couldn't be sure exactly how she had died. But it must have been horrible.
Valorie had seen enough drawings of Sophie to have a clear picture of her in her mind. They did bear a very strong resemblance, although Sophie didn't share Valorie's nose or wear her hair in quite the same way. Valorie couldn't stand the way they looked so similar. It made her feel more connected to Sophie's death, and in some strange way, partly responsible.
Adam had clearly loved Sophie. So why had he killed her in cold blood for the sake of a simple affair? Lots of people could be cheated on and forgive and forget and go on with their lives.
Adam couldn't forgive and forget; that was his problem. Adam had too many problems. He was completely neurotic. Valorie hated him. She hated the way she felt when he stared at her, when he drew those dreadful pictures. Everything he did, Valorie hated.
What if Charley couldn't stop him? What if all those people couldn't stop him. Adam would get away; start to wreak havoc once again.
Valorie sat up. She slid her feet out from under the duvet, planted them on the ground, and straightened her knees. She stood up.
Without the duvet wrapped around her, the air was very cold. It was going to be a chilly night. She went through in her mind what she would need to take with her. She dug under the bed, scrabbling for the metal box she stored her sweets in.
Taking out a few Mars Bars, she looked around the dimly-lit room, scanning the room for her clothes.
There they were.
As quietly as she could, Valorie stepped into her jeans and pulled a shirt and jumper over her head. She zipped a fleece on over that and slipped on her trainers.
Then, she tiptoed over to the bedside table, where she'd left the Mars Bars, stuffing them in her pocket.
What else would she need? What had she taken with her on their mission to rescue Charley?
Torch. She'd need a torch.
She carefully burrowed around all the rubbish piled about the room. No sign of it. Cursing herself for not being a more tidy person, she gave up trying to find the torch, and stood still in the middle of the room.
She concentrated, clenching all her muscles.
She exploded outwards, rushed backwards, wobbled on the edge of one foot and fell over – but landed on soft grass.
She glanced up at her bedroom window. She had made it safely outside.
Valorie started walking, trying to ignore the burning in the pit of her stomach.


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Pro-Clinton super PAC raises almost $6M
WASHINGTON — The super PAC urging Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president said Thursday that it raised $1.7 million in the first three months of the year, almost all of it from small-dollar donors.
But the group had a number of bold-faced names who had given $25,000, including Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Former California Assembly speaker Fabian Nunez, former U.S. Trade Representative Glen Fukushima and former Goldman Sachs executive Daniel Neidich also gave the maximum the group accepts.
|The article you requested is no longer available on BostonHerald.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jammu, May 13 (UNI) Sounding alert in the city of temples, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Jammu-Kathua range Farooq Khan today said the militants may ''target'' Jammu city ahead of Amarnath yatra and assembly elections scheduled to be held in October.
Khan while interacting with mediapersons during the programme 'meet the press' organized by the press club of Jammu here this morning said as per intelligence inputs,a large number of militants are on their toes to enter Indian territory from across the border.
''Around 400-500 militants in bordering districts of Jammu region are waiting to infiltrate into Indian side from across the border,'' Khan told UNI adding that Jammu may be the prime ''target'' for the ultras.
''From June 18,a two-month long Amarnath yatra is going to begin followed by assembly elections in October and the militants ''targeting'' sensitive areas of the city cannot be ruled out,'' the DIG said asserting, ''tight security arrangements have been made with additional troops from various security agencies, who will be guarding the entire Jammu region of the state.'' However, Mr Khan also said night curfews on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner are also being imposed on the borders to keep surveillance on suspicious movements.
Commenting upon the Samba encounter between fidayeens and the security forces wherein a photojournalist, political leader and his wife among six people were killed, Mr. Khan said, ''it is hard to say that either fidayeens crossed the border on May 8 when the infiltration bid was foiled or they were already present in the forest area of Samba sector.'' UNI VBH SY RN1622


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More NSW homes on fire alert
Crews are patrolling five bushfires on the New South Wales North Coast and warning more homes may be threatened, after the blazes destroyed one house and several sheds yesterday.
It was a bad start to the bushfire season yesterday, when hot westerly winds fanned fires on the Tilligerry peninsula to burn out more than 250 hectares and threaten dozens of properties.
The Rural Fire Service (RFS) says all the fires are believed to have been deliberately lit. It is working closely with police to investigate them.
More than 100 RFS volunteers worked through the night to put in containment lines around the fires.
RFS spokesman Mark Lewis says crews will today bring in three water bombing helicopters and two planes.
"There's a small area still burning inside a large containment line but we're going to water bomb that this morning and hopefully extinguish that," he said.
The RFS hopes today's weather will make conditions easier for firefighters, but it is warning weather conditions will deteriorate tomorrow and has organised a community meeting at Mallabula tonight to update local residents.
RFS Hunter Zone commander Jason McKellar says the fires were unexpected for the time of year.
"I think that while it is a fairly bad report, the good work that has been done by the troops out on the ground - they're numbering near 100 at the moment - it has been phenomenal," he said.
"There are some fairly populated areas out there that the fire went through earlier."
The service says the fire is a wake-up call to people to prepare for a bad season ahead.
Kuring-gai blaze
Crews are also still on the scene of a bushfire at the Kuring-gai Chase National Park north of Sydney.
Fire has burnt through about 150 hectares of bushland there and campers were evacuated yesterday.
Another RFS spokesman, Murray Hillan, says about 130 volunteers are trying to contain that blaze.
"Last night, it began to burn into an area that had been hazard-reduced a few months ago, so that slowed down the rate of progress of that fire considerably," he said.
"We've been working on containment lines, particularly on the south side off walking trails.
"We're still working to get containment of that as well but it's fortunately not near any homes or property."
A fire in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, is under control.
Topics: bushfire, disasters-and-accidents, mallabula-2319, australia, nsw, mount-kuring-gai-2080
First posted


text: So I decided to try the Tag Team Arcade Ladder to see if it would count as both fighters beating Arcade. Although it will only show 1 ending the game registers both fighters beating Arcade (You can view the ending in the gallery). Also note that you must unlock both of the hidden characters and beat Arcade with them as well. Each Arcade run on Beginner, with 1 round, took 4-5 minutes each time. So this is the fastest way to beat the Arcade. Hope this helps.


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Naomi Carmen Model
linden AdamsPhotographer Male Manchester, England, United Kingdom
My Website: Linden Adams PhotographyMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/lindenadamsphotography
Mayhem # 1067239
About MeAward winning Photographer, runner up to Digital Photographer of the year 2010 cat (Portraits)
Worked in the industry as a professional for 7 yrs now, Clients include Magazines, papers, TV GQ ,loaded, Performance bikes, GMTV, Sunday Telegraph weekend magazine. Bennetts Babe, Norton Motorcycles official Photographer,Blu Tulip galleries, Hel Brake lines .
Main interests being classic vintage themed pin up shoots, especially involving motorcycles and period cars and Hot Rods.
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Credit NotesGQ magazine, FHM, Loaded, GMTV, Blue Moon, BBC etc see website
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The typical Collabera Software Tester salary is $66,796. Software Tester salaries at Collabera can range from $63,173-$70,628. This estimate is based upon 5 Collabera Software Tester salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods. See all Software Tester salaries to learn how this stacks up in the market.
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text:
He can shear a sheep in three minutes and knock down a Frenchman in a flash.
Dan Lydiate played an absolute blinder in Wales's Grand Slam clincher against France in Cardiff on Saturday and yesterday the dynamic one-man tackle machine of a blindside flanker picked up the 2012 Six Nations Player of the Championship award.
The 23-year-old farmer's son from Llandrindod Wells received more than 25 per cent of votes cast by 30,000 fans, emerging ahead of the Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton and Italy's captain Sergio Parisse.
"I am really surprised, to be honest," Lydiate said. "I'm so happy and so chuffed. I looked at the trophy and you have Shane Williams and Brian O'Driscoll on there – legends of the game. It seems strange for me to pick up the award. It's a massive honour to win, especially given the quality of the other players up for the award."
The shortlist also included Lydiate's team-mates Sam Warburton, Alex Cuthbert and Mike Phillips. "Dan in the French game was absolutely phenomenal," Warburton said. "I've never seen anybody in so much pain after a game. He doesn't feel pain during a game; he has the heart of a lion."
Sadly, the collateral damage suffered over the years by Jerry Flannery has forced the Munster and Ireland hooker to hang up his boots at the age of 33. Flannery has not played since Ireland's World Cup pool match against the United States in September last year because of calf and back problems and has been advised to retire on medical grounds.
"Since my injury at the 2011 World Cup I've struggled to regain the level of fitness required to play at this level," he said. Flannery, who was capped 41 times, was not the only Munster player reaching a crossroads yesterday. Scrum-half Tomas O'Leary, capped 24 times by Ireland, is to join London Irish at the end of the season on a three-year contract.
Brian Smith, London Irish's director of rugby, said: "Tomas will be a fantastic addition to our squad. He will bring with him a wealth of experience and a winning mentality."
The former chief executive of the InterContinental Hotels Group has been hired to run the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. Andrew Coslett will become chairman of the tournament organisers next month.
- More about:
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Check Out the new Remax App
Ask About This Home
Lovely, well located 172 +/- acre farm (ideal for hunting) sw of Newark, DE, near Glasgow & Elkton, .5 mi west of the DE/MD line on W. Williams Rd. Property has a 3-BR frame house & ancillary buildings (all in "As Is" condition). Of the total 172 +/- acres, there are approx. 80 +/- tillable acres, a 7 +/- acre pond with fish & waterfowl. Great hunting opportunities! Owner is licensed MD Realtor.


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OptiSun - Model Z - Sunflower Harvester Adapter
By Optigép Machine Manufacturing and Trading Ltd based in Békés, HUNGARY. from Sunflower Headers Product line
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« Naming is Everything with Company Names and Brand Names | Main | Gas Stations Need Better Brand Naming »
August 2, 2007
Fisher-Price, Big Bird and Dora Brand Names Take A Karate Chop in Toyland
Today's news that Mattel's Fisher-Price is recalling one million Chinese made toys is going to add further fuel to the anti-Chinese sentiment growing within the American consumer market... not that it will do much to stop Chinese exports into the USA.
What strikes me is that Fischer-Price is such an utterly American brand name: One of my staffers grew up near East Aurora New York, where Fischer-Price formerly made its famous toys before outsourcing most of its production to China.
This recall, the first in almost ten years for them, is going to illustrate that no brand name is above suspicion.
Moreover, Big Bird, Elmo, Dora and Diego are all blue chip toy names, and they are all tainted now. Thomas the Tank Engine and Hasbro's Easy Bake Oven are also suspect... is nothing sacred?
These are legendary brand names, not random cheapies cooked up in Shanghai.
Some bloggers point out that there is no need to panic and the Chinese juggernaut is a monster of our own making.
I agree.
But shoddy workmanship is killing famous brand name equity in the USA... and don't get me started on what counterfeit watches going for as little as $12 must be doing to the luxury brand name segment.
We like our cheap stuff and we like our knock offs, but I have to say that in the foreseeable future, products not made in China have a perfect means of creating a nice niche for themselves against the Chinese export tsunami.
The words "Made in USA" are going to sound especially sweet to nervous mothers shopping for their preschoolers.
I'm thinking that if you have a company name that references pretty much anything USA, put it prominently on the box and make sure customers know where your factory is located.
The great Chinese strategist Sun Tzu used to say "attack weakness, avoid strength", and China has just shown its Achilles heel.
Technorati Tags: Mattel, Fisher-Price, Big Bird, Elmo, Dora the Explorer, Dora and Diego, Thomas the Tank Engine, Hasbro, Easy Bake Oven.
Posted by William Lozito at August 2, 2007 8:19 AM
Posted to Brand Naming | Branding | Company Naming | Durable Goods | Marketing | Naming | Product Naming | Retail
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Three people have been left with neck injuries after two boats crashed on the River Thames this afternoon.
A ferry and a cargo boat collided on the water near the landmark OXO tower, with emergency crews rushing to rescue passengers from the stricken vessels.
A police marine team, as well as members of the coastguard, fire bridge and ambulance service were called to the scene after the smash at 2.15pm.
Scotland Yard said: "At this stage there are believed to be a small number of people with minor injuries including cuts and whiplash.
"Nobody from either vessel entered the water following the collision, and neither boat is believed to be at risk of sinking."
The force said that it was too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.
London Ambulance Service said on Twitter three patients had been treated for neck pain and another for a minor injury.
A spokesman said: "We were called at 14.20 to reports of a boat collision on the Thames near South Bank. We sent two ambulance crews, hazardous area response team and a duty officer to the scene.
"We treated four patients for minor injuries."


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Time to abolish school boards
Seeing the latest property tax increases for school taxes imposed by the local school boards and the comments by the minister of education, it is obvious that school boards are not accepting their financial responsibilities for the operation of the school system. It is time for the school board to be abolished and the provincial government to fund the education of school divisions 100 per cent. This is the position that has been supported by the Manitoba Teachers' Society as well.
Priority should be feeding your kids
I fail to understand why children are going to school hungry. That just shows how their parents care about them. My wife and I came from families with little or no money, but our parents made sure that we had breakfast before we went to school. They were on the edge of being on welfare. So we are a bit confused of the problem today.
I don't understand how he does not understand
Machete-wielding man (March 26, Brandon Sun) doesn't understand police telling him to drop the weapon and the judge gives him a fine. He has been in Canada for seven years and doesn't understand "drop it." Give your head a shake. He shouldn't have been allowed in Canada without being able to speak and understand English in the first place.
Cheers for Parkview Seniors
I have lived in Parkview Seniors Housing Co-op for six years and we are allowed a small dog or a cat. I have a small dog. So there are some places in the city that do allow you to bring a pet.
Thanks for the pickup
I would like to thank the kind Samaritan who picked up a 71-year-old man who fell on the ice on Monday and took him home. It was really nice of them and I thank you very much.


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Welcome to the Quilting Board!
It was a pretty machine. Too bad it didn't find a great home to adopt it.
My GOAL is to ALWAYS ENJOY EVERY STEP of the quilting process....
I've heard of people using them as boat anchors. I guess a lot - probably the vast majority of them - wound up in junk yards or melted down for BB's or something less peaceable. I'd rather see it used as outdoor decor than that, but I agree they could have found a less worthy machine to put out there. It's destiny, by being cute and in the public eye, is to help keep the history of sewing alive. It should be proud. Someday a kid riding by will ask, "Mom, what's that?" and a new vintage sewing machine aficionado will be born.
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire


text:
You missed it This great deal for Bollywood Masala is over. But don't despair, we've got more great deals every day.
If you appreciate a restaurant that pays as much attention to its colour scheme as the top-notch ingredients in its dishes, today's deal from Bollywood Masala should leave you pink-cheeked with excitement:
• Just £19 (up to a £47.70 value, for up to 60% off) of your precious green will buy a two-course meal with a glass of wine each for two at the contemporary Indian eatery on Liverpool Road, with two starters and two mains.
• Or it's £35 (up to a £95.40 value, for up to 63% off) for the same meal for four.
• With starters such as chicken puri and malai lamb chops, and mains such as the famous sanjay curry dishes and spiced lamb stir fried with onions and peppers, this offer could help to make everything in your world seem rosy.
Avoid the blues and hit 'Buy Now' before this deal fades to black.
Enjoy By 3 July, 2014
buy before time's up. or else kitteh gets it.
*'lower price' discount may not apply to multiple purchases, select your options to see your final price. By purchasing, you agree to the deal fine print and the LivingSocial terms and conditions.
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Buy this Deal with confidence, because it's covered by LivingSocial's Deal Credit Guarantee up to the Voucher Expiration Date


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Choose your Photographer in Florence
Pricing starts at $250 for a 30-minute shoot.
Proposal packages start at $350.
I am extremely passionate about what I do and my clients love it. I enjoy shooting people and have fun with them; I also like to be behind the curtains to capture endless memories and spontaneous emotions.
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I love the creative freedom that comes with my work, but I have most fun when I shoot portraits and weddings for real people. I love to create photographs and memories that will be part of someone's story.
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I am a wedding and portrait photographer in Florence with a Master's in Fine Arts. My style is a fusion of modern and classic. I compose stories spontaneously, but also with posed photos.
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I love simple and direct photography, minimal compositions, the intuition of the moment - a style which is able to seize the fleeting moment and capture it in an image that has a powerful emotional impact.
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I'm a wedding photographer, dreamer, technology addict, cat lover & globetrotter. I prefer sincere smiles and genuine posing for my couples and models.
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My style is relaxed and spontaneous, a combination of reportage and artistic view. I like creating a fun and easy atmosphere during the shoots, which gives me an opportunity to capture sincere, true moments.
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Benvenuto a Florence!
The heart of Italy's fabled Renaissance beats here, and Florence's endless monuments and galleries will attest to this fact. Proud of its history yet moving confidently towards the future, it is a mecca for the stylish, the creative and the hip. In big ways and small, Florence casts its spell: be immersed amongst buzzing Vespas, bustling piazzas, and the movable feast of this cultural capital.
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Piazza della Repubblica
Oltrano & the Arno River


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Amid all the upheaval in Wales in recent days it would be easy to ignore the fact that when the grand slam champions take the field at Lansdowne Road on Sunday their Irish hosts will be under at least as much pressure, arguably more given the relative serenity of their build-up and their comparative lack of injuries.
Apart from a magical 20 minutes in the second half of their match with France Ireland have underperformed in the past few months, and the half-back pairing of Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara has come in for its share of flak.
Stringer, Ireland's most capped scrum-half and a virtual fixture in the team since his first cap in 2000, is keen to take the brickbats on the chin. "At the start of the campaign we weren't happy with our performance [against Italy]. We went to Paris wanting to play a bit of rugby and shot ourselves in the foot, although we played better rugby, at certain times as good as we've ever played."
As he heads for his 64th cap this weekend the diminutive 28-year-old is keen to dispel any notion that he is operating in a comfort zone, in spite of the fact that he seems virtually unassailable in his position. "I don't mind the question, but every time I go into any significant game I do it knowing that there is another scrum-half on the substitute bench, and that's motivation enough."
Ireland's previous back-up No9, Guy Easterby, now appears to be out of the picture and the next in line, Eoin Reddan, has one brief appearance off the bench to his credit. Stringer's is a position of considerable security but he insists he is taking nothing for granted; indeed, the length at which he deals with the question suggests he feels anything but complacent.
"Eoin Reddan is on the bench; I see him as the next guy, champing at the bit, snapping at my heels to take my place and I'm doing everything I can to keep it from happening. It's a position I want to play in and stay in and I don't want to give anyone a sniff, not to slacken off a single ounce to give the guy that little bit of hope. If I can negate every single possible part of that, that's all I can physically do."
One of the words on Irish lips this week is Saipan, now associated with Roy Keane and the debacle that preceded Ireland's 2002 World Cup football campaign. The question is whether Wales can fight back from the oval-ball equivalent, having lost their coach and captain within a few days of each other.
"Sometimes a bit of tension within a squad can make them gel, make the team stronger," says Stringer.
"We're expecting as hard a game against Wales as we've ever had in spite of everything going on in the background." In view of the current doubts over the scrum-half's form, his personal contest with the Welsh linchpin Dwayne Peel will be closely observed.
Stringer's position has suddenly acquired new importance in another sense, with Ireland attempting to speed up their game in the Welsh style.
"There's a higher work rate involved if the ball is spinning from one side of the pitch to the other and you're looking at the main passer having the ball in his hands most of the time, but it's a style we enjoy playing.
"It's actually easier playing like that, when the ball is coming out of the rucks quickly. It's off slow ball with the defence lined up that real decision- making comes in."
Irish rugby fans are clearly wondering which Ireland will turn up this Sunday: the hesitant team who were shaken by the Italians in their own backyard and who were unable to find space when France were in the ascendancy, or the confident group who flung the ball here and there Barbarian-style in the second half in Paris.
Stringer does not seem any clearer on this than the man on the Dublin bus. "I don't know. In the Italy game we found ourselves with very little time to play the ball, whether it was nerves or the fact we hadn't played together for a few months. Against France in the first half we made three mistakes and let in three tries.
"It's about keeping hold of the ball, not panicking when we have it, keeping possession and building the phases. It's something you look back at, analyse, say where we went wrong, then you try and do it on the pitch and it doesn't work. I don't know. It's a mystery to me as well. It's something we're trying to rectify, it's certainly something we're trying to put our fingers on."


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This hotel was built in 2000 and enjoys a view of the Loire River. It features a little garden bringing calm and serenity and the recently renovated apartments ensure both a comfortable stay and good value for money. This city hotel is ideal for both business travellers and holidaymakers alike and comprises 4 junior suites, 21 suites, 1 apartment and 124 studios. Facilities on offer to guests include a lobby, lift access and a breakfast room. Guests may also take advantage of the room and laundry services for an additional fee and there is parking available (charges apply) for those arriving by car.
This residence is located in a residential suburb close to the church of Notre Dame de Bon Port (heritage listed), the Machines de l'Ile and the Loire River. Guests can take advantage of the charm of the location as well as the proximity to the city centre. The nearest links to the public transport network are only 50 m from the hotel door, whilst Nantes train station is some 2.3 km away. Guests will find restaurants, bars, clubs and shops all 700 m away in the city centre. It is a 45-minute drive to the beach at Pornic and Nantes Airport is only 18 km from the hotel.
The residence offers guests large furnished apartments with sea views suitable for between 1 and 6 persons. The living rooms are warm and refined and offer comfort, well-being and relaxation. All accommodation comes with a shower, a direct dial telephone, a TV, Internet access and a kitchenette with a fridge, a microwave and tea and coffee making facilities. They are also equipped with an ironing set, a double bed and individually adjustable heating.
Guests may select their breakfast from a buffet.
American Express, MasterCard and VISA are accepted at this hotel.
Guests can reach the residence via line 1 of the tram network: Chantiers Navals tram stop is opposite the residence. Those arriving by rail should take the north exit out of the train station and take the line 1 tram (journey time: 10 minutes). Those arriving by car should head for central Nantes and then Notre Dame de Bon Port on the Place de l'Eglise, then turn right into Rue d'Alger, then 1st right, go past St. Ferr�ol Bolo and take the 2nd turning on the left.
The reception is open from Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays and bank holidays. Check-in time is from 3 pm and guests are required to check-out by 10:30 am. Guests planning to arrive outside of these scheduled can use a code valid 24h/24, sent by SMS on the day of their arrival.
Room Facilities:
Direct dial telephone
Satellite cable TV
Internet access
Tea Coffee
Individual heating