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Over the years we have had a few standard wired computer mice. Each in turn has died a death, despite all the usual 'take it to pieces, clean the ball inside, change the mousemat' remedies. With the last one, it was working but ohhhh soooo slowly - this unfortunately coincided with everyone in the family having some urgent report to write / homework to do / etc. etc. - so in exasperation my husband stomped off to get another one ....
"Get a wireless one" I said.
"Get a Logitech one" I said.
I work in IT and colleagues had recommended Logitech, so I was pretty adamant on that score.
Husband arrived home : "They'd sold out of the Logitech ones so I got this". Grrr. But to be honest anything was better than the almost-dead one, so decided to give it a go.
It was a Bush mouse (can't remember the model). Well, what can I say? It felt flimsy, it was big and clunky, it seemed to tip my wrist to a funny angle, and none of us liked it much at all. Fortunately, it soon developed a fault whereby it kept needing to be reset - I say fortunately because this meant we could take it back and replace it with the now-in-stock Logitech M215.
The information on the Bush mouse is really to show the comparison. I have to say the M215 was a dream from the start.
* It has a pleasing matt finish and is perfectly contoured so it fits my hand really comfortably
* Both buttons and the scroll wheel are easy and comfortable to use
* Uses single AA battery - the sort most folk usually have in
* Set-up could not have been simpler - battery in, switch mouse on, plug in the tiny USB nano receiver
* On-off switch allows you to turn off when not in use, saving battery
* Control is nicely responsive
* Easy to move from one computer to another
* There's a storage space for the nano receiver inside the mouse, so you don't lose it in transit
* A button releases the battery door making access easy
The only warning I would mention is that if you forget how to open the battery door, it can fox you for a while - well, it had me stumped, until I found the instructions!
I mentioned I work in IT - so have used a lot of mice at work as well as at home, and this is my all-time favourite. If, like me, you spend a lot of hours on a computer, the comfort of a mouse is quite important really. This one does have a lot of little nice-to-have features too. I really, truly can't fault it in any way.
Price-wise - I think it's available around the £15 mark. Bargain!
I am a bit of a sucker for kitchen gadgets. All sorts of weird and wonderful contraptions can be found in my kitchen drawer ... and yes, I admit it, many of them never see the light of day from one year to the next.
In stark contrast, this little beauty has earned its place in my drawer many times over.
It doesn't look much. It really doesn't look much. A plastic handle with a loop at one end and a jutting out bit underneath. Exactly the sort of object you'd be looking at with a very confused expression if you came across it without knowing what it was.
But this, my friends, is the JarKey. A triumph of design. Sheer genius when it comes to opening jars. You may think I'm waxing rather too lyrical, but I really am impressed with this gadget.
Unless you have wrists of steel, I'm sure you have at some point struggled to open a jar. Toast is waiting, jam jar lid won't budge. Maybe like me you've tried the 'run it under hot water' trick or tried using a tea towel so your hands don't slip. Maybe you've resorted to going in search of someone with stronger wrists. Maybe when everyone's had a go and failed you've gone without whatever it was in the jar.
With the JarKey, such struggles are a thing of the past. You simply sit that "jutting out bit" under the lip of the lid, press the loop bit down into the centre of the lid by lifting the handle - only a very small amount of pressure needed - and hey presto, a little popping sound tells you the vacuum seal is broken, and the lid will unscrew easily.
Now I actually have quite strong wrists, and yet I have had plenty of use out of my beloved JarKey. I can only imagine how useful it would be to someone with less strength and mobility.
There are various alternatives on the market - but frankly, why bother? This is simple, sturdy, takes up very little room, is a doddle to use, and works every time. You can get hold of one for a paltry £3.49 from Lakeland Limited - a fab bargain for something worth its weight in gold!
The iconic yellow Pac-man, sitting on a black plinth, digital clock in its 'melon slice' mouth ... who could resist?
My son has been hankering after an alarm clock for a while in order to be able to get up a bit earlier to play computer games before breakfast, so it was a delicious irony when I spotted this. I had no idea Pac-man was enjoying such a resurgence, but there appear to be Pac-man products everywhere at the moment, so it's clearly another trend which was about to pass me by.
Actually, said son does own a perfectly serviceable Dennis the Menace alarm clock, but I had been finding this inexplicably moved out of his room or put in a cupboard ... then he admitted the ticking noise was bothering him at night. Hamster scurrying round his cage doesn't disturb him, ticking clock does - can't fathom that one, but never mind! Anyway, what I'm getting at is that it was rather important to me to find a non-ticking clock, and this one is just that. Silent as the grave ... until it goes off, when it's enough to wake the dead!
If you're familiar with Pac-man sounds, you will understand the noise it makes. If not, I can't really describe very well, but it's a cacophony of ear-splitting electronic NOISE. Proper authentic game sounds. And he LOVES it! Me, I prefer to be coaxed out of sleep with a gentle alarm which gets steadily more persistent if you ignore it. This one hits you with the full force of its repertoire and scares the living daylights out of me even in the next room.
It's definitely serving its purpose in waking him up and getting him out of bed, very useful on school days. I suspect that as he approaches teenage years I may be even more glad of that!
So, what of the clock apart from the infernal racket it makes?
Well, the other thing we were after was a digital display - he can tell the time on an analogue clock when he concentrates, but finds digital much easier. This clock has a large digital display - the numbers are about an inch tall. One thing I would say here though is that because the clock is inside the 'mouth', you need to position it carefully so you can see it. If it's about on your eye level it's best, otherwise the overhang can block some of the display.
The clock is plastic - it feels quite sturdy although it is also very light. It takes two AAA batteries.
The controls I think are very intelligently designed. Maybe it's just me, but I find with many alarm clocks it's quite tricky to find the right button to turn them off when you're not properly awake. With this one, there are three distinct sets of controls.
On the side is a simple on/off switch. This turns the alarm on or off completely.
On the front are three Pac-man themed buttons. These have little stickers on (or that's what they look like anyway - haven't tried piddling them off to check!). The left one is cherries - this is the snooze button and can also be used to hear the alarm at any time (hopefully the novelty of this will wear off SOON). The middle one is a bell to turn the alarm off when it's blaring. The right one is a pink ghost and is the backlight button.
Then on the back are four buttons to set the clock and the alarm. Nice and simple, self-explanatory.
I really like the fact that all the controls are separate - it means there's no danger of accidentally resetting the time when you're searching for the snooze button whicle simultaneously trying to keep both hands over your ears!
This clock is fairly widely available. I saw it first at Comet, selling for the RRP of around £15. Sure there was a better deal to be had, I restrained myself and looked around. I managed to pick one up in the sale at firebox.com for £8.99 which I was well chuffed with, but I think it's available at Amazon and the other usual suspects for somewhere in the region of a tenner.
I may have mentioned that it's quite loud, but actually I think it's a great little clock. I wouldn't choose it to wake me up, but for my son it's perfect. Definitely worth five stars on that basis.
Witch Foaming Face Wash - I used to buy it regularly but my local supermarket stopped stocking it and so I've had a break. I recently noticed it back on the shelves and immediately bought some - and I have to say, I'd forgotten how good it is, which prompted me to write this!
Confession time - I'm a lazy so-and-so when it comes to skin care, and with a life where I'm juggling so much that spare time is at a premium it's one of those things that gets pushed to the bottom of the pile. Fortunately I am blessed with relatively youthful-looking skin (well, everyone thinks I'm younger than I am) so I generally get away with it, but said skin is fairly sensitive and can be prone to the 'middle-aged teenager' type outbreaks, so I do occasionally need to take a wee bit more care, which is where a product like this comes in. I also have a genuinely teenaged daughter, so one more reason to be buying this.
So, why is it so good?
Well, it's gentle (no complaints from sensitive skin), non-drying (soft skin after use), effective (face gets clean, spots etc seem to be fewer than when we don't use it), and smells really nice (fresh and natural, not at all overpowering). The 'witch' name is because it uses witch hazel which is often used for acne and other skin problems.
But to be honest, the thing I really like is the 'foaming' bit. One pump gives you a decent blob of foam sufficient for a good wash. Because it's foam it lasts for absolutely ages. It's also great for youngsters who are always in such a hurry they can't be bothered to use soap properly to get a good lather - or is that just my son?
It's also pretty reasonably priced considering how long it lasts - certainly puts it into the realm of 'family use' rather than needing to be one more bottle of stuff for special use only.
In summary, I'd highly recommend it - give it a go!
This is one of those books which I suspect many people might buy as one of those jokey presents, and which I doubt many recipients would actually be that pleased with.
It takes the popular 'Where's Wally?' idea (where you have to look long and hard at a very complex picture to spot the Wally character) and replaces with Top Gear characters - so you need to search for Stig, Jeremy Clarkson et al. There are various other items to hunt for, including celebrities who have been guests on the show, and the pictures themselves are supposed to be funny (I confess Top Gear humour often passes me by!)
A word of warning - some pictures are somewhat unsuitable for children, so not one to buy for youngsters really.
I must confess that I hate these type of things myself - they send my eyes funny and I end up with a thumping headache if I'm not careful. However, my kids bought this for my husband, and it is fair to say that he has been delighted with it! He likes both Top Gear and Where's Wally?, and has had hours of fun peering at the pictures, spotting all the 'guest appearances'.
So, if someone in your life is a fan of Top Gear and enjoys studying pictures to spot intricate details, then this will probably be well-received. If they only like one of the above, I would be more wary. And if they like neither, then don't go there, it'll be one of those thank-you-through-gritted-teeth moments!
I'd definitely shop around - the Book People in particular are selling this way below RRP at the moment I noticed.
Overall, doesn't float my boat, but not my kind of thing anyway. I would recommend it for the right kind of person though - and you probably know who they are!!!
I'd give it 2 stars from me, because it is mildly amusing in places, and it's good for what it is. It'd probably get at least 4 from my husband though, so I'll split the difference and give it 3!
As I'm sure most people know by now, Fit Flops are the new (well not so new now!) sensation in flip flops, claiming to give you a toning workout as you walk. I'm not going to go into masses of detail about what they are, just share my experience with them.
I'm actually not normally a huge fan of flip flops - they tend to give me blisters easily, and I have dodgy ankles which like a little more support. However, the latter point is one of the reasons I went for these - I wanted something to challenge my balance and build up ankle stability a little (one is still a bit weak after being broken last year).
First to say is there are a wide variety of styles, all looking pretty, well, stylish (for flip flops anyway). Not out of place anywhere I would generally go ... I could definitely wear these as summer sandals, even in the office.
Second to say is they are on the pricey side - for me anyway. This is where having small feet came in very handy - I headed off to the John Lewis children's department. As an aside, I got quite a good workout while shopping for these, as I was comparing prices, styles and fit between the adult Fit Flops in the basement and the children's ones on the top floor. After several trips up and down, up and down, I decided the only real difference I could see was the price (£25 as compared to £35 upwards for adult ones). I found a nice lilac suede pair, which were right up my street. I also treated my daughter to a pair while I was at it (same size feet as me, so I can always borrow them - permanently once her feet grow a bit more!!)
Are they comfortable?
Well, I have virtually lived in mine this summer, and even now on those days when I'm in denial over autumn temperatures. The sole is thick and springy, I really find it good to walk on. My daughter has also pronounced hers really comfortable, and they have been the first shoes she has reached for too - and she has never before liked flip flops.
Do they give you a workout?
Well, I'm not really convinced on that - but to be honest I don't really care. They look good and feel comfortable, so I feel I've got my money's worth on that basis alone. I've never noticed any post-exercise type aches after wearing them, and I do have muscles which are not backward in coming forward when it comes to letting me know I've been working them. If they are doing some good then that's a bonus, and to be fair, my ankle is doing well so maybe they have helped with the stability building.
I'm giving them 4 stars - not because I have any complaints, but because I think anyone buying them for the toning aspect might expect a little more in the way of results!
~~~ Why we chose this one ~~~
I had always struggled fitting everything in to my old standard under-the-counter fridge, but that was all we had space for in our small kitchen. I do a lot of buying and bulk-cooking for the freezer too, but there was no space in the kitchen for our two freezers so they were banished to the garage.
When we had our kitchen extended therefore, I was determined to make sure I would have enough fridge and freezer space. We decided to keep one freezer in the garage, and then go for a large American style side-by-side fridge freezer for the kitchen.
That decision made, we started looking around. We decided we really loved the look of them in black, so that actually narrowed our choice down a lot. We also wanted a reliable brand for such a major purchase, and we also decided we didn't really want the fancy ice-making feature, because it would need plumbing in (not the easiest for where we were planning to put it) and also it reduces freezer capacity rather a lot.
We loved the look of this model from Samsung - it ticked all the boxes of what we were looking for, so we did a bit of hunting around online for the best deal, and eagerly anticipated the delivery.
This beastie is big! The only way the delivery men could get it in was to unpack it and take our door off its hinges. (Not the front door, I hasten to add - they came through the garage!) It was still a bit of a squeeeeeze! I confess I hadn't really given this much consideration beforehand, but the delivery men had a few tales to tell, so it's not just me. I heartily recommend that it is well worth doing some measuring.
~~~ Basic overview ~~~
Capacity is good - 350litres for the fridge and 210 litres for the freezer.
Frost free, A efficiency, antibacterial protection, automatic defrost - all those things you want to hear!
Fridge has 5 shelves, 2 salad crisper bins and 4 door shelves.
Freezer has 4 shelves, 2 bins and 5 door shelves.
There is also a snazzy ice-maker which goes inside the freezer - we've not used it as it takes up too much room, but I've heard really good reports of it and am looking forward to trying it out one day.
~~~ What I love ~~~
It looks fab! Maybe if you had small children there would be a bit of an issue with sticky fingerprints, but ours has stayed lovely and shiny. It has long chunky vertical handles which look really stylish, and they feel really solid - great build quality.
The shelves and bins appear to be sturdy and strong. I have had bad experiences in the past with other freezers with plastic splitting and breaking, so I am really pleased that these are holding up well.
Fridge door shelves are a good size - room for plenty of milk and juice in here.
There is an electronic control panel with temperature displays for fridge and freezer, so you can see at a glance the correct temperature is being maintained. There is also a child lock feature on here, but ours are past that stage so I haven't used it.
Door alarm - this goes off when the door has been open for a while. This can be a tad annoying when you're putting shopping away, but it does reset if you quickly close the door then reopen it. The reason I love this feature is that my son has a bad habit of leaving the fridge door open, and with this alarm, we always realise he's done it.
It does the job- not something to underestimate! Food in the fridge stays cold and fresh; food in the freezer freezes well and stays frozen.
~~~ Niggles ~~~
My main niggle is the door shelves. The just come out too easily, so when you lift out one of those big plastic bottles of milk for example, the shelf tends to come with it. The same thing happens in the freezer. Not a show-stopper, but the one thing I think could have been better.
The other slight negative I should mention is the noise. It does seem to make quite a racket at times! Rumblings and rattlings which don't sound ominous in any way - it's just getting on with doing its job I think! This isn't a problem for us at all as we have plenty of doors between it and the living room, and I rarely even notice it, but for more open-plan houses this could be a consideration.
~~~ Overall ~~~
I love it! Its sleek, black looks enhance the kitchen, it does everything I want it to do, it feels solid and good quality, and there are a few nice little features too without its being too gimmicky. I have been really pleased with this purchase and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone who can get it through the door!
Before I start, let me just say that I am writing reviews of two different sports bras, and some of the general information in the first two sections is common to both. I feel it's important to the reviews and have therefore included the same text in both, so if you've already read the other one (Shock Absorber Max), just skip down to the 'This bra in particular' bit!
~~~ Why use a sports bra? ~~~
I think most people are aware that breast tissue is easily damaged, and there are no muscles you can tone, so sag is sadly irreversible (well, if you don't include surgery!) It's therefore very important if you're doing any kind of aerobic exercise to ensure you have a bra with the proper support - and that really does mean a sports bra. I read somewhere that normal bras reduce bounce by 38% and a good sports bra by 78%. Not sure if I've got the figures absolutely spot on, but I think so.
~~~ The importance of getting properly fitted ~~~
I've tried a fair few sports bras over the years , initially with not a lot of success - partly because I didn't really know what to look for and partly down to plain bad advice over sizing. My personal experience seems to be rather a common one, so I think it's worth talking about bra sizes before I get round to the bra itself, I really want to recommend very strongly that you get properly fitted. Having measured myself (as per sizing instructions in many a catalogue), for years I was convinced I was a 36B. When pregnant I thought I'd better go and get properly measured, and was told I was 38C or even 40C. Bras of any kind in these sizes just didn't seem to give great support or shape, and sports bras were slightly better but not much! I thought that was just the way it was.
Then, at our antenatal classes we were introduced to a wonderful lady known as the Bra Lady. She 'fitted' us all just by looking, and I was utterly shocked to be told I should really be wearing a much smaller back size and much larger cup size. I followed her advice for maternity bras, but somehow hadn't quite got the message and ended up back in my old bras after that.
Several years later I heard about Bravissimo and decided to pay them a visit. There I was also 'fitted' by looking and then sizes were confirmed by trying on. I was stunned by the difference in support and shape - and this time I got the message loud and clear! Far from the 36D I'd gone in with, I came out with 32F.
The specific application to sports bras here is that the ones I now wear are designed for larger cup sizes, and provide fantastic support. Before, when I'd been wrongly measured, I was just buying the sports bras for standard cup sizes, and they just didn't do the job. So please, even if you're too shy to get fitted somewhere like Bravissimo (though really, it's OK!) it's still worth trying a variety of sizes if you're quite well-endowed - it's amazing how many people are better off with a smaller back size and larger cup size, and for sports bras you will notice the difference, I promise!
Just one final point on fitting - I generally find I need to go up a size in sports bras (34G) so it's definitely a good idea to try before you buy.
~~~ This bra in particular ~~~
Well, the bra I'm reviewing here is the Freya Active Sports Bra. I mentioned in my Shock Absorber review that that was the first one I bought after discovering my real size, and I used it so much I completely wore it out. Well, when I went to get a replacement, they didn't have any in the size / colour I wanted. I was quite disappointed as I'd been so happy with the Shock Absorber, but I needed a new one so I went for this Freya Active instead. I have had other normal bras from Freya in the past and always been really pleased with them, so I thought they were worth a try in the sports bra department too. I was really glad I did, as I have been delighted with my purchase, and have since bought myself a second one.
It's for cup sizes D-H, and as you can see from the picture is pretty heavy duty - not something you'd particularly want to show off! It comes in white, black or nude. I personally have the nude and the black - I only mention that to point out that the nude actually shows up far less under a white top than a white bra (which is not necessarily what you would expect) and you don't then get the issue of nasty off-white / greying bras in the changing room! It has soft cups (wires are not good for sports bras apparently), wide padded straps, and is made of a moisture-wicking fabric called Coolmax. It also has a mesh panel between the cups.
The fastening on mine is a very secure 4 hooks (and 4 positions too) though I seem to think smaller cup sizes may have 3 hooks. What I never used to know (but do now!) is that most of the support with a bra should come from the back, not the straps - even with larger cup sizes. So, I do this up nice and tight and the support it gives is amazing. It is also really comfortable, and gives a good shape too.
I mostly use it for treadmill running and quite honestly when I use a treadmill opposite a mirror I can see virtually no bounce - it all feels pretty rock solid, but comfortable, not constricting.
As with other decent sports bras it's not cheap but I don't think it's particularly expensive either - I've seen it around £24 - £27 - a really good investment though, worth every penny to me. I'd rather spend on a good sports bra and spend less on the 'looking good' kit, as let's face it, not many people look good after a sweaty gym session anyway!
I would VERY HIGHLY recommend this bra - I said the Shock Absorber was a million times better than anything I tried before - well I didn't think it was possible, but actually I think the Freya Active is even better.
We spent a week on the South Coast this summer, and one of the places we visited was the Smugglers Adventure in Hastings. This is actually the St Clements Caves - a series of tunnels and caverns once used extensively by real smugglers.
Having looked on the website before visiting, my son was convinced we were going to be shown around by 'Hairy Jack' in person, and was quite disappointed to discover Hairy Jack was just speaking on a film! There are in fact two short films - one just after entering and one a little later on, giving some interesting history and insight into the caves and the widespread practice of smuggling.
As you progress around the caves there are plenty of interactive displays and over 70 life size figures bringing the days of smuggling to life. We particularly liked displays showing back-to-front horseshoes and innovative places to hide smuggled goods (bottle of brandy under a doll's skirt, anyone?) - all ways to foil the taxman. Many of the displays have a button to press to hear a short commentary on what you're looking at - well three buttons to be precise, as the commentaries are available in English, French and German.
There was plenty to keep children occupied, and indeed it seems a popular place for school trips, but I was pleasantly surprised by how interesting I found it too. I don't think I'd ever appreciated the sheer scale of the smuggling operations which went on! I think what I especially liked was that the quantity of writing on the walls was about right to be able to read it all rather than having to skim through it as often happens when visiting such places with children.
We did have a few minor gripes. Some of the life-size figures were looking a bit shabby, and some of the buttons didn't work too well - the English ones anyway. Nothing too bad, but it did detract from the experience slightly. It was not always entirely clear which way to go next, and we did actually manage to miss one of the caves completely! Also, this is just a personal one from that particular day, we had timed our visit badly and were being closely followed by a German school trip. Not a problem in itself, but it meant we were hurried into the second film showing before we were quite ready, because the next one was going to be in German.
It takes about an hour to go round (before ending up in the inevitable gift shop!) - before going we thought this sounded quite short, but actually we found we were kept engaged throughout that hour, we had chance to see and read everything (well except for the room we missed!) and the children didn't get bored at all. I would say for a family visit the time is about right.
At the time we visited, this was one of the attractions available on the Tesco Clubcard Rewards programme, so we didn't actually pay for our tickets as such, but it is unfortunately no longer possible to pay for entrance using Rewards vouchers. Still, the admission prices are not too steep - at the time of writing ticket prices are : adult £7.20, child £5.20, student/OAP £6.20, family £22.80. We thought this was about right - if we'd been buying our own tickets we'd probably still have bought them at this price, but wouldn't have wanted to pay much more.
The caves are not accessible to pushchairs (though baby slings are available to borrow) and there are steps and low ceilings to negotiate.
Overall, it was an enjoyable family outing, and combined with a browse round Hastings itself made for a lovely day out. We found there was plenty we'd seen that we were talking about in the car on the way home, which for me is a mark of a good family trip!
Before I start, let me just say that I am writing reviews of two different sports bras, and some of the general information in the first two sections is common to both, so if you've already read the other one, just skip down to the 'This bra in particular' bit!
~~~ Why use a sports bra? ~~~
I think most people are aware that breast tissue is easily damaged, and there are no muscles you can tone, so sag is sadly irreversible (well, if you don't include surgery!) It's therefore very important if you're doing any kind of aerobic exercise to ensure you have a bra with the proper support - and that really does mean a sports bra. I read somewhere that normal bras reduce bounce by 38% and a good sports bra by 78%. Not sure if I've got the figures absolutely spot on, but I think so.
~~~ The importance of getting properly fitted ~~~
I've tried a fair few sports bras over the years , initially with not a lot of success - partly because I didn't really know what to look for and partly down to plain bad advice over sizing. My personal experience seems to be rather a common one, so I think it's worth talking about bra sizes before I get round to the bra itself, I really want to recommend very strongly that you get properly fitted. Having measured myself (as per sizing instructions in many a catalogue), for years I was convinced I was a 36B. When pregnant I thought I'd better go and get properly measured, and was told I was 38C or even 40C. Bras of any kind in these sizes just didn't seem to give great support or shape, and sports bras were slightly better but not much! I thought that was just the way it was.
Then, at our antenatal classes we were introduced to a wonderful lady known as the Bra Lady. She 'fitted' us all just by looking, and I was utterly shocked to be told I should really be wearing a much smaller back size and much larger cup size. I followed her advice for maternity bras, but somehow hadn't quite got the message and ended up back in my old bras after that.
Several years later I heard about Bravissimo and decided to pay them a visit. There I was also 'fitted' by looking and then sizes were confirmed by trying on. I was stunned by the difference in support and shape - and this time I got the message loud and clear! Far from the 36D I'd gone in with, I came out with 32F.
The specific application to sports bras here is that the ones I now wear are designed for larger cup sizes, and provide fantastic support. Before, when I'd been wrongly measured, I was just buying the sports bras for standard cup sizes, and they just didn't do the job. So please, even if you're too shy to get fitted somewhere like Bravissimo (though really, it's OK!) it's still worth trying a variety of sizes if you're quite well-endowed - it's amazing how many people are better off with a smaller back size and larger cup size, and for sports bras you will notice the difference, I promise!
Just one final point on fitting - I generally find I need to go up a size in sports bras (34G) so it's definitely a good idea to try before you buy.
~~~ This bra in particular ~~~
Well, the bra I'm reviewing here is the Shock Absorber Max Sports Bra. It's the first one I bought after discovering my real size, and I have used it so much I completely wore it out. It's for cup sizes D-H, and is pretty heavy duty - not something you'd particularly want to show off! It comes in white, black or nude. It has wide padded straps, and a 3-hook fastening, and is made of a moisture-wicking fabric.
I used it for high impact aerobics and treadmill running and always found it very comfortable, giving great support. When I use a treadmill opposite a mirror I can really tell how good the support is - there really is minimal bounce.
I would HIGHLY recommend this bra - it's not cheap but I don't think it's particularly expensive either (usually around £26 I think, but I have seen it a fair bit cheaper) - and well worth every penny for the level of support and protection it gives. I would say it's a vital piece of sports kit, and it's a million times better than anything I tried before!
Like many households, ours has one of those delightful objects of torture ... a Rubik's Cube. I'm not going to explain here in detail what one is, as I'm assuming you won't be wanting to know how to solve one unless you know what it is - but it basically looks like the picture on the front of the book, and the idea is to twist and turn until each face of the cube is a single colour. Sounds easy, but the 3x3 cube has a mind-blowing (wait for it ...) 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible configurations, so looks can be deceptive!
I clearly remember when they first came out, and also clearly remember my frustration at never being able to get beyond solving one side and a 'T' on the four adjoining sides. Especially when my little brother could do the whole thing ... Grrr! The 'peel off the stickers' route never appealed to me - I wanted to do it properly.
So, many, many years later I decided I was going to beat this thing! This little book, 'Speedsolving the Cube' helped me to do just that. It did take me a couple of hours, painstakingly following instructions, spotting patterns etc. but finally I was in possession of a completed cube. Not quite as satisfying as completely working it out for myself, but still felt pretty good. Only took me 30-odd years! The world record is under 10 seconds, so I've a long way to go ...
The book itself is actually quite interesting - it gives a short history of the cube, an insight into 'speedcubing' (the solve-it-as-fast-as-possible competitive world), and methods for solving all the types of cube (there are also 2x2, 4x4 and even 5x5 versions available!) There is also a section on how to turn your completed cube into 'pretty patterns', which I found great fun.
The style is clear, and I found there to be a really good mixture of pictures, diagrams, quick references and longer explanations. Overall very useable!
The first technical chapter (after all the history etc.) sets out the notation used. This looks complicated but is actually quite logical, and just takes a few minutes to get the hang of - although I did find myself referring back to it from time to time. I'm not going to go into all the detail, but just give a flavour of how it works which should be enough to decide whether this looks like a method you could follow or complete double-Dutch!
If you look at the cube, the layers which can be turned can be described as upper layer, front layer and so on.
U refers to the upper layer
D refers to the 'down' layer
R refers to the right layer
L refers to the left layer
F refers to the front layer
B refers to the back layer
When one of these letters is used, it means 'turn this layer 90 degrees clockwise'. An apostrophe is used after the letter to indicate that the turn is anti-clockwise. A '2' is used after the letter to indicate that the turn is through 180 degrees.
So R' D2 R means : first turn the right layer 90 degrees anticlockwise, then turn the 'down' layer through 180 degrees, then turn the right layer 90 degrees clockwise.
You do need to be methodical and accurate, but basically if you can follow the above explanation you can probably follow through and do the whole thing. I don't think it would take too many times doing this before being able to do it without the book - I certainly found I was able to learn how to complete the top two thirds without referring to the book at all.
The main focus of the book is on the standard 3x3 cube, and the author spends three chapters on this, dealing in turn with a beginner's method, a speedcubing method and expert speedcubing techniques. For myself, I only really used the notation chapter and the beginner's method chapter.
I found the instructions straightforward enough to follow - well as straightforward as they can be, given that they are describing complex moves. They are broken down into simple steps though, so as long as you don't lose your place it's not too bad. Bit like a knitting pattern really!
So, in summary, I would definitely recommend this book if solving the Cube has been one of those never-completely-scratched itches in your life. You do need to be able to follow algorithms as described above, and you do need some patience, but it's a fun way to spend a few hours. My kids were also seriously impressed! My copy of the book only has a price in dollars, but I seem to remember getting it for only a few pounds - and well worth every penny.
I have a set of Sabatier knives which were rather expensive - almost obscenely so, but I do love a good sharp knife. I could wax lyrical, but won't as they are not what I am reviewing here!
These knives came complete with a proper sharpening steel with which I have had limited success - well, when I use it the knives do get sharpened, although I'm not 100% sure I'm doing it properly! I do have fun pretending to be a proper cheffy type though ...
My husband never really got the hang of the sharpening steel, and it got to the point where he was refusing to use the knives, and starting to hang his nose over knife sharpeners (not literally you understand) so on a recent trip to Lakeland Limited we had a good look at what was on offer, and came away with this, the Universal Sharpener from Anolon. It's a ceramic sharpener, with three grades of grinding wheels.
The reason I went for Anolon is because it is a brand I trust when it comes to kitchenware. I have Anolon pans which have served me well, and also Anolon are endorsed by Raymond Blanc - he uses Analon products in his Cookery School. I know this for sure because I went on a one day Cookery Course there, and we definitely used Anolon equipment. I was very impressed by my experience of the Cookery School and would take seriously any product endorsement they make.
So, the knife sharpener itself. It's a simple enough gadget. There's a black plastic base containing the three grades of grinding wheels, (pink, white and blue - not sure if this has any meaning or is just to look pretty!), a clear plastic lid with three slots, and an easy to grip handle. You first fill the base with a little water - this keeps the grinding wheels clean, and prevents them from overheating. You then put the lid back on, place the sharpener on a flat surface, hold the handle in one hand and your knife in the other. The slots are labelled 1, 2 and 3 - which you use depends on how dull your knife is. For very dull knives you need to use all three in turn, whereas for the kind of 'after every 3 or 4 uses' maintenance they recommend, only the finest grade grinding wheels are required. If it's not stating the obvious, medium dull knives will need to use two of the slots.
To sharpen the knife you place it in the slot (which guides the knife between the grinding wheels) and slide it back and forth about eight times. You then move on to the next slot as necessary.
The sharpener can be used on most knives - but not those with serrated edges.
After I used the sharpener, the water was looking distinctly murky, so clearly something had happened! Yes - my knives now cut beautifully again; chopping onions is (almost) a pleasure. It's a little bit trial and error of course - the 'eight times' is not an absolute - but I think the key is to use the different grades as recommended, repeat the process if the knife is not as sharp as you'd like, and then to resharpen regularly.
It's very easy to rinse the sharpener after use. The instructions contain some useful tips on knife care and some others on knife safety which I would have considered self-evident - e.g. 'never try to catch a falling knife' - if you need to be told that, maybe you shouldn't be handling the knife in the first place? Just a thought.
I am really pleased with this gadget. It makes the task of sharpening my super-duper knives so simple that I don't think we'll be having trouble with dull knives again. Well worth the money (we paid in the region of £25) if you have decent knives - especially since blunt knives are really dangerous.
The final book in The Divide trilogy - and yes, definitely the final book, there is no way the story could continue ...
I have already reviewed the first two books ('The Divide' and 'Back to the Divide') and would strongly recommend that they be read first, so although I will include a very brief synopsis of what has gone before, really I am writing on the assumption that the reader is familiar with the story so far.
~~~ The very brief synopsis ~~~
Felix is our hero, who in the first book crossed the Divide to a world where magic is reality and science is a legend. He became great friends with a tangle-child named Betony, and other creatures who are myths to us but fact in Betony's world. His quest is to find a cure for the heart condition which threatens his life. The world across the Divide is populated with pixies, griffins, sphinxes, magic carpets - but no science. In the second book, Felix needs to cross the Divide again to find the antidote to a spell which turned his parents to stone.
~~~ Plot of this book ~~~
At last it is Betony's turn to visit Felix in our world - she duly arrives on Nimby, the flying carpet, but there is a hitch. On his last visit, Felix brought back a brandee (genie) in a K'Faddle magic lamp. Steven Rheinhart (Rhino) - a bully at Felix's school - inadvertently lets the brandee out, a very disgruntled brandee at that ("spending most of your life as a cloud of gas is as disappointing as liver without onions"), but then gets trapped himself inside the lamp. Inside the lamp he comes across a Jinx Box - and this is the Jinx of the title.
One of the main premises of this series is that "magic and science don't mix". The magic needs to be got back across the Divide - so we very soon find ourselves back in Betony's world - so much for her holiday with Felix!
As the story develops, we discover that each in their own way, both Rhino and the jinx box threaten the delicate balance, putting both Felix's and Betony's worlds at risk.
The plot is complex and I don't want to give too much away, so I'll leave it at that!
~~~ Characters ~~~
Characterisation is really well-developed. The friendship between Felix and Betony is a really strong and believable one. Plenty of old friends are back in this third book - but also new ones. With unprepossessing looks and habits the carrionwing Scoffit is not immediately appealing, but shows a soft side. My favourite of the new characters is Fuzzy - the chick of mathematician male brazzle (griffin) Ironclaw and historian librarian female Thornbeak. She hatched at the end of the second book, but is now rather rebellious "she'd had some of her spikiest golden feathers dyed black and her talons painted with pink and orange lacquer".
~~~ Opinion ~~~
This whole trilogy is wild, funny, clever, imaginative and original, with plenty to think about. It is definitely a complete story - the third book rounds things off nicely. I really like the mathematician brazzles and puzzle-loving sphinxes - they add an interesting element to the whole. The ending is amazing - I never guessed at all what was going to happen, but it is so clever, especially from a mathematical perspective. I found it deeply satisfying. I should say that my daughter didn't like the ending at all - so a bit controversial, and a great talking point.
My daughter loved these books from around age 9, but she is quite an advanced reader. I really loved them as an adult too, and have reread them all more than once. They are books with characters and issues we could talk about.
~~~ About this Review ~~~
There are in the region of 300 reviews of the Wii on Dooyoo alone, so I don't really feel I have much to add about the console itself. What I do want to do is draw attention to a much overlooked feature ... the Mii.
~~~ What is a Mii? ~~~
Well, to put it simply, a Mii is a small avatar you create which appears as you on the screen when you play a Wii game. There are a wide variety of face shapes, skin tones, hair styles and colours, eye shapes and colours, etc. etc. - most people customise their Mii to look like themself, usually fairly recognisably in my experience. Once created, it can be used for any game you play.
~~~ Is that it? ~~~
For most people, yes. They create a Mii and use it to play the games. For our family, a resounding no! My children and their friends have had hours of fun creating a wide variety of Mii characters - for creative kids, don't underestimate the fun of this. It is in effect a Wii game you may not have realised you had.
~~~ Who can you make? ~~~
Depends on your imagination! My kids have created Mii versions of most extended family members and various friends.
They also do celebrities (Simon Cowell is particularly effective!) and favourite characters from books and films (we have a comprehensive set of Harry Potter - Harry, Ron and Hermione, Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom et al).
Characters from other games can be fun to do - we have Mario and Luigi, and also Dr Eggman from Sonic the Hedgehog - rather cleverly created by using a bald head and huge eyebrows repositioned on the face as a moustache!
We also have some completely imaginary creations - including, rather gruesomely, a character they've named 'Dead' who is grey and looks as though his face is being eaten by a shark!
~~~ Now is that it? ~~~
No, no, no - the real fun for me lies in the fact that not only can you choose to play as any of these characters, but also in many games on Wii Fit or Wii Sports Resort in particular, any Mii you create can turn up - so you might be doing an areobics step class with Dr Eggman, or a kung fu class with Simon Cowell. Can be difficult to do the exercise without giggling, depending on who has turned up! Or the kids will be doing the 'jogging' activity, and as they jog around the virtual park, they might see Grandpa jogging the other way. It's far more fun to populate your games with some recognisable characters than to have random Wii creations on your team! Well, we think so anyway.
~~~ Conclusion ~~~
I guess this review was quite light-hearted - but I really hope it will inspire some people to play with the game they didn't realise they had! For kids (of all ages!) it makes a wide variety of Wii games even more fun.
Go on - you know you want to!
~~~ About this review ~~~
There are lots of reviews out there about the Wii Fit Balance Board as a whole - describing its functions and extolling its virtues as a fitness aid, weight loss aid, or fun addition to game play. I fully endorse that it's great for those things, but I don't intend to add to all the reviews detailing that information; rather I am writing this review from a very specific perspective. Please bear with me on all the background - it is relevant!
~~~ Me and my dodgy ankles ~~~
I've always been extremely prone to 'going over' on my ankles, since I was a child - loads of twists and sprains, I can fall off flip flops! As you can imagine, I'm not generally safe in heels. Anyway, about this time last year, I was walking along a perfectly normal pavement, in trainers, full daylight, stone cold sober (I add that to pre-empt all the witty remarks, as I've had plenty of those aimed in my direction over this) and I went over on my ankle. It swelled up like billy-oh, and even using the kids as crutches I couldn't walk more than a few yards, so it didn't come as much of a surprise to discover I'd actually broken it. Well, only a surprise insofar as I had no idea it was possible to break an ankle like that. Cue 5-6 weeks in a cast and a lot longer getting back to anything like normality.
~~~ What my physio said ~~~
Yes, I did actually get a series of sessions with a physio on the NHS - had to ask for them though, they weren't offered automatically, but that's a rant for another day! Anyway, I was given exercises to do and introduced to the small gym in the physio department. One of the snazzy pieces of equipment was something for balance and stability. "Best thing you can do for it", quoth my physio, "- have you been on a Wii balance board, it's a bit like that". Once I'd been discharged, I still needed to strengthen my ankle, so when the kids got a Wii, with Wii Fit and Balance Board for Christmas, I claimed 'medical need' in order to nab a few turns.
~~~ Balance and Stability on the Wii Balance Board ~~~
The Balance Board itself measures the pressure you put on each side of it, so it really helps you to get your centre of gravity, well, central. It's amazing how lop-sided you can get without realising it, so the way the Balance Board shows even slight deviations from side to side or front to back gives you a lot of body awareness. There's an exercise which pops up in the daily training regularly where you have to transfer your weight to get your centre of gravity (shown as a dot on the screen) to a certain spot by leaning in the right direction in a very controlled manner. This is very much like the machine in the physio gym, very testing for a wobbly ankle.
The Wii Fit has quite a wide variety of games to improve your balance and stability. I found that my ankle complained quite a lot - but in much the same way as it did when doing all the 'exciting' physio exercises - it was very much what my Pilates instructor calls 'grateful pain' - your body knows it's for its own good!
So a few examples of what I found helpful :
Tightrope walking
This game is where you 'walk' on the Balance Board, crossing over a tightrope. As the game advances, you have to jump over obstacles too. This really makes you focus on putting the same amount of weight on each foot as you walk, and helps avoid the tendency to favour the uninjured side.
Ski Slalom
This is more or less as it sounds - you need to bend knees and ankles in a skiing position (ached lots, great for strengthening!) and transfer weight from side to side as you ski down the slope to zigzag through the slalom course. Great for stability control.
Snowball Fight
You are hidden behind a wall, but have to lean to one side or the other and aim snowballs at other characters, all the while dodging those being lobbed at you. Again, great for strengthening and control.
There are plenty more ... the thing I liked was that the variety meant I wasn't bored with doing the exercises I was meant to be doing anyway, and I sometimes even managed to forget I wasn't just playing.
~~~ Conclusion ~~~
After ankle injuries, to get back to strength you really need to do exercises to challenge the balance, getting the ligaments to work hard. It's also important to make sure the weeks of being lopsided don't result in permanently favouring one side, so you really need to focus on postural stability and getting your centre of gravity in the right place. The Wii Fit Balance Board and the games which go with it are a fantastic aid to rehabilitation, and really make those exercises fun.
Of course, once fully recovered, it's still great for all those other things - fitness, weight loss, game play etc.
I should also mention that the board itself seems pretty sturdy, stores nicely under the TV stand, and doesn't seem to need batteries changing too often. Price-wise it still doesn't seem to come cheap, but we got it as a package with the Wii itself, Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort, which was very reasonable for what we got.


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Symphony Tower Showroom @ Balakong
Had a chance to discover this development while bringing my colleague to Cheras Hong Soon showroom/office at Bandar Mahkota Cheras on last month. It is one of the many developments of the same developer in the area, ex: Silk Residence, Silk Sky, Landmark II and the coming 2nd phase of Landmark (launch on July). Located […]http://www.bearincity.com/2015/04/26/symphony-tower-showroom-balakong/

subset: commoncrawl


text: Bubble earrings Item 18519 Size: Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: Find In Store Please select a size above. size & fit Product Details Inspired by our iconic (and wildly popular) bubble necklace, these pop-bright studs are crafted of high-shine resin and couldn't be more perfect for summer. Resin, metal. Shiny gold plating. Stainless steel posts. Import. Item 18519.


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Topless Michelle Obama Portrayed as Semi-Nude 'Slave' on Cover of Spanish Mag
Topless Michelle Obama Portrayed as Semi-Nude 'Slave' on Cover of Spanish Mag
- Posted on August 28, 2012 at 10:43am by Erica Ritz
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Michelle Obama is gracing newsstands across Spain this month– but it's not her famous arms that are on display.
On the cover of Magazine Fuera de Serie, the first lady's head is featured on the body of a semi-naked woman, draped in the American flag with a headscarf sometimes associated with slaves.
Althea Legal-Miller for Clutch magazine aptly writes: "Perhaps because it seems so obviously offensive, the mind attempts to rationalize; 'Did this get lost in translation, or is this as racist as I think?'"
Miller has more information on the shockingly inappropriate cover:
The magazine cover for the feature article "Michelle Tataranieta De Esclava, Dueña De América" (Michelle Granddaughter of a Slave, Lady of America) is the brainchild of white French/English fine artist Karine Percheron-Daniels. Her mixed-media portrait superimposes Obama's head onto the famous art-historical body of an African Guadeloupean female slave painted by French artist Marie-Guilhelmine Benoist in 1800.
Percheron-Daniels' portrait, First Lady, was not commissioned for the Spanish magazine cover, but is part of a larger series of "famous nudes" that includes Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, Abraham Lincoln, and President Barack Obama. In defense of her controversial series, the artist argues that she offers the viewer an "alternative unexpected reality" that allows us to "view famous individuals in a different way."
Apparently, the Spanish-language article praises the first lady's accomplishments and deems her the "gran mujer" (great lady) behind the American president.
I don't even know what to say. lol Her tits don't look that big in clothes.
Nudity involving a first lady is in very bad taste.
Let's not forget that Europeans view nudity very differently than Americans. It's normal to see breasts in commercials on the tv.
Wow. I don't know what to say.
Its a beautiful painting.
Did she approved it? If she didn't then I don't think its right.
I saw that today too...
Some how the slave angle seems wrong. I find it disrespectful to the first lady.
Secondly, the image may not be deemed "appropriate" by some but the article about her is nothing but praise...
Michelle Obama eats
Never said it ensures that well-known that behind every great man there is a great woman was so successful in describing the Obama marriage. In the shadow of the U.S. President is a person whose popularity ratings exceed those of Barack own. This person is none other than his wife Michelle, who stars in the cover of the magazine this week.
Political communication experts are no strangers to the overwhelming charm of the first lady and, knowing this, she even point will be key to the reelection of Democrat in the next presidential election to be held in November. To find out how Michelle has managed to seduce the American people, the journalist Paul Scarpellini detail the secrets of women who not only won the hearts of Barack Obama.
The supplement of the newspaper El Mundo on Sunday also brings other characters as the prestigious fashion designer Elena Benarroch, which just opened shop and collection inspired by the 80s, the versatile Antonia Dell'Atte or actor and Santi Millán.
Besides these names, you will discover the fascinating stories of Hotel Formentor Majorca, where they have vacationed several generations of international jet or know the dark personality that was behind the genius of the father of relativity, Albert Einstein.


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Anu Prakash, Malcolm Maddox, Chris Edwards.
(WXYZ) - Channel 7 is taking action for your health with a new "Healthy You" segments with tips on nutrition and how to stay fit.
Chris Simone and Shannon Tokarski from St. John Providence Hospital joined us in our studios with some great tips.
Chris is a physical therapist and Shannon is a nutritionist.
Nutrition Tips
1. Consistent eating (not skipping meals)
2. Taking time for yourself
3. Eating fresh foods (not processed)
4. Exercise
Get medical clearance before starting any exercise program - "See your doctor first."
Start slow & listen to your body - Do not try to make up for lost time and the idea of "No pain, no gain" is not always the best advice.
Blend the types of exercise - Aerobic conditioning - core activity - weight training - stretching - and make it something you enjoy


text: I recently rooted my Incredible and installed the MIUI ROM using ROM Manager. Before I flashed, I took a backup of the stock Sense UI. I wasn't thrilled with MIUI so I tried to restore but I got an error that the MD5 file was invalid. I thought the MD5 file was just a file that told ROM Manager that the backup was successful so I manually added a file called "nandroid.md5" to the backup folder on my sd card. ROM Manager was then able to get past the MD5 error, but it just restored right back to MIUI when it rebooted. I found a forum post that suggested trying the command "md5sum *img > nandroid.md5" to create the md5 file. When I tried this, the reboot hung on the HTC Incredible screen and the restore never came back. I can HBOOT to the ClockworkMod Recovery but no matter what option I choose, it just hangs on the black hat/orange circle icon. I thought maybe it would take a while so I even left it overnight and it's still hanging on that screen. I tried mounting to my computer via USB to get to the sd card but can't access the drive. Does anybody know if this can be fixed? I'm pretty much a NOOB. Any help would be greatly appreciated!


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NewswireToday - /newswire/ -
Kansas City, MO, United States, 2012/07/31 - Modern healthcare has just released its 2012 Best Places to Work in Healthcare list, and Peoria based Central Illinois Endoscopy Center (CIEC) was selected as one of the magazines top 100 best places to work for in healthcare - ModernHealthcare.com.
Modern healthcare has just released its 2012 Best Places to Work in Healthcare list, and Peoria based Central Illinois Endoscopy Center (CIEC) was selected as one of the magazines top 100 best places to work for in healthcare. It is the only endoscopy center in the U.S. to make the prestigious listing and the only organization to be selected in central Illinois.
Now in its fifth year, the program honors healthcare workplaces that enable their employees to perform at their optimal level in providing patients and customers with the best possible care and services. Winners are selected from entrants located across the country.
CIEC earned their spot based upon high scores in two key areas. The first was a questionnaire directed at the employer, which focused on company policies, practices, benefits and demographics. The second was directed at the employees as a measurement of their overall satisfaction. The employee survey contained a set of in-depth questions across eight core areas including: leadership and planning, culture and communications, role satisfaction, working environment, relationship with supervisor, training and development, pay and benefits and overall satisfaction.
We are honored to be recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the best places to work, said Karen Smith, RN, Acting Administrator at CIEC. We understand that in order to provide high-quality patient care, we must have highly engaged and satisfied employees. It is our employees that allow us to have an average 95% patient satisfaction rating and to them we are extremely grateful. Their caring nature and commitment to not only patients, but each other, are the foundation of all our accomplishments, added Smith.
About Central Illinois Endoscopy Center
Central Illinois Endoscopy Center (ciendoscopy.com) is downstate Illinois largest freestanding, dedicated endoscopy center. CIEC is the Peoria areas first outpatient center dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The team at CIEC is committed to providing each patient with the highest quality care utilizing advanced technology in a comfortable environment.
About Modern Healthcare
Modern Healthcare (ModernHealthcare.com) is the healthcare industrys most trusted, credible and relied-upon news source. Modern Healthcare examines the most pressing healthcare issues and provides executives with the information they need to make the most informed business decisions and lead their organizations to success. Its for this reason Modern Healthcare is deemed a must-read publication by the whos who in healthcare. In addition to our weekly magazine, we provide executives with the most up-to-date and valuable information through our website, two daily e-newsletters, Daily Dose and Health IT Strategist; and breaking news email service, Modern Healthcare Alert.
About Best Companies Group
Best Companies Group works with partners to establish Best Places to Work, Best Companies and Best Employers programs on a national, statewide and regional basis. Through its thorough workplace assessment utilizing employer questionnaires and employee satisfaction surveys, Best Companies Group identifies and recognizes companies who have been successful in creating and maintaining workplace excellence.
Written by / Agency / Source: eMerge Medical Consultants
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick Newswire Today Visibility Checker
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- Score:
- rated 3.71 / 5 stars
- Views:
- 117,147 Views
- Share Links:
- Genre:
- Comedy - Original
- awesome
- spaceinvaders
Credits & Info
- Uploaded
- Aug 20, 2008 | 7:54 PM EDT
If you liked this, check these out!
Plenty more like this here!
Author Comments
Rated 1.5 / 5 stars
Not so awesome invaders
Theres alought of better awesome tributes out there.
The voices just turned me off on this, luckly the animation was very smooth.
If you write a better script and have better voices (along with more sponteneous screaming) it will'd be pretty close to the real awesome movies
Rated 4 / 5 stars
Man this was great, one of my favorites for sure!
lol thanx man :D and that's coming from the main guy himself :) listen, I dont wanna makeit seem like Im a huge fanboy, just I love ur work xP and thanx again for review, good to know its one of ur favs :P
Rated 4 / 5 stars
Like most other people said...
Could be better, first by making the actual flash longer and really just add more jokes. You did the animation pretty well, and i know your just starting to explore this style so ill give you an 8
lol well it did take 3 hours xP
Rated 4 / 5 stars
Nice animation
Very cool animation Will. But the flash needs to be a little more longer. Overall 8.
lol I was bored, so I thought for the hell of it make an awesome series, plus I was trying to explore different mediums of flash :D
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
Excellent !!!
One of the best Awesome tribute i've seen so far ! And the animation was really smooth , Great work !
lol thanx, glad ya liked it :D


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TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Tech defense is going from a stingy bunch to downright mean.
The Titans held the Wildcats to 96 yards of offense — 50 coming on one play — as TBT clinched the Class 5A, District 7 title.
TBT will play East Lake in the first round of the playoffs, but first it faces Hillsborough to close out the regular season.
Against Wharton, the Titans allowed just one first down and 17 yards in the first half.
"That is a nasty bunch, a motley crew," TBT coach C.C. Culpepper said. "They continue to improve and were really making plays out there tonight."
Running back Maurice Hagans finished with 149 yards, but the Titans fumbled four times, losing two.
"They changed some stuff on us in the second half, and we were a little frustrated," Culpepper said. "We were making big-yardage plays but couldn't finish drives."
Todd Foley, Times correspondent


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I have a love-hate relationship with New Year's resolutions.
The Type A part of me loves making lists. I love thinking over the last year and listing accomplishments and hard times and vacations and milestones. I love thinking of the new year and thinking what might be.
But a few passages of Scripture have been ringing in my ears right past the echoing fireworks this morning.
From Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.
and Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
and to drive the point home further, James lays it down in James 4:13-16
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.
I strongly believe one of the greatest tactics of Satan is distraction. We don't fulfill our purpose because we are distracted by something else–and probably not something evil. Perhaps something good, even.
Maybe that thing you have resolved to do seems good, but if it isn't aligning with what God wants for you, what good is it?
James doesn't suggest we don't make plans. However, many of us, myself included, are making plans on our own. We don't consult God on what His plans are for us for 2013. Plans are fine but James is suggesting we hold them loosely and know that ultimately God is in control.
Given that, here are 5 ideas to remember when planning for 2013.
#1 Consult God in Your Planning
First and foremost, don't try to conjure up your resolutions, goals or plans on your own. God certainly cares about those resolutions you're making and he has plans far greater and more wonderful than you could on your own. Ask him to reveal what he can.
#2 Don't Ignore the Small and Random
I have this nagging feeling that God isn't going to lay out a detailed A to Z plan for you.
What I see in Scripture is God telling people to do something today and sometimes, in this moment and a lot of times it's downright random. Something small, maybe something random but it's probably a piece to a larger puzzle. Don't ignore the small and random.
You may not see the puzzle come together in 2013. Small steps you take in 2013 may take longer to see impact but it could have impact not just for the year but for generations to come.
#3 Resolve to Consult Every Day
One resolution we can all add is to consult God every single day. Sure, God might have given you a long-term dream, but ask him each day what he wants you to accomplish that day to bring your goal to fruition.
#4 Be Open to Changes
For us control freaks, changes to our plans and unchecked boxes are our worst nightmare. Don't be surprised though when God surprises you. Ultimately, as Proverbs says, the Lord's plans prevail.
Something will happen this year you're not expecting. It's ok if all the checkboxes don't get checked. Sometimes goals don't get completed in our ways or in our timing.
#5 Give God Glory in the Success (And Failures)
One thing James was clear about is that boasting about our plans is downright evil. When we make goals, come at them with a posture of humility. If we are consulting him, they're not our plans anyway!
If we plan with God's help and follow through, make plans now in your heart to give God glory for what He's done. In fact, go ahead and give God glory for what he's going to do. Even if your plans don't seem successful by man's standards, perhaps God wants you to pursue something just for the journey, not for the end goal. Remember, his ways are not like ours!
Tsh over at SimpleMom has some great resources for you to think about 2013. I wish us all a very blessed year and may God lead us all into the great things He has planned!


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Thousands of pro-Hobbit New Zealanders flood the streets to keep Bilbo a Kiwi
3000-or-so protestors took the streets in Wellington to prevent production of The Hobbit from leaving New Zealand. Labor disputes between The N.Z. Actors Equity and Warner Brothers have been resolved, but the possibility of producers going overseas stand at 50-50.


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"The meeting was in the framework of further developing ties and resolving differences," said Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim.
The meeting was attended by Emir Hamad bin Khalifa of Qatar and Prince Salman bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia.
Strains stem from critical coverage of Saudi Arabia on Qatar's al-Jazeera TV and Qatar's ties with Israel.
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who is reported to have arranged the meeting, was also present.
One report says the talks were held to discuss the Saudi suspicion that Qatar is supporting exiled opposition figures such as the London-based Saudi dissident Saad al-Faqih.
Qatar for its part accuses Riyadh of involvement in an attempted coup in 1996.
Full-blown row
Kuwaiti newspaper al-Qabas, quoting ministerial sources, said the meeting was scheduled to take place on a yacht
Analysts say Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are both ruled by members of the ultra-conservative Wahhabi branch of Islam, have never enjoyed warm relations.
Tensions blew up into a full-blown public row in 2002 when Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Doha and boycotted a regional meeting there.
The mutual disaffection is holding up construction of an undersea gas pipeline from Qatar to Kuwait that would cross Saudi territorial waters.
Qatar has come under pressure to close or reform al-Jazeera from its neighbour and the United States, but it continues to broadcast its trademark programmes featuring where furious debate and political invective, often directed at America and Arab rulers.


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AIBU To ask what party do you vote for?(170 Posts)
I feel that a high percentage of mumneters vote labour. I do, what about you?
The party I would really believe in has yet to form
Green. SNP once in a local election with no green candidate.
niceguy2 and I do believe it was ttosca who educated you on the difference btw debt and deficit
I want to see more shop stewards, unionists and working class people in the commons.
Business leaders, why do they need to waste their time in the commons?
What is my qualification for a politician? You HAVE to have had a real job, in the real world. You have to have proved excellence in that field.
Couldn't agree more. Too many of our politician's are full time politician's and have never had real world experience.
It shocked me when I watched a program once about our financial problems and they interviewed some politician's about what our deficit was. It was shocking to see how many didn't understand what a deficit was, let alone how big it was. And some mixed it up with the debt. Usually before reverting to the party lines of blame the other party.
I want to see more top tier business leaders moving into politics. People who have taken a small company, built it up and made it successul. But the problem simply is that if you are that successful at business that politics is a crappy paid job for a lot of shit and no reward.
Labour usuallly. Burt like it better when the parties had bigger policy differences. I suppose Ed M thinks he is radical but I am not so sure
I used to vote Labour I thought they championed the under class and the under dog and the disadvanted, Their polices however have virtually buried a generation and possibly more, and vicously attacked the elderly - the vulnerable and the weak and the underdog.
I dont know what the answer is.
Lib Dems or Conservative, TBC.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and Red Ken is a perfect example of this. The man plays up to his image and is totally sucked in by the Idolatry nature of his supporters. Years ago I silenced a room full of lefties when I dared to say what I thought of him
I find what you have said about the PFI interesting because there is always plausible denial which is what is being used here. Labour would have you believe that "they don't know what they doith" they knew. Blair was a free market champion of neo-liberlisation which has seen huge wealth shift to the very top. They knew what they were doing. I have always voted labour but I have no illusions, they might soften the blow to the workers with carrots like tax credits but they have sold out on their principles.
I use these two pieces of news today (about ANY party, but Labour seems particularly prone to this) to illustrate what I mean:
1. Lutfur, who was sacked as Labour candidate in the 2010 mayoral election for his close links to an Islamic fundamentalist group, the Islamic Forum of Europe, which believes in turning Europe into a sharia state. Lutfur is also backed by a group of powerful local businessmen. In office, as this blog has documented, he has systematically given key positions, funding and favours to his extremist and moneyed patrons and is slowly turning a diverse, multicultural borough into a vehicle favouring a specific set of interests and segment of the community.
Ken was ridiculed, says my informant. People were laughing out loud. He had absolutely no support whatever for his proposal, not even from the likes of [hard-left MP] Dennis Skinner. A former member of the NEC, Luke Akehurst, tweeted tonight that the Kenster was in a minority of one at the meeting. Labours secretary in Tower Hamlets, Tarik Ahmed Khan, said: Ken Livingstone still meddling in TH politics, [sought] to let Mayor Lutfur back into TH Labour Party. Thankfully, all voted against.
- frankly dangerous [the general point that narcissists and psychopaths are drawn to power, ie politics, medicine, banking, law]. Why do we have these awful people clogging up our public space? Why are they not stopped early in their tracks?
2. The report that '[Labour] Ministers paid way too much for the banking bail-out.
- I have no doubt that they did. Labour overpaid a hell of a lot and our grandchildren will sit with the debt of their delusions as a result. You HAVE to bring skills to a position. It is not enough to be inherently intelligent and have fluffy good intentions about 'fairness' and all that sh t, when you are up against market makers and experienced negotiators.
I heard again and again from people in PFI and health provision 'they just do not know what they are doing. They don't have a clue'. 'They don't seem to understand [in PFI contracts] that they have just agreed to service the debt AND carry all the risk'. And it was hidden off balance sheet, something which put the executives of Enron in the real world of markets, in jail!
I loathe the last Labour government with a passion because they really were a bunch of clowns and they have really harmed this country.
What I want in any government is COMPETENCE. You can hate and sneer at Nigel Lawson, John Redwood etc. - but they knew what they were doing. So for me? What is my qualification for a politician? You HAVE to have had a real job, in the real world. You have to have proved excellence in that field. No county councillors, estate agents, polytechnic lecturers, trades union officials. Sack Yes Minister civil servants. The most honest politician in a long time was Estelle Morris 'I am not up to this job'. What I think she meant was that she was too gentle for the rough housing required.
I would vote Tory if Cameron was one! I vote UKIP.
The labour party ruined the country, overspent and flooded the country on purpose with immigration, so that they could get votes and put two fingers up to the Tories. The labour Party (particularly under Blair) were a complete shower of shite!
Abitwobblynow, I have always voted labour but the only way now to get labour to represent the interests of working people would be to storm their head office and chuck them out I agree what is needed is representatives that actually represent working people. I think what has happened over labours quite short history is that money power has corrupted and co-opted the labour movement to do its bidding. Look at Blair......son of Thatcher????
Despite the nickname, Labour is about the only party I've never voted for. I did tactical Lib Dem voting in my idealistic teens and twenties and since then I've voted for a person rather than a party. We had a Monster Raving Looney one year, I voted for him as I knew him from down the pub and he was alright. (have you ever read their manifestos? - some of the ideas were actually perfectly sensible )
Last time round I voted Green. The Lib Dem was a pathetic party yes woman who'd had no career except government administration, the Conservative was an ex banker dear chum of George Osborne with no local roots and the Labour candidate hadn't even bothered to move to the area and again had never had a job outside politics. At least the Green candidate was local and had had a non-political career, and the green manifesto was ok.
I'd consider UKIP if they'd confine themselves to the single issue of getting out of the economic mess that the EU is in and drags the UK into, but too many of their other policies are distasteful.
SNP, an independent Scotland is the only realistic option for our country.
Anything but Labour
I really want to make this serious point about incompetence: from the railways, to PPFI, Labour were completely outmanoevred and we pay through the nose as a result.
Whatever their good intentions, they simply did not have the world experience or skill sets required, when dealing with bankers and hardened negotiaters. They [that means us, the tax payer] were FLEECED.
So Mini, why if we actually agree with eachother (and I am glad we do), do you ignore the sense of what Pasco says, by impugning his background?
Because, if so then I would like to point out the background of Stephen Byers the polytechnic lecturer who was NO MATCH AT ALL for railway negotiations....
What I would like from any politician, whatever party: having once had a proper job (not tax-funded [Gordon Brown], but in the market place). Being in touch with reality. Competent, and efficient. Polytechnic lecturers, trades unions officials, estate agents, EU flunkeys, political researchers, MPs aides - NO! [you notice that covers the whole lot of them from Byers to Cameron]
An excellent politician by those criteria, was John Redwood. And he was.
Was labour then libdem.
Seriously considering Ukip next election.That is what the shite from the other 3 have driven me to!
First vote (aged 19) Liberal Democrat.
Second vote Labour
Third vote Labour
Fourth vote Labour
Fifth vote Labour.
I used to vote Liberal Democrat in the local elections as we don't have a Labour candidate. I would never vote Lib Dem again. I haven't bothered voting in the last couple of local elections as the choice between Lib Dem, UKIP and Tory isn't really a choice.
I live in a Tory stronghold therefore my vote in the General Election isn't really worth anything either.
I know exactly how money is created, every time money is printed a corresponding amount of debt is created.
Tiny little mind, that's right wing thinking for you. Always shut down any discussion by insults.
I agree that MPs do the party's bidding , they in no way represent the people who elect them. We do not live in a democracy. One of the ways in which we now exercise our democratic power is through consumerism, we levy pressure directly on companies through the media and internet, we stop shopping with companies and we reward what we believe to be ethical business through consumer loyalty. Main stream politics is becoming sidelined because people know the three major parties are puppets to corporations, why vote when you can make a real difference through direct consumer action.
I agree, the lot are a pox.
Mini. Who cares. A tiny tiny piece of economic fact: money doesn't grow on trees. Printing it is
forgery still a con by the BoE. You have to MAKE money.
This is a hard and never-to-be-forgotten fact that socialists mysteriously just gloss over. I don't think this vital construct ever enters your tiny little minds.
The fact is, that British politics is decided by 50 'marginal' seats. Therefore, the overpaid social workers that constitute the majority of our MPs, do not listen to the constituents, they do the party's bidding.
A pox on the lot of them
The Tories just aren't very good. That's why they put on all the "confidence" and bravado to cover up their incompetence. Sad really.
I read the Tory policies for the last election and thought, bloody hell that's a recipe for recession.
Lib Dem ones looked good though.... sigh
The very same Mr Pasco who with his chums from the city have a vested interest is laying the blame squarely where it doesn't reside, Mr Pasco who worked for Lloyds in corporate finance. He is hardly likely to point the finger towards banking practices and corporate tax dodging is he?
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User Summary
Offset Software was a development studio based in Newport Beach, California and founded in 2004 by Sam McGrath, Travis Stringer, Trevor Stringer and Rod Green. The company had up to 50 people employed and one game under development, a first-person shooter with the working title "Project Offset".
In February 2008, Intel acquired Offset Software, having purchased the Havok engine in 2007. Intel canceled the game in mid-2010 and the company defunct.


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Photoshop is not just for photographers anymore. Photoshop 3D for Animators is one of the only titlesavailable that discusses 3D Photoshop techniques specifically for animators.Now with Adobe CS5, 3D Digital artists can integrate 3D models into Photoshop or create 3D models in Photoshop with the high capability to customize, edit and animate.
Adobe Photoshop CS5 comes with a good number of 3D materials that you can apply to the 3D models imported to Photoshop from 3rd party applications or the 3D shapes created in Photoshop.
Finally, I am happy to share with you the news that Photoshop 3D for Animator book is available for pre-order on Amazon. The estimated publishing date is August 23 2010. The pre-order offer includes %22 discount. So, the price will be $38.79 instead of $49.95.
During this period, I would be glade to receive your questions and inquiries regarding the book and its content. Feel free to contact me through the Contact page or by adding your questions directly to the book forum. Here is brief information about the book:
Welcome to the new Photoshop 3D site. This website is dedicated to the users and fans of my new book Photoshop 3D for Animators. in this site you will find support, resources and updates related to the book and its content. Furthermore, you can join this site forum to ask questions, share information and thoughts about the book and Photoshop in general.
I hope you enjoy the site and find it useful and finally, do not forget to order the book now and get %22 off the standard price


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This year Parry's Name day was on 29th June 2017
This name is a variant of the original name Peter
Saint Peter, whose feast day the celebration is based upon is a patron saint of the following:
- Fishermen
- Boatbuilders
- Clockmakers
Symbols are often associated with Saints, it often helped in the middle ages when people were unable to read thus Peter has the following symbols associated
- Two crossed keys
- A crowing cock
- A fish
- Two swords
- A shepherd's staff and two keys
Historically Famous Parrys
Peter was, of course, pre-eminent among the apostles, being not only one of the inner circle of three (together with his brothers James and John), but also the disciple to whom Jesus entrusted the Church: 'You are a rock. (Petrus): on you I will found my Church' (John 21:15). From the Gospels, we have a picture of a fisherman who lived with his wife in Galilee and fished with his brother, Andrew, until they were called by Jesus to become 'fishers of men'. He was the apostle who denied his master three times on the night of Jesus' betrayal, and yet he was the man whom the risen Jesus told to 'feed my lambs'. He travelled to Rome where he became the leader of the Church, and it is thought that he dictated his memories to Mark, forming the first Gospel. And it was there that he faced execution, together with Paul, in about 67. There are legends of him travelling to Antioch with his wife and daughter, Petronilla (whose name, incidentally, is not derived from 'Peter', as many think, but from the Latin, Petronius) - but these are probably legendary.


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Dr Liz Moores, LHS
Reddy and Moores (2006) found that students who took psychology placements achieved higher final year marks and were rated more favourably by academic staff on a measure of transferable skills. In this project, we investigate whether a psychology placement year is 'worth it' for several groups of people in terms of both academic and career success. In terms of academic benefits, key findings so far are that: (i) a psychology placement was found to confer an academic advantage of similar magnitude to other subjects with an optional placement year, (ii) this effect was similar across ethnicities and socioeconomic groups, although some ethnicities were less likely to choose to take a placement year in the first place, (iii) the placement year academic advantage is not due to just being one year older, (iv) students scoring in the 2.2 range in their second year gain a greater advantage in the final year from doing a placement. In terms of career success, DLHE survey data 6 months post-graduation suggest that: (i) placement students across the university are more likely to be in work than non placement students, and (ii) that students who have taken a placement are more likely to be in graduate level jobs. This holds true for psychology students as well, in particular amongst graduates with 2.1 class degrees. A survey of psychology alumni has recently been initiated in order to investigate whether placements give longer lasting benefits on various measures of objective and subjective career success. In particular we are interested whether a year spent on placement puts graduates at least a year ahead in terms of career. Preliminary results and methods will be discussed.


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Athens' first Beep Baseball team is looking for people to participate in its inaugural practice Saturday at Smith Field, 1570 Old Epps Bridge Road, Athens.
The team is being coordinated by Athens Inclusive Recreation and Sports, a nonprofit organization that provides adapted sports activities for people with disabilities in the Athens area.
Beep Baseball is an adapted sport for players with or without disabilities played with six fielders and one or two "spotters" from one team and a pitcher, catcher and batter from the other team.
Fielders and the batter are blindfolded. There also is a designated hitter and designated fielder, who must be legally blind in most cases. Catcher, pitcher and spotters do not wear blindfolds and are usually sighted, although there have been a few who are partially blind.
The ball beeps and is a modified and oversized softball. The bases are blue, nearly 5 feet tall, and have mostly foam interior with the electronics that cause it to buzz steadily when a switch is thrown.
The practice will get the Beep Baseball team ready for a tournament to be held March 2-3.
For more information about AIRS or to sign up for practice, visit www.airs-ga.org or call (864) 367-3683.


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Sure looks like the GOP Senate Leader, Mitch McConnell, is prepared to fight the effort to pass the DADT language:
Democrats see in the weeks ahead a final opportunity to pass priority legislation before Republicans have an emboldened presence in Washington.
But a spokesman for Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, said voters were not interested in the Democrats' priorities.
"It's like the election didn't happen — if you look at what their priorities are," spokesman Don Stewart said. "The American people's priorities are not the Dream Act, 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal and the START treaty. Their priorities are not getting a tax hike — and keeping spending under control."
This is important.
McConnell exercises very tight control over his caucus. We need Senator Susan Collins, who voted for the DADT language in the Senate Armed Services Committee last May, to stand up for equality in December. That means Collins will have to defy her leader. She doesn't do that very often.
McConnell can play all kinds of procedural games over the next few weeks to block the Defense bill, with the DADT language. If Republican Senators play along with McConnell, we're screwed.
Susan Collins knows that if the DADT language doesn't pass this year, it won't happen for a very long time. Let's hope she's negotiating directly with Harry Reid — and negotiating in good faith. If Collins will vote the right way, she'll bring several other GOPers. If she won't side with equality, don't expect any other Republican Senators to do it.
There is going to be an intense battle in the Senate to pass the Defense bill over the next few weeks. We need the President fully engaged. Sign our letter to Obama asking him to get actively involved by calling wavering Senators. We need to pressure him to make sure he's pressuring them. Sign here.


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List Entry Summary
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Name: CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY
List entry Number: 1276622
The building may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
County: Hampshire
District: Fareham
District Type: District Authority
National Park: Not applicable to this List entry.
Grade: II*
Date first listed: 18-Oct-1955
Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry.
Legacy System Information
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System: LBS
Asset Groupings
This list entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information.
List entry Description
Summary of Building
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Reasons for Designation
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details.
899/5/152 WEST STREET 29-MAR-06 FAREHAM (South side) CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY
II* Gothick town church of 1834-7, the N side parallel to the main street through Fareham. First phase attributed by Pevsner to Jacob Owen, chancel rebuilt in 1915; decoration by Dykes Bower. MATERIALS: Cream brick laid Flemish bond; slate roofs; some red brick to chancel on S side marks site of proposed but unbuilt chapel.
EXTERIOR: Chancel, 7-bay nave with W end gallery and N porch; NW tower; NE vestry. Nave with plain parapet, divided into narrow bays by tall buttresses with set-offs. Tall 2-light Gothick transomed windows cusped Y-tracery and brattished transoms. 4-stage embattled tower with angle buttresses with gabled set-offs and narrow N doorway with quadruple chamfers and a Gothick door. Tall, narrow tower windows, the belfry windows paired, clock faces on all 4 faces. Low hipped slate roof to tower. 2-storey porch with double chamfered 4-centred doorway, the parapet raised in the centre for date plaque of 1834. The W end of the nave has a triple window lighting the gallery, a 2-light segmental-headed window below and a cusped roundel in the gable, which has a plain parapet. The S side is linked, via an original stair block to the gallery (matching the N side porch), to a late C20 parish rooms/office complex which is not of special interest. High-set 5-light E window in the rebuilt chancel.
INTERIOR: 7-bay arcades with cast iron quatrefoil section piers with bell capitals supporting depressed segmental arches. Flat aisle and higher nave roofs, panelled between transverse cast iron arches on shafts on moulded corbels, with a cornice of fleurons. The nave roof shafts are a continuation of the pier profile. The spandrels of the nave arches are traceried and there are large decorative ventilator panels in the ceiling. W end gallery with a blind Gothick traceried frontal. The N and S ends of the gallery each break forward into the aisles by one raking bay. Attractive painted decoration of blue, white and gold by Dykes Bower. Simple segmental-headed chancel arch and pretty c.1920s chancel screen with large openings and simplified tracery of naturalistic carved decoration with carved angels in the spandrels. Chancel ceiling of boards on the W/E axis with decorative pierced holes for ventilation and a moulded cornice. The chancel has a triple sedilia with cusped arches and a hoodmould. Victorian nave benches, the ends with chamfered corners, sunk trefoils and convex shoulders. Gallery staircases with stick balusters and ramped handrails. Open-backed gallery benches may be 1830s. Font with octagonal stone bowl with Gothic lettered inscription on octagonal stem.
Numerous wall monuments include Admiral Thompson, d.1799, executed by Flaxman in 1800 including a figure with a sextant; a handsome memorial to Elizabeth Stephens, d.1837, by Flaxman, executed by Thomas Denman, and a graceful tablet to Sophia Dickson, b. 1846, signed by E H Bailey. Heavily-repaired but striking painted glass in the W window (formerly in the E window) by Thomas Jeavons of Windsor, c1770-1790, given to the church in 1835 when it was restored by JA Edwards, who added heraldic and other patterns to the head tracery.
HISTORY: This church is one of the early C19 Commissioners' churches. Jacob Owen was an architect and engineer who transferred from Portsmouth to the Irish Board of Works in 1832. Dykes Bowers who worked on the decorative scheme was a prominent C20 church architect, whose work includes the new high altar of St Paul's Cathedral and works to a large number of parish churches.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: An outstanding example of an 1830s Gothick church with an elegant tower and graceful interior. The rebuilt 1915 chancel is sympathetic to the 1830s work and the decorative scheme by Dykes Bower adds to the delicacy of the interior. The interior has good fittings, including some fine wall monuments of the early C19, and an important painted glass window by Jeavons of Windsor.
SOURCES: Colvin, H., A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, 3rd edn., 1995, 716-717. Jagger, Ian, Changes of Worship as reflected by the Interior of Holy Trinity, Fareham, 1998. Pevsner, Hampshire, 1967, 220-221.
Selected Sources
Books and journals
Colvin, H M , A Biographical Dictionary of English Architects 1600-1840, (1954), 716-717
Jagger, I, Changes of Worship as reflected by the Interior of Holy Trinity, Fareham, (1998)
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, (1967), 220-221
National Grid Reference: SU 57581 06176
The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1276622 .pdf
The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay.
This copy shows the entry on 26-Sep-2017 at 01:58:03.
End of official listing