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Scrabble?! RIVETEDIs riveted valid for Scrabble? Words With Friends? Lexulous? WordFeud? Other games?
Definitions of RIVETED in various dictionaries:
verb - to fasten with a type of metal bolt
WORD SOLVER(tip: SPACE or ? for wildcards)
There are 7 letters in RIVETED ( D2E1I1R1T1V4 )
To search all scrabble anagrams of RIVETED, to go: RIVETED?
Rearrange the letters in RIVETED and see some winning combinations
Scrabble results that can be created with an extra letter added to RIVETED
7 letters out of RIVETED
5 letters out of RIVETED
4 letters out of RIVETED
3 letters out of RIVETED
Anagrammer is a game resource site that has been extremely popular with players of popular games like Scrabble, Lexulous, WordFeud, Letterpress, Ruzzle, Hangman and so forth. We maintain regularly updated dictionaries of almost every game out there. To be successful in these board games you must learn as many valid words as possible, but in order to take your game to the next level you also need to improve your anagramming skills, spelling, counting and probability analysis. Make sure to bookmark every unscrambler we provide on this site. Explore deeper into our site and you will find many educational tools, flash cards and so much more that will make you a much better player. This page covers all aspects of RIVETED, do not miss the additional links under "More about: RIVETED"


text: CAMBODIAN military commanders said they will press their Thai counterparts during a meeting near Preah Vihear temple today to ensure their troops abstain from making new incursions into Cambodian territory. The meeting, they say, follows a renewed effort from Thai soldiers to put their stamp on Cambodian land by erecting fences and taking patrols into land that does not belong to them. Sao Socheat, deputy commander of Military Region 4, said Cambodian military officials would refer to a 2000 memorandum of understanding requiring soldiers on both sides to abstain from advancing into each other's territory. "If they accept it, then they should not be able to move their troops into Cambodian territory," he said. "Thai soldiers have been moving into disputed territory. They must stop if our border committees are going to work together to demarcate the border," he said. Srey Doek, 3rd Division Commander and the highest-ranking RCAF official on the ground there, said the "problem will be raised during the meeting in order to prevent confrontations in the future".

subset: commoncrawl


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Store below 25 C
Keep our to reach of children.
Safe to use in breeding, pregnant, lactating and young/newborn animals.
For chest symptoms, including cough, cold & fever.
Bell. 30c, Cortiso. 6c, Ferr-p. 30c, Kennel cough 30c nosode, Spong. 30c.
5 pillules (dogs & cats) & small animals.
10 pillules (horses & large animals)
Hourly for acute conditions x 3 doses, then 2 -4 hourly x 3 doses. Thereafter, 1 to 3 times daily till well.
See Dosing Guidelines for further details.


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Grab a Free Heroic Character in Celebration of 18 Big Years
EverQuest is celebrating its eighteen birthday in style. From now through March 31st, players can get a free heroic character just for logging in. In addition, bonus experience is being offered as well as new two new player-designed missions and a new quest as well. Lastly a new progression server will be opening this summer as was announced on a recent live stream.
Next up, our plans are weaving together for our new Progression server: Agnarr! We're planning on launching around early summer this year. This is a new time-locked progression server with a unique rule set. Here are a few details:
- Agnarr is a time-locked progression server that will start at the base game and eventually lock at Lost Dungeons of Norrath… permanently
- We will refer to this server informally as "PoP-locked" even though it will eventually include Legacy of Ykesha and Lost Dungeons of Norrath
- Expansions automatically unlock 12-weeks per expansion
- Experience rates will be the same as Ragefire and Lockjaw
- True Box server rules apply (one account per machine)
- We will have a limited store that will start with lower-tier consumables (potions & buffs), appearances, and bags – and some mounts will unlock with Luclin, but marketplace offerings will not be too powerful for each expansion's era
Read the full news on the EverQuest site.


text: On Fri, Feb 26, 1999 at 01:33:33PM -0800, Dan Hollis wrote: > Abuse contact. > Security contact. Exactly the choices I would have made. Cheers, - -jra -- Jay R. Ashworth jra at baylink.com Member of the Technical Staff Buy copies of The New Hackers Dictionary. The Suncoast Freenet Give them to all your friends. Tampa Bay, Florida http://www.ccil.org/jargon/ +1 813 790 7592


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Are you interested in learning about losing weight with Acupuncture? Monmouth Pain & Rehabilitation offers Acupuncture weight loss in Shrewsbury, Freehold, Wall, & Lacey NJ. Each office is staffed with a licensed Acupuncturist who can help guide you with your weight loss journey and use acupuncture to assist in weight loss.
There can be many reasons why an individual can gain weight some of these may include stress, an imbalance or shift in hormones, a slower metabolism, over eating, poor nutrition or lack of exercise.
Acupuncture should not be used to cure all weight issues but it can be effective in helping someone with their initial loss and also weight loss maintenance but only in the instance that the individual is willing and able to make changes that they need to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Acupuncture treatments for weight loss can be used to have an influence on the "hunger" hormones which are the leptin and ghrelin. The Leptin is a hormone that is made by fat cells and decreases your appetite.
The second, Gherlin is a hormone that increases appetite and plays a significant role in the body's weight gain. Acupuncture has shown to increase ghrelin while decreasing leptin – this effect can help curb an individual's appetite.
Acupuncture is said to aid in weight loss because of the principals that it can help manage weight by curbing appetite and cravings. Acupuncture can also help boost the body's metabolism, improve digestion and regulate obesity-related hormones. Acupuncture can help strengthen the function of the liver which produces many chemicals that are critical for digestion and the processing of nutrients and the breakdown of fats.
What should I do to help with weight loss?
You should add these principles into your daily living. Exercise, Hydration, Sleep and Diet are also very important factors that play a role in the weight loss process while being treated for Acupuncture.
Exercise – be active. You should strive for some sort of physical activity for an hour each day. A great suggestion is to find a partner so you can hold one another accountable for workouts – this makes it more fun.
Hydration is key. Make sure you drink plenty of water, this will keep you hydrated, energetic and trick your brain into thinking you are full.
Make sure you are getting a proper amount of sleep. Sleep is an important to make sure your body is getting enough rest.
Eating well is also important for your weight loss success. When you eat balanced, whole foods that are fresh. Eating foods with a higher vibration will increase yours. By raising the vibration of the body, fungi, viruses, disease and bad bacteria cannot survive.


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Electricity tariffs
Romania vs. the EU
Electricity tariffs for household consumers in Romania are some of the lowest in the European Union, according to Eurostat statistics. Last year, with a price of EUR 119.8/MWh, below Romania were Hungary with EUR 112.5/MWh, Croatia with EUR 119.6/MWh, Lithuania with EUR 111.6/MWh and Bulgaria with EUR 95.5/MWh. But if we relate these prices to the minimum net wage, we find that Romania pays the most expensive electricity. Even Bulgarians, who have a minimum net wage of only EUR 202/month, can afford to pay 2.11 MWh, while Romanians, with a minimum net wage of EUR 251/month, can pay only 2 MWh. At the same time, taxes charged by the state are at the European average, which proves that we have an expensive electricity.
The Netherlands is the EU country with the cheapest electricity. At a cost of EUR 156.2/MWh and a minimum net wage of EUR 1,430, the Dutch can afford to pay 9.15 MWh per month. The top of countries with the cheapest energy also includes France, where a minimum net wage of EUR 1,401 can cover 8.3 MWh, the UK where a minimum net income of EUR 1,261 covers 7.14 MWh and Luxembourg, when one can pay 7.2 MWh with EUR 1,162. The first line of the top is completed by the Irish, who can afford to consume 6.5 MWh.
The example of ex-communist countries
In 2017, in Romania, the energy price for household consumers was EUR 119.8/MWh. Although this is among the lowest prices compared to the former communist countries, Romanians can afford to pay the lowest amount of energy from the minimum net wage. Estonia and Slovenia are in a favourable situation with 3.99 MWh paid, followed by Croatia with 3.1 MWh, the Czech Republic with 2.8 MWh and Poland with 2.4 MWh. The penultimate position among the ex-communist countries is occupied by the Bulgarian neighbours, who can afford to pay 2.11 MWh, while for Romanians the maximum bill they can afford to pay is only 2 MWh.
State taxes are not high
While until a few years ago Romania was in a select top of countries with the highest taxes and duties applied to electricity, along with countries like Germany, Sweden or Denmark, at the level of last year they accounted for only 16.02% of the final price. For example, in countries such as Bulgaria and Hungary, which registered (in 2017) prices for household consumers lower than the price charged in Romania, the state's share accounts for 16.64% and 21.245% respectively of the final price. Also, in Slovakia taxes account for 16.65%, in the Czech Republic – 17.38%, in Slovenia – 18.02% and in Poland – 18.66%. A different situation is recorded in Estonia, where taxes account for 10.93% and the final price is EUR 120.7/MWh, higher than in our country.
Constant price increases
As a characteristic, in Romania the price of energy for household consumers has permanently increased over the past few years, while many EU countries have recorded reductions. In early 2012, the price for household consumers was in our country RON 107.5/MWh, and in early 2017 it reached EUR 119.8/MWh, marking an increase by 10%. While in Bulgaria the tariff remained unchanged in this entire period (EUR 95.5/MWh), in Poland it fell from EUR 152.9 to EUR 145.7/MWh, and in the Czech Republic from EUR 166.8 to EUR 143.8/MWh, in Hungary from EUR 161.8 to EUR 112.5/MWh and the examples can continue.
|Countries with the highest/lowest share of taxes in the final price
|Price (EUR/MWh)
|Taxes (%)
|Source: Eurostat


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- Home
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- Muzzleloader
- Gear Bag
Washington DFW Considering Lead Tackle Restrictions
The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to consider restrictions on the use of lead fishing tackle at 13 lakes with nesting loons during a meeting scheduled Dec. 2-4 in Olympia.
In addition, the commission will hold public hearings on changes to Puget Sound crab fishing regulations, management alternatives for bottomfish in Catch Area 4B (western Strait of Juan de Fuca), and several other proposed changes to sportfishing rules in Washington.
The commission, a nine-member citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. in Room 175 of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. On Dec. 3-4, the commission will meet in Room 172 of the Natural Resources Building. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 3 and at 8 a.m. on Dec. 4.
On the third day of the three-day meeting, the commission is scheduled to consider restricting the use of certain lead fishing tackle at lakes with nesting loons
The commission held a public hearing on the issue in October, when it reviewed the findings of a WDFW advisory group established to assess scientific studies on risks posed to loons that ingest lead fishing tackle and recommend ways to minimize those risks.
The 13 lakes where loons breed in Washington include Ferry, Long and Swan lakes in Ferry County; Calligan and Hancock lakes in King County; Bonaparte, Blue and Lost lakes in Okanogan County; Big Meadow, South Skookum and Yocum lakes in Pend Oreille County; Pierre Lake in Stevens County; and Hozomeen Lake in Whatcom County
Additional information on loons and lead tackle is available on WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/loons/.
Also during the December meeting, the commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on proposed changes to regulations for Puget Sound crab fisheries. Those changes reflect a new policy recently adopted by the commission that expands sportfishing opportunities for Dungeness crab in Puget Sound.
The commission also is scheduled to hold public hearings on:
- Management alternatives for bottomfish in Catch Area 4B (western Strait of Juan de Fuca), which are available on the department's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/conservation/fisheries/marinearea4/.
- Proposed changes in state fishing rules on a variety of issues ranging from Columbia River smelt (eulachon) seasons to Free Fishing Weekend. The proposals are available online at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/rule_proposals/.
- Updates to the lower Columbia River white sturgeon management policy.
- Amendments to rules for buying and selling of game.
- Changes to commercial bottomfish, forage fish and shellfish fisheries in Puget Sound designed to protect rockfish populations.
- Amendments to rules governing the removal of minerals, wood and artifacts from WDFW lands.
In other business, the commission is scheduled to take action on two land acquisitions in Okanogan County, and a proposal to simplify the multiple-season permit drawing for big game by conducting a single drawing.
Also during the meeting, the commission is scheduled to hear briefings on several topics, including the recreational albacore tuna fishery, the use of alternative commercial fishing gear on the Columbia River and potential updates to the Columbia River summer chinook salmon management policy.
For a complete agenda, visit the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission's webpage at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2010/.
i am okay with phasing out
Submitted by CVC on Fri, 2010-11-26 19:08.
i am okay with phasing out lead if there is scientific evidence that confirms it poses a significant threat to the wildlife, but I am not okaty with banning it just because it is believed to be a problem. No one wants to do anything to damage the environment or harm wildlife, but sometimes regulation is passed based on a knee-jerk and unfounded reaction.


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Bringing nature into the home
In a holiday home in the Alps the light wooden floorboards by pur natur underscore the overall feeling of spaciousness.
|Garden furnishings ›Outdoor flooring
From a rooftop overlooking Vienna, to a garden terrace in the BlackForest: the pur natur »Kollin« terrace blends itself into any environment with its timeless elegance.
Less is more: Douglas terrace floorboards in purist form Douglas »Kollin« terrace floorboards impress with simple beauty. Each individual floorboard can be up to 6.20 m (20.3 ft) long and in a state of knotless to knot-free. A natural base with white lime pigment gives the terrace its timeless design. At the same time, the base protects the wooden terrace in a natural way and ensures that over the years it develops a beautiful, silver grey patina.
Tenacious terrace floorboards made from sustainable production.
The Douglas »Kollin« terrace floorboard is a premium product, made of Douglas wood from sustainably managed forests in Germany and Europe. Even without waterproofing or annual intensive care, your floor will be preserved for a very long time: Douglas »Kollin« develops at the very most only minimal cracks.
|1 - 8 m
|110 mm
|26 mm / 35 mm
|douglas fir
Please fill in the form to request a printed catalogue.
Please fill in the form to request a PDF catalogue.
Please fill in the form.


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Interstate Hotels & Resorts Signs 18 Hotels to United Kingdom Portfolio
01 Apr, 2015, 14:22 BST
- Adds 2,443 Guestrooms to Interstate's Expanding U.K. Portfolio
ARLINGTON, Virginia and LONDON, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Interstate Hotels & Resorts – the leading global hotel management company – today announced the signing of 18 management agreements for a portfolio of U.K. hotels owned by an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management. With these additions to its managed portfolio, Interstate continues to expand its regional presence and strengthen its offering, creating tailored management solutions to improve owners' profitability. Based in Birmingham, England, Interstate's U.K. division now comprises 59 hotels, including signed pipeline, throughout the United Kingdom.
"The U.K. continues to be a priority strategic growth area for Interstate, and it is gratifying to see our portfolio expand in the region through a new relationship with a world-class owner," said Jim Abrahamson, chief executive officer of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. "Our formidable and owner-centric U.K. team – supported by Interstate's global scale and experience – will successfully transition and operate these hotels, generating increased profitability and optimized asset value for our client."
The 18-hotel portfolio comprises 2,443 guestrooms, consisting of Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza branded hotels. Fifteen hotels will transition to Interstate management upon immediate effect, with three hotels transitioning in the next few months. Thirteen of the hotels also have Spirit & Health Fitness Clubs:
- 216-room Holiday Inn Gatwick London Airport
- 142-room Holiday Inn Farnborough
- 202-room Holiday Inn Reading South
- 188-room Holiday Inn Leicester
- 144-room Holiday Inn Hemel Hempstead
- 139-room Holiday Inn Aylesbury
- 130-room Holiday Inn Southampton
- 112-room Holiday Inn High Wycombe
- 101-room Holiday Inn Edinburgh City West
- 135-room Crowne Plaza Leeds
- 158-room Holiday Inn Coventry
- 107-room Holiday Inn London Bexley
- 125-room Holiday Inn Gloucester – Cheltenham
- 105-room Holiday Inn Maidstone – Sevenoaks
- 86-room Holiday Inn Basingstoke
- 124-room Holiday Inn Fareham (to be transitioned within the next few months)
- 100-room Holiday Inn Hull Marina (to be transitioned within the next few months)
- 129-room Holiday Inn Southampton – Eastleigh (to be transitioned within the next few months)
"As part of our strategic expansion, we're building upon our global relationships, such as with highly regarded investor Cerberus Capital Management, whom we've known through their U.S.-based headquarters," said Leslie Ng, chief investment officer of Interstate Hotels & Resorts. "We look forward to exploring other opportunities together in the U.K. and Europe."
Robert Crook, Interstate's managing director for the U.K., said, "We are delighted to secure this agreement, which will take our operational and signed pipeline of hotels to 59 in the U.K. and will significantly increase our scale and resources. With these new hotels, Interstate is now one of the largest operators of IHG franchised assets in the U.K., managing 40 IHG branded hotels, and raising our total rooms under management to more than 7,300."
Spanning North America, the U.K., Europe, Russia/CIS and China, Interstate Hotels & Resorts is a premier global hotel management company. The Company's comprehensive services are built on large-scale resources, delivered with the personalized and focused attention of a small company. With an owner-aligned organizational structure, experienced corporate support and expansive industry and global knowledge, Interstate uses its 55 years of experience to contribute to each owner's success.
For more information regarding hotel management in Europe, please contact Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Development-Europe, Aaron Greenman, at +32-490-43-15-72 or visit www.interstatehotels.co.uk. For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts worldwide, please visit www.interstatehotels.com.
About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide. Interstate and its affiliates manage 440 hotels with nearly 80,000 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, including five wholly owned hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 38 hotels with more than 6,000 rooms under construction or development throughout the world. For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts worldwide, please visit www.interstatehotels.com. Connect with Interstate at www.linkedin.com/company/interstate-hotels-resorts, www.facebook.com/InterstateHotels, and www.interstatehotels.com/careers.
For More Media Information:
Erin Vogt/Taylor Newsome
The Zimmerman Agency - +1-850-668-2222
For Media Information in the U.K.:
Licorice Media
Related Links
SOURCE Interstate Hotels & Resorts


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Click Here for Survey
Sturton and Stow Vision
We are strong, safe and thriving communities. We value and protect our historic, natural and rural environments, with development and amenities reflecting the needs of the communities. We value the distinctive character of our various settlements. Our people love living here.
Welcome to the 'Sturton By Stow with Bransby' and the 'Stow with Normanby by Stow and Coates' neighbourhood planning website. 'Sturton By Stow with Bransby' and 'Stow with Normanby by Stow and Coates' are 2 small rural settlements located midway between Lincoln and Gainsborough. Our Parish Councils decided to enter into an innovative partnership to develop a joint Neighbourhood Plan. This initiative is supported fully by West Lindsey District Council; our plan will support them in their planning application decision-making process where our Neighbourhood Plan will reflect the aspirations of both local communities. Grant funding is available from Central Government to create our plan. Further explanation of the Neighbourhood Planning process can be found at the Locality website, http://neighbourhoodplanning.org


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John Symon Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the British power trio, Cream.
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton and drummer Ginger Baker.
George Allen Miles, Jr., known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.
Big Brother & the Holding Company is an American rock band that formed in San Francisco in 1965 as part of the same psychedelic music scene that produced the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Airplane. They are best known as the band that featured Janis Joplin as their lead singer. Their 1968 album Cheap Thrills is considered one of the masterpieces of the psychedelic sound of San Francisco; it reached number one on the Billboard charts, and was ranked number 338 in Rolling Stone's the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer-songwriter. Joplin first rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of the psychedelic-acid rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company, and later as a solo artist with her more soulful and bluesy backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band.


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Marco MahrusHead of Payments at Brex
Marco Mahrus is the Vice President of Payments at Brex, the financial technology company that helps ambitious companies scale. The Payments team is responsible for scaling operations, risk management, partnerships and loyalty experiences with Brex's rapid growth, and for driving the overall cards business P&L.
Prior to Brex, Marco was a founding member and the global business lead at Uber Money including Uber Cash, Uber Credit and Uber Debit Cards, rider rewards, and core payments partnerships with issuers, networks and processors.
Agenda Sessions
Power Panel: Delivering The Future Of Payments – Harnessing Fintech, Payments Providers And Banking Partnerships, 4:20pmView Session


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Sigma ROX 12.0 SPORT Set
Included in delivery of ROX 12.0 SPORT Set
Bike computer, GPS holder, GPS Butler, Micro USB cable, R1 DUO Comfortex+ heart rate transmitter incl. textile chest strap, R2 DUO Combo transmitter incl. power and cadence magnet, mounting material, quick start instructions
– Diverse routing options
– Detailed OSM map material
– Maps of Europe preinstalled
– Maps can be download free of charge anywhere in the world
– 30 training views
– Strava Live Segments
– Create workouts on the unit
– Enhanced power functions (TSS®, NP®, IF®)
– Compatible with Di2 & eTap
– Compatible with Rotor 2INpower (OCA, OCP)
– WiFi interface for fast data transfer
– Synchronisation of training data with the DATA CENTER and SIGMA LINK app via SIGMA CLOUD
– Direct connection to Strava, Komoot, GPSies & TrainingPeaks
– Transflective 3″ display
– Fast user interface
– 8 GB internal memory
– Extendable with 128 GB MicroSD card
– Standard version "grey" and "white"
– Additional coloured shells as optional accessories
– Each coloured shell comes with sets of buttons in three colours
– Battery time of up to 16 hours
– Dimensions: 59 x 115 x 17 mm
– Weight: 125 g
4 in stock


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Crop to Crust ConferenceWhy not come along to the From Crop to Crust conference on 16 April in Stratford-Upon-Avon? From Crop to Crust is a conference that celebrates the role of the traditional mill in the local community as a source of local food, employment, community and renewable energy. Through a series of workshops, demonstrations and networking opportunities artisan millers and bakers will...
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text: Oh man! Ad-blocking software has been detected! :'( This website is run by the community, for the community... and it needs advertisements in order to keep running. Blocking our ads means your killing our stats! Please disable your ad-block, or become a premium member to hide all advertisements and this notice. Hi all, I have a laptop running Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 + all patches. I also have a 3com wireless PCMCIA card, which I installed succesfully and rebooted and then configured. The problem is that the wireless card does not startup on its own, I have to login locally and switch the radio on, which is not ideal as I wanted to use it to login. I have several same model laptops and several same model wireless cards working fine. I have tried the usual uninstall/reinstall etc etc to no avail. If I take the card out and put it in a known good system it works fine! If I put a card from one of the other laptops in, it does has the same problem as the original card... I was wondering if there was a PC Card service or something which needs to be set to automatically start or something?! This is doing my head in


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POP-UP ART Show – Connect to the Amazing Everyday
I invite you to join me on June 10 at the HaTha Yoga Room in Amherst, Nova Scotia as I share my creative ART & YOGA journey over the last 9 years through powerful images that encourage a deeper dive into meaning and joy.Read More
Sparking Your Inner Light: Courageous Creating event
It's a new season, join me to explore the wisdom of the Lotus flower through yoga, mudras and creativity, as we abide in our true nature of beauty and joy. You will experience your divine nature through the powerful symbolism and imagery of the lotus flower. You will leave with a completed piece of personal art ready for framing as a gift for yourself or perhaps someone dear to you. Sunday April 9, 2017 1:30-3:30 at the HaTha Yoga Room in Amherst, NS email me at email@example.com to register and for additional information All Welcome, No experience necessary, All Materials...Read More
Courageous Creating Event
FRIDAY: SEPTEMBER 30, OCTOBER 14, 28, NOVEMBER 4 * 7-8:30 PM COURAGEOUS CREATING at the HaTha Yoga Room in Amherst A four session Playshop series using proven & effective practices to connect you to what brings you alive. We will explore the beautiful, deep & unexpected connections between yoga, meditation, creativity and imagination. You must be the one to start a creative conversation with your soul and stay committed to continuing that conversation – daily and forever – soul work that will last a lifetime. This is the practice of courageous creating. Contact me...Read More
True Nature
True Nature I am fire. I am power. I am the tap root that nourishes the sacred silence. I stand my ground between mother earth and the deep ocean filled with sparks of light from father sky. I am the space of silence between the sun and the moon. I am the flow. What practices do you have that support your true nature, your natural source of personal power? "There is a way between voice and presence where information flows. In disciplined silence it opens With wandering talk it closes"...Read More
The Conceptual Channel
The image for this original piece of artwork which I created (6'x8') came to me during a recent acupuncture session. My body was vibrating intensely. I asked my Naturopathic Dr. for an explanation – she said, "Ah! It is your conceptual channel" – thus the title of the piece. I have recently been reflecting on the relationship between my energy and emotion, and for several years have practiced learning to embrace my emotions as energy. By allowing my emotions to rise to the surface as opposed to supressing them, and allowing my breath to be my conduit, I can exhale the energy from...Read More


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Haydon Bridge United FC
Club President - Dent Oliver
Dent has been involved with the club for an astonishing SEVEN decades!! Firstly as a Player, then as Groundsman, Manager, Treasurer, Secretary, Chairman, President and Trustee. Dent was also part of the triumvirate that had the foresight to purchase Low Hall Park in the 1970's giving us both security and a wonderful place in which to play football. Dent has dedicated his life to the club, and it is little wonder that he is known as 'Mr Haydon Bridge United'.
Vice Chairman - Peter Scott
Peter started helping with the then U8's in 2009 when his son was playing as an U7. From there he managed his own team for a couple of years until Tony Jenkins joined him, and continued up until the U16 age group, enjoying great success along the way. The highlight being the 2017/18 season when as the U15 age group the team was victorious in Four separate competitions
Groundsman - Davy Kirsopp
David has been involved with the Club since 1971 when he was enticed to a Committee Meeting where he was given the job as Groundsman and helped Dent Oliver to cut the grass, mark the pitch etc. Things have changed considerably since then, with several junior teams and pitches being developed, as has the Committee which now has a wide range of skills at our disposal.
Chairman - Tony Jenkins
Tony has been involved with HBUFC since 2001 as a Player/Manager and a Coach. In 2009 Tony was appointed Chairman of the football club. He's passionate about the sporting heritage of HBUFC, and the provision of excellent & safe facilities at Low Hall Park.
Secretary & Welfare Officer - Paula Collis
Paula first got involved with Haydon Bridge United around 14 years ago when her oldest son started playing for the club. Since those early days Paula has gone on to manage/coach the team with Tony Jenkins and Colin Banks until the teams last season 2010/11 as U17's. Paula has been the clubs treasurer, and since 2009 the club Secretary and Welfare officer.
Treasurer - Avril Kirsopp
Avril started off washing football strips and cleaning out the pavilion. She progressed to Club Secretary and is now the Club Treasurer. She is Bookings Secretary for the 3G Training Area which is used not only for our Club but members of the Community can hire this area for training and children's parties.


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3 Tips for Parents to Help their Children with Autism
Taking care of your child who has autism may be harder than you thought. However, it has its perks. They are lovely children with unique minds and sensibilities. How can …Read More
Taking care of your child who has autism may be harder than you thought. However, it has its perks. They are lovely children with unique minds and sensibilities. How can …Read More
It doesn't take much for dependence on alcohol or drugs to quickly spiral into addiction. If you're starting to experience addiction symptoms, then it's wise to take steps in order …Read More
A fulfilling and successful career can give you a sense of direction in life, provide you with the opportunity to do what you love and give you the chance to …Read More
Metal shearing is a simple, easy-to-execute, and fast metal cutting process. These traits come out especially well where simply shaped parts, softer metals, mass production, and straight-line cuts are involved. …Read More
It's tempting to purchase the first pair of scissors you find when shopping. They may even be labeled as suitable for cutting hair, but the truth is that true professional …Read More
If you are building a new house, upgrading your current installation or planning for a complete renovation, it's time you should consider aluminium sliding doors and windows. If you have …Read More
Getting rid of lice isn't easy. If you're looking for treatments and remedies, check out the following list for useful advice you can heed. Check for signs Does your child …Read More
Airbrush may just be the future of makeup. Its innovation in the makeup industry has led it to become one of the most widely-used tools by celebrities, and now even …Read More
When you think of Bitcoin, you typically don't think of running down to the corner store and cashing out some of your cryptocurrency or loading up when the original virtual …Read More
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Good Morning from Northern Ireland. These are the words I always start my day with on Twitter so I thought, why not start doing the same on WordPress. It's a great way to initiate conversations and create new online friendships. You get to meet folk from all corners of the world and learn more aboutContinue reading "Good Morning From Northern Ireland"
Tag Archives: pray
Breathe Kindness Into The Lives Of Others
Whenever I'm doubting myself, something or someone tends to come along to bolster my crumbling confidence. Take this morning for example. A review landed on my Twitter feed at just the right time, cheering me up no end. Words like these are oxygen to a writer, they erase the doubting voice that is a frequentContinue reading "Breathe Kindness Into The Lives Of Others"
Even Wise Men Need A Star
I was out running at 05:45 this morning and was pleased to find dry conditions after a couple of soakings earlier in the week. Chilly, but dry. In fact as I left the street lit village I looked upwards to discover there wasn't a cloud in the sky, my path illuminated by the harvest moonContinue reading "Even Wise Men Need A Star"
Wear A Mask
Wear a mask people!
Be Consistent Today
I got up at 5:15 this morning, my first night run in many months. What with the ongoing pandemic I can't run at lunchtime in Belfast so this is really the only time I have to fit some exercise in. I don't like running first thing but I've made a resolution to suck it up,Continue reading "Be Consistent Today"
Let The Pain Drive You On
There is always a reason for pain, be it physical or mental. It doesn't just magically pop out of the ether, determined to ruin your day, year or life. There is a cause, something lurking behind. It can be anything – a pulled muscle, strained ligament or faltering organ. That's the physical side of it,Continue reading "Let The Pain Drive You On"
OCD – The Silent Killer
I have OCD and I'm not in control. There, I've said it, that wasn't so hard was it? Even a few years ago, I would have veered clear of 'outing' myself and identifying with the mental illness. It was embarrassing, shameful and humiliating. But the longer I've walked this path, I've realised I have aContinue reading "OCD – The Silent Killer"
Don't Suffer In Silence
I fear I'm getting old. For everything hurts. A lot. Take last Saturday for example. I bent over in the kitchen to put some rubbish in the bin, only to discover I couldn't stand up straight again. A sharp pain in the base of my back ensured that. Hobbling over to a nearby chair myContinue reading "Don't Suffer In Silence"
What Is Wrong With America?
The Northern Ireland Executive announced on Thursday a raft of lockdown easing measures over the coming weeks. These include the opening of bars, restaurants and cafes; competitive sport to return; gyms, museums and galleries to reopen; and a halving of the two metre social distancing rule. Deaths and infection rates have fallen markedly. There isContinue reading "What Is Wrong With America?"
Fionnuala's Photos – Part 2
Some more photos taken by Fionnuala on her phone the other evening. I was driving. This is the road that leads into our village. These are all natural shots with no filter or special effects added. Isn't she a talented one? The sunsets are amazing in Ireland at present. I'm off to work later andContinue reading "Fionnuala's Photos – Part 2"
Signs Of Life
I'm not saying life in lockdown is dull. For if I did then I'm sure Fionnuala could find plenty of household chores to occupy my time. But the days do tend to drag. I had to ask this morning what day of the week it was. By necessity, we find ourselves staring out of ourContinue reading "Signs Of Life"
Why Did God Create Covidiots?
This pandemic has certainly brought out the best and worst in humanity. There have been incredible displays of bravery, kindness and selflessness. Communities have come together as never before, neighbours helping each other when previously they were barely on nodding terms. We have become more considerate and caring. Rifts have been sealed, feuds forgotten andContinue reading "Why Did God Create Covidiots?"
Nothing Is Normal Anymore
What would we do without Netflix? That's been the joyous cry from many households in recent months as millions have battled through the lockdown experience by binging on their favourite movies and TV shows. Old favourites, new gems and those series you've always meant to finish but never quite had the time. Time is allContinue reading "Nothing Is Normal Anymore"
All That Glitters Is Not Gold
On my rural runs on the roads outside our village I pass a lot of cows and horses, grazing in fields. Ireland has an abundance of grass. We are on nodding terms and I like to think they look forward to seeing the funny looking man in brightly coloured running attire as much as IContinue reading "All That Glitters Is Not Gold"
Social Media Blackout
See you all tomorrow.
Happy Birthday Fractured Faith
Seems like no time but the blog is now three years old. That's a lot of posts. Some of you have been there from the start, some have joined along the journey, others have disappeared into the ether. We are grateful for everyone who continues to read and comment. As long as that continues IContinue reading "Happy Birthday Fractured Faith"
Are You Proud Of Yourself?
For a long time I wasn't proud of myself, how I looked, how I spoke. I wasn't proud of my thoughts and actions. I became embarrassed and awkward when people complimented me, because I believed I didn't deserve it. I was unworthy of their praise. And yet, I sought the limelight and attention, I pushedContinue reading "Are You Proud Of Yourself?"
Should I Blog More?
Eight miles yesterday, out to the shores of Lough Neagh and back. The sun continues to shine in Northern Ireland although a cool breeze was most welcome on the return journey. The country roads were quiet apart from the occasional fellow runner, cyclist or dog walker. Dogs must be loving lockdown, they've never been walkedContinue reading "Should I Blog More?"
Painting Away The Pain
I was on painting duties in the bedroom today, as our enforced home improvement programme continued. Fionnuala had chosen a lovely shade of dark blue and my job was to paint an awkward high section of the wall behind our wardrobes. My DIY skills are 'limited' to say the least so I approached the taskContinue reading "Painting Away The Pain"
Country Folk Are Friendly
I've been regularly running the country roads around our village since the lockdown of six weeks ago. Yes, it's that long since I've been in Belfast as my office remains closed. Running during my lunch breaks is a dim, distant memory as I've embraced the rolling, rural terrain for my daily exercise. This has meantContinue reading "Country Folk Are Friendly"
Toxic Positivity – What Is It?
I stumbled across this image earlier on Facebook and it got me thinking; or rather accelerated something I had already been mulling over in my head. It was a hammer that nailed a series of loose thoughts into a cogent steam. Toxic positivity. It exists, it's a real thing, not just the product of myContinue reading "Toxic Positivity – What Is It?"
Are You Weird?
Yes, I'm weird, I'm awkward, I'm a geek, but I'm me. I spent a large part of my life trying to be somebody else, trying to fit in, to please people. It didn't get me anywhere. You can't force people to like you any more than you can control the tides. It took me aContinue reading "Are You Weird?"
Walk Away
No words needed. Walk away.
Is Your Future Exciting?
I woke up this morning and groaned as I faced another wet and windy Monday morning. But after the initial shock I realised I'm incredibly fortunate and have so much to look forward to in the coming days, weeks and months. My default setting is 'glass half empty' but I'm making a real effort nowContinue reading "Is Your Future Exciting?"
Care Enough To Look
No words needed. People with mental illnesses may not have broken bones but they have broken dreams, broken minds and broken hearts. Their illnesses may be invisible but the signs are there if you take the time to look for them. The onus is on you to reach out to them, not for them toContinue reading "Care Enough To Look"
Don't Be Afraid To Start Over
When I started this blog, I started all over again. Turned my back on the past and threw my energy into new passions. Almost three years later, I've published two books and completed a third. I'm training for my tenth marathon and been promoted at work. I've living the happiest & healthiest life I can.Continue reading "Don't Be Afraid To Start Over"
Reach Out
The Right Ones Will Always Stay
Good Morning WordPress. A short word today. It took me a long time to learn this lesson, but learn it I did. Have you?
RIP Kobe Bryant
Getting Off The Wrong Train
I got on the wrong train the other day. Not on purpose, I might add. I was day dreaming, as ever, and got on a train pulled in at the same platform at the same time as the one I normally get home. Assuming it was mine I got on board without checking it wasContinue reading "Getting Off The Wrong Train"
Here's To The Survivors
Sometimes maintaining the status quo is a massive achievement in itself. Getting by is all you can manage, keeping your head above water and surviving your current circumstances. It might not seem like much but holding tight and not letting go is a feat to be admired and respected. You need to clear the groundContinue reading "Here's To The Survivors"
Happy World Introvert Day
It's World Introvert Day. I never knew such a day existed until it popped up on my Facebook feed this morning. Who decides these days? Is there a committee somewhere locked away in a conference room debating such important matters? I can only assume there's also a World Extrovert Day, no doubt shouted from theContinue reading "Happy World Introvert Day"
Happy Christmas Everyone
Happy Christmas to everyone from the Black clan. We hope you all have a wonderful day. 🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Man Shopping On Christmas Eve
It's Christmas Eve, so like any normal, self-respecting man, I decided to go out Christmas shopping. Because why be logical and organised when you can leave it to the very last minute and run around like a headless chicken on the verge of a massive coronary? This year I took my strapping son, Adam, toContinue reading "Man Shopping On Christmas Eve"
Thank you
Another very encouraging review from fellow blogger, Lesley. Thank you very much for so eloquently capturing the essence of Skelly's Square. I tried hard to address very serious and real issues against a supernatural backdrop liberally smattered with action and humour. The book continues to attract positive feedback while promoting mental health, disability, addiction andContinue reading "Thank you"
Fractured Faith. 12,000 Not Out.
We finally hit 12,000 followers earlier today. It seems like forever since we passed 11,000 which I believe is down to a number of factors. Primarily I haven't been blogging as frequently and, when I have, they have been much shorter posts. There are only so many hours in the day and I've been prioritisingContinue reading "Fractured Faith. 12,000 Not Out."
Who Is Your Lighthouse?
It was a murky lunchtime run today which highlighted the lighthouse exhibit on Belfast Lough. I focused on it from some distance away and it inspired me to keep pressing forward through the blustery, wet conditions. Most other days I would have run past it without a second thought but it was there for meContinue reading "Who Is Your Lighthouse?"
I've Had An Anxious Week
I've had an anxious few days worrying about work related matters. It started towards the tail end of last week and preyed on my mind over the weekend, before descending again from on high like a hungry vulture on Monday morning. Various unwanted thoughts have spun a not so merry dance around my head despiteContinue reading "I've Had An Anxious Week"
5 Things To Quit Right Now
I've been guilty of all five and can confirm they are all counter productive and highly negative behavioural patterns. Today I choose to change and walk a different path. A path that leads upwards, out of the abyss. It is possible but it's a conscious decision we must make every day of our own volition.Continue reading "5 Things To Quit Right Now"
Find Your Light
Feeling worthless? I used to. Every. Single. Day. Largely because I was so insecure I craved the attention of others to justify my own existence. I looked outwards when I should have been looking inwards. It was only when I started to focus on my own abilities, rather than the opinions of others, that theContinue reading "Find Your Light"
Fractured Faith Is 1000 Posts Old
Today marked our 1000th post on Fractured Faith. We started the blog back in May 2017 and, back then, had no idea what to expect. Fionnuala encouraged me to share my writing with the online world as both a form of personal therapy and to encourage others that there is always hope, no matter howContinue reading "Fractured Faith Is 1000 Posts Old"
Never Forget
Never, ever forget….
OCD Awareness Week
Don't be alone. Speak to someone.
I Believe In You
I'm Not An Angry Person But….
I woke up at 4:30 am and that's been that, sleep wise. Since then I've been frenetically tapping away, putting the finishing touches to Chapter 5 of my serialised short story, 'Bomb Girl,' which I hope to post later today. I hope you all enjoy it. There's been a bit of a gap between ChaptersContinue reading "I'm Not An Angry Person But…."
I don't really know what to say in this post so I'll cut to the chase. Adam injured his knee in a match last weekend and underwent a MRI scan on Friday, the results of which we will receive today. We are hopeful it will be good news, but are prepared for the worst caseContinue reading "Why?"
Questions Of The Day
Occasionally I'll sit back and let you lot do the work. Fionnuala and I spend our weeks in a blur with work and family commitments. There are many days I have little opportunity to run, write or blog. So this morning I'll leave you with a question. Or three. Please answer, especially if you areContinue reading "Questions Of The Day"
We Are Here For You
Excited as I was last month at the continued growth of the blog, I was even more thrilled yesterday to realise we had broken our monthly views figure again in August. With a day to spare, no less. Yes, 14,000 of you clicked the view button on a FracturedFaithBlog post. Or maybe 7 of youContinue reading "We Are Here For You"
There Is Always Hope
Being a total dork, I was studying our WordPress stats the other day and discovered the blog recently passed 200,000 views since its creation just over two years ago. Wow! And I'll say that again. Wow! I still remember nervously tapping out my first post, 'The Bag Lady,' before hitting the publish button and sendingContinue reading "There Is Always Hope"
Keep Screaming
Thank you to those who responded to my post yesterday, calling for more interaction between bloggers. It seemed to resonate with a lot of you, judging by the number of comments I received. Your screams were most certainly heard and I'm still getting caught up on my replies so, please bear with me. You're neverContinue reading "Keep Screaming"
We Need Your Feedback
The blog passed 11,000 followers the other day and it's growth continues to amaze and delight me. I don't know why people keep coming back to view, like and comment but I'm forever grateful. At each milestone, I like to ask you guys what you want from the blog in the future. As well as,Continue reading "We Need Your Feedback"
A Record Breaking Day
Exciting times at FracturedFaithBlog. Sunday was our biggest and er…. bestest in over two years blogging. We set new highs in both daily views and likes. And, to top it all off, Fionnuala's post on being the wife of a published author (moi) was the highest rating blog we've ever had. Huzzah. I found thatContinue reading "A Record Breaking Day"
Shards #1 – What Do You See When You Look In The Mirror?
When you look in a mirror what do you see? Is it a functional task, performing a visual checklist, before you step out to face what the day ahead brings. Hair, check. Clothes, check. Overall appearance? Meh, acceptable, you'll do, I'm late for the train, no time to think too hard about this. Then it'sContinue reading "Shards #1 – What Do You See When You Look In The Mirror?"
Big 48 hours coming up for me so I'm going to be on lockdown for a few days. Thank you all for your continued support and see you on the other side. Stephen
It's Like Trying To Raise The Dead
Trying to get teenagers out of bed is a bit like trying to herd cats….a virtually impossible task. Take this morning. At the fourth unsuccessful attempt to rouse Adam from his lair I was greeted with a strangled groan more befitting a scene from a zombie movie. 'It's like trying to raise the dead,' IContinue reading "It's Like Trying To Raise The Dead"
Photographs From Today's Run
Here are some photos from today's run. My 12 miles ended up as 13.5 but hey ho. Hannah joined me for the first mile while Rebecca chilled out at a picnic before joining up with me near the finish. Fionnuala was there to capture all the best moments and keep us all under control. TheContinue reading "Photographs From Today's Run"
Saturday With Team Black
Today promises to be exciting. I've been approached by a ministry team who are running marathon relays through each of Ireland's 32 counties this year. This weekend is Week 15 and they arrive in County Armagh. It's a massive undertaking but they are totally committed to completing the challenge, no matter what obstacles or adverseContinue reading "Saturday With Team Black"
Happy Birthday To Me….Well Almost
It's my birthday in five days! Where has the last year gone? Search me. No need to guess my age or enquire as to my address for cards and gifts. Well, unless you insist. Rather, I want to spend the week returning the favour. I'm very blessed and grateful for the life I have. ThereContinue reading "Happy Birthday To Me….Well Almost"
He Is Risen
Good Morning WordPress. Fionnuala and I hope you all have a wonderful Easter wherever you are. I'll post my 'normal' blog later in the day. Never give up, no matter how much of a mess your life has become. I'm a walking, talking testimony to that. Don't give up. There is still hope. For…. HeContinue reading "He Is Risen"
I've Got 99 Bibles….
While I'm an avid reader I haven't picked up my Bible in some time. This has niggled away at my conscience but there always seems to be something else which gets in the way. It's hard to put my finger on but one of my 'problems' is that when I think about reading it, IContinue reading "I've Got 99 Bibles…."
Don't Give Up
Do you ever get the feeling that there is something exciting in the air like there is good news coming? You feel as if you stretched your hand out far enough you might even be able to touch it? I've been feeling this way for a while now chasing and waiting and wondering and hopingContinue reading "Don't Give Up"
What Is Your Worst Habit?
Yesterday I wrote about my ongoing querying of literary agents and how researching their backgrounds prior to submitting your manuscript to them, is the acceptable face of online stalking. It was a tongue in cheek piece, as most of my writing is, but there was a serious message wrapped up inside the frivolity. That being,Continue reading "What Is Your Worst Habit?"
We All Need To Eat More Pizza
We had friends visiting last night so treated ourselves to Dominos Pizza, given it was buy one get one free Tuesday. It was too good an offer to miss out on, so we ended up going buy three, get three free. And try saying that with a mouthful of ham and pineapple deep crust. EveryoneContinue reading "We All Need To Eat More Pizza"
The Day My Dog Spoke To Me
Our dog, Charlie the border terrier, isn't the sharpest tool in the box. Every morning I fill his bowl with fresh water, and every morning he and I enact the same routine. He pads over to the bowl, sniffs at it and then rewards me with a withering glare, before sulking in his cage forContinue reading "The Day My Dog Spoke To Me"
What Do Bloggers Do On Sunday?
From personal experience, Sunday is the quietest day of the week on WordPress. People tend to be offline and blog traffic picks up later in the week again. For many people, Sunday is traditionally a day of rest. They have a lie in, spend the day with their family, some go to church. I alsoContinue reading "What Do Bloggers Do On Sunday?"
The Land Is Yours
Every so often, I get a phrase in my head that won't budge. It's different from the million other thoughts which bounce around my head every day. Different in that I know it is not of me. It's as if a flying saucer has landed on my cranium and a team of little green menContinue reading "The Land Is Yours"
The Day The World Went Mad….Again
Happy 7th January everyone! The day the world went mad….again. Well it is in this little corner of the planet anyway. The day, all the schools return after the Christmas break and offices and businesses crank into gear once more after the limbo of last week. The trains will be packed, the roads will beContinue reading "The Day The World Went Mad….Again"
And So It Begins….
The grind, that is. Back on the 07:53 express train to Belfast. The platform bathed in a sickly glow, casting up the faces of my fellow commuters to me for scrutiny. The same faces as before, some new clothes and accessories, but the same faces. Wearing the same expressions. Mostly frowns, mostly down. The occasionalContinue reading "And So It Begins…."
All I Want For Christmas Are My Blood Results
The more eagle eyed of you may have noticed I haven't posted a running blog in some time. Well, that's because I haven't been running. It's been two weeks now due to an illness which has made climbing the stairs, let alone marathon training, an ordeal for me. I've been lethargic, listless, exhausted and noContinue reading "All I Want For Christmas Are My Blood Results"
Something Has Been On My Mind.
I wrote some time ago that I was no longer going to write exclusively about Christian topics. I described myself as a Christian who blogs, as opposed to a Christian blogger. My reasons for this have been well documented so I don't think I need to repeat them on this post. Suffice to say, IContinue reading "Something Has Been On My Mind."
#Pitmad – Be Extraordinary
pastorkarlablog.wordpress.com/2018/12/07/be-extraordinary/ My third and final #pitmad reblog goes to an extraordinary lady, Pastor Karla, who offers an extraordinary message. None of us are ordinary, even when we feel at our lowest ebb. I've been there, rock bottom. I know. There is always hope.
I Don't Believe in Santa Claus But….
For the first time since the year of our Lord 2002, Santa Claus is not coming to our house this Christmas. The hatchlings are all grown up so the Big Man is going to give chez Black a miss and leave it to their long suffering parents to 'deliver the goods' come the 25th. HeContinue reading "I Don't Believe in Santa Claus But…."
Can You?
Northern Ireland seems to be in a state of permanent darkness at present. When I wake up it's dark, cold, wet and windy. I go to work and sit in an office all day. With no windows. Then I come home. It's dark, cold, wet and windy. The only time I encounter daylight is onContinue reading "Can You?"
Happy Thanksgiving From Ireland
Happy Thanksgiving to all our American followers. Being a sad man, I looked up the number of views Fractured Faith has had this year. Of the 79,053, over 45,000 of these were from the good old U.S of A. I have no idea what you see in the ramblings of a Northern Irish man butContinue reading "Happy Thanksgiving From Ireland"
Homeless Jesus
Soooooo….. I was out for my lunchtime run today, when I was literally stopped in my tracks by a new addition to the Belfast landscape. Outside a homeless centre I regularly run past, was a statue. At first glance, it appears fairly unremarkable. It's a bronze sculpture of a man lying beneath a blanket onContinue reading "Homeless Jesus"
Are You A Morning Person?
In our house on weekdays, the alarm normally arouses the adults from blissful sleep at 5:45 am. Routine then kicks in and our weary bodies go onto autopilot. Fionnuala commences the Herculean act of getting a bouncing eleven year old and two zombie teenagers out of the house and on their way to school. UniformsContinue reading "Are You A Morning Person?"
The Winning Ticket – Part Two
Earlier today I wrote about purchasing a monthly train ticket for the princely sum of £138. Since then I have been commuting to and from Belfast, constantly checking my wallet to satisfy myself it was where it was meant to be. I would produce and stare at it longingly like Frodo Baggins on his wayContinue reading "The Winning Ticket – Part Two"
God Remembers – Part One
Zacharias prayed every day. Which wasn't peculiar, in itself, given his status as a high ranking priest within the order of Abijah. He was a man of some status, a descendant of Aaron, who had devoted his life to serving God. He was respected by the people, a man viewed as righteous and blameless inContinue reading "God Remembers – Part One"
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
My hiatus from novel writing and running has allowed me to re-evaluate and focus on more important areas of life – namely my faith and family. A few days ago I asked for suggestions as to which book of the Bible I could feature in a future study on the blog. I was inundated withContinue reading "Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining"
Is God Really Good?
When I was at school, and Queen Victoria sat upon the throne, I had a very grumpy English teacher called Mrs Hume. I felt sorry for Mr. Hume if she was as grumpy at home. Mrs Hume was a well balanced woman. She had a chip on both shoulders. Life had dealt her a poorContinue reading "Is God Really Good?"
The Tooth Will Set You Free
Remember that tooth? You know, the one I have been whining….I mean writing….about these last few weeks? The idiot who ran a marathon with toothache? Then collapsed in a heap when he crossed the finishing line and cried like a baby the whole way home? Yeah that tooth? Well, three visits to the dentists laterContinue reading "The Tooth Will Set You Free"
Which Book Of The Bible Should I Start With?
As I wrote earlier in the week, I'm going to be blogging about Christian topics in future posts, although not exclusively. As I'm tentatively finding my way back into Bible study, and in order to be accountable, I thought I'd throw it open to my fellow bloggers as to which book I study first. TheContinue reading "Which Book Of The Bible Should I Start With?"
Why I Need To Start Reading My Bible Again
I'm as blind as a bat. Seriously. Since I was nine, I've had to wear glasses. I remember the first day they were unveiled to the ahem….watching world in Mrs. Robinson's P5 class. I broke down in tears as the entire class turned as one to gawk at my oh so stylish National Health ServiceContinue reading "Why I Need To Start Reading My Bible Again"
Happy Birthday Anne!
A belated Happy Birthday to our dear friend, Anne McCartney, who celebrated her ahem …. something first birthday yesterday. Anne has been a tremendous spiritual and practical support to Fionnuala and myself in recent years, through good times and bad. Anne and her husband, Graham, have been two of the people who have inspired meContinue reading "Happy Birthday Anne!"
Start Playing The Martyr
I am quite partial to melancholy, to wallowing in self pity, feeling sorry for myself. There are various terms one can use to describe the act of introspective navel gazing. When the odds are stacked against me, and everything is going belly up, you can be guaranteed I'll throw myself the mother of all pityContinue reading "Start Playing The Martyr"
I'm A Bit Broken
I'm a bit broken Words rarely spoken The truth Tastes so bitter and strange, clay emotions. Barely alive Rotten inside Dead to a world Where I once loved and thrived. Cursed with routines Obsessive dreams Compulsive acts Mask stifling screams. Speculate, ruminate Gnaw, then regurgitate Cyclical sickness These images dominate. Falling apart An effortless artContinue reading "I'm A Bit Broken"
I Am Sic
I am sic Nervous tic Binge and purge This endless urge. Odd Erroneous Out of place Unworthy of the human race. Worthy of comment Worthless, I vomit Bird in a cage From the rope I will plummet. Dead to his Word Alive to their world Baptised in blood Yet drowned in the flood. No peaceContinue reading "I Am Sic"
What Are You Hungry For?
Saturday was the start of the new rugby season, so Fionnuala and I hugged the touchline, to watch Adam play for his college against one of the big Belfast schools. Unfortunately they lost, but didn't go down without a fight. Adam had a great game and scored his team's only try. I thought he wasContinue reading "What Are You Hungry For?"
The Bible Is Full Of Idiots
I didn't come up with that title for shock value but, let's face it, I'm not far off the mark. Let's consider the evidence. I'll start with Abraham. He hardly covered himself in glory now, did he? That business with Hagar, the slave girl, who gave birth to his son, Ishmael. Although his wife, Sarah,Continue reading "The Bible Is Full Of Idiots"
Prayer Warrior? I'm More A Prayer Wimp
During my church going days, I attended a fair share of prayer meetings. They always bothered me. You see, while others prayed aloud for what seemed forever, I wondered if they were more in love with the sound of their own voice, as opposed to in love with their Creator or the people they wereContinue reading "Prayer Warrior? I'm More A Prayer Wimp"
Back To School
The kids are all back to school today. Hurray I hear beleaguered mothers all over WordPress cheer. No more bored teenagers skulking around the house, no more playing the role of a police officer/boxing referee separating squabbling siblings; and no more endless board games that nobody ever wins because we suddenly realise that none ofContinue reading "Back To School"
One Little Spark
This is the iconic Bank Building, which has stood in the heart of Belfast city centre since 1785. For the last 40 years it has housed Primark, one of the most popular department stores in the country. The building has become a famous landmark with its iconic clock overlooking Royal Avenue. It is a popularContinue reading "One Little Spark"
It's Not God's Fault If Christians Are Idiots
Over the weekend, Fionnuala and I reorganised our bedroom. This included a bit of a spring clean and moving some furniture around. It was hard work but worthwhile. I found my missing Garmin watch charger and several dozen odd socks whose whereabouts had been baffling me for some time. I also recovered the grand totalContinue reading "It's Not God's Fault If Christians Are Idiots"
Confessions Of A Recovering Catfish – Part Two
I never considered myself a catfish until it was recently pointed out to me. I mean, my profile picture was me. I told people the truth regarding where I lived, what I did for a living, the nuts and bolts of my everyday life. But it pretty much ended there. Beneath the veneer of respectabilityContinue reading "Confessions Of A Recovering Catfish – Part Two"
Confessions Of A Recovering Catfish – Part One
As a teenager I was chubby, shy and extremely quiet. Girls were a foreign species to me and my exploits on the sporting field left a lot to be desired. As a result, I was singled out for my fair share of bullying by both fellow students and, I'm sad to say, teachers whose supposedContinue reading "Confessions Of A Recovering Catfish – Part One"
Resignation https://meupgraded.wordpress.com/2018/08/14/resignation/ — Read on meupgraded.wordpress.com/2018/08/14/resignation/ Another excellent piece of flash fiction in response to my recent receipt themed challenge. Emma's story oozes with positivity which is all the more admirable given she has been quite poorly of late. Please support her blog. Another talented writer who deserves more exposure.
Every Good Plan A Requires A Plan B
Over the weekend I intend to have completed the 'beta' draft of Chapters 1-10 of my first book and will be in a position to forward it to a number of kind souls who have expressed an interest in taking part in the beta reading process. We were bowled over by the initial response andContinue reading "Every Good Plan A Requires A Plan B"
99% Of You Won't Read This….But I'm Okay With That
I love the eclectic bunch of people who follow this blog. One of the joys of writing is meeting and interacting with other folk who, ordinarily, you would never have an opportunity to engage with. People who share your worldview and people who don't. All walks of life converge on WordPress to create a wonderfulContinue reading "99% Of You Won't Read This….But I'm Okay With That"
Flash Fiction: Rice Cereal & San Pellegrino
Flash Fiction: Rice Cereal & San Pellegrino https://mywayhomelife.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/flash-fiction-rice-cereal-san-pellegrino/ — Read on mywayhomelife.wordpress.com/2018/07/27/flash-fiction-rice-cereal-san-pellegrino/ Meredith has produced a lovely piece of writing in response to my Flash Fiction challenge. She captures the reality of life as a young mother; exhausted yet utterly devoted to her baby. I'm sure this will strike a chord with all you mothersContinue reading "Flash Fiction: Rice Cereal & San Pellegrino"
I Do Good Foot Rubs. But Very Little Else.
I often ask Fionnuala if I'm the most irritating person she has ever met to which she unerringly replies….yes. It's a gift, I guess, but my long suffering wife has many buttons of which I know how to press every one. Repeatedly. If there is a new, innovative way to drive her nuts yours trulyContinue reading "I Do Good Foot Rubs. But Very Little Else."
What Do You Wish You Had Written About Today?
People often compliment me on my honest writing style. They ask me how do I do it as they could never be that open and upfront about their lives. They use words like 'refreshing' which I like as honesty is a refreshing attribute in today's world. I'm not talking about liars here but, rather, peopleContinue reading "What Do You Wish You Had Written About Today?"
Football's Not Coming Home
Unless you've been living under a rock of late or holidaying on Saturn you will have noticed there is a little football competition taking place in Russia called the World Cup. It is the biggest sporting competition in the world and has a worldwide audience stretching into the billions. This has led to fever pitchContinue reading "Football's Not Coming Home"
Would You Write A Letter To A Fellow Blogger?
Yesterday I posted about emojis and the death of the written word. It generated quite a dialogue and one of the themes that emerged was how much people miss receiving, and sending, letters. You know, in the post. Stamps? Envelopes? Am I ringing any bells here people? It brought back to me the excitement andContinue reading "Would You Write A Letter To A Fellow Blogger?"
Thank You
This is not intended as a self indulgent or 'look at me' post. But we reached 6000 followers yesterday on the blog and wanted to say thank you to everyone who has contributed towards us reaching this milestone. Fionnuala and I are very grateful for the continued support, encouragement and love that you send ourContinue reading "Thank You"
Ghosts From The Past
When I was aged around 12 I developed a facial twitch. The severity and frequency of this twitch would depend upon my anxiety levels at any given moment. I was a painfully shy and insecure young boy so it will come as no surprise that I was bullied at school about this by my peers.Continue reading "Ghosts From The Past"
Unreality Television
A reality TV show called 'Love Island' has taken over U.K. television this summer. A dozen muscle bound hunks and bikini clad models are lumped together in a villa on a Mediterranean island where their every move is filmed for our viewing entertainment. Romance blossoms and hearts are broken. Everyone has perfect bodies, perfect tansContinue reading "Unreality Television"
Why Do Christian Bookshops Not Sell The Books I Want To Read?
The Faith Mission Bookshop in Belfast city centre is huge. It stocks thousands upon thousands of Bibles, books, journals, DVD's, CD's and so on. The list is endless. You think you are at the back of the store but then see that it opens up into another massive section at the rear. You could spendContinue reading "Why Do Christian Bookshops Not Sell The Books I Want To Read?"
Running In The Heat
It was with some trepidation this morning that I set off on a 10K training run. I haven't run since Tuesday for a variety of reasons, primarily the heat wave that has descended upon Northern Ireland this last week. The heat has been intense and there have been a marked decrease in the number ofContinue reading "Running In The Heat"
Book Title Reveal – Part 3
I've been posting some photos of Belfast which feature as locations in the book I am presently writing. It's the first in a planned trilogy with the working title of 'The Kirkwood Scott Khronicles' although quite a few of you have suggested I drop the 'K' and go with 'Chronicles'. It's all great feedback whichContinue reading "Book Title Reveal – Part 3"
Lunchtime In Belfast
So it's Monday lunchtime and I'm sitting outside the office in the square basking in the warm sunshine. They are predicting a heatwave this week and word has it that Thursday could be the hottest day on record in Northern Ireland. Like ever! All around me office workers are sitting eating their lunches while touristsContinue reading "Lunchtime In Belfast"
On The Cusp
For years I was a closed book, lying on a shelf gathering dust and regret. My pages were tinged with poison; dare to leaf through them and you would have been contaminated with my anger and grief. So I hid my pain, burying it deep down a well wherein I dwelled. For I was unwell,Continue reading "On The Cusp"
I'm A Christian Blogger But I've Stopped Writing Christian Blogs
When we started this blog in May 2017 the large majority of my posts were overtly Christian. They were quite popular and the blog grew quickly with a predominantly Christian following. A lot of those folk still support the blog and this post is primarily written for them. I feel I owe them an explanationContinue reading "I'm A Christian Blogger But I've Stopped Writing Christian Blogs"
I'm Writing A Book….Still (Part 5)
I finished the first draft of the novel at the tail end of last week and have now started the laborious, but crucial, editing process. The first draft weighed in at a whopping 120K words and I'm presently around 18K words through the first edit. This has been useful in identifying plot gaps and clunkyContinue reading "I'm Writing A Book….Still (Part 5)"
What Conversations Have You Had With Yourself Today?
Has anyone else noticed the increasing number of people who seem to be talking to themselves in public places? They always cause me to take a double look before I realise, with some relief, that they are actually in the middle of a conversation via an earpiece attached to their mobile phone. Well, thank goodnessContinue reading "What Conversations Have You Had With Yourself Today?"
Morior Invictus
The paths of the dead Are where we must tread To vanquish the demons Who reign in our head Death itches and twitches Denying us riches Our God given right Morior Invictus Yet I fear it not For X marks the spot New treasures revealed And an end to the rot.


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Think sex toys for women were born out of the women's lib movement? Think again. Archaeologists have uncovered some suspected early models that date back to the Paleolithic era. And while their makers didn't leave behind a user's guide, we have a few guesses of what some of those phallic fossils were for.
Yet the long history of sex toys doesn't make walking into an adult store for the first time any less intimidating. Fortunately there's a wealth of options available online, including plenty of women's toys and couples toys. We're here to shed light on a few of our most popular sex toys for women and how to use them, whether you're exploring alone or experimenting with a partner.
If there's one toy you should have in your nightstand, it's a vibrator. They come in all shapes and sizes and can pack tons of different features, so you should be able to find one that you, ahem, vibe with.
Many agree that a rabbit vibrator is the best vibrator for women. That's because most rabbits feature a shaft for penetration and an protruding arm for clitoral stimulation (the arm is often shaped like a bunny, hence the name). Simultaneous penetration and clitoral stimulation are necessary for many women to orgasm.
Dildos and Dongs
If you're interested in penetration, dildos and dongs are ideal beginner toys because their phallic shapes come in an array of sizes and their movement is controlled entirely by you or your partner, instead of a motor.
You can also choose between a soft, silicone toy and a hard, completely smooth toy made of glass or steel. These hard toys are particularly great if you prefer pressure on your G-spot. To keep things comfortable, don't forget the lubricant.
Strap-ons come with two pieces, the dildo and the harness. The dildo fits into a hole in the front of the harness, which one partner wears around their hips. Strap-ons are used for penetrative sex, both vaginal and anal.
Kegel Balls
If you are familiar with 50 Shades of Grey, you've heard of kegel balls. These weighted balls slip inside the vagina, where they are held in place by a bit of flexing—a motion that can massage the G-spot. An attached cord typically allows for added stimulation and easy retrieval.
The balls also have benefits beyond the bedroom. While for some women they provide immediate pleasure, they also strengthen the pelvic-floor muscles, which may help with urinary incontinence, aid recovery after childbirth, and help you achieve stronger orgasms over time.
Important note: Kegel balls should never be used anally.
Duotone Balls
Duotone balls are larger and heavier than kegel balls, and they have smaller balls inside them, resulting in pleasurable vibrations. Look for sets that include different sizes and weights to suit your comfort level. And if you want a soft, smooth feeling, look for silicone balls (sometimes marketed as 'real skin balls').
Clitoral Suction Devices
Clitoral suction devices fit snugly around your clitoris and then use waves of suction to induce orgasms. Fans liken it to oral sex. Most devices are rechargeable, which makes them perfect for use away from a wall socket.
These small sex toys for women are shaped like tubes of lipstick for the utmost discretion. A popular option is the Womaniser 2GO Clit Stimulator because it is waterproof, has six speeds, and doesn't require batteries.
Anal sex can be a healthy addition to any sex life, but there are plenty of other ways to explore the area besides just traditional penetration. That's where anal toys come in. Anal toys are specifically made to go into the anus and have flared bases or loops at the end to prevent them from getting stuck.
(Source: www.groupon.com)


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Oh how we adore weddings at the Crystal Ballroom in Houston. It is such a beautiful ballroom located in the historic Rice Hotel. We had the opportunity to visit a new church for this wedding, St. Theresa's Catholic Church also located in Houston. We had many many many gorgeous photos from this wedding however chose a select few favorites to share with you all today. Enjoy Courtney & Brandon's beautiful Houston wedding.
I think the above is my, Samantha, favorite image and the image below is Jonathan's favorite. It was so hard to choose!
Ceremony: St. Theresa's Catholic Church / Reception: The Crystal Ballroom / Florist: Blooming Gallery / Hair: Hair Solutions / Cake: Rita Battenfield / Band: Klockwork Band / Catering: Sambuca / Gown: Blue by Enzoani from Brickhouse Bridal / Bridesmaid's Gowns: Bella Bridesmaid


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Business Development Executive (BDE) – Fresher Noida
We are looking out for really interested candidates who Want to learn Business development, Pre- sales, Key accounts management. Have Basic knowledge on e-commerce businesses,..
And then we'd share a dozen or so photos of our team sitting "conveniently" together on some leather couches having a Kumbaya moment. Or a slew of angled shots of some witty quotes stuck to the walls with a few team members intensely pondering their significance.
Here's the bottom line though. None of that stuff matters if the client experience sucks or the work is sub-par. When it's all said and done, our clients don't care about ping-pong tables, smoke machines, indoor picnic tables, aquariums or how many bicycles are hanging from the ceilings.
They care about being outrageously successful and how they're going to get there. At the end of the day, the creative-agency frills are nice, but they're not at all important. What's important is leading our clients with fearless courageousness to go further than they ever have before. What's important is the quality of the work we're creating for our clients. What's important is that our clients are outrageously successful.
That's what we care about.
Forward thinking, looking for new ideas and opportunities
Drive, Focus, Enthusiasm, Spirit, Belief
value relationships with staff, clients and partners.
Knowledge, Experience, Qualified
Combing our expertise and knowledge of digital to deliver a solution tailored
specifically for each individual clients' current and future needs.
We will challenge when necessary but always with the ultimate goal of solving
problems and making life easier !
We are looking out for really interested candidates who Want to learn Business development, Pre- sales, Key accounts management. Have Basic knowledge on e-commerce businesses,..
We are looking for a Senior PHP developer to Develop various type web sites and customer support systems. The successful candidate is likely to be..
We are looking out for really interested candidates who have handled Business development, Pre- sales, Key accounts management. Have good knowledge on e-commerce businesses and..
We are looking for a Junior PHP developer to support our various type web sites, back-office billing and customer support systems. The successful candidate is..
We are looking for a highly motivated UX Designer to join us in further developing Battlefield related projects. We have an eye for details and a..
We're looking for front end developers to join us in our office in central London, developing web tools and apps for huge audiences. Our clients..
Apply your craft to support higher education and cutting-edge research! Complete our energetic and diverse team supporting students and faculty at the University of Illinois..
We are looking for a talented backend python SaaS developer who is excited to learn new skills, build teams, and pave our path forward as..


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A Feel-It-To-Believe-It Guide to Sound Bowls
by Nadja Bester
Three months prior, I was standing in a crystal shop in a tiny hamlet in Valley of a Thousand Hills in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. A friend and I had just finished our Sunday morning hike through a jaw-dropping local valley, past a waterfall where we christened our sweaty bodies under the virgin waters of the mountain spring falling down on us, and all the way up to a special cliff close to an eagle's nest on a rock face overlooking the gorge. Surrounded by millions of years worth of Cambrian sandstone formations, I felt on top of the world, because I was. My psyche connecting with the majesty of the natural wonders surrounding me, my soul with that of the beautiful soul standing next to me, life could hardly be topped. Until we popped into said crystal shop during our visit to the farmer's market, that is.
"There is in souls a sympathy with sounds."
― William Cowper
Immediately drawn to the Himalayan singing bowls, my friend – a medical doctor who keeps one in his consultation rooms and is more likely to give you a dose of sound than a jab of chem-mix – started ringing them all, one by one, with no end in mind but to experience the vibration of each.
Although I was no stranger to the concept – we've all chimed one at some hippy's house, right? – I stood transfixed. The sound of each of them reverberated through my body, and the backdrop of the shop faded until I could feel only the ringing of these bronze bowls echoing right down to my very bones. One particular bowl with an especially earthy sound, made me feel instantly grounded the likes of which my airy fairy mind had never felt before. I didn't know what was happening and how this worked, but a deceptively simple hand-hammered metal alloy object had made me feel more rooted than the mountain I'd just descended.
After he'd gone through the entire collection, I asked that he go back to the bowl that had had this magnificent effect on me but found that the impact was no longer as pronounced. It was as if I'd already integrated its deep sound, and I chalked it up to having "done what I needed it to do", to be as technical about it as I had a vocabulary or understanding for at the time!
Fast forward to present time, and it's date set and go. I have a sound bowls session booked with Nigel Rowles on the outskirts of Hoi An, where he lives with his partner Kerstin Pilz, a yoga teacher at Nomad Yoga and writing retreat leader (like this one – how amazing does that look?!). The couple, skill nomads much like myself, spend months at a time in Hoi An every year (as do most expats who cannot get enough of this special little Vietnamese town) in between their travels to Bali and other wish-you-were-here destinations.
Upon my arrival, Kerstin takes me down to the river running past their property and points out the nipa palm that is used to manufacture coracles, the little round fishing boats that makes for a quaint photographic backdrop dotted along the beach, or spotted on the river (a 50/50 chance of it being used for local fishing and transport functionality, or whisking off tourists to one of the surrounding villages for a cooking class tour). It's a bright, cheery day and I'm ready to get my chakras aligned, or whatever it is we'll be doing. Kerstin explains to me, as we make our way back to the house through their lush tropical garden, that the 'singing' bowls term I know it by refers exclusively to the sound made by the circular action of tracing a mallet or stick around the rim of the bowl, while the term 'sound' bowl is more inclusive, referring also to the gong sound produced by the practitioner performing a light striking action against the bowls' outer surface.
As Kerstin leaves for Nomad Yoga to teach her class, it's time for Nigel and me to get down to business. Since I'd already had my enchanted moment back in the holistic shop, I didn't read up on the ins and outs of sound bowl healing, preferring Nigel to explain the magic behind his craft to me first-hand. And so I come bearing no prescribed notions save for the expectation that I'm going to feel as grounded as I'd done before.
As we enter the therapy room, its French doors opened out to the garden to let in light, wind, and flower scent, I'm asked to lie down on the floor. For a second, I'm torn between checking out the 8 copper bowls lining the edges of the makeshift linen sea of white against dark wood flooring, or wondering what, exactly, I'm letting myself into for. The bowls win. They fascinate me, although I don't know how we're possibly going to fill up a whole hour by playing ding-dong bells (singing bowls, coincidently are bells – they're referred to as standing bells). Once Nigel sits down next to my head and it dawns on me that he'll be staring at me for an hour, slight mental panic sets in. Eek! Not my idea of fun. If he's wanting me to relax so this stuff can work – whatever it's supposed to do, I don't even know – he's going have to move way back for me to lie back and 'be in the moment'. But in a spirit of 'whatever arises, love that', I tell myself to hush and allow the sound bowls to get to fixing this very discomfort. It's not the first time a professional would be focusing all their attention on my well-being…it's what we pay them for, after all. Perhaps it's the inability to answer the question, 'Is sound bowl therapy a bona fide modality and not some quack-job new age thing?' floating around in my head that makes me hesitant to let up.
"Music shouldn't be just a tune, it should be a touch."
― Amit Kalantri
Nigel instructs me to close my eyes and "just relax". In light of the above, and regardless of how pretty the lanterns hanging overhead, closing my eyes is all I want to do … the "just relax" bit, though, I'm not so sure of. Moments later I hear the familiar sound of wood on bronze as he starts ringing a bowl right next to my head. I relish the sound, and irrelevant thoughts and silly issues start dissipating, drowned out by more than just the noise these copper beauties are making: it's as though the whole floor is coming alive with the sound of music (who needs hills?!).
I sense myself frowning and wonder what on earth I'm on about when life is this chilled out. But so entranced am I by the otherworldly sound echoing through the room that I feel almost unable to move to smoothen out my brow … plus, what if I'm not actually frowning? Doing a quick mental scan as to why I'd feel tense, I come up with zilch (it's a pretty sweet feeling to realise you're absolutely 100% stress-free … I don't acknowledge those rare moments nearly enough!) and in retrospect – especially after checking with Nigel who assured me that my face was doing the polar opposite of making an upside down – I suspect the sensation of the bowls' deep vibration was working their way through my body and this was the mental image my mind formed to process it.
I catch myself holding my breath but, afraid that inhaling would break the reverie, I stay put. Breathing will just have to wait. I trust my body will kick into survival mode before I start getting blue in the face. (Afterwards, asking Nigel about why I had difficulty breathing, he explains that the very foundation of his being present as a practitioner is to focus on his client's breath and adjust the tones of the bowls accordingly; adding that throughout the session my breathing was slow and regular – as relaxed as can be. So whatever constricted feeling I'd had, it must have been all in my head!) I thought it interesting, after the session, to note that I usually am very cognizant of breathing deeply (think yoga, meditation, counting to 10 at the Home Affairs department), and so, breathing deeply while I'm awake without having to specifically focus on my breath was novel and, clearly, foreign.
Over the course of an hour, with the rise and fall of the bowls coursing their melodious frequencies through my body and my mind as Nigel rings here and gongs there, these bells – the origins of which dating back to at the 15th century at the very least – come alive under his touch. As for me, many thoughts come and go, but the effect remains the same: I am a guitar having my cords strung by a master musician. The effects of bowls being rung on either side of my body, and the deep vibration of each of them that resounds down to the very foundation of the house I find myself in, make me feel as if I'm resonating head to toe, inside out. It's incomparable to anything I'd ever experienced before, save for mentally projecting myself into a musical instrument. Not surprising, then, to find out that Nigel is indeed a professional musician in own right, and came to the bowls after his first experience with them during a session with a bowls practitioner in Germany, flying out to Nepal to train in Kathmandu a mere 4 weeks after this life-changing maiden encounter.
"There is no competition of sounds between a nightingale and a violin."
― Dejan Stojanovic
For most of the session, my body seems heavy, like lead, with the heaviness progressing until I feel molten, like I'm moulding into the ground below me, in perfect symmetry with the outline of person-against-floorboards built atop sand and clay. I could very well sink down into the depths of the soil well below me, but don't ask me to get up. That superpower has come and gone. As Nigel and his bowls do their tuning, I keep myself from drifting off to sleep by focusing my attention on the birdsong over the river, the rooster cock-a-doodle-doo'ing in the background, and the wind rustling through the trees. It's as if what is happening in the therapy room is in harmony with what is happening outside, culminating in a very, very relaxing polyphony. Go figure, since I'm practically cast into the earth itself by this stage.
Towards the end of the session, I'm light as a feather, my mind a serene, crystalline place where thoughts come to float in, then straight out again, never lingering. My body is awake and energised, charged and ready to go out there and be in the world, gung-ho but rooted. I'd gone to Nigel's straight from meditation class, and the morning's come full circle – first, my mind had settled as I moved past my regular ol' inner monkey chatter, and now my body right along with it. I could conquer the world, I swear, if those ambitions didn't seem so irrelevant now. Who knew being human could feel this easy and effortless?!
After the hour – which simultaneously felt as though time had slowed down and sped up, with intervals of thinking, "This is too much of goodness, when is it ending?" and "Oh no you don't, keep on ringing that bowl like you mean it!" when I feared time was up – I am at a loss for words. And I like my words. Nigel says he felt a bit like jelly after his first time and it took him 10 minutes to get up from his grassy lakeside spot…not that he'd particularly noticed the setting, fascinated as he was by "the most relaxing thing I'd ever done." I had the incentive of this being Viet Nam, where reaching for a glass of water is akin to obeying any other bodily function, so getting up was motivated by an inner urgency, but I felt disorientated for a good few minutes myself, not knowing how to make sense of exactly what had just happened.
It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before, unlike anything I do. Cos it might feel like the most natural thing in the world once you're in the thick of it, glued to the floor and all, but mimic the humdrum of everyday existence it certainly does not!
"Silence, I learned, is some times the most beautiful sound."
― Dejan Stojanovic
Before meeting Nigel, I hadn't quite been aware that the bowls were used in a therapeutic setting. It was a hippy slash Buddhist thing that you either owned because you donned an orange robe or because you liked chanting Aum Shanti while lounging around in your Goa-bought harem pants. After my session, the esoteric elements like balancing your chakras and aligning your inner harmonious frequency I now view as add-on layers for those who resonate with them, but my baseline perception of what the bowls are and what they do has shifted dramatically. Gone is the question of whether this is something I'd be too embarrassed to tell my friends about. They'll hear all about it, ad nauseam, and they'll thank me later. The purely physical effects of lying down for an hour acting as a surround sound-conduit was electrifying, and I do mean that literally.
Preliminary studies are telling us that this is good stuff, while sound research as a whole is alive and buzzing with excitement. In practice, it's being used to anything from insomnia to stress management, and good results are being seen in the treatment of Tibetan monks suffering from PTSD. But over and above all that, the level of relaxation I experienced in the span of an hour was akin to at least 6 good massages (and I get just about 6 massages a week, so I'd know) and a glass of wine in front of a sizzling winter fireplace. Nigel calls sound bowl therapy "a massage at the cellular level", so I'm not all that far off! Mum about the wine, though. I felt awake (even though I was convinced I'd be dead tired afterwards) alive, and really, really good. This sense of well-being lasted all day. Now, merely by jotting it down I'm reliving its benefits because I can just about still feel the sonic vibration flowing through me. At the time of writing, it's two weeks later – I waited until I'd come off any possible pink fluffy clouds so I could write about the experience rationally and not sound like the overeager cheerleader I inevitably ended up channelling anyway…but now based on merit! So checkbox for this being more than just an overnight fad.
"One person's data is another person's noise."
― K.C. Cole
I don't know the specifics of what took place within my system during my time with Nigel. I went in feeling good, I left feeling great. Certain body parts, like my left arm, had a distinctly different response, like they took extra effort to 'tune up' along with all the rest of me. In the space between two of my molars, I started experiencing a dull, ringing feeling. There was a concentrated heat in my head region that, once I became aware of, stayed with me until the end. I don't know why these things happened or what they meant, and it really doesn't matter, as much as my conscious mind would have liked to receive a 5-page report at the end, complete with biokinetic analyses. I could tell that my mind (my usual headquarters) was being bypassed, and for an hour I lived purely in the body. In turn, it rose to the occasion, splendidly so! Even though I have not a single musical bone in my body (or so I thought), it started anticipating which cord would come next and, lo and behold, it did. The dance between what it needed and how Nigel intuited this was not make-belief, but very real, and the experience of it very powerful.
"In every sound, the hidden silence sleeps."
― Dejan Stojanovic
As a writer, I live in my head, and I tried very hard to stay awake and aware, creating little mental placeholders for myself along the way so I'd remember the sequencing of events. Even so, there were times when I was far more relaxed and in a much deeper brainwave-state than I was able to recognise consciously, like when I thought I had seeped through the ground completely and was now floating around in middle Middle Earth. If this sounds too woo-woo for you, I assure you that it was nothing of the sort. I remained aware of my surroundings throughout but did so in the most deeply relaxing way I've probably ever done. Hence activating the creative brain and going all J.R.R. Tolkien. The resulting experience of allowing my mind to go where it wants but without dissociating in my entirety, instead remaining physically present, was nothing short of miraculous, and something I'd love to be able to reproduce naturally. But until then, I now know where to go to get my mind-body-spirit unity fix. And it sounds oh so sweet.
We all have go-to places and must-do experiences on our bucket list. Never did I have any desire to have sound bowl therapy on mine. But after this, I'll go as far as to say if it ain't on yours, then you're missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in your body in a way that only a sound bowl – and the intuitive practitioner conducting a masterful symphony with your body – can facilitate. Since you're 70% water, you just have to sit back and let the process do its job. But don't take my word for it. Watch the effect the bowls have on water, then get hold of Nigel and see for yourself. You can book on the Nomad Yoga Hoi An website or Facebook page, or Nigel himself through his website or Facebook page. With sound bowls, you enter into a partnership with sound and let your body do the talking. You won't regret the music you make together. Especially not with a conductor as gifted as Nigel at the helm.
I leave you with Einstein (in case Lord of the Rings had you worried):
"If I were not a physicist,
I would probably be a musician.
I often think in music.
I live my daydreams in music.
I see my life in terms of music."
– Albert Einstein (1879-1955


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Mimì introduces herself - 'Sì, mi chiamano Mimì'
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Puccini's La Bohème: a beginner's guide
7. Mimì introduces herself - 'Sì, mi chiamano Mimì'
The girl introduces herself as Mimì, and tells Rodolfo about her life as an embroiderer. Drawn to each other, Mimì and Rodolfo leave for the café, after being prompted by Rodolfo's friends who are growing impatient. Photo: ENO/Thomas Bowles