text:
Notes from the Beachbody Bandwagon, Part 1: The food | Wake Up, Mama!
At age 45 with a 20-year career in health care, it’s crazy that I’m only now learning appropriate food portions. It’s kind of embarrassing, really, but I’m glad I finally am. It’s motivating and empowering.
Beachbody is one of those multi-level marketing companies. I’m not a seller and I doubt I ever will be, but who knows?
OK, without further ado, here’s how I got involved in this program and my experience so far. In this post, I’ll talk about the eating plan, and in Part 2 I’ll focus on the workouts.
After baby number two, I lost all the baby weight and then some without trying. Over the next few years, I slowly and steadily packed on 30 pounds. Having never lost weight on purpose, I had no experience with how to deal with it once I realized how much weight had snuck up on me while I didn’t even have a working scale. I’ve never believed in diets, and I still believe the diet industry has caused great harm to women and girls, so a structured diet plan was not going to be my first go-to solution.
I figured the weight would come off at some point without me having to do anything, as it had in the past. Maybe because I’m well into my 40’s now, vaguely stepping up my exercise and “eating healthy” only resulted in gaining another pound every couple months. I was eating clean—lots of organic produce, mostly grass-fed meat, healthy fats only, minimal starchy carbs, and almost no processed foods. I was exercising a few times a week. I didn’t see what else I could realistically do.
I tried counting calories, and even using the My Fitness Pal app, I could only do it for a few days before it drove me crazy and led to obsessing over what I could and couldn’t have and when. I did the Whole30 (a paleo cleanse) a couple times. That was a worthwhile lesson on how too many grain carbs and sugar affect my energy level and moods, but I didn’t lose any weight because (I now realize) I learned nothing about how to stop overeating all that clean, healthy food.
I figured all I could do was accept my new normal. I read Women, Food, and God by Geneen Roth, which I highly recommend (even though I eventually went on a “diet,” and she would probably not approve). I vowed that with practice, I would become finely tuned in to my body’s real hunger and fullness cues. I would know intuitively what foods my body needed, and how much. Mindful eating. Self-love. I was all in.
I hoped the weight would naturally come off this way (pretty please?), but if not, I would fully accept my current size and learn to love my curves.
Then I discovered (TMI alert!) that I couldn’t walk down the beach without this dreadful thigh chafing problem, which I found out actually has a name—“chub rub.” I also noticed there were certain yoga postures I could no longer do because I was mechanically impeded by body fat. Now it was no longer about cultivating self-acceptance and rejecting societal ideals about the female form. My weight was directly interfering with some of my favorite activities.
I did the BMI calculation and it was 30. The BMI calculator isn’t perfect—it doesn’t take frame or each person’s unique proportions of fat to muscle mass into account, but I was at least in the ballpark of clinical obesity, with the attendant health risks. I was done.
How did I choose this program? If not for a couple random turns of events, I probably never would have considered it because the program includes shakes. I’m not a believer in liquid meal replacements because to me, sustainable lifestyle change means being able to lose weight and keep it off by eating regular food, not to mention the fact that most nutritional shakes are full of chemical crap. I learned that a) the shakes are optional—you can do this plan on regular food only, b) a shake replaces a protein snack (and a fruit if you add that), not a full meal and c) most importantly, the ingredients in Shakeology are far superior to other shakes.
I got started when a friend who is a total nutritional purist gave me about a ¼ bag of Shakeology to try. She loves the workouts, which have helped her stay consistent with exercise. Another friend (also the super granola sort) put me in touch with her coach, a like-minded person who understood and addressed my reservations around diets in general and my skepticism about any program that includes processed shake powder. I decided to try it for one cycle of the 21-Day Fix and take it from there.
Is this really a “diet?” Yes and no. Yes, because you are tracking what you’re eating, portions are controlled, and if you’re following it strictly, some things are off limits. No, because it’s clean eating in healthy proportions and it can be followed indefinitely, with a little leeway certainly, as a permanent lifestyle change.
The eating plan is about portion control and getting the right proportions of macronutrients—proteins, carbs and fats—so that you’re well nourished, energy levels are even and you’re not hungry, even at an overall calorie deficit. There’s no calorie counting or weighing—portions are measured using containers of different colors and sizes for each type of food: proteins, veggies, fruits, carbs (grains and starchy veggies), healthy fats, seeds and dressings, and oils/nut butters. Depending on your current weight, you get so many of each color container per day.
This obviously involves tracking everything you eat in some way, so I thought it would drive me crazy the same way calories counting does. But it doesn’t, and I think there are three reasons for that.
It’s not quite as fussy as counting calories. I don’t have to add or input every single ingredient. Tracking macro food groups is less involved and quicker. And the app makes it even easier.
The containers make it easier to work with the question, “What do I have left for the day?” “I have a protein, a carb, 2 veggies, and a fat left.” feels a lot saner and more manageable than “I have 600 calories left, what can I eat?” (It’s also a lot easier to estimate when eating out).
I’m learning portion control habits I can use for the rest of my life. I used the containers religiously for the first couple weeks. Then I started to practice eyeballing my portions by putting the food on the plate first, then putting that amount in the container to see how close I was. I’m getting really good at it. Now, when I eat out or at someone’s house, I know I’m spot on or pretty damn close.
My plan was to get one 30-day supply of Shakeology as part of the package I bought, and then continue the program without it. It’s not cheap—one 30 day supply is about $120, so about $4 per shake. Some people spend that on a latte every day anyway, but I don’t. The sales pitch is, if you bought all the ingredients as superfoods and supplements, it would be many times the cost. That argument doesn’t work for me, because I’m not otherwise going to buy all that stuff, so the shakes are an extra expense, period.
I wish I didn’t like Shakeology so much, because my 30-days only plan is not working out. I ordered another bag, thinking I’d have it a few times a week and make it last, but I’m still drinking it almost every day.
I feel energized after my shake, and I feel great in general since I’ve started this program. The shakes are full of superfoods, so maybe that’s why. It could also be the placebo effect. Or it could be more from the workouts, or getting the right proportions of macronutrients without overeating, or some combination of two of these or all three. I started all three changes at the same time, so who knows?
Whatever it is, I like the shakes, and right now I don’t feel like messing with what’s working for me. That said, I do like knowing this program is not dependent on them. If I decide to quit buying it at any time, I can replace it with a Greek yogurt or some other protein.
Strict ANYTHING is not for me. That said, if I only had 5-10 pounds to lose, I might follow the 21-Day fix to the letter, get it done in one round (two, tops) and move on to maintenance. I can follow anything for three weeks.
Half and half in my coffee. I tried giving this up when I did my first Whole30. Nope. I added it back after two weeks (my only cheat on that program) and I’m never giving it up again. My coffee is my last surviving vice, and I’ll have it exactly the way I like it (which is at least without sugar).
Eyeballing combination foods. I’m not going to get all stressed out from looking at a bowl of chili. I’m going to estimate how many protein and carb portions are in it and move on.
Deviating from the suggested food lists, just a little. There are lists of suggested foods for each food group. For the red container (proteins), it says skinless chicken breast. Sometimes I have dark meat with a little skin (gasp). It also says extra-lean ground beef. I eat the grass-fed beef that’s already in my freezer, and I have no idea what the percentage of fat is. Probably more. Oh, well.
A little less of this and a little more of that. Occasionally, I subtract a carb portion and add a fat portion in its place. Because some days, I want some avocado AND some cheese.
Ice cream. If everyone is having it, I have might have a few bites and really savor it. Or I might not. Knowing I can if I want to makes it easier to forego it some of the time.
Taking a day off occasionally. Last week, I had a potluck brunch date with five girlfriends I never get to see and another potluck party at dinnertime with a dozen sister midwives. I vaguely watched my portions but mostly ate what I wanted and had some treats.
All this means my progress is slower than it is for some people doing this program. Many people lose more in one round of the 21-day fix than I’ve lost in 2 months. That’s OK with me. It took me three years to gain this weight. Even if I only lose a couple pounds a month, I’ll still lose all of it in half the time it took to gain it.
For some people, following the eating plan strictly might feel better since it takes some decision-making out of the equation. Also, “tweaks” (AKA “cheats,” if you want to put a negative spin on it) could be a slippery slope starting with minor deviations and ending with barely following the plan. I could see this happening with the holidays coming up because yes, I have eaten a little Halloween candy—not nearly as much as usual, though! Honestly, if I don’t gain any back before the end of the year and then go back to losing after the holiday season, I’ll be happy with that.
It seems counterintuitive, but after some time measuring and tracking my portions via the containers, I’m becoming more tuned in to my body’s hunger and fullness cues than I was when I was trying to practice that awareness without any structure around what and how much to eat. My guess is, that’s because I’m no longer overriding that subtle “enough” signal by habitually overeating.
So as long as it keeps coming off, I don’t care if it’s slow, because I’ve found my sweet spot with a healthy way of eating I can maintain indefinitely. For me, it’s all about sustainable lifestyle change. Oh, and sanity.
In Part 2, I’ll talk about the workouts, and some considerations for parents.
Camille, great blog. Your focus on healthy eating as a lifestyle change is so on target, and if Beachbody gets you there, then go for it. What I hope people hear when they read your article is that it’s about living a healthy life and feeling good because of it. We’ve been on that path for a couple of years now, and the difference is profound. Thanks for a well-written, encouraging posting.
Pingback: Notes from the Beachbody Bandwagon, Part 2: The 21-Day Fix Workouts | Wake Up, Mama!
How are you getting on with it now?

tokenized:
Notes from the Beachbody Bandwagon , Part 1 : The food | Wake Up , Mama !
 At age 45 with a 20 - year career in health care , it ’s crazy that I ’m only now learning appropriate food portions . It ’s kind of embarrassing , really , but I ’m glad I finally am . It ’s motivating and empowering .
 Beachbody is one of those multi - level marketing companies . I ’m not a seller and I doubt I ever will be , but who knows ?
 OK , without further ado , here ’s how I got involved in this program and my experience so far . In this post , I ’ll talk about the eating plan , and in Part 2 I ’ll focus on the workouts .
 After baby number two , I lost all the baby weight and then some without trying . Over the next few years , I slowly and steadily packed on 30 pounds . Having never lost weight on purpose , I had no experience with how to deal with it once I realized how much weight had snuck up on me while I did n’t even have a working scale . I ’ve never believed in diets , and I still believe the diet industry has caused great harm to women and girls , so a structured diet plan was not going to be my first go - to solution .
 I figured the weight would come off at some point without me having to do anything , as it had in the past . Maybe because I ’m well into my 40 ’s now , vaguely stepping up my exercise and “ eating healthy ” only resulted in gaining another pound every couple months . I was eating clean — lots of organic produce , mostly grass - fed meat , healthy fats only , minimal starchy carbs , and almost no processed foods . I was exercising a few times a week . I did n’t see what else I could realistically do .
 I tried counting calories , and even using the My Fitness Pal app , I could only do it for a few days before it drove me crazy and led to obsessing over what I could and could n’t have and when . I did the Whole30 ( a paleo cleanse ) a couple times . That was a worthwhile lesson on how too many grain carbs and sugar affect my energy level and moods , but I did n’t lose any weight because ( I now realize ) I learned nothing about how to stop overeating all that clean , healthy food .
 I figured all I could do was accept my new normal . I read Women , Food , and God by Geneen Roth , which I highly recommend ( even though I eventually went on a “ diet , ” and she would probably not approve ) . I vowed that with practice , I would become finely tuned in to my body ’s real hunger and fullness cues . I would know intuitively what foods my body needed , and how much . Mindful eating . Self - love . I was all in .
 I hoped the weight would naturally come off this way ( pretty please ? ) , but if not , I would fully accept my current size and learn to love my curves .
 Then I discovered ( TMI alert ! ) that I could n’t walk down the beach without this dreadful thigh chafing problem , which I found out actually has a name—“chub rub . ” I also noticed there were certain yoga postures I could no longer do because I was mechanically impeded by body fat . Now it was no longer about cultivating self - acceptance and rejecting societal ideals about the female form . My weight was directly interfering with some of my favorite activities .
 I did the BMI calculation and it was 30 . The BMI calculator is n’t perfect — it does n’t take frame or each person ’s unique proportions of fat to muscle mass into account , but I was at least in the ballpark of clinical obesity , with the attendant health risks . I was done .
 How did I choose this program ? If not for a couple random turns of events , I probably never would have considered it because the program includes shakes . I ’m not a believer in liquid meal replacements because to me , sustainable lifestyle change means being able to lose weight and keep it off by eating regular food , not to mention the fact that most nutritional shakes are full of chemical crap . I learned that a ) the shakes are optional — you can do this plan on regular food only , b ) a shake replaces a protein snack ( and a fruit if you add that ) , not a full meal and c ) most importantly , the ingredients in Shakeology are far superior to other shakes .
 I got started when a friend who is a total nutritional purist gave me about a ¼ bag of Shakeology to try . She loves the workouts , which have helped her stay consistent with exercise . Another friend ( also the super granola sort ) put me in touch with her coach , a like - minded person who understood and addressed my reservations around diets in general and my skepticism about any program that includes processed shake powder . I decided to try it for one cycle of the 21 - Day Fix and take it from there .
 Is this really a “ diet ? ” Yes and no . Yes , because you are tracking what you ’re eating , portions are controlled , and if you ’re following it strictly , some things are off limits . No , because it ’s clean eating in healthy proportions and it can be followed indefinitely , with a little leeway certainly , as a permanent lifestyle change .
 The eating plan is about portion control and getting the right proportions of macronutrients — proteins , carbs and fats — so that you ’re well nourished , energy levels are even and you ’re not hungry , even at an overall calorie deficit . There ’s no calorie counting or weighing — portions are measured using containers of different colors and sizes for each type of food : proteins , veggies , fruits , carbs ( grains and starchy veggies ) , healthy fats , seeds and dressings , and oils / nut butters . Depending on your current weight , you get so many of each color container per day .
 This obviously involves tracking everything you eat in some way , so I thought it would drive me crazy the same way calories counting does . But it does n’t , and I think there are three reasons for that .
 It ’s not quite as fussy as counting calories . I do n’t have to add or input every single ingredient . Tracking macro food groups is less involved and quicker . And the app makes it even easier .
 The containers make it easier to work with the question , “ What do I have left for the day ? ” “ I have a protein , a carb , 2 veggies , and a fat left . ” feels a lot saner and more manageable than “ I have 600 calories left , what can I eat ? ” ( It ’s also a lot easier to estimate when eating out ) .
 I ’m learning portion control habits I can use for the rest of my life . I used the containers religiously for the first couple weeks . Then I started to practice eyeballing my portions by putting the food on the plate first , then putting that amount in the container to see how close I was . I ’m getting really good at it . Now , when I eat out or at someone ’s house , I know I ’m spot on or pretty damn close .
 My plan was to get one 30 - day supply of Shakeology as part of the package I bought , and then continue the program without it . It ’s not cheap — one 30 day supply is about $ 120 , so about $ 4 per shake . Some people spend that on a latte every day anyway , but I do n’t . The sales pitch is , if you bought all the ingredients as superfoods and supplements , it would be many times the cost . That argument does n’t work for me , because I ’m not otherwise going to buy all that stuff , so the shakes are an extra expense , period .
 I wish I did n’t like Shakeology so much , because my 30 - days only plan is not working out . I ordered another bag , thinking I ’d have it a few times a week and make it last , but I ’m still drinking it almost every day .
 I feel energized after my shake , and I feel great in general since I ’ve started this program . The shakes are full of superfoods , so maybe that ’s why . It could also be the placebo effect . Or it could be more from the workouts , or getting the right proportions of macronutrients without overeating , or some combination of two of these or all three . I started all three changes at the same time , so who knows ?
 Whatever it is , I like the shakes , and right now I do n’t feel like messing with what ’s working for me . That said , I do like knowing this program is not dependent on them . If I decide to quit buying it at any time , I can replace it with a Greek yogurt or some other protein .
 Strict ANYTHING is not for me . That said , if I only had 5 - 10 pounds to lose , I might follow the 21 - Day fix to the letter , get it done in one round ( two , tops ) and move on to maintenance . I can follow anything for three weeks .
 Half and half in my coffee . I tried giving this up when I did my first Whole30 . Nope . I added it back after two weeks ( my only cheat on that program ) and I ’m never giving it up again . My coffee is my last surviving vice , and I ’ll have it exactly the way I like it ( which is at least without sugar ) .
 Eyeballing combination foods . I ’m not going to get all stressed out from looking at a bowl of chili . I ’m going to estimate how many protein and carb portions are in it and move on .
 Deviating from the suggested food lists , just a little . There are lists of suggested foods for each food group . For the red container ( proteins ) , it says skinless chicken breast . Sometimes I have dark meat with a little skin ( gasp ) . It also says extra - lean ground beef . I eat the grass - fed beef that ’s already in my freezer , and I have no idea what the percentage of fat is . Probably more . Oh , well .
 A little less of this and a little more of that . Occasionally , I subtract a carb portion and add a fat portion in its place . Because some days , I want some avocado AND some cheese .
 Ice cream . If everyone is having it , I have might have a few bites and really savor it . Or I might not . Knowing I can if I want to makes it easier to forego it some of the time .
 Taking a day off occasionally . Last week , I had a potluck brunch date with five girlfriends I never get to see and another potluck party at dinnertime with a dozen sister midwives . I vaguely watched my portions but mostly ate what I wanted and had some treats .
 All this means my progress is slower than it is for some people doing this program . Many people lose more in one round of the 21 - day fix than I ’ve lost in 2 months . That ’s OK with me . It took me three years to gain this weight . Even if I only lose a couple pounds a month , I ’ll still lose all of it in half the time it took to gain it .
 For some people , following the eating plan strictly might feel better since it takes some decision - making out of the equation . Also , “ tweaks ” ( AKA “ cheats , ” if you want to put a negative spin on it ) could be a slippery slope starting with minor deviations and ending with barely following the plan . I could see this happening with the holidays coming up because yes , I have eaten a little Halloween candy — not nearly as much as usual , though ! Honestly , if I do n’t gain any back before the end of the year and then go back to losing after the holiday season , I ’ll be happy with that .
 It seems counterintuitive , but after some time measuring and tracking my portions via the containers , I ’m becoming more tuned in to my body ’s hunger and fullness cues than I was when I was trying to practice that awareness without any structure around what and how much to eat . My guess is , that ’s because I ’m no longer overriding that subtle “ enough ” signal by habitually overeating .
 So as long as it keeps coming off , I do n’t care if it ’s slow , because I ’ve found my sweet spot with a healthy way of eating I can maintain indefinitely . For me , it ’s all about sustainable lifestyle change . Oh , and sanity .
 In Part 2 , I ’ll talk about the workouts , and some considerations for parents .
 Camille , great blog . Your focus on healthy eating as a lifestyle change is so on target , and if Beachbody gets you there , then go for it . What I hope people hear when they read your article is that it ’s about living a healthy life and feeling good because of it . We ’ve been on that path for a couple of years now , and the difference is profound . Thanks for a well - written , encouraging posting .
 Pingback : Notes from the Beachbody Bandwagon , Part 2 : The 21 - Day Fix Workouts | Wake Up , Mama !
 How are you getting on with it now ?


text:
send it back to us.
Click Here Learn More... Why You Should Become An AVEA Member.
With your AVEA membership, you can login to access the link to your FREE subscription!

tokenized:
send it back to us .
 Click Here Learn More ... Why You Should Become An AVEA Member .
 With your AVEA membership , you can login to access the link to your FREE subscription !


text:
Moving food grade items from one destination to another isn’t simply a case of throwing items into the back of a truck or into a rail car and forging ahead. That’s because different products have to be assessed according to their long-term viability. Transporting bulk liquid food offers a much different set of concerns as opposed to items that may have a much different shelf life.
Those responsible for either driving or shipping food grade products need to have the pertinent rules and regulations ingrained in their mind. That approach helps make simple things like hygiene and washing procedures of the trucks second nature and allows for greater peace of mind.
For example, some companies neglect to keep track of the most recent deliveries within a transport vehicle. That can lead to hazards when it comes to food grade transport, especially if the previous product was a non-food item. Also, some companies claim to know all the nuances involved with Kosher food deliveries, which isn’t always the case.
Food grade items can obviously be transported with any other item, yet doing so can very well compromise the quality of the items inside. That can mean that odors from the items that should not be inside or the presence of raw foods in that vicinity can bring with them potential dangers.
The easiest way to avoid this type of situation is to make sure that any shipment of food grade products contains only those items. Much like the educational aspects that training is expected to cover, a clear understanding between the food processor and the transport company should be in place.
All of the safeguards in world won’t do much good to protect food grade items if the mode of transportation charged with delivering them hasn’t been properly maintained. Breakdowns on the road or undetected damage inside a trailer can devastate the product, which usually ends up relegating it to the trash bin.
Making sure that such regular maintenance is performed should be a basic understanding, with the transport company having properly maintained records to show such adherence. Companies that seek to save money putting off maintenance will most likely look to cut corners in other areas.
During the course of any transport, regular checks on the proper temperature for certain items will help avoid disaster upon arrival at the intended destination. That’s because any breakdown or other problem that may develop can be detected quickly, with plans to address it already in place as part of a contingency plan.
This is something that’s best accomplished through the use of up-to-date technology that allows for the driver to immediately tackle any problem. It also allows for a shipping company to maintain a consistent pulse on the product in question.
The process of transporting bulk liquid food or any other product shouldn’t have to require a leap of faith when it comes to working with a carrier. Companies that offer reduced prices but lack any true legacy of consistent deliveries should make any business wary.
Other factors that should raise red flags for those companies whose business depends on seamless bulk food grade transportation. A free flow of communication should be evident from the outset, with any questions being promptly answered. Any deviation from that approach should make it an easy decision to look elsewhere.
Kan-Haul knows the ins and outs of food grade transportation, having developed their special level of expertise over the course of over three decades. So whether you’re transporting bulk liquid food, refrigerated items or need a specialized delivery, it makes a good deal of sense to contact us to handle the job.

tokenized:
Moving food grade items from one destination to another is n’t simply a case of throwing items into the back of a truck or into a rail car and forging ahead . That ’s because different products have to be assessed according to their long - term viability . Transporting bulk liquid food offers a much different set of concerns as opposed to items that may have a much different shelf life .
 Those responsible for either driving or shipping food grade products need to have the pertinent rules and regulations ingrained in their mind . That approach helps make simple things like hygiene and washing procedures of the trucks second nature and allows for greater peace of mind .
 For example , some companies neglect to keep track of the most recent deliveries within a transport vehicle . That can lead to hazards when it comes to food grade transport , especially if the previous product was a non - food item . Also , some companies claim to know all the nuances involved with Kosher food deliveries , which is n’t always the case .
 Food grade items can obviously be transported with any other item , yet doing so can very well compromise the quality of the items inside . That can mean that odors from the items that should not be inside or the presence of raw foods in that vicinity can bring with them potential dangers .
 The easiest way to avoid this type of situation is to make sure that any shipment of food grade products contains only those items . Much like the educational aspects that training is expected to cover , a clear understanding between the food processor and the transport company should be in place .
 All of the safeguards in world wo n’t do much good to protect food grade items if the mode of transportation charged with delivering them has n’t been properly maintained . Breakdowns on the road or undetected damage inside a trailer can devastate the product , which usually ends up relegating it to the trash bin .
 Making sure that such regular maintenance is performed should be a basic understanding , with the transport company having properly maintained records to show such adherence . Companies that seek to save money putting off maintenance will most likely look to cut corners in other areas .
 During the course of any transport , regular checks on the proper temperature for certain items will help avoid disaster upon arrival at the intended destination . That ’s because any breakdown or other problem that may develop can be detected quickly , with plans to address it already in place as part of a contingency plan .
 This is something that ’s best accomplished through the use of up - to - date technology that allows for the driver to immediately tackle any problem . It also allows for a shipping company to maintain a consistent pulse on the product in question .
 The process of transporting bulk liquid food or any other product should n’t have to require a leap of faith when it comes to working with a carrier . Companies that offer reduced prices but lack any true legacy of consistent deliveries should make any business wary .
 Other factors that should raise red flags for those companies whose business depends on seamless bulk food grade transportation . A free flow of communication should be evident from the outset , with any questions being promptly answered . Any deviation from that approach should make it an easy decision to look elsewhere .
 Kan - Haul knows the ins and outs of food grade transportation , having developed their special level of expertise over the course of over three decades . So whether you ’re transporting bulk liquid food , refrigerated items or need a specialized delivery , it makes a good deal of sense to contact us to handle the job .


text:
In need of additional load testing capacity on its Axiom storage system, Oracle found that Virtual Instruments provided all the traffic and test configuration flexibility they needed to put their efficient, high capacity system to the test.
Oracle’s Axiom storage product is an application-aware system, enabling multiple tiers of storage on a single platform – each with a unique level of service. It delivers an ultra-high capacity storage system which consolidates assets, modularly scales capacity, and reduces management complexity.
Before deploying Virtual Instruments solutions, their test environment included racks of mid-range white boxes, switches, and tape libraries – a large complement of hardware needed to adequately stress the product before going to market. The team now needed to test both the performance and functionality, using high volume SMB and NFS traffic.
Additionally, Oracle runs a virtual server farm to generate load and run test scenarios. A fleet of virtual machines would be deployed to run each test case – easy to run but hard to clean up and hard to repeat consistently. Every test case required a client and disparate application layer test suite.
Limited load testing capacity. Performance is insufficient to adequately test Axiom systems.
Desire greater granularity and test sophistication. Testing the unique features of the application-aware Axiom requires extremely detailed and flexible tests.
Difficult, time-consuming virtual server management. Rampant VM client sprawl.
Oracle discovered that WorkloadWisdom had the performance, depth, and breadth of features they were seeking.
The WorkloadWisdom Workload Generator 1G series quickly enabled increase testing productivity in the Axiom storage environment. The high volume of SMB and NFS traffic is now putting realistic stress on the Oracle Axiom product with no more server of VM housekeeping headaches. Having the product’s 8 ports on different networks allows for a more representative picture of how production clients would address a storage device. Simulating connection scaling no longer requires adding in sets of client, which had been impossible before with their VM client set up.
Oracle has easy access to stats that were only available via network traces and client OS data. And they get real-time results as part of the scenario instead of requiring extra triage cycles. Even customer log scenarios are easily reverse engineered for targeted tests.
With WorkloadWisdom, Oracle performs tests that exceed the demands their customers put on the Axiom system. And they can do it with greater control, in less time, and using fewer resources.
The Workload Generator 1G series is a high-performance load-generating system designed for comprehensive storage network testing. More than a simple load generator, the system provides protocol-level control and semantic definition that enables the broadest possible range of test cases.
The product features 8 singly configurable 1G ports and an additional 1G management port. It supports multiple authentication types and originates both NFS and CIFS traffic, simulating a great number of clients and scenarios at once. It easily handles multiple scenarios with varying lists of commands within each of 5 protocols (CIFS v1, v2, and NFS v2, v3, v4) — all running at the same time without operational overhead.
The WorkloadWisdom product is the clear choice for companies in the storage industry, because Virtual Instruments knows storage better than any other test tool vendor. It is the industry’s elite testing tool due to the product focus on storage-specific features; high-volume traffic handling, customer-centric graphic interface, and prebuilt tests and wizards.
Unparalleled load testing. Can validate the extreme performance of the Axiom.
Comprehensive, flexible tests. Able to fully test the features that make the Pillar Axiom unique.
No virtual machine sprawl. One appliance replaced all of the virtual machine clients, and more.
Time savings in executing multiple test suites. Single-screen, graphical control of test tools enables fast settings changes.
Ease of test case creation and control at the protocol level. Granular visibility and results are available for individual components.
Consistent, repeatable results. Test clean-up is automatic. Start tests at the same point with a clean slate.

tokenized:
In need of additional load testing capacity on its Axiom storage system , Oracle found that Virtual Instruments provided all the traffic and test configuration flexibility they needed to put their efficient , high capacity system to the test .
 Oracle ’s Axiom storage product is an application - aware system , enabling multiple tiers of storage on a single platform – each with a unique level of service . It delivers an ultra - high capacity storage system which consolidates assets , modularly scales capacity , and reduces management complexity .
 Before deploying Virtual Instruments solutions , their test environment included racks of mid - range white boxes , switches , and tape libraries – a large complement of hardware needed to adequately stress the product before going to market . The team now needed to test both the performance and functionality , using high volume SMB and NFS traffic .
 Additionally , Oracle runs a virtual server farm to generate load and run test scenarios . A fleet of virtual machines would be deployed to run each test case – easy to run but hard to clean up and hard to repeat consistently . Every test case required a client and disparate application layer test suite .
 Limited load testing capacity . Performance is insufficient to adequately test Axiom systems .
 Desire greater granularity and test sophistication . Testing the unique features of the application - aware Axiom requires extremely detailed and flexible tests .
 Difficult , time - consuming virtual server management . Rampant VM client sprawl .
 Oracle discovered that WorkloadWisdom had the performance , depth , and breadth of features they were seeking .
 The WorkloadWisdom Workload Generator 1 G series quickly enabled increase testing productivity in the Axiom storage environment . The high volume of SMB and NFS traffic is now putting realistic stress on the Oracle Axiom product with no more server of VM housekeeping headaches . Having the product ’s 8 ports on different networks allows for a more representative picture of how production clients would address a storage device . Simulating connection scaling no longer requires adding in sets of client , which had been impossible before with their VM client set up .
 Oracle has easy access to stats that were only available via network traces and client OS data . And they get real - time results as part of the scenario instead of requiring extra triage cycles . Even customer log scenarios are easily reverse engineered for targeted tests .
 With WorkloadWisdom , Oracle performs tests that exceed the demands their customers put on the Axiom system . And they can do it with greater control , in less time , and using fewer resources .
 The Workload Generator 1 G series is a high - performance load - generating system designed for comprehensive storage network testing . More than a simple load generator , the system provides protocol - level control and semantic definition that enables the broadest possible range of test cases .
 The product features 8 singly configurable 1 G ports and an additional 1 G management port . It supports multiple authentication types and originates both NFS and CIFS traffic , simulating a great number of clients and scenarios at once . It easily handles multiple scenarios with varying lists of commands within each of 5 protocols ( CIFS v1 , v2 , and NFS v2 , v3 , v4 ) — all running at the same time without operational overhead .
 The WorkloadWisdom product is the clear choice for companies in the storage industry , because Virtual Instruments knows storage better than any other test tool vendor . It is the industry ’s elite testing tool due to the product focus on storage - specific features ; high - volume traffic handling , customer - centric graphic interface , and prebuilt tests and wizards .
 Unparalleled load testing . Can validate the extreme performance of the Axiom .
 Comprehensive , flexible tests . Able to fully test the features that make the Pillar Axiom unique .
 No virtual machine sprawl . One appliance replaced all of the virtual machine clients , and more .
 Time savings in executing multiple test suites . Single - screen , graphical control of test tools enables fast settings changes .
 Ease of test case creation and control at the protocol level . Granular visibility and results are available for individual components .
 Consistent , repeatable results . Test clean - up is automatic . Start tests at the same point with a clean slate .


text:
I rarely make muffins at home and never order one when I’m out and about as I find they’re often far too sweet and never truly that satisfying. I realize, too, in looking back at my cookbook that there’s only one muffin recipe throughout. Case in point: I’m tentative on muffins. But not these. We’ve been pretty thrilled to have this healthier version of Morning Glory muffins on the counter this week; they have little bits of apple, raisins, walnuts, and grated carrot and are cloaked in a buttery oat crumble topping — quite the opposite of your boring coffeeshop fare.
I thought long and hard about doing a Valentine’s post, some festive cookie or confection that would be share-worthy this weekend, but the more we talked about what our weekend would really look like, it involved something special for breakfast instead. I don’t remember the last time a Valentine’s Day fell on a Saturday, so we have big plans to have breakfast in bed and if your plans are even remotely similar, these muffins would be a fine inclusion.
I remember when Sam and I were first dating long distance, and occasions or holidays would feel like a hurdle: I’d so wish we could be together and fell into the trap of constantly thinking towards the next birthday or the next Valentine’s Day and assuring myself it’d be different the following year — envisioning the grand places where we might celebrate (if we were in San Francisco maybe at Zuni to share the famous chicken and a few oysters; if in Seattle, perhaps Spinasse for a plate of that simple, buttery pasta). The funny thing: now that that period in our lives is over, I think much less eagerly towards grand dates or sweeping gestures, and look forward to the smaller dates and moments. Sam asked last night if we should think about going out to dinner on Saturday and we both glanced at each other with the same look in our eye: I hope the other says no; let’s stay in.
This is not to say that we don’t love going out because we love trying new cafes around town and visiting our favorite neighborhood spot, but there’s something almost more special about planning the quieter moments — figuring out what kind of pancakes we’ll make and how to balance the coffee on the bed without spilling it, making homemade whipped cream, catching up on the week.
I have a quote taped to the computer in my office at Marge; it’s an Annie Dillard quote that reads “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” It’s possible I’ve shared this quote here before, but I can’t remember and maybe it’s a good one to revisit regardless. Instead of inspirational photos of people and places, this alone serves as a good reminder when I start to feel overwhelmed by all of the Bigger Things in life (success of a business, taxes, celebrating holidays and occasions). While fancy dates and dinners are nice, it’s really the everyday meals (and occasional breakfast in bed) that comprise most of our life — and when focusing too much on the grand and fancy, you lose sight of most of the really good stuff. Like muffins in bed. I hope you have some this weekend, solo or joined by someone you love.
Megan’s Note: I know the ingredient list for these muffins looks long, but a handful are spices alone and I imagine a few are things you already have in your pantry. I know some of you are hesitant about coconut oil, but it really is so wonderful in these muffins; it has a sweet fragrance that adds so much. If you don’t have it or would rather not use it, I imagine that butter would work just fine as well. I haven’t tested these with butter, but I can’t think of any clear reason why they’d be negatively affected (if you try it, let me know!) The one thing to remember about the oil: do make sure it isn’t very hot when adding it to the wet ingredients as you don’t want to curdle your yogurt and milk — I let mine cool to almost room temperature while still making sure it’s in its liquid state.
My best advice for these muffins is not to be conservative with the crumble topping; as the muffin tops spread in the oven you’re going to wish you had more of it, so feel free to really layer and even lightly press it onto each.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the two flours, oats, sugar, baking powder and baking soda, spices and salt.
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, applesauce, yogurt, milk, coconut oil and vanilla extract. Fold in orange zest, apple, carrots, raisins and walnuts.
Scoop batter into 12 paper-lined muffin tins, filling each almost to the top. Spoon crumble filling on top.
Bake for 25-27 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown around the edges and feel firm to the touch, even in the center. Let cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Muffins will keep for 2 days if stored covered at room temperature.
These look scrumptious!If I replace the whole wheat and all purpose flour with a gluten free all purpose flour do you think they'd turn out the same? Or use all oat flour maybe? Would love to try them but can't have gluten.
Your morning glory muffins look like such a delight. Definitely need to try these!
These look fantastic! Our house is filled with smiles and cheers when I bake your pear and hazelnut muffins...look forward to baking these beauties this weekend :) Thanks for sharing!
I'm running home to bake these, pronto.
I'm not normally big on muffins either - and I'd definitely eat them as a snack rather than breakfast - but these look so good. I love the little apple-y chunks and the ingredient list is so wholesome.
I love your breakfast muffins, along with every other recipe in your cookbook. I have fun experimenting with the mix-ins. Can't wait to make these! Recipes like this really help me add variety to breakfast and snack time.
Morning glory muffins are my go-to, and my recipe is remarkably similar BUT! I've never tried a crumble topping! Kills a bit of the health factor but my guess is that it's well worth it. I'll try it out and see!
love the crumble topping! such a good idea.
I think these might be added to the weekend "To Make" list. They will be my sustenance in between shoveling another mountain of snow here in Boston... oy. Crumble toppings: I can't get enough! Thanks for the recipe, Megan! Happy weekend to you and Sam!
Made them on Sunday and they were SPECTACULAR! I used Bob's Red Mill gluten free cup for cup flour and the texture was perfect. Just the right amount of sweetness, crunch, and I love how moist they turned out. I'll be doubling the next batch for sure!
Hello! I've been reading your blog for almost a year now but haven't yet commented before. I'm not sure why, but today, I finally decided that I need to as I love your posts. I truly get excited when they come out - how you write and the recipes you post are always unique and very special. Thanks for another great one today - these look delicious!
My husband and I love our weekend morning rituals, and when we are having a particularly grueling work week, we often celebrate the weekend morning by staying in bed for a couple of hours, drinking coffee or tea and watching the cooking channel. Bliss.
These look like lovely muffins with the perfect amount of spice. They would go so well with our weekend coffee or tea.
These will be perfect for our family weekend brunch! Yum!
What a wonderful post. I often forget how wonderful life's everyday moments are until I see pictures of my kids goofing off and think...tomorrow, I'm really going to pay attention. The muffins look like Saturday morning to me!
This is my second time making these muffins. First, they were a hit at a baby shower and tomorrow I'm bringing them for a birthday brunch at work. They are definitely labor intensive on the front end, but SO DELICIOUS!
Yes, the ingredient list is long, but most of it is pantry staples (for me, at least)! I used a tablespoon of orange marmalade because I didn't have any oranges for the zest and I pureed an apple with a little apple juice because I didn't have applesauce. The muffins turned out beautifully and my family made them disappear in record time. This recipe is absolutely a keeper!

tokenized:
I rarely make muffins at home and never order one when I ’m out and about as I find they ’re often far too sweet and never truly that satisfying . I realize , too , in looking back at my cookbook that there ’s only one muffin recipe throughout . Case in point : I ’m tentative on muffins . But not these . We ’ve been pretty thrilled to have this healthier version of Morning Glory muffins on the counter this week ; they have little bits of apple , raisins , walnuts , and grated carrot and are cloaked in a buttery oat crumble topping — quite the opposite of your boring coffeeshop fare .
 I thought long and hard about doing a Valentine ’s post , some festive cookie or confection that would be share - worthy this weekend , but the more we talked about what our weekend would really look like , it involved something special for breakfast instead . I do n’t remember the last time a Valentine ’s Day fell on a Saturday , so we have big plans to have breakfast in bed and if your plans are even remotely similar , these muffins would be a fine inclusion .
 I remember when Sam and I were first dating long distance , and occasions or holidays would feel like a hurdle : I ’d so wish we could be together and fell into the trap of constantly thinking towards the next birthday or the next Valentine ’s Day and assuring myself it ’d be different the following year — envisioning the grand places where we might celebrate ( if we were in San Francisco maybe at Zuni to share the famous chicken and a few oysters ; if in Seattle , perhaps Spinasse for a plate of that simple , buttery pasta ) . The funny thing : now that that period in our lives is over , I think much less eagerly towards grand dates or sweeping gestures , and look forward to the smaller dates and moments . Sam asked last night if we should think about going out to dinner on Saturday and we both glanced at each other with the same look in our eye : I hope the other says no ; let ’s stay in .
 This is not to say that we do n’t love going out because we love trying new cafes around town and visiting our favorite neighborhood spot , but there ’s something almost more special about planning the quieter moments — figuring out what kind of pancakes we ’ll make and how to balance the coffee on the bed without spilling it , making homemade whipped cream , catching up on the week .
 I have a quote taped to the computer in my office at Marge ; it ’s an Annie Dillard quote that reads “ How we spend our days is , of course , how we spend our lives . ” It ’s possible I ’ve shared this quote here before , but I ca n’t remember and maybe it ’s a good one to revisit regardless . Instead of inspirational photos of people and places , this alone serves as a good reminder when I start to feel overwhelmed by all of the Bigger Things in life ( success of a business , taxes , celebrating holidays and occasions ) . While fancy dates and dinners are nice , it ’s really the everyday meals ( and occasional breakfast in bed ) that comprise most of our life — and when focusing too much on the grand and fancy , you lose sight of most of the really good stuff . Like muffins in bed . I hope you have some this weekend , solo or joined by someone you love .
 Megan ’s Note : I know the ingredient list for these muffins looks long , but a handful are spices alone and I imagine a few are things you already have in your pantry . I know some of you are hesitant about coconut oil , but it really is so wonderful in these muffins ; it has a sweet fragrance that adds so much . If you do n’t have it or would rather not use it , I imagine that butter would work just fine as well . I have n’t tested these with butter , but I ca n’t think of any clear reason why they ’d be negatively affected ( if you try it , let me know ! ) The one thing to remember about the oil : do make sure it is n’t very hot when adding it to the wet ingredients as you do n’t want to curdle your yogurt and milk — I let mine cool to almost room temperature while still making sure it ’s in its liquid state .
 My best advice for these muffins is not to be conservative with the crumble topping ; as the muffin tops spread in the oven you ’re going to wish you had more of it , so feel free to really layer and even lightly press it onto each .
 In a large mixing bowl , whisk together the two flours , oats , sugar , baking powder and baking soda , spices and salt .
 In a small bowl , whisk together the eggs , applesauce , yogurt , milk , coconut oil and vanilla extract . Fold in orange zest , apple , carrots , raisins and walnuts .
 Scoop batter into 12 paper - lined muffin tins , filling each almost to the top . Spoon crumble filling on top .
 Bake for 25 - 27 minutes , or until muffins are golden brown around the edges and feel firm to the touch , even in the center . Let cool in the tin for 10 minutes . Muffins will keep for 2 days if stored covered at room temperature .
 These look scrumptious!If I replace the whole wheat and all purpose flour with a gluten free all purpose flour do you think they 'd turn out the same ? Or use all oat flour maybe ? Would love to try them but ca n't have gluten .
 Your morning glory muffins look like such a delight . Definitely need to try these !
 These look fantastic ! Our house is filled with smiles and cheers when I bake your pear and hazelnut muffins ... look forward to baking these beauties this weekend :) Thanks for sharing !
 I 'm running home to bake these , pronto .
 I 'm not normally big on muffins either - and I 'd definitely eat them as a snack rather than breakfast - but these look so good . I love the little apple - y chunks and the ingredient list is so wholesome .
 I love your breakfast muffins , along with every other recipe in your cookbook . I have fun experimenting with the mix - ins . Ca n't wait to make these ! Recipes like this really help me add variety to breakfast and snack time .
 Morning glory muffins are my go - to , and my recipe is remarkably similar BUT ! I 've never tried a crumble topping ! Kills a bit of the health factor but my guess is that it 's well worth it . I 'll try it out and see !
 love the crumble topping ! such a good idea .
 I think these might be added to the weekend " To Make " list . They will be my sustenance in between shoveling another mountain of snow here in Boston ... oy . Crumble toppings : I ca n't get enough ! Thanks for the recipe , Megan ! Happy weekend to you and Sam !
 Made them on Sunday and they were SPECTACULAR ! I used Bob 's Red Mill gluten free cup for cup flour and the texture was perfect . Just the right amount of sweetness , crunch , and I love how moist they turned out . I 'll be doubling the next batch for sure !
 Hello ! I 've been reading your blog for almost a year now but have n't yet commented before . I 'm not sure why , but today , I finally decided that I need to as I love your posts . I truly get excited when they come out - how you write and the recipes you post are always unique and very special . Thanks for another great one today - these look delicious !
 My husband and I love our weekend morning rituals , and when we are having a particularly grueling work week , we often celebrate the weekend morning by staying in bed for a couple of hours , drinking coffee or tea and watching the cooking channel . Bliss .
 These look like lovely muffins with the perfect amount of spice . They would go so well with our weekend coffee or tea .
 These will be perfect for our family weekend brunch ! Yum !
 What a wonderful post . I often forget how wonderful life 's everyday moments are until I see pictures of my kids goofing off and think ... tomorrow , I 'm really going to pay attention . The muffins look like Saturday morning to me !
 This is my second time making these muffins . First , they were a hit at a baby shower and tomorrow I 'm bringing them for a birthday brunch at work . They are definitely labor intensive on the front end , but SO DELICIOUS !
 Yes , the ingredient list is long , but most of it is pantry staples ( for me , at least ) ! I used a tablespoon of orange marmalade because I did n't have any oranges for the zest and I pureed an apple with a little apple juice because I did n't have applesauce . The muffins turned out beautifully and my family made them disappear in record time . This recipe is absolutely a keeper !


text:
Belieber or not, Oxygen x Bieber Collection has captured the eyes and hearts of Manila's fashion populace.
The limited edition #OxygenxBieber Collection is composed of cool graphic tees, pullover, bomber jackets, caps and hoodies that take heavy inspiration from the pop star himself and his hit album, Purpose. The Oxygen x Bieber Collection is a licensed merchandise in partnership with Bravado and MCAA Universal.
I got a special invite to the VIP Shopping Party (thank you to our friends from ARC PR) at the Oxygen Popup Store in SM Mega Fashion Hall.
There were over 20 pieces for men and women and it was not an easy task to pick just the pieces I could really wear.
"As a rand that is inspired by both streetwear and music, we believe that Justin Bieber would be the perfect partner for this collection as he is globally known for his music and his fondness for streetwear. He constantly reinvent himself, just like how Oxygen continues to evolve in he fashion to keep up with the youth's edgy but relaxed style". Oxygen Brand Director, Jeff Bascon.
I got myself some really cool shirts. I always love rock band shirts and icon shirts, and I felt that Justin Bieber deserves to be part of my holy chic collection. Some of the shirts have prints of the titles of his songs from the album, Purpose like "What Do You Mean?", "Sorry" and "Love Your Self".
I am a Belieber and his song "Sorry" somehow takes me back to my Harry Potter Themed Party (I don't know why - probably because during our meeting, I requested the team to play "now" songs during breaks like Justin Bieber - Sorry - and they did. They kept playing that song during my party! Haha).
Love the #OxygenxBieber Collection! Simply pair these pieces with classics that you have in your wardrobe to add some funk and edginess on your style.

tokenized:
Belieber or not , Oxygen x Bieber Collection has captured the eyes and hearts of Manila 's fashion populace .
 The limited edition # OxygenxBieber Collection is composed of cool graphic tees , pullover , bomber jackets , caps and hoodies that take heavy inspiration from the pop star himself and his hit album , Purpose . The Oxygen x Bieber Collection is a licensed merchandise in partnership with Bravado and MCAA Universal .
 I got a special invite to the VIP Shopping Party ( thank you to our friends from ARC PR ) at the Oxygen Popup Store in SM Mega Fashion Hall .
 There were over 20 pieces for men and women and it was not an easy task to pick just the pieces I could really wear .
 " As a rand that is inspired by both streetwear and music , we believe that Justin Bieber would be the perfect partner for this collection as he is globally known for his music and his fondness for streetwear . He constantly reinvent himself , just like how Oxygen continues to evolve in he fashion to keep up with the youth 's edgy but relaxed style " . Oxygen Brand Director , Jeff Bascon .
 I got myself some really cool shirts . I always love rock band shirts and icon shirts , and I felt that Justin Bieber deserves to be part of my holy chic collection . Some of the shirts have prints of the titles of his songs from the album , Purpose like " What Do You Mean ? " , " Sorry " and " Love Your Self " .
 I am a Belieber and his song " Sorry " somehow takes me back to my Harry Potter Themed Party ( I do n't know why - probably because during our meeting , I requested the team to play " now " songs during breaks like Justin Bieber - Sorry - and they did . They kept playing that song during my party ! Haha ) .
 Love the # OxygenxBieber Collection ! Simply pair these pieces with classics that you have in your wardrobe to add some funk and edginess on your style .


text:
MasterPro have undertaken a range of house and building extension projects around Greater London for a variety of property types. We are able to help with your building project plans and navigate local planning regulations, from formulating your original home improvement ideas into workable plans, through to completion of your refurbishment projects.
If you are planning on building an extension of any kind, we have ten years’ experience of working with professional teams of builders and craftsmen in bringing homeowners’ ideas to fruition. Please see our portfolio of building extension projects completed to date.
Drop MasterPro an email with any questions you may have to enquiries@mfbs.london, or call 07888 854464 to book an appointment for us to assess your requirements and we will give you an affordable and realistic estimate. Alternatively, please leave us your contact details on our Contact Form and let us know what day and time is best to call you back to discuss your home extension ideas and plans.

tokenized:
MasterPro have undertaken a range of house and building extension projects around Greater London for a variety of property types . We are able to help with your building project plans and navigate local planning regulations , from formulating your original home improvement ideas into workable plans , through to completion of your refurbishment projects .
 If you are planning on building an extension of any kind , we have ten years ’ experience of working with professional teams of builders and craftsmen in bringing homeowners ’ ideas to fruition . Please see our portfolio of building extension projects completed to date .
 Drop MasterPro an email with any questions you may have to enquiries@mfbs.london , or call 07888 854464 to book an appointment for us to assess your requirements and we will give you an affordable and realistic estimate . Alternatively , please leave us your contact details on our Contact Form and let us know what day and time is best to call you back to discuss your home extension ideas and plans .


text:
It has been a while since I wrote anything about my cycling, and there has been quite a bit of it recently, including a couple of sportives.
First up was the inaugural Ride With Brad sportive in and around Lancashire/North Yorkshire. Whilst it has a new name and a new patron, the event has been run previously and went by the name of the Bowland Beast, or Pendle Pedal. It was my first time riding oop North.
The course was tough by any standard. Comprising 100 miles and over 3000m of climbing including Longridge Fell, Trough of Bowland, Nick ‘O Pendle, Barley Fell and lots more un-named but brutal hills. The last 20km or so in-particular was constantly up and down over gradients in the mid-teens. I started off in the third wave of riders and we made quick progress for the first 13 miles to the bottom of Longridge Fell. The weather was perfect at this stage with no wind and a mild temperature. At the 50 mile food stop I was feeling fine and continued on after a quick stop. Unfortunately just after a group of us took a slight diversion off the intended route and this must be where Wiggins himself managed to pass us by. Loads of people talked about getting to ride with him for a while, but we must have missed him here.
For the final half the weather also turned a bit. Thankfully there was still no wind, but a constant drizzle descended for the rest of the ride. The only real impact was to make people a bit more cautious on descents, but still there were a couple of incidents I came across. I also started cramping up on climbs. I had to stop briefly at one point to shake my legs out and started to make sure I fed and watered more regularly than I had been doing. However the damage was done. Thankfully however I was still making up the severe climbs using a variety of positions on the bike to try to use different muscle groups. By this stage there were plently of people walking the hills! Only on the steep ascent out of Barley did I run into trouble as my right leg completely cramped up on a 17% gradient and I had to unclip or fall over. There was no way of getting back on and going so I had to walk the final 20m of the climb.
Once the ride was completed there was time to stick around to watch Brad do the raffle before heading back down the motorways. All in all it was a well run event and certainly a good challenge.
Two weeks after the Ride With Brad was another new sportive, but this time a lot closer to home, and a lot flatter! The Red Kite Ride was put on by Marlow Riders and took a 100 mile route North through the Chilterns and Vale of Aylesbury. The route was fairly flat with only 1200m of climbing.
Once again I started amongst the first riders and managed to spend the majority of the first half in the company of a group of 4-5 others. We worked quite well together keeping up a good pace along some fast roads. The second half was spent pretty much solo but again I pushed on in an attempt to keep a decent average speed up. The effort from the Ride With Brad had obviously paid dividends as I felt pretty strong. I also fuelled better. Talking of which, Marlow Riders really went to town with the food stops which were the best stocked I have ever seen!
I made it back to the base in a pleasing sub 6 hour moving time at an average speed of just over 17mph. By contrast that is 90 minutes quicker than my moving time for the Ride With Brad over basically the same distance! Just goes to show that I’m definitely not a climber!
As I’ve previously blogged about one of my cycling goals for this year is to try my hand at time trialling. Whilst I couldn’t make the first few club TT events I finally managed to get out a couple of weeks ago on a very wet Tuesday evening for my first ever 10 mile TT.
The weather had been pretty awful all day with a lot of rain and therefore standing water on the roads, however the forecast showed the rain stopping about 7pm so I made my way up to the start a couple of miles North of Codicote. As a first outing this was all about just getting used to the procedures and getting a basic idea of my TT ability. The only goal I’d set myself for the year was to get under 30 minutes, or in other words a 20mph average. There was a small turnout of 13 people and I set off first as I figured I’d probably be the slowest.
Due to the wet weather the start was moved a couple of hundred yards up the road so technically this wasn’t a full race. However I managed an official time of 30 minutes and 37 seconds so not far off my initial goal. I got a poor start as I basically let the starter push me off rather than using any of my own effort. I was also hesistant at the first turn onto the main road, not trusting the marshall telling me all was clear and not using the width of the road to get a good line.
However, after the start it was a case of just pushing as hard as I could all the way to the turn and back. As you can see from the Strava data, the course is basically more downhill on the way out with a couple of short climbs, then the reverse on the way back with more longer drags. Whilst it is still basically flat the second half is definitely harder and you need to save something for a good finish. I spent most of the time in the drops but did find myself coming up onto the hoods a few times for a breather, and also dropping into a lower gear than I probably should have been in. I was passed by three riders before the end.
By the end though I was shattered. Crossing the line I struggled to call out my number to the time keepers and could feel a distinct wheezy chest feeling that I hadn’t had since my asthma disappeared about 15 years ago. To be honest I had quite an uncomfortable night’s sleep following it and couldn’t breathe fully and deeply for a couple of days as my lungs recovered from the effort. This took me a bit by surprise.
Despite this however I was soon thinking about how I could improve (start, turns, more aero, more pain tolerance) next time, and so it was I headed back up this week. With the much better weather (but the same 10mph or so headwind on the way out) there were many more people turning out and I found myself going off in twentieth place. This time we were starting from the normal point, so there was more chance to build up speed before turning left onto the main road. This time around I got a much better start and turn and then it was just a case of measuring my effort on the first half in the knowledge that I had to keep something in reserve. At the turn my Garmin was showing an average of above 22mph so I knew I was going well and on course for a sub-30 minute time. I’d also stayed in the drops all the way, and in fact only came out of them once on the penultimate drag on the way back. On the final hill up to the turn-off before the finish I pushed about as hard as I have ever done on the bike to keep my speed up and on crossing the line could see that my average was still above 20mph. I cycled slowly back to the finish line, catching my breath, and checked in with the time keepers to find I’d done 29.11! Well over a minute faster than my first time out. What’s more I recovered much quicker and had a very decent night’s sleep!
It is a bit early to say that I’ve got the TT bug, but I’ll definitely be heading out more times over the summer. However now the 30 minute goal has been achieved I’m not setting any other goal other than to feel that I’ve tried as hard or harder each time and feel myself getting better. Times will not come down forever and conditions on each day will always play a part anyway. Now it is just about learning to enjoy the pain!

tokenized:
It has been a while since I wrote anything about my cycling , and there has been quite a bit of it recently , including a couple of sportives .
 First up was the inaugural Ride With Brad sportive in and around Lancashire / North Yorkshire . Whilst it has a new name and a new patron , the event has been run previously and went by the name of the Bowland Beast , or Pendle Pedal . It was my first time riding oop North .
 The course was tough by any standard . Comprising 100 miles and over 3000 m of climbing including Longridge Fell , Trough of Bowland , Nick ‘ O Pendle , Barley Fell and lots more un - named but brutal hills . The last 20 km or so in - particular was constantly up and down over gradients in the mid - teens . I started off in the third wave of riders and we made quick progress for the first 13 miles to the bottom of Longridge Fell . The weather was perfect at this stage with no wind and a mild temperature . At the 50 mile food stop I was feeling fine and continued on after a quick stop . Unfortunately just after a group of us took a slight diversion off the intended route and this must be where Wiggins himself managed to pass us by . Loads of people talked about getting to ride with him for a while , but we must have missed him here .
 For the final half the weather also turned a bit . Thankfully there was still no wind , but a constant drizzle descended for the rest of the ride . The only real impact was to make people a bit more cautious on descents , but still there were a couple of incidents I came across . I also started cramping up on climbs . I had to stop briefly at one point to shake my legs out and started to make sure I fed and watered more regularly than I had been doing . However the damage was done . Thankfully however I was still making up the severe climbs using a variety of positions on the bike to try to use different muscle groups . By this stage there were plently of people walking the hills ! Only on the steep ascent out of Barley did I run into trouble as my right leg completely cramped up on a 17 % gradient and I had to unclip or fall over . There was no way of getting back on and going so I had to walk the final 20 m of the climb .
 Once the ride was completed there was time to stick around to watch Brad do the raffle before heading back down the motorways . All in all it was a well run event and certainly a good challenge .
 Two weeks after the Ride With Brad was another new sportive , but this time a lot closer to home , and a lot flatter ! The Red Kite Ride was put on by Marlow Riders and took a 100 mile route North through the Chilterns and Vale of Aylesbury . The route was fairly flat with only 1200 m of climbing .
 Once again I started amongst the first riders and managed to spend the majority of the first half in the company of a group of 4 - 5 others . We worked quite well together keeping up a good pace along some fast roads . The second half was spent pretty much solo but again I pushed on in an attempt to keep a decent average speed up . The effort from the Ride With Brad had obviously paid dividends as I felt pretty strong . I also fuelled better . Talking of which , Marlow Riders really went to town with the food stops which were the best stocked I have ever seen !
 I made it back to the base in a pleasing sub 6 hour moving time at an average speed of just over 17 mph . By contrast that is 90 minutes quicker than my moving time for the Ride With Brad over basically the same distance ! Just goes to show that I ’m definitely not a climber !
 As I ’ve previously blogged about one of my cycling goals for this year is to try my hand at time trialling . Whilst I could n’t make the first few club TT events I finally managed to get out a couple of weeks ago on a very wet Tuesday evening for my first ever 10 mile TT .
 The weather had been pretty awful all day with a lot of rain and therefore standing water on the roads , however the forecast showed the rain stopping about 7 pm so I made my way up to the start a couple of miles North of Codicote . As a first outing this was all about just getting used to the procedures and getting a basic idea of my TT ability . The only goal I ’d set myself for the year was to get under 30 minutes , or in other words a 20 mph average . There was a small turnout of 13 people and I set off first as I figured I ’d probably be the slowest .
 Due to the wet weather the start was moved a couple of hundred yards up the road so technically this was n’t a full race . However I managed an official time of 30 minutes and 37 seconds so not far off my initial goal . I got a poor start as I basically let the starter push me off rather than using any of my own effort . I was also hesistant at the first turn onto the main road , not trusting the marshall telling me all was clear and not using the width of the road to get a good line .
 However , after the start it was a case of just pushing as hard as I could all the way to the turn and back . As you can see from the Strava data , the course is basically more downhill on the way out with a couple of short climbs , then the reverse on the way back with more longer drags . Whilst it is still basically flat the second half is definitely harder and you need to save something for a good finish . I spent most of the time in the drops but did find myself coming up onto the hoods a few times for a breather , and also dropping into a lower gear than I probably should have been in . I was passed by three riders before the end .
 By the end though I was shattered . Crossing the line I struggled to call out my number to the time keepers and could feel a distinct wheezy chest feeling that I had n’t had since my asthma disappeared about 15 years ago . To be honest I had quite an uncomfortable night ’s sleep following it and could n’t breathe fully and deeply for a couple of days as my lungs recovered from the effort . This took me a bit by surprise .
 Despite this however I was soon thinking about how I could improve ( start , turns , more aero , more pain tolerance ) next time , and so it was I headed back up this week . With the much better weather ( but the same 10 mph or so headwind on the way out ) there were many more people turning out and I found myself going off in twentieth place . This time we were starting from the normal point , so there was more chance to build up speed before turning left onto the main road . This time around I got a much better start and turn and then it was just a case of measuring my effort on the first half in the knowledge that I had to keep something in reserve . At the turn my Garmin was showing an average of above 22 mph so I knew I was going well and on course for a sub-30 minute time . I ’d also stayed in the drops all the way , and in fact only came out of them once on the penultimate drag on the way back . On the final hill up to the turn - off before the finish I pushed about as hard as I have ever done on the bike to keep my speed up and on crossing the line could see that my average was still above 20 mph . I cycled slowly back to the finish line , catching my breath , and checked in with the time keepers to find I ’d done 29.11 ! Well over a minute faster than my first time out . What ’s more I recovered much quicker and had a very decent night ’s sleep !
 It is a bit early to say that I ’ve got the TT bug , but I ’ll definitely be heading out more times over the summer . However now the 30 minute goal has been achieved I ’m not setting any other goal other than to feel that I ’ve tried as hard or harder each time and feel myself getting better . Times will not come down forever and conditions on each day will always play a part anyway . Now it is just about learning to enjoy the pain !


text:
Zheng Er goes to talk with Tai Bu and the Queen. They ask her if she really loves Si Ye. She says yes, but he is in love with Xue Wu. She doesn’t feel as if she has a chance. Tai Bu gives her a pouch amulet and says that if she puts this under Xue Wu’s bed, then Si Ye will stop loving Xue Wu and love Zheng Er. They tell her that they will give Zhen Er the opportunity, all she has to do is wait. They give her a hairpin and tell her that they want the best for her.
The next day, Zheng Er Xue Wu takes Zheng Er’s hands and tells Zheng Er that Zheng Er will be the one who will be Si Ye’s wife in this competition.
He usually cares more for others and not for himself. You have to watch out for him. He’s been on his own since he was six and he’s a very lonely person. So in the future, please be by his side as much as you can. After the wedding, if you could take him away from the problems of the palace. If you can take him to live in the mountains then that would be great, because his greatest wish is to live peacefully. My greatest wish is that you will replace me in taking care of him. I know you will be better than me, because I know you will be much better than I for him.
Si Ye is about to leave after addressing Zheng Er’s Wound. Zheng Er asks if Si Ye can stay for her. Si Ye has to let her down and says he has to go back. She asks “Do you really dislike me that much?
Si Ye asks, “Do you know what “to like” means? Even a few hours feel like years when I don’t see her.” Zheng asks if he means Xue Wu?
Zheng Er asks if its because she can’t compare well to Xue Wu ?
Si Ye says no, “No! No! It’s her that can’t compare well to you. She’s not as polite as you, not as well versed in customs, not as refined. But… it is her shadow that’s imprinted on my heart. It’s her that I dream about at night. When I wake up I want to see her. I want her to call me Si Ye, I want her to argue and fight with me. I have no idea how to handle her sometimes. Why did I fall in love with this kind… this kind of girl that I can’t control? I have no idea. But I’m sorry, I only love her.
Zheng Er asks if he’ll really disobey imperial edict for Si Ye. He says yes, he has handled the Wife Choosing competition but he won’t marry. If he marries anyone, it would not be fair to that person and it wouldn’t be fair to Xue Wu. Zheng Er is stunned.
News arrives that Xue Wu has been drugged and kidnapped from the village. Si Ye rushes away. Zheng Er realizes that this is the opportunity and slips away to put the pouch amulet in Xue Wu’s room.
Meanwhile grandmother is looking into the future and realizes that people are trying to kill Xue Wu and Si Ye. She tells Xiao Dong that Xue Wu needs to leave now.
Si Ye and An De Wang tracks down the kidnapper, who tells them that there is gold for Xue Wu’s life. Si Ye kills the assassin in rage and takes Xue Wu back, getting injured in the process. They go back and Si Ye tells everyone not to mention the even to the still drugged Xue Wu.
Xue Wu wakes up as Si Ye sits by her. She grabs her head in pain and asks what happened. Si Ye lies and said that she drank wine instead of water and then she fell asleep. She says he’s lying! He looks stunned and she continues to say, “ Whenever I drink I do stupid things, I never just fall asleep. So what did I do?” Si Ye says that she just slapped him, she didn’t say anything. She smiles in relief and mock punches him in the side (where he was injured by the assassin) and he doubles over in pain. She asks what’s wrong and he lies that he was injured while practicing with his sword. Si Ye leaves.
Xiao Dong comes in and tells Xue Wu that they have to leave, her grandmother wants her to leave now.
Si Ye and An De Wang realizes that the Crown Prince and his faction are the ones behind the assassination. Si Ye says that he’s scare that he can’t look at Xue Wu’s safety objectively. He wonders if it’s the correct choice to let Xue Wu leave.
Tai Bu hears from Zheng Er that the pouch has been put in Xue Wu’s bed. They proceed with the plan.
Xue Wu has prepared the things and Xiao Dong asks if they should go say goodbye to Si Ye. Xue Wu replies that if she sees Si Ye then she’ll never leave. They get to the gate and Xue Wu looks back at the house, crying. Xiao Dong opens the door to find Si Ye.
Si Ye walks to Xue Wu and asks why is she leaving without saying goodbye. She’s crying as she says that she can’t leave if she went to find him. He says that once he had told her that he never really had anything to call his own. Her leaving now leaves him with nothing again. She cries harder and tells him not to say that. She has to leave he knows that she doesn’t belong here. He says that perhaps its for the best. He probably is fated to belong to someone else, tomorrow is the last day of the Wife Choosing Competition. He probably has to choose Zheng Er. He tells her that she doesn’t have to be burdened by their marriage. She can see it as a act, from now on she and him will not be connected.
She tells him live well in a small voice.
He stands behind her and slips the jade pendant in her bag. She nods, and leaves. In the carriage she finds the pendant and starts crying.
An De Wang asks why, and Si Ye replies, “Xue Wu at my side, its too dangerous for her.
The next day, Tai Bu goes to the king and tells him that Si Ye is going to revolt against him. Si Ye has even hired a Shaman to perform spells to weaken the king’s power. Since the shaman is dead, the only evidence against Si Ye is that the Shaman had left an amulet in Si Ye’s house. The king is angered and tells Tai Bu to go and find the evidence. They find the yellow amulet pouch in Xue Wu’s room, and bring Si Ye to the king. Tai Bu says that this is the evil amulet, and that Si Ye wants to become king. Tai Bu says that Xue Wu is a witch who had been using spells that caused the King the chronic headaches. Since Xue Wu is gone and no one can explain the amulet pouch. The King orders Si Ye to be imprisoned and executed on treason and witchcraft.
Zheng Er accuses Tai Bu of tricking her and making up the whole thing. She wants to tell the king about Tai Bu and the Queen’s evil plot but Tai Bu causes her to faint. Now he has the only person who can prove Si Ye is innocent.
I couldn’t care more or less for the evil people in this show. Mainly because they are as about effective as overcooked noodles. I can’t spend more than five seconds on the evil people when the main characters are still in the throes of self doubt and betting against each other. Xue Wu’s unwavering belief that she is not the ONE and Si Ye’s noble idiocy are enough to deal with in one episode. Though I have to admit. The goodbye is effective. I felt the love between the two in that one scene. Usually I follow the story but FSF’s gaze as Xue Wu walks out of his life speaks louder than if he had screamed “Don’t Go!”. As for the whole treason plot, I’m just glad it gets resolved in the next episodes.
Ugh, I’m really hating Xue Wu’s character. I feel like slapping her a billion times each episode. I hate noble idiocy and I hate her stupid denial. Maybe the reason SY marries that Zhen girl because XW has given up on him. Don’t blame everything on a stupid prophecy when you yourself don’t have enough confidence and self-esteem to marry the guy.
Ugh. I’m seriously considering dropping this because once a noble idiot/stupid character, always a noble idiot.

tokenized:
Zheng Er goes to talk with Tai Bu and the Queen . They ask her if she really loves Si Ye . She says yes , but he is in love with Xue Wu . She does n’t feel as if she has a chance . Tai Bu gives her a pouch amulet and says that if she puts this under Xue Wu ’s bed , then Si Ye will stop loving Xue Wu and love Zheng Er . They tell her that they will give Zhen Er the opportunity , all she has to do is wait . They give her a hairpin and tell her that they want the best for her .
 The next day , Zheng Er Xue Wu takes Zheng Er ’s hands and tells Zheng Er that Zheng Er will be the one who will be Si Ye ’s wife in this competition .
 He usually cares more for others and not for himself . You have to watch out for him . He ’s been on his own since he was six and he ’s a very lonely person . So in the future , please be by his side as much as you can . After the wedding , if you could take him away from the problems of the palace . If you can take him to live in the mountains then that would be great , because his greatest wish is to live peacefully . My greatest wish is that you will replace me in taking care of him . I know you will be better than me , because I know you will be much better than I for him .
 Si Ye is about to leave after addressing Zheng Er ’s Wound . Zheng Er asks if Si Ye can stay for her . Si Ye has to let her down and says he has to go back . She asks “ Do you really dislike me that much ?
 Si Ye asks , “ Do you know what “ to like ” means ? Even a few hours feel like years when I do n’t see her . ” Zheng asks if he means Xue Wu ?
 Zheng Er asks if its because she ca n’t compare well to Xue Wu ?
 Si Ye says no , “ No ! No ! It ’s her that ca n’t compare well to you . She ’s not as polite as you , not as well versed in customs , not as refined . But … it is her shadow that ’s imprinted on my heart . It ’s her that I dream about at night . When I wake up I want to see her . I want her to call me Si Ye , I want her to argue and fight with me . I have no idea how to handle her sometimes . Why did I fall in love with this kind … this kind of girl that I ca n’t control ? I have no idea . But I ’m sorry , I only love her .
 Zheng Er asks if he ’ll really disobey imperial edict for Si Ye . He says yes , he has handled the Wife Choosing competition but he wo n’t marry . If he marries anyone , it would not be fair to that person and it would n’t be fair to Xue Wu . Zheng Er is stunned .
 News arrives that Xue Wu has been drugged and kidnapped from the village . Si Ye rushes away . Zheng Er realizes that this is the opportunity and slips away to put the pouch amulet in Xue Wu ’s room .
 Meanwhile grandmother is looking into the future and realizes that people are trying to kill Xue Wu and Si Ye . She tells Xiao Dong that Xue Wu needs to leave now .
 Si Ye and An De Wang tracks down the kidnapper , who tells them that there is gold for Xue Wu ’s life . Si Ye kills the assassin in rage and takes Xue Wu back , getting injured in the process . They go back and Si Ye tells everyone not to mention the even to the still drugged Xue Wu .
 Xue Wu wakes up as Si Ye sits by her . She grabs her head in pain and asks what happened . Si Ye lies and said that she drank wine instead of water and then she fell asleep . She says he ’s lying ! He looks stunned and she continues to say , “ Whenever I drink I do stupid things , I never just fall asleep . So what did I do ? ” Si Ye says that she just slapped him , she did n’t say anything . She smiles in relief and mock punches him in the side ( where he was injured by the assassin ) and he doubles over in pain . She asks what ’s wrong and he lies that he was injured while practicing with his sword . Si Ye leaves .
 Xiao Dong comes in and tells Xue Wu that they have to leave , her grandmother wants her to leave now .
 Si Ye and An De Wang realizes that the Crown Prince and his faction are the ones behind the assassination . Si Ye says that he ’s scare that he ca n’t look at Xue Wu ’s safety objectively . He wonders if it ’s the correct choice to let Xue Wu leave .
 Tai Bu hears from Zheng Er that the pouch has been put in Xue Wu ’s bed . They proceed with the plan .
 Xue Wu has prepared the things and Xiao Dong asks if they should go say goodbye to Si Ye . Xue Wu replies that if she sees Si Ye then she ’ll never leave . They get to the gate and Xue Wu looks back at the house , crying . Xiao Dong opens the door to find Si Ye .
 Si Ye walks to Xue Wu and asks why is she leaving without saying goodbye . She ’s crying as she says that she ca n’t leave if she went to find him . He says that once he had told her that he never really had anything to call his own . Her leaving now leaves him with nothing again . She cries harder and tells him not to say that . She has to leave he knows that she does n’t belong here . He says that perhaps its for the best . He probably is fated to belong to someone else , tomorrow is the last day of the Wife Choosing Competition . He probably has to choose Zheng Er . He tells her that she does n’t have to be burdened by their marriage . She can see it as a act , from now on she and him will not be connected .
 She tells him live well in a small voice .
 He stands behind her and slips the jade pendant in her bag . She nods , and leaves . In the carriage she finds the pendant and starts crying .
 An De Wang asks why , and Si Ye replies , “ Xue Wu at my side , its too dangerous for her .
 The next day , Tai Bu goes to the king and tells him that Si Ye is going to revolt against him . Si Ye has even hired a Shaman to perform spells to weaken the king ’s power . Since the shaman is dead , the only evidence against Si Ye is that the Shaman had left an amulet in Si Ye ’s house . The king is angered and tells Tai Bu to go and find the evidence . They find the yellow amulet pouch in Xue Wu ’s room , and bring Si Ye to the king . Tai Bu says that this is the evil amulet , and that Si Ye wants to become king . Tai Bu says that Xue Wu is a witch who had been using spells that caused the King the chronic headaches . Since Xue Wu is gone and no one can explain the amulet pouch . The King orders Si Ye to be imprisoned and executed on treason and witchcraft .
 Zheng Er accuses Tai Bu of tricking her and making up the whole thing . She wants to tell the king about Tai Bu and the Queen ’s evil plot but Tai Bu causes her to faint . Now he has the only person who can prove Si Ye is innocent .
 I could n’t care more or less for the evil people in this show . Mainly because they are as about effective as overcooked noodles . I ca n’t spend more than five seconds on the evil people when the main characters are still in the throes of self doubt and betting against each other . Xue Wu ’s unwavering belief that she is not the ONE and Si Ye ’s noble idiocy are enough to deal with in one episode . Though I have to admit . The goodbye is effective . I felt the love between the two in that one scene . Usually I follow the story but FSF ’s gaze as Xue Wu walks out of his life speaks louder than if he had screamed “ Do n’t Go ! ” . As for the whole treason plot , I ’m just glad it gets resolved in the next episodes .
 Ugh , I ’m really hating Xue Wu ’s character . I feel like slapping her a billion times each episode . I hate noble idiocy and I hate her stupid denial . Maybe the reason SY marries that Zhen girl because XW has given up on him . Do n’t blame everything on a stupid prophecy when you yourself do n’t have enough confidence and self - esteem to marry the guy .
 Ugh . I ’m seriously considering dropping this because once a noble idiot / stupid character , always a noble idiot .


text:
We are the leading European NGO specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.
The World Bank estimates that growth in the agricultural sector is two and a half times more effective at reducing poverty than growth in other sectors.
By ensuring farmers have the right tools, seeds and techniques, we help them double or even treble their yields – ending their reliance on food aid and helping them to become self-sufficient.
By building links to markets, we help them sell their surplus – so they can afford to send their children to school and reinvest in their land.
By training them how to add more value to their produce, we help them build businesses and become rural entrepreneurs – bringing major social and economic benefits to the entire community, country and continent.
Farm Africa tests new technologies and trains farmers in them. Success breeds success and once trained farmers pass on their new know-how to others, ensuring our work has an impact well beyond our projects.
Our approach is to spread tried-and-tested methods as widely as possible. Although eastern Africa is widely varied in its landscapes and peoples, there are many common farming problems everyone faces. Farm Africa shares knowledge across communities, without the constraint of country borders.We increasingly work on regional projects that are for more than one country.

tokenized:
We are the leading European NGO specialising in growing agriculture , protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa .
 The World Bank estimates that growth in the agricultural sector is two and a half times more effective at reducing poverty than growth in other sectors .
 By ensuring farmers have the right tools , seeds and techniques , we help them double or even treble their yields – ending their reliance on food aid and helping them to become self - sufficient .
 By building links to markets , we help them sell their surplus – so they can afford to send their children to school and reinvest in their land .
 By training them how to add more value to their produce , we help them build businesses and become rural entrepreneurs – bringing major social and economic benefits to the entire community , country and continent .
 Farm Africa tests new technologies and trains farmers in them . Success breeds success and once trained farmers pass on their new know - how to others , ensuring our work has an impact well beyond our projects .
 Our approach is to spread tried - and - tested methods as widely as possible . Although eastern Africa is widely varied in its landscapes and peoples , there are many common farming problems everyone faces . Farm Africa shares knowledge across communities , without the constraint of country borders . We increasingly work on regional projects that are for more than one country .


text:
We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we can make your experience on Startrishta as fun, intuitive and safe as possible.
Here are just some of the great features waiting for you.
About Startrishta – helping you meet new, exciting people.
Hello and welcome! Startrishta is a free matching and matrimonial community founded on a principle that finding new people should be made easy and intuitive.

tokenized:
We ’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we can make your experience on Startrishta as fun , intuitive and safe as possible .
 Here are just some of the great features waiting for you .
 About Startrishta – helping you meet new , exciting people .
 Hello and welcome ! Startrishta is a free matching and matrimonial community founded on a principle that finding new people should be made easy and intuitive .