#and they all look the same as ashington

[byersbeefstew]

it isnt till i go literally anywhere outside of my city that i realise that everywhere in the uk looks exactly the same but is somehow worse than my city...

[skgway]

1824 Mar., Fri. 12

6 1/4

11 40/60

Soon after I got up, and gently, my cousin came – Gave Hotspur oatmeal and water – From 8 10/60 to 9, wrote out from page 148 to 153 volume 2 Anacharsis – The morning so snowy none of the workmen came. Cleared up a little about 9 – 

Went out for a few minutes after having called I[sabella] N[orcliffe] – and spoke to Washington who went to measure the new footpath along the wood etc. to the Dolt, to be ready if such measurement should be wanted – 

Sat down to breakfast at 9 1/2 – Alluding to what Mrs. P [Priestley] said yesterday, what large fortunes Marian and I would have, and saying they doubtless supposed all would eventually centre in Marian, as I should not marry. My uncle said no, if she was going to marry I should tell them she had not a sixpence more to expect than what she got from her father. ‘Your uncle Joseph wished it to go to the name and so do I.’ 

He wished me to do something to secure it, and I promised. I said I was glad he expressed himself, s[ai]d decidedly I should say what had been his wish, and that I acted accordingly or all the world would abuse me like a pickpocket. In fact, I shall not be at liberty of conscience to leave the estate to Marian or her mamily, when I so know my uncle means me to give it to the Listers in Wales – 

At 11, took the plan of the footpaths, and set off to Halifax. Went to Mr. James Briggs, Mr. Horton’s clerk, as advised yesterday by Mr. W[illiam] P[riestley]– Not at home – went there following and called at the Saltmarshe’s – Mrs. Catherine Rawson there. 

Sat with Mrs. S– [Saltmarshe] and her about 10 minutes – then took my leave, fancying them not sorry – I have long perceived a reserve in Mrs. S– [Saltmarshe]’s manner to me – It strikes me more and more, and I less and less like calling there. Seemed even something of the same in Mrs. Catherine R– [Rawson]. 

Called, as I went, at the bank and desired them to make out my account –  Called for it on having the S– [Saltmarshe]s’ – I have now got a banking-book, in which my account will be regularly settled 1/2 yearly – The balance in my favour including three half years interest is sixteen pounds nineteen shillings – 

Went to Whitley’s and staid a long while reading advertisements etc. Among the rest “The sweepings of my study” by the author of the Hundred Wonders – In awe of the very early pages, there is a hit against Dr. Todd’s new (large) edition of Johnson’s dictionary and some amusing observations on the change of their uncouth-sounding names by several authors – Maclaughlin to Macklin Mills to Morton etc. etc. – 

Went again to Mr. James Briggs and found him at home – Shewed him the plan of the footpaths – He thinks these will have no difficulty in getting that down our court-yard, turned down the Dolt, so we shall want no new track – Mr. Wiglesworth to send him the plan a few days before the view, and he will shew and explain it to Mr. Horton –

Then went to Mr. Wiglesworths office – Washington waiting there – Mr. W[ashington] not at home – spoke to Mr. Parker – Sent him down with Washington to shew the plan and speak to Mr. Carr about stopping the footpath along the brook, and going partly thro’ the Godley land – This to appear done to please and serve Mr. Carr, who sometime ago wished my uncle to join him in the expense of stopping it – Mr. C– [Carr] very glad and much obliged – Of course, for he will now get it done for nothing – 

Returned up the old bank and got home about 1 1/2 – Talking to my uncle and aunt 1/2 hour talking to I[sabella] N[orcliffe] – 1/2 hour upstairs before she set off to walk (as usual), to Halifax – From 2 1/2 to 4 I had 1/4 hour’s nap – Translated chapters 54, 55 and wrote out the first 9 lines of chapter 54 libro ii Thucydides – Dressed etc. and sat down to dinner at 4 1/4 – 

Just before had a (brought I know not how) from Savile Hill – an Armenian grammar sent me to look at along with a kind note from Miss Pickford (11 Gloucester Row, Clifton, Bristol) – The note in Miss P– [Pickford]’s usual pithy style – Everything necessary contained in less than one page of a halfsheet note – 

She hopes I had no occasion to go to Manchester – as if I did go, that it was of radical use. “It would really oblige me if you would merely, in the most concise terms, let me know per means of pen, ink, paper, and post” ..... 

Came upstairs after dinner at 6 1/2 – 1/2 hour talking to I[sabella] N[orcliffe] – Then in 3/4 hour wrote all this journal of today – Went down to coffee at 8 50/60 – Afterwards wrote out the remainder of chapter 54 and the whole of chapter 55 libro ii Thucydides – 

Came upstairs at 10 10/60 at which hour Barometer 5 1/2 degree below changeable Fahrenheit 39 1/20º – Perpetual showers of snow and rain, of rain, and snow, during the day – The ground whitened tonight – I escaped pretty well while out this morning – Behindhand the same as yesterday (vide the last line of the journal) –

[kellydal-blog]

Beware of Fraudulent Universities that can scam you into an unauthorized medical admission!

While several universities come up with the most bizarre claims in providing your ward with an affordable and “reliable” medical education in Caribbean, there are some medical colleges that can trick you into an admission that will not only cost you but also amount to devastating downgrade in your education. Here is some bitter truth about another fraudster “University” called the Lincoln American University, which is located in the first floor of a two-storied rundown complex in the city of Georgetown, and has been setting some high claims about the medical degrees they provide. Previously, a university by the name The Washington University of Barbados made such pompous propaganda about its highly acclaimed medical education and was barred for its baseless and misleading agenda.

 While Lincoln American University has 4 rooms in total which is alternatively used in the name of Office, classroom and labs within these rooms occupied in one-fourth of second floor in a building located in the corner of the city. Georgetown which is close by to tiger bay which is one of the most notorious area for theft and other criminal activities within Georgetown.

 1.   Conflict in their website claims!

As with any website and in specific, an educational institution, it’s website claims cannot go unchecked. With that being the case, a recent look into its website has this in bold:

 If, unfortunately, your NEET score is below the qualifying cut-off, don’t lose hope. Apply to our exclusive medical program specially designed for students who are yet to qualify NEET.

Since MCI does not recognize students who have not passed the NEET, then their qualification for a Medical Program will be deemed not acceptable and in the long-run, disqualify their eligibility to write the FMGE Exam of MCI.

      2. Confusion with the labs provided!

 A statement given by one of the students who left the university within few months of joining the University mentions about another big blunder that has gone off base is with the labs they provide. The disgruntled former student says that “The labs are indefinitely a key concern for any medical institution which acts as the foundation in Basic Medical Sciences during the first two years of Medical Education. There are no real labs except few charts which are bought from Guyana Stores which are usually used in primary schools. In addition to that all they have is four microscopes.”

 Here is another statement from their website that reads: Research in labs like Anatomy Biotechnology, Physics & Chemistry Lab, Computer Lab, etc.  While the staff at Lincoln American University may shrug off this error as part of a possible typo error, the poor quality of staff and their lack of expertise is clearly evident. A former faculty mentions “The so-called Medical University does not even have proper Technical Standards published for admission of students to the Doctor of Medicine Program. With reference to their Hospitals, Davis Memorial Hospital is a Non-Teaching hospital which has hardly any Patient Ratio.”

 Moreover, due to this reason, with the current new rules and regulations, even the National Accreditation Council has not approved their re-registration application and grant registration to issue degrees.

 3.   Contradiction to its public statement!

Yet another matter of concern is this screenshot from their website: 

A student who has done his undergraduate medical education outside of India is required to take the FMGE exam conducted by MCI and clear the same in order for him/her to practice medicine in India.

It is highly misleading and malicious to allow students to think they can bypass the medical standards set by the various countries. Only upon clearing these exams can the student be allowed to practice as a Doctor.

 4.   Concerns about its concept of “Holistic Development”

Here is another Screenshot from their website that insights the recreational activity for the students:

Yet a closer look into Lincoln American university has shocking revelations, where they have rented a small portion (with 4 rooms) in the first floor of the retailing complex seen in the picture below. One can also see their rented van parked in the front of the road-side shared building space. 

5.   Calamities due to the choice of Notorious location

 It is easily agreeable that Guyana is a wonderful place that is home to many rivers and the only English-speaking country in the Caribbean. but the specific location of Lincoln American University is at the infamous “Tiger Bay” which has made headlines for several crimes and casualties. Here are some news links for reference:

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/news/guyana/09/01/victim-of-fatal-tiger-bay-stabbing-identified/

https://www.inewsguyana.com/life-in-the-ghetto-tiger-bay-residents-cry-out/

 7.   The condition of victimized students!

Here is a tragic condition of students who have been victimized by such defamed universities who could care less about the efforts and hard work put in by the parents and students who come to Caribbean with the dream of becoming a doctor from:

https://barbadostoday.bb/2017/08/04/bad-medicine/

https://www.consumercomplaints.in/washington-university-of-barbados-thousands-of-indian-medical-students-are-cheated-by-washington-university-of-barbados-c1780115

 Look at the Campus Tour of WUB, which is now taken over by Lincoln American University which still owes money to the former owner.  Our phone calls to Reliable sources have mentioned the former owner of WUB would be taking the matter legally and soon both the campuses located in Barbados and Guyana would be penalized and taken back by WUB through legal approach.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HknkTi9XUF0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n50fQ0ob2k

Few more pictures on the surroundings of the Lincoln American University shared below:

As the brother of the victim who was the former student of Lincoln American University We suggest the parents to do due diligence and become well aware of such universities that are out to scam eager and innocent students.

 While quality education in medicine comes with the desirable amount of cost involved, yet anyone and everyone claiming to provide affordable and reliable programs cannot be trusted with blind faith. It’s best we think twice before we choose an institution that can put our capital investment and career at stake.

[pottercrew]

Oooo ministry, auror, unspeakable always works!!

It does always work! I love this trope XD I went a bit different than I was orginally going to write or this just becuase I was in a fluffy but not fluffy mood. I hope you don’t mind. Thank you for the prompt!! xx

Sighing, Harry leant back in his chair and closed his eyes. He was getting far too old for this shit. His mind drifted to the Friday special apple and salted caramel muffins downstairs in the canteen that he would not be getting for lunch today, if this meeting was any indication.

The two arguing occupants in the room were oblivious to his mood, which Harry guessed complimented their junior auror status. Any of his more experienced aurors would know what his silence meant.

“Why exactly are you two in my office?” His voice cut across both of theirs and they fell silent, as if they forgot he was in the room with them. Bloody juniors, he remembered when seeing the new recruits made him happy, how he scoffed at his youthful enthusiasm now.

“Well sir” Johnson said, his volume much quieter than it was not seconds ago. “Captain Smith sent us here”

Harry felt his eyebrow twitch “I know that Johnson otherwise you wouldn’t be in my office, but as it seems this is the third time you both have been in here since you started. I honestly don’t give a fuck about how you think the other fucked up. I’m giving you different partners, Miles, move to auror Wells’ office, Johnson stay in your own, you’re getting partnered with Stevens”

The two looked at each other before looking back at Harry. “You’re splitting us up?” Miles asked dumbstruck.

“What else would you have me do? All the two of you have done since training is argue and blame the other for any mishaps that happen and even when nothing goes wrong the two of you are at each other’s throats. I won’t have this type of behaviour affecting the performance of this department”

“But” Johnson spluttered in indignation “Westwood and Ashington argue all the time and they haven’t been split”

“Westwood and Ashington are seasoned aurors who know how to put aside their feelings for each other in the field and act accordingly, you two are not and do not” Harry snapped. “Smith and I have agreed to separate you with the others, now auror Miles, go move into auror Wells’ office and Johnson go await Stevens in your own. Do not make me repeat myself” Harry added when neither made a move to leave. “You are dismissed”

“Yes sir, thank you sir” Both mumbled as they left his office.

Harry looked at the clock on his desk and scowled, it was half way through his lunch hour, which meant all of the muffins would have been taken. He pulled the stack of case files towards him, wincing at the amount, there was no point in going down now and anyway, Kempson would have his arse if he found his office empty and his desk covered in unapproved cases.

It was sometime later when the knock sounded at his door, the same sound as it always was, a gentle tap, pause, then another.

“Come in” Harry called, his mood lightening significantly but he didn’t move the scowl off his face, it wouldn’t do to have his guest know how that.

Unspeakable Malfoy had enough of an ego already, it wouldn’t do to add to that.

“My, doesn’t someone look grumpy today?” Malfoy said, slipping into the chair opposite Harry’s on the other side of his desk. His black robes looked far too tight for ministry regulation and Harry could do nothing but stare into those grey eyes.

“Tell me why you didn’t hex me back into my senses when I took this job Malfoy?” Harry asked, leaning back in his chair.

Malfoy’s lips grew into a smirk “Oh trust me Potter, I wanted to, but then I thought about the many different ways you could have me over the very large and safe desk you would be getting and it changed my mind”

Harry couldn’t stop the smile from forming. He knew Malfoy preferred him behind this ‘safe’ desk as he put it, rather than in the field. The pay hadn’t been anything to turn one’s nose up at either especially back then, Malfoy’s earnings as an unspeakable much more than Harry’s merge earnings as an auror.

“So, what has the head auror in his grump today?”

“Johnson and Miles made me miss the muffins” He pouted, knowing the other man couldn’t resist him when he did, as he always always mumbling something about cute aggression whenever he did it. True to form Malfoy stood from his seat and slid himself between Harry and his desk, standing between Harry’s knees.

“How cruel of them” He murmured, sliding his hands into Harry’s hair. Harry just hummed in response, closing his eyes as long warm fingers carded through his hair.

It was times like this that Harry was grateful that he and Malfoy worked in the same building. Yes that building happened to be rather huge and they worked on either sides, but it still meant they could drop in on each other most of the time. Not that they didn’t see each other at home of course, but with the hours they both worked it was lucky if they had dinner together one night in the week.  

“I’ve got an assignment up in Cardiff this weekend” Malfoy said, sitting on the edge of Harry’s desk and pulling Harry’s chair forwards. Harry slid his hands up Malfoy’s legs before putting his head in his lap, Malfoy still stroking his hair.

“All weekend?” Harry asked

“Yes, but it’s a simple one so I should be back before dinner Sunday”

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow morning”

Harry stood, sliding his hands up Malfoy’s thighs to grip his waist and Malfoy wrapped his arms around Harry’s shoulders. “How early?”

“Four” 

“Jesus” Harry brushed his lips up the side of Malfoy’s throat, taking in the smell of him. “That doesn’t leave us a lot of time tonight” 

“No it doesn’t, you know I need my sleep Potter” Anything under six hours and Malfoy turned into the human equivalent of a howler.

“I better make sure I finish all my work then” Harry pulled back enough to look at his lover. Malfoy was smiling in that small way which had Harry want to tackle him to the floor and wrap himself around him. 

“I suppose I better leave then” He said, pushing Harry away and sliding down onto his feet. He didn’t move. 

Harry pulled him forwards and pressed his lips to Malfoy’s relishing in the way Malfoy deepened it, sliding his tongue across Harry’s bottom the way he knew drove Harry mad. 

A beeping from Malfoy’s thigh had them pulling apart “I’ve got to go” Malfoy mumbled and Harry nodded before giving him a kiss on his nose. 

Harry sat back down as Malfoy headed to the door “Five tonight Potter, or I won’t be happy” Were his parting words and Harry smiled pulling himself back to his desk. 

There sat atop his large case file stack, was a salted caramel apple muffin. 

Harry really did love his boyfriend. 

[ladymazzy]

From the article:

'What makes Gove’s tale powerful is that it contains some truth. What makes it poisonous is that it purposely covers up the whole story. It talks about Notting Hill but ignores Grenfell. It bangs on about “the London media” but never asks why the media doesn’t then look more like ordinary Londoners – 40% of whom are black or brown or from an ethnic minority. (That might just liven up the comment pages of the Times.) On almost any measure, London does better than any other region in the UK, but much of this prosperity is enjoyed by a tiny minority. Factor in the sky-high cost of buying or renting in the capital, and as academic Jack Brown puts it in his recent book The London Problem, the truth is: “Londoners are working harder and longer for less and less reward, compared with the rest of the country.”

Almost as many Londoners live in poverty as would make up the entire population of the north-east. You could clear the city of Manchester of every one of its residents and stuff it with children from London stuck below the poverty line and still need more room.'

Over the past 18 months, I have been visiting a primary school down the road from where I grew up in Edmonton, in the outskirts of north London. It is an area that played a huge part in the light-industrial revolution that swept the UK and the world, but now all those factories have gone and so has the economy – in a manner that the residents of Ashington would recognise. Teachers talk about how many of their kids leave because their parents have no proper housing. One girl aged about 10 spent a year riding with her mum on the top deck of night buses, because they had nowhere else to sleep. And they talk of how their pupils never visit the museums and attractions just half an hour away on the train. A teacher told me, “central London might as well be another planet”. The phrase sounded familiar.

The data research firm CACI provided me with profiles of central Ashington and Edmonton Green. In many ways, they look alike. Household income is, if anything, higher in central Ashington, while private tenants in my old neighbourhood spend almost triple their counterparts in the north-east on rent. Overall, the Londoners, my Londoners, make do with half the disposable income of those in Ashington. The one big difference is that residents of Ashington are older and 98% white, whereas Edmonton has families from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Somalia and south Asia. Whether from the north or the south, economically these people are in the same boat – which makes it vital for the Tories to harp on about their cultural differences. Rich remainers, citizens of nowhere … you know the rest.'

[emberpendragon]

Vastree Seerear

What happens when you try to recreate the Assassins Creed in Dungeons and dragons?

A very fun character to play with the attitude of Ezio but the skills of Bayet. 

Setting: This is in a world ,y best guy friend created when we started to play Dungeons and Dragons together. It is called Caspana, it is a mix of our world and the world form Howl’s Moving Castle. Needless to say, steam punk and fantasy collides in this story.

There are many factions in Caspana, though some are known more then others. Hidden in plain sight and in the darkest of shadows is the faction of Assassins. A group of individuals who don’t bother to try to understand the rivalries between the other factions, or why they want to kill each other. To an outsiders eye, the Assassins only care about each other and money. But of course that is hardly true, they also care about reputation and innocence. They live by a creed, the creed is as follows: Stick to the shadows, hide in plain sight. Stay your blade from the blood of innocence. Nothing is true, everything is permitted.

The leader of this creed has a strong hand and protects his people like they were his own children. He is the best example for his people, and that is why the creed is so strong. His name is Phardax Seerear. He is a rather large Drow male, and is a lot bigger than the normal scrawny elves. He has hair as dark as a ravens feather. His skin is a dark gray, almost black hue. He has a scar on his nose from an unknown being. His skill as an assassin is unmatched in the region… well almost.

Belarna is a drow with hair as gold as the sun. Her beauty is unmatched, she has even gotten high elves to fall for her tricks. She is a classically trained assassin instead of Phardax’s “do it yourself training.” She has no scars and has never made such a mistake in order to get one. As the second to Phardax, she secretly calls herself the queen of assassins. Thus her daughter must be the princess.

Belarna and Phardax met during an assassination. The fact is that they were both hired to assassinate each other for assassinating the leaders of the factions that hired them. Sounds confusing but reread that sentence a few times and you will get it. At the time, there was no assassins creed, just rouges doing their own thing and basically killing each other. But when Phardax saw Belarna, he couldn’t bring himself to harm a woman with her level of beauty. So he introduced himself instead. She almost killed him, but for some reason, she felt something for this asshole. That night they realized that their brethren are being used to get rid of each other. So they created the creed and let anyone who was willing to take the oath, and serve under Phardax, join. Their bond is the glue of the creed.

Nine months after their wedding, Phardax was leaving to go on a mission. This would have been the first mission he took alone since he met his wife. But Belarna wouldn’t hear it, this mission was the most important of the creed. The assassination of King Vastree, the tyrant of Caspana. So she went with, fat with child.

Like usual the couple was able to sneak right passed all the guards, and climb up to the roof of the tower the kings bedroom resided in. Phardax stopped and started to listen for clue of what the king was doing. At the same time Belarina flipped onto her back and cringed in pain. She grabbed her husband's hand with the strength of a giant and he froze. He knew what was happening and  was not a midwife, but he is the king of improvising.

He scrambled over to his wife and put his hand tightly over her mouth, putting a piece of leather in her teeth. Two silent hours later, they had a baby girl. The only problem, she didn’t cry once. Belarina started to cry, mourning her new baby. Until of course Phardax pointed out the baby girls smile, and the fact her silver eyes were wide open. She knows when to be quiet. So Belarina created a baby sling and tied it to her back, before continuing the mission with Phardax. Their newborn never made a sound, only a coo when they finally assassinated the king. To be honest she didn’t make a sound until they were all safely home, because she couldn’t handle her hunger any longer. It was this night were she got her name, her first mission, The assassination of king Vastree.

As Vastree grew, she learned under her father how to be the best she could be, and she excelled. She learned the history of Caspana, and the great assassins of old. She learned her languages and even tried to learn a few more. She learned math and many other subjects as well. But her favorite class, was Assassinations 101. Where she honed in her natural born skills.

Due to her success in the assassination school, her peers stayed away from her. All being jealous of her bloodline and her learning ability. They didn’t want to deal with her. So her only friend was her father. Her mother went missing when she was twelve, her father still to this day hopes for the best. But no one knows where she went, or if she is okay.

At the age of twenty, her father decided it was time to stop babying her, she took Vastree on her first assassination mission. The person to be assassinated is a low land lord by the name of Ashington, who offended a higher lord. This would have been a mission for a lower level assassin, but it's good practice for Vastree, so Phardax took her. Everything went well, until the actual assassination.

Vastree jumped onto Ashington, to take her first kill, only to find a dummy. Before she could react guards scooped her up and escorted her from the room. Before her father could do anything she was taken out to the well lit courtyard. This is where the real Ashington sat, along with a group of bystanders that have gathered. Ashington smiled at the sight of Vastree, and motion to a table, where her arm was strung out over. And guards held her down.

“I, Lord Ashington, am tired of living in fear of these godless rats.” Ashington motions to Vastree, “They do whatever they want with no consequence, they were hired to kill me! It is time to teach the assassins a lesson for once. Now don’t worry, Iam a merciful lord. I will not kill this dark elf for how she was raised.” He looks over to Vastree. “I want you, snake, to know in your black heart that this axe blade was meant for your fathers head. He did this to you not me.” He spat at her and motioned to the executioner.

Everything happened so fast around her, but for Vastree, time slowed to a stop. She watched as her arm, with the signature hidden blade, was cut off just above the elbow. Meanwhile her father killed Lord Ashington and the executioner at the same time with a maneuver she has never seen before. The peasants scattered, and Phardax killed every guard in the compound before helping Vastree stop the bleeding. It was then Vastree blacked out.

When she awoke she was in a very fine bedroom, with an old sun elf at her right side and her father on her left. When Phardax saw Vastree wake up he, for the first time in his life, started to cry. He apologized deeply for what happened. Though all Vastree had to say was, “Can you teach my that double assassination maneuver?” Before she fell back asleep.

When Vastree awoke the second time, a boubly younger and female sun elf was standing above her. “Hi!” was all she said.

Vastree sat up slowly, using her right arm like usual. “Where am i?”

“Oh where are my manners, my name is Ivara Roshana, and you are in the Roshana manner in Sevastapol.” Ivara explained.

Vastree shook her head and touched her hands to her face, where all she could feel was cold metal. When she took her hands away she saw a silver arm inplace of her right arm. On it a crimson assassins creed symbol. Vastree stared at it in horror.

“My parents, Yornis and Lesvara worked all night to make it for you… it’s their best work yet. But I can understand wanting the flesh and bone back.” It was then Vastree saw that both of Ivara’s arms have been replaced with a similar design. “But! Your’s has a cool feature.” Ivara reached over and pulled Vastrees mechanical finger back as if she was to use a hidden blade, and one came right out of secret compartment on her arm. She was astonished, but it was still short lived.

“Where is my father?” She asked.

“... he left, he didn’t tell anyone where, only that you are supposed to stay here until you recover.” Ivara said in a small voice.

That didn’t sit well with Vastree, she got right out a bed and held back her pain. Pushing right passed Ivara she walked, in her state all the way to the nearest Assassin outpost, 10 miles away. She only relaxed when someone told her that Phardax went to the outpost in Glint for an emergency, and that he would be back for her when she recovers.

Vastrees Spend two years in Sevastopol with Ivara, and has slowly grown to love her like a sister. Ivara has been teaching Vastrees how to use the mechanical arm, and even taught her some sword fighting techniques. Vastrees even agreed to learn how to sit and eat like a lady. She was almost sad when her father returned for her. But she left with him in order to finish her Assassins training

To be honest, Vastree’s almost forgot about Ivara. Until many years later, when Vastree’s was on her own mission. Vastrees sat on the top of the townhall of a small village and she caught sight of Ivara with the help of the eagle familiar.  Vastrees felt a new emotion she hasn't felt in a long time. She missed Ivara, a lot. From then on Vastree and Ivara traveled together. Ivara trying to learn new sword skills, and Vastree completing assassination contracts for her father.

Vastrees has never felt happier with her new life with her best friend. But as Vastrees grows older, she feels the need for a new type of companionship, the one of a lover. She envies married woman, and mother's all the time. Her weakness is children due to this. One day she hoped to have one of her own, for her to train to live the best life, like her father did for her.

Appearance: Vastree has raven black hair like her father. Her face is as beautiful as her mothers, and her mothers was legendary. Vastree is 5’8 and about 150lbs. Her skin is a lighter gray like her mothers. She has no scares but a white tattoo of the creed symbol on her back, that lines her spine. Her Right arm is a mechanical arm made of silver on it is the crimson decorations of the creed.

[wynne-keyler]

The Spy in Black/U-boat 29 (1939)

In this film, Sebastian Shaw plays a recently disgraced drunken sailor by the name of Lieutenant Ashington. Supposedly, he is blaming his superiors for haven given him a faulty order rather than admitting that it had been his own drunken mistake.

After having been shown the right price, he chooses to collaborate with two German spies in a plot to sink some of his own country's submarines in revenge (and perhaps to please his new paramour the female spy).

Or does he really?

Watch it in full here on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/Bvcah6sbAkY

Appearances of Shaw’s character:

Scene 1

32:20-32:25 (Not very useful footage. Brief view of him as he approaches the spies house.)

33:21-36:01

Many good moments.

Various expressions and several close-ups. He's fully I troduced as he sits quite at home while holding the female spy's hands.

He snarls at the male spy's formal behaviour.

He smokes a cigarette while discussing the routes of some ships.

"Alright, alright we both won."-33:59

Scene 2

40:05-40:32

Many great expressions here too.

Continued at 41:21-44:00

He seems so eager at the beginning of this scene as he delivers some good news.

Here he appears quite agitated and shouts a bit.

At 41:38 he sounds rather commanding to me. His comment elicits a rather tense silence too.

Suddenly the fiance of the woman the female spy is impersonating arrives. Shaw's character rushes to the door but doesn't manage to lock it before the man bursts in holding a gramophone. Shaw looks quite bemused and worried by the bumbling man at their doorstep. He locks the door behind him and there's a close-up of his hands at 42:17 if anyone cares to know.

42:53 has the best moment.

The fiancé attempts to get up and says he ought to shout for his fiancé that he's arrived. Shaw rises along with him and stands quite closely and says quite ominously "I have a strong aversion against shouting and in fact all of us have."

Close-up 43:23 of his tense face.

The fiancé is then taken hostage by the spies.

44:38-48:44 (Not very useful footage. Outdoor scenes with some light dialogue.) 

48:30 has him drinking and then having a small funny interaction with the male German spy. They then head back to the house.

Scene 3

48:58-50:02

He's quite handsome in this scene. He wears his coat, a white cravat style scarf and a dark officer's hat.

At 49:30 he looks the male spy up and down quite overtly, complaining that he should be allowed to be around the female spy as he pleases.

He is then quite literally shoved out the door by the male spy. He laughs and sarcastically says "Quite a persuasive fellow, aren't you?"

Scene 4

53:50-58:43

After having been accosted by the male spy, the female spy locks his bedroom door as she does every night and runs outside. Little does she know the male spy has tricked her and follows her outside.

She shouts for Shaw's character and he reunites with her.

There's a lovely close-up at 53:59.

"Worst 10 minutes of my life. It's all over now."

He calls her a "Little fool" for running outside without a coat. He proceeds to give her his and he smiles and says "You're a marvel." as she tells him about how she's managed to lock the male spy up.

They head back inside where he comforts and hugs her. Before they leave after revealing some important plot twists which the male spy overhears, him of course only having tricked the female spy into thinking he got locked up.

(The most important fact is that she is apparently not a German spy, but a British one that was only posing as one. Likewise, Shaw's character is not an actual traitor, but there with his men leading the German spy on only to be able to arrest him.)

Aboard the ship that will take her back to safety on the mainland they share a kiss inside her cabin.

Close-up of on mouth kiss at 56:58.

They realise they forgot about the poor bumbling fiance they took hostage. Shaw's character who has already resolved that he be the one to make the arrest of the male German spy, laughs about it, smiles, and says “To the rescue!" And leaves to free him.

Parting cheek kiss at 57:20

He enters the house with a pistol and his men positioned outside. They soon realise something's amiss and Shaw kicks in the male spy's bedroom door 58:33, and discovers he's escaped.

Close up at 58:35

As he runs to inform his superiors that the male spy has escaped, he shouts an empathetic "Untie the poor devil!".

Scene 5

1:00:17-1:00:37

Shaw runs into the headquarters and informs them if the spy's escape and goes on to rattle of directions on what measures to take to make sure he doesn't get off the island.

Close-up 1:00:34

Scene 6

1:05:36-1:06:10

Here I think Shaw looks a lot like he's posing for a men's fashion magazine.

"That'll do, Bob." And pats the man on the chest.

Shaw, revealed to actually be Commander Blacklock, then walks towards the camera and leans on a doorframe as he gives the telegrapher directions. Lieutenant Ashington only being a convenient cover identity.

The scene continues at 1:08:20-1:09:23

They all realise the ship the female not-spy is on must have been commandeered as it is not on course, presumably by the German prisoners if war that were transported aboard. It is in fact the male spy that has aided them in doing so.

Shaw looks quite distressed at all of this and exclaims “My wife is on that ship!”

Not very useful footage:

1:10:31-1:10:41 (brief dialogue)

1:11:21-1:11:26 (brief dialogue. Same framing)

1:13:38-1:13:46 (brief dialogue. Same framing)

Ship scenes mixed with a lot of stock footage of ships. A lot of brief scenes will follow in quick succession as the film draws to a close.

1:14:44-1:15:18 (Brief dialogue. Change of framing.) 

This brief scene is a bit closer to his face. A wave hits them, making him flinch a bit.

He yells and points “There she is!” And looks quite relieved they’ve caught up to the commandeered ship.

Then as their ships ready to fire at it, to take down along with the German prisoners of war that has overtaken it, he yells for them not to fire. He also points out it’s already sinking.

His acting is quite over-dramatic here.

1:17:39-1:18:01

Shaw’s character spots his wife (the not-spy) through his binoculars, she having escaped along with the other civilians aboard the commandeered ship.

He has the silliest tight lipped smile as he waves to her at 1:17:59.

She smiles back. Kind of.

The end!

(Yes, it does end this abruptly.)

In conclusion, this is a competent spy film but not much else. It does have it’s tense moments but never really dares get too intense. 

I do however think it’s worth a watch, if only to watch Sebastian Shaw’s adorable mannerisms.

Why not give it a try since it’s free in full on YouTube right now. ;)

Tagging Shaw’s No. 1 fan @laivaaja

[200story]

Road

The road rolled away beneath their tires, as it had for the last three days.

"AWESOME BURGERS, EXIT NOW!" one billboard proclaimed.

"Cash for Gold," offered another.

"Are we there yet?" Todd asked sarcastically, not looking up from his phone.

Aaron had stopped laughing at the joke days ago, but now that they were actually close, the question made him smile.

"Eastbound Traffic Keep Right," a large green sign alerted them.

A Flying J truck stop day just off the highway.

Thirty miles to go, Aaron thought. We won't need to stop again.

And the signs whizzed past . . .

"Kansas City—175"

"Speed Limit 65"

"Edgar Nelson Parkway"

They took exit 39 and turned left in front of the Liquor and Stuff.

Todd finally looked up from his phone. "Everything's still here," he said. "It's all the same.

"A little different," Aaron said, pointing to Riverside Cafe, which now stood where there used to be a dive bar they had frequented in college.

They took Washington across the train tracks where the yellow RR X-ing sign was still dented after all those years.

Aaron was checking the license plate of the Toyota ahead for a Z and never saw the stoplight.

[hucc]

Hackney Umpires v Brixton Barbarians

The Gentrification Cup Final

Sunday 23rd June 2019, Millfields

Sorry to be a bit unimaginative but I thought I’d start this match report by talking about cricket.  Specifically Steve Harmison, the Ashington Express, and the 2005 Ashes, the defining cricket experience for anyone born too late for ’81 but before 1990.  And, almost inconceivably now, the 2005 Ashes was live on actual normal telly (note for people born after 1990 ‘normal telly’ means the 4 ‘terrestrial’ free-to-air channels and, grudgingly, channel 5).

Yeah, so Steve Harmison and 2005.  After a decade and more of utter domination by the Aussies the series begun unsurprisingly with them beating us at Lords, despite some signs of resistance. But instead of folding meekly in the second test at Edgbaston, England were fighting hard.  As the day 3 reached its close things were in the balance: Michael ‘Pup’ Clarke, the youthful blond-haired batting machine, was on 30, Warney at the other end on 20. Australia are 106 runs away from victory with three wickets remaining. It was exciting.  It was tense.  But we knew the Australians didn’t give a Castlemaine XXXX for the warm foam of our cricketing hopes.  So while we hoped, it was more the hope that we could keep on hoping for as long as possible until the inevitable calamity of defeat arrived.

I like Steve Harmison.  He didn’t sound much like a sportsman, he didn’t seem to have the single-minded flinty-eyed certainty that every Australian in the 2000s possessed. He seemed like a nice fella, but with the great skill of being 6’4” and letting go of the ball at 90mph.  The faster and the bouncier the better. And so, late on that 3rd day in Birmingham, with the light of my 2005 reminiscences turning a lush golden hue, the big man comes loping in from the boundary. He gets to the wicket.  He bowls.  It’s a useless full toss. Clarke readies to punch it away.  He flinches.  The stumps are broken. It wasn’t a useless full toss…it was a brilliant slower ball that totally fooled Michael Clarke. Pup is in the doghouse and we jump to our feet in celebration as the wicket brings the day’s play to a triumphant end, and sets up a nail biting finish that we win by just 2 runs on the way to a joyous series victory.  I don’t think I ever saw Steve Harmison bowl a slower ball before or after that. It appeared to be a perfect one-off.  The ultimate surprise, executed perfectly.

Why am I telling you about this?  Good question.  As ever with cricket there’s a fiddly bit involving a sequence of numbers to get us to where we need to be but there is a connection.  So we move forward 14 years to 2019 to find the Brixton Barbarians chasing down a lowly 138 for victory against the Hackney Umpires. 

Gary ‘Yesno’ Aubin,  after a year out probably due to disciplinary matters, is in the midst of an excellent spell of bowling, troubling the batsman with accuracy and surprising one-liners. But despite this and Kieran’s superb 7 overs 1 wicket for 19 runs Brixton are close, needing just 23 runs from 8 overs and they have 6 wickets left.

Dijon Malla the Brixton no5 has been the chief thorn in our side, compiling 40 runs, the highest score on either side on a pitch that was difficult to bat on. 

Gary comes loping in from the boundary.  He gets to the wicket.  He bowls to Malla.  The batsman’s eyes light up he swings.  He might have even had a chance to swing again such was the sheer lack of pace.  Slower ball! Deadly straight.  The ball hits the stumps and it is out. 

A slower ball, particularly a disguised slower ball, is not an easy thing.  I know because that’s my secret weapon delivery.  Just been hit for 6? No problem, run in harder and let it go with maximum arm swirling but as little effort as possible.  Doing that bit is fairly simple, it’s doing that and getting it on the right trajectory that’s the difference between the rankest filth and pure genius.  Gary Aubin take a bow, this was genius. In the blink of an eye 115 for 4 is suddenly 119 for 7 as left arm spin then accounts for 2 in two balls. And then, the same over, another stonewall LBW (happy 50th anniversary) right in front of the stumps, back pad, not playing a shot. So out that the appeal, although spontaneous and hearty, felt something like of a formality…oh, OK then... not out.  I mean it looked out to me is all I’ll say ,but on the other hand I have stood as umpire quite a few times and I can count the number of LBW decisions I’ve given on that self-same finger that gave the decision. 

If you live by the inscrutable shake of the head then sometimes the boot is on the other foot.  Mixed metaphors aside the point here is that Gary’s slower ball has unlocked the door, the collapse is on, 19 runs from 4 overs and just three wickets and that boot that was on the other foot is bearing down on that inscrutably shaking head like a metaphor out of control.

Earlier that day the Hackney Umpires, representing north London, were put in to bat on a warm and cloudy June day against the Brixton Barbarians, an unknown quantity from south of the Thames, in the so-called final of the Gentrification Cup, which I think was something someone said by mistake at our previous match and then we seemed to end up playing it.

First impressions count and my first impression of our team was: there’s only 9 of us.  My first impression of the opposition: why have they all got matching club kit, with squad numbers and their names on? Including a dedicated scorer!  Also with kit, number and name. 

The classic sign of gentrification did not take long to arrive: our skip in the skip, bowled by Denton for a disappointing 18 by one that he had no chance to defend.  Dave F was next. He struggled to time it on the pitch and the bowlers didn’t give him much.  Bowled Denton.  Matt Veal the Bournemouth Bulldozer in, then out, bowled Denton.  Ol changed things up, being bowled by Shaw, for a duck, bowled via glove and then box. Painful.  And so the architrave of our top order was ripped out and consigned to the dustbin of history thus revealing, somewhat prematurely, the startling original features of our middle order.

Dave Fawbert is often ahead of the curve.  A former A&R man he can spot the next trend quicker than even the most zietgeisty millennial.  So when Nostrafawbus turns to me and, with us being about 60-4 all clean bowled, and says: ‘well at least we haven’t had a run out’ it did set a bit of an alarm bell ringing.  That ringing swiftly transformed into the bell of Notre-Dame as the spark of Dave’s speculation took hold in the vaulted ceiling of our innings and Kieran hunched back towards us having been dismissed short of his ground amongst the burning ashes of a sorry collapse.

If Anthony and Dave F are the load-bearing wall of our batting.  The David Dawkins and Manny Hawks would be the party wall. Dawks and Hawks set off on a rebuilding mission, and though Manny played around a straight one, David top scored as the wickets continued to fall reaching 28 before he unerringly picked out the fielder at mid on. 

With 8 down and having run out of players the opposition took pity on us and offered to allow a batsman back in.  Ol’s pride, and other places, were sufficiently restored for him to retake the field.  He avoided a second duck and ended not out with a 20 run last wicket partnership.  In some ways it felt wrong to accept the invitation for a batsman who had been out to go again.  Wrong but helpful.  It could only be hoped that the cricketing gods, those cruel arbiters of fate, had already been satisfied with the run out and would not also single out Ol for some painful retribution at a time of their choosing. 

So 137 all out.  Bit crap but what can you do. Go out and bowl them out was the answer. And bang Ol was on it straight away taking out their opening.  Bang again at the start of his third over.  Only this time it was the sound of his hamstring.  And we were hamstrung without Ol’s hamstring, leaving us deprived of the club’s all-time leading wicket taker and effectively reduced to 6 fielders. Dave F made up for goading the cricket gods by single-handedly covering the entire leg side for long periods. Matt Veal troubled the batsmen but could not break through. Despite wickets by David, Manny and Kieran the Brixton middle order held firm. 

It is partnerships that hold the key in cricket and Brixton’s 4th and 5th wickets added 84 runs between them.  The Barbarians were now at the gates. 

But then as we know, the slower ball, the double wicket maiden, just 4 overs remain, 19 runs still needed the opposition scrabbling around for equipment, panic on. Could this be a famous victory for north London?

Another Harmison anecdote occurs to me now. As brilliant as that slower ball was, in some ways Harmy is much better known for another ball he bowled.  This one at the very start of the 2006 Ashes, the first ball six months on from that triumphant home series. The big man loped in at the Gabba, an expectant hush around the ground, that turned instantly to derision as he bowled what was officially dubbed the worst ball in history fielded by Freddie ‘Pedalo’ Flintoff at second slip setting the tone for a series that started badly and fell away from there.

But wait I need to finish this match report, enough of the Steve Harmison anecdotes. Where had I got to?  Oh yes, 19 runs with 4 overs to get them in.  Gary Aubin lopes in, an expectant hush…OK maybe you’ve guessed what’s coming.  If Ol had been able to bend over at slip then maybe he would have stopped it. I’m not sure it was the worst ball in HUCC history, but it certainly wasn’t the best. The ball scoots through slips and on to third man.  But with just 6 fielders there is no third man.  Matt Veal sprinting from mid on makes a valiant attempt to stop the thing but it trickles gently over the boundary for five wides.  15 runs in total from the over and well it wasn’t to be.  It would be harsh to blame the loss on that over.  Don’t get me wrong I’d like to try but it wouldn’t be right. Brixton played well, they simply bowled and batted better than us, took a couple of excellent catches had the top scoring batsman and the bowler with the best figures.  So let’s just remember the slower ball as the defining one yeah, just don’t get carried away Gary because I can re-edit this to focus more on the 5 wides.   

HUCC 137-9 29 overs (Extras 30, D Dawkins 28, K Kumaria 26)

BBCC 138-7 34.1 overs (M O’Brien 2/18)

Brixton Barbarians win by 3 wickets.  HUCC man of the match Gary ‘Harmy’ Aubin

Up the Umpires!

[marketinghero]

Hovis is bringing its iconic 1973 advert ‘The Bike Ride’ back to TV screens as the British breadmaker looks to stir up brand love among a new generation. The original collaboration between Hovis, creative agency Collett Dickenson Pearce (CDP) and director Sir Ridley Scott depicts an old man recalling his days as a baker’s boy struggling to push his bike up a cobbled hill. By mining the brand’s rich heritage CDP came up with the classic tagline: ‘Hovis: As good for you today as it has always been’. Now, 40 years since the ad first aired, ‘The Bike Ride’ (otherwise known as The Boy on the Bike) is returning to TV screens tonight (3 June). It uses footage remastered by the British Film Institute and a re-recording of the soundtrack – Antonín Dvorak’s New World Symphony – performed by descendants of the original Ashington Colliery brass band from 1973. Despite being four decades old, affection remains strong for ‘The Bike Ride’. Last year, it was crowned the nation’s favourite advert from the 1970s in an exclusive Marketing Week and YouGov Omnibus poll. Then, in May, the advert was named the most iconic of the past 60 years, according to research released by Kantar. Some 22% of the 1,200 UK consumers questioned said The Bike Ride was the most seminal ad of the past six decades, while a further 15% described it as the most emotional. “It puts into question, what’s been going on in the advertising industry for the last 40- plus years,” jokes current Hovis marketing director, Jeremy Gibson. Gibson believes a mix of nostalgia, a great creative concept and dedication to the craft have driven enduring affection for The Bike Ride over the past 40 years. Compared to the way ads are shot today, with multiple scenes and often aggressive price messaging, Gibson believes the advert stands out as something different. “Watching the original 45 seconds of that ad it’s almost a moment of pause and that’s why it has cut through as advertising has evolved and changed… because it becomes almost timeless and it’s a heart-warming thing to watch,” Gibson tells Marketing Week. “It celebrates a time in the advertising world when emotion and feel were much more important than ‘our phone is faster’ or ‘our product is cheaper’.” While the research highlighted an enduring love for the ad, Gibson explains it also felt like the right time to bring back The Bike Ride as it conveys a sense of there having been a healthier time as today’s society feels increasingly divided. READ MORE: How Hovis’s 1973 ad ‘The Bike Ride’ kickstarted its route to household name Going back in time Gibson is keen to show that Hovis is not just as a company with a nice ad but a brand with real depth and genuine history. To help tell this story, the re-release of The Bike Ride will be supported on social media with additional footage, including interviews with Hovis’s marketing director in the 1970s, Alan Hepburn, and director Sir Ridley Scott. Hepburn’s brief back in 1973 was to create an ad that would allow Hovis to tug at the audience’s heartstrings, rather than simply being obsessed by taking sales volumes from X to Y. “I asked Alan about how they wrote the brief back then compared to how we write it now and it was less around taking numbers, it was more about ‘we just want more consumers to love Hovis’. That’s a really simple brief but really hard to execute,” Gibson explains. “They absolutely hit the nail on the head with not just a great execution, but also a hell of a director who, from talking to Alan, took control on the day and told the client to just sit over there, which was fascinating to hear.” The filming of ‘The Bike Ride’ in 1973.Scott recalled the very end of the third day on location at Gold Hill in Shaftesbury, Dorset, when the clouds were coming in and all the equipment went back in the van. Then suddenly the sun came out and he told everyone to unpack for a re-shoot. Hepburn remembers that moment vividly as he was about to set off home in his car and suddenly there was a “palaver” as the team reset the entire shoot in order to capture the sunlight. Gibson marvels at the “level of love, care, passion” displayed by the brand, agency and director, which he believes comes through in the quality of the advert. This is the first time Hovis has revisited its Bike Ride roots since the 2008 campaign ‘Go on Lad’. The two-minute film follows a young boy running with a loaf of Hovis through history, from the sinking of the Titanic and World War I, to VE Day street parties, miners strikes and the Millennium celebrations. The advert ends with the classic line ‘As good today as it has always been’. Since then, Hovis has cut its range of pancakes, crumpets and muffins to focus on the quality of its core bread products. There is still growth to be had in the UK bread market, which in 2018 rose in value by 0.7% year on year to £3.5bn, according to Mintel figures. Pre-packaged bread represented 70% of the total volume sold. In September Hovis launched a new seeded batch, tapping into what Mintel describes as the trend for “bread with bits”, a category that contributed more than £30m to the sales of bread in 2017-2018. To support this clear focus on the core product, last year Hovis released ‘It’s Just Bread’, a campaign focused on bread as an everyday product. While the campaign did raise brand awareness, Gibson feels that, on reflection, the message was not as “pinpointed” as they would have liked. “We’re moving now into celebrating our product and our category, as opposed to making it a bit more every day. That’s what we’ll continue to do and using this Boy on the Bike relaunch as a bit of a springboard to do that,” he adds. Why an iconic ad can be a double-edged sword The advert itself, combined with the subsequent place it created for Hovis in the fabric of British culture, was the main reason Gibson wanted to join the bakery business as marketing director in December 2018. Excited about taking a brand with 130 years of heritage through its next stage, Gibson came on board at Hovis following two years as group head of marketing for Innocent Drinks. Prior to that he worked for three years as marketing director at PepsiCo, leading the juice and cereals teams, following five years at Molson Coors, which included a stint as global brand director. Having worked outside the Hovis business, he appreciates that an advert like The Bike Ride is a powerful asset for any brand and something other marketers would “break their arm for”. Speaking to Marketing Week last year, Alan Hepburn credited the The Bike Ride with kickstarting the baker’s transition into a household name. READ MORE: Sir Ridley Scott on why the 1970s was the ‘golden age’ of advertising Gibson accepts that working for a brand which such an iconic advert in its cannon can be a bit of a “double-edged sword”. “If you didn’t have it you’d wish you did and if you do have it you go, ‘how do you beat that?’. I’m sure the Cadbury ‘Gorilla’ team thought the same thing and the guys who came in after Guinness did their ‘Surfers’ ad thought, ‘right what do we do next?’. It’s really tricky one,” Gibson reflects. “My perspective is it’s about being true to the positioning of the brand and almost dissecting what The Boy on the Bike did and thinking, how do you take those elements and bring them to life?” Looking at the competitive set in a “dynamic” bread category characterised by own brands and big names vying for shelf space, Gibson hopes the re-release of The Bike Ride will appeal to loyal fans, as well as winning over new customers attracted to the brand’s identity as an authentic British baker. The post Hovis brings its iconic ‘The Bike Ride’ ad back to TV appeared first on Marketing Week.

[b2bwebsiteprofits]

Business Breakfast RECAP: Lloyds Banking Group marks landmark year as profits Jump 24 Percent

BrewDog to Start ‘world’s first’ craft beer hotel

BrewDog has announced plans to start the “world’s first” craft beer resort in Scotland next year.

The job of the brewery comes as part of an expansion.

New land has headed the first to be started in Scotland, although plans had been put ahead to start the DogHouse at America.

BrewDog co-founder James Watt stated:

The DogHouse is the present to enthusiastic craft beer fans making the pilgrimage.

The idea of launching a beer resort has always been high on our schedule, and now we’re finally able to realise fantasy, right here at our HQ. “This will be the best destination for craft beer fans seeking hops with their own holidays. This is a beer Nirvana.

The DogHouse is anticipated to get its first guests with mid-2019, with beer taps in every one of the 26 rooms, an integrated bath beer fridge and rooms overlooking the HQ.

BrewDog is opening the world’s first craft beer resort. (Image: BrewDog)

First ‘look inside’ Newcastle skyscraper Hadrian’s Tower – before it is even built

The High Street Group is presently developing the landmark 26-storey skyscraper at Rutherford Street, which is set to become one of the city’s most exclusive addresses for all residents in 165 luxurious apartments.

Tons of pictures of the way the towering structure will probably appear from the exterior have been released but, until now, we’ve had to wait patiently to find out the way the one and two-bedroom rental properties and tropical areas will appear inside.

Today, before the #40m job being showcased at premier property occasion Mipim in Cannes next month, investors from all over the world are being invited to purchase the firm, through Surrenden Invest.

The London-based company has introduced a raft of pictures as part of marketing materials issued to prospective investors, who are pledged a confident net yield of 7 percent through taking up opportunities with the undertaking.

Newly launched 26-storey luxury development Hadrian’s Tower is a game-changer for urban living at Newcastle

Lloyds Banking Group – additional branch closures not ruled out

Speaking at a briefing on the new strategy plan, Lloyds bosses did not rule out additional branch closures, but stated they would seem to maintain the largest share of bank branches in the united kingdom, now standing at 21%.

Chief executive Antonio Horta-OsorioHorta-Osorio stated: “I’ve always been a strong believer in branches. We’ll continue to possess the largest branch network in the country.”

People walk past a division of Lloyds Bank (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Gains reach #1.98bn at Barratt Developments

North East-founded housebuilder Barratt Developments has recently posted a solid set of results for the six months ended December 31 2017, with earnings rising 9.5% to #1.988bn.

The firm said its strong operational and financial performance has been driven by great customer demand, resulting in good increase in earnings before tax, up 6.8% to #342.7m.

Net private reservations are up 6.5% at a really strong 0.82 (2017: 0.77) per active outlet per average week along with the total forward earnings are up 2% to #3.077bn as of February 18.

David Thomas stated:

With great customer need, a healthy forward order book and a robust balance sheet, general we have had a solid first half and we also continue to deliver against our economic and operational objectives.

We enter our 60th year creating jobs, raising our housing output and encouraging economic development.

Having built more than 450,000 homes because 1958, Barratt stays focused on quality, layout and industry-leading customer support when delivering homes the country needs.

Barratt North East, Bedewell Court, Hebburn (Image: NJL)

FTSE 100 and budding newest

The FTSE-100 indicator started at 7246.77.

The pound at 8am was $1.3981 compared to $1.4022 at the previous close. The euro at 8am was 0.8812 lbs compared to 0.8816 pounds at the previous close.

A data screen showing the FTSE 100 at the London Stock Exchange (Image: PA)

Metro Bank articles first full year gain

Metro Bank has recently reported its first annual statutory pre-tax gain at #18.7 million for the year to December 31. That’s compared with a loss of #17.1 million a year before.

Metro Bank chief executive Craig Donaldson stated 2017 was a “fantastic year” for your creditor.

We’ve reported our first full year of globalization, had continued outstanding growth in the deposits (47 percent) and lending (64 percent), and also have the privilege now of looking after over one million customer accounts.

The back of the economy, for SMEs, Metro Bank will be the real competition into the incumbents that are large. In our existing heartland of London and the South East, we’re winning 17 percent of SME business current account switchers.

These companies are attracted to our convenient shops which are open seven days a week, together with our online and award winning mobile banking solutions and our 24/7 contact centres, which are supported by our amazing community business managers in each area we serve.

As we get into new markets across the country, we’ll continue to create more jobs and attract real competition and choice for personal and business banking clients.

Metro Bank

Ashington firm FES generates new projects after buying new production center

North East offshore specialist Flexible Engineered Solutions (FES) is creating 20 new projects after opening a brand new production center.

Ashington-based FES has delivered a substantial increase to its 50-strong workforce after investing in a brand new 25,000sqft manufacturing center in Cramlington, and it may become a training base to entice new skilled engineers into the sector.

The firm supplies fluid transport systems to petroleum and gas customers around the world and, until now, has out-sourced some of its own processes to other companies.

The opening of the plant in Cramlington means the business will be able to take out some of those processes in-house, such as fabrication and production.

But with its whole supply chain within a 25-mile radius of Ashington, some processes will continue to be out-sourced after the Cramlington centre is fully operational.

The huge site also provides the firm with the additional elevation required to create new products for oil and gas fields in increasingly challenging environments.

It will also function as a base for apprenticeship approaches and other training programmes, directed at nurturing abilities which are being dropped to the sector as members of its ageing workforce retire.

FES managing director Rob Anderson (Image: handout from www.crestphotography.co.uk)

Gender pay gap – Phase Eight remark on latest figures

On its website, style merchant Phase Eight says:

Whilst initial glance, our printed gender pay gap figures indicate the ordinary person has a greater hourly rate of pay than the typical female, this can be misleading and does not reflect the real story and culture within the Phase Eight business.

The figures result in the simple fact that, as a women’s fashion retailer, the staff in our shops are overwhelmingly feminine, although our company head office staff (whose pay rates are typically higher) are more evenly divided between men and women. Where this imbalance is not taken under consideration this will result in disparity across our results.

The CBI director general Carolyn Fairburn has been on Radio 4 this morning:

Gender pay gap: most firms pay men more than women, statistics show

Around 84% of companies which have demonstrated their gender pay gap statistics are paying man staff members more than women normally, the latest government data shows.

Over 1,000 businesses with 250 or more workers have published the cover amounts, which show that the gap at the average hourly bonuses and pay for male and female employees.

Based on average hourly earnings, the figures in the Equalities Office show 908 companies are paying men more than women, compared with 143 (13 percent) which are paying female employees more than their male counterparts, together with 30 (3%) saying there isn’t any gap in cover between the sexes.

Back in January, it has been demonstrated the mean hourly rate for girls was 52% lower than for men in the easyJet, although the figure stood at 33 percent lower at Virgin Money. At the time both companies said men and women in the roles were paid the same, and set the gender pay gap to getting more men.

Among those with the largest gender pay gap is clothes chain Phase Eight, where the hourly rate for girls is 64.8% lower than for men, and tourism company TUI on 56.9%.

At the other end of the scale, where girls are compensated more than male coworkers, producer Sweet Dreams leads the pack with the women’s hourly rate 46.4% greater than men, based on the average hourly rate.

Three Rivers District Council had an average hourly pay of 11% more for girls than men. The Government has made it compulsory to report yearly on their gender pay gap, along with the rest 8,000 are expected to release the initial set of information. The gender pay gap is different to “equal pay”, which deals with the pay gaps between men and women who carry the very same jobs.

The latest gender pay gap figures are all out – and many companies pay women less than men (Image: Philip Toscano/PA Wire)

AA issues profit warning

Auto insurance policy firm AA and breakdown recovery has warned that earnings will be lower than expected as it warms up business investments in the wake of a review.

AA is anticipating underlying earnings for the complete year to come in between #335m and #345m, down from previous forecasts for #390m.

AA chief executive Simon Breakwell explained the tactical plan will “unlock the full potential of the AA”. “It will choose the AA from a firm helping when you divide down to a really predicting when you could break down at the first location. “This plan will deliver frontline resource to enhance the efficiency, predictability and durability of the operations in addition to investment in game-changing expansion drivers – from Connected Car and Insurance. “These investments, while reducing our short-term adulthood, are vital to our long-term success. “I am certain the priorities we set out today will change our goods and service offerings to our clients by creating a truly revolutionary and differentiated product proposition which will deliver long-term shareholder value.”

The AA has issued a profit warning

Lloyds Banking Group hails ‘landmark year’

Lloyds Banking Group has hailed a “landmark year” as it posted a 24% surge in earnings and introduced plans to invest more than #3bn as part of a brand new three-year strategy.

The team reported bottom-line pre-tax gains of #5.3bn for 2017, up from #4.2bn at 2016.

On an underlying basis, profits rose 8 percent to #8.5bn. The gain increase comes despite a mammoth #1.7bn hit against the payment protection insurance (PPI) mis-selling scandal this past year, after Lloyds showed an additional #600m put by for compensation in the fourth quarter.

Boss Antonio Horta-Osorio also unveiled a fresh plan which will observe more than # 3bn is invested by the bank and concentrate on fostering its electronic capabilities.

This includes its “largest ever investment in individuals” because it seems to improve staff development and training by 50 percent to 4.4 million hours every year to embrace new technology.

The update follows the bank’s return to private possession summer, nearly nine years after being bailed out at the height of the crisis.

2017 continues to be a year in which the team has made significant advancement that is tactical and returned to complete ownership.

We have delivered a year of solid financial performance with enhanced profit and yields on both a statutory and underlying foundation and have now assembled the biggest and top rated electronic bank in the united kingdom.

Pay details released alongside the results also revealed that Mr Horta-Osorio saw his base wages increase to #1.2m #1.1m, along with additional gains to his long-term incentive plan and advantages.

It brings his total remuneration package to #6.42m, up from #5.79m.

Lloyds Banking Group chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio

from b2b website profits http://b2bwebsiteprofits.com/business-breakfast-recap-lloyds-banking-group-marks-landmark-year-as-profits-jump-24-percent/

[bestnewsmag-blog]

New Post has been published on Bestnewsmag

New Post has been published on https://bestnewsmag.com/jerusalem-post-israel-news-politics-and-diplomacy-trumps-tolerance-tour-first-trip-to-riyadh-jerusalem-and-rome/

Jerusalem Post Israel News Politics And Diplomacy TRUMP’S TOLERANCE TOUR: FIRST TRIP TO RIYADH, JERUSALEM AND ROME

ASHINGTON – In an attraction for spiritual tolerance and solidarity towards the scourge of News radicalization, US President Donald Trump has selected to journey to Riyadh, Jerusalem and Rome on his first presidential journey overseas, senior administration officers confirmed on Thursday Post.

The trip, starting on May additionally 19, will mark the start of an initiative by way of the Trump management to forge a coalition against nonsecular extremism. “Those aren’t going to be the conventional country visits such as you’ve visible – These are genuinely operating visits,” one legit stated. Be the first to recognize – Be a part of our Fb page.

Netanyahu: I stay up for talks with Trump to advance peace Analysis: In Washington, Abbas gets a boost – for now Trump will convene Arab global leaders from throughout the place along Saudi royal circle of relatives participants in Riyadh.

While in Rome, he’s going to meet for the first time with Pope Francis.

And in Jerusalem, Trump will for the primary time offer details on his vision for a complete Israeli-Palestinian peace. The president will “lay out some phrases for what we see as a peaceful future in that region,” one professional stated. The White Residence has not yet set the exact date for Trump’s visit to Jerusalem.

“There’s a number of alignment among President Trump and leaders of the Arab world – they see the equal problems,” the respectable said.

“We’re looking to unify humans across the same objectives.”

The Trump management has made regional cooperation in the Middle East a focus of its overseas coverage, and senior officers say the president hopes to “formalize” aspects of these collaborations at some point of his visit. However, they diagnosed Trump will face challenges in rebooting the Israeli- Palestinian peace procedure – despite help from the Arab world – just someday after the president said that peace might not be as difficult to reap as human beings have the lengthy notion.

“You have to strive something – You have to take shots. This is what we assume is a very clever first step inside the area, in unifying the coalition,” one respectable said.

“Whether or not we are able to or can’t, it’s our job to strive.”

White Residence press secretary Sean Spicer said the president’s go to become at the invitation of Top Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.

Trump also agreed to a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Whilst in the vicinity, Spicer introduced.

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, Secretary of state Rex Tillerson and leader negotiator Jason Greenblatt are operating to position forward thoughts on the peace system from the Yankee facet. However Trump “has his personal ideas, as properly,” the authentic brought.

Iran’s interest within the location maintains to inspire cooperation between Sunni Arab nations, Israel and the united states – an alignment in an effort to function centrally within the president’s ride.

“Right now you’ve were given a variety of troubles in that neighborhood,” a 2nd legitimate said. “However they see the strengthening of Iran as possibly their largest risk.”

Several West Wing aides with overseas policy experience said they sensed a distinctive tone from Arab international locations now inclined to participate in a bigger coalition towards religious extremism, and with Israel, than they’d earlier than.

“It does take US involvement,” an authentic said. “However the stage of a hobby by using the Saudis, the Egyptians, the Jordanians – it does sense distinctive. Candidly, they feel a feel of jogging out of time,” the respectable introduced.

Trump’s 3-country visit will precede his trip to a NATO summit in Brussels and the G7 summit in Sicily.

48 Hours in Riyadh

  The capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh is certainly one of the most important cities inside the USA. It covers a metropolitan place of 1825 rectangular kilometers, most of which is dedicated to tall skyscrapers, overseas embassies, and urbanized buildings. Riyadh has a huge population of over five million human beings, engaged in extraordinary occupations. It is a critical business and management middle, being the capital of Riyadh Province and home to many global offices. A land of contemporary buildings and historical structures, Riyadh has a balanced way of life. A number of the oldest architectural masterpieces reflect fantastic Arabic paintings, commissioned by means of kings and rulers. Al Masmak fortress and King Abdulaziz’s Murabba’ palace are classic examples of vernacular Arabian architecture. These antique systems stand in evaluation to current, modern skyscrapers like the State center and Al Faisaliyah middle. However, both are a part of the metropolis’s tourist sights.

The contemporary lifestyle has transformed the town into a major purchasing middle with several department shops. Panorama Mall, Sahara Mall, and Salam Mall are nearly constantly crowded via city dwellers, shopping from more than a few excessive cease brands. The records of Riyadh, but, is still retained in its museums and galleries, that shape the metropolis’s attractions. King Abdul Aziz ancient Centre is the Countrywide Museum of Saudi Arabia, holding A number of the richest artifacts blended with centuries of artistic information.

Islam is the essential faith accompanied in Riyadh. Many mosques are constructed amongst the urban offices to restore faith within the ancient religion. people right here communicate in a locally developed speech sample known as the Najdi dialect. English is quite popularly used for informal functions. The culture of Riyadh is decided no longer most effective via its religion and people but also with the aid of their real cuisine. The Nejdi dish cab say is the most traditional meal of the city, garnished with cashews, raisins, and different dry culmination. It frequently includes rice, meat, and cooked veggies. Mandi is some other famous dish, originating from Yemen.

The climate of Riyadh is regularly hot and burning with temperatures growing to even 50-degree celsius between Might also and September. November to March is comparatively much less hot with little rainfall. Mild cotton clothes are comfy to travel in and assist to beat the warmth. December and January are the nice months to go to.

Riyadh Flights are frequent and connect the city to global locations like Big apple, Washington DC, London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They may be cheaper and are the maximum green method of transport to and from the metropolis.

News and Society Article Category

America is rapidly approaching a glaring red light where a turn could easily be fraught with peril. We faced this same peril in the humble beginnings of the Republic; we battled and won against the most powerful military might on the planet. The likelihood of a win was against all odds and surely gained through God’s favor. We faced an enemy who used a club of fear to cower us back to what they perceived to be our rightful place. Our dastardly deed of attempting to be a free people would be forgiven if we lay down our arms and allowed them to control our country; if not, we were to be branded traitors and punished with death. It seemed impossible to win, yet the Americans chose to fight. They understood the value of being a free people.

Politics naturally involves debate, disagreement, and differences of opinion. It’s the backbone of our democracy. Each of us has a right to express our opinion on topics as far ranging as immigration reform to the best point guard in the NBA.

by

Having just labored through another Easter with all its hype and reflections on a myth introduced by Constantine and perpetuated by the Catholic Church leaves me drained. The spiritual presence within me is again shaken by the lies and misconceptions that lead people like sheep. Visions of the tourist venues in Jerusalem with masses pouring through so-called holy sites is rather appalling.

by

On January 20, 2017, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific-Partnership. A couple of days later, Trump signed another executive order but this time against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Both of these agreements played major factors in both the United States domestic and international trade markets.

When someone wants to find out about what is taking place around them, there is the chance that they will look towards the mainstream media. This is because this source will be seen as being trustworthy and reliable.

People put up fake news to sway others with their opinions and hopefully to destroy the ‘norm’. During the USA elections, it was rife. Social Media sites like Facebook along with videos, and the media, in general, all promoted it.

we are at the time of the last days when the Spirit of the Universe, the Great Creator, promised that the world

   as we know it will come to an end. To bring it to this point the 2 beasts of Revelation have played a vital role. The population of the earth is in turmoil as wars, famine, poverty, and climate changes each play a vital role in the brutality visible today and getting worse by the minute.

Doesn’t free public transport services within a busy city center sound interesting? Some cities have a well-developed zero-fare public transport strategy. This has its pros and cons which are looked at below.

The increase in school tardiness is most disturbing. Schools considered a significant problem that affects school performance.

[theleaderdotinfo-blog]

SPORTING ALFAS CRICKET CLUB has been published at http://www.theleader.info/2017/04/05/sporting-alfas-cricket-club-6/

New Post has been published on http://www.theleader.info/2017/04/05/sporting-alfas-cricket-club-6/

SPORTING ALFAS CRICKET CLUB

Sporting Alfas 2nd X1 214 for 9 lost to Ashington C C 217 for 9

Following a tough match against the Sporting Alfas 1st XI on Saturday and an even tougher night in Fandango’s celebrating the life and times of the late, great Jack Hyams, the tourists came back to a bright sunny Woodbridge Oval for another battle against their hosts.

After a ceremonial toss, Jack Hyams men were invited to set a target and Sharkey and Dunn strode out to open proceedings against the opening pair of Braithwaite and Fletcher. A sedate 1st over from Braithwaite led to Fletcher’s eventful 1st Over…

After his 2nd ball, the Umpire decided to get the sledging started early and informed Fletcher that he “looked like he used to have a bowling action”, never one to back down from a challenge, the wily left armer dismissed Dunn next ball for a duck, a straight drive straight into skipper Perman’s hands at Mid-off. Fletcher getting the last laugh in that exchange with the Umpire!

Said Umpire was then removed from proceedings a few overs later as a very straight drive back to the bowler saw Braithwaite duck for cover leaving the Umpire blindsided and cracked on the arm! Leaving for medical attention at the end of the over, once the whiskey had been sourced behind the bar!

It was very nearly a great start for the Alfas side as, in Fletcher’s 5th over, he tempted Sharkey into a high swirling shot that found Chris Cooper in Cover. However, as the Alfas fielders were starting to celebrate, the inexplicable occurred and the safe hands of Cooper failed to gather the ball, the swirl of it as it came down deceiving him and the chance went begging.

After that, it was all Hyams’ team, both Sharkey and Robinson seeing off the opening bowlers as well as the first change pair of Walker and Roper and both made 50’s in a mammoth partnership.

Matters took a turning, literally, with the introduction of the Spin demons Perman and Marriner. First, Robinson, on 75, walked right past one from Marriner and kept on walking, allowing Byrne to remove the bails after a “slight” fumble, Robinson looking back to watch the ‘keeper struggle but decided to keep walking! Alfas had the breakthrough and looked to gain a foothold in the match.

Next ball Marriner and Byrne combined again for another stumping, Jones the new batsman showing off his forward footwork but stranded outside his crease, Marriner on the other side of a Golden Duck for once!

The hat-trick ball came and went without troubling Smith but in Marriner’s next over, he got the big wicket of Sharkey. With the batsman on 92, the Alfas fielders took the opportunity to remind him that he was nearing a Ton, unfortunately for him, he chased a wider one from Marriner and could only find J. Perman in the covers and finally being dismissed after 30 odd overs. The sledging Fielders claiming full responsibility for the wicket this time.

Perman was not to be left out of the action for long and in his 5th over, he struck his first blow, getting Worall to do all the work for him by stepping back and taking out his own stumps while trying to hit the young spinner into next week. Perman was at it again in his next over, firstly “clean” bowing Smith by sending one towards leg and getting a deflection off the pads to divert it back onto the stumps and then getting Smith to pop one up for an easy catch, 2 in the over for the leggy.

Marriner was not finished at the other end and after shipping 11 to Common in his previous over, came back and got the heavy hitter with another stumping from Byrne, 3rd of the match, and two balls later, somehow managed to clean bowl Whitworth. The final over of the match going for a few singles and Jack Hyams XI finishing with a total of 217.

After Tea, the Perman pair strode out to get the chase underway for the Alfas but, having had to do two days fielding as well as opening the day before, M. Perman was out of gas and in the 2nd over, hit one straight to the Sub fielder, on for Jefferson who had taken the field with a shard of glass in his shoe! Alfas 1 for 1 after 1.

Walker joined Perman at the crease and together they added 30 runs, and both were put down in the field, Walker when on 0 and Perman on 13. However, neither batsman could make their lives count and Perman was next to go, snicking on to slips on 15. 31/2.

Fletcher, “fresh” from a Football match that morning and a sledging from the Umpire earlier in the day was next in and could have been next out as Dunn put down a catchable chance of his own bowling with Fletcher on 1, this time the batsman would make his life count in the best possible way.

Walker was next to go in the 11th over when the dangerous Common came on to bowl and his pace was troubling the Alfas batsmen. Walker edging behind 5th ball of an opening wicket maiden. However, at the other end, Fletcher was relaxed as, with both the skipper and Vice captain having faced Common the previous day, Fletcher had been warned and went out with a solid game plan, face Common as little as possible. The plan worked perfectly as the bowler went through 7 overs, Fletcher only faced 4 of those balls!

Evans was the next man in and the next to go, having to face virtually all of Common’s deliveries and after being peppered for 2 overs with sheer pace, he was trapped LBW without being able to add to the score. Tocher came and went much the same way, another victim to Common who ended his first spell with 6 Overs, 5 Maidens, 3 for 1.

Alfas were reeling a bit but Fletcher was now in his swing and with Cooper alongside him, they took the change bowlers of Hyams’ team to the cleaners for a few overs. Between them, they added 70 in 7 overs before Cooper finally gave a hint of a chance and was caught on 33.

Byrne joined Fletcher for a few overs and had the pleasure of seeing the 100 come up from Fletcher before falling for 7, sending the ball straight down the throat of short fine leg.

Fletcher’s mammoth day and innings finally came to an end shortly afterwards as with energy flagging he diverted a ball that he would have pummeled earlier in the day for 4 to the waiting hands of point to finish on 105.

Braithwaite joined Marriner at the crease and the Alfas still had a chance of winning, needing 20 off the last 4 overs. However, Marriner went for a straight drive for 4 but it went higher than it went long and fell for 7, picking out Mid Off.

Final pair for Alfas, Braithwaite and Roper took it into the final over with 8 needed for a win. Braithwaite found the boundary 2nd ball of the over leaving it 3 for the draw or 4 for the win, but with wily cricketers in the field, they knew how to defend when needed and with 9 men on the boundary, Braithwaite could not find the right gap and could only get 1 more run off the over, Alfas losing by 3 but an amazing game of cricket enjoyed by all, the comical and the divine in equal measures, well maybe the comical a bit more!

Next week see the Cryptics come over from England to play 3 matches, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (07 – 09th April) any and all spectators welcome to enjoy some cricket, good food, fine wine and absorbing cricket, where anything can and usually does happen!!

Sporting Alfas Cricket Club Sporting Alfas 1st X1 155 for 4 beat Jack Hyams X1 153 for 10

Jack Hyams X1 travelled to Spain this week and found the SACC bowlers a little tighter than expected, Mohib and Hamza started things off and both looked in control as the batsman played and missed a few times.

Although Robinson struck three suburb cover drives and a sublime late cut in his 18 he followed his opening partner back to the dressing room well caught by Muñoz at 2nd slip, Whitworth(5) had also fallen to a sharp catch by Muñoz, Sharkey went the same way Muñoz three catches two for Hamza(2-25) and 1 for Mohib(1-10), it should have been two apiece as Muñoz dropped Common on 0, Ross came and went lifting one over the slip cordon into 3rd man, Mark Perman´s, safe hands.

Thewlis and Common then looked to play some classy shots and the SACC bowlers thanked Muñoz for dropping Common as he reached the boundary time and time again. Until the spin twins Gary Crompton and Jack Perman took back control Thewlis(29) playing across one from Perman and walked as the players appealed for a plum LBW. Commmon(43) spanked one to many and was the first of second X1 keeper Byrne´s 3 catches in the deep. Levison(25) gave Algers first over(14) a bit of long handle but after finding his length the bowler gained revenge and removed his middle stump.

Dunn (20) went after J Perman(2-32) but again the bowler won the short battle as Byrne took his second catch at mid wicket, or near the tree the skipper needing to tell him. his third catch was similar when Watson tried to pull Crompton(2-40) only to find Byrne´s. Alger´s last over gave him fine figure´s of 2 for 15 from 3.4 exceptional when his first went for 14. 153 all out.

Tea time at the Woodbridge Oval where all are welcome to watch the entertainment and enjoy the exceedingly fine refreshments.

M,Perman and I,Byrne opened the batting and both preferred the other end as Common whizzed the ball by their noses in an hostile start, the batsmen finding out why the other end is the best place to be.

Jefferson at a more sedate pace had Byrne´s caught by a lifter well held by Thewliss at gully, This bought in Crompton and things became calmer as the Alfas normal number 2 found the pace to his liking, this lifted Perman and the player took control of his own destiny when spanking any ball that was pitched in his area, reaching 28 before falling to change bowler Whitworth,

Alger joined forces with Crompton and the pair took the came away from the visitors with a array of shots that found gaps in the field and the boundary. Alger the first to go mistiming a lifter from Whitworth to short mid wicket.

Crompton then took the score to 127 before becoming Whitworth´s 3rd victim in similar style. Spain´s captain showed of his T20 skills and hit the remaining 39 runs in a vicious attack on the bowlers. Game over with Muñoz on 39 from 16 balls in the 21st over.