#elegant hoopoe

[eleganthoopoe21]

At Elegant Hoopoe, we offer non-surgical double chin treatments with cutting-edge technology, giving you a defined jawline quickly and safely.

Our team at Elegant Hoopoe is passionate about helping you enhance your natural beauty. We’re not just experts in double chin removal; we’re dedicated to making your experience as pleasant and effective as possible. Feel free to connect with us and learn more about our personalized approach.

[aiza-luna]

"Simply Solange" Outfit - first concept.

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HEY, HEY, EVERYONE! I Finally got back with something new... With my first sketch of Sol's Assassin Outfit! 🥹🩵

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It's far from being fully concluded since there are tons of details I need to polish/ clean, but so far, I'm really proud of the result! 🥹🐦💛☀️

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As you guys can see, I referenced a lot the outfit of Maria from the "Assassin's Creed Movie", who takes place in Andalusia, Spain. I like to think the colors of Aguillar and Maria were the base for the colors and shapes of the Spanish Brotherhood of Assassins, Solange follows this same line, just with her outfit being cutted in a 19th Century/ "Modern" cut to follow the Era's fashion! :3

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You can also see Sol has tons of details in her outfit, that's bc girly is rich and she will flex her money on embrodery, while still keeping the practicity and coverage of the Assassins. 💅🏽✨

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[haveyouseenthisbirdpoll]

List of Birds organized by Order + locations:

Accipitriformes:

Bearded vulture

Cooper's hawk

Red-shouldered hawk

Steller's sea eagle

Anseriformes:

Bar-headed goose

Barnacle goose

Black swan

Common merganser

Red-breasted goose

Snow goose

Trumpeter swan

Apodiformes:

Common swift

Ruby-throated hummingbird

Bucerotiformes:

Eurasian hoopoe

Cariamiformes:

Red-legged seriema

Casuariiformes:

Emu

Southern cassowary

Cathartiformes:

Black vulture

Turkey vulture

Charadriiformes:

Atlantic puffin

Black-headed gull

Black-tailed godwit

Killdeer

Northern lapwing

Ruddy turnstone

Ciconiiformes:

White stork

Columbiformes:

Common wood pigeon

Eurasian collared dove

Luzon bleeding-heart

Nicobar pigeon

Victoria crowned pigeon

Coraciiformes:

Blue-capped kingfisher

Common kingfisher

Cuculiformes:

Asian koel

Yellow-billed cuckoo

Eurypygiformes:

Kagu

Falconiformes:

American kestrel

Common kestrel

Galliformes:

Palawan peacock-pheasant

Western capercaillie

Gaviiformes:

Common loon

Gruiformes:

American coot

Australasian swamphen/pūkeko

Blue crane

Common moorhen

Sandhill crane

Sora

Whooping crane

Passeriformes:

American bushtit

American robin

Australian raven

Baltimore oriole

Barn swallow

Black-billed magpie

Black-capped chickadee

Black-throated sparrow

Blue-headed vireo

Blue jay

Bluethroat

Brown thrasher

California towhee

Canada warbler

Canyon wren

Cedar waxwing

Common blackbird

Common chlorospingus

Common raven

Eastern wood pewee

Eurasian blue tit

Eurasian bullfinch

Eurasian golden oriole

Eurasian jay

European robin

Goldcrest

Great-tailed grackle

Great tit

Hooded crow

House sparrow

Indigo bunting

Kirtland's warbler

LeConte's sparrow

Long-tailed tit

Painted bunting

Phainopepla

Pine siskin

Pin-tailed whydah

Pinyon jay

Pygmy nuthatch

Red winged blackbird

Rook

Saltmarsh sparrow

Satin bowerbird

Spotted towhee

Steller's jay

Tufted titmouse

Wallcreeper

Warbling vireo

Western tanager

White-breasted nuthatch

White-throated dipper

White-throated magpie-jay

Yellow-rumped warbler

Pelecaniformes:

Great blue heron

Great egret

Great white pelican

Least bittern

Roseate spoonbill

Shoebill stork

Snowy egret

Phoenicopteriformes:

Chilean flamingo

Piciformes:

Clark's nutcracker

Lewis's woodpecker

Northern flicker

Pileated woodpecker

Red-bellied woodpecker

Red-headed woodpecker

Podargiformes:

Tawny frogmouth

Podicipediformes:

Pied-billed grebe

Psittaciformes:

Australian king parrot

Citron-crested cockatoo

Cockatiel

Galah

Gang-gang cockatoo

Pacific parrotlet

Rose-ringed parakeet

Sulphur-crested cockatoo

Strigiformes:

Barn owl

Barred owl

Suliformes:

Anhinga

Blue-footed booby

Double-crested cormorant

Trogoniformes:

Elegant trogon

Locations:

Africa

America

Asia

Australia

Central America

Eurasia

Europe

North America

Oceania

South America

[miandrew]

Explore the most effective weight loss treatment Dubai at Elegant Hoopoe. Our clinic offers personalized and advanced solutions to help you achieve your weight loss goals safely and efficiently. Visit our website to learn more about our comprehensive range of treatments and start your journey towards a healthier, fitter you today.

[sombrasblancas]

🇬🇧 Finally, the full piece! Whenever I see a Eurasian hoopoe, I think of an elegant lady wearing a fancy party dress. Can you see it? More birds and flowers are coming, I'm pretty sure of it ✨

This original is available at https://sombrasblancas.net/shop

Hurry up before it flies away 🐦

🇪🇸 Al fin, ¡el cuadro completo! Cada vez que veo una abubilla pienso en una señora elegante con un vestido de fiesta. ¿Lo ves? Hay más pájaros con flores en camino. Estoy bastante segura ✨

Este original está disponible en https://sombrasblancas.net/shop

Corre antes de que se vaya volando 🐦

[eleganthoopoe]

Vanquish fat removal review

Vanquish fat removal is a revolutionary non-invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency technology to target and eliminate stubborn fat cells without surgery. The treatment is designed to reduce fat in specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, thighs, and love handles.

How Does Vanquish Fat Removal Work?

During a vanquish fat removal session, the specialized device emits radiofrequency energy that heats up the fat cells, causing them to break down and be naturally eliminated by the body over time. The procedure is painless and requires no downtime, making it an attractive option for those looking to sculpt their body without undergoing surgery.

Benefits of Vanquish Fat Removal

One of the key benefits of vanquish fat removal is its effectiveness in targeting stubborn fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. The procedure is also quick, with sessions lasting around 30 minutes, and results can typically be seen after a few treatments.

What to Expect During a Vanquish Fat Removal Session

During a vanquish fat removal session, patients can expect to feel a warming sensation as the device targets the fat cells. The procedure is comfortable and does not require any anesthesia. Most patients report feeling relaxed during the treatment and experience no pain or discomfort.

Is Vanquish Fat Removal Right for You?

Vanquish fat removal is an excellent option for individuals who are close to their ideal weight but have stubborn areas of fat that they would like to target. It is important to consult with a qualified provider to determine if vanquish fat removal is the right choice for your specific goals and needs.

Vanquish vs trusculpt id

Both of these non-invasive RF machines have proven to be effective in fat reduction. Trusculpt however seems to be more popular option due to the fact that the company Cutera has a long successful history in producing such devices. If you would like to see trusculpt ID price in dubai you can visit elegant hoopoe website.

The Verdict on Vanquish Fat Removal

In conclusion, vanquish fat removal is a safe and effective treatment for reducing stubborn fat deposits without surgery. The procedure offers numerous benefits, including quick results and minimal discomfort. If you are looking to sculpt your body and achieve a slimmer silhouette, vanquish fat removal may be the solution you have been searching for.

[hyakqatar]

Birds of Qatar: A Fascinating Avian Tapestry

Introduction:

Qatar, a land of contrasts and diverse landscapes, is also home to a rich avian tapestry that adds melody and color to its skies. In this article, we will embark on a journey to discover the fascinating birdlife of Qatar and, in particular, explore the significance of the national bird that graces its skies.

The National Bird of Qatar: Falconry's Majestic Emblem

Qatar's national bird is the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), a symbol of strength, speed, and grace. Revered in Qatari culture, the Peregrine Falcon is intricately tied to the traditional art of falconry—a practice that has deep roots in the region.

Detail the cultural importance of falconry, how it has been passed down through generations, and the role of the Peregrine Falcon in this ancient practice.

The Coastal Charmers: Seabirds of Qatar

Qatar's extensive coastline is a haven for various seabird species. Explore the lives of seagulls, terns, and cormorants that call Qatar's shores home. Discuss their migratory patterns and the importance of coastal conservation.

Desert Dwellers: Adaptable Birds of the Arid Lands

Qatar's desert expanses are teeming with life, including a variety of birds adapted to arid conditions. Profile species like the Hoopoe, Desert Lark, and the Namaqua Dove showcased their unique survival strategies in the desert environment.

Wetland Wonders: Qatar's Bird Sanctuaries

Highlight the significance of Qatar's wetlands, such as the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation. Explore the bird species that find refuge in these sanctuaries, emphasizing the importance of preserving these habitats.

The Elegant Symbol: Graceful Flamingos in Qatar

Delve into the presence of flamingos in Qatar, particularly in the Al Wakra and Al Khor areas. Discuss the migratory patterns of flamingos and their symbolic significance.

Birds of Prey: The Hunters of the Sky

Apart from the Peregrine Falcon, it shed light on other birds of prey in Qatar, such as the Osprey and the Common Kestrel. Discuss their roles in maintaining ecological balance and the challenges they face.

Conclusion:

In closing, the avian wonders of Qatar paint a vivid picture of a country that cherishes its natural heritage. From the elegant Peregrine Falcon to the resilient desert dwellers, each species contributes to the ecological diversity that makes Qatar a unique destination for bird enthusiasts. As we look to the skies, we are reminded of the delicate balance that must be maintained to ensure the continued flourishing of these magnificent creatures.

[silvercirclepets]

A Hoopo Dome can fit seamlessly into your home decor, giving your cat their very own private sanctuary.

[khiuzaku]

Another bird...

[arktoi-folklore]

"The Concourse of the Birds", Folio 11r from a Mantiq al-tair (Language of the Birds)

The birds, which symbolize individual souls in search of the simurgh (a mystical bird representing ultimate spiritual unity), are assembled in an idyllic landscape to begin their pilgrimage under the leadership of a hoopoe (perched on a rock at center right). 

"Dervish With a Lion", Folio from the Shah Jahan Album

Equipped with satchel, pouch, begging bowl, dagger, knife, and staff, this courtly ascetic roamed the land with a friendly lion, as young and elegant as himself. During the tranquil decades of Jahangir's and Shahjahan's reigns, devotees were favorably received at court where they were often indulged with imperial largesse

both of around the 17th century, taken from the Met Museum site

[eleganthoopoe21]

Slimming Therapy in Dubai

Slimming therapy is the best way to get healthy body in Dubai and Elegant Hoopoe is known for it and it provides result focused programs, tailored around your unique requirements.

[hedgehog-dreamer]

Name: Claire Bonnet Age: 18 Height: 1,68 Residence: Paris Family: Gérald Bonnet (father), Angéline Bourgeois (mother), André Bourgeois (uncle), Audrey Bourgeois (aunt), Chloé Bourgeois (cousin) Crush: her boyfriend Benjamin Love: clothes, shoes, jewels, bags, desserts with fruit, all that is cute Hate: insects, disorder, the whims of cousin Chloé Superhero Name: Huppe Kwami: Appu Miraculous: diadem Trasformation phrase: Appu, let's fly! Detrasformation phrase: Appu, let's rest! Weapon: whistle Power: "Enchantment" that allows her to hypnotize people by forcing them to do what she wants Personality: Claire is a sweet girl, generous and understanding. She is always pleased to give good advice to others regarding fashion. But sometimes it tends to be rather irascible when something does not do well and becomes rather arrogant when it is provoked. It is very charming and unwittingly tends to attract people's attention with its natural elegance. Unlike her cousin Chloè, it doesn't bother her to get her hands dirty, help others or do things on her own, she shows a lot of enthusiasm when she sees something new and original always saying "Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!" (Unlike her cousin who says "Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous!"). She loves Chloé very well, even if sometimes she resents her spoiled and selfish behavior, she always tries to make her understand that her attitude is wrong without ever succeeding. She loves her family, her friends and her boyfriend Banjamin and would do anything to protect him from the wickedness of the world. Biografy: Claire is the niece of André Bourgeois, mayor of Paris and cousin of Chloé. Sometimes she models her aunt Audrey Bourgeois for her fashion magazine "Style Queen". One day, when his father took leave, he went with his parents and boyfriend Benjamin to his uncle's hotel "Le Grand Paris" for two days, where he also visited the Collège Françoise Dupont to give small fashion lessons. When she learned that Benjamin was akumised by Papillon due to a regret at work, Claire initially tries to reason with him but in vain. To be able to save it, she receives the Miraculous of the Hoopoe from Ladybug, transforming it into Huppe, which gives her the power to enchant her opponents. At the end of the mission, he returns the Miraculous to Ladybug, promising the heroine never to reveal anyone's identity so as not to make the same mistake as her cousin Chloé. Miraculous Ladybug (c) belong to Thomas Astruc Claire Bonnet/Huppe (c) belong to me hope you like it

[ozkanerk-blog]

Crown feathers . . #hoopoe #crown #feathers #birdsofinstagram #wildlife #distinctive #woodhoopoe #habitat #birdfeeding #justbirds #birdphotos #nature #bestbirdshots #canon #upupa #hüthüt #hüthütkuşu #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #brilliance #kings #natgeo #costumes #anadolugram #fotografhanem #garden #elegance #elite_birds #elite_worldwide_birds #igbirds (at Dubai, United Arab Emirates) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0zFPInA-IK/?igshid=j3len8je2c7v

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

I highly recommend having this survey open on your browser, doing research, and filling it out slowly. Because, birds. 

Palaeognaths

The first major division of modern birds (all the rest are Neognaths). Includes the Moa, Elephant Birds, Tinamous, Emus, Rheas, and Lithornithids. Casuarias and Struthio are ineligible, so don’t write in any Cassowaries or Ostriches. 

Highlights include the Kiwi, an adorable small with a long snoot; Aepyornis, the largest Neornithean known; the Emu, who has one of the funniest ways of running; and Lithornis, an extinct flying member of the group. 

Galloanserans 

The earliest derived group of Neognaths. Includes Gastornis & the very similar Dromornithids, Geese, Screamers, Ducks, Swans, Curassows, Guans, Megapodes, Partridges, Quails, Junglefowl, and Pheasants. Genera Pavo and Gallus are ineligible, so don’t write in any peafowl or the four junglefowl under Gallus (which includes the chicken). 

Highlights include Gastornis, which was actually a large herbivore rather than a super predator as thought; Vegavis, one of the earliest well-known Neornithes, being from the Cretaceous; Hooded Merganser, the duck with the very large crest that is quite impressive; and the Blue-billed Curassow, confirmed Friend and Curly Man. 

Caprimulgiformes & Opisthocomiformes

These two groups aren’t actually closely related, I just had to stick Opisthocomiformes somewhere. Caprimulgiformes include Oilbirds, Owlet-Nightjars, Frogmouths, Nighthawks, and Nightjars. Opisthocomiformes include Hoatzin. Genera Nyctibius and Opisthocomus are ineligible, so no potoos or the only modern Hoatzin. 

Highlights include the Satanic Nightjar, which looks exactly like you’d expect; the Tawny Frogmouth, who almost looks like a potoo if you squint; the Oilbird, which has some of the weirdest and spookiest eyes; and Hoazinoides, an extinct Hoatzin with feet like that of an owl. 

Apodiformes

Swifts, Treeswifts, and Hummingbirds. Nothing is ineligible. All are precious.

Highlights include the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest dinosaur known to science; the Common Swift, which looks like a boomerang; Eocypselus, an early relative of all these groups; and anything of the genera Sappho and Lesbia, which are the best genus names I’ve ever heard of.

Columbaves

Cuckoos, Turacos, Bustards, Pigeons, Doves, Sandgrouse, and Mesites. Genus Columba is ineligible, so don’t write in any of the “typical pigeons.” 

Highlights include the Dodo, which is not as dumb as we were lead to believe; the Bare-Faced Go-Away Bird, which represents Me at All Times; the Nicobar Pigeon, which has beautiful rainbow plumage; and the Kori Bustard, which has a really elegant neck and posture IMO. 

Gruiformes

Cranes, Crakes, Rails, Limpkin, Trumpeters, Flufftails, Finfoots, and Sungrebes. Nothing is ineligible. 

Highlights include the Whooping Crane, an endangered species with a distinctive call; the White-Spotted Flufftail, who has adorable spots on its butt; the Red-Legged Crake, which is red in lots of places besides its legs; and the Sungrebe, which has a nice blue cap on its head. 

Mirandornithes & Charadriiformes

Flamingos, Grebes, Waders, Snipes, Sandpipers, Jacanas, Wanderers, Gulls, Skimmers, Terns, Puffins, Skuas, Plovers, Buttonquails, Thick-Knees, Sheathbills, Ibisbills, Avocets, Oystercatchers, and Lapwings. Nothing is ineligible. 

Highlights include the Great Auk, an extinct large puffin that we as humans don’t deserve; the Ring-Billed Gull, whom I have a personal vendetta against; the Dovekie, a smol, adorable friend; and the Sanderling, one of the inspirations behind Pixar’s Piper. 

Ardeae

Tropicbirds, Kagu, Sunbittern, Loons, Albatross, Petrels, Storkss, Boobies, Cormorants, Pelicans, Hamerkop, Ibises, Spoonbills, Herons, Egrets, and Penguins. The genus Balaeniceps is ineligible, so don’t write in the Shoebill. 

Highlights include the Little Penguin, the smol adorable penguin of smol adorableness; the Least Bittern, who is indeed the Least Bittern; the Common Loon, against whom my partner Max (@plokool) has a personal vendetta; and the Emperor Penguin, which is the Pinnacle of Dinosaurian Evolution according to Thomas Holtz (well, okay, he said penguins in general were, but this is the emperor penguin, so...) 

Accipitrimorphs 

Vultures (both Old and New world), Ospreys, Hawks, Eagles, Kites. Genera Sagittarius and Gypaetus are ineligible, so don’t write in the Secretary Bird, or the Bearded Vulture. No, do not write in the Bearded Vulture, nor Lammergeier, nor Ossifrage. You will have wasted your vote. Do not do the thing. It doesn’t count. 

Highlights include Haast’s Eagle, an eagle so large it hunted the Moa; the Harpy Eagle, which honestly when you see it if you aren’t convinced birds are dinosaurs there’s nothing more I can do; the Turkey Vulture, or as I like to call it, the Bare-Faced Come-Hither Bird; and the Red-Tailed Hawk, aka, that sound you hear when people try to ignore that Bald Eagles are actually huge dorks. 

Strigiformes

Owls. Genus Tyto is ineligible, which is basically all barn owls and most of their close relatives, so just, don’t write that in. 

Highlights include Palaeoglaux, one of the earliest derived forms and may have been diurnal; the Burrowing Owl, who likes to dig them holes; the Snowy Owl, aka Hedwig; and the Fearful Owl, who looks exactly like what you’d expect. 

Coraciimorphs

Mousebirds, Cuckoo Roller, Trogons, Hornbills, Hoopoes, Rollers, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Toucans. Genus Dacelo is ineligible, which means no Kookaburras, none, do not write one in. 

Highlights include Septencoracias, aka a Friend and Boy; the Hoopoe, aka the Most Jewish bird; the Resplendent Quetzal, which truly is magnificently colored; and the Keel-Billed Toucan, who just really loves fruit okay?

Falconiformes & Cariamiformes

Serimas, Terror Birds, Bathornithids, Caracaras, and Falcons. Genus Titanis is ineligible, as is Falco peregrinus, the peregrine falcon. Since most falcons are under Falco, the rest of the genus is eligible. 

Highlights Include Phorusrhacos, one of the most Quintessential Terror Birds; the Red-Legged Seriema, who is just a very angry bird; the Pygmy Falcon, who is a Smol Ball of FURY; and the Northern Crested Caracara, who has distinctive purple-pinkish skin on its face. 

Parrots

... Parrots. The Kakapo, genus Strigops, is ineligible. 

Highlights include the Cockatiel, a common pet and soft friend; the African Grey Parrot, one of the smartest species of dinosaurs; Spix’s Macaw, a beautiful blue parrot on the brink of extinction; and the Mulga Parrot, a parrot with feathers that almost look like clay in certain lighting. 

Passerines

Perching birds. The vast majority of birds. Most birds are in this group. I am so sorry. Includes, but is not limited to, Pittas, Broadbills, Cotingas, Sharpbills, Flycatchers, Antthrushes, Ovenbirds, Lyrebirds, Scrub-birds, Bowerbirds, Honeyeaters, Fairywrens, Whistlers, Orioles, Vireos, Birds of Paradise, Jays, Satinbirds, Wattlebirds, Rockfowl, Tits, Chickadees, Larks, Nicators, Wren-Babblers, Swallows, Warblers, Babblers, Waxwings, Treecreepers, Thrushes, Oxpeckers, Mockingbirds, Sugarbirds, Sunbirds, Sparrows, Finches, Buntings, Cardinals, Whistlers, Woodshrikes. 

The genus Corvus is ineligible, which is a good portion of crows and ravens, so don’t write them in. There are so many passerines to choose from, you can pick another one. 

It’s, nearly impossible to pick four highlights, but here we go. Highlights include the Blue Jay, one of the most famous and beautiful perching birds; the Superb Bird of Paradise, who has one of the most spectacular mating dances of birds; the Great Tit, who truly is an amazing soft sphere of birb; and the House Sparrow, a feature of almost every major city and one of the dinosaurs often used to define the clade.

Good luck. Have fun. Voting will close February 24 (possibly earlier if we get enough votes in). 

[eleganthoopoe]

Does weight loss clinic work? or is it just fake advertisement?

 the struggle with weight loss is a common and often frustrating experience for many individuals. With the increasing popularity of weight loss clinics, the question arises: do weight loss clinics really work? Let's delve into this topic and explore the effectiveness of weight loss clinics.

Understanding Weight Loss Clinics

Weight loss clinics are dedicated facilities that offer specialized programs and medical guidance to individuals striving to lose weight. These clinics typically employ healthcare professionals, such as physicians, nutritionists, and fitness experts, who work together to create personalized weight loss plans for their clients.

The Approach of Weight Loss Clinics

Weight loss clinics typically take a comprehensive approach to helping individuals shed excess weight. These clinics offer a range of services, including personalized diet plans, exercise regimens, behavior modification strategies, and in some cases, medical interventions such as prescription medications or surgical options.

Personalized Support and Guidance

One of the primary advantages of weight loss clinics is the personalized support and guidance provided to clients. Unlike generic weight loss programs, these clinics tailor their approach to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual. This personalized attention can be invaluable in addressing the unique challenges and obstacles that may be hindering a person's weight loss journey.

The Effectiveness of Weight Loss Clinics

When evaluating the effectiveness of weight loss clinics, it's essential to consider the individual outcomes and experiences of clients. While results can vary from person to person, numerous studies have shown that weight loss clinics can lead to significant and sustainable weight loss for many individuals.

Professional Oversight and Accountability

One of the key factors contributing to the effectiveness of weight loss clinics is the professional oversight and accountability they provide. Clients receive ongoing support and monitoring from healthcare professionals, which can help them stay motivated and on track with their weight loss goals. This level of accountability is often lacking in self-guided weight loss attempts and can make a substantial difference in the outcomes achieved.

Holistic Approach to Weight Loss

Weight loss clinics often take a holistic approach to weight management, addressing not only the physical aspects of weight loss but also the psychological and behavioral elements. By targeting the root causes of weight gain and providing comprehensive support, these clinics can help individuals make lasting lifestyle changes that contribute to sustained weight loss.

Evidence-Based Practices

Many reputable weight loss clinics base their programs on evidence-based practices and scientific principles. This commitment to utilizing proven strategies and interventions can significantly enhance the effectiveness of their weight loss programs, increasing the likelihood of successful outcomes for their clients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, weight loss clinics can indeed be effective in helping individuals achieve their weight loss goals. By offering personalized support, professional oversight, and evidence-based practices, these clinics have the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those struggling with weight management. While the effectiveness of weight loss clinics may vary among individuals, their comprehensive approach and tailored support can provide a valuable resource for those seeking to embark on a successful weight loss journey.

If you are about to start journey towards a healthier version of yourself, elegant hoopoe weight loss clinic in Dubai offers a vide range of safe no surgery treatments.

[wanderlust-journal]

 An Essay on Home

Maybe thirty metres down from the gravel shoulder where your cousin Manuel transcribed an arc with his bristled arm and said in brisk Portuguese what was your land and what was not, you take a hard turn into the bush. What your metropolitan eyes took for a path turns out to be a track carved by the bodies of wild boar, or perhaps the feral cattle that too belong to you in theory. You fight through clumps of yellow lupin and rock-rose until a clearing opens up in the scrub and a dome of azulejo mountain sky unfurls above you. The sun dipped behind the horizon half an hour ago, but the last coals of sunset still smolder in the petals of the lavender. The call of the hoopoe and the electric hum of the katydid ring against the far mountains. Even the grass snaps underfoot, so parched the thought of fire seems spark enough. And your cork oaks, their grey skin ridged with sadness, cup the whole glade in their tangled fingers. Later, you realize that you have stood so long with these trees that mosquitos have their faces in your veins and you don’t care.You’ve never felt less human than you do now, arms outstretched, legs planted like saplings in your ancestral dirt.

What in this environment has resonated in your denatured soul? Why does this Portuguese meadowland you barely know enfold you while the Canadian wild, with its charms and terrors, never has? On your mother’s side, you are immigrants. Your grandparents fled Salazar in the sixties and for three generations, Canada has meant concrete, skyscraper, and bus. Your father traces his family back to those mysterious ‘Old Stock Canadians’ our former Prime Minister so loved, but despite offshoots in Cape Breton, Saint John’s, Saskatchewan, nowhere is home. Perhaps this landlessness defines the settler experience. To put it more kindly than truly, every plot a European occupies is ‘borrowed.’ Could your new joy in this old country be a repatriation?

But you forget your mission here, a sting out of a corporate espionage thriller, only slow and Portuguese. Your grandfather noticed discrepancies in the cork yields of his two properties. Convinced he was being cheated, he sent his immediate offspring to validate his claim. Earlier, while Manuel—your cousin, your family’s executor in the cork business, the smallest man you’ve ever seen—explains the lack of yield, you strain to follow his mumble-mouthed Portuguese. Still, you drop quotes about harvest periods and virgin product, and smile as Manuel sucks in air through his teeth. He didn’t expect you to understand anything.

Cork cultivation diverges from mainstream forestry in that the trees never fall. Instead, the timbermen, called tiradors,target living bark, a light, porous substance used most notably as a sophisticated stopper that allows wine to breathe and mature. The tiradorswork in pairs, one crooked in the branches, the other on the ground. Each blow of their steelhead axe must strike with perfect force—too much, and it may split the tender phellogen. Too little and it won’t penetrate the tough outer layer. Once a sheet is squared, the tirador wedges his axe-handle into the ‘ruler,’ or vertical cut, and pries the bark off with a sticky crack. The tree, now nude, flashes orange and angry, but in a few months its hide will thicken again. Since the whimsical branch patterns of the cork oak resist mechanization, fathers have entrusted the same crown cuts, necklace cuts, and rulers to their sons for three centuries.

Manuel certainly looks like a peasant out of another age, all isolation and sunburn and outhouse, but his explanation for the low yields smacks of the academy. Climate change bakes the dirt, and without subsistence farmers around to plant nitrogen fixers like favas among the roots, the cork oak can’t absorb its nutrients. And, he says, there are no more young men to clear the land.

Ah, you say to your mother. Your grandfather had sent money to buy into a government work program for this purpose. Manuel claims the paperwork got lost, but you smell a rat. The program also surveys the borders, and you suspect Manuel had moved a handful of property markers. It’s a bold trade on his part. Every few years, one had to stamp out infestations of rock-rose or compromise the crop. These shrubby flowers’ tissue-paper petals in pink and white conceal the brutality of their underground advance. They have an alliance with trufflesthat twist their hairy mycelium around the rock-rose’s extensive roots. These fungi burn the soil with toxins that kill any nearby plant, so the rock-rose has the lebensraumto drop their hard pointed seeds. As this brush spreads, it chokes the cork oaks and leads to bad stock. With nobody to keep it in check… Manuel shakes his head. Soon, he says, it’s finished.

Your average Canadian could not tell a maintained orchard from a feral one. No rigid lines of fruit-trees here; cork oaks spot over their meadows in random clumps. Animals both wild and domesticated graze on the grass and the acorns sprinkled beneath their canopies. This ecosystem, called the montado,is a created wilderness organized for the nourishment and aesthetic pleasure of its human users. It also supports a delicate spread of animal and plant residents. Consider Linaria ricardoi, an elegant purple toadflax with medicinal properties. It relies on low-intensity farming and control of shrub encroachment to find purchase in the nutrient-poor soil. As former farmers flocked to cities, Linaria ricardoi’s niche shrunk. It survives in a handful of populations around the city of Beja, including the glade you stand in. You register the hummingbird-shaped flowers only as dots of amethyst that hover by your feet. Close your eyes and you forget them. Soon, the world will too. Their loss heralds others. The montadoand the similar Spanish dehesa provide the last asylum for the Iberian Lynx and the Spanish Imperial Eagle, apex predators whose disappearance would further fragment the food chain. In the montado, humans act as a tentpole species that shelters biodiversity rather than curtails it.

Oddly enough, in the town where you have lived your entire life, on the obverse hemisphere, much the same type of human-nature interface existed for thousands of years. The Lekwungen and SENĆOŦEN speaking-peoples that hold deep claim to the island of your shallow roots monitored the indigenous Gary Oak meadow in much the same way the tiradors monitor the montado.In order to facilitate the growth of camas, a staple food, these peoples initiated campaigns of annual controlled burns and ritual husbandry. Just as in Portugal, this traditional knowledge has been eroded by the blast of modernity. Today, the Gary Oak meadow occupies only three percent of its former realms. Why, then, do you not feel a bond with the soggy oaks on the slopes of WMIEŦEN? Why does this joy live in parched trees you see yearly at most?

You think it comes down to a generational covenant with the land. The bark of the cork oak peels off with such ease as a natural defense against the wildfires that often lacerate the arid Portuguese meadows. Should the outer layer of bark burn, it drops off like the skin of a snake, and the tree underneath survives. Therefore, to shell the tree demands that humans becomethe shell to replace it. It’s a feudal pact: we get cork, and in turn protect against brush and brushfire. Abandoning this arrangement has fatal effects. In 2017, fires savaged Portugal, fueled by the masses of scrub that characterize untended orchards and the orderly rows of flammable Australian Eucalyptus planted for pulpwood by commercial timberers. In five months, over one hundred people burned or suffocated to death. Acres of farmland flaked away on the hot wind. Maybe this is your role here—unclog the montado and relink those chains from father to son that cracked generations ago in the shuffle of illegitimacy and immigration.

For a second, you think you have it. The flies, the wild onions, the purple flowers, the cork—they whisper to you. Much like the Portuguese language, you can understand what is being said, but you can’t speak. You can name crown and necklace cuts, but an axe in your hand is a dumb instrument. You know Linaria ricardoiby sight, but not which ailments it can salve. Dutiful you, you will lean on Manuel to get the land cleared, but you’ll suggest your mother turn a blind eye to the rest. You don’t talk montado, and you won’t learn. You have so little claim here.

You left your girlfriend at the rental car with Manuel. They must have cracked up at your desperate jog in no particular direction. You, the Great Indoorsman, in your Keens sandals and your khaki tee, crashing off the path, through a spider web, and out of sight. You laugh, finally, because what else can you do? From his dry cloister in the rock-rose, the hoopoe hoots its displeasure at your interruption.

BIO: This essay has previously been published online as the winner of the 2018 On the Verge Writing Contest at the University of Victoria.  Nicholas Guerreiro is a fifth year student in the departments of Theatre and Creative Writing at the University of Victoria. His plays Hidden People and O, Come All Ye Faithful were produced by the Student Alternative Theatre Company. Nicholas also wrote and directed Rural Ravaillac for SKAMpede, and remounted O, Come All Ye Faithful on the Victoria Fringe. Nicholas is the literary manager for small theatre company Vino Buono productions. His stories and poems won every round of the 2015 Times Colonist So You Think You Can Write contest and his essay Vassals of the Land won the 2017 On The Verge writing contest.

Vassals of the Land by Nicholas Guerreiro  An Essay on Home Maybe thirty metres down from the gravel shoulder where your cousin Manuel transcribed an arc with his bristled arm and said in brisk Portuguese what was your land and what was not, you take a hard turn into the bush.