#rally driving experience days in Scotland

[neiljohnsblog]

Discover the Excitement of Rally Driving Days: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Scotland, with its rugged landscapes and winding roads, offers an ideal backdrop for rally enthusiasts. Rally-driving days in Scotland provide a unique opportunity for thrill-seekers and motorsport fans to experience the adrenaline of navigating challenging terrains in a high-performance vehicle. Whether you're a seasoned rally driver or a first-timer, these experiences promise an unforgettable adventure.

In this blog, we’ll explore what rally driving days in Scotland are all about, what you can expect, and how to prepare for this exhilarating activity.

Why Choose Scotland for Rally Driving?

Scotland's diverse terrain makes it a prime location for rally driving. From forest tracks and gravel trails to scenic open stretches, the country offers an authentic rallying experience. The dramatic landscapes and unpredictable weather add an extra layer of excitement, pushing drivers to adapt and hone their skills.

Rally driving days in Scotland are tailored for individuals and groups looking for a mix of challenge and fun. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply fulfilling a lifelong dream, this activity is bound to leave a lasting impression.

What to Expect on a Rally Driving Day

1. Comprehensive Briefing

Your rally driving day begins with a safety briefing and introduction to the car you’ll be driving. This is an essential part of the experience, as you'll learn about handling techniques, safety protocols, and the layout of the track or course.

2. Professional Guidance

Experienced rally instructors are on hand to guide you through every step. They provide one-on-one coaching, helping you master techniques such as drifting, throttle control, and navigating tight corners.

3. Hands-On Driving

The highlight of the day is, of course, getting behind the wheel. You'll experience the thrill of accelerating on straightaways, tackling challenging turns, and feeling the power of a rally car as you manoeuvre through the course.

4. Post-Driving Debrief

After your driving session, you’ll receive feedback on your performance. Instructors will offer improvement tips and may share insights on how to advance your rally driving skills.

How to Prepare for Rally Driving Days in Scotland

Preparing for rally driving days involves both mental and physical readiness. Here are several suggestions to help you maximize your experience.

1. Choose the Right Attire

Comfortable clothing and sturdy footwear are essential. Some venues provide specialized gear, but it’s always good to check in advance. Avoid loose clothing that could interfere with your control of the vehicle.

2. Stay Hydrated and Rested

Rally driving requires focus and quick reflexes, so being well-rested is crucial. Hydrate adequately before your session to keep your energy levels up.

3. Understand the Vehicle

If you have prior knowledge of rally cars, familiarize yourself with the type you’ll be driving. Most rally driving days offer vehicles with manual transmissions, so knowing how to operate one is a definite advantage.

4. Listen to Instructions

Your instructor’s guidance is invaluable. Pay close attention during the briefing and follow instructions during the drive to maximize safety and enjoyment.

The Benefits of Rally Driving

Rally driving days in Scotland offer more than just an adrenaline rush. They also provide valuable skills that can enhance your everyday driving abilities:

Improved Car Control: Learn advanced handling techniques to better manage your vehicle in challenging conditions.

Increased Confidence: Tackling rally courses builds confidence, helping you remain calm under pressure.

Memorable Experiences: The combination of scenic surroundings and thrilling activity makes rally driving an unforgettable adventure.

Best Locations for Rally Driving in Scotland

Scotland boasts a variety of venues ideal for rally driving, often located near scenic or historically significant areas. While we won't mention specific names, these venues typically offer a mix of forest tracks, gravel circuits, and tailored driving courses. They are designed to cater to all skill levels, from beginners to advanced rally enthusiasts.

Who Can Participate?

Rally driving days in Scotland are suitable for most individuals, provided they meet the minimum age and driving license requirements. Whether you're planning a solo adventure or a group outing, these experiences can be customized to fit your needs.

Gift the Experience of Rally Driving

Rally-driving days also make for exceptional gifts. They’re perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, or corporate events. Gift vouchers are often available, allowing recipients to book their session at a time that suits them.

Final Thoughts

Rally-driving days in Scotland are an incredible way to immerse yourself in the world of motorsport. The combination of stunning landscapes, expert guidance, and the raw thrill of rally driving makes these experiences second to none.

Whether you're looking to test your skills, celebrate a milestone, or simply try something new, rally driving days are a must for anyone seeking adventure. With the right preparation and mindset, you'll leave the day with a newfound appreciation for the art of rallying and memories that will last a lifetime.

Ready to experience the thrill of rally driving? Scotland is calling!

[johnalexcooper]

Get Behind the Wheel: Discover the Thrill of Rally Car Experience Days

Scotland’s rugged terrain and stunning landscapes make it the ultimate playground for motorsport enthusiasts. Rally Car Experience Days in Scotland offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of rally driving, combining the adrenaline of speed with the challenge of handling various surfaces and conditions. Whether you’re an aspiring rally driver or just looking for a thrilling adventure, these experiences are designed to deliver unforgettable memories.

What Are Rally Car Experience Days?

Rally Car Experience Days are specially curated events where participants can drive powerful rally cars under the guidance of professional instructors. These events typically take place in off-road settings, including purpose-built tracks, forests, and open countryside, offering a variety of terrains like gravel, mud, and tarmac.

Participants are introduced to the fundamentals of rally driving, including handling oversteer, mastering sharp turns, and perfecting braking techniques. The goal is to replicate the authentic feel of rallying, allowing you to unleash your inner driver in a safe and controlled environment.

Why Choose Scotland for Your Rally Car Experience?

Scotland is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty, but it’s also a haven for motorsport enthusiasts. The country’s diverse landscapes provide the ideal backdrop for rally driving, with tracks that test both driver skill and vehicle performance. Here’s why Scotland is the perfect destination:

Diverse Terrain: From forest trails to rugged gravel roads, Scotland’s varied topography offers a dynamic rally driving experience.

Picturesque Settings: Each turn and straightaway offers a view of Scotland’s iconic landscapes, making your rally experience as scenic as it is thrilling.

Rich Motorsport Heritage: Scotland has a proud history of motorsport, making it a fitting location to experience the world of rally driving firsthand.

What to Expect During a Rally Car Experience Day in Scotland

Professional Instruction

Your day begins with a safety briefing and an introduction to the basics of rally driving. Professional instructors provide detailed guidance on vehicle controls, driving techniques, and the dynamics of rally cars.

Practical Driving Sessions

The heart of the experience lies in getting behind the wheel. Participants take to the track to practice essential rally skills, such as power sliding, handbrake turns, and negotiating tight corners. You’ll feel the thrill of controlling a rally car as it navigates challenging terrain.

Timed Laps and Challenges

Some experiences include competitive elements, such as timed laps or obstacle challenges, adding an extra layer of excitement. These sessions allow you to test your skills and see how you measure up against others.

Memorable Atmosphere

The camaraderie among participants and the enthusiastic support of instructors create an electrifying atmosphere. Whether you’re cheering others on or pushing your limits on the track, the energy is contagious.

Who Can Participate?

Rally Car Experience Days in Scotland cater to a wide range of participants. You don’t need prior driving experience to join—most experiences are beginner-friendly. However, a valid driver’s license is typically required. For those with advanced skills, many providers offer tailored experiences to push your abilities to the next level.

Perfect for Special Occasions

Rally Car Experience Days aren’t just for motorsport enthusiasts; they’re also a fantastic way to celebrate special occasions. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or corporate team-building event, rally experiences provide a unique and unforgettable way to mark the day.

The Benefits of a Rally Car Experience Day

Adrenaline Rush: Few activities can match the thrill of rally driving, where speed meets skill.

Skill Development: Learn advanced driving techniques that improve your overall vehicle control.

Memorable Experience: Create lasting memories in a unique setting that combines adventure with Scotland’s natural beauty.

Stress Relief: The focus required during rally driving provides a welcome escape from the pressures of daily life.

Top Tips for Your Rally Car Experience Day

Dress Comfortably: Wear clothing that allows freedom of movement and sturdy shoes suitable for driving.

Stay Hydrated: Bring water and snacks to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.

Listen to the Instructors: Pay attention to their advice—they’ll help you get the most out of your experience.

Embrace the Challenge: Rally driving is all about pushing boundaries, so don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.

Why Rally Car Experience Days in Scotland Make a Great Gift

If you’re searching for a unique gift idea, look no further than Rally Car Experience Days in Scotland. Perfect for adventure seekers, car enthusiasts, or anyone who loves a challenge, these experiences provide the ultimate thrill. They also make excellent last-minute gift options, as many providers offer vouchers or digital gift certificates.

Conclusion

Rally Car Experience Days in Scotland offer an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in the excitement of rally driving while surrounded by some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. With professional instruction, diverse terrains, and an adrenaline-fueled atmosphere, these experiences promise memories that will last a lifetime.

So, why wait? Get behind the wheel, feel the power of a rally car, and discover the thrill that only Scotland can provide. Rally driving isn’t just an activity—it’s an adventure that leaves you exhilarated, inspired, and yearning for more.

[bertiebusyt]

Nightmare Van Life Problems could have been Disastrous

Nightmare Van Life Problems could have been Disastrous https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX06FDc6MH8 What a DISASTROUS day, Van Life Fuel PROBLEMS from cheap Supermarket DIESEL . Welcome back to our channel as we experience fuel problems after using cheap supermarket fuel when suddenly the EDC engine warning light comes on as our motorhome started juddering and misfiring whilst driving along a busy dual carrageway .We have to do an emergency stop and panicked to find a solution 0n the road . Find out what we did to try and resolve the issue before a complete breakdown . Plus we book onto a campsite but when we turn up there is a rally on and we was not welcome and did not want to risk getting stuck on a muddy field so we had to turn around to try and find somewhere else late at night to park up . We then had trouble paying for the park up online as it would not accept our payment . Todays Vlog is all about us not having a great day in Van Life and how we overcome the issues thrown at us all within a few hours . We give some valuable advice from what we have learnt through real situations and real events in our Motorhome life . In this Vlog we include ; Fuel Problems Booked Campsite Issues Solutions on the road Overnight park up Van Life Travel Pets in Our Motorhome Beautiful Beach and Castle 🔔Hit subscribe to join our travelling family & never miss an update on motorhome adventure, real-time vlogs, travel tips, and loads of laughter. / @bertiebus 🔗Support Our Channel ☕Buy us a coffee: https://ift.tt/0TFAMjC ✅ Stay Connected With Us. 👉Facebook:https://ift.tt/a2rNbWs?... 👉Instagram: https://ift.tt/sBylGiC... 📩 For Business Inquiries: needham1505@gmail.com ============================= 🎬 Recommended Playlist 👉 Bertie Bus • How We Got Lost In Mallaig: A Van Lif... 🎬 WATCH OUR OTHER VIDEOS: 👉 We SCREWED up in MALLAIG Scotland 👉 Someone has hit our van in the car park 👉 Flooded Sink Problems .The jo 👉 Anchored down on the West Coast of Scotland., Living in a Motorhome on the road full time . • The Best Fish & Chips on the West Coa... 👉 Strange happenings in our MOTORHOME VAN LIFE ============================= ✅ About Bertie Bus. Hi guys. We are John and Zoe. We started our YouTube channel in Aug 2022. We live full-time in our motorhome called Bertie. We have two gorgeous border collies with us on our travels. We release a vlog every few days and keep it real and entertaining. We also keep it within two days of where we are. Please join our family and become one of our friends. Please subscribe and follow our adventures for tips and ideas or just to laugh with us and our banter with each other ❤️ For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: needham1505@gmail.com 🔔Hit subscribe to join our travelling family & never miss an update on motorhome adventure, real-time vlogs, travel tips, and loads of laughter. / @bertiebus ================================= #vanlife #travelwithpets #traveltips #motorhome #livinginavan #problem #travelvlog ⚠️DISCLAIMER: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and our YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Bertie Bus. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided. © Bertie Bus via Bertie Bus https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwG3U4blYbNJ5biJvFIydZA June 03, 2024 at 12:00PM

[minervacasterly]

~No Other Way: Mary’s Failed Escape Attempt~

As things between Lady Mary and her half-brother, King Edward VI got progressively worse, her imperial cousin, Charles V took action. He sent imperial ships that were disguised as merchant ships to England. The plan was to take her away from England and use her as a figurehead to intimidate Edward VI and his council. However, like every other escape plans, these failed.

“On the evening of Monday, 30 June 1550, three imperial warships arrived off the coast of Essex. Further out to sea, they were supported by four larger vessels. This little fleet, commanded by the Dutchman Cornelius Scepperus, had encountered a flat calm. The next day one of the ships made its way to Stansgate and a small boat, with two men in it, rowed ashore. They claimed to be grain merchants and took with them a sample of their corn, but when they got ashore they found things unnervingly quiet. There was no one to meet them and they were obliged to return to their ship without having spoken to any local people. They had, however, been observed, and by quizzical eyes. People living around about, especially in the small port of Maldon at the head of the Blackwater estuary, knew of the rumors and wondered about the true motives of these Flemings who had materialized overnight. They were not convinced that the grain vessel was alone or that it had become with innocent intent. Though there was a long history of problems with Scottish pirates plundering the imperial merchant fleet, which might explain the need for an adequately defended ship, something about this vessel seemed wrong. The real purpose, they feared, was altogether more sinister. Nearby at Woodham Walter the Lady Mary had been in residence since early May. Her confrontation with the government was well known and the possibility of her attempting to flee England had been all the talk in this part of Essex for weeks. It was hard to keep anything secret in a large household, where people came and went and not everyone was trustworthy, even if they seemed devoted. Yet few people could have anticipated quite how the enterprise would finally be abandoned. The saga of Mary’s abortive attempt to escape from England to what she hoped would be a secure haven in the Low Countries was well documented at the time. It has elements of almost surreal comedy: disguises, frantic attempts to keep something secret of which the authorities were well aware and the final, complete deflation of Mary’s refusal to seize the chance when offered. At its heart was a troubled woman under severe strain, who entertained the fantasy that creeps into the minds of many people who are stressed almost beyond their mental resources–that running away offers a simple solution to all their difficulties. It is less the act itself which matters, more its contemplation. Perhaps this explains the contradictory nature of Mary’s behaviour in the summer of 1550. A woman who had shown remarkable fortitude over so many years could not, for a time, cope with yet another assault. To call this weakness would be a harsh judgement of Mary, who could not forget the past … Charles V also thought long and hard about whether, in agreeing to Mary’s repeated requests that he should furnish her with a means of escape, he was doing the right thing. As always with the emperor, his doubts about the wisdom of the enterprise were partly inspired by an uneasiness about whether he would actually be doing his cousin a service and partly overshadowed by political considerations. Aside from the hazardous nature of getting her away by ship, once gone she became financially dependent on him and could not serve his purpose by acting as the rallying force of principled opposition in England. He was also preoccupied with his preparations for leaving Brussels, which he did at the end of May, to go and take up residence at Augsburg. Ill and unhappy, beset with costly wars and rebellious subjects, this weary man who was losing his grip on his vast empire must have found Mary’s troubles little more than a minor irritation. His instinct, and his instructions to Van der Delft, pointed towards calming Mary down and persuading her to temporise. Eventually, he reluctantly agreed to help her. The plan for Mary’s flight was put together over a two-month period between May and July 1550 and the princess was very much its moving force. She had convinced herself that not just her religion but her life was in danger. This was the answer she gave to Van der Delft, when he pointed out to her that, if the king died, her absence could deprive her of the crown and would probably ensure the triumph of religious change for good: ‘If my brother were to die, I should be far better out of the kingdom; because as soon as he were dead, before the people knew it, they would despatch me too; there is no doubt of that, because you know that there is nobody about the king’s person or in the government who is not inimical to me.’ The problem with following the emperor’s advice on temporising was that her own, grim experience told her quite the reverse: ‘I fear I may tarry too long,’ she said. ‘When they send me orders forbidding me the mass, I shall expect to suffer as I suffered once during my father’s lifetime; they will order me to withdraw thirty miles from any navigable river or sea-port, and will deprive me of my confidential servants, and, having reduced me to the utmost destitution, they will deal with me as they please. But I will rather suffer death than stain my conscience.’ Her suspicion of the council was profound. They were ‘wicked and wily in their actions and particularly malevolent towards me’ … Mary had given some thought to the details of her escape. Van der Delft acknowledged that the first plan developed was Mary’s idea and he believed it could be made to work. Or perhaps it would be truer to say that he hoped it would work, because it relieved him of involvement, and the thought that he might be compromised alarmed him. Like Mary, he had a regard for his own personal security and that of his family. His desire to be of service to the princess was tinged with growing anxiety, especially as he was ill and arrangements were already in hand for him to leave England himself. The essence of Mary’s scheme was that she should be as close to the sea as possible, to facilitate her escape by water … Royal lady as she was, Mary did not initially contemplate going alone. She wanted with her ‘four of her ladies whom she trusts more than the rest’ (interesting to note that she evidently had reservations about some of them) plus Rochester himself and two unnamed gentlemen, one of whom was ‘very rich but would willingly give up all that he possesses to follow my lady to a place of safety’. Apart from these people, Mary would take nothing with her ‘except her rings and jewels. The plate she uses belongs to the king,’ wrote the ambassador, ‘as, I suppose the tapestries and other furniture do.’ Van der Delft said that no one apart from himself, his secretary and Rochester knew of the princess’s plan. Whether that was true or not, it involved too many people to be practical. Then the possibility of a boat being procured in England evaporated. The month of May came and went with Mary still in Essex and still exhorting the ambassador and his master to help her leave. Matters stalled when the government introduced restrictions on all movements at night, so that ‘no roads or crossroads, no harbours or creeks, nor any passage or outlet’ escaped the vigilance of ‘good folk who had something to lose’. This was a reference to the possibility of further summer uprisings like those of the preceding year, but a secondary motive for the council may have been to restrict Mary and frustrate her possibility of flight. The plan that was finally put into action took shape after Charles V had left Brussels and was approved by him on 25 June. Its driving force may have been his sister, Mary of Hungary, the regent of the Low Countries, who was more inclined to make decisions and take action. She also wanted to ensure that any repercussions were minimised, particularly in the event of failure. This meant waiting until Van der Delft had left, so he could not be implicated, and it also required that his successor, Jehan Scheyfve, a man of whom the regent did not think much, was kept completely in the dark. Thus it fell to Jehan Dubois, secretary to the imperial embassy in London, to take on the burden of managing the revised escape plan. He was more than equal to the task; in fact, he carried out his part of it in exemplary fashion. But it did not succeed. The emperor foresaw difficulties when he gave his sister his guarded approbation. All concerned should be aware of the need for flexibility and not try ‘to reckon the thing too exactly from day to day, as if the sea were a fixed and invariable factor, permitting such undertakings as may be carried out on land’. He thought that there was inevitably some danger and that speed was vital, or the details might leak out. ‘As for disguising our cousin,’ he wrote, ‘I will leave that to those in charge … but no disguise need be used as to whether or not I knew of the undertaking, and it will be better to be quite open about it … for we have the best of reasons and have done all we could to protect our cousin’s person and conscience … and holding back as long as possible from this extreme measure, which it has now become imperative to resort to because of the attitude adopted in England.’ Charles was evidently not given to cloak-and-daggery and he was determined to put the blame on Edward’s councillors. He was more concerned that the pursuit of Scottish pirates, the pretext for his ships being in English waters, could lead to difficulties if the ambassadors expected from Scotland at any time arrived in Brussels before the ships set sail. In the event, none of the difficulties foreseen by Charles V happened. The reason Mary did not leave was straightforward. She had changed her mind. Or, put another way, when faced, at last, with the opportunity to go, she could not bring herself to do it.“

As before, Mary was faced with a difficult choice. She could have left and enjoy moments of bliss. But these would pass in time. She probably remembered the lessons in history. Although she had the fighting spirit of her Trastamara grandparents and Tudor grandfather, she knew that it would be a huge gamble to run away and then attempt to take the throne. Not to mention, the people who still believed in her. Many of them would still support her, but returning back wouldn’t be easy. Everything her enemies had accused her of, would start to ring true, and she could end up the same way as La Beltraneja, de la Pole and other pretenders who fled to foreign countries for protection and when they tried to come back to claim what they viewed was rightfully theirs, they failed. And then there was also the more personal aspect of this: her mother had refused the easy way out, clinging on to her title of queen and asking Mary to obey her father but also to persevere. This was one of her most harrowing trials where the end lesson was: she was on her own and could trust no one but herself and rely on her unwavering faith to see her the coming struggles.

Source quoted: The Myth of Bloody Mary by Linda Porter. For more information on this failed escape, I also recommend H.F.M. Prescott’s biography on Mary, The Spanish Tudor. She doesn’t have a favorable opinion on Mary but the biography is repleted with plenty of details and and this is one subject that she expands upon.

[albionscastle]

First Impressions Part 9

I’m not going to lie, I’ve been in a dreadful funk since getting back from Scotland and I haven’t written hardly at all. But I was putting up the tree and thought of a scene which turned into this.

This chapter doesn’t really further the story much but gives an insight into what Lizzie and Jack are thinking. 

MASTERLIST AND PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

FIRST IMPRESSIONS PART 9 - SNOW DAY

LIZZIE

Winter had officially arrived, several weeks early in fact. Lizzie sat in her window watching the children walking to school, bundled in their coats and scarves, happily throwing snowballs at one another. Shop owners were salting and shovelling the sidewalks while the trucks came along to give the same treatment to the roads. The first decent snow of the season the week before Thanksgiving was almost unheard of. Since Lizzie had been in high school it had only snowed before Christmas maybe three times. Up at 6am she’d already shovelled the sidewalk outside the theatre, the landlord was far too old to be having to worry about it and if she was honest she enjoyed the simple labor of it.

What she didn’t like, however, was driving in the snow, especially in or around Chicago. She’d admittedly been called a crazy driver more than once but she had nothing on the idiots who came out in the bad weather. It was far safer for her and everyone else for her to just, not. The museum had already been informed that she wouldn’t be back until March, and honestly Lizzie was looking forward to taking the time off to explore some online classes, anything to pad her resume. Today, though, she was free just to relax and watch the flakes fall while she nursed her tea.

A ping from her phone distracted her, no-one usually texted her at 7am unless it was an emergency, or they wanted her to work.

Brad: Hey Red! It’s snowing!

Lizzie rolled her eyes. In the weeks since Charlie’s birthday, the weird feeling she’d had about Brad had almost vanished and she’d engaged with him a lot more. Though she had yet to take him up on his offers of dinner, she had allowed him to sit beside her at the movies once or twice. For his part, Brad had eased off while still making his attraction clear. Lizzie couldn’t understand why she was so reticent about getting involved with him. On paper he was a hell of a catch - gorgeous, charming, successful, friendly and fun. Brad Wickham ticked a lot of boxes, except two. Attraction and trust.

The truth was - she just didn’t think of him in that way. If he brushed her hand or touched her she felt nothing. Literally nothing, it just wasn’t there for her and no amount of trying had changed that. There was also the niggling feeling in the back of her mind that she just couldn’t trust him. Whether it was because he was just too perfect, or her own personal fears, she just couldn’t tell, but it was there.

It didn’t stop her from enjoying his friendship though.

Lizzie: Your powers of perception are second to none. I never would have guessed.

Brad: Ha ha, there’s talk they may cancel filming today.

Lizzie: It’s barely a dusting! And wouldn’t that just put production behind? Brad: Nah, we only have a few days of filming left and today is just us lowly bit part actors lol

He was right, Lizzie realised suddenly. Even Tom had mentioned more than once that the whole thing would be done by Thanksgiving, which was only seven days away. She made a mental note to ask Maya what plans her and Tom had made.

Lizzie: I forgot you will all be out of our hair this week.

Brad: Well our mutual ‘friend’ will be, me, I might stick around for a while.

Don’t.

She didn't’;t even realise that she’d said the word out loud the thought was so sudden. But Lizzie knew without a doubt that deep down she didn’t want Brad to stay in town once production finished.

Lizzie: trust me, there’s NOTHING here in the winter. Just ice and assholes, other than that, nothing happens.

There was no text for a while and Lizzie hoped that she’d gotten the message across diplomatically enough. She knew damn well what he meant when he talked about staying and she didn’t want to give him false hope.

Brad: Subject change, are you going to the wrap party?

Lizzie: Half the city was invited so yes. What about you?

Brad: Well it's sure to be awkward but I’m determined to. After all, Jack’s the one who should be ashamed, not me. If he doesn’t want to see me there he can leave and hide in his hotel room.

Lizzie: Now that would make the night perfect lol

Brad: Gotta go, we just got called. TTYL

The wrap party had been a bone of contention for Lizzie since the invitations arrived. Her mother and Lydia were over the moon, naturally, but when Lizzie had suggested she stay home with Ben she had been vetoed across the board. Reluctantly she’d had to agree to go, even though she wanted to avoid a great many of the people who would be there.

Still, maybe the night would be bearable with Brad and Charlie there. Maybe.

As expected, the snow had eased off by mid-morning and would be melted away by late afternoon. Maya had arrived at lunch, arms stacked with books and looking all flustered.

“Can I study here? If I go home Mom is just going to distract me and I’ll get nothing done, I’m behind already.”

Lizzie couldn’t say no to Maya, even if her presence meant that her planned day of solitude had gone out the window. Leaving her sister with her law books spread out all over the dining table, Lizzie had pottered around cleaning the apartment and hauling the Christmas boxes down from the storage room. Chloe was strict about the tree not going up until December and Colin had never allowed one. This year she was going to have it her way, Christmas was her favorite time of year.

It was dark by five and finally Maya shut her books.

“I’m done. All caught up, thanks Lizzie.”

“No probs, are you hungry?”

“Famished, I should get home for dinner.”

“I’ll rustle something up, stay and relax for a while.”

Lizzie could see Maya’s forehead wrinkle nd she knew what was bothering her.

“You have plans with Tom?”

“Just dinner with him and Jack.” Maya looked guilty.

Taking a deep breath, Lizzie made the decision.

“Invite them here.”

The thankful look on Maya’s face was worth any irritation that Lizzie felt at the prospect of Jack being in her apartment. Besides there were just a days left and she was, as always, willing to put up with anything if it meant Maya’s happiness.

Lizzie busied herself in the kitchen, making sure she was busy when the men in question arrived. She could hear their voices, the difference between their accents always so clear. Despite herself, she enjoyed the burrs and lilts when Jack spoke and loathed that she actually found his voice quite comforting.

“Could ye use a hand?”

Speak of the devil and he’ll pop his head into your kitchen.

“I’m actually good.” Lizzie didn’t even look up  from chopping the carrots.

“Are ye sure? I think those two want some time alone, if ye ken?”

You could have stayed home, she thought bitterly.

“Fine, can you chop these for me?” she sighed.

“What are makin?” he took the knife from her hand and got to work.

“A coconut curry, nothing special.”

“Sounds better than McDonalds again.”

Lizzie couldn’t help but snicker. Whiting wasn’t known as a hub for the discerning diner, and their McDonald's even had a Facebook page declaring it the worst in existence. For good reason.

“You’re gambling with your life eating at that shithole.”

“Take it up wi’ the young’un, he’s go a stomach made o cast iron.”

“And apparently the taste to go with it if he willingly eats that crap to begin with.”

“Well, to be fair, the lad’s no had a lot of experience past uni, and ye know how tha goes.”

“I remember. I existed on a diet of ramen, takeout and toast. Oh and chocolate, naturally.”

“Naturally.” he chuckled, sliding the veggies into the skillet at Lizzie’s beckoning.

The conversation lapsed into a comfortable silence as the meal came together. Jack seemed able to anticipate her needs and they worked together like a well-oiled machine.

“It’s almost ready, let me check the rice.”

Lizzie lifted the lid on the pot and held her hand out for a fork. Jack handed one to her, fingers sliding over hers as he placed it in her palm. The jolt that hit her made her catch her breath, hand shaking as she gripped the utensil. The last time he’d touched her this hadn’t happened, but she’d been upset and his touch had been comforting in the face of Colin.

This. This was trouble.

Lizzie waited until Jack went to set the table before she let out her breath, her hand still tingling and her body far too warm for comfort.

What the fuck had just happened? JACK

His hand was twitching, literally twitching as he flexed his fingers. He’d seen Elizabeth take a deep breath and he knew that she felt it too. The attraction that simmered was white hot and coursing through his veins and it was all he could do to slow his breathing. Jack barely even paid attention to what he was doing, his mind wandering to far more interesting thoughts.

Stop it! He muttered to himself before his body betrayed his thoughts.

Jack forced himself to calm down before going back into the kitchen. Elizabeth had her back to him as she transferred food to serving dishes. He took a moment to appreciate her, even all covered up she was a treat. For a brief moment he allowed himself to imagine walking up behind her, lifting her braid so he could press his lips to her neck. In his mind she leaned back into him with a smile as his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her as he whispered in her ear.

“Can you get the others?”

His bubble burst and reality came into sharp focus as he called out to Tom and Maya, taking a serving dish from the counter. He gave himself credit for rallying well during dinner, telling stories from different sets that had the women howling with laughter. There were moments he noticed that Elizabeth would have her brows furrowed in confusion, and he definitely noticed her watching him when she thought he wasn’t looking.

Bolstered, he not only dragged Tom to make sure they did the cleaning up, but he also broached the subject of the Christmas boxes in the corner.

“Lizzie always was gung ho about getting Christmas up and moving.” Maya laughed. “Mom would never even let her look at tinsel until December.”

“I’m all fer decorating early ma’self.” Jack shrugged, noting Elizabeth’s surprise. “There’s summan magical about Christmas an I think the longer ye can experience it each year the better.”

He didn’t add that he hadn’t decorated his flat since Lisa buggered off and even then it had been all her, designed purely to be shown off and with no warmth or charm. There had been no magic to it.

“Lizzie! Why don’t we do it now?” Tom suddenly piped up with excitement.

Good boy, Jack thought as he murmured his agreement to the idea.

“Well I guess we could.” she seemed uncertain at first but he could see the excitement brimming in her eyes.

That was all it took. Within minutes the boxes had been dragged into the center of the room and the corner emptied.

“I prefer real trees,” Elizabeth sighed she cut open the huge box containing the tree. “But I couldn’t justify the expense when I already had this.”

As it was, her fake tree was impressively real-looking, and large. Jack could see that it had been packed away for quite some time as even the scent packets in with it had lost their smell. It was a lovely tree but in the back of his mind all he could think was that he deserved the real thing.

Maya lit pine-scented candles, while Tom turned on a Christmas playlist. Jack helped Elizabeth piece the tree together, pulling and fluffing the branches until it looked perfect. For the next hour or so, lights and tinsel were hung, and box after box of baubles opened. Many were the typical colorful glass balls, glittering stars, pretty but impersonal. The last couple of boxes were different. He watched the sisters as they lifted each one out, some hand made and some old and well loved. There was even a box of ornaments that were nothing but Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, a wonderland of pop culture. Jack’s personal favorite was a Darth Vader in an ugly sweater who spoke about presents and Sithmas every time someone moved past him.

“When did you get all these, Lizzie?” Maya was hanging a golden Snitch beside a sparkly Merida.

Tom was unboxing a Captain America and jack was playing with a shark that played the Jaws theme.

“I’ve just bought them at sale over the years, Mom never wanted them on the tree and Colin…” Jack watched her visibly gather herself. “He wasn’t big on Christmas.”

It occured to Jack that this might well be the first time Elizabeth had her own tree, in her own home, and he wasn’t sure how it was making him feel. Shaking his head to try and clear his thoughts he handed her the shark, watching her while she hung it. After it all was done and the boxes carted back to storage, Jack stood back looking at what they’d done.. The tree was a hodge podge, with no apparent style or theme and he had to admit he thought it was perfect. The result was warm, inviting and somehow uniquely Elizabeth. This apartment wasn’t designed to please anyone but her and it worked, in the fact that one felt so much at home here.

His flat in London was pathetically sterile, had been even during the time he shared it with Lisa. She’d been all for the ultra modern, with white everything and the place had looked like a damn photoshoot. He’d been afraid to even sit on the fucking couch. In the year that she’d been gone the only thing he’d done with the place was buy a couch and a tv, most of the time that was where he slept too. If he was with a woman it had always been at her place or a hotel, somewhere that he could make a quick, discrete exit. There had been no morning afters, no desire to have a woman in his space.

Until now.

Elizabeth would hate his place, he knew by looking at her jewelled throws and little knick knacks, and he’d be embarrassed to take her there. But here, he could see something more than taking her to bed and sneaking out while she was asleep. He could see snuggling on the couch as a movie played, he could see cooking together again.

He could see a future and it scared him to death.

It wasn’t possible, least of all with her and all of this had to be some weird side-effect of being in close quarters to the woman he wanted to shag and couldn’t. There was no future with a woman who lived in a different country and whose whole family belonged on some trashy American talk show. Not to mention that he was never ever going to put himself in that position again. He could never allow himself to be blindsided and betrayed again - especially when the woman in question was already friendly with Wick.

While the others dug into dessert, Jack excused himself to the bathroom, finding that he needed a few moments to be alone with his thoughts. Strolling down the hallway he ran his fingers along the wall, taking in the gallery of photos. Most were of Elizabeth and her family or friends. He chuckled to himself at one of her and Charlie as young teens, skinny and awkward looking, their teeth in braces. Further along, closer to her bedroom door were two framed documents. With some surprise he realised they were diplomas, from Northwestern University. Somehow he’d known in the back of his mind that she’d been to school, something he’d overheard maybe. He hadn’t considered a place like Northwestern, or that ‘gone to school’ meant a Masters degree in History.

He was honestly taken aback. What on earth was she doing working in a bakery with a masters degree? Jack couldn’t wrap his head around it, or around why the hell he cared so much what she did or didn’t do with her life. Splashing his face with water in the bathroom, Jack tried to shake some sense into himself. With a resigned sigh he instead gave into curiosity and opened the bathroom cabinet, all the while telling himself that he was a despicable human being.

“What on earth?” he murmured aloud as he took in the row of prescription bottles on the shelf.

His brow furrowed as he read the labels; Hydroxyzine, Lexapro, Amitriptyline, Naproxen - that one, he knew was for pain. The others though, he had no idea what they were but it didn’t bode well. Whatever was wrong with Elizabeth, she did a good job of hiding it, he’d certainly seen no signs of illness or weakness.

“That was a nice night, even you have to admit Jack.” Tom remarked later as they walked back to the hotel.

“Aye it was. Say, do ye know if Elizabeth is sick or summan?”

“She looked fine to me, a bit tired maybe.”

Jack just shrugged, surely if it were something  like say, cancer, Maya would have mentioned something to Tom. Whatever it was it apparently wasn’t bad enough to cause anyone any real concern.

Again, why did he even fucking care?

Short answer, he didn’t. The woman had gotten under his skin, yes but for no reason other than him being horny, wanting to scratch the itch. Anything else was simply sentimentality, maybe a touch of loneliness.

“Nuthun, jus thought she seemed a bit, off, probably jus tried like ye said.”

“Awe how sweet of you to care you big softie.” Tom laughed, despite the dark look that Jack shot him.

“Shut the fuck up, asshole.” Jack muttered, shoving Tom good-naturedly.

As much as Jack hated to admit it, Tom had a point. He did care, despite his better judgement and every argument against it. He cared. Very much.

And he was miserable.

[classyfoxdestiny]

Scottish minister demands investigation into nursery over alleged racism

Scottish minister demands investigation into nursery over alleged racism

A Scottish cabinet minister has called for an investigation into alleged racial discrimination at a nursery that refused a place for his young daughter.

Humza Yousaf, the devolved government’s health secretary, said a Dundee nursery had claimed there were no places available for his two-year-old daughter Amal.

But they said a white friend who called to check was told there were places available on three afternoons a week at the same establishment.

Mr Yousaf said applications had been tested by other family members and reporters, with “white-sounding” and “ethnic-sounding” names being accepted and rejected respectively on the same day.

A spokesperson for the owners of the Little Scholars Nursery in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, said they were “extremely proud of being open and inclusive to all” insisting that “any claim to the contrary is demonstrably false and an accusation that we would refute in the strongest possible terms”.

The spokesperson told The Daily Record newspaper, which first reported the claims: “In addition to our owners being of Asian heritage, across more than a decade we have regularly welcomed both children and staff from a range of different religious, cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds, including two Muslim families currently.

“We have also regularly made arrangements to accommodate different lifestyles by, for example, providing a halal menu for those children who come from Muslim families.”

Mr Yousaf said he and his wife had contacted the Care Inspectorate and are also seeking legal advice on the issue.

Mr Yousaf said: “We are fooling ourselves if we believe discrimination doesn’t exist in Scotland. I believe evidence we have proves our case beyond doubt.

“As well as reporting the nursery to the Care Inspectorate we are also seeking legal advice.”

The minister, who has played a high profile role in Scotland’s response to the Covid pandemic, said that contacting the Care Inspectorate with their concerns was “not a step my wife and I have taken lightly”.

He tweeted: “After our nursery application for our daughter was refused a 2nd time, my wife asked her White Scottish friend to put in an application for a Child the same age. Within 24hrs of refusing our application my wife’s friend’s was accepted.”

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Mr Yousaf went on to claim that “three White-Scottish applicants offered tours of nursery and spaces, often within less than 24hrs”, while at the same time that applicants with Muslim names were “being rejected, including application for my daughter”.

He added: “It doesn’t matter what my position or how senior in Govt I may be, some will always see me, my wife and children by our ethnicity or religion first.

“We have given Little Scholars nursery every opportunity for an explanation for the disparity in treatment, none has been forthcoming.”

“With no explanation from Little Scholars, we will pursue the truth and get answers we deserve.”

Source link

[t-baba]

Google's latest evolution of rel='nofollow'

#408 — September 11, 2019

Read on the Web

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Google Is Evolving “nofollow” with New Ways to Identify The Nature of Links — Google introduced rel=’nofollow’ in 2005 as a way for site owners to mark untrusted links that shouldn’t receive any PageRank-related credit in Google’s algorithms. It took off, but now Google is introducing two new rel values for specific types of content.

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💡 Tip of the Week

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Using :focus-within to highlight a form

If you're working on a form with multiple sections, then the :focus-within property may prove useful.

This CSS pseudo-class can be utilised to highlight an entire form area when the user selects any of a form container's input fields.

The example image below demonstrates this (you can also see it in action in this little CodePen demo). The user has selected the Name input, and the entire form is highlighted in green:

Using this property is simple enough — just append the :focus-within selector on to the element you wish to highlight. Then, when any of the elements descendants are bought into focused, the desired change will occur.

form:focus-within { background: #98FB98; }

Browser support for this currently sits at around 82% — IE, Edge and Samsung Internet are amonst those yet to implement support.

This Tip of the Week is sponsored Pantheon, the WebOps platform built for agility. Learn what WebOps is and how it can help drive agile transformation and business results.

🔧 Code, Tools & Resources

ruffle: A Flash Player Emulator — An Adobe Flash Player emulator written in the Rust programming language. Ruffle targets both the desktop and the web using WebAssembly. There's a demo here. Related: The once-popular Flash website Newgrounds are planning to make use of this.

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Make Your Images & Videos Load Fast & Look Beautiful with Cloudinary

Cloudinary sponsor

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CSSConf, September 25 — Budapest, Hungary — A community conference dedicated to the designers and developers who love CSS.

Fronteers Conference, October 3-4 — Amsterdam, Netherlands — One of Europe’s premiere conferences on front-end web development.

SmashingConf New York, October 15-16 — New York, USA — The conference is sold out, but some workshop tickets are still available.

Accessibility Scotland, October 25 — Edinburgh, UK — One day of talks. Friendly, open discussion about accessibility.

by via Frontend Focus https://ift.tt/305g3Qh

[runningblogofanunfit30somet-blog]

Edinburgh Marathon - 26th May

Fourth marathon of twelve! Only 8 to go! I was on a massive high the weeks after the Newport marathon. Not only had I managed to get around the course in under 5 hours again but I had made a solid friend with Simon who is now meeting me at the Yeovil event in June and taking on the New Forest Marathon with me in September. The response I’ve had from friends, family and strangers has been overwhelming too. Even a tweet from Phil Hewitt, whose books I’d only recently finished reading.

Recovery was going well and my body seemed absolutely fine and rested bar a few aesthetic things (who needs toenails anyway?) but after a shitty week at work and a few unexpected hiccoughs financially, I plummeted into a bit of a weird place which threw my training off. No panic.....or so I thought.

I had been nervous but looking forward to going to Edinburgh for a while. Not only because of the marathon but to take a look around the city again with some exceptional company. I head to Huntingdon early on Friday morning to meet Chris so we could chill out a little ahead of getting to the airport later in the afternoon. The journey was pretty uneventful which I’m grateful for. We checked into the room which was warm and cozy and exactly what I needed ahead of the big day. We headed out in Edinburgh and stumbled into a few bars which was perhaps not my cleverest of ideas before a marathon.

Saturday morning comes and I had agreed to meet a friend, Louisa who is moving up to Edinburgh in the new year and we did park run together. Just a leisurely pace around Figgate Park which I thought would be a good sense check to see what’s pulling and where so I can strap up and prepare ahead of Sunday.

It was such a lovely day to just walk around the city with Chris although in retrospect probably did a bit too much walking but it was so lovely to have the chance to catch up with friends, family and see the city. I do love Edinburgh.

We got back to the hostel relatively early, and after I strap myself up, head for an early night.

Morning arrives and it’s absolutely pissing it down outside. Trying to force down some food despite the inevitable butterflies taking hold in my stomach. The cab is ordered and before we know it we’re at the start line. Thankfully where we were dropped off was right by the luggage lorries. A little sweet talking to the staff meant that Chris could drop his bags in with mine instead of lugging it around all day.

The rain is till coming down so I don my Scotland themed poncho (classy) and make my way down to the start pens, via a cafe to use the toilet and to keep warm. My friend Thomas managed to pop in to wish me luck too which was lovely!

Getting closer to 10am and taking my place in the starting pen, I’m unusually not feeling the pre run excitement. I can’t decide if this is the rain or nerves took over the excitement or what. The gun goes and the crowds surge and here we go.

The crowds were great but really quiet. I definitely think the rain put a literal dampener on spirits and everyone was cold and wet before it had even begin but there we were, on our way to the finish line. All that was in the way was 26.2 miles of road and weather.

The route was wonderful. There’s something about running through a city on an event day that just doesn’t compare to anything else. After the flatness of Newport I studied the route map for Edinburgh so I could try and pace myself as I knew it would be hillier. Downhill for the first  6 miles and then up and down for the remaining 21 miles with long stretches of flat which is great. 

Encountering the first hill, disaster struck though. Something didn’t feel right in my stomach all day and at mile 3, pulling myself uphill it happened. My first marathon puke. It was mostly water and the gel that I had just had but I was running on empty from that point on.

The mental struggle is real and even as I write this 3 days after the marathon I’m not sure how I got around. My body wasn’t coping with the weather, the hills or with food so it seemed, and my head was convincing me that it would be so easy for me to drop out. No one would be upset and probably would understand if I told them I wasn’t coping. Another part of me though pulled each foot one in front of the other; my own internal shame at not finishing and the disappointment at not completing the 12 marathons in 12 months as I had planned. 11 in 12 months doesn’t quite have the same feeling.

I ran when I could and walked when it felt too much on my stomach. Weirdly though, I think I had my water intake right this time. I didn’t need to stop for the loo at all this time around...... that could have been dehydration though!

The race does seem a bit of a blur now, I remember the scenery being absolutely breath taking and seeing CALM runners and friends run the course certainly helped but the head wind on the final 7 miles of the course made the home stretch a real challenge and I did slow to a walk for a lot of that. I’m not happy that I had to walk as much as I did BUT I am so proud for having completed the route.

Having Louisa and Chris in the crowd to cheer me on especially in that final home stretch around 22 miles was the boost I needed and I rallied to run the final few miles when I could.

5:14:16

4 minutes slower than Brighton BUT so much prouder of having achieved this when I could have so easily fallen apart at mile 3 and dropped out.

Sitting down on the grass in what was now beautiful sunshine, I wept. Not even embarrassed to admit it. I’m still surprised at where I got the strength to pull myself around the course from. I still have no idea but I can understand now why people have these spiritual experiences when running. It certainly does feel other worldly when you reach the finish line when you have nothing left.

Chris met me soon after and thrust a beer into my hands which I am so grateful for. A hug and some warmth and just some time to sit still with company after a gruelling 5 hours on my feet was perfect. Offered pizza by a stranger which I promptly inhaled despite the warnings you get as a child; I think when it comes to running, accepting sweets, water, fruit and pizza from strangers is just par for the course.

We collected our bags and grabbed a cab back into the city for some food before heading to the airport to catch the flight back.

Chris was so wonderful to me all weekend but after a tough marathon I don’t think I’d have managed the journey home by myself on my own steam.

Touching down in Luton after 10pm with another hours drive to Huntingon, made it a very long day in which Chris did exceptionally well at looking after me and making sure I ate.

Arriving back, Chris made sure I had a drink to replenish fluids, a shower and insisted I get straight into bed. I was done, pleased with what I had achieved at the marathon but done all the same.

It was eye opening and in the lead up to the next one in 3 weeks time, preparation is key. No more fucking about. I’m a marathon runner now.

Yeovil will be a challenge but I’m actually excited about it. Each marathon brings with it a new adventure. Yeovil, here I come.

[onlinecarreview]

Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro review - living the American dream

Seeking respite from clogged UK roads, we find solace in the freedom and isolation of California's El Mirage lake bed

Isolation is a difficult concept to truly experience in the UK. Some parts of Scotland manage it, but there’s always a wiggle of tarmac or the bobbing cable of a power line somewhere in your line of sight, evidence that humankind is never that far away.It’s something I’ve always loved about travelling in the US.

Go to the right spot, at the right time, and you might be the only human being on the planet. Stand on the parched, dusty surface of El Mirage, a dry lake bed north of Los Angeles that covers almost 76,000 acres, and as the sun dips behind the mountains to the west and the landscape adopts an eerie silence, it’s just you and your shadow, stretching dozens of metres towards the east behind you. A moment away from work, from emails, a moment alone with your thoughts.

The silence might be even more stark were it not for the shutter click of photographer Aston Parrott’s Nikon, as he captures the descending, glowing orb through the windows of the car we’re here to drive - a Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. I say car; what I mean is pickup truck, or simply ‘truck’ in local parlance.

Not a style of vehicle evo regularly gets its hands on, but we’re not entirely oblivious to the category either: we’ve run one or two in our long-term fleet, since they make brilliant workhorses for evo’s less glamourous errands.

It’s bigger, feels tougher, looks angrier

The ‘Taco’, as I quickly discovered, is a slightly different beast. What it shares with the pickups available on UK shores is utility, and rather rudimentary construction. There’s a ladder chassis, for instance, and the rear is suspended not by coils but by semi-elliptical leaf springs. Where it differs is almost everywhere else: It’s bigger, feels tougher, looks angrier, drinks petrol rather than diesel, and is - unnatural though it is to use the phrase in this context - more focused.

The focus comes courtesy of TRD, or Toyota Racing Developments. I’m most familiar with TRD through hotted-up Japanese sports cars, having steered numerous Celicas and MR2s around virtual circuits in the Gran Turismo series, but in the States it’s a name associated mostly with trophy trucks and NASCAR. The Tacoma features several TRD bits and TRD-selected improvements, from a naughty exhaust system to some trick Fox dampers and a quarter-inch aluminium skid plate under the front end.

Up front, mounted roughly chest-high if you share my 5ft 9in stature, you’ll find a 3.5-litre, naturally-aspirated V6 making 278bhp at 6000rpm and 265lb ft at 4600rpm. As the numbers suggest, and as I found out not long after leaving the confines of Los Angeles, it’s an engine completely out of step with modern expectations of performance.

The TRD Tacoma isn’t slow as such, but it needs working remarkably hard if you’re used to the relentless thump of something turbocharged. Shortly before heading to the US I’d driven the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43, whose twin-turbocharged V6 makes an extra 84 horses and 119 lb ft, and does so 500rpm and 2100rpm sooner respectively. It’s also around 150kg lighter than the 2007kg Toyota, which allows it to get to 62mph in 4.9 seconds. Toyota doesn’t quote figures for the TRD Taco, but we’d estimate it’s a good three seconds slower to 60.

It’s a difficult car to make a case for on the road too, at least if corners are your thing. The loping highway gait is actually quite pleasant and the high driving position feels purposeful, but detour into the twists and turns of the mountains around LA and you’ll go to sleep that evening with the sounds of tortured rubber in your head, and reeling from nightmares about canyon-seeking understeer. It turns out that off-road tyres aren’t conducive to on-road grip, and turning the feel-free steering in either direction feels like opening the valve on an airlock. With time its responses become predictable, but you have the most fun when you eventually stop.

But that’s not really what I came to America for, and certainly not why I paid my $15 daily fee to enjoy the El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area. Where trackdays are the last bastion of the thrill-seeking UK motorist, Americans get another option: spend a day hacking around in the wilderness, free to do largely as you please.

Within reason - the lake’s custodians take a dim view of firearms and fireworks, and you’re kindly asked not to tear up the lake surface by doing donuts - but beyond that your only real limit is your imagination. Want to zip about on quad bikes or dirt bikes? Go for it. Need somewhere to land your light aircraft? Be their guest.

Want to stage an impromptu race with your mates? That seems to be fine too (and El Mirage is more than suited to it - the Southern California Timing Association, which also runs Bonneville Speed Week, regularly hosts events at El Mirage). And if you simply want to turn up with your buddies and have a barbeque, you can do that too.

My own plan was pretty simple. I wanted to take a truck - the kind of vehicle that millions of Americans buy every year - and see how much fun I could have for my fifteen bucks.

Test number one: Speed. El Mirage is over six miles long from tip to tip, and around two miles wide. It’s also very flat and has a hard, sun-baked surface. And good visibility, so you can pretty much point your nose to the horizon and go. The Tacoma shifts clumsily down its six-speed automatic transmission, clears its lungs and emits a guttural bellow from the TRD exhaust as it heads for the red line.

Each shift is slurred like slushboxes of old, but the pace is definitely increasing. Top speed in the brochure is a limited 113mph; I lift off at a nice, round 100mph on the dial, followed by a mile of fine dust that’s almost certainly ruined the backdrop for the handful of people making what appears to be a low-budget music video.

Yumps next. The one thing we can’t find at El Mirage are proper rolling dunes, so we scout the small, sandy speedbumps that line the lakebed for potential air-worthy candidates. Photographers love jump shots whether you’re testing a Kia Picanto, a 918 Spyder or a two-ton truck.

My first attempt is little more than an uncomfortable thump, but the next is much more promising. Bit of a ramp on both sides, decent height. The TRD’s definitely getting air on this one, but Aston isn’t happy. ‘Faster, Ingram’, he says.

Faster, Ingram goes: I sink Converse to carpet and hit the ramp with a good 10mph more on the clock than last time. The front gets air, pointing the nose skywards, but then the back wheels hit the ramp and send the nose quite rapidly down. Sand replaces sky and I land with a sickening shudder. It’s enough to have set the wipers going by themselves, but a few exploratory wiggles of the steering suggests everything is still functioning.

I loop around to Aston, doubled with laughter as he shows me an image that will no doubt define my career

I loop around to Aston, doubled with laughter as he shows me an image that will no doubt define my career at evo: front wheels tucked into the arches, skid plate on the dirt, and back wheels a startling distance off the ground.

Remarkably, the only visible evidence of the landing is a scuffed skid plate. A BMW X5 would probably have set off all its airbags and auto-dialled for emergency assistance.

We try something a little closer to terra firma. One, solitary hillock standing proud of the surrounding bush looks inviting. Until we get close, that is. The damn thing looks a hell of a lot steeper than it did from half a mile away. Let’s be methodical: Clunk transmission into four-wheel drive, low range, engage the rock-crawling mode, foot off the brake... and up she goes, accompanied by the chunter and chatter of the ABS grabbing individual wheels to maintain traction.

I’m feeling quite proud of myself until it gets even steeper and I chicken out, but plans to fake the top-of-the-hill pictures and reverse back down are dashed when a couple of locals pile up the hill behind me at about eight times the speed I crawled up and park immediately behind. Bugger.

El Mirage is just one of dozens of off-road playgrounds in the area

Thankfully, they’re able to direct me to the top (‘Left a bit, you’ll clear that rock, give it some gas’), I thank them, and they say ‘no problem’, graciously pretending I’m not the most pathetic “four-wheeler” they’ve ever seen. One does take an interest in the truck - he currently drives a battleship-grey Toyota FJ Cruiser on huge tyres, and is looking to trade soon. He also tells me that El Mirage is just one of dozens of off-road playgrounds in the area, before roaring off down the hill again and shrinking to a spec in the distance.

By now the sun is sinking and I’m seeking a different, more traditionally evo kind of thrill. Lining sections of the lake are gravel roads and firm dirt trails, pockmarked by bushes and small dunes. To any self-respecting petrolhead, the rally stage builds itself.

There’s just one problem: while I’m back in rear-wheel drive, the traction control won’t fully disengage. Long, trophy truck-style skids are not there for the taking. But at low enough speeds the electronic nanny’s back is turned and I send thick clouds of ultra-fine dust into the sky as the ‘Yota slews sideways. It feels hilarious, perched so high and throwing armfuls of lock at every slide. Might be the most fun I’ve had all day. Maybe all year.

And the best thing? There’s nobody around to witness, nobody to disturb, and nobody to push passive-aggressive notes through your letterbox. Fifteen bucks doesn’t buy a lot these days. But it can buy you a few hours of blissful, automotive isolation.

[neiljohnsblog]

Get in the Driver's Seat: Why You Should Book a Rally Driving Experience Today

For motorsport enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike, rally driving offers an unparalleled experience of speed, skill, and adrenaline. Scotland, with its rugged terrain and breathtaking landscapes, is a prime destination for rally-driving enthusiasts. Rally driving experiences in Scotland combine the natural beauty of the region with the excitement of one of the most demanding motorsports. If you’ve ever dreamed of navigating challenging courses, mastering sharp turns, and feeling the rush of gravel beneath your tyres, now is the time to make it a reality.

The Appeal of Rally Driving

Unlike traditional motorsports, rally driving takes you off the smooth surfaces of a race track and places you on unpredictable terrains. From muddy trails to rocky paths, rally driving tests your abilities to adapt, react, and maintain control under pressure. Each turn and obstacle brings a new challenge, making every second behind the wheel an adventure.

In Scotland, the variety of landscapes enhances the experience. From rolling hills and dense forests to wide-open moorlands, the terrain offers a mix of challenges that cater to drivers of all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner eager to learn or an experienced driver looking to hone your skills, Scotland's rally driving experiences offer something for everyone.

Why Choose Rally Driving in Scotland?

1. Stunning Locations

Scotland’s natural beauty sets it apart as a rally-driving destination. Imagine racing through tracks surrounded by lush greenery, majestic mountains, and pristine lochs. The Scottish Highlands, for example, provide an iconic backdrop for rally courses, blending technical challenges with awe-inspiring scenery.

2. World-Class Training

Many rally driving experiences in Scotland include guidance from experienced instructors who ensure that participants get the most out of their sessions. These experts provide valuable tips and tricks to help you navigate challenging courses while staying safe and maximizing your enjoyment.

3. Authentic Rally Cars

One of the highlights of rally driving experiences is the opportunity to get behind the wheel of purpose-built rally cars. Equipped with specialized tyres, enhanced suspension, and powerful engines, these vehicles are designed to handle the toughest terrains. Feeling the power and precision of a rally car as you tackle hairpin turns and uneven surfaces is an experience like no other.

4. Catering to All Levels

Rally driving experiences in Scotland are tailored to suit a wide range of skill levels. Beginners can learn the basics of car control, braking techniques, and cornering strategies, while more experienced drivers can tackle advanced challenges and improve their skills on demanding courses.

What to Expect from a Rally Driving Experience

Safety Briefing and Training

Every rally driving experience begins with a comprehensive safety briefing. Instructors will guide you through the fundamentals of rally driving, including vehicle handling, gear shifting, and navigating different terrains. This ensures that even first-timers feel confident and secure before hitting the track.

The Thrill of the Drive

Once you’re in the driver’s seat, the real excitement begins. Depending on the package you choose, you might start with a few practice laps to familiarize yourself with the car and the track. Then, it’s time to put your skills to the test on a variety of surfaces, including gravel, mud, and asphalt.

Post-Drive Feedback

Many experiences include a debriefing session where instructors provide feedback on your performance. This is a great opportunity to learn from the pros and identify areas for improvement, making your next rally drive even better.

Benefits of a Rally Driving Experience

Boosts Confidence Handling a rally car on challenging terrains can significantly boost your driving confidence. The skills you learn, such as maintaining control in tricky situations, are transferable to everyday driving.

Adrenaline Rush Few activities match the adrenaline rush of rally driving. The combination of speed, precision, and the unpredictable nature of the terrain creates an electrifying experience that stays with you long after you leave the track.

Perfect for Celebrations Rally driving experiences in Scotland make for unforgettable gifts and celebrations. Whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, or a corporate team-building event, this activity guarantees memories that will last a lifetime.

A Unique Adventure For those looking to try something out of the ordinary, rally driving offers a unique adventure that breaks away from the routine. It’s not just an activity—it’s a story to tell, a challenge to conquer, and an experience to cherish.

Tips for Booking Your Experience

Research Locations: Scotland offers a range of rally tracks. Look for one that matches your skill level and preferences.

Check the Weather: Scottish weather can be unpredictable. Dress appropriately for the conditions, and be prepared for a bit of mud—it’s all part of the fun!

Read Reviews: Look for feedback from other participants to find the best experiences. Positive reviews often highlight excellent instruction, well-maintained cars, and exciting tracks.

Book Early: Rally driving is a popular activity, especially in scenic locations like Scotland. Making a reservation ahead of time guarantees that you will obtain your desired date and time.

The Last Word

Rally driving experiences in Scotland offer more than just a thrill—they provide an opportunity to connect with nature, push your limits, and create unforgettable memories. Whether you’re a motorsport enthusiast or simply looking for a new adventure, rally driving is an experience you’ll never forget.

So, what are you waiting for? Get in the driver’s seat, embrace the challenge, and discover why Scotland is one of the best places in the world for rally driving.

[johnalexcooper]

Exploring the World of Rally Experiences: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Rallying is one of the most exhilarating motorsports, combining skill, precision, and adrenaline in a high-octane environment. For those who have dreamed of taking the wheel of a rally car and navigating rough terrains and winding tracks, Rally Experiences UK offers the perfect opportunity. Whether you're a seasoned motorsport enthusiast or someone looking for an unforgettable adventure, rally experiences provide an immersive way to test your driving skills in unique conditions.

In this blog, we'll explore what you can expect from a rally experience, how to prepare for your day on the track, and why these experiences are becoming increasingly popular across the UK.

What is a Rally Experience?

A rally experience allows participants to step into the driver’s seat of a rally car and navigate courses that replicate the conditions faced by professional rally drivers. These experiences typically occur at dedicated rally venues across the UK, featuring various terrains like gravel, mud, tarmac, and even snow. Participants will have the opportunity to drive on tracks designed to challenge their abilities, learning how to control the car through tight corners, hairpin turns, and fast straights.

Rally experiences can last from a few hours to an entire day, depending on the package you choose. Most rally experiences begin with a briefing session where participants are introduced to the basics of rally driving, including the handling characteristics of rally cars, essential safety measures, and key techniques such as drifting and handbrake turns.

After the briefing, it’s time to hit the track. Under the supervision of experienced rally instructors, you'll get behind the wheel and put your skills to the test. The feeling of controlling a car at high speed on rough terrain is unlike any other form of driving, making rally experiences in the UK a unique way to push the limits of your driving abilities.

Why Choose Rally Experiences in the UK?

The UK has a long-standing history of rallying motorsport, with many iconic stages and events taking place throughout the country. This legacy makes it one of the best destinations for rally enthusiasts, offering a wide variety of tracks and venues where you can experience the thrills of rally driving.

Here are some reasons why rally experiences in the UK stand out:

1. Diverse Terrain

The UK's varied landscapes provide ideal rally conditions. Whether it’s gravel tracks in Wales, forest stages in Scotland, or tarmac circuits in England, each venue offers a different challenge. Rally experiences give drivers the chance to tackle these diverse terrains, allowing them to experience the dynamic handling and responsiveness of rally cars in real-world conditions.

2. Top-Notch Instruction

Rally experiences in the UK are typically led by highly trained instructors with vast experience in rally driving. These professionals guide participants through each stage of the experience, offering tips and feedback to help you improve your driving technique. With their expert guidance, even beginners can quickly learn how to master a rally car and enjoy a safe, yet thrilling experience.

3. Accessible to All Skill Levels

Rally experiences are designed for a wide range of drivers, from complete novices to those with prior motorsport experience. No matter your skill level, there’s a rally package that suits your needs. Whether you're a first-time driver looking for an adrenaline rush or an experienced driver hoping to fine-tune your skills, rally experiences in the UK are customizable to your abilities.

What to Expect on the Day

When you arrive at your rally experience venue, you’ll be greeted by professional staff who will ensure your safety and enjoyment throughout the day. After registration, the experience usually kicks off with a safety briefing and an introduction to the rally car you’ll be driving.

The Rally Car

Rally cars used in these experiences are typically modified to handle rough terrains and provide maximum control. They are equipped with roll cages, racing seats, harnesses, and rally tyres, ensuring a safe environment for participants. You’ll get a rundown on the controls of the car, how to handle the gears, brakes, and throttle, and how to use techniques like the Scandinavian flick, which is used for controlling the car in tight corners.

On the Track

Once you’re behind the wheel, the real fun begins. You’ll start with a practice lap or two to get a feel for the car and the track. Then, with your instructor guiding you from the passenger seat, you'll tackle more complex sections of the course. You'll learn how to navigate sharp turns, handle high-speed straights, and control the car in challenging terrain.

Rally driving is a test of concentration and coordination, requiring you to adapt quickly to ever-changing conditions. As you gain confidence, you'll push the limits, getting a true sense of what it’s like to drive on a rally stage. For many, this is the most exciting part of the experience, as they feel the raw power of the rally car and the intense focus needed to master each section of the track.

Instructor Feedback

At the end of your driving session, your instructor will provide detailed feedback on your performance, highlighting areas for improvement and offering tips for future driving. This feedback is invaluable for anyone who wants to take their rally driving skills to the next level.

Preparing for Your Rally Experience

To get the most out of your rally experience in the UK, it’s essential to come prepared. Here are a few tips to ensure you’re ready for the day:

1. Clothing

Rally experiences typically take place in outdoor environments, so dressing appropriately is crucial. Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes suitable for driving. Some venues may provide racing suits, but it’s always good to check ahead of time.

2. Safety Gear

Safety is paramount in rally experiences. Helmets and other necessary protective equipment will be provided by the venue. Make sure to listen carefully to the safety briefing and follow the instructor’s advice throughout the day.

3. Driving License

A valid driving license is usually required for participation in rally experiences in the UK. Be sure to bring this with you on the day.

4. Mental Preparation

Rally driving is a physically and mentally demanding activity. You’ll need to focus intensely on the track, your car, and the instructions from your guide. Coming into the experience with a positive and focused mindset will help you get the most out of the day.

Why Rally Experiences Are a Must-Try

Rally experiences in the UK offer more than just the thrill of driving fast on rugged terrain. They provide a chance to develop your driving skills, push your limits, and experience motorsport in a way few other activities can offer. For motorsport fans, rally experiences are a dream come true. For those seeking an adrenaline-pumping adventure, they provide an unforgettable opportunity to break away from the everyday routine.

Whether you’re preparing for your first rally experience or are already a seasoned driver looking to hone your skills, rally experiences in the UK offer something for everyone. From the heart-pounding thrill of speeding through gravel tracks to the satisfaction of mastering advanced driving techniques, rally experiences are truly a one-of-a-kind adventure.

Ready to take the wheel? Rally Experiences UK is waiting to welcome you to the exciting world of rally driving, offering memories that will last a lifetime.

[sherwoodforestgolf]

2018 Ryder Cup: Anatomy Of A Breakdown

It’s back to the drawing borad for the U.S. Ryder Cup contingent after another miserable effort in Europe. Maybe they should throw out the drawing board, too.

The United States was no match for Europe in the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, losing 17½-10½, the second largest setback for the Americans in the history of the matches. The loss was even bigger than the supposed train wreck Tom Watson oversaw in 2014 at Gleneagles, in Scotland. That squad, without Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, lost 16½-11½, a defeat so dyspeptic that the PGA of America convened a special Task Force to address U.S. shortcomings in the biennial competition that Europe now has won nine of the last 12 times.

Of course, there no longer is a Task Force; decisions run through a Ryder Cup Committee. It’s difficult to figure out what decisions they could have made differently that would have changed this outcome. Europe’s dozen players outplayed their American counterparts, hitting more fairways, making more putts, converting more birdies.

“At the end of the day I tip my cap to the European side,” said U.S. captain Jim Furyk. “My team fought hard. I’m proud of them. I would take these 12 guys back into this tournament at any time. It’s just that their team played great. Every time we tried to put a little pressure on them, they responded.”

Conversely, the U.S. did not respond. It never seemed in sync, even when winning three out of four matches in the opening four-ball session. It just appeared to be hard work for three days, and in the end, the Americans had no answers to a spirited European defense of its home soil, extending America’s frustrations abroad for at least another four years.

What went wrong? Why did America, which has lost six straight times in Europe dating back to 1997, fall so far short? A few clues:

The Fatigue Factor: Eleven Americans competed in the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Europe had five. While this is not anything new for the United States—it sure didn’t affect the squad in 2016—it made a difference this week when they had to travel abroad. It appeared to be especially hard on 40-somethings Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, the latter who won the season finale, always a draining enterprise. The two captain’s picks, 48 and 42 years old, respectively, went a combined 0-6 this week, leading to a seventh team loss in eight Ryder Cups as teammates. Both looked sluggish and out of sorts. They just didn’t have it after playing seven of the last nine weeks.

“I think the fatigue would be making an excuse, and we’re not making excuses,” Furyk said.

“It’s disappointing, because I went 0-4, and that’s four points to the European Team,” said Woods, who was competing in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012. “And I’m one of the contributing factors to why we lost the Cup, and it’s not a lot of fun.”

He’s a big reason, though more because of things out of his control. See the next two items.

The Tiger Effect on Team USA: It continues to be a net negative when he plays. Woods can’t seem to bring his A-game to these matches, and after an 0-4 record at Le Golf National, he slipped to 13-21-3 overall. His two partners this week, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau, were of little help in the team games. He now has had 14 different partners in Ryder Cup four-ball and foursomes competition and is 9-19-1. He is the sun burning up those closest to his orbit.

The Tiger Effect on Team Europe: Woods isn’t currently No. 1 in the world like he had been many times in earlier Ryder Cup appearances, but he remains the man everyone wants to beat. And when Europe beats him, the satisfaction is unmistakable. Look at the emotion Jon Rahm exhibited after closing out Woods, 2 and 1, in singles. It appeared over the top. It was just an honest, visceral reaction that meant plenty to a player who has been influenced by the 14-time major winner. A Tiger scalp is a memory to savor. In the case of this Ryder Cup, it also was the catalyst to Europe’s comeback after losing the first three four-ball matches on Friday. When Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood rallied to beat Woods and Reed, it sparked a run of eight straight European wins, which is a record. The U.S. never recovered.

Putting: It always seems to come down to putting. The Europeans enjoyed a massive advantage in familiarization with the greens. USA came into the week with seven of their 12 players ranked among the top 44 this season in strokes gained/putting: Webb Simpson (sixth), Mickelson (10), Dustin Johnson (30), Woods (39), Rickie Fowler (40), Bryson DeChambeau (41) and Justin Thomas (44). Europe had one, Justin Rose at No. 17, and only four of the top 100 starting with Rory McIlroy at 85, Paul Casey (89) and Ian Poulter (97). Francesco Molinari was a staggering 181st in the statistic. And yet Europe dominated on the greens. Alex Noren, who won the 2018 French Open at Le Golf National, capped off this Ryder Cup, appropriately, by sinking a monster birdie putt at the last to beat DeChambeau, 1 up.

“I think the Europeans definitely did a good job on the golf course. They know it pretty well,” Furyk said. “It was set up well, they thought, in their favor. It was a tight golf course. Their players played very well. We’ve just got to tip our caps.”

The Buy-In Factor: This wasn’t supposed to be an issue. But it still is. The U.S. commissioned a Ryder Cup Task Force to get the players more involved in the process of how the team is assembled and organized, and it seemed to work well at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn. But if the U.S. Ryder Cup Committee and the players were fully invested, then more than six of the 12 players on the team should have seen Le Golf National’s Albatros Course before Tuesday. The U.S. was outplayed because it was out-prepared. In an era when most players either use NetJets or have their own airplanes, there’s no excuse to not make a scouting trip sometime in the last two years. Is it any surprise that rookie Justin Thomas was the leading U.S. scorer with four points when he was the only player who competed this year here in the French Open?

Picks: Furyk’s choices for his captain’s picks—Woods, Mickelson, DeChambeau and Tony Finau—scored two points, both by Finau. It was hard to argue against any of the choices, even Mickelson who deserved to be here after nearly qualifying automatically. Still, that doesn’t mean that Furyk should have selected his good friend. Ryder Cup, with five pressure-packed sessions compacted into three days, is a young man’s game; there’s simply no other way around it, and it’s been proven time and again. Mickelson’s experience counts for plenty, but the young legs of Xander Schauffele or Kyle Stanley, the latter who ranked sixth in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this season and would have been well suited for the narrow course setup, almost assuredly would have counted for more.

Furyk said he looks forward to meeting with the Ryder Cup Committee soon to discuss next steps and review the factors that contributed to the thorough U.S. defeat. “I hope it’s as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ll definitely kind of go through some things in my head and probably work with the PGA of America and our Ryder Cup Committee, and we’ll move forward.”

Forward would be ideal—after at least two steps back.

Source: www.golfidgest.com

The post 2018 Ryder Cup: Anatomy Of A Breakdown appeared first on Sherwood Forest.

[culbertsonhillsgr]

Ryder Cup 2018: Anatomy Of A Beatdown

It’s back to the drawing borad for the U.S. Ryder Cup contingent after another miserable effort in Europe. Maybe they should throw out the drawing board, too.

The United States was no match for Europe in the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, losing 17½-10½, the second largest setback for the Americans in the history of the matches. The loss was even bigger than the supposed train wreck Tom Watson oversaw in 2014 at Gleneagles, in Scotland. That squad, without Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, lost 16½-11½, a defeat so dyspeptic that the PGA of America convened a special Task Force to address U.S. shortcomings in the biennial competition that Europe now has won nine of the last 12 times.

Of course, there no longer is a Task Force; decisions run through a Ryder Cup Committee. It’s difficult to figure out what decisions they could have made differently that would have changed this outcome. Europe’s dozen players outplayed their American counterparts, hitting more fairways, making more putts, converting more birdies.

“At the end of the day I tip my cap to the European side,” said U.S. captain Jim Furyk. “My team fought hard. I’m proud of them. I would take these 12 guys back into this tournament at any time. It’s just that their team played great. Every time we tried to put a little pressure on them, they responded.”

Conversely, the U.S. did not respond. It never seemed in sync, even when winning three out of four matches in the opening four-ball session. It just appeared to be hard work for three days, and in the end, the Americans had no answers to a spirited European defense of its home soil, extending America’s frustrations abroad for at least another four years.

What went wrong? Why did America, which has lost six straight times in Europe dating back to 1997, fall so far short? A few clues:

The Fatigue Factor: Eleven Americans competed in the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Europe had five. While this is not anything new for the United States—it sure didn’t affect the squad in 2016—it made a difference this week when they had to travel abroad. It appeared to be especially hard on 40-somethings Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, the latter who won the season finale, always a draining enterprise. The two captain’s picks, 48 and 42 years old, respectively, went a combined 0-6 this week, leading to a seventh team loss in eight Ryder Cups as teammates. Both looked sluggish and out of sorts. They just didn’t have it after playing seven of the last nine weeks.

“I think the fatigue would be making an excuse, and we’re not making excuses,” Furyk said.

“It’s disappointing, because I went 0-4, and that’s four points to the European Team,” said Woods, who was competing in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012. “And I’m one of the contributing factors to why we lost the Cup, and it’s not a lot of fun.”

He’s a big reason, though more because of things out of his control. See the next two items.

The Tiger Effect on Team USA: It continues to be a net negative when he plays. Woods can’t seem to bring his A-game to these matches, and after an 0-4 record at Le Golf National, he slipped to 13-21-3 overall. His two partners this week, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau, were of little help in the team games. He now has had 14 different partners in Ryder Cup four-ball and foursomes competition and is 9-19-1. He is the sun burning up those closest to his orbit.

The Tiger Effect on Team Europe: Woods isn’t currently No. 1 in the world like he had been many times in earlier Ryder Cup appearances, but he remains the man everyone wants to beat. And when Europe beats him, the satisfaction is unmistakable. Look at the emotion Jon Rahm exhibited after closing out Woods, 2 and 1, in singles. It appeared over the top. It was just an honest, visceral reaction that meant plenty to a player who has been influenced by the 14-time major winner. A Tiger scalp is a memory to savor. In the case of this Ryder Cup, it also was the catalyst to Europe’s comeback after losing the first three four-ball matches on Friday. When Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood rallied to beat Woods and Reed, it sparked a run of eight straight European wins, which is a record. The U.S. never recovered.

Putting: It always seems to come down to putting. The Europeans enjoyed a massive advantage in familiarization with the greens. USA came into the week with seven of their 12 players ranked among the top 44 this season in strokes gained/putting: Webb Simpson (sixth), Mickelson (10), Dustin Johnson (30), Woods (39), Rickie Fowler (40), Bryson DeChambeau (41) and Justin Thomas (44). Europe had one, Justin Rose at No. 17, and only four of the top 100 starting with Rory McIlroy at 85, Paul Casey (89) and Ian Poulter (97). Francesco Molinari was a staggering 181st in the statistic. And yet Europe dominated on the greens. Alex Noren, who won the 2018 French Open at Le Golf National, capped off this Ryder Cup, appropriately, by sinking a monster birdie putt at the last to beat DeChambeau, 1 up.

“I think the Europeans definitely did a good job on the golf course. They know it pretty well,” Furyk said. “It was set up well, they thought, in their favor. It was a tight golf course. Their players played very well. We’ve just got to tip our caps.”

The Buy-In Factor: This wasn’t supposed to be an issue. But it still is. The U.S. commissioned a Ryder Cup Task Force to get the players more involved in the process of how the team is assembled and organized, and it seemed to work well at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn. But if the U.S. Ryder Cup Committee and the players were fully invested, then more than six of the 12 players on the team should have seen Le Golf National’s Albatros Course before Tuesday. The U.S. was outplayed because it was out-prepared. In an era when most players either use NetJets or have their own airplanes, there’s no excuse to not make a scouting trip sometime in the last two years. Is it any surprise that rookie Justin Thomas was the leading U.S. scorer with four points when he was the only player who competed this year here in the French Open?

Picks: Furyk’s choices for his captain’s picks—Woods, Mickelson, DeChambeau and Tony Finau—scored two points, both by Finau. It was hard to argue against any of the choices, even Mickelson who deserved to be here after nearly qualifying automatically. Still, that doesn’t mean that Furyk should have selected his good friend. Ryder Cup, with five pressure-packed sessions compacted into three days, is a young man’s game; there’s simply no other way around it, and it’s been proven time and again. Mickelson’s experience counts for plenty, but the young legs of Xander Schauffele or Kyle Stanley, the latter who ranked sixth in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this season and would have been well suited for the narrow course setup, almost assuredly would have counted for more.

Furyk said he looks forward to meeting with the Ryder Cup Committee soon to discuss next steps and review the factors that contributed to the thorough U.S. defeat. “I hope it’s as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ll definitely kind of go through some things in my head and probably work with the PGA of America and our Ryder Cup Committee, and we’ll move forward.”

Forward would be ideal—after at least two steps back.

Source: www.golfidgest.com

The post Ryder Cup 2018: Anatomy Of A Beatdown appeared first on Culbertson Hills.

[springbrookgolf]

Ryder Cup 2018: Anatomy Of A Breakdown

Its Back to the drawing borad for the U.S. Ryder Cup contingent after another miserable effort in Europe. Maybe they should throw out the drawing board, too.

The United States was no match for Europe in the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, losing 17½-10½, the second largest setback for the Americans in the history of the matches. The loss was even bigger than the supposed train wreck Tom Watson oversaw in 2014 at Gleneagles, in Scotland. That squad, without Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, lost 16½-11½, a defeat so dyspeptic that the PGA of America convened a special Task Force to address U.S. shortcomings in the biennial competition that Europe now has won nine of the last 12 times.

Of course, there no longer is a Task Force; decisions run through a Ryder Cup Committee. It’s difficult to figure out what decisions they could have made differently that would have changed this outcome. Europe’s dozen players outplayed their American counterparts, hitting more fairways, making more putts, converting more birdies.

“At the end of the day I tip my cap to the European side,” said U.S. captain Jim Furyk. “My team fought hard. I’m proud of them. I would take these 12 guys back into this tournament at any time. It’s just that their team played great. Every time we tried to put a little pressure on them, they responded.”

Conversely, the U.S. did not respond. It never seemed in sync, even when winning three out of four matches in the opening four-ball session. It just appeared to be hard work for three days, and in the end, the Americans had no answers to a spirited European defense of its home soil, extending America’s frustrations abroad for at least another four years.

What went wrong? Why did America, which has lost six straight times in Europe dating back to 1997, fall so far short? A few clues:

The Fatigue Factor: Eleven Americans competed in the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Europe had five. While this is not anything new for the United States—it sure didn’t affect the squad in 2016—it made a difference this week when they had to travel abroad. It appeared to be especially hard on 40-somethings Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, the latter who won the season finale, always a draining enterprise. The two captain’s picks, 48 and 42 years old, respectively, went a combined 0-6 this week, leading to a seventh team loss in eight Ryder Cups as teammates. Both looked sluggish and out of sorts. They just didn’t have it after playing seven of the last nine weeks.

“I think the fatigue would be making an excuse, and we’re not making excuses,” Furyk said.

“It’s disappointing, because I went 0-4, and that’s four points to the European Team,” said Woods, who was competing in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012. “And I’m one of the contributing factors to why we lost the Cup, and it’s not a lot of fun.”

He’s a big reason, though more because of things out of his control. See the next two items.

The Tiger Effect on Team USA: It continues to be a net negative when he plays. Woods can’t seem to bring his A-game to these matches, and after an 0-4 record at Le Golf National, he slipped to 13-21-3 overall. His two partners this week, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau, were of little help in the team games. He now has had 14 different partners in Ryder Cup four-ball and foursomes competition and is 9-19-1. He is the sun burning up those closest to his orbit.

The Tiger Effect on Team Europe: Woods isn’t currently No. 1 in the world like he had been many times in earlier Ryder Cup appearances, but he remains the man everyone wants to beat. And when Europe beats him, the satisfaction is unmistakable. Look at the emotion Jon Rahm exhibited after closing out Woods, 2 and 1, in singles. It appeared over the top. It was just an honest, visceral reaction that meant plenty to a player who has been influenced by the 14-time major winner. A Tiger scalp is a memory to savor. In the case of this Ryder Cup, it also was the catalyst to Europe’s comeback after losing the first three four-ball matches on Friday. When Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood rallied to beat Woods and Reed, it sparked a run of eight straight European wins, which is a record. The U.S. never recovered.

Putting: It always seems to come down to putting. The Europeans enjoyed a massive advantage in familiarization with the greens. USA came into the week with seven of their 12 players ranked among the top 44 this season in strokes gained/putting: Webb Simpson (sixth), Mickelson (10), Dustin Johnson (30), Woods (39), Rickie Fowler (40), Bryson DeChambeau (41) and Justin Thomas (44). Europe had one, Justin Rose at No. 17, and only four of the top 100 starting with Rory McIlroy at 85, Paul Casey (89) and Ian Poulter (97). Francesco Molinari was a staggering 181st in the statistic. And yet Europe dominated on the greens. Alex Noren, who won the 2018 French Open at Le Golf National, capped off this Ryder Cup, appropriately, by sinking a monster birdie putt at the last to beat DeChambeau, 1 up.

“I think the Europeans definitely did a good job on the golf course. They know it pretty well,” Furyk said. “It was set up well, they thought, in their favor. It was a tight golf course. Their players played very well. We’ve just got to tip our caps.”

The Buy-In Factor: This wasn’t supposed to be an issue. But it still is. The U.S. commissioned a Ryder Cup Task Force to get the players more involved in the process of how the team is assembled and organized, and it seemed to work well at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn. But if the U.S. Ryder Cup Committee and the players were fully invested, then more than six of the 12 players on the team should have seen Le Golf National’s Albatros Course before Tuesday. The U.S. was outplayed because it was out-prepared. In an era when most players either use NetJets or have their own airplanes, there’s no excuse to not make a scouting trip sometime in the last two years. Is it any surprise that rookie Justin Thomas was the leading U.S. scorer with four points when he was the only player who competed this year here in the French Open?

Picks: Furyk’s choices for his captain’s picks—Woods, Mickelson, DeChambeau and Tony Finau—scored two points, both by Finau. It was hard to argue against any of the choices, even Mickelson who deserved to be here after nearly qualifying automatically. Still, that doesn’t mean that Furyk should have selected his good friend. Ryder Cup, with five pressure-packed sessions compacted into three days, is a young man’s game; there’s simply no other way around it, and it’s been proven time and again. Mickelson’s experience counts for plenty, but the young legs of Xander Schauffele or Kyle Stanley, the latter who ranked sixth in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this season and would have been well suited for the narrow course setup, almost assuredly would have counted for more.

Furyk said he looks forward to meeting with the Ryder Cup Committee soon to discuss next steps and review the factors that contributed to the thorough U.S. defeat. “I hope it’s as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ll definitely kind of go through some things in my head and probably work with the PGA of America and our Ryder Cup Committee, and we’ll move forward.”

Forward would be ideal—after at least two steps back.

Source: www.golfidgest.com

The post Ryder Cup 2018: Anatomy Of A Breakdown appeared first on Springbrook.

[classyfoxdestiny]

UK could help fund jail in Albania for offenders transferred from British prisons

UK could help fund jail in Albania for offenders transferred from British prisons

The UK could help finance the construction of a prison in Albania to house offenders sent back to the country from British jails.

Albanians make up the largest foreign national group in UK jails, with more than 1,500 behind bars in England and Wales making up around 10 per cent of total inmates from overseas.

British and Albanian justice ministers Chris Philp and Etilda Gjonaj last week approved a prisoner transfer agreement that will allow offenders from either side to be sent back to their home countries to serve out their full sentences.

But Ms Gjonaj revealed in an interview with the west Balkan country’s media that the discussions also touched on the possibility of financial assistance from London to house returned felons – many of them convicted of involvement with criminal gangs active in drug-smuggling and people trafficking.

With very few UK nationals in Albanian prisons, the transfer of offenders is likely to be largely one-way, and Tirana is understood to be concerned about the additional financial burden that the arrangement could create.

Ms Gjonaj told an interviewer that British ministers “welcomed my proposal for the UK to build a prison in Albania or renovate an existing prison”.

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Discussions are understood to be at an early stage, and the Ministry of Justice declined to confirm or deny whether the proposal was raised in last week’s talks.

But an offer of financial help would not be unprecedented.

In 2015, David Cameron offered Jamaica around £25m from the UK’s aid budget to part-fund a prison for offenders returned from Britain, though the deal was eventually rejected by the administration in Kingston. Since then, discussions have taken place with Nigeria about funding for a jail in Lagos, though again the proposal came to nothing.

Under the terms of last week’s agreement, Albanian authorities will have to foot the bill for housing returned offenders in its own jails, saving the UK taxpayer an average £44,600 per inmate.

Mr Philp, said: “We are committed to removing foreign criminals who have abused our hospitality and inflicted misery on our communities.

“Someone who commits a serious crime in the UK should be barred from returning so that the taxpayer no longer has to pay for them and victims can be confident justice has been done.”

No legislation is required to put the agreement into effect, and ministers expect transfers under the scheme to begin in the autumn.

Since January 2019, the UK has removed 7,985 foreign national offenders from prisons, immigration removal centres and the community.

The deal with Albania builds on an earlier agreement and means that offenders must spend at least the same amount of time in custody as they were sentenced to by a judge in the UK.

It also clarifies that prisoners can be transferred without their consent.

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[noblesvilleparks]

Ryder Cup 2018: Anatomy Of A Beatdown

It’s back to the drawing borad for the U.S. Ryder Cup contingent after another miserable effort in Europe. Maybe they should throw out the drawing board, too.

The United States was no match for Europe in the 42nd Ryder Cup at Le Golf National, losing 17½-10½, the second largest setback for the Americans in the history of the matches. The loss was even bigger than the supposed train wreck Tom Watson oversaw in 2014 at Gleneagles, in Scotland. That squad, without Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, lost 16½-11½, a defeat so dyspeptic that the PGA of America convened a special Task Force to address U.S. shortcomings in the biennial competition that Europe now has won nine of the last 12 times.

Of course, there no longer is a Task Force; decisions run through a Ryder Cup Committee. It’s difficult to figure out what decisions they could have made differently that would have changed this outcome. Europe’s dozen players outplayed their American counterparts, hitting more fairways, making more putts, converting more birdies.

“At the end of the day I tip my cap to the European side,” said U.S. captain Jim Furyk. “My team fought hard. I’m proud of them. I would take these 12 guys back into this tournament at any time. It’s just that their team played great. Every time we tried to put a little pressure on them, they responded.”

Conversely, the U.S. did not respond. It never seemed in sync, even when winning three out of four matches in the opening four-ball session. It just appeared to be hard work for three days, and in the end, the Americans had no answers to a spirited European defense of its home soil, extending America’s frustrations abroad for at least another four years.

What went wrong? Why did America, which has lost six straight times in Europe dating back to 1997, fall so far short? A few clues:

The Fatigue Factor: Eleven Americans competed in the Tour Championship in Atlanta. Europe had five. While this is not anything new for the United States—it sure didn’t affect the squad in 2016—it made a difference this week when they had to travel abroad. It appeared to be especially hard on 40-somethings Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, the latter who won the season finale, always a draining enterprise. The two captain’s picks, 48 and 42 years old, respectively, went a combined 0-6 this week, leading to a seventh team loss in eight Ryder Cups as teammates. Both looked sluggish and out of sorts. They just didn’t have it after playing seven of the last nine weeks.

“I think the fatigue would be making an excuse, and we’re not making excuses,” Furyk said.

“It’s disappointing, because I went 0-4, and that’s four points to the European Team,” said Woods, who was competing in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2012. “And I’m one of the contributing factors to why we lost the Cup, and it’s not a lot of fun.”

He’s a big reason, though more because of things out of his control. See the next two items.

The Tiger Effect on Team USA: It continues to be a net negative when he plays. Woods can’t seem to bring his A-game to these matches, and after an 0-4 record at Le Golf National, he slipped to 13-21-3 overall. His two partners this week, Patrick Reed and Bryson DeChambeau, were of little help in the team games. He now has had 14 different partners in Ryder Cup four-ball and foursomes competition and is 9-19-1. He is the sun burning up those closest to his orbit.

The Tiger Effect on Team Europe: Woods isn’t currently No. 1 in the world like he had been many times in earlier Ryder Cup appearances, but he remains the man everyone wants to beat. And when Europe beats him, the satisfaction is unmistakable. Look at the emotion Jon Rahm exhibited after closing out Woods, 2 and 1, in singles. It appeared over the top. It was just an honest, visceral reaction that meant plenty to a player who has been influenced by the 14-time major winner. A Tiger scalp is a memory to savor. In the case of this Ryder Cup, it also was the catalyst to Europe’s comeback after losing the first three four-ball matches on Friday. When Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood rallied to beat Woods and Reed, it sparked a run of eight straight European wins, which is a record. The U.S. never recovered.

Putting: It always seems to come down to putting. The Europeans enjoyed a massive advantage in familiarization with the greens. USA came into the week with seven of their 12 players ranked among the top 44 this season in strokes gained/putting: Webb Simpson (sixth), Mickelson (10), Dustin Johnson (30), Woods (39), Rickie Fowler (40), Bryson DeChambeau (41) and Justin Thomas (44). Europe had one, Justin Rose at No. 17, and only four of the top 100 starting with Rory McIlroy at 85, Paul Casey (89) and Ian Poulter (97). Francesco Molinari was a staggering 181st in the statistic. And yet Europe dominated on the greens. Alex Noren, who won the 2018 French Open at Le Golf National, capped off this Ryder Cup, appropriately, by sinking a monster birdie putt at the last to beat DeChambeau, 1 up.

“I think the Europeans definitely did a good job on the golf course. They know it pretty well,” Furyk said. “It was set up well, they thought, in their favor. It was a tight golf course. Their players played very well. We’ve just got to tip our caps.”

The Buy-In Factor: This wasn’t supposed to be an issue. But it still is. The U.S. commissioned a Ryder Cup Task Force to get the players more involved in the process of how the team is assembled and organized, and it seemed to work well at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn. But if the U.S. Ryder Cup Committee and the players were fully invested, then more than six of the 12 players on the team should have seen Le Golf National’s Albatros Course before Tuesday. The U.S. was outplayed because it was out-prepared. In an era when most players either use NetJets or have their own airplanes, there’s no excuse to not make a scouting trip sometime in the last two years. Is it any surprise that rookie Justin Thomas was the leading U.S. scorer with four points when he was the only player who competed this year here in the French Open?

Picks: Furyk’s choices for his captain’s picks—Woods, Mickelson, DeChambeau and Tony Finau—scored two points, both by Finau. It was hard to argue against any of the choices, even Mickelson who deserved to be here after nearly qualifying automatically. Still, that doesn’t mean that Furyk should have selected his good friend. Ryder Cup, with five pressure-packed sessions compacted into three days, is a young man’s game; there’s simply no other way around it, and it’s been proven time and again. Mickelson’s experience counts for plenty, but the young legs of Xander Schauffele or Kyle Stanley, the latter who ranked sixth in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this season and would have been well suited for the narrow course setup, almost assuredly would have counted for more.

Furyk said he looks forward to meeting with the Ryder Cup Committee soon to discuss next steps and review the factors that contributed to the thorough U.S. defeat. “I hope it’s as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ll definitely kind of go through some things in my head and probably work with the PGA of America and our Ryder Cup Committee, and we’ll move forward.”

Forward would be ideal—after at least two steps back.

Source: www.golfidgest.com

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