tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82665130826825108042011-12-30T04:35:44.372+01:00Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.comBlogger1061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-21260959045957797962010-05-26T05:20:00.013+02:002010-05-26T05:54:21.714+02:00<div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">..</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">"I love Paris in the spring time</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love Paris in the fall</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love Paris in the summer </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">when it sizzles</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love Paris in the winter </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">when it drizzles.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love Paris every moment</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Every moment of the year</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love Paris,</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">why oh why </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">do I love Paris</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Because my love is here".</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Cole Porter</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/S_yTlZpDXSI/AAAAAAAAFSg/wAaHve-Nckw/s1600/diapo_elysees.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475413517723196706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/S_yTlZpDXSI/AAAAAAAAFSg/wAaHve-Nckw/s576/diapo_elysees.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">The Champs Elysée, 23 May 2010 : see <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/10143393.stm"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>HERE</strong></span></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;"> for more on this unique event...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:180%;">.</span><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>"Amo París en el tiempo del resorte<br />Amo París en la caída<br />Amo París en el verano </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>en que chisporrotea<br />Amo París en el invierno </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>en que llovizna<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>Amo París cada momento<br />Cada momento del ańo<br />Amo París, </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>porqué oh porqué lo hace </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>el amor París de I<br />Porque mi amor está aquí"<br /></em><span style="font-size:85%;">Cole Porter</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">*I just love <a href="http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=WF_yN1R2b5M&amp;feature=related"><strong>Frank Sinatra</strong></a><strong>'</strong>s version of this song...</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-2126095904595779796?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-46140014013309910172010-05-17T14:35:00.007+02:002010-05-17T15:32:27.132+02:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop<br />whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>to eating..."<br /></em><span style="font-size:85%;">Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright,<br /><em>"Pavarotti, My Own Story"</em></span></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.latartinegourmande.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472223750576630098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/S_E-ghCTaVI/AAAAAAAAFR4/mvXC2bS3ZEk/s576" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#666666;">La Tartine Gourmande</span></strong></a></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love sharing recipes that inspire me in the hope that they </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">will inspire others...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><strong><a href="http://www.latartinegourmande.com/2006/08/29/tarte-aux-tomates-confites-oignons-rouges-et-roquette-roasted-tomatoes-red-onions-and-arugula-tart/"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Click here for this recipe</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and many, many more...</span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4614001401330991017?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-77667278787325738042010-03-16T10:26:00.015+01:002010-03-16T11:01:30.431+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Today,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I'm feeling really inspired by these images...<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/S59P2fYMVYI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/0-XM4e375AY/s1600-h/0016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449161871696090498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/S59P2fYMVYI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/0-XM4e375AY/s576/0016.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Ghana, West Africa</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"><strong>Small, Satisfying Things<br />About Today...<br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:courier new;">~ hearing the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li0d_jKC6Gc&amp;feature=related"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#000099;"><strong>Right Song</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> at the Right Moment...<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">~ completing my travel arrangements for my upcoming</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">trip to West Africa...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">~ the aroma of freshly brewed coffee...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">..</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">~ finding a photo album of my African childhood</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">in the most unlikely place...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#ffffff;">. </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;">~ Making Someone Smile...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">~ Spring may, at long last, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">be just around </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">the corner...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">. </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;">~ daydreaming when I should be working</span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7766727878732573804?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-39234424899899330422010-03-08T11:40:00.009+01:002010-03-08T13:49:26.411+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"><em>.</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><em>"The work goes on, </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><em>the cause endures, </em></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><em>the hope still lives </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><em>and the dreams shall never die..."</em></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.wisdomquotes.com/000396.html"><span style="font-size:78%;">Edward Kennedy</span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/S5TWJYJv67I/AAAAAAAAFOw/gUseBhObF98/s1600-h/snow.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446213305988279218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/S5TWJYJv67I/AAAAAAAAFOw/gUseBhObF98/s576/snow.bmp" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">Me, myself, I - admiring the Mont Blanc chain of mountains...<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;">Where i've been ?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">i've been here, there, elsewhere -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">living, learning, understanding but </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">also </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">coping and searching...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">i've been here, there, elsewhere -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">working, developing, exploring </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">but</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> also</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">failing and struggling...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">i've been here, there, elsewhere -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">travelling, observing, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">listening </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">but also </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">experiencing </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">and suffering...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">.. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">i've been here, there, elsewhere -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">giving, receiving, helping, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">but also </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">needing and doubting...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">i've been here, there, elsewhere -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">searching, finding, creating </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">but also</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">forgetting and losing... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">i've been here, there, elsewhere -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">loving, laughing, remembering but also</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">crying and hurting...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">i've been here, there, elsewhere -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">improving, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">succeeding, rejoicing but also</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">hoping and praying...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#3366ff;">Tell me, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#3366ff;">where have you been ?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>Thanks for all your kind words left in my absence; </strong></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>I'll be, hopefully, </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><strong>catching up with all your blogs asap...</strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-3923442489989933042?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-2576924933532058702009-07-14T08:45:00.011+02:002009-07-14T09:05:53.533+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000000;">BONNES VACANCES..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Slwrad_deGI/AAAAAAAAFNE/RFBLJgBtm6s/s1600-h/photo-holidays.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358205390391441506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Slwrad_deGI/AAAAAAAAFNE/RFBLJgBtm6s/s200/photo-holidays.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SlwpwIXySEI/AAAAAAAAFM0/6Jtqio0h4To/s1600-h/min_maurice_4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358203563521755202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SlwpwIXySEI/AAAAAAAAFM0/6Jtqio0h4To/s576" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Off to enjoy sunsets like this in Mauritius</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Hope you're all enjoying a great summer </span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">- wherever you are, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">whatever you're doing..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span> </div></span><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Despite all my best intentions I never did find the </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">free time to regularly</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">update my blog and catch up with all your </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">delightful blogs </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">- </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">I've been far too busy off-line -</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">I have every intention of catching up, once and </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">for all, </span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>when I get back...</strong></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-257692493353205870?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-14682864234476533422009-07-01T09:07:00.010+02:002009-07-01T14:08:46.064+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">"...do I love Africa?</span> </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353460877457522514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SktQTd_Of1I/AAAAAAAAFMs/Z12hLNPSoX4/s400/2545203819_2b67c1018a.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000099;">photo credits</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong> </strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Because we are all related.<br /><br />All Africans are brothers and sisters </span></em></p><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Biologically, </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">wherever you are from in Africa, we are related.<br /></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">In Africa if you are from the same house </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">- you are related, </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">from the same village</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">- </span></em><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">you are related; </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>from the same country </em><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">- you are related.<br /></span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Even from the same regional grouping like west, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">east, </span></em><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">north and southern Africa </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">- we are related </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">- as long as you are an African, </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">we are all related.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">We refer to each other as brother and sister in Africa. </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">We do not have cousin or nieces </span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">- all we have are brothers and sisters.</span></em></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>That is why I love Africa...</em><em>"</em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Jonathan Tommy, </span><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Sierra Leone</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1468286423447653342?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-41221037465561889462009-06-19T09:36:00.004+02:002009-06-19T10:10:40.436+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:courier new;">"Good friends are like the stars<br />you don't always see them,<br />but you always know they are there"<br /></span></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;">unknown</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SjtFwXBz8aI/AAAAAAAAFMc/oR16nLJu4Jg/s1600-h/J+enfant.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348945679550247330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SjtFwXBz8aI/AAAAAAAAFMc/oR16nLJu4Jg/s400/J+enfant.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;">my collage<br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span></div><em><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span></em><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">I've been away from blogland, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">spending quality </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">time with friends and family </span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">mixing business </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">with pleasure...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"><strong>Thank you all for visiting and leaving such kind words</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">in my absence...</span></strong></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4122103746556188946?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-43121164906112194812009-06-01T20:37:00.015+02:002009-06-19T10:17:48.133+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Small, Satisfying Things </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">About Today... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SiQplPrCQZI/AAAAAAAAFKA/PFfus9mkH1Y/s1600-h/autres-montagnes-annecy-france-5418664814-2599.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"> </span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SjtI1wcZUlI/AAAAAAAAFMk/9vesHu_LDSg/s1600-h/maps.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348949070806864466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SjtI1wcZUlI/AAAAAAAAFMk/9vesHu_LDSg/s400/maps.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><strong>source<br /></strong></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span> </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">1. My First Sip of Tea on Waking</span></div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">2. The Familiar, but Nevertheless, Spectacular</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">View from my Kitchen Window</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">3. Finding Photos I Didn’t Know I Had in an </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Old Handbag</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">4. Meeting a Friend Who's Back from India with</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Some Great Fabrics to Share</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">5. Hearing the Right Song at the Right Moment</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">6. Receiving an Unexpected Compliment</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">7. The Feeling I Got when My Soufflé made It To </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">the Table before Collapsing</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">8. Making Someone Smile</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">9. Receiving a Handwritten Letter and Package </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">via Snail Mail<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">10. Finishing What I Started..!<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Do tell me, what small, satisfying things did you<br />achieve today..? </span></strong></span><span style="font-family:courier new;"></div></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4312116490611219481?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-30923199992104367882009-05-26T05:12:00.017+02:002009-05-26T07:44:56.409+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Trop chaud pour travailler…</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">je rêve de passer mes journée dans l'eau...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sht6r-7YG-I/AAAAAAAAFJA/odlw9fzzVIM/s1600-h/pool.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339996679222860770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sht6r-7YG-I/AAAAAAAAFJA/odlw9fzzVIM/s400/pool.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Heidi Claire blog</span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShtxU5qNWHI/AAAAAAAAFI4/IKeR9-c4TOE/s1600-h/241.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339986387067033714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShtxU5qNWHI/AAAAAAAAFI4/IKeR9-c4TOE/s400/241.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Tuscan Villas<br /></span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339986151254832034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShtxHLMMs6I/AAAAAAAAFIw/KJDKghRj33s/s400/arch_digest_-_ryan_seacrest.jpg" border="0" /> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Achitectural Digest</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShtwRAr7O3I/AAAAAAAAFIg/HVfd4yXZ5i8/s1600-h/248.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339985220722178930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShtwRAr7O3I/AAAAAAAAFIg/HVfd4yXZ5i8/s400/248.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Côté Sud<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">We're in the midst of a heatwave here</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">(which is why I'm dreaming of water, pools, the sea, bathing...)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">unfortunately, </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">it's<strong> all work and no play</strong> chez moi..!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">I LOVE hot weather, I always have, just not, when I've got so much work</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">that I can't get </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">out and enjoy it...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Is it hot where you are..?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-3092319999210436788?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-48933690036511697242009-05-20T16:13:00.018+02:002009-05-20T22:03:19.419+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dressing is an important part of every culture and often a way of<br />portraying ones culture visually -</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShRhOjawfQI/AAAAAAAAFH4/-pVnJHLj6gU/s1600-h/headtie.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337998360994413826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShRhOjawfQI/AAAAAAAAFH4/-pVnJHLj6gU/s400/headtie.png" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">African women, especially those from sub-saharan Africa are very </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">well known for their extravagant head ties and</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">no wedding or party would be complete</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">without what is popularlly known as <a href="http://yeyeolade.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/geles-yoruba-head-dress-headties-from-yoruba-nigeriaand-blackamerikkka/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>gele</strong></span></a> in Nigeria.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Head ties always perfectly match the outfit making the African woman </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">outstanding in any gathering.<br />With the head tie, the African woman portrays her culture with </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">dignity and integrity... <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShQUZ0dXfSI/AAAAAAAAFHw/-jrjZVyu2g4/s1600-h/head6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337913892151983394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 317px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShQUZ0dXfSI/AAAAAAAAFHw/-jrjZVyu2g4/s400/head6.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"It is </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">art</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> because it transforms the functional into the elegant and mysterious.</span></strong></em><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>A covering for the head becomes something much more,</strong></em></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>a skyward looking arabesque of folds and patterns,where cloth undergoes </strong></em></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>a metamorphosis into a salute to the head as metaphysical centre of the self,</strong></em></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em><strong>as the matrix of direction for the body "</strong></em></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em></em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&amp;search-type=ss&amp;index=books&amp;field-author=Babatunde%20Lawal&amp;page=1">Babatunde Lawal</a></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div></span><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShQS8A2uv_I/AAAAAAAAFHo/Da_3fFIT76o/s1600-h/head-4jpeg.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337912280571887602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShQS8A2uv_I/AAAAAAAAFHo/Da_3fFIT76o/s400/head-4jpeg.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">African women are the only women in the world who wear head ties. </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Caucasian women wear hats or veils (or rather, used to..!),</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Muslim women and women from many Eastern cultures wear a headscarf, </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">while other women allow the full beauty of their long hair to show </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">by wearing it loose. </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A big, colourful head-tie </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;">(preferably in a colour different from the rest of the outfit!) </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">is an entirely African affair..!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">..</span></div></span><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShQSoLNhkHI/AAAAAAAAFHg/lEAuQcsoJP0/s1600-h/head-jpeg.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337911939754463346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ShQSoLNhkHI/AAAAAAAAFHg/lEAuQcsoJP0/s400/head-jpeg.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#003333;"><br /><div align="center"></span></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">See lots more<strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> gele</span></strong> on these photo galleries </span><br /><a href="http://www.segungele.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong> </strong>and</span><span style="color:#000066;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000066;"><a href="http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.africanbeauty.ca/images/portfolio/6.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.africanbeauty.ca/portfolio-headgear-headties.html&amp;usg=__TTLhKSEJyZehF4JUmyjj5OZ-vVE=&amp;h=748&amp;w=500&amp;sz=178&amp;hl=fr&amp;start=36&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=Yd1mS1jdr3fxPM:&amp;tbnh=141&amp;tbnw=94&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dheadties%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Dfr%26sa%3DN%26start%3D20%26um%3D1">here</a></span></span></strong></span><br /></p><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;">I'd love to dress like this, so chic..! </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;">What do you think..?</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4893369003651169724?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-40124944411035287662009-05-05T13:58:00.017+02:002009-05-05T17:00:53.041+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#000000;">Music at its' best...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of my best friends <span style="font-size:85%;">(who knows me really well)</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">sent </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">me this</span>: </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>"This should be required viewing for everyone. </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>It’s basic humanity in it’s finest form. </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>In spite of world governments, politicians and corporations</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>doing all they can </em></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>to destroy the spirit in people, </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>along comes this beautiful video..."</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">with the following links:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;"></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.rue89.com/2009/05/05/une-planete-une-chanson-et-quelques-frissons"><strong>"Playing for Change"...</strong></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SgA1gw5k_rI/AAAAAAAAFGg/VFkhgzt-jYs/s1600-h/n67757651619_982.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332320795805154994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SgA1gw5k_rI/AAAAAAAAFGg/VFkhgzt-jYs/s576/n67757651619_982.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><div align="center"><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/1/The_Journey"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;"><strong>The Journey</strong></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mark Johnson explains how Playing For Change </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">began and</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">how the journey has gone thus far...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:180%;">.</span></span><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/2/Stand_by_Me"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;">Stand by Me</span></strong></a><br /></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Definately the best version of Ben E. King's classic</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've ever heard..!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/3/One_Love"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;"><strong>One Love</strong></span></a></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/5/Izulu"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;">Izulu</span></strong></a></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/4/Dont_Worry"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;">Don't Worry</span></strong></a></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/6/Bring_It_On_Home"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;"><strong>Bring It On Home</strong></span></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;">+ the latest episode:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#3333ff;"><strong><a href="http://www.playingforchange.com/episodes/7/Chanda_Mama">Chanda Mama</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I don't know what you'll all make of it, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">but the whole project </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">blew me away..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It is </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">nothing short of moving, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">inspirational, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and technologically impressive...<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">ENJOY..!</span></span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4012494441103528766?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-51089575026167767602009-05-04T15:47:00.007+02:002009-05-26T07:42:09.295+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sf7yWdoNw2I/AAAAAAAAFGQ/jjsXLjyMM9M/s1600-h/423365308_f1a0560184.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331965476577592162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 132px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sf7yWdoNw2I/AAAAAAAAFGQ/jjsXLjyMM9M/s400/423365308_f1a0560184.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:180%;"> .</span><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">i am sunshine and tropical rain</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">i am raw silk and blue jeans<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />i am belly laughs, giggles and smiles<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />i am regrets and disappointments, made whole</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">by hopes and dreams<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />i am walking toward the future<br />with my eye turned toward </span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">the past</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">i am me...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><strong>Who are you..?</strong></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-5108957502616776760?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-36675232474541662592009-04-30T20:54:00.009+02:002009-04-30T21:22:36.492+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">pour un weekend de chine dans les brocantes/</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><a href="http://vide-greniers.org/agendaDepartement.php?departement=84&amp;mois=2M"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">vide-greniers du Vaucluse</span></strong></a>...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sfn2X7Pj48I/AAAAAAAAFGI/8vtQLDBJFiQ/s1600-h/untitled.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330562524870075330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sfn2X7Pj48I/AAAAAAAAFGI/8vtQLDBJFiQ/s400/untitled.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sfn1iyT5lEI/AAAAAAAAFGA/FubG8dDpiXw/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330561611939288130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sfn1iyT5lEI/AAAAAAAAFGA/FubG8dDpiXw/s400/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> .</span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">with Sunday Lunch at this excellent family run restaurant:<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">*</span> "Le Carré d'Herbes"<br /></strong>13, Avenue des Quatre Otages ... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">L'isle sur la Sorgue<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">* </span></strong>Le Carré d'Herbes:<br />"Un espace de verdure au cœur des antiquaires où l'on savoure des mets provençaux</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><em> confectionnés au gré du marché..."</em></span></div><div><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;">BON WEEKEND..!</span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-3667523247454166259?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-56554206942790315942009-04-28T14:59:00.014+02:002009-04-29T11:25:40.517+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"><em>"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"><em>his own nature into his pictures"</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">henry ward beecher</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SfcBPvMENBI/AAAAAAAAFFg/9gWUoaSKkc0/s1600-h/olhos.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329730053893010450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SfcBPvMENBI/AAAAAAAAFFg/9gWUoaSKkc0/s400/olhos.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SfcAk1fx6wI/AAAAAAAAFFU/KgudmmBgp5Y/s1600-h/50191575_2963b13a7f.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329729316851936002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SfcAk1fx6wI/AAAAAAAAFFU/KgudmmBgp5Y/s400/50191575_2963b13a7f.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sfb_3X6f5PI/AAAAAAAAFFM/kjcbE5iV34w/s1600-h/1482143080_62302dd022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329728535816824050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sfb_3X6f5PI/AAAAAAAAFFM/kjcbE5iV34w/s400/1482143080_62302dd022.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All photos by photographer:<strong> </strong></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/clodreno/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Claude Renault</strong></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000000;"><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;">From <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/clodreno/"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Flickr testimonials</span></strong></a>:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em>"...his photographs are multi-faceted, profound, and historically aware. </em></div><div align="center"><em>With his camera, Claude is able to bring India close to us. </em></div><div align="center"><em>He views people without any type of social romanticism and portrays them </em></div><div align="center"><em>in everyday life situations, their self-confidence, pride, joy, </em></div><div align="center"><em>religion, serenity, leisure, contemplation, modestry, sadness, misery, poverty... </em></div><div align="center"><em>Claude doesn't approach people with his camera in an aloof </em></div><div align="center"><em>and voyeuristic manner, but as one of them. </em></div><div align="center"><em>His impressions are, in their perfectly calculated light and their play of colours, </em></div><div align="center"><em>a declaration of love to the people of this subcontinent..."</em></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center">I couldn't have said it better myself..!</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-5655420694279031594?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-5773107125843086322009-04-25T22:53:00.020+02:002009-06-18T16:19:57.818+02:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><strong>*</strong>Poupées clonettes, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">sacs plastiques recyclés, OrphanAid Africa,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">jus d'Hibiscus, jus de Gingembre, le Gimbriscus de Delphine, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Lisa, le Ghana, le Burkina Faso, le 'trotro', le kente, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">le commerce équitable, le métissage,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">le respect de l'environnement, le respect des métiers de créations anciens,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">les échanges nord-sud, le respect des ainés...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">..</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SfN5ShAOcuI/AAAAAAAAFDo/5ZdMrQqYl68/s1600-h/Mes+images1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328736143113351906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SfN5ShAOcuI/AAAAAAAAFDo/5ZdMrQqYl68/s576/Mes+images1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Bottom left: Lisa Lovatt Smith,<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.oafrica.org/index.php?id_pagina=57&amp;id_nivell1=51"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>founder of OrphanAid Africa</strong> </span></a></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong><a href="http://www.oafrica.org/index.php?id_pagina=128&amp;id_nivell1=115">OrphanAid Africa</a></strong></span> <span style="font-size:85%;">is a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO)<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Its aim is to <strong>support orphans and vulnerable children</strong> in Ghana through programs<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">in care reform, education, and development.<br />Their goal is to <strong>ensure</strong> that children grow up in <strong>safe</strong> and </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>permanent family settings<br /></strong>with appropriate care and protection...<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">~~~<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Créée en 2002 par Lisa Lovatt-Smith</span>, </span><a href="http://www.oafrica.org/fr/"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Orphelinats d’Afrique (OA</span>) </span></strong></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">est une organisation non gouvernementale (ONG) à but non lucratif qui </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>aide<br /></strong>les<strong> orphelins</strong> et les <strong>enfants défavorisés</strong> du Ghana </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>à grandir<br />dans les meilleures conditions.<br /></strong>Cela en aidant les familles, les communautés, les organisations et administrations<br />à leur apporter soins, protection, éducation et alimentation de qualité...<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000000;">~</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>*</strong></span>La couleur noire est celle du plastique RECYCLÉ<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">1 euro sera prélevé sur <a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/facteurshop/2008/06/la-poupe-clonet.html"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;">la vente de ces poupées<br /></span></strong></a>pour l'enfance défavorisée en Afrique...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">voir</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/facteurshop/2008/06/la-poupe-clonet.html"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">ICI</span></strong></a></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">MERCI </span><a href="http://facteurceleste.blogs.com/defline_colre/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;"><strong>DELPHINE</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">..!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-577310712584308632?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-20367107873759193212009-04-21T19:00:00.024+02:002009-06-17T14:30:20.490+02:00<p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why so many people say I resemble Katherine Hepburn<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">- of course, it's extremely flattering; unfortunately for me, it's NOT true...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></span></p><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Se4Cc4sAcoI/AAAAAAAAFCM/aAfW1t3i5AE/s1600-h/img-set.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327198104502432386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Se4Cc4sAcoI/AAAAAAAAFCM/aAfW1t3i5AE/s400/img-set.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Katherine Hepburn</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why everybody, but me, can whistle...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why the majority of people <strong><span style="color:#000000;">watching</span></strong> the Annecy marathon</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">last weekend wore</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"> trainers and tracksuits...</span></div><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why, if I prefer a degree of privacy, do I blog..?<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why Sarkozy seems more interested in being popular </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">than being effective...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Does he really think that by<a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a8377d52-2abe-11de-8415-00144feabdc0.html"><strong><span style="color:#000066;"> insulting Obama/Merkel/Zapatero...</span></strong></a></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">we'll no longer focus on how little he's done<br />in terms of this country's economy, unemployment rate, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">homelessness and crime..?</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why I sometimes I forget how lucky I am...</span><br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why so many people feel obliged to share their <span style="color:#000000;"><strong>personal</strong></span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(as in, private)</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">life with strangers <span style="font-size:85%;">(as in, neighbours)</span><span style="font-size:100%;">...</span></span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why I can't leave the house without walking through a </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">cloud of scent </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(Nothing too overpowering, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">just a spritz up into the air)...</span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why so many people I know don't seem to know the difference </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">between monologue and conversation...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">con·ver·sa·tion: </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">the spoken exchange of thoughts, opinions, and feelings; talk.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">mon·o·logue: </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">a prolonged talk or discourse by a single speaker, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">particularly one dominating or monopolizing a conversation..!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why everybody, but me, can wink...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why people keep refering to <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8005767.stm"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Susan Boyle</span></strong></a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> as unattractive.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The GREAT singers were <strong>never </strong>about image. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and their ilk were singers first and foremost</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">When you got to see them in person it did not occur to expect them to be any more </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">than they were. People did not expect a plastic doll...</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why people are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">People who get on in this world are the people who get up </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">and look for the circumstances they want, and, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">if they can’t find them, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">make them... </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">* why so many of us are too busy watching how people see us<br />to just be ourselves...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Are wondering why..? </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">I'd love to know...</span></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-2036710787375919321?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-49997806096370212362009-04-10T12:34:00.012+02:002009-04-11T09:05:43.901+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#cc0000;">Felices Pascuas, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#000099;">Joyeuses Pâques,</span> </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#993399;">Happy Easter.! </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em></em></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>"The Easter feeling does not end.</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>It signals a new beginning,</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>Of nature, spring, and brand new life,</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>And friendship, peace, and giving.</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>The spirit of Easter is all about</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>Hope, love, </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>and joyful living"<br /></em><span style="font-size:85%;">author unknown</span></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;"></span></em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sd8ixhTuhdI/AAAAAAAAFA0/3TgYWfXYx58/s1600-h/DSCN6913.JPG"><span style="color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323011518725260754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sd8ixhTuhdI/AAAAAAAAFA0/3TgYWfXYx58/s576/DSCN6913.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">My photo, Lake Annecy</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Whatever else you do before leaving my blog,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">do not miss </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k&amp;feature=related">this<br /></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4999780609637021236?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-16771651220493707612009-04-08T13:29:00.025+02:002009-04-08T21:32:53.652+02:00<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">“There is a garden in every childhood,<br />an enchanted place where colors are brighter,<br />the air softer, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">and the morning more fragrant than ever again”<br /></span></em><a class="sqa" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotes/elizabeth_lawrence/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Elizabeth Lawrence</span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">. </span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdyvjD4lGFI/AAAAAAAAFAk/1pxab0X6gCo/s1600-h/ghana.png"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322321876517984338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 329px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdyvjD4lGFI/AAAAAAAAFAk/1pxab0X6gCo/s400/ghana.png" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Wenchi, 1963</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Some of my favorite memories of my childhood </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">are not my memories at all, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">they are my mother’s<span style="font-size:85%;">...</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The stories she tells are of a toddler who is strong willed</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and determined. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A child who knows her mind and is not going to let anyone</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">make her change it.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A two year old who loathed the indoors and loved nothing more than</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">to spend entire days in the great outdoors. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A three year old who ate her dinner with her fingers </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">(or not at all)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">because it was better that way.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A four year old who knew an entire neighborhood<br />by name and was considered very much part of each family<br />and the community.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A five year old who who spoke fluent Twi<span style="font-size:85%;"> (the local dialect)</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and loved nothing better than to help her<br />parents out when they couldn't quite make themselves</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">understood...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love that girl. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">I’ve missed her.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1677165122049370761?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-54372041106118801872009-04-05T21:58:00.023+02:002009-04-06T14:47:05.990+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">It has been brought to my attention that I've been blogging for</span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">just </span><span style="font-family:arial;">over a year</span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(see my first ever post<strong> </strong></span><a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/03/welcome-to-our-corner-of-world.html"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">)</span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">- doesn't time fly, </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I can hardly believe it..</span>!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">In some ways it seems like I have been blogging for years </span><span style="font-family:arial;">and </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">in others I feel like </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I am still a newbie...</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">In <strong>celebration</strong> of this monumentous occasion (ha ha!) </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">here are </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">a few<strong> random blog tidbits</strong> about me:</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />° Here, There, Elsewhere...</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">was not my first choice for a blog title...</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkQfXkn34I/AAAAAAAAE_s/NVZJMkgdNkM/s1600-h/DSCN7737.JPG"><span style="color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321302565804564354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkQfXkn34I/AAAAAAAAE_s/NVZJMkgdNkM/s400/DSCN7737.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">°<span style="font-family:arial;"> I’m an independent minded thinker who marches to the beat<br /></span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:arial;">of her own drummer, even though my blog<br /></span></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:arial;">may not necessarily reflect this...<br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span>° I am not quite sure what I gave up<br />to make time for this as I still do so much off-line…<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkQICbgXUI/AAAAAAAAE_k/52_kqqhLHvo/s1600-h/DSCN7735.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321302164992187714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkQICbgXUI/AAAAAAAAE_k/52_kqqhLHvo/s400/DSCN7735.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> .<br /></span>° <span style="font-family:arial;">I have received many, many nice, intelligent and<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">thoughtful comments.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span>° I have many regular readers who never leave comments but<br />send me mails instead..<br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkPEhlSpyI/AAAAAAAAE_U/LiF1nnQcR2Y/s1600-h/DSCN7741.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321301005123626786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkPEhlSpyI/AAAAAAAAE_U/LiF1nnQcR2Y/s400/DSCN7741.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">° Since starting this blog I have been introduced to an entire new vocabulary;<br />twitter, stumble, digg, memes...I could go on and on...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span>° I really, really, really appreciate my readers, and particularly,<br />my commenters;<br />I know I no longer respond to every comment<br />but I do read every one.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkOlsvuGoI/AAAAAAAAE_M/Vqal-_Tz_4Y/s1600-h/merci.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321300475544214146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkOlsvuGoI/AAAAAAAAE_M/Vqal-_Tz_4Y/s400/merci.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">° I have learned so much from this experience...and<br /><strong>I know I wouldn’t blog if it wasn’t fun, so<br />thanks for keeping it enjoyable..!<br /></strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkOE2XOHzI/AAAAAAAAE_E/S-E2jnUTyDI/s1600-h/DSCN7747.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321299911190126386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkOE2XOHzI/AAAAAAAAE_E/S-E2jnUTyDI/s400/DSCN7747.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Plus, <strong>a giveway</strong>,<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">and all you have to do </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">is guess<br />where I've been for the last few days...<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkNsAboEDI/AAAAAAAAE-8/lsSSsHqlwK8/s1600-h/DSCN7746.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321299484396228658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdkNsAboEDI/AAAAAAAAE-8/lsSSsHqlwK8/s400/DSCN7746.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></span></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">Clues to help you:</span></span></p><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° I took the above photos <span style="font-size:85%;">(all except 4th down which is from flickr) </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">of one of the many shops </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I visited </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">whilst there...</span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">° Doris Day immortalized the city, </span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">not only in film </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">but also in song...</span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° I love the city with passion and visit often...</div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"><strong>I'm sure you've all already guessed the answer, so, just leave me</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>a word - I'll select one correct response at random and </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>let you know who's the lucky winner </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>of the gift I bought at MERCI..!</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-5437204110611880187?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-14931883824895228332009-04-01T22:35:00.009+02:002009-06-15T18:12:52.189+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes i do things right,<br />and sometimes I don't. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdPS-m7PXcI/AAAAAAAAE9k/k_7jJPVafBM/s1600-h/3204893266_a2f7c763fc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319827557897428418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdPS-m7PXcI/AAAAAAAAE9k/k_7jJPVafBM/s576" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">I love this by image Tim Walker</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes i love to cook, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and sometimes i love to watch. </span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes i just want to hide under my quilt.<br />and sometimes i want to leap out from under my quilt...</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes i </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">love eating out, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and sometimes i just want to eat in</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes i think outside the box, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and sometimes i don't know how to do otherwise</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes i think I can, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and sometimes i know i can... </span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes I want to escape for a day...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">but I always want to come back!</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sometimes I forget how lucky I am.</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Do you have a sometimes?</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1493188382489522833?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-60722989966689128052009-03-30T15:21:00.011+02:002009-03-31T12:45:53.322+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">I simply ADORE...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">the beads, the stunning models, the fabrics, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and the general sunny, happy feeling </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">that these photos</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">generate...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdDK9D5qqsI/AAAAAAAAE8s/gb_LTf14b3k/s1600-h/3059258480_00f8ba4b44.jpg"><span style="font-size:180%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318974310292564674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 360px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdDK9D5qqsI/AAAAAAAAE8s/gb_LTf14b3k/s400/3059258480_00f8ba4b44.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Africans have used beads for ritual and decorative purposes</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">for hundreds of years.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">In ancient African graves, beads and beaded necklaces were found</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">buried with kings and chiefs.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Ashanti people of of Ghana reasoned that powdered glass beads</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">were worth their weight in gold and that certain beads</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">held supernatural</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> protective powers.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdDKlBrkUtI/AAAAAAAAE8k/3D7Who4uMjs/s1600-h/3091561475_bf0159f4d5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318973897379697362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdDKlBrkUtI/AAAAAAAAE8k/3D7Who4uMjs/s400/3091561475_bf0159f4d5.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Yoruba people of Nigeria believed that buried beads </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">would grow in the ground and multiply.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The most popular trading items brought over by the Europeans</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">in the 16th century were beads</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and thousands of pounds of beads were exchanged.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdDKRezDxII/AAAAAAAAE8c/c3JgndtGJ4w/s1600-h/2702846649_9fdc3be377.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318973561598362754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SdDKRezDxII/AAAAAAAAE8c/c3JgndtGJ4w/s400/2702846649_9fdc3be377.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"> <span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span></span></span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Until the 20th century, no other continent imported as many beads</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">or yielded </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">as many different types of its own.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The abundance of the shear variety of shapes, colors </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and materials used is overwhelming.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">None though is as popular as the glass bead.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The traditional glass bead practice thrives in West Africa.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Today,<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwSwQ0CQFhU"><strong> the Krobo people of Ghana, noted bead makers</strong></a>, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">melt powdered glass in small bead moulds to form their beads.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The beads have a semi-translucent quality</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">that highlights the painted motifs.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Nowadays beads are used as fashion accessories</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">by both men and women...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Read and see more <a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/09/beyond-beauty.html"><strong>here</strong></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">photos:<strong> </strong></span><a title="Link to Bob pixel's photostream" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobpixel/"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Bob pixel</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> photography</span></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-6072298996668912805?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-39625953085081381652009-03-26T12:40:00.026+01:002010-03-08T13:25:47.213+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#000000;"><strong>Pause au Chalet...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Definition of Pause</span> :<strong> </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing; </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">cease an action temporarily;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Synonyms for Pause :</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">break, rest period, hiatus, time out, downtime,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">intermission, parenthesis...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sctu5ZOcp8I/AAAAAAAAE6M/ejsYCVhNim8/s1600-h/DSCN7677.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317465717344085954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sctu5ZOcp8I/AAAAAAAAE6M/ejsYCVhNim8/s320/DSCN7677.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">to admire the breathtaking views from the terrace;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ScttrzGHuXI/AAAAAAAAE58/OPaifBeXk_g/s1600-h/DSCN7699.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317464384258685298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ScttrzGHuXI/AAAAAAAAE58/OPaifBeXk_g/s400/DSCN7699.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">lake Annecy from above and</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div><p align="center"></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ScttWNYuUvI/AAAAAAAAE50/6ZsT3PnvWhw/s1600-h/DSCN7650.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317464013358912242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ScttWNYuUvI/AAAAAAAAE50/6ZsT3PnvWhw/s400/DSCN7650.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> the snow covered slope we'd just "snow shoed" up and down down...<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(our tracks are quite visible..!)</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SctsrDx0TZI/AAAAAAAAE5s/OgJBPdl6NPE/s1600-h/DSCN7678.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317463272045432210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SctsrDx0TZI/AAAAAAAAE5s/OgJBPdl6NPE/s400/DSCN7678.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span> before heading out the back gate<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SctqrwtT_tI/AAAAAAAAE5M/ZlZCcVGFJ5U/s1600-h/DSCN7692.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317461085082877650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SctqrwtT_tI/AAAAAAAAE5M/ZlZCcVGFJ5U/s400/DSCN7692.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">to contemplate the view across the Mont Blanc mountain range<br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SctqRo9u2hI/AAAAAAAAE5E/27qfc8lQEx4/s1600-h/DSCN7694.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;"><br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><em>"The richness I achieve comes from Nature,<br /></em></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><em>the source of my inspiration"<br /></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333333;">Claude Monet<br /></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-3962595308508138165?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-49490610635295033462009-03-18T17:20:00.009+01:002009-03-18T20:50:36.800+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">“The traveler is active; </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">he goes strenuously in search of people, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">of adventure, of experience. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">The tourist is passive; </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">he expects interesting things to happen to him. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">He goes sight-seeing.” </span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Daniel J. Boorsti</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ScEjo1iXQBI/AAAAAAAAE18/Zuxruf9lcAM/s1600-h/lf2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314568219746844690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ScEjo1iXQBI/AAAAAAAAE18/Zuxruf9lcAM/s576/lf2.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Country Living - I <strong>LOVE</strong> Morris Minors..!<br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;">A Bientôt..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">P.S: We're NOT going sight-seeing...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Back soon!</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4949061063529503346?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-42451936992453896392009-03-16T16:04:00.012+01:002009-03-28T18:18:36.902+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Looks like Spring may, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">at long last, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">be </span><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">just around the corner..</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sb5wGsmnCAI/AAAAAAAAE1c/XuEu5IiOpKQ/s1600-h/crocus.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313807870698391554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Sb5wGsmnCAI/AAAAAAAAE1c/XuEu5IiOpKQ/s400/crocus.bmp" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;">Meanwhile<span style="font-size:100%;">...</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;"><strong>Things that are baffling to me:</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">collections - of any kind - for display purposes only, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">liqueur-filled chocolate, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">zealots, decaf, hors-d’oeuvre sized dogs, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">politicised tragedies, motherhood, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">pine-scented anything, government forms, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">campsites with satellite hook-up, celebrity worship, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">bad faith, </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">why I can remember all the lyrics to songs </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I haven’t heard in 20 years </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">but can never remember my neighbour’s name, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">people who name their daughter Lolita, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">socks + sandals, slapstick, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">French stand-up comics, accordion music, </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">how anyone can stand up, never mind, walk in skycraper-</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;">high stilletto </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">heels...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><strong>What's baffling you right now..?</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4245193699245389639?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-90798288922163976292009-03-13T21:19:00.027+01:002009-03-14T16:35:10.335+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">there will be <strong>Plantains</strong>...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbrcmWtnJUI/AAAAAAAAE1E/cuKb7gP7-UA/s1600-h/3327949165_d9fc022f62%5B1%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312801261926950210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbrcmWtnJUI/AAAAAAAAE1E/cuKb7gP7-UA/s400/3327949165_d9fc022f62%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">They are delicious simply dry roasted and sprinkled </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">with </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">unrefined sea salt or, if you prefer, you can roast them, boil or</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">fry them...<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbrcdeK8N8I/AAAAAAAAE08/63StEvKeQrk/s1600-h/2573628716_86a81281c0.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312801109310191554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbrcdeK8N8I/AAAAAAAAE08/63StEvKeQrk/s400/2573628716_86a81281c0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;"><span style="color:#000000;">My absolute favourite plantain dish is</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;">Kelewele</span></strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">:</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ghanaian-style spiced fried plantains; </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">ripe yellow plantains that are generously seasoned with ginger </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and other warm spices like cayenne and cinnamon...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Although Kelewele originated in Ghana it</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> is now found</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">in much of West and Central Africa </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">and is gaining </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">popularity in America.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></span><strong></strong><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>Ingredients:<br /></strong>6 just-ripe plantains, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">peeled and cubed into bite-sized pieces</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/2 tsp </span><a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/spice-entry.php?term=Chilli" bfoa6="0" _jfwi="0"><span style="font-family:verdana;">cayenne pepper</span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/2 tsp </span><a href="http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/spice-entry.php?term=Chilli" bfoa6="0" _jfwi="0"><span style="font-family:verdana;">chilli</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> flakes</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/2 tsp freshly-grated ginger</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">1/4 tsp ground black pepper</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 tsp salt</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 tbsp vegetable oil for frying<br /></div></span><div align="center"></div><p align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbrFhwLAzkI/AAAAAAAAE0M/6VFeJiNI4Wk/s1600-h/2573628716_86a81281c0.jpg"></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Why not try these recipes too:</span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Plantain-Chips-103307">Plantain Chips</a></strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><a href="http://nyamfood.blogspot.com/2008/05/oven-roasted-yellow-plantain-sweet.html"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Oven Roasted Plantains</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"> </span></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fried-Plantains/Detail.aspx"><strong>Fried plantains</strong></a></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://nyamfood.blogspot.com/2008/08/boiled-sweet-plantains.html"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Boiled Sweet Plantains</span></strong></a></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span>Flickr photos : </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/bobpixel/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bob pixel</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> and </span><a title="Link to nyamkitchen's photostream" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nyamkitchen/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">nyamkitchen</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-9079828892216397629?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-67012073591875419132009-03-08T17:43:00.017+01:002010-11-15T09:56:37.805+01:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP4mETMiXI/AAAAAAAAEyE/0yYFJxOiFrI/s1600-h/womensdaylogo.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 385px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310861718472919410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP4mETMiXI/AAAAAAAAEyE/0yYFJxOiFrI/s400/womensdaylogo.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Just a few of the many women I admire </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">for their devotion to improving the lives of children and </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">women around the world... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP31JBTUrI/AAAAAAAAEx8/KKvV7W-2IDs/s1600-h/soeur-emmanuelle-caire350.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310860877926453938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP31JBTUrI/AAAAAAAAEx8/KKvV7W-2IDs/s400/soeur-emmanuelle-caire350.jpg" /></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C5%93ur_Emmanuell"><strong>Soeur Emmanuelle</strong></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP3oRNMXdI/AAAAAAAAEx0/aTu8kofTW_Y/s1600-h/19900509-750-45.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310860656785513938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP3oRNMXdI/AAAAAAAAEx0/aTu8kofTW_Y/s400/19900509-750-45.jpg" /></a>Audrey Hepburn, <a href="http://www.unicef.org.uk/celebrity/audrey_hepburn.asp"><strong>UNICEF ambassador</strong></a><strong><br /></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP3TArxBJI/AAAAAAAAExs/gOyZ8hadLAI/s1600-h/women6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310860291573089426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP3TArxBJI/AAAAAAAAExs/gOyZ8hadLAI/s400/women6.jpg" /></a><strong> </strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangari_Maathai"><strong>Dr Wangari Maathai </strong></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP3LQn13pI/AAAAAAAAExk/gYjugN0RymA/s1600-h/mother-teresa-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310860158412643986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP3LQn13pI/AAAAAAAAExk/gYjugN0RymA/s400/mother-teresa-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa"><strong>Mother Teresa </strong></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SbP2glfA1aI/AAAAAAAAExc/slLDeIK2ZYg/s1600-h/viji.jpg"></a><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-6701207359187541913?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-77579659524321230002009-03-02T15:41:00.014+01:002009-03-13T23:07:26.396+01:00<div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/09/fashionable-pursuit.html"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>After years of riding</strong></span></a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Racing bikes, Town bikes and Mountain bikes</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">(depending on the type of terrain...)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I bought a "granny bike" <span style="font-size:85%;">(daughter's term..!) <span style="font-size:100%;">last Summer</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">for only a </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:100%;">handful of euros </span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">at one of our local Brocantes </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">and I'm just so pleased with it..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I'd had my eye on a <a href="http://www.pashley.co.uk/index.php"><strong>Pashley</strong></a> bike for a while, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">however, common sense told </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">me,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I'd be just as happy with my cheap Brocante find...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Savwxl4QOGI/AAAAAAAAEqs/BQMgRkvd6uM/s1600-h/main_49.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308601320558573666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 276px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/Savwxl4QOGI/AAAAAAAAEqs/BQMgRkvd6uM/s400/main_49.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> photo from pashley.co.uk</span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SavwfzfF5NI/AAAAAAAAEqk/t8-XAPJ22gc/s1600-h/DSCN7344.JPG"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308601014973490386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SavwfzfF5NI/AAAAAAAAEqk/t8-XAPJ22gc/s400/DSCN7344.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"> my photo of my bike, Saturday in the garden...<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The ‘sit up and beg’ style handlebars make me feel far more graceful</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and ladylike <span style="font-size:85%;">(not to mention comfortable)</span> on my bike</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">than I ever did on more regular hybrid bikes I've had... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Saturday here in the Alps was Spring-like, and out came the bike, for a trip </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to the Farmers' market followed by a gentle ride along the lakeside</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">for coffee <a href="http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lareinedespres.fr/simpub1/AAAAPDFCFIRO/PA9001/photo00.jpeg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.lareinedespres.fr/impression.htm%3Flang%3Den&amp;usg=__HIedBnspPsqBmSGmQ49rhqRs0Ao=&amp;h=195&amp;w=260&amp;sz=20&amp;hl=en&amp;start=3&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=2gD9ia_CtyE-aM:&amp;tbnh=84&amp;tbnw=112&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreine%2Bdes%2Bpres%2Bannecy%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Chez Carine</span></strong></a></span><a href="http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lareinedespres.fr/simpub1/AAAAPDFCFIRO/PA9001/photo00.jpeg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.lareinedespres.fr/impression.htm%3Flang%3Den&amp;usg=__HIedBnspPsqBmSGmQ49rhqRs0Ao=&amp;h=195&amp;w=260&amp;sz=20&amp;hl=en&amp;start=3&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=2gD9ia_CtyE-aM:&amp;tbnh=84&amp;tbnw=112&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreine%2Bdes%2Bpres%2Bannecy%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN"><strong> </strong></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and then home for a Barbecue lunch</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">in the garden...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Sadly, weatherwise, Sunday was a different story altogether, and</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">my beloved bike is now back in the garage where it's been</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">gathering cobwebs all winter..! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Can't wait to bring it out again; </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">let's hope </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Spring is just around the corner...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;"><strong>If you're into bikes and cycling, you'll love this blog: </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000066;"><a href="http://londoncyclechic.blogspot.com/"><strong>London Cycle Chic</strong></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7757965952432123000?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-11840169772729124142009-02-24T18:48:00.039+01:002009-06-22T08:37:01.358+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">According to some estimates, between 500 billion and a trillion </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">plastic grocery bags are used globally each year.. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">There has been recently, in Europe, at least, a concerted effort by many individuals </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and some foodstores to ban plastic bags. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Certainly an excellent move for the environment - </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">If, like me,</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> you've well and truly kicked the plastic habit, chances are you may still </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">have a few floating around the place...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">What better idea than to, either <a href="http://www.betterbudgeting.com/articles/frugality/plasticgrocerybag.htm"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">recycle these yourself</span></strong></a>, or, give them away</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">to help those a great deal less fortunate than ourselves, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">particularly women </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">with young children..?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">My great friend, French fashion designer, <strong>Delphine Kohler</strong><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000066;">(</span><a href="http://madame.lefigaro.fr/societe/enquetes/441-delphine-kohler-de-montreuil-a-tiebele"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">see Mme Figaro press article</span></strong></a>)</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#000066;"></span></strong></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">runs a non-profit making association<a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong> </strong></span></a></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;"><strong>les Filles du Facteur</strong></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">(associated to NGOs in </span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">West Africa)</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">and one of their many, many activities is </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">the recycling of plastic bags...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The income generated from the sale of products, both <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.facteurshop.com"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">online</span></strong></a> and offline, is used</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">mainly for community educational projects both in the Paris </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">innercity suburbs </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">and in </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">*<strong> Burkina Faso</strong>...<span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">Plastic bags can be deposited directly, or sent to:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">(la Maison des Associations du 3ième arrondissement)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Filles du Facteur,</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>5 rue Perrée<br />75003 Paris</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUZ9z6QWPI/AAAAAAAAEpY/RVQ8fxMA5Y0/s1600-h/Mes+images.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306676285623261426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUZ9z6QWPI/AAAAAAAAEpY/RVQ8fxMA5Y0/s400/Mes+images.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Clockwise from top: Bouquet of flowers in a vase, a penny purse, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">floormats in black and multicoloured with flowered edging...<br /></span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUUiEi4XbI/AAAAAAAAEpQ/-JpqKydfUW4/s1600-h/delphine.bmp"></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://madame.lefigaro.fr/societe/enquetes/441-delphine-kohler-de-montreuil-a-tiebele" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;">Portrait de Delphine Kohler</span></strong></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;">, </span></div><div align="center">à lire sur </div><div align="center"><a href="http://madame.lefigaro.fr/societe/enquetes/441-delphine-kohler-de-montreuil-a-tiebele" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000066;">lefigaro.fr madame</span></strong></a></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUT4J45OiI/AAAAAAAAEpI/R7W8mSvBxDY/s1600-h/adama_djellabah.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306669591374150178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 215px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUT4J45OiI/AAAAAAAAEpI/R7W8mSvBxDY/s320/adama_djellabah.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">A djellabah crocheted from black plastic bags</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUTOQ-IlxI/AAAAAAAAEpA/U7Y22rba8cg/s1600-h/tapis_adama.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306668871720670994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUTOQ-IlxI/AAAAAAAAEpA/U7Y22rba8cg/s400/tapis_adama.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Bathmat nearing completion</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUTD-8NPyI/AAAAAAAAEo4/Yeas8MQhmVY/s1600-h/bobines_de_plastik_1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306668695082057506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUTD-8NPyI/AAAAAAAAEo4/Yeas8MQhmVY/s400/bobines_de_plastik_1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Balls of plastic bags cut into strips ready to crochet</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUSx7U92II/AAAAAAAAEow/ffILQ8ih_Pw/s1600-h/crochetage.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306668384874518658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUSx7U92II/AAAAAAAAEow/ffILQ8ih_Pw/s400/crochetage.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUSntQwAwI/AAAAAAAAEoo/N7MLCgZ9wdE/s1600-h/crochet_plastique_2.jpg"></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Lady at work in Burkina Faso</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUSawcQ1PI/AAAAAAAAEog/DR-7MbzWbCQ/s1600-h/toutes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306667986815341810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaUSawcQ1PI/AAAAAAAAEog/DR-7MbzWbCQ/s400/toutes.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Ladies at work in Paris<br /></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">Pour tout savoir sur les Filles du Facteur, c'est<br /><a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000066;"><strong>ici</strong></span></a></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">Le premier Bidon </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>"<span style="color:#6600cc;">Recycle</span> <span style="color:#009900;">le</span> <span style="color:#000066;">sac</span> <span style="color:#cc6600;">plastic</span>"</strong> </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">est à la mairie du 3èm arrondissement de Paris </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(depuis le 9 février)</span> pour</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#000066;"><a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/"><strong>Les Filles du Facteur</strong></a></span>.... </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000000;">Les sacs</span> récupérés sont découpés et crochetés </span><span style="font-family:arial;">par des femmes en difficulté </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">en <a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/fillesdufacteur/2009/02/la-collecte-de-sacs-continue.html"><strong>banlieue parisienne</strong></a> et au <a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/fillesdufacteur/2008/09/en-noir-et-en-c.html"><strong>Burkina Faso</strong></a>. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Elles fabriquent des objets en vente sur </span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.facteurshop.com"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#000066;">ICI</span></strong></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">envoyez ou déposez vos sacs plastique :<br />(la Maison des Associations du 3ième arrondissement)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Filles du Facteur,<br />5 rue Perrée </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">75003 Paris<br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">merci de faire passer l'info<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">* <a href="http://facteurceleste.blogs.com/facteurceleste/2008/11/campement-au-village.html"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">Delphine is currently in West Africa</span></strong></a>, and, only last week, </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">she</span> <a href="http://facteurceleste.blogs.com/facteurceleste/2009/02/et-les-enfants-dabord.html"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">visited the local orphanage</span></strong></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">to donate money on behalf of the </span><span style="font-family:arial;">association</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> to cover babyfood costs...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>****</strong><span style="font-size:100%;">Initiative génial au Niger :</span></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.arte.tv/fr/content/tv/02__Universes/U1__Comprendre__le__monde/02-Magazines/15_20Global_20Mag/03_20Eco_20correspondants/edition-2009.01.23-19_3A30/ART_20ECO__3/2412380.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Bâtir</span> des routes avec des sacs plastiques</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">: </span><span style="font-family:arial;">un autre exemple de recyclage</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">du </span><a href="http://www.muvmedia.com/fr/reportage.php?rid=844" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>"sachet" plastique au Niger</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>, </strong></span><span style="font-family:arial;">où </span><a href="http://www.muvmedia.com/fr/reportage.php?rid=844" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Stéphane Blais</strong><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">témoigne de la transformation au moindre cout </span><span style="font-family:arial;">du sac plastique </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">en pavé pour les routes..! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><a href="http://fillesdufacteur.typepad.com/fillesdufacteur/2009/02/un-exemple-de-recyclage-de-sacs-plastique.html"><strong>source</strong></a> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">de cette info.</span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1184016977272912414?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-41901768420770695302009-02-23T21:50:00.010+01:002009-03-02T19:59:12.363+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">These stunning photos stopped me in my tracks...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">the beautiful models, fabric and design of the dresses,</span></div><div align="center">the choice of accessories, hair styling...</div><div align="center">I just had to share<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOgXbc5PXI/AAAAAAAAEnw/oQ8LPCcLLSo/s1600-h/00002432.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306261110338960754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOgXbc5PXI/AAAAAAAAEnw/oQ8LPCcLLSo/s400/00002432.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOf9ISqf7I/AAAAAAAAEno/FlnBElvMpGs/s1600-h/00002419.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306260658519179186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOf9ISqf7I/AAAAAAAAEno/FlnBElvMpGs/s400/00002419.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOfg2rVa2I/AAAAAAAAEng/ea0E48S95yg/s1600-h/00002428.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306260172754479970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOfg2rVa2I/AAAAAAAAEng/ea0E48S95yg/s400/00002428.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOfZEjFKZI/AAAAAAAAEnY/JQONT_gsiBM/s1600-h/00002430.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306260039039003026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SaOfZEjFKZI/AAAAAAAAEnY/JQONT_gsiBM/s400/00002430.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">In fact, I love these so much, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I'm going to keep the photos and have similar dresses made up</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">by the local dressmaker on my next trip to West Africa.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I always have clothes made for me by the local tailor or dressmaker</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">when I travel afar</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">- in fact I'm the proud owner of an entire wardrobe full of the most beautiful creations, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">both locally </span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">inspired and "copies" of european designs...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">If you've never tried doing this, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I'd highly reccommend trying on your next trip abroad - a good idea</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">is to first have a favourite dress "copied", then if you're</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">happy with that, be more adventurous and</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">try something more locally inspired...<br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4190176842077069530?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-51519813393305915322009-02-15T20:52:00.003+01:002009-06-17T14:41:03.579+02:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://community.livejournal.com/foto_decadent/1908727.html#cutid1"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303115136444476610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 344px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SZhzHpbFLMI/AAAAAAAAEkw/ofeM5pBfaQc/s400/holdingballoons.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Source<br /></strong></span></a><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>°</strong> paris <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">is</span>,</strong> and always has been, so </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">breathtakingly beautiful,</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>°</strong> parisians <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">are</span></strong> just so fabulously chic,</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>°</strong> paris <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">was</span></strong> unbelievably cold for this time of year </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>°</strong> parisians <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">were</span>,</strong> as i've always found, amazingly friendly,</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>°</strong> paris <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">is</span> </strong>full of surprises, each and every time i visit</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">i discover something new and different</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;">(and i've visiting regularly for decades...)</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>°</strong> parisian taxi drivers <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">were</span> </strong>noticeable by their</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">absence outside our hotel,</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>° </strong>paris <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">is</span></strong> the first European capital i ever </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">visited, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">decades ago, and i fell instantly, wildly, </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">head over heels, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">in love with the place..!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>°</strong> parisian bistros (checkout <a href="http://www.melac.fr/"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">my latest find</span></strong></a>)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">are</span></strong> quite simply the best </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><strong>°</strong> paris <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">is </span></strong>where i met the most delightful,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><a href="http://www.collectifnousdeux.com/"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">multi-talented lady</span></strong></a>, </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">whose hilarious <a href="http://minuscule-exposition.typepad.com/minuscule_exposition/"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">blog</span></strong></a> is quite simply unique...</span></div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><strong>~~~</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em><strong>"A daughter is the happy memories of the past, </strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em><strong>the joyful moments of the present, </strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em><strong>and the hope and promise of the future"</strong></em> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Author Unknown</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;">18 years ago today, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000000;">I became a mother, </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">for the very </span></span><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;">first time,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">and, what I want to know is, </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">where </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">did all that time go..?</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">It only feels like yesterday that I was strutting</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">around with my huge belly..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Bizarrely, after all this time, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">I still don't feel like a 'mum', more like a </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">lady </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">who is taking care of the </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">most amazing and precious </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">person </span><span style="font-family:Courier New;">on earth...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">I love this quote by</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Harry S Truman: </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>"I have found the best way </strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>to give advice to your children </strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>is to find out what they want </strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>and then advise them to do it"</em> </strong></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY J..!<br /></span></strong><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-5151981339330591532?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-49869361082153885362009-02-11T17:49:00.000+01:002009-02-14T20:26:01.417+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> where I could purchase the beautiful </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">mohair blanket below...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SZMJqwdArwI/AAAAAAAAEkg/aLwwrL7-IR8/s1600-h/70.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301591816510942978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SZMJqwdArwI/AAAAAAAAEkg/aLwwrL7-IR8/s400/70.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Image: JJJJound<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><p align="center"><br />* </strong>why we can't all just get along...<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">. </span></strong><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> how long it takes to forget things...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> why people are so concerned with the opinions of others... </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> how long it takes to "get" that some people just aren't<br />ever going to "get it"...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> why people choose to sit at the table next to you<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">when the restaurant is practically empty...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> could I really live without my cell phone...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> why everybody, but me, can wink...</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>*</strong> how come I'm so excited to be going to Paris<br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">tomorrow when I've already been there zillions of times</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">...<br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4986936108215388536?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-4890569951006198832009-02-10T14:55:00.002+01:002009-06-17T14:45:45.454+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;">A very good non-blogging friend of mine, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(whom I suspect will soon be blogging as </span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">she's so full of great, fun ideas for posts...)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">asked me to either show, or write a list of, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">what's on my desk </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">today; </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">so, here goes...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SZGHet-12vI/AAAAAAAAEi4/7Rd8920dTJI/s1600-h/office2_001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301167198200781554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SZGHet-12vI/AAAAAAAAEi4/7Rd8920dTJI/s400/office2_001.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><strong> source </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">commissioned translation ready to send<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">strategically placed strong morning coffee<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">my FiloFax i use everyday<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">photo of Husband and Daughters<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">beautifully framed by a very dear friend<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">West African fabric samples and beads that inspire<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">me endlessly<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">handwritten cards and letters to friends across the globe<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to send tomorrow<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">mobile phone<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">painting by Daughter that i love beyond words<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">(awaiting frame so I can hang it above my desk)<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">friend's CV that needs updating by him before i can<br />translate<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> </span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">collage in progress for a dear friend in need of<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">home decorating inspiration<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the usual suspects...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">. </span><br /></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">If you'd like to join me, please do </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- i'd love to see, and/or read on your blog, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">what's on your desk today...</div></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-489056995100619883?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-55410735998331589212009-02-06T13:43:00.001+01:002009-02-14T20:26:20.423+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">What's your idea of a perfect weekend..? </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYw6uXOdmOI/AAAAAAAAEiw/pXcUEZydlFc/s1600-h/3114784775_f9b731b869.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299675429691300066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYw6uXOdmOI/AAAAAAAAEiw/pXcUEZydlFc/s400/3114784775_f9b731b869.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Photo: <a title="nicolas matheus" href="http://www.matheusphoto.com/" target="_blank">Nicolas Mathéus</a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:85%;">.</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Going away somewhere,<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">away from the daily routine or </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the familiar surroundings<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and taking in new sights, new surroundings,<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">new experiences..?<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It certainly has its attractions:<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the chance to get away, if only for a couple of days.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or staying home and making plans:<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">having friends over, or throwing a dinner party or<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">filling the days with activities and errands that you never otherwise have time<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to do during the regular hectic week..?<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or, even better, staying home and just enjoying yourself<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">with no definitive plans..?<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Sleeping in, giving yourself that much-needed manucure </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">perhaps,<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">having a family night </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">with a good old film classic.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Spending Saturday watching the blue sky and the first signs<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">of an early Spring in the garden</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enjoying a leisurely bike ride by the lake, pond or river</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Folding freshly-washed, sweet-smelling laundry.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Making paper thin savoury crêpes to fill with goat's cheese, <a href="http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/arugula.htm"><span style="color:#000066;"><strong>aragula</strong></span></a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and<br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">sun-dried tomatoes </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">for Sunday brunch.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><strong>I'd love to know your thoughts on the subject...</strong></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>.</strong> </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:180%;">BON WEEKEND..!</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-5541073599833158921?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-64092285547499599992009-02-04T10:40:00.002+01:002009-06-17T16:04:52.410+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I was tagged quite a while ago, by a non-blogging friend, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and asked to use the letters of my middle name<br />to say things about me<br />that you may not already know...<br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYoiWx6oP1I/AAAAAAAAEig/oVdbzxZOXx0/s1600-h/collage23.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299085686306520914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYoiWx6oP1I/AAAAAAAAEig/oVdbzxZOXx0/s400/collage23.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">One of the several Sri lankan families that I, personally, sponsor...<br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYoHRDjvFpI/AAAAAAAAEiI/X2hTRBkPT-A/s1600-h/DSCN4698.JPG"></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>I - Inconcistant:</strong> as in the inconsistency of this blog’s tone,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">which, as I've said before, </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">must be very frustrating</span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">for some readers...<br />I'm passionate about so many different things, have so many different </span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">facets to my personality, and, am so fiercely<br />independant, that I'd hate to feel constricted, particularly here,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">of all places, on <strong>my</strong> blog..!<br />So I guess I'll just carry on posting </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">whatever I feel like... </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>N - NGO:</strong> we created, with the help of friends,<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">family, neighbours...a humanitarian NGO in the wake of the 2004<br />SE Asian Tsunami, to help the poorest of the poor</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">'forgotten victims' in the SW of Sri Lanka.<br />We currently have an entire village (Gonagola) up and running<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">(complete with primary school, water pump, medical clinic and </span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">cooperative providing jobs for the fishermens' widows and their children...)<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">and practically self-sufficient...</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>D - </strong><a href="http://www.dalailama.com/"><strong>Dalai Lama</strong></a><strong>:</strong> as in, the spiritual leader of </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a title="Tibetan Buddhism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibetan_Buddhism"><strong>Tibetan Buddhism</strong></a>, </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">whose philosophical teachings I follow...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>I - Independent:</strong> as in, I am (fiercely) independent:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Definition : </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">1. free from the influence or control of others<br />2. not relying on the support (esp. financial support) of others<br />3. capable of acting for oneself or on one's own<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>A - Aware:</strong> as in, I like to know what’s going on, </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">although <strong>not</strong> in a gossipy way. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I don’t watch the TV news as I don’t like its slant on things</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I take my news via Newspapers or Internet, </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;">where I can click off when something is too</span> disturbing</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">but also seek out feel good stories on my own...</span><br /></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-6409228554749959999?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-19064200303145624612009-02-03T20:03:00.001+01:002009-03-02T19:58:27.482+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.paoloroversi.com/pages/bio.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>Paolo Roversi’s</strong></span></a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> visual style is unmistakable:<br />paint-like colours, camera blur, timeless-looking subjects and clothing,<br />resulting in images that look more like 19th century painting<br />than 21st century photographs.<br />His breathtaking images and deep knowledge</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">of photography/art history<br />put him in the elite of elite fashion/editorial </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">photographers globally.<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYij5SVP7NI/AAAAAAAAEh4/cFmxCaloU0M/s1600-h/25black_slide05.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298665166170221778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYij5SVP7NI/AAAAAAAAEh4/cFmxCaloU0M/s400/25black_slide05.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYij0edItwI/AAAAAAAAEhw/MtwVJwfU0T4/s1600-h/25black_slide04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298665083525183234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYij0edItwI/AAAAAAAAEhw/MtwVJwfU0T4/s400/25black_slide04.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYijlFRBkII/AAAAAAAAEho/WTl4zqDbXJ0/s1600-h/25black_slide06.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298664819065458818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 332px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYijlFRBkII/AAAAAAAAEho/WTl4zqDbXJ0/s400/25black_slide06.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Photos of Liya Kebede by Paolo Roversi <span style="color:#000099;">(via AVM)</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">from the<strong> </strong></span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/02/21/style/tmagazine/20070225_BLACK_SLIDESHOW_1.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><strong>Afrocentric</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> slideshow<br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">featured last year in the NYT Style Magazine<br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In my opinion, Roversi's work is timeless<br />and stands apart from anything anyone else is doing</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">- I love, love, love his work..!</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1906420030314562461?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-35183853218874214432009-02-02T15:50:00.002+01:002009-03-02T19:59:57.603+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">heureusement que les dépôts-ventes et </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">les blogs de brocanteurs sont là<br />pour les chineuses impatientes </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">et trépignantes...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcsLT9fAiI/AAAAAAAAEgo/YwW9OOZXBuE/s1600-h/colage%2Bgr%25C3%25B6nt.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298252059473019426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 226px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcsLT9fAiI/AAAAAAAAEgo/YwW9OOZXBuE/s400/colage%2Bgr%25C3%25B6nt.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcr06OS1sI/AAAAAAAAEgg/EWU9lHHHqSg/s1600-h/colage_lampa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298251674607081154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcr06OS1sI/AAAAAAAAEgg/EWU9lHHHqSg/s400/colage_lampa.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcpnIQa5TI/AAAAAAAAEgA/p0a-oK0zJ_A/s1600-h/colage_vinkorgar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298249238832670002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 295px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcpnIQa5TI/AAAAAAAAEgA/p0a-oK0zJ_A/s400/colage_vinkorgar.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcoGsrKBZI/AAAAAAAAEf4/0D6rMieSs0o/s1600-h/colage%2Btr%25C3%25A4dg%25C3%25A5rdsstolar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298247582161175954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcoGsrKBZI/AAAAAAAAEf4/0D6rMieSs0o/s400/colage%2Btr%25C3%25A4dg%25C3%25A5rdsstolar.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcl7Gsc_2I/AAAAAAAAEfw/cyqe0GZtQOU/s1600-h/colage%2Bpl%25C3%25A5tsk%25C3%25A5p%2Bkorg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298245183964249954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcl7Gsc_2I/AAAAAAAAEfw/cyqe0GZtQOU/s400/colage%2Bpl%25C3%25A5tsk%25C3%25A5p%2Bkorg.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcluCOaHCI/AAAAAAAAEfo/18OU8qDdI00/s1600-h/colage_koffert.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298244959426190370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 344px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYcluCOaHCI/AAAAAAAAEfo/18OU8qDdI00/s400/colage_koffert.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYclVhJXDyI/AAAAAAAAEfg/soM4XQs7nls/s1600-h/provdocka_lampa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298244538229788450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 337px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYclVhJXDyI/AAAAAAAAEfg/soM4XQs7nls/s400/provdocka_lampa.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Images: Inredningsgalleriet Knut&amp;Svea</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">On peut aussi feuilleter des magazines spécialisés</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">ou consulter des livres comme</span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><strong><a href="http://www.amazon.fr/Brocantes-S%C3%A9bastien-Siraudeau/dp/2082015823">BROCANTES</a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">de Sébastien Siraudeau<br />chez Flammarion </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">"Il nous y livre ses coups de coeur : </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">collection de lieux et boutiques de brocanteurs, </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">choisis pour l'originalité de leur marchandise,<br />la fantaisie de leur mises en scène<br />et la personnalité </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;">de leurs propriétaires"</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-3518385321887421443?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-56553235720981310522009-01-29T15:38:00.002+01:002009-06-17T16:09:28.722+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">° is camera shy but doesn't mind sharing photos</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">of herself as a child...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">(however awful they be..!)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYHJ6UmWn7I/AAAAAAAAEcg/KwH7uD9qxTs/s1600-h/DSCN7161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296736640563584946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYHJ6UmWn7I/AAAAAAAAEcg/KwH7uD9qxTs/s400/DSCN7161.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Kumasi, Ghana, early 1970s </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">- I'm the one on the L looking rather like "the village idiot"..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">° believes in you,</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">even when you don't believe in yourself...</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">° reads poetry in Spanish, translates it to French </span><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">then to English and</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> back once again to Spanish...</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(needless to say, the resulting poem is never the same as the original..!)</span></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">° is never properly dressed when the storm hits...<br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">° adores ballgowns, fancy party frocks and really high heels,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">but would look, and feel, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">ridiculous </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">if she were ever to wear them..!</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">° is extremely aware of her surrounding environment </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">does all she can to preserve it...</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">(through recycling, organic gardening...etc) </span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">° loves a big hug...</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">° is the same size and shape </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">(flat chested, straight up and down - rather like a lamp post)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">as she was at about fifteen..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">° can be counted on to get the job done</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ffffff;"></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">° eases the tension with a joke...</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">not always understood, here in France, I might add,</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">as she has a British sense of humour..!</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">. </span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">° will never, ever understand cricket rules...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">° gives people multiple chances to redeem themselves </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">- she does this for better or worse...</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">° is a free spirit;</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">apparently hard to define by </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">other's definitions...</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">° believes that she has a whole host of Guardian Angels,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">right by her side...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">° would happily spend her life barefoot if she could.</span>..</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">° has difficulty sitting still to watch a movie</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">- never watches TV and when at the movies only stays if the film</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">is really </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">really good..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">° would not know how to take herself seriously </span></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">but </span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">does know how and when to take others seriously..!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">° gets distracted whilst cooking and burns something...<br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">° enjoys the finer things in life, but is</span> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">equally happy </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">to "live like the locals" when travelling afar</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">- it's the only way to get a real feel for a country and its' people</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:130%;">° answers your mail faster than she returns your phonecall</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(unless it's urgent..!)<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">° has great faith in humanity...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">° keeps her word, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;">whatever...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Tell me,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>What type of lady/gentleman are you..?</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-5655323572098131052?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-18828091728569236692009-01-28T17:08:00.000+01:002009-02-10T20:41:21.387+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mangoes are considered in some cultures to be a food of the gods, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and in my opinion one of the best fruits in the world. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Smooth, juicy, and utterly delicious, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">eating a ripe mango is an experience to relish... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYCVQ4BZfCI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/WrQzyRymBp4/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296397278936398882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYCVQ4BZfCI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/WrQzyRymBp4/s320/untitled.bmp" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYCUIs38dcI/AAAAAAAAEbI/6MxpySnvq5w/s1600-h/mangoes.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296396038993376706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYCUIs38dcI/AAAAAAAAEbI/6MxpySnvq5w/s320/mangoes.bmp" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">I<span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Images: </span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">flickr</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SYCSgriZIkI/AAAAAAAAEbA/oM8mpxye9ms/s1600-h/237744193_be99bbf0ae.jpg"></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"> </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">No other fruit evokes the tropics quite like the mango</span><span style="font-family:arial;">...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I prefer them fresh off the tree, however,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">I do know many </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">many people who adore both </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">mango jam and </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">mango sorbet </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">- both easy to make and delicious to eat...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mango jam recipe </span><a href="http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/mango-jam-version-20-a-la-marketman"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>here</strong></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mango sorbet recipe <strong><a href="http://www.bfeedme.com/summertime-mango-sorbet-recipe/"><span style="color:#000099;">here</span></a></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:180%;">BON APPETIT..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><strong>Do let me know how you get on, if you try out these recipes </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">- they can both be made with fresh, tinned or frozen mangoes.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1882809172856923669?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-1335774103342683372009-01-25T13:59:00.000+01:002009-02-14T20:31:50.656+01:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Un week-end simple et tranquil </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">comme il en faudrait plus souvent... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXxi6usDzrI/AAAAAAAAEYY/qDcm6tAtwF4/s1600-h/shepherdshut1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295216022985625266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXxi6usDzrI/AAAAAAAAEYY/qDcm6tAtwF4/s400/shepherdshut1.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:85%;">Image: flickr</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><em>"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing,<br /></em></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><em>wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;<br />there is really no such thing as bad weather,<br />only different kinds of good weather"<br /></em><span style="font-size:85%;">John Ruskin </span></span></div><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em><em><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><p align="center"></span></em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Hope you all had a wonderful weekend..!</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-133577410334268337?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-29265593875121217542009-01-22T11:50:00.001+01:002009-03-02T20:00:33.471+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><em>.</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em>"We should consider every day lost<br />on which we have not danced at least once"<br /></em><span style="font-size:85%;">Friedrich Nietzsche</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://www.art-dept.com/artists/cook/index.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294074907113174674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXhVFCzKNpI/AAAAAAAAEX8/fkbUJEQ6uP0/s320/Image_9.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294074033717165746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 302px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXhUSNJUvrI/AAAAAAAAEXs/pV3xymvKEEQ/s400/Image_11.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294073715198171234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 363px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXhT_qkemGI/AAAAAAAAEXk/b5tNb-5yEvg/s400/Image_12.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Tim Evan Cook</strong></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">. </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-2926559387512121754?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-14218142995766848872009-01-21T10:00:00.000+01:002009-02-14T20:27:33.094+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><em>“The productions of all arts are kinds of poetry </em></span></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>and their craftsmen are all poets”</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Plato </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Ancient Greek Philosopher</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbwH6tXqWI/AAAAAAAAEVI/cV9nkYV9KFk/s1600-h/bs284_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293682430829898082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbwH6tXqWI/AAAAAAAAEVI/cV9nkYV9KFk/s400/bs284_med.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Did you know</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">in Africa a "barbershop" or "hair salon" quite often entails<br />nothing more elaborate than a barber or hair-braider with a chair<br />set up in the open and a signboard hanging from a tree<br />or market stall..? </span></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbtf6QpASI/AAAAAAAAEVA/d6ROrBTqUVw/s1600-h/2811817747_2408cbed9e_m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293679544491376930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 164px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbtf6QpASI/AAAAAAAAEVA/d6ROrBTqUVw/s400/2811817747_2408cbed9e_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbtKrbKi0I/AAAAAAAAEU4/e8o-quzU_Zc/s1600-h/bs287_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293679179731733314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 61px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbtKrbKi0I/AAAAAAAAEU4/e8o-quzU_Zc/s400/bs287_med.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293678807438909090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbs1Aho3qI/AAAAAAAAEUw/b2J3Plheajg/s400/bs281_med.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The signs may be painted by the barbers or hairdressers themselves,<br />or by paid sign artists...<br /></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbssm_CUmI/AAAAAAAAEUo/6qDsw0DzA3k/s1600-h/2543878372_3ac798f591_m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293678663143936610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 159px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbssm_CUmI/AAAAAAAAEUo/6qDsw0DzA3k/s400/2543878372_3ac798f591_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbsfs2JF9I/AAAAAAAAEUg/cSxXDQluHTE/s1600-h/bs255_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293678441378944978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbsfs2JF9I/AAAAAAAAEUg/cSxXDQluHTE/s400/bs255_med.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbsQjda8XI/AAAAAAAAEUY/6ojlNxPPkiU/s1600-h/1051518465_cf23f3c002_m.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293678181161300338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbsQjda8XI/AAAAAAAAEUY/6ojlNxPPkiU/s400/1051518465_cf23f3c002_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">They are intended both to identify the businesses<br />and to advertise the services offered, depicting a catalogue<br />of intricate women's hairbraiding patterns</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">or the latest in men's hair styles...<br /></span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbrlTrEvbI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/BYGrYyuBxik/s1600-h/bs293_med.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293677438189223346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 126px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbrlTrEvbI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/BYGrYyuBxik/s400/bs293_med.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbrb_xowII/AAAAAAAAEUI/_1aTCCF_bpw/s1600-h/bs277_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293677278229217410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 157px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 251px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbrb_xowII/AAAAAAAAEUI/_1aTCCF_bpw/s400/bs277_med.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293677092700637714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 175px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbrRMoLShI/AAAAAAAAEUA/l8P2PdS-VyM/s400/2099533703_2af500c3b1_m.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Barbers' signs can often be dated by the hairstyles depicted </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">- today inspired as often as not by events, styles </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">and personalities in the USA... </span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbmkl63FHI/AAAAAAAAETo/L5UBA70x1gc/s1600-h/bs256_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293671928349267058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbmkl63FHI/AAAAAAAAETo/L5UBA70x1gc/s400/bs256_med.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbmSIbDrII/AAAAAAAAETg/04CLrlNDbQc/s1600-h/barbersn196_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293671611193601154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXbmSIbDrII/AAAAAAAAETg/04CLrlNDbQc/s400/barbersn196_med.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXblxYPdfSI/AAAAAAAAETI/jnv1LV4KLCw/s1600-h/bs254_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293671048504245538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXblxYPdfSI/AAAAAAAAETI/jnv1LV4KLCw/s400/bs254_med.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">You can find find "Mike Tyson", "Mr. Tee", "House Party", </span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and "Cocaine Cut" offered alongside such old favorites </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">as "Nelson Mandela", "Back Bush", </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Sportin' Waves"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">and even "Boeing 707".</span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXblfuJtQGI/AAAAAAAAETA/awtfptdhSyo/s1600-h/barbersn206a_med.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293670745148047458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 177px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXblfuJtQGI/AAAAAAAAETA/awtfptdhSyo/s400/barbersn206a_med.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXblRmITigI/AAAAAAAAES4/YWloldFFzyw/s1600-h/bs287_med.jpg"></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Brightly painted, </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">these signs are a colourful, humorous, </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">and sometimes outrageous <strong>*</strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">contemporary African folk art.<br />They reflect both the ancient African tradition of hairbraiding </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">and hair-cutting and the cultural clash of imported </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">(usually American) influences...<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">All the above signboards are from barber shops and hair-dressers in </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ghana, Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cote d'Ivoire, and Togo.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>*</strong>Several important museum shows have featured </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">African Hair-dresser’s signs,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">including, in the US</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Crowning Achievements: African Arts of Dressing the Hair</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">at the Fowler Museum of Cultural History at UCLA </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">in 1995 and</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Hair in African Art and Culture </strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">at the Museum of African Art in New York in 2000. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">African hair signs were also featured in a January 6, 2002 Style </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">article in the </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">New York Times magazine. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Barber signs from the Indigo Arts Gallery were featured </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">in an article in Lucky magazine (January 2002). </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">One of their signs was included in Sharne Algotsson's book, </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>African Style: Down to the Details.<br /></strong></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Photos of barber shops by: </span><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/qaid/"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">Qaid</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">, </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamiesaltsman/"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;">dede sahem</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000099;">, </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/porkflamingo/"><span style="color:#000099;">porkflamingo</span></a><span style="color:#000099;">, </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalgrace/"><span style="color:#000099;">danny.hammontree</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Barber shop signs:</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000099;">Indigo Arts Gallery</span></span> </div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1421814299576684887?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-86065312707536719172009-01-19T17:49:00.001+01:002009-02-10T19:31:46.895+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I wonder...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXSvmckgC-I/AAAAAAAAESA/y_DaKOS2jF0/s1600-h/ferris_wheel_etsy_AliciaBock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293048537106353122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SXSvmckgC-I/AAAAAAAAESA/y_DaKOS2jF0/s400/ferris_wheel_etsy_AliciaBock.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_6&amp;listing_id=19491855"><span style="font-size:85%;">Alicia Bock Photography</span></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s the excellent tea i’m drinking...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s<span style="color:#000099;"> </span></span><a href="http://sureando-sureando.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>this stunning blog</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> i was just viewing when i should </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">have been working.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s the<strong><span style="color:#000099;"> </span></strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzrXc68gNjQ&amp;feature=related"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">great music</span></strong> </a>i’m listening to...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s the relaxation i'm feeling as a result of my visit </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">to the osteopath early this morning.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s <a href="http://www.oafrica.org/fr/"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">the project</span></strong> </a>i’m working on that will probably mean a trip to</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">West Africa in the near future...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s what my friend in Washinton i just spoke to on the phone</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">told me about the incredible<span style="color:#000099;"> </span><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/18/obama.sunday/index.html"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">"ambiance"</span></strong></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;"><strong></strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;">in the run-up</span><strong> </strong></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">to the Obama inauguration tomorrow...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s the other friend whose e-mail i await.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it’s </span><a href="http://dolcechic.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/mil-gracias/"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>this post</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> at Dolce Chic that helped me</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">put a few things into perspective</span>...</div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">° Maybe it's just something in the air...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><strong>Tell me, </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><strong>why are you happy today..?</strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-8606531270753671917?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-39551964204010943682009-01-14T10:52:00.001+01:002009-03-02T20:00:56.904+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">You don't have to be a Stamp collector </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">to be interested </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">in stamps; </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">particularly, ones as beautiful as those below (my favourites)...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">just </span><span style="font-family:arial;">take a look at the</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>*</strong><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7802099.stm"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong> Royal Mail's new set of stamps</strong></span></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">featuring classics </span><span style="font-family:arial;">of British design - pieces as iconic as the Mini, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Penguin Books and </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Routemaster buses...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW23JTndJ1I/AAAAAAAAERI/4IWn44BSNtI/s1600-h/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291086507742668626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 390px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW23JTndJ1I/AAAAAAAAERI/4IWn44BSNtI/s400/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-003.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />Famous for Battersea Power Station and Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral,<br />Giles Gilbert Scott followed architectural cues in his submission<br />to the GPO's competition to design a telephone kiosk.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW23DycDArI/AAAAAAAAERA/EuILMP8oU98/s1600-h/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291086412937102002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 386px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW23DycDArI/AAAAAAAAERA/EuILMP8oU98/s400/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-008.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:arial;">The first Mini rolled off production lines 50 years ago.<br />Sir Alec Issigonis's revolutionary car became an icon of the 60s </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and remains one of the most striking and </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">familiar pieces of British design...<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">. </span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW223-BInNI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/ZarEHu0RfHE/s1600-h/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-002.jpg"></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291086209887018194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 399px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 390px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW223-BInNI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/ZarEHu0RfHE/s400/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-002.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">In the world of publishing, cover designs have rarely been so immediately iconic<br />as Allen Lane's Penguin classics series,<br />designed by Edward Young, perfected by Jan Tschichold<br />and featuring Eric Gill's immortal Gill Sans typeface</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW22oOW2hUI/AAAAAAAAEQw/ARS3pE_kLHY/s1600-h/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291085939395167554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 394px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 390px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SW22oOW2hUI/AAAAAAAAEQw/ARS3pE_kLHY/s400/Gallery-Stamps-New-stamps-007.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">The K2 was an instant design classic<br />Increasingly rare in the 21st century, London Transport's Routemaster bus<br />still symbolises London across the world...<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span>I don't know about you,<br />but I adore the old mini and double decker buses,<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">and, unlike most people<br />I know, I'm not at all keen on the newer versions of either...<br /></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>*</strong>The Design Classics series was issued yesterday<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">and will be on sale for a year.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">~~~</span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>By the way,<br />thanks a million for all your help on my last post<br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:arial;">- I'm not quite as dumb as I might appear.<br />Asking for your help, was my way of solliciting more info. plus your<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">opinions on the subject<br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">- kinda a little "tongue in cheek" (typically British..?),<br />I guess...</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-3955196420401094368?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-10328730043964076252009-01-13T16:41:00.000+01:002009-02-15T23:16:18.489+01:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><strong>...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><em><span style="font-size:130%;">"The position of a foreigner with complete command </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">of the same language has great advantages"</span></em><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center">George Bernard Shaw</div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWzILEyGQeI/AAAAAAAAEQI/iflRSk4mw9M/s1600-h/RSCN6937.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290823754841473506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWzILEyGQeI/AAAAAAAAEQI/iflRSk4mw9M/s400/RSCN6937.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Daughter, 2000, with what she called her African hairstyle..!<br /></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Daughter<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(who is, to all intents and purposes, bi-lingual)<br /></span>regularly comes home from school with new (American) English words</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and expressions to </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">enrich our predominantly (English) English vocabulary...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/09/trials-and-tribulations.html"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Her English teacher this year</span></strong></a>, is on a mission,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">it would appear, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">to get the entire class speaking American English </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">by the end of the school year </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">(Nothing like being passionate about your subject, Good Luck to her, I say!)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Unfortunately, I can't always answer the many, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">many questions Daughter </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">has with regards to these new words</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">and expressions, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">and I would imagine, her teacher </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">is more than tired of her constant</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">questionning...</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Here are just a few examples, </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>maybe you can help out...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If "feeling sick" means felling ill, what is the word for</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">feeling sick..?<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Why is a main course meal called an "entrée"..?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If "cookie" means biscuit, what if you want a </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">cookie and not </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">just any other type of biscuit..?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If "cream" means milk, what do you ask for if you want</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">milk and not cream..?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If "pocket book" is a purse what is a small </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">(pocket) book called..?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If a toilet is a bathroom, what do you ask for if you</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">want the bathroom to have a bath..?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If "pants" are trousers what do you call</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">your underwear..?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">If petrol is called gas, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">what's the word for gas..?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">What is a bumbag or fanny pack..?</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Why is is thought rude to host your own<br />birthday party..?<br />Apparently somebody else does this for you, this can't be true, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">can it..?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:130%;">..</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;"><strong>Thanking you all, in advance, </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;"><strong>on behalf of aforementioned Daughter..!</strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1032873004396407625?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-57502267280980056222009-01-12T21:25:00.000+01:002009-02-15T23:08:16.071+01:00<div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The colder it gets here </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(-7 as I write),</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">the further afield my thoughts wander, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">to much, much hotter climes...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWun1gdiEiI/AAAAAAAAEQA/pG0iMmUVRko/s1600-h/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFjVOQU5kT1hnM1JHWW8tZTVZbU5TWGcAAAACaWQKAXgAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290506724965487138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWun1gdiEiI/AAAAAAAAEQA/pG0iMmUVRko/s400/BQcDAAAAAwoDanBnAAAABC5vdXQKFjVOQU5kT1hnM1JHWW8tZTVZbU5TWGcAAAACaWQKAXgAAAAEc2l6ZQ.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Not bad for a first attempt at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.polyvore.com/"><strong>Polyvore</strong></a>, n'est-ce pas..?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">This post is inspired by the BBC series </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(on their website way back in 2005)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;">"</span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4255387.stm"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;">why I love Africa</span></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;">"</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Here are a few of the many, many things </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love about Africa:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love the beauty of the vast starry sky and the stillness</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">of the night;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I love the noise and colour of vibrant local markets, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">where meeting friends </span><span style="font-family:arial;">and sharing in the life of the community </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">are more important than simply making profit.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love sleeping outside, gazing up at God's handiwork</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">as I drop off to sleep;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I love sitting inside with the door open when the rains</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">finally come, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">watching silently with friends the pounding of water on the earth.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love the sense of awe when a sandstorm</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">blows up;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I love the joy and relief when the harvest is safely in.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love that there is always time to talk, that people are more important</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">than the day's programme;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love the generosity, that when you arrive at meal time,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">you are invited to sit round the bowl and share whatever food there is;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I love the hospitality, that when you arrive in the evening </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">you are invited to stay the night, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and a mat is laid out for you.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love the sense of community - that when you go into a neighbour's yard, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">you have no idea how many of the dozens of laughing children </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">there actually belong to that set of parents;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I love it that family is important, and that the elderly are respected </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and taken care of.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love it that when you arrive somewhere, you don't do anything </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">until you have properly greeted everyone;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">And I love it that when you leave, you are always sent on your way </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">with the blessing of God.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>What about you, </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>have you ever been to Africa..? </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>And what did you love </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>about it..?</strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-5750226728098005622?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-70452088995115244012009-01-08T14:20:00.000+01:002009-02-14T20:36:02.395+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I've just spoken to a friend in Aix en Provence<br />and they are </span><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7817124.stm"><span style="font-family:arial;">snowed under</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">..! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I don't think I've ever seen snow in Provence even though<br />I've lived there and been a regular year-round visitor<br />ever since.<br />I took the majorority of the photos below of Aix, Bonnieux, Goult,<br />Cucuron and Lourmarin only this time<br />last week...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">..</span> </span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWedDS_62DI/AAAAAAAAEPY/5ITTMh_AKWw/s1600-h/25040565_p.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289368967335041074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWedDS_62DI/AAAAAAAAEPY/5ITTMh_AKWw/s320/25040565_p.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWYErZUgskI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/GxJawilHgao/s1600-h/collage8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288919955971027522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWYErZUgskI/AAAAAAAAEOQ/GxJawilHgao/s400/collage8.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWYBdrIMEuI/AAAAAAAAEOI/cPKoCgCw-eE/s1600-h/DSCN7501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288916421698130658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWYBdrIMEuI/AAAAAAAAEOI/cPKoCgCw-eE/s400/DSCN7501.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWYBA1BC2eI/AAAAAAAAEOA/6swFnqWrfvI/s1600-h/collage5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288915926136314338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWYBA1BC2eI/AAAAAAAAEOA/6swFnqWrfvI/s400/collage5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Oh, I almost forgot what I was to post about...<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I was asked by mail by my dear friend, and follower of my blog,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">what my New Year's resolutions for 2009 were; so, as</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I don't actually make them anymore</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">(after years of never keeping them, despite my best intentions..!)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">I thought the following would pretty much sum up </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">my feelings about the year ahead,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">so, here goes:</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>"To live content with small means</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>To seek elegance </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>rather than luxury</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>And refinement rather than fashion</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>To be worthy, not respectable</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>And wealthy, not rich</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>To study hard, think quietly, </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>talk gently, act frankly</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>To listen to stars and birds, </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>to babes and sages,</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>with open heart</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>await occasion, hurry never</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>In a word,</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>grow up through the common</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>This is to be my symphony"</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">William Ellery Channing<br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">Does anybody out there still make New Year's resolutions..?<br />More interestingly, what I'd love to know is,</span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;">if you do make them, do you actually keep them..?<br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></span></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7045208899511524401?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-90766760665655005462009-01-06T17:43:00.000+01:002009-02-10T20:34:35.469+01:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />Or, at least, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">it would feel and look pretty much like paradise if</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">only it wasn't so freezing cold..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I finally got round to making a list of all those eligible for my<br /></span><a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/12/birthday-giveaway.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><strong>Birthday giveaway</strong></span></a><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWOR3TojWfI/AAAAAAAAENU/rSEse-tSCxY/s1600-h/DSCN7401.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288230766812289522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWOR3TojWfI/AAAAAAAAENU/rSEse-tSCxY/s400/DSCN7401.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The lake this morning (air temp. -8°C) looking towards Veyrier<br /></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWORB-WOLLI/AAAAAAAAENM/Ah5Y8YbNfAI/s1600-h/RSCN7321.JPG"></a></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">So, with the help of my girls, we cut the list into strips, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">folded them tightly </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">and popped them all into </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">an old straw hat...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The hat was shaken several times before one folded paper strip</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">was selected by youngest daughter</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">(who, incidently, wanted to select a winner plus two runners-up - not just </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">one winner</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">..!) </span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><strong>And the winner is...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span><a onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12910831320800080950" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><strong>l'air du temps</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Do check out her delightful blog</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Oh, and I've decided to list all participants below </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">so you can visit </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">their fantastic blogs too...</span></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;">ENJOY..!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As I post, I'm listening to the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHQ7gPuZ3Qw"><span style="color:#000099;">soundtrack of the Ballet</span> </a>we enjoyed<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(despite having already seen it several times)<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">at the Covent Garden Opera House</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> just before Christmas,<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm still under the spell...</p><div align="center"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWOMDwD_sLI/AAAAAAAAENE/lwuigqPV9_4/s1600-h/DSCN7476.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288224383532249266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWOMDwD_sLI/AAAAAAAAENE/lwuigqPV9_4/s320/DSCN7476.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWOLkDUFqsI/AAAAAAAAEM8/kCqaxfGoO3M/s1600-h/DSCN7485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288223838944209602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWOLkDUFqsI/AAAAAAAAEM8/kCqaxfGoO3M/s400/DSCN7485.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">My photos of my ticket, the programme...</span></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">List of participants in my Birthday giveaway:<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;">aliette</span><span style="color:#000000;"> </span>of<br /></span></span><a onclick="" href="http://aliette-peinture.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#993399;">Aliette-peinture...</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Béatrix of<br /></span></span><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.adlitteram.over-blog.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Adlitteram</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Rūta Elzė </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;">of</span><br /></span></span><a onclick="" href="http://elzesworld.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;">Another magical day</span></a><a title="Angry African on the Loose™" href="http://angryafrican.net/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;"> </span></a></span><br /><a title="Angry African on the Loose™" href="http://angryafrican.net/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Angry African on the Loose™</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;">Chiara sara of<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><a href="http://chiarasara.canalblog.com/">Autant En Emporte le Vent</a></span><br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/06057579608615146112" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">B.O.N.T.I</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14572760890022593531" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#993399;">My Castle in Spain</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#993399;"><br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://cubaninlondon.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">A Cuban In London</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/13843902889491327636" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#993399;">The Daily Connoisseur</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Pamela Terry and Edward<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000000;"><a onclick="" href="http://fromthehouseofedward.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">From The House of Edward</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Callie of<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><a onclick="" href="http://calliegrayson.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Grayson: a different shade of grey</a></span></span><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://etsyhighdesertdiva.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">High Desert Diva</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Claire of<br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://mylifeinapicture.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;">My life in a picture</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />Amy of<br /></span></span></span><span style="color:#000099;"><a onclick="" href="http://amysahba.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Montague</span></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;"><br /></span></span>Esti of<br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://pintameldia.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Píntame el día</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/08339985100168927169" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#993399;">Ragged Roses</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#993399;"><br /></span></span><span style="color:#000000;">Shashi </span></span></span><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;">of</span><br /></span></span><a onclick="" href="http://sewingwithmoonbeams.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Sewing with Moonbeams </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><br />Beatriz of</span><br /></span></span></span><a onclick="" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12962613783844901556" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#993399;">Sureando</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lynne of</span></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><br /></span></span><a onclick="" href="http://teaforjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Tea For Joy</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000000;">Jessica of</span><br /></span></span></span><a onclick="" href="http://thoughtfulreflect.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#993399;">Thoughtful Reflections</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Elizabeth of<br /></span><a onclick="" href="http://esabet.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Under Consideration</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A big <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Thank You</strong> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">to you all for participating<br />- better luck next time..!</span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-9076676066565500546?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-83935313386751675772009-01-04T16:39:00.003+01:002009-06-15T18:28:05.943+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy New Year !</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWM5RQlFV0I/AAAAAAAAEMk/RAeIxh64WFg/s1600-h/DSCN7526.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288133356134160194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWM5RQlFV0I/AAAAAAAAEMk/RAeIxh64WFg/s400/DSCN7526.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My photo : café sur une terrasse, 1 janvier 2009, Aix en Provence </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">How nice to go straight from a holiday into the weekend..!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:arial;">We're all so exhausted after all the travelling and<br />Christmas/Birthday/New Year festivities,<br />today has been spent mostly unpacking and generally settling back home</span></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">at a slow pace... plus </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">baking and then indulging in the Galette des Roi,<br />accompanied, of course, by a glass of the very best champagne..!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">J'aime beaucoup cette célébration </span><span style="font-family:arial;">synonyme de partage et de convivialité...<br /></div></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>La Galette des Rois</strong></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWDeRE4flkI/AAAAAAAAEL0/P3RwPIjCmF4/s1600-h/20707124_p.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287470347482797634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SWDeRE4flkI/AAAAAAAAEL0/P3RwPIjCmF4/s400/20707124_p.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><br /><a href="http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/2005/01/galette_des_rois.php"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Read here for an excellent post about </span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">this extremely popular French tradition that takes place in January </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">every year...<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Recipe:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Serves 8)</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">1 1/4 lb puff pastry<br />2 eggs<br />7 oz <a href="http://www.ochef.com/575.htm"><span style="color:#000099;">almond paste<br /></span></a></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Preheat the oven to 400°F .<br />Line a baking with baking parchment.<br />Roll each sheet of pastry into a circle about 12 inches across.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Place one circle on the prepared pan. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Mix the egg with the almond paste until smooth<br />and spread the mixture evenly on the prepared circle of pastry,<br />leaving a border 1 1/2 inches wide all around.<br />If you have a small china figurine, insert it into the almond mixture<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(you may also use a dried hardened bean as the fève).<br /></span>Place the second circle of pastry on top and press it down tightly<br />around the rim. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Beat the remaining egg lightly and brush it on the top of the cake. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">With a long-bladed knife, press lightly but firmly<br />through the egg glaze marking a crisscross pattern.<br />Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and puffed.<br />Do not open the oven for at least 15 minutes, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">as the pastry may collapse.<br />Best served slightly warm<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>BON APPETIT !</strong></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">So, after all the indulging and great quality time spent with family and friends</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">here and there, </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">my routine should be returning to normal next week </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(whatever that means..!?!)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">- I'll be dealing with my Birthday giveaway asap, posting regularly</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">catching </span><span style="font-family:arial;">up with all your wonderful blogs... </span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-8393531338675167577?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-70529549595914978792008-12-27T18:38:00.000+01:002009-02-15T23:09:43.602+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's <strong>my birthday today</strong> and what better way to celebrate than by<br />holding a giveaway..? </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> </span><br />Everyone who leaves a comment in my absence<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(during the Christmas/New Year holiday break)</span><br />will be included in the draw...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SVfNYTzwaQI/AAAAAAAAEIc/w4oFBuHF7wk/s1600-h/poppingcorks_452059a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284918505260476674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 185px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 185px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SVfNYTzwaQI/AAAAAAAAEIc/w4oFBuHF7wk/s320/poppingcorks_452059a.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'm not revealing what goodies I'll be offering but I'm sure you'll<br />just love them..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SVfNJ_AABgI/AAAAAAAAEIU/DA99Dro4sko/s1600-h/stonechalet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284918259156518402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 365px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 273px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SVfNJ_AABgI/AAAAAAAAEIU/DA99Dro4sko/s400/stonechalet.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">photo: stone chalet</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Meanwhile, I'm celebrating my special day on the ski slopes before heading </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">to Provence for the New Year festivities...</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>"And in the end, </strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>it's not the years in your life that count</strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><em><strong>but the life in your years"</strong></em></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">unknown</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I do hope you all had a wonderful Christmas</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I most definately did... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">- thank you all for your warm wishes, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'll be </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">catching up with your blogs as soon as I get back...</span></div><div align="center"></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7052954959591497879?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-47585035702393409762008-12-20T14:42:00.003+01:002009-06-18T17:59:32.569+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUz-j1DU1-I/AAAAAAAAEHs/_XFlI1taP2k/s1600-h/3086065682_224697888d.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281876354488653794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUz-j1DU1-I/AAAAAAAAEHs/_XFlI1taP2k/s400/3086065682_224697888d.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Listening to:</span> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBUEriRD1ek"><span style="color:#000099;">White Christmas</span> </a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Otis Redding</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUz-Zb3I0NI/AAAAAAAAEHk/5oDZ6frvxDE/s1600-h/061224_merrychristmas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281876175927955666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 290px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUz-Zb3I0NI/AAAAAAAAEHk/5oDZ6frvxDE/s400/061224_merrychristmas.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Hope you all enjoy a </span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Happy and Fun Christmas..!</span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>~~~<br /></strong><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Je Vous Souhaite à Tous et Toutes de Très<br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />Joyeuses Fêtes de Fin D'Année..!<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.* </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Top photo: </span><a title="Link to Dave Worrell's photostream" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/akdworrell/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dave Worrell</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4758503570239340976?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-78566032018763046312008-12-19T17:52:00.000+01:002009-02-10T20:33:04.739+01:00<p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.;</span> <span style="font-size:180%;">~Let’s Help Africa~<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUvRt2vkIAI/AAAAAAAAEG8/eubQeXk4lkY/s1600-h/collage15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281545573741371394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUvRt2vkIAI/AAAAAAAAEG8/eubQeXk4lkY/s400/collage15.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Don’t offer me,<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Luxury suites with<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Queenly beds to lay my head,<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">‘Else I will show you mud huts<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">In Africa with bamboo beds.</span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don’t tell me, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">‘Bout the latest fashion,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">You think are pretty sweet,</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">I care more, for children in Africa,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">With no shoes on their little feet.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don’t show me Breaking news on Television,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">And make me cry,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Just give your hand,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Let’s help Africa,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Then you can watch me smile..</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sita Madu Wynn </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7856603201876304631?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-48845508202098738022008-12-17T16:42:00.000+01:002009-02-10T19:46:31.512+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"><strong>Cinnamon and ginger Crisps</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Ideal for hanging on the tree<br />like ornaments...they look good, taste wonderful and their aroma</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">is so Christmassy...</span> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUke6o_2n9I/AAAAAAAAEFw/on9rTn-50z8/s1600-h/DSCN7417.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280786030855102418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SUke6o_2n9I/AAAAAAAAEFw/on9rTn-50z8/s400/DSCN7417.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><strong>* </strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">My photo: the first, and, so far, only, </span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Christmas decoration on our tree..!</span><br /></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Ingredients:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 cup butter, softened<br />1/2 cup brown sugar<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />1/3 cup molasses<br />2/3 cup light corn syrup<br />4 1/2 cups sifted flour<br />1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon<br />1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger<br />a pinch of salt<br />1 teaspoon baking soda<br />1/2 teaspoon ground cloves</span></div><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.</span><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Heat oven to 350 degrees F.<br />Beat butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Beat in molasses and corn syrup </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">until well combined. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Add in the remaining ingredients </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">and stir until </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">a smooth dough forms. </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Chill for 30 minutes.<br />Roll out thinly on a lightly floured.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cut with floured cutters. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bake on greased cookie sheet for 8 minutes<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#000000;"><strong>ENJOY !<br /></strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>*</strong> Both my girls have somehow managed to catch tonsilitis, laryngitis and </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">a dreadful cold all at the same time - so, instead of </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">being out and about, I'm grounded..! </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">In </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">between visits to the Doctor's surgery and the health shop for natural</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">remedies, I've been writing out Christmas cards, </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">gift wrapping, decorating and baking..!</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Quite a blessing in disguise actually </span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;">- hopefully by stopping work earlier for the </span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">holiday break, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">there won't be the usual last minute rush that </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">we've all become </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;">accustomed to...</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4884550820209873802?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-36624633384644538502008-12-08T17:43:00.001+01:002009-03-02T20:01:30.598+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>"La fortune tient moins aux possessions accumulées </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><em>qu'à la capacité de vivre avec peu"</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Mike Horn, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Objectif : pôle nord de nuit, 2007</span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1P9JR9X3I/AAAAAAAAD84/n7dYdnBaA_A/s1600-h/cloche.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277462250229948274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 159px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1P9JR9X3I/AAAAAAAAD84/n7dYdnBaA_A/s200/cloche.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1PlNFsXZI/AAAAAAAAD8o/oW7KYbIhNmI/s1600-h/french_chairs1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277461838935383442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1PlNFsXZI/AAAAAAAAD8o/oW7KYbIhNmI/s320/french_chairs1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1POjzpmzI/AAAAAAAAD8g/3drcFJicd2g/s1600-h/sofa.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277461449896729394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1POjzpmzI/AAAAAAAAD8g/3drcFJicd2g/s320/sofa.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1PD0m7XgI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/d0BpmOvVo7I/s1600-h/trunks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277461265428209154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 340px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1PD0m7XgI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/d0BpmOvVo7I/s400/trunks.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1OzsKZLrI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/9Xz1PhgcXeU/s1600-h/crates.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277460988283137714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 324px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/ST1OzsKZLrI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/9Xz1PhgcXeU/s400/crates.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><em><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></em>Images: <strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;"><a href="http://www.baileyshomeandgarden.com/bymail.html">Baileys Home and Garden</a></span></strong></p><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">"Fortune is less about accumulated possesions</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">than the capacity to live with little"</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Mike Horn,<br />Objective : north pole by night, 2007</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Most days I feel like I'm still in my 20's, if not my late teens,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">so, being reminded that I am now more than 20 years past my 21st birthday </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">somehow comes as a bit of a shock - </span><span style="font-family:arial;">plus, by the end of the month </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I'll be another year older..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Anyway, what I'm leading to, is, that </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">it doesn't seem that long ago that I was an undergraduate,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">house-sharing in London with a group of great friends from around the world.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">It was seeing the storage boxes and baskets above, the other day on the </span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.baileyshomeandgarden.com/bymail.html"><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Baileys Home and </span><span style="font-family:arial;">Garden</span></strong></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">website that brought</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">back vivid memories of the rather "original"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">interior decoration we created.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Made up, mostly, of a collection of hand-me-down bric à brac and zillions of </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">wine boxes, trunks and wicker baskets of all sizes and shapes</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">for storage - </span><span style="font-family:arial;">none of which we paid much for as we were impercunious, to say the least,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and much preferred to spend the little money we had on books, travel and </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">entertainment..! </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-3662463338464453850?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-64334848442342063202008-12-07T23:29:00.000+01:002009-02-11T10:37:39.312+01:00<div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">"Soyez le changement </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">que vous voulez voir dans le monde"</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Gandhi</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STxQKRXuGyI/AAAAAAAAD8I/hkW110zAY5o/s1600-h/collage40.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277181000763185954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STxQKRXuGyI/AAAAAAAAD8I/hkW110zAY5o/s400/collage40.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">"Be the change </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">that you want to see in the world</span></em>"<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Gandhi </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>See below for info. on our ONG set up </strong></span><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">following </span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">the 2004 Tsunami in SE Asia:</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/04/fte-de-fin-danne.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">ici</span> </strong></span></span></a></div><div align="center"><a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/05/back-in-time.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;color:#000099;"><strong>here</strong></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">et</span> <a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/07/good-news-from-sri-lanka.html"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>ici</strong></span></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-6433484844234206320?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-62360461183179812432008-12-05T16:57:00.000+01:002009-02-14T20:46:54.681+01:00<p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue,<br /></em></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>and the dreams that you dare to dream<br /></em></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><em>really do come true”<br /></em></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Lyman Frank Baum<br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STlPprb1dBI/AAAAAAAAD7w/oEJANF8Hlaw/s1600-h/30.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276336015893951506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 263px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STlPprb1dBI/AAAAAAAAD7w/oEJANF8Hlaw/s400/30.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Image: Dreyer &amp; Hensley<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Enjoy your weekend..!</span> </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=pcpWQC9prm0&amp;feature=channel"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#000099;">What I've be listening to </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">today...</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-6236046118317981243?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-73609544797068479822008-12-04T10:27:00.003+01:002009-06-18T16:25:31.878+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">This time last week, late evening, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">when the girls were settled for the night, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I went on a shopping spree for Christmas gifts </span><span style="font-family:arial;">late into the night... </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:arial;">*Here are just a few of my purchases: </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfa6ZEqkYI/AAAAAAAAD7o/-qipg-XKOO0/s1600-h/object_utils.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275926185185546626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 293px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfa6ZEqkYI/AAAAAAAAD7o/-qipg-XKOO0/s320/object_utils.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Necklace crafted from recycled glass<br />from </span><a href="http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong>Viva Terra</strong></span></a><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfYlwRUVeI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/tF6sAgfs-5g/s1600-h/object_utils.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275923631612122594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 191px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfYlwRUVeI/AAAAAAAAD7Q/tF6sAgfs-5g/s400/object_utils.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Slate Cheese Board Set<br />from </span><a href="http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><strong>Viva Terra</strong></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong></strong></span></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfVEEy8CyI/AAAAAAAAD7A/1y9FgXcEqFM/s1600-h/kitchen_herbs_hd.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275919754471410466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 250px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfVEEy8CyI/AAAAAAAAD7A/1y9FgXcEqFM/s320/kitchen_herbs_hd.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Kitchen herb plantabox </span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">by </span><a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/plantabox"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong>Plantabox</strong></span></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfKFNsIayI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/J0zo4bTFET4/s1600-h/1224575265_120.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275907679410744098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfKFNsIayI/AAAAAAAAD6Y/J0zo4bTFET4/s400/1224575265_120.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Vintage Baking Trays </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">by <a href="http://www.re-foundobjects.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#000099;">RE</span></a> </span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfJZ27LGCI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/gQsz9ZIHgrE/s1600-h/1224596343_Vintage_Welsh_Blankets.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275906934565443618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 360px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfJZ27LGCI/AAAAAAAAD6Q/gQsz9ZIHgrE/s400/1224596343_Vintage_Welsh_Blankets.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Vintage Welsh Blankets</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">by <span style="color:#000066;"></span></span><a href="http://www.re-foundobjects.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#000066;">RE</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#000066;"> </span><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275905967141609394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 249px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STfIhi_W37I/AAAAAAAAD6I/6fwYYkuUnyQ/s400/1225727133_166.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> Assorted French Christmas Postcards<br /><span style="font-family:arial;">by </span><a href="http://www.re-foundobjects.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;">RE</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color:#000066;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Why these are a few of my favourite places to shop online:<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">-<span style="color:#000066;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.re-foundobjects.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>RE</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">sells the sort of things that I love, and know my family and friends will </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">appreciate - the quirky, often old, little things that give a house<br />some character and distinction...<br /></span>- </span><a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;"><strong>Not On The High Street</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">supports small businesses and offers gorgeous gifts<br />with a conscience...</span><br />- </span><a href="http://www.vivaterra.com/pls/enetrixp/!stmenu_template.main"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000066;"><strong>Viva Terra</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">sells a wide variety of eco-friendly artisan products </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">from around the world...</span></div><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><strong>*</strong> never easy when those you're buying for, already have everything...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I can only show these (and not all the other things I bought) </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">as the recipients of these gifts do not visit my blog..!</span></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7360954479706847982?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-4734406421781493352008-12-01T12:49:00.002+01:002009-06-18T18:08:46.527+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">It was sunny, extremely cold and windy </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Snow conditions were just great</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Traffic conditions were not</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I can still hear the wind whistling in my ears... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STP6X6T8Z4I/AAAAAAAAD3g/JBAEt8vOVOg/s1600-h/alpes12.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274834877277824898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STP6X6T8Z4I/AAAAAAAAD3g/JBAEt8vOVOg/s400/alpes12.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">It was the last weekend of November</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">We enjoyed an excellent "après-ski" evening with family </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">and friends</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STP4QK3VvtI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/R-tKFZxSJsY/s1600-h/8070310_p%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274832545259044562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/STP4QK3VvtI/AAAAAAAAD3Y/R-tKFZxSJsY/s400/8070310_p%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Fondue Savoyarde<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Our first fondue of the season was a success<br />The great food, wine,open fire and music </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">really warmed</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">us all up...<br />Weekends really are far too short<br />- as I write this, reliving the weekend,<br />I can hear the crackling sound of logs burning </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">in the open fireplace, </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">the laughter</span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><strong>Fondue Recipe</strong></span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ingredients :<br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">12 oz Emmental cheese, grated<br />12 oz Beaufort cheese, grated<br />12 oz Gruyere cheese grated<br />6 glasses dry white wine (from Savoy if possible)<br />1/2 glass kirsch liqueur<br />1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed<br />white pepper<br />1 or 2 loaves French bread<br />1 egg (optional)<br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">On the day before or the morning of the meal, cube the bread,<br />and leave it out to let it dry a little.<br />Rub the bottom and sides of an earthenware pot or<br />cast iron saucepan with the garlic.<br />Pour wine into pot and place on stove over medium-high heat.<br />Bring wine to boil, add cheese and stir slowly with a wooden spoon.<br />Before cheese is fully melted, take pot off the stove and place<br />on a lighted fondue burner.<br />Season with pepper and add kirsch while stirring.<br />Once cheese has entirely melted, serve with bread on fondue forks,<br />stirring occasionally.<br />If cheese bubbles rapidly, turn down heat.<br /><strong>(the next stage is optional...)<br /></strong>When cheese is almost gone (maybe 3/4 cup left), break a raw egg<br />into the pot and stir rapidly with the cheese.<br />After a minute, add remaining bread into pot and stir together<br />with cheese and egg.<br />Then turn off the burner and enjoy what's left<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;"><strong>BON APPETIT !</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-473440642178149335?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-76345041218073226502008-11-27T16:31:00.000+01:002009-02-14T20:54:35.181+01:00<span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Don't write...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SS7K551Zm1I/AAAAAAAAD2A/nYr3tKfo8i0/s1600-h/writing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273375309823581010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SS7K551Zm1I/AAAAAAAAD2A/nYr3tKfo8i0/s400/writing.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't write.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It's too powerful.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It might tell someone how</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">you feel. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">How you hurt.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">What you don't understand.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't write.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It's too powerful.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It will show who you are</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">on the inside to the outside.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It'll blow your cover,</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">your nice reputation.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't write.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It's too powerful.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">You might hurt someone's feelings.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">People may not like your words.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">They may attack you, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">or abandon you.</span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Don't write.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It's too powerful.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It might give others hope.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Let them know</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">they're not alone.</span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">It might change minds.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Change directions.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Change the world.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">So, whatever you do,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">don't write.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://jenlee.net/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Jen Lee</strong></span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">* This poem is not only a timely reminder given current events</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">in France and around the world but</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">also, at least, to my mind, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">it raises the issue of how and why bloggers decide </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">to censure themselves...or not. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>I'd love to hear any thoughts you may have on the</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>issues raised</strong>...</span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7634504121807322650?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-44022294599104087922008-11-17T16:08:00.001+01:002009-06-17T21:07:20.552+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Pendant des siècles, dans le monde entier,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">les contes ont été une des meilleures </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">façons </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">de rassembler les gens. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span><br /></span></span>Ils sont un excellent moyen d'apprendre davantage</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">sur les coutumes, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">et les croyances des autres cultures...<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SSGMlaWJHvI/AAAAAAAADsc/vUHaCyCgvIo/s1600-h/addai__inhatlsbild__1,property%253DBildDaten.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269647613355433714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SSGMlaWJHvI/AAAAAAAADsc/vUHaCyCgvIo/s400/addai__inhatlsbild__1,property%253DBildDaten.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Illustration: R. Hübner</span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Je me revois enfant, au Ghana, en afrique occidentale,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">assise par terre, </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">entourée d'amies, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">de couleurs et origine diverses,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">écoutant avec plaisir</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">les "Contes </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">d'Anansi" racontés par notre tante à tous:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">* </span><a href="http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00102/appiah_102491a.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article741879.ece&amp;h=313&amp;w=450&amp;sz=23&amp;hl=fr&amp;start=1&amp;sig2=QB3Z0MHWSUnPhPuczRwBGg&amp;tbnid=00cj7DRpdKmxaM:&amp;tbnh=88&amp;tbnw=127&amp;ei=3adCR8k5goTSBK-LucUK&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeggy%2Bappiah%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dfr%26sa%3DG"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">aunty Peggy</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">ses histoires de</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">* </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anansi"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000099;">Kweku Anansi</span></a></div><div align="center"> <span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">*Kweku est le "nom du jour" d'anansi l'arraignée..!</span></span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Le "nom du jour" ghanéen (Ghanaian day name) est le nom attribué</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">à tous les enfants, filles et garçons, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">nés le même jour de la semaine</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">L'enfant garde ce nom tout au long de sa vie...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">(il peut rajouter ou non </span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">plusieurs autres prénoms...)</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(les noms de <span style="color:#3333ff;">garçons</span> sont sur la gauche et ceux des <span style="color:#ff99ff;">filles</span> sur la droite)<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />Lundi <span style="color:#3333ff;">Kwodwo</span><span style="color:#ff99ff;"> Adwoa </span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mardi <span style="color:#3333ff;">Kobena</span> <span style="color:#ff99ff;">Abena</span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mercredi <span style="color:#3333ff;">Kweku</span> <span style="color:#ff99ff;">Ekua</span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Jeudi <span style="color:#3333ff;">Yaw</span> <span style="color:#ff99ff;">Yaa </span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Vendredi <span style="color:#3333ff;">Kofi</span> <span style="color:#ff99ff;">Efua</span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Samedi <span style="color:#3333ff;">Kwame</span> <span style="color:#ff99ff;">Ama</span> </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Dimanche <span style="color:#3333ff;">Kwesi</span> </span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ff99ff;">Esi<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">. </span></span></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Moi, je m'appelle <span style="color:#ff99ff;">EKUA</span></span>... </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>et vous..?</strong><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article741879.ece"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">*Peggy Appiah</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"> est celle qui a inspiré le film </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061735/"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">"Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" </span></a><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061735/"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(1967)</span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span>Read <a href="http://off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com/2008/05/anansi-spider.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>This post in English</strong></span></a></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4402229459910408792?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-43883628042091946472008-11-10T02:45:00.001+01:002009-02-16T04:08:48.822+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">is my home...</span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SReVXkISoXI/AAAAAAAADrc/QbPcW8FoI5g/s1600-h/images%255B32%255D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266842521301066098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 64px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SReVXkISoXI/AAAAAAAADrc/QbPcW8FoI5g/s400/images%255B32%255D.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Far from the madding crowd</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SReU9jNDPCI/AAAAAAAADrM/3wGHcclCV2A/s1600-h/photos%25255Ctown%25255C31_matrix_1%255B1%255D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266842074375994402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 270px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 117px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SReU9jNDPCI/AAAAAAAADrM/3wGHcclCV2A/s400/photos%25255Ctown%25255C31_matrix_1%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Located at the foot of the French Alps in eastern France, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the town of Annecy is on the shores of Lake Annecy </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">which only adds to its beauty...</span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266839963578471954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SReTCr3tFhI/AAAAAAAADrE/UuoU1DmDzlc/s400/lake%252520early%252520morning%252520view%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I'm off elsewhere, but I'll be<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">back soon...<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanks for popping by, there are plenty of previous posts for you<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to consult in my absence...</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br />A BIENTOT..!</span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:78%;"><strong>P.S: This is a re-edit of my very first post..!</strong> </span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-4388362804209194647?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-66615662872805338982008-11-07T14:29:00.000+01:002009-02-10T20:15:31.734+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRRDldU1AVI/AAAAAAAADpo/2QTKgAv1S4E/s1600-h/so%2Bmuch%2Bto%2Bdo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265908175109161298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRRDldU1AVI/AAAAAAAADpo/2QTKgAv1S4E/s400/so%2Bmuch%2Bto%2Bdo.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#000000;">Next time you</span><span style="color:#000000;"> need an excuse for a messy area </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">of your house,</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="color:#000000;">one of these might come in handy..</span></span>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't do windows because...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love birds and don't want one to run into a clean</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">window and get hurt</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't wax floors because...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am terrified a guest will slip and get hurt then</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'll feel terrible</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't mind the dust bunnies because...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">They are very good company, I have named most of</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">them, and they agree with</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">everything I say</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't disturb cobwebs because...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I want every creature to have a home</span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't Spring Clean because...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I love all the seasons and don't want the others</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">to get jealous</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't pull weeds in the garden because...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I wouldn't want to mess with God's design</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't put things away because ...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">My husband will never be able to find them again</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't do gourmet meals when I entertain because...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I don't want my guests to stress out </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">over what to make</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">when they invite me over for dinner</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>I don't iron because ...</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I choose to believe them when they say </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Permanent Press"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Thanks L for sharing this...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">I can't remember if I've already posted this way back or not..?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;">Hope not..!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-6661566287280533898?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-9106970645092746712008-11-06T13:25:00.002+01:002009-02-16T04:10:47.261+01:00<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLrHYG6SII/AAAAAAAADpg/o-y7P5zVOVg/s1600-h/_AAMG_6831Ens.jpg"></a><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Coup de Ceour pour ce lieu sublime:</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Chambre d'Hôte de Charme</span></span><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">à *Beaumes de Venise</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></div></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLrCxu7r2I/AAAAAAAADpY/hpLLyDMgoBE/s1600-h/_AAMG_6831Ens.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265529347291983714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLrCxu7r2I/AAAAAAAADpY/hpLLyDMgoBE/s320/_AAMG_6831Ens.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLq42spegI/AAAAAAAADpQ/1Mep8YvU5zc/s1600-h/VoletsBanc.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265529176825887234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLq42spegI/AAAAAAAADpQ/1Mep8YvU5zc/s400/VoletsBanc.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLqwBoqQMI/AAAAAAAADpI/wTOIqYqK1SU/s1600-h/EscalierTable.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265529025143128258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLqwBoqQMI/AAAAAAAADpI/wTOIqYqK1SU/s400/EscalierTable.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLqdvctDzI/AAAAAAAADpA/juuTUoqSeoc/s1600-h/PortailCours.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265528711023497010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 269px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRLqdvctDzI/AAAAAAAADpA/juuTUoqSeoc/s400/PortailCours.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Au coeur de la Provence, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">au pied du Mont Ventoux,<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">et au milieu des vignes du fameux Muscat...<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cette bâtisse du XVIIIè construite à même la roche<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">est un lieu unique...</span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">D'autres photos et détails</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.leclossaintsaourde.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;">ici</span></a></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">*Beaumes de Venise est sur "La Route des Vins"de la Vallée du Rhône...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Les villages ainsi que les paysages environnants </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">sont absolument magnifiques..!<br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;">Check <a href="http://www.leclossaintsaourde.com/">here for more photos and info</a>. on this unique</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">place where we had planned to spend</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">the past week...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Why is it, just when you really need a break the most </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">- sunshine, quality time together as a family - </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">last minute, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">unexpected professional </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">commitments and dramatic weather </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">conditions </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">in central and southern France (torrential rain and flooding...) </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">conspire </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">to keep you stuck at home..?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">On the positive side, being "grounded" meant </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">we were able to follow </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">the last leg of the </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">American elections and witness history in the making </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">- "live" on TV/Internet - </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">now that really was exhilarating..!</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-910697064509274671?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-86868979128488748882008-11-05T15:01:00.000+01:002009-02-15T23:34:13.500+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Things I will never know...<br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span></span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRGpatw8-DI/AAAAAAAADog/A2YE72jMbVc/s1600-h/writing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265175715799431218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SRGpatw8-DI/AAAAAAAADog/A2YE72jMbVc/s400/writing.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">1. Why I never feel a foreigner - Here, There or Elsewhere, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">yet always look like one, or </span><span style="font-family:arial;">so I'm told...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(everywhere except in Scandinavia, that is..!)<br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">2. How it feels to live in a new house.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I love to live in old homes - I don't think I could ever live in a new one;</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">it needs to have a history...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">3. Why I need absolute darkness and silence to sleep...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">4. How it feels to be short -<br />at 1M75 (5'9) I tower above most ladies my age;<br />particularly here in France... </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">5. Why, unlike everyone else I know, given the choice between a big, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">gooey slice of chocolate cake or a glass of the best red wine </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">and a slice of local goat's cheese, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I'd choose</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">the latter every time.</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">..<br /></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">6. How it feels to be competitive - </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I just don't do competition.<br />Even as an athlete, I only ever ran to improve </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">my own times; </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">never, to be the winner...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#000000;">7.<span style="font-family:arial;"> Why it's so difficult sometimes to know where to draw the line.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Even the line between what I should, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">or should not, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">write on this blog...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">8. How to whistle - </span><span style="font-family:arial;">I can blow air - that's about</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">it, I'm afraid...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">9. Why no matter how much you care, </span><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">some people </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#000000;">just don't care back</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#000000;">Why can't we all just get along..?<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">10. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">How it feels to drink to excess purely to get drunk</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">- I like my liver the way it is, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">i.e. not in a jar</span>...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">What will you never know?<br /></span><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-8686897912848874888?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-978805006576919022008-11-03T19:22:00.000+01:002009-02-10T21:04:32.499+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">après une bonne marche tonique sur les sentiers</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">du Plateau des Glières...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQ9LBPXKaUI/AAAAAAAADmQ/q8x7-NgHAK4/s1600-h/DSCN7334.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264508974095034690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQ9LBPXKaUI/AAAAAAAADmQ/q8x7-NgHAK4/s320/DSCN7334.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#ffffff;"> .</span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Les Beignets de Pomme de Terre</span> </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">accompagnés de salade,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQ9JwYoV9aI/AAAAAAAADmI/Q1kUgaWW7OA/s1600-h/800px-Beignets_de_pommes_de_terre%255B1%255D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264507585013609890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQ9JwYoV9aI/AAAAAAAADmI/Q1kUgaWW7OA/s400/800px-Beignets_de_pommes_de_terre%255B1%255D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ingrédients</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">(4 personnes)</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">800 g de pommes de terre</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">1 gousse d’ail</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">2 cuillères à soupe de farine</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">4 œufs entiers</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Crème, persil, sel et poivre</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Râpez les pommes de terre et égouttez les biens.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mélangez ensuite l’ensemble des ingrédients</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">et </span><span style="font-family:arial;">fabriquez de petits beignets.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Il ne reste plus qu’à les cuire à la friture.</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Accompagnés de salade,</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">les beignets sont un met simple et facile à cuisiner...<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:180%;color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:180%;color:#000000;">BON APPETIT..!<br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Please do not hesitate to ask if you'd like a translation...</span></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-97880500657691902?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-13398679224648271902008-10-30T18:06:00.002+01:002009-06-17T21:17:23.278+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#000000;">Inspired by *u</span><span style="color:#000000;">buntu...<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000000;">Wisdom: </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;"><a href="http://www.wisdombook.org/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>50 Unique and Original Portraits</strong></span></a></span><span style="color:#ffffff;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#000000;">I'm not going to spoil the surprise, </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">and your pleasure,</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">by saying a word more...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So, please, just</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>ENJOY..!<br /></strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQnqpupDpFI/AAAAAAAADjo/woDzis98uIY/s1600-h/51IThmku4yL__SS500_.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262995642174907474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQnqpupDpFI/AAAAAAAADjo/woDzis98uIY/s400/51IThmku4yL__SS500_.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p align="center"></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">. </span>For those of you, who like me,<br />love nothing more than going behind the scenes:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">WISDOM</span>:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTkCTajmEIQ"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;">How It Was Made</span></strong></a><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:130%;">.<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">WISDOM</span>:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLrh9pm0hY&amp;feature=related"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><strong>In Order Of</strong> <strong>Appearance +</strong> <strong>Behind the Scenes</strong></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">I simply can’t stop watching these excerpts<br />as I await delivery of my copies <span style="font-size:78%;">(for all my family and friends)<br /></span>ordered from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-50-Unique-Original-Portraits/dp/0810983591"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Amazon</span></strong></a>...<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><strong>Do let me know your opinions on the<br /></strong><strong>project...</strong><strong><br /></strong>I'm saving what I have to say until you've all<br />had the time to watch, read and listen to, <span style="font-size:85%;">slowly but surely</span>,<br />the excerpts from the book &amp; documentary film.<br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>N'oubliez pas de me dire ce que vous en pensez...<br /></strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Chez nous, en tout cas, toute la famille </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>adore<br /></strong>- on garde, tous, encore en nous toutes les images magnifiques<br />et, surtout, les paroles si belles de tous<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;">ces "ainés" qui ont chacun, dans leur domaine,<br />marqués le cours de l'histoire...</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">..<br /></span><span style="color:#000000;">*</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Inspired by the ancient African concept of <strong>ubuntu</strong>,<br />which emphasizes human connectedness<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">- I am what I am because of who we all are -<br />Zuckerman set out to gather and communicate the lessons his extraordinary<br />subjects have learned about love, work, the environment,<br />and conflict resolution. </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Well worth checking out:<br /></strong></span><a href="http://www.superforest.org/"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Super Forest</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><strong>where there's an extremely informative and well-<br /></strong></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>written article about the project.</strong></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-1339867922464827190?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-21012306861989040792008-10-29T15:55:00.001+01:002009-03-02T20:43:11.288+01:00<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I don't know about you, but, personally, shopping is</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">not my idea of fun...that is</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">unless, it's shopping of a particular kind:</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">outdoor farmers' markets, </span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">thrift shops, etsy, "brocantes" and</span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">independent stores </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">– online and on the high street -</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQh70YKsR8I/AAAAAAAADio/3QoFqjGd0zw/s1600-h/h_van.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262592304353134530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 271px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 211px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQh70YKsR8I/AAAAAAAADio/3QoFqjGd0zw/s400/h_van.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333399;"><a href="http://www.caravanstyle.com/">Caravan</a></span> in east London is one such store</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQh7u9BPXbI/AAAAAAAADig/ZX6_FnkMk0M/s1600-h/look_around_02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262592211166387634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 322px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQh7u9BPXbI/AAAAAAAADig/ZX6_FnkMk0M/s400/look_around_02.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Browsing in these places is not like the usual shopping experience;<br />shopping here feels like an adventure</span>.</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I always find something to please family and friends...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:78%;">. </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;">I love the whole concept created by Emily Chalmers, </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;">who started out as an interiors stylist.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Do checkout their <a href="http://www.caravanstyle.com/"><span style="color:#000099;">site</span></a>, it's a real treat..!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000000;"></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#000000;">*photos from their site</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-2101230686198904079?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-943850529141642592008-10-27T15:33:00.001+01:002009-06-17T21:21:15.066+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">i believe...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQX04bZB60I/AAAAAAAACzo/Ko8V_uZp3go/s1600-h/DSCN7240.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261880989914884930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQX04bZB60I/AAAAAAAACzo/Ko8V_uZp3go/s400/DSCN7240.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> My favourite *weathercock overlooking the orchard...<br /></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SQX0Tr4_ovI/AAAAAAAACzg/fvX21aOogec/s1600-h/DSCN7186.JPG"></a><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> in dreaming BIG but still being content<br />to live small...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#ffffff;"><strong>.</strong></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> that knowledge is an end in itself; </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">not just a step in the pursuit </span><span style="font-family:arial;">of the almighty</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">dollar/euro/pound...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> that if a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> that actions speak louder than words...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> that my love of food, <span style="font-size:85%;">(sourcing, cooking, experimenting, eating...) </span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">most certainly stems from my African childhood...<br /><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> that every ending is simply </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">a new beginning...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> the opposite of religious belief is not atheism or secularism </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">or even humanism. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">It is not an ‘ism’ - it is independence of mind, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">that’s all...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> discretion is the better part of valor...</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>i believe</strong> men are like wine: some turn to vinegar,<br />but the best improve with age..!</span></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I'd love to know what you believe..?</span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">*</span> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">I just love quirky weathercocks - this one is placed on my roof terrace...<em></div></em></span></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-94385052914164259?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Here, There, Elsewhere... and morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13744553877892974926noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266513082682510804.post-76059571610410263262008-10-16T08:23:00.001+02:002009-06-18T16:31:43.962+02:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#ffffff;">.</span></span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;">Did you know..?</span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;">There </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;">are 250,000 known plant species in the world, </span></span></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;">but only 20 of them provide 90% of our food...</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000099;"><span style="color:#000000;"><br />The <a href="http://www.eden-foundation.org/index.html"><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Eden Foundation</strong></span></a> believe that the key to prosperity for the poor<br />lies in underexploited, edible trees and bushes... </span><br /></span><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></span><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;">.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257703913202339394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YhJS3JA0WOE/SPcd2kCbTkI/AAAAAAAACw4/UstQQp4rOkM/s400/IMG_9390.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#ffffff;">.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#333333;">Esther Garvi is the lady on the right of the above photo.<br />As an unpaid volunteer with the Sweden-based non–profit organisation<br /><a href="http://www.eden-foundation.org/index.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>Eden Foundation</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span>she lives and works in the Zinder zone of the Niger<br />- one of the poorest countries in the world -<br />and I really wanted to draw attention, particularly today,<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><a href="http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>World Food Day<br /></strong></span></a>to what she and other volunteers are doing around the world to help<br />relieve suffering from hunger and malnutrition...<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#333333;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#333333;">Do checkout<br />Esther's blog; it's extremely interesting and this<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#333333;">amazing lady manages to regularly update it with news, views,<br />recipes and, of course, her stunning photos...<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#333333;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#333333;"><a href="http://esthergarvi.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>Esther Garvi</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></span></span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/8266513082682510804-7605957161041026326?l=off-thebeatentrack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>