tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71189394677740548382024-03-05T20:20:45.906-08:00Briohny WilliamsBriohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-34033867685175922162014-03-09T14:46:00.001-07:002014-03-09T14:52:20.247-07:00Middle East Myth Buster<br />
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I recently made a trip to Abu Dhabi and thought I should jot down my thoughts as a woman traveling there as I wish I had known a few more things about the place before I went. The United Arab Emirates is predominately Muslim and with that comes traditions and customs one should abide by. However, the rules aren't quite as strict as you may think. </div>
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In Abu Dhabi as a Western woman you do get stared at a lot by men, so you just have to deal with that. As far as dress goes a lot of Muslim women where Western clothing, tight fitting jeans, sky scrapper heels and animal print blouses. It seems as long as no skin is really on show anything goes. You do see women walking around in knee length shorts or skirts so there is no problem if you don't want to completely cover up. The only must do really is to cover your shoulders, perhaps wear a t-shirt rather than a spaghetti strap top.</div>
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Be prepared to see Muslim women who, although are covered in a burka, have the heaviest make up on you've ever seen in your life and towering stiletto's on their feet. It's quite odd but you see it a lot. </div>
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Yes you can wear a bikini on the beach just as long as you cover up when you go out of the beach area. A lot of what I'm saying is common sense but you do hear of people going out to the Middle East with a complete lack of respect for other people's cultures or just not knowing how to behave.</div>
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You can drink alcohol in bars but just don't get off your head otherwise taxi drivers will take you straight to a police station. All the cabs are state run so it's part of their duty if they see anyone behaving inappropriately to report it. You can pay abut £30 for a "cheap" bottle of wine so you may want to drink it slowly anyway rather than gulping it down!</div>
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Other than that there is not really anything else to report. If you're going to Abu Dhabi for a cultural break you have got the wrong place. Most of the city is still being built so everywhere you turn there are cranes and building sites. It's not pretty. Plus the roads are wide and busy. It's not the kind of place where you can just go for a pleasant walk. Even by the beach there is a dual carriage way by British standards right next to it! You look one way and there is crystal blue water, you turn around and it's just sprawling tower blocks and roads. </div>
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Even the 'souk' in Abu Dhabi is half empty and still being built. Souk is Arabic for open air market, in Abu Dhabi it's more like a standard shopping mall. There are no market stalls as such and everywhere is just very clinical and a bit like shopping at an airport lounge. </div>
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It's a strange place, I'm not quite sure why people go to Abu Dhabi on holiday because all you can really do is eat, drink and shop. That may sound perfect for some people but it's not quite my cup of tea. Maybe there is more to the place than I make out and to be fair once I realised it is what it is, I actually enjoyed it more. </div>
Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-39668220769595210792013-10-02T12:09:00.000-07:002014-01-12T12:18:05.346-08:00Her name is Rio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rio De Janeiro is just an amazing place and that's that!I don't think I was quite expecting such a vibrant mix of beach, city, shops, buildings and more beach! There is so much to explore in this wonderful place that I would have like to have stayed a week longer. But I am a sun lover so the beaches were where it was at for me and they are exactly how you imagine them to be. Lots of women leaving very little to the imagination and men flexing their muscles. There are also lots of beach gyms and people playing volleyball. I read a lot about people being nervous on the beach because of pick pockets and criminal activity. It's not worse than any other beach in Europe. Just keep your wits about you, don't take stupid amounts of money and expensive technology with you, then you'll be fine.<br />
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I stayed in the Ipanema region of the city which is popular with tourists as it is slightly cheaper than staying near the Copacabana. Having said that accommodation is pretty pricey wherever you go. I stayed in the <a href="http://www.thelighthouse.com.br/" target="_blank">Lighthouse Hostel </a>which was friendly and reasonably priced. The kitchen is quite small but I visited in low season so there weren't that many people there using it. Also you can arrange an airport pick up through the hostel if you are arriving late, otherwise there is an airport bus which goes frequently along the beach which is good. In the city there are also tours to the Favelas which you can go on but I thought that was a bit odd so didn't do it. I did go to a football match at the <a href="http://www.suderj.rj.gov.br/maracana.asp" target="_blank">Maracana Stadium</a> which was brilliant.<br />
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Plus you have Sugarloaf mountain, the 'big jesus' as I call it - otherwise known as the Christ the Redeemer statue and the colourful steps 'Escadaria Selaron'. I really enjoyed the juice drink called Acai juice made out of the berries. It's lovely. It's got quite an unusual flavour so It's not to everyones taste.<br />
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Rio is a laid back but vibrant city. So much going on, so colourful and just amazing.<br />
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<br />Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-86504548617503798182013-09-16T11:13:00.000-07:002014-01-01T11:14:53.688-08:00Tango Country<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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Buenos Aires is a very European city and extremely cosmopolitan. Coffee shops, bars and restaurants are in abundance. There are also lots of currency touts that shout 'cambio' who want your American Dollars to change to Argentinian Pesos. Be warned though, if you change your money then want to change Pesos before you leave Argentina, a lot of places won't change it for you or if they do, they need a receipt of your transaction.<br />
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Buenow Aires is great city to walk around and discover. You can go visit the Boca Stadium. You can walk to the stadium from the city centre if you have a free morning or afternoon. The official tours are pretty prices so unless your a die hard footy fan I wouldn't bother if you're on a budget.<br />
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Calle Florida is the place to be on a Sunday. The street just goes on and on and is full of little pop up shops and street sellers all interlaced with impromptu tango dancers. Great if you want a few bits and pieces before you fly home. Also a great night out is a Tango show. It sounds cliche but they are fabulous. I booked my ticket through <a href="http://www.tangotix.com/" target="_blank">Tango Tix </a> and went to see a show at <a href="http://www.querandi.com.ar/" target="_blank">El Querandi</a>. I booked a dinner and dance show and it was fabulous. You get a three course meal and a bottle of wine. The food is lovely and there is a good selection, all tastes catered for. I would recommend going for the house trifle as it's not really a trifle and tastes truly magnificent. From all the Tango shows / Tango dinner nights, this one looked the most reasonable and it certainly exceeded my expectations. Here is a taster...<br />
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The sound of the city:</div>
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The view:</div>
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The bread:</div>
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Bariloche itself is saturated with chocolate shops and ski shops. In summer it attracts people for hiking,kayaking and biking. In the winter the slopes are the main event.<br />
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There is a bus from Bariloche you can get to the ski resort. At the bottom of the slopes you can hire ski gear which you can pick up everyday you ski. I went skiing for a couple of days and I think to hire skis and poles for two days was about £80 and then a ski pass for two days was about £80 too. The view from the top of the mountain is beautiful and slopes are vast and white. There are also plenty of bars and cafes dotted about the slopes with lovely fires too. If you are in the season and go skiing, it's well worth it.</div>
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Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-34687294051738019572013-09-04T10:00:00.000-07:002014-01-01T10:34:35.570-08:00Patagonia <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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El Calafate in Patagonia, Argentina, is where the journey to Patagonia for most people starts. It's a fairly small town but has everything you need. On the recommendation of another traveller I stayed at the <a href="http://www.americahostel.com.ar/home_calafate_english.html" target="_blank">America del Sur </a>hostel. It's a short walk just out of the main town centre and it's situated on top of a hill so the views are brilliant. It's clean, friendly, really warm and the staff are really friendly. The people who work there will also help you book tour and buses to other parts of Argentina. I walked into town to see if we were going to be paying more by booking it through the hostel but it wasn't the case. A tip for Argentina is take lots of American Dollars. It's easier to pay for things in dollars and the rate is generally better if you change dollars.<br />
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Apart from changing currency, the first on the list was the <a href="http://www.losglaciares.com/en/parque/" target="_blank">Perito Moreno Glacier</a>. There are boat trips that take you to see lots of glaciers but there are also day trips that let you see the Perito Moreno Glacier and then go walking on it. I opted for the day trip which included the glacier hike. The actual glacier is breathtaking. The sheer size of it is just phenomenal. There are viewing platforms opposite the glacier so you can really appreciate its size and beauty. I saw a pice of ice fall away from the side which was magnificent. Take a look for yourself...<br />
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Day tours cost around £70 but the whole day is worth it, especially if you go walking on the glacier. You get a little treat of whiskey at the end of the walk which was sublime!<br />
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Another great place to visit n Southern Argentina is <a href="http://www.chaltentravel.com/main.php" target="_blank">El Chalten</a>. It's a smaller town than El Calafate so if the weather is bad you can't really do anything. But from El Chalten you can do lots of walks. There are paths leading out of the town up to lakes and mountains. Monte Fitz Roy is a huge mountain which dominates the landscape and it is beautiful. I went in winter so I was lucky with the weather. If you get a bad snow storm or it's overcast you can still walk but the views aren't as great. The best thing about this area is that all the walks are free and getting into the National Park around El Chalten is free.<br />
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As I was there in the winter there weren't that many people in the town but I can imagine that in the summer the paths are packed with tourists from abroad and Argentina. Depending on the weather I would spend about 2 nights in El Chalten in winter. You could camp and stay for about a week or so in summer I should think.<br />
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I found it was hard to find travel information during the winter months in Patagonia. There are buses but the routes and times are limited during winter. It's also worth noting that most buses from the south go from Rio Gallegos. So if you want to travel from El Chalten up to Bariloche, you would have to go back to Rio Gallegos to get a bus, rather than travel up the middle of Argentina. I think the roads are open during the summer so it's easier, but in the winter, some of the roads are shut.<br />
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Visiting El Chalten and El Calafate was a highlight of my South America trip. It is more expensive in Southern Argentina than other places but it's worth it.Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-8849269213524168492013-09-01T12:14:00.000-07:002014-01-01T10:35:20.152-08:00The End of the World<div>
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I travelled to Ushuaia from Punta Arenas in Chile which is about 16 hour bus journey.Including a ferry crossing,border control and some of the most diverse landscapes I have seen,it's a long but rewarding journey. I travelled with Techni Austral and even though the bus was cold and you don't get any food on the journey,you are escorted through the border which is pretty good.<br />
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Ushuaia has a lot to offer. I stayed in <a href="http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Ahnen/Ushuaia/42425" target="_blank">Ahnen Hostel </a>which turned out to be one of the best places I've stayed. My room was upgraded at no extra cost to a self catering small house!It was brilliant!I cooked a bit of a roast and apple crumble-bliss.</div>
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Ushuaia itself is fairly small but a busy place with lots of shops and lots of tour operators offering whatever the weather allows you to do.I went on a boat trip. I was due to go in the morning but the weather was too bad and the sea was rough so I had to cross my fingers hoping the weather would clear.Luckily it did and at 1500 I was off on a boat with four Argentinians.</div>
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It's hard to recreate with words the magical scenes the Beagle Channel has to offer.I just couldn't get out of my head that Antarctica was just over 1000km away. The Beagle Channel is not the only thing to be named after the infamous ship.Beagle beer is another delight.It's a lovely pale ale and accompanies the rigid landscape beautifully.</div>
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Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-63267223991580502932013-08-15T08:49:00.000-07:002014-01-01T09:54:00.653-08:00Salar de Uyuni<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Salt Flats of Bolivia lie near the border to Northern Chile. You can book tours to go and visit them from La Paz and other Bolivian towns. Some of the most popular are three day tours which leave from Uyuni. You can get buses to Uyuni quite easily. I got an overnight bus from La Paz and stayed in Uyuni for the night. Be prepared though, hostels are more expensive here and it is cold!<br />
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The actual tours, you go in a small group of four or six in a 4x4 and spend the entire tour with those people.As you travel at your own pace, you don't really see many other people when you are driving over the flats and through the mountains.<br />
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You do go through some stunning countryside, it's a shame you can't get out and walk around a bit more. You are pretty much in the 4x4 all the time. I opted to get a tour which dropped you in Chile which was good. You got picked up at the border and taken to a near by Chilean town.<br />
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I thought the tour was a really good way of seeing the sights and crossing the border. I wouldn't do anymore than the three days though.<br />
<br />Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-57784108142869942952013-08-12T14:19:00.000-07:002014-01-01T09:54:47.850-08:00Machu PicchuA magical place at the top of a very long flight of stairs!<br />
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Being there for sunrise was breathtaking.Watching the clouds and mist clear to unveil the ruins is a fabulous sight. Below is a little video of some of the workers restoring the site.<br />
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My guide Nilton finishing off his guided tour of Machu Picchu<br />
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Before I went to Peru I booked my trek to Machu Picchu well in advance because I saw all the warnings about tickets being booked up in advance, people not getting onto tours etc. This is incorrect. I did a five day Salkantay Trek which ended up at Machu Picchu and included a tour. I booked it through <a href="http://www.gotoperu.org/" target="_blank">Go To Peru</a> - DO NOT USE THIS SITE. We were told incorrect information about what we should take on the trek, how much baggage we could bring etc which meant us forking out more than we thought. Also, even though we had paid for the trek 3 months in advance, they had failed to book our return journey transport from Machu Picchu back to Cusco.<br />
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Agua Calientes is the town at the base of Machu Picchu and you can only leave by train; there are no roads in or out. The trains go to Ollantaytambo which is fairly close to Cusco or Hydro Electric, no where near. We had to get a bus from Hydro Electric back to Cusco. So what should have been a five hour journey turned into a 12 hour one. Even though, when we paid for our trek, we were told our train tickets to Ollantaytambo had been booked, not the case.<br />
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It was a real shame because after such a great trek and meeting lots of cool people, it was spoilt because on the last day, we had to stay up until about midnight sorting out our train tickets with our guide. And because we could only get a train to Hydro Electric and then a bus to Cusco it meant we had only a couple of hours to look around Machu Picchu rather than the whole day. Gutted.<br />
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All the other people on our trek managed to get train tickets and most had only booked a week in advance or even days and paid a lot less than we did. Best way to play it if you don't want to get screwed over, get to Cusco and sort it out from there. Talk to other people in hostels about treks they've been on. Even if you have to stay in Cusco a few days to get on a trek, it's worth and there is plenty to do anyway.<br />
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Watch out for the old altitude sickness too. It's worth trying to get something in the UK to take over. I felt rotten and was vomiting a lot because I hadn't got used to the altitude. It was only for a few days but I felt I missed out a bit.<br />
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This all sounds negative but it's not meant to be. The actual trek was one of the best adventures of my life. Loved it. The mountains are breath taking and the walk took me through such varied countryside it was amazing.
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Cusco is vibrant and buzzing place. It's the gateway to all treks to Machu Picchu. There are lots of tour operators that provide various packages to go and see the historic site. I wouldn't worry about booking a tour until you're in Cusco, just haggle a bit to get a good price and make sure they have booked you onto the train out of Aguas Calientes and then from Ollantaytambo to Cusco.<br />
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I stayed in couple of hostels in the town. The first was <a href="http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/El-Tuco-Hostel/Cusco/32754" target="_blank">El Tuco</a> which has a little way out of the centre but it was quiet, clean and friendly. There is a small kitchen where you can cook and there is a fairly large supermarket just a little way down the road. It's also not very far from the bus station which if it's light you can walk but it's fairly cheap to get a taxi there in the dark. The second hostel was the <a href="http://www.pariwana-hostel.com/pariwana-hostel-cusco.php" target="_blank">Pariwana Hostel</a> which is a big hostel. It's a clean and the staff are helpful and friendly. There is no kitchen but there is a fairly cheap restaurant there which serves European food. There is also a good range of rooms if you wanted to treat yourself to one with a bath! It's quite nice after a trek to Machu Picchu! Also, just down the street there is a good laundry service which is cheaper than the one at the hostel.<br />
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Around the main square in Cusco there are lots of shops and restaurants. I went to <a href="http://jackscafecusco.com/" target="_blank">Jack's Cafe</a> which I thought was going to be a bit cliche but actually it was really good food, large portions and fairly priced. As you walk around Cusco you will stumble on many delights. Markets, street artists and music.<br />
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<br />Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-10404882012622349252013-07-26T16:36:00.001-07:002013-12-06T07:25:50.924-08:00Arequipa<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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This is the view from the <a href="http://www.bothyhostel.com/" target="_blank">Bothy Hostel</a> in Arequipa.It's near the main square and provides a serene sanctuary to the busy streets of Peru. It's clean and tidy. The breakfast is bread and jam (standard) and the people running it are really friendly.</div>
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The volcanoes surrounding Arequipa are stunning. There are three; Misti,Pichu Pichu and Chachani. Apparently Misti means triangle because that is the shape of it! </div>
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When I was there, there was some kind of military parade. I found out that Arequipa was/is quite a revolutionary city.It likes to do things its own way! So I think the parade was something to do with that. There always seems to be something going on when you're in South America anyway - no quiet days!</div>
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I joined one of the free walking tours which was great. I always think they are a good introduction to any place as you can find your feet and have a bit of a feel for the place afterwards. We walked down one of the streets which had some really old leather workshops and also a huge guitar shop which had all sorts of stringed instruments. Not sure what instrument this was but it sounded good.</div>
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Arequipa was the first place I visited in South America and I think it's a good place to start. It's not that big and there is a supermarket on the main plaza so you can't get lost and you won't go hungry! There are also loads of tour operators if you wanted to visit any of the surrounding area. I wanted to go to the Colca Canyon but there had been some earth tremors so some of the roads were shut but hey ho, you can't plan everything!</div>
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Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-19264290902687624982013-07-26T16:16:00.001-07:002013-12-06T06:57:27.192-08:00New YorkLanded in New York to a hot and sticky city. Nothing can take away from the magic of the city.This time around I went to see Chicago which was brilliant.Also managed to watch the recording of The Late show with David Letterman.Cate Blanchett was the celebrity and she was pretty funny.<br />
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One of my highlights was chatting to a proper New Yorker called Richard who I met in a place called Zarbar's.He always referred to ladies as 'pussy cats' what a legend! Here is a little sound of the stage...</div>
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I'm slightly obsessed with Kate Bush which means I'm slightly obsessed with the book Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Which means I'm slightly obsessed with the Bronte's, anyway you get the idea. So me and some of my friends decided to visit <a href="http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/" target="_blank">Haworth </a>in Yorkshire where the Bronte family grew up. It's an extremely picturesque village folded into the Yorkshire moors. It feels like quite a barren and desolate place when you get there so one can only imagine what it was like when the Bronte's were living there.<br />
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I stayed at the<a href="http://www.pub-explorer.com/thepubs/blackbullhaworth.htm" target="_blank"> Black Bull </a>pub because I saw it on an episode of the television show Most Haunted. They visited the pub because apparently the ghost of<a href="http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/brontes/patrick/patrick.asp" target="_blank"> Patrick Bronte</a>, the father of the Bronte sisters and <a href="http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/brontes/branwell/branwell.asp" target="_blank">Branwell Bronte</a> the lesser known brother. Firstly I can say the pub is a let down. It's not a very well kept pub and the owners obviously don't want it to be a Homage to the Bronte's. It's tasteless and any ounce of charm that still remains is over shadowed by the loud pop music and quite vulgar clientele. I will say no more.<br />
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Luckily Haworth and the surrounding villages are jam packed full of lovely country pubs with warm welcoming log fires. In Haworth you can visit the house which the Bronte's grew up in which is now a <a href="http://www.bronte.org.uk/" target="_blank">museum. </a> It's about £8 for adults but it's really interesting and well worth it. One of the things I couldn't get over is that they had one of the sisters dresses, I can't remember which, but it look like the clothing of a small child- it was unbelievable!<br />
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Getting back to the Wuthering Heights obsession, just a short walk out of Haworth you can visit the Bronte Waterfall and <a href="http://wuthering-heights.co.uk/locations/top-withens.htm" target="_blank">Top Withens</a>. Top Withens is thought to be the inspiration to the farmhouse in Wuthering Heights. However the plaque when you get to the crumbling barn says otherwise which makes me laugh.<br />
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Regardless I had a Kate Bush inspired dance around the barn to make the most of my Wuthering Heights trip, I suggest you do the same. If you haven't seen <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW3gKKiTvjs&list=RD02WChywYrwHBY" target="_blank">Kate Bush's moves,</a> shame on you.</div>
<br />Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-90523786023237734812013-04-15T07:59:00.001-07:002013-04-15T07:59:51.179-07:00Barcelona<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Barcelona has to be one of my favourite cities in Europe. It's not as busy as Paris so it feels more relaxed and chilled out which I love. It also has the great combination of city and beach, not to mention all the amazing art and architecture the city has to offer. On my last visit I stayed near the University which was close enough to Las Ramblas to still feel in the thick of it but just out of the centre so it was a less touristy come the evening.<br />
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Barcelona is world famous for the work of Antoni Gaudi which dominates the street of the city. The <a href="http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/" target="_blank">Sagrada Familia</a> is probably the most well known of all his work. It rises out of the small streets of Barcelona and dominates the sky line. A great place to view it is from is <a href="http://www.parkguell.es/en/portada" target="_blank">Park Guell</a>. In the north of the city you can get to it by bus, metro link or my preferred method of walking! A can of Estrella will set you back about 80cents, some nice bread 60cents and some cheese, meat and olives from a local shop will only cost a couple of Euro's. My advice, bag it all up and have a lovely picnic. The Park does get busy but if you walk into the Park a little bit more than stopping at the giant mosaic seat you can find some great picnic spots.<br />
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In the centre of Barcelona Las Ramblas is the main road which runs to the beach. It's lined with restaurants, galleries, museums and cathedrals. There is lots to explore and a definite must is the <a href="http://www.boqueria.info/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank">Boqueria Market </a>which will assault all your senses in the best possible way. Take a look for yourself...<br />
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The restaurants peppered around the market are brilliant. Sit and have a glass of red wine with a big bowl of muscles. No better way to spend a lazy afternoon. Barcelona is a city that keeps on giving and I will happily go back again and again. I cannot begin to explain and write about all things I experienced on my visits. Don't be put of by the talk of pick pockets and crime, it's no worse than any other city. All you have to do is eat, drink and enjoy.Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-42997174958107500932013-03-18T19:35:00.000-07:002013-03-18T19:35:00.843-07:00I'm sorry caller...<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Which? campaign to stop nuisance calls and texts. They say in the last three months, 7 out of 10 people have received received unsolicited calls and four in ten (40%) an unwanted text. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Which? want to set up a 'joint task force' to tackle the problem. This is what my brother did when he received a phone call for my mum. They were trying to sell a will writing service but they didn't quite get the real lady of the house...</span></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F83860212" width="100%"></iframe>Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-20335019313733252762013-03-15T13:58:00.000-07:002013-03-20T14:05:55.302-07:00The Drifters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I went to watch The Drifters as part of the <a href="http://www.thedrifters.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank">Diamond Dynasty Tour</a> at <a href="https://www.wyverntheatre.org.uk/Online/" target="_blank">The Wyvern Theatre</a> in Swindon which was a treat. The group has had 65 members over the 60 years they have been around. Whilst watching the latest line up perform,you get a slide show history lesson of The Drifters story. Learning about who was in the band and over what period of time was actually pretty interesting and the fact people are still singing their songs today is a credit to them. With classics like 'Saturday Night at the Movies', Sweet for my Sweet and 'Up on the Roof' the whole audience was happy. A little extract of another familiar hit is below...</div>
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I always associate The Drifters with sixties 'doo wop' so it was slightly strange seeing four men reincarnate the group to appeal to a new audience. There was a moment when I thought one of the group members was going to start singing an R Kelly song or something by Usher. But nonetheless all of them sang their hearts out, did the retro all in one dance moves and got 70 year old men and women up on their feet. Job Done.<br />
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If the band have been around for 60 years and are still going, who knows I may be watching them when I'm in my seventies which is good 40 years away from now!Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-66692051803158143702012-12-01T09:28:00.004-08:002012-12-01T09:32:08.158-08:00December is upon us!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may not be to everyones taste but I think it's ok</td></tr>
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I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas and all that comes with it. Too commercialised in my opinion and people always spend far too much money things people don't need. Keep it simple and keep it honest is what I have in my head. Advent starts on the 4th Sunday before Christmas so in preparation I have made an advent calendar and filled it up with little chocolates. Hand sewn in a rather ramshackle way the whole thing is made out of cheap off cuts of material (about 30p per piece of coloured cloth) and a garden stick. It's not perfect and it's a little rough around the edges but I can use it again and again each year. I may even sew on a few more decorative bits and pieces next year to add something new. But until then,the countdown to Christmas has begun...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is before I started sewing all the little<br />
pockets on which took a VERY long time!</td></tr>
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<br />Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-55373202949241987342012-11-19T13:15:00.000-08:002012-11-19T13:18:01.118-08:00A Welsh Climb and A Peak Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I haven't been climbing outside or indoors for years so it was quite refreshing to go to the <a href="http://www.beaconclimbing.com/section.php/2/1/climbing-centre/" target="_blank">Beacon</a> climbing centre in North Wales and have a bash at it once again. The centre is at the end of an industrial unit and from the outside it doesn't look much but once you get inside you see what it's got to offer. There is plenty for children to do and for the serious climber. The have a good size bouldering area, pre roped routes and a funny seat belt type thing with a weight on the end which means you can just carabiner yourself onto it and it belays for you-brilliant! I managed to complete a 6a route so I was happy with that. My muscles did ache as I'm sure I haven't used any of those for a while! The centre also has a cafe so after a climb you can have a well deserved treat and watch the rest of the climbers carry on with their hard work. It's a big centre and great for a morning/afternoon out for adults or children. </div>
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Next up on my adventure weekend was a trip up <a href="http://www.peakdistrictinformation.com/features/kinder.php" target="_blank">Kinder Scout.</a> This is the route of the famous <a href="http://www.kindertrespass.com/" target="_blank">Kinder Trespass</a> when in 1932 around 400 people took to the Peaks to protest for their right to roam on the beautiful country we live in. There is a car park near the Kinder Reservoir which has a plaque on commemorating the group that which to many were the people who drove the creation of national parks. From the car park there is well sign posted route up to the top of Kinder Scout and the plateau of silver sand and soft moorland. The view from the top on a clear day is beautiful and you can fully appreciate why the ramblers of 1932 wanted free access to this most breathtaking area. To get up to the top and back down past the reservoir only take a a few hours and can easily be done on a Sunday morning before every man and his dog descends on the area. Luckily the village of Hayfield has plenty of pubs for a post Kinder pint / cup of tea and cake. A lovely day out all within 45 minutes of Manchester, you can't say fairer than that.</div>
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Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-73161196552233261572012-09-15T16:42:00.000-07:002012-11-19T13:16:46.994-08:00A bit of a moan<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Being a dyslexic journalist. After graduating from an English and Drama degree I thought the last thing I would become is a journalist. I found it hard enough keeping up with the reading at uni let alone trying to make sure my grammar was correct. I also have Irlen syndrome (apparently) which makes it hard to actually read things because letters go in and out of focus and just become a blur most of the time. So my day to day work as a journalist is somewhat challenging. Working in a hot seat open plan office is the first of the obstacles. To me this is the mother of all evils and I can't think of an environment that would be any worse to work in. It's horrible. Firstly because of all the noise. I find it really hard to concentrate when there is lots of back ground noise around me. I also find it weird that every week I'm sat at a different desk so any kind of software that may help me to do my job better becomes redundant because I move all the time. I miss out words in sentences and don't even notice. As I'm going through the negatives I may as well keep going. I'm not the best at articulating what I want to say either. I'm sure this is not only a problem for dyslexics so I will not dwell on this. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Things that make life easier? If I could work from home I would. This is a given. My own quiet space where I can actually try and concentrate and have all the nice software that helps me. I have learned to be organised. If i'm not organised, my life swirls into more chaos. I am not naturally organised but because it makes such a big difference by being so I think I'm on the edge of obsessive compulsive! I'm not sure which is worse. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I guess an attribute of being dyslexic is creating thinking and when working in journalism this is something that comes in handy. So that's alright I guess. I avoid reading, that's a biggy. I also find the actual word dyslexic really hard to spell.We all have challenges in our life we must overcome and we all have our different issues. You have to try and make the most of what you've been dealt. And although it seems very unnatural for someone who is dyslexic to work with words I'm going to give it my best shot. I advise you do the same. If you have any advice for me, let me know.</span>Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-79455219737328993162012-08-27T13:27:00.001-07:002012-08-27T13:28:08.693-07:00Where did the summer go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was hoping August was going to be warm enough to have a few more excursions than I've had this summer. But with a strained purse and poor weather I can only look back with fondness on my one bit of proper sun I've had this year. I was lucky enough to visit Turkey and went to a place called <a href="http://www.myturunc.com/" target="_blank">Turunc </a>. It's a couple of hours from Dalaman airport and far enough away from the really touristy parts of Turkey to be a bit cleaner and quieter than places like Marmaris. Turunc still has the all the tourist attractions, boat trips, markets, bars and restaurants, it's just slightly more quaint. The weather was very hot whilst I was there so most days were spent putting on lots of sun lotion to make sure I didn't fry like a lobster. I went on a couple of boat trips that must not have cost more than £30 for the whole day which included a BBQ lunch- great value for money. Turkey is still fairly cheap compared to Europe although you can rack up the pennies if you drink a lot of alcohol! The food is, like with all places, fairly hit and miss. To find somewhere traditional to eat was harder than I would have liked but when I did find one it was lovely. I must have tasted the best salad I think I've ever had at one restaurant and it was served in style. This is the man at Bondjuk restaurant preparing their very tasty and unique salad.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/16kojxiQPk8" width="560"></iframe>Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-6527743394290097102012-08-11T12:56:00.000-07:002012-08-27T13:11:32.717-07:00Racism in the Police<br />
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I thought I'd put some Freedom of Information Requests in about racism in the police force for three North West Regions. These results are correct as of June 2012 and this is what I found...</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Manchester</span></b><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Over the last three years Greater Manchester Police have had 5 racial misconduct investigations - one member of staff resigned prior to their misconduct hearing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Since 2003 30 officers have been investigated and 7 of them left the force before their misconduct hearing.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Merseyside</span></b><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">No officers at Merseyside Police have been disciplined for any of the 8 racial misconduct investigations over the past 3 years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">A freedom of information request found there have been 8 misconduct investigations and 66 complaints all racially related since 2009.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Lancashire</span></b><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">In the past 3 year years Lancashire Police force has had only one racial misconduct case - the lowest for all three regions.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I think what I find most interesting is the people who leave the force before any kind of trial or hearing has taken place. It makes you wonder what else slips through the net before any action is taken against the perpetrator.</span></div>
Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-23293949555053298302012-07-31T13:03:00.003-07:002012-07-31T13:07:23.165-07:00How big is BIG?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Greater
Manchester’s weight problem costs the NHS on average 3 million pounds a year.
NHS Manchester, NHS Stockport, NHS Trafford, NHS Oldham, NHS Salford, NHS Bury,
Tameside and Glossop NHS and NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale collectively
have spent nearly £9 million on weight loss surgery over the past three years
according to a Freedom of Information Request I submitted. The exact amount is
£8,919,559 from April 2009-2012. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">It
seems quite a staggering figure but what I guess we have to try and remember is
that by carrying out the weight loss surgery it should save the NHS in the long
run. People who are obese can suffer many health problems that could cost more
over some years. When I look into the obesity figures it’s not the cost of it
that really shocks me, it's just how big some of the people are who go in for this
surgery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">So
how big is big? I discovered the person with the largest <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Healthyweightcalculator.aspx" target="_blank">Body Mass Index</a> over
the last three years to have gastric surgery in Greater Manchester had a BMI of
76.7. Let me put that into perspective. You go to any website, NHS document or
health booklet and the definition of the run down of BMI’s is as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;"><b>BMI
Classification</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">18.5 or less</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Underweight</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 312.0pt;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">18.5 to 24.99</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Normal Weight</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 312.0pt;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">25 to 29.99</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Overweight</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 394.0pt;" valign="top" width="394"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 312.0pt;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">30 to 34.99</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Obesity (Class 1)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 394.0pt;" valign="top" width="394"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 312.0pt;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">35 to 39.99</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Obesity (Class 2)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 394.0pt;" valign="top" width="394"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<td style="border: none; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 312.0pt;" valign="top" width="312"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">40 or greater</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #454545; font-family: ArialMT; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">Morbid Obesity</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times-Roman; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">So
someone with a BMI of 76.7 should probably not even be alive. Body Mass Index
is a fairly good way of checking whether you are a healthy weight. The
calculation is your weight divided by your height squared. So let’s get back to
our 76.7 BMI, what does that actually mean weight wise? Well if a 5ft 7”in
person was 35stone they would have a BMI of 76.7. Even if the person was very
tall or very short- you’re still looking at a weigh in of around 30stone. Okay
so 30-35 stone isn’t near the <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-3000/heaviest-man-living/" target="_blank">World’s Heaviest Man</a>, which is a whopping
88stone, but it’s bigger than your average, considerably bigger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">I
always read the headlines ‘<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/obesity.shtml" target="_blank">Britain has an obesity problem</a>’ and never think too
much of it. But I am genuinely alarmed at looking at the BMI figures for those
who have gastric surgery in Greater Manchester. I’m slightly worried if I do
the same FOI request in a few years time just what the outcome will be. It the
mean time, eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis, that’s an order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span>Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-64130113070851095382012-07-01T10:15:00.001-07:002012-07-01T10:16:56.234-07:00The Week Oldham Shook<br />
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What a week for the Shaw community of Oldham. Greater Manchester Police are still trying to piece together what happened on Tuesday June 26th and families are beginning to piece their lives back together after the devastation of the explosion.<br />
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Prayers are being said for the small boy <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18664642" target="_blank">Jamie Heaton</a> who died in the explosion. The two year old toddler, the innocent victim at the centre of this tragedy. I still think it's remarkable know one else was fatally injured because of the blast. It's the small reconciliation other Shaw residents have, but it does make the death of Jamie Heaton even more tragic. It's still unknown what exactly happened on Tuesday to cause the blast as the houses on Buckley Street in Shaw are too damaged by the explosion.<br />
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It's also unclear how many houses will have to be demolished at the site as inspections are still taking place. The physical and emotional damage will take a long time to heal. However, the Oldham community have pulled together during this uneasy time and the crisis fund is helping those who are struggling to come to terms with what has happened; the week Oldham shook.Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-34559144993404311472012-06-15T00:00:00.000-07:002012-06-15T06:34:13.492-07:00Wet Welsh Waterfall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oBC7OVBHTZapixmEM7_oEmpyDlyWZsJYmDgJk28yaRVQ-XE_nItfkxv6eYdrmMLcujXSYoatD0KO7eFkqg7H9VB1BWMLP5KZceGC-7P4GMUlTflePKmGHcXFlRVzVT0r1_H18yXCGko/s1600/wales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oBC7OVBHTZapixmEM7_oEmpyDlyWZsJYmDgJk28yaRVQ-XE_nItfkxv6eYdrmMLcujXSYoatD0KO7eFkqg7H9VB1BWMLP5KZceGC-7P4GMUlTflePKmGHcXFlRVzVT0r1_H18yXCGko/s320/wales.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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With all the wet weather of late it was maybe not the best of ideas to go for a walk on the edge of <a href="http://www.visitsnowdonia.info/" target="_blank">Snowdonia</a> in North Wales but nonetheless it was a lovely walk. I went to visit <a href="http://www.eryri-npa.gov.uk/visiting/walking/Easy-Leisure-Walks/Aber-Falls-Path" target="_blank">Aber Falls</a> at <a href="http://www.abergwyngregyn.co.uk/" target="_blank">Abergwyngregyn </a> which is nestled in the Aber Valley. There are two car parks at Aber Falls both costing £2 to park for the whole day so not a bad price if you want a morning/afternoon trip out. The path leading from the car park to the water fall is pretty much graveled all the way so it's suitable for parents and pushchairs or for those in a wheel chair. It's only about 2 miles from the car park to the water fall so not too bad really. The path takes you past a couple of picnic spots, wild ponies and an old fashioned coal oven.<br />
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As a result of all the rain we've been experiencing in England and Wales the river was high and the water fall was epic! You didn't have to stand too close to the bottom of the waterfall to become absolutely soaked from the spray. The water was powerful and the noise was amazing. I walked as far as I could into the spray before my face could take anymore of the water pounding against it. I could stand watching waterfalls all day. This is a popular attraction with tourists to North Wales and I can understand why. It's beautiful.Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-70479950755360004282012-06-12T06:47:00.001-07:002012-06-12T06:47:42.488-07:00Border Country<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq-ThgOTbBocyD6DhNIC6WG9pWX1kyhEp21lV1V49QV_VH-1plPskXtTI70Dx2-SOmWunOcxTLtWsitltSJ60VrJnncovrhV69O0faY3f6xCCR7xGWiDJrMtw_nycJGQVJh2CuBJsoEQ/s1600/view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigq-ThgOTbBocyD6DhNIC6WG9pWX1kyhEp21lV1V49QV_VH-1plPskXtTI70Dx2-SOmWunOcxTLtWsitltSJ60VrJnncovrhV69O0faY3f6xCCR7xGWiDJrMtw_nycJGQVJh2CuBJsoEQ/s320/view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Queen's Diamond Jubilee brought with it some extra bank holidays so with a few spare days in hand I went camping in <a href="http://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/" target="_blank">Northumberland</a>. I've been to the border lands a few times now and I still enjoy the moody hills and the craggy valleys. I stayed at <a href="http://www.clennellhall.co.uk/" target="_blank">Clennell Hall Riverside Holiday Park</a> which was an experience. I stayed there for its close access to the hills and tranquil setting but I think I may have been the only one with that remit staying their. What I can only describes as 'Chavs in Caravans' saturated the site. I don't whether it was because of the bank holidays that the holiday park was taken over by loud, messy families but nonetheless it wasn't quite what I had in mind for my camping trip.<br />
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I guess the good thing about camping in somewhere like Northumberland is that you can just get your boots and start walking which is what I did. The nearby Clennell Street which is an old Roman Road is a good starting/ finish point for a walk around the nearby woodland and hills. A lot of the countryside is open access so as long as you have a vague understand of geography and where you want to go navigating isn't too troublesome. However, some of the paths through the forests are slightly more complicated. This is due to the continuous management of the forests and due to the fact that some paths haven't been used for a while. So be careful if you decide to take a trip through the undergrowth! If you get to the top of the surrounding hills you can see the coast to the East and see Scotland to the North. It's a pretty good view and really worth the slog of getting to the top.<br />
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Like any good days walking you need a good pub to finish at. <a href="http://www.roseandthistlealwinton.com/" target="_blank">The Rose and Thistle </a>in Alwinton is a welcoming place for walkers, families, cyclist, just about anyone needing a brew or a pint! They've got some local ales on tap and serve good food. A nice treat for tired legs and feet.<br />
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<br />Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7118939467774054838.post-52449020494248055682012-05-29T12:57:00.000-07:002012-05-30T12:01:59.693-07:00The Lakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I went to the Lake District for the first time at the weekend and what a glorious weekend it was. The sun was looking down on me all weekend which was lovely. I ventured to <a href="http://www.patterdaletoday.co.uk/" target="_blank">Patterdale </a> which is a small village north of Lake Windermere. Patterdale lies on the southern tip of Ullswater and is absolutely breathe taking. The lake is less touristy than Windermere but no less beautiful and tranquil. I stayed on a campsite situated at the back of <a href="http://www.lakedistrictcamping.co.uk/campsites/northeast/side_farm.htm" target="_blank">Side Farm</a> which is just off the main road as you drive through Patterdale. I don't think I've been to a more well placed campsite. Where you camp is right on the edge of Ullswater and there are plenty of little pebbly beaches surrounding the site so you can jump straight in the water for a swim or take a boat in and start paddling. At only £8 a night per adult I think it's an absolute steal and I would definitely go back for another visit. Patterdale is at the foot of the mountains so there are pathways a plenty to start walking along for experienced walkers and for those who just want a gentle stroll.<br />
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I think the biggest think that struck me about being in the Lake District is who lucky I am to live in such and amazing country with this kind of colourful scenery. I climbed a near by hill and looked out over the surrounding countryside and couldn't have felt more relaxed and calm about the world around me. It all seems like a bit of a dream now. I also learnt that shops in the Lake District can't sell take away hot drinks because of the littering it may cause. There may be a few disgruntled people who can't get their caffeine fix, but it is a necessity in this throw away day and age that such rules apply. The countryside is unspoilt and should remain that way. I can't believe it's taken me so long to make a proper trip to the Lakes. Now I have, I can't wait to start planning my next Lake adventure.Briohnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13779433485723270235noreply@blogger.com0