Tenant Fees Ban - Good or Bad for Colchester Tenants & Landlords?
What Does the Tenant Fees Ban Mean for Colchester Landlords and Tenants?
The new Chancellor of the Exchequer revealed a tenant fees ban in his first Autumn Statement on Wednesday 23rd November 2016. What does this actually mean for Colchester tenants and Colchester landlords?
Landlords won't be worse off and neither will tenants or agents!
The private rental sector in Colchester forms an important part of the Colchester housing market and the engagement from the chancellor in Wednesday's Autumn Statement is a welcome sign that it is recognised as such. I have long supported the regulation of lettings agents which will help ensure best practice is followed across the rental industry. I believe measures to improve the situation for tenants should be introduced in a way that supports the growing professionalism of the sector. Over the last few years, there has been an increasing number of regulations and legislation governing private renting and it is important the role of qualified, well trained and regulated lettings agents, is understood.
So, let's look at tenants – the tenant fee ban is great news for them, isn't it? Well before you all crack open the Prosecco, read on. Banning letting agent fees is news Colchester tenants will surely welcome but what they may not realise is that it will probably rebound back on them.
Consultation to introduce the tenant fees ban will take between 12 and 18 months after which it will need an Act of Parliament to implement the change. A tenant fees ban may well mean tenants won't receive an invoice at the start of their tenancy, but the inescapable outcome will be an increase in the proportion of costs which will be met by landlords and that, in turn, will be passed on to tenants through higher rents.
The Government has also announced its intention to ban additional fees charged by private letting agents. Specific details about timing and implementation remain outstanding, so we have not adjusted our forecast. Nevertheless, it is possible that a ban on fees would be passed through to higher private rents.
Scotland Banned Letting Fees in 2012 – What Happened?
Renters, landlords and the industry as a whole had benefited from banning fees to renters in Scotland. It found that any negative side-effects of clarifying the ban on fees to renters in Scotland have been minimal for letting agencies, landlords and renters, and the sector remains healthy.
Many industry insiders had predicted that abolishing fees would impact on rents for tenants, but our research show that this hasn't been the case. The evidence showed that landlords in Scotland were no more likely to have increased rents since 2012 than landlords elsewhere in the UK. It found that where rents had risen more in Scotland than in other comparable parts of the UK in 2013, it was explained by economic factors and not related to the clarification of the law on letting fees.
However the devil is in the detail. Only a few days ago Shelter were still quoting this research from December 2013 and saying rents never went up following the tenant fees ban in Q4 2012. I have read that research and I agree with it BUT it was published three years ago – only 12 months after the tenant fees ban was put in place. Shelter choose not to mention what has happened to rents in Scotland in 2014, 2015 and 2016 because that tells us a completely different story!
What Really Happened To Rents in Scotland?
All a lot lower than the 15.3% increase in Scotland!
It's safe to say if the Scottish economy had outstripped London's, over the last 4 years to become the powerhouse of the UK, Nicola Sturgeon already be campaigning for a second referendum Independence referendum for Scotland.
What Will Happen to the Colchester Rental Market in the Short & Longer Term?
Nothing much will change in the short term and over the next 12 to 18 months, it's business as usual! In the longer term rents will inevitably increase as the fees tenants previously paid will be passed onto landlords in the coming few years.
All of which lettings agents take seriously and are expected to know inside out making us experts in our field. Like any profession there will be a few rogue traders by they are a tiny minority.
Business is business and no letting agent works for free so I, along with all the other Colchester letting agents, will have to pass at least some of those costs onto landlords when the tenant fees ban comes into force. Of course landlords would be able to offset higher letting charges against tax but I wouldn't want them to be out of pocket – and I'm sure they won't be happy – even after the extra tax relief.
The current application fee for a single person at my lettings agency is £125 exc.VAT and for a couple £250 exc.VAT which works out, on average, around £200 ex.VAT per property. I am part of a group of over 500 letting agents and we recently carried out a poll, across all our agencies, to determine the average tenancy length. The result worked out at just under two years – that's less than half the four years stated by the government! On average that means £200 +VAT additional fees passed onto the landlord every two years.
In 2005, the average rent of a Colchester property was £798 per month and today it's £911 per month, that's a rise of only 18.6% (against the Retail Price Index inflation rate of 38.5%). Using the UK average management rates of 10%, this means the landlord will be paying £720 excluding VAT per annum in management fees. If the landlord is expected to cover the cost of that additional £200 every two years, after 2018, rents would only need to rise by an additional 2% a year on top of annual growth rate over the last five years.
If that were to happen in Colchester average rents would rise to £1093 per month by 2022 (the red line on the graph) and so the landlord would pay £1156 per annum in management fees – which would go towards covering the additional costs without having to raise the level of fees.
Isn't That Bad News for Colchester Tenants?
No, quite the opposite in fact (look at the blue line on the graph). If the average rent Colchester tenants pay had risen in line with inflation since 2005, that £798 per month would have risen to an average of £1064 per month today compared to today's £911 per month. Even if inflation hits the upper end of expectations at 2% per year for the next six years, the average rent would be £1156 per month by 2022. So, even if landlords increased their rents to cover their costs, tenants are still much better off when you compare the monthly £1093 (blue line) and £1156 (red line) per month figure.
I believe the tenant fees ban is good news for landlords, tenants and agents. It removes the need for tenants to find lump sums of money and gives them greater freedom to move. They will also be better off, in real terms, taking into account rents would have increased in line with inflation.
Landlords should be happy because their yield and return will increase with greater rents while not paying significantly more in fees to their lettings agency.
Letting agents, who have always charged fair application fees, won't be penalised as rent rises will compensate for any losses (only agents that charged exorbitantly high fees will lose out – and that's their problem).
When this announcement from the Chancellor comes into force I am confident I will still be able to offer the same, if not better, service to both my landlords and tenants in the future.
If you have any thoughts about the tenant fees ban or would like to chat about any aspect of the Colchester housing market give me a ring on 01206 862288. Alternatively email me at grahamwood@hometorent.co.uk or add your comments below.


Drawing on a multi-year research and development program, the authors report on the promise of integrating locally-focused student investigations with ubiquitous access to advanced technologies. By doing this, students are better able to see the relevance of STEM skills and knowledge as they work to improve their local communities. Specific program examples cited show the paradigm as it has been implemented with upper elementary and middle school students. Contrasting examples show challenges in implementation. A four-part framework of essential program elements is offered to guide further investigation.


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How to Track Santa on Your Computer, Phone, TV, or Smart Speaker
Andrew Heinzman @andrew_andrew__
December 24, 2019, 1:09pm EDT December 24, 2019, 1:09pm EDT
Yuganov Konsantin/Shutterstock
Santa's halfway across the globe right now, delivering presents to every child in every home. If your kid's anxiously waiting for Santa to arrive, then maybe you should tune in to a Santa tracker through your computer, phone, TV, or smart speaker.
On the Computer: NORAD or Google Santa Tracker
The good people at NORAD really know what they're doing. Through decades of hard work, they've refined the NORAD Santa Tracker to the point of absurdity. I mean, this Santa Tracker collects data on Santa's location, the number of gifts that he's delivered, and educational information on each place that he's visited. It even shows you a 3D model of Santa flying across the earth—it's too cool.
As you may notice, most of the Santa tracking tools in this article are done through NORAD's Santa Tracker. That's because NORAD's tracker is accurate and backed by science. But it isn't the be-all-end-all. You can also take a dip into Google's Santa Tracker, which is just as accurate as NORAD, you know what I mean?
NORAD's Santa Tracker
If you're looking for an alternative to NORAD, then Google's Santa Tracker is a great option. It's like a stripped-down version of the NORAD tracker, with simple 2D animations that show Santa's current location and activities. The benefit here is that Google's Santa Tracker includes some fun games and animations that your kid can mess around with while they track Santa.
Again, Google's Santa Tracker is just as accurate as NORAD. You can dip between the two without getting conflicting info on Santa's location—within a negligible margin of error. The big man moves pretty fast, after all.
Google's Santa Tracker
On Your Phone or Tablet: NORAD's Santa Tracker Apps
If your kid likes to play on a phone or tablet, then you might as well give them the NORAD app. It's a robust app that's available for iPhone and Android devices, and it's almost identical to the NORAD website. Of course, there are some extra features, like a built-in holiday game arcade and a Christmas music player.
It's also worth mentioning that you use the NORAD or Google Santa Tracker through the browser on your phone or tablet. Also, the Google Santa Tracker is available as an app, but only on Android devices.
On Your Smart TV: NORAD Live on YouTube
There are a ton of NORAD-based Santa live feeds on YouTube right now. You've got offerings from USA TODAY, NBC News, Ballistic Live (which includes music), and a whole lot more. In fact, one of the live feeds includes information from NORAD and Google's Santa trackers—a good deal if your kid is really trying to keep track of the man in red.
You can easily access these feeds through the YouTube app on your smart TV or streaming stick. You could even open them from the YouTube app on one of your game consoles, like the PlayStation or the Nintendo Switch.
On Your Smart Speaker: Just Ask!
Juan Ci/Shutterstock
Google and Amazon smart speakers are meant for the whole family, and they're happy to tell you where Santa is right now. Just ask "where's Santa Claus," and you'll be met with information on Santa's current location. If you're using an Android device, you can even ask for the "North Pole Newscast," an interactive radio program that talks about Santa.
And don't worry, Google Assistant and Alexa won't let anything slip. Alexa even asks for parental permission to talk about St Nick.
That's all there is to it. Don't be afraid to jump between NORAD and Google's Santa trackers—they're both pretty accurate. Also, there's nothing wrong with using a few different devices to track Santa. Just be sure that you stick with NORAD and Google, and it'll be fine.
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Andrew Heinzman
Andrew is a writer for Review Geek and its sister site, How-To Geek. Like a jack-of-all-trades, he handles the writing and image editing for a mess of tech news articles, daily deals, product reviews, and complicated explainers. Read Full Bio »
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I Wish Someone Would Make a Legit Version of This Sketchy Battery Pack Game System
Josh Hendrickson | January 17th
Sometimes you see an idea for sale that's so wonderful and perfect you want to buy it instantly. At first glance, the Gaming Power Bank seems like exactly that scenario. It's an 8,000 mAh backup battery that ALSO doubles as a portable gaming system. What's not to love? Well, plenty. Second and third glances leave me wanting it—just made by someone reputable.
NVIDIA Just Lopped $50 off the RTX 2060—Get It Now for $299
Williams Pelegrin | January 17th
With a $350 price tag, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 was the cheapest graphics card capable of ray tracing. Because of that low price tag, however, this card was hard to find (without price inflation) after it was announced. But today brings some good news: you can now get the RTX 2060 Founders Edition for $299. It's even cheaper!
The Best Bluetooth Boomboxes for the Beach, Backyard, and Beyond
Jennifer Allen | April 1st
Better weather is upon us so it's the perfect time to buy a new Bluetooth boombox to use outside—whether at a pool party or simply in your yard.
The Stuff the Review Geek Staff is Most Excited About in 2020
Review Geek Team | January 20th
We're well into 2020 now (like three weeks, y'all) and the biggest electronics show of the year—CES—is over. That means we already have a great idea of all the cool stuff we're going to see this year, and some of it is mad exciting.
The Jabra Elite 75t Are the Best Sounding True Wireless Earbuds You Can Buy
Cameron Summerson | January 17th
Back in August of last year, I reviewed the Jabra Elite Active 65t and loved them. At the time, they were some of the best true wireless earbuds I'd used. Fast-forward to now, and I've been using the Elite 75t for several weeks, and I love them even more. They improve on the 65t in basically every way.
Twitter Isn't Getting an Edit Button, And That's Fine
In a recent Wired Q&A video, Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, stated clearly that the service is probably never getting an edit feature. For anyone who's ever lamented typos permanently inscribed in a Tweet, that sounds like bad news. But if you look closely at why Twitter abhors editing, the decision makes sense. We can live without editing, even if we don't have to like it.

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Wnuk, Aleksander
Born in 1987, multipercussionist, performer, improviser, sound author, and Doctor of the Arts. He studied in Denmark, Poland, Austria, and Germany. He graduated from the Music Academy in Gdańsk and the Royal Music Conservatoire in Copenhagen in the class of Gert Mortensen, where he also completed the prestigious postgraduate Soloist Class. He completed his education at the International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt, Impuls Academy for Contemporary Music in Graz, and ensemble recherche Academy in Freiburg.
He specialises in contemporary music performance as a soloist and chamber musician. His repertoire as a soloist and chamber musician focuses on multipercussion and intermedia works, encompassing classic works as well as new compositions. He creates his own sound projects, including the latest Lupnik, and is also active as a free improviser, author and performer of stage and dance music (notably Manhattan), lm music, traditional music as well as crossover genres between free rock, noise, and ambient music. He has published essays in the Glissando magazine. His leading achievements include the world premiere of En Face, a concerto for solo percussion, speaker and orchestra by Sara Nemtsov, as well as a solo version, En Face: Solitude.
He is a member of ensembles such as Spółdzielnia Muzyczna Contemporary Ensemble, Cracow Improvisers Orchestra, the Wnuk-Lazar duo, and Echoes of Peace. He is a guest appearance with the Hashtag Ensemble and New Music Orchestra. He has cooperated with the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Cracow, Rozbark Dance and Movement Theatre in Bytom, and Supernova Scene in Cracow. For many years, he was member of the Percurama Percussion Ensemble in Copenhagen.
He lectures at the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Cracow.


One of the things I was keen to include in my first cookbook Florentine was a little address book of my favourite places to eat and shop for food like a local. They're places I like to go to, places where you are guaranteed to find really typical Florentine dishes, at a good price, and eat well.
For those who don't have my cookbook yet, I wanted to compile a little list of some of my favourites, many of which I have written about before and which are still favourites, even after years. I like old places that don't change much but new spots are constantly opening up lately in Florence, and for those I recommend you turn to the blog of my friend, Girl in Florence, who regularly posts about new openings.
Update: I have a piece on some very special places to eat in Florence (a few shared in detail below too but here in one handy place) that I'd love to share with you that I wrote for Life & Thyme, The Art of Eating in Florence.
Now that the summer is here, I'm getting more and more emails asking for advice on where to eat, ranging from full itineraries to the simple: if you had to choose one place, what would it be?
If it were one, ok maybe two, places only and I really wanted something comfortingly, traditionally Florentine, I would go to a classy trattoria like Burde (which is a little out of town but an easy cab ride) or, right in the heart of town, Sostanza, where you must try the butter chicken, it's been their specialty for decades.
If you want something different, you can't go past brunch at Teatro del Sale, run by the eccentric, infamous chef, Fabio Picchi, of Cibreo (or Cibreo itself, or it's little sibling, affectionately known as Cibreino, the little trattoria to the left of the pricier restaurant. You can't book, it's small but wonderful). One of my favourite spots to take people to.
If you want something away from the usual tourist crowd, to explore neighbourhood markets and wine bars, this post on Florence's Lovely Bits is for you.
If you're eating on the cheap, Florence is a good place for it because street food and panini shops abound. Here you can find a thorough list of places that serve good Florentine fare, with some pit stops for a panino and a glass of wine, plus some typical trattorie where eating is no frills but full of character and economical.
Not into your hotel breakfast of fette biscottate? Head to one of these bakeries or pastry shops immediately for caffe e cornetto (or a schiacciata all'uva, pictured below, when in season) instead!
Want to eat somewhere outdoors and picturesque? Heading to Fiesole from Florence and a quick bus ride (number 7) or taxi ride away is Fattoria di Maiano. A great place to take the kids too, as you can visit all the animals while you're waiting for your meal. Or take the number 10 bus to charming hilltop neighbourhood, Settignano (my neighbourhood!), where you can find a great selection of places to eat, including an excellent wine bar, a friendly pizzeria (they do good gluten free pizza too), some of the best bistecca in town and a romantic slice of Sicily.
Looking for other wonderful things to do while in Florence?
Molly McIlwrath is an historian and licensed guide of Florence, and one of the most passionate people I know. Book her for one of her artisan or family tours or if you need someone amazing to take you on a journey through the Uffizi Gallery.
Curious Appetite does aperitivo tours and dinner crawls through Florence.
Lost in Florence is an excellent resource for finding out about boutique shopping, artisans, eating, drinking and going out, plus extra events too.
Elizabeth Minchilli has an app on where to eat in Florence! And she has great taste.
And not too far from Florence, reachable on a train as a day trip, Juls Kitchen offers cooking classes as well as food photography workshops in her brand new studio in the Sienese countryside.
We've been to Sostanza and LOVED IT! So much so that we tell any of our friends who are headed to Florence that they have to get there for dinner! I'm going to book mark this post for suggestions and pass them on to friends!
So glad to hear this, Tony!
Buon giorno, What a treat to see you and your beautiful family in the RISD XYZ. I ordered your book and look forward to reading it and cooking it. You look beautiful! I have not been to Florence for ages, but to Ravenna a few times in more recent years. I tend to spend more time in Paris but the Italians beat the French for cuisine. I visited Randa in Rome when she was the chief critic and went on the WS tour with the students and Ezio. We had a dish in Matera–strachenatti? with spinach and ground pork? Do you know this dish?
Thank you, Sharon! I don't know the dish you're talking about, strascinati perhaps? Sounds delicious!
My name is Helen Bayley and I think, just think you are a RISD grad? I am too!
I graduated in Painting in 1988, then MFA Indiana University. I have lived in Florence for 7 years. I paint and exhibit, in Florence and elsewhere and have been a licensed guide for 5 years. As a painter and with loads of experience in the arts, I taught Fine Arts at the university level in USA, for almost 20 years, I am suited to artisan tours and offering sketching tours in Florence etc. I see that Molly is a mutual friend. I would LOVE to meet for a coffee or a prosecco.


DONALD Trump's wife Melania is to be at his side during the US President's controversial visit to London next month, the Foreign Office have been told.
And the pair are set to be honoured by the British Army's oldest and most prestigious regiment the Coldstream Guards when they arrive at Windsor Castle to visit the Queen.
Despite fears of mass-protests in the capital, the Trumps are likely to spend some time in central London — with British officials briefed the Trumps may stay at the US Ambassador's residence Wingfield House.
There has been intense speculation about whether Mrs Trump's whereabouts in recent months after she was noticeably absent during key moments such as the recent G7 meeting of world leaders in Canada.
The former model from Slovenia, 48, also raised eyebrows by swerving her husband's historic summit in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
She has been broadly absent from official First Lady duties since a kidney operation in May.
But last week she appeared with Mr Trump, who said his wife had been through "a little rough patch but she's doing great.
In the latest secret plans drawn up in Whitehall and Washington for the UK trip, Mr Trump will invited to inspect a hundred-strong Guard of Honour in a lavish welcoming ceremony in the historic courtyard of Windsor Castle.
Formed in 1650, the Coldstream Guards are Britain's oldest regiment and have served in almost every major conflict since the Civil War.
They took a starring role in last week's Trooping the Colour to celebrate the Queen's birthday and guard Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in their distinctive red tunics and bearskin hats.
And Her Maj serves as the regiment's Colonel in Chief.


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West Ham United Home
West Ham: David Gold says Hammers 'will fill Olympic Stadium'
By Frank Keogh
West Ham move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 season
West Ham expect to have capacity crowds at nearly all of their matches at the Olympic Stadium, co-chairman David Gold has told BBC Sport.
Gold wants the Hammers to "worry" the big five Premier League clubs after moving from the Boleyn Ground to their new 54,000-capacity home next year.
And he believes new boss Slaven Bilic will "galvanise" players and fans.
Gold said the club wants to win the Europa League and hopes Andy Carroll will feature in the early stages.
Grounds for optimism?
West Ham are preparing for their final season at the Boleyn Ground, with the fixtures released on Wednesday revealing Swansea will be the last Premier League visitors to Upton Park, in early May.
"Leaving the Boleyn Ground will be an emotional time. It will be a momentous event for anyone affiliated to the football club," said Gold, who grew up in Green Street, yards from the East London ground.
The Hammers will go from playing in front of 35,000 fans to the potential of nearly 20,000 more, so can they fill their new home?
"Obviously, attendances have a lot to do with performances on the field, but taking all things into account we are optimistic of filling the stadium, 99% of the time," said the 78-year-old, who owns the club with David Sullivan.
"Every time we get an update on ticket sales, they are the best we have experienced. All the targets we have set ourselves are being met."
The Boleyn Ground in East London has a 35,000 capacity
The Olympic dream
Gold points to improved transport links, location and facilities as reasons why he believes the new ground will be attractive to spectators.
"Upton Park has two underground lines. At the Olympic Stadium, there are five train stations within a 10-minute walk of the ground and 13 lines that come into Stratford," he said.
"There are towns all over Kent, Essex and further afield where the journey into Stratford will be a different experience.
"One fan wrote to me and said he was coming in from Ashford and he'll save an hour each way on his journey. Even coming in from Europe will be easier."
He said many season tickets would be the cheapest in the Premier League to "encourage younger fans".
New West Ham boss Slaven Bilic oversaw Croatia's 3-2 win over England at Wembley in 2007
All change at West Ham?
The Hammers have appointed Slaven Bilic as their manager following the departure of Sam Allardyce, 60. Is it a risk?
"I don't personally have a fear of that," said Gold.
Croat Bilic, 46, has experience of managing his national side, plus spells with Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas. He played 54 times as a defender for West Ham from 1996-1997 before signing for Everton. But he has never managed a Premier League side.
"I think there's a risk with any appointment. Some of the great managers with great records don't always come off in the Premier League," said Gold.
"He doesn't have experience as a Premier League manager but he does as a player. What he will lack in years of experience, he will make up for with youthful dynamism."
Attack, attack, attack
The club set out a list of criteria when seeking Allardyce's replacement - they wanted a manager capable of winning a trophy, bringing the young players through and playing attractive football - the so-called 'West Ham way'.
"I think we are going to see attacking football," said Gold. "With the players we have, and others coming in, we will have a natural attacking bias in our squad.
"I like Slaven's passion. The box he ticks above other managers is that he is an ex-West Ham player, but you can look at a manager's CV and sit there with your boxes and tick here and there - you cannot see what they are really like until you are face to face.
"He interviewed well, and last week we went to the Olympic Stadium, spent half a day with him and it was a good feeling. I like the way you can have chemistry between people. He is a relatively young man with drive and desire."
Striker Andy Carroll has been capped nine times by England
Carroll's comeback
Injury-plagued striker Andy Carroll is back in training following knee surgery in February, and the Europa League could offer him a chance to return to full fitness.
"When he heard we were in the Europa League, he saw it as a great opportunity. It couldn't have come at a better time for him," said Gold.
The Hammers' first game will be on 2 July, and they are likely to field a mixture of first-team regulars and younger players.
"I'm hoping we don't have to play all of our first team in the opening games. I would hope Andy will be playing in one of those early matches," said Gold.
"It will be good for players like him, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia, who are itching to get back on the pitch. It's a great opportunity for Diego Poyet, who hasn't had as much playing time as he would like."
Andy Carroll's injury record at West Ham
September 2012: Injures hamstring in his first game on loan - out for a month
November 2012: Twists knee against Manchester United - sidelined for two months
May 2013: Damages heel in the last game of the season - out for seven months
July 2014: Tears ankle ligaments in pre-season - out for four months
February 2015: Knee surgery - set to miss rest of the season
Taking the Europa League seriously
West Ham qualified for the Europa League via Uefa's Fair Play system and will find out their first qualifying round opponents in Monday's draw.
"I really take this tournament seriously and I want to win it," said Gold.
"We've got to prepare ourselves for plenty of games and hope we don't get too many injuries.
"We saw it last season with a fabulous start, then players started dropping like flies before we finished a disappointing 12th."
Europa League in numbers
23: Number of matches West Ham would have to play to win the competition
6: Games before the Premier League starts
48: Number of teams in the group stage - 16 already qualified, 22 from qualifying, 10 from Champions League
Strengthening the squad
Bilic will be given money to bring new players in, although one immediate priority lies with a star of last season.
The Hammers are keen to reach a deal with Arsenal for defender Carl Jenkinson, who they had on loan but also interests Sunderland.
"We know we need a right-back and will work tirelessly to bring in Carl. If that does not work out, we have other irons in the fire," said Gold.
"We said to Slaven 'get your priority list and let's see what we can do'. We have a track record of working with our managers."
'Worrying' the Big Five
Gold said: "We are hoping West Ham will be in a position very soon to worry the top five and have them saying: 'Who are these upstarts? Who do they think they are?'
"As far as challenging these great clubs, it's very very hard. Southampton challenged last season, and there's absolutely no reason why West Ham can't emulate them.
"There is a big difference between realism and hope. Realistically, in the next five years we would expect to be knocking on the door of Europe, whether that's by finishing seventh or eighth or by winning the FA Cup or reaching the final.
"The longer-term aim is we want to frighten the big boys of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. We want the Big Five to be looking over their shoulders."
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Atlantic's Colorfalls are a perfect fit for formal retaining walls and pond-free applications. Colorfalls adds a breathtaking new dimension to a water feature – waterfalls with shimmering details in white, red or blue hues. Automatic color-changing weirs can be controlled remotely and synchronized with hardscape lighting to create a stunning atmosphere where sophiostication and drama are desired.
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This video tutorial will show you how to do a long tail cast on. Staci breaks this knitting step for you in the easiest, most basic way, so that you'll be able to replicate her motions easily. Just follow along with her instructions, and you'll easily master this knitting basic.


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Bunny Te Kokiri Miha Waahi Walters (31 May 1953 – 14 December 2016) was a New Zealand singer who had a number of New Zealand hits during the 1970s. He is best known for the hits "Brandy" and "Take the Money and Run".

Background
Of Ngāi Te Rangi descent, Walters was born and raised in Katikati, a town on the North Island of New Zealand.

Career
In 1969, he competed against Tui Fox at Joe Brown's at the Rotorua Soundshell during the Search for Stars event held there. Fox was singing similar material to Walters. Fox won the final with Walters coming in second. His first single, titled "Just Out of Reach", was released in 1969. He then released "It's Been Too Long" and "Can't Keep You Out of My Heart". During one of the talent quests, held at the Opera House in Palmerston North, he was beaten by singer Richard Turei, whose daughter Metiria Turei would later serve as co-leader of the Green Party in New Zealand.

Walters made his first television appearance on Happen-Inn, a New Zealand television show.

After performing at Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan, he received contracts to return to Japan. He gained considerable exposure. The New Zealand Herald reported that he may have also appeared on the Rolf Harris show in London.

In 1971, he replaced Vaughan Lawrence as the resident singer on Happen-Inn.

In 1972, he recorded "Brandy" (which reached No. 4 on the pop charts). It was reported in the edition of 4 May of The New Zealand Herald that due to the big success Walters had with "Brandy" that the song was to be produced in sheet music form. That same year he had a hit with Take The Money And Run" (which reached #2).

In 1973 he had a hit with "Home Isn't Home Anymore" (which reached #18). Also that year he had a gold disc entry with the Bernie Allen arranged "Helena", a Tat Meager composition also recorded that year by Leapy Lee.

1974
In 1974, Walters had a hit with a song originally recorded by Ben Thomas, written by Gary Sulsh, Stuart Leathwood, and Tony Macaulay. His version of "The Nearest Thing To Heaven", produced by Alan Galbraith reached No. 10 that year.

In June he had toured with the Supremes. Another singer from New Zealand, Erana Clark was announced earlier to be on the same tour with Walters. That year he won two awards at the RATA awards. One was for best male vocalist and the other for best recording artist.
Damage to career
In October 1974 he was convicted of possessing a very small amount of marijuana and fined convicted and fined $100 for possession.<ref>Auckland Star, 24 October 1974 – Entertainer had cannabis in car</ref> This had a catastrophic effect on his career. Prior to the conviction, he was always in demand. He was getting work, being hired to perform in pubs, clubs and for certain organisations. Then as a result of falling foul of influential people he was virtually blacklisted from TV and radio. He disappeared from the spotlight almost immediately.New Zealand CDS's –  Walters ,Bunny: Very Best of Bunny Walters

Mid 70s onwards
In 1978, he recorded a promotional record for the New Zealand Labour Party. The single was titled "To Be Free with Labour" and was the B side of a song titled "To Be Free", written by Robinson-Bretnall.

During the 1980s he was also singing jingles and getting a lot of work in that area. According to an article in AudioCulture by Steven Shaw, The New Zealand Herald  reported in August 1986 that 80% of the advertising jingles heard in New Zealand, featuring male and female voices were by Walters and singer Annie Crummer.Audio Culture, 20 June 2014 – Bunny Walters Profile – Steve Shaw Among these projects was a verse from a version of the New Zealand national anthem that was recorded for World Expo 88, which also aired during TVNZ's daily opening transmission during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In June 1991, he was appearing on stage in a production of Porgy and Bess.

In 2013, Walters was the profile in episode 9 of The Untold Stories of New Zealand Music History.

Film and television
Drama
Walters appeared in the 1978 film Skin Deep.

The song "Never Say Die" from single the "Never Say Die" / "Gotta Get Outta Here" WEA Records Limited Z10002 was composed and performed by Billy Kristian. It is featured during the closing credits of the 1988 film Never Say Die which starred Temuera Morrison and Lisa Eilbacher. He appeared in an episode of the New Zealand prime-time soap opera, Shortland Street.

Ministry
Walters became a Christian in or around 1995/1997. In a 1999 interview, he told The Sunday Star-Times that his conversion came about as a result of a pastor inviting him to church. Because he didn't have much else going on, he was looking forward to attending. He was living in Queensland, Australia from around 2004, moving around before settling on one of the Islands in Queensland. While living in Queensland, the main amount of singing he did was in church. In his quest to evangelise, he was in Canada at one stage for a month. While there he preached to an Inuit community.

Illness and death
Walters died in Waikato Hospital, Hamilton, on 14 December 2016 after a short illness.'Chur bro': Iconic Māori singer Bunny Walters dies aged 63, Yahoo! News. Retrieved 23 January 2017.

Funeral service
He had been lying in state at Tokoroa's Papa o te Aroha Marae. The funeral service was at Elim Christian Church, with a private cremation to follow.

Tribute concert
It was announced in Stuff'' that a tribute concert for Walters was to be held at the Tokoroa Cosmopolitan Club on 4 February 2017. Artists scheduled to appear were Tom Sharplin, Dennis Marsh, Ray Solomon, Larry Morris, Dennis August and Craven Noble.

Releases

Film and television appearances

References

External links
 The Beat Goes On: Shane Hales Honours Bunny Walters
 Te Karere TVNZ: Iconic Bunny Walters gone but not forgotten

1953 births
2016 deaths
20th-century New Zealand male singers
People from Katikati
Ngāi Te Rangi people
New Zealand male film actors
New Zealand male television actors
New Zealand Māori male singers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
IC 5117 ist ein planetarischer Nebel im Sternbild Indianer, welcher im Jahre 1905 von Williamina Fleming entdeckt wurde.

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text:
Thousands protest austerity measures in Spain
Published time: 17 Dec, 2012 17:12 Edited time: 18 Dec, 2012 08:00
Health workers march against austerity measures in Madrid December 16, 2012. (Reuters/Juan Medina) © Reuters
Several hundred thousand Spaniards have taken to the streets in 55 cities across the country in a union-organized protest against austerity on Monday night.
The demonstrations come just a day after a mass protest against healthcare cuts.
The centre-right government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is committed to 60 billion euros worth of cuts through 2014.
On Monday Rajoy defended his government's austerity plan saying, "there are no easy answers for difficult situations, (but) we are trying because it is our obligation to rectify this situation," adding that the economy should improve in 2013, despite the prediction of of 1.3 percent shrink next year.
The government says the austerity is designed to restore trust from international lenders, who are propping up the indebted country. Earlier this month, Standard & Poor's rating agency downgraded Spain's credit rating to BBB- just one above junk.
The government's measures have been met with mass public protest as Spaniards have seen their incomes vanish and their house values plunge.
The country has alternated between periods of contraction, followed by a weak recovery since property prices collapsed during the worldwide economic crisis in 2008.
"The Spanish economy was built on an unsustainable property bubble, and Spain was spending lavishly, living on the never-never,
" Patrick Young, a prominent independent financial advisor and author, told RT.
"The ultimate problem is that the Spanish government does not have any money."
Alongside Greece, Spain has the worst unemployment problem in Europe. A quarter of the population is currently out of work.
The government believes that a re-structuring of its public sector and a substantial bank reform will eventually make the country more competitive, and create more jobs.
Demonstrators take part in a march to protest the Spanish government's decision to stop pensions rising in line with inflation, in Madrid December 17, 2012. (Reuters/Susana Vera)
The sign reads: "Popular Party, dangerous party". (Reuters/Susana Vera)
The signs read: "Cuts for bankers and priests" and "The pension, my right!". (Reuters/Susana Vera)
Demonstrators take part in a protest against government health cuts and privatisation plans in Madrid on December 16, 2012. (AFP Photo/Pedro Armestre)
Reuters/Juan Medina
AFP Photo/Pedro Armestre
The placard reads," I am patient , I am voter" (R) and "We want patients not customers". (Reuters/Juan Medina)
Trends:Eurozone crisis
Brussels approves Madrid's bailout request
Health no money can buy: Spaniards march to defend medical treatment rights (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
Spain gets €39bn aid for banking
EU agrees on ECB watchdog for eurozone banks


Watkins Glen, NY (September 2, 2017) – Sebastien Bourdais made his way into the Fast 12 during qualifying for the INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen on Saturday and placed himself ninth on the grid for Sunday's race. His Dale Coyne Racing teammate, Ed Jones, will be starting 15th.
Bourdais was the only driver to make it into the second round of qualifying who didn't use the alternate Firestone tires in Round 1. The Frenchman, who went out in the second qualifying group, registered a fastest lap of 1:23.1444 in Round 1 which placed him third in his group.
The driver of the #18 UNIFIN car then took the track with just under seven minutes remaining in Round 2. While he placed fourth on his second and third laps around the 3.37-mile, 11-turn road course, he was seventh when crossing the timing line on his final lap. Bourdais ended up ninth on the grid for tomorrow's race with a Round 2 lap of 1:23.1459.
Jones was in the first group to take to the track for qualifying aboard his #19 Boy Scouts of America Honda powered machine. Things were looking good for the rookie as he found himself in second place at the halfway mark of the session. However, despite recording his fastest lap of the weekend with a 1:23.9851 on his final lap, he would end up ninth when all was said and done in his group.
Today's qualifying session will be airing on NBCSN at 7pm ET tonight on a same-day delay. The the INDYCAR Grand Prix at The Glen will be broadcast live on NBCSN from 1pm on Sunday, September 3, 2017.


text:
HomeMercedes-BenzNewsOfficial
Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG confirmed for New York Auto Show next month
Feb 05, 2013 at 8:09am ET
By: Adrian Padeanu
The extended cut of Mercedes-Benz's CLA Super Bowl ad confirms CLA 45 AMG debut for New York Auto Show.
The extended cut of Mercedes-Benz's CLA Super Bowl ad confirms the CLA45 AMG will debut at the New York Auto Show.
After having a closer look at the extended version of the "Soul" ad for the CLA we noticed at 1:41 viewers are invited to "enter for a chance to win a trip to NYC to see the CLA and the CLA45 AMG in person." This means we'll have full details about the car around March 29 when the show kicks off.
Power will reportedly come from a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 335 HP (246 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. It's the same mill under the hood of the A45 AMG and will probably be connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and an all-wheel drive system. This setup should provide the car with a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in around five seconds and an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).
Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG confirmed for New York Auto Show next month
mercedes cla 45 amg cla 45 amg mercedes-benz cla 45 amg luxury


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The Best TV Thrillers ever
Below is a list of our top ten favourite TV Thrillers of all time. Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
10. The Walking Dead
First Aired: 31 October, 2010
The Walking Dead is a TV series starring Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, and Melissa McBride. Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.
Watch The Walking Dead
9. Stranger Things
First Aired: 15 July, 2016
Stranger Things is a TV series starring Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Winona Ryder. When a young boy disappears, his mother, a police chief and his friends must confront terrifying supernatural forces in order to get him…
Watch Stranger Things
First Aired: 22 September, 2004
Lost is a TV series starring Jorge Garcia, Josh Holloway, and Yunjin Kim. The survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.
Watch Lost
7. Prison Break
First Aired: 29 August, 2005
Prison Break is a TV series starring Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, and Amaury Nolasco. Due to a political conspiracy, an innocent man is sent to death row and his only hope is his brother, who makes it his mission to…
Watch Prison Break
6. Dexter
Dexter is a TV series starring Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, and David Zayas. By day, mild-mannered Dexter is a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami police. But at night, he is a serial killer who only targets other murderers.
Watch Dexter
5. Sherlock
Sherlock is a TV series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, and Una Stubbs. A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.
Watch Sherlock
4. Black Mirror
First Aired: 04 December, 2011
Black Mirror is a TV series starring Daniel Lapaine, Hannah John-Kamen, and Michaela Coel. An anthology series exploring a twisted, high-tech multiverse where humanity's greatest innovations and darkest instincts collide.
Watch Black Mirror
3. Breaking Bad
First Aired: 20 January, 2008
Breaking Bad is a TV series starring Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, and Anna Gunn. A high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine in order to secure his family's…
2. True Detective
True Detective is a TV series starring Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell, and Rachel McAdams. Seasonal anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and…
Watch True Detective
1. Chernobyl
First Aired: 06 May, 2019
Chernobyl is a TV mini-series starring Jessie Buckley, Jared Harris, and Stellan Skarsgård. In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst…
Watch Chernobyl
Best Episodes Of Beavis and Butt-Head
Best Episodes Of Roadies


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text:
package gobserve

import "log"

var DEBUG = false

func logDebugf(pattern string, args ...interface{}) {
	if DEBUG {
		log.Printf(pattern, args...)
	}
}

func logDebugln(args ...interface{}) {
	if DEBUG {
		log.Println(args...)
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}


text:
US denies Russians Visa to attend UN Assembly - Kremlin Summons US Ambassador
Written by TeleSUR
Published in World News
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the U.S. move as outrageous and disrespectful. | Photo: Reuters
MOSCOW, September 24, 2019 - Russia summoned on Tuesday a senior U.S. diplomat in Moscow to protest over what it said was Washington's unacceptable refusal to issue visas to members of a Russian delegation traveling to the United Nations General Assembly.
Moscow said ten members of a Russian delegation traveling to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York had not been issued visas by the U.S. authorities.
The Kremlin promised a tough response and said Jon Huntsman, the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, had been summoned to the foreign ministry, but Russian news agencies said that Huntsman's deputy had gone instead.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said U.S. officials had returned the relevant visa application documents, saying they had been submitted too early.
There was no immediate comment from the U.S. Embassy.
"Under our rules, we are not supposed to comment on individual cases concerning US visa applications," an official said.
Zakharova said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would raise the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in New York.
She described the U.S. move as a violation of Washington's international commitments.
"This is an outrageous example of disrespect by the United States of America for members of the United Nations, as well as a failure to fulfill its obligations as host country to the world organization," Zakharova said on Facebook.
"Another act of disregard for the rights of sovereign states and international organizations and the inability to somehow comply with their own international legal obligations will be the central theme of the conversation between Lavrov and Pompeo in New York."
U.S.-Russia ties remain strained by everything from Syria to Ukraine, as well as allegations of Russian interference in U.S. politics, which Moscow denies.
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