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Fancy Dress or Not?
Got up at 7.30am and went out onto our balcony, where the weather was warm and sultry and the sun was already quite hot. Today would be our last full day at sea before reaching our first port of call tomorrow.
As today was Hallowe'en, which is celebrated much more in the USA than it is at home, many passengers had adorned the doors of their cabins with paper decorations depicting ghosts, black cats, witches and pumpkins. Before leaving home I'd assembled a great "Grim Reaper" costume consisting of skull mask, long black velvet hooded cloak and big scythe.
However, when we were reading the Celebrity Cruises "FAQs" and what-to-bring-on-your-voyage bumf on their web site, we came across a notice saying that there was a code of conduct in the interests of all passengers and, as such, strictly no fancy dress. Its exact words say:
NOVELTY CLOTHING
We don't want to dampen your spirit, but for the comfort and enjoyment of all guests, please leave any costumes, fancy dress, garments with potentially offensive language, and other novelty clothing at home. We reserve the right to deny embarkation to persons dressed inappropriately and to ask them to change if on board.
We thought this was a very strange thing to stipulate, particularly as some cruise lines encourage dressing up, and we've enjoyed some great themed parties in the past, such as 1920s themed parties, masquerade balls, British nights, nautical evenings and tropical nights to name but a few. In light of this rule, then, I left my Grim Reaper costume behind.
At 9.30am we adjourned to the Sky Lounge to meet Kendal, Janet, Frank and Norm for the Brain Waker Trivia quiz, which we won once again, getting another wrist band to add to our collection! We joked that the other teams would be starting to get suspicious of us! 😊
After the quiz we returned to 8166 where Trevor spent some time reading and relaxing on the balcony while I caught up with some of this blog.
We then went back out on deck where the weather was fantastic, hot and sunny just as we'd anticipated, with a tantalising sea breeze. It was after 11.00am now, so time for a freezing cold beer. 😊
Back inside we wandered through the arcade and looked to see what "bargains" they had in the shops. There was a $10 event where a selection of items were all reduced to ten bucks each, things like scarves, purses, bags, costume jewellery etc. I spotted some nice little charms featuring Swarovski crystals which were half-price; one of them was a ship's wheel and the other was a small medallion proclaiming "Live..Love..Cruise". I couldn't resist them and bought them, hanging them onto my bracelet straight away. 😊
At lunchtime we grabbed ourselves a light meal of cold meats and salad and sat out at the stern to eat them, each washing our lunch down with a cold bottle of Samuel Adams beer. Then we went and sat on bar stools by the pool bar; I was tempted to change into my cossie and got for a dip, but the pool was quite crowded and we enjoyed the people watching instead, especially as one couple kept getting up and dancing to the Latin music that was playing in the background. 😊
Thus we passed the time so pleasantly in the way I'll never tire of; sitting on the decks, looking at the blue Pacific Ocean, feeling the sea breeze ruffling our hair and just feeling so privileged to be here and so glad to be alive.
At quarter past two we did the usual, and made our way to the Sky Lounge to take part in the Music trivia quiz. Once again our team won! 😊
The music quiz was followed by the ballroom dance class and this time it featured the cha cha cha. Trevor and I were quick onto the dance floor, right at the front where we had a good view of the instructors. The dance class lasted for 30 minutes and was very lively, with lots of practice and lots of dancing, so we worked up a good thirst and got a drink each to last us through the next quiz, the Progressive Trivia, at 3.30pm.
When the quiz host put the leader board of all the teams taking part in the Progressive Trivia so far, we saw that "It's Only A Game" was in the lead. Yay! 😊
After the quiz we went along to the small cinema/lecture theatre on Deck 4 to listen to a presentation about Lord Horatio Nelson, England's most famous admiral, and the various battles he participated in leading up to the Battle of Trafalgar. I had to leave about 10 minutes before the end of the hour-long lecture to get washed and changed and ready for dinner at 5.45pm.
As we made our way to the restaurant, I was most surprised to see that, contrary to what was published on the Celebrity web site (see above) regarding fancy dress, many people we, in fact, dressed in Hallowe'en costumes, some of them quite elaborate. I could have brought my Grim Reaper costume after all! ☹
Instead, I just wore a black and red patterned dress and nude-coloured high-heel sling backs, and looked with envy at those in their fantastic costumes.
When we came out of the dining room we passed by the Guest Relations desk, and I determined to ask them for their definition of "fancy dress", seeing as they said one thing on their web site but practised another. Most of the people on the guest relations desk were surprised at my question, and weren't aware of any notices on the web site advising not to bring fancy dress. Eventually one of them apologised for the "misunderstanding" and said they'd send a bottle of prosecco to our cabin as a goodwill gesture. So all was not lost. 😊
The show tonight was certainly something different; he was billed a Randy Cabral who "brings a highly interactive brand of comedy that is fast paced, funny and flexible". We would have called him a "juggler" but perhaps that alone wouldn't have done him justice, because he was absolutely brilliant, very dexterous, funny and highly entertaining. We'd certainly never seen anything like him on any other cruise.
After the show we went along to watch the Hallowe'en Costume Parade (in which I could have taken part!) but the place was crowded and nowhere could I get a good vantage point. We therefore went to the casino bar and got a drink to take back to our stateroom to drink on the balcony.
It was lovely out on the balcony; the air was warm and sultry and the sounds of the sea, washing along the side of the Celebrity Eclipse, were hypnotic. We sat outside for about half an hour then got washed and ready for bed, and settled down for the night.
Tomorrow we were due to reach Hilo, in the "Big Island" of Hawai'I, and we slept well.
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Cruise, Booze and Fabulous Shoes
Got up at 7.30 this morning and were dismayed to see that the decks were wet, and it wasn't because the deck-hands had been washing them. ☹
After getting washed and dressed we made our way up to Deck 14 to take the route alongside the pool to the Ocean View café. There was a fine rain (what we called a 'mizzle', i.e. mist+drizzle) so we decided to take the slightly-longer way across, under the canopies for shelter. As we did so, the skies opened and the rain came pelting down, thundering on the Perspex roof. We hoped the downpour would clear the skies for some long-awaited sun later on.
We enjoyed our substantial breakfast, washed down with orange juice and coffee, before we ventured out on deck again, where we were pleased to see that the skies were showing a bit more blue. 😊
At 9.30am we joined the rest of our quiz team "It's Only A Game" for the brain-waker trivia. Before the quiz host, Shania, could give out the answers, Captain Leo's voice came booming over the tannoy with the latest geographical and meteorological information, followed by cruise director Lauren's voice, which went on and on and on, practically reading out the whole of the events programme to us. That girl talks far too much! Everyone cheered when she finally shut up, and Shania could continue with the results of the quiz.
We won once again, adding another rubber wrist band to our collection. Considering we have been on some cruises where we've never won a single quiz, we were doing very well so far. 😊
After the quiz, we went back out on deck where – hooray! – the sun was out and there was a pleasant tropical sea breeze. This was more like it, and certainly what we expected on a cruise to Hawaii.
We spent the morning just relaxing and pottering around the ship, not doing very much in particular but just enjoying being on holiday and not at work. All around us we could see the sparkling blue of the Pacific Ocean as the Celebrity Eclipse glided through the waters, which were very calm with a barely-discernible ship's motion.
We went up to the Lawn Club (grass! on a ship!) and enjoyed a pre-luncheon cocktail; I had a nice cold Aperol Spritz while Trevor had a chilled bottle of Samuel Adams beer. By now, the sun was very hot, and it would have been far too easy to be lulled into a false sense of security by the cooling sea breeze, so we didn't stay in the sun for more than half an hour before seeking shelter at the Sunset Bar.
After a light lunch we headed back to cabin 8166 to sit out on our balcony for a while; it was extremely pleasant watching the sea glide past and enjoying the fresh air – it is something we never tire of.
We then had a half-hour power nap before going up to the Sky Lounge to take part in the music trivia, which was all about pop divas. Of our regular team-mates only Kendal put in an appearance, but we joined another group of three and made up another team that way. It was good that we did, because we won again, so that was another wrist band! The other teams will start to get suspicious! 😊
Once the quiz finished, it was time for a ballroom dancing class featuring the waltz. Trevor and I went to join in, but the dance floor was packed and we couldn't see the feet of the dance instructors, (also they were teaching it differently from the way we've been learning it at home) so we just gave up and went back to join Kendal and Janet and enjoyed a drink each from the bar. 😊
At 3.30p, Frank and Norm joined us for the progressive trivia; we seemed to do pretty well once again but we won't know which team is the overall winner until near the end of the cruise, as this was a points accumulator.
The rest of the afternoon passed in its usual relaxed and pleasant way, and soon we had to go back to 8166 to get showered and changed and ready for dinner. How the day goes by quickly when you're having a good time!
Tonight I decided to wear some smart white jeans with a navy camisole with a blue and green mesh overlay top, along with a pair of Irregular Choice flats. These ones were called "Fruity Bowl" and were a very colourful pair with a pale blue glittery background featuring bananas, grapes, peaches, strawberries, cherries and the accompanying green leaves. As ever, loads of people commented on them as we made our way to the restaurant. 😊
Dinner was as good and as delicious as ever, and afterwards we went along to the Quasar Lounge and listened to the questions being read out for the nearby Friendly Feuds (Family Fortunes) game show. Then, at half-eight, we took part in the Tribond Trivia, at which Kendal joined us. We didn't know what was meant by 'tribond', but it's a game in which you have to find the common word between three seemingly-unrelated items. For example, the words "eggs, eyes, laundry items" would have the word "whites" in common.
In this way we completed the quiz and scored 15/15, so another rubber wrist band each to add to our growing collection. 😊
It was then time to take our seats in the Eclipse Lounge for tonight's show, which featured the Celebrity Singers, Dancers and Acrobatic Performers (i.e. the show company). It was called "Topper" and the stage contained a large top hat from which several colourful characters emerged. As the daily programme described it: "The enigmatic Sir Peabody keeps his eccentric friends, both real and imaginary, locked away in his giant hat. Enjoy what happens when they yearn for life outside". We did indeed enjoy it and thought it was a very imaginative and unusual show.
It was then time to return to the Quasar Lounge and take our place on our 'regular' bar stools in time for the karaoke. Several other people were in the lounge already and, judging by the volume of noise coming from a particular group at the bar, some of them had clearly been enjoying a drink (or three!) beforehand.
The karaoke was a packed and lively affair. I got up and did two numbers, the first being Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson, and the second It's a Heartache by Bonnie Tyler. One guy who was dressed as a country yokel (quite appropriately) was an excellent country-style hill-billy singer with a large repertoire of songs; we were sure he had to be a professional and when we asked him, he said that was known to be paid occasionally for singing. 😊
It was quite late when we left the karaoke (after 11.45pm) and returned to stateroom 8166 after another great day. We had to put our clocks back one more hour tonight, putting us 10 hours behind GMT and onto Hawaiian time, so we gained another hour in bed. We slept very well, as the Celebrity Eclipse carried us ever-closer to our destination.
The Sun'll Come Out Tomorrow
Got up at eight o'clock this morning and went out onto the balcony to see what the weather was like. Once again, although dry, it was cooler than we'd expected and cloudy, but the Pacific Ocean was fairly calm as the Celebrity Eclipse glided through the waves, and we enjoyed the hypnotic shhhhh shhhhh of the sea washing against the side of the ship.
We went and had our breakfasts in the Ocean View café and had a wander out on deck. Quite a few people were power-striding or jogging around the track above the pool deck, and one or two people were in the pool or the jacuzzi, but the sun loungers were mainly empty.
At half-nine we went up to the sky lounge where we were joined once again by Kendal, Janet, Frank and Norm for the morning trivia. We scored 13/15 and were the winners once again, earning another wrist band each. 😊
Then, at 10 o'clock, we went into the Eclipse Theatre to listen to the music historian Bill Powell give a very interesting talk about Elvis Presley, interspersed with clips from his music. It was a very interesting lecture, and quite sad at the end regarding Elvis's untimely death in 1977 at the age of 42.
Afterwards we went and had a cup of coffee before going on the wander around the ship again. We briefly watched a paper aeroplane challenge between officers and passengers in the central atrium, before taking one of the glass-sided lifts up to the top deck. Those lifts would be no good for someone with a fear of heights, as they made you realise just how many decks and how tall this ship was, as we watched each level recede away from us.
We pottered around the ship in the usual pleasant way and enjoyed a light lunch before making our way to the Eclipse Lounge once again for a 1.30pm matinée performance by the Rave-Ons. Their popularity was evident by the already-packed lounge when we arrived, and we were lucky to get decent seats down near the front
The show was enthusiastic and energetic, with the three excellent guitarists and singers, and the manic drummer in the background, who reminded me of 'Animal' out of the Muppet Show. 😊 It was a superb performance, and most of the audience stood up at the end. Great stuff.
At half-three we returned to the Sky Lounge to meet up with the rest of our quiz team, and took part in Round 2 of the Progressive Trivia quiz. After the first round we were joint leaders, so we had to ensure we maintained our position. We did quit well once again, and handed our papers in so that the accumulative score could be calculated. Then we sat and talked for a while before making our way back to cabin 8166 to relax, get showered and changed, and ready for dinner at 5.45pm.
Whilst Celebrity cruises don't enforce a formal dress code, they do have 'evening chic' nights where passengers may dress up a little more, and wear dinner jackets if they wish. Trevor had brought a smart pair of grey trousers with matching waistcoat, a crisp white shirt with red cufflinks which matched his red silk cravat – very elegant indeed.
I wore a yellow floral off-the-shoulder dress, but my pièce de résistance was my shoes – a pair of Irregular Choice colourful high-heeled sandals that depicted fake flowers at the front and a Hawaiian lei at the ankle strap, as well as a heel consisting of a hula girl in a grass skirt playing her ukulele!
Predictably, every few paces I walked, I was stopped by people passing by, marvelling at my shoes and examining them, "oohing" and "aahing" over them and asking where I got them. No-one had ever seen anything like it, but the Irregular Choice brand is well-known for its concept heels which is something I like to collect. 😊
Eventually, after stopping many times, we arrived at the Moonlight Sonata restaurant, and took our seats at table #350. We had a full house tonight, all 12 of us, and we enjoyed the usual delicious meal and wine and excellent conversation.
After dinner we made our way to the Quasar Lounge to take part in the trivia, which was Movie Posters. We thought we were doing quite well, but we couldn't finish the quiz (which had 25 questions) as we had to be in the Eclipse Lounge in good time for the Captain's welcome. It was a much watered-down welcome compared to those we usually experience on the Fred Olsen ships; there was no dancing or canapés or free cocktails or glasses of fizz, just Captain Leonardos Palaiokrassas ("Captain Leo") who put in a five-minute token appearance and introduced his senior officers before the show started at nine o'clock.
Tonight's performance featured a female singer called Jen Jayden. She appeared in a pair of painted-on shiny trousers, and a leather corset, very rock-chick and she belted out her songs with much energy and gusto, accompanied by the superb ship's orchestra. She was a very good entertainer, even if she did seem to think a little highly of herself.
After the show we headed upstairs for the "Sounds of the 70s" disco followed by dancing and Abba Singalong, but the Sky Lounge was absolutely packed and the only available seats were at the periphery of the room near the windows (excellent for the sea views in the dark) but too far from the music and the main action.
We therefore decided to go elsewhere, and we made our way to the Martini Ice Bar where I enjoyed a martini made with watermelon juice and Grey Goose vodka amongst other things. We then had one more drink before returning to cabin 8166 around 11.30pm, fairly early for us when we're on holiday.
Once again, we'd had an enjoyable day – we just hoped the weather would improve. We also stood to gain an extra hour in bed as the clocks went back once again; we are now nine hours behind GMT.
Cruising the Pacific
We awoke early this morning; in fact, at 6.00am I went out onto the balcony hoping to watch the sun rise, but we were on the wrong side of the ship! Nevertheless we lay in bed for a while, looking out at the mesmerising sight of the sea passing by, then got up around 6.30am. The weather was cooler than we expected, and although it was bright and dry there were quite a few cumulus clouds in the sky and we hoped the sun would come out later.
Today was the first of four full days at sea, so we looked forward to what the day had in store for us; there was certainly a packed programme of events lined up. Such a large ship, with so many passengers, meant that several different types of entertainment was on at the same time in different parts of the ship, and it meant it was difficult to choose what to do, and what to leave out.
We enjoyed our breakfast in the Ocean View café, and took a walk out on deck, where we were pleased to see that the sun was out, although there was still quite a brisk sea breeze. We thought we'd spent some time exploring this beautiful ship, and we went up to Deck 15 where we were surprised to visit the Lawn Club; yes, they have real grass growing on a ship! There was a neatly manicured lawn of perfect grass, like a bowling green, with signs up asking passengers not to wear heels or place deck furniture on the grass.
Near the Lawn Club was a glass-blowing centre, where you could learn the art of sculpting hot glass, and in fact could make your own souvenir to take home. This looked fascinating, and something I might participate in later on in the cruise. 😊
At 10 o'clock we went along to the Eclipse theatre to listen to a talk by a music historian called Bill Powell. It was called "My Rock and Roll Heroes" and featured the lives and music of Chuck Berry and Little Richard amongst others. Even though rock and roll is not my era it was still a very interesting talk.
Afterwards we had time to go along to the nearby Casino Bar and grab ourselves a beer each. Even though it was only 11.00am, we figured that it was 7.00pm back home, so not too early for a beer. 😊 We took our bottles back into the theatre to listen to a talk about the Hawaiian Islands we would be visiting, and what excursions were available to book. Hawaii looked absolutely lovely, and we looked forward to visiting. In the meantime, however, we had four great sea days to enjoy.
The end of the talk brought us nicely to lunchtime, and we went along to the Ocean View café once again, where there was a huge array of dishes from all over the world. I was quite restrained and enjoyed a plate of salad with crisp vegetables and ham, washed down with a glass of prosecco. Then we had a dish of ice-cream each and went out on deck, where the sun was out but there was still a brisk breeze blowing.
We spent some time walking around the decks, exploring the ship and people-watching. We went up to the Sunset Bar at the stern of the ship, where it was a bit more sheltered, but all the bar stools were taken and it was quite busy. We therefore got ourselves a drink each and walked round to the Lawn Club, sitting on a deck chair each at the edge of the grass (!) and watching the world go by. It was a pleasant way to pass the time. 😊
Afterwards we returned to stateroom 8166 for an hour's nap, to try to eliminate the last of the jet lag. It was still too cool to sit out on the balcony so we just read, watched a bit of TV and napped.
We noticed that there was an afternoon Trivia Quiz on in the Sky Lounge up on Deck 14, so we went up there and took a couple of stools at the bar. A few minutes later a bloke came over to us and asked if we would like to join his team; we certainly agreed and made our way over to his table, where he introduced himself as Kendal, and the rest of the team as Norm, Frank and Janet. Trevor and I were the only Brits on the team, which was named "It's Only A Game". 😊
We enjoyed the quiz and the conversation in between. We scored 12/15 which was the winning score! Yay! Each member of our team received a rubber wrist-band with "Celebrity Life Activities" emblazoned on it; apparently the wrist-bands are traded in at the end of the cruise for prizes.
We remained in the airy and spacious Sky Lounge for a while after the quiz, talking and laughing. Then we thanked Kendal for inviting us to join their team (it had been fun!) and said we'd see them at the next trivia quiz. How nice that in the crowd of 2,000+ passengers we'd made some friends already. 😊
We then decided to go out to the pool bar into the sunshine, if we could find a spot sheltering us from the brisk breeze. I enjoyed an Aperol Spritz as we sat with the sun on our backs, listening to a lively group playing and watching as the Celebrity Eclipse made her way effortlessly through the mild blue Pacific. We sat for one more drink before going back inside.
As we made our way back to our cabin, we walked through the shopping precinct and saw that they were selling quite good-quality t-shirts at two for $20.00. Of course, a holiday wouldn't be a holiday without buying the t-shirt, so we each chose one; mine in a bright yellow with "Hawaii" proclaimed across it with scenes of palm trees and hibiscus, and Trevor's in a navy blue with "Hawaiian Cruising" written on it and pictures of yachts and surf boards. I decided to put mine on straight away. 😊
The time passed in its pleasant way until it was time to start getting washed and changed for dinner.
There were two new people at table #350 tonight; Gary and Nancy. We now had a full house of 12 people at our table and, as usual, there was much excellent conversation and food and drink as is traditional on cruise ships.
As our dinner is fairly early at 5.45 pm and the main show doesn't start until 9.00pm, we had some time to spare. As we were making our way to the Quasar Lounge to do the music quiz, we stopped to join in with the Battle of the Sexes quiz, which is teams of men versus teams of ladies. It was all very amusing; the ladies won! 😊
The music quiz tonight was called "British Invasion" and featured the famous music of the 1960s which had taken the USA by storm. There were 10 questions, and you had to listen to a music clip and name the song title as well as the artiste. We scored 13/20 (I was a bit too young when a lot of these songs were around!) but the couple adjacent to us at the bar, whose paper we marked, scored 19/20.
We then went into the Eclipse Theatre for tonight's cabaret, which featured a comedian called Michael Gaffney. It was typical American humour, so while most of the audience were rolling in the aisles, Trevor and I barely cracked a smile. The transatlantic sense of humour is so different from the British, which is based largely on sarcasm or irony.
Afterwards it was karaoke night again, so we went back to the Quasar Lounge where we met a few more Brits, including a young lass in her 20s called Charlotte, who was with her mother. Quite a few singers got up; I did another Amy Winehouse, You Know I'm No Good, then put my name down to do Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time.
We enjoyed ourselves at the bar, drinking (including tequila shots, at Charlotte's suggestion!) and talking. Charlotte put our names down to do a duet, singing Don't Stop Me Now by Queen, which went down a storm. 😊
When I got up to do my Cyndi Lauper number, Charlotte also came over and joined in with me half-way through. Considering we'd never met before, our voices actually went quite well together! 😊
After the karaoke finished (it overran, because a lot of singers got up) I got a nightcap and we returned to cabin 8166. It was too chilly to enjoy my drink on the balcony, so I just settled down and drank it reading some magazines on my iPad. We'd had a full and interesting day today, and we slept very well.
As expected, we kept waking up through the night, but we still did manage to get some quality sleep, so we got up at 6.35am and I made a beeline for the large bathroom and enjoyed a long, hot shower and washed my hair. While I was getting ready, we made the most of the coffee percolator in our room and watched the breakfast time news. Opening our room curtains wide, we looked out across the road towards the airport where we could see aircraft taking off and landing.
We then went down to breakfast around 7.45am. The hotel restaurant was already quite busy, and we each paid the $22.95 (quite expensive, we thought) for the "all you can eat" breakfast buffet and unlimited tea and coffee refills.
I enjoyed home-made granola followed by a healthy selection of fresh fruits and a boiled egg, washed down with orange juice and two cups of hot, strong coffee. We didn't need to check out of our room until 11.00am, but first of all we had to find the Celebrity Cruises rep and check ourselves in.
The Celebrity rep explained we needed to be in the lobby for 12.15pm for the shuttle bus to the cruise terminal. We returned to room 819, packed up all our stuff and brought our cases down to the lobby to put with the rest of the luggage to be taken to the Celebrity Eclipse.
We now had some time to kill, so we had a wander up the road to stretch our legs. There wasn't a lot around here apart from hotels, car hire companies, long-term car parks and office buildings. Every few minutes a roar of jet engine preceded the sight of an aircraft taking to the skies, and we walked around the block before returning to the hotel.
We then went back to our room, had a final check around and collected our hand luggage before making our way back downstairs. We decided we'd sit out by the pool while we waited until it was time to get the shuttle bus to the pier.
When we got down to the lobby bar, we noticed a giant TV screen that was showing the Liverpool v Tottenham match which certainly kept Trevor happy; we watched the last 25 minutes of the game whilst enjoying a Budweiser each. Then we relaxed beside the pool before making our way back to the waiting area for the transfer to the pier. The weather was cloudy and was certainly cooler than we expected it to be for California.
The buses arrived and our group was called to board. It took about 30 minutes to reach San Pedro, where the cruise terminal was situated, and we caught our first glimpse of the Celebrity Eclipse. She looked huge (in fact, she is the second-largest ship we will have ever been on, next to the Queen Mary 2) but she looked a tiddler next to the massive Norwegian Bliss that was moored up beside her. This ship was a gigantic 168,000 tons and looked like a colossal, floating block of flats – quite hideous. We worked out that the Norwegian Bliss was the same tonnage as the Eclipse and the last ship we were on, the Balmoral, combined! The queues for the Bliss were absolutely horrific; she probably holds 5,000 passengers against the Eclipse's 2,800.
Inside the terminal we were relieved to see that the queue was not as bad as expected, and was moving fairly swiftly. We used the time to do that most pleasant of pastimes, people-watching, as we surreptitiously looked around at our fellow passengers-to-be. There seemed to be quite a lot of different age groups as well as several children and teenagers. 2,800 passengers is certainly more than we usually feel comfortable with, and we hoped that the sheer number of people wouldn't stop us from making friends which, to me, is part of the memorable experience of cruising. If you've read my August 2019 blog of our cruise on the Balmoral¸ you'll know what I mean! 😊
Presently we found ourselves at the head of the queue, where check-in was fast and efficient. We received our shipboard passes and happily made our way along the skywalk into the interior of the Celebrity Eclipse.
We had been allocated stateroom 8166, a spacious, airy and comfortable balcony cabin on the starboard side. There was a large sofa and table, dressing table and chair, flat-screen TV mounted on the wall and a queen-size bed next to the floor-to-ceiling glass sliding balcony doors. The balcony contained two deckchairs and a table, and a glass front that allowed us an unimpeded view. The bathroom was also larger than that which you'd find on most cruise ships.
As it was now about 2.00pm and we hadn't eaten since breakfast, we were a bit peckish, so our first stop was to the Ocean View café for a light lunch and a drink. I enjoyed some fresh garden salad washed down with a glass of prosecco, while Trevor had a selection of some of the hot dishes on offer washed down with a Samuel Adams beer. In fact, the Ocean View was massive and there was a huge array of foods from all different nationalities; we were really spoilt for choice.
When we got back to stateroom 8166 afterwards, we found our cases had arrived, so we spent some time unpacking and hanging everything up. Our only complaint was that there was hardly any storage space. One fairly small wardrobe between us meant that hanging up 15 nights' worth of clothes was a bit of a squeeze, and the only drawers around in the cabin were quite small, meaning clothing had to be folded up quite a lot to fit in.
Once our unpacking was done and the cases stowed under the bed, we decided to have a power nap before lifeboat drill at 4.15pm. However, there was absolutely no chance of snatching any sleep because the cruise director's voice kept blaring out of the Tannoy with annoying regularity, and we had no means of turning it off (that we were aware of). In fact, her voice sounded weirdly like Alexa or Siri, and I was starting to wonder whether it was a real person or a robotic voice. 😊
Soon the signal sounded for us all to make our way to the lifeboat muster station; in our case that was the Eclipse Theatre on Deck 4. Inside, we had to check-in and were shown to our seat to watch a safety video, which was actually quite amusing. Then it was back to our cabin where our holiday could now start in earnest. 😊
We noticed we had been allocated table #350 in the Moonlight Sonata restaurant, or early sitting which is at 5.45pm; very early in fact, as we usually dine at 6.15-6.30pm on most cruises. We did manage to get our power nap, and then we pottered around for a bit before getting washed and smartened up for our dinner. At around five o'clock, the Celebrity Eclipse gave a blast of her foghorn and we started to move away from the dockside. We were on our way to Hawaii!
On Celebrity ships the dress code is a bit more relaxed than on other ships; there are no formal nights, instead they tend to be smart-casual or 'evening chic'. I therefore put on a black dress with white polka dots and a neat little black shrug, and sling-back shoes decorated with rhinestones.
In the restaurant we were shown to a large table near the window, at which some couples were already seated. In fact, it was a table for 12. We were the only Brits on a table full of Americans. In fact, we'd never met any other Brits since leaving the aircraft.
The other couples on the table introduced themselves as Barb and Dick, Audrey and Grace, Randy and Donna, and Kurt and Sue, and they all seemed very pleasant. The conversation flowed, but for such a large table it meant that those seated at each end could barely hear the person at the other end.
At one point, we noticed that the Eclipse had come to a halt and we wondered what had happened; the voice coming over the Tannoy announced that a medical emergency had occurred and someone was going to be helicoptered off the ship! So that unfortunate person's cruise was over before it had begun. ☹
The meal was delicious, and once again we were spoilt for choice as to what to have. In the end I settled for a Caesar salad to start, followed by a sirloin steak and finished off with crème brûlée. It was all washed down with water and rosé wine.
As the main entertainment didn't start until 9.00pm, we went along to the Quasar lounge and took part in the quiz. However, it was all based around advertising slogans for mainly-American products, so we only scored an appalling 2/15. 😊
We then took our seats in the Eclipse Theatre for tonight's show, a Buddy Holly tribute by a really talented, lively group of musicians and singers called the Rave-Ons. It was a great show, very entertaining, and we enjoyed it a lot.
Then it was time for us to take the limelight ourselves, as it was Karaoke Night in the Quasar lounge. Quite a few singers got up and gave it their best shot, and it was all good fun. I got up and did Amy Winehouse's Back to Black, then later on I sang the Pet Shop Boys' It's a Sin. One lady who'd never heard that one before came over and asked what it was called, and said she enjoyed my singing.
As it was after 11.30pm now and we were still a little jet-lagged, we returned to 8166 and settled down for our first night on board. In fact, as we're sailing west, we had to put our clocks back an hour so we'd gain an extra hour in bed. We slept soundly, with the soothing sounds of the sea lulling us through the slightly-open balcony doors. 😊
London to Los Angeles
Well, it is that time once again folks, when we find ourselves all excited about going on yet another holiday. Today we were jetting off to Los Angeles, where we were due to spend a night in a hotel near to LAX and join our ship Celebrity Eclipse tomorrow, to set sail for the amazing islands that make up Hawaii, the 50th state of the USA.
We got up at 4.00am on this chilly October morning, thankful that the ever-present rain we have been experiencing for the last few days appeared to have abated. We didn't have any breakfast, preferring instead to wait until we were either at the airport or on the 'plane instead.
We set off through the quiet dark streets for Newcastle Airport, and made it in good time as there was hardly any traffic about at this uncivilised hour. Leaving the car in the long-term car park, we trundled our cases into the main airport building and checked in immediately, before any long queues had started to form.
As we didn't have a lot of time to spare, we made our way straight to the departure gate and boarded British Airways flight BA1321 for London Heathrow. As Trevor's seat was next to the emergency exit, it meant he had no seats in front of him, which is always a good thing. 😊
We each had a cup of coffee on the hour-long flight to the capital. British Airways, like many other airlines and indeed other companies, has had to make cut-backs, so the complimentary in-flight snacks and drinks on domestic flights are no more (unless you're in Business Class) so it cost us a fiver for two cardboard cups of coffee.
As the aircraft started its final approach into Heathrow, we enjoyed a very red sky on the horizon; "red sky in the morning is a shepherd's warning". Not that it would worry us when we were leaving behind the cold dark miserable British autumn weather. 😊 I had the usual feeling of suppressed excitement and anticipation at the thought of starting another amazing cruise to somewhere new; we hadn't been to Hawaii before, although it's been on the bucket list for some time now.
Once we disembarked the aircraft at Terminal 5 we made our way immediately to the Wetherspoon's "Crown Rivers" pub for our breakfast. Trevor had a substantial bacon sarnie washed down with a pint of Doom Bar, while I had a breakfast sandwich containing bacon, sausage and egg. Mine was washed down with a glass of blush prosecco. 😊
Once the sign came up on the board advising us to proceed to area C64 for boarding, we made our way along to the gate where we saw the huge British Airways Airbus A380 awaiting us. Our boarding passes told us we were on the upper deck of the aircraft, and once we proceeded up the ramp to the upstairs part we were delighted to see that our seats were those ones at the bulkhead, where there is no-one in front of you and you have absolutely loads of leg room. In fact, our seats were ideally placed for the toilets as well as the galley. What a coincidence that we'd been given the emergency exit seats on both flights! 😊
I have been watching flight BA283 on FlightRadar 24 for the last few weeks, and even though the departure time is listed as 09:50 hours, it had never left on time; most times it was 45 minutes to an hour later taking off. Today, however, it was bang on time when it was pushed back from the gate, and started taxiing to the runway.
Whilst the aircraft got ready for takeoff, I mentioned to Trevor that I hoped the flight would not be turbulent, as I find it most disconcerting when a giant aircraft, weighing many hundreds of tons, is buffeted about in the air five miles above terra firma. A member of the cabin crew, who was near us on the jump seat by the emergency exit, heard me and mentioned that flight turbulence was not that much different from a car going over a pothole or a ship sailing on a rough sea. 😊
Flight BA283 took to the skies and we settled back in our seats to get through the next 10½ hours. Because we had no seats in front of us (yippee!) our AVOD screens were tucked away in the seat arm-rest, so we pulled them out and tuned into the interactive SkyMap, so we could watch our progress across the pond to Los Angeles.
Shortly the inflight cabin service started and our cabin crew guy, whose name tag proclaimed him to be Shiran De Silva, came around and asked us what we would like to drink. He was very pleasant and smiling and when we requested a cold beer each, he brought us two! We enjoyed them with a small packet of cheese and onion flavoured pretzels while we looked around our immediate surroundings and I browsed the magazines and Kindle books I'd loaded onto my iPad.
Presently the trolley came around with our lunch, which was very substantial. We enjoyed a main meal of chicken curry and rice followed by chocolate mousse, cheese and biscuits and one of the Graze snack boxes consisting of seasoned corn kernels, chickpeas and small salted crackers. It was all washed down with white wine and a bottle of water. I joked to Trevor that, unlike the fare on the cruise ships, we wouldn't get a post-luncheon liqueur or brandy. 😊
I spoke too soon, however; as our cabin crew guy Shiran came around with the coffees, he'd also brought us a small bottle of brandy each. This guy reads minds! 😊 We enjoyed the brandy and the warmth that it brought in these chilly air-conditioned surroundings. Pulling my blanket up to my chin and putting my neck pillow into sition, I snuggled down and tried to snatch some sleep after our 4.00am start, but I can never sleep well on an aircraft and I just dozed intermittently, as the giant A380 sped across the cloudless skies bringing us ever-closer to our destination.
I then passed the time reading my magazines, listening to music on my iPod, and doing some crossword puzzles. Shiran came around again with some more brandies (!!) and spent some time chatting with us, telling us some amusing anecdotes gleaned from 14 years of working for British Airways. What a great people-person he was, and certainly perfect for a customer-facing role. He told us about his family and his previous jobs, and we told him about our world travels and our unforgettable flights on the inimitable Concorde.
And so the time passed in its inexorable way, with Shiran looking after us very well and providing superb service with a smile. Although we were travelling standard class, with our spacious extra-legroom seats and attentive service, we felt as if we were in business class! 😊
After a second meal of a hot sandwich and tea or coffee (and more drinks courtesy of our favourite cabin crew guy Shiran!) the "fasten seat belts" sign came on and the giant aircraft began her descent into LAX. We landed ahead of schedule, at 12.55pm local time (8.55pm British time).
As we left the aircraft, we shook Shiran's hand and thanked him for his service and all the enjoyable little chats we'd had. He'd certainly helped to liven up an otherwise boring long-haul flight. We also had another four little bottles of brandy to enjoy in our hotel room later on. 😊
Inside the passenger terminal, the most tedious part of our journey had begun; the long, long, long queues for arrivals and immigration. There was nothing we could do about it apart from go with the flow, but it was a good two-and-a-half hours before we got through, collected our cases from the luggage carousel, and made our way to the hotel shuttle buses outside.
At least the hotel wasn't far away; we were booked into the Sheraton Gateway LAX hotel and we arrived about 3.45pm; tired, hot and sweaty and with the slight sense of disorientation that always follows a long-haul flight and an 8-hour time difference.
Once we got into our room on the eighth floor (room 819) we had a single thought; a refreshing dip in the hotel pool. This would certainly perk us up a bit as well as washing off the day's grime. The temperature was about 26˚ C which was a bit different from the 5˚C it was back home!
Donning our swimming gear, we proceeded down to the lobby and out to the pool. There were one or two people around, lying on sun loungers or sitting inside at the bar. Entering the pool, we found the water cooler than expected, but once we were in it was lovely and refreshing and certainly livened us up after our long day.
We swam around in a desultory fashion for a short while, then climbed out of the pool and found a seat in the sunshine. I dried myself off with the large, striped towel that was provided, then put on my sarong and went into the nearby bar for a couple of cold Budweisers, which we drank outside in the sunshine, letting ourselves dry off slowly.
As the late afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, we returned to our room and decided to have a power nap, setting the alarm to go off in one hour's time.
At 6.00pm, we left the hotel and decided to find somewhere to have a bite to eat. We'd already seen someone by the pool with a "Subway" carry-out bag, so we knew there must be one somewhere nearby, and indeed Google Maps indicated a Subway only three minutes' walk away.
We set off along the busy street, found the Subway and went inside. I enjoyed a 6" teriyaki chicken while Trevor had the foot-long turkey and ham, which we accompanied with crisps, home-made cookies and washed down with a cold, soft drink.
Afterwards we took a slow stroll back to the hotel, passing the huge lit-up "LAX" sign; I stopped to take a photo of this famous landmark.
Arriving back in our room, we had to fight the urge to go to sleep straight away; we knew that if we did so, with the 8-hour time difference we would be awake all night. So we went down to the hotel bar and enjoyed a drink while I made a start with this blog. I couldn't stop singing the chorus from the Bran Tran 3000 1997 hit which went "We did nothing, absolutely nothing that day and I say, what the hell am I doing drinking in LA". 😊
Back in our room we pottered around for a bit, watching the CNN TV, reading and enjoying the last of the brandy and dry ginger, courtesy of our favourite cabin crew guy Shiran De Silva. 😊
We lasted until about 9.00pm, then we couldn't keep our eyes open any more. Settling down in our big bed with its crisp cotton sheets, we fell asleep almost immediately, and looked forward what tomorrow would bring.


We first met 'The Brothers' in November 2014. They are not really brothers, they are Michael (Mick) and his nephew David. Someone in the team nicknamed them 'the brothers' because they both had long beards, always came in together and looked like brothers and just happened to stick, and that is how we all know them.
The Brothers, Mick and David, now volunteer regularly with us at the foodbank project collecting the food donations from the various donors across the area as well as taking the packed boxes to the distribution centre. Here is a bit of their story and why they do it.
Mick and David first came into the Resource Centre after David's mother; Mick's sister died in 2014. They were advised by a friend to come into REACH as they needed a lot of help with many things. Due to their loss and they just didn't really know what to do. They went through the usual process of being helped, sorting out their benefits, food from the foodbank while the changes took place, and also with debts. They were worried about the funeral costs and we were able to make the necessary benefit applications for the grants required for receiving help towards these costs. We set them up on the local authority housing register as they were not automatically entitled to stay in the home. It took a few months, but David got on top of his debts and they were offered a more suitable two-bedroom flat. We continued to see them periodically over the next year or so for various reasons and our Operations Manager – Ann Allen asked them if they would like to volunteer and they have been with us since August 2016.


Introduction to bioinformatics and computational biology. Both theory and practical methods for evaluating and managing biomedical data will be covered. Topics range from sequence analysis to structure prediction. Includes computer laboratory sessions. May be taken concurrently with BIPG520/720.
This course will provide students with practical experience with the most common bioinformatics tasks. Short lectures will be integrated with computer exercises in the Bioinformatics Computer Lab.
Application of probability and statistics to bioinformatic analysis. Topics include stochastic processes, Markov chains, statistical basis for DNA sequence analysis, evolutionary models, and statistical analysis of functional genomic data. Includes computer laboratory sessions. May be taken concurrently with BIPG510/710.
In-depth analysis of original scientific papers/seminars in the fields of bioinformatics, proteomics and genomics for the development of critical analysis and scientific communication skills. May be repeated for credit.
This course will introduce students to database concepts, design, and implementation, using the most popular database formats utilized in biomedical research. The practicum provides hands-on experience with real-world databases.
This course aims at providing hands-on training on analysis of microarray data. Students will learn how to handle and analyze microarray data. Topics covered include preprocessing, identifying differentially expressed genes, classification and presentation of findings. Different platforms of microarray technologies will be covered in this course.
Students will participate in selected on-going research programs with faculty members in the Bioinformatics, Proteomics and Genomics program. May be repeated for credit.
Students will develop an in-depth scholarly project to fulfill the research project requirements for the MSBS degree with a concentration in Bioinformatics, Proteomics and Genomics. May be repeated for credit.
Use, design, strengths and limitations of bioinformatics programs run on desktop computers. Programming in PERL to acquire and analyze biological sequences. Construction and management of databases. Introduction of LINUX, C++, and Java. Includes computer laboratory sessions.
Lectures and hands-on activities that demonstrate the application of bioinformatics, proteomic and genomics techniques to solve research problems being studied by selected faculty from MCO, UT, BGSU or another institution.
Focused practical training in Biomarker discovery and validation with a pharmaceutical-oriented company. Builds upon didactic course work.
Supervised research in bioinformatics, especially designed for new graduate students to gain research credits before taking their Qualifying Exam. Students will study bioinformatics applications to biochemical research, usually in a laboratory setting, as well as discussing current literature and advanced techniques in all areas of bioinformatics.
Intense study in an area of bioinformatics, proteomics and genomics (BPG). Course content, assignments, meeting times and grade requirements are arranged with a BPG faculty member. May be repeated for credit.
Research in bioinformatics, or interdisciplinary investigation of biomedical problems with significant bioinformatic components. This research is at the masters level, leading to completion of a scientific project for presentation as a thesis. May be repeated for credit.
Short lectures integrated with computer tasks in Bioinformatics Computer Lab. The bioinformatics resources will primarily be those freely available on the internet. The course will meet twice a week for 2-hour sessions in the Bioinformatics Computer Lab. The course will last four weeks during the Summer semester. The following topics will be presented in the eight sessions: searching biological databases, pair-wise sequence alignments, BLAST searches, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic analysis, gene prediction, and transcription factor binding sites and other DNA motifs. No prerequisites.


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Karnov's Investor Relations-function provides capital markets, investors, shareholders and other interested parties with relevant information in accordance with applicable legislation, NASDAQ Stockholm's Rules and Regulations, the Swedish Code of Corporate Governance, and Karnov's communications policy.
Karnov presents the company and its financial performance in conjunction with the communication of quarterly interim reports. In addition, significant events which occur in the company are published through the distribution of press releases. Karnov also holds regular meetings with shareholders, analysts and potential investors and participates at seminars of interest.
Karnov observes a silent period starting 30 days prior to publication of the year-end or interim report. During this period, Karnov representatives will not meet with financial media, analysts and investors or comment on any financial development.


Hello everyone. Welcome to the final issue of Between the Keys in 2015. Temporarily, I'm taking over the editor chair for this special issue on gender bias in EFL materials. James Essex will be back next year with our regular line up. In the meantime, if you have an idea for an article, please feel free to contact James via our website and discuss your ideas with him.
The JALT International Conference just past focussed on the learner. This provided a very useful framework for materials writers to consider how the learner develops their voice in the second language through the materials we create. No voice can exist without models: just as the baby copies the parent, the student utilises the language of the textbook. If that language contains bias, writers consciously or unconsciously promote that bias in the output of students, even if that is bias that the students don't accept in their own native speaker voice.
Such biases are often subtle and some are blatant. Simply being aware of the issues will go a long way to rectifying the amount of gender bias in EFL textbooks, but some issues may be missed by the casual reader. I urge close reading of the articles in this special issue.
In this issue, Melodie Cook describes a longitudinal change between the textbooks by the same author separated by a decade. Cook finds that gender bias is still prevalent in EFL materials even though the situation is ameliorated to some extent. She concludes her paper with some useful recommendations for writers about how to prepare more bias-free texts.
Brien Datzman presents an analysis of a commonly-used textbook in Japan. He uses Lakoff's 10-item framework as the base for the analysis in which he concludes that the work is relatively bias free. Although Datzman's article will be of use as a case study in authoring modern texts, he does point out some more subtle examples of bias. The wider question regarding the role that EFL materials have in mimicking native speaker discourse or as instruments of critical change becomes an important one for writers.
Jim Smiley applies the Bechdel Test to EFL materials. He uses this test to present a short overview of the main themes in gender studies in EFL.
The final 'piece' is a paid-for infomerical from an independent publishing house offering its wares to our members.
Richard Walker and Loran Edwards write about the trials and tribulations of writing a textbook. Loran takes us on her personal journey of publishing her own textbook with a major publisher, something I am sure many members of this SIG have thought about as they search for a 'best fit' for their own classes.
Likewise, Richard's article looks at the writing of an in-house textbook for an academic speaking class in his university, perhaps also suggesting that if the 'best fit' cannot be found, create it.
If you too have not yet found the best fit, and you have yet to embark upon the writing of your own textbook, then Jim Smiley's article, which introduces us to differentiated instruction through tiered rubrics will no doubt provide food for thought as we embark upon the new academic year, entering into the unknown when it comes to unstreamed classes.


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Tag - Northridge
Boy falls three stories Sunday, believed recovering Monday
By Ryan Mancini & Jim Holt Signal Staff Writers A 5-year-old boy is believed to be recovering after falling from a three-story building on Silver Aspen Way...
Former and current Santa Clarita officials reflect on 1994 Northridge earthquake
Picture waking up at 4:31 a.m. to several seconds of violent jolts, buildings collapsing and fires erupting left and right. Confused and scared, you reach for...
Northridge: the science of the quake and what awaits
On this day 25 years ago, a "big one" rattled Southern California. Billions of dollars in direct damage, thousands injured and dozens lost their lives as a...
Threats to CSUN push professors to offer alternate testing options; investigation ongoing
California State University Northridge's campus remained open this week following two more threats toward students as they studied and prepared for their final...
Two hurt in 4-vehicle Newhall crash
Two people, at least one of them a child, suffered minor injuries and were taken to a hospital following a four-vehicle traffic collision in Newhall late...
Preschool girl nearly drowns in Sand Canyon
A 4-year-old girl who nearly drowned in a community pool was rushed to hospital late Thursday afternoon, breathing and crying as she was transferred by...
Jim de Bree: Hurricanes, quakes and tax reform
Many of my former business partners moved to Florida when they retired. The most popular community for those partners is Naples. When Hurricane Irma devastated...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hammers, Nails, Saws, and Hand Drills in Preschool. Wait... What?
Posted by Debra Pierce | @easycda on Wednesday, 27 March 2019 in What If?
When we think of typical activities for preschoolers that help support their development across multiple domains, what first comes to mind are manipulating playdough, cutting, gluing, climbing, running, and puzzles.
But let's walk that back some and consider, instead, having children engage in authentic activities. How about working with hammers, nails, saws, and hand drills? Um… Excuse me? Yes, encouraging children to play with traditional carpentry tools can enhance their learning experience and create excitement about learning.
Using real tools provides real-life experiences that plastic, miniature substitutes could never do. Although the idea of heavy tools and sharp edges may initially seem like a bad idea that could pose unnecessary dangers, with careful foresight, planning, and supervision, tools can be an amazing addition to the preschool classroom.
Children's natural tendency is to MAKE – they are creative and artistic beings after all. Having tools provides children with the opportunity to bring their ideas to life, but, more than that, it's an opportunity to create in a way they would usually not have the ability to in their classrooms. The added element of risk and novelty makes it an exciting and alluring task for children, too.
Providing these types of real experiences may seem to be novel and trendy right now, but I had a functioning workbench years ago when I was teaching my own class of preschoolers. Sure, parents may be a little skeptical at first, but when they see first-hand how this is thoughtfully implemented and realize that safety is always the first priority, they are usually all on board with it.
OK, so what does "thoughtfully implement" look like? It's a process that, yes, takes time, but it is necessary if things are to go smoothly, safely, and provide the most benefits.
First, before using tools, there has to be some discussion with the children about the names of the tools, what they're used for, how to hold them, and how to manipulate them. Then, the children should be given the opportunity to explore one tool at a time- first in a group situation… a kind of "Show & Tell," where the particular tool is carefully passed around from one child to the next to be examined with hands and eyes, and ears. They are being taught respect for the tools in this manner.
Next, that tool will be introduced to the workbench station, under close supervision. Ideally, the workbench would have enough tabletop space for 2-3 children to participate and have adequate personal space. There would be duplicates of that tool for each child. The children would be introduced to protective gear, such as googles and work gloves, and instructed on when these would be required.
When all of the children have had a week's worth of hands-on experience with this first tool, the teachers can introduce a second one. During the second tool's week-long introduction, both tools can be used at the workbench.
The teachers can introduce as many tools as they like, using this sequence. But, it would be a good idea to have no more than 3 different tools available at the same time, so the children would not become overwhelmed with choices… which often causes issues. There would also be duplicates of each tool, so none of the children at the workbench would have to wait to use them.
As part of the "thoughtful implementation," natural consequences will need to be discussed. For example, if a tool is carried away from the workbench, if it is handled too close to another child, or if the tool is deliberately misused and the teachers have given more than 2 reminders, there will be consequences. And, as with all rules, the best compliance comes when the participants help to come up with the consequences!
Surveys were conducted among preschool programs in Great Britain that have been encouraging play with traditional carpentry tools for two years or more. The results were published in "Tomorrow's Guide," a child care information and industry database in the UK. Among the real tool benefits reported were increased communication among the children, longer concentration and focus, a sense of responsibility and pride, motivation to learn, and increased self-esteem. These child care programs also saw the use of these heavier tools helping to develop strength in the children's hands and arms that would benefit them when learning to use writing instruments.
These programs reported very few, if any, accidents while using the tools and attributed this to being well prepared for the activities. The teachers said the children were well-supervised during the tool play, were instructed to play within their own space, and even taught how to conduct a risk assessment of the activities they were about to engage in.
Letting children use real tools may seem to be risky play and I suppose it is, if compared to handling plastic hammers and rubber screwdrivers. But, when teachers take the time to adequately instruct and prepare children to handle real tools, the benefits really outweigh any risks involved. It's just a matter of some real fun!


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Garnet Morley Lee (7 June 1887 – 29 February 1976) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for  Nottinghamshire between 1910 and 1922  and for Derbyshire between 1925 and 1933. He scored nearly 15,000 runs in his first-class career.

Lee was born at Calverton, Nottinghamshire. He joined the Nottinghamshire staff in 1905. and started playing for Nottinghamshire second XI in 1909. Towards the end of the 1910 season, he progressed to the county team making his debut in July against Sussex when he scored a duck and did not bowl. He played four first-class games in 1910. He played for the full season in 1911 without any spectacular performances, but in 1912 started to find batting form. In 1913 he scored 180 against Sussex and 200 not out in five hours against Leicestershire making this the only year he scored more than 1000 runs for Nottinghamshire. In 1914 he made 108 against Sussex and 126 against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). After the break caused by World War I he played a full season in 1919 with 158 against Leicestershire. His batting form dropped in 1920 and 1921 but his bowling came to the fore in 1921 when he to 6 for 68 against Yorkshire. In 1922 Lee dropped out of the game for the middle part of the season, but scored 100 not out against Surrey. He lost his place with the team and stopped playing at the end of the season.

Lee joined Derbyshire in 1923, but spent two years qualifying. He started playing first-class cricket for the club in the 1925 season and also became far more active as a bowler. He made more than 1000 runs for Derbyshire in his first year, scoring 119 against Warwickshire and 113 against Somerset.  In the 1926 season he scored 191 against Kent in one match and took 5 wickets for 87 in another. He also took 5 for 57 against Leicestershire, 5 for 59 against Gloucestershire and 6 for 74 against Warwickshire. In the 1927 season Lee achieved 5 for 41 against Northamptonshire, 5 for 25 against Glamorgan, and 6 for 34 against Somerset. However his most spectacular career performance was in the August match against Northamptonshire which he won almost singlehanded with a score of 100 not out, 7 wickets for 78 in the first innings and 5 for 65 in the second innings. No comparable performance was achieved at the club until  Jonathan Clare achieved a century and 7 wickets in 2008.

In 1928 Lee wintered in Jamaica playing for L H Tennyson's XI. In the 1928 season, Lee scored 155 against Northamptonshire, 107 against Leicestershire, and 100 against Kent. He took 6 wickets for 44 against Glamorgan, 5 for 99 against Worcestershire, 5 for 48 against Oxford University and 5 for 57 against Northamptonshire. In the 1929 season he scored 134 against Hampshire, 113 against Essex and 118 against Somerset, but his best bowling was 5 for 111 against Nottinghamshire. Lee had a bad run in the 1930 season but returned to scoring in the 1931 season  with 173 and 141 against Northamptonshire and 147 against Essex.  In the 1932 season he scored 130 against Essex in one match and achieved his best bowling performance of 7 for 67 in the other. He played his final season in 1933 with 107 against Leicestershire and 128 against Northamptonshire.

Lee was a right-hand batsman and played 624 innings in 373 first-class matches with a top score of 200 not out and an average of 25.75. He scored 22 centuries. He was a leg-break and googly bowler and took 397 first-class wickets at an average of 28.04 and a best performance of 7 for 67.

Lee umpired first-class matches regularly from 1935 to 1949. He coached at Repton School from 1941 to 1945 when Lionel Blaxland was in charge of cricket and Donald Carr became one of the best schoolboy cricketers of all time.

Lee died at Hawtonville, Newark, Nottinghamshire at the age of 88.

References

External links
Garnet Lee – National Portrait Gallery

1887 births
1976 deaths
Derbyshire cricketers
Nottinghamshire cricketers
English cricketers
English cricket umpires
People from Calverton, Nottinghamshire
Cricketers from Nottinghamshire
North v South cricketers
English cricketers of 1919 to 1945
L. H. Tennyson's XI cricket team

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Our ballet classes are suitable for all levels – from the complete beginner to the experienced dancer looking for more of a challenge.
Ballet is the foundation from which nearly all dance styles have developed. It requires strong technique, athleticism and grace and Hitchin School of Dance has a tradition of excellence in ballet instruction. Our teachers are experts in their field and we take pride in continuing the tradition of using a pianists for our ballet classes.
All our Ballet, classes follow the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Syllabi.
The pre-school ballet class aims to assist in the development of a child's co-ordination, confidence, imagination and ability to express feelings and emotion, but all also to have fun.


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2019-03-19, 08:26 both sustaining injuries to their legs.
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QUITO, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- An atmosphere of solemnity and reflection marks this year's Christmas celebrations in Ecuador, where an April destructive earthquake left many homeless and others living in precarious conditions.
"This Christmas won't be the same. The earthquake changed our lives," one of the disaster's 16 survivors, Ondina Rojas, 34, told Xinhua in a faltering voice.
Eight months after the powerful 7.8-magnitude quake rattled the country's north coast on April 16, area residents are having their first Christmas without their loved ones lost in the disaster, which claimed 668 lives and injured more than 16,000.
As a gloomy reminder just days before Christmas, a 5.7-magnitude aftershock hit the same region on Dec. 19, spreading panic among residents still reeling from the country's worst disaster in nearly 70 years.
Another three people died, all caused by heart attacks, and nearly 850 homes were damaged or destroyed.
The mood is especially somber in the northern provinces of Manabi and Esmeraldas, which bore the brunt of the temblor.
Rojas, who lives in Jama, a small ocean-side community on Manabi's Pacific coast, was trapped under rubble after the seismic waves toppled her home.
Rojas and her only daughter, 6, were finally rescued 16 hours later, both sustaining injuries to their legs.
In addition to recovering from the fear and wounds caused by the natural disaster, and the economic hardship of losing the roof over her head and other belongings, Rojas has been grieving the loss of her father, who died in the quake.
Still, she is thankful for what she does have, including her mother, who she went to live with after her own house collapsed.
"We are going to spend time together as a family, with my mother and my daughter ... (it is) a time to recollect and thank God above all else," said Rojas.
"I am happy because my only daughter is alive, and my mother, who despite having a brain tumor, struggles day to day to survive," said Rojas, who now lives in Manta, Manabi.
Rojas, who was unemployed at the time of the quake, now works for Ecuador's National Secretariat of Risk Management, offering schools and public institutions training about earthquake safety and evacuation procedures.
2019-03-25, 13:52 both sustaining injuries to their legs.
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2019-04-19, 00:31 both sustaining injuries to their legs.


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Drummer LEE KERSLAKE Looks Back On Blizzard Of Ozz - "I Wouldn't Have Joined OZZY OSBOURNE If It Wasn't A Band"
news ozzy osbourne lee kerslake hard rock
Jimmy Kay from Canada's The Metal Voice recently spoke to former Ozzy Osbourne and Uriah Heep drummer Lee Kerslake. He responded to Sharon Osbourne's recent claims that Ozzy Osbourne was always a solo act in the early days and never a band called Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Ozz. She said (according to Celebrity Access Encore): "It was never a band. There's no way. It was Ozzy Osbourne."
Lee also gave an update on his health, his upcoming documentary with new interviews with KISS, as well an update on his upcoming solo album titled 11Teen.
On Sharon Osbourne's recent claims that Ozzy was always a solo act and never a band
Kerslake: "First of all Sharon, wasn't our manager at the beginning. Don Arden's son David was our manager for a time and he asked us what are we going to call the band? Then Bob Daisley said 'What about Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard Of Ozz?' So they went with that. The whole team at the office said yes and that was before Sharon came over and took over as the manager. I have the recollection that we spent quite a bit of time naming the band. Also, I wouldn't have joined Ozzy if it wasn't a band. I wasn't out of work. I was doing my own solo venture where I got a call saying you have got to join this band, so then I said I will audition them and they can audition me. After my audition was a success I said if we are a band then I am in. Then Ozzy said this band will never part. All I needed was Ozzy the singer, in his words, saying we were a band, and that's when we started working. "
On his upcoming documentary and interviews with KISS
Kerslake: "I had the most wonderful honour to see KISS. We asked the band through my director, producer Tayla Goodman of my documentary. She got in touch with their manager and the manager said 'I just spoke with Paul and Gene, and they both turned around and said without question anything Lee wants, he gets; we honour him cause he is a legend.' Then we had a long chat about the good old days. Also, they let me go see their show in the UK and they treated me like royalty. Then we did an interview with them. I would also like to mention that Ian Paice from Deep Purple and Joe Elliot have also been interviewed for my documentary and now we are waiting to catch up with Nicko Mcbrain from Iron Maiden for an interview."
In the clip below, Kerslake accepts platinum discs and reads Ozzy Osbourne's letter to him at the Hall Of Heavy Metal History on January 23rd. Video provided by The Metal Voice.


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Robotron X Download (1997 Arcade action Game)
Arcade action Games:
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Download full Robotron X:
CD Image (497 MB)
Robotron X screenshots:
Robotron X is a good revamp of the original coin-op hit Robotron: 2084. As one of the earliest attempts to revive arcade classics, Robotron X plays good and looks great, although the Playstation version, with its dual directional keypads on each controller, is a better platform for this game.
The gameplay remains basically the same as Robotron: 2084, with a few nice twists. As the genetically engineered superhuman code-named "U-Gene," you are mankind's last hope to protect the last survivors from the rebellious robots that have broken loose on Earth. Robotron X provides a good challenge for fans of the original. If you find the new isometric/3D perspective too disorienting, you can change it to a more familiar overhead view). New species of enemy robotrons are added, and if you like (or dread) dealing with dozens of robots on the screen, you'll find the increased intensity in Robotron X even more hectic and challenging.
With new species of robots, all-new graphics, and a nice change of perspective, Robotron X should appeal to both fans of the original game and anyone else who enjoys action games that boast a simple concept but an addictive gameplay.
People who downloaded Robotron X have also downloaded:
Robotron: 2084, Rune, Samurai Spirit 2 (a.k.a. Samurai Showdown 2), Rumble Box, Reap, The, Return of Egypt, Quazatron, Second Sight


As Subchapter M completes its first year on the books, many towing vessel companies have found compliance a challenging course to navigate. While some have had smooth sailing, others worry about running aground. To help clarify the issues, and facilitate discussion, MITAGS-PMI, the Leader in Maritime Professional Training, Marine Pilot Licensing, Ship Simulation and Operational Research, is hosting a two-day conference at its Maritime Conference Center in Baltimore on September 26-27, 2019.
Nearly a year after its implementation, many lessons have been learned about the realities of the new towing vessel regulations, but many questions still remain. The Subchapter M Conference will bring together vessel operators, regulators, auditors and solution providers to compare notes about how they have navigated the regulations' rocks and shoals, and how they plan to stay on course moving forward.
This is a must-attend event for anyone affected by Subchapter M. Mark your calendars today and make plans to attend this industry-leading symposium. For more information on the Subchapter M Conference, including sponsorships, vendor and speaking opportunities, contact Jon Kjaerulff at jkjaerulff@mates.org.
Located on the beautiful, green campus of the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, the Maritime Conference Centeris just minutes from BWI Airport, AMTRAK and light rail stations. The courtesy shuttle offers pickups and drop-offs at the airport and rail stations.The Center provides 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space,232 contemporary, well-equipped guest rooms and suites, a dining room and lounge, fitness room, recreation room and an indoor swimming pool for relaxation off the clock.


A high energy, comical operetta is coming to the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts on two dates: Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 10 at 3 p.m.
The PSU Opera Workshop will perform "Die Fledermaus", an operetta by Johann Strauss II. The performance will tell the tale of Dr. Falke's elaborate schemes to prank his friend, Eisenstein.
Overbey has performed musically since sixth grade and started appearing in performances such as operas her freshman year of college.
The humorous plot of "Die Fledermaus" includes a ball in which the attendants disguise themselves, sing, dance, and have their fair share of drinks.
The "Die Fledermaus" cast has worked to produce a strong performance for the PSU community, hoping to provide entertainment and laughs for all those who attend.
For Wimmer, his time spent as Dr. Falke will be some of the last moments he spends as part of the PSU music department.
The performance is directed by Patrick Howle, who has performed with the Connecticut Opera and in over 25 productions with Ohio Light Opera.


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Senior stars grumbling on the fringes, passing the buck to players, no style or identity - and £230m spent! The 10 ways Frank Lampard is falling short at Chelsea as Roman Abramovich's axe nears
Dana White reveals Khabib will NOT stick around to watch rival Conor McGregor at UFC 257 and plans to 'discuss final decision on Russian's comeback over dinner in Las Vegas'
Lionel Messi's £500,000-a-week wages 'may prove too expensive even for super-rich PSG' despite the Barcelona star being available for free this summer with French giants' Qatari owners wary of FFP breach
Lionel Messi was once close to joining Espanyol on loan, reveals Mauricio Pochettino... but PSG boss refuses to comment on potential move for wantaway Barcelona star
Roma launch investigation after they made TOO MANY substitutes - with boss Paulo Fonseca clueless over making six changes in a game when only five were allowed... and it's the second time they've messed up on player eligibility this season!
Joe Root overtakes England pal Ben Stokes to move back into the world's top five best-ranked Test batsmen after his stunning 228 helped secure win over Sri Lanka
Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp would NOT have been able to take Leicester to the top of the table like Brendan Rodgers, insists Paul Merson as he hails Foxes manager
'I'd like to say I saw him off his line!': Newport goalkeeper Tom King jokes that his incredible goal, scored from inside his own six-yard box, WAS deliberate... after he had to apologise to his opposite number for his wind-assisted wonder-strike
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer calls for 'laser focus' to maintain Manchester United's title challenge and warns his players that getting to the top of the Premier League was 'the easy bit' ahead of Fulham clash
David Moyes challenges West Ham to prove they are not just a 'flash in the pan' after beating West Brom to move seventh in the Premier League... just three points behind Manchester City in third
Anthony Martial happy to share centre forward duties with Marcus Rashford as their partnership starts to blossom at the start of the new season
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have both scored two goals in two games
Romelu Lukaku's departure to Inter means responsibility is on duo for goals
Martial also believes racism can not be fully eradicated from society and football
Manchester United host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon
By Kieran Jackson For Mailonline
Anthony Martial has spoken of his keenness to share responsibility with Marcus Rashford as the pair's relationship starts to blossom.
The duo have netted twice each in United's opening Premier League games, with Rashford scoring a brace against Chelsea and Martial converting once in each game against the Blues and Wolves.
The Frenchman has struggled to nail down a regular place in the starting XI over the past few seasons, but he now seems more motivated both on the training pitch and on matchday.
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have scored two goals each at the start of the season
The pair celebrate after Martial's strike in the second half against Chelsea on opening weekend
Alexis Sanchez 'misses training to head to US embassy to get... Look away, Arsenal fans! Cristiano Ronaldo reveals he was on... Meet the team behind Paul Pogba's United exit plan: With... 'If they want to put the blame on me, f*** it... it's Pogba,...
'At training, we [Martial and Rashford] have this competition between us about scoring goals,' Martial told Sky Sports. 'We measure who does the best finishing and who scores the most.
'Who's winning? Well, that depends... Sometimes it's him, sometimes it's me. In games, Marcus likes to play in the middle, like me. I don't mind dropping off, dropping out, we interchange during games.
'It doesn't bother me to let him take the lead occasionally. It helps us to terrorise opposition defences and I hope we can keep it up over the course of the season.'
After playing a bit-part role in recent years, Martial is ready to play a starring role this season
Martial also shared his opinion on racism in football and in general society, following the abuse Paul Pogba received on Twitter after his penalty miss against Wolves.
'It's something you can't really eradicate from society,' he said. 'Out there on the pitch, we can't do anything about it per se. As players, we are there among white people, black people, people of all colours.
'The French expression is ''we're all the same''. Bans should be brought about for people who give out this hatred. People go to football stadiums to have a good time and enjoy the game, and there's no place for it. I'm in favour of the love, not the hate.'
Anthony Martial explains how burgeoning Marcus Rashford relationship is pushing both players on | Football News | Sky Sports
Anthony Martial happy to share forward duties with Marcus Rashford as their partnership blossoms
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Arsenal will offer Emile Smith Rowe a new long-term contract after his sparkling form helped lift the...
Christian Eriksen to Arsenal? Inter Milan 'considering swap deal with Lucas Torreira' with the former...
'It's intensified... it's beyond my control': Frank Lampard admits he could lose his job at Chelsea with...
Dana White reveals Khabib will NOT stick around to watch rival Conor McGregor at UFC 257 and plans to...
Derby must pay sacked captain Richard Keogh £2MILLION after he won an appeal over his dismissal following...
Lionel Messi's £500,000-a-week wages 'may prove too expensive even for super-rich PSG' despite the Barcelona...
Lionel Messi was once close to joining Espanyol on loan, reveals Mauricio Pochettino... but PSG boss refuses...
Roma launch investigation after they made TOO MANY substitutes - with boss Paulo Fonseca clueless over...
Joe Root overtakes England pal Ben Stokes to move back into the world's top five best-ranked Test batsmen...
Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp would NOT have been able to take Leicester to the top of the table like...
'I'd like to say I saw him off his line!': Newport goalkeeper Tom King jokes that his incredible goal,...
Lionel Messi avoids 12-match ban for punching opponent in Super Cup final defeat by Athletic Bilbao as Spanish FA deem red-card incident was not severe enough, with Barcelona star handed just a two-game suspension
Manchester United 'lining up £11m offer' for promising Argentina centre back Facundo Medina from Lens but would 'loan 21-year-old back to the Ligue 1 outfit until end of season'
Mo Salah's 'selfishness is creeping in' and is becoming a problem, says Michael Owen who slams the Liverpool star's one-minded approach in stalemate with Manchester United
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joins the pack of Gunners stars hailing Mesut Ozil as he FINALLY quits to join Fenerbahce, insisting: 'I don't need to talk about how good you are, and how you take care of people'
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was subbed during win against Newcastle because of a 'stomach issue'... and rushed straight to the toilet!
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims Bruno Fernandes is 'NOT tired' and vows to keep playing Manchester United's star man despite lacklustre display at Liverpool as Red Devils aim to continue Premier League title push
Amad Diallo could be handed his Manchester United debut as early as next month, reveals Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as Old Trafford boss delivers glowing assessment of £37m teenager after 'making a difference in training' since Atalanta move