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Top 10 Best Classic Car Investments in 2021
With dwindling interest rates, a volatile pound, and fears over Brexit impact, people are leaving the stock market and looking for alternative classic car investment opportunities as our car appraisal experts confirm.
Reports coming from Germany are suggesting an investment that many of us may not have considered – classic cars! Jens Berner, a vintage car expert, has suggested that for people with more than one million Euros in liquid assets, classic car investments, and investing in vintage cars can return an impressive yield with value stability.
To back up his claim, Suedwestbank – for whom Berner is a vintage car expert – started a classic car investment index made up of vehicles that are at least 30 years old. From 2005 to 2008, the index quadrupled.
It seems that the best classic car investment choices have the potential to offer a higher return than property, shares, and many other investments. As an additional bonus, in addition to considering what is the best classic car to buy for investment, you get the joy out of owning and driving a beautiful classic car.
Best classic car investments in 2021
After deciding to invest in classic and vintage cars, the question is, which are the best vintage and classic cars to buy for investment? Some research on the subject can give you an idea of the most appreciating cars.
However, here is a list of the 10 classic cars that may increase in value and which we believe make excellent vintage or classic cars to buy as an investment. As an added bonus, these are also great cars to drive should you want to use them day to day.
And, after reading this our thoughts on best classic cars for investment, you may also want to read our comprehensive articles on most expensive items ever sold on auction for assets like fine wine collections, most expensive jewelry ever sold, expensive Cartier jewelry, luxury handbags, classic cars, diamonds , most expensive watches ever sold and art.
One car that has been tipped by many experts in the industry as one of the best investment cars to buy is the Alfa Romeo Spider.
A successor to the Giulia and Giulietta, the Spider first reached production lines in 1966 through to 1982. With a sleek Italian style and chassis that handles like a dream, the Spider is one of the classic cars that will appreciate over the years.
It is also a great buy if you are looking for something which you can drive and enjoy, and which will provide one of the best classic cars to buy for investment opportunity.
Although the Jaguar XJ-S never really lived up to its E-Type cousin – with comparisons being made from the moment it drove off the production line – people are now cottoning on to the fact that this is an extremely desirable tourer and one of the best classic cars for investment.
Manufactured from 1975 to 1996, the XJ-S is available as a coupe or convertible. The market is now waking up to the worth of this capable and reliable car and it is proving to be one of the best classic car investment on the market.
Every bit the luxury cruiser and powered by a smooth V12 engine, a well serviced XJ-S is expected to be one of the best vintage cars to invest in, which will likely increase in value over the coming years.
Triumph Stag
The Triumph Stag (1970 – 1977) was originally best known for its appalling reliability reputation. However, the reliability problems are relatively easily fixed nowadays and by now most of the initial problems with the engine – cracked gaskets and poor cooling – have already been resolved on the models currently in circulation.
Being the car of choice for James Bond in 'Diamonds are Forever', less than 26,000 Stags were built. Powered by a powerful 3-litre V8 engine, the four-seat convertible model is bound to increase in value and has been tipped as one of the best vintage cars to buy as an investment.
As well as being an excellent classic car investment, you also get the joy of driving the Michelotti styled classic, feeling like Bond himself as you feel the wind in your hair.
BMW E24 6 Series
The BMW E24 (1976 – 1989) was the first generation of BMW's series 6 tourers. With excellent performance, keen dynamics and sharp steering, the luxury saloon was both stylish and brilliant to drive.
With a selection of six-cylinder engines, the BMW E24 is a great purchase if you are looking for a trustworthy workhorse to drive on a daily basis with the added benefit of being a sound investment. BMWs are one of the most recognisable cars on the market and they continue to produce high-end, quality vehicles. Parts should be easy to come by for the E24 should they be needed.
You can enjoy the appreciating value of your investment while relishing the reliability and great build you would expect from BMW.
Ford Escort RS2000
Forget investing in gold or property. Ford cars are rapidly becoming the vintage car investment of choice when looking for a decent return on your money.
When considering which classic car to invest in, a Ford should feature high on your shortlist. Immensely fun to drive and instantly recognisable, the Ford Escort RS2000 Mk1 (1971 – 1973) tend to be rarer due to their age, but it is the Mk2 that seems to be the most appreciating car from the RS2000 range.
Not so long ago, Mk2 Escorts were two-a-penny. Rust and low values took a heavy toll on the number of cars in circulation. However, in a very short space of time, the Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2 prices have soared exponentially, with demand far outstripping supply.
Any car with the famous Cosworth engine is predicted to be one of the most appreciating cars in the coming years. With 10,000 punchy two-door saloons manufactured, they are not the rarest of cars, which makes picking one up slightly easier.
Be sure to choose one that has its original RS parts, making the Ford Escort RS2000 one of the best cars to buy for investment.
With an affordable price tag and sleek styling, the Toyota MR2 sports car encompasses everything we loved about 80s cars. Manufactured from 1984 – 1989, the MR2 was extremely popular due to Toyota's excellent reliability and engineering record.
With independent front and rear suspension, a twin-cam engine and five-speed transmission, the sports car was a smooth ride and handled beautifully. With the iconic pop-up headlights, the Toyota MR2 has made the list of the best classic cars to invest in due to its dedicated following. A rust-free 125bhp AW11 model looks to be one of the most appreciating cars in the range.
When looking for the best classic car investment, you can't go far wrong with the iconic Porsche 924. Rolling off the production line from 1975 onwards, the 924 was always considered one of the lower quality Porsches.
However, in recent years it has become the unsung hero in the illustrious history of the manufacturer, and the 924 is rapidly becoming one of the classic cars that will increase in value the most out of the Porsche portfolio.
Despite early criticism of the 924, by 1988 some 150,000 were built. They are currently relatively cheap to get hold of due to the number still in circulation. However, prices are steadily rising, making it an ideal investment car.
The more powerful Turbo or S models are the more expensive cars from the range, but are also two of the best investment cars as prices look set to continue to rise.
Volvo 1800 ES
Although the Volvo brand may not initially strike you as a brand that produced classic cars to invest in, the 1800 ES is no ordinary Volvo. After shooting to fame in as Roger Moore's car in 'The Saint', the 1800 ES is an evocative and attractive 60s sports car. With all the reliability you would expect from Volvo, the classic coupe is currently one of the best-kept secrets in the classic car world. With its light controls, torquey engine, and good safety rating, the 1800 ES is great for day to day use as well as being one of the best classic cars for investment. As you would expect from Volvo, the car just runs and runs with little needed in the way of replacement parts in comparison to other cars in the list.
Another Ford to make the list of the top 10 classic cars to buy as investment is the Mk1 Ford Capri. Instantly recognizable, the punchy coupe was always destined to become a desirable classic car.
As one of the most appreciating cars at the moment, get in quick if you are looking to buy one of these as an investment. Particularly desirable models are the 280 Brooklands and the 2.8i Special, both of which that are expected to be the classic cars that will increase in value the most in coming years.
The Mk2 Capris are also highly desirable. If you can get your hands on the Mk2 1300, you are sure to have one of the best classic car investments on the market at the moment.
However, with only eight 1.3L models on the road (as of 2017), they have become so rare you would have to be extremely lucky to get your hands on one.
MG MGA
Last but by no means least, another vintage car you may want to invest in is the MG MGA that rolled off the production line between 1955 and 1962. As one of the most appreciating cars of 2017, the value of some models jumped by a staggering 47%.
Over 101,000 of these English classics had rolled off the production line by 1962. However, most were exported, leaving just 5,900 on the market in the UK.
Both the convertible and coupe versions of the car have proven to be excellent cars to buy for investment, steadily increasing in value over the past decade to become one of the best investment cars.
Although the MG A is not one of the fastest sports cars released, its light steering, lively performance and sleek, beautiful appearance make it a joy to own and drive in addition to being an excellent investment.
Some further ideas on investing in classic (and not so classic) cars…
Buy low, sell high. It's a simple idea, but one that's the absolute foundation of being a dealer of luxury goods. To make a success of this, you always have to be one step ahead, and invest in items that may not be worth a lot now, but are likely to reap massive rewards in the future. And if you're looking to make big money, a classic car – or a car that could become a classic – may be the investment for you. Classic cars are big sellers on the secondary market, and there are two primary ways you can make money from them.
Firstly, you can buy a run-down classic car when it's already worth something, and restore it for a profit. Or, you could buy cars that are reasonably new, and hold on to them until their value increases. But to do that, you need to know what could be valuable in years to come. Here are our top picks for cars that will almost certainly increase in value.
1. Mk1 Volkswagen Golf GTI
One of the cheaper options on this list, unlikely to set you back more than £6,000, this is a bit of a no-brainer. The Golf GTI was the second model in the popular VW Golf range, introduced as a 'sport' version of the highly practical Golf Mk1. First released in 1975, it was one of the first cars to successfully blend fun and practicality, and regarded by many as the ultimate hot hatch. At the current market rate, this slice of automobile history is a snip and will only increase in value. A must-buy.
2. Mk 1 Audi TT
A relatively recent vehicle, introduced to market in 1998, and becoming a ubiquitous sight on the roads of North America and Europe in the early noughties, the Audi TT is an investment for the future. Unlike many of the other entries on this list, the TT is not regarded as a classic car just yet. However, its unique design aesthetic is sure to be of interest to collectors in decades to come, once it becomes a less common sight on the roads. Typically priced between £2,000 and £8,000, this one won't break the bank, but be prepared to hold onto it for a few years before reaping the rewards.
3. Ford Capri
Introduced in the late 60s, and phased out in the late 80s, the Ford Capri was one of the American car manufacturer's most desirable cars. The Ford Capri is a pretty appealing prospect for dealers; it's already regarded as a classic car by many, but the sale price of it hasn't been driven through the roof just yet. Don't expect it to remain in this sweet spot for too long though, prices have risen noticeably in the past 18 months. You should be able to pick one up for £10,000 or less, but keep it in good condition and you could benefit in the future.
4. DeLorean DMC-12
If you grew up in the 80s, chances are you remember this car as the speedy time machine from the hit movie series Back to the Future. It's this association with the wildly popular film franchise more than anything else that makes the DeLorean such a classic. If you want to add one of these to your collection, you're going to have to pay upwards of £15,000, possibly as much as £60,000. The investment will be worth it though; less than 10,000 units were ever made, and production was halted in 1983. These cars are becoming harder and harder to find, at an ever-increasing cost. Get your hands on one now, and who knows how much it could be worth in 20 years.
5. Porsche 911 Turbo (930 Generation)
The Porsche 911 Turbo, 930 Generation – or the Porsche 930 to those in the know – is well on its way to becoming a classic car. First introduced to the market in 1975, and discontinued in 1989, it was the fastest German road car of its era. No mean feat, considering the considerable automotive expertise to be found in Germany. Prices vary wildly, not least because there are numerous different iterations that were sold during its 14 year run, but you should expect to pay at least £20,000, and even then you're looking at a model to fix up. This was an expensive car when it was new, and its growing status as a classic car is driving prices up; you could be facing prices upwards of £80,000 to get hold of one. However, good condition Porsche 930s are almost certain to be going under the hammer at high-end auctions in two or three decades' time. You also get a beautiful Porsche to ride around in while you wait for its value to increase. It's a win-win.
Which vintage cars hold their value best for investment purpuses?
The word "investment" is one that's creeping up more and more often in the classic car world, as our team of London pawnbrokers can testify. As modern cars get bigger, uglier, and more complex, the relative simplicity and undeniable beauty of classics becomes even more appealing. But, money spent on the purchase price is never guaranteed when you decide you want to sell – so which classic cars will keep your money the safest?
The old standards
There are certain classics which have always been desirable. In the world of classic Jaguar, for example, you have venerable E-Type. The very earliest E-Types, the S1, especially with the flat floor, have always been the most desirable to collectors. As such, prices vary anywhere from £130,000 for higher mileage models, to upwards of £250,000 for low mile cars and concourse restorations. Take this example from August, 2018.
Jaguar XKSS
Classic Porsches too offer reliable investments – any Porsches that can draw a connection to motorsport always command a considerable premium. For example, the 1971 Porsche Carrera RS recently began to nudge 7 figures in value. Though Porsche isn't just about the 911; the 356 is another iconic model that rarely lowers in price.
Classic Ferraris vary dramatically in price, but the sheer name recognition of the brand means they're almost always going to be desirable. Good condition Testarossas, for example, average anywhere from £110,000 to £160,000 in right-hand drive. The 512M, which followed the Testarossa and improved on many aspects, often reaches over £200,000. True classic Ferraris, however, continue to be expensive – bargain on £250,000 at least for a 250 GT in reasonable condition, and upwards of £1.5 million for a 275 GTS.
The world of classic Mercedes shows a similar disparity, with certain models showing consistency in their pricing, while others keep growing. Many argue the 300SL is the quintessential classic car, and still fast to this day – prices reflect this, seeming stable around the £900,000 – £1.3 million mark. Mercedes-Benz cars from their "pre-War" period, when many truly beautiful cars were made, are also consistently desirable. On the other hand, the R107 SL series has seen marked growth over the last several years as their subtle styling and reliable mechanics become more widely appreciated.
What keeps car values stable?
Certain classic cars enjoy a period of rapid growth in value, followed by a comparative dip. Others seem to have always been held at a certain value, and while they haven't necessarily appreciated they haven't lost money either.
The classic Aston Martin DB5 is an example of a car gradually losing value. The DB5 enjoyed a period of consistent appreciation over a number of years. But, over the last eighteen months or so, values have begun to come down gradually. The DB5 was regularly for sale for £750,000 and above, however a browse of a classifieds website will show several examples closer to £500,000.
To continue with Aston Martin as an example of a car which has consistently remained around the same value, take the V8 Vantage. Values of the V8 Vantage have regularly remained around the £200,000 to £300,000 mark, with a special exception of the last of the line "X-Pack" models commanding more of a premium. The prices rarely seem to climb, but they haven't fallen either.
There are many things that affect the value of a car on a long-term basis. One of which is how culturally relevant it is. The Aston Martin DB5, for example, will always be thought of as the James Bond car (even though in the books Bond favoured a Bentley).
If you considered to invest in vintage cars, The Lamborghini Muira is another example – the first ten minutes of the Italian Job cemented the Muira's place in cultural history. Combine that with it being arguably the first 'supercar', and values of Muiras are reliably in the £1 – £1.5 million region, rising even more for particularly rare examples.
It follows, then, that when a car become culturally significant, such as a classic Bugatti, its value is often far more secure than other cars which rise and fall in value as fashions change. When you're choosing the vintage car to invest in, it's a good idea to choose a car you're fairly confident a lot of people will recognize. This broadens the appeal when it comes time to sell.
How do you keep a car valuable?
As a classic car owner and vintage car investor, there's no doubt you're subject to market whim when it comes to the value of your pride and joy – sometimes values slip for seemingly no reason. That doesn't mean, however, that you're completely out of control when it comes to keeping your car as valuable as possible…there are several things you may do to protect the best classic car investment you may have made.
The best thing you can do for your car's value is to keep it in the best possible condition that you can. Apply the same stringent standards you used when buying the car, and put yourself in the place of a potential buyer. Would you have paid your asking price for your car, in its current condition? If the answer is no, you can't reasonably expect to sell your car for a profit, or to at least break even.
Excellent mechanical condition is essential if you're going to get the best price. Your car needs to be able to start "on the button", unless you intend specifically to sell it as a project. As time goes on, consider sympathetic mechanical upgrades to keep the vehicle working as reliably as possible. This may include an upgraded radiator, cooling, and depending on the car, maybe an electronic ignition system. Money spent on improving your brakes is also never wasted.
Exterior and interior condition are also highly important, but a bit more complex to get right. The thing that drives the highest prices on the collector market is originality. It stands to reason that cars are only original once, and the more time and owners that pass, the greater the odds of somebody making major alterations that can't be reversed. Adding seatbelts and subtle air-conditioning isn't likely to deter most buyers, but there is certainly a market appeal for the most originality possible.
Be realistic when considering your choice of the best classic car to buy for investment
It's important that you invest in the right vintage car for you. Spend some time thinking about how you're going to use the vehicle, aside from the obvious considerations about your budget and storage options. If, for example, you want a car to drive regularly, you should avoid low mileage cars. Low mileage cars are worth more, and every mile you put on them is money you're taking off the asking price at the other end of your ownership.
Also, keep in mind that money spent on the purchase price is just the beginning. Cars take maintenance to keep running, and this is certainly true of classics. The rarer and more exotic the classic, the higher your maintenance bills are going to be, which you'll have to factor into your ultimate asking price to determine any profit.
It's a sound strategy when you've decided on the car you want to buy to do some homework. See what the maintenance is actually going to be like, and make contact with owners if you can. See if there are any common problem points you might have to be aware of.
New Bond Street Pawnbrokers offer loans against the following classic cars: Aston Martin, Bugatti, Ferrari, Jaguar, Mercedes and Porsche
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Ducula est un genre comprenant 39 espèces de carpophages, oiseau de la famille des Columbidae.

Liste des espèces
D'après la classification de référence (version 5.1, 2015) du Congrès ornithologique international (ordre phylogénique) :
 Ducula poliocephala – Carpophage à ventre rose
 Ducula forsteni – Carpophage de Forsten
 Ducula mindorensis – Carpophage de Mindoro
 Ducula radiata – Carpophage à queue barrée
 Ducula carola – Carpophage charlotte
 Ducula aenea – Carpophage pauline
 Ducula nicobarica – (?)
 Ducula perspicillata – Carpophage à lunettes
 Ducula neglecta – Carpophage de Céram
 Ducula concinna – Carpophage à queue bleue
 Ducula pacifica – Carpophage pacifique
 Ducula oceanica – Carpophage de Micronésie
 Ducula aurorae – Carpophage de la Société
 Ducula galeata – Carpophage des Marquises
 Ducula rubricera – Carpophage à cire rouge
 Ducula myristicivora – Carpophage cuivré
 Ducula rufigaster – Carpophage à ventre roux
 Ducula basilica – Carpophage des Moluques
 Ducula finschii – Carpophage de Finsch
 Ducula chalconota – Carpophage brillant
 Ducula pistrinaria – Carpophage meunier
 Ducula rosacea – Carpophage à tête rose
 Ducula whartoni – Carpophage de Wharton
 Ducula pickeringii – Carpophage de Pickering
 Ducula latrans – Carpophage de Peale
 Ducula brenchleyi – Carpophage de Brenchley
 Ducula bakeri – Carpophage de Baker
 Ducula goliath – Carpophage géant
 Ducula pinon – Carpophage de Pinon
 Ducula melanochroa – Carpophage noir
 Ducula mullerii – Carpophage de Müller
 Ducula zoeae – Carpophage de Zoé
 Ducula badia – Carpophage à manteau brun
 Ducula lacernulata – Carpophage mantelé
 Ducula cineracea – Carpophage cendrillon
 Ducula bicolor – Carpophage blanc
 Ducula luctuosa – Carpophage luctuose
 Ducula spilorrhoa – Carpophage argenté
 Ducula subflavescens – Carpophage jaunâtre

Liens externes

Columbidae

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The new headquarters of the SMI Group
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Where Are Obama's Girlfriends?
Where Are Obama's Girlfriends?
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BREAKING! ISIS Planning Attack on U.S. as Obama Golfs
Helen Trautman
1988 Candidate Dukakis: "The fish rots from the head first"
Jim Backlin
The Democrat presidential nominee in 1988, Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis, said about the ethical standards of the Reagan Administration, "There's an old Greek saying … the fish rots from the head first. It starts at the top." Dukakis went on to say that scandal and misconduct had become "almost an epidemic. It's the guy at the top who has to be held accountable."
However, the ethical standards of the Reagan Administration were pristine compared to the cesspool of ethics scandals and the rampant lawlessness of the current Democrat administration. Dukakis could have been describing the current occupant of the White House as the number of major presidential scandals continues to accelerate under Barack Obama.
As the American people are now finding out -- little thanks to the "see no evil" mainstream news media -- because of the president's frequent attacks on his political opposition, his underlings, including apparently all the way up to his chief of staff, have been shading the truth; lying to the American people and to the news media, and are committing crimes in the name of their president.
Reagan Administration
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Donald Trump is right: Fox News should fire Bob Beckel
Left-winger Bob Beckel -- whose life was recently saved by his fellow "Fox Five" co-host, Eric Bolling (a Rick Perry supporter) when Beckel was choking in a Manhattan restaurant -- should be fired as Donald Trump is urging Fox News to do. The very day that Beckel mentioned the story of Trump urging Fox News to fire him to his fellow co-hosts, Beckel said the a-hole word. Then to round out his day, on Sean Hannity's "Great, Great, Great American Panel," Beckel used the b.s. word. The guy just does not know where to stop.
On July 21, Beckel was caught saying the "F-word" on the live "Fox Five" show. When the next commercial was over, he offered a typical liberal weasel excuse: "The producer tells me that I swore in the last session. I didn't - well sort of did." Then on September 8th, he used the s-word blasting his conservative co-hosts because they were advocating tax cuts, "You gotta be so full of s**t."
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Fox News' left-winger Bob Beckel's life saved by Rick Perry supporter
A Ronald Reagan/Tip O'Neill moment occurred in a restaurant on the island of Manhattan yesterday. The elderly among us will remember the intense rivalry and feuds which occurred during the day between President Ronald Reagan and the Democrat Speaker of the House from Massachusetts Tip O'Neill. But at night, these two antagonists would famously swap jokes over a mug of beer.
Today's poisonous partisan political atmosphere -- accelerated by Barack Obama's hyper-partisanship -- is far from the comity established between the conservative genial Ronald Reagan and left-wing genial Tip O'Neill. Obama has relentlessly attacked the Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor for his conservative ideas. Now in recent days, Obama has decided to double-down on his attacks against Republicans.
Eric Bolling
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Theological Slippery Slope
OnFireForHim
This blog is in regard to the Christian Coalition's article, "Christian Coalition of America condemns Democrat-controlled House for passing "Thought Crimes" bill". I would like to take a moment to address the misguided logic within this article as well as the theological distortions used to oppose the Hate Crimes Bill. It seems that this bill has dredged up some fears of Christian conservatives that the right to denounce homosexuality in a non-threatening manor would be taken away. This is hardly the case. Fox News published an article today on their website that refutes many of these claims:
"Frederick Lawrence, a law professor at George Washington University, said there is nothing within the language of the hate crimes bill that would allow for the prosecution of individuals who simply speak out against a particular sexual or ethnic group.
fear mongerering
fringe groups
Hate Crime Bill
Thought Crimes Bill
OnFireForHim's blog


At least four BSF jawans were killed and two others were injured in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Thursday, police said.
The encounter took place at around 12 noon. All those killed and injured are from the 114 Battalion of BSF. Exchange of fire has stopped but evacuation and search operations were underway, P Sundar Raj, DIG, Anti Naxal Operations, told The Indian Express.
Last week, at least four alleged Maoists were killed in an encounter with a joint team of the CRPF's COBRA battalion, and the Chhattisgarh police force in Sukma district.


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Beyonce's New Album Breaks An iTunes Record
by Brent Dirks
Released exclusively through iTunes on Friday, Apple announced today that Beyonce's new self-titled album has become the service's fastest-selling album ever. In just three days, 828,773 albums were sold worldwide. It also broke U.S. first week album sales with 617,213 copies sold. The album topped the charts in an astounding 104 countries as well. The so-called "visual" album features 14 songs and 17 videos shot in numerous locations like New York City, Sydney, Paris, and Rio de Janiero. Apple is heavily promoting the album in both the desktop and iOS version of the iTunes Store. Available to download now for $15.99 through iTunes, the individual songs can be purchased on Friday, Dec. 20. Buyers can select from either an explicit or clean version of the album. While streaming music services are getting the bulk of publicity recently, it seems that the record-buying public still flocks to unique content from a well-established artist. And even though I'm a little old for Beyonce, I'm definitely excited to hear about the rare bootlegs from The Beatles that will launch exclusively through iTunes soon. For other news today, see: NFL Sunday Ticket Is Not Heading To YouTube Or Apple TV, Apple-Supplier Pegatron Is Using Facial Recognition Technology To Screen Workers, Apple's Christmas Order Deadlines Are Fast Approaching.
Rare Bootlegs From The Beatles Expected To Launch Exclusively Through iTunes
Get Started With Apple's 12 Days Of Gifts By Downloading A Free Single By Lorde


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Southwest Ireland Golf Courses
An Irish proverb says "take the world nice and easy, and the world will take you the same". Sounds beautiful, right? With well over 300 golf courses on the Emerald Isle, finding a beautiful location to tee off is effortless. Vast lakes, sheer cliff faces, and windswept beaches are amongst the beautiful scenery you can expect to immerse yourself in when you play at Irish golf courses. Some of the most revered belonging to golf in southern Ireland. Also known for its rich heritage and warm hospitality, amongst its winding streets and glistening waterways you'll be spoilt for choice for charismatic, cozy pubs to play the 19th hole. A golf trip to Ireland offers not only a sensational experience but an ethereal and heart-warming visit not to be forgotten.
Southwest Ireland Golf Design
From Western Kerry to Southern Cork, this region has won the hearts of legends and designers alike for good reason. Eddie Hackett – considered by many in Ireland to be 'the father of golf course design' – architected the vast Waterville Golf Links and the challenging courses at Ring of Kerry. Furthermore, Adare Club and the world famous Ballybunion Club were beautifully devised by Robert Trent Sr.
The golf courses in Southern Ireland vary, and golfers are certainly well-catered for. Generous parkways like Fota Island sweep through mature woodland and evoke a feeling that the very land itself was made just to hold a golf course. At courses like Dingle, there are true traditional links layouts where rolling hills give way to the sea and breathtaking views unravel at every turn. There really is something for everybody here. Unearth your perfect tee times in Ireland by exploring our Southwest Ireland golf map.
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History of Southwest Ireland Golf
Golf in Ireland has a rich, colorful, and long-standing history. The first golf club, The Royal Curragh, rose from the ground in 1853. Following this, The Golfing Union of Ireland was established in 1891, making it the oldest national golfing union in the world. Ireland's ample heritage can be experienced first hand at numerous courses here. The nation's oldest fairways are not only still standing, but are numbered amongst the finest and most challenging courses to this day. There is no question why Ireland is such a prolific golfing destination. Since the rise of timeless Southwest Ireland golf courses such as Lahinch and Ballybunion in the 1800s, designs have continued to weave and roll their way through the beautiful and diverse landscapes. Ireland is now a true golfer's retreat as a nation with some of the most courses per capita in the world.
The Birthplace of Golfing Talent
With Ireland's vast amount of appealing and challenging courses, set over uniquely rugged and free-flowing terrains, it's no wonder that the Emerald Isle has produced so many notable golfers. The first female Irish golfer, Rhona Adair, made waves at just 17 by nearly beating 77-year-old Scottish 'Old Tom Morris' at a course he designed himself! Skim through over a hundred years of history and Ireland has given us names such as Christy O'Connor Sr (and Jr), Paddy Skerritt, Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Rory McIlroy, and Graeme McDowell. Rory McIlroy won the 2014 British Open at just 25 – his third major championship victory – making him one of only three golfers since 1934 to win a third major event by that age. The other two, you ask? Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Graeme McDowell, or 'G-Mac' as he's fondly known, beat Tiger Woods himself in a head-to-head at the World Challenge – Woods' very own tournament. Ireland has without doubt generated golfing idols, and we believe it has more to do with the nation's formidable and impressive courses, rather than just good old Irish luck.
# Golf Southwest Ireland
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To stop Omicron overwhelming the NHS, we need new restrictions now
Illustration by Gary Waters/Ikon Images.
The mood on the wards could not be darker. We work as fast as we can, but wearily, warily, with teeth gritted and stomachs knotted. Here is a snapshot of the things I've heard this week: "I've stopped sleeping", "I've got that sick, sick feeling again", "I'm scared" and – on endless repeat – "I can't do this again". One doctor friend, close to tears, told me: "We stopped being heroes a long time ago, now we're just cannon fodder."
Some people are saying they won't go back there again – to the Covid wards and the Covid ICUs. They say a third redeployment would break them. Who can blame them? There is only so much a person can take. Personally, the prospect of going through it all a third time has me typing this at 3am, too brittle and wired to sleep. I may be a palliative care doctor, but I saw enough death and dying in wave one to last a lifetime.
Still. It certainly rallied the troops this week when we were sent a letter from Boris Johnson, hand-addressed to "the whole of the NHS", that assured us (literally) of his eternal gratitude. I say "sent" – he actually tweeted it. But he did make a prime ministerial promise, and you know how reliable those are: "I can assure you that this government will do whatever it takes to give you the support you need."
The very next day, alas, he was up on that Downing Street podium, joking about "jab-a-thons" and giving Covid "both barrels" and "a left and a right", yet singularly failing to introduce any new measures to control Omicron's wildfire spread, or even to recommend cancelling Christmas parties. As Johnson continued to insist formal restrictions on gatherings were unnecessary, Chris Whitty injected a much-needed dose of Omicron reality: "This is a really serious threat… Don't mix with people you don't have to."
London is the epicentre of the new outbreak and there, in the last week alone, the number of people hospitalised with Covid has surged by 26 per cent. This is the start of it, the dying to come. From my patient-facing perspective, it is wild – simply unfathomable – that we can be walking into another Covid horror show relying solely on booster jabs, when there are so many other prudent measures we could be taking to minimise the loss of life. Generally, I bristle at military metaphors in healthcare. But this really does feel akin to going over the top – NHS staff being ordered to walk slowly, deliberately, towards the guns and barbed wire by an Etonian overlord with a toddler's haircut.
It is hard to convey quite how dire conditions are in hospitals, even with current Covid bed occupancy levels – before Omicron pushes them upwards. Many of us on black alert – meaning, essentially, full. New patients can only be admitted when others are discharged. Trusts have been forced to repurpose discharge lounges, offices, theatre recovery areas and even broom cupboards to squeeze in more beds (thus stretching staff even more thinly). Yet still the ambulances sit stacked up outside, unable to deliver their patients.
In this grim context, we need a temporary escalation of Covid restrictions – a two-week circuit breaker, for example, plus immediate government support for the hospitality industry – in order to protect everyone in need of healthcare. As Covid admissions rise, the NHS's capacity to deliver high quality care to every patient – whether they have cancer, heart disease, a stroke or Covid – will only further diminish. All patients will suffer.
Something that really did improve NHS morale this week was Whitty's withering response, during a Commons Health and Social Care Committee hearing, to a zombie argument that refuses to die. What would Whitty say, asked Tory MP Dean Russell, to those who claim we are: "prioritising Covid over other things… Covid over cancer, Covid over other serious issues." The chief medical officer's uncharacteristically undiplomatic reply is worth repeating in full: "This is sometimes said by people who have no understanding of health at all… and when they say it, it is usually because they want to make a political point. The reality is, if you ask any doctor working in any part of the system, they will say this: What is threatening our ability to do cancer, what is threatening our ability to do all of these things, is the fact that so much of the NHS effort, so many of the beds, are having to be put over to Covid and we're having to work in a less efficient way because Covid is there."
That, right there, is the crux of the matter. No-one, believe me, wants to be treating Covid. Nor does a doctor like me nonchalantly embrace the idea of state encroachment on individual liberty. But a temporary escalation in Covid restrictions is required to prevent, or at least to minimise, the unspeakable indignity and suffering that occur when a health service is completely overwhelmed.
This is not – and never was – about something so crass as "protecting the NHS" (a slogan so divisive you could be forgiven for wondering whether the government actually intended to stoke anti-NHS hostility). This is about protecting each other. The people you love, and the ones you've never met. All of us, in it together.
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I am not a fan of books…
Karen MacPherson presents three essential ingredients to switch children onto literature – a great recipe for success.
"I am not a fan of books…I am a proud non-reader of books." This quote has been attributed to musician Kanye West (Mr Kim Kardashian). When I first saw it online I thought it must not be genuine, but as best I can ascertain, he did indeed make this sad announcement. My mind simply cannot come to terms with the idea that a person could think this way. To me, and I suspect any of you reading this blog, a life without reading and books would be unimaginable. Yet we cannot deny that Mr West is not alone in his thinking and that unfortunately, we often see that kind of attitude to reading start to develop among school students.
I suspect that if I wrote about the importance of reading to anyone likely to be browsing this blog, I would be 'preaching to the converted.' We all appreciate that reading is not just a core skill for succeeding in life, but is in fact an enjoyable pass time that can open whole new worlds to those of us who partake. So how do we make sure that our children value books and reading and grow into adults who retain that pleasure and sense of curiosity? Here are my top three suggestions – I'd love to hear your ideas.
Books and reading are things seen to be valued by significant role models in a child's world. I believe it is vitally important that children see people around them reading for both purpose and pleasure. It sends a powerful message when a person of influence in a child's life can talk about their love of reading and the wonderful things it brings to them. Reading aloud to children, even as they get older, exposes them to books they may not gravitate to normally and creates a bond with the person doing the reading. Laughing over silly words in Roald Dahl's The BFG together, or exploring Tolkien's Middle Earth with a parent or teacher will create memories that last a lifetime and encourage children to explore reading on their own.
Children are offered choice of reading material and allowed an opinion on it. When I first started teaching, I was surprised that many students saw reading as something that the teacher made them do. They were used to being told what to read and felt obliged to report back that they enjoyed it - even if they did not. No wonder some of them were already switching off from reading! Encouraging students to self-select reading material and giving them the skills to do so effectively goes a long way toward engaging them in the process. As adults we have developed favourite authors and genres and will put a book back on the shelf if it doesn't appeal to us. While children are still exploring and discovering their favourites, I believe it is vitally important we allow the freedom to do so too. Such freedom emboldens them to experiment and explore and is highly motivating.
Access to quality literature that engages the reader. Perhaps this ought to go without saying, but sadly so many children are not exposed to books at home. (I wonder how many books the West children have at home?) This means it becomes even more important for educators and communities to advocate for and provide quality literature for children. The CBCA plays a crucial role in reaching out to the community, providing information and events to promote reading to young people and their carers/ educators as well as advocating for quality Australian literature and the groups who support it. As individuals, it is worth reflecting on what we do for the children around us to support these ideals.
I wonder what you would add to this list?
Karen McPherson
CBCA Picture Book of the Year Judge
Author Visit – Sarah Brennan
Visiting authors are always a treat in schools as they provide students and teachers with a personal connection between the author, their works and the reader. Chris shares some of the magic of such and event.
Term 1 heralded a special two-day event at Dominic College in Hobart when the school community was privileged to be entertained by, and learn from, children's author Sarah Brennan, a Tasmanian who lives, writes and publishes in Hong Kong. She currently has 12 children's picture books available, written in verse and illustrated by Harry Harrison, who is principal cartoonist with the South China Morning Post.
The main subject matter of her books is perfect for the Asian focus of the school's K-6 campus, telling important stories in an amusing and interesting format that encourages understanding of another culture and its history in a way that is woven within the tales, each of which conveys different perspectives and time periods.
Sarah's most popular titles are in a series called The Chinese Calendar Tales, each one about a character from the Chinese Zodiac. The latest in this series, The Tale of Ming Kee Monkey, celebrates the Chinese Year of the Monkey celebrated this year. She has three more Zodiac characters to write about to complete the series. One book, The Tale of Pin Yin Panda, tells the story of how the 12 Zodiac animals gained their places, in a race organised by Lord Buddha. It also explains why there is no Panda represented in the Chinese calendar.
It is a wonderful experience having authors perform and interpret their own books as they give an insight that is not possible just from reading about and/or reading the books. Sarah communicates amazing love for her characters, and for the culture, history and beauty of China. She has a great sense of humour and builds rapport and an atmosphere of respectful and excited attention from her audiences. These ranged from Prep to Year 6, and also included a workshop on writing and publishing for the Year 9/10 Creative Writing class. She encouraged them all to read and to listen, to shut their eyes and imagine, to get outside and make their own adventures, and spend as much time as possible away from 'screens', above all to do and experience for themselves.
A highlight of her presentation was her vivid description of falling in love at the age of 7 with a bearded white-haired gentleman whose writing showed that reading and language can be fun – that gentleman was Dr Theodore Seuss Geisel, the famous Dr Seuss!
Year 2 students were entertained by The Tale of Run Run Rat, which was written for the Year of the Rat, also that of the Beijing Olympics, which is again topical for us as we are currently in an Olympic year. Some Year 2 students made a beautiful rat for the display, which Sarah really loved, as much as she was impressed by the children themselves.
Sarah Brennan is planning another visit to Tasmania in early 2017. Visit Sarah's funny and fabulous website at http://www.sarah-brennan.com and blog at http://www.sarahbrennanblog.com! Watch Sarah in action on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhqxWLZkVd8. Follow Sarah's tweets @Sarah_Rhymes.
Teacher Librarian, Dominic College, Hobart.
Editor's note: Find out more about the The Chinese Calendar Tales series.
Finding Nan Chauncy's Lorenny
Join Richard as he explores the geographical location of Nan Chauncy's Lorenny series in the deep south west of Tasmania.
One of the unexpected outcomes of the 2015 Nan Chauncy celebrations was my discovery of the Tiger in the Bush / Devils' Hill / Roaring 40 trilogy (thanks to Patsy for lending me the series). The mingling of fact and fiction certainly had me scouring the maps, Google Earth, and old photos of the area.
The series is about the adventures of Badge Lorenny, (short for badger, a misnomer for wombat) and his family who live in an isolated valley in South West Tasmania. My interest was piqued when I became aware that access to this isolated valley was a wire rope, "The Wire", over the Gordon River. I immediately (and quite erroneously) thought this was a direct reference to a flying fox over the Gordon River that I had used in 1983 to walk into the Vale of Rasselas.
My obsession with the geography of the series began. My first impression that Lorenny farm was approached northwards over a flying fox at Gordon Bend was incorrect; it was approached from Badge's uncle Link's farm near Ouse. Is it too long a bow to think Lorenny derived from Lawrenny, a hamlet just south of Ouse? On a map, Badge described it as "the dingy space between the upper bend of the Gordon River and Denison Ranges".
Badge's Dad describes a track from Uncle Link's place down the Vale of Rasselas to Gordon Bend past Gordon Vale "where Ernie Bond used to live" to Adamsfield. Ernie Bond was a real character who lived in the Vale of Rasselas until 1950. The track is the Frodsham Track, cut in 1896.
Arches Hill where Badge and his sister Iggy walked in Tiger in the Bush are probably inspired by the arch on Mt Wright. The approach to this arch is clearly not bush as in the Tiger in the Bush nor could two children get there in a day from the farm.
In the Author's Note in Tiger in the Bush, Nan thanks amongst others "the first woman to scale Mt Anne, Eve Masterman". She omitted to say that Eve was Nan's sister. I had the honour of meeting Eve at a CBCA picnic at Chauncy Vale in February 2012. Though deaf she was still quite spry and very interested in bushwalking. I expect much of the inspiration for the "geography" of this series was derived from Eve and her bushwalking friends. Much more inspiring than the geography of New York or dystopian Chicago which appears in many YA books (even by Australian authors).
Richard on top of the Arch
Bushwalker
Labels: Nan Chauncy
Have You Got Your Hat Ready? - National Simultaneous Storytime 2016
Are you getting ready to enjoy NSS at your local public or school library? Find out what's happening in your area, make a hat, take a child or two along if you like, and enjoy the fun. Jessica has lots of ideas to get you inspired.
I have, and I am counting down the days until May 25th because it's National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) and that means lots of reading fun!
The NSS is run by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and this year their chosen title is I Got This Hat by Kate and Jol Temple, illustrated by Jon Foye, and it is just delightful.
Yes, it is a picture book aimed a younger audience, but that certainly doesn't mean they are the only ones who can enjoy this book. I will be sharing this story will all of my students aged from 4 to 12 and based on my past NSS experiences including The Brothers Quibble, Too Many Elephants in This House, The Wrong Book and The Very Cranky Bear, it will be a big hit regardless of age.
If you are not convinced that this book hits the mark for an older audience, why not approach it as a "Buddy" activity, with older children sharing the book with younger children, or completing an activity as a follow up together. Readers' Theatre type activities are a great way to encourage read aloud skills in our older children. Setting up an environment where they feel permitted to have fun is important too, and a hat theme is perfect to help achieve this due to the broad nature of this topic. (Note - please be mindful of head lice issues if you are planning to use actual hats as props).
There are loads of great ideas to support this year's NSS at the ALIA website and I highly recommend the blog post devoted to I Got This Hat by The Book Chook, Susan Stephenson, for an amazing range of activity suggestions – well worth a look.
Another of my favourite resources, online story-telling platform Story Box Library, will also be adding I Got This Hat to their fabulous library in time for NSS.
For those with an ipod or ipad, my children, aged 8 and 10, have enjoyed using the free I Got This Hat App to create a range of hat themed images which mix the quirky illustration style of Jon Foye with a photo of the user's face. Images can be saved to the device. (Unfortunately not available for android devices).
We all know that reading aloud is vitally important and having fun with books is a great way to hook children into reading. ALIA have succeeded with the difficult task of selecting an NSS title that is age appropriate for the youngest library patrons across Australia, but is still relatable for an older audience – so I say, hats off to them!
Jessica Marston
Parent & Teacher Librarian at Hagley Farm School
Footnote – I have just started reading the latest collaboration between the I Got This hat team, an adventurous tale full of humour, Captain Jimmy Cook Discovers Third Grade. Keep an eye out for this and future Jimmy Cook titles.
If you celebrate NSS this year, why not share one happy hat snap - (no faces without approval) and email to info@cbcatas.org and I will put together a celebratory page on the blog.
Have You Got Your Hat Ready? - National Simultaneo...


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Lois McMaster Bujold – Ethan of Athos
tags: audiobook, book review, ethan of athos, grover gardner, lois mcmaster bujold, vorkosigan saga
142. Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold (1986)
Vorkosigan Saga, Book 7
(although it can easily be read as a stand-alone)
1. Falling Free*
2. Shards of Honor*
3. Barrayar
4. The Warrior's Apprentice*
(stars indicate stand-alones/starting points)
Read By: Grover Gardner
Length: 6h 55m (256 pages)
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery
Started: 06 November 2010
Finished: 11 November 2010
Where did it come from? From the publishers.
Why do I have it? Hi, Bujoldian fangirl!
Talking to girls for
the first time: hard no matter
how old a boy is.
Summary: Athos is one of the most isolated planets in the galactic community, which is exactly how the inhabitants like it. It's a planet entirely of men, where contact with off-planet sources is strictly limited, and each next generation is conceived in vitro and incubated in uterine replicators. This system has worked for hundreds of years, but now Athos is facing a serious problem: their carefully cultured lines of ovarian tissue, the same cell lines that have provided half of the genetic material of every Athosian for centuries, are failing.
Dr. Ethan Urquhart is the head of one of Athos's District Reproduction Centers, and he is well aware of the grave prospects for his planet's future. When a very expensive order of ovarian tissue from off-world turns out to be useless, Ethan is chosen for a vital but unprecedented mission: to go off-world himself, find some replacement cell cultures, and personally safeguard them on their way back to Athos.
Ethan only gets as far as the transfer hub of Kline Station before things start to go wrong. The enormous space station is overwhelming enough for someone who has never before seen, let alone been forced to interact with, women. But Ethan has bigger problems on his plate as he swiftly becomes tangled in a plot that involves spies, military operatives, subterfuge, murder, and a fugitive carrying something that could change the fate of the human race forever.
Review: I'm afraid my reviews of Lois McMaster Bujold's books, and of the Vorkosigan Saga in particular, are in danger of becoming repetitive. My opinion of almost all of her books boils down to: Love her! Read them! And Ethan of Athos is no exception. Bujold's got an uncanny ability to create multidimensional, flawed, and loveable characters in a very short space. Even though Ethan is almost painfully naïve throughout the book, it's hard not to sympathize with him and cheer for him right from the beginning.
Bujold's also got a deft hand with dialogue; the characters have just the right amount of snarky wit to keep things lively without losing the rhythms of how real people talk. The same sense of humor is present throughout the book — I'm still giggling about one of the parts with the newts — but it's well-blended with the action, the politics, and the emotional pathos that make up the rest of the story. The whole thing moves along quickly, telling a complete story in a lean seven hours of audiobook — no unnecessary or wasted scenes here.
Ethan of Athos also showcases how good Bujold can be at introducing more serious topics in her fiction, without having the story become entirely about The Issues. In this case, the story on the surface is essentially a spy thriller, but there are deeper layers dealing with sexism, the rights of the individual vs. the society, and homophobia. The sexism angle is the most obvious; after all, Athos is a society founded for the express purpose of protecting men from the evil, corrupting influence of women. Watching Ethan deal with the contrast between his indoctrinated beliefs and the reality of meeting actual women was fascinating, and I appreciated that Bujold left him not-quite-converted and still grappling with his prejudices at the end of the book, rather than taking the easier but less-realistic path of a complete epiphany.
I also found it fascinating that while Ethan is dealing with his own sexism, he also has to deal with others' homophobia against Athosians (who are, after all, actually trying to recruit their children to bolster their planet's flagging genetic diversity). There's a very interesting interplay between various characters' perceptions, prejudices, upbringings, and experiences that hums away beneath the surface, raising questions and making the reader think without competing with the narrative flow of the story.
As per usual, Grover Gardner does a wonderful job with the narration. His voice blends seamlessly into those of the characters, making it easy for listeners to lose themselves in the story. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Ethan of Athos is set in the Vorkosigan universe, but only mentions Miles in passing. Commander Elli Quinn of the Dendarii Mercenary Fleet is a major character in this book, but she's introduced well enough that it could easily be read independently of (or as an introduction to) the larger series.
Links: The e-book can be downloaded for free from Baen CDs (It's part of Miles, Mystery, and Mayhem).
Other Reviews: Janicu's Book Blog
First Line: The birth was progressing normally.
from → 4 stars, Audiobook, Mystery/Thriller, Science Fiction
← Andrew Taylor – The Anatomy of Ghosts
Jonathan Stroud – The Ring of Solomon →
janicu permalink
You described the sexism and homophobia ideas really well in this review! Yes, that's it exactly. The way Bujold explored those themes by Ethan's life on his home planet compared to his experiences off of it was really well done.
Thanks for linking to my review by the way. :)
Janicu – I was really struck by the idea of a planet where homosexuality was not only accepted, but expected, since unless you were asexual, there was literally no other way to be. It adds an interesting twist to the nature/nurture debate, eh?


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Singapore economic growth slows to 0.1% in Q2, lowest in a decade
Singapore's economy grew by a meagre 0.1 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, the lowest in a decade, according to official estimates released on Friday (Jul 12).
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By Tang See Kit @SeeKitCNA
12 Jul 2019 08:00AM (Updated: 12 Jul 2019 11:30PM )
SINGAPORE: Singapore's economy grew by a meagre 0.1 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, the lowest in a decade, according to official estimates released on Friday (Jul 12).
That widely missed economists' forecasts of 1.1 per cent and was the lowest since the second quarter of 2009 when gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 1.2 per cent, according to Bloomberg data.
The flash estimate, which is computed largely from data gathered in the first two months of the quarter, was also significantly weaker than the revised 1.1 per cent growth in the first three months of 2019.
On a quarter-on-quarter seasonally adjusted annualised basis, Singapore's GDP contracted by 3.4 per cent, way below the median forecast of 0.1 per cent in a Reuters poll and a reversal from the 3.8 per cent growth in the previous quarter.
This marked the worst quarter-on-quarter performance since the third quarter of 2012, according to OCBC's head of treasury research and strategy Selena Ling.
READ: As Singapore relooks 2019 projections, economists warn of possible technical recession
Manufacturing, which accounts for about one-fifth of the economy, was the main drag, said economists.
The sector extended a 0.4 per cent decline in the first quarter to contract by a much wider 3.8 per cent between April and June on a year-on-year basis. Output declines in the electronics and precision engineering clusters more than offset expansions in the rest of the manufacturing clusters, said MTI.
This underperformance was probably exacerbated by the trade impasse between the United States and China prior to last month's Group of 20 meeting, and the possible kneejerk reactions in manufacturing supply chain activities following the US bans on Chinese technology giant Huawei, said Ms Ling.
In other parts of the economy, construction continued its turnaround on the back of an increase in public sector construction activities, albeit at a slower pace in the second quarter.
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The sector grew by 2.2 per cent on a year-on-year basis, following a 2.7 per cent expansion in the previous quarter. The services producing industries expanded by 1.2 per cent on a year-on-year basis, unchanged from the previous three months, supported primarily by the finance and insurance sectors, other services industries, and information and communications sectors, said MTI.
TECHNICAL RECESSION AHEAD?
The worse-than-expected flash estimates for the second quarter hint at a much deeper slowdown than initially thought, with little chances of a turnaround in the rest of the year, economists said.
For one, there remains no certainty of a US-China trade deal and the conflict has since widened into the technology space, further exacerbating downside risks, said Maybank Kim Eng economist Lee Ju Ye.
Even if there is a deal given how the world's two biggest economies have agreed to restart negotiations last month, that might only be finalised in the final quarter of 2019.
"We don't think there's any optimistic factor in the third quarter … so we are looking at a continued decline in manufacturing into the third quarter. Outlook for exports isn't that great either given the trade disruptions," Ms Lee said.
Already, non-oil domestic exports logged double-digit declines for the third straight month in May. The purchasing managers' index, a key barometer of activity in the manufacturing industry, contracted for the second consecutive month in June.
READ: No quick turnaround in Singapore's exports, more downside risks in 2019 growth: Economists
Economists are also not counting on services, which make up two-thirds of the economy, and construction to make up for the slack.
Given the grim global environment, Ms Lee reckoned that growth in external-oriented sectors within services, such as transportation and storage, and wholesale trade, will continue to weaken.
Any gains in construction are also unlikely to offset the softness in the economy, given that the sector accounts for just 4 per cent of Singapore's real GDP, she added.
Echoing that, ING's chief economist Robert Carnell pointed to "strong drivers" ahead for the decline in manufacturing.
"Singapore's highly export-driven economy leaves it very exposed to the US-China trade war and the broader slowdown in world trade. Singapore's concentration in the electronics sector during a global tech-slump and technology war also take a toll on the economy," he wrote in a note.
"We don't see any prospect for a substantial improvement in these areas any time soon, though the rate of decline could now be moderating. Nevertheless, the longer the manufacturing sector remains depressed, the more likely this weakness will spill over into services and other sectors."
Several watchers of the local economy are hence pencilling in the odds of a technical recession – defined as two straight quarters of quarter-on-quarter contraction – by the next quarter.
"(The second-quarter flash estimates) brought first-half GDP growth to a paltry 0.6 per cent year-on-year, which is the weakest first-half growth since the first half of 2009, and clearly heightens the risk of a technical recession if growth momentum remains tepid going into the third quarter," said Ms Ling from OCBC.
Ms Lee from Maybank Kim Eng warned that the latest growth numbers suggest a greater risk of a "deeper" technical recession by the third quarter, instead of the house's earlier warning of a "shallow" technical recession.
Such a scenario will take a toll on the local labour market, with retrenchments in the manufacturing and trade-related services sectors likely to worsen, she added.
Also concerned about the labour market, Ms Ling pointed out that growth in the services sector has moderated sharply from the 2.9 per cent from a year ago period.
"Given the importance of the service sector as a jobs engine, we're wary if this could start to impact hiring intentions if sentiments remain lacklustre into the second half, albeit the new DRC (Dependency Ratio Ceiling) measures from January 2020 may mitigate any fallout on this front," said the long-time Singapore economy watcher, referring to the tightening of the foreign worker quotas announced during Budget 2019.
READ: Becoming less reliant on foreign manpower: Why is it so hard for Singapore's F&B industry?
READ: Tighter foreign worker quotas in services sector 'necessary' to sustain restructuring, says Zaqy Mohamad
As for the full-year growth forecast that policymakers are looking to revise by next month, economists, such as Mr Brian Tan from Barclays and Mr Jeff Ng from Continuum Economics, expect that to be lowered to 1 to 2 per cent from the current 1.5 to 2.5 per cent.
The most bearish revision forecast came from OCBC's Ms Ling, who said a 0 to 1 per cent range "may be more realistic at this juncture".
MAS TO THE RESCUE?
Given the sluggish growth prospects ahead, economists have raised their bets on the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to ease its exchange-rate based monetary policy in October when it holds its bi-annual meeting.
"With global trade still reeling from the effects of the trade tensions and broader slowdown in the global economy, downside growth risks remain," said ANZ's head of Asia research Khoon Goh.
Describing Singapore's economy at a "standstill" in the second quarter, Mr Goh added: "Given below potential growth this year and the MAS core inflation expected to head towards 1 per cent year-on-year, we now expect the MAS to ease policy at their October review, reducing the slope of the policy band slightly to 0.5 per cent per annum from 1 per cent."
Agreeing, Mr Tan from Barclays said the risks have now shifted towards the MAS easing even more aggressively.
"Potentially, we think the MAS could reverse all of its policy tightening from last year and reduce the slope to 0 per cent, especially if the third-quarter GDP reading implies a technical recession which is not our base case but cannot be ruled out," he added.
The Singapore central bank tightened monetary policy twice in 2018, before standing pat in April.
Some have even raised the possibility of an inter-meeting move.
"The numbers do show the impact of a few trade-related industries on overall GDP growth and it raises the chance that MAS will turn to a more dovish stance even before October, though it remains more likely to be October," said Mr Ng.
The last time MAS surprised markets with an inter-meeting move was in January 2015, when it unexpectedly reduced the slope of its monetary policy band ahead of its April scheduled review on the back of a sharp drop in global oil prices.
Following Friday's lacklustre economic data, the Singapore dollar fell as much as 0.1 per cent to 1.3588 against the US dollar but has since recovered mildly to last trade at 1.3579 as at 11.50am.
Source: CNA/sk(rw)
Singapore economy


Don't Call Me a Saint?
Yesterday, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops enthusiastically endorsed the canonization of Dorothy Day, the American-born co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. Day's "cause," as it is known in church circles, was first introduced by John Cardinal O'Connor, the late Archbishop of New York. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the current archbishop, was required under the terms of a 2007 Vatican document to consult with the regional bishops conference (in this case the USCCB) on the advisability of pursuing the canonization of Day, whose ministry was based in New York City. The bishops approved the proposal by a voice vote, after a brief discussion in which bishops praised the woman who admirers refer to simply as Dorothy.
It is exciting news. If anyone deserves to be a saint it's Dorothy Day, not only because of her decades of direct service to the poor, her critique of the systems that kept people in poverty, her heartfelt invitation of thousands of people to participate in the corporal works of mercy, and her moving writings; but also for her personal piety and generosity. The publication of her journals and letters over the last few years, which detailed her compassionate approach to everyone in her life—from her daughter Tamar to a homeless man just turned up on her doorstep--only added to her luster. Canonization will bring more millions more people to her provocative writings, raise interest in the Catholic Worker movement, and challenge believers to meditate on her simplicity of life and her lifelong advocacy for the poor and marginalized.
But there is a problem. And that problem is a quote attributed to, of all people, Dorothy Day. "Don't call me a saint," she is often said to have said. "I don't want to be dismissed that easily." That quote is probably the biggest barrier to her canonization. Not that it would deter the Vatican, since the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints is used to dealing with the humility of prospective saints. But the quote sets up a kind of spiritual roadblock for many of her admirers. Many believe she is a saint, but balk at supporting her canonization. Given that quote, would Dorothy really want to be canonized? Oddly, supporting her feels almost like a betrayal.
Anticipating the bishops' vote, I put that question a few days ago to Robert Ellsberg, the publisher of Orbis Books, and the editor of The Duty of Delight, Dorothy Day's journals, and All the Way to Heaven, her collected letters. As a young man on leave from Harvard University, Ellsberg had worked with Dorothy, and served for a time as editor of the Catholic Worker newspaper. So I asked him a few questions: What was the source of that famous quote? What did he suppose she meant? What would he imagine Dorothy's feelings to be about her canonization, hard as that might be to surmise? And, finally, how did he feel about the possibility of St. Dorothy Day? His answer is below.
This afternoon, through the miracle of live-streaming, I was able to listen to in on the discussion by the US Catholic bishops about the canonization of Dorothy Day. Cardinal Dolan, who has vigorously supported the cause initiated by his predecessor Cardinal John O'Connor, was seeking an expression of approval—not for the cause of Day's canonization but the "opportuneness" for pursuing the cause. Several bishops, including Cardinal McCarrick and Cardinal George spoke in favor of the resolution, and at the end it received a unanimous voice vote of approval.
No one, I was glad to see, referred to Day's oft-quoted line, "Don't call me a saint. I don't want to be dismissed that easily." This line comes up all too frequently in discussions of Day's canonization, with the usual implication being: Can't you let the poor woman rest in peace?
Whatever the provenance of her famous "quote"—the important question is: What did she mean?
Dorothy's own relationship with saints was anything but cynical. Both her daily speech and her writings were filled with references to St. Paul, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Teresa of Avila. She treasured their stories. For Dorothy these were not idealized super-humans, but her constant companions and daily guides in the imitation of Christ. She relished the human details of their struggles to be faithful, realizing full well that in their own time they were often regarded as eccentrics or dangerous troublemakers.
Furthermore, long before Vatican II took up the theme of the universal call to holiness, Dorothy Day taught that "we are all called to be saints." As she noted, "We might as well get over our bourgeois fear of the name. We might also get used to recognizing the fact that there is some of the saint in all of us. Inasmuch as we are growing, putting off the old man and putting on Christ, there is some of the saint, the holy, the divine right there." In other words, Dorothy Day regarded sanctity as the ordinary vocation of every Christian—not just the goal of a chosen few.
What Dorothy certainly opposed—and what saint wouldn't?—was being put on a pedestal, fitted to some pre-fab conception of holiness that would strip her of her humanity and, at the same time, dismiss the radical challenge of the gospel. "Dorothy Day could do such things (live in poverty, feed the hungry, go to jail for the cause of peace). She's a saint." For those who said this sort of thing, the implication was that such actions—which would be out of reach for ordinary folk—must have come easily for her. She had no patience for that kind of cop-out.
Doubtless there is now plenty of praise for Dorothy Day that would have provoked her famous scowl. She might have been surprised—and disappointed—that not a single bishop stood up to say Nay. Were there not at least a few to stand up and admit they have no use for her pacifism, her refusal to pay taxes, her general disdain for the free-market capitalist system?
Cardinal Dolan, like Cardinal O'Connor before him, has addressed the question of whether her youthful bohemian lifestyle, including an abortion, render her ineligible for canonization. As he has noted, her early life, with all her acknowledged mistakes and sins, were part of the journey that led her to Christ. And in the conversion that ensued, she pursued her relationship with Christ with heroic faithfulness. As is the case with all saints, it is her very humanity that makes her such a compelling model.
I was honored to be part of the initial conversations with Cardinal O'Connor, along with others who knew her, regarding Dorothy's possible canonization. It is clear that whatever Dorothy might think about this is not ultimately important. The process of naming saints is not some kind of posthumously bestowed honor. It is more of a gift that the church bestows on itself. There is always the danger in celebrating such a gift that the church will simply congratulate itself on including such a heroic figure, name a church after her, and be done with her.
But I trust that this is a gift that will continue to trouble our consciences, that will not let us rest while war, hunger, poverty, and injustice are so pervasive in our world. Dorothy believed we needed a new kind of saint. As she remarked as a child, "Where were the saints to try to change the social order, not just to minister to the slaves, but to do away with slavery?" I believe the possible canonization of Dorothy Day is an answer to that question. There are those who might try to fit her into a conventional mold. But I don't think she will allow herself to be dismissed that easily.
Frank-Fr. Martin began his post with the USCCB story.
Thanks to Phil Runkel for this choice quote (and his longtime stewardship of the Day papers at Marquette).
I'm getting a little tired of seeing poor Dorothy Day trotted out again and again and again. If your cause has only one saint to exhibit, it's a poor cause indeed, and your parade suffers sadly for lack of variety. Surely, there are other holy progressive exemplars waiting patiently in the shadows.
Also, if you don't get her canonized soon, before all the sixties Catholics disappear into nursing homes, the momentum could be lost. Neither God nor Dorothy would mind, but what a loss to the cause!
Promoting Dorothy Day as a saint does not advance evagelization. Sainthood should not be a promote popularity contest to prom secular politcal ideas such as marxism in the Church that misfrepreesent or replace the true Gospel message os salvation to all regardless of class and other arbitray social contstruct in fashion.
Most Catholics are not insprired and even repelled by fashionable public sentiment and rhetoric surrounding Dorthy Day's life. Making Dorthy Day a saint is contrived. Many Catholics avoid Catholic education and "progressive" organizations becasue of its pronounce political interest well outside and beyond the Gospel message. More is being taught and promoted about idiosyncratic social and secular goals than teaching the true Gospel message. Sainthood for radicals exploits the Church to legitimize radical social and political ideas as were commonly held by Dorothy Day.
The Church needs to stay out of politics and politcial movements just as Christ did. The Church should be a universal Church not a Church of radical politcal factions.
Dorothy Day is no "liberal" saint, she is a Catholic saint. Her deep and unwavering relationship with God, which she found and was nourished in a the Catholic tradition, gave the direction and form to her life.
In the video above, Buckley looks to me like an arrogant ideologue, full of himself.
Ironic that the same bishops who generated a flimsy statement on workers' rights would endorse sainthood for Dorothy Day. The image of Catholics Workers picketing with cemetary workers during a strike in the late '40s while Cardinal Spellman's seminarian scabs dug graves is a powerful reminder about challnging the social order.
It's sad that every thread in "In All Things" has to evoke a reflexive remark about the bishops.
I think that Dorothy Day would also stand with the adjunct faculty's attempt to unionize at Manhattan College.
I think Dorothy was more than insightful in her comment. I think she realized that the gesture in her case would be more than dismissive. Is it not ironic that a voice vote of Bishops carred this proposal while the very same Bishops in their plan for the New Evangelization opted to put the issue of Witness off to 2015-16? http://usccb.org/news/2012/12-185.cfm This is very linear thinking. First we do this, then we do that. I am sure Dorothy would have much to say on that choice and that methodology. But then, women know how to multitask.
Fr. Jim, I, too, am excited about the news and thank you for posting it along with the commentary by Robert Ellsberg. Dorothy has been a model for me throughout my adult life, even though I have poorly lived up to her example. When I was a college student majoring in sociology and psychology, Dorothy visited our campus. I still have an image of her walking with a few nuns, dressed rather frumpily and wearing what we called "social workre" shoes! She was an inspiration to the nuns of the college who in turn inspired the students. Social justice has gotten a bad rap in some quarters. I wonder if it has been forgotten that are are differnt ways to attain social justice and this is a prudential matter.
One of the many ways that Dorothy's life touched me, was her giving up the man she loved for her faith. What a sacrifice. Perhaps harder than lilving a life of poverty?
I have read that Dorothy has been referred to as a Christian anarchist (or anarchic Christian). I'd be interested to know Mr. Ellsberg;s take on this. I wonder what she would think of our gargantuan government. She was hard on the laity. She was shocked to see women dressed in fur coats leaving St. Patrick's Cathedreal when so many poor lived in NYC. Now, when many of the Catholic laity are well-educated and affluent, what would she think of our materialistic lifestyle?
As she has been a saint to me for many years, I pray: St. Dorothy pray for us.
If Dorothy Day is a saint, so is William F. Buckley, Jr.
The Church doesn't canonize people for their benefit. They already have a lot more than the Church can ever do for them. It canonizes them for our benefit. And Dorothy Day's strictures about not putting saints on a pedestal and forgetting them (or maybe calling on them only in an hour of our need) were also meant for us.
Sainthood: "We might as well get over our bourgeois fear of the name." I love that quote! Thanks to "Saint" Dorothy and to you, Fr. Jim, for calling us all to saintly lives.
Something transforming occurs when we meet the ''other,'' the ''stranger,'' the ''lost,'' and yes, the ''enemy'' as equally noble, human, and lovable as ourselves. Perhaps each of us has our own way of understanding what it means to see Christ in one another. Dorothy Day would, I believe, have each of us learn this deep truth directly from God. From that lesson flows the understandings that call us to non-violence. As our world crumbles, and if and when catastrophe falls, being ready with some of this oil in our lamps will prepare us to show love while others turn to fear-based, ideological slander and malice. Dorothy Day, Ghandi, and our most Blessed Brother Jesus, would have us be more deeply transformed. Even if the Bishops cannot bring themselves to celebrate her pacifism, or her appropriate contempt for the way the world's systems murderously devalue human life and well being, we can take hope in this recognition, I think. Not even Christ could totally remove the need to hate our life in this world, (an appropraite topic for the NCCB to explicate, perhaps), but Dorothy Day was one who showed what loving Him and His Reign truely looks like, even if some will attack her and call such attacks faithfullness.


UNITED NATIONS - The Indonesian province of Aceh has made remarkable progress in rebuilding since the devastating tsunami six years ago but faces major challenges in cutting poverty and inequality and reducing the impact of future disasters, a United Nations (UN)-backed report said Wednesday.
Aceh, one of the worst hit places in 11 countries ravaged by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 230,000 people overall and caused billions of dollars in damage, has made great strides in restoring community infrastructure and services and empowering locals in a wide range of sectors, according to the province's first ever human development report commissioned by the local government in cooperation with the UN Development Program (UNDP).
"The achievements in Aceh since the tsunami go beyond anything imaginable six years ago," UNDP Deputy Country Director Stephen Rodriques said. "Challenges remain for the province, including the need to resuscitate the economy to generate productive jobs, improve the quality and efficiency of public services and bring those services to the poor and disadvantaged."
Reducing poverty, improving security, reducing the impact of future natural disasters, reversing the downward trend in women's well-being and redressing inequalities in less developed areas top the province's list of major challenges, the 2010 Aceh Human Development Report stresses.
Life expectancy has increased by one year from 67 to 68 since 2002 and the incidence of poverty has declined to 22 percent from a peak of 30 percent in 2002, but this remains well above the 14 percent for Indonesia as a whole.
Although Aceh's students receive an average of 8.6 years of schooling compared with a national average of 7.6 years, improvements are needed in the quality of education as well as expanded vocational training to help young people find jobs, the report notes.
"The government is fully committed to advance basic sectors such as education and health, and also push areas of development where Aceh is still lagging behind," Province Secretary T. Setia Budi said. "Another issue is to ensure development does not leave behind the poor, vulnerable and those living in remote areas where access is difficult."
The report advocates six goals to enhance the province's human development: channeling funds and delegating authority for empowerment; spreading benefits to include social groups that may be overlooked; strengthening health and education services; creating new livelihood and employment opportunities; building measures to reduce future disaster impact on forestry, agriculture and fisheries; and channeling resources towards advancing human development.


The assault happened at around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Locust Hill Avenue at Overlook Terrace.
Three men who assaulted a 39-year old Tuesday evening remain at large, said police spokesman Dean Politopoulos.
The assault happened at around 8:45 p.m. in the area of Locust Hill Avenue at Overlook Terrace.
The victim, who suffered non-life threatening injuries was transported to a local hospital.
After the man was hit in the head the three suspects fled the scene. A fourth suspect was arrested at the scene on an unrelated warrant.
Police believe the suspect and victims were known to each other and the assault was not a random event.


ECMS proudly co-sponsored AGC FEC's Thirsty Thursday event in Delray Beach, Fl. This event took place at Boston's on the Beach from 5:30-7:30 pm. Daymon Allmon and Chip Post attended this event, representing ECMS. It was great seeing everyone out there and we look forward to the next one.


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Kaveri South Indian River, Know More About It
The Kaveri, also known as Cauvery, is one of the major Indian rivers flowing through the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
In ancient Tamil literature, it was also called Ponni (the golden maid, about the fine silt it deposits).
The Kaveri river rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu district of Karnataka, at an elevation of 1,341 m above mean sea level and flows for about 800 km before its outfall into the Bay of Bengal.
It reaches the sea in Poompuhar in the Mayiladuthurai district.
It is the third-largest river – after Godavari and Krishna – in southern India and the largest in the State of Tamil Nadu, which, on its course, bisects the state into north and south.
The Kaveri is a sacred river to the people of South India and is worshipped as the Goddess Kaveriamma.
It is considered to be among the seven holy rivers of India.
It is extensively used for agriculture in both of the states mentioned above.
1 The etymology of the river was derived from the Sankheti word for "river"
2 Kaveri South Indian River, Know More About It
2.1 About Kaveri River water dispute
2.2 Kaveri South Indian River
The etymology of the river was derived from the Sankheti word for "river"
The etymology of the river was derived from the Sankheti word for "river", kaaviri kaaveeri (kaveri), as this is the major river for the Sankethi people live along its waters.
The catchment area of the Kaveri basin is estimated to be 81,155 square kilometers (31,334 sq mi), with many tributaries including Harangi, Hemavati, Kabini, Bhavani, Lakshmana Tirtha, Noyyal, and Arkavati.
The river basin covers three states and a Union Territory as follows: Tamil Nadu, 43,868 square kilometers (16,938 sq mi); Karnataka, 34,273 square kilometers (13,233 sq mi); Kerala, 2,866 square kilometers (1,107 sq mi), and Puducherry, 148 square kilometers (57 sq mi).
In Chamarajanagar district, it forms the island of Shivanasamudra, on either side of which are the scenic Shivanasamudra Falls that descend about 100 meters (330 ft). The river is the source of an extensive irrigation system and for hydroelectric power.
The river has supported irrigated agriculture for centuries and served as the lifeblood of southern India's ancient kingdoms and modern cities.
Access to the river's waters has pitted Indian states against each other for decades.
It was profusely described in the Tamil Sangam literature and is held in great reverence in Hinduism.
The Kaveri river delta is thickly populated, one which is frequently affected by tropical cyclones formed in the Bay of Bengal.
About Kaveri River water dispute
The sharing of the Kaveri River waters has been the source of a severe conflict between the two Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The genesis of this conflict rests in two agreements in 1892 and 1924 between the Madras Presidency and the Kingdom of Mysore.
The 802 kilometers (498 mi) Kaveri river has a 44,000 km2 basin area in Tamil Nadu and a 32,000 km2 basin area in Karnataka.
The inflow from Karnataka is 425 TMCft, whereas that from Tamil Nadu is 252 TMCft.
Based on the inflow, Karnataka demands its due share of water from the river.
It states that the pre-independence agreements are invalid and are angled heavily in favor of the Madras Presidency and has demanded a renegotiated settlement based on "equitable sharing of the waters."
On the other hand, Tamil Nadu says that it has already developed almost 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km2) of land and has come to depend very heavily on the existing pattern of usage.
It says that any change in this pattern will adversely affect the livelihood of millions of farmers in the state.
Kaveri South Indian River
The pre Independence agreement was based on the area occupied by the Mysuru Kingdom and Madras presidency.
The areas of South Canara (previously under Madras presidency), Coorg Province, which was later merged with Karnataka, have not been accounted for to calculate the right of Karnataka's water share.
Although the River Kavery originated in the Coorg Province, the Coorg province was not included in the agreement.
This raises a question about the validity of bilateral agreements between Mysuru and Madras presidencies.
Decades of negotiations between the parties bore no fruit until the Government of India constituted a tribunal in 1990 to look into the matter.
After hearing arguments of all the parties involved for the next 16 years, the tribunal delivered its final verdict on 5 February 2007.
In its verdict, the tribunal allocated 419 TMC of water annually to Tamil Nadu and 282 TMC to Karnataka; 30 TMC of Cauvery river water to Kerala, and 7 TMC to Puducherry.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu being the major shareholders, Karnataka was ordered to release 192 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu in a typical year from June to May.
The dispute, however, did not end there, as all four states decided to file review petitions seeking clarifications and possible renegotiation of the order.
Categories Home Tags Cauvery, Kaveri, River
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