The Asthma Society is warning people with asthma to be aware of hidden triggers over the Christmas period
Hidden asthma triggers at Christmas and severe weather can make keeping asthma controlled over the Christmas period challenging for many people with asthma and for parents of children with asthma in Ireland.
The Asthma Society of Ireland runs its ‘Control Asthma at Christmas’ awareness campaign in the lead up to Christmas to highlight the important message that this time of year can cause many problems for people with asthma.
It is especially important to follow your doctor’s medical advice if you notice your asthma symptoms worsening and to always make sure you or your child takes their asthma medication as prescribed.
The Asthma Society of Ireland recommends asthma sufferers to take the following steps to minimise exposure to triggers and maintain asthma control over the festive season:
Christmas trees gather mould from being outdoors in wet weather. Mould spores are common asthma triggers. Ideally, buy an artificial tree for the home and wipe it down to remove any dust particles. If you are intent on having a real tree, allow your tree to dry fully before bringing it into the home.
If you are using an artificial tree, which has not been stored in a sealed bag, it may be harbouring dust, it is advisable to vacuum artificial trees before use, to remove all dust particles.
Avoid artificial snow sprays and fragrance sprays which can all induce asthma symptoms.
Wash fabric decorations in hot water before displaying; this will get rid of any dust that has been gathered while in storage. Plastic, glass or metal decorations should be used in order to prevent them gathering dust mites. Put artificial trees in a closed or sealed bag for storing.
Always carry your reliever inhaler with you at all times.
Always take your asthma medication as prescribed by your doctor or health care professional.
If you know that cold air triggers your asthma, take two puffs of your reliever inhaler before venturing outside in the cold air. Remember to carry your Asthma Attack Card with you.
In freezing conditions, prescribed inhalers may not work properly. They should be warmed before use.
“Christmas and the festive season can be a difficult time for people with asthma for whom smoke fires, candles and New Year fireworks is a trigger,” says Asthma Society of Ireland Asthma Nurse Specialist Frances Guiney.
“It is recommended for asthma sufferers to avoid smoky situations wherever possible and to admire fireworks from indoors. Having a good asthma management plan is one of the best ways to control your asthma, so speak to your health care professional to make sure your plan is working to control your asthma.”
Christmas time can create additional pressures and the Asthma Society recommends people with asthma to try and avoid unnecessary stress. “If stress is a trigger for your asthma, monitoring your condition and taking your medicine regularly should help to minimise symptoms. Speak to your doctor or call the Asthma Helpline if you are going through a difficult time and feel you need more support,” says Ms Guiney.
By following these simple steps, people with asthma and parents of children with asthma can help to ensure they stay healthy and enjoy optimal asthma control over the Christmas period.
2011年12月21日星期三
2011年12月7日星期三
Subaru XV
There are some big changes going on at Subaru. First the BRZ coupe, introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show, added some much needed sparkle to the line-up and now the XV crossover has arrived to boost flagging sales figures in Europe.Tooling Subaru’s answer to the Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX and Hyundai ix35 should open up the brand to a whole new type of customer, but is it a genuine contender in this lucrative segment?
With its established models like the Forester and Outlander, Subaru has always had a reputation for building robust and reliable cars. But the XV has been tasked with breaking that mould and bringing some more style and finesse to the table. Cast your eye over the exterior though and it’s clear the XV hasn’t forgotten its roots.
The hexagonal front grille and ‘hawk eye’ headlights make it unmistakeably a Subaru, while the jutting rear bumper and carefully placed plastic cladding give it a sturdy appearance. It’s a well-balanced profile and the newly designed 17-inch aluminium wheels add some unexpected flair.
On the inside Subaru has made a concerted effort to up the quality, and it shows. Soft-touch padding on the dashboard and upper door trims is a welcome addition, while the layout, consisting of three large dials for the air-con and a pair of colour displays for the sat-nav and other vehicle information, is logical and easy to use. Unfortunately there’s still cheap scratchy plastics on the centre console, glovebox and door trim that drag the premium feel down.
A thin and steeply-raked A-pillar means visibility is excellent, while there’s loads of legroom for rear passengers. Boot space is impressive too – 380 litres with the rear seats up and 1,270 litres with them folded flat, which is a full 410 litres more than the Qashqai.
There are three engines on offer - new 1.6 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol units, both available with a manual or CVT gearbox, and the familiar 2.0-litre boxer diesel which is only offered with a six-speed manual. We drove the latter as, despite being the most expensive, it’s predicted to be the biggest seller in the UK.
It’s an impressive engine – smooth, punchy and eager to rev, although there’s little benefit to letting it spin past 3,500rpm. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 50.4mpg and 146g/km respectively won’t win any environmental awards, but are virtually identical to the equivalent Mitsubishi ASX, so at least it’s on a par with its peers. The gearshift has a fairly long-throw action, but it’s smoother to use than the manual ‘box on the current Impreza.
With its rallying heritage, you’s expect a Subaru to handle well, and the XV doesn’t disappoint. The steering could do with some more feedback, but there’s nothing wrong with the way the XV corners – resisting body roll and gripping the tarmac tightly as Subaru’s standard-fit AWD system constantly shuffles torque to the wheel that needs it the most.
After you’ve finished throwing it around in the bends, refinement on the motorway is also a plus with barely a whisper from under the bonnet and only a faint rustle from the wing mirrors. It’s a shame then that the ride is a touch too firm, especially at low speeds on bad surfaces around town – precisely where Subaru sees the XV spending most of its time.
With its established models like the Forester and Outlander, Subaru has always had a reputation for building robust and reliable cars. But the XV has been tasked with breaking that mould and bringing some more style and finesse to the table. Cast your eye over the exterior though and it’s clear the XV hasn’t forgotten its roots.
The hexagonal front grille and ‘hawk eye’ headlights make it unmistakeably a Subaru, while the jutting rear bumper and carefully placed plastic cladding give it a sturdy appearance. It’s a well-balanced profile and the newly designed 17-inch aluminium wheels add some unexpected flair.
On the inside Subaru has made a concerted effort to up the quality, and it shows. Soft-touch padding on the dashboard and upper door trims is a welcome addition, while the layout, consisting of three large dials for the air-con and a pair of colour displays for the sat-nav and other vehicle information, is logical and easy to use. Unfortunately there’s still cheap scratchy plastics on the centre console, glovebox and door trim that drag the premium feel down.
A thin and steeply-raked A-pillar means visibility is excellent, while there’s loads of legroom for rear passengers. Boot space is impressive too – 380 litres with the rear seats up and 1,270 litres with them folded flat, which is a full 410 litres more than the Qashqai.
There are three engines on offer - new 1.6 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol units, both available with a manual or CVT gearbox, and the familiar 2.0-litre boxer diesel which is only offered with a six-speed manual. We drove the latter as, despite being the most expensive, it’s predicted to be the biggest seller in the UK.
It’s an impressive engine – smooth, punchy and eager to rev, although there’s little benefit to letting it spin past 3,500rpm. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 50.4mpg and 146g/km respectively won’t win any environmental awards, but are virtually identical to the equivalent Mitsubishi ASX, so at least it’s on a par with its peers. The gearshift has a fairly long-throw action, but it’s smoother to use than the manual ‘box on the current Impreza.
With its rallying heritage, you’s expect a Subaru to handle well, and the XV doesn’t disappoint. The steering could do with some more feedback, but there’s nothing wrong with the way the XV corners – resisting body roll and gripping the tarmac tightly as Subaru’s standard-fit AWD system constantly shuffles torque to the wheel that needs it the most.
After you’ve finished throwing it around in the bends, refinement on the motorway is also a plus with barely a whisper from under the bonnet and only a faint rustle from the wing mirrors. It’s a shame then that the ride is a touch too firm, especially at low speeds on bad surfaces around town – precisely where Subaru sees the XV spending most of its time.
2011年11月28日星期一
Now is the best time to plant, but be sure to pick the right type
If you're looking for a plant to provide privacy from neighbours, act as a focal point or add vertical interest, then snap up a tree - those planted now will establish quickly in moist soil, forming roots that will enable them to romp away in spring.
There are masses of trees on offer at garden centres and nurseries at this time of year. Many will be sold as container-grown specimens, but you'll also find bare-root trees. Generally cheaper to buy, these trees are two to three-year-old plants grown in a field and lifted for sale while dormant.
Yet choosing the perfect tree can be tricky. Many are one-season wonders that you'll soon tire of as they do little to earn their keep during the rest of the year.
But among those worth growing are crab apples - this large tribe of small trees, known botanically as malus, boast glorious scented blossom in spring and branches laden with showy fruit during autumn and winter.
Malus 'John Downie' has white flowers followed by orange fruit, while M. x zumi var. calocarpa 'Golden Hornet' is blessed with pink blossom and tiny yellow apples. M. tschonoskii has white flowers and chartreuse fruit, and its leaves turn yellow, orange, purple and bright red in autumn.
Ornamental cherries are probably the most exuberant of spring-flowering trees, but many fail to turn heads once the blossom starts to fade. Not Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' - the clouds of pink flowers that form on bare branches are replaced by a cloak of purple foliage. Another winner is P. sargentii, a roundheaded tree with pink flowers, striking autumn colour and attractive bark.
There are many fantastic varieties of sorbus, which will reward you with flowers in spring, handsome foliage, jewel-like berries and fiery autumnal tints. Sorbus vilmorinii is desired for its white flowers, ferny foliage and pinkish berries, while S. 'Joseph Rock' has bright yellow berries and leaves that turn shades of orange, red and purple. My favourite is S. cashmiriana, a small tree with pink flowers, graceful foliage and pure white berries that remain on branches well into winter.
Other hard-working varieties include Pyrus calleryana 'Chantiguide cleer', a slender tree with white flowers and glowing autumn foliage, and Amelanchier lamarckii - apart from spring flowers and black fruit, its green leaves turn crimson later in the year.
Whichever sort of tree you choose, avoid planting too close to your home: some have roots that can disrupt foundations, damage drains or lead to subsidence. Willows, poplars, oaks and other vigorous species need planting up to 65ft from buildings, while a gap of 12ft to 23ft is fine for smaller specimens. A useful to planting distances can be found at www.subsidencebureau.com, but as a general rule, roots cover a distance that's equal to twoand-a-half times the mature height of the tree.
Planting a container-grown tree in the ground does not take long but it's essential to do it correctly or it may fail to establish. Start by preparing the site. Skim off any weeds with a hoe, then dig a round hole that's about twice the diameter of the container and the same depth.
Spike the sides and bottom of the hole with a garden fork to allow roots to penetrate easily. Stand the tree in a bucket of water for a few minutes to ensure roots are damp, then slide off the container and tease out roots from the side and bottom. Place the tree in the centre of the hole and backfill with the excavated soil, firming it down with your hands to remove air pockets.
Bare root trees need planting at the same depth as they were growing before being lifted from the ground - there should be an obvious 'tide mark' of soil on the trunk.
After planting, give the soil a good soaking, then spread a 3in layer of bark, leaf mould or garden compost over the surface to lock in moisture and prevent weeds growing. Keep mulch clear of the trunk as contact can cause bark to soften and rot.
Any trees over 3ft will need shoring up. Use round or square tree stakes hammered into the ground vertically for bare root tree and stakes at 45 degrees for containergrown trees. Secure to the tree with plastic buckle ties.
Slow-growing or compact trees can be planted in large pots. First, cover the drainage holes in the base with bits of broken terracotta pot, then add a layer of soil-based John Innes No3 compost. Mix in some slow-release fertiliser granules. Place the tree in the pot and top up with more compost. Leave a 2in gap between the surface of the compost and the lip of the container to allow space for watering.
Keep compost moist and feed each spring. To do this, carefully scrape away loose compost from the surface and replace with fresh compost and a handful of fertiliser granules. Most trees will be happy in the same pot for up to five years but will eventually start to sulk when the roots run out of space. Pep them up by transferring to a slightly larger container.
There are masses of trees on offer at garden centres and nurseries at this time of year. Many will be sold as container-grown specimens, but you'll also find bare-root trees. Generally cheaper to buy, these trees are two to three-year-old plants grown in a field and lifted for sale while dormant.
Yet choosing the perfect tree can be tricky. Many are one-season wonders that you'll soon tire of as they do little to earn their keep during the rest of the year.
But among those worth growing are crab apples - this large tribe of small trees, known botanically as malus, boast glorious scented blossom in spring and branches laden with showy fruit during autumn and winter.
Malus 'John Downie' has white flowers followed by orange fruit, while M. x zumi var. calocarpa 'Golden Hornet' is blessed with pink blossom and tiny yellow apples. M. tschonoskii has white flowers and chartreuse fruit, and its leaves turn yellow, orange, purple and bright red in autumn.
Ornamental cherries are probably the most exuberant of spring-flowering trees, but many fail to turn heads once the blossom starts to fade. Not Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' - the clouds of pink flowers that form on bare branches are replaced by a cloak of purple foliage. Another winner is P. sargentii, a roundheaded tree with pink flowers, striking autumn colour and attractive bark.
There are many fantastic varieties of sorbus, which will reward you with flowers in spring, handsome foliage, jewel-like berries and fiery autumnal tints. Sorbus vilmorinii is desired for its white flowers, ferny foliage and pinkish berries, while S. 'Joseph Rock' has bright yellow berries and leaves that turn shades of orange, red and purple. My favourite is S. cashmiriana, a small tree with pink flowers, graceful foliage and pure white berries that remain on branches well into winter.
Other hard-working varieties include Pyrus calleryana 'Chantiguide cleer', a slender tree with white flowers and glowing autumn foliage, and Amelanchier lamarckii - apart from spring flowers and black fruit, its green leaves turn crimson later in the year.
Whichever sort of tree you choose, avoid planting too close to your home: some have roots that can disrupt foundations, damage drains or lead to subsidence. Willows, poplars, oaks and other vigorous species need planting up to 65ft from buildings, while a gap of 12ft to 23ft is fine for smaller specimens. A useful to planting distances can be found at www.subsidencebureau.com, but as a general rule, roots cover a distance that's equal to twoand-a-half times the mature height of the tree.
Planting a container-grown tree in the ground does not take long but it's essential to do it correctly or it may fail to establish. Start by preparing the site. Skim off any weeds with a hoe, then dig a round hole that's about twice the diameter of the container and the same depth.
Spike the sides and bottom of the hole with a garden fork to allow roots to penetrate easily. Stand the tree in a bucket of water for a few minutes to ensure roots are damp, then slide off the container and tease out roots from the side and bottom. Place the tree in the centre of the hole and backfill with the excavated soil, firming it down with your hands to remove air pockets.
Bare root trees need planting at the same depth as they were growing before being lifted from the ground - there should be an obvious 'tide mark' of soil on the trunk.
After planting, give the soil a good soaking, then spread a 3in layer of bark, leaf mould or garden compost over the surface to lock in moisture and prevent weeds growing. Keep mulch clear of the trunk as contact can cause bark to soften and rot.
Any trees over 3ft will need shoring up. Use round or square tree stakes hammered into the ground vertically for bare root tree and stakes at 45 degrees for containergrown trees. Secure to the tree with plastic buckle ties.
Slow-growing or compact trees can be planted in large pots. First, cover the drainage holes in the base with bits of broken terracotta pot, then add a layer of soil-based John Innes No3 compost. Mix in some slow-release fertiliser granules. Place the tree in the pot and top up with more compost. Leave a 2in gap between the surface of the compost and the lip of the container to allow space for watering.
Keep compost moist and feed each spring. To do this, carefully scrape away loose compost from the surface and replace with fresh compost and a handful of fertiliser granules. Most trees will be happy in the same pot for up to five years but will eventually start to sulk when the roots run out of space. Pep them up by transferring to a slightly larger container.
2011年11月8日星期二
Getting to grips with the right tyres for winter weather
The challenge of driving safely in winter conditions tests more than our driving skills – our tyres take the greatest strain. MICHAEL McALEER went to Rally School Ireland to see BMW test the theory behind the science of winter driving
WE’RE BOTH in identical cars, side by side doing 120 km/h heading up the motorway on a typically wet winter’s day. The only difference is my tyres have worn to 3mm of tread, and yours to 1.6mm. We both jump hard on the brakes at the same time. When I come to a stop, what speed are you still doing? 80km/h. Don’t take your tyres for granted.
In reality most of us did until last winter. In the midst of the last great snowfall, debate raged during the “big freeze” between stranded motorists who blamed their cars, and others dismissed those stuck in snow as being below-par drivers. The truth lies somewhere in between.
BMW, however, are being pro-active. Many of its drivers bore the brunt of the mocking from other motorists – and its dealers the ire of customers.
So it has teamed up with Rally School Ireland in Monaghan to offer a half-day course in winter driving tips. The course is open to all motorists who don’t want to repeat last winter’s mistakes and have a better chance in the slippery stuff.
The school is best known for offering exhilarating rally day experiences, with a fleet of top-level race cars. For the winter school, however, there’s a pair of BMW 316 diesels and a duo of 520d BMWs. One of each model is shod on regular summer tyres, the other on winter ones.
First some qualifiers: no matter how good you are, you’re not going to get a car on low-tread tyres up a snow-clad bank unless you carry it up yourself. Also, a set of winter tyres will not turn your Toyota Yaris into a Land Cruiser. But for the sort of conditions motorists encounter in the estates and side roads of Ireland they will probably give you enough grip to carry on slowly without ending up in either the ditch or the side of someone else’s car.
Regular – or summer – tyres are created from a rubber and silica compound that hardens at lower temperatures. Below 7 degrees centigrade the tyre’s compound hardens so the rubber doesn’t mould into the road: what you have is effectively a solid rubber slick.
David Smyth, owner of the rally school, says that considering the average annual temperatures here we should be fitting winter tyres from October to March.
The benefits of winter tyres don’t end at a balmy 7 degrees however. “There are still big benefits, even at 10 degrees. I personally would suggest, that for people who don’t do big mileage and who don’t drive the car hard with heavy braking, there’s a good case for having winter tyres on all year.”
Admittedly this doesn’t fit with the advice of tyre manufacturers, but Smyth is adamant that in the testing the Rally School has done on tyre grip over the years, the benefits of winter tyres on wet roads are clearly evident.
To prove his point we take to the track. It’s 11 degrees outside but the water-sprayer has been out to wet the track. A small hill road clad in special slippery plastic mimics the snow-covered off-ramp many were stuck on last winter. On the regular tyres we slip and slide, fighting for grip in the same way that many motorists struggled up slip roads during the “big freeze”. Plenty of sound and fury, but going nowhere. On winter tyres, we still slip a little and the electronic traction systems work hard, but we get up the hill.
From here it’s onto a long straight at 60km/h, hitting the wet plastic as we would a sudden icy stretch. Then we slam on the brakes. On regular tyres we slide at least four car lengths more than on winter treads. According to Smyth, at temperatures below 7 degrees there’s a 20 per cent improvement in braking distances in the wet and 10 per cent in the dry.
“If you fit winter tyres you will be able to travel like people in the rest of Europe do in far worse circumstances,” he says. “For me it’s just common sense. All the systems that save you, from stability control to ABS, they all depend on your contact with the road. Winter tyres give you the grip to allow the systems to do their job.”
On most modern cars, with dynamic control systems, the only signal you get is a flashing yellow light on the dashboard. Onboard safety controls such as dynamic stability control and traction control save lives every day, often unbeknownst to the motorist behind the wheel.
“The problem is that people take these systems for granted, or simply don’t know what they do,” says Smyth. That can make motorists complacent. On snow such complacency can be deadly.
During the course you get the chance to test all the various systems fitted to modern cars in a safe environment, learn what it’s like without them, and their limitations. The only thing you’re going to dent is your ego. It’s better to learn how to cope with understeer and oversteer in this environment than on the public road. As I slip and slide my way around the track, a mantra that kept me out of the ditch last Christmas comes to mind: “feet of a ballet dancer, hands of a surgeon.”
In reality I have the feet of a clog dancer and the hands of a meat-cleaving butcher, but at least I know my failings now and what I need to aim for: delicate, gentle movements in steering and throttle are key, along with decent contact to the road.
WE’RE BOTH in identical cars, side by side doing 120 km/h heading up the motorway on a typically wet winter’s day. The only difference is my tyres have worn to 3mm of tread, and yours to 1.6mm. We both jump hard on the brakes at the same time. When I come to a stop, what speed are you still doing? 80km/h. Don’t take your tyres for granted.
In reality most of us did until last winter. In the midst of the last great snowfall, debate raged during the “big freeze” between stranded motorists who blamed their cars, and others dismissed those stuck in snow as being below-par drivers. The truth lies somewhere in between.
BMW, however, are being pro-active. Many of its drivers bore the brunt of the mocking from other motorists – and its dealers the ire of customers.
So it has teamed up with Rally School Ireland in Monaghan to offer a half-day course in winter driving tips. The course is open to all motorists who don’t want to repeat last winter’s mistakes and have a better chance in the slippery stuff.
The school is best known for offering exhilarating rally day experiences, with a fleet of top-level race cars. For the winter school, however, there’s a pair of BMW 316 diesels and a duo of 520d BMWs. One of each model is shod on regular summer tyres, the other on winter ones.
First some qualifiers: no matter how good you are, you’re not going to get a car on low-tread tyres up a snow-clad bank unless you carry it up yourself. Also, a set of winter tyres will not turn your Toyota Yaris into a Land Cruiser. But for the sort of conditions motorists encounter in the estates and side roads of Ireland they will probably give you enough grip to carry on slowly without ending up in either the ditch or the side of someone else’s car.
Regular – or summer – tyres are created from a rubber and silica compound that hardens at lower temperatures. Below 7 degrees centigrade the tyre’s compound hardens so the rubber doesn’t mould into the road: what you have is effectively a solid rubber slick.
David Smyth, owner of the rally school, says that considering the average annual temperatures here we should be fitting winter tyres from October to March.
The benefits of winter tyres don’t end at a balmy 7 degrees however. “There are still big benefits, even at 10 degrees. I personally would suggest, that for people who don’t do big mileage and who don’t drive the car hard with heavy braking, there’s a good case for having winter tyres on all year.”
Admittedly this doesn’t fit with the advice of tyre manufacturers, but Smyth is adamant that in the testing the Rally School has done on tyre grip over the years, the benefits of winter tyres on wet roads are clearly evident.
To prove his point we take to the track. It’s 11 degrees outside but the water-sprayer has been out to wet the track. A small hill road clad in special slippery plastic mimics the snow-covered off-ramp many were stuck on last winter. On the regular tyres we slip and slide, fighting for grip in the same way that many motorists struggled up slip roads during the “big freeze”. Plenty of sound and fury, but going nowhere. On winter tyres, we still slip a little and the electronic traction systems work hard, but we get up the hill.
From here it’s onto a long straight at 60km/h, hitting the wet plastic as we would a sudden icy stretch. Then we slam on the brakes. On regular tyres we slide at least four car lengths more than on winter treads. According to Smyth, at temperatures below 7 degrees there’s a 20 per cent improvement in braking distances in the wet and 10 per cent in the dry.
“If you fit winter tyres you will be able to travel like people in the rest of Europe do in far worse circumstances,” he says. “For me it’s just common sense. All the systems that save you, from stability control to ABS, they all depend on your contact with the road. Winter tyres give you the grip to allow the systems to do their job.”
On most modern cars, with dynamic control systems, the only signal you get is a flashing yellow light on the dashboard. Onboard safety controls such as dynamic stability control and traction control save lives every day, often unbeknownst to the motorist behind the wheel.
“The problem is that people take these systems for granted, or simply don’t know what they do,” says Smyth. That can make motorists complacent. On snow such complacency can be deadly.
During the course you get the chance to test all the various systems fitted to modern cars in a safe environment, learn what it’s like without them, and their limitations. The only thing you’re going to dent is your ego. It’s better to learn how to cope with understeer and oversteer in this environment than on the public road. As I slip and slide my way around the track, a mantra that kept me out of the ditch last Christmas comes to mind: “feet of a ballet dancer, hands of a surgeon.”
In reality I have the feet of a clog dancer and the hands of a meat-cleaving butcher, but at least I know my failings now and what I need to aim for: delicate, gentle movements in steering and throttle are key, along with decent contact to the road.
2011年10月19日星期三
European Poker Tour Part IV - Now we Drink
The second day started early Thursday morning with me being the only one awake in the flat. I made myself a nice bowl of cereal and got right on the grind. I kept with the losing 5 BI (buy-ins) immediately trend but couldn’t manage a win. I was frustrated with the 3 BI loss but if I had only known what online pain was waiting for me I would have thrown a huge party in celebration of only losing 3 BI.
When Tony woke up we went for lunch at a nice place down the street. Everything on the menu looked so good so we ordered a bunch of things and split them all. We hung out on the terrace enjoying the absurdly warm weather in London sipping on our Oranginas. Tony and I discussed how much fun the next Friday at Fabric was going to be. Fabric is a crazy night club and over 30 of our friends were all going together see Jack Beats. It’s at least 34 percent of the reason I came to England.
I had made plans with Rob, my old Australian roommate, to meet up at 4 p.m. so I grinded some more hands. For some reason I just had the grind switch turned on and it was all I wanted to do. This session would turn out to be super depressing. I dropped my 5 BIs as usual. Made a little bit back and then dropped down to 9 BIs. It was around 2.30 when things started to turn around with me shipping two 500BB pots simultaneously. By 3.20 I was up $20 according to HEM. I lost a pot to put me down $5 and stupidly tried to “get into the green”. Don’t do this to yourself. This led to 9 BIs straight down over 15 minutes. I lost three 500-700BB within the next 3 minutes. I called it quits down loads and headed to Robs to drink. Just before I left Gavin and Olivia walked in. Olivia and I had never met and we only had time for a quick conversation. They had errands to run so we agreed to have a proper meeting the next day.
I hopped on the Tube to meet Rob at Angel station. We stocked up on some food and drinks for dinner. He made us a great pasta dish and I contributed by figuring out how to get the shot glasses made of ice out of theplastic mould . If you can find frozen shot glass moulds I suggest picking some up. We ate our dinner while catching up on the newest “Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia” waiting for his roommate Ed to get home. Ed is a British army paratrooper veteran a few years younger than me. Apparently they had some couch to dispose of and Ed quickly rigged a rope up to lower it from their fifth floor apartment. Rob said he’s a very handy guy to have around.
During our wait for Ed, Rob made a cocktail that will blow your mind. If you want to get drunk without any bad taste this drink is for you. He took a pint glass and mashed up fresh raspberries and pear slices with ice. He poured 3oz of gin and filled the glass with a 7% pear cider. It had no burn to it but did it ever pack a punch. After the second pint a tall guy with a big white guy fro walked in the door. I instantly liked Ed as he has the same totally unacceptable sense of humour as Rob and I. He shared a few stories of his missions in Africa and Afghanistan including him almost getting eaten by a hippopotamus. Apparently he was on a boat and decided to go for a swim. His fellow soldiers thought it would be funny not to tell him it was hippo-inhabited waters. They waited until he was in line of sight of two hippos before letting him know. Great friends!
I told Ed of my pact with my roommate to learn one new survival skill a month for no good reason. I’m just going to say it’s for the Zombie Apocalypse but it’s really just skills you shouldn’t ever need but would be handy in the one-in-a-million situation. I plan on learning how to pick police issue handcuffs with random items. I have no idea how hard this will be but I assume I should pick it up quickly as I can pick most regular locks with the right tools. Ed told me to wait for a moment so he could find his lock-picking set. He came back with a green military box and pulled out his “lock pick”. It was a six-inch hunting knife with an antler handle he got in Africa. He then pulled out an even bigger knife from Afghanistan and said that “take these hand cuffs off of me” would suffice in any situation with his lock picks.
Eventually the three of us headed out on the town. We stopped at some random bar for shots then got on the Tube heading to central London. Ed tried talking up three girls on the train but didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. It wasn’t until I said something and they realized I wasn’t British but Canadian that their interests got perked. Another little tip would be that Canadians and British people are naturally attracted to each other. For example, take me I’m dating a British girl. I would suggest that if you’re single go to the opposite country and things will work out. The girls joined us to some bar but didn’t want to pay cover. Conversations had run dry, I didn’t really want them sticking around, so this worked out great.
When Tony woke up we went for lunch at a nice place down the street. Everything on the menu looked so good so we ordered a bunch of things and split them all. We hung out on the terrace enjoying the absurdly warm weather in London sipping on our Oranginas. Tony and I discussed how much fun the next Friday at Fabric was going to be. Fabric is a crazy night club and over 30 of our friends were all going together see Jack Beats. It’s at least 34 percent of the reason I came to England.
I had made plans with Rob, my old Australian roommate, to meet up at 4 p.m. so I grinded some more hands. For some reason I just had the grind switch turned on and it was all I wanted to do. This session would turn out to be super depressing. I dropped my 5 BIs as usual. Made a little bit back and then dropped down to 9 BIs. It was around 2.30 when things started to turn around with me shipping two 500BB pots simultaneously. By 3.20 I was up $20 according to HEM. I lost a pot to put me down $5 and stupidly tried to “get into the green”. Don’t do this to yourself. This led to 9 BIs straight down over 15 minutes. I lost three 500-700BB within the next 3 minutes. I called it quits down loads and headed to Robs to drink. Just before I left Gavin and Olivia walked in. Olivia and I had never met and we only had time for a quick conversation. They had errands to run so we agreed to have a proper meeting the next day.
I hopped on the Tube to meet Rob at Angel station. We stocked up on some food and drinks for dinner. He made us a great pasta dish and I contributed by figuring out how to get the shot glasses made of ice out of the
During our wait for Ed, Rob made a cocktail that will blow your mind. If you want to get drunk without any bad taste this drink is for you. He took a pint glass and mashed up fresh raspberries and pear slices with ice. He poured 3oz of gin and filled the glass with a 7% pear cider. It had no burn to it but did it ever pack a punch. After the second pint a tall guy with a big white guy fro walked in the door. I instantly liked Ed as he has the same totally unacceptable sense of humour as Rob and I. He shared a few stories of his missions in Africa and Afghanistan including him almost getting eaten by a hippopotamus. Apparently he was on a boat and decided to go for a swim. His fellow soldiers thought it would be funny not to tell him it was hippo-inhabited waters. They waited until he was in line of sight of two hippos before letting him know. Great friends!
I told Ed of my pact with my roommate to learn one new survival skill a month for no good reason. I’m just going to say it’s for the Zombie Apocalypse but it’s really just skills you shouldn’t ever need but would be handy in the one-in-a-million situation. I plan on learning how to pick police issue handcuffs with random items. I have no idea how hard this will be but I assume I should pick it up quickly as I can pick most regular locks with the right tools. Ed told me to wait for a moment so he could find his lock-picking set. He came back with a green military box and pulled out his “lock pick”. It was a six-inch hunting knife with an antler handle he got in Africa. He then pulled out an even bigger knife from Afghanistan and said that “take these hand cuffs off of me” would suffice in any situation with his lock picks.
Eventually the three of us headed out on the town. We stopped at some random bar for shots then got on the Tube heading to central London. Ed tried talking up three girls on the train but didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. It wasn’t until I said something and they realized I wasn’t British but Canadian that their interests got perked. Another little tip would be that Canadians and British people are naturally attracted to each other. For example, take me I’m dating a British girl. I would suggest that if you’re single go to the opposite country and things will work out. The girls joined us to some bar but didn’t want to pay cover. Conversations had run dry, I didn’t really want them sticking around, so this worked out great.
2011年8月22日星期一
Neue Produkte
Seit Juli 2011 vertreibt der Feinkosthersteller Appel seine neuen Produkte in einer PermaSafe-Verpackung von Weidenhammer PlasticMould Packaging (WPP), der Kunststoffsparte der Weidenhammer Packaging Group. Diese neuartige Lösung bietet Verbrauchern hohe Convenience und macht alle Vorteile von Kunststoffverpackungen auch für das Marktsegment konservierter, ungekühlter Lebensmittel nutzbar. Zudem besticht sie am Point-of-Sale durch ihr ansprechendes Design, denn bei der Verpackung für Appel kombiniert Weidenhammer erstmals In- Labelling (IML) mit geprägten Elementen. Mit den neuen Produkten in der modernen Weidenhammer-Verpackung will Appel gezielt neue Kundensegmente ansprechen.
Seit Sommer 2011 stehen die neuen Produkte von Appel im Supermarktregal: als „Snacks & Salate“, die in sechs Sorten teilweise sowohl kalt als auch warm zu genießen sind, sowie in vier Rezepturen als köstliche „Genießerhappen aus Heringsfilets“. Passend zu den hochwertigen Produkten setzt der Feinkosthersteller auch bei der Verpackung auf eine Innovation: PermaSafe, die „Neuentwicklung der Konservendose“ von Weidenhammer.
Diese innovative Kunststoffverpackung ist praktisch undurchlässig für Sauerstoff und Wasserdampf und garantiert somit eine lange Haltbarkeit. Auch Fertiggerichte oder Wurstwaren können in PermaSafe-Verpackungen ungekühlt dauerhaltbar verpackt werden. Im Vergleich zu den klassischen Metall- oder Glasverpackungen bieten sie deutlich mehr Gestaltungsspielraum in Bezug auf Formen und Design sowie mehr Convenience für den Verbraucher.
Bei der Appel-Verpackung handelt es sich um eine hochwertig dekorierte PermaSafe-Schale, die im Spitzgussverfahren hergestellt wird. Die Verpackung verfügt über eine leicht zu öffnende Peel-Siegelfolie und einen wiederverschließbaren Deckel – zwei wesentliche Verbesserungen zu den herkömmlichen Blechverpackungen. Insbesondere das einfache Öffnen der Verpackung ist für ältere Konsumenten wichtig. Aber mit der gebrauchsfertigen Portionsverpackung und den kreativen Rezepturen will Appel sich nicht nur vom Wettbewerb differenzieren, sondern insbesondere jüngere Verbraucher gezielt ansprechen.
Seit Sommer 2011 stehen die neuen Produkte von Appel im Supermarktregal: als „Snacks & Salate“, die in sechs Sorten teilweise sowohl kalt als auch warm zu genießen sind, sowie in vier Rezepturen als köstliche „Genießerhappen aus Heringsfilets“. Passend zu den hochwertigen Produkten setzt der Feinkosthersteller auch bei der Verpackung auf eine Innovation: PermaSafe, die „Neuentwicklung der Konservendose“ von Weidenhammer.
Diese innovative Kunststoffverpackung ist praktisch undurchlässig für Sauerstoff und Wasserdampf und garantiert somit eine lange Haltbarkeit. Auch Fertiggerichte oder Wurstwaren können in PermaSafe-Verpackungen ungekühlt dauerhaltbar verpackt werden. Im Vergleich zu den klassischen Metall- oder Glasverpackungen bieten sie deutlich mehr Gestaltungsspielraum in Bezug auf Formen und Design sowie mehr Convenience für den Verbraucher.
Bei der Appel-Verpackung handelt es sich um eine hochwertig dekorierte PermaSafe-Schale, die im Spitzgussverfahren hergestellt wird. Die Verpackung verfügt über eine leicht zu öffnende Peel-Siegelfolie und einen wiederverschließbaren Deckel – zwei wesentliche Verbesserungen zu den herkömmlichen Blechverpackungen. Insbesondere das einfache Öffnen der Verpackung ist für ältere Konsumenten wichtig. Aber mit der gebrauchsfertigen Portionsverpackung und den kreativen Rezepturen will Appel sich nicht nur vom Wettbewerb differenzieren, sondern insbesondere jüngere Verbraucher gezielt ansprechen.
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